Hydrotherapy assembly for a swimming pool

Abstract

A hydrotherapy assembly including a connector and a jet device. The connector has a first portion directly connected to a return line port of the swimming pool and a second portion protruding in the pool. The jet device has a water entry port detachably connected to the second portion, an air entry port receiving air, and at least one jet valve. Each jet valve has water and air inlets in fluid communication respectively with the water and air entry ports and an outlet in fluid communication with the water and air inlets and letting through a mixed flow of air and water. The jet device is removable when not in use by detaching the water entry port from the second portion. A hydrotherapy device with a substantially rectangular casing and a method of installing a hydrotherapy device are also disclosed.

1 . A hydrotherapy assembly for a swimming pool, the assembly comprising: 
 a connector having first and second portions, the first portion being directly connected to a return line port defined in a wall of the swimming pool, the second portion protruding from the wall within the swimming pool, the connector having a conduit defined through the first and second portions and letting a water flow from the return line pass therethrough; and    a jet device having a water entry port detachably connected to the second portion in fluid communication with the conduit such that the water flow enters the water entry port, an air entry port receiving air, and at least one jet valve, each of the at least one jet valve having a water inlet in fluid communication with the water entry port, an air inlet in fluid communication with the air entry port, and an outlet in fluid communication with the water and air inlets and letting through a mixed flow of air and water, the jet device being removable when not in use by detaching the water entry port from the second portion.    
   
   
       2 . The hydrotherapy assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the connector is removably connected to the return line port.  
   
   
       3 . The hydrotherapy assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the first portion of the connector is threaded and threadingly engaged with a threaded portion of the return line port.  
   
   
       4 . The hydrotherapy assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the water entry port includes a sleeve in communication with the second portion of the connector and having a first pair of diametrically opposed transverse holes, the second portion of the connector has a second pair of diametrically opposed transverse holes aligned with the first pair, and a pin is insertable through the first and second pairs of holes to retain the water entry port and second portion together, the pin being slidably removable from the aligned pairs of holes.  
   
   
       5 . The hydrotherapy assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the jet device includes an elongated casing having a top portion located above a water line of the swimming pool and a bottom portion located below the water line, the bottom portion including the water entry port and the outlet of each of the at least one jet valve, the top portion including the air entry port, the casing extending vertically adjacent to the swimming pool wall.  
   
   
       6 . The hydrotherapy assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one jet valve includes at least three vertically spaced apart jet valves.  
   
   
       7 . The hydrotherapy assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the jet device includes a chair having a seat portion connected to a back portion, the water inlet being defined within the back portion and the at least one jet valve being included in one of the seat and back portions, the chair having a support portion resting on at least one of a floor and a border of the swimming pool to support a weight of a user.  
   
   
       8 . A hydrotherapy device for a swimming pool, the device comprising: 
 a casing having substantially rectangular front and rear walls interconnected by opposed side walls, a bottom wall and a top wall, the casing being adapted to be retained with the rear wall facing a swimming pool wall and with top and bottom portions of the casing respectively located above and below a water line of the swimming pool;    a water inlet extending from the casing and connectable to a water supply of the swimming pool;    an air inlet defined in the top portion of the casing;    at least two jet valves located within the casing, each of the jet valves being in fluid communication with the water and air inlets through conduits located within the casing and producing a mixed flow of air and water; and    an outlet in fluid communication with each one of the jet valves to expel the mixed flow of air and water, the outlet being defined in the front wall in the bottom portion of the casing.    
   
   
       9 . The hydrotherapy device according to  claim 8 , wherein the water inlet is rigidly connectable to the water supply with a connection between the water inlet and the water supply retaining the casing adjacent the swimming pool wall.  
   
   
       10 . The hydrotherapy device according to  claim 8 , wherein the water inlet extends from the rear wall of the casing and is connectable to the water supply through a direct connection to a return line port defined in the swimming pool wall.  
   
   
       11 . The hydrotherapy device according to  claim 10 , wherein the direct connection includes a connector detachably connected to the return line port.  
   
   
       12 . The hydrotherapy device according to  claim 11 , wherein the connector is detachably connected to the return line port through a threaded engagement.  
   
   
       13 . The hydrotherapy device according to  claim 10 , wherein the direct connection includes a connector detachably connected to the water inlet.  
   
   
       14 . The hydrotherapy device according to  claim 13 , wherein the connector is detachably connected to the water inlet through a pin inserted in aligned diametrically opposed holes defined in the water inlet and the connector.  
   
   
       15 . The hydrotherapy device according to  claim 8 , wherein the outlet of a first of the jet valves is vertically spaced apart from the outlet of a second of the jet valves when the casing is retained against the swimming pool wall.  
   
   
       16 . A method of installing a hydrotherapy device within a swimming pool, the method comprising: 
 detaching a first portion of a return line port of a swimming pool from a second portion of the return line, the second portion having a first conduit defined therein for a water supply of the swimming pool;    attaching a connector having a second conduit defined therein to the second portion of the return line port with the second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit; and    attaching the water entry port of the hydrotherapy device to the connector to be in fluid communication with the second conduit.    
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the second portion includes an internally threaded ring surrounding the first conduit, the connector includes an externally threaded cylindrical surface surrounding the second conduit, and the step of attaching the connector is performed by threadingly engaging the externally threaded cylindrical surface with the internally threaded ring.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the water entry port includes a third conduit, and the step of attaching the hydrotherapy device is performed by slidably engaging the second and third conduits and inserting a pin through aligned diametrically opposed transverse holes in the second and third conduits.