ES2766452T3 - Hydromassage bathtub - Google Patents

Abstract

A hydromassage bathtub (100 *) equipped with jet delivery elements including a device (200 *) for the production of a jet of air / water mixture, said device (200 *) being fixed to a wall (WL * ) of said bathtub (100 *) itself; said bathtub (100 *) being provided with an opening formed in the wall (WL *) to which said device (200 *) is associated, the device being provided with a diffuser element (27 *) ending with an outlet mouth (27D *) of an air / water mixture jet outlet into the bathtub (100 *) itself; characterized in that said opening is a groove (300 *), wherein said outlet mouth (27D *) is located on said groove (300 *) so that the contour of said outlet mouth (27D *) itself coincides with the contour of said groove (300 *); and said outlet mouth (27D *) of said diffuser element (27 *) resting directly on said groove (300 *) created directly in said wall (WL *) of said bathtub (100 *); and because all the jet delivery elements and all the elements that attach the device (200 *) to the wall (WL *) are arranged outside an inner surface (φ *) of the wall (WL *) itself .

Description

DESCRIPTION

Hydromassage bathtub

Technical field

The present invention relates to a whirlpool bath.

Background of the Art

As is known, a hydromassage bathtub is provided with a basin on the walls of which devices are applied by means of which jets of air / water mixture are emitted into the liquid mass surrounding the user.

A device for producing jets in a hot tub typically comprises:

- a water supply pipe;

- an air supply pipe;

- an element for mixing air with water;

- an air / water mixture supply duct towards a diffuser element, in turn, capable of transporting the air / water mixture itself within the whirlpool; and

- a shutter adapted to close / open the air / water mixture supply duct towards the diffuser element.

However, hydromassage bathtubs equipped with current devices for the production of jets lack practicality and comfort.

In fact, in the first place, at least part of the fixing means of the device on the wall of the bathtub protrudes within the wall of the bathtub itself, thereby establishing limits for its placement in some areas of the bathroom. tray, particularly those intended to support the user's back and lumbar. In addition, stagnation zones of organic material (soap particles mixed with skin fragments, etc.) present in the used water to be periodically removed are formed in the locking nut of the current mouths.

A hot tub that can be a good starting point for understanding the present invention and describes the features of the preamble of claim 1 is illustrated in international patent WO 2004/056249 (KOHLER NZ LTD). In this document, in fact, a whirlpool bath is described having a wall provided with a recess in which a device for the production of water jets is applied. To fix this device to the wall of the bathtub, the head of the device itself is pressed against the wall of the recess. However, even if the jet outlet in the bathtub is substantially flush with the internal surface of the bathtub wall, the head of the device is received within the recess, which in turn becomes a receptacle for impurities. and inlays almost impossible to remove completely.

Description of the Invention

Therefore, the main purpose of the present invention is to create an innovative whirlpool bath equipped with a device for the production of jets, the bathtub of which is free from the drawbacks described above and, at the same time, is easy to maintain and especially clean corresponding to the jet injection nozzles in the body of water.

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a whirlpool bath according to claim 1 or any one of the claims directly or indirectly dependent on claim 1.

Brief description of the drawings

For a better understanding of the present invention, some preferred embodiments are now described, purely by way of non-limiting examples and with reference to the attached drawings, in which (on a different scale): - Figure 1 illustrates (in a relative enlargement ) an example not covered by the claims of a type of hot tub;

- Figure 2 shows a view of a part of the bathtub illustrated in Figure 1;

- Figure 3 illustrates a rear view of a device used for the production of jets used in the bathtub shown in Figures 1, 2;

- Figure 4A shows a longitudinal section of the device shown in Figure 3;

- Figure 4B illustrates an exploded view of the device shown in Figure 3;

- Figures 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F show views and sections in relation to a diffuser used in the device illustrated in Figures 3, 4A, 4B;

- Figures 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D illustrate a diffuser, as shown in Figures 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F, combined with a mounting plate;

- Figures 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E show a side view, a front view and some cross sections of the diffuser shown in Figures 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F, 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, and

- Figure 8 illustrates (with a relative enlargement) an embodiment of a whirlpool bath object of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In Figures 1-7, an example of a whirlpool bath equipped with at least one device 200 for the production of jets is generically indicated by 100, as a whole.

As illustrated in Figure 1, at least one mouth 300 has been obtained on a wall (WL) of bathtub 100.

Device 200 is illustrated in more detail in Figures 4A, 4B. This device 200 has an axis (X) of substantially longitudinal symmetry.

Incidentally, in Figures 4A and 4B the air and water supply pipes occupy different positions with respect to what is shown, for example, in Figure 3.

In particular, with reference to Figures 4A, 4B, device 200 comprises a main hollow body 11 hydraulically connected with a water inlet conduit 12, and with an atmospheric air inlet conduit 13.

A threaded cup 14 provided with through openings 15 arranged in a circumference is screwed onto the internal threaded wall of the main hollow body 11.

Inside the threaded cup 14 there is housed a rear half casing 17 on which, in use, the perimeter edge of a front half casing 18 rests.

The outer perimeter edges of the two half housings 17, 18 are mounted in interference on each other and are held within the threaded cup 14 by screwing a threaded locking ring 19 onto the thread provided within the threaded cup 14.

In other words, the threaded cup 14 has an external thread, which, in use, is screwed into the internal thread of the hollow body 11, and an internal thread into which the threaded locking ring 19 is screwed.

Tightened between the hollow body 11 and the threaded cup 14 is a fixing plate 20 provided, in turn, with an annular crown edge 21 in which there is a circular break notch 22 adapted to accommodate a rubber seal 23, a recess 24 and a respective circular through hole 25.

Furthermore, the external surface of the hollow body 11 is provided with a circular groove 11A adapted to house a rubber seal 26 (see Figure 4B). The annular crown 21 has a series of through holes 21A distributed along a concentric circumference to the circular break notch 22. Each through hole 21A, in use, is traversed by a respective set screw (not shown) of the device 200 to the wall (WL) of bathtub 100 (Figure 4A).

The rear half shell 17, in turn, has a central through hole 17A surrounded by a raised frame 17B (Figure 4B). Similarly, the front half shell 18 has a central through hole 18A surrounded by a raised rim 18B (Figure 4A). In use, the raised frame 17B is, at least partially, within the central through hole 18A.

Device 200 is provided with a jet blade diffuser element 27. Said diffuser element 27, which is formed in space, represents an important element that will be better described below. In the present context, the term "formed in space" is to indicate that the diffuser develops in three-dimensional space and also has a suitably shaped surface that "accompanies" the outflow of the air / water mixture to the bathtub interior 100.

In more detail we can say that the diffuser element 27 comprises a cylindrical part 27A provided with an external thread 27B which, in use, is screwed into an internal thread of the front half casing 18. The diffuser element 27 also comprises a spout part 27C that ends with an outlet mouth 27D. Said outlet mouth 27D is coupled, using a special accessory that will be described below, to an opening 28A of a plate 28.

At the end of the assembly, a mounting plate 30, provided with a slot 30A, is glued to the plate 28 so that said slot 30A coincides with the opening 28 ^a .

Note, therefore, that in use, the outlet mouth 27D, the opening 28A and the slot 30A are arranged in correspondence with each other, and have substantially the same width.

Furthermore, inside the diffuser element 27 there is a hollow support element 31 supported by two radii 32, 33 fixed to the internal wall of the spout part 27C of the diffuser element 27.

The hollow support element 31, in turn, has a break notch 34 adapted to house a spring 35 that, on one side, rests on a landing 36 formed in the break notch 34, and on the other side, pushes a shutter 37 which, in use, due to the elastic thrust of spring 35, closes the central through hole 18A in relation to the front half shell 18.

In a further embodiment not shown, the use of illumination LEDs is envisaged to be advantageously, but not necessarily, attached to the translucent annular crown 21. Light is filtered through cavities (INT), left empty by mounting device 200 in the wall (WL) of bathtub 100 (Figure 2).

In use, when the device 200 is operated for the production of jets, the water that enters the main hollow body 11 through the tube 12 (arrow (F1)) mixes with atmospheric air that flows in the conduit 13 (arrow ( F2)) (Figure 4A).

In other words, outside air is sucked through duct 13 and through openings 15 due to the flow of water in the venturi formed by coupling an end portion of plug 37 with central through hole 17A. The mixing of the air with water takes place in a mixing chamber 16 (Figure 4A).

The pressurized air / water mixture at this point flows from the mixing chamber 16 to the central through hole 18A where the thrust of the air / water mixture takes place in the shutter 37 against the elastic force provided by the spring 35. The movement according to an arrow (F3) (along the axis (X)) of the shutter 37 implements the opening of the central through hole 18A and allows the flow of the mixture in the diffuser element 27, the groove 30A and the interior of the bathtub 100 .

When the device 200 is turned off, the shutter 37 moves according to an arrow (F4) (along the axis (X) (Figure 4A)) due to the action of the spring 35 that closes the central through hole 18A that interrupts, of this way, the air / water flow towards the spout part 27C of the diffuser element 27.

As shown in more detail in Figures 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5F, 6A, 6C, 6D, 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, the spout portion 27C of the diffuser element is provided, corresponding to the mouth of 27D outlet with four knurled teeth 40.

The groove 28A, formed in the plate 28, is surrounded by a frame 45 (Figure 6A) that has some elastic knurled parts 46, which, in use, instantaneously engage the four knurled teeth 40 mentioned above (Figures 6A, 6C, 6D). In this way, as shown in particular in Figure 6C, the fixing of the diffuser element 27 to the plate 28 is obtained, where the axis (X) of the diffuser element 27 is substantially perpendicular to the plane of laying of the plate 28 in herself.

As shown in Figures 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E, the area of the outlet mouth 27D (Figure 7B) is equal to that of each section (SEZ.AA), (SEZ.BB), (SEZ.CC) (Figures 7C, 7D, 7E) taken at different heights of the spout portion 27C of the diffuser element 27. For clarity, the areas we are talking about with reference to Figures 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E have been scratched. Having always equal areas ensures optimal channeling of the air / water mixture inlet flow to bathtub 100.

Furthermore, as particularly shown in Figure 4A, the plate 30 and the relative groove 30A are perfectly flush with an internal surface (9) of the wall (WL). Note that the wall (WL) also has an external surface (9) with respect to the mass of water contained in the bathtub 100.

In other words, all the jet delivery elements and all the elements that attach the device 200 to the wall (WL) of the bathtub 100 are arranged outside the bathtub 100 itself, and outside an internal surface (9) of a wall (WL) of bathtub 100.

In other words, in the actual bathtub 100, the outlet mouth 27D of the diffuser element 27 rests in the slot 30A so that the contour of the outlet mouth 27D coincides with the outline of the slot 30A. Furthermore, all the jet delivery elements and all the elements that connect the device 200 to the wall (WL) are arranged outside the internal surface (9) of the wall (WL).

This fact allows to have an internal surface (9) of the wall (WL) that can be perfectly smooth and that can be cleaned perfectly and easily, without having the presence of grooves and / or recesses where an immovable dirt retention can occur.

As illustrated in particular in Figure 5C, preferably, but not necessarily, the outlet mouth 27D of the diffuser element 27 has a long rectangular section in which the relationship between the length (L) and the thickness (D) of said mouth Output 27D is between 7 and 12.

According to an embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figure 8, which concerns a bathtub 100 *, the device 200 * no longer has the plate 28 and the iron 30. Therefore, according to the invention, the outlet mouth 27D * of the diffuser element 27 * rests directly in a slot 300 created directly in a wall * (WL *) of the bathtub 100 *.

Even in the case of this embodiment of Figure 8, all the jet delivery elements and all the elements that attach the device 200 * (WL) to the wall are arranged outside the bathtub 100 *, and outside an internal surface (9 *) from the wall (WL *) of the bathtub 100 * itself.

Furthermore, in a further embodiment, not shown, the outlet mouth has a circular shape.

It is clear that in all of the embodiments described above, the diffusers cannot be oriented in space. Therefore, in order to obtain an optimal distribution of the jets in the bath, the optimal placement of these jets on the walls of the bath itself must be found by acting on the number of jets.

The main advantages of the system for the production of jets in a hot tub object of this invention are the following:

- there are no elements adapted for the creation of the jet and belonging to the device for the formation of the jet that protrude into the bathtub;

- also the elements that join the device for the formation of the jet are on the outside of an internal surface of the wall of the bathtub itself; this fact implies that the wall of the bathtub is perfectly smooth and may not give rise to an unpleasant contact with the user's body; and

- The internal surface of the wall of the bathtub is easy to clean because all the inserted parts where an accumulation of impurities could occur have been removed.

Claims (3)

1. A whirlpool (100 *) equipped with jet delivery elements that include a device (200 *) for the production of an air / water mixture jet, said device (200 *) being fixed to a wall ( WL *) of said bathtub (100 *) itself; said bathtub (100 *) being provided with an opening formed in the wall (WL *) to which said device (200 *) is associated, the device being provided with a diffuser element (27 *) that ends with an outlet mouth (27D *) of an air / water mixture jet outlet into the bathtub (100 *) itself; characterized by that said opening is a slot (300 *), where said outlet mouth (27D *) is located on said slot (300 *) so that the contour of said outlet mouth (27D *) itself coincides with the outline of said slot (300 *); and said outlet mouth (27D *) of said diffuser element (27 *) resting directly on said slot (300 *) created directly in said wall (WL *) of said bathtub (100 *); and why all the jet delivery elements and all the elements that attach the device (200 *) to the wall (WL *) are arranged outside an internal surface (9 *) of the wall (WL *) itself . 2. The bathtub (100 *), according to claim 1, characterized in that said diffuser element (27 *) comprises a cylindrical part (27A) and a spout part (27C) ending at said outlet mouth (27D *) , the area of said outlet mouth (27D *) that is substantially equal to that of each section (SEZ. AA), (SEZ. BB), (SEZ. CC) taken at different heights of said pipe part (27C) , to ensure optimal channeling of the flow of the air / water mixture entering the bathtub (100 *); and because said outlet mouth (27D *) of said diffuser element (27 *) has an elongated rectangular section where the relationship between its length (L) and its thickness (D) is between 7 and 12. 3. The bathtub (100 *), according to claim 1, characterized in that said outlet mouth (27D *) of said diffuser element (27 *) has a circular shape.