Hand held tap water powered water discharge apparatus

A water discharge apparatus configured to be held in a user's hand, and powered by a tap water source for selective operation in a continuous shower spray mode, a pulsed shower spray mode, or a submergible hydromassage mode.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to water discharge apparatus configured to be held 
in a user's hand, and powered by a tap water source for selective 
operation in a continuous shower spray mode, a pulsed shower spray mode, 
or a submergible hydromassage mode. 
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
Applicants' copending application no. 688,043 filed Apr. 19, 1991, 
discloses an electric pump powered hand held hydrotherapy apparatus. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Many different structures are known in the prior art for discharging shower 
water sprays and massage water flows. For example only, many different 
hand held water discharge heads widely marketed through plumbing and 
hardware stores by various manufacturers, e.g. Teledyne Water Pik, are 
capable of selectively discharging either a continuous or pulsating shower 
spray. Other devices, primarily powered by electric pumps for use in 
hydrotherapy water tubs, are available for discharging water streams 
beneath the water surface for impacting and massaging a user's body, e.g. 
the HYDROWAND marketed by HydroAir Industries. 
Still other devices for discharging water streams for massaging a user's 
body are disclosed in Applicants' following U.S. patents and the 
references cited therein: 
______________________________________ 
4,679,258 4,731,887 
4,689,839 4,763,367 
4,692,950 4,813,086 
4,715,071 4,825,854 
4,726,080 4,965,893 
4,727,605 4,982,459 
______________________________________ 
The foregoing patents primarily disclose electric pump powered assemblies 
intended for mounting in a water tub wall for discharging a water stream 
through a discharge orifice. Some of the disclosed assemblies are 
configured so that the discharge orifice travels along a defined or random 
path so that the stream impacting against the user's body describes an 
area. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,689,839 and 4,726,080, whose disclosures are, by 
reference, incorporated herein, describe tap water powered hydrotherapy 
apparatus in which a water stream is discharged from a discharge orifice 
into a tub below the water surface and energy derived from the supplied 
tap water causes the discharge orifice to move along a path of travel. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to a tap water powered water discharge 
apparatus selectively operable in a continuous shower mode, a pulsed 
shower mode, and a submergible hydromassage mode. 
Apparatus in accordance with the invention includes a sealed housing 
preferably configured to be held in a user's hand and mounted on the free 
end of a flexible tap water supply hose. A user operable control member 
controls a mode selector valve which determines the mode of the water 
discharged from the housing. 
Apparatus in accordance with the invention includes a jet pump which, in 
the hydromassage mode, uses the supplied tap water to entrain tub water. 
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the combined tap-tub water flow 
is used to entrain air to form a water-air stream, which is discharged 
from the housing for massaging a user's body. 
In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, the housing defines 
a fixed discharge orifice. In accordance with a second embodiment, the 
housing defines a discharge orifice which moves along a travel path as the 
water stream is discharged therefrom. 
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, at least one 
protuberance extends from the housing proximate to the discharge orifice 
for placement against a user's body to space the discharge orifice 
therefrom to prevent occlusion of the water stream. 
In accordance with a valuable feature of the second embodiment, the 
protuberance is configured with a substantially smooth surface for 
engaging the user's body. As the discharged water stream propels the 
discharge orifice along its travel path, forces reacting to the discharge 
act on the unit to move the protuberance and thus mechanically massage the 
user's body to supplement the hydromassage produced directly by the 
discharged water stream. 
In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention, a deck mounting 
subassembly is provided for coupling a tap water supply manifold to the 
flexible supply hose leading to the hand held housing. The subassembly, 
adapted to be mounted in a horizontal deck of a water tub, includes a 
container, e.g. a bag of flexible plastic material, for accommodating the 
supply hose and for catching water drippings from the hose after the unit 
is used in the submerged hydromassage mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Attention is now directed to FIG. 1 which illustrates an exemplary water 
tub 20 for accommodating a pool of water 22 in which a user 24 can sit. 
The water tub includes a wall 26 essentially comprised of an inner wall 
portion 28, an outer wall portion 30, and a deck wall portion 32. 
The present invention is primarily directed to a hand held unit 40 designed 
to enable the user 24 to selectively discharge either a continuous shower 
spray, a pulsed shower spray, or a hydromassage water stream. In contrast 
to many electric pump driven hydromassage units known in the prior art, 
embodiments of the present invention are driven by pressurized tap water 
supplied from a conventional residential or commercial tap water source. 
For purposes of explanation herein, it will be assumed that pipe 44 
delivers fresh tap water at coupler 46. 
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a deck mount 
subassembly 48 is provided for efficiently coupling the tap water supply 
pipe 44 to a flexible hose 50, preferably having two lumens for 
respectively delivering tap water and air to the hand held unit 40. The 
subassembly 48 is intended to mounted in an opening in deck 32, as shown 
in FIG. 1 The subassembly 48 includes a short pipe section 52 having an 
inlet nipple intended to be coupled by coupler 46 to supply pipe 44. An 
outlet nipple on pipe section 52 is coupled to a water lumen 54 of 
flexible hose 50. Flow through the pipe section 52 from supply pipe 44 to 
water lumen 54 can be controlled by the user via valve control knob 56 
mounted on the subassembly plate 58. An air hole 60 formed in the plate 58 
communicates with an air lumen 62. The water lumen 54 and air lumen 62 are 
depicted as being bound together along their length by ties 64. Together, 
the lumens 54 and 62 form the aforementioned flexible hose 50 extending to 
the hand held unit 40. More specifically, note that the lumens 54 and 62 
are depicted as initially descending from the pipe section 52 and air hole 
60 below the plate 58 into a container 66, e.g. a bag formed of flexible 
plastic material. The lumens 54 and 62 emerge from the bag through opening 
68 in plate 58. 
As depicted in FIG. 1, when the hand held unit 40 is submerged below the 
surface of pool 22, as is typical of operation in the hydromassage mode, 
the hose 50 will of course get wet. The bag 66 which accommodates the hose 
will catch the drippings therefrom. When the unit 40 is not in use, the 
user will thread the hose 50 back through opening 68 into the bag 66 
leaving the handle portion of unit 40 in the opening 68 and with its 
discharge portion extending above the deck 32. 
As previously mentioned, a hand held unit 40 in accordance with the present 
is selectively operable in a continuous shower mode, a pulsed shower mode, 
or a hydromassage mode. As will be seen hereinafter, a mode selector valve 
(FIGS. 10-12) is provided to enable the user to select any one of these 
three operational modes, as well as an OFF mode. 
FIG. 2 illustrates the hand held unit 40 alternatively installed on a 
conventional wall mounted shower supply pipe 70. A preferred T-shaped 
adapter 72 is shown for coupling the supply pipe 70 to the hand held unit 
40. With particular reference to FIG. 3, note that adapter 72 includes a 
pipe section 71 having an enlarged internally threaded end 74, defining a 
supply water inlet, adapted to be threaded on to the externally threaded 
end of supply pipe 70. Pipe leg 76 extends downwardly in FIG. 3 and 
retains an internally threaded coupler 78, defining a water outlet, which 
receives a threaded end of the aforementioned water lumen 54. Preferably, 
a washer 80 and filter screen 82 are incorporated in the flow passage 
between the adapter 72 and water lumen 54. 
The pipe section 71 is depicted in FIG. 3 as having an externally threaded 
open end 84. As shown, this open end is sealed by an internally threaded 
enlarged end 86 of a bracket 88. The bracket 88 at its forward or left end 
in FIGS. 2 and 3, is bifurcated to define spaced arms 90 and 92. The 
spacing between the arms 90 and 92 is dimensioned to accommodate the 
handle 94 of the unit 40 as depicted in FIG. 2. Note that the handle 94 is 
substantially straight and is connected or formed integral with a head 
portion 96 of the unit 40. 
Note in FIG. 3 that a check valve 98 is incorporated in adapter 72 in the 
flow path between the fitting inlet 74 and the fitting outlet 78. This 
check valve is to prevent any flow of water from the pool 22 back into the 
fresh tap water plumbing, represented by shower pipe 70 in FIG. 2. The 
check valve 98 opens in response to positive tap water pressure supplied 
by shower pipe 70, to permit flow therepast in the direction of arrows 
100. Check valve 98 will close to prevent any flow in the opposite 
direction. 
FIG. 3A illustrates an adapter 102 which can be used as an alternative to 
the adapter 72 of FIG. 3. The adapter 102 incorporates an antisiphon valve 
104 formed by an externally threaded nipple 106 closed by cap 110 
apertured at 112. A valve element 114 is mounted for vertical movement on 
pin 116. The valve element 114 carries an o-ring 118 capable of sealing 
the aperture 112 when it is thrust upwardly by water pressure supplied 
from shower pipe 70. More specifically when shower pipe 70 supplies 
pressurized tap water, the valve member 114 is forced upwardly to cause 
o-ring 118 to engage cap 110 seal aperture 112 against water leakage. In 
the event a suction is formed in the shower pipe 70, the valve element 114 
will be drawn downwardly thus permitting the in flow of ambient air 
through to break the suction and thus prevent a reverse flow from the unit 
40 back into the tap water plumbing system represented by shower pipe 70. 
Although not explicitly depicted in FIG. 1, it should be understood that a 
check valve or anti siphon valve as shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A is preferably 
also incorporated in the pipe section 52 of the mounting subassembly 48. 
Before proceeding to a detailed explanation of the internal structure of 
unit 40, certain aspects of the first embodiment of the invention as 
depicted in FIG. 2, will be pointed out. Initially, note that a control 
knob 130 is externally mounted on the handle 94. As will be seen, this 
control knob 130 operates a mode selector valve (FIGS. 10-12) to define 
any one of three operational modes or an OFF mode. The unit's head portion 
96 defines a series of openings in what otherwise is a sealed housing. 
More particularly, note opening 140 located centrally on the front face of 
head portion 96. Opening 140 comprises a discharge orifice which functions 
to discharge a hydromassage water stream. 
A series of smaller openings 142, annularly located around discharge 
orifice 140 are used to discharge the pulsating shower flow. A series of 
still smaller openings 144 positioned radially outwardly from the openings 
142 are used to discharge the continuous shower flow. 
Openings 148 and 150 comprise tub water inlet openings. As will be 
discussed hereinafter, the tub water inlets 148, 150 communicate with the 
suction inlet of a jet pump incorporated within the unit 40. Also shown in 
FIG. 2 is a handle 152 which projects outwardly through tub water inlet 
150. As will be seen hereinafter, this handle 152 forms part of an 
entrainment selector valve which enables the user to cause air to be 
entrained in the hydromassage water stream discharged from discharge 
orifice 140. 
In addition to the foregoing, it should be noted that the orifice 140 and 
openings 142, 144 are surrounded by a collar 156 mounted on the front end 
of head portion 96. Note that the collar 156 is formed with first and 
second forwardly projecting protuberances 158, 160 which prevent the head 
portion 96 from being pressed against the user's body in a manner to 
occlude out-flow. 
Attention is now directed to FIGS. 4 and 5 which depict sectional views 
through the hand held unit 40. The unit 40 is essentially comprised of a 
housing 180 shaped to define the aforementioned handle 94 and head portion 
96. As depicted in FIG. 4, the lower end of the handle 94 mates with and 
accommodates a mode selector valve subassembly 190, best depicted in FIGS. 
10-12. The head portion 96 accommodates at its forward end, a flow 
distribution subassembly 196. Various tubular members to be discussed 
hereinafter extend through the interior of the housing 180 to couple the 
mode selector valve subassembly 190 to the flow distribution subassembly 
196. Before addressing the structural details of the subassemblies, it 
will be instructive to observe the general flow paths for air and water 
for each of the operating modes. With reference to FIG. 4 note flow arrows 
200 which depict the flow of air from lumen 62 through the subassembly 
190, a tubular member 202, and an entrainment valve member 204, and then 
into an entrainment cavity 206, via an air port 208. These elements define 
the air path when the unit is operating in the hydromassage mode and air 
is to be entrained in the water stream discharged through the discharge 
orifice 140. 
FIG. 4 also shows by directional arrows 220, the water flow for the pulsed 
shower mode; i.e., from water lumen 54, through mode selector subassembly 
190, tubing 224, manifold 226, paddle wheel chamber 228, and 
aforementioned pulsed shower flow openings 142. As will be seen 
hereinafter, when this path is selected, the tap water from water lumen 54 
flows into the manifold 226 to rotate a paddle wheel rotor 230, mounted 
for rotation in compartment 228, to repetitively open and close the flow 
path to the pulsator shower openings 142. 
FIG. 5 shows by flow arrows 250, the flow of fresh tap water for the 
continuous shower mode; i.e. from lumen 54 through mode selector 
subassembly 190, through tubular member 254 and 256, manifold 258, and 
then to continuous shower openings 144. 
FIG. 5 also shows by flow arrow 270, the flow for the hydromassage mode of 
operation. In the hydromassage mode, fresh tap water from water lumen 54 
moves through the mode selector subassembly 190 and is discharged at the 
outlet 276 of converging driving nozzle 278 into the converging suction 
inlet 280 of a mixing tube 282. The driving nozzle 278, together with the 
mixing tube 282, forms a jet pump, as is described in Applicants' 
aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,839. The fresh water discharged at a 
high velocity from the driving nozzle 278 into the suction inlet 280 of 
the mixing tube 282 produces a suction to entrain tub water drawn into the 
interior chamber 283 of housing 180 via the tub water inlets 148, 150. The 
mixing tube 282, at its downstream exit 286, discharges a water jet into 
the aforementioned cavity 206 producing a suction therein. Depending upon 
the position of the entrainment selector handle 152, the water flow 
discharged from the mixing tube exit 286 will entrain either air, as 
represented by the air flow arrows 200 in FIG. 4, or additional tub water 
as is represented by the arrows 290 in FIG. 5. Tub water can enter the 
housing chamber 283 via the aforementioned tub water inlets 148, 150. 
These inlets are located at the forward end of the housing head portion 96 
so that the unit is able to function in the hydromassage mode as long as 
inlets 148 and/or 150 are sufficiently underwater to enable tub water to 
flow to the suction inlet 280 of the jet pump mixing tube 282. 
With the foregoing explanation in mind, attention is now directed to FIGS. 
10-12 which depict in detail a preferred mode selector valve subassembly 
190. 
The mode selector valve subassembly 190 includes a body portion 300 having 
a water inlet 302 and air inlet 303 to which the lumens 54 and 62 
respectively couple. The inlet 302 opens into a chamber 304 having a floor 
surface 306. Entrance (inlet) openings 308, 310, and 312 are formed in the 
floor surface 306 for respectively communicating with the aforementioned 
tube members 254, 224, and driving nozzle 278 (see FIG. 11). O-rings 316 
are preferably provided, receivable in recesses in the openings 308, 310, 
and 312, as depicted in FIG. 12. The floor 306 of chamber 304 also defines 
a central hole 320 for receiving the reduced end portion 322 of a shaft 
324 to which the aforementioned control knob 130 is secured. Secured to 
the shaft 324 (FIGS. 10 and 12) is a disk 330 apertured at 332. The shaft 
reduced end 322 is received in hole 320 for rotation to selectively align 
aperture 332 with any one of inlets 308, 310, and 312. Additionally, the 
shaft 324 can be rotated to a fourth or OFF position in which the aperture 
332 is not aligned with any of the inlets 308, 310, or 312. A cover plate 
340 is provided to cover the chamber 304. More particularly, the cover 
plate can be fastened to the upper surface (FIG. 12) of body portion 300 
by fastening means such as screws 342. An O-ring 344 is preferably mounted 
in an annular recess in the wall of chamber 304 to prevent leakage. 
Although the selector valve subassembly 190 has been depicted in FIG. 12 as 
being comprised of multiple parts held together by screw fasteners 342, it 
should be recognized that other types of fasteners or adhesive means could 
be readily employed in the subassembly 190 as well as in other portions of 
the unit 40. 
From the foregoing, it should be recognized that by rotating the control 
knob 130, the user 24 will be able to selectively align the aperture 332 
with any one of the inlets 308, 310, 312 to supply fresh tap water thereto 
from water lumen 54 and thus establish the mode of operation. Alignment 
with inlet 308, communicates the fresh water flow to tubular member 254 to 
create the continuous shower flow from openings 144 (FIG. 5). Alignment 
with inlet 310 enables the fresh water flow to traverse tube 224 for 
introduction into the paddle wheel compartment 228 to produce a pulsating 
shower flow via openings 142. Alignment of the aperture 332 with inlet 312 
supplies the fresh tap water from water lumen 54 to driving nozzle 278 to 
entrain tub water in mixing tube 282 to discharge a water stream from exit 
286 into cavity 206 and then through discharge orifice 140. 
Attention is now directed to FIG. 7 which shows additional detail of the 
water distribution subassembly 196. From FIG. 4, it can be noted that the 
cavity 206 is defined by cylindrical wall 350. In addition to the 
aforementioned air port 208 in wall 350, a tub water port 352 is provided. 
It will be noted in FIGS. 4 and 5 that the cylindrical wall 350 is 
supported concentrically within an outer support wall 360. Support wall 
360 defines an air inlet 362 aligned with air port 208 and a tub water 
inlet 364 aligned with tub water port 352. A cylindrical valve member 366 
is mounted for rotation between cavity wall 350 and support wall 360. The 
valve member wall 366 is apertured at 368 and 369, annularly space by 
somewhat less than 180.degree.. The valve member wall 366 can be rotated 
by the user 24 via handle 152 to align either (1) aperture 368 with air 
port 208 and air inlet 362 (FIG. 7) or (2) aperture 369 with tub water 
port 352 and tub water inlet 364 (FIG. 9). Depending upon the rotational 
position of valve member 366, when the unit is operated in the 
hydromassage mode to discharge a water stream from mixing tube exit 286 
into the cavity 350, it will entrain either air or tub water for discharge 
through the discharge orifice 140. 
FIG. 8 depicts in greater detail the aforementioned paddle wheel rotor 230 
mounted for rotation in compartment 228. Water from the aforementioned 
tubular member 224 passes through tube 225 and then through manifold 226 
into the compartment 228 via tangentially oriented slits 380 in wall 382. 
This water strikes paddles 384 on the paddle wheel rotor 230 to drive it 
counter clockwise (as represented in FIG. 8). The paddle wheel rotor 230 
includes an annular masking plate 386 and annular opening 387. As the 
paddle wheel rotor 230 is rotated by the water passing through slits 380, 
masking plate 386 will periodically block different ones of the pulsed 
shower openings 142. Thus, the flow out of each of the openings 142 will 
be periodically interrupted to essentially pulsate the discharged shower 
stream. 
Attention is now directed to FIGS. 13-18 which illustrate an alternative 
hand held unit 400 in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 13 
depicts the unit 400 installed in the manner of FIG. 2. However, it should 
be recognized that the unit 400 is just as applicable to the exemplary 
installation depicted in FIG. 1. The primary feature distinguishing the 
unit 400 from the aforedescribed unit 40 is that the unit 400 is 
structured so that its discharge orifice 402 is mounted for movement along 
a travel path to enable the discharged hydromassage water stream to 
describe an area on the user's body. In the illustrated configuration, the 
discharge orifice 402 traverses a circular path having, for example, a 
radius of approximately 1 inch. 
Before discussing the details of the internal construction of unit 400, 
attention is directed to FIG. 16 which shows a series of small annularly 
arranged openings 404 which function to discharge a continuous shower 
spray in accordance with the invention. Openings 406 placed radially 
inwardly from openings 404, to discharge the pulsating shower spray. 
Discharge orifice 402, as already mentioned, functions to discharge the 
hydromassage water stream. 
Openings 408, arranged annularly between the continuous shower openings 404 
and the pulsator shower openings 406, provides a path for tub water to 
enter the interior of the unit 400 for suction into the mixing tube of the 
jet pump, to be described. 
The unit 400 is comprised of a housing 420 substantially identical to the 
previously described housing 180. The lower end of the handle portion 422 
thereof accommodates a mode selector valve subassembly which can be 
identical to the aforedescribed subassembly 190. The differences between 
the unit 400 and aforedescribed unit 40 reside primarily in the structure 
of the water distribution subassembly 430. 
As can be seen from FIGS. 14 and 15, when the selector valve 190 selects 
the continuous shower mode, the fresh tap water from water lumen 54 
traverses tubes 434 and 436 for delivery through manifold 438 to openings 
404. 
When control handle 130 of mode selector valve subassembly 190 selects the 
pulsed shower mode, the flow from water lumen 54 is directed via tube 440 
through back cover 441 to manifold 442 and through tangential slots 444 
(FIG. 18) into paddle wheel compartment 446. This water flow represented 
by arrow 448 strikes paddles 450 to rotate the paddle wheel rotor 452. As 
in the first disclosed embodiment, i.e. unit 40, this causes the paddle 
wheel rotor to rotate within the compartment 446. The paddle wheel rotor 
452 includes an annular masking plate 454 and annular opening 453. As 
depicted in FIG. 16 and 17, the openings 406 are preferably arranged in 
three circumferentially spaced groups. The annular opening 453 extends 
through an arc of approximately 240.degree.. Thus, when operating in the 
pulsed shower mode, each opening 406 is open for approximately two thirds 
of the time. 
The jet pump mixing tube 460 is substantially identical to mixing tube 282 
of the aforedescribed unit 40 and similarly discharges a water jet at exit 
462 into cavity 464. Air tube 466, continuously open to air lumen 62, 
opens into the cavity 464 via port 467 in cavity wall 468. 
The hand held unit 400 further differs from the aforediscussed unit 40 in 
that it utilizes a single centrally located protuberance 470 configured to 
mechanically massage a user's body, as will be discussed hereinafter. The 
unit 400, further differs from the unit 40, as has been mentioned, in that 
the tub water inlets 408 are arranged peripherally around the head portion 
423, rearwardly of an annular front grill 472, upon which the protuberance 
470 is mounted. 
The unit 400 incorporates a rotatable conduit subassembly 474 which is 
quite similar to corresponding structure described in FIGS. 14-16 of 
Applicants' aforecited U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,071 whose disclosure is, by 
reference, incorporated herein. Basically, the subassembly 474 includes an 
elongated rigid conduit 476 having a tubular supply section 478 and a 
tubular discharge section 480. The supply section 478 defines a supply 
orifice 482 mounted so that its axis is substantially aligned with the 
exit axis of mixing tube 460. The tubular discharge section 480, which 
exits into the aforementioned discharge orifice 402, defines an axis 
misaligned with the axis of supply section 478. A small Drag plate 484 
extends substantially radially from the conduit 476. The forward or 
discharge end of the conduit 476 has a pin 490 staked therein and mounted 
for rotation in a bearing 492 formed in hub 493 of grill 472. The axis of 
pin 490 is aligned with the axis of the supply section 478. 
The conduit supply section 478 carries a bearing 494 mounted for rotation 
within a bushing 496. As described in Applicants' U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,071 
the outer surface of bearing 494 is preferably eccentrically configured so 
that it contacts bushing 496 along a very narrow band to minimize friction 
loss therebetween and to permit the inward flow of tub water into the 
cavity 464. The orientation of the conduit discharge section 480 causes 
the stream discharged from orifice 402 to be in a direction having a 
tangential component which acts to rotate the conduit around an axis 
defined by pin 490 and bushing 496. 
The grill 472 includes an outer ring 498 which is secured, as by a 
removable bayonet connection 500, to a flange 502 on the water 
distribution subassembly 430. The grill 472 includes one or more arms 504 
extending from ring 498 to hub 493, accommodating the aforementioned 
bearing 492. 
The protuberance 470 is mounted on the hub 493 and extends forwardly 
therefrom. The protuberance 470 preferably defines a smooth end surface 
506 intended to be placed against the user's skin for mechanical massage. 
More particularly, as the conduit 476 rotates in response to the discharge 
of the water stream from discharge orifice 402, the stream will produce a 
reaction force which continually changes direction and causes the head 
portion 423 to move. By applying firm, but gentle, pressure of the 
protuberance surface 506 against the user's skin, the protuberance will 
mechanically massage the user while the water stream discharged from 
orifice 402 directly provides a hydromassage. 
From the foregoing, it should now be appreciated that two embodiments of 
hand held water discharge units have been disclosed herein, each capable 
of selective operation in a continuous shower spray mode, a pulsed shower 
spray mode, and a submergible hydromassage mode. The units both 
incorporate a liquid jet pump for entraining tub water with supplied 
pressurized tap water to form a hydromassage water stream for discharge 
through a fixed or travelling discharge orifice. Means are provided in 
both units for entraining air into the water stream prior to discharge. In 
both embodiments, forwardly protecting protuberances are provided to space 
the discharge orifice from the user's body and thus prevent occlusion of 
the discharge orifice. 
Although two specific embodiments of Applicants' invention are disclosed 
herein, it is recognized that various structural modifications and 
equivalents may occur to those skilled in the art and it is accordingly 
intended that such be included within the scope of the appended claims.