Valve system for a spa and a spa incorporating same

Abstract

A valve system for a spa includes a jet manifold which is coupled to all of the water jets associated with a seat in the spa and which is coupled to an individual water pump for the seat. A T-fitting is interposed between the manifold and the pump. A conduit is coupled from the T-fitting to a valve which is coupled to a second which extends to suction fittings in the bottom of the spa. When the valve is opened, water is diverted from the manifold thereby reducing the volume of water supplied to the jets and thus reducing the pressure of the water streams at the associated seat without affecting the water pressure at other seats. A spa according to the invention includes a plurality of seats, each associated with a group of water jets, each group of jets being coupled to a valve system with an associated pump.

1 . A spa, comprising: 
 a tub;    a plurality of water jets mounted in said tub, said water jets arranged into two or more groups, each of said groups including a plurality of water jets; and    a first valve coupled to one of said groups of water jets which adjusts water flow through said one of said groups without affecting water flow through the other groups.    
   
   
       2 . The spa according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first pump having an outlet coupled to said one of said groups, said first valve being arranged to divert water from said first pump outlet away from said one of said groups.    
   
   
       3 . The spa according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first valve is arranged to rotate less than 360° from fully opened to fully closed.    
   
   
       4 . The spa according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said first valve is arranged to rotate approximately 180° from fully opened to fully closed.    
   
   
       5 . A spa according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a second valve is coupled to a second one of said groups of water jets for adjusting water flow through said second one of said groups without affecting water flow through the other groups.    
   
   
       6 . The spa according to  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a second pump having an outlet coupled to said second one of said groups, said second valve being arranged to divert water from said second pump outlet.    
   
   
       7 . The spa according to  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said second valve is arranged to rotate less than 360° from fully opened to fully closed.    
   
   
       8 . The spa according to  claim 7 , wherein: 
 said second valve is arranged to rotate approximately 180° from fully opened to fully closed.    
   
   
       9 . The spa according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said tub defines a plurality of seats, and each group of water jets is associated with a separate seat.    
   
   
       10 . In a spa system including a tub defining seat locations and a plurality of water jets mounted in the tub in groups arranged relative to the seating locations, the improvement comprising: 
 a manifold coupled to one of said groups of jets, said manifold having an inlet for receiving a source of water under pressure; and    a valve coupled to said manifold such that when said valve is opened, water is diverted from said manifold.    
   
   
       11 . A valve system according to  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a pump having an outlet coupled to said manifold coupling for supplying water under pressure.    
   
   
       12 . A valve system according to  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said valve is arranged to rotate less than 360° from fully opened to fully closed.    
   
   
       13 . A valve system according to  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said second valve is arranged to rotate approximately 180° from fully opened to fully closed.