Hydrotherapy system with translating jets

• US 6,770,043 B1
• Filed: 04/28/2000
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rocky Kahn
• Original Assignee: Rocky Kahn
• Inventors: Kahn, Rocky
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HWANG, VICTOR KENNY
• Application Number:
  US09/561,109
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• Field of Search: 601/154-159, 601/160, 601/169, 601/168, 601/148, 601/55, 601/97-98, 601/100-103, 239/251, 239/258, 239/261, 239/264, 239/265, 239/226, 239/246, 454/16, 454/6, 454/7
• US Class Current: 601/160
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0149 Seat or chair
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1238 with hydraulic or pneumatic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0071 by localized pressure, e.g. air streams or jets

Abstract

An improved therapeutic spa, hot tub, or hydrotherapy system includes one or more jet assemblies to form streams of water which translate in at least two degrees of freedom over a substantial portion of the user'"'"'s body. The jet assemblies preferably move in patterns under automatic computer control as well as manual feedback by the user. The system preferably includes a body support, such as in the form of a chair. The support is at least partially water permeable so that the streams of water impinge the user through the body support. The jet assemblies preferably include unitary nozzles, pumps, and motors.

Claims

1. A hydrotherapy system for massaging a body of a user, said hydrotherapy system comprising:

a jet assembly having first and second nozzles adapted to provide separate first and second streams of water;

a translation assembly having a first degree of freedom to move the jet assembly along a first path and a second degree of freedom to move the jet assembly along a second path;

wherein the second path is non-coincident to the first path;

a controller operably connected to the translation assembly to automatically move the jet assembly along a desired path within a surface formed by the first and second paths;

wherein the jet assembly forms a kneading action massage by successively moving the first and second nozzles along an unclosed path to successively engage the user'"'"'s body with the first and second streams of water such that the second stream of water engages the user before the first steam of water disengages the user; and

wherein the unclosed path includes a starting location where the first and second streams of water start engaging the user and an exiting location which is spaced apart from the starting location where the first and second streams of water stop engaging the user.

2. The hydrotherapy system according to claim 1, wherein the jet assembly includes a rotatable cylinder which rotates about a central longitudinal axis and is provided with the first and second nozzles to form the first and second streams of water and wherein the first and second nozzles radially extend from the central longitudinal axis so that the first and second streams of water flow perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis.

3. The hydrotherapy system according to claim 2, wherein the controller comprises a programmable controller such that rotation of the cylinder is under computer control to select between rotation of the cylinder in either direction about the central longitudinal axis to obtain two directions of unidirectional kneading action massage.

4. The hydrotherapy system according to claim 2, further comprising a motor for rotating the cylinder with variable speed.

5. The hydrotherapy system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second nozzles are independently pivotable nozzles to form the first and second streams of water and the jet assembly includes a water distribution system to selectively direct water to desired ones of said pivotable first and second nozzles.

6. The hydrotherapy system according to claim 5, wherein the water distribution system includes a rotating barrel to selectively direct water to desired ones of said pivotable nozzles.

7. The hydrotherapy system according to claim 5, wherein the controller comprises a programmable controller such that movement of the pivotable nozzles and actuation of the water distribution system is under computer control to select between two directions of kneading action.

8. The hydrotherapy system according to claim 5, further comprising a first and second motors for moving the pivotable nozzles and for actuating the water distribution system respectively.

9. The hydrotherapy system according to claim 1, wherein the jet assembly moves the first and second nozzles from the exiting location back to the starting location without engaging the user with the first and second streams of water respectively so that the unidirectional kneading action massage is repeated.

10. The hydrotherapy system according to claim 1, further comprising a support adapted to support a user, and wherein the support includes a flexible membrane and the first and second streams of water impinge the user through the flexible membrane.

11. A hydrotherapy system comprising:

a jet assembly having a nozzle adapted to provide a stream of water;

a translation assembly having a first degree of freedom to move the jet assembly along a first path and a second degree of freedom to move the jet assembly along a second path;

wherein the second path is non-coincident to the first path;

a controller operably connected to the translation assembly to automatically move the jet assembly along a desired path within a surface formed by the first and second paths;

wherein the controller includes a programmable controller and wherein the jet assembly includes an inlet aperture of variable size, the inlet aperture having a movable cover to vary the size of the inlet aperture, and the jet assembly is operably connected to the controller such that movement of the cover is controlled by the controller and the cover can be closed to shut off supply of water to the jet assembly;

wherein the jet assembly includes an impeller located upstream of the nozzle such that the impeller provides pressurized water to the nozzle and downstream of the inlet aperture such that the movable cover controls supply of water to the impeller; and

wherein the controller positions the cover to a plurality of positions between a full open position and a full closed position to vary the size of the inlet aperture.

12. A hydrotherapy system comprising:

a jet assembly adapted to provide a stream of water;

a translation assembly having a first degree of freedom to move the jet assembly along a first path and a second degree of freedom to move the jet assembly along a second path;

wherein the second path is non-coincident to the first path;

a controller operably connected to the translation assembly to automatically move the jet assembly along a desired path within a surface formed by the first and second paths;

a support assembly for the user in the form of a chair and wherein the translation assembly is adapted to generally conform to the chair;

wherein the support assembly includes a seat support and a lumbar support; and

wherein the translation assembly moves the jet assembly along a curved path when moving the jet assembly from positions under the seat support to positions behind the lumbar support.

13. A hydrotherapy system for massaging a body of a user, the hydrotherapy system comprising:

a support adapted to support the user;

a first nozzle adapted to provide a first stream of water impinging the user;

a second nozzle adapted to provide a second stream of water impinging the user;

a control system which successively moves the first and second nozzles along an unclosed path to successively impinge the user with the first and second streams of water to form a kneading action massage;

wherein the unclosed path includes a starting location where the first and second streams of water start impinging the user and an exiting location which is spaced apart from the starting location where the first and second streams of water stop impinging the user; and

wherein the second nozzle starts along the path before the first nozzle exits the unclosed path.

14. The hydrotherapy system according to claim 13, wherein the control system includes a rotatable cylinder which rotates about a central longitudinal axis and the first and second nozzles radially extend from the central longitudinal axis so that the first and second streams of water flow perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis.

15. The hydrotherapy system according to claim 14, wherein the control system includes a programmable controller such that rotation of the cylinder is under computer control to select between rotation of the cylinder in either direction about the central longitudinal axis to obtain two directions of the unidirectional kneading action massage.

16. The hydrotherapy system according to claim 15, wherein the control system includes a variable speed motor for rotating the cylinder with variable speed.

17. The hydrotherapy system according to claim 13, wherein the first and second nozzles are independently pivotable about first and second pivot axes respectively and further comprising a water distribution system to selectively direct water to desired ones of the first and second nozzles.

18. The hydrotherapy system according to claim 17, wherein the water distribution system includes a rotating barrel to selectively direct water to desired ones of the first and second nozzles.

19. The hydrotherapy system according to claim 17, wherein the control system includes a programmable controller such that pivoting movement of the first and second nozzles and actuation of the water distribution system is under computer control to select between two directions of the kneading action.

20. The hydrotherapy system according to claim 17, further comprising a first and second motors for pivotably moving the first and second nozzles and for actuating the water distribution system, respectively.

21. The hydrotherapy system according to claim 13, wherein the jet assembly moves the first and second nozzles from the exiting location back to the starting location without engaging the user with the first and second streams of water respectively so that the unidirectional kneading action massage is repeated.

22. The hydrotherapy system according to claim 13, wherein the support includes a flexible membrane and the first and second streams of water impinge the user through the flexible membrane.

23. A hydrotherapy system comprising:

a support assembly adapted to support a user in a seated position and having a seat support and a lumbar support;

a jet assembly adapted to provide a stream of water;

a translation assembly adapted to move the jet assembly along a path conforming to the support assembly and extending adjacent the seat support and the lumbar support; and

wherein the translation assembly moves the jet assembly along a curved portion of the path when moving the jet assembly from positions under the seat support to positions behind the lumbar support.

24. The hydrotherapy system according to claim 23, wherein the translation assembly has a first linear degree of freedom to move the jet assembly along a first linear path and a second linear degree of freedom to move the jet assembly along a second linear path and wherein the second linear path is perpendicular to the first linear path.

25. The hydrotherapy system according to claim 24, further comprising a controller operably connected to the translation assembly to automatically move the jet assembly along a desired path within a plane formed by the first and second linear paths.

26. The hydrotherapy system according to claim 23, wherein the seat assembly further includes a head support and the path extend adjacent the head support.

27. The hydrotherapy system according to claim 23, wherein the seat assembly further includes a leg support and the path extend adjacent the leg support.

28. The hydrotherapy system according to claim 27, wherein the translation assembly moves the jet assembly along another curved portion of the path when moving the jet assembly from positions under the seat support to positions behind the leg support.

29. The hydrotherapy system according to claim 27, wherein a linear portion of the path adjacent the seat support is horizontal.

30. A hydrotherapy system comprising:

a jet assembly having a nozzle adapted to provide a stream of water;

a translation assembly operably connected to the jet assembly to move the jet assembly;

a controller operably connected to the translation assembly to move the jet assembly along a desired path;

wherein the controller comprises a programmable controller;

wherein the jet assembly includes an inlet aperture of variable size, the inlet aperture having a movable cover to vary the size of the inlet aperture, and the jet assembly is operably connected to the controller such that movement of the cover is controlled by the controller and the cover can be closed to shut off supply of water to the jet assembly;

wherein the jet assembly includes an impeller located upstream of the nozzle such that the impeller provides pressurized water to the nozzle and downstream of the inlet aperture such that the movable cover controls supply of water to the impeller; and

wherein the controller positions the cover at a plurality of position between a full open position and a full closed position to vary the size of the inlet aperture.