Adjustable water therapy combination

• US 20040025244A1
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Casey Loyd, Pedro Vargas
• Original Assignee: Casey Loyd, Pedro Vargas
• Inventors: Loyd, Casey, Vargas, Pedro
• Application Number:
  US10/435,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20040025244A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/541.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/0058 controlled by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/0087 Therapeutic baths with agitated or circulated water
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/02 Bathing devices for use with gas-containing liquid, or liquid in which gas is led or generated, e.g. carbon dioxide baths A61H33/6026 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/60 Components specifically designed for the therapeutic baths of groups A61H33/00 plumbing E03C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/601 Inlet to the bath
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6068 Outlet from the bath

Abstract

An adjustable water therapy combination has a water basin for retaining a human patient and a pump driven water circulation system which provides streams of pulsating water to a patient through openings in the water basin. The pump is driven by an electric motor, which is controlled by a controller capable of turning the motor on and off. The controller is also capable of adjusting the pulsing of the water discharged from the pump as to frequency, duration and, optionally, amplitude. A control panel for adjusting the settings on the pump motor controller is disposed at a location where it is readily accessible to the patient, so that the patient can easily and conveniently adjust the pulsations of water without having to exit the water basin.

Claims

3. An adjustable water therapy combination comprising:

(a) a water basin capable of retaining a human being partially submerged below a level of water, the water basin having at least one drain opening; and

(b) at least one water therapy station, each station comprising;

(i) a seating location capable of supporting a seated or reclining human being;

(ii) a plurality of water inlet openings defined within the seating location;

(iii) a water pump having a suction side and a discharge side;

(iv) water circulation conduits connecting the at least one water basin drain opening to the suction side of the pump and connecting the discharge side of the pump to the plurality of water input openings;

(v) an electric motor for driving the pump;

(vi) a controller capable of turning the motor on and off, the controller also having settings for adjusting the pulsing of water discharged from the pump, both as to frequency and duration, the controller being capable of pulsing the electric motor on and off so as to drive the pump in pulsing flow mode in a plurality of pulsing flow frequencies and durations;

(vii) a control panel operatively connected to the controller and being accessible to a user disposed within the water basin, for adjusting the settings on the controller and for adjusting the frequency and duration of flow pulsations from the pump.

4. The adjustable water therapy combination of claim 3 wherein the controller is capable of pulsing the electric motor on and off so as to drive the pump in pulsing flow mode in a plurality of pulsing flow frequencies, durations and amplitudes.

5. The adjustable water therapy combination of claim 3 wherein the seating location is contoured to conform to the human body.

6. The adjustable water therapy combination of claim 3 wherein the at least one water therapy station comprises a plurality of water therapy stations.

7. The adjustable water therapy combination of claim 3 wherein the water inlet opening comprises water jet nozzles.

8. The adjustable water therapy combination of claim 3 wherein the water circulation conduits comprise a ejector disposed between the discharge side of the pump and the water inlet openings, the ejector being capable of drawing air into a water stream flowing from the pump to the water inlet openings.

9. The adjustable water therapy combination of claim 8 wherein air drawn into the ejector is provided by an air valve disposed proximate to the seating location, the air valve being accessible to a user disposed within the seating location.

10. The adjustable water therapy combination of claim 3 wherein the frequency of flow pulsations from the pump is variable between about 26 per minute and about 160 per minute.

11-1. The adjustable water therapy combination of claim 11 wherein the frequency of flow pulsations from each pump variable is between about 26 per minute and about 160 per minute.

12-2. The adjustable water therapy combination of claim 11 wherein the velocity of water pulsing through each of the water inlet openings is between about 1 ft./sec. and about 10 ft./sec.