Hydrotherapy massage device - comprises rigid conduit swivel mounted to allow discharge orifice to traverse path with arcuate and rectilinear segments
Abstract
APARATO DE HIDROTERAPIA QUE INCLUYE UN CONDUCTO ALARGADO RIGIDO QUE TIENE UN ORIFICIO DE SUMINISTRO Y UN ORIFICIO DE DESCARGA. EL CONDUCTO ESTA MONTADO PARA SU MOVIMIENTO GIRATORIO CON EL FIN DE PERMITIR QUE EL ORIFICIO DE DESCARGA ATRAVIESE UNA TRAYECTORIA CARACTERIZADA POR UNA SERIE DE PEQUEÑOS SEGMENTOS DE TRAYECTORIA CIRCULAR O SEMICIRCULAR UNIDOS POR SEGMENTOS DE TRAYECTORIA TRASLACIONAL. EL CONDUCTO SE DESPLAZA A LO LARGO DE DICHA TRAYECTORIA MEDIANTE FUERZAS DE REACCION PRODUCIDAS POR LA CORRIENTE DESCARGADA.

Term
Term ended
Expired 13 July 2008, 18.2 years ago.
- Priority
- Filed
- Granted
- Expired
- Today
33 claims: 4 independent, 29 dependent
- 1REIVINDICACIONES 1. Aparato de hidroterapia para descargar una corriente de fluido util para incidir contra una zona del cuerpo del usuario y darle mensaje, comprendiendo dicho aparato:un medio de suministro que incluye una cavidad y un medio para descargar un chorro de agua a lo largo de un eje definido en dicha cavidad con el fón de crear una succióon en la misma, un conducto rógido alargado que incluye una seccióon de suministro tubular que tiene un orificio de suministro y una seccióon de descarga tubular que tiene un orificio de descarga, un medio que monta dicho conducto, abrióendose dicho orificio de suministro a la mencionada cavidad con lo que el agua suministrada de dicho chorro fluiraó atravóes de dicho conducto al mencionado orificio de descarga, estando orientado dicho orificio de descarga para descargar una corriente de agua que tiene un componente de masaje primario que se extiende sustancialmente en la direccióon del alargamiento de dicho conducto, y un componente de empuje secundario que se extiende sustancialmente perpendicular al alargamiento del conducto, dicho medio de montaje incluye medios giratorios que soportan la seccióon de suministro del conducto para su rotacioón alrededor del eje de la seccióon de suministro y alrededor de los ejes vertical y horizontal orientados perpendicularmente al mencionado eje de la seccióon de suministro, con lo que el orificio de descarga puede trasladarse a lo largo de una trayectoria al azar que describe un aórea sustancialmente planar, y un pasadizo para arrastrar el agua desde el exterior de dicho conducto a la mencionada cavidad con el fón de mitigar el efecto de la succióon en el mencionado conducto.
- 2El aparato de la reivindicacioón 1, en el que el medio de suministro incluye adicionalmente un medio para suministrar aire a dicha cavidad.
- 3El aparato de la reivindicacioón 1, en el que dicho conducto incluye adicionalmente una seccioón intermedia tubular que acopla la seccioón de suministro a la seccióon de descarga, y en el que el eje de dicha seccióon intermedia se desvóa mediante un aóngulo agudo, del eje de dicha seccióon de suministro.
- 4El aparato de la reivindicacioón 3, en el que el eje de dicha seccióon de descarga se desvóa mediante un aóngulo agudo, del plano definido por los ejes de las secciones de suministro e intermedia, con lo que el componente de empuje secundario de la corriente de agua produce una fuerza en la seccióon de descarga que actuóa para trasladar el orificio de descarga a travóes de dicha óarea y girar la seccióon de suministro del conducto alrededor de su eje.
- 5El aparato de la reivindicacioón 4, en el que el medio giratorio define un centro de rotacioón, y en el que la proyeccioón del eje de la seccióon intermedia se desplaza del mencionado centro de rotacióon.
- 6El aparato de la reivindicacioón 1 en combinacion con una banera que tiene una pared perifóerica, un medio que monta dicho aparato en una primera abertura de la mencionada pared perifóerica, estando orientado el conducto para que el agua descargada a travóes de dicho orificio de descarga fluya al interior de dicha banera.
- 7El aparato de la reivindicacióon 6 que incluye una segunda abertura en la mencionada pared perifóerica, una bomba que tiene un lateral de succioón y un lateral de presióon, y un medio que acopla el lateral de succióon de la bomba a la segunda abertura, y el lateral de presióon al medio para descargar el chorro de agua al interior de la mencionada cavidad.
- 8El aparato de la reivindicacioón 1, en el que el mencionado conducto estóa montado para su movimiento recóproco sustancialmente a lo largo del eje de la seccióon de suministro del conducto entre las posiciones delantera y posterior, e incluyendo un medio para sellar el pasadizo cuando el conducto estaó en dicha posicióon delantera, y abrióendose el mencionado pasadizo cuando el conducto estaó en dicha posicióon posterior.
- 9El aparato de la reivindicacioón 1, que incluye un modificador de empuje para reorientar el conducto con el fón de redirigir el componente de empuje en respuesta al orificio de descarga que se aproxima al lómite de dicha aórea.
- 10El aparato de la reivindicacióon 9, en el que el modificador de empuje incluye:un pasador que se extiende desde dicho conducto sustancialmente a lo largo de una proyeccioón del eje de la seccióon de suministro con el fón de desplazarse lateralmente desde la seccióon de descarga mencionada, y un medio asociado a dicho lómite de óarea para pivotar el orificio de descarga alrededor del mencionado pasador.
- 11El aparato de la reivindicacióon 10, en el que el modificador de empuje incluye adicionalmente:un bastidor que define una serie de ranuras abiertas para recibir temporalmente dicho pasador con el fón de hacer que dicho componente de empuje pivote el orificio de descarga alrededor del pasador y redirija el movimiento del orificio de descarga a travóes de dicha óarea.
- 12El aparato de la reivindicacióon 11, en el que dicho bastidor es circular, y en el que dichas ranuras se abren hacia el centro del mencionado bastidor circular.
- 13El aparato de la reivindicacióon 11, en el que el mencionado bastidor es circular, y en el que cada una de dichas ranuras se abre hacia el centro del indicado bastidor y hacia una ranura adyacente.
- 14Aparato de hidroterapia para descargar una corriente de fluódo uótil para incidir contra una zona del cuerpo del usuario y darle masaje, comprendiendo dicho aparato:un medio de suministro que incluye una cavidad y un medio para descargar un chorro de agua a lo largo de un eje definido en el interior de dicha cavidad con el fón de crear una succióon en la misma, un contenido rógido alargado que incluye una seccióon de suministro tubular que tiene un orificio de suministro, y una seccioón de descarga tubular 2 007 261 que tiene un orificio de descarga, un medio que monta el indicado conducto, abriéndose el orificio de suministro a la mencionada cavidad, con lo que el agua suministrada desde dicho chorro fluiraé atravées del indicado conducto a dicho orificio de descarga, incluyendo el medio de montaje un medio giratorio que soporta la secciéon de suministro del conducto para su rotacioén alrededor del eje de la secciéon de suministro y alrededor de los ejes vertical y horizontal orientados perpendicularmente al eje de la secciéon de suministro, con lo que el orificio de descarga puede trasladarse a lo largo de una trayectoria al azar que describe un aérea sustancialmente planar, estando orientado el orificio de descarga para descargar una corriente de agua que tiene un componente de masaje primario que se extiende sustancialmente en la direcciéon del alargamiento del conducto para incidir contra el cuerpo del usuario, y un componente de empuje secundario que se extiende sustancialmente perpendicular al alargamiento del conducto con el fén de producir una fuerza sobre la secciéon de suministro del conducto alrededor de su eje, y un modificiador de empuje para reorientar dicho conducto con el fén de redirigir el componente de empuje en respuesta al orificio de descarga que se aproxima a un lémite de dicha aérea, incluyendo el modificador de empuje: un pasador que se extiende desde dicho conducto sustancialmente a lo largo de una proyecciéon del eje de la secciéon de suministro con el fén de ser desplazado lateralmente de la secciéon de descarga, un bastidor que tiene una serie de ranuras formadas a lo largo del mismo, abriéendose cada ranura hacia el centro de dicho bastidor y de una ranura adyacente, y un medio que monta el mencionado bastidor sustancialmente contiguo al éarea planar, con lo que, cuando el pasador se desplaza al interior de una ranura para acoplar dicho bastidor, el componente de empuje pivotaréa el orificio de descarga alrededor del pasador en orden a redirigir el movimiento de dicho pasador hacia la ranura adyacente.
- 15El aparato de la reivindicacioén 14 en combinacién con una banera que tiene una pared periféerica, un medio que monta dicho aparato en una primera abertura de dicha pared perifeérica, orientaéndose el mencionado conducto para que el agua descargada a a travées del orificio de descarga fluya al interior de la mencionada banera.
- 16El aparato de la reivindicacioén 15 que incluye una segunda abertura en la mencionada pared periféerica, una bomba que tiene un lateral de succiéon y un lateral de presiéon, y un medio que acopla el lateral de succiéon de la bomba a la segunda abertura, y dicho lateral de presiéon al medio para descargar el chorro de agua al interior de la indicada cavidad.
- 17El aparato de la reivindicacioén 14, que incluye adicionalmente un pasadizo para arrastrar el agua desde fuera del indicado conducto al interior de la mencionada cavidad con el fén de mitigar el efecto de dicha succiéon en el conducto.
- 18El aparato de la reivindicaciéon 14, en el que el conducto incluye adicionalmente una secciéon intermedia tubular que acopla la seccioén de suministro a la descarga, y en el que el eje de la secciéon intermedia se desvéa mediante un aéngulo agudo, del eje de la secciéon de suministro.
- 19El aparato de la reivindicacioén 18, en el que el eje de la secciéon de descarga se desvéa mediante un éangulo agudo, del plano definido por los ejes de las secciones de suministro e intermedia.
- 20El aparato de la reivindicacioén 14, en el que el medio de suministro incluye adicionalmente un medio para suministrar aire a dicha cavidad.
- 21Aparato de hidroterapia para descargar una corriente de agua por debajo de la superficie del agua de la banera, mientras que se traslada concurrentemente la corriente a lo largo de una trayectoria que describe un éarea, incluyendo el indicado aparato:un conducto régido alargado que tiene una secciéon de suministro tubular que define un orificio de suministro, una secciéon de descarga tubular que define un orificio de descarga, y una secciéon intermedia tubular que acopla la secciéon de suministro a la de descarga, dicha secciéon intermedia tiene un eje que se desvéa mediante un éangulo agudo, del eje de la secciéon de suministro, dicha secciéon de descarga tiene un eje que se desvéa mediante un éangulo agudo, del plano definido por los ejes de las secciones de suministro e intermedia, un medio de montaje formado en el indicado conducto que define un centro de rotacioén proéximo al orificio de suministro para girar el conducto alrededor del centro de rotacioén, y en el que la proyeccioén del eje de secciéon intermedia se desplaza del indicado centro de rotaciéon.
- 22El aparato de la reivindicaciéon 21 que incluye adicionalmente por lo menos una placa de arrastre que se extiende sustancialmente desde el eje de la secciéon de suministro.
- 23El aparato de la reivindicaciéon 21, en el que el medio de montaje incluye una superficie esféerica exterior formada en la secciéon de suministro.
- 24El aparato de la reivindicaciéon 21 que incluye adicionalmente un pasador que se extiende desde el indicado conducto sustancialmente a lo largo de una proyeccioén del eje de la secciéon de suministro con el fén de ser espaciado de la secciéon de descarga.
- 25Méetodo para dar masaje al cuerpo de un usuario en una banera que tiene una pared periféerica, comprendiendo dicho méetodo las fases:suministrar una corriente de agua, descargar la corriente de agua en dicha banera atravées de una abertura en un éarea de dicha pared de tal modo que la corriente descargada tenga un componente primario que se extiende sustancialmente perpendicular al éarea de pared para incidir contra el cuerpo del usuario, y un componente secundario que se extiende sustancialmente paralelo al éarea de pared para producir un empuje en direcciéon sustancialmente paralela al aérea de pared, y dirigir secuencialmente dicho componente se10 2 007 261 cundario en diferentes direcciones para desplazar dicha corriente a lo largo de una trayectoria que se extiende sustancialmente paralela al aórea de pared y compuesta de una serie de pequeños círculos sucesivamente espaciados entre si.
- 26El aparato de la reivindicacioón 10 incluye una parrilla frontal montada sustancialmente paralela al óarea planar, y en el que el medio para pivotar el orificio de descarga alrededor del pasador incluye un bastidor central abierto formado en dicha rejilla, definiendo el bastidor central una serie de ranuras abiertas para recibir temporalmente el indicado pasador, con el fón de que el componente de empuje pivote el orificio de descarga alrededor del indicado pasador y redirija el movimiento de tal orificio de descarga atravóes de dicha aórea.
- 27El aparato de la reivindicacioón 26, en el que el bastidor central incluye una serie de aberturas que se extienden radialmente a lo largo del mismo.
- 28El aparato de la reivindicacióon 10 que incluye una rejilla frontal sustancialmente planar que comprende un bastidor exterior y otro interior, un medio que monta la rejilla frontal sustancialmente perpendicular al eje definido hacia adelante del orificio de descarga del conducto, y en el que el medio para pivotar el orificio de descarga alrededor de dicho pasador comprende una serie de ranuras abiertas espaciadas a lo largo de la periferia del bastidor interior con el fón de recibir temporalmente dicho pasador y hacer que el componente de empuje pivote el orificio de descarga alrededor del pasador y redirija el movimiento del orificio de descarga a travóes de dicha aórea.
- 29El aparato de la reivindicacióon 28, en el que dicho bastidor incluye una serie de aberturas que se extienden radialmente a lo largo del mismo.
- 30El aparato de la reivindicacioón 28, en el que el bastidor interior se extiende axialmente hacia adelante del bastidor exterior.
- 31El aparato de la reivindicacióon 14, en el que dicho bastidor incluye una serie de aberturas que se extienden radialmente a lo largo del mismo.
- 32El aparato de la reivindicacioón 14, en el que el medio de montaje del indicado bastidor comprende una rejilla frontal sustancialmente planar que incluye un miembro perifóerico exterior que circunda el bastidor y estructuralmente unido al mismo, proyectaóndose hacia adelante dicho bastidor con el fón de impedir que el cuerpo del usuario se asiente en el miembro perifóerico.
- 33El aparato de la reivindicacioón 32, en el que dicho bastidor incluye una serie de aberturas que se extienden radialmente a lo largo del mismo. 2 007 261 2 007 261
Independent claims33
69 paragraphs in 1 section, as filed
DESCRIPTION
The present invention relates generally to hydrotherapy and more particularly to an improved method and apparatus useful in hydrotherapy "spas", sauna cabins, bathtubs and the like, to discharge a fluid (eg, water-air) in the form of a stream, to In order to strike the user's body and massage it.
The patent application of the applicants 843,151, filed on March 24, 1986, now patent No. 4,679,258, describes a method and apparatus for discharging a fluid stream, while the current is moved concurrently along a substantially random trajectory. In this way, the user can permanently position his body close to the apparatus so that the discharged current can impact an area of the user's body and sweep said area. In a topical application, the apparatus was mounted in an opening of the peripheral wall (ie including the floor) of a spring, sauna cabin, bathtub, etc. which we will generically designate here as a bathtub. The apparatus includes a housing that can be integrally formed with the wall of the bathtub but typically comprises a separate box-like structure adapted for mounting adjacent to the rear face of the wall and accessible through the opening of the wall.
A preferred embodiment of said patent 4,679,258 is characterized by the use of a water-air jet assembly that includes a nozzle to discharge the jet of water under pressure into the mixing cavity. This water jet creates a suction, by means of a venturi action, which drags the air into the cavity and the resulting water-air jet is then discharged into an elongated logical duct that has a tubular supply section, a discharge section tubular and an intermediate tubular section that couples the supply section to the discharge section. The conduit was open at both ends, having a supply hole at its end of the supply section and a discharge hole at its end of the discharge section. The conduit is configured in such a way that the axis of the intermediate section deviates from an acute angle from the axis of the supply section. The axes of the supply and intermediate sections define a plane and the axis of the discharge section is deflected by an acute angle from that plane. The outer wall of the supply section is configured to form a ball having a central hole defining said supply hole. The ball is accommodated for its rotational movement within a socket, the supply opening being open relative to the aforementioned mixing cavity. The discharge end of the duct is left free to move within the wall of the bathtub that opens through a planar area with a first approach to an extension of the wall of the bathtub. The water-air stream is discharged from the discharge orifice in a direction that has a primary massage component that extends substantially perpendicular to the planar area and a secondary thrust component that extends substantially parallel to the planar area. The thrust component produces a lateral force to move the discharge end along a path coinciding with said planar area. The planar zone boundary is substantially defined by a frame-shaped thrust modifier, which cooperates with a pivot pin secured to said conduit. The frame includes a series of open slots, each of them destined to momentarily capture the past pivot, when the discharge end of the duct moves towards the boundary of the area. When the pivot pin was captured, the current thrust component acted to rotate the discharge end around the pivot pin and therefore redirect the thrust component that allows the pivot pin to be removed from its open groove to initiate a new movement transverse through the frame. Thus, the discharge orifice was moved a path composed of substantially semicircular path segment, each described when the pivot pin engages the groove, coupled by longer translational path segments that extend between the grooves. The translational slot-to-slot path segments extend substantially across the frame and produce an essentially unpredictable, random pattern.
The relative request of the applicants 072.409 describes that in the aforementioned embodiment of said patent 4,679,258, in the event that the air inlet to the mixing cavity becomes clogged (intentionally or inadvertently), the suction created in the cavity it can act to increase the drag, that is the friction loss, between the duct and its mounting means. As a result, the movement of the discharge duct of the duct can become slow.
Applicants' patent 4,715,071 describes a hydrotherapy apparatus in which a passage is provided around the rotating assembly of the supply end of the conduit to pass the water from outside the conduit into the mixing cavity of the apparatus. As discussed herein, this action mitigates the effect of the suction force produced in the mixing cavity that acts on the conduit itself.
The present invention is directed to alternative embodiments of the invention described in said part 4,679,258 structurally configured to provide an improved execution of massage.
Following a first aspect of the invention, the conduit was specially configured so that the discharge current produces a greater force in order to initiate and maintain the translational movement of the discharge end of the conduit.
According to an additional aspect of the invention, the rotating assembly of the supply end of the duct is configured to define a passage in order to allow the water from the bath to be dragged into the mixing cavity.
007 261 in order to reduce friction loss in the rotating assembly and increase the mass of the current discharged.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the aforementioned open slots for capturing the pivot pin are symmetrically arranged, preferably in a circular pattern, by influencing the discharge orifice of the conduit to traverse a more predetermined path.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the thrust modifier is specially configured to influence the discharge orifice of the conduit in order to traverse a path composed of substantially small and successive circular path segments joined by short translational path segments. . More specifically, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the open slots of the thrust modifier frame are partially closed to allow the duct pivot pin to escape only when the duct is in a particular orientation. From this particular orientation, the forces produced by the current discharged from the discharge orifice would normally move the pivot pin into an adjacent or proximal groove.
A perfected embodiment of this application derives from the recognition that the user could place his body tightly against the frame of the thrust modifier to prevent, in this way, that the current from the discharge orifice and decrease, therefore, the discharge hole movement. Accordingly, a preferred thrust modifier frame is provided in accordance with the present invention, which has radially extending openings to allow discharge current to flow reliably from the discharge hole without constituting a significant back pressure in the conduit, including when the user presses his body tightly against the frame of the push modifier.
Figure 1 is an isomietric view, partially separated, of a hydrotherapy apparatus, following a first embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is an isomietric view, partially separated, illustrating the apparatus of Figure 1 mounted behind the perimeter wall of a bathtub.
Figure 3 is a schematic illustration showing the way in which the apparatus, according to the invention, is installed in a typical installation.
Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along plane 4-4 of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along plane 5-5 of Figure
4.
Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along plane 6-6 of Figure
5.
Figure 7 in a side elevation view of a preferred subset of conduit and a mounting means in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 8 is a front view of the conduit subset of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along plane 9-9 of Figure
7.
Figure 10 is an isometric view of the rear ring of the mounting means shown in Figures 4 and 6.
Figure 11 is a partially sectioned isomometric view of the thrust modifier frame illustrated in Figures 1 and 4.
Figure 12 is a front plan view of a front grille incorporating an alternative thrust modifier frame, in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.
Figure 13 is a sectional view taken substantially along plane 13-13 of Figure 12.
Figure 14 is an isomietric view, partially sectioned, illustrating the thrust modifier frame of Figure 12.
Figures 15a to 15e are schematic front views of the embodiment of Figure 12 showing the movement of the discharge orifice of the conduit subset.
Fig. 16 is an isometric view of a front grille illustrating an additionally alternative frame of the thrust modifier, in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 17 is a front plan view of the thrust modifier frame of Figure 16 mounted in front of the duct discharge hole.
Figure 18 is a side sectional view taken substantially along plane 1818 of Figure 17.
The attention is initially directed to Figure 1 illustrating an isomometric view of a hydrotherapy apparatus 100 according to the present invention. The apparatus 100 is intended for mounting in the opening 104 of the perimeter wall 106 of a bathtub 108 such as a "spa", sauna cabin or bathtub itself, as illustrated in Figure 2, to massage the body of a user 109. Briefly, the apparatus 100 is composed of a substantially cylindrical tapered housing 110 having a front frame 112 adapted to accommodate a front grill 114. A conduit 116 having a discharge hole 118 is mounted, for its rotational movement, in the housing 110 in order that the discharge orifice 118 can pass through a path that defines an essentially planar displacement air oriented substantially parallel to the grid 114. The duct would be rotated by reaction forces produced by the stream of water discharged from the hole 118.
Figure 2 illustrates the hydrotherapy apparatus 100 in use of a typical "spa" installation where the bathtub is configured to define, for example, a bench 122 in which a user 109 with most of his body can be comfortably positioned. below the upper surface 126 of the water of the bath 128. The peripheral wall 126 of the bath preferably has one or more flat portions 132 through which the wall opening 104 is formed. The apparatus 100 is intended for mounting in the opening 104 projecting the rear housing 110
007 261 mind of the flat wall portion 132.
The general function of the apparatus 100 is to provide a pleasant massage effect on the user's body 109 without it being necessary for it to move its body relative to the fixedly located jet, as is normal in conventional "spa" facilities. In order to obtain this effect, the conduit 116 is mounted in order to discharge a stream of water from said discharge orifice 118 while the orifice concurrently travels along the path that defines the planar displacement area. The mobile discharge current sweeps a two-dimensional area of the user's body and impacts against that area. According to a first embodiment of the invention (Figures 4 and 11), the discharge orifice 118 describes a path composed of successive segments of substantially semicircular trajectory joined by segments of translational trajectory. A second and third embodiment of the invention will follow (Figures 12-15) and (Figures 16-18) respectively, the discharge orifice path will consist of successive segments of substantially circular trajectory joined by short segments of translational trajectory. Figures 5-10, which primarily illustrate structural details of the subset of the duct, are common to all three embodiments. As will be seen later, the first, second and third embodiments differ only in the structural configuration of the front grille 114, and more particularly in their portion of the frame (134 in Figure 1) of the thrust modifier.
Even when the particular dimensions of the apparatus 100 can vary considerably, in a typical embodiment it is contemplated that the housing 110 fits into a wall opening 104 of 15.24 cm in diameter and that the discharge orifice crosses a path that defines an area of planar displacement having a diameter of approximately 12.70 cm, the trajectory of segments of circular (or semicircular) trajectory of approximately 5.08 cm in diameter being composed.
Attention is now directed to Figures 4-11 which illustrate the structural details of a first embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, attention is initially directed to Figure 4 which shows the housing 110 mounted in the opening 104 of the wall 106. The housing 110 is composed of a wall 142. The front end of the wall 140 ends in the externally extending open frame 112 composed of section 146 and 148 joined by the backrest 150. The backrest 150 is intended to engage the edge of the peripheral wall 106 of the bathtub in the opening 104. Section 148 of the frame is intended for sealing against the front surface of the peripheral wall 106.
The cylindrical wall 140 is combined with the radially extending rear wall 156 which extends to the wall 158 defining a short section of tubing that extends axially. The housing wall further defines a water supply line 162 and an air supply line 164. The water supply line 162 has an open end 166 intended to be connected to a pressurized water source, such as the electrically operated pump 168 of Figure 3. The inner end of the pipe 162 communicates with the insertion element 170 of nozzle mounted to discharge a water jet along the axis of section 158 of the aforementioned pipe. The open end 172 of the air line 164 can be left open to ambient air or can be connected to the discharge side of an optional electric blower 174, described in Figure 3.
The apparatus 100 includes a conduit subset 180 (Figures 7-9) intended for mounting in the housing 110. The conduit subassembly 180 is comprised of an elongated rigid conduit 116 configured to essentially define a tubular supply section 186 provided with a supply hole 188, a tubular discharge section 190 having said discharge hole. The outer wall surface 198 of the supply section 186 is spherically configured to essentially define a ball 199 intended to be mounted for rotational movement within a member 200.
The member 200 comprises an essentially cylindrical member provided with a radially extending flange 202 that is mounted on the inner surface of the rear wall portion 156 of the housing. The member 200 includes a cylindrical wall portion 210 that subsequently extends from the flange 202 and is located substantially and axially in the pipe section 158. An O-ring 212 is mounted on the outer surface of the wall portion 210 to be sealed on the inner surface of the pipe section 158. The member 200 has a lip 218 that extends radially or internally along its leading end that surrounds the opening 220. An O-ring 224 is mounted on the bottom surface of the lip 218 around the opening 220 and is intended to engage on the surface spherical 198 of said ball 199 of the supply section.
A ring 228 (Figure 10) is mounted by the rear end of the cylindrical wall 210 and internally accommodates an O-ring 230. The spaced O-rings 224 and 230, together with the wall portion 210, defines a receptacle 232 within the which can rotate said ball 199 of the duct. The spherical rod assembly defines an essentially universal joint that allows the ball 199 to rotate around the axis defined by the nozzle 170 and also around the first and second (ie vertical and horizontal) axes perpendicular to the axis of the nozzle.
Figures 4 and 7-9 illustrate a preferred duct geometry in which the axis of the tubular intermediate section 194 is offset by an acute angle, for example 24 °, of the axis of the tubular supply section 186, and the axis of discharge section 190 is diverted by an acute aingulum, for example 21<sup>°</sup>, of the plane defined by the axes of the supply and intermediate sections. The sections are preferably curved in order to combine gently with each other. In addition, in order to develop the maximum translational thrust on the discharge end of the duct 116, the axis of the intermediate section
007 261
194 it extends along a line displaced from the center of rotation of the ball 199 inside the receptacle 232. As will be appreciated, the center of rotation can move axially through a limited distance but will always fall along the axis of the nozzle 170. This displacement between the axis of the intermediate section and the center of rotation produces an improved turning moment to move the discharge end of the duct 116.
The conduit subset 180 includes a forward projecting pivot pin 240 which is mounted substantially along a projection of the axis of the supply section 186 of the conduit. A series of drag plates 244, 246, 248 and 250 extend outwardly from the conduit 240, which is best illustrated in Figure 8.
The pivot pin 240 extends in the central area 252 of the frame 134 of the thrust modifier, as best illustrated in Figures 1, 4 and 11. The frame 134 comprises part of the aforementioned front grille 114 which additionally includes the arms 264 that extend radially. The arms 264 end at their free ends in portions 266 and 268 that extend perpendicularly. As best illustrated in Figure 4, when the rack 114 is installed in the housing frame 112, the arm portion 266 rests against the front surface of the frame section 146, while portion 268 rests against the surface inside the wall 140 of the housing. By a suitable choice of materials and dimensions, the grid 114 will be held in place and can still be inserted manually and easily into the housing 110 and removed from the east to provide access to the interior of the housing.
With the front grille 114 mounted in the housing 110, as illustrated in Figure 4, the frame 134 of the thrust modifier will be substantially and axially aligned with the axis of the jet nozzle 170.
The frame 134 comprises a ring 260 having an inner surface that includes a series of spaced projections 268 that extend radially and internally and symmetrically configured and that define the U-grooves 270 which open towards the center of the ring 260. Each groove 270 is of such dimension that it can easily and axially accommodate pivot pin 240. With the pivot pin 240 accommodated in the groove 270 of the frame, the pin 240 will extend along the line that is deflected by an acute agunlo, for example 13<sup>or</sup>, (figure 7) from an extension of the axis of the jet nozzle 170.
In the operation of the apparatus 100 to the extent that it has been described, let us now consider that the pressurized water is supplied from the pump 168, through the pipe 162, to the nozzle 170. The nozzle 170 will discharge a stream of water into the Succinate cavity 276 (Figure 4) essentially defined by the wall 158 of the pipe section, the rear ring 228, and the tapered supply hole 188 to the supply section 186. The jet of water discharged at high speed in this suction cavity 276 creates a suction that acts to drag air, through the air line 164, into the cavity 276 for its drag by the water jet. The resulting water-air current then flows through the conduit 116 pushing the ball surface 198 forward against the O-ring 224. The current will then be discharged through the discharge orifice 118 below the upper surface 126 of the water 128 of the bathtub in a direction that has a primary component that extends substantially along the duct elongation to massage the user 109 and a substantially perpendicular secondary component to produce a reaction force acting at the free discharge end of the conduit 116 to produce a rotational thrust and translational More specifically, as a consequence of the deviation of the axis of the intermediate section 194 relative to the axis of the supply section 186, a translational thrust will be produced that acts to rotate the ball 199 and move the discharge end of the duct 116, that is to say the hole 118. The translation of the discharge orifice 118 also translates, of course, the pivot pin 240, allowing random travel within the confines of the frame 134 of the thrust modifier. In addition to the translational thrust produced on the discharge end of the conduit 116, the discharge end of the conduit is also rotated about the axis defined by the nozzle 170, mainly attributable to the deflection between the axis of the discharge section 190 of the conduit and the plane defined by the axes of sections 186 and 194 of the duct. The drag plates 244-250 prevent the duct from rotating very quickly.
As a consequence of these reaction forces acting on the discharge end of the conduit 116, the pivot pin 240 will travel through the open area 252 defined by the ring 260 of the thrust modifier, going through a groove 270 to another in a pattern seemingly random unpredictable. That is, once the pin 240 is moved through the open area defined by the ring 260, it will be inserted into the groove 270 and will engage the ring 260 so that the rotational thrust on the discharge end of the conduit rotates the end of discharge around pin 240 through a substantially semicircular arc until the discharge hole 118 moves in an orientation that allows the translational thrust to cause pin 240 to escape from its groove. The pin will then move through the open area 252 of the ring to an opposite groove. Thus, the path described by the discharge opening 118 will be essentially composed of a series of semicircular segments joined by the translational segments. Due to considerable experiments, using the embodiments of the thrust modifier ring similar to that illustrated in Figures 1, 4 and 11, it has been found that the precise path described by pin 240 and discharge hole 118 cannot be predicted so exact. More specifically, in current development embodiments, it was found that pin 240 moves essentially randomly from one slot to another, sometimes skipping only one or two grooves and sometimes a much larger number
007 261 large slots. However, in all cases, the discharge orifice path consisted of semicircular path segments joined by translational path segments. The randomness or uncertainty inherent in the trajectory of the discharge orifice used by the thrust modifier frame of Figures 1, 4 and 11, produces an interesting and plantero massage effect on the user. However, it was not entirely clear whether users prefer such randomness or the like but a predictable discharge orifice of mine can be obtained by certain structural modifications, as described in the second embodiment of the applicants shown in Figures 12-15.
Attention is now directed to Figures 1215 which illustrate an embodiment that differs from the one discussed above only in the structural configuration of the ring portion of the thrust modifier of the front grille. That is, while the ring 260 of Figure 11 included spaced projections 260 that extend radially and internally and symmetrically configured and define U-shaped grooves 270 that open toward the center of the ring 260, the ring 300 of the modifier Thrust on the front grill 301 of Figures 12-15 includes the grooves 302 that open towards the center of the ring and into the adjacent groove. More specifically, with particular reference to Figures 12 and 14, note that a series of identical spaced projections 304 are formed on the inner circumferential surface of the ring 300. A groove 302 is formed between each adjacent pair of the projections 304.
Each projection 304 defines a smoothly curved edge 308 comprising the right or trailing side edge of the groove 302 along which the pivot pin 240 tends to move as it escapes from the groove. Each projection additionally includes a hook portion 310 that rests on the left side edge of the groove 302. The particular geometry of the ring 300 of the thrust modifier illustrated in Figures 12-15, tends to make the past pivot 240 progress with precession movement along a path into which each of the slots 302 is introduced, and while that each slot rotates along a substantially complete circle of 360 ^ before exiting the slot immediately adjacent in a counterclockwise direction around ring 300.
In order to better understand the operation of the embodiment of Figures 12-15, attention is directed to Figure 15 which in five successive instantaneous views shows how the pivot pin 240 escapes from slot 302 and moves to the next slot moving around ring 300 in a counterclockwise direction while turning clockwise. In order to give clarity to the movement of the pin 240 and to the path of the movement of the discharge hole 118, a force arrow 320 is illustrated in Figure 15 showing the primary direction of the translational thrust at the discharge end of the duct for the various orientations of the conduit. That is, as previously mentioned, the translational thrust is mainly attributable to the deviation between the axes of the intermediate and supply sections of the duct and acted in radial direction substantially along the drag plate 250. The various orientational views of Figure 15 also show force arrows 322 and 324 illustrating the rotational thrust that tends to rotate the conduit clockwise around the axis of the nozzle 170. Auin when the rotational thrust is actually produced as a reaction to the current discharged from the hole 118, for reasons of simplicity in Figure 15, it is shown when in the drag plates 244 and 248.
Taking what is considered into consideration, let us now look at the orientation of the conduit 116 in Figure 15a in which the discharge orifice is located approximately at the five o'clock position. With the translational force acting in the direction of arrow 320, pin 240 would be retained in slot 302A coupled to hook 310. The rotational force represented by the arrows 322 and 324 would rotate the conduit 116 to move the discharge hole 118 in a clockwise direction toward the seven o'clock orientation illustrated in Figure 15b. Note that when we are in the orientation of Figure 15b, the arrow 320 of translational force is now acting in a direction tending to move the pin 240 out of the slot 302A, essentially along the trailing edge 308 of the projection 304. The arrows 322 and 324 of rotational force continued to act to rotate conduit 116 in a clockwise direction. The forces illustrated in Figure 15b would move the discharge hole 118 to the ten o'clock position illustrated in Figure 15c which shows pin 240 having escaped from slot 302A. However, when in this position, note that the arrow 320 of translational force is acting in a direction tending to move the pin to the immediately adjacent slot 302B in a counterclockwise direction around the ring 300. The rotational thrust would continue to rotate the conduit clockwise, moving the discharge hole from the one o'clock illustrated in Figure 15d in which the pin 240 begins to enter the slot 302B. The translational and rotational forces will then move the pin fully into the groove 302B below the hook portion 310 of the projection 304. Thus, the view of Figure 15e is substantially identical 240 has advanced in a counterclockwise direction along the ring 300 from the slot 302A to 302B. In the course of advancing a groove, the discharge hole 118 has described a circular path segment. Thus, when the pivot pin 240 progresses with precession movement around the ring 300 of the thrust modifier in a counterclockwise direction, the discharge hole 118 will describe a path composed of circular path segments joined by short segments of translational path from slot to slot.
Although the first and second embodiments described above work quite well.
007 261 Under most circumstances, it has been observed that the movement of the discharge hole 118 can become quite slow and even stop when the user places his back against the front grille 114,301. It is believed that this is because the user's body effectively blocks the free flow of the discharge current from the hole 118, thereby creating a turbulence around the conduit 116 and a back pressure within said conduit, thereby reducing the energy available to move the duct discharge section. The realization of the front grille of figures 16-18 has been designed to avoid this potential problem.
More specifically, the front grille 400 of Figures 16-18 is composed of an outer frame or ring 402 and a concentric inner frame or ring 404 spaced by the radially extending arms 406. The inner ring 404 is configured to include the axially spaced rear and front ring portions 408, 410, the rear portion 410 supporting the internally extending projections 412 which are used to modify the thrust on the duct discharge section, such as It has been discussed above. The projections 412 are configured to define the cut-off grooves 414 and are substantially identical to the projections 304 and the grooves 302 of the embodiment of Figures 12-15 and function substantially identically. The particular number of projections used in the thrust modifier ring is an arbitrary design parameter and it is noted that the ring 410 is illustrated in Figures 16-18 with small projections 412 than the ring 300 of Figures 12-15. The use of smaller projections 412 would, of course, have the effect of slightly lengthening the translational path segments that join the circular path segments described by the discharge orifice of Figure 16-18, compared to the described path in figures 12-15.
The front portion 408 of the inner ring 404 is axially spaced from the rear portion 410 by a series of substantially parallel short ribs 416 which are spaced apart from each other around the circumference of the ring portions. Three of the ribs 416 will be respectively defined by the radially internal edges of the arms 406. The space between adjacent ribs 416 defines the openings 420 that allow the components of the discharge current to flow radially in the event that the user retains his body in the ring portion 408. By letting the current escape in this way, turbulence and counter pressure are constituted in and around the duct which can be avoided with a reduced concomitant movement of the discharge orifice. In order to further prevent said reduced movement of the discharge orifice, it should be noted in Figure 18 that the portion 408 of the front ring extends axially forward of the outer ring 402 to essentially prevent the user from holding his body against the integral outer ring 402 .
In use, the front grill 400 is mounted adjacent to the inner surface 430 of the bath wall 432 in front of the sub-assembly 434 of the conduit, as illustrated in Figure 18. The sub-assembly 434 of the conduit is mounted in the housing 436 which is projected subsequently through the wall opening 438. Even when several techniques can be used to physically mount the grid 400 in front of the wall opening 438, it is preferred that the grid 400 be mounted on the flange 440 of the housing by means of a bayonet-type coupling (not shown).
Figure 3 schematically illustrates a tactic installation for the embodiments of the present invention, and includes a pump 168 driven by an electric motor that drags water from the bath 108, through the hole 350. The pump 168 then supplies a stream of water to through a manually variable valve 352 to the nozzle 170, discharging into the suction cavity 276. Preferably, the air is supplied to the cavity 276 through the air line 164 and a manually variable valve 354. The inlet side of the valve 354 can be open to ambient air or can be coupled to the outlet of an optional blower 174 motor driven.
It has been observed that when the air supply to the succioan cavity 276 is cut, either intentionally or inadvertently, the succioan created by the jet of water discharged from the nozzle 170 acts on the conduit itself which, in some configurations, increases the loss of friction and results in a slow rotating movement.
In order to avoid this constituted friction and the resulting slowness, the embodiments follow the present invention, contemplate that the O-rings 224 and 230 are sufficiently spaced so that the ball 199 can exhibit a limited axial movement in the receptacle 232. More specifically, note in Figure 4 and Figure 13 that the ball 199 is pushed against the front O-ring 224, as a consequence of the water-air current that is introduced into the supply hole 188. If the By supplying air through the air line 164, the resulting suction produced in the cavity 276 will drag the ball 199 to the rear position against the O-ring 230, as illustrated in Figure 6. When the ball 199 is subsequently dragged, they open a passageway from the water 128 of the bathtub to the suction cavity 276, through the opening 220, around the surface 198 of the ball 199 and bushes of the notches 360 in the rear ring 228 As a consequence, the suction created by the jet discharged from the nozzle 170 will drag the water from the banana into the suction cavity 276 and will mitigate the subsequent suction against the conduit itself as well as the resurgent friction constituted. Instead, the suction will drag the water from the absorbed bander into the cavity 276 and discharge a stream of water of lower velocity but of greater mass, as compared to a stream of entrained air.
In view of the foregoing, it will now be noted that they have been described herein.
007 261 hydrotherapy operations to discharge a current from a duct discharge orifice for impact against a user, while coincidentally the discharge orifice is displaced along a path that defines a planar area substantially perpendicular to the direction of the discharge of the current.
The displacement path is characterized by a series of small circular or semicircular path segments joined by translational path segments, and the discharge orifice travels along the path by the reaction forces produced by the discharged current.
007 261
8 sheets
Sheet 1 Sheet 2 Sheet 3 Sheet 4 Sheet 5 Sheet 6 Sheet 7 Sheet 8
70 members in 10 offices
Priority claims5
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19870072409 | United States of America | – | |
| 7240987 | United States of America | A | |
| 7240987 | United States of America | A | |
| 072409 | – | – | – |
| US19870072409 | – | – | – |
Members70
| Document | Office | Kind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO8703029A1 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A1 | |
| AU6732687A | Australia | A | |
| DK347487A | Denmark | A | |
| DK347487D0 | Denmark | D0 | |
| US4679258A | United States of America | A | |
| ZA868461B | South Africa | B | |
| US4689839A | United States of America | A | |
| US4692950A | United States of America | A | |
| WO8705959A1 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A1 | |
| AU7233887A | Australia | A | |
| EP0244475A1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A1 | |
| DK618087A | Denmark | A | |
| DK618087D0 | Denmark | D0 | |
| ZA872150B | South Africa | B | |
| US4715071A | United States of America | A | |
| US4726080A | United States of America | A | |
| US4727605A | United States of America | A | |
| WO8801663A1 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A1 | |
| AU7850987A | Australia | A | |
| ZA876145B | South Africa | B | |
| DK235588A | Denmark | A | |
| DK235588D0 | Denmark | D0 | |
| EP0265484A1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A1 | |
| US4763367A | United States of America | A | |
| EP0279829A1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A1 | |
| WO8808058A1 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A1 | |
| NZ218167A | New Zealand | A | |
| AU1363788A | Australia | A | |
| EP0244475A4 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A4 | |
| EP0265484A4 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A4 | |
| DK697688A | Denmark | A | |
| DK697688D0 | Denmark | D0 | |
| ZA882558B | South Africa | B | |
| WO8900417A1 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A1 | |
| AU2131088A | Australia | A | |
| ES2004905A6 | Spain | A6 | |
| ES2005277A6 | Spain | A6 | |
| US4813086A | United States of America | A | |
| NZ219742A | New Zealand | A | |
| EP0309497A1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A1 | |
| AU583233B2 | Australia | B2 | |
| US4825854A | United States of America | A | |
| ES2007261A6This record | Spain | A6 | |
| AU586746B2 | Australia | B2 | |
| ZA885063B | South Africa | B | |
| EP0309497A4 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A4 | |
| EP0329734A1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A1 | |
| ES2009189A6 | Spain | A6 | |
| NZ221436A | New Zealand | A | |
| NZ223415A | New Zealand | A | |
| EP0279829A4 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A4 | |
| EP0329734A4 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A4 | |
| AU600520B2 | Australia | B2 | |
| NZ225320A | New Zealand | A | |
| AU602202B2 | Australia | B2 | |
| US4965893A | United States of America | A | |
| EP0265484B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 | |
| DE3769583D1 | Germany | D1 | |
| EP0244475B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 | |
| DE3680328D1 | Germany | D1 | |
| CA1288298C | Canada | C | |
| CA1288299C | Canada | C | |
| CA1288300C | Canada | C | |
| CA1288301C | Canada | C | |
| CA1288302C | Canada | C | |
| AU616197B2 | Australia | B2 | |
| EP0279829B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 | |
| EP0309497B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 | |
| DE3776888D1 | Germany | D1 | |
| DE3868576D1 | Germany | D1 |
1 legal event, as the office reported them to INPADOC
Events
| Event | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Patent lapsedLapsedFD1A | FD1A |
Numbers
- Publication
- 2007261
- Publication, DOCDB
- 2007261
- Publication, EPODOC
- ES2007261
- Application
- 8802200
- Application, DOCDB
- 8802200
- Application, EPODOC
- ES19880002200
Titles
- Spanish
- METODO Y APARATO PARA HIDROTERAPIA Y MASAJE.
Classification
- IPC, 3
- A61H
- A61H33 00
- A61H37 00