EP0269698A1

EP0269698A1 - Instant full body hydro massage machine

Info

Publication number: EP0269698A1
Application number: EP87903820A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jacob G. Guerrero
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-06-03
Filing date: 1987-06-01
Publication date: 1988-06-08
Also published as: WO1987007499A1; JPH01500489A; AU7541187A; EP0269698A4

Abstract

Dans la machine d'hydromassage instantanée (12), les pommes de douches sélectivement commandées (50) sont fixées au moyen de petits raccords (51) à des tubes collecteurs (48) situés de manière stratégique à l'intérieur de la cabine de douche. Les courants pulsatoires et tourbillonants de jets d'eau sortant de ces pommes de douche en série et en parallèle (50) peuvent être dirigés simultannément pour couvrir et masser tout le corps en donnant un plaisir instantané, agréable et vivifiant à l'utilisateur. Après massage du corps, l'eau s'écoule et est récupérée par le bac (28) et les parois (15) de l'enceinte (14), puis s'écoule vers le réservoir d'eau (16) situé en dessous. La pompe de recirculation (32), connectée au réservoir (16) par un système de tube, aspire l'eau au travers du filtre (26) et du tube d'aspiration (24), en la pressurisant et en la déchargeant par le collecteur principal (38), les collecteurs secondaires (46), les tubes collecteurs (48) pour ensuite la propulser sous forme de jet par les pommes de douche sélectivement commandées (50) sous la forme de courant pulsatoire/continu de jet de fluide produisant un massage instantané. L'instrumentation prévue permet de commander la machine pour satisfaire les besoins de chacun.In the instant hydromassage machine (12), the selectively controlled shower heads (50) are fixed by means of small fittings (51) to collecting tubes (48) strategically located inside the shower cabin . The pulsating and swirling currents of water jets leaving these shower heads in series and in parallel (50) can be directed simultaneously to cover and massage the whole body, giving instant, pleasant and invigorating pleasure to the user. After massage of the body, the water flows and is recovered by the tank (28) and the walls (15) of the enclosure (14), then flows to the water tank (16) located below . The recirculation pump (32), connected to the reservoir (16) by a tube system, draws water through the filter (26) and the suction tube (24), pressurizing it and discharging it through the main collector (38), secondary collectors (46), collector tubes (48) and then propel it as a jet by selectively controlled shower heads (50) in the form of pulsating / continuous stream of fluid producing jet an instant massage. The instrumentation provided allows the machine to be controlled to meet everyone's needs.

Description

INSTANT FULL BODY HYDRO MASSAGE MACHINE

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

This invention ralatas to multi-columns of shower head msssagers with pulsating, spiral, and waving water Jet action that induce (partial to full bodw massase. Water temperature and pressure is controlled to suit individual sensation.

2. Discussion of Prior Art

There have been various devices for taking showers with a masssging action, provided by a given flow of water. One Known device is a single head shower/massage that is mounted to a fixed outlet with a given limited flow and pressure. This device is usually located above the user's head.

Another well-known arrangement is a hand held shower massase device. The unit is connected to the water-outlet by a flexible hose. It also has its limitations as to positioning the shower head with respect to any part of the bodw that one might wish to cover. So far, there is no shower/massage with flow, pressure, and temperature adjustments to suit the user. OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Accordingly, the following are the objects and advantages of the invention: to nearly simulate the actual hand massage provided by professional massager; to provide instant full- body massage not possible with single human massager; to enliven the lives and feelings of people; to save time and money in hiring professional massager; to shorten and save time in the shower, at home or in the field by professionals; to provide ever ready massager any time of day at home or in the athletic field; to eliminate the inconvinience of making appointment to provide service; to provide a means of satisfying individual craving for suiting massage at the moment of need; to provide desired length of time enjoying the massage; to assure thorough rinse of the whole body in a shorter time; to provide means of choosing individual preference for shower head massager design; to provide to the ordinary person the luxury of enjoying body massage; to provide athletes the relaxation needed at short break; to provide dissabled person to enjoy what normal people can enjoy; and to improve the life of people around the world. To design the tank to hold and recirculate approximately five (5) gallons of fluid. This size is economical that it warrants fluid change every time the machine is used. The unexpected result reduce the risk of AID CONTAMINATION AND INFECTION, compared to the use of whirlpool spas.

Another of ject of this invention is to produce a pulsating, spiral, waving water jet action through the use of ingeniously designed shower/massage heads mounted on multi-manifold header.

In addition the following are the advantages: it can do the job of a professional massager; it beats the professional massager by providing instant full-body massage; by owning one it can enliven the lives of people 24 hours a day without appointment; shower time is shorter as the shower can cover the whole body at once; it saves time and money by replacing professional massager; it provides the service 24 hours a day regardless of the weather; it can service the whole family, not only mom and dad; it can suit individual desire by adjusting pressure and temperature; it does not get tired unlike a human massager, so you can have massage as long as you desire; it provides a thorough rinse at a very short time; it will lprove the quality of life around the world because of more awakened and enlivened people; it can recycle water thus reducing waste water; it can be made available to ordinary income earner; it can be used by dissabled person; it can give the professional as well as the amateur athletes the necessary awakening during short sports break.

Readers will find further objects and advantages of the invention from a consideration of the ensuing description, accompanying drawings, and more through the actual experience.

Drawing Figures:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the Hydro-Massage Machine looking outside with the doors remove for clarity, showing

Fig. 2 is the schematic diagram showing the diferent components comprising the machine, without the enclossure.

Fig. 3 is a simple piping diagram

Fig. 4 is the wiring diagram

Fig. 5 is a section taken haflway down the machine Do I need to include detailed drawings of the shower heads, thermostat, flush valve used in the water closet, piping connection inside the tank, Tank drawing or design? DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS:

12 instant full body massager machine

14 enclosurje of 12

15 inside wall on 14

16 tank, water on 12

17 outside wall 14

16 overflow piping on 16

20 drain pipe on 16

21 drain control valve on 20

22 electric heating element on 16

23 flexible pipe coupling on 24 and 25

24 pipe, pump suction on 32

25 nozzle, outlet on 16

26 filter, pump suction on 16

27 tee, straight fitting on 38

28 tub, shower on top of 16

29 drain with cover, shower tub on 28

30 grating, alternate to drain with cover 29 shown on the fir submitted drawing FIGURE 1, deleted in new revised FIGURE 1.

32 pump, water

34 electric motor, pump on 32

35 control panel on 15

36 push button starter switch, pump on 35

38 pipe header, main discharge on 32

39 hand wheel, main control valve on 15 and 40

40 control valve, main on 38

41 reducing tee, pipe fitting on 38

42 pressure gauge on 35 and 38 tubing connector on 41 and 44 temperature gauge on 35 and 38 reducing tee, pipe fitting on 48 pipe, subheaders on 27 45 degree elbow, pipe fitting on 46 pipe manifold, shower heads on 46 90 degree elbow, pipe fitting on 46 pulsating shower heads on 51 pipe nipple on 48 cold water supply line on 16 cap, pipe fiting on 48 hot water supply line on 16 solenoid valve, cold water supply line on 52 solenoid valve, hot water supply line on 54 level controller, hot and cold water supply on 15 controller, hot and water supply on 15 capillary on 64 thermostat on 35 bulb, sensing on 64 pipe, relief line on 38 valve, pressure relief on 66 light/vent assembly on 14 switch, light on push button switch, vent on 15 DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Refering now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a stall shower massage comprising of an enclosure 14, a shower tub 28, control panel 35 mounted on the inside wall 15 with pump ON/OFF push button switch 36, pressure gauge 42, temperature gauge 44 and thermostat 64; main control valve hand wheel 39, pulsating shower heads 50 located at the four corners at different elevations, light/vent assembly 70 mounted on the ceiling and light switch 72 installed on the outside wall 17 and vent push button switch 74 on 15. The plumbing leading from the water tank 16 to the pump 32 then to the main control valve 40 thru the pipe manifolds 48 are all concealed under the tub and inside the wal Is.

The thermostat 64 has a sensing capillary 63 with sensing bulb

65 at the end is placed inside the tank 16 and near the electric heating element 22. The thermostat 64 is electrically connected to the heating element 22 and the power supply and automatically maintain the temperature of the water in the tank

16. The temperature gauge 44 shows the actual temperature passing through the main discharge header 38. The pressure gauge 42 indicates the available pressure at the shower massage heads 50. The handwheel 39 of the main control valve 40 turns to lower or increase the pressure at the pulsating shower heads

50 discharge.

The vent 70 is used to exhaust steam vapor inside the stall as needed.

The pulsating shower massage heads herein are patented with the following serial numbers: 3,958,756; 4,079,891; 4,081,135; 4,089,471 and 4,131,233. These shower heads feature both conventional spray and pulsating streams of water Jets that can be selected as desired.

The Hydro-massager machine 12 shown in Fig. 2 is composed of a shower tub 26, water tank 16, piping system, water pump 32, filter 26, control valves, instrumentation and several pulsating shower heads 50. All these components are available in the market, but the resulting system and machine is novel with new use.

The shower tub 28 serves as a floor where the user stand while enjoying the instant shower massage. The tub 28, the surrounding inside wall 15 and the shower doors (not shown) collect the streams of pulsating water jets as it drip after it hit and massage the entire body of the user. The water is drained thru the tub drain 29 which is directly on top of the water tank 16 is attached to the underside of the tub 28 and are both supported by metal frame. The water tank 16 acts as a recirculating water reservoir. The water level is controlled by the water level controller 60 connected to the controller

62 which is connected to both hot and cold water control valves

56 and 58 to control the flow of water. Water temperature is maintained by the thermostat 64 with capillary 63 and sensing bulb 65 installed inside the tank 16 near the electric heating element 22. Both are connected to the power supply. The heating element 22 is installed through the side wall of the tank 16.

The water is sucked by the pump 32, passing thru the filter 26, the outlet nozzle 25 and the pump suction pipe 24 connected by the flexible coupling 23. The flexible coupling absorbs the pump vibration and reduces the noise level.

The water pump 32 is driven by electric motor 34 connected to the power supply and controlled by the ON/OFF push button switch 36. The pressurized water is discharged to the main discharge pipe header 36 then thru the pipllng system. The main control valve 40 is located upstream along the main discharge pipe header 38 in such a way as to conveniently position the control valve hand wheel 39. It can be turned to control the mainwater flow and pressure thru the piping system and out of the pulsating shower heads 50. Upstream of the control valve 40 are reducing tees 41 for connection of the tubing 43 and the pressure gauge 42 and temperature gauge 44. With these indicators, the user can determine the most comfortable and pleasurable pressure and temperature combination.

Further upstream is a straight tee 27 that branch to two subheaders 46. These subheaders 46 used 45 degree elbows 47, reducing tees 45 and 90 degree elbows 49 to position the four piping manifolds 46 at these prefered locations. Upstream of the piping manifolds 46 are reducing tees 45 to provide smaller outlets for pipe nipple 51 connections. These branches provide multiple series connections for the threaded ends of the shower massage heads 50 used to achieve instant shower massage as claimed in the quoted abstract of patent number 4,131,233 as fol lows:

ABSTRACT: "A selectively-controlled pulsating water shower head comprises a housing including a spray block formed with a central chamber having a first group of openings for outletting a continuous spray, and an annular chamber therearound having a second group of outlet openings. A plurality of freely movable members, in the form of curved segments, are drivable around the annular chamber by the water inletted into the housing for outletting the water through the second group of openings in the form of a pulsating spray. The shower head further includes a manually-controlled diverter having a displaceable stem assembly for selectively enabling either the continuous spray or the pulsating spray."

The five available pulsating shower heads 50 in the market today provide a better selection for a desirable spray pattern.

With several selectively controled shower heads 50 strategicallylocated in the shower room, the pulsating streams of water jet with controlled pressure and temperature coming out of the shower heads 50 can be simultaneously directed to cover and massage the body, giving instant, enjoyable and exhilarating pleasure to the user. The used water drip down and collected by the shower tub 26 and drained back to the water tank 16 via the tub drain 29 ready for recirculation.

Every after each use, the water can be economically drained through the drain pipe 20 by opening the drain control valve

21. Should there be an excess water and the water level exceed the normal level, the water will overflow through the overflow pipe 18. Another feature Is the relief line 66 connected to relief valve 68. The function of the line is to prevent excessive pressure of the exiting water jets from the shower heads and hurting the user.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides a novel use by utilizing several existing components and creating a new and very useful machine.

This is accomplished by simple, practical and economical arrangement which makes the system also adaptable to all types of new and existing shower baths installations.

Operation of Invention

First, the thermostat 64 is set at a comfortable water temperaturer which in turn sisnals the electric heatins element 22 to brine the water temperature to the desired level.

The person in the shower/masssser room pushed the pump starter button 36 when the user is resdw for the shower massase. The water is sucked throush the screen filter 26 then throush the suction pipe into the pump 32. The water is discharse to the main piping header 38, to the subheaders 46 then to the shower head columns 48 and Jet out of the shower/massage heads 50. The water stream is pulsatins and twisting and waving as it hits the body, then drops to the tub 28 and drain back to the tank 16 below thru the grating 30. The cwcle is completed.

The main control valve 40 is used to adjust the desired pressure. The thermostat 64 is used to adjust the temperature upward while cold water SUPPIW controller 60 is used to lower the water temperature. The pressure indicator 42 shows the actual pressure dischsrging at the shower head 50 while the temperature indicator 44 shows the actual discharse temperature at shower massase heads 50, the controller 60 maintains the water level in the tank. The over flow piping 18 and the drain piping 20 are tied tosether and connected to a common sewer.

Conclusion and Scope of Invention

Thus, the reader will see that adjustable hydro shower massager is a highly efficient, economical, controllable, Pleasant, healthful, and reliable means of enjoying and enlivining shower massase at one's convinience in a shorter time compared to prior arts.

While the above description contains manw specifications, many other variations are possible. The component parts may be relocated or altered; instrumentations improved. Like the column 48 connections to the sub-headers 46 may be located below near the floor of tub 28 or increased in number of columns 48 as desired. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not onlw bw the illustrations shown but also bw the appended claims and their legal requirements.

Claims

CLA I MS :

1. A machine, utilizing fluid to produce instant body massage comprising: a means of containing the fluid, a means of recirculating the fluid through the piping system with manifolds, a means of attaching selectively-controlled shower heads with combination pulsating/continous streams of fluid jets to the manifolds, a means of collecting used fluid and draining back to fluid container for recirculation.

2. The machine in claim 1, wherein said fluid container has a aeans of fluid supply, a means of maintaining fluid level, a means of heating the fluid a means of draining the fluid a means of overflowing excess fluid

3. The machine in claim 1, wherein said fluid system has: a means of relieving excess pressure, a means of indicating recirculating fluid exit pressure, a means of indicating fluid exit temperature,

4. The machine in claim 1, wherein said piping system and fluid has: a means of remotely controlling pressure and temperature, a means of controlling fluid supply, a means of lowering water temperature by means of draining the water in the tank and replacing it with cold water.

5. The machine in claim 1, wherein the enclosure has a means of exhausting the fluid vapor.

6. The machine in claim 1, whereby a living being can enjoy quick Instant shower massage without the danger posed in using a whirlpool spa.