Patent ID: 7950077
Filing Date: 2011-05-31
Classification: A61H

Abstract:
1. An improved spa nozzle that is capable of entraining air from the surrounding environment, said nozzle of the type having a water input conduit which has a centerline and a characteristic cross-sectional area dimension D, a flow output conduit having a boundary wall and an entry characteristic cross-sectional area dimension of DID, a transition conduit having characteristic cross-sectional area and length dimensions of ID and PL and which has a centerline and which connects said input and output conduits, an air entrainment conduit and wherein the centerlines of said water input and transition conduits have an intersection angle of θ, and wherein the following ratios are herein defined to describe the relative geometry of said nozzle: α=PL/(DID −ID), β=DID/ID and γ=D/ID, said improvement comprising: said air entrainment conduit having an outlet port in said flow output conduit boundary wall, said output and transition conduits being configured such that there is an abrupt increase in the respective sizes of their cross-sectional areas at said entry to said output conduit, said input and transition conduits being configured so that said intersection angle θ has a value in the range of 90 degrees so as to create a sharp edge at the inside corner of said input and transition conduits' intersection, said transition conduit having a relatively constant cross-sectional area at all points along said length of said transition conduit and said air entrainment conduit being configured so that said outlet port is located at a point chosen from the group consisting of at or adjacent and downstream from said entry of said flow output conduit.