Bath Air Jet Nozzle Structure for Easy Mounting and Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of air jets in bathing installations, such as bathtubs and whirlpool baths, faces challenges in attachment to the vessel and connection to a pressurized air source, particularly due to difficulties in securing the jets to the tub surface and ensuring proper drainage and ease of tubing installation.
Innovation Solution
The air jets are designed with features like a stealthy appearance, angled or compound angled connections, a one-way flow valve, and a protruding nozzle tip to facilitate easy installation and drainage, allowing for secure attachment to the tub surface without the need for threaded multi-piece components, and ensuring airflow by allowing excess adhesive to exit through slots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If threaded multi-piece components are used for air jet installation, then connection strength to tub surface is improved, but device complexity and ease of installation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated air jet component that includes the mounting flange, air passage, and nozzle as one piece. This eliminates the need for separate threaded multi-piece components while maintaining secure attachment to the tub surface through the integrated flange structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The air jet component serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural attachment to the tub surface via the flange, controls airflow through the internal passage, and directs air output through the nozzle. This multi-functionality replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate components.
2Reliability
If conventional air jet mounting is used, then attachment security is improved, but ease of installation and drainage capability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The air jet is designed with pre-formed mounting features including the flange structure and integrated drainage pathways that are built into the component during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation allows for straightforward installation without requiring complex assembly steps or separate drainage components.
3Reliability
If vertical air jet orientation is used, then drainage capability is improved, but adaptability to different tub surfaces worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The air jet component features an asymmetric design where the flange mounting surface and nozzle orientation can be configured in different arrangements. This allows the same basic component design to be adapted for various mounting locations and orientations on different tub surfaces while maintaining effective drainage through the integrated pathway design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables easy and secure installation of air jets on various tub surfaces, promotes self-draining capabilities, and simplifies the connection of tubing, ensuring efficient airflow and preventing water backflow, thus enhancing the functionality and user experience of air massage systems in bathing installations.
Implementation Method 1
The air jets are designed with features like a stealthy appearance, angled or compound angled connections, a one-way flow valve, and a protruding nozzle tip
Data Source
AI summary
An air jet includes a body portion defining a hollow main body portion having an interior opening, and a connection portion having an air passageway in communication with the interior opening. The connection portion includes at least one connection port for attachment to a hose carrying pressurized air, and a flange portion defining a recessed mount surface inside a peripheral lip surrounding a recess, with a plurality of open regions defined in the peripheral lip. A nozzle member is fitted into the interior opening and has a nozzle orifice and nozzle tip protruding into the recess, the nozzle opening configured to allow pressurized air to pass from the connection port through the central opening and through the nozzle orifice into the tub hole and the tub.