Safety suction assembly for use in whirlpool baths and the like

• US 6,038,712 A
• Filed: 10/08/1997
• Issued: 03/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hydrabaths Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hydrabaths Incorporated
• Inventors: Chalberg, Philip E., Healy, Patrick B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eloshway, Charles R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Goodwin, Lynette C.
• Application Number:
  US08/946,930
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 4/504, 4/507, 4/509, 4/541.1, 4/541.4, 4/541.5, 4/689, 417/77, 417/87, 417/179
• US Class Current: 4/507
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0173 Means for preventing injuries
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6073 Intake mouths for recirculation of fluid in whirlpool baths

Abstract

A suction assembly employs an air induction tube to induct air into the recirculating water pump to cause the pump to cease pumping operation when the front face of the assembly is blocked. The induction tube is connected to a bleed path formed between the induction tube and a surrounding coaxial face tube extended into the assembly from the front face. When the face is blocked by hair or the like, water in the induction tube bleeds into the main chamber of the assembly and empties the induction tube. Air is then pulled into the pump, causing the pump to lose prime thereby reducing pump pressure to zero and allowing the hair or other blocking material to be removed. In a preferred embodiment, the induction tube is connected to the air inlet of at least one venturi-type hydromassage jet assembly. The suction assembly employs a spring-loaded induction stem which bears compressively against the interior face of the suction cover, thereby permitting use of conventional suction covers.

Claims

1. A suction assembly connected through an aperture in a wall of a whirlpool bath or spa tub below the water in the tub and connected to an inlet of a pump used for recirculating the water and propelling the water through a plurality of whirlpool bath jets;

the assembly comprising;

a face on the inside of the tub wall, the face having a plurality of apertures through which the recirculated water flows into the assembly and into the inlet;

a body on the outside of the tub wall and connected to said face through said aperture, said body having a main chamber connected to said inlet and an elongated induction chamber open to ambient through an induction tube extended toward the top of the tub;

said face further abutting a face tube extending through said tub wall aperture, exterior of said tub in overlapping coaxial relation to said induction chamber and forming a bleed path therebetween, whereby pressure in said face tube forming a column of water in said induction tube during normal operation of said suction assembly and whereby blockage of said face reduces said pressure and empties said column of water thereby permitting air to enter said pump inlet and cease said circulation;

said face tube and said induction chamber comprising a pair of coaxial overlapping concentric tubes said face tube being spring-biased to abut said face.

2. The suction assembly recited in claim 1 wherein said induction tube is connected to an air inlet of said whirlpool bath.

3. The suction assembly recited in claim 1 wherein said face comprises a smooth interior surface.

4. A spa or whirlpool bath having at least one venturi-type jet having an air inlet and having a suction assembly comprising:

a body having a main chamber and an induction chamber, an integral pump inlet pipe connected to said main chamber an induction tube connected to said induction chamber;

a face connected to said body, said face having a plurality of suction apertures providing passages for water flow into said body and into said pump inlet pipe, said face abutting a face tube extending into said body in overlapping coaxial relation to said induction chamber and forming a bleed path therebetween, wherein said face tube and said induction chamber are configured as concentric overlapping coaxial tubes compressively spring-biased for relative slidable engagement therebetween;

said induction tube being connected to said air inlet of said jet.

5. The suction assembly recited in claim 4 wherein said face comprises a smooth interior surface and wherein said face tube compressively engages said smooth interior face surface.