Safety device

Abstract

A method or apparatus to restrain hair entrapment or body entrapment in a suction fitting or an existing faceplate of a suction fitting on a whirlpool bathtub, spa or swimming pool. The device may include a filter, or a cover, or a suction housing or a combination thereof. The filter or cover will not restrict a water outlet fitting by more than a certain percentage, if at all, when a specified amount of a specified test dirt is running through the cover or filter.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A safety suction device for a whirlpool bathtub, or spa, or swimming pool, comprising:
 a cover for a suction housing of the whirlpool bathtub, spa or swimming pool, the cover having water flow through passages and measuring less than eight inches in length, less than eight inches in height and less than four inches in depth;   a filter having water flow through passages;   wherein the cover and the filter are together configured to accommodate a high velocity water flow of over thirty five gallons per minute being drawn from the whirlpool bathtub, spa or swimming pool through their respective water flow through passages by the suction housing;   wherein the safety suction device is configured to restrict water flow out a water return fitting of the whirlpool bathtub, spa or swimming pool by less than fifteen percent when the high velocity water flow is flowing through the safety suction device; and   wherein, in the presence of the high velocity water flow through the safety suction device, the water flow through passages of the filter and the cover are sized and oriented with respect to each other to inhibit or prevent water saturated hair on a person's head from engaging with the water flow through passages of the filter and the cover in a manner that they become entangled so as to prevent the person from raising their head above a waterline of the whirlpool bathtub, spa or swimming pool.   
   
   
       22 . The safety suction device of  claim 21 , wherein the filter is integrated with the cover during an injection molding process to form a single part. 
   
   
       23 . The safety suction device of  claim 21 , wherein the filter has an inside surface, at least a portion of which is configured for placement adjacent to the cover and for placement in a parallel manner to the cover so as to maintain water direction at entry points of the water flow through passages of the filter to a back side of the cover. 
   
   
       24 . The safety suction device of  claim 21 , wherein the filter is made out of a material that stretches. 
   
   
       25 . The safety suction device of  claim 21 , wherein a diameter of each of the water flow through passages of the filter is between approximately 20 microns and 275 microns. 
   
   
       26 . The safety suction device of  claim 21 , wherein the water flow through passages of the filter number greater than 101 per square inch. 
   
   
       27 . The safety suction device of  claim 21 , wherein the water flow through passages of the filter are substantially evenly spaced apart by less than approximately 200 microns. 
   
   
       28 . The safety suction device of  claim 21 , further comprising a cavitation system that decreases water draw incrementally through the water flow through passages of the filter and the cover in relation to an amount of the water flow through passages that are blocked. 
   
   
       29 . A retrofit water filter media for a faceplate of a whirlpool bathtub, a spa or a swimming pool, the retrofit water filter media comprising:
 an outside surface and an inside surface having formed therein a plurality of water flow through passages, at least a portion of the inside surface of the retrofit water filter media is configured for placement adjacent to an existing faceplate of a suction fitting of a whirlpool bathtub, spa or swimming pool having a water suction inlet and for placement in a parallel manner to the existing faceplate so as to maintain water direction at entry points of the plurality of water flow through passages to a back side of the existing faceplate;   the plurality of water flow through passages sized to inhibit water saturated hair on a person's head from penetrating the existing faceplate in a manner to prevent the person from raising their head above a waterline of the whirlpool bathtub, the spa or the swimming pool in the presence of high velocity water flow being drawn from the whirlpool bathtub, the spa or the swimming pool through the existing faceplate; and   wherein the retrofit water filter media is configured to about the size of the existing faceplate, the retrofit water filter media is configured to be placed over the existing faceplate and be retained thereon until a person removes the retrofit water filter media from the existing faceplate, the retrofit water filter media is capable of accommodating a high velocity water flow of at least thirty five gallons per minute, the retrofit water filter media is configured to not restrict water flow out of a water return fitting of the whirlpool bathtub, spa or swimming pool by more than thirty five percent when the high velocity water flow is passing through the retrofit water filter media.   
   
   
       30 . The retrofit water filter media of  claim 29 , wherein a stretchable material forms the plurality of water flow through passages. 
   
   
       31 . The retrofit water filter media of  claim 29 , wherein the stretchable material comprises nylon. 
   
   
       32 . The retrofit water filter media of  claim 30 , wherein the plurality of water flow through passages result from a weave or knit pattern of fibers of the stretchable material. 
   
   
       33 . The retrofit water filter media of  claim 29 , wherein a diameter of each of the plurality of water flow through passages is between approximately 20 microns and 275 microns. 
   
   
       34 . The retrofit water filter media of  claim 29 , wherein the plurality of water flow through passages number over 101 per square inch. 
   
   
       35 . The retrofit water filter media of  claim 29 , wherein the plurality of water flow through passages are substantially evenly spaced apart by less than 200 microns. 
   
   
       36 . The retrofit water filter media of  claim 29 , further comprising a chemical that releases into water. 
   
   
       37 . A safety suction device for a whirlpool bathtub, spa or swimming pool, comprising:
 a safety device configured for placement over an existing faceplate so as to cause a segment of the safety device to directly abut a segment of the existing faceplate;   means functioning to inhibit body entrapment in the safety device and the existing faceplate from a suction force created by over thirty five gallons per minute water flow passing through the existing faceplate;   means functioning to reduce hair entrapment in the existing faceplate from suction force created by the over thirty five gallons per minute water flow passing through the existing faceplate;   means functioning to keep the safety device over the existing faceplate until a person removes it; and   wherein the safety device is configured to reduce water pressure out a water return fitting by less than thirty five percent when the over thirty five gallons per minute water flow is passing through the safety device and the existing faceplate.   
   
   
       38 . The safety suction device of  claim 37 , wherein the means functioning to inhibit body entrapment comprises a raised member having a water flow through opening in direct abutment to a filter media 
   
   
       39 . A safety device for a whirlpool bathtub, a spa or a swimming pool, comprising:
 a suction faceplate;   a first filter media, the first filter media directly abuts a segment of the suction faceplate or is integrated in the injection molding process with the suction faceplate to form a single part, the first filter media includes water flow through passages at least three of which are spaced less than 1,400 microns apart, the water flow through passages are configured to prevent hair entrapment in the suction faceplate in a form of a person being prevented from raising their head above a waterline of the whirlpool bathtub, the spa or the swimming pool when a high velocity water flow of thirty five gallons per minute is passing through the first filter media;   a water jet; and   a second filter media, the second filter media abuts a segment of the water jet, the second filter media and the first filter media are configured to not restrict water flow out of the water jet by more than thirty five percent when the high velocity water flow is passing through the suction faceplate.