GB2107180A - Therapeutic baths - Google Patents

Abstract

Therapeutic bath equipment comprises a blower 4 for supplying warm air through a manifold 5 and tubing 8 to a plurality of non-return valves 7 mounted in the bottom wall of the bath 1. Each valve 7 has an outlet hole through which a stream of air, which may be heated, is delivered into the bath water, and the valves are distributed over an area of the bottom of the bath to create turbulence in the water for a massaging effect on the body. <IMAGE>

Description

the bottom of the bath by a length of i" (9.5 mm) inside diameter P.V.C. tubing 8, only one such length being shown for clarity.

A pull switch 9 is located above the bath for controlling the electricity supply to the whole installation.

The blower unit 4 (Figure 2) incorporates a 600 watt motor 10 of a kind used in vacuum cleaners, having an in-built thermal cut-out and being capable of supplying about 80 cu. ft. of air per minute. The impeller end of the motor is provided with an air filter 11. The motor is held to a steel back-plate 12 by a strap 13, with the impeller end uppermost. The motor is housed in a vacuumformed plastics case 14 which is open at its upper end and connected to the pipe 3 at its lower end.

An optional heating element 15 may be provided at the mouth of the pipe 3 (see below). The unit may be installed in a loft.

Referring to Figure 3, the manifold 5 comprises a hollow cylindrical body 1 6 from which the outlets 6 project radially, arranged in two diametrically opposite rows of six. The pipe 3 radially enters the manifold adjacent to one of its ends which is provided with an axial auxiliary outlet 17. A 3tt (22 mm) diameter pipe 18 connects this auxiliary outlet to an air pressure control valve 1 9 mounted immediately beneath a horizontal panel 20 at one end of the bath. The control valve 19 comprises an inlet 21 connected to the pipe 18, and an outlet 22 open to atmosphere. The inlet and outlet are perpendicular to each other, and communication between them is set by an apertured control member 23. The control member is provided with a spindle 24 which extends through the panel 20 to receive a knob 25.Manual rotation of the knob enables the control member to be rotated continuously between a position in which the inlet and outlet are in full communication with each other to one in which such communication is completely cut off.

The non-return valves 7 are all of similar construction. Each comprises a tubular shank 26 (Figure 4) terminating in a shallow-domed head 27, about 1 inch (25 mm) in diameter. A portion of the shank adjacent to the domed head is externally screw threaded to receive a nut 28. A sealing washer 29 is located on the shank next to the domed head followed by a lock-washer 30.

The internal bore 31 of the valve expands in the region of the head to form a valve chamber 32 containing a valve member in the form of a ball 33. The lower end of the chamber (remote from the head) forms a valve seat against which the bail normally rests under the force of gravity. The upper end of the chamber opens through a 0.15" (3.8 mm) diameter hole 34 in the centre of the domed head. Four radial ribs 35 guide the ball axially within the chamber and are provided with shoulders 36 which prevent the ball from blocking the exit hole 34. The tubing 8 is a push-fit on the thread-less end of the shank 26.

The valves 7 are mounted in holes drilled in the bottom of the bath in a suitable pattern. Figure 5a shows a pattern which has been designed to provide a general body massage, Figure Sb is for a concentrated body massage, and Figure Sc is a fourteen valve pattern for a concentrated leg massage. (PH indicates the position of the plug hole.) In each case the holes are distributed generally in a U configuration, the limbs of the U being arranged to provide leg massage and the cross-piece of the U being situated at the opposite end of the bath to the plug hole to provide back massage. The spacing between adjacent holes varies between about 64-140 mm, around the end of the bath, and 178-280 mm in rows extending lengthwise of the bath.

It has been found that there is little point in providing any valves in the sides of the bath since the air bubbles then tend to rise up the sides without producing any significant amount of turbulence. When mounting the valves, the nut is tightened to clamp the bottom wall of the bath between the sealing washer 29 (located on the inside of the bath) and the lock washer 30.

in use, the bath is filled with water to about waist height (in a sitting position), at a temperature of about 4000. The balls 33 are urged against their respective seats by the weight of water, thus preventing water from entering the tubing 8. The blower unit is turned on by means of the pull switch 9 whereupon the motor draws air through the open top of the case 14 and expels it through the pipe 3. The filter 11 removes any particles of dust or grit which may be drawn in, especially when the unit is installed in a loft. At the manifold the air flow is divided twelve ways, and the air pressure causes the balls 33 to lift off their respective seats permitting air to flow between the ribs 35 and out through the holes 34. This design of non-return valve opens at an air pressure of only 12 to 2 p.s.i.

Air flow through the holes 34, and hence the degree of turbulence created in the bath water, is controlled by the control valve 19, minimum flow being achieved when the valve is fully open and maximum flow when the valve is fully closed.

The blower motor referred to generates sufficient heat during normal running to produce an air temperature of 450 in the manifold with an ambient air temperature of 200 C. In many instances further heating of the air will be unnecessary. However, if desired, the heater 1 5 (Figure 2) may be employed. This may be in the form of a thermostatically controlled electrical heating element with a range of four settings of 1 1, and2kw.

Despite the fact that warm air is blown in, the bath water will still tend to cool over a period of time, so the installation incorporates measures to maintain the water temperature within certain limits. These are illustrated in Figures 1 and 6. A Tee-piece 37 is inserted in the hot water pipe 38 supplying the "hot" bath tap 39. The branch of the Tee is connected to a hot water inlet 40 mounted in the side of the bath, via a motorised valve 41. A temperature sensor in the form of a thermocouple 42 is mounted in a hole in the side of the bath SPECIFICATION Therapeutic baths This invention relates to therapeutic baths, for personal use, of the kind in which turbulence is created in the bath water to produce a massaging effect on the body. This effect may be of value in treatment of certain medical conditions or simply as a pleasant and relaxing experience.

It is known to create such turbulence by injecting a mixture of air and water into.a bath, but the size and cost of the equipment employed tends to make the installation of such a system unattractive to the ordinary householder.

Various proposals have also been made for the use of perforated mats or gratings which can be placed into an ordinary domestic bath, to lie on the bottom of the bath, air alone being delivered from a blower into the bath water through the mat perforations.

In our view, a much preferable arrangement is to provide apertures in the bottom wall of the bath and distribute air to the apertures from a manifold outside the bath. This can provide a permanent installation for which an ordinary domestic bath can readily be adapted. One such arrangement is described in U.K. patent specification No.

2 026 317A.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved therapeutic bath equipment which is well suited to installation for domestic use, and is hygienic, safe and efficient in operation. The invention provides, in one of its aspects, therapeutic bath equipment comprising a bath and means for blowing streams of air into the bath simultaneously through a number of holes which are distributed over an area of the bottom of the bath, the air entering the bath through non-return valves mounted in the bottom wall of the bath.

It has been the usual practice, in the various systems previously proposed, to make use of unvalved apertures for entry of the air into the bath water. Valves have of course been employed elsewhere in the previously proposed systems, but it has not been considered appropriate to make use of valved outlets. We have found that on the contrary there are substantial advantages to be gained from empioying individually-valved outlets, the advantages arising primarily from the fact that an insignificant amount of water remains trapped in the outlets, and associated plumbing, when the bath is emptied. Quite apart from providing for an altogether more hygienic arrangement, we have found that such a system can give rise to operational improvements as regards both safety and efficiency of operation.

The equipment is preferably such that under normal operating conditions the air blown into the bath is at a temperature within the range of 30 to 550C.

The number of holes is preferably between 6 and 18, largely depending on the size of the bath.

For an average domestic bath about 1.75 m long by 0.75 m wide, twelve holes, suitably distributed over the bottom of the bath, can generally give good results. Preferably, some at least of the holes are distributed in a generally U-shaped configuration. The spacing between the holes is preferably within the range of 60 to 300 mm. For a foot-bath other distributions may be preferable.

The holes may for convenience be circular and be between 1 and 10 mm wide. Below 1 mm the gas stream is so fine that insufficient turbulence is produced and above 10 mm the turbulence tends to be excessively violent. A range of 2.5 to 7.5 mm is much preferred, about 4 mm being optimum.

The non-return valves prevent back flow of water through the holes when the blower is not operating. The valves are preferably designed to open at low gas pressures and may be of the ball valve or diaphragm type.

The blower may employ a motor of between 400 and 850 watts and be capable of supplying between 53 and 85 cu. ft. of air per minute at a pressure of 32 to 70 inches of water, depending on the number and size of the holes to be supplied.

The air is preferably supplied to the holes via a manifold, and there may be a manually operable valve for controlling the air pressure in the manifold, and hence the airflow through the holes.

The equipment preferably includes means for maintaining bath water temperature between predetermined limits by feeding hot water into the bath in response to a drop in the temperature of the bath water.

In another of its aspects the invention provides a conversion kit suitable for use in converting an ordinary domestic bath into therapeutic bath equipment as called for in the last preceding paragraph but eight, the kit comprising a blower for producing a stream of air, a plurality of nonreturn valves to be mounted in the bottom wall of the bath, and pipework for conveying air between the blower and the valves.

A therapeutic bath installation in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a general view of the installation, Figure 2 is a part cut-away view of the blower unit of the installation, Figure 3 is a sectional view of a manifold and air pressure control valve of the installation, Figure 4 is a sectional view of a non-return valve for mounting in the bath, Figures 5a to c show various patterns in which the non-return valves can be mounted, and Figure 6 is a detailed view of part of the installation for controlling the temperature of the bath water.

With reference to Figure 1. a domestic bath 1 having the usual drainage hole and overflow, is boxed in by panelling 2. A 14" diameter pipe 3 leaves an external blower unit 4, passes through the panelling 2, and terminates at a manifold 5 having twelve branch outlets 6. Each outlet 6 is connected to a respective non-return valve 7 in below the normal water line. The thermocouple is connected to a temperature control 43 which controls the motorised valve. The temperature control may be mounted on the blower unit 4 or on the bathroom wall. The control can be adjusted to set the nominal temperature of the bath water.

When the sensed temperature falls below the nominal temperature setting the motorised valve is opened so that hot water is fed into the bath. As soon as the temperature has been restored the valve closes again. Any excess water drains off through the overflow.

To enable conversion of an existing bath, suitable equipment, comprising a blower, nonreturn valves and pipework, may be supplied as a conversion kit.

Claims (10)

1. Therapeutic bath equipment comprising a bath and means for blowing streams of air into the bath simultaneously through a number of holes which are distributed over an area of the bottom of the bath, the air entering the bath through nonreturn valves mounted in the bottom wall of the bath.

2. Equipment according to claim 1 so arranged that under normal operating conditions the air blown into the bath will be at a temperature within the range of 300C to 55 C.

3. Equipment according to either of claims 1 and 2 in which the holes through which air enters the bath are of a diameter within the range of 2.5 mm to 7.5 mm.

4. Equipment according to claim 3 in which the holes are about 4 mm in diameter.

5. Equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the valves are of a ball-valve type.

6. Equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the blowing means is capable of supplying air to the bath at a rate within the range of 53 to 85 cu. ft. per minute at a pressure within the range of 32 to 70 inches of water.

7. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a manifold for distribution of the air from the blower to the nonreturn valves, there being provided a manually operable valve for controlling the air pressure in the manifold.

8. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims comprising means for maintaining bath water temperature between predetermined limits by causing hot water to be fed into the bath in response to a drop in the temperature of the bath water.

9. A conversion kit suitable for use in converting a conventional domestic bath into therapeutic bath equipment as called for in any one of claims 1 to 8, the kit comprising a blower for producing a stream of air, a plurality of nonreturn valves to be mounted in the bottom wall of the bath, and pipework for conveying air between the blower and the valves.

10. Therapeutic bath equipment constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.