Patent Application
20230233405
This invention relates, in general, to hydrotherapy tubs and, in particular, to coplanar flow nozzles usable for creating planar fluid flow in hydrotherapy tubs.
Hydrotherapy tubs generally have a number of fluid flow outlets or nozzles. Each flow nozzle usually jets water or a water-air froth into the tub. Enhanced hydrotherapy typically results from strategic positioning of these fluid flow nozzles at various locations in the tub.
One design delivers water to a fixed rectangular spout and subsequently through a wider rectangular outlet for mixing with air and coplanar expulsion along the tub inner surface. An air jacket or shell, extending over the rectangular spout and forming the subsequent outlet, uses the pressure drop caused by the spouted water to draw in the atmospheric air along a path above the water line from a rearward opening within the shell. Such a configuration is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,240 to Gardenier. However, in this coplanar nozzle, there is no separate or isolated conduit for supplying air from underneath the tub surface. Therefore, this type of coplanar-flow nozzle cannot be positioned below the tub water line to produce an air-water mixture or froth. In addition, it remains desirable to provide improvements for the air and/or water flow provided by this type of coplanar-flow nozzle, to enhance the resultant air-water mixture, efficiency, and/or hydrotherapeutic effectiveness.
In another design, hydrotherapy-tub coplanar-flow device includes slotted nozzle on a body for discharge of fluids from the nozzle in a substantially coplanar flow. The body is adapted for mounting on an inner surface of a hydrotherapy tub and attachable to first and second fluid supply conduits. Further, the body has a first inlet for flow of water from the first fluid supply conduit and a second inlet for flow of air from the second fluid supply conduit. The slotted nozzle discharges these fluids in the substantially coplanar flow. The second inlet of the body is located between the first inlet and the slotted nozzle. The body includes an air dam located between the inlets, such as an interior face portion having a steep decline toward the second inlet of the body. Such a design is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,351,859 to Maiuccoro. However, in this design, each coplanar flow nozzle has its own separate dedicated hollow interior channel. Thus, the more flow nozzles used, the greater the pressure drop and the greater the reduction in flow velocity of fluid exiting the nozzle. Thus, higher pressure and/or flow rate pumps may be required. In addition, this design utilizes multiples holes within a hydrotherapy tub to connect the various fluid streams.
Thus, a need exists for a hydrotherapy tub and a coplanar nozzle therefor having multiple coplanar flow nozzles with improved delivery of multiple fluids so that coplanar flow of an air-water froth may occur below the water line without significant pressure drop or significant reduction in flow rate. A further need exists for creating a coplanar flow device which allows water to flow from a single opening into a hollow flow channel having multiple coplanar flow nozzles which may be faced in opposite directions. Additionally, a need exists for allowing the coplanar flow nozzles to conform to various shaped to accommodate variations in hydrotherapy tub surfaces. Also, a need exists for a coplanar nozzle forming a water flow path which enhances efficiency and/or effectiveness in drawing air flow to produce a hydrotherapeutic air-water mixture, so that no external pressure source such as a pump is needed to pump air for mixture with water to create a froth. Also, a need exists for a coplanar flow device which allows multiple fluids to be transmitted to the device via multiple supply conduits through a single hole or aperture in a hydrotherapy tub surface. Finally, a need exists for an elongated coplanar flow device which allows coplanar flow in opposite directions.
The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through an improved hydrotherapy-tub coplanar-flow device. The device is mounted on an inner surface of a hydrotherapy tub. Through a slotted nozzle, the fluid is discharged in a substantially coplanar flow on the inner surface of the hydrotherapy tub. The hydrotherapy tub coplanar flow device includes a body adapted for mounting on an inner surface of a hydrotherapy tub. A hollow internal channel is located within the body extending continually from a first slotted nozzle at a first end of the body to a second slotted nozzle at a second end of the body. The first slotted nozzle and the second slotted nozzle are coplanar with a portion of the internal channel. A first fluid supply conduit is fluidly connected to the internal channel via an opening leading exclusively into the internal channel to allow water to flow from the first fluid supply conduit through the opening and exclusively into the internal channel where the water is allowed to flow into the internal channel and through both the first slotted nozzle and the second slotted nozzle. A second fluid supply conduit is located between the first slotted nozzle and the first fluid supply conduit to allow air to flow into the internal channel between the first slotted nozzle and the first fluid supply conduits. A first interior dam is located within the internal channel between the first fluid supply conduit and the second fluid supply conduit. The first interior dam forms a reduced cross sectional flow area for water in the interior channel relative to a flow area of water through the first inlet. A third fluid supply conduit is located between the first fluid supply conduit and the second slotted nozzle to allow air to flow into the internal channel between the second slotted nozzle and the first fluid supply conduit. A second interior dam is located within the internal channel between the first fluid supply conduit and the third fluid supply conduit. The second interior dam forms a reduced cross sectional flow area for water in the interior channel relative to a flow area of water through the first inlet.
The device is configured to be mounted onto a surface of a hydrotherapy tub to produce first and second coplanar flow streams from the first slotted nozzle and the second slotted nozzle, respectively. The coplanar flow streams are coplanar on one or more surfaces of said hydrotherapy tub. The height of a slot of the first slotted nozzle or second slotted nozzle may be similar to a height of the hollow internal channel. The first and second slotted nozzles face in opposite coplanar directions and/or may face away from each other at an angle less than 180°. The first or second slotted nozzle may be curved relative to the hollow internal channel. The first or second slotted nozzle may be formed of a flexible material capable of conforming to a shape of the surface of the hydrotherapy tub.
The first interior dam and second interior dam are configured to cause water from the first fluid supply conduit to flow over the second fluid supply conduit and the third fluid supply conduit to draw air from the second fluid supply conduit and the third fluid supply conduit to create a water and air froth which exits the first slotted nozzle and the second slotted nozzle. The first interior dam may form a steep decline toward an opening between the second fluid supply conduit and the hollow interior channel. The dam may form at least one abrupt step.
The fluid supply conduits may include a water supply conduit and at least a pair of air supply conduits. A threaded cylinder may extend from the body of the coplanar flow device. The fluid supply conduits extend from the body and are located within the interior of the threaded cylinder. Also, the length of the fluid supply conduits may be longer than the length of the threaded cylinder so the ends of the fluid supply conduits are not within, but extend below, the threaded cylinder. Hoses to supply fluid including air and water may be affixed to the ends of fluid supply conduits without the ends being located within the threaded cylinder. The air supply conduits may be larger than the water supply conduit. And, the water supply conduit may be longer in diameter than the air supply conduit. A threaded nut may be threadably engageable with the threaded cylinder to affix the body of the coplanar flow device to a tub surface.
In another embodiment, a hydrotherapy tub includes a body mounted on an inner surface of a hydrotherapy tub. The body includes a hollow internal channel within the body extending continually from a first slotted nozzle at a first end of the body to a second slotted nozzle at a second end of the body. The first slotted nozzle and the second slotted nozzle are coplanar with a portion the internal channel. A first fluid supply conduit is fluidly connected to the internal channel via an opening leading exclusively into the internal channel to allow water to flow from the first fluid supply conduit through the opening and exclusively into the internal channel via a flow path where the water is allowed to flow into the internal channel and through both said first slotted nozzle and the second slotted nozzle. A second fluid supply conduit is located between the first slotted nozzle and the first fluid supply conduit to allow air to flow into the internal channel between the first slotted nozzle and the first fluid supply conduit. A first interior dam is located within the internal channel between the first fluid supply conduit and the second fluid supply conduit. The first interior dam forms a reduced cross sectional flow area for water in the interior channel relative to a flow area of water through the first inlet. A third fluid supply conduit is located between the first fluid supply conduit and the second slotted nozzle to allow air to flow into the internal channel between the second slotted nozzle and the first fluid supply conduit. A second interior dam is located within the internal channel between the first fluid supply conduit and the third fluid supply conduit. The second interior dam forms a reduced cross sectional flow area for water in the interior channel relative to a flow area of water through said first inlet.
Additional features and advantages are realized through the structures and techniques of the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein.
The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where like or identical structures are indicated with like reference in which:
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, coplanar flow capability is provided for a hydrotherapy-tub by using a coplanar-flow device in which water and air flow into a single hollow interior channel for discharge from at least two nozzles in a substantially coplanar flow from each nozzle, as described below.
One example of a hydrotherapy-tub coplanar-flow device incorporating and using the novel features of the present invention is depicted in
First slotted nozzle 102 and second slotted nozzle 103 are in fluid flow communication with a single hollow flow channel 106 which is an interior channel. Through openings 114, 115 and 116 in the body 104 fluids (e.g., water and air) from the fluid supply conduits 118, 119 and 120 flow exclusively into the single hollow channel 106. For example, water from fluid supply conduit 118 enters into opening 114 and flows into only a single interior flow channel 106 where it can flow to either nozzle 102 or 103. Further, air from fluid supply conduits 119 and 120 may enter into openings 115 and 116, respectively and flow into flow channel 106. The water from fluid supply conduit 118 in flow channel 106 and air from openings 115, 116 are mixed in the hollow interior in flow channel 108 and ejected out of the first slotted nozzle 102 and second slotted nozzle 103, which both flow in coplanar flow in relative directions 132 over inner surface 134 of hydrotherapy tub 136. The water and air from fluid supply conduits 118, 119 and 120 flows in the single interior hollow flow channel 106, and not into multiple interior flow channels.
Preferably, hollow flow channel 106 contains water delivered through fluid supply conduit 118 under pressure. The water flow transition from fluid supply conduit 118, through opening 104, and into flow channel 106 for eventual discharge from nozzles 102 and 103 may advantageously serve to promote air delivery from fluid supply conduits 119 and 120 and into substantially coplanar flows. A decreased cross-sectional area for flow of the pressurized water formed by dams 159 and 160 yields increased flow velocity of the water as it passes openings 115 and 116 for inlet 112, which introduces air into body 104. This increased stream velocity of the water allows air at opening 116 to be drawn therethrough from conduits 119 and 120 to form the substantially coplanar flow. In addition, the drawing of air is promoted by a separation distance between the pressurized water, and the openings 115 and 116, whose air flow is advantageously influenced and/or promoted by the presence of an air dam which may be formed from (protuberances 159 and 160 on lower interior face portion 163 of the body of the device, as described herein. With such a configuration, a sufficient mixture of water and air may be created so that the coplanar flow of the froth is strong enough to provide sufficient hydrotherapy effects in multiple directions, without the use of air pumps for the air.
Further, air may be desirably delivered to the body 104 of the device from below the water line. By designing device 100 to increase the water velocity for drawing air through openings 116, fluid supply conduits 119 and 120 may extend below the water line to, for instance, an atmospheric air source having any desired location. For example, the air source could be a valve or hole exposed to the atmosphere from any desired location on hydrotherapy tub 136, whether above or below a given water line. The valve would allow the user to selectively control the amount of air finally ejected from the slotted nozzles 102 and 103 into substantially coplanar flow, for improved hydrotherapy.
In one example, the interior face portion 163 of body 104 of the device includes the air dams 159 and 160, which enhance fluid flow, pressure, and/or dynamics, as can be appreciated through examination of
As will be understood by those skilled in the art, body 104 with protuberances 159 and 160, formed as air dams, may be configured to cause flow of water from fluid supply conduit 118 to form low pressure areas between openings 115 and 116 and the water flowing thereabove from fluid supply conduit 118. That is, the steep declines 164 may serve to cause the flow of water from the fluid supply conduit 118 to have the separation distance over the openings 115 and 116, to form the low pressure over and/or about the openings, and/or the region of the interior face portion 163. This low pressure may advantageously serve to allow air to leave a relatively higher pressure area in fluid supply conduits 119 and 120, and enter the flow channel 108 in body 104. This region and/or protuberances 159 may have any desired size and/or configuration. For example, it may be desirable to increase or decrease the size of the region 166 and/or protuberance 159, to suit and/or achieve certain flow characteristics and/or mixture composition, such as by increasing and/or decreasing the volume and/or extent between flow channel 106 and openings 115 and 116 (e.g., a section of the flow channel 108).
Body 104 may be formed, for instance, so that the ratio of the cross-sectional flow area at the location where the water supply conduit 118 enters the channel 106 to the total cross-sectional flow area over each air dams 159 is approximately 1.7 or higher. The cross-sectional area of the water supply conduit 118 where the water enters the hollow interior channel 106 may be a passage area (e.g., a circle characterized by an inner diameter) of conduit 118. The cross-sectional area of the available flow area over each air dam may be defined by the product of the distance from protuberance 159 (e.g., land 165) to an opposing interior face portion 167, and the length (e.g., or average length) of sides 105, 107 (see
One or more benefits, features, advantages, constructions, and/or enhancements analogous to those described herein with reference to protuberances 159 and 160 (e.g., for device 100,
Again referring to
Referring still to
For illustrative purposes, the following exemplary dimensions for device 100 are presented. Referring to
Referring to
Air may be delivered from fluid supply conduits 119 and 120, through openings 115, 116 inlet 112, and into flow channel 108. In one example, the air is supplied below the water line yet vented or ducted from an opening to the atmosphere. As described herein, body 104 may be foiled so water from opening 114 and fluid supply conduit 118, is guided and/or directed by protuberance 159 to flow a separation distance over openings 115 and 116, and promote and/or enhance drawing of air into the openings 115, 116 from the air supply conduits 119, 120, respectively. This provides an efficient and/or effective system for delivering (e.g., hydrotherapeutically) desirable relative amounts of water and air to the substantially coplanar flow 131.
For transmission of the air in another example, fluid supply conduits 119, 120 would be connected to or include a typical hose or tube leading from the atmosphere or alternatively to a compressor or air pump (not shown) housed within or nearby the hydrotherapy tub. The compressor or air pump would contribute adequate pressure to provide desirable characteristics of the substantially coplanar flow. Ambient air vented from an outer surface of the hydrotherapy tub could be fed to the compressor or air pump. As with the water supply line described above, the air supply line desirably may allow the user to adjust the pressure and/or amount of air delivered through fluid supply conduits 119, 120, openings 119, 120 and flow channel 106. Clamps may be used to secure hoses to fluid supply conduits 118 and 120. Also, epoxy and/or glue may be employed.
By allowing the user to adjust the flow characteristics in one or more of the various fluid supply lines as desired in conjunction with the configuration of flow paths in body 104, the present invention advantageously permits the user to select mixtures and/or delivery rates of fluids such as air and water, for improved hydrotherapy through control over the coplanar fluid flow.
In accordance with the present invention, the hydrotherapy-tub coplanar-flow device may be mounted on the hydrotherapy tub in a variety of ways.
Furthermore, coplanar-flow device 100 may include threaded cylinder 200 with exterior threads 202 for mating with nut 204 in order to securely position the device at local inner surface 134 of the tub 136. As shown in
In one example, the device 100 is mounted to the inner surface 134 of hydrotherapy tub 136 also using epoxy or a similar water-tight sealant 144. The epoxy forms a fluid-tight seal that safeguards the contents of the hydrotherapy tub. In one preferred embodiment, the epoxy affixes body 104 in a position over chamber 146 that extends through part of the tub inner surface. The body, epoxy, and chamber cooperate to further provide a safe housing for the secure fastening of inlets 110 and 112 to respective fluid supply conduits 118 and 120. The body 104 may be affixed in a recess (not shown) of tub inner surface 134.
In one embodiment, the various components, layers, or parts of coplanar-flow device 100 are molded of ABS plastic. As one example, any number of parts of the coplanar-flow device may be injection-molded. For instance, any number of the parts of the coplanar-flow device may be unitary and/or integral.
As depicted in
For instance, several of the coplanar-flow devices may be positioned in parallel in order to advantageously provide the coplanar flow 131 in the form of overall sheets of injected fluid. The tub contours already anticipate and promote desirable postures of users in seated and reclined positions. The coplanar-flow devices further promote hydrotherapy by extending the coplanar flow between the tub inner surface 134 and along the outer skin of the user for massaging.
For example, the coplanar-flow devices may advantageously deliver the hydrotherapy coplanar flow 131 between the shoulder blades and down along the back of a user. Also, the coplanar-flow may be directed upward from the feet and ankles and along the calves of a user. Additionally, one may direct the coplanar-flow along the buttocks and hamstrings. Naturally, the coplanar flow will ride along and hug around the exposed skin surfaces of the user. This is fully intended and enhanced, to massage greater extents of key body regions of the user by directing the coplanar flow along the inner surface 134 of tub 136, in accordance with the present invention.
As will be understood by those skilled in the art, benefits result from the positioning of flow channel 106 adjacent to flow channel 108 in device 100 (
Referring now to
In an alternative embodiment of the coplanar flow device 300, shown in
In other embodiments, the number of water supply inlets within the device allowing water to flow into the hollow interior cavity 106 can be reduced to a number less than shown in
In addition, when the device is similar to that shown in
Referring now to
Referring still to
While part(s) of the description herein, for explanatory purposes, may imply certain exemplary direction(s), such direction(s) may be considered relative. For example, a “decline” of protuberance 159 may be provided relative to a local structure, yet present little or no “descending” component in a larger context. In another example, such a “decline” of the protuberance 159 may indeed correspond to an “absolute descent”. Design choice(s) allow accommodation(s) of any orientation(s) for any device(s) in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
Numerous alternative embodiments of the present invention exist. For instance, threaded interconnections could easily mount body 104 on inner surface 134, fasten inlets 110, 112 to fluid supply conduits 118, 120, or interconnect any upper and lower plates of body 104. Further, the fluids could easily be liquid or gas. Moreover, each fluid could easily include a group of fluids. Also, more than two fluids could easily be merged into substantially coplanar flow 131. For example, channels 106, 108 could easily take on any variety of interrelationships, ranging from maximal to minimal fluid intermixing or other combination. Additionally, any number of the devices (e.g., device 100″) could easily be secured by mechanisms such as sidewalls 200 with mating threads 202 and nut 204. Furthermore, device 100 could easily be fixed in any desired direction 132 relative to a given incline of the inner surface 134.
Although preferred embodiments have been depicted and described in detail herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that various modifications, additions, substitutions and the like can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and these are therefore considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
