Water jet mechanism for whirlpool effect in pedicures or other applications

Abstract

A whirlpool foot bath for a pedicure chair having a housing with a removable cap and a motor within the housing. Water in the bath is circulated through an inlet in the cap and out through at least one outlet in the cap. The cap has a central integral sleeve. A method of use is described.

1 . In a motor pump assembly adapted to be attached to the wall of a basin externally thereof, the combination of a driven rotary impeller connected to the motor pump assembly and having a plurality of vanes, and a collar fitted to the motor pump assembly and connected to the enclosure, a retaining cap removably connected to the collar, the cap being within the enclosure, the retaining cap having a plurality of inlet openings centrally disposed thereon and further having a plurality of outlet openings radially of the inlet openings, and the retaining cap further having a central integral sleeve disposed inwardly thereof, substantially aligned coaxially with the plurality of inlet openings, and disposed radially between the inlet and outlet openings on the retaining cap, the sleeve extending towards the vanes on the impeller and defining therebetween a relatively narrow axial gap such that water is drawn in from the enclosure axially through the inlet openings in the retaining cap, passes through the sleeve for engagement with the vanes, and is discharged axially through the outlet openings on the retaining cap and back into the enclosure with relatively high-velocity streams. 
   
   
       2 . The motor pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the axial gap between the sleeve and the impeller is approximately 2 mm. 
   
   
       3 . The motor pump assembly of  claim 1  having three inlet openings. 
   
   
       4 . The motor pump assembly of  claim 1  having two outlet openings. 
   
   
       5 . The motor pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet openings are angled outwardly from one another. 
   
   
       6 . The motor pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the impeller is removable. 
   
   
       7 . The motor pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cap is removably connected to the collar with a twist-lock connection. 
   
   
       8 . The motor pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the collar has a threaded exterior surface and a flanged top end, the cap being connected to the flanged top end, a gasket being disposed abutting the flanged top end adjacent to the threaded surface of the collar, an internally threaded ring being received on the cooperating threaded exterior surface of the collar wherein the wall of the basin engages the gasket by rotating the threaded ring to seal the collar against the wall of the basin, the collar having an opening disposed around the impeller distal from the cap, the collar having a smooth internal surface, the internal surface of the collar having a curved fillet transitioning to axial walls extending to the flanged top end of the collar. 
   
   
       9 . The motor pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the motor pump assembly has a fitting having a means formed thereon to receive, and lock thereto, the collar, an opening formed on the means to receive the collar, a loop-type retainer being removably received in the opening and when so received, the loop-type retainer preventing movement of the collar. 
   
   
       10 . A cap for a motor pump assembly wherein water is circulated from a basin, the cap being removably connected to the motor pump assembly, the cap having a plurality of inlet openings centrally disposed thereon, a plurality of outlet openings radially of the inlet openings, the retaining cap further having a central integral sleeve disposed inwardly thereof, substantially aligned coaxially of the plurality of inlet openings and disposed radially between the inlet openings and the outlet openings. 
   
   
       11 . The cap of  claim 10 , wherein the cap has three outlet openings. 
   
   
       12 . The cap of  claim 10 , wherein the cap has two outlet openings. 
   
   
       13 . The cap of  claim 12 , wherein the outlet openings are angled outwardly from one another. 
   
   
       14 . A method for circulating water in a basin in a pedicure chair comprising the steps of:
 providing a motor pump assembly having a collar fitted thereto, a driven rotary impeller being connected to the outer pump assembly, the impeller having a plurality of vanes disposing the motor pump assembly in an opening in a wall of the basin in the pedicure chair wherein a watertight seal is formed between the collar and the wall of the basin, the impeller being in a well and communicating with the basin in the pedicure chair,   providing a removable cap for the motor pump assembly, the cap being removably connected to the collar wherein the cap is within the basin in the pedicure chair, the cap having a plurality of inlet openings centrally disposed thereon, the cap having at least two outlet openings formed radially of the inlet openings, the cap having a central integral sleeve disposed inwardly thereof substantially aligned coaxially of the plurality of inlet openings and disposed radially between the inlet openings and the at least two outlet openings, the sleeve extending toward the vanes on the impeller and defining therebetween a relatively narrow axial gap.   wherein when the motor pump is actuated, water from the basin is drawn radially through the inlet openings in the cap and passes through the sleeve onto the vanes of the rotating impeller, the water being propelled with relatively high-velocity through the outlet openings and into the basin in the pedicure chair where the force of the water from the outlet openings produces a circulation pattern in the basin.   
   
   
       15 . A retaining cap removably attached to a motor pump assembly, the motor pump assembly secured to the bath of a pedicure machine externally thereof, wherein the motor pump assembly includes a rotating impeller provided with a plurality of circumferentially-spaced vanes, the retaining cap having a longitudinal axis and further having a central portion substantially concentrically thereof, the central portion of the retaining cap being provided with a plurality of inlet openings for permitting the water from the bath to be drawn into the vanes of the motor pump assembly, the retaining cap further having a pair of outlet openings radially of the plurality of inlet openings, substantially diametrically opposite to one another, and outwardly splayed with respect to each other relative to the longitudinal axis of the retaining cap, first means for channeling the inlet water flow through the inlet openings and centrally of the motor pump assembly and into the vanes thereof, and second means for discharging the water tangentially of the vanes, through a restricted opening and radially of the first means, and with a relatively high velocity out of the pair of splayed outlet openings in the retaining cap.