Bath apparatus

• US 20050235411A1
• Filed: 03/18/2005
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FKA Distributing Co. LLC
• Original Assignee: FKA Distributing Co. LLC
• Inventors: Ferber, Roman S., Lev, Mordechai, Chung, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 8,407,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/622
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 3/022 specially adapted for particular use, e.g. for washing the feet, for bathing in sitting position doors to get in and out of baths more easily A47K3/006; collapsible baths A47K3/062
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 35/006 for the feet

Abstract

An apparatus for bathing a body part, such as the feet, includes a bath chamber for containing a fluid and receiving the body part therein. The bath chamber includes a bottom surface and a wall structure extending upwardly therefrom, where a motor is mounted on an underside of the bottom surface. At least one therapy center is disposed on the bottom surface and operably connected to the motor for providing therapy to the body part when the body part is placed on the at least one therapy center.

Claims

1. An apparatus for bathing a body part, the apparatus comprising:

a bath chamber for containing a fluid and receiving the body part therein, the bath chamber including a bottom surface and a wall structure extending upwardly therefrom;

a motor mounted on an underside of the bottom surface; and

at least one therapy center disposed on the bottom surface and operably connected to the motor for providing therapy to the body part when the body part is placed on the at least one therapy center.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one therapy center is arranged to receive a therapy attachment.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the motor imparts rotary motion to the therapy attachment via a gear train, the gear train having at least one gear shaft extending through an aperture on the bottom surface and arranged to receive the therapy attachment.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a seal disposed on the at least one gear shaft beneath the bottom surface to prevent fluid from leaking out of the bath chamber.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the therapy attachment includes raised nodes.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the therapy attachment includes a brush.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switch for providing power to the motor.

8. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the switch is a multi-function switch that allows for multiple modes of activation of the at least one therapy center.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one therapy center is activated by pressure of the body part on the therapy center.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a hood attached to the wall structure and arranged to at least partially cover the bath chamber.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the hood is hollow to define a storage area therein arranged to store therapy attachments when not in use.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a lid attached to the hood for providing access to the storage area.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the lid is constructed of a generally transparent material.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a heating member arranged to remain uncovered by fluid for providing heat to the body part when the body part is placed thereon.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a heater in communication with the bottom surface for maintaining the heat of the fluid contained within the bath chamber.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an air pump and at least one outlet tube in communication with the pump, the at least one outlet tube in communication with a plurality of egress holes provided in the bath chamber bottom surface through which air from the pump is directed into the bath chamber in order to generate air bubbles in the fluid contained therein.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, further including a vibration assembly in communication with the bath chamber for imparting vibration to the bath chamber.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bottom surface includes a plurality of raised portions.

19. A foot bath apparatus, comprising:

a bath chamber for containing a fluid and receiving a user'"'"'s feet therein, the bath chamber including a bottom surface and a wall structure extending upwardly therefrom;

a motor mounted on an underside of the bottom surface;

at least two spaced therapy centers disposed on the bottom surface and operably connected to the motor, each therapy center arranged to receive a rotatable therapy attachment for providing therapy to the feet; and

a seal disposed beneath the bath chamber bottom surface to prevent fluid from leaking out of the bath chamber.

20. A foot bath apparatus, comprising:

a bath chamber for containing a fluid and receiving a user'"'"'s feet therein, the bath chamber including a bottom surface and a wall structure extending upwardly therefrom;

a motor mounted on an underside of the bottom surface;

at least two spaced therapy centers disposed on the bottom surface and operably connected to the motor, each therapy center arranged to receive a rotatable therapy attachment for providing therapy to the feet; and

a hood attached to the wall structure and arranged to at least partially cover the bath chamber, wherein the hood is hollow to define a storage area therein arranged to store the therapy attachments when not in use.