Patent Publication Number: US-9844488-B2

Title: High flow water return fitting for swimming pools and spas

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a water return fitting, and more particularly, for such a fitting as provides a more efficient circulation of return water in swimming pools, spas, and the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to a water return fitting that increases the outflow of return water. 
     DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
     A swimming pool or simply a pool is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. A swimming pool can be built of various sizes and either above or in the ground. A swimming pool may be for public or private use. Private swimming pools are mostly built in private residences and used for recreation and relaxation by adults, children, and even infants. Public pools are mostly built in hotels, schools, fitness centers, and parks. Public pools are mostly used for fitness, water sports, and training by people of all ages, including elderly and young children. 
     Swimming pools are designed to be large containers of water with a drain, return fittings, and a water recirculation system. The water recirculation system is driven by a large water pump that extracts water from the pool through the drain. The water that is extracted from the pool is passed through a debris collection trap and a skimmer to remove large debris such as leaves and branches. The water is then pumped into a large filter to remove other contaminants. Finally the filtered water is pumped back into the swimming pool through the return fittings that are typically located around the interior wall of the pool. 
     An average-sized swimming pool will have 4-6 conventional return fittings located 9-14 inches below the water surface. A conventional return fitting provides an outflow of the filtered water in a direction that is parallel to the water surface. Furthermore, the rate of the outflow is enough to circulate 1-18 inches of water depth in a 6 foot deep swimming pool. The remaining 4-5 feet of water in the swimming pool is “dead” in terms of circulation. 
     The primary objective of a return fitting is not related to “dead” water, instead it is to facilitate the outflow of filtered water into the swimming pool. Problems with “dead” water are typically addressed with other devices rather than the return fitting of the swimming pool. However, return fittings have been invented that facilitate the outflow of filtered water and improve the circulation of the water in a swimming pool, thus reducing the amount of “dead” water. Improved circulation of the water in a swimming pool has a number of advantages including the improvement of water quality, more stable and homogeneous water temperature throughout the pool, elimination of algae build-up, and other. In fact, improved circulation of water can substantially reduce the amount of time required to heat the pool. Improved circulation also reduces the amount of time required to clean the pool water by a cleaning system while reducing hours of pump operation. The circulation prevents the dirt and contaminants in the water to settle on a surface. Finally, better circulation allows the water cleaning chemicals to be better distributed and saturated within the water. 
     One of the return fittings invented to improve the circulation of the water is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,514 (“the &#39;514 Patent”). The &#39;514 Patent discloses a return fitting with a spherical nozzle that can be rotated to control the direction of the water outflow so as to control the circulation of the water surface. In addition, the return fitting, disclosed by the &#39;514 Patent has a slot in the bottom of the nozzle for downward circulation or agitation of the water below. As such, the &#39;514 Patent serves not just to provide an outflow of filtered water into the swimming pool, it directs the outflow to the water surface and below the surface to improve the circulation of water within a greater area compared to a typical return fittings. 
     Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,578,207 (“the &#39;207 Patent”) discloses a return fitting that uses a spherical nozzle with a plurality of openings to selectively direct jets of water for better control of the circulation patterns of the pool water. The return fitting taught by the &#39;207 Patent allows for the customization of water directional flow. With such directional control of the outflow, the circulation of the pool water is improved without compromising the return fitting&#39;s primary objective of returning filtered water into the swimming pool. 
     On the other hand, U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,217 (“the &#39;217 Patent”) discloses a return fitting that improves the circulation of the swimming pool water by increasing the outflow rate. The &#39;217 Patent creates a low pressure condition within a mixing chamber through which the outflow passes. The low pressure condition draws water from a secondary source and mixes it with the main outflow within the mixing chamber. The combined streams then exit the return fitting together so as to increase the discharge flow rate. 
     The &#39;217 Patent utilizes a nozzle throat designed to increase the velocity of the water being discharged and thereby create a low pressure condition within the mixing chamber. This low pressure condition, in turn, causes a “jet pump” effect. However, the design of the nozzle throat used by the &#39;217 Patent is not unique, it is a conventional venturi nozzle. The design and use of venturi nozzles is not new, they have been previously disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,973,714 and 3,166,020. However, it must be noted that although the nozzle used by the &#39;217 Patent increases the flow rate, the outflow is still directed parallel to the surface of the water, thus limiting circulation to the top part of the swimming pool while neglecting the bottom. Additionally, the nozzle used by the &#39;217 Patent protrudes a distance from the pool wall that creates a safety hazard for swimmers. 
     In most commercial swimming pools, a water return fitting that protrudes more than one inch from the pool wall tends to create a safety hazard for swimmers and expose the owner to liability. 
     What is needed is a return fitting that will substantially improve the circulation of the water inside a swimming pool by increasing the outflow rate and allowing for directional control of the outflow without allowing the return fitting to protrude far enough from the pool wall to introduce a safety hazard to the swimmers. Unless this and other practical problems associated with swimming pool return fittings are resolved, the problem of not effectively circulating the pool water will persist and an effective return fitting will fail to be realized. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned disadvantages occurring in the prior art. The present invention is a water return fitting that connects to the end of a water return line in a swimming pool, spa, or the like and through which filtered water is pumped back into the swimming pool, spa, or the like. A unique nozzle operates in conjunction with a face plate and various gaps to increase the outflow of water into the swimming pool, spa, or the like. 
     It is therefore a primary objective of the present invention to provide a water return fitting that increases the outflow rate of water into a swimming pool, spa, or the like such that the area of water agitated by the outflow is broader than that with a traditional water return fitting. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a water return fitting with a nozzle that does not extend past the face plate, thus less than one inch from the swimming pool wall. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a water return fitting with a nozzle that can rotate 360 degrees. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a water return fitting that is easy to install into the end of a water return line and is manufactured out of plastic material to reduce cost and eliminate risk of corrosion. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a water return fitting with multiple parts that can be easily assembled correctly without the need of special tools or equipment. 
     The above objects and other features of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below and with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings which are incorporated by reference herein and form part of the specification, illustrate various embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functional similar elements. A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the high flow water return fitting of the present invention in its assembled state as it would be installed into a water return line of a swimming pool or spa. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the return fitting of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the nozzle of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the nozzle of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the face plate of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the face plate of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the pipe connector of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the pipe connector of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the return fitting of the present invention with arrows indicating the direction of the primary and secondary water flow. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made to the drawings in which various elements of the present invention will be given numerical designations and in which the invention will be discussed so as to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the present invention. 
     The present invention comprises a water return fitting  100  that attaches to the end of a water return line  200  in a swimming pool or spa and having a pipe connector  10 , a nozzle  20 , and a face plate  30 . It is well known that a typical swimming pool or spa has multiple return lines  200  that are in fluid communication with a filter and a pump that are the main components of a water recirculation system. The pump sucks or draws water from the bottom of the swimming pool and directs it through the filter for removal of unwanted contaminants. After the water is filtered, it is directed back into the swimming pool through various return lines  200 . The ends of the return lines are typically located around the interior wall of the pool or spa and within the top section near the water surface. Thus, the outflow of filtered water into the swimming pool or spa is typically near the water surface. The return fitting  100  of the present invention broadens the area of the outflow of filtered water by providing directional control and by increasing the amount of water outflowing into the swimming pool or spa. 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the return fitting  100  of the present invention in its assembled state as it would be installed into the end of a water return line  200 .  FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the return fitting  100  of the present invention to depict in greater detail the various components that comprise the return fitting  100 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the nozzle  20  has a rear element that is circular in shape with a rear open end  21  and a perimeter  22  formed by a contoured outer surface. Within the bottom half of nozzle  20 , the contoured perimeter  22  extends around a flat plate  23  that leans forward in an acute angle relative to the vertical with the bottom edge behind the top edge, as shown in  FIG. 4 . On the other hand, the contoured surface of the top half  24  of the nozzle  20  extends forward and terminates at a flat front face  25 . The interior surface of the contoured surface of the top half  24  forms a flat and horizontal top wall  26 . 
     An outlet surface  27  is formed by the top edge of the flat plate  23 , the bottom edge of the flat front face  25 , and the side edges of the contoured surface of the top half  24  of the nozzle  20 . The outlet surface  27  is acutely angled relative to the horizontal as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . An outlet hole  28  is located on the outlet surface  27 . The perimeter of the outlet hole  28  extends from the outlet surface  27  in a downward perpendicular direction thereto so as to form an outlet wall  29 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the face plate  30  is circular in shape with a flat front plate  31  and a centrally located hole  32 . A plurality of sidewalls  33  extend from the perimeter of the flat front plate  31  in a rearward direction. The sidewalls  33  are each separated by side gaps  34 . A plurality of threaded extensions  35  extend from the flat front plate  31  in a rearward direction around the hole  32 . The threaded extensions  35  have threads  36  molded on the radially interior surface. The threaded extensions are each separated by interior gaps  37 . Each interior gap  37  is configured to align with a side gap  34 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the pipe connector  10  is a tubular part having from outward protruding or male threads  11  in the front end and rear outward protruding or male threads  12  in the back end. The pipe connector  10  also has a rear open end  13  that is in fluid communication with the return line  200  when it is properly installed in a swimming pool. The interior surface  14  in the front end of the pipe connector  10  is contoured so as to physically match or mate with the contoured perimeter  22  of the nozzle  20 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     Hereinafter, an explanation on the methods of assembling the product of the present invention, the installation thereof to a water return line  200  and the operating states thereof will be given. 
     For the assembly of the return fitting  100  of the present invention, the contoured perimeter  22  of the nozzle  20  is physically matched or mated with the interior contoured surface  14  in the front end of the pipe connector  10 . Then the threads  36  of the threaded extensions  35  of the face plate  30  are physically mated or matched with the male threads  11  in the front end of the pipe connector  10 . This physically attaches the face plate  30  to the pipe connector  10  while the nozzle  20  is sandwiched in between the face plate  30  and the pipe connector  10 . Since the nozzle  20  is not physically attached to the pipe connector  10 , the contoured perimeter  22  and the interior contoured surface  14  allows the nozzle  20  to rotate and/or swivel within the pipe connector  10 . 
     Furthermore, after attaching the face plate  30  to the pipe connector  10 , the face plate  30  must be rotated so as to align the interior gaps  37  with the side gaps  34 . Finally, an o-ring or a gasket  39  is placed in between the face plate  30  and the pipe connector  10  so as to prevent water leakage therefrom. 
     The assembly of the return fitting  100  of the present invention as discussed above is expected to be completed by the manufacturer prior to the distribution or sale thereof to a consumer. On the other hand, installation of the return fitting  100  of the present invention simply requires the replacement of a conventional return fitting with the return fitting  100  of the present invention. In essence, the return fitting  100  of the present invention is attached to the end of a water return line  200  in a swimming pool or spa. This attachment is accomplished by screwing or threading the return fitting  100  to a water return line  200  using the rear outward protruding or male threads  12  in the back end of the male threaded connector  10 . A solvent or rubber gasket may be used to prevent water leakage from this connection. Thus, the installation of the product of the present invention is simple enough for a typical consumer to complete without the aid of special tools or a professional. 
     When the return fitting  100  of the present invention is connected to a return line  200  of a swimming pool, the pump in the swimming pool&#39;s recirculation system pumps filtered water through the return line  200  horizontally and into the rear open end  13  of the pipe connector  10 . Thereafter, some of the flow of filtered water collides against the acutely angled flat plate  23  of the nozzle  20  (as shown by arrows “A” in  FIG. 10 ). Thus, the collision interrupts the flow of the filtered water and facilitates the accumulation of filtered water within the nozzle  20  that results in raising the pressure within the nozzle  20 . The raised pressure within the nozzle  20  then pushes the filtered water through the outlet hole  28  of the nozzle  20  at a higher flow rate than a conventional return fitting. Conventional return fittings do not have the acutely angled flat plate  23  that facilitates the accumulation of water within the nozzle. The rate of filtered water flowing out of the outlet hole  28  is dependent on the size of the outlet hole  28  and the size of the acutely angled flat plate  23 . A smaller outlet hole  28  and a larger acutely angled flat plate  23  increases the amount of water accumulation within the nozzle  20 , thus, resulting in a higher pressure that pushes the filtered water through the outlet hole  28  at a higher rate or velocity. 
     The filtered water flowing out of the outlet hole  28  of the nozzle  20  at a high velocity creates a low pressure condition within the face plate  30 . This low pressure condition, in turn, causes a “jet pump” effect which results in a secondary stream of water being sucked into the face plate  30  from the swimming pool through the side gaps  34  and interior gaps  37  (as shown by arrows “B” in  FIG. 10 ). The resulting combined stream of water, which is the sum of the primary and secondary streams, flows through the hole  32  of the face plate  30  (as shown by arrows “C” in  FIG. 10 ). 
     By combining the primary and secondary streams in the manner described above, the flow rate of the filtered water exiting from the return fitting  100  of the present invention is increased without increasing the capacity of the pump employed to supply the primary stream of water into the return fitting  100 . Such increased flow rates result in improved agitation of the water contained in the swimming pool or spa. First, the increased flow rate of water out lowing from the return fitting  100  of the present invention allows a greater volume of water in the pool or spa to be agitated since the stream of the outflowing water extends a greater distance than the outflow from a conventional return fitting. Secondly as the direction of the stream of outflowing water is acutely angled downward relative to the horizontal, the volume of pool or spa water above the return fitting  100  is agitated by the suctioning effect or drawing of water through the side gaps  34 . As such, a greater volume of water in the pool or spa is agitated by the return fitting  100  of the present invention than by a conventional return fitting. The return fitting  100  of the present invention circulates or agitates water above and below it. 
     As discussed above, the nozzle  20  is not rigidly attached within the return fitting  100 . Instead, its mere abutment of the contoured perimeter  22  and the interior contoured surface  14  allows the nozzle  20  to rotate and/or swivel within the pipe connector  10 . In other words, when the return fitting  100  is installed to the end of a water return line  200 , the nozzle  20  can be rotated a full 360 degrees to direct the direction of the outflow of filtered water into the swimming pool. 
     The rotatability of the nozzle  20  allows the return fitting  100  to operate in one of three primary positional modes. In the fountain mode, the nozzle  20  is aimed upward  11  this mode, the water becomes very choppy, thereby creating a heavy water flowing sound. This mode prevents the sun from penetrating the water surface and heating the water in hotter climates. 
     In the river mode, the nozzle  20  is aimed to the side and aims the outflow of water across the suffice of the pool or spa. In this mode, the outflowing water creates a soothing sound and helps sweep leaves and debris toward the skimmer. 
     In the energy efficient mode, the nozzle  20  is aimed downward toward the pool floor. This moves warn water toward the bottom of the pool or spa and also forces the warm water created by gas or electric heaters, solar blankets, pool covers, and solar panels to the floor of the pool, providing for a more consistent temperature throughout the pool or spa. 
     Finally, although the return fitting  100  of the present invention uses side gaps  34  and interior gaps  37 , it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the principles of this invention may be accomplished using holes or slits. 
     It is understood that the described embodiments of the present invention discussed above are illustrative only, and that modifications thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, this invention is not to be regarded as limited to the embodiments disclosed, but to be limited only as defined by the appended claims herein.