CANADIAN PATENT

---

Office de la Propriété Intellectuelle du Canada

Canadian Intellectual Property Office

Un organisme d’Industrie Canada

An agency of Industry Canada

CA 2644557 C 2012/01/03

11)(21) 2 644 557 (12) BREVET CANADIEN

CANADIAN PATENT (13) C

(22) Date de dépôt/Filing Date: 2008/11/06 (41) Mise à la disp. pub./Open to Public Insp.: 2009/05/09 (45) Date de délivrance/Issue Date: 2012/01/03 (30) Priorité/Priority: 2007/11/09 (CN200720059371.2)

(51) Cl.lnt./Int.Cl. A61H 33/00 (2006.01), EO4H 4/12 (2006.01) (72) Inventeu rs/Inventors: PENG, XUE WEN, CN; KEIRSTEAD, JOHN, CN; HARBARENKO, KERRY, CN; HOOVER, JOE, CN; LIU, XUE WEN, CN (73) Propriétaire/Owner: ZHONGSHAN RISING DRAGON PLASTICS MANUFACTURING CO. LTD., CN (74) Agent: GOODWIN MCKAY

(54) Titre " JET DE CUVE THERMALE AVEC VIS DANS MAMELON A JET (54) Title: SPA JET WITH SCREW IN JET BARREL

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13

11 221

(57) Abrégé/Abstract: A jet assembly has internals rotatably and releaseably fit to a jet body, such as that for a spa. The internals have a barrel housing, a rotor and a barrel inlet. The internals as screwed into the jet body. A first threaded portion outside the barrel threadably engages second threaded portion inside the jet body wherein the internals have delimited rotation therein to align and misalign the barrel inlet from a body inlet on the jet body to control flow on and off respectively. The threaded portion within the jet body can be a locking ring affixed therein by fasteners or integral with the jet body. Rotation can be delimited by a projection on the barrel and a cooperating annular delimiting surface on the locking ring, such as circumferentially-spaced detents.

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CA 02644557 2008-11-06

1

ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION

2

A jet assembly has internals rotatably and releaseably fit to a jet body,

3

such as that for a spa. The internals have a barrel housing, a rotor and a barrel

4

inlet. The internals as screwed into the jet body. A first threaded portion outside the

5

barrel threadably engages second threaded portion inside the jet body wherein the

6

internals have delimited rotation therein to align and misalign the barrel inlet from a

7

body inlet on the jet body to control flow on and off respectively.

8

portion within the jet body can be a locking ring affixed therein by fasteners or

9

integral with the jet body. Rotation can be delimited by a projection on the barrel

10

and a cooperating annular delimiting surface on the locking ring, such as

11

circumferentially-spaced detents.

15

The threaded

CA 02644557 2008-11-06

1

SPA JET WITH SCREW IN JET BARREL

2

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

3 4

The invention relates to spa jets used in spas, pools or any other

5

hydrotherapy equipment and more particularly relates to spa jets having a jet barrel

6

releasably and threadably affixed in a jet body.

7 8 9

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A conventional jet assembly includes a removable jet internals

10

including a face, a rotor, a barrel, and a barrel end piece.

The jet internals are

11

removeably fit to a jet body. A lock ring is installed inside the jet body. The face and

12

barrel are fixed together. Spring clips extending from barrel join to the lock ring. Inlet

13

ports on an end of the barrel cooperate with the jet body to enable on/off the flow

14

when the jet internals are rotated. Further, air is automatically drawn in via an air-

15

inlet port on jet body by a venturi action.

16

Currently, an existing problem with the conventional jet assemblies is

17

that the jet internals, in particular the clips, tend to fail by popping out of the jet body

18

over time due to continuous vibration, chemical corrosion, raw material limitations

19

and high water pressure.

20 21 22

There is a need for an improved arrangement for releasably affixing the jet internals to the jet body.

CA 02644557 2008-11-06

1

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

2

Generally, the present invention provides an improved rotatable

3

connection between the jet internals and jet body that solves the aforementioned jet

4

internal failure problems while continuing to enable full control of open/close of water

5

flow by rotation of the jet internals.

6

In one aspect, the invention comprises a rotatable connection

7

threadable connection between jet internals and a jet body.

A jet assembly is

8

provided comprising internals having a barrel housing, a rotor and a barrel inlet and

9

having a jet body for receiving the internals.

The jet body has a body inlet for

10

introducing water flow.

The barrel comprises a first threaded portion and the jet

11

body comprises a second threaded portion wherein the barrel is screwed in or

12

threadably connected to the jet body for delimited rotation of the barrel to align and

13

misalign the barrel inlet from the body inlet to control flow on and off respectively.

14

A locking ring can be fit or integrated with the jet body which comprises

15

the second threaded portion and means for delimiting the rotation, such as a

16

projection on the barrel and one of more detents on in the locking ring.

17

In another aspect the invention comprises a jet assembly for a spa

18

comprising a jet body adapted for support in a spa and having a body inlet for

19

receiving a water flow and jet internals comprising a barrel housing, a rotor and a

20

barrel inlet, the jet internals being rotatably connected within the jet body. A first

21

threaded portion outside the barrel and a second threaded portion inside the jet body

22

enable threadably connection to the jet body for delimited rotation of the barrel to

2

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1

align and misalign the barrel inlet from the body inlet to control flow on and off

2

respectively.

3 4

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a spa

5 6

jet including jet internals and the jet body; Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the assembled jet according to

7 8 9 10 11

Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a lock ring; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a spa jet including jet internals and the jet body;

12

Figure 5 is a perspective view a lock ring according to Fig. 4;

13

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a jet barrel according to Fig. 1 ;

14

Figure 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a jet body

15 16 17 18

integrating the lock ring with the jet body; Figure 8 is a Perspective view of an embodiment of a jet barrel according to Fig. 4; and Figure 9 is a perspective view another embodiment of a jet body.

19

3

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1

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

2

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a spa jet having jet internals comprising face 5,

3

rotor 4, barrel 2, and a barrel end piece 7. Further, the spa jet comprises a jet body

4

1 fit with a lock ring 3, the jet body being adapted for support in a spa by an O-ring 8

5

and nut 6. The lock ring 3 is installed in the jet body 1. The face 5 and the barrel 2

6

are fixed together.

7

supported rotatably therein by means such as a spindle pin, and a lower inlet end

8

221 for receiving a flow of water from the jet body 1 through inlet 11.

Barrel 2 comprises a barrel cavity 21 for housing a rotor 4

The jet internals are rotatably mounted within the jet body 1.

9

A

10

cooperating threaded connection having a first threaded portion 13 outside of the

11

barrel 2 and a second threaded portion 14 inside the lock ring 3 for screwing in or

12

rotatably securing the barrel 2 to the jet body 1. The first threaded portion 13 can

13

be about the barrel cavity 21.

14

delimiting members on the barrel 2 and the jet body 1 delimit rotation between on

15

(flowing) and off positions.

Once threaded together, cooperating, rotational

16

With reference to Fig. 3, one embodiment of the lock ring 3 comprises

17

a tubular component having an annular ring 31 and a baseplate 32. The lock ring

18

comprises a central passage 323 which allows the lower inlet end 221 of the barrel

19

2 to pass therethrough.

20

portion 14.

21

321f, such as in an annular groove 321, located axially below the second threaded

22

portion 14, and further supports one or more screw holes 322 for connecting the

The central passage is formed with the second threaded

The baseplate 32 forms a shoulder or an annular delimiting surface

4

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1

lock ring 3 and the jet body 1. Screws (Fig. 1) through the screw holes 322 install

2

the lock ring 3 in the jet body 1.

3

With reference to Figs. 1, 3 and 6, there are one or more first

4

delimiting members such as a directional projection 211 extending axially from an

5

underside of the barrel cavity 21 for cooperating engagement with circumferentially-

6

spaced and second delimiting members such as axially extending detents 34 of the

7

annular groove 321 of the lock ring 3.

8

delimiting members on the barrel and jet body can be any one of cooperating

9

projections/depressions, depressions/projection or projections/projections.

It is understood that the first and second

10

As shown, the first delimiting members are one or more axial

11

projections or directional projections 211 and the second delimiting members are

12

one or more detents 34 which rotationally position the barrel 2 relative to the jet

13

body 1.

14

positioning of the barrel 2 and inlet end 221 for water control and extend axially to

15

releasably engage the directional projection 211. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the

16

directional projection 211 is located axially below the first threaded portion 13 for

17

cooperation with an annular delimiting surface located below the second threaded

18

portion 14, such as on baseplate 32.

The detents 34 are spaced circumferentially as stops or limits to control

19

In use, the barrel 2 is rotated at the threaded connection to activate

20

the jet. An example of such delimited rotation can be about ¼ turn between open

21

and closed positions.

22

catch moves circumferentially along the annular groove 321, and may engage one

23

or more of the detents 34 formed therein, such as to orient the barrel inlet 221 to

As the barrel 2 is rotated, the directional projection 211 or

5

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1

match the inlet 11 on the jet body 1 or to mismatch the barrel inlet to achieve an

2

on/off function respectively. The barrel 2 may also be rotated to any intermediate

3

and circumferential position therebetween.

4

With reference to Figs. 4, 5 8 and 9, in another embodiment, the lock

5

ring 3 can be composed of an annular delimiting surface such as an annular ring 31

6

formed by an upper annular face 31f and a flange 33. The flange 33 is fit with screw

7

holes 322 which enable using screws to install the lock ring 3 into the jet body 1 with

8

the upper annular face 31f facing the barrel 2. The upper annular face 31f forms a

9

counterpart to the annular delimiting surface 321f of the annular groove 321 of the

10

previous embodiment. In this embodiment, the directional projection 211 is located

11

axially above the first threaded portion 13 for cooperation with the annular delimiting

12

surface located above the second threaded portion 14, such as the upper annular

13

face 31f. The upper annular face 31f is fit with one or more detents 34 which, in

14 15

this embodiment, protrude to extend axially.

A cooperating directional projection

16

211 extends axially from an underside of the barrel cavity 21 for cooperating

17

engagement with, and between, detents 34 of the upper annular face 31f of the lock

18

ring 3 to control water on/off.

19

In another embodiment, and with reference to Fig. 7, the lock ring 3

20

and the jet body 1, according to Fig. 1, can be moulded together as a unitary

21

assembly.

22 23

In another embodiment, and with reference to Fig. 9, the lock ring 3 and the jet body 1, according to Fig. 4, can be moulded together as a unitary assembly. 6

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1 2

Assembly And Operation

3

As shown in either Figs. 1 or 4, to assemble a spa jet, a lock ring 3 is fit

4

to the jet body 1, either by screws, mounted or formed therein. Typically, the jet

5

body has already been pre-installed into a side wall of a spa tub.

6

barrel 2 in the jet body, the barrel 2 is threaded into the lock ring 3. As the barrel 2 is

7

threaded deeper into the jet body 1, the directional projection 211 meets a detent 34

8

of the annular groove 321 or surface of the annular ring 31 (the annular delimiting

9

surfaces of the first or second embodiment respectively, see Figs. 1,4). The barrel is

10

further threaded into the jet body 1 to let the directional projection 211 elastically

11

engage and pass by a first detent 34a. This positions the barrel 2 into a rotationally

12

adjustable position between a first detent 34a and a second detent 34b.

13

passed by the first detent 31a, the barrel inlet 221 is initially positioned mismatched

14

from the jet body inlet 11 and in the closed position.

To install the

Having

15

A further delimited threaded rotation, such as between the two detents

16

34a,34b, orients the barrel inlet 221 to match with the jet body inlet 11 at which time

17

the directional projection 211 engages the a second detent 34b in the full open

18

position. The directional projection can move in the annular groove 321 or along the

19

annular ring 31 between two detents 34a,34b to turn the flow on and off.

20

To remove the internals, the barrel is threaded out with sufficient

21

strength to force directional projection 211 to cross the first detent 34a after which

22

further un-threading permits removal of the internals. This design avoids a popping

23

out of the internals by mispositioning.

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1

The detents 34a,34b can be shaped to ease assembly and resist

2

inadvertent disassembly.

The first detent 34a has a directional function.

During

3

assembly, when the barrel’s directional projection 211 first meets the first detent

4

34a, there is a ramp or slope to let it cross easily and access the annular groove 321

5

behind the first detent 34a which delimits the rotational movement. The first detent

6

can have a perpendicular surface at the other side of the first detent 34a.

7

Accordingly, as the internals are rotated within the annular groove 321, the

8

directional projection 211 on the barrel 2 moves within the groove and is limited by

9

the perpendicular surface of the first detent 34a. Accordingly, the disassembly of the

10

barrel 2 from the jet body requires greater rotational force. This avoids inadvertent

11

disassembly and pop out.

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1 2 3 4

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION FOR WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

5

1.

6

a barrel housing having a rotor rotatably supported therein and a

A jet assembly comprising:

barrel inlet, the barrel housing having a first threaded portion outside of the barrel 8 9 10

housing for rotation therewith; a jet body having an body inlet and a second threaded portion fit to an inside of the jet body,

11

a first delimiting member on the barrel housing; and

12

a second delimiting member on the jet body, wherein the barrel

13

housing is threaded in and out of the jet body to align and misalign the barrel inlet

14

from the body inlet to control flow on and off respectively, and to engage the first

15

delimiting member with the second delimiting member for delimited rotation of the

16

barrel housing.

17 18

2.

The jet assembly of claim 1 wherein

19

the first delimiting member is a projection; and

2O

the second delimiting member is one or more detents.

21 22

9

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3.

1

The jet assembly of claim 1 further comprising a locking ring fit

2

to the jet body, the locking ring forming the second threaded portion therein and

3

further having the second delimiting member, the second delimiting member being

4

an annular delimiting surface which cooperates with the barrel housing for delimited

5

rotation of the barrel housing.

6 4.

7 8

The jet assembly of claim 3 wherein the locking ring is fit to the

jet body using fasteners or integrated into the jet body.

9 10 11

5.

The jet assembly of claim 3 wherein the locking ring further

comprises:

12

a tubular component having an annular ring, a baseplate and a central

13

passage formed with the second threaded portion, wherein the annular delimiting

14

surface is formed on the baseplate.

15 16 17

6.

The jet assembly of claim 3 wherein the locking ring further

comprises:

18

a tubular component having an annular ring and a central passage

19

formed with the second threaded portion, wherein the annular delimiting surface is

20

formed on the annular ring.

21 22

10

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1

7.

2

the first delimiting member forms an axial projection on the barrel

3

The jet assembly of claim 3 wherein

housing; and

the

4

annular

delimiting

surface

further

comprises

5

circumferentially-spaced detents wherein the axial projection cooperates with the

6

circumferentially-spaced detents for the delimited rotation of the barrel housing.

7 8

8.

9

the axial projection is located axially below the first threaded portion;

10

and

the annular delimiting surface is located axially below the second

11 12

The jet assembly of claim 7 wherein:

threaded portion.

13 14

9.

15

the axial projection is located axially above the first threaded portion;

16 17 18

The jet assembly of claim 7 wherein

and

the annular delimiting surface is located axially above the second threaded portion.

19 20

11

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1

10.

2

a jet body adapted for support in the spa and having a body inlet for

3

A jet assembly for a spa comprising:

receiving a water flow;

4

jet internals comprising a barrel housing, a rotor rotatably supported

5

therein and a barrel inlet, the jet internals being rotatably connected within the jet

6

body;

7 8 9

a first threaded portion outside of the barrel housing for rotation

therewith; a first delimiting member forming a projection on the barrel housing;

10

a second threaded portion fit to an inside the jet body, and

11

a second delimiting member on the jet body,

12

wherein the barrel housing is threaded in and out of the jet body to

13

align and misalign the barrel inlet from the body inlet to control flow on and off

14

respectively, and wherein the projection cooperates with the second delimiting

15

member for delimited rotation of the barrel housing.

16 17 18

11.

The jet assembly of claim 10 wherein the second delimiting

member is one or more detents.

19 2O

12.

The jet assembly of claim 10 further comprising a locking ring fit

21

to the jet body, the locking ring forming the second threaded portion therein and

22

further having the second delimiting member, the second delimiting member being

12

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1

an annular delimiting surface which cooperates with the projection for delimited

2

rotation of the barrel housing.

3

13.

4 5

The jet assembly of claim 12 wherein the locking ring is fit to

the jet body using fasteners or integrated into the jet body.

6 14.

7 8

The jet assembly of claim 12 wherein the locking ring further

comprises:

9

a tubular component having an annular ring, a baseplate and a central

10

passage formed with the second threaded portion, wherein the annular delimiting

11

surface is formed on the baseplate.

12 13 14

15.

The jet assembly of claim 12 wherein the locking ring further

comprises:

15

a tubular component having an annular ring and a central passage

16

formed with the second threaded portion, wherein the annular delimiting surface is

17

formed on the annular ring.

18 19

13

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1

16.

The jet assembly of claim 12 wherein

2

the projection is an axial projection; and

3

the

annular

delimiting

surface

further

comprises

4

circumferentially-spaced detents wherein the axial projection cooperates with the

5

circumferentially-spaced detents for the delimited rotation of the barrel housing.

6 7

17.

8

the axial projection is located axially below the first threaded portion;

9

and

the annular delimiting surface is located axially below the second

10 11

The jet assembly of claim 16 wherein:

threaded portion.

12 13

18.

14

the axial projection is located axially above the first threaded portion;

15 16 17

The jet assembly of claim 16 wherein:

and the annular delimiting surface is located axially above the second threaded portion.

18

14

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19.

1

A jet assembly comprising internals and a jet body for receiving

2

the internals, the internals having at least a barrel having a barrel inlet, the jet body

3

having a jet inlet, the jet assembly comprising:

4

a first threaded portion outside of the barrel for rotation therewith;

5

an axial projection on the barrel;

6

a second threaded portion inside the jet body, and

7

an annular delimiting surface on the jet body, the annular delimiting

8

surface further comprising circumferentially-spaced, axially extending first and

9

second detents;

10

wherein the first threaded portion co-operates with the second

11

threaded portion for threadably connecting the barrel inside the jet body, rotational

12

threading movement of the barrel therein causing the barrel to thread deeper into

13

the jet body for engaging the axial projection with the first detent, the axial projection

14

threading deeper to pass the first detent; and

15

wherein further rotational threading movement of the barrel rotationally

16

aligns and misaligns the barrel inlet relative to the jet inlet, the axial projection

17

engaging between the first and second detents for delimiting the rotational threading

18

movement therebetween to control flow on and off respectively.

19 2O

20.

21

a locking ring fit to the jet body, the locking ring forming the second

22

threaded portion therein and further having the annular delimiting surface formed

23

thereon.

The jet assembly of claim 19 further comprising:

15

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21.

1 2

The jet assembly of claim 20 wherein the locking ring is fit to

the jet body using fasteners.

3 22.

4 5

The jet assembly of claim 20 wherein the locking ring is

integrated into the jet body.

6

23.

7 8

The jet assembly of claim 20 wherein the locking ring further

comprises:

9

a tubular component having an annular ring, a baseplate; and a

10

central passage formed with the second threaded portion, wherein the annular

11

delimiting surface is formed on the baseplate.

12

24.

13 14

The jet assembly of claim 20 wherein the locking ring further

comprises:

15

a tubular component having an annular ring and a central passage

16

formed with the second threaded portion, wherein the annular delimiting surface is

17

formed on the annular ring.

18 19

25.

20

the axial projection is located axially below the first threaded portion;

21 22 23

The jet assembly of any one of claims 19 to 24 wherein:

and

the annular delimiting surface is located axially below the second threaded portion.

16

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1

26.

2

the axial projection is located axially above the first threaded portion;

3 4 5

The jet assembly of any one of claims 19 to 24 wherein:

and the annular delimiting suñace is located axially above the second threaded portion.

6

17

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5

4 13 /I

2

211

221

22

î 14

6

Fig. 1

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8

6

13

3

11

221

Fig. 2

321f

322

321

32

3

14

323

31

Fig. 3

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4 21 2 1

14

Fig. 4

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34

14

3If

31

34b \

33

322

Fig. 5 2

Fig. 6

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34b 14 1

321f 34a

Fig. 7

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211 13

21 2

Fig. 8 14 3

34a 34

12

34b

Fig. 9