Spa system

Claim 2

In a recirculating spa system wherein water is drawn from a tub containing water and pumped back into the tub by a pump through jets to cause an entering air/water mixture, the improvement comprising: (a) water manifold means located generally adjacent said pump on one side only of said tub for receiving water exiting the pump and maintaining a supply of such water within a water chamber thereof at substantially equal water pressures throughout said chamber, said manifold means having a plurality of water exit openings equal in number to the number of jets being used in the tub and being positioned relative said chamber to receive equal water pressure; and (b) individual water connecting conduits connecting the jets to respective ones of said water exit openings.

Claim 3

In a recirculating spa system wherein water is drawn from a tub containing water and pumped back into the tub by a pump through jets to cause an entering air/water mixture, the improvement comprising: a water manifold having a water receiving chamber disposed to receive water exiting the pump, said manifold having a plurality of water exit openings equal in number to the number of jets being used in the tub and being positioned relative said water receiving chamber to receive equal water pressure; and, individual water connecting conduits connecting the jets to respective ones of said water exit openings, wherein: (a) the jets are venturi jets wherein each jet has an air inlet through which air is drawn as a result of the water passing through the jet; and additionally comprising, (b) an air manifold having an air inlet to an air chamber and a plurality of air exit openings from said air chamber; and, (c) individual air connecting conduits connecting the air inlets of the jets to respective ones of said air exit openings.

Claim 4

In a recirculating spa system wherein water is drawn from a tub containing water and pumped back into the tub by a pump through jets to cause an entering air/water mixture, the improvement comprising: a water manifold having a water receiving chamber disposed to receive water exiting the pump, said manifold having a plurality of water exit openings equal in number to the number of jets being used in the tub and being positioned relative said water receiving chamber to receive equal water pressure; and, individual water connecting conduits connecting the jets to respective ones of said water exit openings, wherein: (a) the jets are venturi jets wherein each jet has an air inlet through which air is drawn as a result of the water passing through the jet; and additionally comprising, (b) an air manifold having an air inlet to an air chamber and a plurality of air exit openings from said air chamber; and, (c) individual air connecting conduits connecting the air inlets of the jets to respective ones of said air exit openings.

Claim 5

The improvement to a spa system of claim 2 wherein: (a) said air manifold is adapted for mounting to the tub above the level of the water in the tub; and, (b) said air manifold includes a cover over said air inlet to prevent splashed water from entering said chamber.

Claim 6

The improvement to a spa system of claim 3 wherein: said air exit openings each include valve means for individually regulating the air flow to each jet.

Claim 7

The improvement to a spa system of claim 3 wherein: said cover is curved to deflect any water entering said air manifold and exiting therefrom back into the tub.

Claim 8

The improvement to a spa system of claim 2 and additionally comprising: (a) a conduit operably connected between said water manifold and said air manifold; and, (b) a check valve disposed in said conduit to permit air to flow to said water manifold and to block the flow of water to said air manifold.

Claim 9

In a recirculating spa system wherein water is drawn from a tube containing water and pumped back into the tub by a pump through jets to cause an entering air/water mixture, the improvement comprising: a water manifold having a water receiving chamber disposed to receive the water exiting the pump, said manifold having a plurality of water exit openings equal in number to the number of jets beings used in the tub and being positioned relative said water receiving chamber to receive equal water pressure; and, individual water connecting conduits connecting the jets to respective ones of said water exit openings, wherein: (a) the jets are venturi jets wherein each jet has an air inlet through which air is drawn as a result of the water passing through the jet; and additionally comprising, (b) a plurality of air manifolds connected to respective ones of said air inlets, each manifold having an inlet for air including valve means for controlling the amount of air including valve means for controlling the amount of air entering therein and deflector means for deflecting any water entering said air manifold and exiting therefrom back into the tub.

Claim 10

In a recirculating spa system wherein water is drawn from a tube containing water and pumped back into the tub by a pump through jets to cause an entering air/water mixture, the improvement comprising: a water manifold having a water receiving chamber disposed to receive the water exiting the pump, said manifold having a plurality of water exit openings equal in number to the number of jets beings used in the tub and being positioned relative said water receiving chamber to receive equal water pressure; and, individual water connecting conduits connecting the jets to respective ones of said water exit openings, wherein: (a) the jets are venturi jets wherein each jet has an air inlet through which air is drawn as a result of the water passing through the jet; and additionally comprising, (b) a plurality of air manifolds connected to respective ones of said air inlets, each manifold having an inlet for air including valve means for controlling the amount of air including valve means for controlling the amount of air entering therein and deflector means for deflecting any water entering said air manifold and exiting therefrom back into the tub.

Claim 11

In a recirculating spa system wherein water is drawn from a tub containing water and pumped back into the tub by a pump through jets to cause an entering air/water mixture, the improvement comprising: a water manifold having a water receiving chamber disposed to receive the water exiting the pump, said manifold having a plurality of water exit openings equal in number to the number of jets being used in the tub and being positioned relative said water receiving chamber to receive equal water pressure; and, individual water connecting conduits connecting the jets to respective ones of said water exit openings, wherein: (a) the jets are venturi jets wherein each jet has an air inlet through which air is drawn as a result of the water passing through the jet; and additionally comprising, (b) an air manifold having an air inlet to an air chamber including valve means for controlling the amount of air entering therein and deflector means for deflecting any water entering said air manifold and exiting thereform back into the tub, and a plurality of air exit openings from said air chamber; and (c) individual air connecting conduits connecting the air inlets of the jets to respective ones of said air exit openings.

Claim 12

In a recirculating spa system wherein water is drawn from a tub containing water and pumped back into the tub by a pump through jets to cause an entering air/water mixture, the improvement comprising: a water manifold having a water receiving chamber disposed to receive the water exiting the pump, said manifold having a plurality of water exit openings equal in number to the number of jets being used in the tub and being positioned relative said water receiving chamber to receive equal water pressure; and, individual water connecting conduits connecting the jets to respective ones of said water exit openings, wherein: (a) the jets are venturi jets wherein each jet has an air inlet through which air is drawn as a result of the water passing through the jet; and additionally comprising, (b) an air manifold having an air inlet to an air chamber including valve means for controlling the amount of air entering therein and deflector means for deflecting any water entering said air manifold and exiting thereform back into the tub, and a plurality of air exit openings from said air chamber; and (c) individual air connecting conduits connecting the air inlets of the jets to respective ones of said air exit openings.

Claim 13

In a recirculating spa system wherein water is drawn from a tub containing water and pump back into the tub by a pump through jets to cause an entering air/water mixture, a water manifold adapted to be disposed between the outlet of the pump and the jets to provide equal water flow to all jets comprising: manifold means located generally adjacent said pump on one side only of said tub defining a chamber having an inlet opening to the outlet of the pump for receiving water exiting the pump and maintaining a supply of such water within a water chamber thereof at substantially equal water pressures throughout said chamber, said manifold means having a plurality of outlet nipples from said chamber adapted to be connected to respective ones of jets, said nipples being disposed such as to be at points of substantially equal pressure and flow potential whereby all the jets receive equal water.

Claim 14

In a recirculating spa system wherein water is drawn from a tub containing water and pump back into the tub by a pump through jets to cause an entering air/water mixture, a water manifold adapted to be disposed between the outlet of the pump and the jets to provide equal water flow to all jets comprising: manifold means located generally adjacent said pump on one side only of said tub defining a chamber having an inlet opening to the outlet of the pump for receiving water exiting the pump and maintaining a supply of such water within a water chamber thereof at substantially equal water pressures throughout said chamber, said manifold means having a plurality of outlet nipples from said chamber adapted to be connected to respective ones of jets, said nipples being disposed such as to be at points of substantially equal pressure and flow potential whereby all the jets receive equal water.

Claim 15

In a recirculating spa system wherein air is drawn from a tub containing water and pumped back into the tub by a pump through air aspirating jets to cause an entering air/water mixture, an air manifold adapted to be connected to the jets to provide air thereto comprising: a manifold body defining a chamber, said body having an inlet for air including valve means for controlling the amount of air entering therein and deflector means for deflecting any water entering said air manifold and exiting therefrom back into the tub, said manifold body further having a plurality of air exit openings from said chamber adapted to be connected to the air inlets of the air aspirating jets.

Claim 16

In a recirculating spa system wherein air is drawn from a tub containing water and pumped back into the tub by a pump through air aspirating jets to cause an entering air/water mixture, an air manifold adapted to be connected to the jets to provide air thereto comprising: a manifold body defining a chamber, said body having an inlet for air including valve means for controlling the amount of air entering therein and deflector means for deflecting any water entering said air manifold and exiting therefrom back into the tub, said manifold body further having a plurality of air exit openings from said chamber adapted to be connected to the air inlets of the air aspirating jets.

Claim 17

The air manifold for a spa system of claim 10 wherein: said valve means comprises individual valves for controlling the air to each of said air exit openings.

Claim 18

In a recirculating spa system wherein air is drawn from a tub containing water and pumped back into the tub by a pump through air aspirating jets to cause an entering air/water mixture, an air manifold adapted to be connected to the jets to provide air thereto comprising: a manifold body defining a chamber, said body having an inlet for air including valve means for controlling the amount of air entering therein and deflector means for deflecting any water entering said air manifold and exiting therefrom back into the tub, said manifold body further having an air exit opening from said chamber adapted to be connected to the air inlets of the air aspirating jets.

Claim 19

In a recirculating spa system wherein air is drawn from a tub containing water and pumped back into the tub by a pump through air aspirating jets to cause an entering air/water mixture, an air manifold adapted to be connected to the jets to provide air thereto comprising: a manifold body defining a chamber, said body having an inlet for air including valve means for controlling the amount of air entering therein and deflector means for deflecting any water entering said air manifold and exiting therefrom back into the tub, said manifold body further having an air exit opening from said chamber adapted to be connected to the air inlets of the air aspirating jets.

Claim 20

The air manifold for a spa system of claim 12 or claim 12 wherein said inlet for air including valve means comprises: (a) a threaded nipple communicating with said chamber; and, (b) a cap threaded onto said nipple with the threads of said cap and nipple having sufficient clearance for the passage of air three-between.

Claim 21

The air manifold for a spa system of claim 13 wherein: said threaded cap has the outer periphery shaped to perform the function of said deflector means.

Claim 22

The air manifold for a spa system of claim 13 and additionally: an O-ring positioned about said nipple to seal against said cap when said cap is screwed onto said nipple fully to an "off" position whereby no air can pass between said threads in said "off" position.