Hydrotherapy jet system adapted for quick connection to air and water plumbing

A hydrotherapy jet system is provided which generally includes a fixture body, a nozzle, and a fluid line connector. The fixture body is insertable into a hole in a spa tub wall. The nozzle is inserted into a front end of the fixture body. An optional cover may be provided over the front end of the fixture body securing the nozzle in position. The fluid line connector has a first end adapted to be snap fit to a rear portion of the fixture body such that a fluid-tight coupling is provided, and a second end adapted for secure coupling to a flexible plumbing conduit. The fluid line connector is couplable to the fixture body without tools by simply snap-fitting the fluid line connector with the fixture body. An O-ring is preferably provided to one of the rear portion of the fixture body and fluid line connector to ensure the fluid-tight seal. It will be appreciated that after securely coupling the fluid line connector to the fixture body, the fluid line connector is rotatable relative to the fixture body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates broadly to hydrotherapy spas, tubs and pools. More 
particularly, this invention relates to hydrotherapy spa jet systems 
adapted to be easily and quickly installed in a tub or pool. 
2. State of the Art 
Hot tubs and spas are generally relatively deep tubs formed by rotational 
molding, blow-molding or vacuum-forming. The tubs are provided with a 
number of fixtures including water jet assemblies. The appeal of hot tubs 
and spas is primarily due to the hydrotherapy provided by pressurized 
water jet assemblies recessed into the tub wall which provide a massaging 
action. 
In particular, each hydrotherapy jet assembly is connected via flexible 
conduits to water and air manifolds which supply pressurized water and air 
to each jet assembly of the spa tub. The pressurized water flows through a 
hydrotherapy jet assembly having an expanded throat, i.e., a venturi. As 
the water flows through the expanded throat, the water at the center of 
the throat moves more rapidly than the water along the sides of the 
nozzle. As a result, a low pressure area is created at the center of the 
throat. Air is drawn from an inlet into the low pressure area and mixes 
with the water. The mixture of pressurized water and air thereby provide 
an aerated therapeutic jet of water. 
Hydrotherapy jet fixtures are generally installed in a hole in the tub 
wall, with the fixture outlet directed into the interior of the tub. The 
rear of the fixture includes an air inlet and a water inlet connected to 
plumbing which separately provides air and water supplies. The connections 
of the jet fixture to the plumbing is typically a serpentine collection of 
flexible conduits which each must be coupled between a manifold and the 
respective jet fixtures at the time of spa plumbing installation. The 
current method of installation is undesirable for several reasons. First, 
all connections between plumbing fixtures (air manifold, water manifold, 
and spa jet fixtures) are made at the time of installation. This requires 
a large number of connections to be made at the installation site in 
typically cramped working conditions. Moreover, it may be difficult to 
reach and accomplish the connection due to the location of a particular 
jet fixture. Second, each plumbing connection (at manifold side and water 
and air inlets) must be glued or clamped in position by a skilled worker. 
If the connection is glued, several steps must be performed: opening the 
glue container, using an applicator to remove glue from the container, 
applying the glue to the outside of an end of a conduit, closing the glue 
container, inserting the end of the conduit into a respective slip fitting 
in a plumbing fixture, and holding the conduit relative to the plumbing 
fixture until the glue sets to secure the connection. This process must be 
repeated for each glued connection and can be time consuming and 
exhausting, particularly at hard-to-reach connections. Also, gluing 
requires good ventilation and a respirator should be used to avoid 
inhaling the glue fumes. If the connection is clamped, special tools are 
required and it may be difficult to utilize the tools for tightening the 
clamp about the conduit in the space available. Third, with respect to 
both gluing and clamping, the conduit and plumbing fixture are rotatably 
fixed after coupling. Therefore, if it is afterward desirable to direct 
the conduit at a different angle from the plumbing fixture, e.g., due to 
apparent stress being provided to the conduit, it is not possible to 
redirect the conduit to remove the stress without disassembling the 
connection and adding additional plumbing fittings, e.g., 45.degree. or 
90.degree. elbows, or a combination thereof, to direct the conduit toward 
the desired location. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a hydrotherapy jet 
system having a hydrotherapy fixture which can be quickly and easily 
connected to air and water plumbing. 
It is another object of the invention to provide a hydrotherapy jet system 
which permits a complete pre-assembly of the plumbing conduits for 
facilitated connection of the manifold to the respective jet fixtures. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide a hydrotherapy jet 
system which requires no tools for installation in the factory or at the 
job site. 
It is also an object of the invention to provide a hydrotherapy jet system 
which permits radial adjustment of a conduit relative to an inlet on the 
spa fixture. 
In accord with these objects which will be discussed in detail below, a 
hydrotherapy jet system is provided which generally includes a fixture 
body, a jet nozzle, and a fluid line connector. The fixture body includes 
a front portion and a rear portion, and is insertable into a hole in a spa 
tub wall. The jet nozzle is inserted into a front end of the fixture body. 
An optional cover may be provided over the front end of the fixture body 
securing the nozzle in position. The fluid line connector has a first 
portion adapted to be snap fit to a rear portion of the fixture body such 
that a fluid-tight coupling is provided, and a second portion adapted for 
secure coupling to a flexible plumbing conduit. The fluid line connector 
is couplable to the fixture body without tools by simply snap-fitting the 
first portion of the fluid line connector with the fixture body. An O-ring 
is preferably provided to either the rear portion of the fixture body or 
the fluid line connector to ensure the fluid-tight seal. It will be 
appreciated that after securely coupling the fluid line connector to the 
fixture body, the fluid line connector is rotatable relative to the 
fixture body. 
According to a first preferred embodiment, the hydrotherapy jet system 
further includes a grommet which is insertable in the hole in the tub wall 
and which is adapted to snugly receive the fixture body. The fixture body 
has a lip at a front side which prevents the fixture body from passing 
completely through the grommet. In addition, the fluid line connector is 
preferably an assembly of two discrete connectors: a water line connector 
and an air line connector. The water line connector is couplable to the 
rear side of the fixture body and provides a first pathway therethrough to 
the fixture body. The air line connector is couplable to the water line 
connector utilizing a similar coupling and provides a discrete second 
pathway therethrough to the fixture body. In that way, both the water line 
connector and the air line connector are fluid-tight in the coupling to 
the fixture body, yet relatively rotatable post-installation. 
With this design, the ease and expediency with which a spa fixture body may 
be coupled to the appropriate plumbing at the installation site is 
improved. It will be appreciated that manifolds for water and air supply 
may be pre-assembled off-installation site, i.e., in the factory. The 
required number of appropriate diameter and length flexible conduits for 
the installation plumbing connections are assembled. The flexible conduits 
for the water manifold are secured to the second ends (those adapted for 
secure coupling to a flexible plumbing conduit) of water line connectors. 
Likewise, the flexible conduits for the air manifold are secured to second 
ends of air line connectors. With this project preferably completed at the 
factory, the invention permits installation at the assembly site to be 
greatly facilitated. Each water line connector is coupled by a snap fit 
connection to one of the fixture bodies in the tub wall. Then, each air 
line connector is coupled to the fixture body, e.g., via the water line 
connector, in a like manner. The on-site installation process is reduced 
in time and simplified, and no tools are required for the plumbing 
connections. Due to the ease of assembly, the system can be marketed to 
and assembled by the do-it-yourself market. 
It will be appreciated that other fixture bodies may also be provided which 
are adapted for coupling to a fluid line connectors. Additionally, it is 
not required to have the fluid line connectors include both air and water 
inlets. For example, according to a second embodiment, the air inlet may 
be integrally molded with or otherwise provided to the fixture body, while 
the water inlet may be provided in a water line connector as described 
above. 
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to 
those skilled in the art upon reference to the detailed description taken 
in conjunction with the provided figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first preferred embodiment of a 
hydrotherapy jet system 10 generally includes a fixture body 20, a nozzle 
22, a cover 24, a resilient grommet 26, a water line connector 28, an air 
line connector 30, and two O-rings 32, 34. The fixture body 20, the nozzle 
22, the cover 24, the water line connector 28, and the air line connector 
30 are all preferably made from schedule #40 PVC, although other materials 
could be utilized for one or more of these elements. 
The fixture body 20 generally includes a front portion 34 with an opening 
36, a preferably tapered rear portion 38, an inner surface 40, an outer 
diameter 41, a peripheral lip 42 at or adjacent the opening 36, and a 
throat 44. The rear portion 38 includes a plurality of resilient flanges 
46 each having a radially inward directed barb 48. The nozzle 22 is 
received in the opening 36 at the front portion 34 and preferably secured 
therein by the cover 24. 
The grommet 26 includes a body portion 50 having an outer diameter 52, an 
inner diameter 54, a front lip 56 and a rear bevel 58. The outer diameter 
52 is sized such that the grommet 26 may be received in a hole 60 in a 
wall 62 of a tub. The rear bevel 58 assists the insertion of the grommet 
into the hole 60. The inner diameter 54 of the grommet is sized to snugly 
receive the fixture body 20 once the grommet is positioned within the hole 
in the tub. The lip 56 prevents the grommet from being dislodged from the 
hole in the tub when the fixture body 20 is inserted into the grommet. 
The water line connector 28 of the first embodiment includes an outlet 
portion 66 having a peripheral groove 68 and a catch 70, a tubular water 
inlet portion 72 having a plurality of barbs 74 for glued or clamped 
connection to a flexible water conduit 76, and an air line connector male 
coupling portion 78 also having a peripheral groove 80 and a catch 82. The 
O-rings 32, 34 are provided in peripheral grooves 68 and 80. The water 
line connector 28 defines a water pathway 84 extending from the water 
inlet portion 72 to the outlet portion 66, and an air pathway 86 
(preferably partially concentric with the water pathway 84) extending from 
the air fitting coupling portion 78 to the outlet portion 66. At the 
outlet portion 66 the air pathway 86 preferably extends coaxially through 
and beyond the water pathway 84. 
The air line connector 30 of the first embodiment includes a outlet portion 
88 comprising a plurality of resilient flanges 90 each have a radially 
inwardly directed barb 92, an inner surface 93, and a tubular air inlet 
portion 94 having a plurality of barbs 96 for glued or clamped connection 
to a flexible air conduit 98. The outlet portion 88 is sized to be 
engagingly received over the air line coupling portion 78. 
In order to expedite on-site assembly of the hydrotherapy jet system, 
partial pre-assembly of the hydrotherapy system is preferred. This 
pre-assembly may be done off-site, i.e., at the factory, or on-site. The 
pre-assembly comprises obtaining water and air manifolds, and appropriate 
lengths of flexible conduit to extend between the installation location of 
the manifolds and the locations of each spa fixture body when the tub is 
installed. The flexible conduits for the water manifold are secured to the 
barbed water inlet portion 72 of respective water line connectors 28. 
Likewise, the flexible conduits for the air manifold are secured to the 
barbed air inlet portion 94 of respective air line connectors 30. The 
conduits are coupled to the water and air line connectors 28, 30 
preferably by gluing or clamping. 
Additionally, the installation of the jet fixture bodies 20 into the tub 
may be performed off-site or on-site. The installation includes cutting a 
circular hole in the tub wall and then inserting the grommet into the tub 
wall. The grommet is preferably pushed through the tub wall from the 
inside of the tub and forced therein until the lip 56 seats against the 
interior side 62a of the tub wall 62. The jet fixture body 20 is then 
inserted into the grommet 26 until the lip 42 of the fixture body seats 
substantially against the lip 56 of the grommet. Optionally, a small 
amount a lubricant, e.g., soapy water, is coated over the inner opening of 
the wall grommet to facilitate the insertion. The lubricant is chosen to 
be one that will not break down the material of the wall grommet or the 
jet fixture body. The outer diameter 41 of the jet fixture body 20 is 
sized relative to the inner diameter 54 of the grommet 26 such that when 
the fixture body is inserted into the grommet a secure fluid tight seal 
results. 
Finally, as now described, the on-site installation is capable of being 
performed in a facilitated and easily expedited manner. The outlet portion 
66 of the water line connector 28, with flexible water conduit 76 already 
attached thereto and extending to the water manifold (not shown), is 
pushed into the rear portion 38 of the fixture body such that the barbs 48 
on the flanges 46 interlock with the catch 70 on the water line connector 
28. The O-ring 32 is compressed against the interior surface 40 of the 
fixture body 20 and a secure fluid-tight connection is thereby provided. 
Additionally, it will be appreciated that the water line connector 28 is 
capable of being radially rotated relative to the fixture body 20 after 
connection therewith is secured. The outlet portion 88 of the air line 
connector 30, with flexible air conduit 98 already attached thereto and 
extending to the water manifold (not shown), is pushed over the air line 
connector coupling portion 78 of the water line connector such that the 
barbs 92 on the flanges 88 interlock with the catch 82 on the water line 
connector 28. The O-ring 34 is compressed against the inner surface 93 of 
the air line connector 28 and a secure fluid-tight connection is thereby 
provided. It will likewise be appreciated that the air line connector 30 
is capable of being radially rotated relative to the water line connector 
28 and the fixture body 20 after connection with the water line connector 
28 is secured. The connection process is performed without additional 
tools and requires no additional securing means such as clamps or glue. 
Turning now to FIGS. 3 through 8, a second embodiment of a hydrotherapy jet 
system 110 according to the invention is shown. The system 110 includes a 
fixture body 120, a grommet 126, and a fluid connector 128. Referring 
particularly to FIGS. 3 through 5, the fixture body 120 includes a front 
portion 134, a rear portion 138, and an air inlet 130. The front portion 
134 has an outer diameter 141 and is provided with a lip 142 recessed from 
a front end opening 136. The rear portion 138 has a water inlet 142 and an 
inner surface 140. The inner surface 140 is preferably provided with three 
radially spaced resilient barb-like portions 148, each preferably 
extending 60.degree. about the inner circumference of the inner surface 
140. The air inlet 130 is a tubular portion preferably extending radially 
from the fixture body and having a plurality of barbs 196 thereon for 
coupling a flexible air conduit thereto. 
As described with respect to the first embodiment, the opening 136 at the 
front portion 134 of the fixture body 120 is adapted to receive a nozzle 
which is preferably secured therein by a cover. 
Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the fluid connector 128 is a tubular member 
having an inlet portion 172 and an outlet portion 166. The inlet portion 
172 has a plurality of barbs 174 thereon for coupling a flexible water 
conduit thereto. The outlet portion 166 has a preferably tapered end 167, 
a circumferential groove 168, a circumferential catch 169, and optionally 
includes a rear lip 171. An O-ring 132 is provided in the groove 168. 
Turning now to FIG. 8, the hydrotherapy system 110 is preferably assembled 
as follows. The air inlet portion 130 of the fixture body 120 is securably 
coupled to a flexible air conduit 198 and the inlet portion 172 of the 
fluid connector 128 is coupled to a flexible water conduit 176. A grommet 
126, substantially as described with respect to the first embodiment, is 
inserted into a hole 160 in a tub wall 162 such that the lip 156 of the 
grommet seats against the exterior surface 162b of the wall. The fixture 
body 120 is inserted into the grommet from the exterior of the tub such 
that the lip 142 on the fixture body seats against the lip 156 of the 
grommet. The fixture body 120 with air conduit 198 coupled thereto is 
thereby secured in the tub without requiring any tools at the time of such 
installation. The outlet portion 166 of the fluid connector 128 is then 
inserted into the water inlet 142 such that the barbs 148 of the inlet 
engage the catch 169 and the O-ring 132 is compressed against the inner 
surface 140 of the water inlet 138 to provide a fluid-tight seal between 
the fluid connector 128 and the fixture body 120. Preferably, the 
components are designed such that when they are in proper alignment for 
interconnection and seal, the lip 171 on the fluid connector 128 seats 
against the rear end of the fixture body 120. 
There have been described and illustrated herein hydrotherapy jet assembly 
systems and methods of installing the same. While several embodiments of 
the invention have been described, it is not intended that the invention 
be limited thereto, as it is intended that the invention be as broad in 
scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. 
Therefore, while the jet valve body has been described as being preferably 
made from schedule #40 PVC, it may also be made from other appropriate 
materials, such as polyethylene and polypropylene. In addition, while 
water and air connectors are described as radially extending relative to 
the axis of the fixture body, it will be appreciated that the water and 
air conduit connectors may be provided with different relative angles. 
Also, while in the second embodiment the air inlet has been shown integral 
with the fixture body, it will be appreciated that the water inlet may be 
integral while the air inlet is provided as a distinct connector. 
Furthermore, the water and air inlets do not necessarily have to be 
barbed, as other means for connecting the water line connector and air 
line connector to water and air conduits can be used, e.g., various 
standard plumbing connections, other friction fittings, or glued 
connections. Moreover, while one embodiment of the water line connector 
provides male coupling portions for insertion into female portions of the 
fixture body and air line connector, it will be appreciated that the male 
coupling portions may be located on the fixture body and the air line 
connector, and the female portions may be provided to the water line 
connector. Also, while particular fixture bodies have been described, it 
will be appreciated that the invention may be utilized with other designs 
of fixture bodies. For example, T-type fixture bodies which pass through 
water and air flow to a linear array of other bodies which are coupled 
together, may also be used. In addition, while the fixture body is shown 
as being secured in the hole in the tub wall with a grommet, it will be 
appreciated that other means may be used to secure the fixture body 
therein. For example, the fixture body may be adapted to threadably mate 
with a wall fitting such that the tub wall is sandwiched between the 
fixture body and the wall fitting. It will therefore be appreciated by 
those skilled in the art that yet other modifications could be made to the 
provided invention without deviating from its spirit and scope as so 
claimed.