Patent Application
20220117840
Bathing installations such as spas and whirlpool baths have tubs for holding the bathing water which are typically fabricated from fiberglass in a mold. The bathing installation typically utilizes various fittings which are installed in openings formed through the tub wall. The openings may be drilled through the tub wall or formed during the molding process. The fittings include, for example, water and air jets, control panels, on-off switch buttons, audio speakers, to name a few.
Some spa tubs may have several dozen spa jets, typically installed in holes drilled through the spa tub, in additional to other fittings. The installation of the fittings using conventional techniques can be time-consuming and labor intensive. The installation should ensure that the fittings do not leak. Spa jet fittings are typically attached to water lines on the back side of the tub, which add weight which is supported by the fitting. Even though the fittings do not leak initially after the installation, over time, the weight, vibration and temperature changes associated with use tends to cause leaks, typically through the openings in the tub wall surrounding the fitting.
Features and advantages of the disclosure will readily be appreciated by persons skilled in the art from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the drawing wherein:
In the following detailed description and in the several figures of the drawing, like elements are identified with like reference numerals. The figures may not be to scale, and relative feature sizes may be exaggerated for illustrative purposes.)
The typical jet body has external threads. It is placed through a hole and secured with a nut that is tightened into place to a specific torque. It may also have a compensating ring to account for the undulating surface on the back of the tub shell and may also have a gasket or silicone to seal the underside lip of the jet body to the inside surface of the tub vessel.
Another method of installing the jet into a tub shell can be with a grommet. In this instance the jet body does not have external threads but a smooth external surface. The grommet with a smooth internal surface is placed through a hole in the tub shell. The grommet typically has an ID (inner diameter) that is smaller than the OD (outer diameter) of the jet body. The jet body exterior is lubricated with water or soapy water and forced through the ID of the grommet. Upon the forcible insertion of the jet body through the grommet the grommet is forced outward and the external force creates a seal between the grommet and the ID of the hole in the tub shell. If pressure is applied from the rear of the jet body the jet body can be extracted from the grommet of the jet body and grommet seal can be compromised and leaks can occur.
To address the shortcomings of the conventional installation techniques, in accordance with aspects of the invention, a fitting, for example a jet body, and a grommet assembly are provided with unique features. Exemplary embodiments of the fitting and grommet assembly are illustrated in
In an exemplary embodiment, the grommet 20 of
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the grommet 20 has an internal peripheral recess 26, in this example a radial recess, of a unique shape. The recess 26 has a flat surface 26A on the top and an inwardly tapered surface 26B below the surface 26A. The recess is at a position “x” (
In this exemplary embodiment, the outer periphery of fitting body wall 44 has a protruding rib 46 running radially on the exterior surface of the jet body. The rib has a unique profile; the rib is flat on the top portion 46A and has a tapered portion 46B below. The rib 46 is positioned on the fitting body 40 so that when the fitting body is inserted into the grommet, the peripheral rib 46 of the body 40 will lock into the peripheral recess 26 on the grommet 20. The grommet typically has an ID (inner diameter) that is smaller than the OD (outer diameter) of the jet body.
In a general sense, the grommet recess and the fitting body rib or projection have complimentary cross-sectional configurations, so that the rib fits into the recess. The recess and rib may have different configurations that those described for the illustrated embodiment of
In another embodiment, the grommet and fitting assembly has a grommet projection and a corresponding fitting body recess.
In an exemplary embodiment, for a shell hole having a 3 and 31/32 inch diameter, a fitting body having a 3.49 inch diameter, the grommet wall has a 0.275 inch thickness.
The shell has a thickness T in the area of the opening 12. In an exemplary embodiment of a spa tub wall, the thickness T is approximately 0.25 inch. The radial recess 26 of the grommet and the rib 46 are positioned below the back surface 14 of the shell when installed in the opening. The grommet is compressed by the edge of the shell opening and in the unrestrained region below the shell wall is pushed outwardly by the rib 46 to form a protrusion area 24A below the back surface 14 of the shell 10 to lock the fitting within the shell opening.
Following are exemplary features of the fitting body 40 locking into the recess 26 on the grommet 20.
On a spa in normal use, the water pipes connected to a jet body can cantilever from the jet body and they have weight from the entrained water. With the addition of excess summer heat, the conventional grommet/jet design has been known to creep out of the hole back towards the inside of the tub shell and leaving the opportunity for leaking to occur.
In an alternate embodiment of a complimentary grommet and fitting body arrangement illustrated in
Shapes of the projection 26′ and the recess 56′ other than those shown in
The grommet and fitting body assemblies disclosed herein reduce the number of components needed to assemble the fitting to the tub shell and also eliminate the need to correctly tighten/torque the securing nut to secure the typical fitting body design, while at the same time eliminating or substantially reducing the risk of the fitting body and grommet creeping out the shell hole towards the inside of the shell.
Although the foregoing has been a description and illustration of specific embodiments of the subject matter, various modifications and changes thereto can be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
