Abstract:
Devices, systems and methods for improved multi-jet manifolds for spas, spa accessories and plumbing components are provided. A spa manifold with a first elongated pipe structure with a plurality of arms, a plurality of pipe segments sized to fit one or more of the first pipe arms, and a second elongated pipe structure with a plurality of arms is provided. A plurality of housing pipe segments attached to the remainder of the manifold is also provided, with the housing segments sized to house a jet and/or other spa accessories. A system for providing water and/or air to a grouping of jets and/or spa accessories through at least one manifold is also provided.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/007,946 to Brooks Hilton, et al., which was filed on Dec. 14, 2007. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to manifolds for water reservoirs and more particularly to customizable manifolds for use with multiple jets and/or spa accessories in pools, spas and the like. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Various hydrotherapy jet systems and other water-related accessories have been developed for use in spas, hot tubs, pools, bath tubs and the like (“spa”). Jets can be arranged to discharge a stream of water to the interior of the spa, which can be aerated through a variety of commercially available discharge nozzles. The various designs provide different characteristics that produce pleasing effects for the spa occupants, and have become quite popular. In the design of single or multi-user spas or tubs, it is common to use a variety of different jet nozzles and/or other spa accessories to provide a variety of different effects. 
     There are numerous types of jets and accessories that have been developed over the years, which can be placed in a variety of locations and arrangements within a spa. For example, jets have been developed such that the direction of the stream can be adjusted, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,029 to Spears et al. (assigned to the same assignee as the present invention). Other jets have been developed having fully adjustable directional outlets or ball housings, which are typically mounted in the face plate of the jet or recessed within the jet body. See Waterway Plastics Inc., “2005 Product Catalog”, pages 5-26. Still other jets have been developed that produce a pulsating stream of water using a variety of approaches to disturb the flow of water as it projects into the spa, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,456,174 to J. Neenan, U.S. Pat. No. 4,320,541 also to J. Neenan, U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,372 to L. Thrasher et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,925 to Dongo. Furthermore, still other jets have been developed that produce a massaging effect using balls. 
     While there are countless types of jets, jet systems, and spa accessories, there are limited means by which to arrange the varying types of jets so they can be operative in groupings throughout a spa, while still taking advantage of shared conduit systems that provide water and/or air throughout a spa system to enable various jets to function properly. One way to group jet and/or other spa accessories is by providing an inlet mechanism that caps an assemblage of jet conduits. For example, the “Quad Jet Set” by Venturi Jet Sets allows for the grouping of four jets that share a common water inlet system by providing a structure that caps four jet conduits, with the cap structure providing two inlets into the jet grouping. An additional structure directly adjacent to the cap is provided to supply air into the pipes. However, the Quad Jet Set is only designed to work in a four-jet grouping, where the jets are uniformly spaced apart. Furthermore, the ability to customize the variety, spacing, input of air and water combinations, and other elements of the jet groupings is limited. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention seeks to provide a multi-jet manifold with an improved and customizable approach to grouping jets and/or other spa accessories that share a common water and/or air inlet system, with the manifold being durable, inexpensive, and incomplex. One embodiment comprises a spa manifold with a first elongated pipe structure comprising a plurality of arms, and a plurality of pipe segments sized to fit one or more of the first pipe arms. It also comprises a second elongated pipe structure with a plurality of arms, and a plurality of housing pipe segments sized to fit a jet and/or other spa accessory. 
     Pursuant to another embodiment, a spa manifold is provided comprising a first elongated pipe structure with a plurality of openings and a plurality of pipe segments sized to fit the first pipe structure openings. It also comprises a second elongated pipe structure with a plurality of openings, and a plurality of housing pipe segments sized to fit the openings of the pipe segments and the second elongated pipe structure. 
     In accordance with yet another embodiment, a spa system utilizing multi-jet/spa accessory manifolds for a spa is provided. The system comprises at least one manifold with: a first pipe structure comprising a plurality of openings; a plurality of pipe housing segments for housing jets and/or spa accessories, with the housing segments sized to mate with the first pipe structure openings; and a second pipe structure providing water into the manifold. The system further provides a water supply flowing into the manifold through the second pipe structure, with the water exiting the manifold through the jets and/or spa accessories and into the interior of a spa. 
     These and other further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a multi-jet manifold according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the multi-jet manifold shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view with dimensions of the multi-jet manifold shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view with dimensions of the multi-jet manifold shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a multi-jet manifold according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a multi-jet manifold according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a spa system incorporating multi-jet manifolds according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description presents several possible embodiments. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of the invention, the scope of which is further understood by the appended claims. 
     The present invention generally provides a multi-jet manifold apparatus and system for spas which allow groups of jets and/or other spa accessories to share a common water and/or air inlet system. Advantages of the multi-jet manifold and system include being: durable, inexpensive, incomplex, and customizable to a variety of desired applications. 
       FIGS. 1-4  show one embodiment of a multi-jet manifold  10  constructed in accordance with the present invention, having a first elongated T-shaped pipe structure  12 , a second T-shaped pipe structure  14 , a third elongated T-shaped pipe structure  16 , three straight body pipes  18   a - c , and two L-shaped pipes  20   a ,  20   b . The multi-jet manifold  10  and its components are preferably formed from a plastic such as PVC, ABS or CPVC, but it is understood that other suitable materials may also be used. 
     The first T-shaped pipe structure  12  of the multi-jet manifold  10  includes an elongated cylindrical main body  22  having a first opening  24  on the lower half of the main body  22 , with said first opening  24  extending peripherally from said main body  22  toward the front of multi-jet manifold  10 . The main body  22  has a second opening  26 , with the second opening  26  located at the bottom of the cylindrical main body  22 . The main body  22  also comprises an upper T-shaped structure, with openings  28  and  30  extending in a T-shape away from main body  22  and toward the left and right of the multi-jet manifold  10 . Openings  24 ,  28  and  30  each have a diameter sized to fit tightly over the complimentary end pieces of various other pipe structures within multi-jet manifold  10 . Opening  26  has a diameter sized to fit tightly in the slightly larger diameter of complimentary first opening  32  of second T-shaped pipe structure  14 . Pipe structure  12  comprises a hollow center through which water, air, or a combination of air and water may pass. 
     The second T-shaped pipe structure  14  of the multi-jet manifold  10  includes a first opening  32  extending upward from pipe structure  14  toward the top of multi-jet manifold  10 . Pipe structure  14  includes openings  34  and  36  extending outward in a T-shape toward the left and right of the multi-jet manifold  10 . Opening  32  has a diameter sized to fit tightly over complimentary second opening  26  of first pipe structure  12 . Openings  34  and  36  comprise diameters sized to properly fit with conduits supplying water from a spa water pump assembly (best shown in  FIG. 7 ). Pipe structure  14  comprises a hollow center through which water, air, or a combination of air and water may pass. 
     The third T-shaped pipe structure  16  of the multi-jet manifold  10  includes an elongated cylindrical main body  38  having a first opening  40  located at the bottom of the cylindrical main body  38 . The main body  38  also comprises an upper T-shaped structure, with second openings  42  and  44  extending in a T-shape away from main body  38  and toward the left and right of the multi-jet manifold  10 , and opening  46  located at the top of main body  38  and extending toward the top of multi-jet manifold  10 . Openings  40 ,  42  and  44  each have a diameter sized to fit tightly over the complimentary end pieces of various other pipe structures within multi-jet manifold  10 . Opening  46  comprises a diameter sized to properly fit with conduits supplying air from a spa air pump assembly (best shown in  FIG. 7 ). Pipe structure  16  also comprises a hollow center through which air may pass. Although opening  46  preferably acts as an inlet for an air supply, it is understood that water or any water/air combination may be pumped through T-shaped pipe  16 . 
     The straight body pipes  18   a - c  each include a cylindrical main body  48   a - c  respectively, with each main body  48   a - c  comprising a hollow sidearm  50   a - c  respectively. Each straight body pipe  18   a - c  also comprises a first opening  52 , with each opening  52  extending toward the interior of a spa. Hollow sidearms  50   a - c  each have a diameter sized to fit tightly in complimentary openings  40 ,  42  and  44  of third pipe structure  16 , with  50   a  fitting in opening  42 ,  50   b  fitting in opening  44 , and  50   c  fitting in opening  40 . Each opening  52  comprises a diameter sized to properly hold a jet or other spa accessory (not shown). Body pipes  18   a - c  and sidearms  50   a - c  comprise hollow centers through which water, air, or a combination of water and air may pass. 
     The L-shaped pipes  20   a ,  20   b  both include a hollow body with first openings  54   a ,  54   b  and second openings  56   a ,  56   b . First openings  54   a ,  54   b  extend toward the center of multi-jet manifold  10 , and comprise diameters sized to properly fit tightly in complimentary openings  28  and  30  of first pipe structure  12 , with opening  54   a  fitting in opening  28  and opening  54   b  fitting in opening  30 . Second openings  56   a ,  56   b  extend toward the front of multi-jet manifold  10 , and comprise diameters sized to properly fit tightly over complimentary openings  51   a ,  51   b  of straight body pipes  18   a ,  18   b  respectively. L-shaped pipes  20   a ,  20   b  comprise hollow centers through which water, air, or a combination of water and air may pass. 
     In  FIG. 3 , dimensions (in inches) for the front side of one embodiment of multi-jet manifold  10  are depicted. For example, the longitudinal distance between the center of openings  52  for straight body pipes  18   a  and  18   c  may be 9.00 inches, while the latitudinal distance between the center of openings  52  for straight body pipes  18   a  and  18   b  may be 8.00 inches. Additionally, the longitudinal distance between the top of opening  46  and the bottom of T-shaped pipe  14  may be 17.92 inches. 
     In  FIG. 4 , dimensions (in inches) for the side of one embodiment of multi-jet manifold  10  are depicted. For example, the longitudinal distance between the center of opening  52  for straight body pipe  18   a  and the center of opening  34  for T-shaped pipe  14  may be 14.54 inches. Additionally, the distance from the rear of manifold  10  to the front of manifold  10  may, measured at the outside edge of opening  34  to the front of opening  52  of straight body pipe  18   c , be 7.64 inches. 
     In practice, one or more manifolds such as that depicted in  FIGS. 1-4  will be connected to a spa plumbing system located behind the wall of a spa. Water or a combination of water and air will be pumped through multi-jet manifold  10  via a spa water pump assembly. Water will enter the manifold  10  through openings  34  and  36  of T-shaped pipe  14 , where it will pass through opening  32  into T-shaped pipe  12 . The water will then be able to pass through any of openings  24 ,  28  or  30  of T-shaped pipe  12 . If it passes through opening  24 , it will move through straight body pipe  18   c  and into the interior of the spa via whatever jet or spa accessory is fitted into opening  52 . If it passes through openings  28  or  30 , it will move through L-shaped pipes  20   a ,  20   b  respectively, entering through openings  54   a ,  54   b  and exiting through openings  56   a ,  56   b  respectively. Once the water exits either of L-shaped pipes  20   a ,  20   b , it will flow into straight body pipes  18   a ,  18   b  respectively, entering through openings  51   a ,  51   b  and flowing into the interior of the spa via whatever jet or spa accessory is fitted into respective openings  52 . 
     Furthermore, air may be pumped through multi-jet manifold  10  via a spa air pump assembly. Air will enter the manifold  10  through opening  46  of T-shaped pipe  16 , where it will then be able to pass through any of openings  40 ,  42  or  44  of pipe  16 . If it passes through any of openings  40 ,  42 , or  44 , it will flow into straight body pipes  18   a ,  18   b , or  18   c  via respective sidearms  50   a ,  50   b , or  50   c . It will then flow through whatever jet or spa accessory is fitted into openings  52  and then into the interior of the spa. While air may be preferably pumped through T-shaped pipe  16 , it is understood that water or any water/air combination may also be pumped through T-shaped pipe  16 . 
       FIG. 5  shows another embodiment of a multi-jet manifold  60  constructed in accordance with the present invention. Manifold  60  is similar in function and design to manifold  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , with the main difference being that manifold  60  groups four jets and/or other spa accessories rather than the grouping of three described in manifold  10 . Manifold  60  has a first elongated H-shaped pipe structure  62 , a T-shaped pipe structure  64 , a second elongated H-shaped pipe structure  66 , four straight body pipes  68   a - d , and four L-shaped pipes  70   a - d.    
     The first H-shaped pipe structure  62  of manifold  60  includes an opening  72 , with opening  72  extending below the H-shaped portion of structure  62 . Structure  62  also comprises openings  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80  extending away from structure  62  and toward the left and right of manifold  60 . Openings  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80  each have a diameter sized to fit tightly over the complimentary end pieces of various other pipe structures within manifold  60 . Opening  72  has a diameter sized to fit tightly in the slightly larger diameter of complimentary first opening  82  of T-shaped pipe structure  64 . Pipe structure  62  comprises a hollow center through which water, air, or a combination of air and water may pass. 
     T-shaped pipe structure  64  of manifold  60  includes first opening  82  extending upward from structure  64  toward the top of manifold  60 . Structure  64  includes openings  84  and  86  extending outward in a T-shape toward the left and right of manifold  60 . Openings  84  and  86  comprise diameters sized to properly fit with conduits supplying water from a spa water pump assembly. Structure  64  comprises a hollow center through which water, air, or a combination of air and water may pass. 
     Second H-shaped pipe structure  66  of manifold  60  includes openings  88 ,  90 ,  92 ,  94  extending away from structure  66  and toward the left and right of manifold  60 , and opening  96  extending upward from structure  66  and toward the top of manifold  60 . Openings  88 ,  90 ,  92 ,  94  each have a diameter sized to fit tightly over the complimentary end pieces of various other pipe structures within manifold  60 . Opening  96  comprises a diameter sized to properly fit with conduits supplying air from a spa air pump assembly. Pipe structure  66  also comprises a hollow center through which air may pass. Although opening  96  preferably acts as an inlet for an air supply, it is understood that water or any water/air combination may be pumped through structure  66 . 
     The straight body pipes  68   a - d  each include a cylindrical main body  98   a - d  respectively, with each main body  98   a - d  comprising a hollow sidearm  100   a - d  respectively. Each straight body pipe  68   a - d  also comprises a first opening  102 , with each opening  102  extending toward the interior of a spa. Hollow sidearms  100   a - d  each have a diameter sized to fit tightly in complimentary openings  88 ,  90 ,  92 ,  94  of structure  66 , with  10   a  fitting in opening  88 ,  100   b  fitting in opening  90 , and  10   c  fitting in opening  92 , and  100   d  fitting in opening  94 . Each opening  102  comprises a diameter sized to properly hold a jet or other spa accessory (not shown). Body pipes  68   a - d  and sidearms  100   a - d  comprise hollow centers through which water, air, or a combination of water and air may pass. 
     The L-shaped pipes  70   a - d  include a hollow body with first openings extending toward the center of manifold  60 , which comprise diameters sized to properly fit tightly in complimentary openings  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80  of pipe structure  62 . The L-shaped pipes  70   a - d  also comprise second openings extending toward the front of manifold  60 , which comprise diameters sized to properly fit tightly over complimentary rear openings of straight body pipes  68   a - d . L-shaped pipes  70   a - d  comprise hollow centers through which water, air, or a combination of water and air may pass. 
       FIG. 6  shows another embodiment of a multi-jet manifold  110  constructed in accordance with the present invention. Manifold  110  is similar in function and design to manifolds  10  and  60 , with the main difference being that manifold  110  groups five jets and/or other spa accessories rather than the grouping of three described in manifold  10  and the grouping of four described in manifold  60 . Manifold  110  has a first elongated multi-branch pipe structure  112 , a T-shaped pipe structure  114 , a second elongated multi-branch pipe structure  116 , five straight body pipes  118   a - e , and four L-shaped pipes  120   a - d.    
     The first multi-branch pipe structure  112  of manifold  110  includes a first opening  122  on the lower half of structure  112 , with the first opening  122  extending peripherally from structure  112  toward the front of manifold  110 . Structure  112  also comprises a second opening  124 , with opening  124  extending below the H-shaped portion of structure  112 . Structure  112  also comprises openings  126 ,  128 ,  130 ,  132  extending away from structure  112  and toward the left and right of manifold  110 . Openings  126 ,  128 ,  78 ,  80  each have a diameter sized to fit tightly over the complimentary end pieces of various other pipe structures within manifold  110 . Opening  124  has a diameter sized to fit tightly in the slightly larger diameter of complimentary first opening  134  of T-shaped pipe structure  114 . Pipe structure  112  comprises a hollow center through which water, air, or a combination of air and water may pass. 
     T-shaped pipe structure  114  of manifold  110  includes first opening  134  extending upward from structure  114  toward the top of manifold  110 . Structure  114  includes openings  136  and  138  extending outward in a T-shape toward the left and right of manifold  110 . Openings  136  and  138  comprise diameters sized to properly fit with conduits supplying water from a spa water pump assembly. Structure  114  comprises a hollow center through which water, air, or a combination of air and water may pass. 
     Second multi-branch pipe structure  116  of manifold  110  includes a first opening  140  located at the bottom of structure  116 . Structure  116  also comprises openings  142 ,  144 ,  146 ,  148  extending away from structure  116  and toward the left and right of manifold  110 , and opening  150  extending upward from structure  116  and toward the top of manifold  110 . Openings  142 ,  144 ,  146 ,  148  each have a diameter sized to fit tightly over the complimentary end pieces of various other pipe structures within manifold  110 . Opening  150  comprises a diameter sized to properly fit with conduits supplying air from a spa air pump assembly. Pipe structure  116  also comprises a hollow center through which air may pass. Although opening  116  preferably acts as an inlet for an air supply, it is understood that water or any water/air combination may be pumped through structure  116 . 
     The straight body pipes  118   a - e  each include a cylindrical main body  152   a - e  respectively, with each main body  118   a - e  comprising a hollow sidearm  154   a - e  respectively. Each straight body pipe  118   a - e  also comprises a first opening  156 , with each opening  156  extending toward the interior of a spa. Hollow sidearms  154   a - e  each have a diameter sized to fit tightly in complimentary openings  140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146 ,  148  of structure  116 , with  154   a  fitting in opening  142 ,  154   b  fitting in opening  144 , and  154   c  fitting in opening  146 ,  154   d  fitting in opening  148 , and  154   e  fitting in opening  140 . Each opening  156  comprises a diameter sized to properly hold a jet or other spa accessory (not shown). Body pipes  118   a - e  and sidearms  154   a - e  comprise hollow centers through which water, air, or a combination of water and air may pass. 
     The L-shaped pipes  120   a - d  include a hollow body with first openings extending toward the center of manifold  110 , which comprise diameters sized to properly fit tightly in complimentary openings  126 ,  128 ,  130 ,  132  of pipe structure  112 . The L-shaped pipes  120   a - d  also comprise second openings extending toward the front of manifold  110 , which comprise diameters sized to properly fit tightly over complimentary rear openings of straight body pipes  118   a - d . L-shaped pipes  120   a - d  comprise hollow centers through which water, air, or a combination of water and air may pass. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , multiple jet groupings as part of manifolds according to the present invention can be installed in a spa or tub shell  160 . Some or all of the jets and/or spa accessories can be attached to manifolds according to the present invention, with jets and/or spa accessory groupings  162 ,  164 ,  166  in this embodiment shown as attached to manifolds  10 ,  60 ,  110 . All of the jets and/or spa accessories are connected to a water pump  168  (via their respective manifolds) used to circulate the water throughout the spa system, by a series of water conduits  170 . Water from shell  160  is provided to pump  168  through the drain  172 , which is connected through return water conduit  174  to pump  168 . Water from pump  168  is provided back to shell  160  by conduits  170 , where it flows into and through the manifolds and into jet and/or spa accessory groupings  162 ,  164 ,  166  and in turn into shell  160 , completing the loop. 
     Additionally, an air system  176  can be included that provides air to groupings  162 ,  164 ,  166  through an air conduit  178  to aerate the water flowing through the jets. The air system  176  can be pump driven to increase the pressure of the air entering the groupings  162 ,  164 ,  166 , or it can be vacuum based with the Venturis located within the individual jets and/or spa accessories, drawing air into the jets and/or spa accessories and water flow stream. 
     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred configurations and methods, other versions are possible. The invention can be used in many different types of spas. Different pipes, pipe configurations, jets and spa accessories can be used, and a variable number of pipes can be used to provide for any number of jet and/or spa accessory groupings in a single manifold. Additionally, any combination of water, air, water and air, or other like substances may be input through the manifold to produce a desired effect. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the above description should not be limited to the versions described above.