WATER JET MECHANISM FOR WHIRLPOOL EFFECT IN PEDICURES OR OTHER APPLICATIONS
A whirlpool foot bath for a pedicure chair having a housing with a removable cap and a motor within the housing. Water in the bath is circulated through an inlet in the cap and out through at least one outlet in the cap. The cap has a central integral sleeve. A method of use is described.
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/544,363 filed Oct. 6, 2006 which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/312,907 filed Dec. 20, 2005.
The contents and disclosure of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a water jet mechanism and method of use in a pedicure and more particularly, to a motor in a housing having a cap.
2. Description of Related Art
It is known to have a pedicure chair with a basin for bathing the feet of a person (U.S. Pat. No. D454,705 to Long). These types of pedicure chairs have a pipe system to introduce water into, and remove water from, the basin. The water is circulated by a conventional motor-driven, shaft mounted, fan. There is frequently water leakage around the shaft requiring maintenance. Also, the pipe system is subject to accumulation of dirt, mold and bacteria and is very difficult to clean and sterilize after use by each customer. There is the possibility of health concerns, safety and anxiety of customers.
A water circulation unit having a stator which creates a rotating magnetic field and is separated from the water by a magnetically permeable wall and a rotor on the opposite side of the wall is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,225 to Laing. This unit is part of a hot water distribution system which circulates cooled down hot water away from a spigot and brings in hot water such that hot water is always immediately available at the spigot.
Other water circulation means known to persons skilled in the art may also be used. A single phase synchronous motor made by Hanning Elektro-werks (Model DPO 40-020) has been used for several years in washing machines and has proven to be reliable and efficient.
There is a need for a circulating system for water in a pedicure bath which provides adequate movement of the water and which can be cleaned and sterilized rapidly and effectively to provide for the health and anxiety of persons using the pedicure bath.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the invention to provide a system for circulating water in a bath used in a pedicure, a Jacuzzi and a whirlpool bath, the system being rapidly and easily cleaned and sanitized.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of preparing for use a bath used in a pedicure, a Jacuzzi and a whirlpool bath.
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there is disclosed a motor pump assembly adapted to be attached to the wall of a basin externally thereof. There is a combination of a driven rotary impeller connected to the motor pump assembly and having a plurality of vanes, and a collar fitted to the motor pump assembly and connected to the enclosure. A retaining cap is removably connected to the collar, the cap being within the enclosure. The retaining cap has a plurality of inlet openings centrally disposed thereon and further has a plurality of outlet openings radially of the inlet openings. The retaining cap further has a central integral sleeve disposed inwardly thereof, substantially aligned coaxially with the plurality of inlet openings, and disposed radially between the inlet and outlet openings on the retaining cap. The sleeve extends towards the vanes on the impeller and defines therebetween a relatively narrow axial gap such that water is drawn in from the enclosure axially through the inlet openings in the retaining cap, passes through the sleeve for engagement with the vanes, and is discharged axially through the outlet openings on the retaining cap and back into the enclosure with relatively high-velocity streams.
In further accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there is disclosed a cap for a motor pump assembly wherein water is circulated from a basin. The cap is removably connected to the motor pump assembly. The cap has a plurality of inlet openings centrally disposed thereon and a plurality of outlet openings radially of the inlet openings. The retaining cap further has a central integral sleeve disposed inwardly thereof, substantially aligned coaxially of the plurality of inlet openings and disposed radially between the inlet openings and the outlet openings.
In still further accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there is disclosed a method for circulating water in a basin in a pedicure chair. A motor pump assembly is provided having a collar fitted thereto. A driven rotary impeller is connected to the motor pump assembly, the impeller having a plurality of vanes. The motor pump assembly is disposed in an opening in a wall of the basin in the pedicure chair wherein a watertight seal is formed between the collar and the wall of the basin. The impeller is in a well and communicates with the basin in the pedicure chair. A removable cap is provided for the motor pump assembly. The cap is removably connected to the collar wherein the cap is within the basin in the pedicure chair. The cap has a plurality of inlet openings centrally disposed thereon. The cap has at least two outlet openings formed radially of the inlet opening. The cap has a central integral sleeve disposed inwardly thereof substantially aligned coaxially of the plurality of inlet openings and disposed radially between the inlet openings and the at least two outlet openings. The sleeve extends toward the vanes on the impeller and defines therebetween a relatively narrow axial gap. When the motor pump is actuated, water from the basin is drawn axially through the inlet openings in the cap and passes through the sleeve onto the vanes of the rotating impeller. The water is propelled with relatively high velocity through the outlet openings and into the basin in the pedicure chair where the force of the water from the outlet openings produces a circulation pattern in the basin.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the enclosed drawings.
As shown in
The jet pump of the present invention is shown in
An induction motor is mounted in the housing 14. The induction motor has an electronically activated stator 26 and a permanent magnet rotor (
The present invention is not limited to use with an induction motor. A single plane synchronous motor 59 such as Model DPO 40-048 available from Hanning Elektro-werks GmbH & Co. has been used successfully (
As shown in
As shown in
The stator 26 is electrically connected to a low DC voltage power source using a quick-disconnect fitting 48. The stator 26 is in the housing 14 with the wiring on the opposite side from the rotor 28 and distal from the basin 12. Access to the wiring is through the back or side of the pedicure chair 10 permitting servicing of the motor (
In a typical use (
The cleaned rotor 28 is replaced on the stator 26. Note that due to the magnetic nature of the rotor, it is strongly attracted to the stator. Simply disposing the rotor near the well in the stator is sufficient to have the rotor seal itself in the well with the post 46 in the well received in the bore 44 in the rotor. No tools or special handling are required. The cleaned cap is manually attached to the housing without the need for any tools. The interior of the basin is cleaned/sterilized by wiping with a cloth/tissue having a cleaning/sterilizing material thereon. A predetermined amount of water is placed in the basin. If desired, additional substances such as conditioners, medicaments, fragrances, etc. may be placed in the basin with the water. A customer is seated in the pedicure chair 10 with their feet oriented toward the at least one housing. The motor is activated to circulate the water in the basin and the water is circulated as required for the pedicure. After the pedicure procedure is completed and the customer leaves, the basin is emptied of water and the basin, cap, rotor and interior of the housing and stator are sterilized/cleaned using the above described procedure. The cleaning/sterilizing procedure is completed in approximately one minute or less.
In an alternate embodiment (
The removable cap 32 has a further alternate embodiment (
In a preferred embodiment (
To assure the retention of the collar 74 on the motor pump assembly 59 and to prevent radial movement of the collar, the fitting 72 has formed therein an axial opening 82. The loop-type retainer 84 having a straight portion is removably received in the axial opening and due to the loop, curved structure, is retained therein. The loop-type retainer 84 is manually insertable and removable (
The collar 74 has an opening adjacent to the impeller 58 and a smooth internal surface 86 which is formed with a curved fillet adjoining the opening. The curved fillet transitions to axial walls which extend to the flanged top end 76 of the collar 74.
As shown in
Irrespective of the type of motor used in the housing, the inlet opening 34 in the cap 32 is centrally disposed so that the inlet opening is opposite the motor or the impeller and water is drawn from the basin 12 through the inlet opening 34.
Alternately, there could be provided additional caps and rotors which are maintained in a cleaning/sterilizing bath or are kept in a cleaned/sterilized condition (
In the current state-of-the-art, the basin may be wiped with a cloth/tissue having a sterilizing/cleaning material, but is not possible to adequately clean the motor/fan used to circulate the water. Further, in the present chairs, there are pipes through which the water circulates and it is not possible to adequately clean these thoroughly. The absence of dirt, mold or bacteria in these pipes and/or on the motor/fan cannot be assured. Thus, in the present chairs, the alternatives are 1) do not sterilize/clean which can produce unsanitary, dermatological problems for customers, 2) conduct a partial cleaning which is inadequate, or 3) conduct a thorough cleaning which may require approximately 20 minutes and cannot assure the cleanliness of the pipes.
The present invention provides a method of using a pedicure chair which assures that the bath for the customer is safe and sanitary and which can be prepared in a relatively short time.
Although the above description is directed to a pedicure chair, the device may be used in a Jacuzzi, whirlpool bath or similar item.
Obviously, many modifications may be made without departing from the basic spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than has been specifically described herein.
Claims
1. In a motor pump assembly adapted to be attached to the wall of a basin externally thereof, the combination of a driven rotary impeller connected to the motor pump assembly and having a plurality of vanes, and a collar fitted to the motor pump assembly and connected to the enclosure, a retaining cap removably connected to the collar, the cap being within the enclosure, the retaining cap having a plurality of inlet openings centrally disposed thereon and further having a plurality of outlet openings radially of the inlet openings, and the retaining cap further having a central integral sleeve disposed inwardly thereof, substantially aligned coaxially with the plurality of inlet openings, and disposed radially between the inlet and outlet openings on the retaining cap, the sleeve extending towards the vanes on the impeller and defining therebetween a relatively narrow axial gap such that water is drawn in from the enclosure axially through the inlet openings in the retaining cap, passes through the sleeve for engagement with the vanes, and is discharged axially through the outlet openings on the retaining cap and back into the enclosure with relatively high-velocity streams.
2. The motor pump assembly of claim 1, wherein the axial gap between the sleeve and the impeller is approximately 2 mm.
3. The motor pump assembly of claim 1 having three inlet openings.
4. The motor pump assembly of claim 1 having two outlet openings.
5. The motor pump assembly of claim 1, wherein the outlet openings are angled outwardly from one another.
6. The motor pump assembly of claim 1, wherein the impeller is removable.
7. The motor pump assembly of claim 1, wherein the cap is removably connected to the collar with a twist-lock connection.
8. The motor pump assembly of claim 1, wherein the collar has a threaded exterior surface and a flanged top end, the cap being connected to the flanged top end, a gasket being disposed abutting the flanged top end adjacent to the threaded surface of the collar, an internally threaded ring being received on the cooperating threaded exterior surface of the collar wherein the wall of the basin engages the gasket by rotating the threaded ring to seal the collar against the wall of the basin, the collar having an opening disposed around the impeller distal from the cap, the collar having a smooth internal surface, the internal surface of the collar having a curved fillet transitioning to axial walls extending to the flanged top end of the collar.
9. The motor pump assembly of claim 1, wherein the motor pump assembly has a fitting having a means formed thereon to receive, and lock thereto, the collar, an opening formed on the means to receive the collar, a loop-type retainer being removably received in the opening and when so received, the loop-type retainer preventing movement of the collar.
10. A cap for a motor pump assembly wherein water is circulated from a basin, the cap being removably connected to the motor pump assembly, the cap having a plurality of inlet openings centrally disposed thereon, a plurality of outlet openings radially of the inlet openings, the retaining cap further having a central integral sleeve disposed inwardly thereof, substantially aligned coaxially of the plurality of inlet openings and disposed radially between the inlet openings and the outlet openings.
11. The cap of claim 10, wherein the cap has three outlet openings.
12. The cap of claim 10, wherein the cap has two outlet openings.
13. The cap of claim 12, wherein the outlet openings are angled outwardly from one another.
14. A method for circulating water in a basin in a pedicure chair comprising the steps of:
- providing a motor pump assembly having a collar fitted thereto, a driven rotary impeller being connected to the outer pump assembly, the impeller having a plurality of vanes disposing the motor pump assembly in an opening in a wall of the basin in the pedicure chair wherein a watertight seal is formed between the collar and the wall of the basin, the impeller being in a well and communicating with the basin in the pedicure chair,
- providing a removable cap for the motor pump assembly, the cap being removably connected to the collar wherein the cap is within the basin in the pedicure chair, the cap having a plurality of inlet openings centrally disposed thereon, the cap having at least two outlet openings formed radially of the inlet openings, the cap having a central integral sleeve disposed inwardly thereof substantially aligned coaxially of the plurality of inlet openings and disposed radially between the inlet openings and the at least two outlet openings, the sleeve extending toward the vanes on the impeller and defining therebetween a relatively narrow axial gap.
- wherein when the motor pump is actuated, water from the basin is drawn radially through the inlet openings in the cap and passes through the sleeve onto the vanes of the rotating impeller, the water being propelled with relatively high-velocity through the outlet openings and into the basin in the pedicure chair where the force of the water from the outlet openings produces a circulation pattern in the basin.
15. A retaining cap removably attached to a motor pump assembly, the motor pump assembly secured to the bath of a pedicure machine externally thereof, wherein the motor pump assembly includes a rotating impeller provided with a plurality of circumferentially-spaced vanes, the retaining cap having a longitudinal axis and further having a central portion substantially concentrically thereof, the central portion of the retaining cap being provided with a plurality of inlet openings for permitting the water from the bath to be drawn into the vanes of the motor pump assembly, the retaining cap further having a pair of outlet openings radially of the plurality of inlet openings, substantially diametrically opposite to one another, and outwardly splayed with respect to each other relative to the longitudinal axis of the retaining cap, first means for channeling the inlet water flow through the inlet openings and centrally of the motor pump assembly and into the vanes thereof, and second means for discharging the water tangentially of the vanes, through a restricted opening and radially of the first means, and with a relatively high velocity out of the pair of splayed outlet openings in the retaining cap.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 19, 2008
Publication Date: Nov 26, 2009
Inventor: Christopher L. Long (Ellicott City, MD)
Application Number: 12/274,155
International Classification: F04B 35/04 (20060101);