Patent Application
20140340872
Bathing installations such as spas, pools, whirlpool baths and the like typically have fittings installed in openings in one or more walls of the water tub. The fittings can include, by way of example only, water jets, air jets, lights, controls, suction fittings, drains and the like. Sealing the installed fittings against water intrusion or leakage is a problem, often exacerbated by irregularities in the tub wall, which may be fabricated of fiberglass. Gaskets can be used, but can require proper assembly and careful tightening of fastening nuts.
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.
A fitting assembly for a bathing installation is described, which is configured for assembly to a wall structure of the bathing installation, and includes a novel water seal arrangement. An exemplary embodiment is illustrated in
The jet body 60 may be fabricated from a translucent or transparent material such as clear ABS, clear PVC, clear acrylic or clear polycarbonate. In an exemplary embodiment, the jet body is an integral one-piece structure, and includes a water inlet port nipple 66A formed at one end of the jet body, and a flange portion 64 formed at the opposite end of the jet body. The flange portion has an outer diameter larger than the opening 12 defined in the wall structure 10. The water inlet nipple 66A has a passageway in fluid communication with the jet body internal open channel or plenum 60B. The water inlet nipple is configured for connection to a water line connected to a bathing installation pump, so that water may be pumped through the jet into the tub. The jet body flares outwardly to form a jet body cavity 60C of larger diameter than that of cavity 60B, which receives the central portion of an escutcheon and any jet fitting such as an eyeball or other water-directing feature, examples of which are well known in the bathing installation art.
A threaded nut 90 is configured to be threaded onto the threaded region 62 of the jet body 60, and secure the jet body 60 in place against the wall 10 by drawing the flange portion tightly against the wall. Alternatively, another attachment device may be used instead of a threaded nut, e.g. a slip or interference fit device. A ring structure 100, with the nut 90, jet body 60 and the wall 10, defines a cavity filled with a sealant material 130. In an exemplary embodiment, the ring structure 100 may also function to compensate for undulations in the tub wall.
The jet body 60 in this example includes an air inlet nipple 66B and a light receptacle or nipple 66C formed integrally with the body. The air inlet nipple 66B defines a passageway in fluid communication with opening 64B formed through the jet body. The air inlet nipple 66B is configured for tubing connection to an air source or air pump. For example, the nipple 66B may be connected to the atmosphere through a valve. This allows the water flowing through the jet to be conditioned with air bubbles entrained in the water flow.
The light receptacle nipple 66C has a passageway formed therein to provide a receptacle, which terminates in the jet body wall 60C. A light source such as an incandescent bulb, LED or optical fiber connected to a remotely located light source is disposed in the light receptacle. It will be apparent that light emitted by light source installed in the nipple receptacle will pass through the jet body wall 60C, if the jet body is fabricated of a transparent or translucent material. In this regard, the jet body and assembly 80 may be similar to the lighted fittings described, for example, in US Published Application 20120192348, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by this reference.
The exemplary fitting assembly 50 further includes a jet barrel assembly 80. The assembly 80 includes a barrel structure 82 which is configured for insertion into the jet body channel 60B, and an escutcheon 86 which is attached to a first end portion of the barrel structure 82, e.g. by one or more clip portions, and which snap-fits into a corresponding slot formed in the barrel end portion. Other connection means may alternatively be used for connection of the escutcheon to the barrel, e.g. threads. In an exemplary embodiment, the barrel 82 is fabricated of a translucent or transparent material, such as clear or translucent ABS or PVC. The escutcheon 86 can be fabricated of an opaque or a transparent or translucent material, such as clear or opaque ABS, polycarbonate, acrylic or ASA (as an opaque material).
In another, non-lighted embodiment, the light receptacle can be omitted, and the jet body and parts fabricated of an opaque material.
The fitting 50 includes a ring structure 100 shown in isolation in
The first side 110 of the compensation ring structure 100 has a generally flat outer peripheral surface 110 configured to contact an inside or back surface of the tub panel structure. The rear surface of the wall of the tub panel into which the fitting is to be installed may be rough and uneven. The first side also has an inner periphery surface 112 positioned above the outer peripheral surface 110. A vertical peripheral wall 114 extends from the interior edge 110A of the surface 110 and the outer edge 112A of the inner peripheral surface 112, to form a recess 116.
First and second through openings 128A and 128B are formed through the outer periphery of the ring structure 100, at opposed sides of the ring. In an exemplary embodiment, the openings are spaced apart 180 degrees, although the spacing can vary depending on the requirements of the particular application. On the bottom side, the openings terminate in relieved areas 118A, 118B, which communicate with the recess 116.
The central opening 102 of the ring 100 is over-sized relative to the jet body threaded portion 62, and does not contact the body 60 in this exemplary embodiment. Turning the ring 100 will not cause the ring to engage the body 60 or draw the flange portion 64 toward the ring 100.
The nut 90 includes threads 92 sized to engage the threads 62A of the threaded portion 62 of the jet body 60. The nut has a peripheral angled surface 94A, extending outwardly from flat surface 94B and spaced from the threads 62A. The angular orientation of surface 94A generally matches that of surface 124 of the ring structure 100. The respective surfaces may define complementary 45 degree angles from a center axis of the fitting assembly, although other angular orientations may alternatively be employed. The respective surfaces 94A and 124 may take other forms, such as complementary curved surfaces, e.g. convex/concave surfaces. With the ring structure positioned to surround the opening in the wall structure, the nut surface 94A is brought into contact with surface 124 as the nut is advanced toward the ring, and eventually applies a compressive force against the ring surface 124. The flat surface 94B of the nut 90 essentially closes the gap between the edge 124A of the ring 100 and the fitting body. The respective facing surfaces 124 and 94A of the ring and nut allow compensation movement of the ring as the nut is tightened, so that the surface 110 may orient in a cocked relationship relative to the flange structure 64, depending on the roughness or smoothness of the rear wall surface. If the wall surface is uneven, the surface 110 may not be parallel to the flange surface of the flange structure 64, yet the nut 90 can be tightened against the ring structure 100 without causing the flange structure 64 to orient in a cocked relationship relative to the front surface of the wall structure.
To provide a water seal for the fitting and prevent leakage of the bath water through the wall opening, a seal material in liquid form is dispensed through one of openings 128A or 128B, and fills the cavity 132, as indicated in
The seal 130 in this exemplary embodiment encapsulates the adjacent edge of the wall 10, to seal the fitting against water leakage around the opening 12 as well as the interfaces between the nut and the ring, and the nut and the body portion. (
Another aspect of the invention is directed to a method for mounting and sealing a fitting in a mount opening in a panel structure in a bathing installation. The method includes in an exemplary embodiment:
In another embodiment, the seal structure may be pre-formed, e.g. as an elastomeric ring structure, sized to be compressed within the cavity 132 (
The flange member 140 provides an emulation of a recess, molded or formed in the wall structure. The flange member may be fabricated as a stamped metal part or molded plastic.
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.
