Water jet mechanism for whirlpool effect in pedicures or other applications

• US RE46,655 E1
• Filed: 07/30/2015
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CL Capital Investments Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Lexor Incorporated (Catalyst Resource Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Luong, Christopher L., Nguyen, Quang, Luong, Long
• Primary Examiner(s): DOERRLER, WILLIAM CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US14/814,205
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 45411, 45416, 4622
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/0087 Therapeutic baths with agitated or circulated water
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6042 Used also as outlet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6047 With incorporated pump means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6063 Specifically adapted for fitting in bathtub walls
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 35/006 for the feet

Abstract

A whirlpool foot bath for a pedicure chair having a housing with a removable cap and a rotor and stator magnetic motor within the housing. Water in the bath is circulated through an inlet in the cap and out through at least one outlet in the cap. A method of use is described.

Claims

1. A jet pump mounted in a basin of a pedicure chair, or whirlpool bath wherein water is circulated, the jet pump comprising:

a housing having an externally accessible removable cap, the cap having an outer surface and an inner surface, a rim formed circumferentially about the inner surface, an inlet opening for water formed centrally within the cap, a wall being formed circumferentially on the inner surface of the cap surrounding the inlet opening between the inlet opening and the rim, the wall extending from the inner surface of the cap and directed toward the motor,

at least one outlet for water formed through the cap radially between the wall around the inlet opening and the rim, the at least one outlet having a nozzle thereabout formed on the outer surface of the cap whereby water is projected from the nozzle into the basin,

the inlet opening having a plurality of spaced-apart holes,

a motor having an impeller to draw water toward the motor, the motor being disposed within the housing, and the impeller being oriented opposite the inlet opening of the cap,

wherein when the motor is activated, the impeller is rotated, the water is drawn through the water inlet and the water is expelled radially against the wall around the inlet opening, the water circulating within the cap and being directed axially outwardly through the at least one outlet.

2. The jet pump of claim 1, wherein the series of spaced-apart inlet holes are formed on a convex dome extending above the outer surface of the cap.

3. The jet pump of claim 1, wherein the impeller is manually removable for cleaning.

4. A jet pump configured to be mounted in a basin of a pedicure chair or in a whirlpool bath wherein water is circulated, the jet pump comprising:

a housing supporting a motor having a stator and a rotor and configured to rotatingly drive a plurality of vanes about an axis, the housing comprising a shoulder configured to mount the housing to a wall of the pedicure chair or whirlpool bath so that a housing front part extends into the basin;

a cap having an outer surface and an inner surface, the cap releasably engaged with the housing front part so as to define a pump chamber between the cap inner surface and a surface of the housing front part, the cap comprising a plurality of spaced-apart holes formed through the cap and defining an inlet aligned with the axis, and an outlet opening through the cap inner surface, the outlet opening being radially spaced from the inlet;

the plurality of vanes disposed within the pump chamber and rotatable by the rotor to draw water axially through the inlet and direct the water radially and out the outlet opening;

the surface of the housing front part within the pump chamber comprising a flat portion and an outer portion, the outer portion extending in a direction transverse to the flat portion and terminating at an outer edge, the outer edge forming an unbroken circle, and when the cap is engaged with the housing front part the outer edge engages the cap inner surface and the outlet opening of the cap is adjacent the outer edge; and

a first point along the cap inner surface being defined at the inlet, a second point along the cap inner surface being defined adjacent the outlet opening, the first point and second point being spaced radially and axially relative to one another.

5. A jet pump as in claim 4, wherein a reference plane is defined by the flat portion of the surface of the housing front part in the pump chamber and is normal to the axis, and wherein moving radially from the first point to the second point a distance between the cap inner surface and the reference plane progressively decreases without increasing.

6. A jet pump as in claim 5, wherein a radially flat portion of the cap inner surface is defined between the first point and the second point, and wherein the distance between the cap inner surface and the reference plane does not decrease moving radially across the radially flat portion.

7. A jet pump as in claim 5, wherein a distance between the second point and the reference plane is less than a distance between the first point and the reference plane.

8. A jet pump as in claim 4, wherein a reference plane is defined by the flat portion of the housing front part surface within the pump chamber and is normal to the axis, and wherein a distance between the second point and the reference plane is less than a distance between the first point and the reference plane.

9. A jet pump as in claim 4, wherein the outlet opening opens into an elongate nozzle having a downstream nozzle opening that is spaced from the cap outer surface.

10. A jet pump as in claim 9, wherein the cap is unitary.

11. A jet pump as in claim 4, further comprising a second outlet opening spaced radially from the inlet and from the outlet opening.

12. A jet pump as in claim 4, wherein a first elongate radially extending portion of the cap inner surface in the inlet is inclined relative to the axis, a second elongate radially extending portion of the cap inner surface is normal to the axis, and a third elongate radially extending portion of the cap inner surface is inclined relative to the axis, the second portion being between the first and third portions.

13. A jet pump as in claim 4 further comprising an inlet passage that rotates with the vanes, the inlet passage interposed between the vanes and the cap inner surface and aligned with the inlet.

14. A jet pump as in claim 4, wherein the vanes are mounted on the rotor.

24. A jet pump as in claim 4, wherein at the inlet the outer surface of the cap extends outwardly relative to a portion of the outer surface of the cap radially adjacent the inlet.

25. A jet pump as in claim 24, wherein the inner surface of the cap in at least part of the inlet is inclined relative to a line normal to the axis.

26. A jet pump as in claim 25, wherein a plurality of the holes formed through the cap in the inlet portion extend through the part of the inlet portion wherein the inner surface of the cap is inclined relative to the line normal to the axis.

27. A jet pump as in claim 4, wherein the flat portion of the housing front part is radially spaced from the axis.

28. A jet pump as in claim 27, wherein the outer portion of the housing front part is parallel to the axis.

29. A jet pump as in claim 8 additionally comprising an inclined portion of the cap inner surface arranged between the inlet and the second point, the inclined portion being inclined relative to the axis, wherein the distance between the cap inner surface and the reference plane decreases moving radially across the inclined portion.

30. A jet pump as in claim 29, wherein the motor comprises an induction motor.

31. A jet pump as in claim 30, wherein the stator comprises an electrically activated stator, and the rotor comprises a permanent magnet rotor, and wherein the rotor is magnetically drawn to the stator.

32. A jet pump as in claim 31, wherein the motor has no propeller shaft.

33. A jet pump as in claim 32, wherein the stator has a well formed therein, the opening of the well being oriented toward the cap, and the rotor is shaped to fit within the well.

34. A jet pump as in claim 32, wherein the stator comprises a post and the rotor comprises a central bore configured to accept the post therein so as to maintain proper seating of the rotor.

35. A jet pump as in claim 34, wherein the rotor is sufficiently magnetically attracted to the stator so that the rotor will seat itself on the stator post when placed near the stator.

36. A jet pump as in claim 8, wherein a radially flat portion of the cap inner surface is defined between the first point and the second point.

37. A jet pump as in claim 36, wherein the distance between the cap inner surface and the reference plane does not decrease moving radially across the radially flat portion.

38. A jet pump as in claim 37, wherein a first elongate radially extending portion of the cap inner surface in the inlet is inclined relative to the axis, a second elongate radially extending portion of the cap inner surface comprising the radially flat portion, and a third elongate radially extending portion of the cap inner surface is inclined relative to the axis, the second portion being between the first and third portions.

39. A jet pump as in claim 38, wherein the second portion is contiguous with the first portion, and the second portion is contiguous with the third portion.

40. A jet pump as in claim 39, wherein the cap is unitary.

41. A jet pump as in claim 40, wherein the outlet is radially spaced from the second portion.

42. A jet pump as in claim 36 additionally comprising an inclined portion of the cap inner surface arranged between the inlet and the second point, the inclined portion being inclined relative to the axis, wherein the distance between the cap inner surface and the reference plane decreases moving radially across the inclined portion.

43. A jet pump as in claim 36, wherein a first elongate radially extending portion of the cap inner surface in the inlet is inclined relative to the axis, a second elongate radially extending portion of the cap inner surface comprising the radially flat portion, and a third elongate radially extending portion of the cap inner surface is inclined relative to the axis, the second portion being between the first and third portions.

44. A jet pump as in claim 43, wherein the outlet is radially spaced from the second portion.

45. A jet pump as in claim 44, further comprising a second outlet opening spaced radially from the second portion and from the outlet opening.

46. A jet pump as in claim 45, wherein at the inlet the outer surface of the cap extends outwardly relative to a portion of the outer surface of the cap radially adjacent the inlet.

47. A jet pump as in claim 46, wherein the inner surface of the cap in at least part of the inlet is inclined relative to a line normal to the axis.

48. A jet pump as in claim 47, wherein a plurality of the holes formed through the cap in the inlet portion extend through the part of the inlet portion wherein the inner surface of the cap is inclined relative to the line normal to the axis.

49. A jet pump as in claim 48, wherein the rotor is magnetically drawn to the stator, and wherein the stator comprises a post and the rotor comprises a central bore configured to accept the post therein so as to maintain proper seating of the rotor.

50. A jet pump as in claim 49, wherein the motor has no propeller shaft.

51. A jet pump as in claim 50, wherein the flat portion of the housing front part is radially spaced from the axis.

52. A jet pump as in claim 51, wherein the outer portion of the housing front part is parallel to the axis.

53. A jet pump as in claim 52, wherein the vanes are mounted on the rotor.

54. A jet pump as in claim 11 additionally comprising a third outlet opening spaced radially from the inlet, wherein the outlet opening, second outlet opening, and third outlet opening are spaced equidistantly from one another.

15. A jet pump configured to be mounted in a basin of a pedicure chair or in a whirlpool bath wherein water is circulated, the jet pump comprising:

a housing supporting a motor having a stator, the housing comprising a shoulder configured to mount the housing to a wall of the pedicure chair or whirlpool bath so that a housing front part extends into the basin, the motor configured so that no propeller shaft of the motor extends through the housing front part;

a rotor that is magnetically drawn toward the stator and which comprises a plurality of vanes, the stator and rotor configured so that the motor, when actuated, rotates the rotor about an axis;

a cap having an outer surface and an inner surface, the cap releasably engaged with the housing front part so as to define a pump chamber between the cap inner surface and a surface of the housing front part, the cap comprising a plurality of spaced-apart holes formed through the cap and defining an inlet aligned with the axis, and an outlet opening through the cap inner surface, the outlet opening being radially spaced from the inlet;

the rotor and the plurality of vanes disposed within the pump chamber, the plurality of vanes configured to rotate with the rotor to draw water axially through the inlet and direct the water radially and out the outlet opening;

the surface of the housing front part within the pump chamber comprising a flat portion and an outer edge portion, the outer edge portion extending in a direction transverse to the flat portion; and

a first point along the cap inner surface being defined at the inlet, a second point along the cap inner surface being defined adjacent the outlet opening, the first point and second point being spaced radially and axially relative to one another.

16. A jet pump as in claim 15, wherein the outer edge portion of the surface of the housing front part within the pump chamber is circular.

17. A jet pump as in claim 16, wherein the outlet opening of the cap is adjacent the outer edge portion when the cap is engaged with the housing front part.

18. A jet pump as in claim 17, wherein the outlet opening opens into an elongate nozzle having a downstream nozzle opening that is spaced from the cap outer surface.

19. A jet pump as in claim 18, wherein the cap is unitary.

20. A jet pump as in claim 15, wherein the housing front part additionally comprises a post aligned with the axis, and wherein the rotor comprises a central bore configured to accommodate the post.

21. A jet pump as in claim 15, wherein a reference plane is defined by the flat portion of the surface of the housing front part in the pump chamber and is normal to the axis, and wherein moving radially from the first point to the second point a distance between the cap inner surface and the reference plane progressively decreases without increasing.

22. A jet pump as in claim 21, wherein a radially flat portion of the cap inner surface is defined between the first point and the second point, and wherein the distance between the cap inner surface and the reference plane does not decrease moving radially across the radially flat portion.

23. A jet pump as in claim 15, wherein a reference plane is defined by the flat portion of the surface of the housing front part in the pump chamber and is normal to the axis, and wherein a radially flat portion of the cap inner surface is defined between the first point and the second point, and wherein the distance between the cap inner surface and the reference plane does not decrease moving radially across the radially flat portion.

55. A jet pump as in claim 20, wherein the stator comprises the post, and wherein the rotor is sufficiently magnetically attracted to the stator so that when on the post the rotor will seat itself on the stator.

56. A jet pump as in claim 55, wherein the motor has no propeller shaft.

57. A jet pump as in claim 20, wherein the flat portion of the housing front part is radially spaced from the axis.

58. A jet pump as in claim 57, wherein the outer edge portion terminates in a front outer edge that forms an unbroken circle.

59. A jet pump as in claim 58, wherein at the inlet the outer surface of the cap extends outwardly relative to a portion of the outer surface of the cap radially adjacent the inlet.

60. A jet pump as in claim 59, wherein at least part of the inner surface of the cap in the inlet is inclined relative to the line normal to the axis.

61. A jet pump as in claim 60, wherein the outer edge portion of the housing front part is parallel to the axis.

62. A jet pump as in claim 60, wherein the outlet opening of the cap is adjacent the outer edge portion when the cap is engaged with the housing front part.

63. A jet pump as in claim 62, further comprising a second outlet opening spaced radially from the inlet and from the outlet opening.

64. A jet pump as in claim 63, wherein the outlet opening and the second outlet opening each open into a respective elongate nozzle having a downstream nozzle opening that is spaced from the cap outer surface.

65. A jet pump as in claim 64, wherein the cap is unitary.

66. A jet pump as in claim 65 additionally comprising an inclined portion of the cap inner surface arranged between the inlet and the second point, the inclined portion being inclined relative to the axis, wherein the distance between the cap inner surface and the reference plane decreases moving radially across the inclined portion.

67. A jet pump as in claim 66, wherein a reference plane is defined by the flat portion of the surface of the housing front part in the pump chamber and is normal to the axis, and wherein a radially flat portion of the cap inner surface is defined between the first point and the second point, and the radially flat portion is parallel to the reference plane.

68. A jet pump as in claim 67, wherein moving radially from the first point to the second point a distance between the cap inner surface and the reference plane progressively decreases without increasing.

69. A jet pump as in claim 65, wherein a reference plane is defined by the flat portion of the surface of the housing front part in the pump chamber and is normal to the axis, and wherein a distance between the second point and the reference plane is less than a distance between the first point and the reference plane.

70. A jet pump as in claim 69, wherein a radially flat portion of the cap inner surface is defined between the first point and the second point.

71. A jet pump as in claim 70 additionally comprising an inclined portion of the cap inner surface arranged between the inlet and the second point, the inclined portion being inclined relative to the axis, wherein the distance between the cap inner surface and the reference plane decreases moving radially across the inclined portion.

72. A jet pump as in claim 71, wherein the distance between the cap inner surface and the reference plane does not decrease moving radially across the radially flat portion.

73. A jet pump as in claim 70, wherein a first elongate radially extending portion of the cap inner surface in the inlet is inclined relative to the axis, a second elongate radially extending portion of the cap inner surface comprises the radially flat portion, and a third elongate radially extending portion of the cap inner surface is inclined relative to the axis, the second portion being between the first and third portions.

74. A jet pump as in claim 73, wherein the outlet and the second outlet are each radially spaced from the second portion.