Whirlpool apparatus for bathtub

Claim 2

Apparatus for producing whirlpool action in a conventional bathtub without modifying its drain opening or any of the other internal structure of the bathtub, comprising a pump having an inlet fluidically coupled directly to the drain opening of the bathtub for receiving water from the bathtub through the drain opening and having an outlet for returning the water under pressure to the bathtub through the drain opening, and a nozzle structure having a pipe slidably insertable into and coupled to the drain opening for feeding pressurized water received from the pump outlet through the drain opening and into the bathtub, said nozzle structure including means for simultaneously mixing air with the received water as it is fed through the nozzle structure to the bathtub, the bathtub being returned to its conventional unmodified shape, without any physical impediments at the drain opening or at any other internal parts of the bathtub, upon the uncoupling and slidable removal of the nozzle structure from the drain opening of the bathtub.

Claim 3

Apparatus for producing whirlpool action in a conventional bathtub according to claim 1, including means responsive to the removal of the nozzle structure from the drain opening for preventing water delivered by the pump from being forcibly fed back into the bathtub through the drain opening to create a spray or trajectory stream therethrough.

Claim 4

Apparatus for producing whirlpool action in a conventional bathtub according to claim 1, including an ell connector system mounted below the drain opening of the bathtub and coupled to the pump by two unidirectional conduits one for feeding water to the pump and the other for returning pressurizeD water from the pump to the drain opening, the ell connector system being so shaped as to apply suction to the water delivered by the pump to prevent the water from being forcibly fed to the bathtub through the drain opening to produce a trajectory stream when the nozzle structure is removed from the drain opening.

Claim 5

Apparatus for producing whirlpool action in a conventional bathtub according to claim 1, in which the nozzle structure includes a nozzle to which water is fed from the drain opening of the bathtub and to which air is separately fed to be mixed with the water by venturi action.

Claim 6

Apparatus for producing whirlpool action in a conventional bathtub according to claim 4, including an electrical power supply system for operating the pump and an electrical timing mechanism for controlling the interval during which the whirlpool action is performed, the voltage to which the user is exposed not exceeding 24 volts and the current not exceeding one-half ampere.

Claim 7

A unitary nozzle structure for providing whirlpool action to a conventional bathtub without modifying its drain opening or any of the other internal structure of the bathtub, comprising a nozzle, a first pipe which is connected to the nozzle and the other end of which is slidably insertable into and coupled to the drain opening at the bottom of the bathtub for receiving pressurized water transmitted through the drain opening and supplying the received water to the nozzle and into the bathtub, a second pipe connected to the nozzle for feeding air to the nozzle, and means for simultaneously mixing, by venturi action, the air and the water supplied to the nozzle, the first pipe being slidably inserted into and coupled to the drain opening only when whirlpool action is desired and being removed therefrom when whirlpool is no longer desired, a second pipe located outside the bathtub and fluidically coupled to the drain opening to discharge water from the bathtub via the drain opening, the slidable removal and uncoupling of the first pipe returning the bathtub to its conventional configuration without any physical barrier or obstruction in or at the drain opening or at any other point within the bathtub.

Claim 8

A unitary nozzle structure for providing whirlpool action to a conventional bathtub without modifying its drain opening or any of the other internal structure of the bathtub, comprising a nozzle, a first pipe which is connected to the nozzle and the other end of which is slidably insertable into and coupled to the drain opening at the bottom of the bathtub for receiving pressurized water transmitted through the drain opening and supplying the received water to the nozzle and into the bathtub, a second pipe connected to the nozzle for feeding air to the nozzle, and means for simultaneously mixing, by venturi action, the air and the water supplied to the nozzle, the first pipe being slidably inserted into and coupled to the drain opening only when whirlpool action is desired and being removed therefrom when whirlpool is no longer desired, a second pipe located outside the bathtub and fluidically coupled to the drain opening to discharge water from the bathtub via the drain opening, the slidable removal and uncoupling of the first pipe returning the bathtub to its conventional configuration without any physical barrier or obstruction in or at the drain opening or at any other point within the bathtub.

Claim 9

A unitary nozzle structure according to claim 6 including means coupled to the second pipe to control the amount of air fed through the nozzle.

Claim 10

A unitary structure according to claim 7 including means built into the nozzle and coupled to the first pipe for simultaneously controlling the amount of water as well as the amount of air mixed with each other and transmitted through the nozzle.

Claim 11

Apparatus for producing whirlpool action in a conventional bathtub without modifying its drain opening or any of the other internal structure of the bathtub, comprising a pump located outside the bathtub and fluidically coupled to the drain opening in the base of the bathtub for receiving water from the bathtub through the drain opening and returning the water under pressure through the drain opening, an ell connector structure positioned underneath the base of the bathtub and coupled between the drain opening and the pump by two unidirectional conduits one of which includes a fluidic coupling to the drain opening and feeds water from the bathtub to the pump through the drain opening and the other includes a conduit and returns pressurized water from the pump to the bathtub through the drain opening, a removable nozzle structure having a pipe which is insertable into and coupled to the drain opening within the bathtub whenever whirlpool action is desired and is removable and uncoupled from the drain opening when whirlpool action is not desired, the ell connector device being so shaped that, when the nozzle structure is removed from the drain opening, the pressurized water returned by the pump to the drain opening cannot forcibly enter the bathtub to generate a trajectory stream.

Claim 12

Apparatus for producing whirlpool action in a conventional bathtub without modifying its drain opening or any of the other internal structure of the bathtub, comprising a pump located outside the bathtub and fluidically coupled to the drain opening in the base of the bathtub for receiving water from the bathtub through the drain opening and returning the water under pressure through the drain opening, an ell connector structure positioned underneath the base of the bathtub and coupled between the drain opening and the pump by two unidirectional conduits one of which includes a fluidic coupling to the drain opening and feeds water from the bathtub to the pump through the drain opening and the other includes a conduit and returns pressurized water from the pump to the bathtub through the drain opening, a removable nozzle structure having a pipe which is insertable into and coupled to the drain opening within the bathtub whenever whirlpool action is desired and is removable and uncoupled from the drain opening when whirlpool action is not desired, the ell connector device being so shaped that, when the nozzle structure is removed from the drain opening, the pressurized water returned by the pump to the drain opening cannot forcibly enter the bathtub to generate a trajectory stream.

Claim 13

Apparatus for producing whirlpool action in a conventional bathtub according to claim 9, including mechanism coupled to the nozzle structure for limiting the time interval during which whirlpool action is supplied.

Claim 14

Apparatus for producing whirlpool action in a conventional bathtub according to claim 10, including means in the nozzle structure for mixing air with the water supplied to the nozzle structure through the drain opening.

Claim 15

Apparatus for producing whirlpool action in a conventional bathtub according to claim 9, in which the nozzle structure includes means for receiving water supplied to the drain opening and air to be mixed with the received water and combining the air and water by venturi action.

Claim 16

Apparatus for producing whirlpool action in a conventional bathtub according to claim 12, including means for regulating the amounts of air and water supplied through the nozzle structure.

Claim 17

Apparatus for producing whirlpool action in a conventional bathtub according to claim 13, including means to limit the time during which whirlpool action is produced.