Automated pedicure system

• US 6,732,387 B1
• Filed: 06/05/2003
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Belvedere USA Corporation
• Original Assignee: Belvedere USA Corporation
• Inventors: Waldron, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tuan N.
• Application Number:
  US10/455,547
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 462/1, 462/2, 454/11, 454/12, 601/157
• US Class Current: 4/622
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/0008 Arrangement for cleaning the installation before or after use
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/0054 with liquid level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/0087 Therapeutic baths with agitated or circulated water
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/601 Inlet to the bath
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6068 Outlet from the bath
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 35/006 for the feet

Abstract

A pedicure treatment system includes a receptacle for immersion treatment with jet action. A recirculating circuit is coupled to a source of sanitizing agent through a metering pump. Different automated sanitizing modes are carried out according to programmed recirculation of the sanitizing agent. Automated fill control with level sensors and power drain features are provided.

Claims

1. A pedicure treatment system, comprising:

a receptacle for immersion of the users feet in a treating fluid;

a recirculating circuit coupled to the receptacle for recirculating treating fluid through the receptacle;

a selectably operable main pump coupled to said recirculating circuit to move treating fluid through said recirculating circuit and said receptacle;

a source of treating fluid;

a treating fluid valve coupled to said source of treating fluid and said recirculating circuit;

a level sensor for controlling the level of treating fluid in said receptacle;

a fill control operably connected to said treating fluid valve and said level sensor to open and close said treating fluid valve in response to said level sensor, thereby controlling the level of treating fluid in said receptacle;

a selectably operable drain communicating with the receptacle to remove treating fluid from said receptacle;

a selectably operable drain pump coupled to the drain positively displacing treating fluid being drained from said receptacle;

a drain control operably connected to said drain and said drain pump to open and close said drain and to energize said drain pump to selectably positively displace contents of said receptacle;

a source of sanitizing solution;

a selectably operable metering pump coupled to said source of sanitizing solution and said recirculating circuit for metering amounts of said sanitizing solution into said recirculating circuit; and

a sanitizing fill control operably connected to said metering pump to energize and de-energize said metering pump to selectably introduce sanitizing solution into said receptacle.

2. The system of claim 1 further including a recirculating control operably connected to said main pump to move sanitizing solution through said recirculating circuit and said receptacle.

3. The system of claim 1 further including a sanitizing control including time delay means operably connected to said drain control to retain sanitizing solution in said receptacle for a preselected time period.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said sanitizing control further including a recirculating control operably connected to said main pump to move sanitizing solution through said recirculating circuit and said receptacle.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein said sanitizing control is also operably connected to said treating fluid valve, to combine treating fluid and sanitizing fluid in said receptacle.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising heating means coupled to said recirculating circuit to heat material traveling through said recirculating circuit.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a low level control for de-energizing said main pump in response to a low level condition being detected in said receptacle.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a seat beside said receptacle for seating a user for immersion of the user'"'"'s feet in the receptacle.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a refill control for refilling the receptacle for a subsequent user upon finish of treatment of an initial user, comprising:

an inter-user sanitizing control operatively coupled to said sanitizing fill control to introduce sanitizing solution into said receptacle and to retain the sanitizing solution in said receptacle for a predetermined time;

said inter-user sanitizing control operatively coupled to said fill control to introduce a rinse of treating fluid into said receptacle;

said inter-user sanitizing control operatively coupled to said drain control to positively displace the rinse of treating fluid from said receptacle; and

said inter-user sanitizing control also operatively coupled to said fill control to fill said receptacle with an immersion level of treating fluid from said source of treating fluid.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a periodic sanitizing control;

said periodic sanitizing control operatively coupled to said sanitizing fill control to introduce sanitizing solution into said receptacle and to retain the sanitizing solution in said receptacle for a predetermined time;

said periodic sanitizing control operatively coupled to said fill control to introduce a rinse of treating fluid into said receptacle and said recirculating circuit;

said periodic sanitizing control operatively coupled to said main pump to move treating fluid through said recirculating circuit and said receptacle; and

said periodic sanitizing control operatively coupled to said drain control to positively displace the rinse of treating fluid from said receptacle.