Abstract:
Devices and systems for improved massaging hydrotherapy in spas are provided. These devices and systems provide many improvements for massaging hydrotherapy, some of which include customizable jets and systems of lower cost and complexity. A hydrotherapy jet for providing a pulsating water stream comprises a jet body is provided. The jet further comprises a water inlet to allow a stream of water into the body. A water outlet allows the stream to exit the body and a movable ball within the body causes the stream of water to pulsate as it exits the body. Additionally, systems for providing a hydrotherapy jet to a reservoir of water are provided.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/003,426 to Michael D. Holtsnider, which was filed on Nov. 16, 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to hydrotherapy jets and more particularly to hydrotherapy jets generating a massaging effect by the action of a movable, rolling ball. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Various hydrotherapy jets have been developed for use in spas, hot tubs, pools, bath tubs and the like (hereinafter “spa” or “spas”). Jets can be arranged to discharge a stream of water to the interior of the spa, which can be aerated through a variety of commercially available discharge nozzles. The various designs provide different flow characteristics that produce a pleasing, massaging effect for the spa occupants and have become quite popular. In the design of single or multi-user spas or tubs, it is common to use a variety of different jet nozzles to provide a variety of different massaging effects. 
         [0006]    Early jets simply discharged a stream of warm water, with aeration if desired, along the longitudinal axis of the jet body. Since then, numerous jets have been developed in which the direction of the stream can be adjusted. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,029 to Spears et al. (assigned to the same assignee as the present invention) discloses a jet that provides an off-axis stream of water and has an axial push/pull mechanism used to control the flow of water. The mechanism can also be turned to rotate the stream of water around the jet axis, providing limited directional control over the stream. 
         [0007]    Other jets have been developed having fully adjustable directional outlets or eyeballs, which are typically mounted in the face plate of the jet or recessed within the jet body. See Waterway Plastics Inc., “2005 Product Catalog”, pages 5-26. For some of these jets, the direction of the stream of water can be adjusted by manually manipulating the nozzle or eyeball to the desired direction. 
         [0008]    Still other jets have been developed that produce a pulsating stream of water. U.S. Pat. No. 4,456,174 to J. Neenan discloses a spa jet that produces a pulsating action by having a rotating flow disturbing blade mounted at the discharge end of the jet nozzle. Water flowing through the jet turns a small multi-bladed turbine that then turns a disturbing vane positioned to disturb the jet&#39;s water flow through part of the vane&#39;s rotation. The rotating velocity of the disturbing vane can be controlled, and the amount of projection of the turbine rotor into the water stream can also be varied. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,320,541, also to J. Neenan, discloses a spa jet that provides a pulsating action by a flow impeding spoiler that momentarily and repetitively disturbs the water jet that is projected into a mixing chamber. Disturbing the jet effectively disables the vacuum produced by the Venturi action, which causes a discharge of a water stream of decreased velocity having considerably less entrained air. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,372 to L. Thrasher et al. discloses a hydrotherapy jet that produces rotating and pulsating streams of water. The jet includes a nozzle rotor that rotates within the jet body and is held by a rotor retainer cage. The nozzle rotor has two passageways and turns in response to the jet water passing through the passageways. A portion of the retainer cage extends over the discharge end of the rotor so that water from the rotor passageways is momentarily interrupted as the rotor turns. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,925 to Dongo (assigned to the same assignee as the present invention) discloses a spa jet having a rotating eyeball and a diverter cap formed with a number of bore holes positioned at a common radius from the center of the cap. Water flowing through passageways in the eyeball causes it to rotate at a high speed. The water discharging from the passageways intersects with the diverter cap boreholes to produce the sensation of a number of simultaneously pulsating water jets. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention provides devices and systems for improved massaging hydrotherapy in spas, which allow for, amongst other improvements, customizable jets and systems of lower cost and complexity. One embodiment of a hydrotherapy jet system according to the present invention provides a pulsating water stream comprising a jet body, and a water inlet to allow a stream of water into the body. A water outlet allows the stream to exit the body, and a movable ball within the body causes the stream of water to pulsate as it exits the body. 
         [0013]    Pursuant to another specific, exemplary embodiment, a hydrotherapy jet system producing a pulsating water stream is provided. The system comprises a jet body and a stream of water flowing through the body. A movable object within the jet body blocks and diverts the stream, with the stream pulsating as it leaves the body. 
         [0014]    In accordance with yet another specific, exemplary embodiment, a system for providing a hydrotherapy jet to a reservoir of water is provided. The system comprises a reservoir shell capable of holding water and a plurality of hydrotherapy jets mounted to the reservoir shell. A water pump system circulates water from the reservoir and is capable of providing a stream of water to at least one of the jets having an internal object that moves within the body to block and divert the stream. The jet provides a pulsating stream to the reservoir. 
         [0015]    These and other further features and advantages of the invention would be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken together with following drawings: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a hydrotherapy jet according to the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an elevation view of the jet shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the jet shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the jet shown in  FIG. 1 , taken along section lines  4 / 5 - 4 / 5  and arranged in an external body; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a perspective sectional view of the jet shown in  FIG. 1  taken along section lines  4 / 5 - 4 / 5 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the lower eyeball used in the jet shown in  FIGS. 1-5 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the upper eyeball used in the jet shown in  FIGS. 1-5 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a hydrotherapy jet according to the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is an elevation view of the jet shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a top view of the jet shown in  FIG. 8 ; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a sectional view of the jet shown in  FIG. 8  taken along section lines  11 / 12 - 11 / 12 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    The following description presents preferred embodiments of the invention representing exemplary modes contemplated for practicing the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of the invention, the scope of which is better understood by the appended claims. 
         [0028]    The present invention generally provides a spa hydrotherapy jet having an internal object that is free to move about within the jet body to mechanically block or divert the stream of water passing through the jet. This mechanical diversion causes the spa occupant the sensation that the stream of water from the jet is pulsating. 
         [0029]    Many different objects having many different shapes can be used, including but not limited to: cubic, diamond, pyramid and egg shaped objects. In one embodiment, the preferred object has a substantially spherical shape (“ball”) and is made of plastic, such as ABS of PVC, or rubber materials, although it is understood that other suitable materials may also be used. In some embodiments, a rubber ball may be preferable to reduce noise caused from the ball moving about within the jet. During operation, the ball is operated on and moved by the stream of water passing through the jet to cause the jet to generate a pulsating stream. 
         [0030]    The jet according to the present invention generally comprises a housing having a water inlet to accept a stream of water, and an outlet to provide a stream of water from the jet housing to the interior of a spa. The jet outlet can comprise a number of outlet openings, although in some embodiments it can comprise a single opening. An internal ball is held in the jet in a space sized to allow the ball to move about within the housing. The stream of water passing through the jet from the water inlet to the water outlet contacts the internal ball, causing it to move about within its housing space. This movement causes the ball to at least partially block one or more of the outlet openings, causing, at minimum, a partial interruption of the water exiting from one or more of the openings. The blocking action provides a pulsing effect of the water stream exiting the water outlet openings. In the case of an outlet having a single opening, the movement of the internal ball at least partially blocks and unblocks the water as it passes out of the outlet, which provides a pulsating action. 
         [0031]    This arrangement of the present invention provides simpler and more reliable pulsating jets. The number of moving parts is reduced and there are no bearings or pins holding moving parts within the jet. This reduces the number of parts that can fail, and provides for a jet that can be manufactured at lower costs. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 1-5  show one embodiment of the hydrotherapy jet  10  constructed in accordance with the present invention. The jet  10  and its components are preferably formed from a water impervious plastic such as ABS, although it is understood other suitable materials can also be used. The components are formed using conventional plastic fabrication processes, such as injection molding. As mentioned above, the ball can be formed of many materials but in the embodiment shown is made of a rubber material to reduce noise. The jet  10  is particularly adapted for mounting in the wall of a spa, just below the water line, with the majority of the jet positioned behind the spa&#39;s water contacting wall. 
         [0033]    The jet  10  comprises a generally cylindrical internal body  12  that can be formed of a single construction or can, as shown, comprising an upper inner body portion  14  coupled to a lower inner body portion  16 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the internal body  12  can be mounted in an outer body  18  that can comprise a water connecting conduit  20  that receives a standard water supply tube to supply water to the inner body  12 . The outer body also has an air inlet  20  to allow air into the outer body  18 , and in turn into the inner body  12 , in applications where aerated water is desired. Water supply tubes that can be connected to the water conduit  20  can also be connected to the spa&#39;s plumbing system, which circulates water between the spa and system&#39;s heater, pump and filter, and back to the jets. The air inlet can be connected by a conduit to a spa blower, or can be left open to draw ambient air into the jet  10 . 
         [0034]    As further shown in  FIG. 4 , the outer body  18  has an external flange  24  that is arranged such that it is positioned on the spa&#39;s water contacting wall when the jet  10  is installed. The outside surface of the outer body  18 , adjacent to the flange  24 , has a threaded section  26  for mating with the threads of a wall fitting (not shown). A gasket or other devices or compounds that provide a watertight seal (not shown) can be on the spa wall, wall fitting and/or the flange  24  to provide a watertight seal between the wall and jet  10 . The fitting is rotated until the flange  24  tightens against the spa wall. The jet  10  is held securely in place with the spa wall sandwiched between the flange  24  and the fitting. 
         [0035]    The inner body  12  comprises a water inlet  28  that operates as an opening to the interior of the inner body  12  to allow water in from the water conduit  20 . When the jet  10  is installed in a spa, a spa occupant can control the amount of water that passes into the inner body  12  by grasping the outer flange  30  and applying a turning force to it. This in turn causes the inner body  12  to rotate within the outer body  18 , which changes the alignment of the opening  28  with the water conduit  20 . When the opening  28  is fully aligned with the conduit  20 , the maximum amount of water enters the inner body  12 . Moving the inlet  28  out of alignment with the water conduit  20  reduces the amount of water entering the inner body  12 , and when the opening  28  is moved completely out of alignment with the water conduit  20 , no water enters the inner body  12 . 
         [0036]    In some embodiments the amount of water entering and passing through the inner body by the alignment of the inlet  28  and conduit  20  not only impacts the force of the water passing through and leaving the jet  10 , but can also impact the rate of pulsing provided by the internal ball. In some embodiments, the greater the force of the stream, the greater the turbulence of the stream and the greater the rate at which the ball moves about the interior of the body. As a result, the pulsating effect of the stream leaving the jet can be increased. 
         [0037]    Water entering the inner body  12  passes into a nozzle  32 , although in other jet embodiments a nozzle is not included. The interior surface of the nozzle  32  has a Venturi section  34  that tapers slightly to accelerate the water flowing through the nozzle  32 , causing a Venturi effect. Forward of the Venturi section  34  are axial air passageways  36 . Air entering the outer body  18  through the air inlet  22  can flow to the forward end of the Venturi section  34  through the passageways  36 . At that location, air is entrained into the water jet due to the Venturi action, producing a jet with a desirable water/air mixture. 
         [0038]    The water stream (with entrained air) then passes through the nozzle&#39;s longitudinal section  38  and into the eyeball  40  that provides a space  42  to hold the internal ball  44 . The space  42  and ball  44  can be many different sizes, and in one embodiment the space  42  and ball are sized such that the stream passing into the eyeball  40  strikes the ball  44 . The turbulence of the stream entering the eyeball and/or the turbulence created by the stream striking the ball  44  causes the ball to move about within the eyeball. The eyeball has a longitudinal tab  46  that can be aligned with the longitudinal axis of the eyeball  40  and can protrude into the interior of the eyeball  40 . The tab  46  prevents the ball  44  from coming to rest at the top of the eyeball  40  under the force of the stream. That is, the ball is forced off center in the eyeball  40  by the tab  46  so the action of the ball  44  creates the desired pulsating effect. 
         [0039]    The eyeball  40  can have many different shapes and sizes and can comprise a single construction or be made of different pieces mounted together. The eyeball  40 , as shown in this embodiment, comprises a lower eyeball portion  48  and upper eyeball portion  50 , best shown separately in  FIGS. 6 and 7  respectively, and as a unit in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The nozzle&#39;s longitudinal section  38  has an integral cup  52  that opens toward the eyeball  40 . The eyeball&#39;s lower portion  48  is mounted within the cup  52  with the end portion of the longitudinal section within the lower portion  48 . The hourglass shape of the lower portion  48  allows a spa user to move the eyeball within the cup  52  to change the direction of the pulsating stream leaving the eyeball  40 . This provides directional control of the stream leaving the eyeball  40 . 
         [0040]    The lower portion  48  has an internal ring  54  held along the longitudinal axis of the lower portion  48  by extensions  56 . The ring is sized such that the ball  44  cannot pass through it, and at least part of the stream from the longitudinal section  38  passes through the ring  54  and strikes the ball  44 . The upper portion  50  generally provides the jet outlet and as shown has three openings  58   a - c , although in other embodiments according to the invention it can have more or fewer openings. The openings  58   a - c  cooperate with the movement of the ball  44  to provide a pulsating stream from each of the openings. When the stream strikes the ball  44 , turbulence causes the ball to move about within the eyeball  40  causing at least partial blockage of one or more of the openings. As the ball  44  continues to move about, it can provide less or more blockage at any one of the openings  58   a - c , and this continued motion of the ball  44  causes pulsating streams to exit from the openings  58   a - c  and enter the spa. 
         [0041]    The ball  44  in jet  10  is not attached to the remainder of the jet body  12 , the eyeball  40 , or any other components of the jet  10 . It is understood, however, that in other embodiments, the ball  44  could be attached to one of the jet components and still be movable within the jet to generate a pulsating stream. Many different attachment methods could be used, such as a cord, lead, bracket, etc. 
         [0042]      FIGS. 8-11  show another embodiment of a jet  70  according to the present invention also having an internal ball arranged so the jet outlet provides a pulsating stream. The jet  70  comprises an inner jet body  72  that can be a single construction or can be multiple sections mounted together. The inner body  72  can be mounted in a rotatable arrangement in an outer body in a similar arrangement to the one shown in  FIG. 4  and described above. As shown, the inner jet body  72  comprises an upper body  74 , middle body  76 , and lower body  78  mounted together to form the jet body  72 . The body  72  comprises a water inlet  80  to allow water into the body  72  and a longitudinal nozzle  82  that allows a stream of water to flow through the body  72 . The nozzle  82  has at least one axial air passageway  84  to allow air into the stream to provide the desired air/water mixture. 
         [0043]    Downstream from the passageway  84  is an outlet  86  having three “pie shaped” openings  86   a - c . A ball  88  is held in the jet  70  by the outlet  86 , with the ball  88  being at least partially in the path of the stream exiting from the nozzle  82 . The ball  88  is held and is free to move around the space  90  such that when the stream strikes the ball the turbulence causes the ball  88  to move within the space. This causes the ball  88  to at least partially block the water at one or more of the openings as it moves, generating a pulsating stream to the spa. 
         [0044]    The ball  88  is larger relative to its space  90  compared to the ball and space in  FIG. 1-5 , which limits the amount of movement of the ball  88 . This limitation, however, still allows for the generation of a pulsating stream. The jet  70  also does not have an adjustable outlet like the jet  10  in  FIGS. 1-5 . Instead, the outlet is fixed within the body. 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , multiple jets can be installed in a spa or tub shell  100 . Some or all of the jets can be one of the jets according to the present invention as described above, with the jets in this embodiment being jet  102 . The remaining jets can be any other desired type, such as a variety of single nozzle jets  104 . Both types of jets are connected to a water pump  106 , used to circulate the water throughout the spa system, by a series of water conduits  108 . Water from shell  100  is provided to pump  106  through the drain  110 , which is connected through return water conduit  112  to pump  106 . Water from pump  106  is provided back to shell  100  by conduits  108 , where it flows into jets  102  and/or  104  and in turn into shell  100 , completing the loop. Additionally, an air system  114  can be included that provides air to individual jets  102  and  104  through an air conduit  116  to aerate the water flowing through the jets. The air system  114  can be pump driven to increase the pressure of the air entering the jet  102 , or it can be vacuum based with the Venturis located within the jets  102 , drawing air into the jets  102  and water flow stream. 
         [0046]    Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred configurations, other versions are possible. The invention can be used in spas, pools, tubs and the like. Different spa, pool or tub components can use the invention for water illumination. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the preferred versions described above.