Abstract:
A combination unit for hydrotherapy and exercise having a rubber dampening pad containing pre-drilled holes for the interchanging of exercise devices such as treadmills, bicycles, and elliptical machines. The unit has stairs for rear entrance and a clear splash guard for safe use indoors. The unit has a seat with shoulder and back jets located behind the seat, stability bars and a control panel. The control panel provides temperature control, aquatic jet flow, exercise equipment control and controls for MP3 players and the like. The unit has a water motor for driving certain exercise equipment.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Applicant claims the priority benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/123,928, filed Apr. 11, 2008. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the fields of aquatic therapy, exercise and recreation apparatus, and in particular, to a hydrotherapy tank with interchangeable exercise devices and using hydra power. 
     Current devices related to this invention include aquatic treadmill chambers; self-propelled or electrically-powered, stand-alone treadmills placed in a body of water, such as a tank or swimming pool; commercial in-ground therapy pools adapted for treadmills and lap swimming; spas holding treadmills; hydrotherapy tanks; and small portable hydrotherapy pools. 
     Spas used for recreation and massage, deep tank treadmill devises having a treadmill at the bottom of a deep tank of water, and in-ground pools cost over $100,000. Smaller in-ground pools for aqua therapy for use by patients with various illnesses, such as Multiple Sclerosis, are available, but have a cost of approximately $40,000. 
     The prior art discloses various smaller, less-expensive hydrotherapy tanks and pools using still water. The tanks can be used for running in place and/or other exercises. 
     The prior art also discloses a spa having a treadmill and water jets providing swimming resistance. See U.S. Pat. No. 7,086,994, issued Aug. 8, 2006 to John A. Turak. However, the Turak spa does not provide for interchangeable exercise equipment, a pump used to provide exercise resistance and assistance, and a water motor to assist in exercise training, and combination aqua therapy and exercise. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a small, affordable spa which is safe to use inside or outside the home. The spa of the present invention is a combination unit for hydrotherapy and exercise having a rubber dampening pad containing pre-drilled holes for the interchanging of exercise devices such as treadmills, bicycles, and elliptical machines. The unit has stairs for rear entrance and a clear splash guard for safe use indoors. The spa has a plurality of therapy jets powered by a pump. The spa also has a seat with shoulder and back jets located behind the seat, stability bars and a control panel. The seat is adapted for use also as a step for entry into the spa interior. The invention spa also has stability bars about the spa interior. Shoulder and back jets provide a combination of exercise and relaxation hydrotherapy in one device. The control panel provides temperature control, aquatic jet flow, exercise equipment control and controls for MP3 players and the like. The spa has a water motor for driving certain exercise equipment. The exercise equipment is hydro-powered with a pump and water motor providing both assistance and resistance to the exerciser. 
     The present invention spa can be used by someone with an illness such as Multiple Sclerosis providing cool temperature water and assistance during exercise. Water temperature can be raised for a professional athlete training or rehabbing an injury, choice of exercise equipment and resistance training. The control panel within the spa provides temperature control, equipment control, electronic controls for various consumer entertainment products, and jet controls. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of the spa. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view of the spa. 
         FIG. 3  is a right side view of the spa. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the basic spa tank structure. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the spa tank, without stability bars and console, illustrating the dampening pad and water motor. 
         FIG. 6  is a view, partly in section, of the water motor. 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram of the water distribution system. 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the treadmill positioned within the tank. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the treadmill positioned within the tank. 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of the bicycle positioned within the tank. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the bicycle positioned within the tank. 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of the elliptical machine positioned within the tank. 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of the elliptical machine positioned within the tank. 
         FIG. 14  is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the bicycle positioned within the tank. 
         FIG. 15  is a side view of the alternate embodiment bicycle positioned within the tank. 
         FIG. 16  is a cross sectional view of the bicycle casing. 
         FIG. 17  is a top view of the alternate embodiment bicycle installed over the treadmill. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, there is shown a therapy spa  1  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. The therapy spa  1  is encased in a tank  10  having a front  11 , a rear  12 , a left side wall  13 , a right side wall  14 , a bottom  15 , and an open top  16 , said front, rear, left and right side walls and bottom defining a tank interior  17 . The tank front  11  and rear  12  define a tank longitudinal axis. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the tank  10  is made from a high impact, flexible polymer. The tank is nominally 5′4″ tall and 13′8″ long, rear to front. The tank side-to-side width  13 - 14  is nominally 4′6″ wide. The tank front  11  may be wider than the rear  12  to allow extra room for arm movement when exercising. 
     A splash guard  20  is fitted about the tank top on the front  11 , left side wall  13 , right side wall  14  and rear  12 . The splash guard  20  is seamless, except for a hinged opening  21  at the tank rear  12 . The hinged rear opening  21  facilitates entry into the tank interior  17 . The splash guard  20  is preferably comprised of a clear plastic and protects against splashing while removing any claustrophobic feelings an exerciser in the tank interior  17  may feel. The splash guard  20  is approximately 8 to 10 inches high. An external step assembly  26  may be attached to the tank rear  12  outside the tank  10  to assist the exerciser in entering the tank. See  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     The tank  10  is further comprised of a seat  24  formed on the tank rear  12  within the tank interior  17 . The seat  24  provides a step to assist an exerciser to enter into the tank interior  17 . An elongated stability bar  28  is horizontally positioned within the tank interior  17  adjacent the tank front  11  and along the side walls. See  FIG. 4 . 
     The therapy spa  1  is further comprised of a generally flat, dampening pad  30  in the tank interior  17  latched to the tank bottom  15 . Alternatively, the pad may be attached to the tank bottom  15  by means of a water proof adhesive. The dampening pad extends from front  11  to rear  12 , and from left side wall  13  to right side wall  14 . The dampening pad  30  is constructed from a resilient, water-impervious material such as rubber. The dampening pad  30  is predrilled with a plurality of holes  31  adapted to provide attachment means  33  for various exercise equipment. The dampening pad  30  reduces vibration from exercise movement and protects both the tank and the exerciser from equipment and exerciser impact. See  FIG. 5 . Removable plugs are provided to seal unused dampening pad holes  31 . Exercise equipment such as treadmill, bicycle, elliptical machines are interchangeably placed into the tank interior  17  and joined with the attachment means to the dampening pad  30 . 
     The therapy spa  1  has a water distribution system  40  comprised of a first water pump  41  having an input connected to a conventional water supply and a reservoir  48 . The water pump  41  has an output connected to a water baffle system  42  from which a plurality of conduits  43  extend terminating in a plurality of jet openings  44  within the tank interior  17 . The jet openings  44  are positioned about the tank interior  17  in the front  11 , rear  12 , left side wall  13  and right side wall  14 . A return drain  45  is provided along one of the side walls  13 ,  14  adjacent the tank interior bottom  15 . The return drain  45  brings water from the tank interior  17  back through a valve  46  into either a filtration module  47  connected to the water distribution system reservoir  48  or a conventional waste water output drain  49 . See  FIG. 7 . The water distribution system  40  is further comprised of a reaction water motor  51  positioned within the tank interior  17  and driven by the water pump  41 . An example of the type of a reaction water motor that could be used would be those manufactured by Gilbert Gilkes &amp; Gordon, Ltd. 
     The water motor  51  is based on a reaction design using a propeller turbine principle and generally consists of a small spiral casing  52  complete with bearings and seal housings in which a motor drive wheel is enclosed. Power is produced by water from the water pump  41  entering the casing via an inlet  54  and passing through a series of guide vanes spaced round the periphery of the drive wheel, then flowing through the drive wheel turning the drive wheel and attached shaft  55  thereby producing power before being discharged from the eye  53  of the wheel into the tank interior  17 . See  FIG. 6 . The shaft  55  is used to drive various exercise equipment used in the tank. The water motor  51  is nominally positioned on and attached to a low shelf  35  adjacent the tank front  11  and right side wall  14 . See  FIG. 5 . 
     The treadmill  60  used with the therapy spa  1  is comprised of a base  61  having a forward end  62 , rear end  63 , two opposite and parallel sides  64 , a forward roller  65 , a rear roller  66 , a cushioned support deck  67 , and a rubber belt  68  looped about said forward and rear rollers  65 ,  66 . Each of the rollers  65 ,  66  is rotatably connected to the opposite sides  64 . The forward roller  65  is rotatably engaged with and driven by the water motor shaft  55 . Treadmill speed is determined by the water motor  51 . The rotation of the water motor  51 , and thereby the torque provided to the water motor shaft  55 , is controlled by the amount of water provided to the water motor from the water pump  41  through the water pump inlet  54 . The water pump inlet has an opening which is controlled by the invention control panel  90 . The treadmill base  61  is releasably attached to the dampening mat  30 . The treadmill base  61  has a plurality of bracket flanges  69  distributed about the base perimeter and extending outward from the base, each bracket flange having a plurality of apertures formed therein. The bracket apertures align generally with the dampening pad holes  31 . The attachment means  33  are comprised of camloc fasteners inserted through the bracket apertures into the dampening pad holes  31  thereby releasably attaching the treadmill base  61  to the dampening pad  30 . See  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
     The exercise equipment also includes an exercise bicycle  70  removably attached to the dampening pad  30 . The exercise bicycle  70  is comprised of two horizontal base plates  71 , one forward and one rearward, each with a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the tank longitudinal axis. The base plates  71  extend from the tank left side wall  13  to the tank right side wall  14 . The base plates  71  have apertures  72  near their extremities, said apertures corresponding to the dampening pad holes  31 . Attachment means  33  are used to removably attach the exercise bicycle base plates  71  to the dampening pad  30 . A bicycle frame  73  is fixedly attached to the base plates  71 . An adjustable seating post  74  extends upward from the frame  73  and terminates in a bicycle seat  75 . The frame  73  also contains an aperture through which a pedal assembly  76  is attached. The stability bar  28  provides nominal handle bar support required for bicycle exercise. However, more traditional bicycle handle bar supports may be attached to the stability bar. 
     The water motor  51  applies a force on the pedal assembly  76 . An elongated coupling attachment  56  is removably attached to the water motor shaft  55 , said coupling attachment  56  having a longitudinal axis coincident with a water motor shaft longitudinal axis. The coupling attachment  56  terminates in a universal joint  57 . A drive shaft  58  interconnects the coupling attachment universal joint  57  with the pedal assembly  76 . The drive shaft  58  is of the type used for chainless bicycles, such as the chainless technology advertised by Dynamic Bicycles, Inc., Holliston, Mass. The drive shaft uses two sets of spiral bevel gears and a shaft rod to transfer power from the coupling attachment  86  to the pedal assembly  76 . Water motor shaft  55  torque is translated through the coupling attachment  56  and the drive shaft  58  to the pedal assembly  76 . See  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, a water exercise bicycle  100  may be driven directly by the water pump  41  bypassing the water motor  51 . The water bicycle  100  is removably attached to either the dampening pad  30  or over the treadmill  60  onto the treadmill brackets  69 . The water bicycle  100  is comprised of two horizontal base plates  71 , one forward and one rearward, each with a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the tank longitudinal axis, centrally interconnected by means of an elongated base element  101 . The base plates  71  extend from the tank left side wall  13  to the tank right side wall  14 . The base element has a longitudinal axis coincident with the tank longitudinal axis. The base plates  71  have apertures  72  near their extremities, said apertures corresponding to the dampening pad holes  31  and/or the treadmill bracket apertures. Attachment means  33  are used to removably attach the exercise bicycle base plates  71  to the dampening pad  30  or treadmill brackets  69 . Mounted on the base element  101  is a circular casing  102  enclosing a wheel  103  with a plurality of vanes  104  extending outwardly from a wheel perimeter. An axle  105  extends laterally through a wheel center and through the casing  102 , said axle  105  being rotatably journaled to the wheel  103 . The axle  105  terminates in two opposite ends which are attached to individual pedal assemblies  106 . The casing  102  has two inlets, a drag inlet  107  near a casing top and a propulsion inlet  108  near a casing bottom. Each inlet  107 ,  108  is connected to a miniature baffle  109  on a tank side wall  13  or  14 . The miniature baffle  109  is interconnected either directly to the water pump  41  or to the water distribution baffle system  42 . The miniature baffle  109  controls water input to either the drag inlet  107  or to the propulsion inlet  108 . Depending upon the water inlet engaged, the wheel  103  within the casing  102  is rotated either in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction through engagement of the wheel vanes  104  by water flowing into one or the other inlets. Depending upon which inlet is in use, the other inlet becomes an acting discharge outlet. See  FIGS. 14-17 . 
     The exerciser would typically use the tank seat  24  to position himself/herself and engage the pedal assemblies  106 . The exerciser would then select a wheel turning resistance through water pressure into the drag inlet  107  or wheel turning assistance through water pressure into the propulsion inlet  108 . The stability bar  28  could act as conventional handle bars. The exercise bicycle may also have handle bars attached to the stability bar  28 . A hollow, cylindrical, vertical element  110  is attached to the base element  101  adjacent the casing  102 . This permits the use of an optional bicycle seat  75  attached to a seating post  74  which is removably inserted into the vertical element  110 . See  FIG. 15 . 
     The exercise equipment also includes an elliptical machine  80  removably attached to the dampening pad  30 . The elliptical machine has a base  81  comprised of two horizontal cross plates  82 , one forward and one rearward, each with a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the tank longitudinal axis. The cross plates  82  extend from the tank left side wall  13  to the tank right side wall  14 . The cross plates  82  have apertures  83  near their extremities, said apertures corresponding to the dampening pad holes  31 . Attachment means  33  are used to removably attach the elliptical cross plates  82  to the dampening pad  30 . The elliptical base  81  is further comprised of two elongated, horizontal support bars  84  attached to the cross plates  82 , said each said support bar having a longitudinal axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of the tank  10 . The support bars are positioned near to the tank side walls  13 ,  14 . The elliptical machine  80  is further comprised of two wheels  86  journaled to the support bars  84 . A crankshaft  87  interconnects the wheels  86 . The water motor  51  applies a force to one of the wheels  86 ′. A drive shaft  58  interconnects the water motor drive shaft  55  wheel  86 ′. The drive shaft  58  may be the same as used with the bicycle  70  or may be a drive shaft of a different length. Water motor shaft  55  torque is translated through the drive shaft  58  to the elliptical wheel  86 ′. The crankshaft  87  moves foot pedals  88  up and down in the normal fashion. Typical pole handles  89  are also provided. See  FIGS. 12 and 13 . 
     The therapy spa  1  has a control panel  90  mounted in the tank interior  17  on the front  11  adjacent the tank top  16 . A supplementary control panel  90 ′ may be mounted adjacent the tank seat  24 . The control panel  90  provides command control to the water distribution baffle system  42  for adjusting water pressure and selection of jet openings, to the water motor  51  for adjusting treadmill speed, and to the miniature baffle  109  for selection of drag or propulsion as well as amount of pressure for the exercise bicycle. Command control is also provided to the valve  46  for returning water to the water distribution system  40  or for draining the tank  10 . Other capabilities may also be provided to the control panel, such as power to personal electronic devices, lighting, etc. 
     It is understood that the above-described embodiment is merely illustrative of the application. Other embodiments may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof. For lightness, all exercise equipment metal parts are preferably made from carbon fiber.