Patent Application
20050204467
The present invention is generally related to a bathing apparatus and, more particularly, an apparatus for bathing body parts, such as feet.
Most people experience muscle soreness during their lives. Often times, the muscle soreness is exhibited in an isolated area. A common treatment for relieving muscle soreness is heat, such as that provided by a warm bath. Some muscle soreness, such as soreness in the hands, elbows, and feet, can be treated by bathing the muscles in a small basin of warm water.
Bathing has become a recognized therapeutic method for treating muscle soreness in the feet. For example, soaking soothes sore feet and aids in recovery from fatigue. Bathing of the feet also stimulates the circulation of blood in the feet, which results in increased metabolism and excretion. In addition, foot bathing facilitates the removal of painful growths, including calluses, bunions, and corns.
Many types of footbaths have been utilized as therapeutic devices for the feet. Typically, footbaths provide water, which is heated by some electronic means. Some footbaths use a heated element underneath the bottom of the footbath, which heats the base of the footbath and, there through, the water. Unfortunately, since most footbath basins are plastic, the heating elements cannot be heated to a very high temperature without risking melting the basin. As a result, the water in these types of footbaths is tepid, at best.
Another method of heating water in a footbath is to circulate water through a pipe exterior to the footbath basin and heat that pipe. Under this method of heating water, the pipe is made of a metal that is heated by an exterior heating element. As the pipe is normally located in close proximity to the footbath basin, the pipe cannot be heated to a significant temperature without risking melting the basin. As a result, the water in these types of footbaths is normally no more than tepid. Ideally, a footbath could be designed that could heat the water to a temperature warmer than tepid without risking damage to the footbath basin.
Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, apparatus and method for heating water to temperatures heretofore unachieved for relaxing sore muscles in isolated areas of the body.
Briefly described, in architecture, a first embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. A basin has a plurality of basin openings. The basin openings include at least one inflow opening and at least one outflow opening. A flow tube, which is substantially exterior to the basin, connects the inflow and outflow openings. A heating element is located substantially within the flow tube.
Briefly described, in architecture, a second embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. A basin has a plurality of basin openings. The basin openings include at least one inflow opening and at least one outflow opening. A flow tube, which is substantially exterior to the basin, connects the inflow and outflow openings. A heating element is located substantially within the flow tube to heat the water. An impeller is located along the flow tube to cause the water to flow into the inflow opening, through the flow tube, and out the outflow opening, thereby circulating the heated water.
The present invention can also be viewed as providing methods for heating water in a basin, which has a plurality of openings and at least one flow tube substantially exterior to the basin connecting the openings, to relax muscles. In this regard, one embodiment of such a method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: pouring water into the basin, which at least partially fills a flow tube with water; heating a heating element in the flow tube, which heats the water in the flow tube and, therethrough, heats the water in the basin; and directing a flow of the heated water via at least one adjustable nozzle.
The present invention can also be viewed as providing a system for heating water to relax muscles. The system includes a means for storing water. The system also includes a means for circulating water. The system further includes a means for heating water to a temperature over about 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The location of the heating element 22, shown in
The basin 12 may be constructed in any of a number of different designs. The basin 12 may be constructed of a dense plastic or other durable, water impermeable material. The basin 12 may be partitioned, as is shown in a second exemplary embodiment in
A number of other variations on the first exemplary embodiment exist. As shown in
The flow tube 20 also has many available design deviations. The flow tube 20 may run along the underside of the basin 12, as shown in
The heating element 22 may be operated in a variety of manners known to those skilled in the art. In the first exemplary embodiment, the heating element 22 is a resistive heater. A current is supplied from a power source 40, through the heating element 22, which causes the heating element 22 to heat and, thus, warm the water within the flow tube 20. The power source 40 may be battery powered, may receive power from a wall outlet, or both. More than one heating element 22 may be used, particularly if more than one flow tube 20 is used. The heating element 22 should be contained sufficiently within the flow tube 20 to avoid contact with bathing body parts. Toward this end, the openings 14 may contain screens or other obstructions that permit the flow of water into the flow tube 20 without permitting a body part to be inserted in the flow tube 20. Many variations and modifications may be made to the design of the heating element 22, including the use of means other than resistive heaters, without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention.
The impeller 124 may be driven in many different ways known to those skilled in the art. The impeller 124 may be designed to include a centrifugal pump, wherein the impeller 124 is fixed on a rotating shaft and enclosed in a casing, having an inlet and outlet portion, such that the rotating impeller 124 creates pressure in the liquid, impelling the water to flow.
A different design would be to fix the impeller 124, enclosed in a casing, on a rotatable shaft and drive the impeller 124 rotationally with an electromagnet, such that the rotating impeller 124 creates pressure in the liquid, impelling the water to flow. In some designs, the speed of the impeller 124 may be made adjustable for the user. Many variations and modifications may be made to the operation and design of the impeller 124 without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention.
The position of the impeller 124 may vary from the position shown in the second exemplary embodiment. The impeller 124 may be positioned within the flow tube 120 whereby the impeller 124 impels water through the flow tube 120. In another design variation, the impeller 124 could be positioned at one of the openings 114 to impel water through the flow tube 120. Also, the impeller 124 may be positioned tangential to the flow tube 120 to impel water through the flow tube 120. Many variations and modifications may be made to the operation and position of the impeller 124 without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the impeller 124, which is to create a flow of water through the flow tube 120.
The footbath 110 may include additional elements. According to the second exemplary embodiment, and shown in
Also, at least one drain hole 156 may be provided to drain water from the basin 112 after use, wherein caps 158 are fixed to the drain holes 156 at the underside of the basin 112 to keep water from draining while the footbath 110 is in use. The footbath 110 may further include a tub (not shown) to be placed beneath the basin 112, to catch any water that leaks or spills from the basin 112. One alternative to the drain holes 156 would be to allow the user to simply turn the basin 112 on its side to release the water contained therein.
One of the designs for the present invention call for the water to be maintained at a temperature of approximately 108 degrees Fahrenheit. One way to maintain the temperature is to use a thermistor 136, electrically connected to the heating element 122 and to one or more temperature sensors 138. The thermistor 136 will cause the temperature of the heating element 122 to rise if the water temperature falls below a desired level and cause the temperature of the heating element 122 to lower if the water temperature rises above a desired level. If the heating element 122 is a resistive heating element, the thermistor 136 will vary the temperature of the heating element 122 by controlling an intensity of the electrical current passing through the heating element 122. As shown in
As shown in the second exemplary embodiment in
Also shown in the second exemplary embodiment, particularly in
The second exemplary embodiment shows that a plurality of nozzles 130 and a plurality of impellers 124 may be provided. As shown in
Referring to
Heating the heating element 122 (block 206) may involve heating the water to a temperature in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Heating the heating element 122 (block 206) may also involve heating the heating element 122 to a temperature in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
The method 200 may further be adapted to take advantage of other features of the second exemplary embodiment of the footbath 110. The method 200 further includes impelling water through the flow tube 120 with an impeller 124 (block 208). While not required, impelling water through the flow tube 120 allows the water in the basin 112 to reach a balanced, warm temperature more quickly. Air from an air inlet 26 may be impelled, along with the water, through the flow tube 120 with an impeller 124 (block 210). The method 200 may include adjusting the volume of air impelled (block 212) and adjusting a speed of the impeller 124 (block 214). Another adaptation of the method 200 includes adjusting a position of a nozzle 130 directing the flow of impelled air and water (block 216).
It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims.
