Whirlpool bathtub

• US 5,173,973 A
• Filed: 11/01/1991
• Issued: 12/29/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Firma Franz Kaldewei GmbH & Co.
• Original Assignee: Franz-Dieter Kaldewei
• Inventors: Mersmann, Heinz-Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fetsuga, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US07/786,117
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 4/541.1, 4/541.3, 4/541.4, 4/541.5, 4/546, 4/559, 4/679, 4/680, 4/682, 4/683, 4/687, 4/694
• US Class Current: 4/541.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/0079 using remote control signal transmission devices, e.g. ultrasonic, infrared
• 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 33/60 Components specifically designed for the therapeutic baths of groups A61H33/00 plumbing E03C1/00

Abstract

A whirlpool bathtub with a wireless remote control comprising a mobile transmitter separate from the whirlpool installation and a receiver affixed to the bathtub for controlling the aspiration pump and/or the blower of the whirlpool installation. The receiver is affixed to the bathtub, independent of the installation or positioning of the bathtub in the bathroom, in accordance with this disclosure where the bathtub has an overflow device provided with a control knob and an overflow housing, for operating a drain device. The control knob is fixed against rotation on a hollow shaft which extends out of the overflow housing on the exterior of the bathtub. The control knob has a chamber, accessible to the control commands of a transmitter, into which the receiver is inserted. The connecting cable for the receiver is inserted through the hollow shaft and is connected to the receiver.

Claims

1. In a whirlpool bathtub with a wireless remote control having a mobile transmitter separate from a whirlpool installation and a receiver affixed to the bathtub for controlling at least one of an aspiration pump and a blower of the whirlpool installation, the improvement comprising:

an overflow device in said bathtub having a control knob (38) rotatably mounted in an overflow housing (12), said control knob being connected to a drain device for device for operating the drain device,

the control knob (38) being fixed against rotation on one end of a hollow shaft (16), the other end of said shaft extending out of the overflow housing (12) to an exterior of the bathtub,

the control knob (38) having a chamber (40) therein accessible to control commands from said transmitter and adapted to receive the receiver (32), and

a connecting cable (33) inserted through the hollow shaft (16) and connecting to the receiver (32) to at least one of the aspiration pump and the blower.

2. In a whirlpool bathtub in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the transmitter and receiver comprise an infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver (32), and

the chamber (40) of the control knob (38) is closed off in a direction toward an inside of the bathtub by a foil touch-key (31) having an infrared window in front of the infrared receiver (32).

3. In a whirlpool bathtub in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

the control knob (38) is closed off by a screwed-on cap (30) having a cut-out (37),

a foil touch-key (31) having an infrared window is inserted into the out-out (37), and

the chamber (40) is formed between the foil touch-key (31) and the control knob (38).

4. In a whirlpool bathtub in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

the control knob (38) has a bearing sleeve which is fixed on the hollow shaft (16) by a clamping ring (26) and threaded pins (28),

the control knob (38) has a peripheral annular collar with an interior thread, and said screwed-on cap (30) is provided with an exterior thread and screwed together with the control knob (38).

5. In a whirlpool bathtub accordance with claim 4, wherein:

said cap (30) extends around a periphery of said foil touch-key (31), and

the foil touch-key (31) is supported by a support ring (36) positioned inside the chamber (40).

6. In a whirlpool bathtub in accordance with claim 5, wherein:

said foil touch-key (31) is sealed towards the screwed-on cap (30) and the screwed-on cap (30) towards the control knob (38) by a plurality of sealing rings (39,

     34).

7. A whirlpool bathtub in accordance with claim 6, wherein:

said foil touch-key (31) is provided with at least one display element.

8. In a whirlpool bathtub in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the control knob (38) is closed off by a screwed-on cap (30) having a cut-out (37),

a foil touch-key (31) having an infrared window is inserted into the cut-out (37), and

the chamber (40) is formed between the foil touch-key (31) and the control knob (38).

9. In a whirlpool bathtub in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the control knob (38) has a bearing sleeve which is fixed on the hollow shaft (16) by a clamping ring (26) and threaded pins (28),

the control knob (38) has a peripheral annular collar with an interior thread, and a cap (30) is provided with an exterior thread and screwed together with the control knob (38).

10. In a whirlpool bathtub in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

a cap (30) extends around a periphery of a foil touch-key (31), the cap having a cut-out (37) to expose a portion of the touch-key and

the foil touch-key (31) is supported by a support ring (36) positioned the chamber (40) inside and the cap (30) being connected to the control knob (38) such that the foil touch-key (31) together with the control knob (38) closes the chamber (40) for the receiver (32).

11. In a whirlpool bathtub in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

a foil touch-key (31) is sealed towards a cap (30) and the cap (30) towards the control knob (38) by a plurality of sealing rings (39,

     34).

12. A whirlpool bathtub in accordance with claim 11, wherein:

said foil touch-key (31) is provided with at least one display element.