Hydrothermal treatment facility

Claim 1

An enclosure for hydrothermal treatment of users comprising: a vessel for containing heated water, the vessel having a floor and sidewalls and an upper circumferential ledge, the vessel being of depth so that the water level above the floor is about waist deep for the average user; steps formed in a portion of one wall of said vessel extending from said upper ledge to said vessel floor whereby users may enter downwardly into said vessel; the vessel being contoured to receive and support one or more users, including: (a) a first portion having a lower surface raised about chair height above said floor and contoured in a generally horizontal plane to receive a user in a reclined position with both legs extended parallel and generally horizontally and with the user's back supported in an upwardly inclined manner so that the user's head is above water level, the wall adjacent such first portion having a narrow, horizontal ledge below water level providing means to support substantially the entire length of the left arm of a user; (b) a second portion on the side of said vessel opposite said first portion having a lower surface raised about chair height above said floor and contoured in a generally horizontal plane to receive a user in a reclined position with both legs extending parallel and generally horizontally and with the user's back supported in an upwardly inclined manner so that the user's head is above water level, the wall adjacent such second portion having a narrow, horizontal ledge below water level providing means to support substantially the entire length of a user's right arm; (c) a third portion having a chair height seat surface and a reclined back support surface extending upwardly therefrom, and having, extending from the chair height portion a narrow width horizontal surface for receiving the right leg of the user and, on the opposite side, and at a higher elevation, a narrow horizontal ledge for receiving the left arm of the user; (d) a fourth portion having a chair height seat surface and a reclined back support surface extending upwardly therefrom, and having, extending from the chair height portion, a narrow width, horizontal surface for receiving the left leg of the user and on the opposite side and at a higher elevation, a narrow width horizontal ledge for receiving the right arm of the user; and a plurality of jets by which water is injected into the interior of said vessel, the jets being positioned so that water flowing therethrough impenges on the joints of the users.