Patent Application
20090283116
This invention generally relates to jetted water systems.
Jetted water systems such as, but not limited to, bath tubs that comprise jets, such as but not limited to Jacuzzi® or other similar type jets, oftentimes have water lines connecting the jets to a water intake system. After usage of the system over time, bacteria, mold, mildew, soap scum, and other unwanted items may cause a sludge-like build-up in the lines. These unwanted items may continue to grow between jet usage periods.
There are many problems associated with the buildup of unwanted items in jetted water system lines. For example, these unwanted jet line items may negatively affect the health of a user of a jetted tub system or other systems that use jetted water such as, but not limited to, pedicure stations. One example of this is bacteria causing skin rashes to occur on the users of these systems. Other health problems may also occur. Mechanical problems may also be associated with a sludge-like build-up of unwanted items in the system lines. For example, the water jets may not function properly due to low water pressure or due to blocked lines. Other mechanical problems may also occur. Lastly, there is a problem associated with this buildup is the lack of clean water. Having cleaner water—both visually, aromatically, and otherwise, is a desire for most people when they use jetted water systems.
Therefore, a cheap, safe, and useful system adapted to clean the water lines of jetted water systems is needed.
One embodiment of the invention is a device that may operatively couple a jetted water system water outlet port such as, but not limited to, a faucet, to a jet system water intake port. Upon allowing water to exit the outlet port, the system is adapted to insert a cleaning solution to the water and subsequently send this water-solution mixture to the inlet port. Upon powering on the water jets, the jet system intake port receives the water-solution mixture and sends this mixture through the system, substantially cleaning and disinfecting the tubes, and removing bacteria and mold from the inner surface of the tubes and the jets. Ultimately, the solution in ejected from the jets into the tub, exiting the tub through the drain. In one embodiment, the cleaning solution may include a growth prevention agent adapted to substantially prevent mold, bacteria, and other unwanted items from being regenerated within the internal jet tubes and jets upon proper use of the solution.
One embodiment of a jet tube flush system may be comprised of a water reception port, at least one tube, a sanitation system having a cleaning solution, and a water intake coupling mechanism. One water reception port may be comprised of a flexible polymeric or elastomeric device having a conduit. One end of the conduit may be adapted to receive a faucet and may include a flexible strap, which may be used to couple the inlet port to the faucet. The at least one tube in one embodiment may be corrugated polymeric tubing adapted to couple to the sanitation system and transfer the mixture to the jet lines. In one embodiment, the sanitation system comprises a device adapted to release an amount of cleaning solution into the water over a set period of time for a given flowrate—for example, through a venturi valve. One venturi valve may induce a venturi flow or may only be referred to as a venturi valve.
Upon receiving the solution from the sanitation system, the mixture may flow through a corrugated tube to the water intake coupling mechanism. One water intake coupling mechanism may be adapted to sealedly transfer the mixture to the jetted system water reception port. One water intake coupling mechanism may be substantially universally adapted to allow the system to be used with any or nearly any bath tub water intake port and water outlet port. Upon running through and cleaning the tubing and piping of the jetted water system, the mixture exits the jets and flows down the drain.
In this manner and with such a device, jetted water systems, also known as water jet systems, are cleaned and made to provide a fresh feel, keeping people safe from the harmful affects of unclear and mechanically unsound jetted water systems.
The terms and phrases as indicated in quotation marks (“ ”) in this section are intended to have the meaning ascribed to them in this Terminology section applied to them throughout this document, including in the claims, unless clearly indicated otherwise in context. Further, as applicable, the stated definitions are to apply, regardless of the word or phrase's case, tense or any singular or plural variations of the defined word or phrase.
The term “or” as used in this specification and the appended claims is not meant to be exclusive rather the term is inclusive meaning “either or both”.
References in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “a preferred embodiment”, “an alternative embodiment”, “a variation”, “one variation”, and similar phrases mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least an embodiment of the invention. The appearances of phrases like “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, or “in a variation” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all meant to refer to the same embodiment or variation.
The term “couple”, “coupled”, “coupling”, or any variation thereof, as used in this specification and the appended claims refers to either an indirect or direct connection between the identified elements, components or objects. Often the manner of the coupling will be related specifically to the manner in which the two coupled elements interact. Specifically, this term may be used to define tow elements joined by a bolted fastener, a latch, a hook, or any other reasonably readily removable fastening device.
The term “integrate” or “integrated” as used in this specification and the appended claims refers to a blending, uniting, or incorporation of the identified elements, components or objects into a unified whole.
Directional and/or relationary terms such as, but not limited to, left, right, nadir, apex, top, bottom, vertical, horizontal, back, front and lateral are relative to each other and are dependent on the specific orientation of a applicable element or article, and are used accordingly to aid in the description of the various embodiments and are not necessarily intended to be construed as limiting.
As applicable, the terms “about” or “generally” as used herein unless otherwise indicated means a margin of +−20%. Also, as applicable, the term “substantially” as used herein unless otherwise indicated means a margin of +−10%. It is to be appreciated that not all uses of the above terms are quantifiable such that the referenced ranges can be applied.
The terms “bacteria”, “mold”, “mildew” and other terms having similar connotations refer to microorganisms, fungus, or other type of growth typically found to live in soil, water, organic matter, or the bodies of plants and animals.
The terms “mixture”, “solution”, “fluid” and all other terms referring to similar substances are meant to be inclusive and not specifically defining a certain type or classification. These terms refer to both homogeneously mixed and non-homogeneously mixed liquids. Each may refer to a liquid or liquid-type substance typically having more than one constituent.
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The strap section 22 of one embodiment may be referred to as a faucet coupling mechanism or simply a coupling mechanism. The strap section may be comprised of a flexible elastomeric or polymeric material such as, but not limited to synthetic polyisoprene. As shown in
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In one embodiment, the sanitation system 16 may be coupled to the tubing 14, as best shown in
In one embodiment, the sanitation system 16 may be comprised of a solution container 50 and a container adapter 52. The adapter may be substantially hollow and have three ports 54. The ports may be threaded. The ports may also be adapted to couple to the press plug connector 40 shown in
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In one embodiment, the cavity portion may be located between the tube connection portion and the suction portion. The tube connection portion may be threaded or may couple to the tube 14 with another known connector apparatus. As mixture may exit the tube connection portion 64 at a high flow rate, the mixture may tend to gather within the cavity portion prior to entering the intake port 61, especially if the lines the mixture is intended to clean are significantly clogged. Therefore, the cavity portion may have a large enough cavity to receive the mixture without allowing the mixture to back up into the tube connection portion.
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To circulate the water/cleaning solution mixture in one method, the bathtub 100 jet system may need to be powered on. This may induce a pump to receive the water/solution mixture into the intake port 61 and potentially into a part of the pump. The pump may then pump the mixture from the intake port through the system lines to the jets 102. In one method, the outlet port 18 may need to sealedly couple to a bathtub proximate the intake port. This may occur with a suction portion 62, as best shown in
To receive a sufficient amount of water so that the jetted water system 10 may be adequately cleaned in one method, the inlet port 12 may be coupled to the faucet 30 with an elastomeric or flexible polymeric material having a conduit section 20 and a strap section 22, as best shown in
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The embodiments of the fluid jet cleaning device and methods of use as illustrated in the accompanying figures and described above are merely exemplary and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention. It is to be appreciated that numerous variations to the invention have been contemplated as would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of this disclosure.
One alternative embodiment may be comprised of a fluid inlet port that is adapted to receive a fluid other than water or that may be adapted to receive water from a device other than a faucet. For example the fluid inlet port may receive a cleaning solution/water mixture from a pump. Furthermore, a system is contemplated that receives water from a dedicated water line. In this type of system, the water line may be installed with the jetted bathtub to allow for easy cleaning of the bathtub water lines. In this, or another similar manner, the dedicated water line may be similar to dedicated water lines for refrigerators.
