GB2411828A - Spa bath air supply system - Google Patents

Description

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SPA BATH

This invention relates to spa baths and in particular relates to an improved drainage system therefor.

Domestic spa or hydrotherapy baths fall into two main groups: the whirlpool type s wherein water is pumped through jets into the main bath, and the air bath type in which air is forced into the water in the main bath. The present invention is primarily concerned with the latter type of bath.

Hygiene is a common problem with domestic spa baths where imperfect drainage can result in water being trapped in the pipework/ducting and providing a breeding ground for lo bacteria, mould and the like. Proper and complete drainage reduces or obviates this problem but is difficult to achieve in practice.

The invention seeks to provide an improved drainage system for spa baths.

According to the present invention, there is provided a spa bath having an air supply system comprising a manifold, and air pipes or ducts connected between the manifold and a drain point, characterized in that the manifold, in use of the bath, is at the highest point of the air system and the drain is at the lowest point.

In addition, the pipes or ducts connecting the manifold to the drain slope continuously downwards so that there are no "pockets" where water can lodge.

The system of the invention provides both passive and active drainage. The passive drainage is provided by ensuring that there are no 'pockets' end the drain is at the lowest point of the system so that gravity urges all the water down to the drain. In the preferred operation of the system, air pressure is maintained in the pipework during drainage so that, in addition to gravity, air pressure forces the water downwardly away from the manifold to the drain. It has been found that the system of the invention produces a very high degree of drainage, leaving virtually no water behind in the system.

The pipes or channel connecting the manifold to the drain will have associated perforations communicating with the interior of the bath through which air passes under pressure to provide the air bath effect when the bath is filled with water.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of an air bath having ducts/pipework in accordance with the invention wherein the ducts under the inner bath surface are shown for clarity; Figures 2 to 5 are similar views to Figure 1 of different configurations of pipework lo and/or bath; Figure 6 is a cross- sectional view of the bath of Figure 1; and Figure 7 is a partial cross- sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the bath construction.

Referring to the drawings, a bath generally designated 10 is constructed in a manner known per se from glass fibre reinforced plastics material (GRP). As can be seen best from Figure 7, the construction may comprise a baseboard 12 on which is carried a corrugated layer of GRP 14 attached to which is the bath inner surface 16 which here as illustrated is in two layers, the lower being GRP and the outer layer being an acrylic material for a superior finish.

The layers 14 and 16 define between them a series of air ducts or channels 18. The channels are periodically connected to the interior of the bath 10 by means of perforations 20 through the inner bath surface 16.

Looking now at Figures 1 to 5, and using like numerals for like parts, the air channels 18 all connect to a manifold 22, which in turn is connected to an air entry channel 24. In all of the constructions shown, the manifold 22 is arranged to be the highest point of the air system, i.e. none of the channels 18 are higher than the manifold 22.

At the lowest point on the system is located a drain 26 for draining the water out of the bath 10. Surrounding the drain 26, wholly or partially, is the lowest point of the air system, drainage channel 28, which connects to the drain outlet (waste) by means of pipes 30, and is connected to the ducts 18.

As illustrated, the drain 26 is a "pop up" waste and is arranged so that operation of the pop up mechanism causes the drainage pipes 30 to be connected to the waste at the same time as allowing the bath water to drain.

As can be seen more clearly in Figure 6, air passing down the air entry channel 24 connected to the manifold 22 is supplied via a non-return valve 32 under pressure. It can also 0 be seen that the manifold 22 is at the highest point ofthe air channel system (apart from the entry channel) and that all the channels 18 slope downwardly therefrom towards the lowest point of the system, the drainage ring 28. Thus, when the bath is emptied and the pipes 30 connected to the drain, gravity causes any water entering the channels 18 to drain downwardly via the drainage ring 28 and the pipes 30 to waste. This is the passive drainage of the system of the invention. However, it is preferred to maintain the air pressure during the drainage process and therefore the air in the manifold 22 under pressure presses downwardly via the channels 18 pushing the water down towards the drain. This ensures complete drainage of water in the air channel system, and is the active drainage of the system.

When a bath is filled, water can percolate into the air channels 18 via the perforations 20. Once the air pressure is turned on, water is once again forced downwardly from the manifold 22 via the channels 18 and exits progressively from the perforations 20 until air is bubbling out of all of the perforations 20. The latter will, of course, follow the lines of the channels 18 in the particular configuration chosen. Owing to the low capacity of the pipes of the channel system, this process takes only a very short time and the air supply manifold ensures an even and consistent air supply to each perforation 20.

Preferably, the air supply has a default pre-programmed cleaning cycle that would blow warm air through the system of channels for a prescribed time after the bath has been emptied, which dries out the system effectively completely thereby discouraging the growth of bacteria. A cleaning cycle may also be provided for the introduction of disinfectant into the system.

The bath of the invention has a drainage system which is both passive and active and ensures complete drainage of water from the air channels or pipes, thereby reducing the risk s of growth of bacteria and the like.

Claims (9)

1. A spa bath comprising a bath interior for holding water and an air supply system, the air supply system comprising a manifold and at least one air duct connected between the manifold and a drain; characterised in that the manifold, in use of the bath, is at the highest point of the air supply system and the drain is at the lowest point.

2. A spa bath as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air supply system comprises a plurality of air ducts connected between the manifold and drain.

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3. A spa bath as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the duct or ducts slope continuously downwards so that there are no pockets where water can lodge.

4. A spa bath as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the air duct or ducts connecting the manifold to the drain have associated perforations communicating with the bath interior through which air can pass under pressure to provide an air bath effect when the bath is filled with water.

5. A spa bath as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 further comprising an air supply for supplying pressurised air to the manifold.

6. A spa bath as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the bath interior is connected to the drain.

7. A spa bath as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the air supply system is adapted to monitor the duct or ducts under pressure during drainage of the bath interior.

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8. A spa bath substantially as hereinbefore described.

9. A spa bath substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

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