US3556089A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydrotherapy conduit for bathtub
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1968-08-23
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Granted: 1971-01-19
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Expires: 1988-08-23
Abstract
Abstract A hydrotherapy device in the form of a conduit shaped to lie on the bottom and generally around the sides of a bathtub filled with water. It is coupled by a flexible hose to an external source of air, such as the exhaust outlet of a tank-type vacuum cleaner, in order to eject streams of air into the water through a plurality of apertures located around the conduit. The walls of the conduit are resiliently very flexible to enable it to be folded upon itself for purposes of storage. The conduit preferably is of semicircular cross section and desirably includes an additional manually removable conduit coupled between its sides. Also desirably included on the underside of the conduit is a magnetic material or the like for removably securing the conduit to the bottom of the tub.
Inventors
- 👤 James L Frazier
- 👤 Sara J Frazier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 11:52
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61H; A61H33/00; A61H33/02; A61H33/025; A61H33/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A hydrotherapy device immersible in a generally flat-bottomed tub of water for ejecting into the water air supplied by an external source and comprising: a conduit shaped to lie generally around the periphery and on the bottom of said tub and, when so disposed, the walls of which resiliently define a conduit cross-sectional shape that is generally semicircular while being characterized by having sufficient lateral deformability to enable manual folding of the conduit resiliently back upon itself; means disposed in the curved portion of said conduit wall definiNg a plurality of apertures spaced along its length; and a flexible hose coupled at one end into said conduit and, at its other end, having a coupler attachable into such source.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A hydrotherapy device immersible in a generally flat-bottomed tub of water for ejecting into the water air supplied by an external source and comprising: a conduit shaped to lie generally around the periphery and on the bottom of said tub and, when so disposed, the walls of which resiliently define a conduit cross-sectional shape that is generally semicircular while being characterized by having sufficient lateral deformability to enable manual folding of the conduit resiliently back upon itself; means disposed in the curved portion of said conduit wall definiNg a plurality of apertures spaced along its length; and a flexible hose coupled at one end into said conduit and, at its other end, having a coupler attachable into such source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device as defined in claim 1 which further includes a securing element disposed on at least part of the flat portion of said conduit wall with said element being also characterized by having said lateral deformability and exhibiting a manually releasable adherence to a said bottom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as defined in claim 2 in which said securing element is a strip composed of a flexible material in which magnetized particles are embedded.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as defined in claim 2 in which said securing element is a strip the exposed outer surface of which is coated with an adhesive medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
139 words
A hydrotherapy device immersible in a generally flat-bottomed tub of water for ejecting into the water air supplied by an external source and comprising: a conduit shaped to lie generally around the periphery and on the bottom of said tub and, when so disposed, the walls of which resiliently define a predetermined conduit cross-sectional shape while being characterized by having sufficient lateral deformability to enable manual folding of the conduit resiliently back upon itself; means in said conduit wall defining a plurality of apertures spaced along its length; a flexible hose coupled at one end into said conduit and, at its other end, having a coupler attachable into such source; and an additional conduit member coupled at its opposite ends respectively into opposed sides of said conduit and including means defining a plurality of apertures spaced along its length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
139 words
A hydrotherapy device immersible in a generally flat-bottomed tub of water for ejecting into the water air supplied by an external source and comprising: a conduit shaped to lie generally around the periphery and on the bottom of said tub and, when so disposed, the walls of which resiliently define a predetermined conduit cross-sectional shape while being characterized by having sufficient lateral deformability to enable manual folding of the conduit resiliently back upon itself; means in said conduit wall defining a plurality of apertures spaced along its length; a flexible hose coupled at one end into said conduit and, at its other end, having a coupler attachable into such source; and an additional conduit member coupled at its opposite ends respectively into opposed sides of said conduit and including means defining a plurality of apertures spaced along its length.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as defined in claim 5 in which said additional conduit member is manually removable from said closed loop conduit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
133 words
A hydrotherapy device immersible in a generally flat-bottomed tub of water for ejecting into the water air supplied by an external source and comprising: a conduit shaped to lie generally around the periphery and on the bottom of said tub and, when so disposed, the walls of which resiliently define a predetermined conduit cross-sectional shape while being characterized by having sufficient lateral deformability to enable manual folding of the conduit resiliently back upon itself; means in said conduit wall defining a plurality of apertures spaced along its length; a flexible hose coupled at one end into said conduit and, at its other end, having a coupler attachable into said source; and means for closing one end of said conduit together with means for coupling said hose into the other end of said conduit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
133 words
A hydrotherapy device immersible in a generally flat-bottomed tub of water for ejecting into the water air supplied by an external source and comprising: a conduit shaped to lie generally around the periphery and on the bottom of said tub and, when so disposed, the walls of which resiliently define a predetermined conduit cross-sectional shape while being characterized by having sufficient lateral deformability to enable manual folding of the conduit resiliently back upon itself; means in said conduit wall defining a plurality of apertures spaced along its length; a flexible hose coupled at one end into said conduit and, at its other end, having a coupler attachable into said source; and means for closing one end of said conduit together with means for coupling said hose into the other end of said conduit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as defined in claim 7 in which said coupling means includes means for mixing water with air delivered into said conduit from said hose.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device as defined in claim 8 in which said mixing means includes an inlet opening into said tub and a pump for drawing the water to be mixed through said inlet in response to said delivery of said air.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device as defined in claim 8 in which said mixing means includes a pair of outlets, one of said outlets being coupled into said conduit and the other opening into said tub, and a selectively closable valve disposed in the other of said outlets.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
171 words
A hydrotherapy device immersible in a generally flat bottomed tub of water for ejecting into the water air supplied by an external source and comprising: a conduit shaped to lie generally around the periphery and on the bottom of said tub; means in said conduit wall defining a plurality of apertures spaced along its length; means for closing one end of said conduit; a pump having a pair of inlets and a pair of outlets, one of said inlets and one of said outlets opening into said tub with the other of said outlets being coupled into the other end of said conduit, and said pump being responsive to air delivered through the other inlet for drawing water through said one inlet and for directing the air and water toward said outlets; a Flexible hose coupled at one end into said other inlet and, at its other end, having a coupler attachable to said source; and a selectively closable valve disposed to control the flow of water through said one outlet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
171 words
A hydrotherapy device immersible in a generally flat bottomed tub of water for ejecting into the water air supplied by an external source and comprising: a conduit shaped to lie generally around the periphery and on the bottom of said tub; means in said conduit wall defining a plurality of apertures spaced along its length; means for closing one end of said conduit; a pump having a pair of inlets and a pair of outlets, one of said inlets and one of said outlets opening into said tub with the other of said outlets being coupled into the other end of said conduit, and said pump being responsive to air delivered through the other inlet for drawing water through said one inlet and for directing the air and water toward said outlets; a Flexible hose coupled at one end into said other inlet and, at its other end, having a coupler attachable to said source; and a selectively closable valve disposed to control the flow of water through said one outlet.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-18 | 1974-07-20 | 1975-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-18 | 1978-07-20 | 1979-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-18 | 1982-07-20 | 1983-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |