Aerobic spa system

• US 7,922,668 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2007
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aerobic Water Works, LLC, VoltStar Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aerobic Water Works, LLC
• Inventors: Rimdzius, Donald A, Alwa, Rajeshwar, McGinley, James W
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Niketa I
• Assistant Examiner(s): VOORHEES, CATHERINE M
• Application Number:
  US11/725,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20080223788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 4524-526, 452/8, 454/11, 45414-5416, 607 81- 87, 607/96, 607/104, 607/107, 600/509, 600519-521, 600/523, 210/760, 210/167.17
• US Class Current: 600/508
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/143 with oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5046 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/06 Heartbeat rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/06 Artificial hot-air or cold-air baths; Steam or gas baths or douches, e.g. sauna or Finnish baths artificial climate rooms A61G10/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/14 Devices for gas baths with ozone, hydrogen, or the like production of ozone or hydrogen C01B, C25B1/02
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/20 by degassing, i.e. liberation of dissolved gases degasification of liquids in general B01D19/00; arrangement of degassing apparatus in boiler feed supply F22D
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/42 by ion-exchange ion-exchange in general B01J
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/42 from bathing facilities, e.g. swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/00 Multistage treatment of water, waste water or sewage

Abstract

An aerobic spa system comprising a water source providing water, an ozone source providing ozone, an ozone introduction mechanism adapted to introduce at least some of the ozone into the water, an ozone saturation mechanism adapted to cause at least some of the ozone to be dissolved into the water, a substantially enclosed chamber receiving water containing dissolved ozone; and a user at least partially disposed inside the chamber who comes into contact with the water containing dissolved ozone.

Claims

1. An aerobic spa system comprising:

a chamber for enclosing a user and having a water inlet and a water outlet;

a water source feeding a supply of water into a first water filter system;

a first pump fluidly coupled to the water outlet of the chamber and directing flow of water from the outlet and from the first water filter system through a second water filter system;

a water heater for heating the supply of water, the water heater having an inlet coupled to both the first and the second water filter systems, and an outlet;

an ozone source fluidly coupled to the outlet of the water heater and for providing a supply of ozone;

an ozone introduction mechanism which introduces the supply of ozone into the supply of heated water to form a first mixture;

an ozone saturation mechanism coupled to an outlet from the ozone introduction mechanism, the saturation mechanism moving and mixing the first mixture to allow undissolved ozone in the first mixture to be dissolved into the water;

a degassing assembly coupled to an outlet of the ozone saturation mechanism for removing undissolved ozone from the first mixture to form a second mixture;

an ozone destruction mechanism fluidly coupled to an ozone discharge outlet of the degassing assembly to destroy undissolved ozone removed from the first mixture; and

a first water jet for injecting the second mixture into the chamber in a manner such that the mixture comes into contact with a user positioned within the chamber.

2. The aerobic spa system of claim 1 wherein the second mixture has an ozone concentration of at least 0.3 milligram ozone per liter of water.

3. The aerobic spa system of claim 1 wherein the filtered supply of water comprises a total dissolved solid level below 10 parts per million.

4. The aerobic spa system of claim 1 further comprising:

a heart rate monitor sensor disposed on a user inside the chamber and a wireless transmitter coupled to the heart rate monitor;

a wireless receiver adapted to receive heart rate data signals from the wireless transmitter; and

a heart monitor display coupled to the wireless receiver and disposed outside the chamber wherein the heart monitor display is adapted to display information related to a user'"'"'s heart rate.

5. The aerobic spa system of claim 4 further comprising a steam generator and steam conduit adapted to deliver steam to the chamber.

6. The aerobic spa system of claim 1 wherein the chamber is in the form of a shower stall.

7. An aerobic spa system comprising:

a chamber for enclosing a user and having a water inlet and a water outlet;

a water source feeding a supply of water directly into a water filter system;

a water heater for heating the supply of water, the water heater having an inlet coupled to the water filter system, and an outlet;

an ozone source fluidly coupled to the outlet of the water and for providing a supply of ozone;

an ozone introduction mechanism which introduces the supply of ozone into the supply of heated water to form a first mixture;

an ozone saturating mechanism coupled to an outlet from the ozone introduction mechanism, the saturation mechanism moving and mixing the first mixture to allow undissolved ozone in the first mixture to be dissolved into the water whereby the ozone concentration in the first mixture is at least 0.3 milligram ozone per liter of water;

a degassing assembly coupled to an outlet of the ozone saturation mechanism for removing undissolved ozone from the first mixture to form a second mixture;

a first ozone destruct mechanism fluidly coupled to an ozone discharge outlet of the degassing assembly to destroy ozone exiting the degassing assembly;

a first water jet disposed inside the chamber for injecting the second mixture in a manner such that the mixture comes into contact with a user positioned within the chamber; and

a second ozone destruction mechanism dissipating ozone exiting the chamber, the mechanism being positioned adjacent an opening of the chamber such that ozone is kept from being inhaled by a user positioned within the chamber.

8. The aerobic spa system of claim 7 wherein the first ozone destruct mechanism comprises a chamber packed with substantially porous material.

9. The aerobic spa system of claim 7 wherein the second ozone destruct mechanism comprises a fan and a grill comprised of substantially porous material.

10. The aerobic spa system of claim 7 further comprising a steam generator and steam conduit adapted to deliver steam to the chamber.

11. The aerobic spa system of claim 7 wherein the water filter system comprises a deionization filter.

12. The aerobic spa system of claim 11 wherein the water filter system further comprises a second deionization filter.

13. The aerobic spa system of claim 7 wherein the supply of water comprises deionized water.

14. The aerobic spa system of claim 7 further comprising a central processing unit.

15. The aerobic spa system of claim 14 wherein the central processing unit is adapted to automate the initiation of a spa cycle.

16. The aerobic spa system of claim 15 wherein the central processing unit controls the valve to initiate a cleaning cycle.

17. The aerobic spa system of claim 14 further comprising means for automating control over volume of water in the aerobic spa system based on the volume of water in the chamber.

18. The aerobic spa system of claim 7 further comprising means for preventing the water heater from overheating in an automated manner.

19. The aerobic spa system of claim 7 further comprising a user console adapted to permit the user to control the water heater.

20. The aerobic spa system of claim 19 wherein the user console comprises air pressure buttons.

21. The aerobic spa system of claim 14 further comprising an operator control panel.

22. The aerobic spa system of claim 21 wherein the operator control panel comprises a touch screen display panel.

23. The aerobic spa system of claim 22 wherein the operator control panel is adapted to permit an operator to regulate the desired water temperature and time duration of a spa cycle.

24. The aerobic spa system of claim 7 further comprising:

a heart rate monitor sensor for contacting a user inside the chamber and a wireless transmitter coupled to the heart rate monitor;

a wireless receiver adapted to receive heart rate data signals from the wireless transmitter; and

means for controlling the water temperature in an automated manner based on the user'"'"'s heart rate data.

25. A method for delivering ozonated water to a user comprising the steps of:

providing a supply of filtered water;

providing a supply of ozone;

heating the supply of filtered water to within a desired temperature range;

creating ozonated water by (1) introducing the supply of ozone into the heated supply of filtered water using an ozone introduction mechanism, and (2) dissolving at least some of the supply of ozone in the heated supply of filtered water using an ozone saturation mechanism having an outlet;

separating undissolved ozone from the ozonated water in a degassing assembly coupled to the outlet of the ozone saturation mechanism to create a mixture;

preventing inhalation of unsafe levels of ozone using an ozone destruction mechanism;

injecting the mixture into a chamber; and

allowing the mixture to contact the skin of a user inside the chamber.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising the steps of recirculating and reintroducing ozone into water that exits the chamber.

27. An aerobic spa system comprising:

a chamber for enclosing a user and having a water inlet and a water outlet;

a water source feeding a supply of water into a water filter system;

an ozone source fluidly coupled to the water source and for providing a supply of ozone;

an ozone introduction mechanism which introduces the supply of ozone into the filtered supply of water to form a first mixture;

an ozone saturation mechanism coupled to an outlet from the ozone introduction mechanism, the saturation mechanism moving and mixing the first mixture and allowing undissolved ozone in the first mixture to be dissolved into the water; and

a degassing assembly coupled to an outlet of the ozone saturation mechanism for removing undissolved ozone from the first mixture to form a second mixture;

wherein the water inlet of the chamber comprises;

a first water jet for injecting the second mixture into the chamber in a manner such that the mixture comes into contact with a user positioned within the chamber;

a second water jet for injecting the second mixture into the chamber in a manner such that the mixture comes into contact with chamber interior surfaces for cleaning; and

a valve for switching a flow of the second mixture between one of either the first water jet and the second water jet.

28. The aerobic spa system of claim 27, further comprising a first ozone destruct mechanism fluidly coupled to an ozone discharge outlet of the degassing assembly to destroy ozone exiting the degassing assembly.

29. The aerobic spa system of claim 28, further comprising a second ozone destruction mechanism for dissipating ozone exiting the chamber, the mechanism being positioned adjacent an opening of the chamber preventing unsafe levels of ozone from being inhaled by a user positioned within the chamber.

30. A method for delivering ozonated water to a user comprising the steps of:

providing a supply of filtered water;

providing a supply of ozone;

heating the supply of filtered water to within a desired temperature range;

creating ozonated water by (1) introducing the supply of ozone into the heating supply of filtered water using an ozone introduction mechanism, and (2) dissolving at least some of the supply of ozone in the heated supply of filtered water using an ozone saturation mechanism having an outlet;

separating undissolved ozone from the ozonated water in a degassing assembly coupled to the outlet of the ozone saturation mechanism to create a mixture;

destroying undissolved ozone separated from the ozonated water using a first ozone destruction mechanism;

opening a valve to inject the mixture into a chamber, and either;

i. directing the mixture thought a jet in the chamber to contact the skin of a user inside the chamber;

or

ii. directing the mixture through a jet in the chamber to contact interior surfaces of the chamber to clean the chamber.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the steps of recirculating and reintroducing ozone into water that exits the chamber.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of preventing inhalation of unsafe levels of ozone by a user.