Bubbler assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10179339-B2
Application number	US-201615579519-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 3, 2016
Priority date	Jun 5, 2015
Publication date	Jan 15, 2019
Grant date	Jan 15, 2019

Abstract

A bubbler assembly including a pipe that telescopes relative to a surface of a pool or spa such that an exit opening of the bubbler is closer to the water surface than is conventionally possible. When in the initial position, a first end of the telescoping pipe is flush or substantially flush with the surface of the pool or the spa. When in the extended position, the first end of the telescoping pipe is adjacent the water surface, which is spaced apart from the surface of the pool or spa. By transferring the exit opening of the bubbler to a location adjacent the water surface, the plume need travel only a small distance through the main body of water before penetrating the water surface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bubbler assembly for a pool or spa comprising:
a lens mounted flush or generally flush with a surface of the pool or spa, the lens comprising an inner ring; and
a telescoping pipe coupled with the lens and configured to telescope within the inner ring of the lens between an initial position and an extended position, the telescoping pipe comprising a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein:
in the initial position, (i) an exit opening of the first end of the telescoping pipe is flush or generally flush with the lens and (ii) the second end of the telescoping pipe is beneath the lens such that the first end of the telescoping pipe is positioned between the second end of the telescoping pipe and a surface of the water of the pool or spa; and
in the extended position, (i) the exit opening of the first end of the telescoping pipe is adjacent the surface of the water of the pool or spa such that a plume of water exits the exit opening adjacent the surface of the water of the pool or spa and (ii) the second end of the telescoping pipe is flush or generally flush with the surface of the pool or spa,

wherein the lens comprises an electrically-powered source of illumination.

2. The bubbler assembly of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the telescoping pipe is smaller than a diameter of the inner ring of the lens.

3. The bubbler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the telescoping pipe comprises a lip with a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the inner ring of the lens such that the lip prevents the telescoping pipe from disengaging with the lens as the telescoping pipe moves into the initial position.

4. The bubbler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the telescoping pipe comprises a weight with a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the inner ring of the lens to prevent the telescoping pipe from disengaging with the lens as the telescoping pipe moves into the extended position.

5. The bubbler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the telescoping pipe is fluidly coupled with a water-recirculation system and wherein pressurized water from the water-recirculation system causes the telescoping pipe to move from its initial position into its extended position.

6. The bubbler assembly of claim 5 , wherein the second end of the telescoping pipe comprises a weight that biases the telescoping pipe from the extended position into the initial position when the pressurized water is not acting on the telescoping pipe.

7. The bubbler assembly of claim 5 , wherein the bubbler assembly is configured so that the pressurized water pushes against a lower surface of the second end of the telescoping pipe.

8. The bubbler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the telescoping pipe is flexible.

9. A bubbler assembly comprising a pipe configured to telescope with respect to an aperture in a surface of a pool or spa, the pipe comprising:
a first end that is positioned (i) flush or generally flush with the surface of the pool or spa when the pipe is in an initial position and (ii) adjacent a surface of water of the pool or spa when the pipe is in an extended position, wherein the surface of the water of the pool or spa is spaced apart from the surface of the pool or spa and wherein at least part of the pipe is positioned within the water of the pool or spa when the pipe is in the extended position; and
a second end that is positioned (i) below the surface of the pool or spa in the initial position and (ii) flush or generally flush with the surface of the pool or spa in the extended position, wherein the pipe is coupled to a lens that comprises an electrically-powered source of illumination.

10. The bubbler assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first end of the pipe comprises a lip that prevents the first end of the pipe from retracting beneath the surface of the pool or spa as the pipe moves from its extended position to its initial position.

11. The bubbler assembly of claim 10 , wherein a diameter of the lip is larger than a diameter of the aperture of the surface of the pool or spa.

12. The bubbler assembly of claim 9 , wherein the second end comprises a stop feature that prevents the second end of the pipe from extending beyond the surface of the pool or spa as the pipe moves from its initial position to its extended position.

13. The bubbler assembly of claim 12 , wherein a diameter of the stop feature is larger than a diameter of the aperture of the surface of the pool or spa.

14. The bubbler assembly of claim 9 , wherein the aperture includes a stop feature that prevents the pipe from disconnecting with the aperture as the pipe moves between its initial position and its extended position.

15. The bubbler assembly of claim 14 , wherein the stop feature is a circular disc.

16. The bubbler assembly of claim 9 , wherein the pipe is coupled with a water-recirculation system such that pressurized water of the water-recirculation system acts on the second end of the pipe to move the pipe from its initial position to its extended position.

17. The bubbler assembly of claim 16 , wherein the second end of the pipe comprises a weight that biases the pipe from its extended position to its initial position when the pressurized water is not acting on the pipe.

18. The bubbler assembly of claim 17 , wherein the weight prevents the second end of the pipe from extending beyond the surface of the pool or spa as the pipe moves from its initial position to its extended position.

19. The bubbler assembly of claim 9 , wherein:
the first end of the pipe is flush or generally flush with the lens when the pipe is in the initial position; and
the second end of the pipe is beneath the lens in the initial position.

20. The bubbler assembly of claim 9 , wherein:
the first end of the pipe is positioned between the second end of the pipe and the surface of the water of the pool or spa when the pipe is in the initial position.

Assignees

• Zodiac Pool Systems Llc

Inventors

• Archer Roy
• Palma Joseph A

Classifications

• A61H33/0087

  Therapeutic baths with agitated or circulated water · CPC title

• A61H33/0091

  Water agitated by means moving in the bath, i.e. without water connections to an outside pump circuit · CPC title

• A61H2201/0188

  Illumination related features · CPC title

• E04H4/12

  Devices or arrangements for circulating water {, i.e. devices for removal of polluted water, cleaning baths or for water treatment} · CPC title

• A61H2201/0161

  Size reducing arrangements when not in use, for stowing or transport · CPC title