Plastic Container For Footbath

Abstract

The disclosure teaches a novel molded plastic footbath container. The container includes two cavities, each one of which is a receptacle for the feet of a user. A third cavity, which is in fluid communication with both of the receptacles, is included in the container and is used as a fluid mixing chamber. Any footbath mixture can therefore be mixed in the mixing cavity and distributed to the feet receptacles with the novel container. To perform the distribution function, the container is tilted to permit the fluid to flow from the mixing chamber to the receptacles. Fluid communication is preferably provided by a channel connecting the mixing chamber to the receptacles.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a novel footbath container. More specifically, this invention relates to a footbath container comprising a fluid mixing cavity and two separate feet receptacle cavities, and means for providing fluid communication between the mixing cavity and the two receptacle cavities.

2. Statement of the Prior Art

It is known to provide footbaths with separate feet receptacle cavities as is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 1,060,236, Dodge. However, with such containers, if the feet must be soaked in a fluid mixture, the mixture must be prepared outside of the footbath container. This is inconvenient and can lead to undue spillage of the fluid mixture when pouring the mixture into the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, a footbath container comprises:

AN INTERIOR FOOTBATHING PORTION;

TWO CAVITIES IN SAID INTERIOR PORTION COMPRISING RECEPTACLES FOR FEET;

A MIXING CAVITY IN SAID INTERIOR PORTION FOR PREPARING A FLUID MIXTURE;

AND MEANS IN SAID INTERIOR PORTION FOR PROVIDING THE FLUID COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID MIXING CAVITY AND SAID TWO RECEPTACLES.

Preferably, the means for providing fluid communication comprises a channel in said interior portion, said channel being in fluid communication at one end thereof, with said mixing cavity. Preferably again, the other end of the channel is in fluid communication with each of said two receptacles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood by an examination of the following description, together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section along line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section along line 4--4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a right side view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a section along line 6--6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a section along line 7--7 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a top view of a second embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, the footbath container is designated generally at 1 and comprises an interior portion, designated generally at 3. The interior portion comprises two separate feet receptacles 5 and 7, and a mixing cavity 9 at the top end 10 of the container. The mixing cavity is separated from the feet receptacles 5 and 7 by separator walls 11 and 13 respectively. Wall 15 is a continuation of the joinder of walls 11 and 13 and comprises a feet receptacle separator wall.

A channel, or groove, 17 extends from the bottom end of the mixing cavity 9 and is in fluid communication with the mixing cavity. As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the floor 23 of the mixing cavity 9 slopes upwardly in the direction towards the bottom end of the container. The floor 25 of the channel 17 extends from the floor 23 along a continuous line to the top of the wall 15. Thus, a continuous fluid path is provided from the interior of the cavity 9 to the top of the wall 15.

Ridges 35 and 37 are so positioned in the container that they will engage with the insteps of the feet of a user of the container when the container is in use. As can be seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the ridges 35 and 37 can be formed by forming indentations in the bottom of the container. As it is contemplated to make the container of a synthetic material, such as plastic, by a molding or forming process this would be the preferred way of forming the ridges.

In a like manner, and as can be seen in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the separator walls 11, 13 and 15 are formed by indentations 29, 31 and 27 respectively in the bottom of the container.

In operation, the container works as follows: the components of a foot bathing mixture, including water or some other fluid, are placed in the mixing cavity 9 and mixed as required. After the mixture has been thus prepared, the container is tilted by raising the top end of the container 10 with the bottom end of the container 12 being used as a pivot point. Because of the upward slope of the cavity and channel floors, the fluid in the cavity will flow out of the cavity and down through the channel 17. As the floor of channel 17 meets with the top of the wall 15, when the fluid exits from the bottom of the channel, it will flow along the top of the wall 15. As more fluid exits from the channel, the fluid will overflow the edges of the wall 15 and flow into the cavities 5 and 7. In this manner, the entire contents of the cavity 9 can be emptied into the cavities 5 and 7 so that the footbath mixture can be prepared in the container and then distributed into the feet receptacles.

By holding the container in such a manner that the right and left sides are at even levels, the fluid of the cavity will be equally distributed in the right and left receptacles. If it is necessary to provide more fluid in, for example, the right receptacle, then the container would be tilted to the right, as well as up and down, during the distribution process so that the distribution, vis-a-vis right and left receptacles, can be controlled.

When the fluid has been distributed in the feet receptacles, the user's feet are placed in the receptacles with the toes facing the top end 10 of the container. The insteps of the user's feet will engage the ridges 35 and 37 so that, by a reciprocating, rocking motion of the feet, a massaging and exercising of the feet is provided. In addition, because the feet are raised somewhat from the floors of the receptacles by the ridges, the fluid can pass under the feet and swirl about in the receptacle when the feet are being moved back and forth.

FIG. 8 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 8, like references with the addition of an a denote similar parts, to the references in FIGS. 1 to 7.

The container is advantageously shaped so as to fit on the top rim of a toilet seat. When the container is so shaped, it is possible to use it for treating the genital organs or the thighs of a user.

To treat the genital organs, a medicant mixture is prepared in the cavity 9a after the container is placed on the toilet seat. The cavity is placed adjacent the back of the toilet seat. The user then sits on the container and, as the cavity is adjacent the rear of the toilet seat, the genital organs will be adjacent the cavity 9a. The genital organs can thus be washed or soaked in the mixture.

It can also be seen that the thighs of the user will fit into the receptacle cavities 5a and 7a. Thus, to treat the thighs, the mixture would first be distributed to these receptacles, as above described, and the user would then be seated.

The cavity will be of such a size that a small amount of medicant can be mixed. This use would be especially appropriate in hospitals.

In the FIG. 8 embodiment, there are, as before, feet receptacle cavities 5a and 7a, and a mixing cavity 9a. However, in the FIG. 8 embodiment, the mixing cavity is placed between the receptacles midway along the length of the receptacles so that the channel 17a extends to the left and right of the mixing cavity.

To distribute the fluid from the mixing cavity into the feet receptacle cavities with the FIG. 8 embodiment, the container is tilted about the top end 10a by lifting the bottom end 12a. While the FIG. 8 embodiment is a feasible and workable embodiment, it is more difficult to produce and manipulate than the FIG. 1 embodiment and is therefore less preferred than the FIG. 1 embodiment.

Although several embodiments have been described in the foregoing, this was for the purpose of describing, but not limiting, the invention. Various modifications, which will come readily to the mind of one skilled in the art, are within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A molded plastic footbath container comprising:

a molded body portion;

an interior cavity formed in said molded body portion and surrounded by an external wall;

a first wall means in said cavity enclosing a first portion of said cavity, said first portion comprising a fluid mixing chamber;

second wall means in said cavity extending from said first wall means to said external wall separating a second portion of said cavity from a third portion of said cavity, said second and third portions being separated from said first portion by said first wall means, said second and third portions comprising feet receptacles;

a groove extending from the mixing chamber along a portion of said second wall means;

the floor of said groove diverging upwardly in a direction away from said mixing chamber and merging with the top surface of said second wall at the end of the groove remote from said mixing chamber;

the portion of the top surface of said second wall means between said first wall means and said external wall being above the top surfaces of said second and third cavity portions;

the top surface of said second wall being below the top surface of said external wall;

said groove forming channel means in said second wall means, said channel means being in fluid communication, at one end thereof, with said first portion and, at another end thereof, with said second and third portions;

whereby fluid will communicate between said first portion and said second and third portions when said container is tilted about the end of the container opposite said mixing chamber.