Hydromassage tub and air induction system therefor

Claim 2

A hydromassage system comprising a jet head assembly including a jet nozzle having means for connection to a source of water under pressure, means for introducing air into said nozzle in response to flow of water therethrough, said means for introducing air including an air passageway exposed at one point to atmosphere and at another point to such flow of water, and means permitting entrance of air into said air passageway and flow therethrough to such flow of water through said nozzle, and adapted to block flow of water through said air passageway in the reverse direction in the event discharge of water through said nozzle be blocked.

Claim 3

A hydromassage system in accordance with claim 1, characterized by means in said air passageway, normally only partially closing the same to permit flow of air therethrough from atmosphere toward said nozzle, but responsive to flow of water in the reverse direction, for blocking said passage to flow of water therethrough in said reverse direction.

Claim 4

A hydromassage system in accordance with claim 2, characterized by said means for permitting flow in the one direction and blocking flow of water in the reverse direction, including a ball valve in said air passageway, a shoulder normally supporting said ball valve and providing a by-pass for air flow toward said nozzle, and a valve seat in said passageway to the other side of said ball valve and against which said ball valve will seat in response to flow of water in the reverse direction.

Claim 5

A hydromassage system in accordance with claim 2, characterized by an adjustable air intake valve assembly in said air passageway intermediate said nozzle and said means for permitting flow of air in the one direction and blocking flow of water in the reverse direction.

Claim 6

A hydromassage system in accordance with claim 1, characterized by said air passageway including a pair of branch passageways terminating in a section common to both branches, with said means for permitting entrance of air in the one direction and blocking flow of water in the reverse direction being located in said common section to protect both branch passageways, and an adjustable air intake valve in each of said branch passageways.

Claim 7

A hydromassage control unit for a system for independently controlling air flow to different jet head assemblies in such system, comprising a housing having side walls, a floor at one end and an end wall at the other end, a pair of air tubes extending through said floor with a portion of each air tube extending outside the housing for coupling to an air line to a jet head assembly, and a portion extending into said housing and terminating in an adjustable air intake valve assembly, an air intake nozzle mounted at one end in a wall of said housing with its other end exposed to atmosphere, and means for controlling each of said air intake valves independently of the other from outside of said housing.

Claim 8

A hydromassage control unit for a system for independently controlling air flow to different jet head assemblies in such system, comprising a housing having side walls, a floor at one end and an end wall at the other end, a pair of air tubes extending through said floor with a portion of each air tube extending outside the housing for coupling to an air line to a jet head assembly, and a portion extending into said housing and terminating in an adjustable air intake valve assembly, an air intake nozzle mounted at one end in a wall of said housing with its other end exposed to atmosphere, and means for controlling each of said air intake valves independently of the other from outside of said housing.

Claim 9

A hydromassage control unit in accordance with claim 6, characterized by said end wall including a panel, and a pair of control knobs, each mechanically coupled to a different one of said adjustable air intake valve assemblies for independent control of each.