US3881471A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydrotherapy foot bath
Assignee: Associated Mills Inc
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Filing: 1974-05-20
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Granted: 1975-05-06
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Expires: 1994-05-20
Abstract
Abstract The improved hydrotherapy foot bath disclosed provides comforting and refreshing hydro-massage for feet and the like. The foot bath comprises a molded plastic body including a tub compartment and a second, separate compartment. The tub compartment has side and bottom walls and is adapted to hold a volume of water that affords hydro-massage action. The second compartment is isolated from the tub compartment so as to prevent the ingress of water from the tub compartment into the second compartment and houses a conventional electromagnetic coil type vibrator. The vibrator is mounted in the second compartment so as to impart vibratory motion to the walls of the tub compartment. This vibratory motion causes the continuous formation of multitudinous, relatively small waves in the water in the tub compartment which in turn afford the hydro-massage action. A pair of arch support pads are mounted in the bottom wall of the tub compartment so as to provide support for the feet of a person using the bath.
Inventors
- 👤 Clifford E Grube
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 00:53
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61H; A61H23/00; A61H23/02; A61H23/0218; A61H35/00; A61H35/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
An improved hydrotheraphy foot bath for providing comforting and refreshing hydro-massage for feet and the like comprising: a body including an upwardly open tub compartment and second separate, closed compartment, the tub compartment having a side wall and a relatively flat bottom wall and being adapted to hold a volume of water; wall means for isolating the second compartment from the tub compartment so as to prevent ingress of water from the tub compartment into the closed compartment; means detachably mounted on the bottom wall of the tub compartment for providing support for the arches of a person''s foot disposed in the tub compartment; and means for selectively imparting vibratory motion to the walls of the tub compartment so as to cause the continuous formation of multitudinous, relatively small waves in the water in the tub compartment whereby the water affords hydro-massaging action.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
An improved hydrotheraphy foot bath for providing comforting and refreshing hydro-massage for feet and the like comprising: a body including an upwardly open tub compartment and second separate, closed compartment, the tub compartment having a side wall and a relatively flat bottom wall and being adapted to hold a volume of water; wall means for isolating the second compartment from the tub compartment so as to prevent ingress of water from the tub compartment into the closed compartment; means detachably mounted on the bottom wall of the tub compartment for providing support for the arches of a person''s foot disposed in the tub compartment; and means for selectively imparting vibratory motion to the walls of the tub compartment so as to cause the continuous formation of multitudinous, relatively small waves in the water in the tub compartment whereby the water affords hydro-massaging action.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improved hydrotheraphy foot bath described in claim 1 wherein the arch support means includes two, spaced apart, resilient pads; and wherein each arch support pad is detachably mounted on the bottom wall of the tub compartment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The improved hydrotheraphy foot bath described in claim 2 wherein the upper surfaces of the pads are contoured to generally conform to the arch of a foot; and wherein the undersurfaces of the pads generally conform to the upper surface of the bottom wall of the tub compartment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The improved hydrotheraphy foot bath described in claim 2 wherein the bottom wall of the tub compartment includes two, spaced apart recesses therein; wherein the undersurface of each of the pads has a nipple-like portion depending therefrom which is adapted to fit snugly within a recess; and wherein the recesses each include means for releasably retaining the projections therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The improved hydrotheraphy foot bath described in claim 4 wherein the upper surfaces of the pads are contoured to generally conform to the arch of a foot; and wherein the undersurfaces of the pads, except for the depending portion, generally conform to the upper surface of the bottom wall of the tub compartment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
The improved hydrotheraphy foot bath described in claim 5 wherein the body is made from plastic; wherein the bottom wall of the tub compartment has an anti-skid, texturized surface formed thereon; wherein the vibration imparting means is an electro-magnetic coil type vibrator unit; and wherein the vibrator unit includes means for selectively controlling the frequency of the vibrations imparted to the walls of the tub compartment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The improved hydrotheraphy foot bath described in claim 1 wherein the body is made from plastic; and wherein the bottom wall of the tub compartment has an anti-skid, texturized surface formed thereon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The improved hydrotheraphy foot bath described in claim 1 wherein the vibration imparting means is an electromagnetic coil type vibrator unit; and wherein the vibrator unit includes means for selectively controlling the frequency of the vibrations imparted to the walls of the tub compartment.
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) | 1978-05-05 | 1978-11-04 | 1979-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-05 | 1982-11-04 | 1983-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-05 | 1986-11-04 | 1987-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |