Hydrotherapeutic Massage Device

Abstract

A massage device for the bust comprising a bell shaped housing having a bust supporting cage or basket within it. A rotor is provided with a plurality of jets or jet arms arranged for rotation in the space between the housing and the cage. The jets on the jet arms are oriented to provide for a massaging effect with a stream of water flowing therefrom, at the same time utilizing the jet streams for driving the arms rotatively. The directions of the streams from the arms are oriented at different angles to a plane parallel to the arm tangential to a frusto-conical surface. Flow in one direction primarily acts to drive the arms rotatively while the flow in the other directions is utilized primarily for massage.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a hydrotherapeutic massage device for massaging a bust by means of rotary water jets, utilizing tap water.

It is known to use hydrotherapeutic massage devices for massaging a bust. In general, such devices comprise a bell-shaped housing with a bust supporting cage or basket disposed therein and a plurality of jet arms arranged for rotation in the space between the housing and the cage. The jets of the jet arms are usually oriented as to provide for massaging effect of the stream of water flowing therefrom and, at the same time, to utilize the stream for driving the arm. In other words, the direction of water stream is directed at an inclined angle, substantially tangentially rather than substantially radially with regard to the rotation of the arm.

The above arrangement has a drawback in that the orientation of the jets or nozzles has to be designed to compromise between the provision of some reaction force driving the arms and, at the same time, to provide for a sufficient massaging effect. To some extent, the hydrotherapeutic massaging effect depends on the distance between the jet and the surface of the massaged portion of the body, assuming a constant water pressure, such as tap water pressure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved hydrotherapeutic bust massaging device which would have improved massaging effect without the need for an increased water pressure and which is suitable for being operatively connected to a water tap.

According to the invention, a hydrotherapeutic massage device is provided which includes a bell-shaped housing with a cone-shaped basket for receiving a bust. The basket is disposed within the housing and substantially coaxially with it. The basket has an opening, a side portion, and a bottom portion. There are jet arms arranged for a rotary movement to circumscribe a frusto-conical surface disposed between said housing and said side portion of the basket. The jet arms are provided with conduit means for connecting the same with a source of pressurized water. The jet arms are equipped with jets arranged to provide for at least two directions of water stream flowing from at least one of the arms. The directions of the stream flowing from said one arm are oriented at different angles with regard to a plane parallel to the arm and tangential to the frusto-conical surface. Thus, the invention makes it possible to utilize the flow in one of said directions primarily in driving the arm while the flow in the other of said directions can be utilized primarily for massage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will further be described by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an expanded perspective view, partly in section, of a massaging device including the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a section of a connecting member for connection of the device to a tap;

FIG. 3 is a section similar to that in FIG. 2, but showing the use of the member in a different size tap;

FIG. 4 is a detailed partial view 4--4 of FIG. 1 showing one nozzle arm;

FIG. 5 is a view 5--5 of FIG. 4, showing the geometry of operation of the device; and

FIG. 6 is a section of a nipple used in the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As seen in FIG. 1, the device includes a bell-shaped housing 1 made of suitable material, such as an acrylic plastic, etc. One end of housing 1 constitutes an opening defined by a sealing 2 of soft rubber, etc. The housing also includes an outflow opening 3 for the outflow of water. Disposed within and coaxially with housing 1 is a basket 4 for receiving a bust when the housing is held with sealing 2 in contact with the user's body. Basket 4 has an opening 5, a frusto-conical side portion 6, and a bottom portion 7. Bottom portion 7 of basket 4 is fixedly supported within housing 1. As seen in FIG. 6, bottom portion 7 of basket 4 is fixedly connected to a nipple 8. Nipple 8 has a threaded portion 9 with a shoulder 10. Shoulder 10 is arranged to rest against the inner side of the wall of housing 1 when threaded portion 9 is received in a hole 11 of housing 1 with a fixing nut 12 tightened. The portion of nipple 8 between shoulder 10 and bottom portion 7 of basket 4 constitutes a cylindrical portion 13 with a circumferential groove 14, the bottom of which is provided with, at least, one aperture 15 which communicates with the inner portion of nipple 8. Cylindrical portion 13 is arranged to rotatably receive hub 16 of a disc 17. Hub 16 is provided with a circumferential groove 18 which communicates with one end of radial channels 19. The opposite ends of radial channels 19 communicate with their respective jet arms 20. Jet arms 20 are substantially straight and positioned in a common frusto-conical surface. In other words, jet arms 20 are arranged for a rotary movement to circumscribe a substantially frusto-conical surface, disposed between housing 1 and side portion 6 of basket 5. Nipple 8, aperture 15, groove 14, groove 18 in hub 16, and channels 19 constitute an example of what can also be referred to as a part of conduit means for connecting jet arms 20 with a source of pressurized water.

As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, jet arms 20 are provided with at least two jets 21 and 22. Jet 21 is located at the end of arm 20. Arrow A designates the orientation of the stream flowing from jet 21. Second jet 22 is located between jet 21 and disc 17. The orientation of the stream flowing from jet 22 is designated by arrow B. Arrow C designates the direction in which arms 20 are arranged to rotate. It will be appreciated that arrow C lies in the frusto-conical surface circumscribed of arms 20. A plane designated by letter D is tangential to the frusto-conical surface. Plane D is also substantially parallel to arm 20. Thus, the orientations A and B of jets 21 and 22 are arranged to different angles with regard to plane D. The orientation A of jet 21 is arranged at a smaller angle to plane D; whereas, the orientation B is more diverted from plane D. The flow in direction A will primarily create a thrust effect driving arm 20 in direction C. On the contrary, the flow in direction B is oriented primarily towards side portion 6 of basket 4, as a result of which it can be used mainly for massaging purpose.

Threaded portion 9 of nipple 8 is longer than that of nut 12 in order to receive a threaded joint 23 fixed to one end of hose 24. The opposite end of hose 24 is provided with a connector 25 which will now be described in greater detail.

As seen in FIG. 2, connector 25 is mounted at the end of hose 24 by means of a tubular fitting 26, one end of which has circumferential corrugations 27 for fixing fitting 26 to hose 24, hose 24 being made of a suitable thermoplastic material. Fixed to the other end of fitting 26 is connector 25 by means of a clamping ring 28. The clamping ring 28 forces the flexible body of the connector 25 into a groove 26A defined around the outer periphery of the fitting 26, thereby to clamp the connector 25 thereon.

Connector 25 comprises a flexible tubular body 29 made of a suitable flexible material such as soft rubber. The inner portion of body 29 defines three coaxial cylindrical sections 30, 31, and 32, the surface of which is serrated to provide a firmer grip between connector 25 and a tap. It will be appreciated that only one of the sections 30, 31, or 32 is used at a time, depending on the size of the tap. Thus, section 32 is used with the bathroom tap of a smaller outer diameter, such as a washbowl or sink tap, while section 30 is arranged to fit most bathtub taps which are usually of a considerably greater outer diameter. Connector 25 may also include a strap clamp 33 of known type with a tangential tightening screw 34. Clamp 33 can be applied to the outer surface of body 29 in the area of the appropriate cylindrical section 30, 31, or 32.

FIG. 2 additional shows an adaptor 40 preferably supplied with connector 25 to provide for coupling to different taps or faucets, such as the one illustrated at 41, having an end 42 with an internal thread. Adaptor 40 has a male thread at end 42 for threading into the female thread in end 42 of tap 41. The other end 43 of adaptor 40, which may be made of plastic, is of slightly larger diameter and has a female thread received in the bore of section 30 of connector 25. Adaptor 40 can be reversed end for end with the female thread and can adapt to taps or faucets having a male thread at the end. Thus, coupling can be made to any faucet or source of water very readily.

FIG. 3 shows an arrangement of connector 25 when central section 31 is to be clamped to a tap. In this case, cylindrical section 30 has been folded outwardly over the adjacent portion of section 31. Strap clamp 33 (not shown in FIG. 3) can be attached to the serrated part of outwardly turned section 30. Connector 25, hose 24, nipple 8, and channels 19, along with their associated above-mentioned parts, constitute a functional unit which can be referred to as one example of conduit means for connecting jet arms 20 with a source of pressurized water. FIG. 3 shows the position of adaptor 40 in this configuration of connector 25.

In operation, connector 25 is attached in the described way to a tap; and housing 1 is held to rest against the user's body with the bust inside basket 4. Then, the tap is opened whereby tap water flows through the connector, hose 24, niple 8, and through channels 19 to jet arms 20 to be discharged through jets 21 and 22. The reaction force created by the flow from jet 21 results in the movement of arm 20 in direction C; while the flow from jet 22 oriented under a considerably greater inclination from tangential plane D creates a hydrotherapeutic massage effect upon the bust in basket 4. The rate of flow through the "drive" jet 21 is considerably smaller than that of jet 22, whereby a greater portion of the incoming water can be used primarily in the massaging operation. Furthermore, since orientation B of jet 22 is substantially inclined with regard to plane D, the distance between jet 22 and the massaged skin of the bust is comparatively short, whereby the massaging power of the water stream is increased.

It is to be noted that the above disclosure relates to one embodiment of the present invention and that many modifications of the device are possible. Thus, orientations A and B of jets 21 and 22 can be modified. Normally, an angle of inclination of jet 21 with regard to plane D can be within the region of 0.degree.-45.degree., while the inclination of jet 22 with regard to plane D can be in the region of about 30.degree.-90.degree.. It will be appreciated that in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the orientation of jet 21 is substantially parallel to plane D. In other words, it is oriented at 0.degree.; whereas, jet 22 is oriented at about 70.degree. with regard to plane D. Apparently, this orientation of jet 22 provides both a massaging effect and to some extent contributes to the driving of arm 20. Thus, it can be generalized that in this embodiment, both of the streams are oriented to drive arm 20. Another field of modification is the number of jets which can vary from one to any practical number, providing that at least two angularly different streams of water are obtained. However, these and other modifications do not depart from the scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A hydrotherapeutic massage device, comprising:

a bell-shaped housing with a substantially frusto-conical basket for receiving a bust, said basket being disposed within said housing substantially coaxially with the same, said basket having an opening, a side portion, and a bottom portion; and jet arms being substantially straight and being arranged for a rotary movement to circumscribe a substantially frusto-conical surface disposed between said housing and said side portion of the basket, said jet arms being provided with conduit means for connecting the same with a source of pressurized water, wherein at least one of said jet arms is provided with jets arranged to provide for at least two directions of water stream flowing from the arm, said directions being oriented at different angles with regard to a plane substantially parallel to said arm and tangent to said frusto-conical surface, whereby the flow in one of said directions can be utilized primarily for driving the arm, and the flow in the other of said directions can be utilized primarily for massage, said conduit means including a tubular conduit provided with a connector for connecting said tubular conduit to a tap, said tubular conduit being a hose and wherein said connector comprises:

a flexible tubular body, one end of said body being adapted to be fixed to said hose, the inner portion of said tubular body defining a plurality of coaxial substantially cylindrical sections disposed axially one after the other and increasing in diameter from said one end whereby the diameter of the section closest to said one end is smallest and that of the section most remote from said one end is largest, said connector including a flexible clamp means for securing the selected section of the connector to the tap, said connector also including an adapter having male and female threads at opposite ends to adapt to taps having either male or female threads.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein said arms are each provided with at least two jets, said two jets being arranged to create two streams of water, said streams of water being oriented at different angles with regard to a plane parallel to said one of the arms and substantially tangent to said frusto-conical surface.

3. A device as in claim 2, wherein at least one of said two streams is oriented to drive said arm to circumscribe said frusto-conical surface.

4. A device as in claim 3, wherein both of the streams are oriented to drive said arm to circumscribe said frusto-conical surface.

5. A device as in claim 1, wherein each of the arms is provided with at least two jets.

6. A device as in claim 1, wherein at least the section having the largest diameter is arranged to be folded outwardly over the adjacent outer portion of the connector, whereby the inner surface of the largest diameter section is turned outwardly to receive said clamp means.

7. The invention defined in claim 1 including:

a tubular fitting connecting said connector to said hose, said tubular fitting having a first end for insertion into said hose and a second end for insertion into said connector, said first fitting end having circumferential corrugations formed around its outer periphery for securing said first fitting end in said hose, said second fitting end having a groove defined around its outer periphery; and

a clamping ring for clamping around the outer periphery of the flexible tubular body of said connector to force its flexible body into the groove on said second fitting end thereby to clamp said connector thereon.