Patent Abstract:
A hydrotherapy tub including a water and air piping system which is easily cleanable in a thorough manner. A manifold is mounted on the outer surface of each side wall of the tub with each manifold having a water conduit and an air conduit which are fluidly connected to sources of pressurized water and air respectively. The water conduit and air conduit in each manifold is fluidly connected to horizontally spaced-apart discharge ports formed in the associate side wall of the tub.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/459,287, filed on Dec. 10, 2010, entitled A HYDROTHERAPY TUB. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a hydrotherapy tub or bathtub and more particularly to a hydrotherapy tub having a water and air piping system which is completely and easily cleanable. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Traditional hydrotherapy or jetted tubs or bathtubs have a plurality of piped jets or discharge nozzles mounted in the walls thereof in a horizontally spaced-apart manner. The jets or nozzles protrude outwardly into the interior of the tub and are uncomfortable to lean against. Additionally, the jets or nozzles are not cosmetically pleasing in appearance. Further, the limited number of jets, which may be six to ten, create many dead areas or zones in which there is no hydrotherapy action. 
     More importantly, the conventional jetted hydrotherapy tubs pose a health problem in that infectious bacteria may be present in the piping system and jets. The only way that the bacteria may be reduced or eliminated in such systems is to place an anti-bacterial solution in the tub and pump the same through the system in an attempt to kill the harmful bacteria therein. Even if an anti-bacterial solution is periodically pumped through the system, bacteria will still accumulate in the system and jets between such treatments. In the prior art hydrotherapy tubs, a certain amount of water will be present inwardly of each of the jets or nozzles even when the system is not being operated with that water being a harbor for infectious bacteria to grow. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     A hydrotherapy tub is provided which has a bottom wall, an upstanding first end wall, with inner and outer sides, an upstanding second end wall with inner and outer sides, an upstanding first side wall with inner and outer sides, an upstanding second side wall with inner and outer sides, and a sill at the upper ends of the end and side walls. A water pump is positioned adjacent the tub and has intake and discharge sides. An air pump is also positioned adjacent the tub and has intake and discharge ends. The system of this invention includes a generally horizontally extending first elongated manifold positioned at the outer side of the first side wall and a generally horizontally extending second elongated manifold positioned at the outer side of the second side wall. Each of the first and second manifolds have inner and outer sides and have a plurality of horizontally spaced-apart first bores, having inner and outer ends, formed therein which extend between the inner and outer sides thereof. Each of the first and second manifolds have a plurality of horizontally spaced-apart second bores, having inner and outer ends, formed therein which extend from the first bores to the outer side of the associated manifold. 
     The first side wall of the tub has a plurality of generally horizontally spaced-apart discharge openings formed therein which extend between the inner and outer sides thereof. The second side wall of the tub has a plurality of generally horizontally spaced-apart discharge openings formed therein which extend between the inner and outer sides thereof. The inner ends of the first bores of the first manifold fluidly communicate with the discharge openings in the first side wall of the tub. The inner ends of the first bores of the second manifold fluidly communicate with the discharge openings in the second side wall of the tub. First and second elongated water conduits are provided which have a first end and a second end. The first ends of the first and second water conduits are in fluid communication with the discharge side of the water pump. First and second elongated air conduits are also provided each of which have a first end and a second end. The first ends of the first and second air conduits are in communication with the discharge end of the air pump. The first water conduit, intermediate its ends, is operatively connected to the first manifold. The first water conduit has a plurality of generally horizontally spaced-apart discharge openings formed therein which fluidly communicate with the outer ends of the first bores of the first manifold. The second water conduit, intermediate its ends, is operatively connected to the second manifold with the second water conduit having a plurality of generally horizontally spaced-apart discharge openings formed therein which fluidly communicate with the outer ends of the first bores of the second manifold. The first air conduit, intermediate its ends, is operatively connected to the first manifold. The second air conduit, intermediate its ends, is operatively connected to the second manifold. The first air conduit has a plurality of generally horizontally spaced-apart discharge openings formed therein which communicate with the outer ends of the second bores of the first manifold. The second air conduit has a plurality of generally horizontally spaced-apart discharge openings formed therein which communicate with the outer ends of the second bores of the second manifold. The outer ends of the first bores of the first and second manifolds are positioned below the outer ends of the second bores in the first and second manifolds. The bottom wall of the tub has at least one opening formed therein which is in fluid communication with the intake side of the water pump. 
     The tub has a first selectively closable access opening formed therein which is in communication with the second ends of the first and second water conduits to enable a cleaning device to be extended through the first access opening into either of the second ends of the first and second water conduits. The tub also includes a second selectively closable access opening formed therein which is in communication with the second ends of the first and second air conduits to enable a cleaning device to be extended through the second access opening into either of the second ends of the first and second air conduits. An anti-bacterial solution may be poured into either of the first and second access openings with the water and air pumps then being actuated to pump the anti-bacterial solution throughout the system. 
     It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a hydrotherapy tub which provides wrap-around water movement with total coverage. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a hydrotherapy tub which has no dead zones provided therein due to the large number of discharge openings formed in the side walls of the tub. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a hydrotherapy tub having improved water circulation. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a hydrotherapy tub having an air and water system which is completely and easily cleanable. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a hydrotherapy tub including access cleaning ports through which a cleaning brush or the like may be extended to clean the system. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a hydrotherapy tub having a pair of cleaning ports through which an anti-bacterial solution may be poured. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a hydrotherapy tub which does not have any protruding jets or nozzles extending into the interior of the tub. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a hydrotherapy tub which may be operated in three different ways: namely, water only, air only, and water and air. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the hydrotherapy tub of this invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the air and water piping system of this invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an end view of the tub of this invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the first manifold of this invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the second manifold of this invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of the first manifold of this invention with portions thereof cut-away to more fully illustrate the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial perspective view of a portion of the air and water piping system of this invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a partial perspective view of a portion of the tub of this invention; and 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of a modified form of the first and second manifolds. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     The hydrotherapy tub of this invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral  10  which includes a bottom wall  12 , an upstanding first end wall  14 , an upstanding second end wall  16 , an upstanding first side wall  18 , an upstanding second side wall  20  and a sill  22  at the upper ends of walls  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20 . Each of the walls  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20  has inner and outer sides. It is preferred that the tub be insulated. Tub  10  is provided with a conventional drain opening and a water facet with suitable controls. A conventional motor driven pump  24  is provided at the outer side of end wall  14  and has a water intake side  26  and a water discharge side  28 . A conventional motor driven air pump  30  is also provided at the outer side of end wall  14  and has an air intake side  32  and an air discharge side  34 . The water discharge side  28  of water pump  24  is in fluid communication with a T-fitting  36  which has flexible hoses or conduits  38  and  40  extending therefrom. The water intake side of water pump  24  is in fluid communication with one end of a water return hose or conduit  42 . The other end of hose  42  is in fluid communication with a water return opening or suction opening  44  formed in the lower end of side wall  18  adjacent end wall  14 . A second water return opening or suction opening  44 ′ is formed in the lower end of side wall  20  adjacent end wall  14  which is in fluid communication with hose  42  by way of conduit  45 . 
     The air discharge side  34  of air pump  30  is in communication with a T-fitting  46  which has air hoses or conduits  48  and  50  extending therefrom. Water hose  38  extends from T-fitting  36  to one end of a rigid tube or pipe  52  which extends to a first manifold  54  secured to the outer side of side wall  18 . Air hose  48  extends from T-fitting  46  to one end of a rigid tube or pipe  56  which extends to the first manifold  54 . 
     Water hose  40  extends from T-fitting  36  to one end of a rigid tube or pipe  58  which extends to a second manifold  60  positioned at the outer side of side wall  20 . Air hose  50  extends from T-fitting  46  to one end of a rigid pipe or tube  62  which extends to the second manifold  60 . As seen, pipe  56  is positioned above pipe  52  in the manifold  54  and pipe  62  is positioned above pipe  58  in the manifold  60 . 
     Manifold  54  has a plurality of generally horizontally spaced-apart bores  64  formed therein which extend into the inner side of manifold  54 . The bores  64  extend to and communicate with the interior of pipe  52  by way of the holes  65  formed in pipe  52 . Preferably, the holes  65  are formed in the upper one-third of the pipe  52 . Bores  66  are formed in manifold  54  and communicate with the bores  64  and which extend to and communicate with the interior of pipe  56  by way of the holes  67  formed in pipe  56 . Preferably, the holes  67  are formed in the pipe  56  approximately ⅛ of an inch above the lower end of pipe  56 . Preferably, the bores  64  have a 3/10 inch diameter and are spaced-apart 3 inches. Preferably the bores  66  also have a 3/16 inch diameter. Pipes  52 ,  56 ,  60  and  62  preferably have inside diameters of ¾ inch. 
     Manifold  60  has a plurality of generally horizontally spaced-apart bores  68  formed therein which extend into the inner side of manifold  60 . Bores  68  communicate with the interior of pipe  58  by way of holes formed in pipe  58 . Bores  70  are also formed in manifold  60  and communicate with the bores  70  and communicate with the interior of pipe  62  by way of holes formed in pipe  62 . Preferably, the bores  68  have a 3/16 inch diameter and are spaced-apart 3 inches. Preferably the bores  70  also have a 3/16 diameter. The manifold  60  is reversibly identical to manifold  54 . 
     Water hose  72  extends from pipe  52  to fitting  74 . Air hose  76  extends from pipe  56  to fitting  78 . Water hose  80  extends from pipe  58  to fitting  74  and air hose  82  extends from pipe  62  to fitting  78 . Fitting  74  has an inverted Y-shape at the upper end thereof being in communication with a selectively closable access opening  84  formed in tub  10 . Fitting  78  has an inverted Y-shape with the upper end thereof being in communication with a selectively closable access opening  86 . 
     Side wall  18  has a plurality of generally horizontally spaced-apart discharge openings  88  formed therein. Each of the openings  88  communicate with the bores  64  of manifold  54 . Side wall  20  also has a plurality of generally horizontally spaced-apart discharge openings  90  formed therein each of which communicate with the bores  68  of manifold  60 . 
     It can therefore be seen that a novel hydrotherapy tub has been provided. The design of the manifolds and their relationship with respect to the air and water conduits ensures that there will not be an undue amount of water remaining behind the discharge openings  88  in side wall  18  and the discharge openings  90  in side wall  20 . The various air and water conduits may be easily cleaned by way of the selectively closable access openings  84  and  86 . As seen in  FIG. 8 , a cleaning device may be extended downwardly through the access openings so that the air and water conduits may be scrubbed and cleaned. If desired, an anti-bacterial solution may also be introduced into the air and water conduits by pouring the same into the access openings. 
     It can also be seen that the elimination of the conventional prior art nozzles or jets results in a smooth inner surface of the walls of the tub. A large number of the discharge openings formed in the side walls of the tub ensures that there will not be any dead zones of hydrotherapy action. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a modified form of the manifold  54  which is referred to by the reference numeral  54 ′. The primary difference between manifold  54 ′ and manifold  54  is that air pipe  56 ′ has been lowered so that the pipes  52 ′ and  56 ′ are positioned closely together and that the air pipe  56 ′ is horizontally offset with respect to pipe  52 ′. Bores  66 ′ extend from pipe  56 ′ and bores  64 ′ extend from pipe  52 ′. Preferably, the pipes  52 ′ and  56 ′ have inside diameters of ¾ inch. In the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , the air pipe  56 ′ was lowered and offset with respect to pipe  52 ′ to create a better air flow to the venture chamber and to stop back feed of air into the water which caused pump cavitation. Manifold  60  is similarly modified. 
     It can therefore be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 
     Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0