US3026540A

US3026540A - Plastic foot bath

Info

Publication number: US3026540A
Application number: US856708A
Authority: US
Inventors: Barker Joan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-12-02
Filing date: 1959-12-02
Publication date: 1962-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 1979-03-27

Description

March 27, 1962 J. BARKER PLASTIC FOOT BATH Filed Dec. 2, 1959 United States Patent ()fiiice $326,540 Patented Mar. 27, 1%62 3,026,540 PLASTIC FOOT BATH Joan Barker, 741 N. Beatty, Pittsburgh, Pa. Filed Dec. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 856,708 2 Claims. (Cl. 4-182) This invention relates to a portable foot bath.

An object of the invention is to provide a very simple but practical, portable foot bath featuring advantages of sanitation, comfort and convenience since it is particularly easy to carry. The foot bath in accordance with the invention has no moving parts and is preferably made of a durable plastic which may be sterilized.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable foot bath which may be used for numerous purposes such as bathing the feet and a portion of the legs either for simple comfort or for therapeutic purposes.

One of the features of the invention which makes the foot bath a more desirable one is a valve located near or at the bottom of the foot bath to facilitate draining the foot bath of all or a substantial part of the water therein making it much easier to handle while emptying the foot bath.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the foot bath;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top view, parts being broken away in section, illustrating details of the foot bath;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the plastic valve of the foot bath;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view showing the valve in the open position; and,

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view showing a length of hose which is optionally included with the foot bath.

In the accompanying drawing there is a foot bath 10 made of a receptacle 12. The material of construction is preferably a plastic capable of being sterilized, there being a number of commercially available plastics which will fulfill this specification. Some of these are flexible, and it is prefer-red that the foot bath have some degree of flexibility, although it may be made completely rigid. The configuration of the receptacle 12 resembles a pair of boots integrally joined together at the sides thereof and communicated with each other. Consequently, there is an approximately cylindrical side Wall 14 of receptacle 12 together with two

toe portions

16 and 18 which would include a tip and approximately the vamp portions of shoes or overshoes. The receptacle has a substantial bottom wall 20 integral with the side walls, and a reinforcing bead 22 at the edge thereof. It is to be noted that a number of reinforcing ribs may be used along the height of the receptacle 12, this being optional and when used, they will provide additional strength and support when the receptacle is filled or partially filled with liquid, usually water although medicinal or other additives may be used. A single rib 24 is shown at the upper open edge of receptacle 12, this rib being in the form of a circular head for reinforcing purposes.

There are two hand-grips 26 at the sides of receptacle 12, and each has grippers therebeneath to enhance the frictional grip between the hands of the person carrying foot path 10, especially when filled or partially filled with liquid. The hand-grips are preferably recessed so that they do not provide unsightly protrusions at the sides of the receptacle 12.

There is a port 30 in the side Wall 14 adjacent to bottom wall 20. Port 30 is formed in a thickened part 38 of wall 14 near or at the lower edge thereof. Valve 34, for instance, a plug, is attached by flexible strip 36 to wall 14 adjacent to port 30, and the plug may be inserted, frictiona-lly held in port 30 and removed to facilitate employing the receptacle.

A resilient hose 46 of indeterminate length and preferably equipped with a resilient socket 48 at one end to fit on a faucet, is optionally included with the foot bath. When used, it will facilitate filling the foot bath and may also be used to provide a swirling motion to the liquid in the foot bath receptacle for hydrotherapeutic applications. The latter is accomplished by attaching one end of hose 46 in port 30. The hose end has a self-sealing valve construction consisting of a ring 50 which must be squeezed together to fit into port '30. When squeezed or radially compressed, the base 52 of the hose is closed preventing water flow therethrough. But when the end of the hose is fully inserted in the port 30, ring 50 expands to its original shape and contacts the inner surface of the receptacle wall surrounding port 30. Collar 56 on hose 46, near ring 50 forms a stop by contacting the outer surface of the receptacle wall. When water flows into the receptacle through hose 46, it swirls for hydrotherapy.

In use, the feet and legs are simply inserted in the receptacle 12, there being provided at the lower part of the receptacle individual pockets within

portions

16 and 18 for the toes and balls of the feet. The foot bath receptacle may be either pro-filled or filled after the feet and portions of the legs are placed in a receptacle. This will allow for hydrotherapeutic use of hose 46. Carrying and emptying procedures are carried out as previously discussed.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention, Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An e'asily portable and plastic foot bath adapted to receive both feet and the lower leg portion of a person using the device comprising a generally elongated cylindrical wall having an open top, a bottom wall unitary with the cylindrical wall and forming a closure for the lower end of the cylindrical wall, said cylindrical wall having a pair of lateral projections of hollow construction adjacent the lower end thereof for receiving the toe portions of the feet of a person using the device, said bottom wall extending in underlying and sealed relation to the projections thereby sealing the cylindrical wall and forming an open top receptacle for receiving liquid material thereby enabling the feet and lower leg portions of the person using the device to be immersed in the liquid, said cylindrical wall having an opening adjacent the bottom thereof for ease of drainage of the receptacle whereby the receptacle may be emptied without lifting the receptacle or tilting the receptacle, a removable clos ure plug for the opening, said closure plug being attached to the cylindrical wall by a flexible member to retain the closure plug in adjacent relation to the opening even when the closure plug is removed, the open upper end of the cylindrical wall having -a bead formed peripherally thereon for reinforcing the upper end of the cylindrical wall and forming a convenient means for gripping the receptacle, said cylindrical wall having an enlarged opening adjacent the bead for forming a hand hold for ease of carrying the receptacle.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein an elongated hose is provided for filling the receptacle to a desired level with liquid, said hose including a fitting on one end thereof for engagement with a Water faucet, the other end of said hose being collapsible and adapted to be inserted into the opening adjacent the bottom of the cylindrical wall when the plug has been removed from such opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Waigand Apr. 15,

Vogel June 12, Krupp Sept. 11,

FOREIGN PATENTS France July 13,