Patent Application
20080268009
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to swimming pools and other pools of standing water, and in particular spas and hot tubs, and in particular to a dispensing unit that distributes a time release, scented fragrance with biomedicides.
2. Description of the Prior Art
This invention relates to water quality, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for feeding controlled amounts of chemical solutions into swimming pools, hot tubs, spas, cooling towers and other standing water ponds. In the instant matter chemical solution is a scented fragrance with biomedicides (enzymes).
In home swimming pools and in newly popular hot tubs, spas, and other water pools, it is almost always necessary to filter and recirculate the water and to add certain chemicals, such as organic flocculating agents, which greatly improved the effectiveness of the filters in removing impurities. Other additives may include clarifiers, anti-scaling agents, algaecides, metallic stain preventors, scum line eliminators, filter cleaners and degreasers alone or in combination, plus spring pool or spa opening chemicals and winter closing chemicals.
Still further, it is often times desirable to include fragrances and scents to hot tubs and spas to enhance the sensory experience and provide aroma therapy.
It has been discovered that many of the desired water treatment chemicals needed for relatively small swimming pools, hot tubs and spas, can be packaged and shipped in closed and sealed plastic spheres of handy size. In use, one or more holes are opened in the shell of the sphere and the sphere and chemical solution enclosed is dropped in the water system. It has further been discovered that the motion of the water and of the sphere in the water can produce the desired rate of chemical feeding. A dispensor of this type and suitable for dispensing Applicant's formulation is disclosed by Etani in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,880,547; 4,530,120; 4,853,131; 4,775,485; 4,692,314; and 4,519,814, which is incorporated by reference.
In one embodiment, the capsule is used to add a chemical from the group consisting of flocculants, coagulants, microbiocides, chelating agents, defoamers, germicides, and evaporation retarders, to the water of a backyard swimming pool, hot tub or spa. Dropped into the skimmer basket the capsule introduces the chemical at a substantially constant rate proportional to the rate of flow. Although at any instant the dispensing rate from the capsule will depend upon the position of the apertures relative to the flow, the positioned effect is eliminated, on the average, because of the movement of the capsule. This type of chemical feeding provides a cleaner pool, hot tub or spa and a more economical method of introducing the chemicals into the pool.
The same dispenser may be used to provide a scent/fragrance, aromatherapy to enhance the experience. The present invention adapts the use of these sealed plastic capsules to include a scented fragrance in combination with a biomedicide in the form of an enzyme which allows for and contributes to the dissipation of the fragrance or scent, as well as the oily bathing residues that tend to accumulate therein, so as to allow for use of a different, replacement fragrance or scent.
An object of the present invention is to provide for a novel delivery system for water treatment chemicals for swimming pools, hot tubs and spas, which includes a scented fragrance and biomedicide and/or enzyme.
Another object of the present invention is to provide for a novel delivery system in the form of a safe container for storage, shipment and introduction of water chemicals, including a scented fragrance in combination with a biomedicide or enzyme that is both simple and safe.
Another object of the present invention is to provide for a novel delivery system in the form of a safe container for storage, shipment and introduction of water chemicals, including a scented fragrance in combination with a biomedicide or enzyme that combines the scented fragrance with a biomedicide or enzyme which assists in dissipating the scented fragrance so that a different replacement fragrance may be introduced.
The present invention relates to swimming pools and other pools of standing water, particularly spas and hot tubs, and in particular to a dispensing unit that distributes a scented fragrance and biomedicide.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent, particularly when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein:
In normal operation water is taken from the pool through the skimmer 14, the pipe 21, the valve 31, pipes 22 and 23, strainer 15, pump 16, pipe 24, valve 32, pipe 25, filter 17, pipe 26, valve 33 and pipe 27, back to the pool inlet 20. Valve 34 allows water to be recirculated in whole or in part from the bottom drain 11 and valve 35 allows water to be gravity dumped through pipe 29 to the system outlet 19. Valve 36 connects the main 18 to replenish through pipes 28 and 23. The valves 32 and 33 may be turned to backwash the filter 17 via pipe 30. The skimmer 14 is arranged to collect leaves and other floating debris. To prevent the plugging of pipes 21, 22, 23, and pump 16, the skimmer 14 has perforated basket 41 of larger diameter and strainer 15 has a strainer basket 42. While the flow velocity of the baskets is much less than in the pipes, it is still perceptible and non-uniform so that when a container of chemical of the kind described hereafter is dropped into the perforated basket in the skimmer, or in the strainer basket, it bobs or flutters with the flow through the baskets. The feeder may be inserted at these places or a special chamber.
With respect to the capsule previously described, and its use for aromatherapy in providing a scented fragrance to the pool or spa, the capsule would be spherical in shape in its preferred embodiment, having a diameter of approximately 1⅞ths inches. The capsule could be fabricated from a variety of materials, but high density polyethylene would be the preferred material.
The sides of the capsule would allow for approximately two ounces of solution to be contained therein, which would allow treatment of up to 500 gallons of spa water. If the user were to pierce only one of the release apertures on the capsule, the scented fragrance would last approximately 10 to 14 days in the water. If both apertures on the capsule were pierced, the scented fragrance would last approximately 5 to 10 days.
The capsule after having one or both of its apertures pierced can be placed in a floater on the surface of the spa, directly on the body of spa water, or in a skimmer cavity. The fragrance durations and strengths will vary depending upon the location of the capsule in the spa and the scented fragrance contained in the capsule. The rate of disbursement and strength of fragrance are more apparent if the capsule is placed in the skimmer cavity due to the increase in the amount of suction and flow and turbulence. The range of biomedicide or enzyme would range from 0.001% to 10.00% by weight percent.
The type of scent or fragrance contained in the capsule are myriad. The scents or fragrances can be of the fruit variety, the plant variety, or the garden variety. The scents or fragrances may be packaged as a single scent, or a combination of fragrances can be combined into a fragrance bouquet. Applicant has used scents either alone or in combination, which include cherry blossom, citrus, mango, vanilla creme, eucalyptus, gardenia, lavender, pina colada, spring mist, forest glen, pear delight, and tropical paradise.
The assortment of scented fragrances, in combination with the inclusion of biomedicide or enzyme technology in the form of biomedicides in a convenient, easy to use time release capsule, treats the spa user to an aromatherapy sensation, while at the same time preventing scum lines or oily bathing residues, eliminating odors, and enhancing sanitizer performance, while reducing filter cleaning.
The biomedicide or enzyme contributes to water quality but also aid in the dissipation of the particular scented fragrance so that a replacement capsule with a different scented fragrance may be introduced by the user.
Therefore, while the present invention has been disclosed with respect to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalence thereof.
