HYDROTHERAPY NOZZLE

Abstract: A hydrotherapy nozzle 10 comprises a main body 12 and jet outlet, and a chamber 14 therein in which water and air may be mixed. A water inlet 16 and outlet 18 are provided together with a threaded portion 26 for co-operating with a correspondingly threaded member 28, 29 for clamping the nozzle to the bath wall. There is a recess 30 about the threa­ ded portion 26 and a bore 32 connecting the recess with a back of a nozzle. The bore may be used to inject sealant into the recess and effect a watertight seal with a minimum of mess and manual handling.

Description: This invention relates to a hydrotherapy nozzle in particular for use with hydrotherapy baths or pools of the Jacuzzi type. Hydrotherapy baths, pools or tubs have one or more nozzles positioned below the water line in which air and water are mixed and forced into the bath producing a jet of foaming water which is said to give a therapeutic effect for persons bathing therein. Our published UK patent specification no.2147523 discloses a particularly effective hydrotherapy nozzle system which can be fitted to existing baths and tubs as well as being installed at the manufacturing stage. When fitting such a system to an existing bath it is usual for the fitter to cut holes in the existing bath to receive the hydrotherapy nozzles, fit the nozzles in place in the hole so cut and partly tighten the locking nuts, measure and cut to length the interconnecting hoses, remove the nozzles from the bath, fit the interconnecting hoses, and refit the assembled system to the bath on this occasion applying a sealant in the area where the nozzles locate in the holes cut in the bath. This method of operation is relatively time consuming and invariably involves a considerable degree of mess since the sealant becomes spread about the bath surface during the second fixing of the nozzles necessitating a considerable amount of cleaning up after the system has been fitted. The invention seeks to provide an improved form of nozzle in which the above disadvantages can be reduced or eliminated. According to the present invention there is provided a hydrotherapy nozzle, intended to be attached to the wall (22) of a bath tub, comprising a body (12) with a water inlet (16) and outlet (18), a chamber (14) therein in which water and air may be mixed, a main body jet outlet and a threaded portion (29) for cooperation with a correspondingly threaded member (18) for clamping the nozzle to the bath wall (22), characterised in that there is a recess (30) containing a sealing member (34) about the threaded portion and a bore (32) connecting the recess with the back of the nozzle. Preferably, the recess carries a sealing member, such as an O-ring, which bears against the bath wall when the correspondingly threaded member is tightened into the nozzle. The bore may preferably be employed to inject sealant into the recess when the nozzle is assembled in place. The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view of a nozzle in accordance with the invention clamped in place in the wall of a bath; Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the nozzle of figure 1; and Figure 3 is a similar view to figure 1 of another embodiment. Referring to the drawings, a hydrotherapy nozzle generally designated 10, for example in general similar to that described in our published patent specification No. 2147523, comprises a main body 12 within which is a chamber 14 for mixing air and water. The chamber 14 has water inlet and outlets 16, 18 as well as an air supply 20 communicating therewith. The nozzle 10 is held in place on a wall 22 of a bath having a hole 24 cut therein by means of an internally threaded portion 26 extending into the chamber 14 which is engaged by a correspondingly threaded member in the form of a bezel 28 which locates on the inside of the bath and has an externally threaded portion 29 which protrudes through the hole 24 to engage the threads 26. An annular ring 31, having bore therethrough, fits with the bezel 28 to provide mechanical support. In order that the nozzle should not leak when the bath is full and the device in use, it is necessary to seal about the hole 24, particularly on the rear (that is the right hand as viewed in figure 1) surface since this may be considerably less smooth than the interior bath surface. As mentioned above this has customarily been done by applying liberal amounts of sealant, for example a silicone sealant, around the hole 24, the front face of the nozzle 10 and the rear face of the bezel 28. In the nozzle illustrated, in accordance with the invention, an annular recess 30 is provided circumscribing the threaded portion 26. A bore or port 32 connects the recess 30 to the back face of the nozzle 10. A O ring 34 is also located in the recess 30. In the fitting of nozzles in accordance with the invention, holes 24 may be cut in the bath walls 22 as before and the nozzle positioned and retained in place by tightening the bezel 28. The hoses connecting the inlets and outlets 16, 18 of adjacent nozzles (as well as the air supply tubing) may be measured cut to size and connected up with the nozzles in place about the bath. Final sealing, in accordance with the invention, is accomplished by slackening off each of the bezels 28 a small amount, for example one turn, and injecting sealant through the port 32 into the recess 30. In one preferred form of the invention the nozzle body 12 is moulded from a transparent plastics material and, where this is the case, the injected sealant can be visually checked to ensure that it completely circumscribes the threaded portion 26 filling the recess 30. The bezel may then be retightened completing the fixing of each nozzle. But in any event and in the case of a non-transparent plastic nozzle body, the sealant will be seen to exude from the periphery of the O-ring seal thus indicating that the recess is full. The bezel may then be retightened completing the fixing of each nozzle. With the construction in accordance with the invention it has been found that complete sealing is achieved very simply and easily without any mess and with a simplified method of assembly. Especially where visual monitoring of the amount of sealant can be carried out, for example where the nozzles 10 are moulded from transparent material, it is possible to ensure that there is no leakage of sealant and therefore no excess sealant to clean off the bath after fitting. The nozzle of the invention may be used with the system described in our above mentioned published patent specification but is not, of course, so limited since it may be employed with advantage in other systems where sealing requires to be effected by the use of a mastic sealant an it is desired to avoid disassembly and excessive amounts of sealant spreading over adjacent surfaces. In normal hydrotherapy systems, the rear of the nozzle is easily accessible and the sealant can be injected from the tapered nozzle of a mastic gun which forces the sealant through the port 32 and into the recess 30 under sufficient pressure to ensure that it reaches all parts of the recess and provide an effective seal. It is one of the features of the present nozzle, when used with the system of our earlier patent, that the "V"-shaped configuration of the water inlet and outlet 16, 18 ensures that any water remaining in the system drains down to the nozzle 10 and out through the bezel 28 into the bath. However if the nozzle is fitted on a sloping portion of the bath wall, e.g. at the sloping "head" end of the bath, then the angle may cause excessive water to be trapped. In this case it is advantageous to use the form of nozzle illustrated in figure 3. In figure 3 the base 36 of the "V" formed by inlet 16 and outlet 18 is provided with a drain port 38 connecting with a drain pipe 40. When the bath is emptied a valve, either in the port 38 or elsewhere in the pipe 40, is opened to allow all the water to drain away. A secondary passage 42 may be provided so as to allow any water trapped in the chamber 14 to drain also. The pipe 40 may be part of a network draining several nozzles 10. The passage 32 in this embodiment has a different circumferential location so as not to interfer with the port 38 and pipe 40, and is not therefore seen in this sectional view. The passage 42 can be serviced if and when necessary to clear it of any sediment, lint, or the like by means of a flexible rod passed in through the bezel 28 from the bath side.

Claims: 1. A hydrotherapy nozzle, intended to be attached to the wall (22) of a bath tub, comprising a body (12) with a water inlet (16) and outlet (18), a chamber (14) therein in which water and air may be mixed, a main body jet outlet and a threaded portion (29) for cooperation with a correspondingly threaded member (18) for clamping the nozzle to the bath wall (22), characterised in that there is a recess (30) containing a sealing member (34) about the threaded portion and a bore (32) connecting the recess with the back of the nozzle. 2. A nozzle as claimed in claim 1 in which the sealing member is an O-ring (34). 3. A nozzle as claimed in claim 1 in which the bore (32) is adapted to receive injected sealant and convey it into the recess (30). 4. A nozzle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the inlet and outlet (16,18) meet in a "V". 5. A nozzle as claimed in claim 4 in which the "V" is provided with a drain port (38) connecting with a drainage pipe (40). 6. A nozzle as claimed in claim 5 in which the port and/or pipe (38,40) is provided with a drain valve. 7. A nozzle as claimed in either of claims 5 or 6 in which a secondary passage (42) is provided communicating between the chamber (14) and the drainage port (38). 8. A nozzle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the nozzle body (12) is moulded from a transparent plastics material.

Inventors: BOLTON, ROBERT PAUL, QUIRK, PATRICK
Applicants: BONDWELL LIMITED
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B05B7
IPC codes: A61H33, B05B7