Lighted Jets for Bathing Installations
A lighted jet assembly for through hole mounting to a panel in a bathing installation. In an exemplary embodiment, the assembly includes a jet body configured for mounting in a hole formed in the bathing installation panel, the jet body including a water inlet port formed at or adjacent a first end of the jet body and a flange portion formed at an open second end of the jet body. A light receptacle is formed with the jet body, the light receptacle configured to receive a light source element without interference with the water flow path within the jet body. A jet barrel assembly includes a hollow barrel structure configured for insertion into the jet body. The jet body and the jet barrel assembly provide a light path between the light receptacle and at or adjacent the second end of the jet body without interference with the water flow path.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/430,172 filed Jan. 6, 2011, and is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/018,349, filed Jan. 31, 2011.
BACKGROUNDBathing installations such as whirlpool baths, spas and pools may include one or more fittings passed through an opening in the wall or surface of bathing installations, e.g., a wall or surface of a water receptacle such as a tub or pool. The fittings may be for water and/or air jets. It may be desirable to provide the jets with lighting.
Features and advantages of the disclosure will readily be appreciated by persons skilled in the art from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the drawing wherein:
In the following detailed description and in the several figures of the drawing, like elements are identified with like reference numerals. The figures may not be to scale, and relative feature sizes may be exaggerated for illustrative purposes.
An exemplary embodiment of a lighted jet assembly 50 adapted for through-hole mounting in a panel or wall is illustrated in
The exemplary jet assembly 50 includes a jet body 60 fabricated from a translucent or transparent material such as clear ABS, clear PVC, clear acrylic or clear polycarbonate. In an exemplary embodiment, the jet body is an integral one-piece structure, and includes a water inlet port nipple 62 formed at one end of the jet body, and a flange portion 60A formed at the opposite end of the jet body. The flange portion has an outer diameter larger than the opening formed in the tub wall 10. The water inlet nipple 62 has a passageway 62A in fluid communication with the jet body internal open channel or plenum 60B. The water inlet nipple is configured for connection to a water line connected to a bathing installation pump, so that water may be pumped through the jet into the tub. The jet body flares outwardly to form a jet body cavity 60C of larger diameter than that of cavity 60B, which receives the central portion of the escutcheon and any jet fitting such as an eyeball or other water-directing feature, examples of which are well known in the bathing installation art.
A threaded nut 78 is configured to be threaded onto a threaded region 66 of the jet body 60, and secure the jet body 60 in place against the wall 10 by drawing the flange portion tightly against the wall. A gasket 76 or sealing compound may be used between the flange portion and the wall to provide a water tight seal. A compensating ring 78A with a beveled surface may be used for some applications between the nut 78 and the wall 10, to compensate for undulations in the tub wall.
The jet body 60 further includes an air inlet nipple 64 and a light receptacle nipple 66 formed integrally with the body. The air inlet nipple 64 defines a passageway 64A in fluid communication with opening 64B formed through the jet body. The air inlet nipple 64 is configured for tubing connection to an air source or air pump. For example, the nipple 64 may be connected to the atmosphere through a valve. This allows the water flowing through the jet to be conditioned with air bubbles entrained in the water flow.
The light receptacle nipple 68 has a passageway 68A formed therein to provide a receptacle, which terminates in the jet body wall 60C. A light source 90 such as an incandescent bulb, LED or optical fiber connected to a remotely located light source is disposed in the light receptacle. It will be apparent that light emitted by light source 90 installed in the nipple receptacle will pass through the jet body wall 60C, if the jet body is fabricated of a transparent or translucent material.
In this exemplary embodiment, which may be for a two inch nominal diameter jet assembly, the air inlet 64A to the jet body and the light inlet 68A within the nipple 68 are defined at substantially the transverse plane defined through the jet body 60.
The jet assembly 50 further includes a jet barrel assembly 80. The assembly 80 includes a barrel structure 82 which is configured for insertion into the jet body channel 60B, and an escutcheon 86 which is attached to a first end portion 82A of the barrel structure 82, e.g. by one or more clip portions 86A-1 formed on hollow boss 86A, and which snap-fits into a corresponding slot 82A-1 formed in the barrel end portion 82A. In an exemplary embodiment, the barrel 82 is fabricated of an opaque material, such as ABS or PVC. The escutcheon 86 can be fabricated of an opaque or a transparent or translucent material, such as clear or opaque ABS, polycarbonate, acrylic or ASA (as an opaque material).
By rotating the escutcheon 86, the barrel 82 can be rotated within the jet body. In this exemplary embodiment, rotation of the barrel 82 not only controls the flow of water and air through the jet, but also controls the amount of light transmitted into the barrel from the light source 90. This feature can provide a visual indication, in this example, of the state of the jet operation. With water and air turned off, the amount of light entering the barrel is also turned off or substantially attenuated; with water and air turned on, the amount of light entering the barrel is increased substantially. These features are described more fully below.
The barrel 82 has an intermediate portion 82B and a second end portion 82C. The second end portion 82C is configured for insertion into the jet body channel 60B (
The intermediate portion 82B of barrel structure 82 tapers to a reduced diameter from that of the second end portion 82C, forming a venturi region 82B-2 in the intermediate portion. A second window or opening 82B-1 is formed in the intermediate portion of the barrel 82. The air port 64A formed in the jet body is disposed at or just downstream of the venturi region, providing a reduction in fluid pressure to draw in air from the air port 64A and through the window 82B-1 when the barrel is positioned to the open position, which is shown in
In this exemplary embodiment, the window 82B-1 which controls the amount of air entering the jet barrel also controls the amount of light entering the barrel from light source 90 in receptacle 68. The light mounting receptacle is co-located, relative to the longitudinal axis of the jet body and barrel, with the air nipple and directly adjacent the air nipple. Since the jet body in this embodiment is fabricated of a transparent or translucent material, the light emitted from element 90 passes into the jet body at or adjacent the air nozzle opening 64A. The position of the window 82B-1 formed in the opaque barrel will control the amount of light passed from the emitter 90 into the interior of the barrel as well as the amount of air. In the open position, light passes through the window 82B-1. In the closed position, the opaque barrel will block light from passing directly into the barrel. Using the same window to control the light as to control the air flow avoids the effect on water flow that a separate window for light control may cause in a relatively small, short jet assembly.
Other exemplary embodiments of a lighted jet assembly are illustrated in
Still referring to
The closed position of the barrel/escutcheon assembly is illustrated in
Another embodiment of a light jet assembly 250 is shown in
Still referring to
The closed position of the barrel/escutcheon assembly is illustrated in
The escutcheon 286 may be provided with a timing tab 286-1 (
Another embodiment of a light jet assembly 350 is shown in
Still referring to
The closed position of the barrel/escutcheon assembly is illustrated in
Various combinations of light/air/water control in a jet assembly may be achieved in other embodiments.
Still referring to
The closed position of the barrel/escutcheon assembly 450 is illustrated in
In each of the embodiments discussed above, the light nipple formed on the jet body is short enough to permit installation of the jet body through the tub wall opening, and to allow the fixing nut to fit over the nipple and engage the threads on the outer surface of the jet body.
The jet assembly may include features such as a rotating or stationary eyeball, two-hole spinner and/or a wagon wheel spinner not specifically illustrated in the drawings, and may be fabricated of a transparent material to allow more light to be seen by the spa user, or of an opaque material to provide a glow effect of illumination by the light source 90.
Other combinations of water/air/light control are also contemplated by aspects of the invention. For example, the barrel/escutcheon assembly may not be configured for rotation. In this example, the jet barrel may be fabricated of a transparent or translucent material, to allow light from a light source 90 mounted in a jet body receptacle as shown in any of the foregoing embodiments to illuminate the jet at all times the light source is activated.
Although the foregoing has been a description and illustration of specific embodiments of the subject matter, various modifications and changes thereto can be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. A lighted jet assembly for through hole mounting to a panel in a bathing installation, comprising:
- a jet body configured for mounting in a hole formed in the bathing installation panel, the jet body including a water inlet port formed at or adjacent a first end of the jet body and a flange portion formed at an open second end of the jet body, the jet body defining a jet body channel and a water flow path from the water inlet port to the second end of the jet body;
- an air inlet and a light receptacle formed integrally with the jet body, the air inlet nipple configured for attachment to an air source, the light receptacle configured to receive a light source element without interference with the water flow path within the jet body;
- a jet barrel assembly including a hollow barrel structure configured for insertion into the jet body channel through said open second end of the jet body, the jet barrel structure including an open interior region;
- the jet body and the jet barrel assembly providing a light path between the light receptacle and at or adjacent the second end of the jet body without interference with the water flow path.
2. The jet assembly of claim 1, wherein the jet body is fabricated from a translucent or transparent material, so that light from the light source element in the light receptacle passes through the jet body.
3. The jet assembly of claim 2, wherein the jet barrel structure is fabricated of an opaque material, and the light path includes a first window formed through the hollow jet barrel structure.
4. The jet assembly of claim 3, wherein the jet barrel assembly is configured for rotation within the jet body, and at a first rotational position, the window is aligned with the light receptacle on the jet body to allow light from the light source to pass through the window into the interior region of the barrel structure, and at a second rotational position, an opaque region of the barrel structure is aligned with the light receptacle to block light from the light source from passing into the interior region of the barrel structure.
5. The jet assembly of claim 4, wherein the barrel assembly further includes a second window configured to align with the water inlet port of the jet body with the barrel structure in said first rotational position, and a third window configured to align with the air inlet with the barrel structure in said first rotational position, and wherein said barrel structure blocks water and air from flowing into the interior region of the barrel structure with the barrel structure in the second rotational position, wherein rotation of the barrel structure controls the flow of water and air through the jet assembly, and also controls the amount of light transmitted into the interior region of the barrel structure.
6. The jet assembly of claim 1, wherein the jet body and the barrel structure are cooperatively configured to define a venturi region, and the air inlet port formed in the jet body is disposed at or just downstream of the venturi region, providing a reduction in fluid pressure to draw in air from the air port and through an open window in the barrel structure aligned with the air inlet.
7. The jet assembly of claim 6, wherein the light receptacle is co-located, relative to the longitudinal axis of the jet body and barrel structure, relative to a longitudinal axis of the jet body and barrel structure, and light emitted through the jet body at the light receptacle also passes through the open window in the barrel structure into the interior region of the barrel structure.
8. The jet assembly of claim 6, wherein the light receptacle is disposed downstream of the venturi region, and the barrel structure includes a second open window positioned to allow light from the light receptacle to pass through the barrel structure with the second open window aligned with the light receptacle.
9. The jet assembly of claim 8, wherein the second open window is elongated to allow light from the light receptacle to pass through the barrel structure at a range of rotational positions of the barrel structure within the jet body.
10. The jet assembly of claim 1, wherein the jet barrel assembly includes an escutcheon attached to an end of the barrel structure, and the jet barrel assembly is rotatable within the jet body by manual rotation of the escutcheon.
11. The jet assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
- the light source positioned within the light receptacle, the light source comprising one of an LED, an optical fiber and an incandescent bulb.
12. The jet assembly of claim 1, wherein the barrel structure is rotatable within the jet body, and rotation of the barrel structure controls the flow of water through the jet assembly, and also controls the amount of light transmitted into the interior region of the barrel structure by aligning a window in the barrel structure with the light receptacle at one rotational position or blocking light from the light receptacle by an opaque region of the light receptacle in another rotational position.
13. The jet assembly of claim 1, wherein the barrel structure is fabricated of a translucent or transparent material, and light from the light source element in the light receptacle passes through the jet body and the barrel structure.
14. A lighted jet assembly for through hole mounting to a panel in a bathing installation, comprising:
- a jet body configured for mounting in a hole formed in the bathing installation panel, the jet body including a water inlet port formed at or adjacent a first end of the jet body and a flange portion formed at an open second end of the jet body, the jet body defining a jet body channel and a water flow path from the water inlet port to the second end of the jet body;
- a light receptacle on the jet body, the light receptacle configured to receive a light source element without interference with the water flow path within the jet body;
- a jet barrel assembly including a hollow barrel structure configured for insertion into the jet body channel through said open second end of the jet body, the jet barrel structure including an open interior region;
- the jet body and the jet barrel assembly providing a light path between the light receptacle and at or adjacent the second end of the jet body without interference with the water flow path.
15. The jet assembly of claim 14, wherein the jet body is fabricated from a translucent or transparent material, so that light from a light source element in the light receptacle passes through the jet body.
16. The jet assembly of claim 15, wherein the jet barrel structure is fabricated of an opaque material, and the light path includes a first window formed through the hollow jet barrel structure.
17. The jet assembly of claim 16, wherein the jet barrel assembly is configured for rotation within the jet body, and at a first rotational position, the window is aligned with the light receptacle on the jet body to allow light from the light source to pass through the window into the interior region of the barrel structure, and at a second rotational position, an opaque region of the barrel structure is aligned with the light receptacle to block light from the light source from passing into the interior region of the barrel structure.
18. The jet assembly of claim 17, wherein the window is elongated to allow light from the light receptacle to pass through the barrel structure at a range of rotational positions of the barrel structure within the jet body.
19. The jet assembly of claim 17, wherein the barrel assembly further includes a second window configured to align with the water inlet port of the jet body with the barrel structure in said first rotational position, and wherein said barrel structure blocks water from flowing into the interior region of the barrel structure with the barrel structure in the second rotational position, wherein rotation of the barrel structure controls the flow of water and light through the jet assembly.
20. The jet assembly of claim 17, wherein the barrel structure is fabricated of a translucent or transparent material, and light from the light source element in the light receptacle passes through the jet body and the barrel structure.
21. The jet assembly of claim 17, wherein the light receptacle is integrally formed with the jet body.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 30, 2012
Publication Date: Aug 2, 2012
Inventor: Graham J. Campbell (Stevenson Ranch, CA)
Application Number: 13/436,602