Width-Adjustable Spa Jet Outlet With Constant Depth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spa jets lack the ability to be selectively adjustable along their width, limiting the user's control over the water therapy effects they provide.
Innovation Solution
A spa jet assembly with a proximal outlet that is laterally adjustable along the width of the housing, maintaining a constant depth and allowing angular adjustments of at least 30°, and featuring a telescoping tube connection and pivotable joints for precise positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the spa jet outlet is made fixed in position, then the device structure is simple, but the user cannot customize hydrotherapy experiences by adjusting the jet position
Solution Approach 1:
The spa jet outlet is transformed from a fixed structure to a dynamically adjustable one. The outlet can be repositioned along a curved path using a combination of rotational joints and sliding mechanisms, allowing users to customize the jet position and angle while maintaining structural integrity through defined movement constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet assembly is divided into multiple independent components: a face plate with the outlet aperture, a sliding mechanism for lateral movement, and rotational joints for angular adjustment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while contributing to the overall adjustability.
2Ease of operation
If the proximal outlet is moved laterally along the width of the housing, then the user control over water therapy effects is improved, but the depth consistency must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet follows a curved arc path during adjustment rather than a straight lateral movement. This curved trajectory is designed to maintain a constant radial distance from a fixed pivot point, ensuring that the outlet depth remains consistent while allowing lateral positioning changes. The curvature geometry inherently solves the depth consistency problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism transitions the outlet position from simple lateral (one-dimensional) movement to movement along a curved arc (two-dimensional path). This dimensional change allows the outlet to vary in lateral position while maintaining constant depth through the geometric constraints of the arc trajectory.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the angular adjustment range is increased to at least 30°, then the hydrotherapy effectiveness is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple adjustment functions are merged into a single integrated mechanism. The sliding mechanism and rotational joints work together as one coordinated system, allowing lateral movement and angular adjustment to occur simultaneously through the coupled motion of the face plate assembly. This reduces the need for separate independent mechanisms for each adjustment type.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot joints and sliding mechanism serve multiple functions: they enable lateral positioning, provide angular adjustment, maintain constant depth, and allow the 30°+ rotation range. This multi-functionality is achieved through the coordinated design where the curved arc path and joint constraints work together to accomplish several objectives simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates generally to jets for spas and, more specifically, to jets that can be adjusted laterally along a width of the proximal end of the jet housing. The angular adjustment of the proximal outlet of the jet may be at least 30°. In some embodiments, the jet assembly includes a housing with a distal inlet at a distal end of the housing and a proximal outlet at a proximal end of the housing, the proximal outlet laterally adjustable along a width of the proximal end of the housing, with the proximal outlet maintaining a constant depth with respect to the proximal end of the housing as the proximal outlet is laterally adjusted along the width of the proximal end of the housing.