GB2069330A - Aerated baths - Google Patents

Abstract

A bath 1 is provided, with the object of subjecting a user to the massaging effect of air bubbles, with means 3,4 whereby streams of air may be introduced into water contained in the bath from a plurality of outlet ports distributed over a substantial portion of the inside of the bath, which ports are divided into two or more groups, the air emission from the outlets of the individual groups being separately controlled by a manifold. The ports are provided in the horizontal portion of a body support 5 which is covered by an apertured sheet. The aeration principle may be applied to a footbath, fig. 7 (not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Aerated bath The invention relates to a bath primarily for bathing the human body.

It is known to modify a conventional "stillwater" bath by providing means for withdrawing water from the bath, aerating the water, and reintroducing it into the bath under pressure below the residual water level.

This arrangement causes a whirlpool effect and creates bubbles of air in the bath which are believed to have a beneficial effect on the body of a user of the bath, but it suffers from the disadvantage that the air bubbles are carried to the body surface in a stream of at times and in spite of filtration at least somewhat dirty water.

Moreover, in order to effect the required turbulence of the surface of the water in the bath and yet to avoid water splashing over the top of the bath, the reintroduction of aerated water needs to be at a level below the water surface not more than two-thirds of the depth of the water in the bath and the reintroduced stream must not be angled steeply upwardly.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the above-mentioned beneficial effect whilst at the same time avoiding the aforementioned disadvantage and limitations.

According to the invention there is provided a bath provided with means for the introduction, into water contained in the bath, of streams of air from a plurality of outlet ports distributed over a substantial portion of the inside of the bath.

Preferably the air stream introduction means comprises a body support platform located in the bottom of the bath and defining a shallow chamber providing said outlet ports. Preferably the outlet ports are divided into at least two groups and means are provided whereby air may be let out of the ports of any one or more of the said groups under the control of the user of the bath.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Fig. 1 shows a bath in plan view; Fig. 2 shows a section on line Il-Il of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows in perspective view a body support platform such as is incorporated in the bath of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 shows the platform of Fig. 3 in plan view; Fig. 5 shows a section on lines V-V of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 shows a section on line VI--VI of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 shows a foot bath in perspective view; and Fig. 8 shows a body support platform of circular form.

The bath assembly illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a bath 1 encased in panels 2 and connected to conventional hot and cold water supplies and a waste outlet not shown.

Additionaliy, the bath is connected by means of pipe 3 which runs partially within the casing defined by the panels 2 and leads to an air pump 4 located some two feet or more above the upper edge of the bath. The pump is connected to a suitable source of motive power such as an electric motor of 350 watts power for domestic use or 950 watts for commercial use, so that air is drawn into the pump and forced out through pipe 3 towards the bath. Advantageously the air pump 4 is located adjacent a hot water cylinder so that the air introduced is warm.

The body support platform 5 as shown in Figs.

3 to 6 is located in a recess 6 formed in the base and the opposite ends of the bath 1 so that the upwardly and inwardly facing surfaces of the platform 5 merge smoothly with the inner surface 7 of the bath.

At the end of the boath adjacent the waste plug 8 the horizontal portion of the body platform is cut away as shown at 9 to allow for the discharge of water from above the platform. The platform is not such a tight fit in the recess 6 as to prevent the introduction of water between the platform and the inside of the recess so that not only water which penetrates between the bath and the platform, but also water which enters into the platform as will be referred to hereinafter, can drain away and pass out from the plug 9.

At the same end of the bath the platform 5 has a pair of foot rests 1 2, angled at slightly more than 900 to the horizontal portion of the platform so as comfortably to support the soles of the feet of a user of the bath when lying prone, and spaced apart to allow the projection of the taps between the footrests.

At the opposite end of the bath the platform comprises an inclined portion 1 3.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 6, the horizontal portion 1 5 of the body support platform 5 comprises a series of spaced parallel channels 1 6, and each of these is continued into the inclined portion 1 3 and some of them into one or other of the foot supports 1 2. Air is introduced into the channels 1 6 through a control manifold 1 7 which extends across the platform somewhat closer to the inclined portion 1 3 than to the foot rests 12. The manifold is connectible at either end as required to pipe 3, the connection not used being sealed off.

The body bearing upper surface of the platform 5 is provided by a sheet 20 which covers the top of each channel 1 6 and spans the gaps between the channels. The portions of the sheet 20 spanning the gaps between the channels is substantially flat, whilst the portions covering the top of the channels is slightly concave and is provided with a series of holes 1 9 as shown in Fig.

6. In an embodiment not shown the portion of sheet 20 covering the top of each channel is provided with a more or less angular groove running lengthwise of the channel and holes are formed in the grooves. Air introduced into the channels through the pipe 3 and the manifold 1 7 is allowed to pass out of the channels through holes 1 9 as shown at 18 in Fig. 5. In the embodiment illustrated the holes 1 9 are approximately 1/32nd inch in diameter and in Figs. 4 and 3 are shown prominently only in one channel for the sake of simplicity. The concavity of the sheet 20 or the grooves therein over the channels 1 6 reduce the possibility of the holes being blocked by the body of the user of the bath.

In this connection it should also be mentioned that there are no holes in the sheet 20 in the region of the manifold 17 and this is strategically placed approximately where the seat of the user of the bath will commonly be located.

It is to be understood that water may enter the channels 1 6 through the holes 1 9 before air under pressure is introduced into them and may return into the channels after the air pressure has been switched off. A drainage hole 21 is therefore provided at the end of each channel 1 6 adjacent the waste plug 8 so that, the bottom of the bath being slightly inclined downwardly to the end adjacent the waste plug as is conventional, water will drain from the channels 1 6 through the holes 21 as the bath empties.

In the embodiment described, the manifold 1 7 comprises a brass tube with connections at each end to provide alternative connections to the pipe 3, the non-used connection being blanked off and helping to provide secure location of the platform 5 in the bath. The tube is rotatable about its longitudinal axis by means of serrated wheels 22 which protrude into the bath so as to be capable of rotation by the user of the bath.

Rotation of the tube into a first position provides airflow connection from the manifold to each of the channels 1 6 only between the manifold and the end of the bath adjacent the waste 8 and including the footrests 12 while in another position of rotation of the tube air connection is made with each of the channels 16 from the manifold to the end of the bath adjacent to and including the inclined portion 13, whilst in a third position air connection is made with each of the channels 1 6 at both sides of the manifold 1 7.

In this way the user of the bath can choose whether the air flow shall be concentrated around his back or about his legs and feet or whether over the whole of his body.

Because of the inclination of the portion 1 3 of the platform 5 and particularly because the perforations in that portion extend to the uppermost edge of that portion so that air bubbles impinge on the region of the shoulders and neck of the user of the bath, there may be a tendency for the bubbles to cause splashing of the water and for this reason the top rim of the bath has a raised lip all around the shoulder area.

In an alternative embodiment of the air control at the manifold 17, a set of gates or shutters slidable across openings into the air channels may be operated by levers accessible to the user of the bath. In the event of an inadvertant sealing off of both sections of the platform at the same time, a pressure release valve incorporated in the pipe 3 would be arranged to open and allow air to escape to prevent over-heating of the air pump 4.

As an alternative to the use of a manifold extending across the platform to control the supply of air to the channels leading to the two groups of holes, a further embodiment of the invention provides that the groups are separately connected to a three-way valve controlled by a knob located at the top edge of the bath or otherwise accessible to the user of the bath. The valve provides a path for the flow of air to either or both of the groups of holes and precludes the complete blocking of the air flow from the pump so as to dispense with the pressure relief valve. In an alternative embodiment the supply of air to the separate groups of holes is provided by separate air pumps.

The or each air pump 4 is of such a type that it cannot operate in reverse so as to draw water from the bath through the pipe into the motor, and the siting of the motor 4 well above the top of the bath ensures that there is no possibility of water entering the pump 4 by syphonage. As a further safety precaution the control of the motor driving the pump, which comprises a speed control and time switch, is located out of reach of the occupant of the bath. The speed control, which has 10 settings, and the time switch are set before the user gets into the bath and the time switch breaks the electric supply to the motor after the pre-set period. In an alternative safety system, control of the air pump motor is effected by a completely non-electrical or low-voltage device which may be operated by the occupant of the bath.

In the application of the invention to a foot bath as shown in Fig. 7, a shallow fibreglass container is provided with foot-shaped indentations 23, 24 in the upper surface 25 of the base of platform 26.

Within each indentation, the surface 25 is provided with one or more grooves within which are 1/36 inch diameter holes 27 leading to channels in the base connectable via a non-return valve to a low power (e.g. 350 watts) air blower. A valve may also be incorporated to direct air from the blower to either or both of the indentations via separate channels.

As in the case of the Figure 1 embodiment, the blower is remote from the foot bath and if, as shown, the controls 28 are within reach of a person whilst actually in the bath, these will be of a non-electrical or low-voltage type.

Fig. 8 shows a circular platform 30 for a bath which may itself be circular or generally in the shape of a 3-leafed or 4-leafed clover. The platform comprises a sheet 20 provided with spiral grooves 29 within which are holes 1 9 leading to one or other of a number (in this case two) channels 1 6, 1 6' which take the form of intertwined spirals. Channel 1 6 is provided with an air inlet 31 at the edge of the platform whilst channel 16' has an air inlet 32 at the centre. Inlets 31 and 32 may be connected to separate air blowers or to a common blower via a valve so that air may be forced along either or both of the channels to escape through the holes 1 9.

The clover-leaf-shape baths mentioned above may be provided with respectively three or four seats, each raised slightly above the level of the platform 30, and each seat may be provided with holes leading to channels into which air may be arranged to flow from a pump so that air escaping from the holes may massage the seat and lower back of an occupant.

Whilst reference has been made in the above description to holes being arranged within grooves to avoid being blocked by the occupant, it is to be understood that the holes may alternatively be located, either individually or severally, in a depression of other form but serving the same function.

Claims (5)

1. A bath provided with means for the introduction, into water contained in the bath, of streams of air from a plurality of outlet ports distributed over a substantial portion of the inside of the bath.

2. A bath according to Claim 1 wherein the air stream introduction means comprises a body support platform located in the bottom of the bath and defining a shallow chamber providing said outlet ports.

3. A bath according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the outlet ports are divided into at least two groups and means are provided whereby air may be let out of the ports of any one or more of the said groups under the control of the user of the bath.

4. A bath according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each of said ports is set in a recess to avoid its being blocked by an occupant of the bath.

5. A bath substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6, Fig. 7 and Figs. 1 to 6 as modified by 8.