Whirlpool system

Abstract

A whirlpool system in which a plurality of Venturi-type jets are installed at various selected locations around a bathtub or other vessel wall. The jets are interconnected by airline and waterline tubing that is drastically sloped or arched to promote water drainage between uses. The tubing is co-extruded so that over the major portion of their path between jets, the airline tube and waterline tube are structurally joined so that the airline tube can help resist sagging of the waterline tube. In preferred embodiments, the airline tube is of smaller diameter and of a harder or higher durometer material or a malleable wire, preferably encased in plastic and co-extruded with the air and waterline tube, provides anti-sagging support of the tubes.

1 . In a whirlpool system having a tub with a plurality of Venturi jet heads located at apertures in the wall of the tub and a water pump propelling water through the heads and into the tub interior, and a plurality of waterline and airline tubes serially interconnecting the heads; the improvement comprising:
 said tubes being arched between said heads to promote water drainage therefrom when said pump is turned off; and   said arched tubes being co-extruded along at least a portion of their respective lengths so that said airline tube is connected along its radial surface to the waterline tube along its radial surface, said airline tube thereby resisting the sagging of said waterline tube when said pump is operating.   
   
   
       2 . The improvement recited in  claim 1  wherein the diameter of said airline tube is less than the diameter of said waterline tube. 
   
   
       3 . The improvement recited in  claim 2  wherein said airline tube is made of a material that is harder than the material of which said waterline tube is made. 
   
   
       4 . The improvement recited in  claim 1  further comprising a structural supporting wire running parallel to and in contact with said waterline tube for resisting the sagging of said waterline tube. 
   
   
       5 . The improvement recited in  claim 4  wherein said wire is surrounded along its radial surface by a plastic material. 
   
   
       6 . The improvement recited in  claim 4  wherein said wire is jointly extruded with said waterline tube. 
   
   
       7 . The improvement recited in  claim 4  wherein said wire is jointly extruded with both said waterline tube and said airline tube. 
   
   
       8 . A method of promoting water drainage from a whirlpool system between uses, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) interconnecting whirlpool system jet heads with arched water and air tubes; and   b) co-extruding said water and air tubes to permit the air tubes to resist sagging of the water tubes during operation.   
   
   
       9 . The method recited in  claim 8  further comprising the step of using an air tube material that is harder than the water tube material. 
   
   
       10 . The method recited in  claim 8  further comprising the step of jointly extruding a support wire with said co-extruded water and air tubes.