US20090290992A1

US20090290992A1 - Water jet mechanism for whirlpool effect in pedicures or other applications

Info

Publication number: US20090290992A1
Application number: US12/274,155
Authority: US
Inventors: Christopher L. Long
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-12-20
Filing date: 2008-11-19
Publication date: 2009-11-26

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.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/544,363 filed Oct. 6, 2006 which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/312,907 filed Dec. 20, 2005.
The contents and disclosure of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a water jet mechanism and method of use in a pedicure and more particularly, to a motor in a housing having a cap.
2. Description of Related Art
It is known to have a pedicure chair with a basin for bathing the feet of a person (U.S. Pat. No. D454,705 to Long). These types of pedicure chairs have a pipe system to introduce water into, and remove water from, the basin. The water is circulated by a conventional motor-driven, shaft mounted, fan. There is frequently water leakage around the shaft requiring maintenance. Also, the pipe system is subject to accumulation of dirt, mold and bacteria and is very difficult to clean and sterilize after use by each customer. There is the possibility of health concerns, safety and anxiety of customers.
A water circulation unit having a stator which creates a rotating magnetic field and is separated from the water by a magnetically permeable wall and a rotor on the opposite side of the wall is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,225 to Laing. This unit is part of a hot water distribution system which circulates cooled down hot water away from a spigot and brings in hot water such that hot water is always immediately available at the spigot.
Other water circulation means known to persons skilled in the art may also be used. A single phase synchronous motor made by Hanning Elektro-werks (Model DPO 40-020) has been used for several years in washing machines and has proven to be reliable and efficient.
There is a need for a circulating system for water in a pedicure bath which provides adequate movement of the water and which can be cleaned and sterilized rapidly and effectively to provide for the health and anxiety of persons using the pedicure bath.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a system for circulating water in a bath used in a pedicure, a Jacuzzi and a whirlpool bath, the system being rapidly and easily cleaned and sanitized.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of preparing for use a bath used in a pedicure, a Jacuzzi and a whirlpool bath.
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there is disclosed a motor pump assembly adapted to be attached to the wall of a basin externally thereof. There is a 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 is removably connected to the collar, the cap being within the enclosure. The retaining cap has a plurality of inlet openings centrally disposed thereon and further has a plurality of outlet openings radially of the inlet openings. The retaining cap further has 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 extends towards the vanes on the impeller and defines 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.
In further accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there is disclosed a cap for a motor pump assembly wherein water is circulated from a basin. The cap is removably connected to the motor pump assembly. The cap has a plurality of inlet openings centrally disposed thereon and a plurality of outlet openings radially of the inlet openings. The retaining cap further has 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.
In still further accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there is disclosed a method for circulating water in a basin in a pedicure chair. A motor pump assembly is provided having a collar fitted thereto. A driven rotary impeller is connected to the motor pump assembly, the impeller having a plurality of vanes. The motor pump assembly is disposed 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 is in a well and communicates with the basin in the pedicure chair. A removable cap is provided for the motor pump assembly. The cap is removably connected to the collar wherein the cap is within the basin in the pedicure chair. The cap has a plurality of inlet openings centrally disposed thereon. The cap has at least two outlet openings formed radially of the inlet opening. The cap has 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 extends toward the vanes on the impeller and defines therebetween a relatively narrow axial gap. When the motor pump is actuated, water from the basin is drawn axially through the inlet openings in the cap and passes through the sleeve onto the vanes of the rotating impeller. The water is 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.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the enclosed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a person seated in a pedicure chair with their feet in the basin.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the basin showing the person's feet in the bath opposite from a water pump.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the threaded housing on which are mounted a screw ring and ring seals.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section view showing the mounting of the housing in the basin.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the rotor separated from the stator.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the outer surface of the cap to the housing.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the inner surface of the cap of the housing.

FIG. 9 is a cross-section view taken across the lines 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the inner surface of the cap of the housing.

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view showing the rotor in rotation and the movement of water radially from the rotor.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the movement of water within the cap.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing removal of the back ring to access the motor for replacement.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the method of preparing, cleaning and using the pedicure bath.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a plurality of extra rotors and caps in a sterilizing solution to be used to rapidly prepare the basin for the next customer.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the preparation and use of the pedicure chair incorporating the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the top of the alternative cap to the housing.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the bottom of the alternative cap to the housing.

FIG. 19 is a bottom plan view of the alternative cap to the housing.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken across the lines 20-20 of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the motor having an impeller used with the alternative cap to the housing.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the top of the impeller.

FIG. 23 is a bottom plan view of the impeller.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken across the lines 24-24 of FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the bottom of the impeller.

FIG. 26 is a side elevation view of the motor in the housing with the alternative cap mounted in the basin.

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view taken across the lines 27-27 of FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing the motor mounted on the wall of the bath (basin) with the tool being used to remove the impeller.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view showing the impeller removed from the motor.

FIG. 30 is an exploded view showing the motor, the impeller, the collar and the cap.

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the cap within the basin fitted on the collar and partially cut-away to show the motor externally of the basin.

FIG. 32 is the view of FIG. 30 showing the cap removed from the collar.

FIG. 33 is a partially exploded view showing the flow of water into the inlet openings and out of the outlet opening.

FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view of the collar and cap attached to the motor showing the flow of water into and out of the cap and collar.

FIG. 35 is an enlarged view of the sleeve on the cap in proximity to the vanes on the impeller.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, persons receiving a pedicure are usually seated in a pedicure chair 10 which has a basin 12 in which the person's feet are placed. Water is circulated in the basin 12 and is directed at the person's feet.
The jet pump of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3. As show in FIGS. 4-5, a housing 14 has external threads 16 formed thereon. The first end of the housing has an enlarged shoulder 18 formed thereon. A cooperating threaded screw ring 20 is mounted on the threaded housing 14. A first seal ring 22 is disposed adjacent to the enlarged shoulder 18 on the housing and a second seal ring 24 is disposed adjacent to the screw ring 20. The basin 12 has an opening formed in the sidewall or bottom of the basin and the housing 14 is received in the opening with the seal rings 22, 24 on either side of the opening in the sidewall of the basin. Tightening of the screw ring 20 against the basin forms a watertight seal with the respective first seal ring 22 and second seal ring 24 between the basin and the housing. More than one jet pump may be mounted in the basin to provide more efficient circulation of water.
An induction motor is mounted in the housing 14. The induction motor has an electronically activated stator 26 and a permanent magnet rotor (FIG. 6). A motor which has been used satisfactorily is Model D4K-67 supplied by Laing Thermotech, Inc., San Diego, Calif. In a preferred embodiment, the stator has a well formed therein, the opening of the well being oriented toward the basin 12. The rotor has a semi-spherical shape which is received in the well in the stator 26. The rotor 28 may have a central bore 44 thereon and the well may have a post 46 formed centrally therein such that the rotor is always properly seated in the well. The motor has no propeller shaft. The motor has a lifetime in excess of 10,000 hours and is powered by direct current using up to 24V energy. The rotor 28 preferably has a plurality of vanes 30 formed circumferentially therein. When the motor is energized, water in the housing 14 is directed radially from the rotor 28 due to the rotation of the rotor and the vanes in the rotor.
The present invention is not limited to use with an induction motor. A single plane synchronous motor 59 such as Model DPO 40-048 available from Hanning Elektro-werks GmbH & Co. has been used successfully (FIGS. 21-33). This motor has an impeller 58 mounted on the end of a drive shaft 68. The impeller 58 is manually removable from the motor for cleaning between use by each person using the pedicure chair. Removal is facilitated (FIGS. 28-29) to use of a tool 57. The impeller 58 is friction fitted to the drive shaft and the tool elevates the impeller 58 to overcome the friction fitting. Preferably, the impeller 58 has a surface 60 with a plurality of upstanding vanes 62 formed substantially perpendicularly on a first side. It is preferred to have four (4) vanes formed at right angles to one another defining four (4) quadrants, although other numbers of vanes and configurations may be used. A pocket 64 is formed on a second side of the surface 60 forming a watertight seal around a bore 66 which is formed in the motor. A drive shaft 68 is connected to the second side of the surface 60 of the impeller 58. The drive shaft 68 passes through the gasket 64 and is received in the bore 66 in the motor.
As shown in FIGS. 7-10 and 31-32, the cap 32 to the housing 14 is retained on the housing with a twist lock fitting for ease of manual attachment and removal. The cap 32 is disposed within the basin 12. In the central portion of the cap 32, there is at least one opening 34 which serves as a water inlet. Also, there is at least one and preferably three equidistance spaced-apart, outlets 36 formed in the cap 32 outwardly of the inlet 34. An annular rim 37 is formed about the outer surface of the cap 32. The inner surface of the annular rim 37 defines the circumference of the inner surface of the cap 32. The inner surface of the cap 32 has a raised ring 38 formed thereon. The ring 38 is oriented toward the rotor 28 and surrounds the central portion and the water inlet opening 34. Between the raised ring 38 and the outer edge of the cap 32, there is formed a trepan 40. Further formed in the raised ring 38 there is at least one, and preferably three, openings which are the outlet ports 36 or discharge ports. In the embodiment with three outlets, it is preferred that the outlets are spaced apart 120° from one another. The outlet ports 26 pass through the cap 32 and, on the outer surface of the cap 32, there is a circumferential wall 42 around each outlet port 36 forming a respective nozzle.
As shown in FIGS. 11-12, water within the basin 12 is drawn into the intake opening 34 in the center of the cap 32 by rotation of the rotor 28. The vanes in the rotor 28 expel the water radially across the trepan 40. The water is contained by the annular rim 37 and circulates within the cap 32 and is directed axially through the plurality of discharge port outlets 36. When leaving the outlets 36, the circumferential wall 42 on the outlet acts as a nozzle to forcefully direct the water into the basin 12 producing agitation, circulation and a whirlpool effect on the water within the basin.
The stator 26 is electrically connected to a low DC voltage power source using a quick-disconnect fitting 48. The stator 26 is in the housing 14 with the wiring on the opposite side from the rotor 28 and distal from the basin 12. Access to the wiring is through the back or side of the pedicure chair 10 permitting servicing of the motor (FIG. 12).
In a typical use (FIG. 14), the pedicure chair is prepared for a customer by manually twisting and removing the cap 32. The inner surface and outer surface of the cap 32 are wiped with a cloth/tissue having a sterilizing cleaning material, such as alcohol, thereon. Alternately, the cap 32 may be immersed in a sterilizing/cleaning solution. The rotor 28 is manually removed from the stator 26 and cleaned/sterilized in a manner as performed with the cap 32. The stator 26 and the entire inner surface of the housing 14 are wiped with a cloth/tissue having a sterilizing cleaning material thereon.
The cleaned rotor 28 is replaced on the stator 26. Note that due to the magnetic nature of the rotor, it is strongly attracted to the stator. Simply disposing the rotor near the well in the stator is sufficient to have the rotor seal itself in the well with the post 46 in the well received in the bore 44 in the rotor. No tools or special handling are required. The cleaned cap is manually attached to the housing without the need for any tools. The interior of the basin is cleaned/sterilized by wiping with a cloth/tissue having a cleaning/sterilizing material thereon. A predetermined amount of water is placed in the basin. If desired, additional substances such as conditioners, medicaments, fragrances, etc. may be placed in the basin with the water. A customer is seated in the pedicure chair 10 with their feet oriented toward the at least one housing. The motor is activated to circulate the water in the basin and the water is circulated as required for the pedicure. After the pedicure procedure is completed and the customer leaves, the basin is emptied of water and the basin, cap, rotor and interior of the housing and stator are sterilized/cleaned using the above described procedure. The cleaning/sterilizing procedure is completed in approximately one minute or less.
In an alternate embodiment (FIGS. 17-20) the removable cap 32′ has an inner surface and an outer surface. A rim 50 is formed circumferentially about the inner surface. At least one inlet opening 34′ is formed centrally with the cap 32′. A circular wall 52 is formed on the inner surface surrounding the inlet opening 34′. At least one outlet opening 36′ is formed through the cap 32′ between the inlet opening 34′ and the rim 50. In an embodiment having three (3) outlet openings 36′, they are preferably spaced apart 120° from each other. On the outer surface of the cap, each outlet opening has a circumferential wall 42 formed thereabout. The wall 42 extends outwardly from the top surface of the cap forming a nozzle about the respective outlets 36′. Water expelled radially from the cap is directly axially and is projected from the nozzle into the basin. Preferably, the inlet opening 34′ has a plurality of spaced-apart holes 54 arranged in a series of concentric circles. The series of spaced-apart holes are formed on a convex dome 56 extending above the outer surface of the cap 32′.
The removable cap 32 has a further alternate embodiment (FIGS. 31-34). On the inner surface of the cap surrounding the inlet openings 34 there is formed a central integral sleeve 70 directed inwardly. The sleeve 70 is substantially aligned coaxially of the plurality of inlet openings and disposed radially between the inlet and the outlet openings. When the cap is mounted on the motor 59, the end of the sleeve 70, distal from the inlet openings 34, is very close to, but spaced apart by approximately 2 mm from the top edges of the vanes of the impeller 58. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 33-35, the water from the basin in the pedicure chair is drawn axially through the inlet openings 34, flowing through the entire length of the sleeve 70 and directed onto the rotating impeller 58. There is an axial gap 88 between the end of the sleeve 70 and the surface 60 of the impeller 58. The water is forcefully driven radially by the vanes 62 of the impeller 58 through the gap 88 toward the interior walls of the collar and upwardly through the outlets 36 in the cap. In this manner, the water is propelled from the outlets 36 into the basin within the pedicure chair where it may be directed toward the feet of the person seated in the pedicure chair. The outlet 36 may be oriented angularly with respect to the cap and to one another. The angular orientation is determined by the basin of the pedicure chair to obtain a circulation of the water within the basin. The cap may be formed with two or three outlets 36. In a pedicure chair there are currently two motors with corresponding caps, each cap having three outlets. However, with a smaller, portable pedicure basin, a smaller motor may be used. In this configuration it is preferred to have a cap with two outlets 36 with a single motor.
In a preferred embodiment (FIG. 30), the motor 59 has a fitting 72 attached thereto. The fitting 72 has a means thereon to receive and lock thereto, a collar 74. The means may be a well-known twist-lock mechanism. The collar 74 has a threaded outer surface and a flanged top end 76. A gasket 78 is disposed abutting the flanged top end 76 adjacent to the threaded outer surface of the collar 74. An internally threaded ring 80 is received on the cooperating threaded outer surface of the collar 74. The motor 59 is placed in an opening in the wall of the basin 12 wherein the flanged top end 36 of the collar 74 is disposed within the basin and the threaded outer surface is external of the basin 12. The ring 80 is rotated about the threaded outer surface of the collar to engage the wall of the basin and to form a watertight seal between the gasket 78, the wall of the basin 12 and the top end flange 76 of the collar 74.
To assure the retention of the collar 74 on the motor pump assembly 59 and to prevent radial movement of the collar, the fitting 72 has formed therein an axial opening 82. The loop-type retainer 84 having a straight portion is removably received in the axial opening and due to the loop, curved structure, is retained therein. The loop-type retainer 84 is manually insertable and removable (FIGS. 30 and 34).
The collar 74 has an opening adjacent to the impeller 58 and a smooth internal surface 86 which is formed with a curved fillet adjoining the opening. The curved fillet transitions to axial walls which extend to the flanged top end 76 of the collar 74.
As shown in FIGS. 33-35 as the motor 59 rotates the impeller 58, the incoming water (arrows A) flow through the inlets 34 into the sleeve 70 within the cap and through the narrow gap 88 between the sleeve and the vanes 62 on the impeller 42. The water flows outwardly (arrows B) with greatly increased velocity past the smooth internal surface 86 of the collar and is propelled through the outlets 36 into the basin 12 where the out flowing water produces circulation of water within the basin.
Irrespective of the type of motor used in the housing, the inlet opening 34 in the cap 32 is centrally disposed so that the inlet opening is opposite the motor or the impeller and water is drawn from the basin 12 through the inlet opening 34.
Alternately, there could be provided additional caps and rotors which are maintained in a cleaning/sterilizing bath or are kept in a cleaned/sterilized condition (FIG. 15). These clean components could be used to replace the caps and/or rotors which are to be cleaned. This would further shorten the time to clean the pedicure chair for the next customer. A diagrammatic flowchart of use is presented in FIG. 16.
In the current state-of-the-art, the basin may be wiped with a cloth/tissue having a sterilizing/cleaning material, but is not possible to adequately clean the motor/fan used to circulate the water. Further, in the present chairs, there are pipes through which the water circulates and it is not possible to adequately clean these thoroughly. The absence of dirt, mold or bacteria in these pipes and/or on the motor/fan cannot be assured. Thus, in the present chairs, the alternatives are 1) do not sterilize/clean which can produce unsanitary, dermatological problems for customers, 2) conduct a partial cleaning which is inadequate, or 3) conduct a thorough cleaning which may require approximately 20 minutes and cannot assure the cleanliness of the pipes.
The present invention provides a method of using a pedicure chair which assures that the bath for the customer is safe and sanitary and which can be prepared in a relatively short time.
Although the above description is directed to a pedicure chair, the device may be used in a Jacuzzi, whirlpool bath or similar item.
Obviously, many modifications may be made without departing from the basic spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than has been specifically described herein.

Claims

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.