SHOWER AND BATH NOZZLES

Abstract

This disclosure relates to nozzles, in particular bath and shower wands that may be hand held and which generate microbubbles from water saturated with air. The bath and shower wands comprise an elongate body comprising an inlet, an elongate outlet and internal flow constriction that can generate micro bubbles from water passing through the wand.

Claims

1. A nozzle comprising: an elongate, tubular body having a central, longitudinal axis; the body comprising side walls; an internal wall between said side walls; the side walls and said internal wall forming a first internal chamber; the first chamber having an inlet for conducting a liquid into the first chamber; the body further comprising an external end wall, transverse to said axis, the side walls and said end wall forming a second internal chamber; a passageway through said internal wall and in fluid communication between the first and the second chambers, the passageway sized to act as a liquid flow constriction, such that, in use, water saturated with air is caused to form micro bubbles; an outlet from the second chamber formed in a side wall of the body for conducting out of the body, in use, a water and micro bubble mixture; the outlet in the side wall being an elongate slit arranged in a plane either generally parallel or generally perpendicular to said axis; the side walls between the inlet and the outlet being of a sufficient dimension to be gripped by the human hand.

2. A nozzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said passageway is located on the longitudinal axis.

3. A nozzle as claimed in claim 2, wherein said passageway is a circular hole.

4. A nozzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is generally cylindrical.

5. A nozzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slit comprises two substantially parallel long walls and two substantially parallel short walls so that the slit is substantially rectangular.

6. A nozzle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the ratio of a long wall to a short wall of is from about 30:1 to about 50:1.

7. A nozzle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ratio between the cross sectional area of the outlet and the cross sectional area of the passageway is from about 20:1 to about 30:1.

8. A micro bubble generating shower wand comprising: an elongate, hollow body comprising a central, longitudinal axis; the body comprising side walls generally parallel to said axis; an inlet configured to conduct water into said hollow body, and a single outlet configured to direct water through a side wall and out of said hollow body in a direction generally perpendicular to said axis; a micro bubble generating flow restricting passageway inside said body; the body being configured without any additional water flow constriction passageway between said micro bubble generating flow restricting passageway and exit from the body by means of said outlet in said side wall.

9. A nozzle as claimed in claim 8, wherein the outlet in the side wall comprises an elongate slit arranged in a plane either generally parallel or generally perpendicular to said axis.

10. A nozzle as claimed in claim 8, wherein the micro bubble generating flow restricting passageway is located on said axis.

11. A nozzle as claimed in claim 8, wherein the wherein said passageway is a circular hole.

12. A nozzle as claimed in claim 8, wherein the outlet comprises two substantially parallel long walls and two substantially parallel short walls so that the slit is substantially rectangular.

13. A nozzle as claimed in claim 12, wherein the ratio of the length of a long wall to the length of a short wall is from about 30:1 to about 50:1.

14. A nozzle as claimed in claim 8, wherein the ratio between the cross sectional area of the outlet and the cross sectional area of the passageway is from about 20:1 to about 30:1.

15. A shower wand comprising: an elongate, hollow body comprising a central, longitudinal axis; the body being formed by walls forming a handgrip portion and an outlet portion comprising an outlet offset from the longitudinal axis; a proximal end and a distal end; an inlet for water adjacent the proximal end; the outlet being located adjacent the distal end; a constriction to flow of water through the body, located between the inlet and the outlet; the constriction being configured to generate micro bubbles in water passing through the body; the outlet being in the form of an elongated slit configured to project micro bubble containing water away from said axis for showering or bathing.

16. A nozzle as claimed in claim 15, wherein the outlet comprises a longer length and a shorter width and the ratio of the length to the width is from about 30:1 to about 50:1.

17. A nozzle as claimed in claim 15, wherein the ratio between the cross sectional area of the outlet and the cross sectional area of the constriction is from about 20:1 to about 30:1.

18. A bath or shower incorporating a nozzle according to claim 1.

19. A bath or shower incorporating a wand according to claim 7.

20. A bath or shower incorporating a wand according to claim 15.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Some preferred features of this disclosure will now be more particularly described by reference in and to the following drawings, which are only exemplary of the disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a system comprising a micro bubble device according to this disclosure connected to a supply of water saturated with air and a bath.

[0034] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a micro bubble device according to this disclosure;

[0035] FIG. 3 is a schematic, top-end view of the device of FIG. 2;

[0036] FIG. 4 is a schematic, bottom end view of a device according to this disclosure.

[0037] FIG. 5 is a schematic, representation of an alternative micro bubble device according to this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0038] FIG. 1 illustrates a hydrotherapy system 1 comprising a bath 100 having side walls 101 so as to contain water 102 therein. Side walls 101 have holes 103 and 104 in which fittings 105 and 106, respectively, are attached in a conventional manner so as to attach to the outside of the bath an optional nozzle assembly 107 and pipe 108, respectively. Nozzle 107 receives an inlet pipe 109.

[0039] Pipe 108 is a return pipe for recycling water from the bath 100 driven by a pump 110. Pump 110 draws water past an inlet 111 to the system that is open to a supply of gas such as air and has a restriction feature 112 to regulate the amount of air drawn into the system.

[0040] Pump 110 draws water and air into a mixing tank 113 where, in a manner known in the art, air is caused to be dissolved in or to saturate the water for supply along pipe 109 to the bath 100. Alternatively, air can be supplied directly into mixing chamber 113.

[0041] A micro bubble device 114 of the present invention is provided adjacent to or mounted to bath 100 and comprises an inlet end 115 and an outlet end 116.

[0042] Inlet end 115 is attached to a conduit 117, preferably a flexible conduit, that is connected to water supply pipe 109.

[0043] Adjacent outlet end 116, of micro bubble device 114, is provided an elongate outlet port 115 in the form of a slit or slot.

[0044] FIG. 2 illustrates a micro bubble device 200 comprising an inlet end 201 and an outlet end 202 and an outlet port 203. Device 200 comprises a body 204 comprising a generally cylindrical wall section 205 and a proximal, connector section 206. Connection section 206 has threading 207, for connection to a water supply pipe or tube (not shown). Outlet end 202 is provided with a cap section 208 to seal the distal end of the cylindrical body 204 for attachment to other system components via a water supply hose (not shown). Body 204 has a section 209 for the device to be held by a hand.

[0045] FIG. 3 illustrates a micro bubble device 300 of FIG. 2, with the distal cap sections removed to show the interior 301 of the device. The device comprises a generally cylindrical body 302 formed by walls 304 forming an interior outlet chamber 305. The remainder of the chamber is formed by an internal cross wall 306. Centered in cross wall 306, is a restriction passage (not shown), which is in fluid communication and with an outlet port 307. Outlet port 307 is an elongate slit cut through the wall 304 of cylindrical body 302.

[0046] Typically, the devices herein are formed with a single outlet port, such as 307.

[0047] FIG. 4 illustrates a micro bubble device 400 having an inlet section 401 and a micro bubble generating section 402 comprising an internal cross wall 403 have a central, relatively small hole 404. In use, hole 404 has a venturi effect in the form of causing a reduction in fluid pressure, which causes air to be released from the water in the form of microbubbles. Micro bubble generator 403 forms an internal seal between the walls 405 of device 400 and forms an internal chamber (not shown) that communicates with an outlet (not shown).

[0048] In use, a supply of water having air dissolved therein or saturated with air is supplied to inlet 406. The water enters an inlet chamber section 407 and circulates therein before leaving the chamber by means of hole 404. Micro bubbles are caused to be generated from the water by micro bubble generator 403 and 404.

[0049] FIG. 5 illustrates a Microbubble device 500 having an inlet 501 communicating with a micro bubble generator (not shown) which in turn communicates with an outlet 502. Device 500 comprises substantially cylindrical walls 503 having a section 504 forming a hand held section. Outlet port 502 is formed in wall 503 and extends partially around the circumference and perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis 505.