Patent Application
20080209626
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to fluid nozzles, and particularly to a fluid return jet fitting and face plate for a return jet in a swimming pool, spa, jacuzzi or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Swimming pools, spas, jacuzzis, hot tubs, and the like require periodic cleaning to remove dirt and debris from the water and from the surface of the pool or tub. In order to reduce cleaning time and expense, many such pools and tubs are equipped with an automatic cleaning system that includes a system of suction drains for removing water from the upper portion of the pool for filtering and cleaning with return jets for pumping the water back in the pool. The return jets may be oriented to direct the circulation of the water towards the suction drains. The opening(s) or nozzle(s) in the return jet may be oriented to direct the return flow straight ahead, laterally or downward to increase the circulation of water below the level of the drains.
The return jets typically include a so-called eyeball fitting having a generally spherical or spheroid shape. The eyeball fitting may be a single opening or nozzle that can be swiveled to direct the flow of the return jet in the desired direction, or the eyeball fitting may have a plurality of nozzle openings directing flow as desired. The eyeball fitting is secured to a housing by a locking ring. The housing may be attached to the return pipe by a threaded fitting, by a “slip fitting” that forms an interference fit with the return pipe, or by other suitable coupling techniques.
While such return jets are effective in helping to keep the pool or tub clean, their appearance is often unattractive and detracts from the aesthetics of the pool or tub. There is a need for a decorative face plate or cover plate for improvement of this system.
Thus, a fluid return jet fitting and face plate solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
The fluid return jet fitting and face plate include a removable face plate for covering the outwardly-facing or exposed surface of a fluid nozzle body flange, cap, eyeball fitting, or the like. The device includes a body portion for covering the flange or cap, and at least one pin projecting from a rear surface of the body portion that is movable into and out of alignment with at least one corresponding slot disposed on the flange or cap, the slot defining an opening therethrough, to cause the face plate to be retained in or released from engagement with the flange or cap. The face plate exposed surfaces have a decorative theme design, such as starfish, sea shell, sand dollar, turtle, and the like, to coordinate with an aquatic environment presented by a swimming pool, a wading pool, jacuzzi or the like.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
The present invention is a fluid return jet fitting and face plate that includes a removable face plate for covering the outwardly-facing or exposed surface of a fluid nozzle body flange, cap, eyeball fitting, or the like. The device includes a body portion for covering the flange or cap, and at least one pin projecting from a rear surface of the body portion that is movable into and out of alignment with at least one corresponding slot disposed on the flange or cap, the slot defining an opening therethrough, to cause the face plate to be retained in, or released from, engagement with the flange or cap. The face plate and return fitting can be provided in an embodiment that includes a hollow threaded base return fitting, or, alternatively, in an embodiment that includes a hollow slip fit base return fitting.
The face plate exposed surfaces have decorative theme designs, such as starfish, sea shell, sand dollar, turtle, and the like, to coordinate with an aquatic environment as presented by a swimming pool, a wading pool, jacuzzi or the like. Additionally, the face plate may be made of a glow-in-the-dark thermoplastic or other material, or alternatively may be coated with a glow-in-the-dark coating. Moreover, the face plate may be made of thermoplastic or other material without glow-in-the-dark properties.
Referring to
As particularly shown in
The frustospherical section 209 conforms to the generally spherical shape of eyeball 110, but is slightly larger in diameter at an opening proximate cap threads 207, while decreasing in diameter to form an opening smaller than the smallest diameter of the eyeball 110 near the interface of the frustospherical 209 and cylindrical sections 211 in order to support the eyeball 110 when inserted into the frustospherical section 209 of the threaded base unit 115a. Slotted tab 213 extends from the frustospherical section 209 into the cylindrical section 211 in order to guide proper placement of the eyeball 110 therein.
The eyeball is then retained by a cap 200, which has threads 202 complementary to threads 207 on the frustospherical section 209. The cap 200 is annular, having an aperture 232 through which directional eyeball 110 can extend and rotate to direct a stream of flowing water in a desired direction. A pair of generally arcuate slots 120 is disposed across opposing quadrants on the top of cap 200. The slots 120 are designed to engage pins 107 on the underside of face plate 105a for a secure attachment to cover the cap 200. As shown in
The arcuate slots 120 have a vertical taper 305 in combination with outer and inner retaining ledges 606a and 606b to form friction-fitted bayonet mounting receptacles for pin heads 108. The face plate 105a can then be rotated to lock the pins 107 into the slots 120, thereby forming a secure attachment of the face plate 105a to the base unit 115a. Aperture 102 on the face plate permits normal operations of the eyeball 110 in directing flow of fluid therethrough in a desired direction.
As shown in
Dimensions of the cylindrical section 418 conforms to the dimensions of annular-shaped eyeball 110. However, opposing wedge shaped flanges 426 are disposed on inner wall 409 of the cylindrical section 418 so that they extend down into the cavity in order to longitudinally constrain the eyeball 410 to an upper portion of the cylindrical section 418. The eyeball 410 is then retained in the fitting by rotating the eyeball 410 until it is in the orientation shown in dashed lines in
A pair of generally arcuate slots 120 is disposed across opposing quadrants on the top of the flange 420. The slots 120 are designed to engage pins 107 on the underside of face plate 105a for a secure attachment to cover the flange 420. As shown in
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
