WO2004078090A2

WO2004078090A2 - Hydrotherapeutic bathtub

Info

Publication number: WO2004078090A2
Application number: PCT/IT2004/000110
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carlo Corradini
Original assignee: Carisma S.R.L.
Priority date: 2003-03-07
Filing date: 2004-03-05
Publication date: 2004-09-16
Also published as: WO2004078090A3; ITRN20030006A1

Abstract

A hydrotherapeutic bathtub comprises a device (5) for massaging the back housed in a rear wall (2a). It also comprises a fixed portion (1) and a mobile portion (2), mutually linked together by means of a lifting mechanism (3), housed inside the fixed portion (1) and suited to raise and lower the mobile portion (2).

Description

HYPROTHERAPEUTIC BATHTUB

DESCRIPTION

Technical field

The present invention refers to a hydrotherapeutic bathtub. Bathtubs which contain the equipment necessary for carrying out hydromassage treatments are now generally widespread in beauty and health centres, spas and fitness centres, and in the home.

Prior art

However, their great diffusion has not solved all the problems linked with their installation and maintenance: this type of tub may in fact require interventions which, in practice, are quite difficult to carry out.

Normally the mechanical instrumentation of hydromassage tubs is located below the concave area in which the user lies: it is reached by means of removable panels, which correspond to one or more side walls of the tub itself, or through doors, which open in one or more of the same walls. However, in many cases the limited space available around the tub creates objective difficulties in working inside it from the floor.

From the point of view of functionality, the search for increasingly more sophisticated comforts and the chronic lack of space in any kind of environment have led manufacturers to create tubs which are able to offer an ever larger number of treatments, which may be carried out as alternatives to each other or even simultaneously.

Among these types of treatment there is none known that uses mobile devices for back massage, which nevertheless is often one of the parts of the body for which the users of hydromassage tubs express the need of

particular attention.

Presentation of the invention

The aim of the present invention is therefore to eliminate the

inconvenient aspects just mentioned. These inconvenient aspects are

remedied by a tub comprising a device for massaging the back, inserted in a rear wall of the tub itself, which acts directly on the user of the tub.

Moreover, the tub consist of a mobile portion, or internal tub, and a fixed portion, or counter-tub, in which the internal tub can be moved by a lifting

mechanism housed tn the counter-tub.

The main advantage obtained by means of this invention essentially consists of the fact that a more complete treatment of the user is obtained

than occurs up to the present date.

Moreover, all the difficulties connected with the repair and

maintenance operations to be carried out on the tub are eliminated, especially when it is located in a tight space.

Brief description of the drawings

Further advantages and characteristics of the invention will be best

understood from the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with accompanying drawings, which represent a non limiting

example of an embodiment in which:

- figure 1 illustrates the invention according to a perspective view

from above;

- figure 2 illustrates the invention according to a perspective view

from above, with some parts removed so as to show others better; - figures 3 and 4 illustrate the invention according to perspective views from below, with some parts removed so as to show others better. Best wav of achieving the invention As may be observed from the figures, the invention concerns a hydrotherapeutic bathtub, for example equipped with a device for hydromassage (7) with a plurality of openings (8).

The bathtub (10) comprises a device (5) for massaging the back, visible in section in figure 1 , housed in a rear wall (2a). It comprises a casing (5a) containing a self-bearing frame (5b) in which a plurality of bodies (5c) with a convex surface, reciprocally linked together, describe predetermined movements. These bodies (5c) with a convex surface, which in the figures are represented in the example by spheres, may also be realised in various other ways, such as, for example, cylinders, rollers or cones.

The wall (2a) in which the device (5) for massaging the back is housed presents a non rigid surface (2b), for example in PVC or another deformable material, so as to transmit the stimuli of the bodies (5c) with a convex surface to the back of a user, even while the hydromassage action is in operation.

In the solution shown, the rotating and articulated spheres are subdivided into two operative groups suited to move according to a series of pre-set treatments, from which the user can choose using a remote control (4') which allows selection of the type of movement of the bodies (5c) with a convex surface. As already mentioned, the movement, which may be based, for example, on longitudinal, perpendicular or vibrating movements of the spheres, is integrally transmitted to the user's back thanks to the flexibility of the PVC surface (2b) which guarantees a complete contact of the spheres on the user's back. A counter-frame (6), which may also be made of either PVC or ABS, allows the device (5) to be anchored to the wall (2a), facilitating its removal and replacement when necessary.

The bathtub (10) also comprises a fixed portion (1), or counter-tub, and a mobile portion (2), or internal tub, mutually linked by means of a lifting mechanism (3), housed inside the fixed portion (1) and suited to raise and lower the mobile portion. The lifting mechanism (3) comprises a fixed base (31), on which is located the operating equipment, a platform (32) which supports the internal tub (2) and at least one pair of X-shaped arms (33), sandwiched between the fixed base (31) and the platform (32), directly driven by an electric motor (34). All the par s are reality available in commerce, adapted to the specific use, and operated by means of a remote control (4) which controls the movement thereof by varying the excursion of the X-shaped arms (33).

When the internal tub (2) is raised from its proper position of use, indicatively by about 50-80 centimetres, it reveals the fixed base (31), which supports the pumps, the compressor, the electric panels and the other equipment necessary for the operation of the bathtub (10); moreover, in this situation the water and air circuits can be easily controlled, even in tight spaces, without the need to remove the doors or panels. The invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all the parts may be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice, modifications and/or improvements are of course possible, still falling within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. Hydrotherapeutic bathtub, characterised in that it comprises a device (5) for massaging the back housed in a rear wall (2a).

2. Bathtub according to claim 1 , characterised in that it comprises a fixed portion (1) and a mobile portion (2), mutually linked together by means of a lifting mechanism (3), housed inside the fixed portion (1) and suited to raise and lower the mobile portion (2).

3. Bathtub according to claim 2, characterised in that it comprises a remote control (4) for the movement of the lifting mechanism (3).

4. Bathtub according to claim 2, characterised in that the lifting mechanism (3) comprises a fixed base (31), a platform (32), supporting the mobile portion (2), and at least one pair of X-shaped arms (33), fitted between the fixed base (31) and the platform (32), driven by an electric motor (34).

5. Bathtub according to claim 1 or 2, ehsrøcførtøes? in. that said device (5) comprises a casing (5a) containing a self-bearing frame (5b) in which a plurality of bodies (5c) with a convex surface, mutually linked together, follow predetermined movements.

6. Bathtub according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that it comprises a counter-frame (6), suited to anchor the device (5) to the wall (2a).

7. Bathtub according to claim 5, characterised in that the rear wall (2a) presents a non rigid surface (2b), so as to transmit the stimuli of the bodies (5c) with a convex surface to the back of a user.

8. Bathtub according to claim 5, characterised in that it comprises a remote control (4'), suited to select the type of movement of the bodies (5c) with a convex surface.

9. Bathtub according to claim 5, characterised in that the bodies (5c) with a convex surface are spheres.

10. Bathtub according to claim 5, characterised in that the bodies (5c) with a convex surface are cylinders.

11. Bathtub according to claim 5, characterised in that the bodies (5c) with a convex surface are cones.