Jet bath having multiple accessories

A jet bath designed to use minimum water, to use a formed in place low cost waterfall type water inlet, to have pulsating and massaging air-water jets appropriately located in the tub, to allow user adjustment of water temperature, to prevent heating the water above 122 degrees Fahrenheit and prevent tripping of a manually resettable high temperature limit switch with initial filling of the tub with overheated water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
There are several types of Whirlpool baths presently on the market that are 
similar to the jet bath of this invention. However, we find none with the 
unique features of this invention. This invention comprises unique 
features designed to save water, to minimize fill time, redundant controls 
to prevent over-heating of water, to give maximum water-air body contact, 
to appeal to aesthetic sensibilities, to give user control of temperature 
and massage action, and to be economical to manufacture. These features 
may be described as follows: 
1. to save water and minimize fill time both tubs designed for one person 
and two persons use have protruding arm rests and raised portions to 
comfortably support each person in a comfortable reclining position: this 
design may be described as body contoured and results in extra comfort and 
minimum necessary water usage; 
2. to provide an automatic over temperature shut-off system located at the 
exit of the water circulating pump to prevent over heating the water; the 
control system of this invention has, in series, a water pressure-to-close 
switch, a regulating thermostat that may be user adjustable with a first 
water temperature sensor therein and an automatic high temperature limit 
switch with a second water temperature sensor. The automatic high 
temperature limit switch closes with temperature above 122.degree. F. to 
activate a thermistor to heat a manually resettable high temperature limit 
switch to interrupt current flow to the heater. Tripping of the manually 
resettable high temperature limit switch is minimized because this switch 
is activated by heat from the thermistor which is activated by the 
automatic high temperature limit switch at 122 degrees Fahrenheit. This 
may occur with failure of the regulating thermostat with it's self 
contained first water temperature sensor therein. Minimization of trips is 
quite important as almost universally these type electrical controls are 
so located as to require the user to call a repair man to correct the over 
temperature problem. 
3. to provide a multiplicity of air-water jets with some designed to give a 
pulsating water flow and others designed to give a turbulent massaging 
action; 
4. to provide an integral inlet water spout or waterfall type inlet means 
designed to fill the tub with a wide thin stream with an appearance of a 
waterfall that may have a variable color light behind to appeal to 
aesthetic sensibilities while being a major cost reduction factor; 
5. to give user control of temperature and massage action, with the user 
adjusting ratio of water and air flow and in some embodiments heating of 
the circulating water; 
6. to provide economy of manufacture by vacuum forming an outer layer using 
a glossy high scratch resistant plastic sheet such as one made from high 
temperature acrylic plastic. In a preferred embodiment a polyester-fiber 
glass layer is sprayed on a vacuum formed outer layer to give strength and 
rigidity to the tub. Special known vacuum forming techniques are used to 
form projections such as arm rests in order to allow the unit to be 
removed from the mold. In some embodiments a formable plastic composite 
sheet thick enough to form entire the tub is used. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention comprises a uniquely designed jet bath that is designed: 
1. to fit the body contour for one or more occupants, this body contour 
shape allowing for rapid filling with less water necessary to essentially 
immerse an occupant or occupants; 
2. to have a water proof soft pillow to support the head or heads of the 
occupant; 
3. to use one or more types of air-water jets to give different types of 
massaging action; 
4. to use an integral waterfall type water filling spout with no moving 
parts for both economy of manufacture and aesthetic beauty; a light 
covered with changeable colored lens may be used behind the water filling 
spout; 
5. to controllably heat circulating water going to the air water jets in 
some embodiments; 
6. to allow user control of the amount of air aspirated into the 
circulating water feeding to the air water jets to change the action of 
the jets; 
7. to use a single element heater and controls located in a T shaped 
fitting exit the circulating pump; the controls include a regulating 
thermostat to control heating of the circulating water and an automatic 
high temperature limit switch to activate a thermistor to heat a manually 
resettable high temperature limit switch in case of malfunction of the 
regulating thermostat that controls heating of the circulating water to 
allow overheating the water; 
8. to have one or more strategically located grab bars or handles; 
9. for both corner and parallel to the wall installation and for an island 
type installation; 
10. for forming the tub by vacuum molding with known reverse molding being 
used to form protrusions such as arm rests and waterfall filling spouts; 
11. for user control of the circulating water; 
12. to have high level overflow to prevent over filling; 
13. to have an electronic control panel for user adjustment of variables of 
water flow, water temperature, and sensing of water level for automatic 
activation; and 
14. to have space under the tub rim for all equipment previously outlined. 
There are several various shapes for the rims of the tubs to allow fitting 
into most any user determined location with the necessary operating 
equipment as indicated being located under the rim of the tub to give a 
closed installation. A provision is made to allow water pump and heater 
repair or replacement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The invention may best be described from the drawings. There are several 
embodiments with differing flanges to allow placement in corners, between 
walls, etc. In FIG. 1 we show a top view of a tub 1 of the jet bath. In 
this embodiment the flange or rim 3, which is integral with tub 1, is 
rectangular. Other shapes including oval, square to fit in corners, etc., 
would be included. This is a top view of a tub made for dual occupancy. 
The shape is designed to be comfortable in use and also to minimize fill 
time and water usage. FIG. 2, described in more detail later in 
conjunction with FIG. 1, indicates body contoured shaping for the purpose 
of supporting the body with a shape that matches the contour of the body. 
The tub 1 is vacuum moldable in the usual manner and a known technique 
called reverse molding is used to mold protruding arm rests 2 and inlet 
mixing chamber 9. For inlet water flow, manual valves 5 and 7 for hot and 
cold water adjust flow to the inlet mixing chamber 9, shown in more detail 
in FIG. 6. A slot or slit opening 10, FIG. 6, in this chamber 9 causes the 
mixed hot and cold water to exit in sheet form, as indicated in FIG. 6. 
This opening may be either a straight or curved slot to give a waterfall 
effect or various groups of small holes to give somewhat different 
effluent water design. This waterfall type inlet spout allows rapid 
filling and replaces an inlet fitting that would be much more expensive 
and would have to be added during installation. The tub 1 is emptied 
through drain 11. Aspirator type air-water jets 13 are of one or more 
types. In one type a rotating inlet element gives a massage like effect 
from the air and water mixture. In another type the air-water mixture 
tends to give a pushing and pulling action with a pulsating water flow. 
Jets that are manually directionally adjustable are preferred. Air control 
valves 15 are manually adjusted to limit the flow of air in header 43 as 
shown in FIG. 3 thereby limiting the air aspirated into the water by the 
aspirator type air-water jets 13. Temperature of the circulating water is 
adjusted by controller 19, a regulating thermostat, shown and discussed in 
detail under FIG. 7. Water flowrate control 21 may control water flow by 
either speed control of pump motor 47, as shown in FIG. 4, or by a 
throttling valve not shown. Shown in FIG. 3 circulating water return 23 
leads to circulating pump 39. 
In FIG. 2 we shown a longitudinal section through tub 1 to indicate the 
body contour shape of the bottom of the tub 1. We've shown tub 1 as a 
drop-in unit supported by external structure 29 but free standing units 
are also easily fabricated. The tub 1 is molded with a solid lip 27, but a 
hollow reinforcing lip could be used. Pillow 25 is optional to the 
purchaser, but is normally included. A surface sealed spongy plastic 
material is preferred. A person 26 is shown to indicate the body contour 
shape 33 of the bottom. This shape along with protruding arm rests 2 
minimizes water usage to fill the tub. Depression 31 allows for use of 
air-water jets 13, preferably of the massage type, to work particularly 
near a point of usual muscle stress in people. Raised portions 33 of the 
tub bottom provide a body contoured shape. Arm rests 2 are formed by a 
known special molding technique called reverse molding to provide a smooth 
projection and allow removal from the mold. This type arm rest allows more 
body space in a similar sized tub. Hot and cold water manual valves 5 and 
7 lead to mixing chamber 9 shown in more detail in FIG. 6 to form a 
waterfall type fill spout. Grab bar 17 is formed after the tub is removed 
from the mold by sealing a plastic or metal pipe about 7/8" in diameter in 
a molded recession. Depending on particular tub configuration there may be 
more than one of grab bars 17. 
FIG. 3 shows section of the tub 1 below the rim from a top view to show air 
and water flow piping and other equipment. Circulating water pump 39 takes 
suction from a circulating water return port 23 and discharges through a 
unique T shaped unit 42 containing a single electrical heater and controls 
37 which are described more completely in subsequent description of FIG. 
7. Water exiting pump 39 flows into unit 42 and splits to flow into both 
sides of water header 41. In the unit 42 containing the heater and 
controls unit 37 water circulates past a water temperature sensor unit 12 
that is operatively connected with an automatic high temperature limit 
switch 66, FIG. 7, and circulates past a second water temperature sensor 
14 that is operatively connected with the regulating thermostat 19, FIG. 
7. Inlet air valves 15 are manually controlled to allow adjustment of the 
amount of air aspirated into the aspirator type air-water jets 13. Tub 
drain 11 is located in lowest portion of the tub bottom. 
In FIG. 4 we've shown a simplified electrical diagram of the overall 
system. Plug 50 connected to an electrical outlet provides current to the 
water circulating pump motor 47. In one embodiment motor speed is 
controlled through controller 21. In the circuit current is provided to 
heater and controls unit 37. Redundant controls provide protection of the 
user from excessively high temperature water and also greatly minimize the 
necessity for resetting a manually resettable high temperature limit 
switch 49, shown and described in discussion of FIG. 7. Switch 51 controls 
light 53 which may be located in the tub wall in back of the water flowing 
from the waterfall type inlet water spout 9, FIG. 6. 
In FIG. 5 we've shown a hand held flexible unit 57 with an aspirator type 
air-water jet 13 that may be manually plugged in to replace any one of 
jets 13 rotatably but fixedly mounted in the tub wall. The flexible tubing 
leading to hand held jet holder 57 is preferably co-extruded in a double 
lobed cross section. The double lobe cross section allows cutting with a 
sharp knife to form lines 61 and 63 of the length desired while having 
only one double lobe smooth line leading to the hand held jet holder 57. 
In an alternative embodiment (not shown) a manually adjustable air inlet 
valve is located in the body 57 of the hand held jet and line 63 is not 
used. 
The jet in the tub wall may be manually removed and flexible tubing 61 
frictionally connected over jet inlet water line 55. A separate flexible 
line 63 connected to vacuum cup 65 but open at the end to allow air to be 
aspirated in by aspirater 59 may be fastened above the water in the tub to 
the tub wall. The internal diameter and length of line 63 regulates the 
amount of air pulled into a jet 13 In a preferred embodiment, the internal 
diameter of line 63 is approximately one fourth inch. Vinyl plastic tubing 
is preferred. This plug-in unit allows the user to have a movable 
hand-held aspirator type air-water jet 13. 
In FIG. 6 we show details of a waterfall type inlet spout 9. During 
manufacture, an open plastic chamber roughly in the form of a cylinder 14" 
long and 2" in diameter with a slotted opening 10 is formed. The cylinder 
is connected with the hot and cold water valves 5 and 7 and ends are 
formed in place with fiber glass and epoxy resin to become an integral 
part of the tub and to provide an inlet sheet of water through slot 10. 
Light 53 with replaceable colored water proof lenses may be placed in the 
tub wall behind outlet slot 10. Slot 10 may be straight or curved and is 
normally 1/8" inches wide. 
Switch 51, FIG. 4, controls light 53 which may be located in the tub wall 
in back of the water flowing from the waterfall type inlet water spout 9. 
In FIG. 7 we show wiring and working parts of the unique T shaped unit 42 
containing heater and controls 37. This heater and controls 37 is used 
only in embodiments wherein the water after filling is heated to maintain 
a user desired temperature. This is the minimum water usage embodiment. In 
other embodiments the user simply adds hot water to maintain desired 
temperature. 
In heater and controls unit 37 a pressure to close switch 54 is activated 
to close by water pressure in line 41 from circulating water pump 39, FIG. 
3. Waterflow in line 41 continues over the water temperature sensor 14 in 
an adjustable regulating thermostat 19 and over sensor 12 operatively 
connected with the automatic high temperature limit switch 66. Thermostat 
19 activates thermostat switch 63 to open with higher than desired water 
temperature such as may occur from initial filling of the tub with 
excessively hot water. If this occurs switch 63 opens and no current flows 
to heater indicator light 68, to heater element 61 or through the 
automatic high temperature limit switch 66 to thermistor element 69. 
Thermistor element 69 is not heated and does not operate manually 
resettable switch 49 thus eliminating a false high temperature trip. 
However, with malfunction of regulating thermostat 19 to allow current to 
go the heater element 61 and water temperature to reach about 122 degrees 
F., water temperature sensor 12 operatively connected with the automatic 
high temperature limit switch 66, causes the high temperature limit switch 
to close to send current through and to heat thermistor element 69 to 
cause the manually resettable high temperature limit switch to open and 
prevent further current flow to heater 61. 
With malfunction of the pressure switch 54 to remain closed with no water 
pressure, if the tub is filled with water over about 105 degrees the 
regulating thermostat 19 will open switch 63 and no current will flow to 
heater element 61 or to the automatic high temperature limit switch 66 and 
therefor no current will flow to the thermistor element 69 and an 
unnecessary tripping of the manually resettable high temperature limit 
switch 49 will be prevented. However if in normal operation the regulating 
thermostat malfunctions to allow the circulating water temperature to 
reach about 122 degrees Fahrenheit sensor 12 will cause the automatic high 
temperature limit switch to close and current will flow to heat thermistor 
69 and the manually resettable high temperature limit switch 49 will trip 
to interrupt flow of current to the heater element 61. 
If pressure switch 54 malfunctions to remain in the closed position and 
there is no water flow, sensors 12 and 14 are located close to heating 
element 61 in the heater and controls 37 in the T shaped unit 42 as 
indicated in FIG. 3 and heat from the element 61 will activate water 
temperature sensor 14 in the manually adjustable regulating thermostat 19 
to interrupt current flow to the heater element 61. Sensor 12 may also be 
heated to more than 122 degrees to close the automatic high temperature 
limit switch 66 to allow current to flow through thermistor 69 to trip the 
manually resettable high temperature limit switch. We have then redundant 
controls to protect the user from over-temperature water while at the same 
time preventing unnecessary tripping of the manually resettable high 
temperature switch 49. 
We visualize minor variations in the unit as outlined and wish only to be 
limited to the general approach rather than specific details of these 
specification and claims.