User-selectable multi-jet assembly for jetted baths/spas

• US 5,862,543 A
• Filed: 11/07/1997
• Issued: 01/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: G-G Distribution And Development Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vico Products Manufacturing Co., Inc. (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Inventors: Reynoso, Arturo S., Miller, Robert A., Mathis, Cleo D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tuan N.
• Application Number:
  US08/966,410
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 4/541.3, 4/541.4, 4/541.6, 4/567, 4/492, 239/394, 239/443, 239/538
• US Class Current: 4/541.6
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/027 Gas-water mixing nozzles therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6052 Having flow regulating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6057 Comprising means producing pulsating or intermittent streams for massage, A61H9/0007
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1654 about an axis parallel to the liquid passage in the stationary valve element

Abstract

A user-selectable multi-jet assembly (10) for jetted baths/spas includes a faceplate assembly (12) having a first set of three user-selectable ball-type nozzles (14) and a second set of three user-selectable swirler-type nozzles (16). The faceplate assembly 12 is bidirectionally rotatable about an axis A_x between two user-selectable positions in which either the ball-type nozzles (14) or the swirler-type nozzles (16) are selected. The multi-jet assembly (10) includes a housing (46) into which both water and air are supplied and internal distribution tubes (28) through which water is directed into the user-selected nozzles. The faceplate assembly (12) is connected to an internal rear valve plate (50) that cooperates with a stator (52) to effectively interrupt water flow through the nozzles as the faceplate assembly (12) is rotated from one user-selected position to the other.

Claims

1. A multi-jet assembly for jetted baths/spas comprising:

a housing having an inlet for receiving a flow of water under pressure;

a faceplate assembly rotatably connected to said housing and rotatable by a user between first and second user-selectable positions, said faceplate assembly having at least one nozzle of a first type and at least one nozzle of a second type; and

a water distributor within said housing for directing water to said at least one nozzle of said first type when said faceplate assembly is in said first position and to said at least one nozzle of said second type when said faceplate assembly is in said second position, said water distributor interrupting flow to said nozzles when said faceplate assembly is in a position intermediate said first and second user-selectable positions and said water distributor having a valve plate in engagement with said faceplate assembly and rotatable therewith, said valve plate having an opening in registration with a water distribution tube when said faceplate assembly is in either of its user-selectable positions.

2. The multi-jet assembly for jetted baths/spas of claim 1, wherein said nozzle of the first type is a pointable ball nozzle.

3. The multi-jet assembly for jetted baths/spas of claim 1, wherein said nozzle of the second type is a swirling-jet nozzle.

4. A multi-jet assembly for jetted baths/spas comprising:

a housing having an inlet for receiving a flow of water under pressure;

a faceplate assembly rotatably connected to said housing and rotatable by a user between first and second user-selectable positions, said faceplate assembly having at least two nozzles of a first type and at least two nozzles of a second type; and

a water distributor within said housing for directing water to said at least two nozzles of said first type when said faceplate assembly is in said first position and to said at least two nozzles of said second type when said faceplate assembly is in said second position, said water distributor interrupting flow to said nozzles when said faceplate assembly is in a position intermediate said first and second user-selectable positions and said water distributor having a valve plate in engagement with said faceplate assembly and rotatable therewith, said valve plate having an opening in registration with a water distribution tube when said faceplate assembly is in either of its user-selectable positions.

5. The multi-jet assembly for jetted baths/spas of claim 6, wherein said nozzles of the first type are pointable ball nozzles.

6. The multi-jet assembly for jetted baths/spas of claim 4, wherein said nozzles of the second type are swirling-jet nozzles.

7. A multi-jet assembly for jetted baths/spas comprising:

a housing having an inlet for receiving a flow of water under pressure and a water-receiving chamber within said housing;

a water-distributing stator within said housing for distributing water into a plurality of distribution tubes; and

a water-controlling rotor cooperating with said stator for selectively interrupting water flow through said plurality of distribution tubes as a function of the rotary position of said rotor relative to said stator;

said water-controlling rotor including a faceplate assembly rotatably mounted in said housing and movable between first and second user-selected positions, said faceplate assembly having at least a first plurality of nozzles of a first type equal in number to said plurality of distribution tubes and a second plurality of nozzles of a second type therein equal in number to said plurality of distribution tubes, said rotor having a valve plate connected to said faceplate assembly and having a number of bores therein for movement in registration with said distribution tubes when said faceplate assembly is in a user-selected position and whereby rotation of said faceplate assembly and connected valve plate interrupts water flow to distribution tubes at positions intermediate said first and second user-selected positions.

8. The multi-jet assembly for jetted baths/spas of claim 7, wherein said nozzles of the first type are pointable ball nozzles.

9. The multi-jet assembly for jetted baths/spas of claim 7, wherein said nozzles of the first type are swirling-jet nozzles.