GB2113542A

GB2113542A - Hydrotherapy apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2113542A
Application number: GB08201693A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Hugill Gibson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-01-21
Filing date: 1982-01-21
Publication date: 1983-08-10

Abstract

Hydrotherapy apparatus comprising a submersible assembly 10, fig. 1, including a main air conduit 11, for connection to a source of air under pressure, and a plurality of air ducts 12 leading from the main conduit and extending over at least part of the area of the assembly, each duct being formed with a number of air outlets 18 spaced along the length thereof, and buoyancy means 21, fig. 6, being connected to the submersible assembly so that when, in use, air under pressure is delivered continuously to said ducts to escape through said outlets, the apparatus will float in water with the submersible assembly disposed below the surface of the water. A plurality of assemblies may be joined together. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hydrotherapy apparatus The invention relates to hydrotherapy apparatus of the kind in which the user is immersed in water and is subjected to the massaging and invigorating action of air bubbled through the water around the user's body, the air bubbles normally being provided by pumping air under pressure through a plurality of spaced outlets or nozzles in the apparatus.

Various known forms of apparatus of this kind have been designed to be laid in a domestic bath or on the bottom of a shallow pool so that the user can lie on the apparatus with his body submerged but his head above the water.

However, such forms of apparatus are of limited usefulness and the present invention sets out to provide an improved hydrotherapy apparatus which can be used in a swimming pool of ordinary size and depth, or any other suitably body of water, and where a number of pieces of apparatus may be used by different users in the same body of water.

According to the invention there is provided hydrotherapy apparatus comprising a submersible assembly including a main air conduit, for connection to a source of air under pressure, and a plurality of air ducts leading from the main conduit and extending over at least part of the area of the assembly, each duct being formed with a number of air outlets spaced along the length thereof, and buoyancy means being connected to the submersible assembly so that when, in use, air under pressure is delivered continuously to said ducts to escape through said outlets, the apparatus will float in water with the submersible assembly disposed below the surface of the water.

Thus, since the apparatus floats in the water it may be used in a body of water of any depth and of any size, and consequently a number of similar pieces of apparatus may be used within the same body of water. Thus the apparatus may be used in a conventional swimming pool.

Preferably the submersible assembly itself has negative buoyancy and in this case the submersible assembly may, in use, be simply suspended from the buoyancy means.

The buoyancy means may comprise floats which, when the apparatus is floating in water, are disposed above, or above and outwardly of, the side edges of the submersible assembly so that a person may recline in the water between the floats and above the submersible assembly. The floats may comprise inflatable flotation devices. The submersible assembly may be partly surrounded by a sheet of flexible material which extends in a U-shape downwardly from the surface of the water beneath the submersible assembly and up towards the surface of the water, so as partly to contain the air bubbles emanating from the submersible assembly. The submersible assembly may be supported by the sheet of flexible material, the submersible assembly resting within the bottom of the U-shape. The flexible material may be synthetic plastics material.

The submersible assembly may comprise one or more generally panel-like structures each having said air ducts extending across the area thereof.

Each panel-like structure is preferably integrally formed with said air ducts. For example, the structure may be shaped at particular locations over its area to define said ducts.

In a particular emodiment each panel-like structure comprises two sheets of material, such as synthetic plastics material, secured together face to face, at least one of the sheets being formed with elongate channels which are closed off by the other sheet to define said ducts.

Ballast weights may be provided on each said structure to provide the aforesaid negative buoyancy. For example, said other sheet may also be formed with further elongate channels which are closed off by the first said sheet, the ballast weights being located in said further channels.

The two sheets of material may also be shaped to embrace or define said main air conduit from which the air ducts lead.

Each panel-like structure may be generally rectangular in configuration, the air ducts being disposed parallel to one another and to one side of the structure. In this case the main air conduit may extend transversely of the air ducts.

A plurality of pieces of apparatus of any of the kinds referred to above may be connected together side-by-side and/or end-to-end to provide a multiple apparatus. Where the pieces of apparatus are connected together end-to-end, each piece of apparatus may include a portion of a single continuous main air conduit. Where the pieces of apparatus are connected together side-by-side there may be provided a plurality of parallel main air conduits, one for each piece of apparatus, the air conduits being connected by respective T-junctions to an air supply pipe.

The following is a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa plan view of part of the submersible assembly of hydrotherapy apparatus according to the invention, Figure 2 is a section along the line A-A of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a section along the line B-B of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a plan view of hydrotherapy apparatus incorporating three assemblies of the kind shown in Figures 1 to 3, Figure 5 is a vertical section along the line A-A of Figure 4, and Figure 6 is a cross-section along the line B-B of Figure 4.

Referring to Figure 1,each part of the submersible assembly comprises a rectangular panel or mat 10 incorporating a main air conduit 11 and a plurality of air ducts 12 extending parallel to one another and at right angles to the main air conduit 11.

The mat 10 is approximately 3 feet x 2 feet (91.5 cms x 61 cms) in size and is formed from two sheets 13 and 14 of high impact polystyrene secured together face-to face by a suitable adhesive.

The sheets 13 and 14 are each shaped by vacuum forming to provide a central channel 15 of semicircular cross-section and transverse channels extending at right angles from the channel 15. The transverse channels are approximately 3/8 inches (9.5 mm) in width. The transverse channels 16 on the upper sheet 13 are spaced between the channels 17 on the lower sheet 14 so that each channel is closed off by the other sheet. The closed-off upper channels 16 define the aforementioned air ducts 12, and air holes 18 approximately 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) in diameter are provided at spaced intervals of approximately 4 inches (10 cms) along the length of each duct. The lower channels 17 cdntain ballast weights so as to provide the assembly with negative buoyancy when in use.

The main air conduit 11 is embraced by the semi-circular channels 15 in the two sheets 13 and 14, and is provided along opposite sides of its length with outlet holes 18 which register with the ends of the air ducts 12.

The channels 15, 16 and 17, besides providing the necessary ducts, also give the assembly lateral and longitudinal rigidity.

Referring to Figure'4 to 6, three mats 10 of the kind shown in Figures 1 to 3 are connected together end-to-end by means of a common main air conduit 11 extending through them. One end 19 of the air conduit is closed off and the other end is connected to a source of air under pressure, such as a low pressure air blower (not shown).

As best seen in Figure 6, the mats 10 rest on the bottom of a flexible plastics sheet 20 which is slung, so as to be generally U-shaped in cross-section, between two inflatable plastics floats 21. The mats 10 are thus suspended from the floats at a required distance below water level 22, a suitable distance being about 20 inches (51 cms).

When air is pumped along the main air conduit 11, air bubbles are emitted from the holes 18 in the air ducts 12 and this creates a high degree of turbulence spaced evenly over the whole surface of the mats and contained within the plastics sheet 20. In use, the user reclines between the floats 21 and within the sheet 20. The floats 21, in addition to providing support for the mats 10, also support the arms of the user to that the user can recline horizontally over the mats 10 without actually being in contact with them.

Several pieces of apparatus of the kind shown in Figures 4 to 6 can be connected together side-byside, their main air conduits 11 being fed via T connections from a main air supply pipe to which air is delivered by a single blower. Additional assemb lies can also be connected end-to-end thus creating an area of water aeration of any desired proportions.

CLAIMS (Filed on 21-1-83) 1. Hydrotherapy apparatus comprising a sub mersible assembly, including a main air conduit, for connection to a source of air under pressure, and a plurality of air ducts leading from the main conduit and extending over at least part of the area of the assembly, each duct being formed with a number of air outlets spaced along the length thereof, and buoyancy means being connected to the submersible assembly so that when, in use, air under pressure is delivered continuously to said ducts to escape through said outlets, the apparatus will float in water with the submersible assembly disposed below the surface of the water.

2. Apparatus according ta claim 1, wherein the submersible assembly has negative buoyancy and is suspended from the buoyancy means.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the buoyancy means comprise floats which, when the apparatus is floating in water, are disposed above, or above and outwardly of, the side edges of the submersible assembly.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the floats comprise inflatable flotation devices.

5. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the submersible assembly is partly surrounded by a sheet of flexible material which extends in a U-shape downwardly from the surface of the water, beneath the submersible assembly and up towards the surface of the water, so as partly to contain the air bubbles emanating from the submersible assembly.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the submersible assembly is supported by the sheet of flexible material, the submersible assembly resting within the bottom of the U-shape.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the flexible material is synthetic plastics material.

8. Apparatus according to anyofthe preceding claims, wherein the submersible assembly comprises one or more generally panel-like structures each having said air ducts extending across the area thereof.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each panel-like structure is integrally formed with said ducts.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each panel-like structure comprises two sheets of material secured together face to face, at least one of the sheets being formed with elongate channels which are closed off by the other sheet to define said ducts.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10,wherein ballast weights are provided on each said structure.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said other sheet is formed with further elongate channels which are closed off by the first said sheet, the ballast weights being located in said further channels.

13. Apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the two sheets of material are shaped to embrace or define said main air conduit from which the air ducts lead.

14. Apparatus according to any of claims 8 to 13, wherein each panel-like structure is generally rectangular, the air ducts being disposed parallel to one another and to one side of the structure.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the main air conduit extends transversely of the air ducts.

16. Hydrotherapy apparatus substantially as he rein before described with reference to the accom

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

Claims

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

The mat 10 is approximately 3 feet x 2 feet (91.5 cms x 61 cms) in size and is formed from two sheets 13 and 14 of high impact polystyrene secured together face-to face by a suitable adhesive.

The sheets 13 and 14 are each shaped by vacuum forming to provide a central channel 15 of semicircular cross-section and transverse channels extending at right angles from the channel 15. The transverse channels are approximately 3/8 inches (9.5 mm) in width. The transverse channels 16 on the upper sheet 13 are spaced between the channels 17 on the lower sheet 14 so that each channel is closed off by the other sheet. The closed-off upper channels 16 define the aforementioned air ducts 12, and air holes 18 approximately 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) in diameter are provided at spaced intervals of approximately 4 inches (10 cms) along the length of each duct. The lower channels 17 cdntain ballast weights so as to provide the assembly with negative buoyancy when in use.

The main air conduit 11 is embraced by the semi-circular channels 15 in the two sheets 13 and 14, and is provided along opposite sides of its length with outlet holes 18 which register with the ends of the air ducts 12.

The channels 15, 16 and 17, besides providing the necessary ducts, also give the assembly lateral and longitudinal rigidity.

Referring to Figure'4 to 6, three mats 10 of the kind shown in Figures 1 to 3 are connected together end-to-end by means of a common main air conduit

11 extending through them. One end 19 of the air conduit is closed off and the other end is connected to a source of air under pressure, such as a low pressure air blower (not shown).

As best seen in Figure 6, the mats 10 rest on the bottom of a flexible plastics sheet 20 which is slung, so as to be generally U-shaped in cross-section, between two inflatable plastics floats 21. The mats 10 are thus suspended from the floats at a required distance below water level 22, a suitable distance being about 20 inches (51 cms).

When air is pumped along the main air conduit 11, air bubbles are emitted from the holes 18 in the air ducts 12 and this creates a high degree of turbulence spaced evenly over the whole surface of the mats and contained within the plastics sheet 20. In use, the user reclines between the floats 21 and within the sheet 20. The floats 21, in addition to providing support for the mats 10, also support the arms of the user to that the user can recline horizontally over the mats 10 without actually being in contact with them.

Several pieces of apparatus of the kind shown in Figures 4 to 6 can be connected together side-byside, their main air conduits 11 being fed via T connections from a main air supply pipe to which air is delivered by a single blower. Additional assemb lies can also be connected end-to-end thus creating an area of water aeration of any desired proportions.

CLAIMS (Filed on 21-1-83) 1. Hydrotherapy apparatus comprising a sub mersible assembly, including a main air conduit, for connection to a source of air under pressure, and a plurality of air ducts leading from the main conduit and extending over at least part of the area of the assembly, each duct being formed with a number of air outlets spaced along the length thereof, and buoyancy means being connected to the submersible assembly so that when, in use, air under pressure is delivered continuously to said ducts to escape through said outlets, the apparatus will float in water with the submersible assembly disposed below the surface of the water.
2. Apparatus according ta claim 1, wherein the submersible assembly has negative buoyancy and is suspended from the buoyancy means.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the buoyancy means comprise floats which, when the apparatus is floating in water, are disposed above, or above and outwardly of, the side edges of the submersible assembly.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the floats comprise inflatable flotation devices.
5. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the submersible assembly is partly surrounded by a sheet of flexible material which extends in a U-shape downwardly from the surface of the water, beneath the submersible assembly and up towards the surface of the water, so as partly to contain the air bubbles emanating from the submersible assembly.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the submersible assembly is supported by the sheet of flexible material, the submersible assembly resting within the bottom of the U-shape.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the flexible material is synthetic plastics material.
8. Apparatus according to anyofthe preceding claims, wherein the submersible assembly comprises one or more generally panel-like structures each having said air ducts extending across the area thereof.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each panel-like structure is integrally formed with said ducts.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each panel-like structure comprises two sheets of material secured together face to face, at least one of the sheets being formed with elongate channels which are closed off by the other sheet to define said ducts.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10,wherein ballast weights are provided on each said structure.
12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said other sheet is formed with further elongate channels which are closed off by the first said sheet, the ballast weights being located in said further channels.
13. Apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the two sheets of material are shaped to embrace or define said main air conduit from which the air ducts lead.
14. Apparatus according to any of claims 8 to 13, wherein each panel-like structure is generally rectangular, the air ducts being disposed parallel to one another and to one side of the structure.
15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the main air conduit extends transversely of the air ducts.
16. Hydrotherapy apparatus substantially as he rein before described with reference to the accom

panying drawings.