Bathtub with improved hydromassage system

• US 4,797,958 A
• Filed: 09/05/1986
• Issued: 01/17/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Teuco Guzzini SRL
• Original Assignee: Teuco Guzzini SRL
• Inventors: Guzzini, Virgilio
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Application Number:
  US06/904,004
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 4/542, 4/541, 4/544, 4/507-509, 4/492, 128/66, 137/386, 137/391, 137/393, 137/399, 417/40, 417/41
• US Class Current: 4/541.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/0012 by rinsing
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/0016 using cleansing products
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/0037 Arrangement for cleaning the fluid during use
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/023 with means in the air supply lines to prevent back-feed of water, e.g. anti-backflow valves, draining devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/02 Bathing devices for use with gas-containing liquid, or liquid in which gas is led or generated, e.g. carbon dioxide baths A61H33/6026 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/027 Gas-water mixing nozzles therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6031 Extendible or retractable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6052 Having flow regulating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6063 Specifically adapted for fitting in bathtub walls
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6073 Intake mouths for recirculation of fluid in whirlpool baths

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).

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.

7. A bathtub as described in claim 1, wherein the suction valve (16) comprises a mushroom-shaped valve element (100) which is movable against the action of a spring (113) with respect to a seating (107) fixed to the bathtub (10), so as to control the flow of water from the container part of the bathtub (10) to the suction line (17), provision being made for control means for piloting the mushroom-shaped element (100) to the opening position.

8. A bathtub as described in claim 1, wherein the mushroom-shaped element (100) comprises a stem in two tubular parts (101, 102) one inserted into the other and joined together stably by a latching engagement.

9. A bathtub as described in claim 8, wherein the part (101) is solid with the mushroom-shaped element (100) and has internally a series of successive and parallel annular grooves (103) in which matching annular raised parts (104) formed on the part (102) are adapted to engage latchingly, the part (102) having along generating lines weakening slits (105), a closure and locking pin (106) being inserted in a latchingly engaged with the part (101).

10. A bathtub as described in claim 7, wherein the seating (107) is formed on a ring nut (108) which is secured onto the body (110) which is provided with a threaded fitting (111) for connection to the water suction line (13), the body (110) also has a sleeve (112) for guiding the valve element (100), the spring (113) acting between the sleeve (112) and a terminal rear washer (114) solid with the stem of the mushroom-shaped element (100), the washer (114) being fixed to a membrane (115) mounted downstream of a piloting water line (31) for moving the element (100) into the open position.

11. A bathtub as described in claim 10, wherein the ring nut (108) has secured thereto a protective cover (116) which is provided with radial apertures (118) for the passage of the aspirated water.

12. A bathtub as described in claim 7, wherein the control for piloting the mushroom-shaped valve element (100) to the opening position comprises a linear thermoelectric actuator (124) provided with a push-type element (123) acting on one end (122) of a lever (120) with the opposite end thereof which is articulated to a stem (125) of the mushroom-shaped valve element (100).

13. A bathtub as described in claim 1, wherein said sensor means comprises a device (27) for automatic discharge and a pressure and level transducer formed from a hollow body within which there is mounted a movable element (153) cooperating with an optical proximity transducer (162) and bearing a plug (158) controlling the passage of water coming from the bathtub (10) through the valve (16) and the pump (15), the translation of the movable element (153) being antagonized by a first spring (159) and a second spring (160) having lesser and greater force respectively.

14. A bathtub as described in claim 13, wherein the device (27) comprises a beaker-shaped body (150) with a cover (151), the beaker (150) and the cover (151) having a flexible annular membrane (152) clamped therebetween from which the movable element (153) is suspended by means of a locking ring (154), the movable element (153) being formed of a cap (156) axially to which a stem (157) of the plug (158) is movable against the action of the springs (159, 160).

15. A bathtub as described in claim 1, including a unit for delivering phytocosmetic and disinfectant substances, which consist of:

a plurality of side-by-side sub-units (201,

     202) intended to dispense such substances, each of the sub-units consisting of a container (213) provided with a discharge (216) communicating with a header (223) through a first valve complex, the header (223) being connected upstream to a water supply through a second valve complex (227) and, downstream, to the suction line (229) of a pump (230), the delivery line (231) of which debouches into the bathtub.

16. A unit as described in claim 15, wherein the container (213) is engaged with a metering chamber (220) communicating with the header (223) through an outlet bore (222) with a non-return valve (224), the discharge from the outlet bore being controlled by means of a conical needle (225) controlled by a solenoid valve (226).

17. A unit as described in claim 15, wherein the pump is of electromagnetic type.

18. A unit as described in claim 15, wherein the container (213) comprises a lid (214), freely removable, provided with a bore (234) with check valve (236), the lid (214) being also provided with a perimetral seal gasket (235).

19. A unit as described in claim 15, wherein the container (213) is engaged in a sealed and removable manner with the metering chamber (220) through the intermediary of fittings (218, 219) which are male and female respectively, the male fitting (218) being provided with a check valve (217) with which there cooperates a pin (221) of the female fitting (219).

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.

3. A bathtub as described in claim 2, wherein the spherical body (50) has two parts (51, 52) joined together forming a circumferential aperture (54) that communicates with the air supply line (14) and with the conduit (67).

4. A bathtub as described in claim 2, wherein the conduit (67), and said movable plug (69) are in communication with the water suction line through the intermediary of an aperture (63) of the seating (55) wherein the seating of the aperature (63) is controlled by an automatically operated valve (64).

5. A bathtub as described in claim 2, wherein the seating (55) is composite and comprises, in combination:

a body (56) fixed externally to the bathtub (10) by means of a first shaped ring nut (57) which is screwed at (58) to the body (56), there being screwed onto the first ring nut (57), at (60), a second ring nut (59) which with the first shaped ring nut (57) forms the seating within which the spherical body (50) of the nozzle (12) rotates.

6. A bathtub as described in claim 2, wherein the screw mounting of the conduit (67) on the body (50) is effected by means of a pair of threaded areas (78, 79) formed respectively on a part (52) of the body (50) and on an external surface of the conduit (67), the threaded area (79) terminating in an elastically yieldable raised tail (80) which brings a certain friction to bear on the threaded area (78), and which also cooperates with a terminal ledge (81) of the threaded area (78) to arrest the conduit (67) in the position of maximum opening of the movable plug (69) and with two diametrically opposite grooves (82, 83) within which the tail (80) acts to determine, every 180°

, intermediate positions of regulation of the conduit (67), provision also being made at the mouth of the part (52) for an arcuate milling (84) for the passage of the tail (80) when the conduit (67) is mounted.