Patent ID: 8931121
Filing Date: 2015-01-13
Classification: A61H

Abstract:
1. In combination: a bathtub having a bottom wall, an upstanding first end wall with inner and outer sides, an upstanding second end wall with inner and outer sides, an upstanding first side wall with inner and outer sides, an upstanding second side wall with inner and outer sides, and a sill at the upper ends of the end and side walls; a water pump having intake and discharge sides; an air pump having intake and discharge ends; a generally horizontally extending first elongated manifold, having a first end, a second end, an upper end, a lower end, an inner side and an outer side, positioned at said outer side of said first side wall of said bathtub; a generally horizontally extending second elongated manifold, having a first end, a second end, an upper end, a lower end, an inner side and an outer side, positioned at said outer side of said second side wall of said bathtub; each of said first and second manifolds having a plurality of horizontally spaced-apart first bores, having inner and outer ends, formed therein which extend horizontally thereinto from said inner side thereof; each of said first and second manifolds having a plurality of horizontally spaced-apart second bores, having inner and outer ends, formed therein which intersect said first bores and which extend upwardly and outwardly from said inner ends of said first bores towards said outer side of the associated manifold; said inner ends of said first bores of said first and second manifolds intersecting said second bores of said first and second manifolds at said inner ends of said second bores; said first side wall of said bathtub having a plurality of generally horizontally spaced-apart discharge openings formed therein which extend between said inner and outer sides thereof; said second side wall of said bathtub having a plurality of generally horizontally spaced-apart discharge openings formed therein which extend between said inner and outer sides thereof; said inner ends of said first and second bores of said first manifold at the intersection thereof fluidly communicating with said discharge openings in said first side wall of said bathtub; said inner ends of said first and second bores of said second manifold at the intersection thereof fluidly communicating with said discharge openings in said second side wall of said bathtub; a first elongated and horizontally disposed tubular water conduit having a first end, a second end, an upper end, a lower end, an inner side and an outer side; said first water conduit being positioned at said outer side of said first manifold adjacent said lower end of said first manifold; a second elongated and horizontally disposed tubular water conduit having a first end, a second end, an upper end, a lower end, an inner side and an outer side; said second water conduit being positioned at said outer side of said second manifold adjacent said lower end of said second manifold; said first ends of said first and second water conduits being in fluid communication with said discharge side of said water pump; said first water conduit having a plurality of horizontally spaced-apart water discharge openings formed in said inner side thereof adjacent said upper end thereof which fluidly communicate with said inner ends of said first bores of said first manifold; said second water conduit having a plurality of horizontally spaced-apart water discharge openings formed in said inner side thereof adjacent said upper end thereof which fluidly communicate with said inner ends of said inner ends of said first bores of said second manifold; a first elongated and horizontally disposed air conduit, having a first end an a second end, positioned at said outer side of said first manifold above said first water conduit; said first end of said first air conduit being in communication with said discharge end of said air pump; said first air conduit having a plurality of spaced-apart air discharge openings formed therein which are in communication with said inner ends of said second bores in said first manifold; a second elongated and horizontally disposed air conduit, having a first end and a second end, positioned at said outer side of said second manifold above said second water conduit; said first end of said second air conduit being in communication with said discharge end of said air pump; said second air conduit having a plurality of spaced-apart air discharge openings formed therein which are in communication with said inner ends of said second bores in said second manifold; said bathtub having at least one water return opening formed therein which is in fluid communication with said intake end of said water pump; a first selectively closable access opening formed in said sill at said upper end of said second end wall of said bathtub; a first inverted generally Y-shaped pipe fitting having a vertically disposed upper pipe with open upper and lower ends; a first pipe member extending downwardly and outwardly from said open lower end of said upper pipe of said first pipe fitting, a second pipe member extending downwardly and outwardly from said open lower end of said upper pipe of said first pipe fitting; said open upper end of said upper pipe of said first pipe fitting being in fluid communication with said first access opening; a first hose extending downwardly and outwardly away from said first pipe member of said first pipe fitting to said second end of said first air conduit of said first manifold; a second hose extending downwardly and outwardly away from said second pipe member of said first pipe fitting to said second end of said second air conduit of said second manifold; a second selectively closable access opening formed in said sill at said upper end of said second wall of said bathtub; a second inverted generally Y-shaped pipe fitting having a vertically disposed upper pipe with open upper and lower ends, a first pipe member extending downwardly and outwardly from said open lower end of said upper pipe of said second pipe fitting, a second pipe member extending downwardly and outwardly from said open lower end of said upper pipe of said second pipe fitting; said open upper end of said upper pipe of said second pipe fitting being in fluid communication with said second access opening; a third hose extending downwardly and outwardly away from said first pipe member of said second pipe fitting to said second end of said first water conduit of said first manifold; a fourth hose extending downwardly and outwardly away from said second pipe member of said second pipe fitting to said second end of said second water conduit of said second manifold; said first access opening being configured whereby a cleaning brush is able to be inserted downwardly thereinto and thence through said upper pipe of said first pipe fitting, thence through said first pipe member of said first pipe fitting, thence through said first hose, and thence through said first air conduit in said first manifold; said first access opening being configured whereby a cleaning brush is able to be inserted downwardly thereinto and thence through said upper pipe of said first pipe fitting, thence through said second pipe member of said first pipe fitting, thence through said second hose, and thence through said first air conduit in said second manifold; said second access opening configured whereby a cleaning brush is able to be inserted downwardly thereinto and thence through said upper pipe of said second pipe fitting, thence through said first pipe member of said second pipe fitting, thence through said third hose, and thence through said first water conduit in said first manifold; said second access opening being configured whereby a cleaning brush is able to be inserted downwardly thereinto and thence through said upper pipe of said second pipe fitting, thence through said second pipe member of said second pipe fitting, thence through said fourth hose, and thence through said second water conduit in said second manifold.