Massaging tub having automatic washing function

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6829789
  • Patent Number
    6,829,789
  • Date Filed
    Friday, August 15, 2003
    20 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, December 14, 2004
    19 years ago
Abstract
A massaging tub includes a tub body, a spraying pipe, a water outlet pipe, a water pump, a circulation pipe, and a washing device. The washing device includes a connecting pipe, and a switch valve. Thus, the clean water can flow into the spraying pipe by operation of the switch valve to flush the dirt contained in the spraying pipe, so that the spraying pipe is kept clean constantly. In addition, the spraying pipe is substantially arc-shaped and is bent downward, so that the dirt contained in the spraying pipe can be flushed outward rapidly and completely.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a massaging tub, and more particularly to a massaging tub having an automatic washing function.




2. Description of the Related Art




A conventional massaging tub comprises a tub body having an inside formed with a receiving portion. The receiving portion of the tub body has a peripheral wall provided with a spraying pipe having a plurality of nozzles for injecting the water into the receiving portion of the tub body to achieve a massaging effect.




However, the dirt contained in the water is easily deposited in the nozzles of the spraying pipe during a long-term utilization, thereby causing a sanitary problem.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a massaging tub having an automatic washing function.




Another objective of the present invention is to provide a massaging tub, wherein the clean water can flow into the spraying pipe by operation of the switch valve to flush the dirt contained in the spraying pipe, so that the spraying pipe is kept clean constantly.




A further objective of the present invention is to provide a massaging tub, wherein the spraying pipe is substantially arc-shaped aid is bent downward, so that the dirt contained in the spraying pipe can be flushed outward rapidly and completely.




A further objective of the present invention is to provide a massaging tub, wherein the check valve can prevent the dirt contained in the spraying pipe from flowing backward through the connecting pipe into the cold water pipe (or the hot water pipe), thereby achieving a sanitary effect.




A further objective of the present invention is to provide a massaging tub, wherein the switch valve can be operated easily, rapidly and conveniently, thereby facilitating the user cleaning the spraying pipe.




In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a massaging tub, comprising:




a tub body having an inside formed with a receiving portion having a peripheral wall provided with a spraying pipe;




a water outlet pipe mounted on the tub body and having a first end connected to the receiving portion of the tub body;




a water pump mounted on the tub body and having a first side connected to a second end of the water outlet pipe;




a circulation pipe having a first end connected to a second side of the water pump and a second end connected to the spraying pipe; and




a washing device mounted on the tub body and including:




a connecting pipe having a first end connected to a water pipe and a second end connected to the circulation pipe; and




a switch valve mounted on the first end of the connecting pipe and located adjacent to the water pipe.




Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a massaging tub in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a top plan view of the massaging tub as shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

is a side plan cross-sectional operational view of the massaging tub as shown in

FIG. 1

; and





FIG. 4

is a side plan cross-sectional operational view of the massaging tub as shown in FIG.


1


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




Referring to the drawings and initially to

FIGS. 1-3

, a massaging tub, such as a massaging bath tub, foot massaging tub or the like, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a tub body


1


, and a washing device


2


.




The tub body


1


has an inside formed with a receiving portion


10


. The receiving portion


10


of the tub body


1


has a peripheral wall provided with a spraying pipe


101


having a plurality of nozzles


1011


. Preferably, the spraying pipe


101


is substantially arc-shaped, and is bent downward.




The massaging tub further comprises a water inlet pipe


131


mounted on a bottom of the tub body


1


and having a first end extended into the receiving portion


10


of the tub body


1


, a cold water pipe


11


mounted on the bottom of the tub body


1


and having a first end connected to a second end of the water inlet pipe


131


, a hot water pipe


12


mounted on the bottom of the tub body


1


and having a first end connected to the second end of the water inlet pipe


131


, and a switch


13


mounted on the tub body


1


and connected between the water inlet pipe


131


, the cold water pipe


111


and the hot water pipe


12


to control the mixed water from the cold water pipe


11


and the hot water pipe


12


to flow into the water inlet pipe


131


. In addition, the bottom of the tub body


1


is formed with a drain hole


15


which is provided with a drain pipe


151


extended into the ambient environment.




The massaging tub further comprises a water outlet pipe


141


mounted on the tub body


1


and having a first end connected to the receiving portion


10


of the tub body


1


, a water pump


14


mounted on the tub body


1


and having a first side connected to a second end of the water outlet pipe


141


, and a circulation pipe


142


having a first end connected to a second side of the water pump


14


and a second end connected to the spraying pipe


101


.




The washing device


2


is mounted on the tub body


1


and includes a connecting pipe


22


having a first end connected to the cold water pipe


11


(or the hot water pipe


12


) and a second end connected to the circulation pipe


142


, a switch valve


21


mounted on the first end of the connecting pipe


22


and located adjacent to the cold water pipe


11


, and a check valve


221


mounted on the connecting pipe


22


and located between the switch valve


21


and the circulation pipe


142


. Preferably, the switch valve


21


is controlled by an electrical power or controlled manually.




In operation, referring to

FIG. 3

with reference to

FIGS. 1 and 2

, the switch


13


is opened, so that the mixed water from the cold water pipe


11


and the hot water pipe


12


can flow through the water inlet pipe


131


into the receiving portion


10


of the tub body


1


. Then, the water pump


14


is operated to draw the water contained in the receiving portion


10


of the tub body


1


through the water outlet pipe


141


and the circulation pipe


142


into the spraying pipe


101


, so that the water can be injected from the nozzles


1011


of the spraying pipe


101


into the receiving portion


10


of the tub body


1


, thereby achieving a circulation effect.




Alternatively, referring to

FIG. 4

with reference to

FIGS. 1 and 2

, the switch


13


is closed, and the switch valve


21


is opened, so that the clean water from the cold water pipe


11


(or the hot water pipe


12


) can flow through the connecting pipe


22


and the circulation pipe


142


into the spraying pipe


101


, so that the dirt contained in the spraying pipe


101


can be flushed outward from the nozzles


1011


of the spraying pipe


101


into the receiving portion


10


of the tub body


1


, and can then be drained outward from the drain hole


15


and the drain pipe


151


.




Accordingly, the massaging tub has the following advantages.




1. The clean water can flow into the spraying pipe


101


by operation of the switch valve


21


to flush the dirt contained in the spraying pipe


101


, so that the spraying pipe


101


is kept clean constantly.




2. The spraying pipe


101


is substantially arc-shaped and is bent downward, so that the dirt contained in the spraying pipe


101


can be flushed outward rapidly and completely.




3. The check valve


221


can prevent the dirt contained in the spraying pipe


101


from flowing backward through the connecting pipe


22


into the cold water pipe


11


(or the hot water pipe


12


), thereby achieving a sanitary effect.




4. The switch valve


21


can be operated easily and conveniently, thereby facilitating the user cleaning the spraying pipe


101


.




Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A massaging tub, comprising:a tub body having an inside formed with a receiving portion having a peripheral wall provided with a spraying pipe; a water outlet pipe mounted on the tub body and having a first end connected to the receiving portion of the tub body; a water pump mounted on the tub body and having a first side connected to a second end of the water outlet pipe; a circulation pipe having a first end connected to a second side of the water pump and a second end connected to the spraying pipe; a washing device mounted on the tub body and including: a connecting pipe having a first end connected to a water pipe and a second end connected to the circulation pipe; and a switch valve mounted on the first end of the connecting pipe and located adjacent to the water pipe; a water inlet pipe mounted on a bottom of the tub body and having a first end extended into the receiving portion of the tub bode, wherein the water pipe has an end connected to a second end of the water inlet pipe; and a switch mounted on the tub body and connected between the water inlet pipe and the water pipe.
  • 2. The massaging tub in accordance with claim 1, wherein the spraying pipe is substantially arc-shaped.
  • 3. The massaging tub in accordance with claim 1, wherein the spraying pipe is bent downward.
  • 4. The massaging tub in accordance with claim 1, wherein the spraying pipe has a plurality of nozzles.
  • 5. The massaging tub in accordance with claim 1, wherein the washing device further includes a check valve mounted on the connecting pipe and located between the switch valve and the circulation pipe.
  • 6. The massaging tub in accordance with claim 1, wherein the water pipe is a cold water pipe.
  • 7. The massaging tub in accordance with claim 1, wherein the water pipe is a hot water pipe.
  • 8. The massaging tub in accordance with claim 1, wherein the switch valve is controlled by an electrical power.
  • 9. The massaging tub in accordance with claim 1, wherein the switch valve is controlled manually.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Number Name Date Kind
4954179 Franninge Sep 1990 A
4979245 Gandini Dec 1990 A
5383239 Mathis et al. Jan 1995 A