Lighted Jet Assembly With Rotatable Barrel for Spa Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bathing installations such as whirlpool baths and spas often lack integrated lighting for water and air jets, which can enhance the user experience but require innovative solutions for mounting and controlling light sources within the jets without disrupting water and air flow.
Innovation Solution
A lighted jet assembly with a translucent or transparent jet body incorporating a light receptacle nipple and a rotatable barrel/escutcheon assembly that controls the flow of water, air, and light, allowing for adjustable illumination based on the operational state of the jets, ensuring a seamless integration of lighting with existing jet functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light source is integrated into the jet assembly, then the illumination and visual appeal are improved, but the complexity of the device structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light source, light receptacle, and jet components into a single integrated assembly. The light source is positioned within the jet body structure, and the light receptacle is merged with the jet assembly housing, creating a unified device that delivers both water/air flow and illumination through one component system rather than separate elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The jet assembly is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: delivering water flow, delivering air flow, and providing illumination. The single integrated structure serves as both a fluid delivery mechanism and a lighting fixture, eliminating the need for separate mounting of light sources and reducing overall system complexity despite the added functionality.
2Illumination intensity
If the jet body is made translucent or transparent to allow light passage, then the light transmission is improved, but the structural strength and sealing capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The jet body is designed with different optical properties in different regions. The portions that require light transmission are made translucent or transparent, while other structural portions can be opaque. This localized application of transparency allows light to pass through where needed without compromising the overall structural integrity and sealing capability of the entire jet assembly.
3Ease of operation
If the barrel/escutcheon assembly is made rotatable to control water and air flow, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control function is merged with the aesthetic escutcheon cover by making the escutcheon itself rotatable. This integration means that the decorative element also serves as the operational control mechanism, eliminating the need for separate valves or controls and reducing overall device complexity while improving ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
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. A light receptacle is formed with the jet body, the light receptacle configured to receive a light source element. A jet barrel assembly includes a hollow barrel structure configured for insertion into the jet body channel through the open second end of the jet body. A blind structure includes a hollow cylindrical portion having at a first end a flange portion extending over a limited angular extent, and a second end configured to be secured within the open interior region of the jet barrel structure. The blind structure is fabricated of an opaque material, and configured for rotation with the jet barrel assembly relative to the jet body.