Bath system and method

Abstract

Provided is a bath fluid heating system that includes an inlet, an outlet, a pump located in a fluid path extending between the inlet and the outlet, a heater located in the fluid path extending between the inlet and the outlet. During use, a bathing fluid is to flow into the inlet, to flow through the heater, to flow through the pump and to flow out of the outlet. The fluid path is oriented at an angle to facilitate drainage of substantially all of the bathing fluid from the fluid path.

1 . A method of maintaining a bath fluid temperature, comprising:
 monitoring a bath fluid temperature to identify a first temperature of the fluid;   identifying the first temperature;   maintaining the bath fluid at the first fluid temperature;   identifying a temperature change threshold;   monitoring the bath fluid temperature to detect a change in the bath fluid temperature,   detecting a change in the bath fluid temperature from the first temperature to a second temperature, wherein the change in the bath fluid temperature exceeds the temperature change threshold; and   maintaining, in response to detecting a change in the bath fluid temperature from the first temperature to a second temperature, the bath fluid at the second fluid temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature change threshold comprises an absolute difference in temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature change threshold comprises a rate of change in temperature. 
     
     
         4 . A bath fluid heating system, comprising:
 an inlet;   an outlet;   a pump located in a fluid path extending between the inlet and the outlet;   a heater located in the fluid path extending between the inlet and the outlet;   wherein, during use, a bathing fluid is configured to flow into the inlet, to flow through the heater, to flow through the pump and to flow out of the outlet, and   wherein the fluid path is oriented at an angle configured to facilitate drainage of substantially all of the bathing fluid from the fluid path.   
     
     
         5 . The bath fluid heating system of  claim 4 , wherein the inlet, outlet, the pump and the heater are disposed in cascading arrangement with respect to one another. 
     
     
         6 . The bath fluid heating system of  claim 4 , further comprising conduits extending between each of the inlet, the pump, the heater, and/or the outlet, wherein the conduit is substantially level or angled downward. 
     
     
         7 . The bath fluid heating system of  claim 4 , wherein the heater is angled downward such that an outlet of the heater is below an inlet of the heater. 
     
     
         8 . The bath fluid heating system of  claim 4 , wherein the outlet is disposed below the inlet, the pump and the heater. 
     
     
         9 . The bath fluid heating system of  claim 4 , wherein the outlet comprises a drain port. 
     
     
         10 . A fluid outlet system for a bathing fluid circulation system, comprising:
 a baffle comprising:
 a body configured to be disposed adjacent an interior wall of bathtub wall; 
 an inlet configured to receive water flow from a fluid circulation system; and 
 one or more lateral ports configured to expel the water flow from the outlet in a direction substantially parallel to the interior wall of the bathtub. 
   
     
     
         11 . The fluid outlet system of  claim 10 , wherein the baffle comprises a plurality of lateral ports disposed about a circumference of the baffle body. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid outlet system of  claim 10 , wherein the baffle comprises a substantially solid central portion configured to direct fluid flow into the lateral ports. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid outlet system of  claim 10 , wherein the baffle comprises a substantially solid central portion configured to block fluid from exiting substantially perpendicular to the to the interior wall of the bathtub. 
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising:
 identifying a cavitation condition in a fluid path comprising a pump; and   cycling, in response to identifying the cavitation condition, the pump into an inactive state for a given period of time.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein identifying a cavitation condition in a fluid path comprising a pump comprises detecting a drop in power consumption by the pump. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein identifying a cavitation condition in a fluid path comprising a pump comprises detecting in increase in temperature along the fluid path that exceeds a threshold temperature change. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein cycling the pump into an inactive state for a given period of time comprises turning the pump off for a period of time sufficient to allow trapped air to escape via the fluid path.