US3693194A

US3693194A - Therapeutic pool

Info

Publication number: US3693194A
Application number: US83297A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ted Schindler; Henry Dumler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-10-23
Filing date: 1970-10-23
Publication date: 1972-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 1989-09-26

Abstract

A therapeutic pool comprised of a one-piece fiberglass molding in the shape of a tub-like structure. Adjacent arcuate portions of the side walls of the tub-like structure are curved horizontally inwardly at different levels to provide seats at different heights within the structure. A wide ledge which extends circumferentially about the circular upper end of the tub-like structure is provided with a filler of resilient material on the under surface thereof. The tub-like structure is capable of being readily installed within an excavation with its ledge extending over the ground level edge surface of the excavation and seated thereagainst by the filler of resilient material. Agitation of water in the pool is accomplished either by drawing air into the inflowing stream as it is supplied in the pool or by actually forcing air under pressure into the stream.

Description

United States Patent Schindler et a1.

[ THERAPEUTIC POOL [72] Inventors: Ted Schindler, 6510 Mount Rainier Drive, Bakersfield, Calif. 93309; Henry Dumler, 1019 S. 11" St., Bakersfield, Calif. 93304 [22] Filed: Oct. 23, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 83,297

[52] US. Cl ..4/l72.l7, 52/169 [51] Int. Cl ..E04h 3/16, EO4h 3/18 [58] Field o1Search...4/l72, 172.15, 172.17, 172.19,

[ 51 Sept. 26, 1972 Primary Examiner-Frederick L. Matteson Assistant Examiner-Henry K. Artis Attorney-Beehler, Arant & Jagger 5 7 ABSTRACT A therapeutic pool comprised of a one-piece fiberglass molding in the shape of a tub-like structure. Adjacent arcuate portions of the side walls of the tub-like structure are curved horizontally inwardly at different levels to provide seats at different heights within the structure. A wide ledge which extends circumferentially about the circular upper end of the tub-like structure is provided with a filler of resilient material on the under surface thereof. The tub-like structure is capable of being readily installed within an excavation with its ledge extending over the: ground level edge surface of the excavation and seated thereagainst by the filler of resilient material. Agitation of water in the pool is accomplished either by drawing air into the inflowing stream as it is supplied in the pool or by actually forcing air under pressure into the stream.

12 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures THERAPEUTIC POOL This invention relates to therapeutic pool structures and more particularly to a novel construction for such a pool structure.

The provision of jets of aerated water in pools or tanks for relaxing and curative purposesis well known in the art. However, only limited use of such pools have heretofore been made by the individual home owner, for example, because of the high cost of the construction and installation of such types of pools. It is, therefore, highly desirable to provide a small, therapeutic pool or tank structure which can be fabricated at low cost and can be easily and inexpensively installed for use at ground level in any site that would be suitable for such a pool. As an example, the pool structure of the present invention could be ideally installed in an excavation provided on or near the decking adjacentto a swimming pool, as provided in the yard of a residence, such that a person could take advantage of the relaxation provided by the hydrotherapy form of water treat ment available from therapeutic pools while enjoying the activities associated with the use of a swimming pool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the present invention provides a fiberglass molding in the form of a tub-like structure which is especially shaped for use as a therapeutic pool and especially adapted for easy installation in an excavation at ground level. The molding forming the tub-like structure comprises a circular upper end that is provided with an integrally formed, wide, circumferential supporting ledge, and a body or tank depending therefrom. The side walls forming the body have adjacent arcuate portions thereof curved horizontally'inwardly at different levels to provide seats of different heights within the tub-like structure. An aerated water jet system comprised of a plurality of spaced jet-forming means is arranged about the upper end of the body for directing jets of aerated water into the pool structure. The ledge is provided with a filler of resilient material disposed on the under side thereof whereby the tub-like structure is able to be positioned within an excavation with the ledge extending over the ground level edge surface of the excavation and seated thereagainst by the filler of resilient material.

Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a low-cost, easily installed, small, therapeutic pool.

Another object of this invention is to provide an integrally formed fiberglass tub-like molded structure especially shaped for use as a therapeutic pool.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a therapeutic pool structure that can be readily installed at ground level in an excavation with a minimum of preparation needed for the seating of the structure in the excavation.

Still another object of the invention is to'provide a new and improved means for agitating the inflow circulating water by mixing air with the water as it flows into the pool.

These and other objects, uses and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the pool structure of the present invention;

FIG. 2is a vertical sectional view of the pool structure taken along line 2+-2 of FIG. 1:

I FIGJ3is a vertical sectional view of the pool structure taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

F1634 is a detailed sectional view. of an aerated water jet inlet taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the filter unit provided in the air inlet pipe taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is aplan view of a second form of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

Like numerals designate like elements throughout the figuresof the drawings.

As shown in the drawings, the pool structure of the present invention is comprised of a rigid, one-piece tub-like structure 10 preferably formed of fiberglass molding. The upper end of the tub-like structure 10 is circularin form with a suitable diameter which in the preferred embodiment of the present invention is on the order of 5 feet. The tub-like structure is provided with a rather wide circumferential flat ledge 11 which extends outwardly and completely surrounds its circular upper end. The body of the tub-like structure is formed with only an arcuate portion 13a of its side wall extending downward to the bottom 19 thereof. Adjacent arcuate portions of the side walls forming the tub-like structure curve horizontally inwardly at different levels to form three flat adjacent arcuate seating portionswithin the tubJike structure. The seating portion 14 is formed by an arcuate portion 13b of the side wall curving horizontally inwardly at an upper level, seating portion 15 is formed by an arcuate portion 13c of the side wall curving horizontally inwardly at an intermediatelevel, and seating portion 16 is formed by arcuate portion 13d of the side wall curving horizontally inwardly at a lower level relative to the bottom 19 of the tub-like structure 10. The side walls of the structure 10 between the various level horizontal portions are contoured for ease in molding. Thearcuate seating portions are located at different levels about the sides of the pool structure so that an adult or child can comfortably fit in one of the arcuate seating portions with his legs extending inwardly so that his feet rest on the bottom 19 of the central portion of the pool structure 10.

Associated with the tub-like structure 10 about the upper portion thereof and'below the ledge 11 is an aerated water jet system which provides the relaxing and hydrotherapy form of water treatment desired by the user of the pool. A water inlet to the pool from the pump and heater (not shown) is provided by a water supply pipe 22 which is secured to the outer end of a main header 25. As shown in FIG. 4, an adapter 27 is secured to the inner end of header 25. Adapter 27 is provided with a central threaded opening for receiving a nozzle 28 on one end thereof and is provided to receive a pool inlet pipe 30 on the other end thereof. The inlet pipe 30 extends through an opening 32 in the side wall of the tub-like structure 10 and is held against the inner surface thereof by a cap 33 secured to the end of the inlet pipe 30. Header 25 is provided with a plastic pipe 40 which extends vertically upwardly to connect with an air inlet pipe 41 whose upper end extends through an opening 39 provided in the ledge 11. A cylindrical filter unit 43 comprising a removable wire screen 44 with a fiberglass insert 45 (FIG. 5) which serves as a noise suppressor is inserted through air inlet pipe 41 so as to rest on an inner shoulder 42 provided within plastic pipe 40. A hollow threaded sleeve 46 whose opening 47 controls the amount of air drawn into the jet system is screwed into the air inlet pipe 41 as shown in FIG. 1. Two additional headers, 25a and 25b, each preferably spaced at 90 from the main header 25, are provided about the upper portion of the tub-like structure 10. The headers 25a and 25 b are interconnected to the main header 25 by respective

circular pipes

37 and 38. Each of the headers 25a and 25b is provided with a respective air inlet 41, sleeve 46, filter unit 43 and nozzle 28 similar to that shown in FIG. 4 for the main header 25.

It should be understood that when water from the pump (not shown) is fed into the supply pipe 22 and into each of the three headers, 25, 25a and 25b, it forms a jet in a wellknown manner in passing through respective nozzles 28 which induces a suction in the headers which draws in air from openings 47 in the respective air inlet pipes which mixes with the water supplied at each of these positions within the header so as to aerate the water being introduced into the pool structure 10. In normal operation, the water level of the pool structure is above the location of the jets such that the aerated water is continually flowing into the tublike structure at the three locations below the water level in the pool and directed to each of the three levels of the seating portions provided within the pool structure, and then drained out through the drain pipe 48 located at the center of the bottom of the pool structure. It should be noted that the upper surface of ledge 11 is provided with a slop-over lip 12 which forms a trough which retains water splashed from the pool onto the ledge 11 and enables it to drain down into the openings provided by the air inlet pipe for return past the nozzle 28 back into the pool. In order to control the amount of air and water which is introduced into each of the

headers

25, 25a and 25b the respective air inlet sleeves 46 and the nozzles 28 are threaded for ease in changing them for others with different sized openings to thereby vary the force of the jets directed into the pool such that each will provide either a gently flowing or vigorously moving stream of water.

It should be particularly noted that in order to enable the pool structure to be readily installed in a roughly formed excavation conforming only generally to the shape of the body of the tub-like structure and having a ground level formed of an irregularly shaped surface, the ledge 11 integrally extending about the tublike structure is formed with an outer rim 18 which curves downwardly and thus holds the flat cross sectional area of the ledge 11 to form a spacing about the ground level. A polyform type filler 17 or other resilient material which easily conforms to the irregular shape of the ground level surface about the excavation is provided in the spacing formed between the inside upper surface of the ledge 11 and the ground level. The filler 17 preferably extends along the entire circular length of the ledge and may either be made of a single piece of material or may be formed in sections for ease of handling. The rim 18 of the ledge 11, together with filler 17, supports the ledge such that its surface is level with the surface of the concrete decking or other ground level surface as shown in FIG. 4.

A felt type expansion joint v49 may be inserted between the end of rim 18 of the ledge and the edge of the concrete 50.

It should be clear from the above that installation of the present pool structure in an excavation is greatly simplified by the provision of the large, circular ledge 11 with the polyfoam type filler 17 which forms its own seat about the periphery of the excavation by filling up any voids therein and thus virtually supports the pool structure 10 in the excavation. Such a supporting arrangement is practical, inasmuch as the fiberglass wall of the tub-like structure 10 is made sufficiently rigid to maintain its shape such'that it does not have to be so fully supported by the walls of the excavation.

In the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 6 and 7, a tub structure indicated generally by the reference character 10' is generally similar to the tub structure 10 except for piping for the inflow of water and of air into the tub structure. A supply pipe 50 connects with an annular manifold 51 through a modified cross fitting 52. Other modified

cross fittings

53, 54 and 55 are spaced substantially equi-distant around the circumference of the manifold 51, both the supply pipe 50 and the manifold 51 being located in the ground itself in a position removed from the tub structure.

Supply sleeves

56, 57, 58 and 59 extend through appropriate holes 60 and an upper wall portion 61 of the tub structure thereby to supply water to the tub structure from which it is drawn by a drain line 62 from a drain hole 63.

A second annular manifold 65 of diameter less than the manifold 51 is located in the ground slightly above manifold 51 but spaced outwardly relative to the upper wall portion 61 of the tub structure. A compressor 66 draws air through a valve intake 67 and forces it through a compressed air supply 68 to a T 69 in the manifold 65.

Modified cross fittings

70, 71, 72 and 73 are spaced equi-distant around the annular manifold 65 there being one of the modified cross fittings of the manifold 65 corresponding respectively to one of the modified cross fittings of the manifold 51. At each of these locations a short L-shaped pipe section 74 interconnects the two manifolds through the respectively adjacent modified cross fittings.

In the form of the invention therefore shown and described in connection with FIGS. 6 and 7 water under pressure comes in through the supply pipe 50 to supply

inflow ports

75, 76, 77 and 78. Additionally air under pressure is passed to the respective modified

cross fittings

52, 53, 54 and 55 in the manner described and the air under pressure mixes with the water under pressure in the supply sleeves so that there will be a positive mixture of air and water at each of the inflow ports, a jet of the mixture being variable in length depending upon the pressure adjustment of the water in the supply pipe 50 and the air supply pipe 68.

While the description has been concerned with a particular structural embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that many variations in construction and arrangement may be provided without departing from the scope of the invention. The present invention is, therefore, to be considered as including all such possible modifications and variations coming within the What is claimed is:

l. A therapeutic pool structure adaptable for mounting at ground level within an excavation comprising: a tub-like structure formed of a-molding of rigid material, said tub-like structure including a circular upper portion, an integrally formed wide ledge circumferentially extending about said circular upper portion, an integrally formed body depending below said circular upper portion, said body having adjacent arcuate portions of the side wall thereof curved horizontally inwardly at different levels to provide seats of different heights within the tub-like structure, and a filler of resilient material disposed on the under side of said ledge, whereby said tub-like structure is able to be positioned within the excavation with said ledge extending over the ground level edge surface of the excavation and seated thereagainst by said filler resilient material.

2. The invention as defined in claim '1 wherein said molding is formed of fiberglass.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said adjacent arcuate portions of the side wall are curved inwardly to form seats within the tub-like structure at an upper level, an intermediate level and a lower level relative to the bottom of said tub-like structure.

4. The invention as defined in claim 2 including an aerated water jet system comprised of a plurality of jet forming means located in spaced positions about the circular upper portion of the tub-like structure and extending through the side wall thereof for directing jets of aerated water into the tub-like structure at each of said spaced positions.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said jets extend through the side wall of said tub-like structure at arcuately spaced positions corresponding to each of the seats.

6. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said aerated water jet arrangement includes a header member located at each of said spaced jet positions, a water supply inlet connected to each of said header members, an air inlet extending downwardly from spaced openings provided in said ledge and connected to each of said header members, a filter means provided in each of said air inlets, and a nozzle member connected to each of said header members and extending through the side wall of the tub-like structure for directing the jets of aerated water into said pool structure.

7. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said ledge is provided with a slop-over lip near the edge of the upper surface thereof for forming a trough for collecting water splashed on the ledge which drains through the air inlets provided on said ledge down into said header members.

8. A therapeutic pool structure comprising a tub-like structure of molded rigid synthetic plastic resin material and including a wall forming a reservoir for water below a selected level and an integrally formed relatively wide ledge extending circumferentially about an upper edge of said wall, a perimetrical water supply manifold extending under said ledge and having a water supply thereto under pressure, a plurality of perimetricall s aced ttin s in said manifold h vin 'et outlet me ns extend i ng tfirough said wail at a oca i on below said ledge and below said selected level, and an air header for each fitting having one end thereof in communication with the fitting and the other end open to an air supply.

9. A therapeutic pool structure as in claim 8 wherein the other end of each of said headers extends through the ledge into communication with the atmosphere.

[0. A therapeutic pool structure as in claim 9 wherein there is a filter in said header between opposite ends thereof.

11. A therapeutic pool structure as in claim 8 wherein there is a second perimetrical manifold, means supplying air under pressure to said second perimetrical manifold and a connection from said second perimetrical manifold to each of said fittings.

12. A therapeutic pool structure as in claim 8 wherein said jet outlet means comprises a pipe of relatively large inside diameter extending from said fitting through said wall and a nozzle in said pipe adjacent the junction of said pipe and said fitting, said nozzle having an inside diameter much smaller than the inside diameter of said pipe.

Claims

1. A therapeutic pool structure adaptable for mounting at ground level within an excavation comprising: a tub-like structure formed of a molding of rigid material, said tub-like structure including a circular upper portion, an integrally formed wide ledge circumferentially extending about said circular upper portion, an integrally formed body depending below said circular upper portion, said body having adjacent arcuate portions of the side wall thereof curved horizontally inwardly at different levels to provide seats of different heights within the tub-like structure, and a filler of resilient material disposed on the under side of said ledge, whereby said tub-like structure is able to be positioned within the excavation with said ledge extending over the ground level edge surface of the excavation and Seated thereagainst by said filler resilient material.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said molding is formed of fiberglass.

8. A therapeutic pool structure comprising a tub-like structure of molded rigid synthetic plastic resin material and including a wall forming a reservoir for water below a selected level and an integrally formed relatively wide ledge extending circumferentially about an upper edge of said wall, a perimetrical water supply manifold extending under said ledge and having a water supply thereto under pressure, a plurality of perimetrically spaced fittings in said manifold having jet outlet means extending through said wall at a location below said ledge and below said selected level, and an air header for each fitting having one end thereof in communication with the fitting and the other end open to an air supply.

10. A therapeutic pool structure as in claim 9 wherein there is a filter in said header between opposite ends thereof.