Spa system for targeted personal hydrotherapy

• US 7,089,608 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles Gilbert Erb
• Original Assignee: Charles Gilbert Erb
• Inventors: Erb, Charles Gilbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Justine R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, HUYEN D
• Application Number:
  US11/085,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20050210575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 45411-5416
• US Class Current: 4/541.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/0062 with electro-pneumatic or -hydraulic switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2035/004 for the whole body except the head
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2203/0431 in 90°/90°-position, like on a chair
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/02 Bathing devices for use with gas-containing liquid, or liquid in which gas is led or generated, e.g. carbon dioxide baths A61H33/6026 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/027 Gas-water mixing nozzles therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6052 Having flow regulating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6063 Specifically adapted for fitting in bathtub walls

Abstract

A spa comprised of a fluid enclosure having a floor and an upstanding sidewall includes a therapy station within the enclosure. The therapy station includes an upright seat to accommodate a single person and includes a plurality of fluid jets in the footwell and sidewall of the enclosure at various targeted hydrotherapy locations. Pressurized water is provided to the hydrotherapy locations by a pair of fluid pumps. Each jet at the hydrotherapy locations is provided with a variable flow controller adapted to control the water flow out of the jet. Each hydrotherapy location is also provided with a variable flow controller adapted to control the flow of air into the jet. Each hydrotherapy location is also provided with a directional flow controller. Each jet discharges water flow at one horsepower or more to provide intense hydrotherapy selectably directed to multiple portions of the body simultaneously or individually.

Claims

1. A targeted personal hydrotherapy spa comprising:

a fluid enclosure having a floor, an upstanding sidewall, a footwell and a substantially horizontal seat adjacent said sidewall and footwell;

said seat being adapted to accommodate a single person thereon in a substantially upright seated position;

said sidewall and said footwell having a plurality of targeted hydrotherapy locations therein;

said targeted hydrotherapy locations corresponding to body portions of said substantially upright seated person in said seat;

said body portions comprising a) the neck, b) the lower back, c) the right arm, d) the left arm, e) the right thigh, f) the left thigh, g) the right calf, h) the and left calf, i) the right foot and toes, j) and the left foot and toes;

a plurality of fluid jets adjacent said seat in said sidewall and said footwell;

each of said fluid jets being located in said sidewall or said footwell at each of said targeted hydrotherapy locations;

each of said fluid jets having a water inlet, an air inlet, at least one nozzle and a water discharge outlet;

each of said fluid jets being adjustable in flow rate of water at said water discharge outlet;

each of said fluid jets being adjustable in flow rate of air into said air inlet;

a fluid inlet through said sidewall or footwell of said fluid enclosure;

at least one fluid pump, each of said at least one fluid pumps having a suction port in fluid communication with said fluid inlet and a discharge port in fluid communication with said fluid jets;

said at least one pump being adapted to move fluid from said fluid enclosure through said fluid inlet and said suction port to said discharge port and through said plurality of fluid jets into said fluid enclosure with a discharge flow rate at each of said jets of at least one horsepower, a first fluid inlet through said sidewall of said enclosure and second fluid inlet through said sidewall of said enclosure;

a first fluid pump having a first suction port and a first discharge port, said first suction port being in fluid communication with said enclosure through said first fluid inlet; and

a second fluid pump having a second suction port and a second discharge port, said second suction port being in fluid communication with said enclosure through said second fluid inlet;

said first and second fluid pumps having a discharge capacity of at least ten horsepower;

wherein said first and second discharge ports are in fluid communication with each of said water inlets in said plurality of fluid nozzles.

2. The spa according to claim 1, wherein each of said fluid jets further comprises:

directional flow control means for adjusting a direction of fluid flow at said discharge outlet;

wherein said directional flow control means expands an area of said targeted hydrotherapy locations corresponding to body portions of said substantially upright seated person in said seat;

and wherein said body portions at said targeted hydrotherapy locations includes the a) the neck, upper back and shoulders b) the lower back, hips and buttocks c) the right bicep, tricep, and shoulder, d) the left bicep, tricep, and shoulder, e) the right thigh and hip, f) the left thigh and hip, g) the right knee, calf and shin, h) the left knee, calf and shin, i) the right foot, toes and ankle, j) and the left foot, toes and ankle.

3. The spa according to claim 1, further comprising:

a fluid manifold having an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports;

said inlet port being in fluid communication with said first and second discharge ports of said first and second fluid pumps;

each of said outlet ports being in fluid communication with a respective water inlet in said plurality of fluid jets.

4. The spa according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first fluid conduit connected between said first discharge port and said water inlets of a first plurality of fluid jets in an upper body group of targeted hydrotherapy locations;

said upper body group of targeted hydrotherapy locations comprising a) the neck, b) the lower back, c) the right arm, d) the left arm;

a second fluid conduit connected between said second discharge port and said water inlets of a second plurality of fluid jets in lower body group of targeted hydrotherapy locations;

said lower body group of targeted hydrotherapy locations comprising e) the right thigh, f) the left thigh, g) the right calf, h) the and left calf, i) the right foot and toes, j) and the left foot and toes.

5. The spa according to claim 1, further comprising:

a fluid filter having a filter inlet and a filter outlet;

said filter inlet being in fluid communication with said first or second discharge port of said first or second pump;

said filter outlet being in fluid communication with at least one water inlet in said plurality of fluid jets.

6. The spa according to claim 1, further comprising:

a fluid heater having an unheated fluid inlet and a heated fluid outlet;

said unheated fluid inlet being in fluid communication with said first or second discharge port of said first or second pump;

said heated fluid outlet being in fluid communication with at least one water inlet in said plurality of fluid jets.

7. The spa according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of aeration valves in proximity to said seat portion and in fluid communication with an air atmosphere; and

a plurality of air lines connected between each of said aeration valves in said plurality of aeration valves and each of said air inlets in said plurality of fluid jets;

wherein each of said aeration valves has a fully open position which allows said air atmosphere to enter said air inlet of each of said at least one nozzles in said plurality of fluid jets;

and wherein each of said aeration valves has a fully closed position which allows no air to enter each of said air inlets in said at least one nozzle in said plurality of fluid jets.

8. The spa according to claim 1, wherein each of said fluid jets further comprises:

a flow controller at said water inlet or said water discharge outlet of said fluid jet for controlling an outlet water flow rate;

said flow controller having a fully open position wherein water flow is unrestricted at an outlet water flow rate of at least one horsepower;

said flow controller having a fully closed position wherein water flow is blocked;

wherein placing one or more of said flow rate controllers in said closed position increases said outlet water flow rate at said fluid jets not having a flow controller in said closed position.

9. The spa according to claim 1, further comprising:

an ozone generator in fluid communication with at least one water inlet of a fluid jet in said plurality of fluid jets.

10. A targeted personal hydrotherapy spa comprising:

a fluid enclosure having a floor, an upstanding sidewall, a footwell and a substantially horizontal seat adjacent said sidewall and footwell;

said seat being adapted to accommodate a single person thereon in a substantially upright seated position;

said sidewall and said footwell having a plurality of targeted hydrotherapy locations therein;

said targeted hydrotherapy locations corresponding to body portions of said substantially upright seated person in said seat;

said body portions comprising a) the neck, b) the lower back, c) the right arm, d) the left arm, e) the right thigh, f) the left thigh, g) the right calf, h) the and left calf, i) the right foot and toes, j) and the left foot and toes;

a plurality of fluid jets adjacent said seat in said sidewall and said footwell;

each of said fluid jets being located in said sidewall or said footwell at each of said targeted hydrotherapy locations;

each of said fluid jets having a water inlet, an air inlet, at least one nozzle and a water discharge outlet;

each of said fluid jets being adjustable in flow rate of water at said water discharge outlet;

each of said fluid jets being adjustable in flow rate of air into said air inlet;

a first fluid inlet through said sidewall of said enclosure and a second fluid inlet through said sidewall of said enclosure;

a first fluid pump having a first suction port and a first discharge port;

said first suction port being in fluid communication with said enclosure through said first fluid inlet;

said first discharge port being in fluid communication with one or more of said water inlets in said plurality of fluid jets;

a second fluid pump having a second suction port and a second discharge port;

said second suction port being in fluid communication with said enclosure through said second fluid inlet;

said second discharge port being in fluid communication with one or more of said water inlets in said plurality of fluid jets;

said first and second fluid pumps having a discharge capacity of at least ten horsepower;

a fluid filter having a filter inlet and a filter outlet;

said filter inlet being in fluid communication with said first or second discharge port of said first or second pump;

said filter outlet being in fluid communication with at least one water inlet in said plurality of fluid jets;

a fluid heater having an unheated fluid inlet and a heated fluid outlet;

said unheated fluid inlet being in fluid communication with said first or second discharge port of said first or second pump;

said heated fluid outlet being in fluid communication with at least one water inlet in said plurality of fluid jets; and

an ozone generator in fluid communication with at least one water inlet in said plurality of fluid jets.

11. The spa according to claim 10, further comprising:

an electrical control box electrically connected between a power supply and spa electrical components including said first and second fluid pumps, said-heater, and said ozone generator; and

a plurality of air operated switch in proximity to said seat portion and in pneumatic communication with said electrical control box;

each of said air operated switches being adapted to send a pneumatic signal to said electrical control box to energize and de-energize said spa electrical components.

12. The spa according to claim 10, further comprising:

a plurality of aeration valves in proximity to said seat portion and in fluid communication with an air atmosphere; and

a plurality of air lines connected between each of said aeration valves in said plurality of aeration valves and each of said air inlets in said plurality of fluid jets;

wherein each of said aeration valves has a fully open position which allows said air atmosphere to enter said air inlet of each of said at least one nozzles in said plurality of fluid jets;

and wherein each of said aeration valves has a fully closed position which allows no air to enter each of said air inlets in said at least one nozzle in said plurality of fluid jets.

13. The spa according to claim 10, wherein each of said fluid jets further comprises:

a flow controller at said water inlet or said water discharge outlet of said fluid jet for controlling an outlet water flow rate;

said flow controller having a fully open position wherein water flow is unrestricted at an outlet water flow rate of at least one horsepower;

said flow controller having a fully closed position wherein water flow is blocked;

wherein placing one or more of said flow rate controllers in said closed position increases said outlet water flow rate at said fluid jets not having a flow controller in said closed position.

14. The spa according to claim 10, wherein each of said fluid jets further comprises:

directional flow control means for adjusting a direction of fluid flow at said water discharge outlet;

wherein said directional flow control means expands an area of said targeted hydrotherapy locations corresponding to body portions of said substantially upright seated person in said seat;

and wherein said body portions at said targeted hydrotherapy locations includes the a) the neck, upper back and shoulders b) the lower back, hips and buttocks c) the right bicep, tricep, and shoulder, d) the left bicep, tricep, and shoulder, e) the right thigh and hip, f) the left thigh and hip, g) the right knee, calf and shin, h) the left knee, calf and shin, i) the right foot, toes and ankle, j) and the left foot, toes and ankle.