FITTING AND CLOSURE FOR WATER JET FOR WATER-HOLDING DEVICE, SUCH AS A POOL

Abstract

In a first aspect, a kit of parts is provided for a water-holding device such as a pool. The kit of parts includes a multi-function member and a lock ring. The multi-function member includes a flange portion and a rear eyeball support portion which are integral with one another. The flange portion fastens to a wall fitting. The rear eyeball support portion includes a rear support surface positioned to support a rear portion of an eyeball. The lock ring includes a front support surface and is threadedly connected to the rear eyeball support portion with the front support surface supporting a front portion of the water jet eyeball.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This application relates to fittings for water jets for water-holding devices, such as pools or the like, and more particularly to arrangements that facilitate winterizing of a water-holding device such as a pool or the like.

BACKGROUND

Pools typically employ return jets which are used for one or more purposes such as for promoting water circulation. Typically, during the winterizing process for a pool, a plug is inserted to seal off the return jet in order to prevent water from entering the water conduit behind the return jet and freezing, which can damage the water conduit. However, the process for this can be laborious and sometimes results in damaged parts, thereby complicating the re-opening of the pool when warm weather arrives.

It would be desirable to provide a solution for winterizing a water-holding device that addresses one or more of the problems described above and herein, and/or to address one or more other problems that exist for water-holding devices that employ return jets.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect, a kit of parts is provided for a water-holding device such as a pool, a hot tub, or the like. The water-holding device has a wall and a wall aperture through the wall, a wall fitting that is mounted to the wall in alignment with the wall aperture, and which defines a water flow path, and which includes a plurality of wall fitting fastener apertures, and a liner that is mounted on top of the wall fitting. The kit of parts includes a multi-function member and a lock ring. The multi-function member includes a flange portion and a rear eyeball support portion. The flange portion includes a plurality of multi-function member fastener apertures that are positioned in alignment with at least some of the wall fitting fastener apertures, so as to permit the pass-through of a plurality of fasteners so as to sealingly mount the flange portion to the wall fitting with the liner clamped between the flange portion and the wall fitting. The rear eyeball support portion is integral with the flange portion so as to prevent water leakage therebetween. The rear eyeball support portion includes a rear support surface positioned to support a rear portion of a water jet eyeball, the water jet eyeball having an eyeball water passage. The rear eyeball support portion further includes a rear eyeball support portion threaded region. The lock ring includes a front support surface and includes a lock ring threaded region that is positioned to engage the rear eyeball support portion threaded region to hold the lock ring to the rear eyeball support portion with the front support surface supporting a front portion of the water jet eyeball. When the lock ring is held to the rear eyeball support portion, the rear support surface and the front support surface are positioned so as to hold the water jet eyeball in a plurality of orientations of the water jet eyeball, with the eyeball water passage in fluid communication with the wall fitting aperture, and with an interior of the water-holding device.

In some embodiments, the kit of parts includes a winterizing member that includes a seal member, and a winterizing member threaded region. Upon removal of the lock ring and the water jet eyeball from the rear eyeball support portion, the winterizing member threaded region is engageable with the rear eyeball support portion threaded region to connect the winterizing member to the rear eyeball support portion with the seal member in sealing engagement with the rear eyeball support portion.

In a second aspect, a multi-function member is provided for a water-holding device such as a pool, a hot tub, or the like. The water-holding device has a wall and a wall aperture through the wall, a wall fitting that is mounted to the wall in alignment with the wall aperture, and which defines a water flow path, and which includes a plurality of wall fitting fastener apertures, and a liner that is mounted on top of the wall fitting. The water-holding device further includes a lock ring that includes a front support surface and includes a lock ring threaded region. The multi-function member includes a flange portion and a rear eyeball support portion. The flange portion includes a plurality of multi-function member fastener apertures that are positioned in alignment with at least some of the wall fitting fastener apertures, so as to permit the pass-through of a plurality of fasteners so as to sealingly mount the flange portion to the wall fitting with the liner clamped between the flange portion and the wall fitting. The rear eyeball support portion is integral with the flange portion so as to prevent water leakage therebetween. The rear eyeball support portion includes a rear support surface positioned to support a rear portion of a water jet eyeball, the water jet eyeball having an eyeball water passage. The rear eyeball support portion further includes a rear eyeball support portion threaded region positioned for receiving the lock ring threaded region to hold the lock ring to the rear eyeball support portion with the front support surface supporting a front portion of the water jet eyeball. When the lock ring is held to the rear eyeball support portion, the rear support surface and the front support surface are positioned so as to hold the water jet eyeball in a plurality of orientations of the water jet eyeball, with the eyeball water passage in fluid communication with the wall fitting aperture, and with an interior of the water-holding device.

In another aspect, a return jet is provided for a water-holding device such as a pool, a hot tub, or the like. The water-holding device has a wall and a wall aperture through the wall, and a liner provided on an inside face of the wall. The return jet includes a wall fitting, a multi-function member, an eyeball, and a lock ring. The wall fitting is mounted to the wall in alignment with the wall aperture, and defines a water flow path. The wall fitting includes a plurality of wall fitting fastener apertures, and a liner that is mounted on top of the wall fitting. The multi-function member includes a flange portion and a rear eyeball support portion. The flange portion includes a plurality of multi-function member fastener apertures that are positioned in alignment with at least some of the wall fitting fastener apertures, so as to permit the pass-through of a plurality of fasteners so as to sealingly mount the flange portion to the wall fitting with the liner clamped between the flange portion and the wall fitting. The rear eyeball support portion is integral with the flange portion so as to prevent water leakage therebetween. The rear eyeball support portion includes a rear support surface positioned to support a rear portion of the water jet eyeball. The water jet eyeball has an eyeball water passage. The rear eyeball support portion further includes a rear eyeball support portion threaded region. The lock ring includes a front support surface and includes a lock ring threaded region that is positioned to engage the rear eyeball support portion threaded region to hold the lock ring to the rear eyeball support portion with the front support surface supporting a front portion of the water jet eyeball. When the lock ring is held to the rear eyeball support portion, the rear support surface and the front support surface are positioned so as to hold the water jet eyeball in a plurality of orientations of the water jet eyeball, with the eyeball water passage in fluid communication with the wall fitting aperture, and with an interior of the water-holding device.

In some embodiments, the return jet includes a winterizing member that includes a seal member, and a winterizing member threaded region. Upon removal of the lock ring and the water jet eyeball from the rear eyeball support portion, the winterizing member threaded region is engageable with the rear eyeball support portion threaded region to connect the winterizing member to the rear eyeball support portion with the seal member in sealing engagement with the rear eyeball support portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other aspects of the disclosure will be better understood with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a simplified representation of a pool with a return jet, in accordance with the prior art.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the prior art return jet shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a simplified representation of a pool with a return jet, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the return jet shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional elevation view of the return jet shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a sectional perspective view of a winterizing member for the return jet shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a sectional perspective view of the winterizing member mounted to a portion of the return jet shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a sectional perspective view of a variant of the return jet shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, for use with the pool shown in FIG. 3, as an alternative to the return jet shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a sectional perspective view of a winterizing member mounted to a portion of the return jet shown in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the drawings to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiment or embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described herein. It should be understood at the outset that, although exemplary embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described below, the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or not. The present disclosure should in no way be limited to the exemplary implementations and techniques illustrated in the drawings and described below.

Various terms used throughout the present description may be read and understood as follows, unless the context indicates otherwise: “or” as used throughout is inclusive, as though written “and/or”; singular articles and pronouns as used throughout include their plural forms, and vice versa; similarly, gendered pronouns include their counterpart pronouns so that pronouns should not be understood as limiting anything described herein to use, implementation, performance, etc. by a single gender; “exemplary” should be understood as “illustrative” or “exemplifying” and not necessarily as “preferred” over other embodiments. Further definitions for terms may be set out herein; these may apply to prior and subsequent instances of those terms, as will be understood from a reading of the present description.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the systems, apparatuses, and methods described herein without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For example, the components of the systems and apparatuses may be integrated or separated. Moreover, the operations of the systems and apparatuses disclosed herein may be performed by more, fewer, or other components and the methods described may include more, fewer, or other steps. Additionally, steps may be performed in any suitable order. As used in this document, “each” refers to each member of a set or each member of a subset of a set.

Reference is made to FIG. 1, which shows a water-holding device 10, with a water jet 20 in accordance with the prior art. In the example shown the water-holding device 10 is a greatly simplified representation of a pool, and, for readability, will be referred to as the pool 10. The pool 10 includes a plurality of walls 14 including, in the present example, a plurality of side walls 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d, and a floor wall 14e, which together cooperate to define an interior 16 that is intended to hold water. The pool 10 is represented as a simple box, but it will be understood that the walls 14 could be formed with any complex shape and could be formed with features such as steps, for use by a user when getting in and out of the pool 10, and seats for use by a user when seated in the pool 10. The pool 10 has a liner 18 that covers an inside face of the walls 14.

The pool 10 has at least one water jet 20 (which may alternatively be referred to as, and which means the same as, one or more water jets 20), which receives water from a water transport conduit system, which in turn receives water from a pump (not shown). The pump draws water from within the interior 16 of the pool 10 and drives the water to the at least one water jet 20. The one or more water jets 20 may thus be referred to as a return jet 20, as is commonly done in the pool and hot tub industries. With reference to FIG. 2, the return jet 20 includes a wall fitting 22 that mounts to one of the walls 14 (e.g. the side wall 14a), about a wall aperture 24 that extends through the wall 14. The wall fitting 22 includes a neck portion 22a that extends through the wall aperture 24. A wall fitting nut (not shown) threadedly connects to the neck portion 22a on the opposite side of the wall 14a to hold the wall fitting 22 in place on the wall 14a.

The return jet 20 further includes a faceplate 28 that is positioned on an inside face of the liner 18 about a liner water aperture 29 and that mounts to the wall fitting 22 through the aperture 29 in the liner 18, by means of faceplate fasteners shown at 30, which pass through corresponding faceplate fastener apertures 31, and into corresponding wall fitting fastener apertures 33 in the wall fitting 22. This arrangement sealingly mounts the faceplate 28 to the wall fitting 22 with the liner 18 clamped therebetween. A suitable gasket 27a may be provided between the wall fitting 22 and the liner 18. Another suitable gasket 27b may be provided between the faceplate 28 and the liner 18. The gaskets 27a and 27b improve the seals formed between the wall fitting 22 and the liner 18, and between the faceplate 28 and the liner 18, respectively.

A rear eyeball seat 32 is threadedly mounted to the wall fitting 22, and extends through the liner water aperture 29 and through a central aperture 34 in the faceplate 28. The rear eyeball seat 32 has a rear eyeball seat surface 36, which supports a rear portion of an eyeball 38. As can be seen, the rear eyeball seat 32 is completely separate from and spaced from the faceplate 28.

A lock ring 40 is threadedly mounted to a forward end of the rear eyeball seat 32, and includes a front eyeball seat 42 that engages a front portion of the eyeball 38. In this way, the eyeball 38 is captured between the lock ring 40 and the rear eyeball seat 32, and can be captured in a plurality of orientations.

Water flows from the water transport conduit (not shown), through the neck portion 22a of the wall fitting 22, through the rear eyeball seat 32, through the eyeball 38, and out from the eyeball 38 into the interior of the pool 10.

When it is desired to winterize the pool 10, typically a technician turns the lock ring 40 to remove it. In some instances, the rear eyeball seat 32 will turn with the lock ring 40 and will unscrew from the wall fitting 22. However, in many instances the rear eyeball seat 32 will remain threadedly connected to the wall fitting 22 and the lock ring 40 will unscrew from the rear eyeball seat 32. When this occurs, the technician removes the lock ring 40 from the rear eyeball seat 32, and then removes the eyeball 38 from the rear eyeball seat 32. Since the rear eyeball seat 32 does not possess an area that is easy to grasp without damaging its threaded regions, a tool (not shown), referred to sometimes as a seat removal tool may then be inserted into the rear eyeball seat 32 so as to engage with two slots 44 in the rear eyeball seat 32. One of the slots 44 is shown in FIG. 2. The seat removal tool can then be turned in order to drive the rear eyeball seat 32 to unscrew from the wall fitting 22. Once the rear eyeball seat 32 is removed from the wall fitting 22, a winterizing plug 46 with a suitable plumber's tape (a type of tape used by plumbers when connecting two threaded tubular members on its threaded region may be inserted through the central aperture 34 in the faceplate 28 and threadedly connected to the wall fitting 22, in order to seal against the ingress of water through the return jet 20 into the water transport conduit system.

This process of removing the various components and potentially necessitating the need for a special tool to remove the rear eyeball seat 38 is disadvantageous, for several reasons. For example, the need for a special tool means that if the tool is lost or damaged, a technician would need to replace the tool in order to be able to remove the rear eyeball seat 32 without damaging the rear eyeball seat 32. By contrast, if the tool is lost or damaged and cannot therefore be used, some other tool, such as channel lock pliers, may be used. However, using channel lock pliers will have a high likelihood of damaging the threaded region on the rear eyeball seat 32 that is intended for receiving the lock ring 40, thereby resulting in the need to replace the rear eyeball seat when reopening the pool 10.

FIG. 3 shows a water-holding device 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The water-holding device 100 may be similar to the water-holding device 10, and may thus include at least one wall 114 (which may alternatively be referred to as, and which means the same as, one or more walls 114), and a liner 118 covering an inside face of the one or more walls 114. In the embodiment shown, the water-holding device 100 includes a plurality of walls 114, including a plurality of side walls 114a, 114b, 114c, and 114d, and a floor wall 114e, which together cooperate to define an interior 116 that is intended to hold water. In the embodiment shown, the water-holding device 100 is a greatly simplified representation of a pool. For readability, the water-holding device 100 may be referred to herein as the pool 100. However, it will be understood that the water-holding device 100 could instead be any other suitable type of water-holding device, such as a hot tub, for example, or other water-holding device that includes a wall but does not include a liner.

Like the pool 10, the pool 100 is represented as a simple box, but it will be understood that the walls 114 could be formed with any complex shape and could be formed with features such as steps, for use by a user when getting in and out of the pool 10, and seats for use by a user when seated in the pool 100.

The pool 100 includes at least one water jet 120 (which may be referred to as at least one return jet 120), which receives water from a water transport conduit system, which in turn receives water from a pump (not shown). The pump draws water from within the interior 116 of the pool 100 and drives the water to the at least one return jet 120.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show an exploded view and a sectional view, respectively, of the return jet 120. The return jet 120 includes a wall fitting 122 that may be similar to the wall fitting 22 (FIG. 2) and which mounts to the wall 114a about a wall aperture 124 (FIG. 5) that extends through the wall 114a. The wall fitting 122 may mount to the wall 114a in any suitable way, such as by including a neck portion 122a that extends through the wall aperture 124, and a wall fitting nut 125 (FIG. 5) that threadedly connects to the neck portion 122a on the opposite side of the wall 114a and which is tightened to hold the wall fitting 122 in place on the wall 114a, as is known in the art. The wall fitting 122 includes a wall fitting water passage 145 therethrough.

The return jet 120 further includes a multi-function member 126 that includes a multi-function member water passage 151 therethrough having a first end at a rear portion 126a of the multi-function member 126 and a second end at a front portion 126b of the multi-function member 126. The multi-function member water passage 151 is in fluid communication with the wall fitting water passage 145 through a liner water aperture 129 that passes through the liner 118.

The multi-function member 126 includes a flange portion 128 that is positioned on an inside face 118a of the liner 118 about the liner water aperture 129. The flange portion 128 includes a plurality of multi-function member fastener apertures 131 that are positioned in alignment with a plurality of wall fitting fastener apertures 133. A plurality of multi-function member fasteners 130 (FIG. 4) pass through the multi-function member fastener apertures 131, through the liner 118, and into the wall fitting fastener apertures 133 so as to sealingly mount the flange portion 128 (and therefore the multi-function member 126) to the wall fitting 122 with the liner 118 clamped between the flange portion 128 and the wall fitting 122. Suitable gaskets (not shown) may be provided between the wall fitting 122 and the liner 118, and between the multi-function member 126 and the liner 118 to improve the seals formed therebetween.

The multi-function member 126 (FIG. 5) further includes a rear eyeball support portion 132 that is integral with the flange portion 128, so as to prevent water leakage therebetween. In the embodiment shown, the rear eyeball support portion 132 and the flange portion 128 are monolithic with one another. In other words, in the embodiment shown, the rear eyeball support portion 132 and the flange portion 128 are formed together from a single part. By contrast, the rear eyeball seat 32 in FIG. 2 is connected to the wall fitting 22 and permits a leakage of water through the threaded connection therebetween. By joining the flange portion 128 and the rear eyeball support portion 132 in such a way as to prevent water leakage therebetween (in this embodiment, by making them as a single, contiguous component), the rear eyeball seat 132 need not be removed in order to winterize the return jet 120, in contrast to the rear eyeball seat 32 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, which needs to be removed due to the leakage path that is present between it and the wall fitting 22.

In some alternative embodiments, instead of forming an integral connection between the rear eyeball support portion 132 and the flange portion 128, it is possible for the rear eyeball support portion 132 and the flange portion 128 to be separate components that are connected together via a releasable connection, but which is a water-tight connection so as to prevent water leakage therebetween.

The rear eyeball support portion 132 includes a rear support surface 136 positioned to support a rear portion 138a of a water jet eyeball 138 (the rear portion being shown at 138a). The water jet eyeball 138 further includes a front portion 138b, and an eyeball water passage 138c (FIG. 4) that extends between the rear portion 138a and the front portion 138b. The water jet eyeball 138 may simply be referred to as an eyeball 138 for readability.

The rear eyeball support portion 132 further includes a rear eyeball support portion threaded region 139. A lock ring 140 includes a front support surface 142 and a lock ring threaded region 143 that is positioned to engage the rear eyeball support portion threaded region 139 to hold the lock ring 140 to the rear eyeball support portion 132 with the front support surface 142 supporting the front portion 138b of the water jet eyeball 138.

When the lock ring 140 is held to the rear eyeball support portion 132, the rear support surface 136 and the front support surface 142 are positioned so as to hold the eyeball 138 in a plurality of orientations of the eyeball 138, with the eyeball water passage 138c in fluid communication with the wall fitting water passage 145, and with the interior 116 (FIG. 3) of the water-holding device 100.

Water flows from the water transport conduit (not shown), though the neck portion 122a (FIG. 5) of the wall fitting 122, through the rear eyeball support portion 132, through the eyeball 138, and out from the eyeball 138 into the interior 116 (FIG. 3) of the pool 100.

When it is desired to winterize the pool 100, a technician turns the lock ring 140 to remove it from the multi-function member 126. Once the technician removes the lock ring 140 from the multi-function member 126, the technician then removes the eyeball 138 from the rear eyeball support portion 132. Once the eyeball 138 is removed from the rear eyeball support portion 132, a winterizing member 146 (FIGS. 6 and 7) is removably connected to the multi-function member 126 to seal against water leakage into the multi-function member 126 and therefore into the transport water conduit (not shown). In the embodiment shown, the winterizing member 146 includes a seal member 150 (e.g. an O-ring), and further includes a winterizing member threaded region 152. Upon removal of the lock ring 140 and the eyeball 138 (FIG. 5) from the rear support portion 132, the winterizing member threaded region 152 is engageable with the rear eyeball support portion threaded region 139 to connect the winterizing member 146 to the multi-function member 126 with the seal member 150 in sealing engagement with the front portion 126b of the multi-function member 126 about the multi-function member water passage 151.

In the embodiment shown, the rear eyeball support portion threaded region 139 is externally threaded, and the lock ring threaded region 143 (and the winterizing member threaded region 152) is internally threaded. In the embodiment shown, the rear eyeball support portion threaded region 139 is externally threaded, and the lock ring threaded region 143 (and the winterizing member threaded region 152) is internally threaded, however, in other embodiments, they could be reversed.

In other embodiments, the winterizing member 146 may be some other type of member, such as an expandable rubber plug.

The return jet 120 is advantageous over the return jet 20 in several ways. By providing the multi-function member 126 instead of the rear eyeball seat 32 and faceplate 28, there is no need for the removal of any components after the lock ring 140 and eyeball 138 are removed. It is possible in some embodiments, for the winterizing member 146 to be configured so as to be able to fit on the multi-function member 126 while leaving the eyeball 138 in place in the multi-function member 126.

The wall fitting 122 is shown as including an internally threaded region 160 (FIG. 5), however, this threaded region 160 is not necessary. The threaded region 160 may be merely a legacy feature in embodiments where the wall fitting 122 is provided by repurposing the wall fitting 22 (of FIG. 2). In embodiments wherein the threaded region 160 is provided, it is optionally possible to size the multi-function member water passage 151 to be smaller in diameter than the threaded region 160, (as shown in FIG. 5), so that the threaded region 160 is recessed relative to the wall of the multi-function member water passage 151 so as to ensure that an installer cannot insert a threaded rear eyeball seat 32 of the prior art into the wall fitting 122.

In embodiments where the wall fitting 122 is manufactured and dedicated to use with the return jet 120, it is optionally possible for it to omit the internally threaded region 160.

In some embodiments it is optionally possible to provide at least one slot shown at 162 in the inner wall of the multi-function member 126, which ensures that a device such as an expandable rubber plug cannot be used. In some embodiments, two, three, four, or more slots 162 may be provided in the inner wall of the multi-function member 126.

The multi-function member 126 shown in FIGS. 3-5 can, in some instances, be installed as a replacement for the faceplate 28 on an already-installed, prior art return jet 20. In such an instance, it is possible that the wall fitting 22 can remain in place, and that the eyeball 38 and the lock ring 40 can be reused from the prior art return jet 20. Thus, in some embodiments, the multi-function member 126 may be provided on its own by a supplier, in order to replace the faceplate 28.

It is therefore possible in some embodiments for the multi-function member 126 shown in FIGS. 3-5 to be part of a brand new kit of parts supplied by a supplier, which includes the multi-function member 126, and one or more of: the wall fitting 122 or the prior art wall fitting 22, the wall fitting nut 125 or the prior art wall fitting nut 25, the eyeball 138 or the prior art eyeball 38, the lock ring 140 or the prior art lock ring 40, and the fasteners 130 or the prior art fasteners 30, depending on the particular application.

Reference is made to FIG. 8, which shows a sectional perspective view of the return jet 120 that has a multi-function member 126 that is shaped slightly differently than the one shown in FIGS. 3-5. FIG. 9 shows the winterizing member 146 sized to mount to the rear eyeball support portion threaded region 139 to connect the winterizing member 146 to the multi-function member 126 with the seal member 150 in sealing engagement with the front portion 126b about the multi-function member water passage 151.

In the embodiment shown, the water-holding device 100 is shown as including a plurality of walls 114 and a liner 118. Some water-holding devices 100, such as some fiberglass-walled pools, do not include a liner, however. In such cases, a prior art arrangement would include a wall fitting similar to the wall fitting 22 (FIG. 2), which has a threaded portion that threadedly receives a rear eyeball seat similar to the rear eyeball seat 32, which in turn receives an eyeball similar to the eyeball 38, and a lock ring similar to the lock ring 40.

For such water-holding devices that do not include a liner, an alternative embodiment of the multi-function member 126 may be provided, and is shaped to replace the wall fitting 22 (FIG. 5) and has a flange portion that rests against the wall 114, similar to that of the wall fitting 122, and a portion that extends through the wall aperture 124, so as to threadedly receives the wall fitting nut 125, in order to clamp the wall 114 between the multi-function member 126 and the threaded wall fitting nut 125. In such an alternative embodiment, the multi-function member 126, as in the embodiments described above, further includes the rear eyeball support portion 132 that is integral with the flange portion, and which receives the eyeball 138, and the lock ring 140.

Some other water-holding devices that may not include a liner include concrete pools. In such instances the multi-function member 126 may be configured to be partially buried in the concrete (and therefore need not be configured to receive a wall fitting nut).

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments disclosed herein can be modified or adapted in various other ways whilst still keeping within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A kit of parts for a water-holding device that has a wall and a wall aperture through the wall, a wall fitting that is mounted to the wall in alignment with the wall aperture, and which defines a water flow path, and which includes a plurality of wall fitting fastener apertures, and a liner that is mounted on top of the wall fitting, the kit of parts member comprising:

a multi-function member that includes: a flange portion that includes a plurality of multi-function member fastener apertures that are positioned in alignment with at least some of the wall fitting fastener apertures, so as to permit the pass-through of a plurality of fasteners so as to sealingly mount the flange portion to the wall fitting with the liner clamped between the flange portion and the wall fitting; and a rear eyeball support portion that is integral with the flange portion so as to prevent water leakage therebetween, wherein the rear eyeball support portion includes a rear support surface positioned to support a rear portion of a water jet eyeball, the water jet eyeball having an eyeball water passage, wherein the rear eyeball support portion further includes a rear eyeball support portion threaded region; and

a lock ring that includes a front support surface and which includes a lock ring threaded region that is positioned to engage the rear eyeball support portion threaded region to hold the lock ring to the rear eyeball support portion with the front support surface supporting a front portion of the water jet eyeball, wherein, when the lock ring is held to the rear eyeball support portion, the rear support surface and the front support surface are positioned so as to hold the water jet eyeball in a plurality of orientations of the water jet eyeball, with the eyeball water passage in fluid communication with the wall fitting aperture, and with an interior of the water-holding device.

2. The kit of parts as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear eyeball support portion and the flange portion are monolithic with one another.

3. The kit of parts as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear eyeball support portion threaded region is externally threaded, and the lock ring threaded region is internally threaded.

4. The kit of parts as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a winterizing member that includes a seal member, and further includes a winterizing member threaded region, wherein, upon removal of the lock ring and the water jet eyeball from the rear eyeball support portion, the winterizing member threaded region is engageable with the rear eyeball support portion threaded region to connect the winterizing member to the rear eyeball support portion with the seal member in sealing engagement with the rear eyeball support portion.

5. The kit of parts as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rear eyeball support portion threaded region is externally threaded, and the winterizing member threaded region is internally threaded.

6. A multi-function member for a water-holding device that has a wall and a wall aperture through the wall, a wall fitting that is mounted to the wall in alignment with the wall aperture, and which defines a water flow path, and which includes a plurality of wall fitting fastener apertures, and a liner that is mounted on top of the wall fitting, and wherein the water-holding device further includes a lock ring that includes a front support surface and which includes a lock ring threaded region, the multi-function member comprising:

a flange portion that includes a plurality of multi-function member fastener apertures that are positioned in alignment with at least some of the wall fitting fastener apertures, so as to permit the pass-through of a plurality of fasteners so as to sealingly mount the flange portion to the wall fitting with the liner clamped between the flange portion and the wall fitting; and

a rear eyeball support portion that is integral with the flange portion so as to prevent water leakage therebetween, wherein the rear eyeball support portion includes a rear support surface positioned to support a rear portion of a water jet eyeball, the water jet eyeball having an eyeball water passage, wherein the rear eyeball support portion further includes a rear eyeball support portion threaded region that is positioned to receive the lock ring threaded region to hold the lock ring to the rear eyeball support portion with the front support surface supporting a front portion of the water jet eyeball, wherein, when the lock ring is held to the rear eyeball support portion, the rear support surface and the front support surface are positioned so as to hold the water jet eyeball in a plurality of orientations of the water jet eyeball, with the eyeball water passage in fluid communication with the wall fitting aperture, and with an interior of the water-holding device.

7. The multi-function member as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rear eyeball support portion and the flange portion are monolithic with one another.

8. A return jet for a water-holding device that has a wall and a wall aperture through the wall, and a liner that is provided on an inside face of the wall, the return jet comprising:

a wall fitting that is mountable to the wall between the wall and the liner, in alignment with the wall aperture, and which defines a water flow path, and which includes a plurality of wall fitting fastener apertures;

a multi-function member that includes: a flange portion that includes a plurality of multi-function member fastener apertures that are positioned in alignment with at least some of the wall fitting fastener apertures, so as to permit the pass-through of a plurality of fasteners so as to sealingly mount the flange portion to the wall fitting with the liner clamped between the flange portion and the wall fitting; and a rear eyeball support portion that is integral with the flange portion so as to prevent water leakage therebetween, wherein the rear eyeball support portion includes a rear support surface positioned to support a rear portion of a water jet eyeball, the water jet eyeball having an eyeball water passage, wherein the rear eyeball support portion further includes a rear eyeball support portion threaded region; and

a lock ring that includes a front support surface and which includes a lock ring threaded region that is positioned to engage the rear eyeball support portion threaded region to hold the lock ring to the rear eyeball support portion with the front support surface supporting a front portion of the water jet eyeball, wherein, when the lock ring is held to the rear eyeball support portion, the rear support surface and the front support surface are positioned so as to hold the water jet eyeball in a plurality of orientations of the water jet eyeball, with the eyeball water passage in fluid communication with the wall fitting aperture, and with an interior of the water-holding device.

9. The return jet as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rear eyeball support portion and the flange portion are monolithic with one another.

10. The return jet as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rear eyeball support portion threaded region is externally threaded, and the lock ring threaded region is internally threaded.

11. The return jet as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a winterizing member wherein the winterizing member includes a seal member, and further includes a winterizing member threaded region, wherein, upon removal of the lock ring and the water jet eyeball from the rear eyeball support portion, the winterizing member threaded region is engageable with the rear eyeball support portion threaded region to connect the winterizing member to the rear eyeball support portion with the seal member in sealing engagement with the rear eyeball support portion.

12. The return jet as claimed in claim 11, wherein the rear eyeball support portion threaded region is externally threaded, and the winterizing member threaded region is internally threaded.