Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
VALVE FOR BATHTUB DESIGN WITH
THERAPEUTICAL TREATMENT DEVICES
This application is a divisional of Application
Ser. No. 2,305,988, filed April 18, 2000.
T$CHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to improvements
of bathtub designs with therapeutical treatment devices
and, in particular but not exclusively, to a valve for
hydro-thermo massaging tub to provide acupressure
massaging flows comprised of warm air jets and water
about the body of a person occupying the tub and the
treatment of the water jets with ozone.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In Applicant's United States Patent
No. 5,930,851 issued on August 3, 1999, there is
disclosed the construction of a hydro-thermo massaging
bathtub and the method of treatment for domestic and
therapeutic applications. In that patent, the treatment
is performed by warm air jets distributed adjacent the
bottom wall of the tub or about its circumference. Air
jets are formed by holes made in the tub wall and
communicate with an air distribution duct which is fed
hot air under pressure by a blower. Controls are also
provided to vary the pressure of the air as well as the
temperature thereof. Warm air jets are released in the
water contained within the tub to impart turbulence in
the body of water to create acupressure massaging flows
of warm air jets and water from opposed sidewalls and end
- 1 -
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
walls of the tub towards a central area of least
turbulence which is occupied by a person's body. The
acupressure massaging flows perform a massaging action
all about the body simultaneously. A sealed light
enclosure is provided in one of the end walls to impart
light frequencies in the water turbulence to provide
physical effects to the bather.
Such a massaging bathtub has been found
advantageous over other forms of massaging bathtubs.
Today, however, people are more sensitive to their
well-being and, therefore, pay more attention to their
health due to this awareness of its importance on their
quality of life. They are determined to maintain and
enhance their physical condition and are seeking simple,
efficient and personalized solutions to meet their health
objective. For example, it is desirable that selective
areas of the bather's body can be massaged within the
tub.
The production of ozone consists of modifying
many stable oxygen molecules (02) to form unstable oxygen
molecules (03) by adding one atom of oxygen to the stable
oxygen molecules in the air. The new molecule is
unstable and separates quickly to return to a stable form
and produce a free oxygen atom (O). The purifying
properties of free oxygen are well-known and have been
used to purify water and air.
Far example, in United States Patent Nos.
4,053,403 and 4,115,267, issued on October 11, 1977 and
September 19, 1978 to Bachhofer et al., Bachhofer et al.
describe a method and apparatus for treating and
degerminating bath water, particularly bath water
- 2 -
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
contaminated by the germ bacteria, pseudomonas pyocyanea,
in medical tub-baths and underwater massage baths.
According to Bachhofer et al., the recycled bath water is
treated with ozone and a halogen compound to destroy
highly resistant germs in the water. An ozone generator
is mounted within a filter housing which is loaded with a
composite filtering medium and the bath water is recycled
through the filter. The recycled bath water is also used
simultaneously as a coolant for the ozone generator.
This method and apparatus are especially designed for
long term use bath water in medical bathtubs. However,
the water used in the hydro-thermo massaging tub, as
described in the Applicant's patent, is typically clean,
warm water. Because the bath water used in the hydro-
thermo massaging tub is not recycled and is typically
designed for temporary use, it is discharged through the
drain. Even though the method and apparatus disclosed by
Bachhofer et al. may be used in underwater massage baths,
the purpose of adding ozone to the water is to purify the
highly contaminated bath water in the filter housing and
not for the massage performance.
Therefore, the method and apparatus disclosed
by Bachhofer et al. is not suitable for domestic and
therapeutic massaging bathtubs.
SUI~fARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a broad feature of the present
invention there is provided a bathtub with an ozone
injection system whereby ozone is injected into the water
within the tub by a bailer through a mobile air jet head
secured to a free end of a flexible conduit through which
- 3 -
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
ozone is released either with air pressure or water
pressure.
Another feature of the present invention is to
provide a method of hydro massage including a bathtub and
wherein ozone is injected in the bathtub by the bather
whereby to inject predetermined quantities of ozone mixed
with air or water under pressure released through the air
jet.
According to another feature of the present
invention there is provided a hydro massaging tub wherein
an elevated ridge section is disposed longitudinally and
substantially at a location to be disposed between a
bather s legs and wherein jets are disposed on at least
opposed sides of the elevated ridge to impart a massaging
flow against the legs of a bather sitting in the tub.
It is a feature of the present invention to
provide a hydro-thermo massaging tub wherein the warm
air, before being released in water within the tub in the
form of air jets, is mixed with ozone so that the warm
air jets entering the bathtub will impart a displacement
of the water with bubbles containing ozone to create
ozone-mixed massaging flows of warm air jets and warm
water to perform a massaging action about a bather's
body.
Another feature of the present invention is to
provide a hydro-thermo massaging tub which is improved to
inhibit or restrain the growth of microbes, bacteria and
viruses thereon.
Another feature of the present invention is to
provide a hydro-thermo massaging tub which is improved so
- 4 -
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
that the bather in the tub is enabled to control air jets
for selective areas of the body to be massaged.
Another feature of the present invention is to
incorporate, within the bathtub, optical fibers to impart
light frequencies in the water turbulence to produce
physical effects to a bather undergoing the hydro-thermo
massage.
Another feature of the present invention is to
provide a hydro-thermo massaging tub which is improved to
prevent water from entering or remaining in an air
distribution system.
Another feature of the present invention is to
provide a hydro-thermo massaging tub wherein the air jets
are orientatable.
Another feature of the present invention is to
incorporate into the bathtub mobile air jets for
complementary massaging flows.
Another feature of the present invention is to
provide a hydro-thermo massaging tub wherein an air
blower for the air distribution system is improved to
reduce noise and vibration produced therefrom.
Another feature of the present invention is to
provide a novel method of hydro-thermo massage in a
bathtub wherein ozone is used to help clean the skin of a
bather's body and to improve the quantity of oxygen in
the bather's environment so that oxygen intake through
the skin and lungs of the bather is facilitated.
In accordance with a broad aspect of the
present invention, there is provided a hydro-thermo
massaging tub which comprises an open top-end enclosure
including a bottom wall, opposed sidewalls and opposed
- 5 -
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
end walls. Means fox draining water from an inner
chamber defined by the tub is provided. An air
distribution duct is associated with at least the
sidewalls and end walls. A plurality of holes of a
predetermined dimension are deposed at least in the
sidewalls and end walls at predetermined spacing all
around the wall and communicate the air distribution duct
with the inner chamber to form air jets. An air blower
is connected to the air distribution duct for directing
air under pressure in the duct. A control means is
provided for controlling the pressure of the air. Also
provided are heater means for heating the air under
pressure and means for controlling the temperature of the
air under pressure. The air under pressure is released
through the plurality of holes as warm air bubbles in a
body of water contained within the inner chamber to
impart turbulence in the body of water to create
acupressure massaging flows of warm air jets and water
from opposed sidewal k and end walls towards a central
area of least turbulence in the inner chamber such that
when a bather occupies the area of least turbulence, the
massaging flows will perform a hydro-thermo massaging
action simultaneously about the bather's body. An ozone
injection system is provided to inject ozone into the air
distribution duct so that ozone-mixed air flow sterilizes
the air distribution duct and the air bubbles in the body
of water and contains ozone to purify the body of the
water and to clean the skin of the bathex's body.
Because of the purifying properties of free
oxygen, it has several effects in the hydro-thermo
massage bath. The free oxygen will attack all
- 6 -
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
microbials, bacteria, viruses, toxins and suspended
matter. The free oxygen will also purify the air
injected into the bath, purify the air distribution duct
and purify the water in the bathtub. On the point of
view of a therapeutic bath, ozone helps to clean the skin
of the bather's body because the pores of the skin are
cleaned more deeply so that toxins are eliminated and
health is improved.
Ozone cannot be added in larger quantities
because it will irritate the bather. The injection of
the ozone therefore must be in small quantities, which is
preferably to be added between 0.003 and 0.01 ppm to the
air blown through the air blower into the water of the
bath.
In accordance with a further aspect of the
present invention, a mobile air jet is provided to be
positioned in the body of water at a selective position
to create a complementary acupressure massaging flow of
warm air jets and water effective on a selective area of
the bather's body. A valve is preferably connected to
the mobile air jet to selectively activate the mobile air
jet. The air distribution duct preferably comprises a
plurality of sections controlled by respective control
valves so that each section is enabled to direct and
regulate the air under pressure selectively and
independently in order to form massaging flows for
selective areas of the bather's body.
In accordance with a further aspect of the
present invention, valves are mounted in the holes of the
hydro-thermo massaging tub to prevent water from entering
the air distribution duct while permitting the air under
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
pressure in the air distribution duct to be directed into
the body of water contained in the tub. The valve
comprises a base member to be mounted in the hole and a
valve body pivotally supported by the base member so that
the air jet directed from the valve into the body of
water is orientatable at a selective angle, which also
helps select desired areas of the bather's body to be
massaged.
In accordance with a further aspect of the
present invention, an air blower connected to an air
distribution duct for directing air under pressure in the
duct to the hydro-thermo massaging tub includes a
vibration damping device. The air blower preferably
comprises an inner casing having two opposed open ends,
means for blowing air flow through the inner casing from
one to the other of the open end, and an electric motor
for driving the means for blowing air flow. The electric
motor is incorporated to the means for blowing air flow
and the inner casing to form an inner casing assembly.
The air blower further comprises an external casing for
supporting the inner casing assembly and adapted to be
mounted to a selected structure. The external casing has
inlet for receiving the air flow and an outlet connected
to the air distribution duct for directing the air under
pressure therein. The vibration damping device is placed
between the inner and external casings to resiliently
suspend the inner casing assembly within the external
casing so that the vibrations of the inner casing
assembly will not be transferred to the external casing
and the supporting structure.
_ g _
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
In accordance with yet a further aspect of the
present invention, optical fibers are provided and
connected to a light source. The optical fibers are
attached to the tub to impart light frequencies in the
water turbulence to produce a physical effect to the
bather. The optical fibers are preferably positioned in
the air distribution duct to emit the light frequencies
through the holes in the tub. The light frequencies
preferably include colours of the spectrum precisely
selected to imitate sunlight, and are absorbed by the
skin of the bather's body to provoke physiological
therapeutic reactions. Adding coloured light to the bath
permits the use of water, a very effective conductor and
distributor of coloured light, to distribute the Light to
the entire surface of the body. The optical fibers
utilized in the hydro-thermo massaging tub permit the
concentration of light at the ends of the fibers to
create a concentrated focus.
According to a further broad aspect of the
present invention there is provided a bathtub comprised
of an open-top-end enclosure including a bottom wall,
opposed side walls and opposed end walls. Means is
provided for draining water from an inner chamber defined
by the bathtub. An ozone injection system is provided
and includes a blower and an ozone generator. Conduit
means connect ozone-mixed air under pressure to a
flexible conduit having a mobile air jet head at a free
end thereof to permit a bather to inject the ozone-mixed
air under pressure in a body of water contained in the
bathtub and against the bather's body where desired.
_ g _
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
According to a further broad aspect of the
present invention the bathtub is a hydro massaging tub
having holes in the side walls and in walls of the tub
through which air under pressure is injected into the
bathtub. A plurality of colored light emitting sources,
such as optical fibers or light emitting diodes are
positioned in an air distribution duct adjacent these
holes whereby to impart light frequencies through the
holes and the side walls and end walls of the tub into
the water turbulence to produce physical effect to the
bather.
According to a still further broad aspect of
the present invention there is provided a hydro massaging
tub and wherein the bottom wall of the tub has an
elevated ridge section disposed longitudinally and
substantially at a location to be disposed between a
bather's legs when sitting in the tub. A plurality of
jets are disposed in at least opposed sides of the
elevated ridge and connected to a conduit means in which
air or water under pressure is fed whereby to impart a
massaging flow against the legs of a bather sitting in
the tub.
According to a still further broad aspect of
the present invention there is provided a method of hydro
massage comprising the steps of providing an open-top-
ended tub having a plurality of hydro massaging jets
disposed about at least some internal side surfaces of an
inner chamber of the tub for containing a body of water.
An ozone generator is provided to generate a
predetermined quantity of ozone to be injected through
the jets in order to create a controlled turbulence in
- 10 -
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
the body of water containing ozone so that a plurality of
ozone-mixed hydro massage flows are directed towards a
central area of least turbulence in the inner chamber to
perform a massage action about a bather's body.
Lastly, and according to a still further broad
aspect of the present invention there is provided a
method of hydro massage which comprises the step of
filling an open-top-ended tub with a predetermined
quantity of hot water. The tub has a plurality of jets
disposed about opposed side walls and end walls of an
inner chamber of the tub and spaced above a bottom wall
thereof for containing a body of hot water. A
predetermined quantity of ozone is injected into one of
water fed to the jets or air fed to the jets. The
pressure of the air or water fed to the jets is
controlled to create a controlled turbulence in the water
while injecting ozone so that a plurality of ozone-mixed
hydro acupressure massage flows of air or water are
formed towards a central area of least turbulence in the
inner chamber. A bather's body is positioned in the area
of least turbulence whereby the ozone-mix hydro massage
flows will perform a massage action about the body.
The above-described aspects of the present
invention may be presented in combination or presented
separately and independently in various embodiments which
will be further described in detail below. In addition
to the advantages of the invention discussed in relation
to the aspects described above, other features and
advantages of the invention will be understood more
clearly with the detailed description of the various
embodiments.
- 11 -
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAtnIINGS
Preferred embodiments of the present invention
will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the
hydro-thermo massaging tub of the present invention,
partially illustrating in a schematic view, the ozone and
air distribution system;
FIG. 2 is a top view of the hydro-thermo
massaging tub of the present invention, illustrating the
distribution of the massaging jets;
FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating the
configuration of the air distribution duct about the tub;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ozone
generator connected to the air distribution system for
injecting ozone in the air to be distributed;
FIG. 5 is a mobile air jet used in one
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view, showing
optical fibrous disposed within the air distribution duct
of the tub for transmitting coloured lights into the
water turbulence in the tub;
FIG. 7 is a view from the front and the top of
the hydro-thermo tub, illustrating the air jets in the
back of the tub;
FIG. 8a is a fragmented cross-sectional view
showing the hole with a slot in the tub wall
communicating with the duct;
FIG. 8b is a fragmented side view showing the
configuration of the hole with the slot in the FIG. 8a;
- 12 -
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a
orientatable valve used in one embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 10a is a schematic view showing a control
valve used in one embodiment of the present invention to
selectively control the mobile air jet;
FIG. lOb is a schematic view showing a valve
for selectively activating either the air jets in the tub
or the mobile air jet, according to another embodiment of
the invention;
FIG. 11 is a schematic view of an air blower
used in one embodiment of the present invention, showing
a damping device that is used to reduce the vibration and
noise of the air blower;
FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the
air blower shown in FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a top view of a hydro massage tub
having a central elevated ridge with jets to massage the
legs of a bather; and
FIG. 14 is a cross-section view of Fig. 23.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The hydro-thermo massaging tub performs a
combination of three techniques, namely thermo-therapy,
hydro-therapy and massage therapy, which is described in
the Applicant's United States Patent No. 5,930,851. The
advantage of the hydro-thermo massage over hand massage,
is that it works simultaneously on all parts of the body,
thus providing the desired results in a much shorter
period, from about twenty to thirty minutes. In short,
hydro-thermo massage is an efficient, harmless and gentle
- 13 -
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
way for a person to reach his or her goals of in-depth
relaxation, muscular and joint energizing and
therapeutical massage. With the hydro-thermo massaging
tub of the present invention, the ozone carried in the
water turbulence helps to clean the skin of the bather' s
body, and the pores of the skin are cleaned more deeply.
With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is
shown generally at reference 20, the hydro-thermo
massaging tub of the present invention. It includes an
open-top-end enclosure 22, herein referred to as a tub,
and is formed by a molded structure defining a bottom
wall 24, opposed sidewalls 26 and opposed end wall 28 and
28' . In the embodiment of the tub structure as shown in
FIG. 2, end wall 28 is the foot end of the tub, whereas
end wall 28' constitutes the head end of the tub. Of
course, with a double occupant tub, there would be a head
end at opposed ends of the tub.
The sidewalls 26 and end wall 28 and 28' of the
tub are provided with a plurality of holes 30 of a
predetermined size, spacing and orientation all about the
tub, and these constitute air jets which create
acupressure massaging flows of warm air jets in hot
water, from opposed sidewalls and end walls, which
radiate towards a central area 34 of the tub and at
herein shown which is an area of least turbulence in the
inner chamber of the tub. These holes 30 communicate
with an air distribution duct 36, which is secured to the
outer wall surface 38 of the tub, as will described
later.
A turbine air blower 40 is connected to a
header of a chamber 42 of the air distribution duct 36,
- 14 -
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
in order to convey air under pressure into the air
distribution duct and out of the air jet holes 30. A
turbine speed controller or pressure controller 43,
controls the speed of the turbine 40' of the turbine air
blower 40, to increase or decrease the pressure of the
massaging flows of the air jets 32. As shown, a
resistant heating element 44 is positioned within the air
blower housing 46 to warm the air being fed to the air
distribution duct 36. A temperature controller 48 varies
the current flowing through the resistive heating
element 44 and, therefore, the temperature of the air
being conveyed to the air distribution duct. An ozone
generator 49 is connected to the air distribution duct to
inject ozone in the air under pressure in the duct, which
will be described in detail below.
In FIG. 3, the air distribution duct 36 is
shaped to be secured to the outer surface of the
sidewalls, end walls and a transverse ridge wall 50 (see
FIG. 1) formed in the bottom wall of the tub. The air
distribution duct 36 is thus shaped for a close fit of
the outer surface 38 of the tub in the area where it is
to be secured. Accordingly, the air distribution duct 36
defines opposed side arms 52, an interconnecting head
branch 54 and a pair of opposed end arms 56, which will
be secured to the foot end wall 28. A head connection 58
will form the header chamber 42. As also shown in
FIGS . 1 and 2 , the bottom wall 24 of the tub is provided
with a centered depression 57 and the convexly curved
transverse ridge wall 50 delineates this depression and
provides an end seat portion 59 in the tub. As shown in
FIG. 3, the air distribution duct is provided with
- 15 -
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
opposed converging branches 52' which extend behind the
transverse ridge wall 50 to communicate with the holes 30
formed in the ridge wall at predetermined locations.
This provides a further legs massage action to the
bather.
As shown in FIG. 8a, the air distribution
duct 36 is secured to the outer wall surface 38 by one or
more layers of fibre glass material 60 to integrate the
duct 36 with the wall and to prevent air leakage. The
duct 36 is precisely positioned whereby the hole 30
(hole 31' shown in FIG. 8a has a different shape and will
be described below) will communicate with the inner
chamber 36' of the duct. At least a number of the holes,
according to one embodiment of the present invention, are
formed at the base of the inner chamber 36' to expel any
foreign material or water that may seep through the
holes 30 during the feeling circle of the tub or after
the use of the tub and drainage. During feeling, the
water is expelled by the air blower when switching on to
activate the air jets. In another embodiment of the
invention, at least a number of the holes, such as
hole 30', shown in FIGs. 8a and 8b, are formed with a
circular opening and a slot opening extending downwards
from the circular opening to the base of the inner
chamber 36'. The slot opening helps expel the foreign
material and water,
The air distribution duct is made of styrene
thermo-plastic which is treated with an antibacterial
agent. The antibacterial agent is a broad spectrum anti-
microbial and is effective against the common bacteria
that causes odours and stains. The process already
- 16 -
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
exists and is called MicrobanT'". The anti-bacterial agent
is added to the plastic that forms the air distribution
duct before the duct is molded. The MicrobanT"" is used to
incorporate an ingredient in the plastic which migrates
in the plastic towards micro-organisms and by an
electro-chemical action, penetrates the membrane of the
micro-organisms to inhibit their reproduction. The
antibacterial agent may also be added to the materials
which is used to form the tub.
l0 The ozone injection into the air distribution
duct is illustrated in detail in FIG. 4. Ozone can not
be added in large quantities in the hydro-thermal
massaging bath because it will irritate the bather. The
injection of ozone thereof must be in small quantities,
and is preferred to be added between 0.003 and 0.01 ppm
to the air blown through the turbine 40' into the water
of the bath. The ozone generator 49, is available in the
market, such as ZO-CDS 16~' which is slightly larger than
a deck of cards. The ozone generated from the ozone
generator 49 is injected into the air distribution
duct 36 using a vacuum generator 62 which generally is
a type of three-way tubing joint. The vacuum
generator 62, includes a main tube 64 having an inlet
end 66 and an outlet end 68, and a side tube 70 having a
side inlet 72~. The side tube 70 is in communication
with the main tube 64 and connected to the ozone
generator 49. The outlet end 68 of the vacuum generator
62 is connected to an inlet pipe 72 of the air blower 40,
and the inlet end 66 of the vacuum generator 62 is
connected to the air distribution duct 36. The air
within the air distribution duct 36 is blown by the
- 17 -
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
turbine 44 of the air blower 40 (see FIG. 1), and the air
pressure in the duct 36 is generally higher than
atmosphere. The air pressure within the inlet pipe 70,
however, is lower than the atmosphere because of the
suction produced by the turbine 44. The pressure
difference between the inlet pipe 70 and the duct 36
produces an air flow through the main pipe 64 of the
vacuum generator 62 from the inlet end 66 to the outlet
end 68. The air flow through the main tube 64 of the
l0 vacuum generator 62 produces a low pressure area at the
joint point of the side tube 70, which produces a vacuum
action to deliver the ozone from the ozone generator 49
through the side tube 70 to the main tube 64. The ozone
added to the air flow in the main tube 64 is injected
through the inlet pipe 70 of the ozone generator 49, and
is blown together with the air by the air blower 40 into
the air distribution duct 36. A check valve 74 is
provided to ensure the air flow in the duct 36 is in one
direction only and prevent water and moisture from
entering the air blower 40, caused by back pressure in
any incident.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the air under
pressure in the air distribution duct 36 is released
through the plurality of holes as warm air bubbles in a
body of water (not shown) contained within the inner
chamber defined by the tub 22 to impart turbulence in the
body of water to create acupressure massaging flows of
warm air jets and water from opposed sidewalls and end
walls towards a central area of least turbulence in the
inner chamber such that when a bather occupies the area
of least turbulence, the massaging flows will perform a
- 18 -
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
hydro-thermo massaging action simultaneously about the
bather's body. The ozone injected into the air within
the air distribution duct 36 sterilizes the air
distribution duct. The air bubbles in the body of water
contains ozone to purify and sterilize the body of water,
and to clean the skin of the bather's body.
FIGS. 5 through 12 illustrate the further
features of a hydro-thermo massaging tub of the present
invention. These features can be combined individually
and independently, or in different combinations into the
preferred embodiment of the present invention described
above, and also may be combined individually and
independently, or in different combinations to the hydro
thermo massaging tub which is without the ozone
injection.
FIG. 5 shows a mobile air jet 76 which includes
an air shower head 78 having a plurality of holes 80. A
hose 82 is connected to the air jet 76 and is in
communication with the air distribution duct 36, as shown
in FIG. 1 so that the air under pressure in the duct 36
will flow through the hose 82 to the air shower head 78,
and be released from the holes 80. The connection of the
hose 82, shown in FIG. 1, illustrates one example only
and, in fact, the hose can be connected to the air
distribution duct 36 at any appropriate location. The
hose 82 has an appropriate length such that the bather is
able to place the mobile air jet 76 in the body of water
contained in the tub at any selective position to create
a complementary acupressure massaging flow of warm air
jets and water effective on a desired area of the
bather's body. The mobile air jet 76 may include a
- 19 -
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
switch device 84 to selectively activate the mobile air
jet. The switch device 84 may directly control an on/off
valve mounted within the mobile air jet 76, or more
preferably, is an electric switch to control a solenoid
valve which is not located within the mobile air jet 76,
and will be described with reference to FIGs. 10a and lOb
below. The mobile air jets 76 and the hose 82 are made
from plastic materials, also preferably treated with the
anti-bacterial agent.
It is known to use a sealed light enclosure in
a bathtub to impart different coloured lights in the
water turbulence and produce different physical effects
to the bather's body. The different light frequencies
absorbed by the skin provoke physiological therapeutic
reactions. Adding coloured light to the bath permits the
use of water to distribute the light to the entire
surface of the body. As shown in FIG. 6, optical
fibers 86 are positioned in the air distribution duct 36
and are connected to a light source (not shown) to impart
one or more light frequencies in the water turbulence to
produce a physical effect on the bathers. Each
individual optical fibre utilized in the system, permits
the concentration of light at the end of the fibre to
create a concentrated focus. The light frequencies
emitted from the ends of the fibers exit through the
holes 30 in the wall and are distributed in the bath.
The light frequencies imparted in the water turbulence
from the optical fibers are selected from different
colour lights to produce different physical effects to
the bather. The light source preferably includes colours
of a spectrum precisely selected to imitate sunlight.
- 20 -
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
FIG. 7 shows an alternative design of the head
end wall 28', according to one embodiment of the present
invention. In this alternate embodiment, a section of
the holes 30 is provided in the head end wall 28', which
is positioned in two vertical lines at a predetermined
spacing, and communicates the air distribution duct to
create the acupressure massaging flow of warm air jets
and water to enable a massage on each side of the
backbone (spinal cord) of the bather in order to provide
a better massage on the back of the bather. Furthermore,
the air distribution duct 36, shown in FIG. 3, is divided
into sections which are controlled by the respective
control valves so that each section is enabled to direct
and regulate the air under pressure selectively and
independently. For example, individually controllable
sections may be divided as a backbone section 88 (see
FIG. 7), the opposed sidearm section 52, the
interconnecting head branch system 54 and the pair of
opposed end arms section 56. Those sections are
separated from one another and connected directly to the
air blower. For each individual section, a mechanical
valve or an electromagnetic valve that is controlled by
an electronic controller or by a mechanical lever from
the bath enables the air flow to be regulated as desired.
The air flow selectively controlled in sections with the
complimentary mobile air jet, permits a bather to control
the intensity of sections of the massage to improve the
beneficial effects.
FIGS . 10a and l Ob show an example of the valve
system for selectively controlling the air flow to
different sections of air jets. In FIG. 10a, a valve 90
- 21 -
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
has two positions. In the first position, the air flow
is directed to the air jets fixed in the bathtub 22,
while the mobile air jet 76 is turned off. In the second
position, the valve 90 is turned on to direct the air
under pressure in the duct 36 to both the air jets fixed
in the tub 20 and the mobile air jet 76. In FIG. 10b,
another type of two-position valve 92 is used. In the
first position, similar to the first position of the
valve 90, the air is directed to the air jets fixed in
the bathtub 22 while the mobile air jet 76 is turned off.
In the second position, the air under pressure in the
duct 36 is directed to the mobile air jet 76 while the
air jets in the tub 22 are turned off. The valve 90 or
92 can be either controlled by a mechanical lever or by
an electronic controller, such as the switch 84 on the
mobile air jet 76, shown in FIG. 5. The principles
illustrated in FIGs. 10a and lOb can be applied to the
section control with which the bather is able to control
the intensity of sections of the massage. A variety of
control patterns can be arranged and is known to people
skilled in the art.
FIGs. 8a and 8b shows the improved
configuration of the hole 30', which is previously
described. The slot portion of the hole 30' helps to
dispel water that may seep through the hole 30 during the
feeling cycle of the tub or after the use of the tub and
drainage. This new configuration of the holes may be
used for either hydro-thermo massaging tub with or
without ozone injection.
Up to.now, all embodiments described above are
based on a concept of air jets without any mechanical
- 22
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
valves. FIG. 9 shows a valve 94 used in one embodiment
of the present invention and the valve 94 permits the
orientation of the jet to be changed. It is very
important to note that in order to achieve proper
hydro-thermo massaging that the jets or holes 30 be
formed with their longitudinal axis extending at an angle
of less than 45° from the plane of the bottom wall 24 and
preferably at an angle of about 90° from the sidewall 26
which is parallel to the bottom wall, as described in the
Applicant's United States Patent No. 5,930,851. This
orients the warm air jets and causes the water and air
jet massaging flows to be directed all about the bather's
body. The bather's body when sitting or lying within the
tub, occupies the central area 34 of the tub where there
is least turbulence. By occupying the space, the outer
periphery of the bather's body is in contact with the air
jets 32 all about the body and, therefore, the bather
obtains a full hydro-thermo massage. However, the size
of the individual bather's body is different and the
orientation of the massaging flow of the warm air jets
and water is desired to be adjustable to achieve the best
effect of the hydro-thermo massage for every individual
bather.
The valve 94 includes a base member 96 to be
mounted in the hole 30, and a valve body 98 pivotally
supported by the base member 96. The base member 96 has
a part-spherical recess 100, and the valve body 98 has a
part-spherical external surface 102 moveably received in
the recess 100 of the base member 96 so that the valve
body 98 is pivotable in the base member 96 between
angles ~15° about a longitudinal axis of the valve 96 in
- 23 -
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
any direction. The valve body 98 further includes an
inlet 104 and an outlet 106 at opposed ends. A
cavity 108 is provided in the valve body 98 and is in
communication with the inlet 104 and the outlet 106. A
valve seat 110 is defined in the cavity 108, and a
diaphragm 112 is moveably seated against the valve
seat 110 so that the diaphragm 112 is moved away from the
valve seat 110 under a pressure, as indicated by the
arrows, effected by the air under pressure in the air
distribution duct to permit air flow entering the
inlet 104 and exiting from the outlet 106.
When the water enters the outlet 106 to the
cavity 108, the diaphragm 112 is pressed to seat against
the valve seat 110 to stop water exiting from the inlet
104 to the air distribution duct. The base member 96 has
an aperture 114 in communication with the part-spherical
recess 100. The aperture 114 has a diameter greater than
a diameter of the outlet 106, and the diameter gradually
increases from the inner end of the aperture to the outer
end of the aperture so that the outlet 106 of the valve
body 98 remains in full communication with the aperture
114 and directs the air jet through the aperture 114
without interference when the valve body is pivoted
towards any direction between the angles of ~15° about
the longitudinal axis of the valve. The valve 96 is made
up of a plastic material which is also preferably treated
with the anti-bacterial agent.
The air blower 40 drives the turbine 40' to
blow the air and usually causes vibration of the
structure which produces undesirable noise. Efforts have
been made to reduce such vibration and noise produced by
- 24 -
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
the air blower. FIGS. 11 and 12 show the air blower 40
built with a damping device to reduce the vibration and
noise. The air blower 40 includes the cylindrical
housing 46 which has a first section 116 and the second
section 118 to be assembled together for supporting a
cylindrical inner casing assembly 120, and adapted to be
mounted to a selected structure. The first section 116
has an inlet 72 for receiving the air flow and the second
section 118 has an outlet 122 connected to the air
distribution duct 36 for directing the air under pressure
therein. The inner casing assembly 120 includes an inner
casing 124 having two opposed open ends 126 and 128 and
the turbine 40' (see FIG. 1) within the inner casing for
blowing air flow through the inner casing 124 from the
open end 126 to the open end 128, as indicated by the
arrows shown in FIG. 11. An electric motor 130 for
driving the turbine 40' to blow air flow is incorporated
to the turbine 40' and the inner casing 124. An
insulation ring 132 is provided between the first
section 116 and the second section 118 of the housing 46.
The insulation ring 132 has a plurality recess at the
periphery and is spaced apart from one another. Every
second recess 134 engages a pin 134' attached to the
first section 116 of the housing 46, and the
remainder 136 of the recesses engages the pins 136'
attached to the second section 118 of the housing 46 when
the first and second sections 116, 118 are connected
together by bolts (not shown) through the mounting holes
138. Therefore, the insulation ring 132 is radially and
axially supported in the housing 46. A plurality of
shock absorbers 140 are provided between the insulation
- 25 -
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
ring 132 and the inner casing 124, and are
circumferentially spaced apart to radially and axially
support the inner casing assembly 120 in the housing 46.
The shock absorber 140 is a cylindrical body
made of a resilient material, such as rubber, having two
opposed ends. Each end is secured by a bolt to either
the insulation ring 132 or the inner casing 124 so that
vibration energy of the inner casing assembly 120 is
absorbed and damped by the shock absorbers 140 and is not
transferred to the housing 46. An annular seal 142 made
of a sponge material is placed between the inner surface
of the housing 46 and an internal surface of the inner
casing 124 so that the air under pressure at the area
adjacent the open end 128 of the inner casing 124 is
prevented from flowing in a reverse direction within the
housing 46 to the lower pressure area adjacent the open
end 126 of the inner casing 124. The annular seal 142 is
soft and deformable to permit slight movement of the
inner casing assembly 124 with respect to the housing 46
and does not transfer the vibration of the inner casing
assembly 120 to the housing 46.
The air blower 40 may be programmed to go
through a drain circle when the tub is being emptied
through a drain hole 144 formed in a lower portion of the
bottom wall 24. A drain hole cover 146 is provided to
obstruct the drain hole 144. The circling of the air
blower may also be activated by the position of the
mechanism (not shown) which actuates the cover 146 to
open the drain hole.
Referring now to FIGs. 13 and 14 there is shown
generally at 150 a hydro or hydro thermal massage
- 26 -
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
bathtub. As hereinshown the bathtub 150 comprises
opposed side walls 151 and opposed end walls 152 which
project above a bottom wall 153. A drain 154 is provided
to drain water from the bathtub 150. Conduit means such
as the conduit 36 shown in Fig. 6 are provided about the
tub 150 and connect to a central longitudinal conduit 155
which is defined in an elevated ridge 156 which extends
longitudinally and substantially along the longitudinal
central axis 157 of the bathtub. This elevated ridge may
have various configurations and height above the bathtub
and the purpose of this ridge is to provide jets 158 in
the form of holes there along and on opposed side edges
159 of this longitudinal elevated ridge section. Air
under pressure will be injected in the bathtub from
opposed sides of this ridge and along the inside of a
bathe r s legs disposed to each side of this ridge when
the bather is sitting in the bathtub. It is also within
the ambit of the present invention to cover hydro massage
tubs with water jets which can be placed along the
central ridge and on opposed sides thereof to effect a
hydro massage to the bather s legs. Of course, there
could also be provided jets on the side walls 151 of the
bathtub as illustrated in Figure 2 so that massaging
flows would be directed to the bathe r s legs from opposed
sides thereof.
Summarizing the method of use of the hydro-
thermo massage tub of the present invention, the tub is
first filled with a predetermined quantity of hot water
and the bather then immerses himself in the tub seated at
a convenient position, where the bather occupies a
central area of the tub. The air blower and heating
- 27 -
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
element are then turned on, if it has not already been
turned on before the bather enters the tub, and air under
pressure is thereby released within the water forming
hydro-thermo acupressure massage flows which perform a
massaging action all about the body of the bather. The
ozone generator is turned on to inject a predetermined
quantity of ozone into the air distribution duct. The
bather controls the pressure and temperature of the air
to create a controlled turbulence in the water having
warm air bubbles containing ozone so that a plurality of
ozone-mixed hydro-thermo acupressure massage flow of warm
air j ets and water are formed towards a central area of
least turbulence in the inner chamber of the bathtub.
It is noted that the bather, alternatively, is
able to complete all the steps before the bather body is
positioned in the central area of the bathtub. During
the bath, the bather is able to create an additional
ozone-mixed hydro-thermal acupressure massage flow of
warm air jets and water for selective areas of the
bather's body using the mobile air jet which is immersed
in the body of water at desired positions. The bather is
also able to control individual jet sections for the
selective intensity of sections of the massage to achieve
a desired effect. The bather is further able to apply
light frequencies in the water turbulence during the
hydro-thermo massage using the optical fibers to provide
physical effects to the bather's body.
The hydro-thermal massage helps prevent wide
variety of health problems caused by poor lymph or blood
circulation which leads to the build up of toxins and
deposits within the body.
- 28 -
CA 02441646 2003-09-22
The nervous system, circulatory system and
joints are cleansed as accumulated toxins and unwanted
mineral deposits are dissolved. Hydro-thermo massage
helps re-stabilize the muscular system and joints, as
well as internal filtration systems (such as the liver,
kidneys, pancreas and lungs). It also increases and
eases the absorption of vital and energy-rich nutrients.
Especially, ozone-mixed messaging flows help
clean the skin and the process of toxin elimination is
accelerated. In addition, the oxygen liberated in the
water and the air, improves the quantity of oxygen in the
bather's environment so that the oxygen intake through
the skin and the lungs is facilitated. The ozone and the
antibacterial agent added to the air distribution system
helps the hydro-thermo massaging bathtub to be maintained
in a clean condition, which is important to the bather's
health.
It is within the embodiment of the present
invention to cover any obvious modifications of the
preferred embodiments described herein, provided such
modifications fall within the scope of the appended
claims. It is pointed out that many of the designs
described and illustrated herein apply to either thermo
or hydro massaging bathtubs and even conventional
bathtubs.
- 29 -
