Claims
- 1. An extendible and retractable jet apparatus for use in hydrotherapy tubs of the type having at least one side wall forming an enclosure containing a body of water at a normal water level and a pressurized fluid distribution system including a discharge conduit, the jet apparatus comprising;
- a hollow disc-like housing having spaced apart side walls and a circumferential outer wall defining a central chamber, said outer wall having an inwardly extending cylindrical cavity which terminates in a back wall having an aperture extending therethrough and said housing adapted for connection to the exterior of the enclosure side wall over an aperture formed therein below the normal water level and in fluid communication with the enclosure interior
- fluid inlet means on at least one said housing side wall adapted for connection to the discharge conduit of the pressurized fluid distribution system,
- a hose reel rotatably mounted in said housing between said side walls for receiving and dispensing a length of flexible hose and having a hollow cylindrical central hub portion in sealed fluid communication with said housing fluid inlet means and a fluid outlet means in said hub portion,
- a length of flexible hose connected at one end to said hose reel fluid outlet means to establish a fluid flow path from said housing fluid inlet and through said reel central hub portion to the interior of said hose,
- the free end of said length of flexible hose extending reciprocally through said housing cavity back aperture and in a stored position being contained within said housing cavity and capable of being extended outwardly a distance therefrom in an extended position,
- a nozzle member secured to the free end of said length of flexible hose and adapted to be received and engaged in said housing cavity in the stored position and configured to expel fluid passing therethrough forcefully in a jet stream of fluid, whereby
- said nozzle member in the stored position within said housing cavity resides adjacent to the interior of the side wall of the hydrotherapy tub or shower stall and operates as a fixed jet and ma be manually pulled outwardly therefrom to the extended position and used as a hand-held massage device to achieve concentrated, intensified massaging action at localized areas of the body of the user.
- 2. An extendible and retractable jet apparatus according to claim 1 in which;
- said housing outer wall having a generally cylindrical portion extending outwardly a short distance from the periphery of said housing to define said inwardly extending cylindrical cavity and said generally cylindrical portion adapted for connection to the exterior side of the enclosure side wall of the hydrotherapy tub.
- 3. An extendible and retractable jet apparatus according to claim 1 in which;
- at least one of said housing side walls is removably connected to said circumferential outer wall, and including
- seal means disposed between said removable side wall and said outer circumferential wall.
- 4. An extendible and retractable jet apparatus according to claim 1 in which;
- said hose reel comprises a pair of cylindrical flanges spaced laterally at opposite sides of said hub portion.
- 5. An extendible and retractable jet apparatus according to claim I in which;
- each said housing side wall has axially aligned reel support means on their opposed inner surfaces for rotatably receiving said hose reel.
- 6. An extendible and retractable jet apparatus according to claim 5 in which;
- said hose reel comprises a spool-like reel including said hollow cylindrical central hub portion having a circumferential side wall, and a pair of cylindrical flanges spaced laterally at opposite ends of said
- hub portion, each said flange rotatably engaged on said housing side wall support means, and
- said housing fluid inlet means including at least one pair of said support means and said flange.
- 7. An extendible and retractable jet apparatus according to claim 6 including;
- rotary seal means between said reel flanges and said housing side wall support means forming a rotary fluid sealing relation therebetween.
- 8. An extendible and retractable jet apparatus according to claim 6 in which;
- said reel fluid outlet means comprises at least one aperture through said hub portion circumferential side wall,
- said hose end connected to said reel has at least one aperture therethrough in alignment with said reel hub aperture, and
- a tubular conduit having one end connected to the other pair of said support means and said flange reel flange fluid inlet and its other end connected through said hub portion aperture to said hose aperture,
- said apertures and said tubular conduit sealed to form an isolated fluid passageway between the other pair of said support means and said flange and the interior of said hose.
- 9. An extendible and retractable jet apparatus according to claim 1 in which;
- said reel fluid outlet means comprises an aperture through said hub portion, and
- said hose end connected to said reel has an aperture therethrough in alignment with said reel hub aperture, and
- said apertures are sealed together to form a fluid passageway between the interior of said reel hub portion and the interior of said hose.
- 10. An extendible and retractable jet apparatus according to claim 7 in which;
- said fluid passageway extends from said fluid inlet means into said reel central hub portion for allowing fluid to enter said reel central hub portion.
- 11. An extendible and retractable jet apparatus according to claim 1 in which;
- said length of flexible hose having a generally rectangular cross section and sealed closed at its end secured to said fluid outlet means, and said hose end connected to said fluid outlet means having at least one aperture therethrough in communication with said fluid outlet means.
- 12. An extendible and retractable jet apparatus according to claim 1 in which:
- said length of flexible hose having a generally rectangular cross section divided transversely into at least two longitudinal tubular compartments extending substantially its length, and
- said hose sealed closed at its end secured to said fluid outlet means having at least one aperture therethrough in communication with said fluid outlet means.
- 13. An extendible and retractable jet apparatus according to claim 12 in which;
- said reel fluid outlet means comprises at least two apertures through said hub portion circumferential side wall,
- said hose end connected to said fluid outlet means including an aperture therethrough in each said compartment in alignment with said reel hub apertures and one of said hub portion apertures is sealed to one of said hose apertures to form a first fluid passageway between the interior of said reel hub portion and the interior of said hose for carrying one type of fluid, and
- a tubular conduit having one end connected to said fluid inlet means and its other end connected through another said hub portion side wall aperture to said hose aperture in another said hose compartment and said apertures and said tubular conduit sealed to form a second fluid passageway between the fluid inlet means and the interior of said hose which is isolated from said first passageway for carrying another type of fluid, whereby
- said hose will simultaneously carry two types of fluid.
- 14. An extendible and retractable jet apparatus according to claim 13 in which;
- said length of flexible hose having a generally rectangular cross section divided transversely into three longitudinal tubular compartments extending substantially its length, and
- said tubular conduit is sealingly connected to said center compartment.
- 15. An extendible and retractable jet apparatus according to claim 1 including
- at least one spring member operatively mounted between said housing and said reel such that said length of flexible hose is spring biased in a normally retracted wound position o said reel and when pulled outward will spool off said reel as said reel rotates.
- 16. An extendible and retractable jet apparatus according to claim 1 including
- releasable latch means operatively connected between said housing and said reel such that the free end of said length of flexible hose may be releasably maintained in a selective extended position.
- 17. An extendible and retractable jet apparatus according to claim 1 in which
- said housing fluid inlet means is adapted to be connected to a shower arm discharge pipe.
- 18. In combination with a hydrotherapy tub of the type having at least one side wall forming an enclosure containing a body of water at a normal water level and a pressurized fluid distribution system including a discharge conduit fluidly connected to the enclosure side wall below the normal water level and to a pressurized fluid source for circulating fluid into the body of water,
- at least one fluid jet extendibly and retractably received in a housing mounted over an aperture formed in said enclosure side wall below the normal water level and including a length of flexible hose connected at one end in fluid communication with said discharge conduit and a nozzle member at its free end configured to forcefully expel fluid passing therethrough in a jet stream of fluid,
- said nozzle member being manually movable between a stored position within said housing residing adjacent the interior of the side wall of the enclosure to operate as a fixed jet and an extended position outwardly from said side wall to be used as a hand-held massage device to achieve concentrated, intensified massaging action at localized areas of the body of an occupant of the enclosure.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No. 07/383,670 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,450.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to water massage devices, and more particularly to an extendible and retractable spa jet which in the retracted position resides in the side wall of a hydrotherapy tub or shower stall and may pulled outwardly therefrom to be used as a hand-held massage device.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Hot tubs and spas are well known for injecting aerated streams of water that have a therapeutic massaging effect on the body of the occupant. The therapeutic action of the tubs or spas is achieved by the vibrating action of bubbles and forceful circulation of water produced by jet nozzles positioned in the side walls of the spa or tub. However, the location of these jets allows the occupant to juxtapose primarily the back of the neck, shoulders, and back to the jets and, for the most part makes it impossible to achieve concentrated, intensified massaging action at other localized areas of the body.
Hand-held water sprayer heads and fluid powered vibrating heads which connect to faucets of household water systems are also known, but they are not particularly suited for operation or use in a submerged body of water.
There are several patents which disclose various massage devices for use in spas or hot tubs.
Sievers, U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,432 discloses a water driven personal massager for use in spas, hot tubs and the like which is connected to and driven vibrationally by the pressurized water supply of the spa or tub. The device comprises a conduit for connection to the pressurized water supply, a nozzle to direct the pressurized water across an eccentrically weighted turbine or waffle plate within a hand holdable massager head.
Marshall, U.S. Pat. No. 4,430,762 discloses an aquassage apparatus comprising a length of perforated bendable tubing having suction cups secured to the bottom which is installed in conventional bath tubs. The exhaust port of a vacuum cleaner is connected at one end of the tubing and controlled by a valve to agitate the water in the tub.
Pileggi, U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,676 discloses a portable hand held massager in combination with a spa. The massager has a fluid motor that is mechanically connected to a reciprocating massage pad. The fluid motor is detachably connected to the pressurized fluid system of the spa, and has a sleeve adapter to attach to a jet nozzle in the wall of the spa with a flexible hose leading to the motor of the massage unit.
Stearns, III, U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,462 discloses a handheld water driven shower massager which includes a housing having an internally disposed rotatable nozzle which is caused to rotate by the high velocity discharge of water from the nozzle. An oscillating vibrational motion is applied to the entire device by eccentrically weighting the discharge nozzle, and provides a massaging effect when pressed against the body of the user. When held away from the user, the unit functions as a source of water spray for cleansing.
Karp, British patent No. 766,508 discloses a reel unit for use with a bathroom fixture. The reel comprises a valve for regulating the supply of hot and cold water from the fixture, a unitary mixing chamber, separate means connecting the output side of the hot and cold valve means to the mixing chamber, and a flexible hose wound on the reel and connected to the mixing chamber for drawing mixed hot and cold water from the chamber when the hose is extended.
The present invention is distinguished over the prior art in general, and these patents in particular by an extendible and retractable spa jet which is connected to, and operated by, the existing pressurized water supply. In the retracted position, the jet resides in the side wall of a hydrotherapy tub or shower stall and serves as a conventional fixed jet. When desired, it may be pulled outwardly from the side wall of the enclosure and used as a hand-held massage device to achieve concentrated, intensified massaging action at localized areas of the body not possible with fixed spa jets or shower heads.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an extendible and retractable spa jet which in the retracted position resides in the side wall of a hydrotherapy tub or shower stall to serve as a conventional fixed jet and may also be pulled outwardly therefrom to be used as a hand-held massage device.
It is another object of this invention to provide an extendible and retractable spa jet which is operated by the existing pressurized water supply of a hydrotherapy tub or shower stall.
Another object of this invention is to provide a extendible and retractable spa jet is easily installed in the side wall of a hydrotherapy tub or shower stall and connected to the existing pressurized water supply by simple connections.
Another object of this invention is to provide a extendible and retractable spa jet is easily installed in the side wall of a hydrotherapy tub or shower stall and connected to the existing pressurized water supply and will expel a mixture of air and water.
A further object of this invention is to provide an extendible and retractable spa jet which makes it possible to achieve concentrated, intensified massaging action at localized areas of the body not possible with fixed spa jets or shower heads.
A still further object of this invention is to provide an extendible and retractable spa jet which is simple in design and construction, economical to manufacture, and rugged and durable in use.
Other objects of the invention will become apparent from time to time throughout the specification and claims as hereinafter related.
The above noted objects and other objects of the invention are accomplished by an extendible and retractable spa jet which is connected to, and operated by, the existing pressurized water supply. In the retracted position, the jet resides in the side wall of a hydrotherapy tub or shower stall and serves as a conventional fixed jet. When desired, it may be pulled outwardly from the side wall of the enclosure and used as a hand-held massage device to achieve concentrated, intensified massaging action at localized areas of the body not possible with fixed spa jets.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
| Number |
Date |
Country |
| 459502 |
Jan 1937 |
GBX |
| 766508 |
Jan 1957 |
GBX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
| Parent |
383670 |
Jul 1989 |
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Patent Grant
5093942
