This application claims priority on Canadian Patent Application No. 2,410,110, filed on Oct. 29, 2002 by the present applicant, and on U.S. provisional Patent Application No. 60/422,120, filed on Oct. 30, 2002 by the present applicant.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to bathtub air massage systems and, more particularly, to such systems having hidden air jets and/or channel-type air delivery means.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The Channel system, e.g. as in the Ultra™ bathtub, consists in surrounding a bathtub with a fibreglass air cavity. Thirty to ninety holes of more or less ⅛″ in diameter are defined through the bathtub. Air is propelled in the cavity by a blower and then escapes through each hole to create turbulence in the water.
Also known from Canadian Application No. 2,356,494 (in the name of C.G. Air Systemes Inc.) is an air massage system wherein upstream of the holes defined in the shell of the bathtub (i.e. behind this shell), hidden air jets are provided to deliver pressurised air through the holes and into the bathtub's cavity. These air jets are connected to a blower via tubing that is also hidden.
Such holes defined in the shell of the bathtub may define slightly sharp edges and are not necessarily very aesthetic.
It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a decorative member for lining holes defined in the shell of a bathtub provided with an air massage system.
It is also an aim of the present invention to provide such a decorative member that also acts as a fastener to hold together the various layers forming the shell.
It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a tool for installing the decorative member to the shell.
It is a still further aim of the present invention to provide a method for installing the decorative member to the shell.
Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a fastener for use in air massage systems used with a bathtub having a shell having at least two layers, at least one hole being defined through the shell, comprising a hollow body adapted to extend through said hole and securing means provided for anchoring said fastener in the hole and for retaining together the layers of the shell.
Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a decorative device for use in air massage systems used with a bathtub having a shell and at least one hole defined through the shell, comprising a hollow body adapted to extend through said hole and a decorative member provided at a visible end of the decorative device and defining an opening in fluid communication with said hollow body such that pressurised air provided by the air massage system is conveyed through said decorative device and into the bathtub.
Further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a fastener in combination with a bathtub provided with an air massage system, said bathtub comprising a shell defining a bathing cavity and having at least two juxtaposed layers defining opposed visible and hidden surfaces of said shell, a plurality of holes being defined through said shell such that pressurised air delivered by said air massage system is conveyed through said holes from said hidden surface to said visible surface and into said cavity, said fastener being provided for each of said holes and comprising a hollow body extending through said hole and securing means provided for anchoring said fastener in said hole and for retaining together said layers of said shell.
Still further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of installing a fastener into a hole of a shell of a bathtub provided with an air massage system, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a hollow fastener; (b) positioning said fastener on a tool; (c) inserting said tool and said fastener carried thereby in said hole via a first direction; (d) displacing said tool in a second direction different than said first direction such that said tool deforms said fastener and secures said fastener to said hole; and (e) removing said tool from said hole.
Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:
a to 3d are cross-sectional views showing successive steps in the installation of the hollow decorative fastener into a hole defined in the shell of the bathtub, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; and
a to 4d are cross-sectional views showing successive steps in the installation of the hollow decorative fastener into a hole defined in the shell of the bathtub, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to
The air massage system S includes a blower 12 (which may enclose a heating element), a flexible or rigid main piping 14 connecting the blower 12 to a manifold 16, and a series of rigid or flexible branch pipes 18 that connect the manifold 16 to downstream air jets 20 that are concealingly mounted behind the shell 10. A number of holes 22 (
As seen in
Each hidden air jet 20 is illustrated mounted against the hidden outer surface of the shell 10 of the bathtub B and to a fitting 28, such as an elbow (herein shown), a nipple or a Tee. The air jet 20 includes a jet body 30 that comprises an exteriorly threaded hollow tube 32 and an end flange 34. A unidirectional flow mechanism is provided within the hollow tube and can take the form of any water non-return device.
The elbow fitting 28 comprises an interiorly tapped hollow tube 36. A flange 38 is provided at a distal outlet of the tapped hollow tube 36. The flange 38 defines an annular groove 40 upon which rests an annular seal 42. A proximal inlet 44 of the fitting 28 extends laterally from the tapped hollow tube 36, and comprises a number of successive and parallel exterior annular wedges 46 for a sealed connection to a branch pipe 18.
Air is blown through the flexible branch pipe 18 and enters the hidden air jet 20 by the inlet 44. It fills the tapped hollow tube 36 and builds sufficient pressure to open and flow through the unidirectional flow mechanism. Then, it exits in the bathtub B through the holes 22 and creates a turbulence in the water filling the bathtub B.
Air blown into the channel 24 is conveyed through holes 26 defined along the channel 24 which extends peripherally around a bottom corner of the bathtub B. A variation of the Channel-type bathtub replaces the channel 24 by a cavity substantially extending along the hidden outer surface of the shell of the bathtub, thereby defining a plenum which in fact extends across the complete bottom of the bathtub and also possibly behind the side wall thereof. Similarly, the plenum conveys air through holes such as holes 26.
It is possible for air jets 20 to be mounted in the channel 24 or the plenum of the bathtub, in a bonded manner to the hidden outer surface of the shell 10 of the bathtub B, whereby it is possible to remove the flexible pipes 18 and the elbow fittings 28, with the hidden air jets 20 being simply fed with pressurised air contained in the channel 24 or plenum while still preventing the infiltration of bathtub water in the channel 24.
In all of the above embodiments, the air massaging system S is completely hidden by way of the use of the air jets 20 (and channel 24), which only leaves the holes 22 (and 26) of this air massaging system S to be visible.
The unidirectional flow mechanism provided in the air jet 20 allows for the free release of air in the bathtub B. Once the air pressure in the flexible pipes 18 is reduced, upon the end of operation of the system S for example, the unidirectional flow mechanism closes, thereby preventing the bathtub water from entering in the flexible pipes 18 and so causing, e.g. by its stagnation, a contamination of the flexible pipes 18 and of the remaining piping network of the air massage system S. As air is the sole fluid in contact with the flexible pipes and with the piping network of the air massage system, the hidden air jet ensures a high hygiene level.
The unidirectional flow mechanism may have different configurations. It can be a check valve with a spring-loaded piston and/or one (or more) spring-loaded plastic, stainless steel, glass or rubber ball, with a rubber flap or flaps from another material, a magnetic valve, a flexible diaphragm, a combination of the above enumeration and/or any other unidirectional flow mechanism to ensure the water-tightness of the air jet J.
Also, the elbow fitting 28 can be replaced by a Tee fitting, or other. This configuration increases the flow of incoming air through the inlet of the hidden air jet 20, and consequently, the turbulence in the bathtub B.
It is noted that the shell 10 of the bathtub B, as seen in
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a hollow decorative fastener F (see
More particularly, the fastener F, when installed as in
The fastener F can be made of corrosion-proof metals, that can be polished, sanded, painted, plated or chemically treated to increase its finish, its mechanical properties, its resistance to corrosion, etc.
The fastener F can also be made of composite or plastic materials that can be deformed to compress the composite shell layers 48 and 50 in the same manner as the metallic fastener. Such a non-metallic fastener can be installed by heating, adhesion, welding, ultrasound, pressure fit, etc. The non-metallic fastener can also be polished, sanded, painted, plated or chemically treated to increase its finish, its mechanical properties, its resistance to corrosion, etc.
The fastener F is used on bathtubs such as the bathtub B illustrated in
As seen sequentially in
As an alternative to the sequence illustrated in
A tool T′ is to be used for the installation of the fastener F′ to the shell 10 of the bathtub. The tool T′ has a carrier 58′ that can translate longitudinally with respect to a remainder of the tool T′. The tool T′ also has a cavity 60′, shaped so as to receive the head 54 of the fastener F′.
The fastener F′ in its initial shape seen in
Prior to the insertion of the faster F′ into the holes 22, 26 of the shell 10, an adhesive 70 is optionally provided on an outer surface of the tubular member 52′. Thereafter, the fastener F′ may be inserted into the holes 22, 26 of the shell 10 in a first direction shown by arrows 62 of
Still referring to
Referring to
The tools T and T′ can be manually operated, pneumatic, electric, or actuated using any other form of energy.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2,410,110 | Oct 2002 | CA | national |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60422120 | Oct 2002 | US |