IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO SPAS OR WHIRLPOOL BATHS

Abstract: A spas or whirlpool bath has a bath tub (30) with water jets (32) mounted in the side of the bath tub. A pump (16) is arranged to draw bath water from a suction inlet and pump water out through the jets. The pump outlet is connected to a first, common, generally-horizontal conduit (54) which runs along underneath the bottom of the bath tub, and the jets are connected to the first conduit by a plurality of second conduits (52) extending vertically upwards from opposed sides of the first conduit. The inlet channel to the pump and the said first conduit are constituted by a common composite moulding. The first conduit drains through a restricted drain aperture (86). The structure is particularly easy to fit to a bath tub and yet is effective in operation. The waste outlet of the bath is closed by a stopper (146) which is mounted on a shaft (144) for operation by rotation of a cover plate (150) above the bath waste aperture (36) between 90<o>-separated open and closed positions. The coupling mechanism between the cover plate and the stopper is accommodated in the chamber (104) and works with a bayonnet type of movement defined by a pin (154) and the lower edge of a guide boss (140). The stopper is resiliently mounted on the shaft (144) so as to seat properly against the waste outlet (108) regardless of the thickness of the bath. The waste outlet closure mechanism is positive and reliable, and can be used in a shower or conventional bath.

Description: IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO SPAS OR WHIRLPOOL BATHS This invention relates to spas or whirlpool baths, of the type which have jets mounted in the wall of the bath and a pump arranged to draw bath water from a suction inlet, and pump water, and preferably also air, out through the jets. Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a known spa. The bath 10 is fitted with a plurality of jets 12 of known type on the same level around the bath. These are supplied with water through a horizontal pipe 14 which is connected to the output of a pump 16. The pump inlet is connected through a pipe 18 to an inlet 20 in the side wall of the bath. The jets 12 are of the venturi type, so that expelled water will entrain air fed through a second horizontal pipe 22. This is linked to an air inlet control 24 which can be operated by the bather. The present invention in its various aspects is defined in the appended claims, to which reference should now be made. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described by way of example with reference to the remaining figures of the drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 (described above) is a side elevational view of a conventional spa; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of another spa embodying the invention in a preferred aspect; Figure 3 is a sectional view through the channel member of the spa of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the channel member with its end sections attached; Figure 5 shows the end member at the pump end of the channel member; Figures 6 and 7 are. front and side views, respectively, of the outlet end end member of the channel member; Figure 8 shows one of the fixing nozzles for fixing to the channel member; Figure 9 is a front view of the outlet end member of a slightly modified system embodying the invention; Figure 10 is a side sectional view of the waste outlet unit of the system; ' Figure 11 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of the pump end end member of the modification of Figure 9; Figure 12 is a "transparent" perspective view of a bath fitted with the modified system of Figures 9 to 11; and Figure 13 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a modified waste outlet used in the arrangement of Figure 12. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figure * 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a spa 50 which embodies the present invention. Much of the structure is the same as in Figure 1, and similar parts are given the same reference numerals. In this case the jets 32 are not of the venturi type, though they could be, if so desired. The bath tub 30 is preferably of rigid plastics material though it could in principle be of porcelainised cast iron or steel. The bath has a conventional waste outlet 36 and overflow 38. The waste discharges through a waste outlet unit 40, described below with reference to Figure 10, and through a collar 42 receiving the overflow outlet to a conventional U-trap outlet 44. A relatively low height can be maintained beneath the waste aperture 36. If there is no overflow collar 42, the trap 44 attaches directly to the unit 40. In the spa 50 shown in Figure 2 the jets 32 are connected by vertical pipe sections 52 to a larger channel member 54 which runs under the length of the bath. The channel member is formed as a rigid plastics extrusion. The member 54 has a section as shown in Figure 3, and is seen to have an approximately rectangular shape, but with the bottom surface 56 sloping downwardly to a central point, and the side walls 58 also at a slight angle to the vertical. Within the channel member 54 is a circular pipe section 60 which is integrally moulded with the channel member such as to lie against one surface thereof, in this case the top surface 62. Thus it will be seen that there are two separate fluid channels formed in the channel member, namely the channel 64 formed by the pipe 60 and the channel 66 formed by the rest of the space within the channel member 54. Figure 4 shows the channel member 54 with its end members 70 at the pump end and 72 at the waste outlet end. The pump end end member 70 is shown in more detail in Figure 5. The member 70 fits onto the end of the channel member 54 and is secured thereto by a suitable adhesive. The member 70 includes therefore inner and outer flanges 74 and 76 which form between them a groove 78 into which the end of the channel member is received. The end of the pipe 60 is sealed to a tubular section 80, and another tubular section 82 lies by its side and communicates with the space or conduit 66 in the channel member. The tubular sections 80 and 82 are connected to the inlet and outlet, respectively, of the pump 16. The pump can be positioned in a generally vertical orientation, as shown in Figure 2, in which it may fit more neatly into the available space at the end of the bath. At the other end of the channel member, near the waste outlet, the end member 72 is constructed to provide communication between the space 64 within the pipe or conduit 60 and a chamber 84 which is beneath the waste outlet aperture of the bath. The end member 72 is shown more clearly in Figures 6 and 7. The space 66 is blocked off by the end member 72, except for a small hole 86 which is at the lowest point in the space 66, i.e. in the middle of the bottom face 56 of the channel member. The end member is secured to the channel member 54 in a manner similar to the end member 70. It will be seen that the pump can pump water from the waste outlet of the bath via the chamber 84 and the pipe 60 out into the space 66 in the channel member. This space then communicates with the vertical pipe sections 52. This communication is achieved by means of fixing nozzles 90, shown in Figure 8. These nozzles have flanges 92 which are cut away at two opposed portions so that the flange can be introduced into recesses 94 at the top and bottom edges of the side walls 58 of the channel member in one rotational orientation of the nozzle, but can be rotated by 90 degrees to lock the nozzle in position. It will be appreciated that with this arrangement the nozzles can be located at any desired point along the length of the bath as desired. Furthermore the nozzles can communicate with the space 66 or water supply channel from either side of the bath. To attachg a jet to the channel member therefore a hole is made in the side wall 58 at the correct position. The nozzle is then affixed, with the use of adhesive to ensure a water¬ tight seal. In this way the pump outlet can be connected to the jets in a manner which is simple to execute in the field. The slope of the channel member 54 is downwards towards the waste outlet so that after the bath is emptied the channel member 54 will always empty through the hole 86. Nevertheless the positioning of the individual jets need not be particularly accurate, as any differences in height can be taken up by the vertical pipe sections 52. The vertical sections 52 can if desired include short flexible portions to further assist installation. The main resistance in the water flow to the jets is in the vertical pipe sections or conduits 52, rather than in the channel member 54 which provides a delivery or manifold function. As these sections are all the same for the different jets, regardless of the distance along the bath from the pump, the flow through the jets is substantially the same and major problems of unevenness in the flow output are at least greatly reduced or eliminated. By tee-ing in the supply to each jet to a common delivery pipe, rather than connecting the jets in cascade as hitherto., it is however possible to include restrictors in the feed to the individual jets, also making it much easier to balance the water flows to the jets. By running both the inlet to the pump and the outlet from the pump along under the bath a much simplified construction results. The system is nevertheless completely self-draining; the inlet pipe to the pump can of course drain directly into the chamber 84, while the pump outlet constituted by the space 66 in the channel member 54 drains through the small hole 86. The slope of the lower surface of the section of the channel member towards its centre, together with a slight slope along its length from the pump towards the waste outlet, ensure that the interior of the space 66 empties properly. There is a small amount of recycling of water from the pump outlet through the hole 86 directly back into the inlet, but it is very small as the diameter of the hole 86 need only be of the order of 3mm or so. The side walls 58 are angled to the vertical so that the pipe sections 52 leading up to the individual jets 32 do not at any point have to run precisely horizontally which, allowing for a little sagging, could result in a small amount of stagnant water remaining when the bath is emptied. Also, having the longitudinal runs of pipework under the bath means that the bath legs, which are often close to the sides of the bath, can not interfere with them. It will be appreciated that the embodiment of Figures 2 to 8 can be modified in many ways. For instance, an air blowing system using venturi jets can be incorporated. The shape of the extrusion forming the channel member 54 can be very different from that shown. In a simple case it can consist of two pipes above one another in a figure-of-eight section, or alternatively of three pipes side-by- side with the middle one connected between the chamber 84 and the pump inlet, and the two outer pipes connected to the pump outlet. Another possible shape is as shown in Figure 9, which is a view somewhat similar to Figure 6, of the face of the waste outlet end member 72* in a modified system. In this system the pump inlet conduit 60' is located centrally of the channel member 54' and extends sufficiently low in the member so that two transverse holes 86' are able to drain the interior of the conduit into the pump inlet channel 64. These holes 86' replace the hole 86 in the end face of the end member in the arrangement of Figures 2 to 8. A the pump end of the conduit 54 an appropriately shaped end member is of course required. With this channel section the central pipe may conveniently be a length of straight cylindrical pipe which is loosely retained in the channel member housing. Also the pump end member may be as shown in Figure 11, which shows the channel member housing 200 and loose fitting central pipe 202 received in the pump end section 204. The central pipe 202 is cemented to a stub pipe section 206 the further end 208 of which connects with the pump inlet, and the return or outer part of the interior of the channel section is fed by a bush 210 ' which is connected to the pump outlet. Figure 12 shows the whole bath tub 220 in this modification with its associated pipework. The pump 222 is seen clearly connected to the pump end member 204 and is electrically connected to a junction block (not shown) to which is also connected a switch 224. The channel section member 200 runs the full length of the elongate bath tub to the waste end member 72 which feeds the waste outlet 44 and receives the overflow 38 as in Figure 2. From the sides of the channel section secondary feeder pipes 52 lead to the individual jets 12, which are of the venturi type. Air for the jets 12 enters the system through a control 230 and is fed through a large diameter pipe 228 to two manifolds 232 one on each side of the bath. From the manifolds -232 small flexible pipes 234 lead to the individual jets 12. Returning to the embodiment of Figures 2 to 8, waste outlet end member 72 accommodates the bath closure mechanism, which operates to close the bottom aperture 96 in the chamber 84, so that when the bath is in use the chamber is in 25 commnunication both with the interior of the bath and with the pump inlet pipe 60. A conventional pop-up type of waste could be used, operating at the outlet 96 of chamber 84, and controlled by a cable (e.g. a Bowden cable) from a convenient point. The cable operates a bell crank mounted just outside the unit 72 and having an arm sealingly passing through the side of the unit 72 to move the closure member vertically between its open and closed positions. However, it is preferred to use a clos.ure system as illustrated in Figure 10. Figure 10 illustrates a waste outlet unit 40 located beneath bath waste aperture 36 having a housing 102. The unit 40 provides a chamber 104 communicated with the channel 64 in the conduit 54 so that the suction inlet to the pump draws from chamber 104. A closable waste outlet 108 is provided in the base of the housing 102. In use of the spa the waste outlet 108 is closed, in the manner described below. When the bath is filled the chamber 104 will fill also. If the pump 16 is now started by operating the switch unit 46, water will be drawn from the bath into the chamber 104 through the bath waste aperture 36, and thence through the suction inlet channel 64 to the pump 16. From there it will be forced out through the jets 32. Thus water is delivered to the pump without the need for a special inlet in the side wall of the bath and also at a height which permits maximum flexibility in the vertical positioning of the pump 16 and the jets 32. After use the pump 16 is switched off. To empty the bath the waste outlet 108 is opened and water leaves the bath through the waste aperture 36 and chamber 104 in unit 40. Water can also drain down from the pump through the conduit 54 and hole 86. Thus there is no danger of stagnant water remaining in the conduit. The unit 40 fits in the waste aperture 36 in the bath 30 and has a collar section 130 with a flange 132 which rests on the inside of the bath with the collar section 130 passing through the aperture 36. The housing 102 is threaded onto the collar section 130 and a sealing washer 134 fits between the upper surface of the housing 102 and the bath 30. The collar section 130 accommodates an insert 136 which comprises an apertured disc 138 threaded within the collar section 130, and a boss 140 with a central bore 142. The bore 142 receives a shaft 144 which is slidable and rotatable within the bore within the limit described below. The bottom end of the shaft 144 carries a plug or stopper 146 for the waste outlet 138 from the chamber 104, this stopper having a sealing ring 148. The top end of the shaft is threaded to receive a dome-shaped cover plate 150 of decorative appearance and preferably apertured to facilitate water flow. A spring 152 bears against the top of the disc 138 on the one hand and the lower side of the cover plate 150 or a flange on the top end of the shaft 144 on the other. This biases the shaft 144 upwardly. The extent of its movement in this direction is restricted by a transverse pin 154 in the mid-portion of the shaft which bears against the contoured lower edge of the boss 140. The boss has two diametrically-opposed slots 156 which allow the shaft to move to an uppermost position in one rotary position of the shaft 144. This is the position shown in Figure 10 and is the position in which the waste outlet 108 is open. If the cover plate 150 is now depressed against the spring 152 the pin 154 can be moved clear of the slots 156, and the cover plate 150 then rotated to rotate the shaft 144. At an angle of 90o t0 the pos ition of the slots 156, the 5 lower surface of the boss 140 carries a transverse recess 158 which provides a detent position. When the pin 154 is _- "J received in the recess 158 the bather knows that the waste outlet 138 is closed by the stopper 146. Thus the pin 154 co-operates with the lower edge of boss 140 to give a bayonnet type of action. When the shaft 144 is in its lower position, stopper 146 is biased against the waste outlet 108 by a spring 160. This can be a fairly light spring as closure is assisted by the pressure of water above the stopper. The stopper 146 is freely mounted on the shaft and is retained by a pin 162. This free but sprung mounting of the stopper means that slight variations in the thickness of the bath 30 can readily be accommodated without losing sealing efficiency. It may prove necessary from time to time to replace the sealing ring 148 on the stopper 146. This is achieved as follows. The cover plate is moved to the valve-open position. Further forced rotation of the cover plate unthreads it from the shaft 144, revealing the disc 138 of insert 136. The insert 136 can now be screwed out of the collar section 130 bringing with it the shaft 144 and stopper 146 mounted, on it. The sealing ring 148 can now readily be replaced and the unit re-assembled. The whole operation can be completed without the need to gain access to the underside of the bath. The cover plate 150 is easy to operate by the bather's hand or even foot, and to this end is of substantial diameter, namely at least 5 cms and preferably about 8.5 cms. To close the outlet the cover plate is depressed and rotated in either direction by 90° until the detent is felt. To open the outlet the cover plate is again rotated and will spring upwards after 90° indicating that the outlet is opened. The precise rotational angle needed can differ from 90° but should be less than 180° for ease of operation. End stops can be provided to 'limit the rotational movement if desired. The concept of a rotatable cover plate can be used with different types of valve member from the stopper 146 illustrated. Examples include rotating vanes, a rotating cone with a slot, and other sliding seat arrangements. Furthermore, such a cover plate/waste outlet valve system can be used with other sanitary installations than spas, such as baths or even showers, and has the advantage of doing away with the conventional untidy chain or the complicated 'pop-up' waste linkage. The waste outlet unit 40 illustrated in Figure 10 is particularly suitable for use with a spa as described above, but may also have application in other sanitary installations such as ordinary baths or showers. An alternative and improved waste outlet assembly is shown in Figure 13 and incorporated in the arrangement of Figure 12. In this the waste end outlet member 250 has a connection 252 which can be cemented to the pipe 202 in the channel section shown in Figure 11. The member 250 is internally threaded at its upper end and receives a threaded flanged bush 254. The bush 254 is screwed down from inside the bath to clamp the bath 220 between the flange 256 of the bush and the top of the member 250. The bush 254 receives a generally conical filter member 258 which carries at its upper end a two-part cover 260. The outer annular-shaped part 262 of this cover is fixed to the filter member 258 and carries a depending castellated flange 264, the 'teeth' of which approximately abut the surface of the bath leaving passages between them. The central part 266 of the cover 260 is rotatable relative to the fixed outer part 262 and carries flanges 268 which operate with a bayonnet action selectively to engage under projections on the inner edge of the outer part 262. Rotation of the central part 266 of the cover alternately engages and releases the bayonnet action. . The central part 266 is at the top end of a shaft 270 and is resiliently biased upwardly by a spring 272 bearing against a spider portion 274 in the interior of the filter member 258. The bottom end of the shaft 270 carries the closure member 276 which can close the bottom opening 278 of the end member 250. In the opening 278 there is another spider portion 280. The two spider portions 274 and 280 mount and guide the shaft 270. The closure member 276 is biased towards the closed position byspring 282. When the central part 266 of the cover 260 is pushed down and rotated until engaged by the flanges on the inner edge of the outer part 262, it will be retained in that position against the spring bias. The closure member 276 will be pushed down to seal off the waste outlet. The pump 222 can then draw water from the bath under the edge of the flange 264 of the cover, through the filter member 258 and thence to the outlet 252 of the member 250. The filter section comprises a moulding with a plurality of spokes to stop large items inadvertently reaching the pump without putting substantial resistance in the path to the pump. When the central part 266 of the cover is released, the outlet is opened and water flows away. The filter member 258 is also partially by-passed as water can flow under the raised central part 266 into the hole in the centre of the outer part 262. The filter member 258 is preferably fitted into the bush 254 so that the assembly of the cover 260, filter member 258, shaft 270 and closure member 276 can be removed for inspection, cleaning and maintenance from within the bath. In the illustrated example the exterior of the filter member and the interior of the bush are co¬ operatively knurled so that a strong straight upward pull on the cover will remove the interior assembly, which is normally sufficiently retained by frictional interfitting engagement.

Claims: — C—L—A——I—M—S— t 1. A spa or whirlpool bath comprising an elongate bath tub; a waste outlet aperture in the base of the bath tub; a waste outlet unit mounted in the waste outlet aperture and comprising a housing, a waste outlet connection at the base of the housing, and a sealing closure member movable between a closed position in which it closes the waste outlet connection and an open position; jets mounted in the wall of the bath tub on either side of the tub; a pump arranged to pump bath water out through the jets; and conduit means comprising an inlet conduit connecting the pump inlet to the waste outlet housing, a first outlet conduit connected to the pump outlet, the inlet conduit and the first outlet conduit being generally- horizontal and extending underneath the length of the bottom of the bath tub, and second conduits coupling opposed sides of the first conduit with the jets on the sides of the bath tub. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the waste outlet unit comprises a cover within the bath tub at least a portion of which is rotatable about the vertical axis, and coupling means coupling the rotatable cover portion to the closure member to transmit movement of the rotatable cover portion to movement of the closure member. 3. A spa or whirlpool bath comprising an elongate bath tub, jets mounted in the wall of the bath tub on either side of the tub, and a pump arranged to draw bath water from a suction inlet and pump water out through the jets, in which the outlet of the pump is connected to a first, common, generally-horizontal conduit which runs along underneath the length of the bottom of the bath tub, and the jets are connected to the first conduit by a plurality of second conduits communicating with opposed sides of the first conduit. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, in which the pump inlet is connected to the bath waste outlet by an inlet conduit also running underneath the bath. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, in which the inlet conduit and the said first conduit are comprised in a common housing. 6. Apparatus according to claim 3, in which the said first conduit communicates with the bath waste outlet through a restricted drain aperture. 7. Apparatus according to claim 3, in which the second conduits are substantially vertical. 8. A waste outlet unit for the base of a bath, spa, shower or the like sanitary installation, provided with a cover at least a portion of which is rotatable about a vertical axis, a sealing closure member beneath the cover movable between open and closed positions, and coupling means coupling the rotatable cover portion to the closure member to transmit movement of the rotatable cover portion to movement of the closure member, the rotatable cover portion being engageable by the hand or foot of a bather and rotatable by an angle not exceeding 180° to move the closure member between its open and closed positions. 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, in which the closure member is resiliently biased into engagement with a seat when in its closed position and is mounted on the coupling means for limited movement against the resilient bias to accommodate a range of bath thicknesses. 10. Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, in which the coupling means comprises a shaft attached to the rotatable cover portion and passing through a guide mounted in the waste aperture, resilient means axially biasing the shaft, and co-operating means on the shaft and the guide for defining two axial positions of the shaft in respect of the two rotary positions of the rotatable cover portion which correspond to the open and closed positions of the closure member.

Inventors: MURFIN JOHN, MURFIN, JOHN
Applicants: AQUATECH MARKETING LTD, AQUATECH MARKETING LIMITED
Application year: 1985
Main classification: A61H33
IPC codes: A61H33, E03C1