Bathtub with improved hydromassage system
First Claim
1. A bathtub equipped with a water supply tap (11) and with a hydromassage system comprising a plurality of nozzles (12) mounted on the walls of the bathtub (10), water and air supply lines each connected to each of said nozzles, a pump (15) having an outlet connected to said water supply line and an inlet, a normally closed suction valve (16) connected to the interior of said bathtub, a suction line (17) connecting said suction valve (16) to the inlet of said pump, each of said nozzles comprise a water jet orifice connected to said water supply line and an annular air inlet orifice connected to said air supply line, said water jet orifice and said air inlet orifice being concentrically arranged such that the water jet entrains air through said annular air inlet to form an air-water mixture, each of said nozzles further having a movable plug mounted in said jet orifice to close both said water jet orifice and said annular air inlet and means for biasing said plug to said closed position so as to separate in a sealed manner the water and air supply lines to the interior of the bathtub, conduit means adjustably mounted with respect to said jet nozzle for regulating the flow of the air-water mixture to the interior of the bathtub, said nozzles including actuator means responsive to water pressure in said water supply line for moving said plug to an open position, an automatic outlet drain connected to the floor of said bathtub, said outlet drain having a normally open outlet valve therein, sensor means (27) responsive to predetermined levels of water in said bathtub and to water pressure in said water supply line for closing said outlet valve and controlling the operation of said tap (11) and pump (15) within predetermined safety ranges.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A bathtub is equipped with a water supply tap (11) and a hydromassage system comprising a plurality of nozzles (12) on the walls of the bathtub (10) to each of which nozzles there are supplied flows of water and air coming from respective delivery (13) and supply (14) lines. The flow of water is taken off by means of a pump (15) having a suction line (17) connected to the container part of the bathtub (10), while the delivery line (13) is connected to the nozzles (12). The suction line (17) is connected to the container part of the bathtub (10) through the intermediary of a suction valve (16) which is normally closed, and each nozzle (12) comprises a plug (69) which is normally closed, so as to separate in a sealed manner the delivery (13) and supply (14) lines from the container part of the bathtub (10). With the plug (69) there is also associated a manually actuated conduit for partializing the flow. Provision is also made for sensors (27) sensitive to the level of the water in the bathtub (10) and to the pressure of the water in the delivery line (13), for controlling the automatic discharge of the hydromassage system, the operation of the tap (11) and the pump (15).
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Citations
19 Claims
- 1. A bathtub equipped with a water supply tap (11) and with a hydromassage system comprising a plurality of nozzles (12) mounted on the walls of the bathtub (10), water and air supply lines each connected to each of said nozzles, a pump (15) having an outlet connected to said water supply line and an inlet, a normally closed suction valve (16) connected to the interior of said bathtub, a suction line (17) connecting said suction valve (16) to the inlet of said pump, each of said nozzles comprise a water jet orifice connected to said water supply line and an annular air inlet orifice connected to said air supply line, said water jet orifice and said air inlet orifice being concentrically arranged such that the water jet entrains air through said annular air inlet to form an air-water mixture, each of said nozzles further having a movable plug mounted in said jet orifice to close both said water jet orifice and said annular air inlet and means for biasing said plug to said closed position so as to separate in a sealed manner the water and air supply lines to the interior of the bathtub, conduit means adjustably mounted with respect to said jet nozzle for regulating the flow of the air-water mixture to the interior of the bathtub, said nozzles including actuator means responsive to water pressure in said water supply line for moving said plug to an open position, an automatic outlet drain connected to the floor of said bathtub, said outlet drain having a normally open outlet valve therein, sensor means (27) responsive to predetermined levels of water in said bathtub and to water pressure in said water supply line for closing said outlet valve and controlling the operation of said tap (11) and pump (15) within predetermined safety ranges.
- 2. A bathtub as described in claim 20, wherein said actuator means comprise a conduit (67) screw-mounted on a spherical body (50) which is rotatable within a matching seating (55) of the nozzles (12), the conduit (67) being provided with a central stem (68) on which is mounted said movable plug (69), said stem (68) and said movable plug (69) have disposed therebetween a spring (70) adapted to thrust said movable plug (69) into the said closed position.
Specification