US3509584A - Swimming pool recreational device - Google Patents

Description

May 5, 1970 C-.A..SABLE SWIMMING POOL RECREATIONAL DEVICE Filed Sept. 18, 1967 w 6R5 5 A 6 w in m r mw h E 5 s z 5 c w 0 .0

United States PatentOflice 4 A Patented May 5, 1970 3,509,584 SWIMMING POOL RECREATIONAL DEVICE Chester A. Sable, 9314 Ethel St., Cypress, Calif. 90630 Filed Sept. 18, 1967, Ser. No. 668,568 Int. 'Cl. E04h 3/16 US. Cl. 4-172 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hand-held nozzle device is connected via a flexible hose to a supply of pressurized water. The nozzle is also connected via a second flexible hose, the other end of which is maintained above the pool water surface by a float. As pressurized water is expelled from the nozzle, it is mixed with air brought via the second flexible hose to form a pressurized stream of water and entrained air. The device can be used for recreational purposes in a swimming pool, such as propelling a small boat or rubber air-filled mattress, or for directing onto the body of an individual to produce a pleasing sensation, among other uses.

The present invention pertains generally to a recreational device, and, more particularly, to a hydraulic device for providing a pressurized stream of mixed air and water to be directed against the human body to produce a pleasing effect, for propelling a small craft about a swimming pool, or for other general recreational purposes.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the invention to provide a hand-held device including a hydraulic nozzle for directing an air and water pressurized stream along selective directions for amusement purposes.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a hydraulic amusement device, particularly for use in a swimming pool, wherein a float member is provided for supplying air to the nozzle thereby permitting use of the device beneath the surface of the Water.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device for directing a stream of pressurized air and water along selective directions for use as a motive means to reactively propel a small boat or other floating object about the pool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION,

A hand-held nozzle means has a first connection for receiving pressurized water via a flexible tube from a suitable source. A second fitting on the nozzle means is connected to the air insuch manner that passage of the pressurized water through the nozzle means entrains the air with it, producing a bubbly, somewhat frothy mixture which is expelled from the nozzle in a pressurized stream. The air connection to the nozzle means is accomplished via a flexible tube, the extremity of which is mounted in a float member that maintains the extremity of the flexible tube above the surface of the water.

Other objects, advantages and uses for the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a swimming pool showing the device of the invention being used by a bather.

FIGURE 2 is a perpective, partially sectional view of a float means and air supply tube of the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of the nozzle means of the invention of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 in FIGURE 3.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGURE 1 depicts generally a portion of a swimming pool 10 having sidewalls 11 and filled with water 12. A bather 13 is illustrated directing a stream 14 of mixed water and air from the apparatus 15 of the invention against a floating ball 16 in recreation. Of course, there are many other recreational uses for the apparatus such as a means for propelling a small boat or air mattress to carry a bather about the pool, or several such apparatus may be used by different individuals for directing streams of the air-water mixture onto one another in play. Still further, directing the stream against the body produces a soothing restful effect, as well as a generally pleasant sensation.

The apparatus 15 of the invention includes as its major elements a special mixing and ejector means 17, a flexible pressurized water supply hose 17, a flexible air supply tube 19 and a float 20. In a way that will be more fully described later herein, the mixing and ejector means 17 uses pressurized water provided via the hose 18 to entrain air provided by the tubing 19 and which air-water mixture is ejected as the bubbly stream 14.

A suitable supply source of water to which the hose 18 can be connected may be a conventional domestic water tap located relatively remotely from the pool, or may be the pool filtering system itself, with connection made at an outlet usually provided adjacent the filter pump. Since the type and location: of water source do not form an essential part of the invention, no depiction in the drawing has been provided.

With reference now particularly to FIGURE 2, the float 2 0 is seen to comprise a generally spheroidal, hollow member having a pair of openings 21. and: 22 through which the tube passes. The wall portions of the float immediately adjacent the opening 22 are formed into a boss 23 having a flat outwardly directed surface. The,

openings 21 and 22 are of such respective dimensions as to permit the tube 19 to be readily passedtherethrough and yet seal the interior of the float, against the ingress of pool water.

In a preferred construction of the invention, the extremity of the tube 19 extends outwardly of the boss 23 and is provided with a short piece of sleeving 24 for lockingly securing the tube 19 to the float 20. The sleeving 24 can be cemented to the tube, or have internal dimensions relative to the tubing outer diameter so as to provide a strong frictional engagement between the two.

It is important that the tube 19 be highly flexible in order to insure that the float 20 will maintain its upright condition as depicted in FIGURE 1 with the extremity of the tube kept above the water level throughout.

With reference now particularly to FIGURES 3 and 4, the mixing and ejector means 17 includes a generally hollow T-shaped portion 25 the extremity of the upright portion of which is provided with a conventional female fitting 26 for receiving a complementary fitting 27 on the hose 18. Into one of the open ends of the cross-bar of the body 25 there is received a tubular nozzle 28, the inner end portion of which is flared asat 29. A plug member 30 fitted into the other open end of the body 25 cross-bar includes a hollow tubular member 31 that is axially disposed within the cross-bar cavity with its extremity 32 located Within the flared entrance 29 of the nozzle 28. An opening 33 is formed through both the cross bar wall of the body 25 and the plug 30 to communicate with the cavity 34 of the tubular member 31. A cylindrical fitting 35 is received within theopening 33 and extends outwardly of the body 25 to serve as a connection means for the tube 19. Although other materials may be found to be equally satisfactory, in a preferred construction of the means 17, the individual parts described immediately above were made of thermosetting plastic and secured into a unitary construction by cementing the various parts together.

In operation, pressurized water provided via a hose 18 enters the internal portions of. the T-shaped body and moves in the direction shown by the arrows first in surrounding relationshippto the tubular member 31 and then exiting through the nozzle 28 to the exterior. As the water moves past the open end 32 of the member 31 a partial vacuum is created which serves to induce the 'air made available through the tube 19 to flow along with the water, thereby entraining the air within the water and forming the bubbly air-water mixture 14.

In theusual manner of use, the mixing and ejector means 17 is held in a bather s hand 36 by clasping the upright portion of the T-shaped body 25 and adjacent hose portions in a pistol grip as shown in FIGURE 3.

As an alternate mode of use, the flat surface 37 is positioned in contact with the vertical sidewall surface 11 of the pool at approximately water level, or, slightly below water level. The reaction force of the air-water stream 14 holds the means 17 in contact with the sidewall 11, eliminating the requirementof holding the equipment in the hand. This manner of operation is especially adaptable for such uses as directing the stream onto the back or other relatively inaccessible parts of the anatomy.

There is provided an accordance with the practice of the present invention a recreational device for use particularly in or adjacent a swimming pool. The device ejects a stream of pressurized air-water for playing onto parts of a bathers own (or anothers) anatomy in sport, for use as a propulsion means for a small boat or air mattress located in the pool, or to soothe tired muscles and produce a general feeling of well-being in an individual induced by the gentle massaging of underlying muscles and tissues when directed onto the anatomy.

Although but one specific embodiment of the. present invention has been described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, many changes and modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. The particular embodiment chosen has been selected for the purpose of illustration only. The present invention should, therefore, not be limited to the embodiment so selected, the true scope of the invention being measured instead by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Aquatic amusement apparatus for hand-held use in the vicinity of a body of water, comprising in combination:

hydraulic mixing and emitting means including first and second fittings with associated passageways in communication with a common cavity within the said means;

flexible hose means interconnecting the first fitting with a source of pressurized water;

flexible tubing having one end connected to the second fitting; and

a float disposed in the body of water, the other end of the flexible tubing being carried by the float in such orientation as to maintain said other end in continuous communicating relation with the air.

3. Aquatic amusement apparatus as in claim 2, in which a sleeve member is received over the end of the tubing extending outwardly of the float and frictionally engaging the tubing, said sleeve member being larger than the opening in the float.

4. Aquatic amusement apparatus as in, claim 2, in which the float includes a relatively thin-walled hollow mem her, the tubing passing through a pair of substantially aligned openings in the float member walls, the axis of said openings lying substantially vertically.

5. Aquatic amusement apparatus for use in a swim ming pool, comprising in combination:

hydraulic mixing and emitting means including first and second fittings with associated passageways in communication with a common cavity within the said means;

flexible hose means interconnecting the first fitting with a source of pressurized water;

flexible tubing having one end connected to the second fitting; and

a float disposed in the body of water, the other end of the flexible tubing being carried by the float in such orientation as to maintain said other end in continuous communicating relation with the air;

said hydraulic and emitting means including a mixing cavity, exit orifice means communicating with the cavity, a tubular member connected to the second fitting having an end disposed in the region of the exit orifice means, and a flat outer Wall portion located at substantially -degrees to the stream emitting from the exit orifices means and facing diametrically opposite the direction of the emitted airwater stream whereby on positioning said flat surface portion against a vertical pool wall surface the reaction force of the emitted air-water stream tends to maintain the mixing and emitting means against said pool wall surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,824,408 2/1958 Cauley 46-95 2,997,736 8/1961 Ine 239423 XR 3,122,326 2/1964 Cook 239424 XR 3,237,343 3/1966 Blanchard 46-95 3,240,398 3/1966 Dalton 222l93 3,279,703 10/1966 Steltz et al 239-424 XR 3,315,692 4/1967 Arneson 4l72 XR LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

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