GB2138707A

GB2138707A - Hydro-massage device

Info

Publication number: GB2138707A
Application number: GB08409679A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Carla Locati
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-04-13
Filing date: 1984-04-13
Publication date: 1984-10-31
Also published as: JPS59207152A; GB8409679D0; IT8320575A0; IT1160848B; FR2544197A1; DE3411099A1; FR2544197B3

Abstract

Vertical travel shower-type hydro-massage device in which the holes of the shower are arranged along an arc 22 of about 180 DEG and have their axes perpendicular and at 45 DEG to the user. The arc 22 is pivoted on the distribution chamber 18 fixed to the end of the rod of a plunger which travels inside the rectangular cross-section chamber 1 under the effect of the water introduced into the said chamber by a pedal operated valve 14. The water is supplied to the arc 22 by the feed pipe 13 with the vertical pipe 17 and the telescopic coupling 20. The rectangular cross-section chamber 1 has through holes 23 in the upper part to discharge the water while the plunger descends. Concentrated high speed jets can thus be provided, and virtually the whole body can be massaged. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hydro-massage device Background of the invention Field of the invention The present invention refers to a vertical travel shower type hydro-massage device.

More in particular, the present invention refers to a shower type hydro-massage device able to massage the entire body.

Description of the prior art As is known, the periferic circulation of the blood may be re-activated in the human body by massages and these, in particular may be achieved using numerous high speed water jets and therefore with a very concentrated high force.

Normal shower roses do not permit this to be achieved, because in general they have holes with a diameter that is too large, thus dissipating the energy of the water system in too large a water mass, spread over an irrationally distributed area casually arranged with respect to the body.

Summary of the invention The purpose of the present invention is that of overcoming the drawbacks detailed above.

More in particular, the purpose of the present invention is that of providing a shower type hydromassage device, the water jets of which are high speed and well concentrated, and surround the entire body of the user to be massaged. According to the present invention, this and other purposes are achieved in a shower type hydro-massage device in which the water holes are distributed over a horizontal arc which extends for 1 800 and generate water jets in two directions: one perpendicular to the body and therefore achieving a massage virtually by impact, and the other inclined at 450 and therefore operating by travelling along the body of the user.

By turning around within the arc of the jets the user may massage his whole body at a given height.

In order to extend the massage effect over the whole body, the drilled shower arc has an articulated fixing at the end of the stem, orrod of a hydraulic cylinder operated by a pedal valve which controls the introduction of the water beneath the plunger; in parallel, but independently to the supply of the same into the shower arc.

The plunger is fitted with a calibrated through hole, having a small cross-section, with respect to that of the cylinder, so as to allow the passage of a small quantity of water inside the hydraulic cylinder.

The water that passes inside the hydraulic cylinder is discharged through several holes arranged in the upper part of the cylinder.

By opening the valve a small, or large amount causes the plunger to rise, the shower arc being articulated on the plunger rod. The plunger rising speed depends on the difference between the water volume that enters inside the cylinder chamber through the valve and the water volume that passes through the plunger hole and escapes through the holes.

When the shower arc has reached the maximum desired height, theuser shuts the pedaloperated valve, stopping the supply of underlying feed water passing the through hole and the upper holes of the cylinder.

Partial re-opening of the pedal operated valve can cause the shower arc to move upwards, or fix it at the desired height. The water supply to the shower arc is in parallel to the water supplied to the hydraulic cylinder and is independent of the pedal operated valve.

In particular, the shower arc is made up of two semi-arcs connected to the plunger rod via shutting-off arcs type cylindrical coupling which permits the flow of water into the two semi-arcs when they are in an open horizontal position and shut the water flow when the two semi-arcs are turned upwards.

Brief description of the drawing The structural and functional characteristics of the present shower type hydro-massage device may be better understood from the detailed description that follows in which reference is made to the figures of the attached drawing that represent a preferred, exemplificative but nonlimitative embodiment of the present invention and in which: Figure 1 represents the prospective view of the hydro-massage device, subject of the present invention; Figure 2 represents the mean frontal crosssection of the expansion column; Figure 3 represents the transversal section, in particular, of the pedal operated valve; Figure 4 represents the horizontal section of Figure 2, along the line IV--IV; Description of the preferred embodiments With reference to the figures, the hydromassage device subject of the present invention includes: a column 1, that is fixable to the wall using screws 2 and 2' passing through the holes 3 and 3', made up of a supply base 4, a header 5 and a chamber 6.

A plunger 8 travels inside this chamber 6, the plunger is fitted with a stem, or rod 7 having a rectangular cross-section so as to adhere to the long sides, leaving two channels free in correspondance to the two narrow sides of the chamber 6. The plunger has a calibrated through hole 9 which sets the two side channels in communication with the supply chamber 1 0. The latter is supplied with water by a supply pipe 1 3 via the hole 11 sealed by a spring operated valve 12.

The spring operated valve 1 2 is operated by the pedal 14 pivoted at the base 4. A second supply pipe 16 leads off directly from the chamber 1 5, surrounding the spring operated valve 12 which connects up with a vertical pipe 1 7 that extends in parallel to the central body of the column until it connects up to the header 5.

The said header 5, fixed solidly to the column 1 is fitted with two sealed sliding seats: one rectangular seat for the rectangular rod 7 and a circular seat for the supply pipe 1 7. A distribution box 1 8 is fixed to the free end of the rod 7 passed through by a transversal channel 1 9 which communicates directly with the vertical supply pipe 17, via a telescopic type expansion coupling 20.

Two seats, with a snap coupling and with shutting-off rotation 21 are iocated inside the transversal channel 19. Two semi-arcs 22, having a rectangular cross-section fitted with cylindrical coupling seats are positioned inside the above seats which permit the rotation of the said semiarcs. When the two semi-arcs 22 are in a horizontal position they are in direct communication with channel 1 9 and the water flows inside the said semi-arcs, whereas when they are rotated in a vertical position, they block off the supply passage of channel 1 9 automatically forming d double stop valve. The two semi-arcs 22 are preferably made up of three segments in a split line, to make for easier handling.Furthermore, they have two sets of holes: a first set having a perpendicular (horizontal) axis to their internal side and therefore with respect ot the user, and a second set arranged with an axis directed downwards at 450 and formed in or widening out on the lower inner edge. The first set is visible in Figures 1 and 2 whereas the second set cannot be seen. The preferred diameter of the holes is some 0.7 mm, operating well with a minimum pressure of 1,5 atmospheres in the water supply line.

The wall of column 1, directed towards the user has a set of holes 23 at the height of the header, communicating with a discharge line 24.

Operation of the shower type hydro-massage device, subject of the present invention is as follows: The device in the rest position is connected via the supply pipe 13 to the water line and has the semi-arcs 22 facing upwards.

In this position, the water does not flow. The user, once standing on the shower plate, moves the two semi-arcs 22 into a horizontal position and may start the massage effect on the lower parts of the body. The action is immediate because the water through the pipe 1 7 and the telescopic coupling 20 passes directly to the two semi-arcs 22 which, by being in a horizontal position have annulled the shutting-off position.

When the user wishes to have the massaging effect in a higher position, he presses the pedal 14, thereby opening the valve 12, therefore the water also enters the chamber 10, raising the plunger. From the chamber 10, the water also enters the two sides of the chamber 6, through the calibrated hole 9 and its level rises until the holes 23 are reached, which are limited in number to avoid the lateral flow from reducing the supply water pressure too much.

By releasing the pedal 1 4 at the desired moment, the plunger 8 stops at the position reached.

In this way a regular massage is achievable over the entire body in an upwards direction. The weight of the shower, with the valve 1 2 shut, compresses the water inside the chamber 10, forcing it into the side chambers and therefore into the holes 23. In this way a gradual descent of the plunger 8 is obtained and therefore of the two semi-arcs 22. The particulars of the articulations and of the seals are not described here because they are realised according to a known art, since they do not form the subject of the present invention. The invention may be produced using any suitable metal, or alloy forged, or drawn, or machined mechanically, or may be made entirely, or partly using plastics for drawing, or moulding.

Variations, alterations, or changes may be made to the hydro-massage device illustrated in the figures of the drawing attached within the spirit of the present invention and without leaving the context of its protective sphere.

Claims

1. A shower-type hydro-massage device for massaging the major part of the body, comprising a vertically-movable means for jetting water, the jetting means having holes which are distributed around a substantially horizontal arc such as to jet water onto a large part of the circumference of the body, of which holes first holes are arranged to jet water roughly perpendicularly onto the body and second holes are arranged and jet water at an angle of roughly 450 on the body of the user.

2. The device of Claim 1, in which the holes are distributed around the arc such that as to jet water onto about or more than 50% of the circumference of the body.

3. The device of Claim 1, in which the holes are distributed around an area of about 1 800.

4. The device of any one of the preceding Claims, in which the first holes jet the water substantially horizontally.

5. The device of any one of the preceding Claims, in which the second holes jet the water at substantially 450 to the horizontal.

6. The device of any one of the preceding Claims in which the holes are all directed substantially radially towards a central zone, as seen looking vertically downwards.

7. The device of any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the first and second holes are in two respective rows.

8. The device of any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the jetting means is of generally arcuate shape and supported adjacent the midpoint of the arc, the jetting means being pivotal between a position into which the arc lies in a substantially vertical plane and an operative position in which the arc lies in a substantially horizontal plane.

9. The device of any one of the preceding Claims, in which the jetting means comprises two semi-arcs, fitted with cylindrical coupling seats and connected to a water supply channel via a valve so that when the two semi-arcs are in a horizontal position the supply is open, whereas when the two semi-arcs are in a vertical position the supply is shut.

10. The device of Claim 9, where the two semiarcs are connected to the water supply channel via a transverse channel connected to a vertical supply pipe using a telescopic expandable coupling.

11. The device of any one of the preceding Claims, in which the jetting means are carried on the end of the rod of a piston which moves vertically in a piston chamber under the effect of the water introduced by a user-operated valve, the piston having a hole interconnecting its forward and rear faces, and the upper part of the piston chamber geing provided with a set of holes for jetting water onto the body, which water passes through said interconnecting hole.

12. The device of Claim 10, in which the piston chamber is of rectangular cross-section.

13. The device of any one of the preceding Claims, in which the jetting means comprises two semi-arcs, each semi-arc being formed of a plurality of straight tubes, each tube making an angle with the adjoining tube(s) so as roughly to follow an arc.

14. The device of any one of the preceding Claims, in which the jetting means comprises a square or rectangular cross-section tube in the wall of which the first and second holes are formed.

15. A shower-type hydro-massage device, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawing.