GB1592982A - Bath - Google Patents

Description

(54) A BATH (71) We, NoRDIc SAUNAS LIMITED, a British Company, of Nordic House, 31-33 Lesbourne Road, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 7JS, England, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The present invention relates to a bath and in particular a hydrotherapy bath.

Massage of the body of a bather by means of a water jet, normally having entrained air, is known as hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy can be practised in swimming baths or in domestic baths. In the former the bather can move his body relative to a water jet to receive massage of different parts of his body. On the other hand, in a domestic bath the bather's freedom of movement is restricted, the more so if the bath has the overall dimensions of a conventional domestic bath.

It is known to provide a hydrotherapy water jet at the end of a bath. Such a jet can readily massage a bather's feet or back.

Normally, the jet is directed at right angles to the bath's end wall, or at least the tangent thereto; though in practice it is highly desirable for the jet to be angularly adjustable, albeit through a limited range. The degree of adjustment is restricted by a number of factors including a desire to keep the jet nozzle and its mounting compact, a desire to avoid the nozzle protruding an appreciable distance from the general level of the wall of the bath and the normal inclusion of air injection facilities in the nozzle. Accordingly it has been usual practice for a hydrotherapy jet to be directed into a bath at a direction more or less. at right angles to the-wall of the bath wherein the jet nozzle is mounted. The front lower portion of the bather's body cannot readily be massaged by such a jet mounted in a cdnventionally shaped bath.A jet at the end of such a bath would dissipate its energy before reaching the lower portion of the bather's body. Further, a jet disposed at the side-of the bath could not be adjusted to a sufficiently large angle to point up the bath and could only impinge tangentially on the relevant portions of the body.

A bath has been proposed wherein the width is narrower at one end than at the other, the change in width occurring at a step in each side wall. Each step is so arranged that a nozzle can be mounted therein to direct a jet at the front lower portion of a bather's body. The arrangement has two limitations. Firstly, the stepped shape of the bath either renders one end wider than is required or the other end narrower than is required. Secondly, the said jets can be directed into the wider end only of the bath.

The invention provides an improved bath having a waisted shape given by a pair of protrusions from opposite sides of the bath, the protrusions delimiting two end portions of the bath each having a maximum width greater than the width of the bath at the protrusions, and a pair of hydrotherapy units, one unit being mounted in each protrusion on a face facing one end portion.

Hydrotherapy units can be mounted in the protrusions to face in either or both directions. The hydrotherapy units may consist merely of jet nozzles. However, each hydrotherapy unit preferably consists of a pump inlet and a jet nozzle disposed in a single mounting. Although the jet nozzle may be disposed anywhere around the pump inlet, it is preferably directly above the pump inlet. In this position air is least likely to be sucked in by the pump. Preferably the jet nozzle is angularly adjustable though with means for preventing the jet nozzle from being angularly adjusted to such an angle that a jet is directed above the horizontal. It is also preferred that the jet nozzle has an air injector.

In a preferred embodiment of the bath, an integral ledge is provided outside the bath at the level of the bottom of the bath.

A pump and a motor for driving the jets can be mounted on this ledge. Plumbing f6r connecting the pump inlets, the pump and the jets can be supported from the ledge.

Further hydrotherapy units may; be provided at either or both ends of the bath.

The bath may be entirely symmetrical or may be designed with one end wall so sloping that the bather may recline against the end wall whilst receiving massage from protrusion mounted jets. In which case, the other end wall may be more nearly vertical with an end mounted hydrotherapy unit.

To receive massage of his back, the bather must change ends in the bath.

In another preferred embodiment, intended for simultaneous use by two bathers, five hydrotherapy units are provided, each protrusion having a unit with its jet directed towards each end of the bath and the more nearly vertical end wall having one unit.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, the first mentioned preferred embodiment will be more fully described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a bath according to the invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bath from the left in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a elevation side view of the bath, Figure 4 is a front view of a preferred hydrotherapy unit and Figure 5 is a vertical cross-section of the hydrotherapy unit of Figure 4 Referring now to Figures 1 to 3, the bath 1 of glass reinforced plastics material has a waisted oblong shape. The shape may be best appreciated from the outline 2 of the bottom 3 of the bath. The waisted shape is brought about by two protrusions 4, 5 provided on opposite sides of the bath.As shown, the protrusions extend from the bottom of the bath to a level above the normally expected water level in the bath.

The protrusions are surmounted by grab handles 6. Each protrusion has a hydrotherapy unit 7 mounted in a face which is included at 150 to the vertical. These units point towards the centre of the left hand portion 8 (as seen in Figure 1) of the bath, and are angled at 450 to the centre-line of the bath.

A further hydrotherapy unit 9 is provided in the right hand end wall of the bath, this unit pointing into the centre of the right hand end portion of the bath 10. The right hand end wall 11, in which the unit 9 is mounted, is relatively steeply inclined at 150 to the vertical whilst the left hand end wall 12 is more shallowly inclined at 38 to the vertical. The bath is provided with a conventional drainplug 13 and a conventional overflow 14. A rim 15 is provided around the top of the bath, the rim being 1790 mm long by 894 mm wide. At the level of the rim, the bath is 1550 mm long by 740 mm wide. The bath is 400 mm deep.

As best seen in Figure 2, an integral ledge 16 extends horizontally outwardly from the bottom of the bath. A motor and pump unit 17 is mounted on the ledge 16 at the left hand end thereof beneath the more gently sloping end wall 12. The pump unit can draw water from pump inlets 18 via piping 19. The water is supplied from the pump unit to jet nozzles 20 via further piping 21 as shown. The ledge 16 is sized and shaped to support shaped side panels for the bath.

Figures 4 and 5 show details of a hydrotherapy unit. The unit has a pump inlet 18 and a jet nozzle 20. In nonnal use the unit is below the water level in the bath and, as described above, is mounted at an angle of 15 to the vertical. The unit is sealed to the bath wall at a flange 23. A mushroom-shaped protector 24 is provided in the mouth of the pump inlet 18 to prevent a bather's hand or foot being sucked into the inlet. The protector is screwed to a perforated member 25 which is held by a plastics retaining ring 26 in the mouth of the inlet.

The jet nozzle 20 is adjustable by means of a sealed eye-ball joint 27. The body 28 of the nozzle is screwed to a part-spherical member 29. A retaining ring 30 retains the part-spherical member 29 with the cooperation of a seal 31 mounted between the retaining ring and the body of the hydrotherapy unit. The ball joint is held together by virtue of the retaining ring 30 being screwed e.g. at 33 to the body of the hydrotherapy unit.

The jet nozzle body 28 is shaped internally as a venturi. At its open end it is surrounded by a knob portion 34 which is scalloped at 35 in order that it may be readily gripped for adjustment. A secondary nozzle 36 extends into the narrowest portion of the venturi, this secondary nozzle being an integral portion of the body of the hydrotherapy unit. It is connected via further piping 37 to the atmosphere. Thus when the hydrotherapy unit is in operation, the pump unit 17 pumps water from the pump inlet 18 to the jet nozzle 20. The water is caused to pass quickly through the venturi, and this reduces the pressure in the venturi so that air is drawn out of the secondary nozzle 36. Thus the jet of water issuing from the jet nozzle 20 has air entrained therein.

The jet nozzle can be adjusted to an angle of 30 from axis of the secondary nozzle in any direction save that an integral projection 38 on the body of the unit prevents the jet nozzle from directing a jet above the horizontal.

In use, the bath is preferably filled to a water level above the hydrotherapy units 9.

The pump unit is switched on and the bather can then enjoy hydrotherapy from the jets issuing from the jet nozzles 20. According to the portion of his body which the bather wishes to massage, he can sit at either end of the bath. If he sits in the left hand end portion 8 his front lower body and upper legs can be massaged by the hydrotherapy units 7 and his feet can be masaged by the hydrotherapy unit 9. If alternatively he sits in the right hand end portion 10 his feet can receive hydrotherapy massage from the units 7 and his back can be massaged by the unit 9.

As will be apparent, the bath itself can incorporate further features, for instance it may incorporate taps in the rim. Alternatively the taps may be mounted in a wall against which the bath is positioned. Control of the motor of the pump unit 17 may be by means of a simple on/off switch.

Alternatively a time switch may be used.

In order to accommodate the hydrotherapy unit in a bath having a protrusion or end wall disposed at an angle other than 15 , the stop described above as an integral projection 38 may be adjustable. A screw threaded into the projection 38 may be provided for this purpose.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS; 1. A bath having a waisted shape given by a pair of protrusions from opposite sides of the bath, the protrusions delimiting two end portions of the bath each having a maximum width greater than the width of the bath at the protrusions, and a pair of hydrotherapy units, one unit being mounted in each protrusion on a face facing one end portion.

2. A bath as claimed in claim 1 having a second pair of hydrotherapy units, one unit of the second pair being mounted in each protrusion on a face facing the other end portion.

3. A bath as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the protrusion faces having bydro- therapy units mounted therein are included at substanflally 15 to the vertical and at substantially 45" to the centre line of the bath.

4. A bath as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 including a further hydrotherapy unit mounted in an end wall of the bath.

5. A bath as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the protrusions extend to above the normally expected water level in the bath.

6. A bath as claimed in claim 5 including a grab handle surmounting each protrusion.

7. A bath as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each hydrotherapy unit has a pump inlet and a jet nozzle.

8. A bath as claimed in claim 7 wherein in each hydrotherapy unit the jet nozzle is directly above the pump inlet.

9. A bath as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein in each hydrotherapy unit the jet nozzle is angularly adjustable with a stop to prevent a jet therefrom being directed above the horizontal.

10. A bath as claimed in claim 7, claim 8 or claim 9 wherein in each hydrotherapy unit the jet nozzle includes an air injector.

11. A bath as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10 wherein in each hydrotherapy unit the pump inlet includes an inlet protector.

12. A bath as claimed in any preceding claim including an integral ledge for supporting a pump and motor.

13. A bath substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (13)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. issuing from the jet nozzles 20. According to the portion of his body which the bather wishes to massage, he can sit at either end of the bath. If he sits in the left hand end portion 8 his front lower body and upper legs can be massaged by the hydrotherapy units 7 and his feet can be masaged by the hydrotherapy unit 9. If alternatively he sits in the right hand end portion 10 his feet can receive hydrotherapy massage from the units 7 and his back can be massaged by the unit 9. As will be apparent, the bath itself can incorporate further features, for instance it may incorporate taps in the rim. Alternatively the taps may be mounted in a wall against which the bath is positioned. Control of the motor of the pump unit 17 may be by means of a simple on/off switch. Alternatively a time switch may be used. In order to accommodate the hydrotherapy unit in a bath having a protrusion or end wall disposed at an angle other than 15 , the stop described above as an integral projection 38 may be adjustable. A screw threaded into the projection 38 may be provided for this purpose. WHAT WE CLAIM IS;

1. A bath having a waisted shape given by a pair of protrusions from opposite sides of the bath, the protrusions delimiting two end portions of the bath each having a maximum width greater than the width of the bath at the protrusions, and a pair of hydrotherapy units, one unit being mounted in each protrusion on a face facing one end portion.

2. A bath as claimed in claim 1 having a second pair of hydrotherapy units, one unit of the second pair being mounted in each protrusion on a face facing the other end portion.

3. A bath as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the protrusion faces having bydro- therapy units mounted therein are included at substanflally 15 to the vertical and at substantially 45" to the centre line of the bath.

4. A bath as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 including a further hydrotherapy unit mounted in an end wall of the bath.

5. A bath as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the protrusions extend to above the normally expected water level in the bath.

6. A bath as claimed in claim 5 including a grab handle surmounting each protrusion.

7. A bath as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each hydrotherapy unit has a pump inlet and a jet nozzle.

8. A bath as claimed in claim 7 wherein in each hydrotherapy unit the jet nozzle is directly above the pump inlet.

9. A bath as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein in each hydrotherapy unit the jet nozzle is angularly adjustable with a stop to prevent a jet therefrom being directed above the horizontal.

10. A bath as claimed in claim 7, claim 8 or claim 9 wherein in each hydrotherapy unit the jet nozzle includes an air injector.

11. A bath as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10 wherein in each hydrotherapy unit the pump inlet includes an inlet protector.

12. A bath as claimed in any preceding claim including an integral ledge for supporting a pump and motor.

13. A bath substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.