Abstract:
An assembly of a tub and liquid massage system, comprises a tub defining a bathing cavity for receiving liquid. A tub wall of the tub has a plurality of openings. A liquid massage system comprises a liquid circuit for collecting liquid from the tub, the liquid having at least a pump device for exposing the liquid in the liquid circuit to a pump action. A plurality of nozzles are provided at ends of the liquid circuit, each nozzle having a nozzle body with at least one connector portion in fluid communication with the liquid circuit. The nozzle body defines an outlet adapted to be mounted to a tub wall opposite one said opening in the tub wall for feeding liquid from the liquid circuit to the outlet into the bathing cavity of the tub, at least some of the nozzles having a throat portion in the outlet, the nozzles with the throat portion having an inner diameter reduction ratio between the nozzle body and the outlet of at least 2.5.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/637,453, filed on Apr. 24, 2012, and incorporated herewith by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE APPLICATION 
     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 water into the liquid of such tubs to procure a massaging effect for the occupant of the tub. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE ART 
     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 water massage systems, as known as whirlpool systems. 
     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 water massage system comprises a network featuring a pump that collects water from the tub, and re-injects the water with velocity and/or pressure via nozzles strategically positioned at strategic locations in the wall of the tub. These water massage systems typically have a venturi to add air to the water flow, and hence inject a mixture of air/water in the water of the tub. 
     Despite creating a strong massaging effect, there remains a need to perform additional effects to provide different types of treatment with water massage systems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION 
     It is therefore an aim of the present disclosure to provide a water massage system that addresses issues associated with the prior art. 
     Therefore, in accordance with the present application, there is provided an assembly of a tub and liquid massage system, comprising: a tub defining a bathing cavity for receiving liquid, a tub wall of the tub having a plurality of openings; a liquid massage system comprising: a liquid circuit for collecting liquid from the tub, the liquid having at least a pump device for exposing the liquid in the liquid circuit to a pump action; and a plurality of nozzles at ends of the liquid circuit, each said nozzle having a nozzle body with at least one connector portion in fluid communication with the liquid circuit, the nozzle body defining an outlet adapted to be mounted to a tub wall opposite one said opening in the tub wall for feeding liquid from the liquid circuit to the outlet into the bathing cavity of the tub, at least some of the nozzles having a throat portion in the outlet, the nozzles with the throat portion having an inner diameter reduction ratio between the nozzle body and the outlet of at least 2.5. 
     Further in accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided a method for injecting liquid in the liquid of a tub of the type having a plurality of nozzles mounted to a tub wall opposite openings in the tub wall, comprising: collecting liquid from the tub and exposing the liquid to a pump action; directing the fluid to a nozzle body of the nozzle to inject the liquid in the tub via an outlet of the nozzle body; and exposing the liquid to an inner diameter reduction between the nozzle body and the outlet at a ratio of at least 2.5. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an end elevation view of a water massage system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, as mounted to a hidden surface of a tub; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a loop of flexible interface pipe with nozzles of the water massage system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of nozzles of the water massage system of the present disclosure as mounted to a tub wall. 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of a flexible pipe interface and nozzle relative to the tub; and 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the water massage system relative to the tub. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings and more particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a water massage system  10  as mounted to a tub A. The tub A is of the type defining a cavity B with its tub wall having an exposed surface B 1  and a hidden surface B 2 , in the case wherein the tub A is a built-in tub. The tub A may be any of a bathtub, a spa, a whirlpool, a Jacuzzi, etc. Most of the water massage system  10  is located on the underside of the tub A, opposite the hidden surface B 2 . Therefore, 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 water massage system  10  are visible to an observer/user of the tub. In some instances, the system  10  may be exposed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the water massage system  10  comprises a feed pipe  12 , flexible interface pipes  13  and nozzles  14 . The feed pipe  12  has an inlet end  12 A connected to the lower portion of the tub A to collect liquid therefrom. The feed pipe  12  also comprises at least one pump  15  downstream of the inlet end  12 A to increase a pressure and/or velocity of the fluid in the feed pipe  12 . A user interface  16  is exposed on the exterior of the tub A or in its surroundings, and may be of any type, such as on/off switch, keypad, touchpad, etc. All necessary precautions must be taken during installation to prevent electrical hazards. 
     The flexible interface pipes  13  connect the feed pipe  12  to the nozzles  14 . The nozzles  14  are the liquid outlets of the water massage system  10 , and therefore re-inject the liquid back into the liquid of the tub A, with the liquid being injected with some increased velocity to procure a massaging effect to the occupant of the tub A. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the feed pipe  12  is shown as having a plurality of manifold segments  20 . The manifold segments  20  are interconnected end to end, and each of the manifold segments  20  comprises a plurality of outlet ports  21 . The manifold segments  20  are positioned downstream of the pump in the feed pipe  12 , and typically each consists of a polymeric material, such as ABS, although other polymers and metals may be used as alternatives. In an embodiment, the material of the manifold segments  20  is the same as that of other pipe portions of the feed pipe  12 , to facilitate the interconnection between the various components of the feed pipe  12 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , there is illustrated one such manifold segment  20  with eight different outlet ports  21 . The manifold segment  20  may have more or less of the outlet ports  21 . The outlet ports  21  may be equipped with hose barb for sealingly connecting ends of the flexible interface pipes  13  to the outlet ports  21 . Other configurations are possible, for instance with the use of a warm gear hose clamp, etc. 
     Referring concurrently to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the flexible interface pipes  13  are shown consisting of a plurality of flexible pipe segments  30 . The flexible pipe segments  30  are interconnected by the nozzles  14 . It is observed that each flexible interface pipe  13  may form a loop in that opposed ends of the flexible interface pipes  13  are both connected to outlet ports  21  of the same manifold segment  20  as in  FIG. 2 , or of different manifold segments  20  as in  FIG. 1 . The loop configuration of the flexible interface pipes  13  ensures that each of the nozzles  14  is provided with a generally equal flow of liquid to be injected in the tub A. It is however contemplated to arrange the pipes  13  as branches with an end  13  connected to the manifold segment  20 , and an opposite end connected to a nozzle  14  (with elbow fitting or tee fitting), with other nozzles in the branch (e.g., with tee fittings). 
     Referring concurrently to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the nozzles  14  are each shown comprising a nozzle body  40  (e.g., a tee fitting) consisting of a pair of co-axial opposed connector portions  41 , and a tubular outlet portion  42  generally perpendicular to the connector portions  41 . The connector portions  41  may have any appropriate configuration to be connected to the pipe segments  30 . For instance,  FIG. 3  illustrates the connector portions  41  as featuring hose barb. Other configurations are possible, including the use of hose clamps, an elbow or nipple fitting for the nozzle  14 , etc. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , one of the nozzles  14  is shown in greater detail. The nozzle body  40  is an elbow fitting, although other types of fittings could be used, as described above. The nozzle body  40  is hollow, such that liquid fed from the flexible pipe segments  30  enters the nozzle  14  via the connector portion  41 , and is then directed into the tubular outlet portion  42 . The liquid then exits the nozzle  14  via the outlet  43 . The outlet  43  is the conduit of the nozzle  14  through which the fluid exits. In the illustrated embodiment, the outlet  43  is bound by the inner circumference of the tubular outlet portion  42 , and by a tubular head insert  44  of the nozzle  14 , received in the tubular outlet portion  42 . The head insert  44  is one of the few visible parts of the water massage systems  10 , along with the inlet  12 A of the feed pipe  12  ( FIG. 5 ), and the user interface  16 . The head insert  44  has a flange  44 A at its downstream end. It also considered to completely hide the nozzle  14  behind the tub wall. As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 , the nozzles  14  may each have a flange  45  that is part of the nozzle body  40 , to be secured with an adhesive to the hidden surface B 2  at the tub A. Moreover, any appropriate sealing device, such as seal  46  may be provided between the tubular outlet portion  42  and the nozzle head insert  44  to prevent any water leak thereat. Any other sealing configuration is considered as well. Hence, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the nozzle  14  may be secured to a tub wall by being sandwiched between the flanges  44 A and  45 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a portion  47  of the head insert  44  may have threading so as to be threadingly engaged to tapping inside the tubular outlet portion  42  of the nozzle body  40 . In the illustrated embodiment, an appropriate hexagonal socket  48  is provided in the channel of the head insert  44  to tighten the head insert  44  to the nozzle body  40 , and squeeze the seal  46  against the wall of the tub. Any other appropriate engagement means is considered as well (e.g., snap-fitting, etc). In  FIG. 3 , the seal  46  is of the type that is against the flange  45  and against the hidden surface B 2  of the tub A (and in an appropriate annular groove of the flange  45 ), while the seal  46  in  FIG. 3  is an O-ring abutting against the exposed surface B 1  of the tub A. Either or both of these configurations could be used in the water massage system  10 . 
     It is observed that the head insert  44  defines a throat portion  43 A in the outlet  43 , representing the smallest diameter of the nozzle  14 . In the illustrated embodiment, the downstream-most portion  43 B of the outlet  43  is an enlargement relative to the throat portion  43 A. In the event that the outlet  43  has the enlarged portion  43 B downstream of the throat portion  43 A as in  FIG. 4 , the enlargement may allow the fluid jet to expand to a cone-like shape. It is also considered to end the outlet  43  with the throat portion  43 A (without any downstream enlargement). Moreover, although the use of the head insert  44  is a well suited arrangement to define the throat portion  43 A and to secure the nozzle  14  to the tub wall by sandwiching same between the flanges  44 A and  45 , it is considered to provide the nozzle  14  with other constructions. For instance, the tubular outlet portion  42  may be machined or molded to define an outlet channel  43  with the throat portion  43 A. 
     The inner diameter of the pipe segments  30  is standard at about 0.375 in ±0.010 in. For an inner diameter of 0.375 in, the cross-sectional area is 0.110 in 2 . This represents a reduction of inner diameter compared to that of the feed pipe  12  (e.g., 1.50 in±0.25 in). 
     The inner diameter of the nozzle body  40 , i.e., of the connector portion  41  and tubular outlet portion  42  is standard at about 0.250 in±0.005 in. For an inner diameter of 0.250 in, the cross-sectional area is 0.049 in 2 . 
     Conventional outlets of water massage systems generally have the same inner diameter as that of the nozzle body, or are slightly smaller. In other words, conventional outlets would have the standard inner diameter of about 0.250 in. 
     According to the present disclosure, the inner diameter of the outlet  43  is substantially reduced relative to that of the nozzle body  40 , by the presence of the throat portion  43 A. More specifically, the throat portion  43 A has an inner diameter of 0.094 in±0.005 in. For an inner diameter of 0.094 in, the cross-sectional area is 0.007 in 2 . Finally, the enlarged portion  43 B has an inner diameter of 0.125 in+0.000 in −0.005 in. For an inner diameter of 0.125 in, the cross-sectional area is 0.012 in 2 . Hence, an inner diameter increase ratio between the throat portion  43 A and the enlarged portion  43 B being at least 1.21. Therefore, each of the nozzles  14  in accordance with the present disclosure has an inner diameter reduction ratio of at least 2.5 (i.e., the minimum nozzle body inner diameter of 0.245 in over the maximum diameter of 0.099 in of the throat portion  43 A). In an embodiment, the inner diameter reduction ratio is of 2.7 using conventional nozzle body diameter of 0.250 in over the 0.094 in embodiment of the throat portion  43 A. 
     The high inner diameter reduction ratio in the nozzles  14  results in a substantial increase in liquid velocity at the outlets  43 . Moreover, the relatively small diameter of the outlet  43  may result in a needle-like massaging effect, depending on the action of the pump on the liquid in the water massage system  10 . 
     Due to the miniaturization of the outlets  43  with respect to the diameters of the pipe network, it is possible to have a greater amount of nozzles  14  than water massage systems with standard larger diameters, for similar pump specifications. Hence, the distribution of the nozzles  14  may be over larger areas, enhancing the massaging effect produced by the water massage system  10 . 
     In an embodiment, the water massage system  10  is without any venturi-like arrangement to add air to the flow of water. The presence of the miniaturized water nozzles  14  as described above provides a suitable massaging effect, whereby the injection of gas may be unnecessary for the water massage system  10 . Moreover, the absence of gas injection in the water of the tub ultimately results in lower sound level as produced by the operating water massage system  10  compared to standard systems with air injection. 
     As described above, the water massage system  10  collects liquid from the tub A and exposes the liquid to a pump action. The fluid is then directed to the nozzles  14  to inject the liquid in the tub via the outlet  43  (e.g., by directing the fluid to two connector ends of the nozzle body  40 ). In doing so, the liquid is exposed to an inner diameter reduction between the nozzle body  40  and the outlet  43  at a ratio of at least 2.5. The liquid may then be exposed to an inner diameter increase ratio of at least 1.21.