Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Tubs – Means for agitating or circulating water in a tub
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-25
2002-12-31
Phillips, Charles E. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Tubs
Means for agitating or circulating water in a tub
Reexamination Certificate
active
06499154
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bubble jetting apparatus which can be easily installed in an existing bathtub and can discharge bubbles, jet streams, or bubble jets into bath water, etc., in a bathtub.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventionally, a bathtub is installed in respective houses, accommodation facilities, etc., such as hotels, inns, etc., in order to take a bath. Also, recently, in order to take a further comfortable bath, a bathtub equipped with a bubble jetting feature has been proposed, which can discharge bubbles, jet streams, or bubble jets having a massage effect.
In prior art bathtubs having a bubble jetting feature, there are some type in which a bubble jetting apparatus is installed integral with a bathtub body or a bubble jetting apparatus is detachably installed in a bathtub.
For example, as those in which a bubble jetting apparatus is installed integral with a bathtub, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 136726 of 1986 (hereinafter called Publication “A”), such a bubble bathtub is disclosed, in which a hot water outflow port and a hot water inflow port are provided in a bathtub, wherein these hot water outflow and inflow ports are connected to each other by using a pipe. In the path of piping, a pump intervenes, which takes in hot water in the bathtub and jets the same into the bathtub through the hot water inflow port, and wherein an air supplying portion is installed in the pipe positioned at the suction side of the pump.
In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No.137764 of 1993 (hereinafter called Publication “B”), a bubble jet generating apparatus is disclosed, which comprises an air-water mixing portion which sucks in air by an inflow water ejector effect, a rectification portion which rectifies and leads an air-water mixed fluid of the air-water mixing portion, and a jetting portion, having a convex-shaped curved line disposed at least at the inlet side with respect to a stream connecting a large-diametered inlet end to a small-diametered outlet end, which is provided at the outlet of the rectification portion in a watertight state with its flow direction made variable, and jets the air-water mixed fluid from the outlet end into the water.
Further, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 304219 of 1994 (hereinafter called Publication “C”), a jetting nozzle device which jets bubble-mixed jets into a bathtub is provided in the vicinity of a circulating pump circulating bath water in a bathtub integral therewith as a bubble jetting apparatus detachably installed in a bathtub. Publication “C” discloses a water jetting apparatus for a bath, for which the circulating pump and jetting nozzle device are detachably disposed roughly horizontally inside a bathtub wall.
In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 295761 of 1998 (hereinafter called Publication “D”), an in-bath bubble generating apparatus is disclosed, which comprises an apparatus body internally having a pump portion, which discharges sucked bath water as a water stream, an air intake portion for mixing air into the water stream, and a nozzle portion, communicating with the pump portion, which jets air bubbles outside the apparatus body along with the water stream, wherein a roughly rectangular box-like wing type jetting body provided with a plurality of jetting ports is detachably and rotatably provided at the nozzle portion, and the plurality of jetting ports are made open and juxtaposed at a side facing the nozzle portion and a side opposite thereto.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
However, these prior art bubble jetting apparatuses still have the following shortcomings and problems.
In a bubble bath described in Publication “A”, since an outflow port and an inflow port are provided in a bathtub, the outflow port is connected to the inflow port by a pipe, and a pump and an air inflow portion are provided in the pipe, wherein the bubble bath cannot be attached to an existing bathtub as completed, and it is not suitable for universal applications. Also, since it is necessary to replace the bathtub and piping attached thereto, specified work such as piping, etc., is further required for installation of the corresponding bubble bath tab, and the installation efficiency is inferior. Further, a long working period and cost are required for installation thereof. That is, Publication “A” has such shortcomings and problems.
In a bubble jet generating apparatus disclosed by Publication “B”, since an air-water mixing portion and a rectification portion are installed in the vicinity of a water stream nozzle portion, and the rectification has a convex-shaped curved line in a stream connecting a large-diametered inlet end to a small-diametered outlet end, the structure of the corresponding bubble jet generating apparatus is complicated, resulting in a lowering of production efficiency and an increase in maintenance work. Also, since the apparatus body is large-sized, it is difficult to attach the same to an existing bathtub, and it is not suitable for universal applications, whereby in attaching the corresponding bubble jet generating apparatus, replacement of a bathtub and further piping work, etc., is required, resulting in a lowering of work efficiency. That is, Publication “B” also has such shortcomings and problems.
In a jetting device disclosed by Publication “C” for a bath, since the corresponding jetting device for a bath is attached to an opening portion of the bath wall, an opening of such a size, by which the corresponding jetting device for a bath can be installed, is required on the bath wall surface, and at the same time, space necessary for the corresponding jetting device to be inserted is required on the outer circumferential side of a bathtub, whereby it is difficult for the jetting device to be installed in an existing bathtub after being completed, and it is not suitable for universal applications. Also, since a jetting nozzle device is installed in the vicinity of a circulating pump integral therewith, the jetting nozzle device is fixed at an appointed position, whereby the jetting port cannot be moved in compliance with the positions of the shoulders, waist, legs, etc., of a user, wherein use efficiency is reduced. That is, such shortcomings and problems as described above still remain.
In an in-bath bubble generating apparatus disclosed in Publication “D”, since the entire corresponding in-bath bubble generating apparatus is installed in a bathtub, the bath is made narrow, the apparatus may hinder bathing, whereby the efficiency and convenience in use are remarkably spoiled. Further, the entire apparatus is installed in a bathtub, and a waterproof measure is further required for the entirety of the apparatus. Production efficiency is worsened, and further maintenance is required. Still further, since the apparatus is installed in a bathtub, compactness thereof is requisite, whereby the intensity and performance of bubble streams or jets are made inferior to those of a bubble jetting apparatus installed integral with a bathtub body. Therefore, use efficiency is reduced. That is, such shortcomings and problems as described above remain.
The present invention was developed in order to solve the shortcomings and problems remaining in the prior arts, and it is therefore an object of the invention to provide a bubble jetting apparatus, which structure is simple, not requiring installation of the apparatus body in a bathtub, which can be easily attached to an existing bathtub, can be used by selecting respective features of air bubbles, water jet streams and bubble jets and is excellent in use efficiency, universal applications and performance of the respective features.
In order to solve the abovementioned shortcomings and problems, a bubble jetting apparatus according to the invention has been constructed as described below.
A bubble jetting apparatus in accordance with Aspect
1
of the invention is provided with an apparatus body which comprises a circulating pump, a suction tube connected to the suction side of the circulating pump, a discharge tube
Phillips Charles E.
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
Vib Tec Limited Company
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