US5197459A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric pump powered submergible hand held hydrotherapy apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-04-19
•
Granted: 1993-03-30
•
Expires: 2011-04-19
Abstract
Abstract A submergible hydrotherapy apparatus powered by an electric pump and configured to be held in user's hand for discharging a water stream underwater for massaging the user's body.
Inventors
- 👤 Melvyn L. Henkin
- 👤 Jordan M. Laby
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:12
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61H; A61H33/00; A61H33/60; A61H33/601; A61H33/6021; A61H33/6036; A61H33/02; A61H33/027; A61H33/6089; A61H2201/00; A61H2201/12; A61H2201/1207
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
270 words
Hydrotherapy apparatus suitable for use in a water tub having an electric pump for supplying a pressurized water flow, said apparatus including: a housing configured to be held in a user's hand, said housing having a water supply inlet, and a discharge orifice oriented to discharge a water stream in a substantially forward direction exteriorly of said housing; connecting means for coupling said pump pressurized water flow to said water supply inlet, said connecting means including a flexible hose; means in said housing coupled said water supply inlet to said discharge orifice for enabling said discharge orifice to discharge said substantially forward directed water stream, said discharge orifice being mounted for movement along a travel path as said water stream is discharged therefrom; protuberance means fixedly mounted on said housing projecting therefrom substantially in said forward direction, said protuberance means having a contact surface displaced forwardly from said discharge orifice for engaging a user's body to space said discharge orifice from said body, whereby a water stream discharged from said discharge orifice will produce a reaction force on said housing to cause said protuberance means contact surface to mechanically massage said user's body; a rigid conduit including a tubular supply section defining a supply orifice and a tubular discharge section defining said discharge orifice; and means mounting said conduit with said supply orifice opening to said cavity whereby water supplied from said jet will flow through said conduit to said discharge orifice, said mounting mean including means supporting said conduit for rotation about an axis displaced from said discharge orifice whereby said discharge orifice will translate along a circular path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
270 words
Hydrotherapy apparatus suitable for use in a water tub having an electric pump for supplying a pressurized water flow, said apparatus including: a housing configured to be held in a user's hand, said housing having a water supply inlet, and a discharge orifice oriented to discharge a water stream in a substantially forward direction exteriorly of said housing; connecting means for coupling said pump pressurized water flow to said water supply inlet, said connecting means including a flexible hose; means in said housing coupled said water supply inlet to said discharge orifice for enabling said discharge orifice to discharge said substantially forward directed water stream, said discharge orifice being mounted for movement along a travel path as said water stream is discharged therefrom; protuberance means fixedly mounted on said housing projecting therefrom substantially in said forward direction, said protuberance means having a contact surface displaced forwardly from said discharge orifice for engaging a user's body to space said discharge orifice from said body, whereby a water stream discharged from said discharge orifice will produce a reaction force on said housing to cause said protuberance means contact surface to mechanically massage said user's body; a rigid conduit including a tubular supply section defining a supply orifice and a tubular discharge section defining said discharge orifice; and means mounting said conduit with said supply orifice opening to said cavity whereby water supplied from said jet will flow through said conduit to said discharge orifice, said mounting mean including means supporting said conduit for rotation about an axis displaced from said discharge orifice whereby said discharge orifice will translate along a circular path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
322 words
Hydrotherapy apparatus suitable for use in a water tub having an electric pump for supplying a pressurized water flow, said apparatus including: a housing configured to be held in a user's hand, said housing having a water supply inlet, an air supply inlet, and a discharge orifice oriented to discharge a water stream in a substantially forward direction exteriorly of said housing; connecting means for coupling said pump pressurized water flow to said water supply inlet, said connecting means including a flexible hose; a cavity defined in said housing; nozzle means mounted in said housing having an entrance communicating with said water supply inlet and an exit for discharging a water jet along a defined axis into said cavity to produce a suction therein; air port means coupled to said air supply inlet; means in said housing coupling said cavity to said discharge orifice for enabling said discharge orifice to discharge said substantially forwardly directed water stream, said discharge orifice being mounted for movement along a travel path as said water stream is discharged therefrom; protuberance means fixedly mounted on said hosing projecting therefrom substantially in said forward direction, said protuberance means having a contact surface displaced forwardly from said discharge orifice for engaging a user's body to space said discharge orifice from said body, whereby a water stream discharged from said discharge orifice will produce a reaction force on said housing to cause said protuberance means contact surface to mechanically massage said user's body; a rigid conduit including a tubular supply section defining a supply orifice and a tubular discharge section defining said discharge orifice; and means mounting said conduit with said supply orifice opening to said cavity whereby water supplied from said jet will flow through said conduit to said discharge orifice, said mounting means including means supporting said conduit for rotation about an axis displaced from said discharge orifice whereby said discharge orifice will translate along a circular path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
322 words
Hydrotherapy apparatus suitable for use in a water tub having an electric pump for supplying a pressurized water flow, said apparatus including: a housing configured to be held in a user's hand, said housing having a water supply inlet, an air supply inlet, and a discharge orifice oriented to discharge a water stream in a substantially forward direction exteriorly of said housing; connecting means for coupling said pump pressurized water flow to said water supply inlet, said connecting means including a flexible hose; a cavity defined in said housing; nozzle means mounted in said housing having an entrance communicating with said water supply inlet and an exit for discharging a water jet along a defined axis into said cavity to produce a suction therein; air port means coupled to said air supply inlet; means in said housing coupling said cavity to said discharge orifice for enabling said discharge orifice to discharge said substantially forwardly directed water stream, said discharge orifice being mounted for movement along a travel path as said water stream is discharged therefrom; protuberance means fixedly mounted on said hosing projecting therefrom substantially in said forward direction, said protuberance means having a contact surface displaced forwardly from said discharge orifice for engaging a user's body to space said discharge orifice from said body, whereby a water stream discharged from said discharge orifice will produce a reaction force on said housing to cause said protuberance means contact surface to mechanically massage said user's body; a rigid conduit including a tubular supply section defining a supply orifice and a tubular discharge section defining said discharge orifice; and means mounting said conduit with said supply orifice opening to said cavity whereby water supplied from said jet will flow through said conduit to said discharge orifice, said mounting means including means supporting said conduit for rotation about an axis displaced from said discharge orifice whereby said discharge orifice will translate along a circular path.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said housing further includes a tub water inlet; a tub water port means coupled to said tub water inlet; and user operable valve means for selectively and alternatively opening said air port means and said tub water port means to said cavity for selectively and alteratively entraining air and tub water with said water jet to form said water stream;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
323 words
Hydrotherapy apparatus suitable for use in a water tub having an electric pump for supplying a pressurized water flow, said apparatus including: a housing configured to be held in a user's hand, said housing having a water supply inlet, a tub water inlet, and a discharge orifice oriented to discharge a water stream in a substantially forward direction exteriorly of said housing; connecting means for coupling said pump pressurized water flow to said water supply inlet, said connecting means including a flexible hose; a cavity defined in said housing; nozzle means mounted in said housing having an entrance communicating with said water supply inlet and an exit for discharging a water jet along a defined axis into said cavity to produce a suction therein; tub water port means coupled to said tub water inlet; means in said housing coupling said cavity to said discharge orifice for enabling said discharge orifice to discharge said substantially forwardly directed water stream, said discharge orifice being mounted for movement along a travel path as said water stream is discharged therefrom; protuberance means fixedly mounted on said housing projecting therefrom substantially in said forward direction, said protuberance means having a contact surface displaced forwardly from said discharge orifice for engaging a user's body to space said discharge orifice from said body, whereby a water stream discharged from said discharge orifice will produce a reaction force on said housing to cause said protuberance means contact surface to mechanically massage said user's body; a rigid conduit including a tubular supply section defining a supply orifice and a tubular discharge section defining said discharge orifice; and means mounting said conduit with said supply orifice opening to said cavity whereby water supplied from said jet will flow through said conduit to said discharge orifice, said mounting mean including means supporting said conduit for rotation about an axis displaced from said discharge orifice whereby said discharge orifice will translate along a circular path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
323 words
Hydrotherapy apparatus suitable for use in a water tub having an electric pump for supplying a pressurized water flow, said apparatus including: a housing configured to be held in a user's hand, said housing having a water supply inlet, a tub water inlet, and a discharge orifice oriented to discharge a water stream in a substantially forward direction exteriorly of said housing; connecting means for coupling said pump pressurized water flow to said water supply inlet, said connecting means including a flexible hose; a cavity defined in said housing; nozzle means mounted in said housing having an entrance communicating with said water supply inlet and an exit for discharging a water jet along a defined axis into said cavity to produce a suction therein; tub water port means coupled to said tub water inlet; means in said housing coupling said cavity to said discharge orifice for enabling said discharge orifice to discharge said substantially forwardly directed water stream, said discharge orifice being mounted for movement along a travel path as said water stream is discharged therefrom; protuberance means fixedly mounted on said housing projecting therefrom substantially in said forward direction, said protuberance means having a contact surface displaced forwardly from said discharge orifice for engaging a user's body to space said discharge orifice from said body, whereby a water stream discharged from said discharge orifice will produce a reaction force on said housing to cause said protuberance means contact surface to mechanically massage said user's body; a rigid conduit including a tubular supply section defining a supply orifice and a tubular discharge section defining said discharge orifice; and means mounting said conduit with said supply orifice opening to said cavity whereby water supplied from said jet will flow through said conduit to said discharge orifice, said mounting mean including means supporting said conduit for rotation about an axis displaced from said discharge orifice whereby said discharge orifice will translate along a circular path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including water supply valve means located between said water supply inlet and said discharge orifice, said water supply valve means including a user operable control member extending exteriorly of said housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said connecting means includes fitting means adapted to be mounted on a water tub wall for coupling said pump pressurized water flow to a first end of said flexible hose.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said connecting means includes fitting means adapted to be mounted on a water tub wall for coupling said pump pressurized water flow to a first end of said flexible hose.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 4 further including a water supply valve located between said water supply inlet and said nozzle means, said water supply valve including a user operable control member extending externally of said housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said connecting means includes fitting means adapted to be mounted on a water tub wall for coupling said pump pressurized water flow to a first end of said flexible hose.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-03-29 | 1996-09-28 | 1997-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-03-29 | 2000-09-28 | 2001-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-03-29 | 2004-09-28 | 2005-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |