U.S. patent application number 10/608402 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-30 for foot massaging tub having an operation control device.
Invention is credited to Chen, Jack Ya Jyue.
Application Number | 20040261173 10/608402 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33540579 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040261173 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen, Jack Ya Jyue |
December 30, 2004 |
Foot massaging tub having an operation control device
Abstract
A foot massaging tub includes a main body having a bottom
provided with a drain hole, a draining pipe mounted on the main
body and connected to the drain hole, a pumping motor mounted on
the main body and connected to the draining pipe, and an operation
control device mounted on the main body and including a controller,
a power output unit, and a sensor. Thus, the sensor detects if
liquid enters the draining pipe and sends a signal to the
controller which controls the power output unit to operate, so as
to open or close the pumping motor automatically.
Inventors: |
Chen, Jack Ya Jyue;
(Taichung, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIKOLAI & MERSEREAU, P.A.
900 SECOND AVENUE SOUTH
SUITE 820
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402
US
|
Family ID: |
33540579 |
Appl. No.: |
10/608402 |
Filed: |
June 27, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/622 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61H 2033/0054 20130101;
A61H 35/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
004/622 |
International
Class: |
A47K 003/022 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A foot massaging tub, comprising: a main body having a bottom
provided with a drain hole; a draining pipe mounted on the main
body and connected to the drain hole; a pumping motor mounted on
the main body and connected to the draining pipe; and an operation
control device mounted on the main body and including a controller,
a power output unit, and a sensor, wherein: the controller is
mounted in the main body; the power output unit has a first end
connected to an electric wire of the pumping motor and a second end
connected to the controller; and the sensor is mounted in the main
body and is connected to the controller.
2. The foot massaging tub in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
sensor detects if liquid enters the draining pipe and sends a
signal to the controller which controls the power output unit to
operate, so as to open or close the pumping motor
automatically.
3. The foot massaging tub in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
sensor is mounted on an outer periphery of the draining pipe.
4. The foot massaging tub in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
operation control device further includes an indication unit
mounted on and protruded outward from the main body to indicate the
working condition of the pumping motor.
5. The foot massaging tub in accordance with claim 4, wherein the
indication unit is connected to the controller.
6. The foot massaging tub in accordance with claim 4, wherein the
indication unit consists of a light emitting diode.
7. The foot massaging tub in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
operation control device further includes a power input unit having
a first end connected to a power supply and a second end connected
to the controller.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a foot massaging tub, and
more particularly to a foot massaging tub having an operation
control device.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A conventional foot massaging tub in accordance with the
prior art shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a main body 10, and a
seat 20 mounted on a rear side of the main body 10. The main body
10 has an inner wall provided with a water extraction hole 11 and a
plurality of circulation nozzles 12. Thus, the water contained in
the main body 10 is extracted outward through the water extraction
hole 11 and is pressurized. Then, the pressurized water is injected
into the main body 10 through the circulation nozzles 12, thereby
achieving a circulation massaging effect. The main body 10 has a
bottom provided with a drain hole 13. The inner wall of the main
body 10 has a side provided with a mounting hole 14. The
conventional foot massaging tub further comprises a draining device
15 mounted between the drain hole 13 and the mounting hole 14. The
draining device 15 includes a draining head 151 mounted in the
drain hole 13, a draining switch 152 mounted in the mounting hole
14, a soft conducting pipe 153 mounted between the draining head
151 and the draining switch 152, and a conducting wire 154 mounted
between the draining head 151 and the draining switch 152 to open
or close the draining head 151. The draining switch 152 has an
inside provided with an overflow hole 155 (see FIG. 1a) which is
connected to the soft conducting pipe 153. The conventional foot
massaging tub further comprises a draining pipe 30 mounted on the
main body 10 and connected to the draining head 151, and a pumping
motor 40 mounted on the main body 10 and connected to the draining
pipe 30.
[0005] In operation, when the draining switch 152 is started, the
draining head 151 is opened by the conducting wire 154, so that the
water contained in the main body 10 flows through the drain hole 13
and the draining head 151 into the draining pipe 30. Alternatively,
when the level of the water contained in the main body 10 is
greater than that of the draining switch 152, the overflow water in
turn flows through the overflow hole 155, the soft conducting pipe
153 and the draining head 151 into the draining pipe 30. At this
time, the pumping motor 40 is started simultaneously, so that the
water can be drained outward from the draining pipe 30
conveniently.
[0006] However, operation the pumping motor 40 cannot be paused or
stopped automatically. Thus, when the water is completely drained
outward from the draining pipe 30, the pumping motor 40 is still
operated successively, so that the pumping motor 40 is easily burnt
out due to the idle operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a foot massaging tub, wherein when the sensor detects that the
drained water or overflow water flows into the draining pipe, the
pumping motor is started automatically, so that the water can be
drained outward from the draining pipe easily and conveniently.
[0008] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a
foot massaging tub, wherein when the sensor detects that the
drained water or overflow water is completely drained outward from
the draining pipe, operation of the pumping motor is stopped
automatically, thereby preventing the pumping motor from being
burnt out due to idle operation, so as to enhance safety of
operation.
[0009] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a
foot massaging tub, wherein the indication unit indicates the
working condition, so that the user can see operation of the
pumping motor.
[0010] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
a foot massaging tub, comprising:
[0011] a main body having a bottom provided with a drain hole;
[0012] a draining pipe mounted on the main body and connected to
the drain hole;
[0013] a pumping motor mounted on the main body and connected to
the draining pipe; and
[0014] an operation control device mounted on the main body and
including a controller, a power output unit, and a sensor,
wherein:
[0015] the controller is mounted in the main body;
[0016] the power output unit has a first end connected to an
electric wire of the pumping motor and a second end connected to
the controller; and
[0017] the sensor is mounted in the main body and is connected to
the controller.
[0018] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed
description with appropriate reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional
foot massaging tub in accordance with the prior art;
[0020] FIG. 1a is a partially enlarged view of the conventional
foot massaging tub as shown in FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan assembly view of the conventional
foot massaging tub as shown in FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a foot massaging
tub in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0023] FIG. 3a is a partially enlarged view of the foot massaging
tub as shown in FIG. 3;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a block view of a circuit of the foot massaging
tub in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a side plan cross-sectional assembly operational
view of the foot massaging tub as shown in FIG. 3; and
[0026] FIG. 6 is a side plan cross-sectional assembly operational
view of the foot massaging tub as shown in FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 3-5, a foot
massaging tub in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
present invention comprises a main body 10, and a seat 20 mounted
on a rear side of the main body 10.
[0028] The main body 10 has an inner wall provided with a water
extraction hole 11 and a plurality of circulation nozzles 12. Thus,
the water contained in the main body 10 is extracted outward
through the water extraction hole 1 1 and is pressurized. Then, the
pressurized water is injected into the main body 10 through the
circulation nozzles 12, thereby achieving a circulation massaging
effect. The main body 10 has a bottom provided with a drain hole
13. The inner wall of the main body 10 has a side provided with a
mounting hole 14.
[0029] The foot massaging tub further comprises a draining device
15 mounted between the drain hole 13 and the mounting hole 14. The
draining device 15 includes a draining head 151 mounted in the
drain hole 13, a draining switch 152 mounted in the mounting hole
14, a soft conducting pipe 153 mounted between the draining head
151 and the draining switch 152, and a conducting wire 154 mounted
between the draining head 151 and the draining switch 152 to open
or close the draining head 151. The draining switch 152 has an
inside provided with an overflow hole 155 (see FIG. 3a) which is
connected to the soft conducting pipe 153.
[0030] The foot massaging tub further comprises a draining pipe 30
mounted on the main body 10 and connected to the draining head 151,
and a pumping motor 40 mounted on the main body 10 and connected to
the draining pipe 30.
[0031] The foot massaging tub further comprises an operation
control device 50 mounted on the main body 10 and including a
controller 51, a power input unit 52, a power output unit 53, a
sensor 54, and an indication unit 55.
[0032] The controller 51 is mounted in the main body 10.
[0033] The power input unit 52 has a first end connected to a power
supply (not shown) and a second end connected to the controller
51.
[0034] The power output unit 53 has a first end connected to an
electric wire 42 of the pumping motor 40 and a second end connected
to the controller 51.
[0035] The sensor 54 is mounted on an outer periphery of the
draining pipe 30 and is connected to the controller 51.
[0036] The indication unit 55 is mounted on and protruded outward
from the main body 10 as shown in FIG. 5, and is connected to the
controller 51. Preferably, the indication unit 55 consists of a
light emitting diode to indicate the working condition of the
pumping motor 40.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 5 with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, when
the draining switch 152 is started, the draining head 151 is opened
by the conducting wire 154, so that the water contained in the main
body 10 flows through the drain hole 13 and the draining head 151
into the draining pipe 30. At this time, the sensor 54 detects the
draining condition and sends a signal to the controller 51 which
controls the power output unit 53 and the indication unit 55 to
operate, so that the pumping motor 40 is started automatically by
the power output unit 53, and the indication unit 55 indicates the
working condition simultaneously. After the pumping motor 40 is
started, the water contained in the main body 10 can be drained
outward from the draining pipe 30.
[0038] On the contrary, when the sensor 54 detects that the water
contained in the main body 10 is completely drained outward from
the draining pipe 30, the sensor 54 sends a signal to the
controller 51 which controls the power output unit 53 and the
indication unit 55 to stop operating, so that operation of the
pumping motor 40 is stopped automatically by the power output unit
53, and the indication unit 55 stops operating simultaneously.
Thus, operation of the pumping motor 40 is stopped automatically,
thereby preventing the pumping motor 40 from being burnt out due to
idle operation.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 6 with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, when
the level of the water contained in the main body 10 is greater
than that of the draining switch 152, the overflow water in turn
flows through the overflow hole 155, the soft conducting pipe 153
and the draining head 151 into the draining pipe 30. At this time,
the sensor 54 detects the overflow condition and sends a signal to
the controller 51 which controls the power output unit 53 and the
indication unit 55 to operate, so that the pumping motor 40 is
started automatically by the power output unit 53, and the
indication unit 55 indicates the working condition simultaneously.
After the pumping motor 40 is started, the overflow water of the
main body 10 can be drained outward from the draining pipe 30.
[0040] On the contrary, when the sensor 54 detects that the
overflow water is completely drained outward from the draining pipe
30 and the overflow water stops flowing through the overflow hole
155, the sensor 54 sends a signal to the controller 51 which
controls the power output unit 53 and the indication unit 55 to
stop operating, so that operation of the pumping motor 40 is
stopped automatically by the power output unit 53, and the
indication unit 55 stops operating simultaneously. Thus, operation
of the pumping motor 40 is stopped automatically, thereby
preventing the pumping motor 40 from being burnt out due to idle
operation.
[0041] Accordingly, when the sensor 54 detects that the drained
water or overflow water flows into the draining pipe 30, the
pumping motor 40 is started automatically, so that the water can be
drained outward from the draining pipe 30 easily and conveniently.
In addition, when the sensor 54 detects that the drained water or
overflow water is completely drained outward from the draining pipe
30, operation of the pumping motor 40 is stopped automatically,
thereby preventing the pumping motor 40 from being burnt out due to
idle operation, so as to enhance safety of operation. Further, the
indication unit 55 indicates the working condition, so that the
user can see operation of the pumping motor 40.
[0042] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its
preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood
that many other possible modifications and variations can be made
without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is,
therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will
cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true
scope of the invention.
* * * * *