US3768462A

US3768462A - Scrubbing and massaging apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3768462A
Application number: US00237781A
Authority: US
Inventors: L Boulard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-03-24
Filing date: 1972-03-24
Publication date: 1973-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-30

Abstract

An apparatus adapted for scrubbing and massaging the human body and arranged for installation in a bath-room in operative association with shower and bathtub water fixtures, which are either built in therewith or connected thereto. A scrubbing apparatus including a scrubbing head which moves up and down and rotates on itself and the movements of which are caused by a hydraulic cylinder actuated by the water pressure of the usual water supply system in a bath-room.

Description

United States Eatent Boulard Oct. 30, 973

[ SCRUBBING AND MASSAGING 3,042,949 7/1962 Mosely 128/65 ux APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Lucien Boulard, 6167 Durocher St., U' Trapp Montreal, Quebec, Canada Attorney -Plerre Lesperance [22] Filed: Mar. 24, 1972 [5-7] I ABSTRACT [21] App! 237781 An apparatus adapted for scrubbing and massaging the human body and arranged for installation in a 52 us. c1.....; 128/44, 128/53, 128/65, bath-room in operative association with Shower and 4 15 bathtub water fixtures, which are either built in there- 51 Int. Cl A61h 7/00 with Or connected thereto- A Scrubbing apparatus [58] Field of Search 128/65, 62, 44, 51-53, 'chldihg ascwhhihg head which moves p and down 123/ 4 153; 15 21 E and rotates on itself and the movements of which are 7 caused by a hydraulic cylinder actuated by the water [56] Ref en e Cit d pressure of the usual water supply system in a bath- UNITED STATES PATENTS i 2,068,757 1/1937 Mishelle 128/53 X 14 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEDumso 19m 7 3.768.462

SHEET 10F 2 2 FIG] SCRUBBING AND MASSAGING APPARATUS The present invention relates to a scrubbing and massaging apparatus for the human body adapted to be installed in a bath and shower stall.

Apparatus of this general nature comprises a scrubbing head which is moved up and down and simultaneously rotates so as to exert a scrubbing and massaging action on the users body, particularly his back, as he or she stands in front of the apparatus.

In order to provide for such movements, some sort of drive assembly must be provided. In abath-room, there is a latent danger of electrocution and care must be taken to avoid worsening this danger by the addition of an electric drive. The moisture in a bath-room also imposes limitations to the use of mechanical parts in particular of the type which requires lubrication, since the moisture makes it difficult to maintain proper lubrication.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a scrubbing and massaging apparatus of the abovementioned nature which is safe, which requires no lubrication, which is of versatile installation and operation, which requires little maintenance and which is substantially noiseless.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide an apparatus of the above-mentioned nature, which may be installed in a bath-room either against the wall having the shower and the bathtub fixtures in operative connection with the latter or into the same wall and including the shower and the bathtub fixtures in combination therewith.

It is another specific object of the invention to provide an apparatus of the above-mentioned nature which requires no regular nor frequent maintenance and which is operated by a hydraulic motor actuated by the bath room water supply system.

It is another specific object of the invention to provide an apparatus of v the above-mentioned 'nature wherein both the speed of rotation and the course of the scrubbing head may be adjusted within predete'r- I,

mined practical ranges.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an apparatus of the above-mentioned nature, the'movemerits of which are produced by a hydraulic cylinder and piston unit forming a safe, inexpensive and substantially maintenance-free drive and also constituting a structural member holding the guiding'mernbers for the scrubbing head.

It is another specific object of the invention to provide a scrubbing and massaging apparatus wherein the movements of the scrubbing head are obtained by cables and pulleys, therefore requiring no lubrication and substantially no maintenance and producing no appreciable noise.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, which'is illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a scrubbing and massaging apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. I; I

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of an actuating assembly for reversing the action of a reversing valve, partially shown in cross-section;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the scrubbing and massaging apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrating the water fixtures relationship;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view as seen along line 5-5 in FIG. 2; a

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view as seen along line 6-6 in FIG. 1; I

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-section through the scrubbing head assembly;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the scrubbing head controlling valves in scrubbing head actuating position; FIG. 8a is a cross-section similar to FIG. 8 but with the valves 'in non-actuating position;

FIG. 9, shown on the first sheet of the drawings, is a cross-sectional view of a limit stop; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged front elevation of the top part of FIG. 2 showing the toggle system of the valve reversing mechanism in its other position. v

The illustrated scrubbing and massaging apparatus comprises a casing 1 having a bathtub spout 2, hot and cold water taps or

faucets

3 and 4, and a shower head 5 connected by a pipe 6 to the spout 2, connected by a pipe 6 to the spout 2 into the casing l. The latter can be attached tothe wall of a bath and shower stall and installed as a bath-room fixture replacing the usual bathtub and shower fittings. The bathtub spout has a conventional shut-off valve 7 which opens by gravity and is held in closed position by water pressure to di- I end onto the casing 1 in communication with the interior thereof and extend away therefrom in spaced parallel relationship relative to each other. A head casing 10 joins the upper end of the

tubes

8 and 9 in liquid communication with each other. The pipe or tube 8 forms a hydraulic cylinder having a piston 11 therein forming a unit therewith. The pipe or tube 9 forms a return pipe when the piston 11 is displaced upwardly and causes the water above the same to flow out through the head casing 10. i

Guiding channels 12 are secured to

thetubes

8 and 9 andextend lengthwise thereof in spaced parallel relationshiphA carriage member 13' includes pins 14 extending from opposite edges thereof and engaging into the open side of the channels 12 to be guided by the latter. A pulley 15 is rotatably mounted behind the casing 1 while a pulley 16 is rotatably mounted onto the head casing 10 in upright alignment with the pulley 15. A cable 17 is run around the pulley l5 and tied at its opposite ends to the carriage member 13 and to the piston 11 respectively. Another cable 18 is run around the pulley l6 and tied at its opposite ends to the carriage member 13 and the piston 11 respectively. The

cables

17 and 18 therefore extend into the hydraulic cylinder or tube 8 and seals 19 are provided around the same at their exits from the casings l and. 10.

A bearing 20 is mounted onto the carriage member l3. and is arranged to rotatably support a stud shaft 21 extending forwardly thereof intermediate the shower head 5 and the bathtub spout 2. A pulley 22 is secured onto the stud shaft 21 for rotation therewith by means ofa hub portion 23 engaging over the supported end of the shaft 21. A cable 24 is wound preferably at least one turn around the pulley 22 and is secured at its opposite ends to the casings l and 10 by any suitable connectors 25. A scrubbing head is secured to the free end of the stud shaft 21 for rotation therewith and includes a disc plate 26 having apertures 27 therethrough communicating with a layer 28 of water-pervious material forming the scrubbing and massaging face of the scrubbing head. A longitudinal passage 29 extends into the shaft 21 in communication with the apertures 27 and through radial slots 30' with a manifold chamber formed by annular openings defined by the bearing and the hub portion 23. A rigid tube section 31 is secured onto the casing l in communication with the in terior thereof; a rigid tube section 32 is coupledto the carriage member 13 in communication with the manifold chamber therein, and a hose 33 joins the

tube sections

31 and 32 together to feed water into the passage 29 and out of the scrubbing head through the apertures 27. The hose 33 allows the flexibility for up-and-down displacement of the scrubbing head assembly relative to the casings l and 10.

The casing 1 includes a reversing control valve 34, schematically represented in FIG. 4, having a cylindrical chamber 35'. A double piston unit is slidably mounted into the chamber 35 and includes a pair of

pistons

36 and 37 and a stem 38 joining the latter together, for bodily axial displacement one with the other. The stem 38 has a free end extending outwardly of the casing l. A water inlet 39 opens centrally into the chamber 35 between the

pistons

36 and 37.

Tubes

8 and 9 form passages leading to opposite ends of the piston 11 of the hydraulic cylinder and piston unit and to a pair of openings into the chamber 35. The latter openings are equally spaced on either side of the water inlet 39 and are spaced from'each other a distance equal to the spacing of the

pistons

36 and 37. Each of the latter has a thickness not greater than the spacing between each of the above-mentioned openings and the water inlet 39. Draining passages 40 join the ends of the chamber 35, via a tube. 41 to a ball valve 42, which is interposed into the draining passage 43 leading from the control valve 44 to the bathtub spout 2, as shown in FIG. 4.

The control valve 44, shown in detail in FIGS. 8 and 8a, includes a mixing chamber 45 for the hot and cold water issuing from the faucets 3 .and 4 through transversely aligned hot and

cold passages

46 and 47 respec-. tively. A valve member 48 is pivoted at 49 into the mixing chamber 45 and arranged to selectively close the draining outlet 43 thereby to cause the mixed hot and cold water to flow through the water inlet passage 39. A spring 50 is secured to the valve member 48 and arranged to bias the latter towards an open position, as shown in FIG. 8a. A cam member 51 having an inclined face 52 is fixed to one end of a stem 53 axially restrained and sealed through a removable face plate 54. A knob 55 is secured on the outer end of the stem 53 and arranged to manually rotate the cam member 51 from a closing position, as shown in FIG. 8, to a nonclosing position, as shown in FIG. 8a, which is obtained by engagement of the valve element 48 in inclined position against the inclined face. When the valve element 48 is so inclined, the mixed hot and cold water stops flowing through the passage 39 and instead flows down the draining tube 43 where it can either go to the shower head if the shut-off valve 7 is closed or drained into the bathtub through the spout 2. v

The actuating assembly to cause actuation of the reversing valve 34 will now be described in detail with particular reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 9 and 10. A rod 56 is slidably mounted upright through an apertured lug 57 secured to the casing 10 and is pivotally secured at its lower end to one end of a bellcrank lever 58. The latter is pivoted intermediate its opposite ends relative to the casing 1 and has a forked end engaging a pin projecting transversely from the opposite sides of the free outer end of the stem 38. A block 59 is secured to the rod 56 for axial displacement therewith. A swivelling block 60 is pivoted onto the front face of the casing 10 on each side of the rod 56. A pair of fork members 61 are slidably mounted into the swivelling blocks 60, straddle the block 59 and are pivoted to the latter to form a toggle action therewith. Compression springs 62 are mounted between the forked end of each fork 61 and the corresponding swivelling block 60 to cause the rod 56 to stand in one or the other of two extreme positions, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively.

A pair of limit stops are provided to be adjustably secured to the rod 56 on opposite sides of the scrubbing head assembly and to stand in the path of the latter to be engaged thereby. Each limit stop includes a body 63 having an opening 64 to insert the rod 56 therethrough. A bore 65 is formed through the body 63 and intersects the opening 64 for the rod 56. A plunger 66, of suitable length, is slidably mounted into the bore 65 and a tightening screw 67 having a pointed end 68 intersects the bore 65. The pointed end 68 is arranged to engage one end of the plunger 66 to urge the latter against the rod 56, thereby securing the limit stop in any predetermined fixed position relative thereto. The adjustment of the limit stops along the rod 56 therefore allows to define the course of the scrubbing and massaging head assembly, as it will be better understood later.

The apparatus is operated as follows.

One, and generally the two hot and

cold water faucets

3 and 4, are open to obtain water at the desired temperature. Assuming that the knob 55 has been turned, as shown in FIG. 8a, the mixed hot and cold water flows down the draining tube 43 and to the bathtub faucet 2. If his only desired to use the bath, not the shower head 5, the shut-off valve 7 is left open and the water flows only out of the spout 2. If it is desired to use the shower head 5, the shut-off valve 7 is closed diverting the flow of water to the shower head.

' To use the scrubbing and massaging head assembly, the knob 55 is turned sufficiently to cause the cam member 51 to close the drain tube outlet 43, as shown in FIG. 8. In that case, the mixed water flows through the passage 39 into the central portion of the reversing valve 34; this is between the

pistons

36 and 37 for any axial position of the lattenThe mixed water then flows upwardly into one of the

tubes

8 and 9, and by displacement of the piston 11, downwardly into the

other tube

8 or 9. If we assume that the mixed water flows upwardly into the hydraulic cylinder or tube 8 under the piston 11, the latter moves upwardly and causes drainage of the water thereabove through the return pipe 9 into the end of the reversing valve 34 and through the tube 41 to the spout 2. Through the

cables

17 and 18, there results an opposite, that is downward displace ment of the scrubbing head assembly, until the latter engages the lower limit stop to produce downward displacement of the rod 56 and through the bellcrank lever 58, a reversal of the position of the

pistons

36 and 37. The water then flows in opposite direction, as shown in FIG. 4, into the

tubes

8 and 9 until the other limit stop is engaged and the rod 56 is restored to the original position, thereby completing a full cycle which repeats itself automatically until the valve element 48 is allowed to open the drain passage 43 or both

faucets

3 and 4 are closed, or both are-done.

The up-and-down displacement of the scrubbing head assembly causes the pulley 22to be rotated along the cable 24, resulting in rotation of the scrubbing head 26-28. Water is also allowed to flow through the

pipes

31, 32, and 33 to the scrubbing head 26-28. The water pressure into the scrubbing head may be adjusted by more or less closing the tube 41 with the ball valve 42.

While the scrubbing head is used, the user may also use the shower head by closing the shut-off valve 7.'

it should be. easily understood that many changes in the details of construction and arrangements and forms of the parts are possible and remain within the principle and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A scrubbing and massaging apparatus for the human body comprising a guiding device, a scrubbing head assembly including a scrubbing head and a carriage means displaceably associated to said guiding device, said scrubbing head being mounted onto said carriage means and arranged for displacement therewith relative to said guiding device, a hydraulic motor constructed and arranged to be connected to a bath-room water supply system to be actuated therefrom, said motor arranged to be connected to said carriagemeans to displace the same and reversing control means for said hydraulic motor operated by said scrubbing head assembly at limit positions thereof to reverse the action of said hydraulic motor and wherein said hydraulic motor constitutes a hydraulic cylinder and piston unit, and connecting means secures said scrubbing head assembly to said hydraulic cylinder and piston unit to cause displacement of said scrubbing head in response to actuation of said hydraulic cylinder and piston unit.

2. A scrubbing and massaging apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said hydraulic cylinder and piston unit include a double action hydraulic cylinder, said reversing control means includes a reversing valve connected to said cylinder and. arranged to feed water into said cylinder to either side of said piston in response toactuation by said scrubbing head assembly upon the latter reaching one of said predetermined limit positions.

3. A scrubbing and massaging apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said reversing valve includes a casing and said hydraulic cylinder is secured at one end to said casing in communication therewith and is arranged to extend upwardly therefrom and said connecting means includes cable means connected between said piston and said scrubbing head assembly. 1

4. A scrubbing and massaging apparatus as defined i claim 3, wherein said guiding device includes parallel elongated members arranged lengthwise of said hydraulic cylinder, said carriage is slidably mounted relative to said parallel elongated members, said cable means includes a pulley rotatably mounted at each end of said hydraulic cylinder, cables running around said pulleys and joining the ends of said piston to opposite ends of said carriage and forming a closed loop therewith passing into said hydraulic cylinder, and seals surrounding said cables at their exits from said hydraulic cylinder.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim.4, wherein a return pipe is secured at one end to said valve casing in communication therewith an extends away therefrom lengthwise of said hydraulic cylinder, said parallel elongated members are secured to said hydraulic cylinder and to said return pipe and the latter communicates with the remote end of said hydraulic cylinder.

6. A scrubbing and massaging apparatus for the human body comprising a vertically arranged guiding device and a scrubbing head assembly including a scrubbing head and a carriage means displaceably associated to said guiding device for movement of said scrubbing head assembly along said guiding device, said scrubbing head being mounted onto said carriage means and arranged for displacement therewith relative to said guiding device, a motor arranged to be connected to said scrubbing head'assembly to displace the same along said guiding device, reversing control means for said motor operated by said scrubbing head assembly at limit positions thereof to reverse the action of said motor'and wherein said scrubbing head is rotatably mounted onto said assembly and a transmission drive connects said scrubbing head to a stationary point of the apparatus to convert vertical displacement of said scrubbing head assembly into rotation of said scrubbing head.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said scrubbing head assembly comprises a shaft rotatably carried by said carriage means, said scrubbing head is secured to said rotatable shaft for rotation therewith and said transmission device consists of a pulley rigid in rotation with said shaft and a cable wound on said pulley and having its ends secured to stationary parts of said apparatus at opposite ends of said guiding device. I

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said rotatable shaft includes a longitudinal passage therethrough, said scrubbing head includes a scrubbing face and apertures communicating said scrubbing face with the interior of said passage, and a hose connects said longitudinal passage to a water source to cause water to flow through said apertures outwardly at said scrubbing face.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said reversing control means includes an actuating means constructed and arranged to be operated by saidscrubbing head assembly, said reversing valve, comprises a casing forming a cylindrical chamber, a double piston unit slidable in said chamber and connected to said actuating means, an inlet for hydraulic fluid opening centrally into said chamber between said pistons of said double piston unit, passages leading to opposite ends of said. hydraulic cylinder and to a pair of openings into said cylindrical chamber equally spaced on either side of said inlet, said openings being spaced a distance equal to the spacing of the pistons of said double piston unit, each piston havinga thickness not greater than the spacing between each said opening and said inlet, and drains opening from said cylindrical chamber outwardly beyond said openings.

10. A scrubbing and massaging apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said reversing valve includes a piston unit having an outwardly extending stem, said reversing control means includes two limit stops disposed in the path of said scrubbing head assembly on opposite sides thereof, a displaceable member carrying said limit stops for displacement therewith along said path, a spring biased toggle assembly connected to said displaceable member and arranged to bias the latter into a direction opposite to the direction of displacement of said scrubbing head assembly along said path, and a lever operatively associated to said displaceable member and to said stem and arranged to act on the latter and actuate said reversing valve upon engagement of said scrubbing head assembly with one of said limit stops.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said displaceable member is a rod slidably mounted longitudinally along the path of said scrubbing head assembly, said limit stops are mounted onto said rod and arranged for adjustment lengthwise thereof, said stem is slidable transversely of said rod into said reversing valve, and said lever constitutes a crank arm arranged to be pivoted by said rod to cause a corresponding axial sliding of said stem.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein each stop comprises a body portion slidable on said rod, a plunger into said body portion, a screw engaging said plunger and urging the latter against said rod whereby to releasably clamp said stop thereto.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, further comprising a casing forming a mixing chamber and having a hot and a cold water inlets, a draining outlet, and a water outlet for feeding said hydraulic cylinder, a valve is mounted into said mixingchamber and arranged to said shut-off valve.

Claims

1. A scrubbing and massaging apparatus for the human body comprising a guiding device, a scrubbing head assembly including a scrubbing head and a carriage means displaceably associated to said guiding device, said scrubbing head being mounted onto said carriage means and arranged for displacement therewith relative to said guiding device, a hydraulic motor constructed and arranged to be connected to a bath-room water supply system to be actuated therefrom, said motor arranged to be connected to said carriage means to displace the same and reversing control means for said hydraulic motor operated by said scrubbing head assembly at limit positions thereof to reverse the action of said hydraulic motor and wherein said hydraulic motor constitutes a hydraulic cylinder and piston unit, and connecting means secures said scrubbing head assembly to said hydraulic cylinder and piston unit to cause displacement of said scrubbing head in response to actuation of said hydraulic cylinder and piston unit.

2. A scrubbing and massaging apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said hydraulic cylinder and piston unit include a double action hydraulic cylinder, said reversing control means includes a reversing valve connected to said cylinder and arranged to feed water into said cylinder to either side of said piston in response to actuation by said scrubbing head assembly upon the latter reaching one of said predetermined limit positions.

3. A scrubbing and massaging apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said reversing valve includes a casing and said hydraulic cylinder is secured at one end to said casing in communication therewith and is arranged to extend upwardly therefrom and said connecting means includes cable means connected between said piston and said scrubbing head assembly.

4. A scrubbing and massaging apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said guiding device includes parallel elongated members arranged lengthwise of said hydraulic cylinder, said carriage is slidably mounted relative to said parallel elongated members, said cable means includes a pulley rotatably mounted at each end of said hydraulic cylinder, cables running around said pulleys and joining the ends of said piston to opposite ends of said carriage and forming a closed loop therewith passing into said hydraulic cylinder, and seals surrounding said cables at their exits from said hydraulic cylinder.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein a return pipe is secured at one end to said valve casing in communication therewith and extends away therefrom lengthwise of said hydraulic cylinder, said parallel elongated members are secured to said hydraulic cylinder and to said return pipe and the latter communicates with the remote end of said hydraulic cylinder.

6. A scrubbing and massaging apparatus for the human body comprising a vertically arranged guiding device and a scrubbing head assembly including a scrubbing head and a carriage means displaceably associated to said guiding device for movement of said scrubbing head assembly along said guiding device, said scrubbing head being mounted onto said carriage means and arranged for displacement therewith relative to said guiding device, a motor arranged to be connected to said scrubbing head assembly to displace the same along said guiding device, reversing control means for said motor operated by said scrubbing head assembly at limit positions thereof to reverse the action of said motor and wherein said scrubbing head is rotatably mounted onto said assembly and a transmission drive connects said scrubbing head to a stationary point of the apparatus to convert vertical displacement of said scrubbing head assembly into rotation of said scrubbing head.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said scrubbing head assembly comprises a shaft rotatably carried by said carriage means, said scrubbing head is secured to said rotatable shaft for rotation therewith and said transmission device consists of a pulley rigid in rotation with said shaft and a cable wound on said pulley and having its ends secured to stationary parts of said apparatus at opposite ends of said guiding device.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said reversing control means includes an actuating means constructed and arranged to be operated by said scrubbing head assembly, said reversing valve comprises a casing forming a cylindrical chamber, a double piston unit slidable in said chamber and connected to said actuating means, an inlet for hydraulic fluid opening centrally into said chamber between said pistons of said double piston unit, passages leading to opposite ends of said hydraulic cylinder and to a pair of openings into said cylindrical chamber equally spaced on either side of said inlet, said openings being spaced a distance equal to the spacing of the pistons of said double piston unit, each piston having a thickness not greater than the spacing between each said opening and said inlet, and drains opening from said cylindrical chamber outwardly beyond said openings.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, further comprising a casing forming a mixing chamber and having a hot and a cold water inlets, a draining outlet, and a water outlet for feeding said hydraulic cylinder, a valve is mounted into said mixing chamber and arranged to selectively close said draining outlet to actuate said hydraulic cylinder causing displacement of said scrubbing head.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said draining outlet includes a bathtub spout having a shut-off valve therein, and a shower tube is connected to said draining outlet intermediate said shut-off valve and said mixing chamber and arranged to be connected to a shower head to supply water thereto upon closing said shut-off valve.