Therapeutic whirlpool unit with temperature contrast
First Claim
1. A therapeutic whirlpool bath unit comprising an open topped container adapted to receive a quantity of water in which a portion of the human anatomy can be immersed, a pair of independent water reservoirs adjacent said container with one reservoir adapted to receive a quantity of warm water and the other reservoir adapted to receive a quantity of water at a lower temperature, pump means for sequentially introducing water from one reservoir into the container for a predetermined time period and then removing the water from the container and pumping it back into the one reservoir and then pumping water from the other reservoir into the container for a predetermined time and pumping the water back into the other reservoir to cyclicly provide a water bath of contrasting temperatures to the portion of the human anatomy in the container and means introducing pressurized air into the water in the container for circulating the water in relation to the portion of the human anatomy positioned in the container, a removable cover mounted in closing relation to the top of the open-topped container, said cover including a depending peripheral flange telescopically engaging top of the container, an arm receiving opening in said cover, a flexible sleeve attached to the opening, said sleeve including means retaining the sleeve in snug encircling relation to the arm to prevent water from splashing through the opening in the cover, said cover including an air supply hose opening therethrough in spaced relation to said arm receiving opening, said means for circulating the water in relation to the portion of the human anatomy including an aeration floor in the container, and an air hose connected to said aeration floor and extending through the air supply hose opening in the cover for communication with a source of pressurized air.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A whirlpool bath unit and more particularly a therapeutic whirlpool unit providing a container to receive a quantity of water and a portion of the human anatomy immersed in the water combined with air circulating bottom member in the container to provide a whirlpool bath and sequentially introducing and removing water having contrasting temperature levels in relation to the container while monitoring and controlling the temperature level and duration that water of a particular temperature occupies the container. The container is communicated with a pair of water reservoirs through a pump system with the water in each of the reservoirs being maintained at contrasting temperatures with the pump system removing water from the container into one of the reservoirs and introducing water into the container from the other reservoir which contains water of a contrasting temperature.
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Citations
13 Claims
- 1. A therapeutic whirlpool bath unit comprising an open topped container adapted to receive a quantity of water in which a portion of the human anatomy can be immersed, a pair of independent water reservoirs adjacent said container with one reservoir adapted to receive a quantity of warm water and the other reservoir adapted to receive a quantity of water at a lower temperature, pump means for sequentially introducing water from one reservoir into the container for a predetermined time period and then removing the water from the container and pumping it back into the one reservoir and then pumping water from the other reservoir into the container for a predetermined time and pumping the water back into the other reservoir to cyclicly provide a water bath of contrasting temperatures to the portion of the human anatomy in the container and means introducing pressurized air into the water in the container for circulating the water in relation to the portion of the human anatomy positioned in the container, a removable cover mounted in closing relation to the top of the open-topped container, said cover including a depending peripheral flange telescopically engaging top of the container, an arm receiving opening in said cover, a flexible sleeve attached to the opening, said sleeve including means retaining the sleeve in snug encircling relation to the arm to prevent water from splashing through the opening in the cover, said cover including an air supply hose opening therethrough in spaced relation to said arm receiving opening, said means for circulating the water in relation to the portion of the human anatomy including an aeration floor in the container, and an air hose connected to said aeration floor and extending through the air supply hose opening in the cover for communication with a source of pressurized air.
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13. A therapeutic whirlpool bath unit comprising a rigid open topped container adapted to receive a quantity of water in which a portion of the anatomy can be immersed, a pair of independent water reservoirs adjacent said container with one reservoir receiving a quantity of warm water and the other reservoir receiving a quantity of water at a lower temperature, pump means for introducing warm water from said one reservoir into the container for immersing the portion of the anatomy in the warm water for a predetermined time period and then pumping all of the warm water back into said one reservoir and then pumping water at a lower temperature from said other reservoir into the container for immersing the portion of the anatomy in the lower temperature water for a predetermined time and pumping all of the water back into said other reservoir to cyclicly provide a static water bath of contrasting temperatures to the portion of the anatomy positioned in the container and means introducing pressurized air into only a bottom portion of said container for movement upwardly in the water in the container for discharge from the open top thereby circulating the water in relation to the portion of the anatomy positioned in the container, said means for circulating the water including an inclined hollow bottom member in said container communicated with a source of pressurized air, said bottom member including a generally flat perforated upper plate positioned below an upper level of the static water bath in said container and occupying substantially the entire area of said container, said upper plate having perforations throughout the area of the plate for discharging air through the perforations into the water throughout the area of the container, said inclined bottom member forming a support for supporting the portion of the anatomy immersed in the container in an inclined position.
Specification