AU607580B2

AU607580B2 - Improvements in spa jets

Info

Publication number: AU607580B2
Application number: AU28890/89A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Fenton John Wheeler
Original assignee: STYLUS MARKETING Pty Ltd
Current assignee: STYLUS MARKETING Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1988-02-01
Filing date: 1989-01-30
Publication date: 1991-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 2009-01-30
Also published as: WO1991000722A1; AU2889089A

Description

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4~A8TALLL 7 5 89 PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int. Cl: Application Number, Lodged: Complete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Lapsed: Published: ~Priority: Related Art: Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Stylus Marketing Pty. Ltd.

Cnr. Princes Chisholm Roads AUBURN, N.S.W. 2144 Actual Inventor, Address for Service ANDLRSON-TAYLOR ASSCCIATES, Registered Patent Attorneys of 1.0 Harrison Avenue BONNET BAY N.S.W. 2226 Complete Specification for the Invention entitled: IMPROVEMENTS IN SPA JETS The following statement Is a full description of this Invention, Including the best method of performing it known oz meen a_4

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This invention relates to fluid jets and more particularly although not exclusively to air/water jets as used for example in spa baths.

Existing spa jets normally introduce air bubbles into a high velocity water stream to create a massaging effect on a bather.

They are usually directionally adjustable through the use of a ball and socket assembly at the nozzle outlet and may also be fitted with a shut of f or flow restriction valve. in the latter case however the valve mechanism normally forms part of or at least is rigidly connected to the ball and socket mounting with the result that the assembly is unduly large, complicated to manufacture and o0. 0 has a restricted adjustment angle.

0 on 0 0 0 000It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved 00Q 0 0 00construction for a spa jet which ameliorates the aforementioned disadvantages and accordingly a jet for a spa bath is disclosed which comprises a housing connectable to a first and second fluid 0@0 supplies,,a first conduit for directing a first fluid stream through a directionally adlustable outlet nozzle and a second 0 conduit adapted to introduce a second fluid stream to mix with said first fluid stream wherein said first conduit has an inlet aperture .0 .110.in thL wall thereof and in use is rotatable in said housing to bring said aperture into and out of comm~unication with said first fluid supply to thereby selectively control the flow rate of said first fluid stream and universal coupling means rotatably linking said4 first cunduit to the outlet nozzle.

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TO: The Commissioner of Patents ANDERSON TAYLOR 8 ASSOCIATES Pat-it Appln. 28890/89 c I Ts 1 i'

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I- 1 t ,C Lk~y3:~-~rtC:_N~ ~Fr~;il r\.,ClnC A preferred embodiment of this invention will now be described with reference to the attached illustrations in which: Figure 1 Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a spa jet according to this concept, shows a cross-sectional view of the jet along the line A-A of figure 1, and is a detailed view of a part of the jet shown in figure 1.

it 'fir ir I f( I( f 000 00 00 4 I I I Cr C~ C Figure 3 Referring first to figures 1 and 2 the jet basically comprises a housing 1 which is adapted to mount into an aperture in the wall 2 of a spa bath or the like. The outlet nozzle 3 of the jet is formed in a directionally adjustable ball 4 which seats in the housing between two bearing rings 5 and 6. The front ring 5 is located within a threaded cap 7 and this member is in turn screwed into the housing so that peripheral flanges 8 and 9 on the cap and housing grip and seal against the wall 2. The ball 4 is biased forward against ring 5 by a coil spring 10 which acts against rear bearing ring 6.

At the rear of the housing there are two tube segments 11 and 12 which are adapted for connection to water and air -3-

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1' supply systems respectively. The water supply tube 11 leads into conduit 13 through a preferably triangularshaped inlet aperture 14 in the wall thereof and the water is then directed in the form of a jet stream out through the outlet nozzle 3. The conduit 13 is preferably formed as a partially tapered sleeve which is rotatable within the body of the housing to selectively restrict or terminote water flow in accordance with the position of inlet aperture 14. When the enlarged end of this aperture is rotated into communication with tube 11 as shown in figure 2 there is maximum water flow however as the sleeve is rotated out of communication the flow is progressively reduced in accordance C with the decreasing width of the aperture and is finally terminated altogether. This control valve is remotely operable as described below by the user rotating the ball 4 by grasping it around the outlet nozzle using the finger grips 14A provided.

44 *1 As best shown in figure 3 the rear section of the ball 4 is formed with a series of radial grooves 16 which engage 4(4 corresponding ribs 17 on the front end of conduit 13.

*4 4 The resulting linkage acts as a universal coupling so that the water flow can be controlled by simply rotating ball 4 irrespective of the angular position of nozzle 3.

As with conventional spa jets air is introduced into the water stream and this is preferably accomplished by means of a second fixed conduit 18 centrally disposed within the conduit 13. Conduit 18 is connected directly with tube 12 through a vertical I passage 19 and the air is thus drawn into the water

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to i t S0 0 I I00 0 I€ 0 0 00 0 0 00 0 00 0 0 0 0000 0 0 00 00 00 stream by means of a low pressure area 20 created immediately downstream of the end of conduit 18.

An important feature of this embodiment is the method by which the water and air conduits 13 and 18 are mounted within the housing. As shown in figures 2 and 3 these conduits together comprise a sub-assembly 20A in which an inner ridge 21 on the upstream end of conduit 13 engages between an exterior flange 22 on conduit 18 and an adjacent threaded ferrule 23. This sub-assembly can thus be screwed'into place through the front of the housing prior to fitting the outlet nozzle 3.

To assist this operation slots may be formed in the forward end 24 of conduit 18 to receive the blade of a screwdriver.

It will thus be appreciated that this invention at least in the form of the embodiment described provides a novel and unique construction for a spa jet in which the water flow control valve is substantially separate from the outlet nozzlE. This enables a simpler and smaller ball socket assembly for the nozzle which is adjustable through a wider range of angles than existing devices. It is to be understood however that the particular example disclosed is only the currently preferred form of this invention and a wide variety of modifications may be made which would be apparent to a man skilled in the art. For example the shape and configuration of the housing for the jet as well as the orientation of the water and air supply tubes can all be modified according to application and/or design Up~rl~lll* C~'-UUL~UIL-~CI"LLY"LLUQ~;; preference. Further the invention is not restricted to any specific material for constructing the jet although a readily mouldable plastic is currently preferred.

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Claims

1. A jet for a spa bath or the like, said jet comprising' a housing connectable to first and second fluid supplies, a first conduit for directing a first fluid stream through a directionally adjustable outlet nozzle and a second conduit adapted to introduce a second fluid stream to mix with said first fluid stream wherein said first conduit has an inlet aperture in the wall thereof and in use is rotatable in said housing to bring said aperture into and out of communication with said first fluid supply fell to thereby selectively control the flow rate of said o o first fluid stream and universal coupling means rotatably 0 0 o°o linking said first conduit to the outlet nozzle. a 00 0 90 0 0 0 0 0 o0o 0

2. The jet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outlet nozzle comprises a directionally adjustable ball. 0°0°

3. The jet as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said inlet 000 o0 o aperture is triangular. 0000 060

4. The jet as claimed in claim 2 wherein the rear section of the ball is formed with a series of radial grooves 0 I which engage corresponding ribs on the downstream end I' of said first conduit to form said universal coupling.

The jet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said second conduit is disposed within said first ,conduit so that in operation said second fluid stream LIVis drawn into said first fluid stream by means of a low S-7- pressure area formed immediately downstream of said second conduit.

6. The jet as claimed in claim 5 wherein said first and second conduits form a sub-assembly in which an inner ridge on the upstream end of the first conduit engages between an exterior flange on the second conduit and an adjacent threaded ferrule.

7. The jet as claimed in claim 6 wherein said sub-assembly j is adapted to be screwed into place through the front of 0 00the housing. 0000 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 o oo

8. The jet as claimed in claim 7 wherein slots or notches 0 0 oo are formed in the downstream end of said first conduit to 00 0 0 00 receive the blade of a screwdriver or other assembly tool. 000a 0 04

9. A jet for a spa bath or the like, said jet being substantially as described herein with reference to the 0000 ooo attached drawings. E. Dated this y day of 4-A/ 1990 Stylus Marketing Pty. Ltd. By its Patent Attorney MICHAEL ANDERSON-TAYLOR L _i i :1 i ,i .i