Abstract:
A gas and liquid massage system for a tub comprises jets. Each jet has a gas injector and a liquid injector. The jets concurrently inject liquid and gas. A liquid circuit feeds a flow of liquid to the liquid injectors. A gas circuit feeds a flow of gas to the gas injectors. A sequencer manifold in the gas circuit selectively closes the gas supply to some of the jets to intermittently inject gas with the injected liquid. A massage system controller operates the sequencer manifold in selectively closing the gas supply to some of the jets. A method for injecting fluids into the liquid of the tub is also provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This patent application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/324,885, filed on Apr. 16, 2010 and incorporates by reference U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/502,621 filed Jul. 14, 2009 and published on Jan. 14, 2010 under number US2010/0006158 A1. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE APPLICATION 
       [0002]    The present application relates to jet massage systems used in tubs, such as bathtubs, hot tubs, whirlpools and similar basins, and more particularly to a jet for the injection of air and water into the liquid of such tubs to procure a massaging effect for the occupant of the tub. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE ART 
       [0003]    Tubs are well known for their primary use, namely a washroom installation in which a user person washes/bathes. Tubs have, however, evolved to add pleasure and comfort to practicality, and are found in many forms, such as bathtubs, spas and whirlpools. For instance, tubs are now provided with air-jet systems and whirlpool systems. 
         [0004]    Massage systems of various configurations have been provided to inject fluids, such as air or water, into the liquid of the tub, so as to procure a massaging effect for the occupant of the tub. One known massage system combines the injection of air and water to provide a different sensorial experience to the bather. The known massage system comprises water jets equipped with venturi devices whereby air is sucked by the flow of water directed to the tub. Accordingly, the resulting flow of water in the tub comprises air bubbles, thereby causing a different sensation on the skin of the bather. 
         [0005]    Despite creating a different massaging effect due to the combination of air and water in the jets, there remains a need to perform additional effects to provide different types of treatment with air/water massage systems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION 
       [0006]    Therefore, in accordance with the present application, there is provided a gas and liquid massage system for a tub, comprising: a plurality of jets each having a gas injector and a liquid injector for injecting concurrently liquid and gas; a liquid circuit for feeding a flow of liquid to the liquid injectors of the jets; a gas circuit for feeding a flow of gas to the gas injectors of the jets; a sequencer manifold in the gas circuit for selectively closing a gas supply to some of the jets to intermittently inject gas with the injected liquid; and a massage system controller for operating the sequencer manifold in selectively closing the gas supply to some of the jets. 
         [0007]    Further in accordance with the present application, there is provided a method for injecting fluids in the liquid of a tub of the type having a plurality of jets each having a gas injector and a liquid injector, comprising: supplying pressurized liquid to the liquid injector of each said jet; and simultaneously supplying pressurized gas to the gas injector of only a portion of the jets; whereby gas and liquid exit the jet concurrently into the liquid of the tub. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is an end elevation view of an air and water massage system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, as mounted to a hidden surface of a tub; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the tub with the air and water massage system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a sequencer manifold with safety valve unit as used in the air and water massage system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an assembly view of the sequencer manifold and safety valve unit of  FIG. 3 ; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the sequencer manifold and safety valve unit of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    Referring to the drawings and more particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown an air and water massage system  10  as mounted to a tub A. A majority of the components of the massage system  10  are mounted adjacent to the hidden surface of the tub A and are thus not visible to an observer/user of the tub A as many of these components are built-in under the tub. As will be described hereinafter, some components of the air and water massage system  10  are visible to an observer/user of the tub. 
         [0014]    The air and water massage system  10  of the present disclosure uses fluid jets  11  that inject coincidentally and simultaneously a liquid and a gas, such as water and air, or any other appropriate fluids. Accordingly, a flow of mixed air and water is injected by each single fluid jet  11 . For instance, the fluid jet  11  is as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication Serial No. 2010/0006158, incorporated herewith by reference. Other types of appropriate fluid jets may be used as well. 
         [0015]    In order to supply both water and air to the fluid jet  11 , the air and water massage system  10  has a water circuit  12  and an air circuit  13 . The water circuit  12  and the air circuit  13  may be operated independently one from the other, as each one has its own pressure source, as will be described hereinafter. A sequencer manifold  14  is in the air circuit  13  and is used to cause a massaging effect specific to the air and water massage system  10  of the present disclosure. 
         [0016]    Still referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the water circuit  12  is shown having an inlet  20  in a bottom of a side wall of the tub. The inlet  20  therefore collects water that is in the tub. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there may be provided a screen in the inlet  20  so as to ensure that no solid components are sucked into the water circuit  12  and to prevent any incident with body parts. It is pointed out that the water circuit  12  may have other sources of liquids than the tub A. Moreover, the inlet  20  may be located at other positions in the tub A. 
         [0017]    A collector pipe  21  is in fluid communication with the inlet  20 , and extends to a pump  22 . The pump  22  therefore increases the velocity and pressure of the water so as to subsequently inject the water into the tub in the form of a massaging stream, via the fluid jets  11 . 
         [0018]    The pump  22  may be any appropriate type of pump. In the illustrated example, the water side of the pump  22  features a central inlet and radial outlet operated by a motor physically separated from the water side of the pump  22 . A manifold  23  is connected to the outlet of the pump  22 . The manifold  23  has a T-shaped body with a plurality of outlets for water distribution pipes  24 . Each of the water distribution pipes  24  is connected to a respective fluid jet  11  for the injection of water therethrough. 
         [0019]    Therefore, once actuated, the pump  22  sucks water into the inlet  20  and pressures the water from the collector pipe  21  through the pump  22  into the manifold  23  and ultimately to the water distribution pipes  24  to reach the fluid jets  11  for the injection in the water of the tub A. Any other appropriate circuit can be used as well for the injection of water into the tub A. It is considered to relate the water circuit  12  to a water sensor in the tub A. According to an embodiment, the water sensor is used to prevent operation of the pump  22  in the absence of water in the tub A, for instance to prevent cavitation and/or overheating of the pump  22 . 
         [0020]    Still referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the air circuit  13  has a blower  30 . A blower pipe  31  is connected to an outlet of the blower  30 . In the illustrated embodiment, the blower pipe  31  is a flexible pipe, and is oriented upwardly so as to form a Hartford loop. A safety valve unit  32  may be provided in the blower pipe  31 . The safety valve unit  32  may be of the type described as the manifold in U.S. Pat. No. 7,503,082. Accordingly, by using such a safety valve unit  32 , any water that may reach the blower pipe  31  is exhausted when the blower  30  is not in operation, by way of a movement of a ball  32 A. Moreover, the check valve mechanism  32 B inside the safety valve unit  32  has another level of protection against water infiltration. Moreover, the pressure-exhaust embodiment of U.S. Pat. No. 7,503,082 may also be used to avoid a pressure surge in the air circuit  13 . Although not shown, a heating element may be positioned in the blower pipe  31 , or may be a part of the blower  30 . The heating element is used to provide warmed up air to the air circuit  13 . Moreover, the speed of the blower  30  may be varied by the user using the appropriate interface to vary the pressure of the gas being injected. 
         [0021]    The sequencer manifold  14  is connected to the safety valve unit  32 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the sequencer manifold  14  may be screwed to an end of the safety valve unit  32 , via threading at its connection end. Air distribution pipes  33  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) are connected to the various ports of the sequencer manifold  14  and thus relate the sequencer manifold  14  to the fluid jets  11 . During operation, the blower  30  creates a flow of air in the blower pipe  31 . The flow of air will pass through the safety valve unit  32  to the sequencer manifold  14 . According to the operation of the sequencer manifold  14 , the flow of air will reach the air distribution pipes  33  in any appropriate sequence to then reach the fluid jets  11  for the coincidental injection of water and air into the tub via the fluid jets  11 . 
         [0022]    Referring concurrently to  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the sequencer manifold  14  is shown having a cylindrical body  40 . In an embodiment, the cylindrical body  40  is constituted of a plurality of cylindrical segments  41  positioned end to end with a plugged segment  42  at the free end of the cylindrical body  40 . The sequencer manifold  14  of  FIG. 5  has four of the segments  41 / 42  but may have more or less of these segments  41 / 42 . One of the segments  41  may be provided with threading for connection with the safety valve unit  32 . It is pointed out that the segments  41  may initially be plugged, but pierced by the assembly of plugs  42  end to end. Alternatively, the cylindrical body  40  may be an integral piece. 
         [0023]    Outlet tees  43  (i.e., tee fitting, tees, etc) have a central portion projecting radially from the cylindrical body  40 . The outlet tees  43  have nipples to which the air distribution pipes  33  will be connected in fluid communication. Accordingly, the outlet tees  43  interface the sequencer manifold  14  to the distribution pipes  33 . In an embodiment, the distribution pipes  33  related to a same outlet tee  43  are connected to fluid jets  11  on opposite sides of the tub A, for instance in a mirror image arrangement of the pairs of the fluid jets  11 . The nipples of the tees may have wedge connectors, tubing connectors, or the like. Electrical valves (i.e., electrovalves) are connected to each of the outlet tees  43 . Any appropriate fixation configuration may be used to connect the electronic valves  44  to the outlet tees  43 . In a specific embodiment, electromagnets of the valves  44  will actuate the movement of a piston  45 . The piston  45  are typically spring-loaded pistons that are in a normally-closed (NC) position so as to prevent air to pass therethrough. Upon actuation of the valves  44 , the pistons  45  will move to an open position so as to allow air to pass therethrough from an inner cavity of the cylindrical body  40 . In that manner, air can reach the air distribution pipes  33  according to the actuation sequence of the valves  44 . It is pointed out that other types of outlets may be used as alternatives to an outlet tee. For instance an outlet elbow, or a straight nipple could be used (e.g., a single distribution pipe per outlet of the sequencer manifold  14 ). As shown in  FIG. 5 , a cap  46  may be provided integral with each piston  45 . The cap is a rubber or polymer member that closes or opens the passage in the outlet tees  43 , and simultaneously seals the piston  45 , so as to ensure the proper sealing and operation of the valve  44  and outlet tee  43 , by being an interface between the piston  45  and a plastic/rubber seat therefor. 
         [0024]    Although the valves  44  are described as being in a normally-closed position until actuated, it is considered to have the valves be of the normally-open type. In such a case, air flows freely to the fluid jets  11  when the blower  30  is actuated. 
         [0025]    The sequencer manifold  14  in operation dynamically changes the number of air distribution pipes operating simultaneously. Therefore, it is possible to increase the air pressure at some of the fluid jets  11  by blocking the air flow of the other fluid jets with the sequencer manifold  14 . It is thus possible to increase the pressure at some fluid jets  11  without increasing the size, capacity, capability of the blower  30 . 
         [0026]    Therefore, the air and water massage system  10  of the present application creates a novel massaging effect. More specifically, a current stream of water is injected into the water of tub via the water circuit  12  and fluid jets  11 . The bather is therefore subjected to a continuous massaging effect from the water. The sequencer manifold  14  is operated so as to periodically inject air through the fluid jets  11  according to various injection patterns. Therefore, at selected occasions, the fluid jets will coincidentally inject water and air. This increases the massaging effect intermittently at certain locations and therefore causes another dimension of massaging. 
         [0027]    In  FIG. 4 , the valves  44  are labeled as  44 A- 44 D to illustrate various modes of operation, and are connected to fluid jets  11 A- 11 D ( FIG. 1 ), with corresponding affixed letters identifying sets of a corresponding valve and fluid jet(s). In a wave operation, valves  44 A- 44 D are opened and closed in the following sequence:  44 A,  44 B,  44 C,  44 D,  44 A, etc., with the valves  44  being associated with an arrangement of fluid jets  11  positioned in the tub A sequentially (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). In a back-and-forth operation, valves  44 A- 44 D are opened and closed in the following sequence:  44 A,  44 B,  44 C,  44 D,  44 C,  44 B,  44 A,  44 B, etc. In a pulse mode, the valves  44  are opened and closed for specific amounts of time, to create a pulse effect. 
         [0028]    The time period between opening and closing of each valve  44  may also be adjusted by the user of the system. According to another embodiment, the valves  44 A- 44 D may open automatically when the air circuit  13  is turned on, to avoid a pressure overload in the air circuit  13 . Once a mode of operation is selected, some of the valves  44 A- 44 D are closed. 
         [0029]    It is also considered to provide the water circuit with a sequencer manifold  14 , provided all safety precautions are taken, in terms of shock hazards. 
         [0030]    The air/massage system  10  is provided with a controller and appropriate interface. The air/massage system  10  may therefore be operated in different modes. According to a mode, the sequencer manifold  14  has all valves  44  open, whereby all fluid jets  11  in operation with air and water. According to another mode, the sequencer manifold  14  opens and closes specific groups of valves  44  sequentially. This causes a continuous water massage, but intermittent air massage, in terms of space, and thus a sensation of movement in the massaging effect. According to another mode, the sequencer manifold  14  keeps specific valves  44  open. For instance, it may be desired to perform the air and water massaging only in the feet area of the tub A. All of these modes may be selected by the user of the tub A. 
         [0031]    In order to reduce energy consumption by the valves  44  and to control the massaging effect in each set of fluid jets  11 , it is considered to pulse the valves  44  to the open position (or alternatively to the closed position). A controlled modulation (e.g., as pulse-width, bit-angle modulation) of the pistons  45  may not affect the massaging effect as felt by the user in the tub A, or may affect the intensity (e.g., amplitude) and frequency of the massaging effect, for each outlet-tee pair of fluid jets  11  independently (in the case of outlet tees  43 ). The pulsating effect on the pistons  45  of the valves  44  in the controlled modulation will not be directly felt by the user, but an overall massaging effect will be modified by the controlled modulation.