Whirlpool bath device

Claim 2

A whirlpool bath apparatus, comprising a tub, a pump mounted outside said tub, an intake conduit connecting the intake of said pump with an opening low in said tub, nozzle means opening into said tub and formed for projecting a stream of water thereinto, an output conduit connecting the output of said pump with said nozzle means, air supply means formed for entraining air into water passing through said output conduit and having an air inlet portion adapted to project into said tub through an opening high in a wall of said tub, said air inlet portion being formed with a variable orifice for controlling the quantity of air entrained in the water in said output conduit, and said air inlet portion having resiliently displaceable means for allowing said orifice to open wider in response to back pressure in said output conduit.

Claim 3

A whirlpool bath apparatus, comprising a tub, a pump mounted outside said tub, an intake conduit connecting the intake of said pump with an opening low in said tub, nozzle means opening into said tub and formed for projecting a stream of water thereunto, an output conduit connecting the output of said pump with said nozzle means, air supply means formed for entraining air into water passing through said output conduit and having an air inlet portion adapted to project into said tub through an opening high in said tub, said air inlet portion being formed with a variable orifice for controlling the quantity of air entrained in the water in said output conduit, said air inlet portion having resiliently displaceable means for allowing said orifice to open wider in response to back pressure in said output conduit, said air inlet portion comprising a housing providing an air inlet opening, an air control member supported by said housing for rotating movement with respect thereto for adjustably covering and uncovering said air inlet opening to control the quantity of air admitted therethrough, and spring means in the connection between said air control member and said housing formed to permit said air control member to move away from said air inlet opening in said housing in response to back pressure in said output conduit and to return said air control member to its adjusted position relative to said housing when said back pressure is relieved.

Claim 4

A whirlpool bath apparatus, comprising a tub, a pump mounted outside said tub, an intake conduit connecting the intake of said pump with an opening low in said tub, nozzle means opening into said tub and formed for projecting a stream of water thereunto, an output conduit connecting the output of said pump with said nozzle means, air supply means formed for entraining air into water passing through said output conduit and having an air inlet portion adapted to project into said tub through an opening high in said tub, said air inlet portion being formed with a variable orifice for controlling the quantity of air entrained in the water in said output conduit, said air inlet portion having resiliently displaceable means for allowing said orifice to open wider in response to back pressure in said output conduit, said air inlet portion comprising a housing providing an air inlet opening, an air control member supported by said housing for rotating movement with respect thereto for adjustably covering and uncovering said air inlet opening to control the quantity of air admitted therethrough, and spring means in the connection between said air control member and said housing formed to permit said air control member to move away from said air inlet opening in said housing in response to back pressure in said output conduit and to return said air control member to its adjusted position relative to said housing when said back pressure is relieved.

Claim 5

In a whirlpool bath apparatus having a pump mounted outside a tub and connected thereto by pump intake and output conduits, a water valve having a seat adapted for positioning across the output conduit and a valve member movable toward and away from said seat for controlling the rate of flow of water pumped through the output conduit, a rotatable water control handle positioned within the tub and having a stem carrying said valve member and threadably connected to a mounting on the tub for moving said valve member toward and away from said seat upon rotation of said water control handle, said stem being hollow to provide an air passage from the interior of the tub to said output conduit, said valve member being enlarged with respect to said stem to provide a reduced pressure area immediately downstream of said valve member, said stem being formed with an opening therethrough at said low pressure area for aspirating air through said stem, an air control member of said stem in covering relation to the end thereof in the tub, said air control member and said last named end of said stem having alignable apertures therein, said air control member being adjustably movable with respect to said stem for selective alignment and non-alignment of said apertures to control the amount of air admitted to said stem, and said air control member having an axially extending stud slidable in said end of said stem in the tub, enlargement on the distal end of said stud, and a spring compressed between said enlargement and said stem whereby said air control member is returnably displaced away from said stem by back pressure in the latter.

Claim 6

In a whirlpool bath apparatus having a pump mounted outside a tub and connected thereto by pump intake and output conduits, a water valve having a seat adapted for positioning across the output conduit and a valve member movable toward and away from said seat for controlling the rate of flow of water pumped through the output conduit, a rotatable water control handle positioned within the tub and having a stem carrying said valve member and threadably connected to a mounting on the tub for moving said valve member toward and away from said seat upon rotation of said water control handle, said stem being hollow to provide an air passage from the interior of the tub to said output conduit, said valve member being enlarged with respect to said stem to provide a reduced pressure area immediately downstream of said valve member, said stem being formed with an opening therethrough at said low pressure area for aspirating air through said stem, an air control member of said stem in covering relation to the end thereof in the tub, said air control member and said last named end of said stem having alignable apertures therein, said air control member being adjustably movable with respect to said stem for selective alignment and non-alignment of said apertures to control the amount of air admitted to said stem, and said air control member having an axially extending stud slidable in said end of said stem in the tub, enlargement on the distal end of said stud, and a spring compressed between said enlargement and said stem whereby said air control member is returnably displaced away from said stem by back pressure in the latter.