Intake for whirlpool-type bathtub

• US 6,098,648 A
• Filed: 09/25/1998
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wellness Europe S.R.L.
• Original Assignee: Domino S.P.A.
• Inventors: Bertoia, Giuliano
• Primary Examiner(s): Hepperle, Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US09/160,800
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 4/541.2, 4/668, 4/688, 137/112, 137/113, 137/114
• US Class Current: 137/112
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/0033 by draining-off pumps, nozzles, waterlines by gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0176 By stopping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6078 Combined with waste outlets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2567 Alternate or successive inflows
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2569 Control by depletion of source

Abstract

An intake for a bathtub with recirculates water, such as a whirlpool-type tub, includes a water inlet, an interior portion and an outlet that is adapted to be connected to a recirculating pump, so that water can flow from the tub, in through the inlet, through the interior and to the outlet to be recirculated by the pump. A vent communicates with the interior, and extends outside of the interior for communication with ambient air. A shutter is provided that is capable of being switched from a first condition, in which the outlet communicates with the vent, to an operating condition, in which, when a flow of water is caused toward the outlet, the shutter substantially shuts the vent. The shutter is adapted to switch from the operating condition to the first condition when the flow of water falls below a predetermined threshold value so as to enable ambient air to enter the interior through the vent, causing the recirculating pump to become unprimed. In this way, clogging of the water inlet automatically causes the deactivation of the recirculating pump.

Claims

1. A water intake, comprising:

a hollow body having a water inlet, a water outlet and a hollow interior communicating said inlet with said outlet;

a vent extending from outside of said hollow body to a position in said hollow interior so as to allow communication of said hollow interior with the outside of said hollow body; and

a shutter operable for movement between a rest position in which said hollow interior is in fluid communication with said vent and an operating position in which said shutter closes said vent off from said hollow interior, said shutter being constructed to be responsive to a flow of water from said inlet to said outlet to move to said operating position to close said vent until the flow of water falls below a threshold value, and to be responsive to the flow of water falling below the threshold value to move to said rest position so that said vent comes into fluid communication with said hollow interior.

2. An intake, comprising:

a hollow body having an inlet, an outlet and a hollow interior communicating said inlet with said outlet;

a vent extending from outside of said hollow body to a position in said hollow interior so as to allow communication of said hollow interior with the outside of said hollow body;

a shutter operable between a rest position in which said hollow interior is in fluid communication with said vent and an operating position in which said shutter closes said vent off from said hollow interior, said shutter being adapted to be in said operating position to close said vent during a flow of water from said inlet to said outlet until the flow of water falls below a threshold value, at which point said vent comes into fluid communication with said hollow interior;

wherein said shutter comprises a movable member biased by a spring to said rest position and a sensor adapted to be actuated by the flow of water to displace said movable member against the force of said spring to said operating position; and

wherein said sensor comprises a member which closes said inlet when said movable member is in said rest position.

3. An intake for a bathtub, comprising:

a water inlet, an interior and an outlet adapted to be connected to a pump, for the flow of water from said inlet, through said interior, to said outlet;

a vent communicating with said interior and extending outside thereof for communicating with ambient air;

a shutter constructed such that said shutter is capable of being switched from a first condition in which said outlet communicates with said vent to an operating condition in response to a flow of water being caused to flow toward said outlet, said shutter substantially shutting said vent in said operating condition, wherein said shutter is further constructed so as to switch from said operating condition to said first condition when the flow of water falls below a predetermined threshold value so as to enable ambient air to enter said interior through said vent.

4. An intake for a bathtub, comprising:

a water inlet, an interior and an outlet adapted to be connected to a pump, for the flow of water from said inlet, through said interior, to said outlet;

a vent communicating with said interior and extending outside thereof for communicating with ambient air; and

means for substantially shutting said vent in response to a flow of water being caused to move toward said outlet and for opening said vent when the flow of water falls below a predetermined threshold value so as to enable ambient air to enter said interior through said vent.