Curved, rigid piping system for delivering water and air to the interior portion of a jetted pool or tub
The present invention provides a piping system for delivering water and air to the interior portion of a spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like and includes a plurality of water/air jet receptacles configured to receive a plurality of water/air jets and a plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe disposed between and connecting the plurality of water/air jet receptacles, wherein the plurality of water/air jet receptacles and the plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe are substantially assembled together prior to being installed in the spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like.
The present non-provisional patent application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/602,273, filed on Aug. 17, 2004, and entitled “CURVED, RIGID PIPING SYSTEM FOR DELIVERING WATER AND AIR TO THE INTERIOR PORTION OF A SPA, HOT TUB, WHIRLPOOL, OR THE LIKE,” which is herein incorporated in full by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to a curved, rigid piping system for delivering water and air to the interior portion of a spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to a curved, rigid piping system for delivering water and air to the interior portion of a spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like that is fabricated and assembled prior to being installed in the spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like. Typically, the curved, rigid piping system is installed within the concrete wall(s) of the body of the spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like (i.e. a jetted pool or tub) typically includes a piping system of some sort for delivering water and air to the interior portion of the spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like in the form of heated, therapeutic bubbles. This piping system typically consists of a plurality of water/air jet receptacles that are connected to one another via a plurality of sections of flexible pipe or hose. Each of the plurality of water/air jet receptacles are configured to receive a water/air jet that, optionally, forms a portion of the piping system itself. The plurality of water/air jet receptacles are also connected to a water inlet and an air inlet via the plurality of sections of flexible pipe or hose. The piping system is typically fabricated and assembled on-site as it is being installed in the spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like.
For example, a concrete spa is typically fabricated by first forming a wire mesh frame that defines the shape and contours of the spa. Each of the plurality of water/air jet receptacles is then attached to this wire mesh frame via a plurality of wires, ties, or the like and the plurality of water/air jet receptacles are connected to one another via the plurality of sections of flexible pipe or hose, with appropriate connections being made to the water inlet and the air inlet. Finally, concrete is sprayed or “shot” through and onto the wire mesh frame, surrounding the piping system, with the water/air jet receptacles protruding through the surface of the concrete into the interior portion of the spa. This process is labor intensive and time consuming as the plurality of water/air jet receptacles and the plurality of sections of flexible pipe or hose are prone to deflection during the concrete spraying or “shooting” process.
One conventional solution to this problem is to connect the plurality of water/air jet receptacles to one another on-site via a plurality of sections of straight, rigid pipe, such as polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipe. However, as the spa is typically circular or curved-shaped, this solution increases the overall diameter of the piping system, necessitating the use of additional concrete to surround it. Further, this straight, rigid pipe-solution, like the flexible pipe-solution, is carried out as the piping system is being installed in the spa. Thus, it is also labor intensive and time consuming.
What is needed is a curved, rigid piping system for delivering water and air to the interior portion of a spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like that is fabricated and assembled prior to being installed in the spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like. Advantageously, such a curved, rigid piping system for delivering water and air to the interior portion of a spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like would not deflect during a spraying or “shooting” process, such as that described above, and would be less labor intensive and time consuming to install than conventional piping systems, while minimizing concrete use.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn various embodiments, the present invention provides a curved, rigid piping system for delivering water and air to the interior portion of a spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like that is fabricated and assembled prior to being installed in the spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like. Advantageously, the curved, rigid piping system for delivering water and air to the interior portion of a spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like of the present invention does not deflect during a spraying or “shooting” process, such as that described above, and is less labor intensive and time consuming to install than conventional piping systems, while minimizing concrete use.
In one specific embodiment of the present invention, a piping system for delivering water and air to the interior portion of a jetted pool or tub includes a plurality of water/air jet receptacles configured to receive a plurality of water/air jets and a plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe disposed between and connecting the plurality of water/air jet receptacles.
In another specific embodiment of the present invention, a method for fabricating and assembling a piping system for delivering water and air to the interior portion of a jetted pool or tub includes providing a plurality of water/air jet receptacles configured to receive a plurality of water/air jets and disposing a plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe between and connecting the plurality of water/air jet receptacles.
In a further specific embodiment of the present invention, a method for fabricating and assembling a piping system for delivering water and air to the interior portion of a jetted pool or tub includes providing a plurality of water/air jet receptacles configured to receive a plurality of water/air jets and disposing a plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe between and connecting the plurality of water/air jet receptacles, wherein the plurality of water/air jet receptacles and the plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe are substantially assembled together prior to being installed in the jetted pool or tub. The method also includes supporting the substantially assembled plurality of water/air jet receptacles and plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe in a fixed relationship relative to an intended location of a concrete wall forming at least a portion of the body of the jetted pool or tub. The method further includes disposing concrete about the substantially assembled plurality of water/air jet receptacles and plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe to form the concrete wall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSVarious embodiments of the present invention are illustrated and described herein with reference to the following drawings, in which like reference numbers denote like system components or method steps, and in which:
In various embodiments, the present invention provides a curved, rigid piping system for delivering water and air to the interior portion of a spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like that is fabricated and assembled prior to being installed in the spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like. Advantageously, the curved, rigid piping system for delivering water and air to the interior portion of a spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like of the present invention does not deflect during a spraying or “shooting” process, such as that described above, and is less labor intensive and time consuming to install than conventional piping systems, while minimizing concrete use.
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The overall diameter or dimensions of the curved, rigid piping system 10 is/are also dependent on the desired shape, contours, and size of the spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like that the curved, rigid piping system 10 is to be used with. For example, the curved, rigid piping system 10 may be sized to fit a 6-ft., 6½-ft., 7-ft., 7½-ft., or 8-ft. circular spa and may be used in the seat well (at back level with respect to a user) and/or leg well (at ankle level with respect to a user) of the spa. Preferably, the plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe 14 consist of a plurality of sections of curved, rigid polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipe or the like. Each of the plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe 14 has a diameter of between about ½ in. and about 3 in., although other suitable dimensions may be used. For example, if a given section of curved, rigid pipe 14 is for delivering water to the plurality of water/air jet receptacles 12 and the interior portion of a spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like, it may have a diameter of about 2 in. If a given section of curved, rigid pipe 14 is for delivering air to the plurality of water/air jet receptacles 12 and the interior portion of the spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like, it may have a diameter of about 1½ in. In a typical application, six (6) to eight (8) water/air jet receptacles 12 and twelve (12) to sixteen (16) sections of curved, rigid pipe 14 are used at a given level with respect to a user. These numbers may, of course, vary.
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Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it should be noted that other embodiments and examples may perform the same functions and/or achieve similar results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the scope and spirit of the present invention and are intended to be covered by the following claims.
Claims
1. A piping system for delivering water and air to the interior portion of a jetted pool or tub, the piping system comprising:
- a plurality of water/air jet receptacles configured to receive a plurality of water/air jets; and
- a plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe disposed between and connecting the plurality of water/air jet receptacles;
- wherein the plurality of water/air jet receptacles and the plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe are substantially assembled together prior to being installed in the jetted pool or tub.
2. The piping system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe comprise a plurality of sections of curved, rigid polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipe.
3. The piping system of claim 1, further comprising a water inlet connected to at least one of the plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe.
4. The piping system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe comprise a plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe for delivering water to the plurality of water/air jet receptacles.
5. The piping system of claim 1, further comprising an air inlet connected to at least one of the plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe.
6. The piping system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe comprise a plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe for delivering air to the plurality of water/air jet receptacles.
7. The piping system of claim 1, wherein the piping system is disposed about the interior portion of the spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like at back level with respect to a user of the spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like.
8. The piping system of claim 1, wherein the piping system is disposed about the interior portion of the spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like at ankle level with respect to a user of the spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like.
9. A method for fabricating and assembling a piping system for delivering water and air to the interior portion of a jetted pool or tub, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of water/air jet receptacles configured to receive a plurality of water/air jets; and
- disposing a plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe between and connecting the plurality of water/air jet receptacles;
- wherein the plurality of water/air jet receptacles and the plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe are substantially assembled together prior to being installed in the jetted pool or tub.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe comprise a plurality of sections of curved, rigid polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipe.
11. The method of claim 9, further comprising connecting a water inlet to at least one of the plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe comprise a plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe for delivering water to the plurality of water/air jet receptacles.
13. The method of claim 9, further comprising connecting an air inlet to at least one of the plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe comprise a plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe for delivering air to the plurality of water/air jet receptacles.
15. The method of claim 9, further comprising disposing the piping system about the interior portion of the spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like at back level with respect to a user of the spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like.
16. The method of claim 9, further comprising disposing the piping system about the interior portion of the spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like at ankle level with respect to a user of the spa, hot tub, whirlpool, or the like.
17. A method for fabricating and assembling a piping system for delivering water and air to the interior portion of a jetted pool or tub, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of water/air jet receptacles configured to receive a plurality of water/air jets;
- disposing a plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe between and connecting the plurality of water/air jet receptacles;
- wherein the plurality of water/air jet receptacles and the plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe are substantially assembled together prior to being installed in the jetted pool or tub;
- supporting the substantially assembled plurality of water/air jet receptacles and plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe in a fixed relationship relative to an intended location of a concrete wall forming at least a portion of the body of the jetted pool or tub; and
- disposing concrete about the substantially assembled plurality of water/air jet receptacles and plurality of sections of curved, rigid pipe to form the concrete wall.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 17, 2005
Publication Date: Feb 23, 2006
Inventor: Breck Ferguson (Matthews, NC)
Application Number: 11/205,392
International Classification: A47K 3/00 (20060101); A47K 3/10 (20060101);