Tap water powered massage apparatus having a water permeable membrane
First Claim
1. Apparatus adapted to be coupled to a tap water source for discharging a hydromassage stream for massaging a user'"'"'s body, said apparatus comprising:
- a water supply port configured for coupling to said tap water source;
a discharge orifice;
means coupling said supply port to said discharge orifice for discharging a hydromassage stream therefrom;
a flexible water permeable membrane having front and rear faces;
means supporting said membrane proximate to said discharge orifice with said rear face oriented to be impacted by said hydromassage stream and said front face oriented to engage a user'"'"'s body;
a housing defining a first face;
means supporting said discharge orifice in said housing for discharging said hydromassage stream through said first face; and
whereinsaid membrane extends across said first face;
said housing additionally defining a second face;
at least one shower outlet supported in said housing oriented to discharge a shower spray through said second face; and
valve means for selectively coupling said supply port to either said discharge orifice or said shower outlet.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus useful in combination with utility supplied tap water for discharging a water stream for massaging a user'"'"'s body characterized by a flexible water permeable membrane, preferably of terry cloth, mounted in front of a discharge orifice. In use, water stream discharged from the orifice impacts against the rear face of the membrane while the membrane'"'"'s front face is held against and massages the user'"'"'s body. The permeability of the membrane permits water to pass therethrough to wet and lubricate the user'"'"'s skin. The water permeable membrane spreads the impact area to thus provide a softer more pleasing massage effect while minimizing the amount of unwanted splash. The apparatus may also include a shower outlet for selectively discharging a shower spray.
94 Citations
31 Claims
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1. Apparatus adapted to be coupled to a tap water source for discharging a hydromassage stream for massaging a user'"'"'s body, said apparatus comprising:
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a water supply port configured for coupling to said tap water source; a discharge orifice; means coupling said supply port to said discharge orifice for discharging a hydromassage stream therefrom; a flexible water permeable membrane having front and rear faces; means supporting said membrane proximate to said discharge orifice with said rear face oriented to be impacted by said hydromassage stream and said front face oriented to engage a user'"'"'s body; a housing defining a first face; means supporting said discharge orifice in said housing for discharging said hydromassage stream through said first face; and
whereinsaid membrane extends across said first face; said housing additionally defining a second face; at least one shower outlet supported in said housing oriented to discharge a shower spray through said second face; and valve means for selectively coupling said supply port to either said discharge orifice or said shower outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. Apparatus useful in combination with a water tub having a source of tap water for discharging a hydromassage stream either above or beneath the surface of a water pool in said tub, said apparatus comprising:
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a housing having a water supply entrance and a water supply exit, said water supply entrance adapted to be coupled to said tap water source; a hydromassage member having an entrance orifice communicating with said water supply exit and a discharge orifice for discharging said hydromassage stream; a water permeable membrane having front and rear faces; means mounting said membrane on said housing proximate to said discharge orifice oriented to enable said rear face to be impacted by said hydromassage stream and said membrane front face to engage a user'"'"'s body; said means mounting said membrane including an open frame extending across said housing first face; and a peripheral elastic member secured to said membrane for releasably securing said membrane to said frame. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. Apparatus useful in combination with a water tub having a source of tap water for discharging a hydromassage stream either above or beneath the surface of a water pool in said tub, said apparatus comprising:
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a housing having a water supply entrance and a water supply exit, said water supply entrance adapted to be coupled to said tap water source; a hydromassage member having an entrance orifice communicating with said water supply exit and a discharge orifice for discharging said hydromassage stream; a water permeable membrane having front and rear faces; means mounting said membrane on said housing proximate to said discharge orifice oriented to enable said rear face to be impacted by said hydromassage stream and said membrane front face to engage a user'"'"'s body; a shower passageway having a shower entrance port and at least one shower outlet; and user operable valve means for selectively communicating said supply exit to either said shower entrance port or said hydromassage member entrance orifice. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. Apparatus useful in combination with a water tub having a source of tap water for discharging a hydromassage stream either above or beneath the surface of a water pool in said tub, said apparatus comprising:
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a housing having a water supply entrance and a water supply exit, said water supply entrance adapted to be coupled to said tap water source; a hydromassage member having an entrance orifice communicating with said water supply exit and a discharge orifice for discharging said hydromassage stream; a water permeable membrane having front and rear faces; means mounting said membrane on said housing proximate to said discharge orifice oriented to enable said rear face to be impacted by said hydromassage stream and said membrane front face to engage a user'"'"'s body; a reduced cross section orifice located between said supply exit and said entrance orifice for introducing a high velocity water flow into said entrance orifice; said housing defining an open first face; said discharge orifice being supported in said housing oriented to discharge said hydromassage stream through said first face; said means mounting said membrane including an open frame extending across said housing first face; and a peripheral elastic member secured to said membrane for releasably securing said membrane to said frame.
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Specification