The present disclosure is directed to apparatuses and methods for recirculating spa jet pumps and for a pedicure chair with a basin having one or more of the jet pumps for recirculating water in the basin and related methods.
Certain types of pedicure chairs have a pipe system to introduce water into, and remove water from, the chair's basin. The water is circulated by a conventional motor-driven, shaft mounted, impeller. There is frequently water leakage around the shaft requiring maintenance. Also, the pipe system is subject to accumulation of dirt, mold and bacteria and is very difficult to clean and sterilize after use by customers. If not properly sanitized, there is the possibility of health concerns, safety and anxiety of customers.
A water circulation unit having a stator which creates a rotating magnetic field and is separated from the water by a magnetically permeable wall and a rotor on the opposite side of the wall is known in the art for circulating water. This unit circulates water in the basin of the pedicure chair and typically has a shaft for rotating the impeller.
There is a need for a circulating system for water in a pedicure bath that circulates water, that can be cleaned and sterilized rapidly and effectively, and that has fewer components for potential wear and tear, and combinations thereof.
In an exemplary embodiment, a spa pump is sized and shaped for use with a basin of a pedicure chair. The spa pump has an impeller with magnet that can be rotated by a magnetic drive plate mounted to a drive shaft of a motor. The impeller can rotate within the pump housing without a shaft. The impeller can rotate within the pump housing, such as within a base of the pump housing, without a shaft fixing the rotating axis of the impeller. Less preferably, a shaft can project from the base wall and into the bore of the impeller, but wherein the shaft and the bore are loose, such that the impeller can shift side-to-side a small amount. In other words, the impeller can spin primarily about the surface bearing and not the shaft, if one is included.
The spa pump of the invention can have an impeller rotated by a magnetic drive plate located on a drive shaft. The impeller can contact or rotate against a surface bearing attached to a base of the pump housing. The impeller can shift side-to-side within the base of the pump housing owing to the fact that no shaft is included to restrict the side-to-side movement of the impeller.
The surface bearing can be made from a hard material with low friction, such as ceramic or porcelain. The surface bearing can be press-fitted into a recess space or area within the base wall of the base of the pump housing. A metal securing ring can be included at or with the surface bearing to improve the magnetic pull of the magnetic drive plate, which is located away from the impeller.
A hub on an impeller with an axial end surface can contact the surface bearing. The axial end surface can be formed as part of the hub or can be formed as a separate insert and the separate insert attached to the hub to provide the axial end surface for rotating against the surface bearing.
Aspects of the invention include a spa pump sized and shaped for use with a basin of a pedicure chair, comprising a motor having a motor casing and a drive shaft protruding from the motor casing, the drive shaft having a magnetic drive plate attached thereto; a pump housing having cover attached to a base and defining a pump cavity therein; a mount adaptor attached to the motor and to the base of the pump housing, the mount adaptor comprising a flange and an extension having a hollow interior having the magnetic drive plate located therein; an impeller located within the pump cavity, the impeller comprising a hub having a first end and a second end and a flange body comprising a magnet; a surface bearing attached to a base wall of the base, the surface bearing having an upper surface and an axial end face at the first end of the hub of the impeller contacts the upper surface of the surface bearing; and wherein the impeller is rotatable within the pump chamber without any shaft projecting into the hub of the impeller.
The base can comprise a central stub having a central surface that is co-planar or recessed from the upper surface of the surface bearing.
A metal securing ring can attach to the surface bearing and both the metal securing ring and the surface bearing can be located in a recessed space or area of a base wall.
A second metal securing ring can attach to the surface bearing.
The magnet of the impeller can comprise a plurality of magnet sections arranged in a pattern of north and south poles.
The cover can comprise a plurality of centrally located inlet openings and a plurality of discharge nozzles located radially outwardly of the plurality of centrally located inlet openings.
The base of the pump housing can comprise a base wall comprising a bottom floor, a first radiused surface radially outwardly of the bottom floor, a first upstanding wall extending from the first radiused surface, a second radiused surface, and a second upstanding wall.
The bottom floor, the first radiused surface, and the first upstanding wall of the base can define an impeller seat having the impeller located therein.
An insert can attach to the hub of the impeller, the insert can comprise an axial end surface for contacting or rotating against a surface bearing.
The hub of the impeller can be solid without a bore.
The mount adaptor can project through an opening of a basin of a pedicure chair.
The base of the pump housing can attach to the flange of the mount adaptor by projecting a plurality of stubs into a plurality of recessed through holes formed on the flange.
A further aspect of the invention include a spa pump sized and shaped for use with a basin of a pedicure chair, comprising a motor having a motor casing and a drive shaft protruding from the motor casing, the drive shaft having a magnetic drive plate attached thereto; a pump housing having cover attached to a base and defining a pump cavity therein, the base having a base wall with a central recessed area having a surface bearing located therein; a mount adaptor attached to the motor and to the base of the pump housing, the mount adaptor comprising a flange and an extension having a hollow interior; an impeller located within the pump cavity, the impeller comprising a hub having a first end and a second end and a flange body comprising a magnet; and wherein the impeller is shift-able side to side within the pump cavity to contact a radiused surface, an upstanding surface, or both the radiused surface and the upstanding surface of the base.
A still yet further aspect of the invention include a method of assembling a spa pump comprising attaching a motor having a motor casing and a drive shaft protruding from the motor casing to a mount adaptor, the drive shaft having a magnetic drive plate attached thereto; attaching a base to the mount adaptor; placing an impeller comprising flange body with a magnet and a hub, the hub comprising a first end with an axial end surface and a second end; attaching a cover to the base; wherein a surface bearing having an upper surface is attached to a base wall of the base and the axial end face at the first end of the hub of the impeller contacts the upper surface of the surface bearing; and wherein the impeller is rotatable within the pump chamber without any shaft projecting into the hub of the impeller.
The method can further comprise attaching a metal securing ring to the surface bearing.
The method can further comprise attaching a second metal securing ring to the surface bearing.
Other aspects of the spa pump and pedicure chair having the spa pump, including methods for making and using same, are further described and shown herein.
These and other features and advantages of the present devices, systems, and methods will become appreciated as the same becomes better understood with reference to the specification, claims and appended drawings wherein:
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of spa jet pumps and pedicure chairs with spa jet pumps provided in accordance with aspects of the present devices, systems, and methods and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present devices, systems, and methods may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the features and the steps for constructing and using the embodiments of the present devices, systems, and methods in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and structures may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. As denoted elsewhere herein, like element numbers are intended to indicate like or similar elements or features.
Referring now to
In some examples, one or more magnetic drive circulating pumps or magnetic spa jet pumps 100 may be used with the chair 10. The circulating pumps or spa jet pumps may be associated with a heating source to allow the water inside the basin to be heated and maintained at a desired temperature range to provide the user with a better experience than chairs without a similar heating source. Exemplary spa jet pumps having a heating source are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,542,847, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. In other examples, the present spa pump may be used with spa chairs having a heating source located with the chair, such as below the seat and/or in the basin, rather than the pump itself. Exemplary spa chairs with a heating source for the basin is disclosed in U.S. Publication No. 2019/0328612, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
As shown, the chair 10 includes a temperature selector 160 and a display 162 for monitoring the temperature of the water in the basin 12. Other switches or control mechanisms may be included, such as an on/off button and switches for controlling other functions incorporated with the chair, such as to turn on/off the spa pumps 100. The temperature selector 160 may be a simple potentiometer for raising or lowering water temperature or may be a more complicated controller that allows programming and automated adjustments of water temperature. The display 162 may be selectable to display various parameters such as actual water temperature, desired water temperature, elapsed time that the person has immersed their feet in the basin 12, total time, or other parameters. In another example, a second control and display panel 24 is provided nearer the basin 12 to permit the technician or worker to control the water temperature and other parameters. The second control and display panel 24 may include a temperature selector 160a, a display 162a, an on/off switch, and an emergency override, as non-limiting examples.
A predetermined amount of water can be added to the basin 12 and the water circulated within the basin by the one or more circulating pumps 100. The water can be heated to the desired temperature by means of the temperature selector 160, which can increase or decrease heat input from a heating source that the circulated water comes in contact with to thereby control the water temperature. Additional substances such as conditioners, medicaments, fragrances, etc., may be placed in the basin with the heated water for a holistic experience. A customer seated in the pedicure chair 10 with her feet submerged in the circulating heated water may adjust the water temperature accordingly by the temperature selector 160. The basin 12 can be emptied of water using existing means after the pedicure procedure is completed, and the customer exits the chair 10. Then, the basin 12 and portions of the jet pump 100 that come in contact with the heated water can be sanitized in preparation for the next customer. For example, a new bath with a cleaner or disinfectant may be circulated through the basin to sanitize the chair for the next customer.
An exemplary circulating pump 100 usable with pedicure chair 10 of
The plurality of inlet openings 216 are dispersed around a central area 222 in a generally round pattern. Each individual opening 216 within the central area 222 has a foil-like shape or an elongated wavy shape with a large rounded end near the outer perimeter of the central area 222 and a smaller rounded end near a central solid section 224. In other examples, the plurality of inlet openings 216 can have different arrangements and shapes. For example, the plurality of inlet openings 216 can be generally round or oval and be dispersed around the central area 222. In some examples, an inlet opening can be located where the central solid section 224 is shown.
A sidewall or skirt 228 can depend from the wall 218 of the cap or cover 200. In an example, a plurality of undulating surfaces 228, similar to gear teeth, are incorporated on the exterior of the skirt 228. The undulating surfaces 228 provide both aesthetic appeal as well as functional features by providing gripping surfaces to facilitate attaching and removing the cover from the base 202 when turning the cover to snap lock against the rim of the base 202, as further discussed below.
An impeller 232 is provided in the pump chamber 236 defined by the cover 200 and the base 202 (
The base 202 is shown with a body 242 comprising a base wall 244 and a sidewall 246 extending therefrom. The sidewall 246 can comprise a lower sidewall section 246a and an upper sidewall section 246b. The lower sidewall section 246a can have a larger outer diameter than the upper sidewall section 246b and can have a plurality of undulating surfaces 250 resembling gear teeth. The upper sidewall section 246b is recessed in the radial direction from the exterior of the lower sidewall section 246a so that when the upper sidewall section is connected to the cap or cover 200 in a snap lock engagement, the sidewall 228 of the cap and the lower sidewall section 246a of the base 202 generally match, as shown in
The mount adapter 204 is shown with a body 254 comprising a flange 256 and an extension 258 extending from the flange 256, in the direction away from the cover 200. The extension 258 is similar to a hollow cylinder. In an example, the mount adaptor 204 is made from a hard-plastic material, which can be the same, similar or different hard plastic from the material used to make the cover 200. The flange 256 can have an outer diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the extension 258. The differences in diameters between the flange 256 and the extension 258 define an extended lip or an overhang 264. The overhang 264 provides a structure of surface for incorporating a plurality of recessed through bores 262 for use with fasteners and pawls to secure the mount adaptor to a basin.
The plurality of recessed through bores 262 can be provided through the flange 256 and open on the underside of the flange 256 at the extended lip or overhang 264. Each of the recessed through bores 262 is configured to receive a bolt 266 so that the bolt head of the bolt is located within the recessed through hole 262 and the shank projects through the through hole and threaded with a pawl 268 on the opposite side. Each of the pawls 268 can be rotated from a collapsed position or tucked away position wherein the pawl is located in a corresponding pocket 270 formed on the extension 258 and an extended position in which the pawl is rotated away from the pocket 270. The mount adaptor 204 is configured be mounted in the opening of a basin 12 of a pedicure chair 10 (
In use, a gasket 274 can be placed against the flange 256 at the extended lip 264. The gasket 274 can have an opening sized to surround the bolt pattern used to thread the pawls 268. When installed, the gasket 274 can be located on the basin cavity side with the flange 256 of the mount adaptor 204. The pawls 268 can then rotate to their extended positions as shown in
In an example, four recessed through bores 262 are provided through the flange 256 with a different number of recessed through bores contemplated, such as fewer than four or greater than four, such as five, six or seven. The recessed through bores can be randomly spaced or equally spaced near the outer perimeter of the flange 256, at the overhang 264. The number of through bores 262 determines the number of bolts 254 and pawls 268 usable with the recessed through bores 262 to mount the mount adaptor 204 onto the basin wall.
The base 202 can be provided with the same or fewer number of stubs or locating pins as the number of recessed through bores 262 on the flange 256. The locating pins located on the base 202 can align with the recessed through bores 262 and engage the recessed through bores 262 to prevent relative rotation between the base 202 and the mount adaptor 204. The base 202 and the mount adaptor 204 can further be anchored or removably fixed in place by the magnetic pull between the impeller 232 and the magnetic drive plate 280 located with the motor, which forces the base wall 244 (
With reference to
As further discussed below, when the motor 206 is powered on to rotate the rotor which then rotates the drive shaft 278, the magnetic drive plate 280 also rotates at the speed of the drive shaft. The drive shaft 278 and the magnetic drive plate 280 are both covered by the flange 256 and do not project through the flange. As the magnetic drive plate 280 rotates, the magnet sections with different magnetic poles positioned within the impeller 232 are attracted to the magnetic pull of the rotating magnet of the magnetic drive plate 280 and rotates. Thus, the impeller 232 can rotate within the pump chamber 236 without any direct connection to the drive shaft 278, using only the magnetic drive of the magnetic drive plate 280 attracting the opposite magnetic poles of the impeller.
With reference now to
The base 202 is attached to the mount adaptor 204 using the magnetic pull between the impeller 232 and the magnetic drive plate 280. The mount adaptor 204 is in turn secured to the motor casing 208 using fasteners, snap lock fittings, detents, or combinations thereof. For example, the extension 258 of the mount adaptor 204 can have a snap fit lock with the endcap 209 secured to the motor casing 208. The magnetic attraction forces the impeller 232 towards the magnetic drive plate 280 to thereby clamp the base wall 244 of the base 202 therebetween to secure the base 202 to the mount adaptor 204. The base 202 is rotatably fixed relative to the flange 256 of the mount adaptor via the stubs extending from the base wall 244 engaging the recessed through bores 262, as previously discussed.
With reference to
A first radiused surface 320 is provided radially outwardly of the bottom floor 308 of the base 202 and extends into a first upstanding wall 322, which can be vertical or can have a slope. As shown in the cross-sectional view of
A second radiused surface 334 is located at an end of the first upstanding wall 322 and extends to a first raised floor or surface 336, which can be flat and parallel to the bottom floor 308. Optionally, the first raised floor or surface 336, raised from the bottom floor 308, can have a slope. The first raised floor 336 extends radially towards a third radiused surface 338, which then extends into a second upstanding wall 340, which can be vertical or can have a taper from vertical. The first raised floor 336, the third radiused surface 338, and the second upstanding wall 340 define an outflow chamber within the pump chamber 235 of the driven end 292. When the impeller 232 rotates, water drawn in through the inlet openings 216 of the cover 200 is forced radially outwardly by the vanes 236 against the second upstanding wall 340 at the outflow chamber 344. This higher-pressure water circulated by the vanes 236 then exits out through the one or more outlet or discharge nozzles 212 to generate water jets at the outlet or discharge nozzles.
In some examples, the bottom floor 308 extends to a single radiused surface which then extends to a single upstanding wall at the perimeter of the base, without a separate outflow chamber 344 and impeller seat 330, such as having only a single chamber within the pump chamber. In still other examples, additional radiused surfaces and upstanding walls can be incorporated above the impeller seat 330.
With reference again to
The central area of the impeller 232 is pressed against the surface bearing 350 when the pump 100 is assembled and during operation of the pump, wherein the impeller 232 rotates by the magnetic pull of the magnetic drive plate 280 (
To retain the impeller 232 to the pump housing 201, and particularly to the base 202 of the pump housing, such as when the pump housing is removed from the mount adaptor 204, a metal securing ring 362 (
In an example, the surface bearing 350 can fit within the opening of the metal securing ring 362 and the combination press-fitted into the annular channel 310 of the base wall 244. The surface bearing 350 can be thicker or has a greater thickness than the thickness of the metal securing ring 362 so that when assembled, the metal securing ring 362 is recessed from the outer surface 356 of the surface bearing 350 to ensure no direct contact between the impeller 232 and the metal securing ring 362. Placing the metal securing ring 362 between the impeller 232 and the magnetic drive plate 280, in the annular channel 310, allows the impeller 232 to remain with the base 202 via magnetic attraction between the magnet of the impeller 232 and the metal securing ring 362. For example, when the pump housing 201 is removed from the mount adaptor 204 and there is no longer any magnetic pull between the impeller 232 and the magnetic drive plate 280, the magnet in the impeller 232 attracts to the metal securing ring 362 to retain the impeller to the base 202 of the pump housing. This is especially useful when the pump housing 201 is removed from the mount adaptor 204 and the cover 200 is removed from the base 202. In some examples, the metal securing ring 362 is similarly shaped as the surface bearing 350 and is placed first into the annular channel 310 and before placement of the surface bearing into the annular channel and over the metal securing ring 362.
In another embodiment, a second metal securing ring (not shown) may be practiced with the first metal securing ring 362 and the surface bearing 350 shown in
In still other examples, a separate second annular channel is provided in the base wall 244 of the base for receiving the metal securing ring 362. For example, a second annular channel concentric with the annular channel 310 can be provided in the base wall 244. A metal securing ring 362 can be located in the second annular channel instead of or in addition to being located in the annular channel 310 with the surface bearing.
In the example shown, the hub 372 is unitarily formed with the flange body 374 and the vanes 236. In other examples, a separately formed insert may be made and then attached to the first end 378a of the hub or forms part of the first end 378a of the hub 372. The separately formed insert can be a replaceable component that wears over time as the impeller 232 rides against the surface bearing 350. In an example, the separately formed part or insert can have a complementary shape to attach to the hub 372 to form the first end 378a or part of the first end of the hub. For example, the separately formed insert can have a planar axial end face, similar to the axial end surface 380 of the hub 372, and a body with detents or tabs for attaching to complementary attachment structures of the hub 372. In a particular example, the insert can resemble a washer made from a hard-plastic material with a smooth finish, such as PVC, ABS, Nylon, Teflon, or PTFE, to name a few examples. The insert can alternatively have a solid planar body without a central opening of a washer. The separately formed insert can have a diameter that is substantially larger than the height of the insert, in the order of at least four to one. In still other examples, the separately formed insert can extend the full height of the hub 372. For example, the separately formed insert can project through the bore of the hub 372 and secured to the hub.
With reference now to
Magnets are known to have north N and south S poles. Opposite poles are attracted to each other while the same poles repel each other. For example, a magnet with an N-pole can move and can pull a magnet with a S-pole via magnetic attraction. As shown, the upper magnet 370 is made from a plurality of magnet sections 3701, 3702, . . . 370n, stacked in an alternating pattern between N-pole and S-pole in a circle. Each of the magnet sections is pie shaped with the inside of each section truncated so as to form an opening at the center of the magnet when the magnet sections are stacked in a circle. The upper magnet 370 is then bonded in the pattern shown and plastic is injection molded over the magnet to form the impeller 232 shown in
When stacked over the lower magnet 388 with similar arrangement of magnet sections 3881, 3882, . . . 388n, the two magnets 370, 388 are understood to attract one another when the upper and lower magnet layers are offset between N/S-poles as shown. However, if the two magnets 370, 388 are aligned such that the upper and lower magnet sections are arranged as S/S and N/N, then the upper and lower magnets with repel one another, causing the two magnets 370, 288 to further space from one another.
In the pump configuration shown in the exploded view of
In an example, rather than forming the magnetic drive plate 280 out of magnetic sections of both N and S poles as shown in
Magnets usable with the impeller 232 and the magnetic drive plate 280 can be a permanent magnet of the neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) type, samarium cobalt (SmCo) type, alnico type, or ceramic or ferrite magnets, or combinations thereof.
With reference now to
In the present embodiment, the cover 200 comprises a plurality of inlet openings 216 dispersed or situated around a round or circular pattern 222. Each inlet opening 216 is generally rectangular with the two shorter sides being of unequal side. The longer of the two shorter sides can be located adjacent the perimeter of the circular pattern 222 while the shorter of the two shorter sides can be located near the central solid section 224.
The plurality of discharge nozzles 222 can comprise two discharge nozzles. In other examples, there can be more than two. The two discharge nozzles 222 can be situated at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions when the cover is attached to the based, but not required. Each discharge nozzle 212 has a stub that extends axially of the front wall 218 of the cover and has an oval shape cross-section. The axial end surface 272a of the discharge nozzle 272 is arcuate or curved, giving the end opening of the nozzle a curved profile instead of a flat profile like that of other embodiments. The base of the discharge nozzle is provided with lines to resemble a tear drop or water drop with the tip of the drop being closer to the OD of the cover 200 and the larger base of the drop closer to the circular central pattern 222.
A plurality of optical patterns 140 resembling the discharge nozzles 212 are provided near the outer periphery of the front surface of the wall 218. Each optical pattern 140 can resemble a tear drop or water drop with the tip of the drop being closer to the OD of the cover 200 and the larger base of the drop closer to the circular central pattern 222. A secondary line pattern 142 can be provided within each optical pattern 140. The inner pattern 142 gives each optical pattern the impression of being another discharge nozzle. In the example shown, there are four optical patterns 140 dispersed on the exterior of the wall 218 of the cover 200. However, there can be fewer than four or greater than four.
A metal securing ring 362 can be used with the base wall 244 of the present invention. The metal securing ring 362 can be similar to the metal securing ring 362 of
Methods of making and of using a shaftless magnetic drive pump to turn an impeller and a pedicure chair having the shaftless magnetic drive pump and components thereof are within the scope of the present invention.
Although limited embodiments of spa jet pumps and pedicure chairs and their components have been specifically described and illustrated herein, many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the spa jet pumps and pedicure chairs and their components constructed according to principles of the disclosed device, system, and method may be embodied other than as specifically described herein. The disclosure is also defined in the following claims.
This is a Continuation Application of co-pending application Ser. No. 17/365,759, filed Jul. 1, 2021, which is a regular utility of provisional application Ser. No. 63/046,814, filed Jul. 1, 2020, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63046814 | Jul 2020 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17365759 | Jul 2021 | US |
Child | 18066367 | US |