Abstract:
A system, apparatus and method for heating water for relaxing sore muscles in isolated areas of the body. Briefly described, in architecture, the system includes a basin that has a plurality of basin openings. The basin openings include at least one inflow opening and at least one outflow opening. A flow tube, which is substantially exterior to the basin, connects the inflow and outflow openings. A heating element is located substantially within the flow tube.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention is generally related to a bathing apparatus and, more particularly, an apparatus for bathing body parts, such as feet.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Most people experience muscle soreness during their lives. Often times, the muscle soreness is exhibited in an isolated area. A common treatment for relieving muscle soreness is heat, such as that provided by a warm bath. Some muscle soreness, such as soreness in the hands, elbows, and feet, can be treated by bathing the muscles in a small basin of warm water.  
         [0003]     Bathing has become a recognized therapeutic method for treating muscle soreness in the feet. For example, soaking soothes sore feet and aids in recovery from fatigue. Bathing of the feet also stimulates the circulation of blood in the feet, which results in increased metabolism and excretion. In addition, foot bathing facilitates the removal of painful growths, including calluses, bunions, and corns.  
         [0004]     Many types of footbaths have been utilized as therapeutic devices for the feet. Typically, footbaths provide water, which is heated by some electronic means. Some footbaths use a heated element underneath the bottom of the footbath, which heats the base of the footbath and, there through, the water. Unfortunately, since most footbath basins are plastic, the heating elements cannot be heated to a very high temperature without risking melting the basin. As a result, the water in these types of footbaths is tepid, at best.  
         [0005]     Another method of heating water in a footbath is to circulate water through a pipe exterior to the footbath basin and heat that pipe. Under this method of heating water, the pipe is made of a metal that is heated by an exterior heating element. As the pipe is normally located in close proximity to the footbath basin, the pipe cannot be heated to a significant temperature without risking melting the basin. As a result, the water in these types of footbaths is normally no more than tepid. Ideally, a footbath could be designed that could heat the water to a temperature warmer than tepid without risking damage to the footbath basin.  
         [0006]     Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, apparatus and method for heating water to temperatures heretofore unachieved for relaxing sore muscles in isolated areas of the body.  
         [0008]     Briefly described, in architecture, a first embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. A basin has a plurality of basin openings. The basin openings include at least one inflow opening and at least one outflow opening. A flow tube, which is substantially exterior to the basin, connects the inflow and outflow openings. A heating element is located substantially within the flow tube.  
         [0009]     Briefly described, in architecture, a second embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. A basin has a plurality of basin openings. The basin openings include at least one inflow opening and at least one outflow opening. A flow tube, which is substantially exterior to the basin, connects the inflow and outflow openings. A heating element is located substantially within the flow tube to heat the water. An impeller is located along the flow tube to cause the water to flow into the inflow opening, through the flow tube, and out the outflow opening, thereby circulating the heated water.  
         [0010]     The present invention can also be viewed as providing methods for heating water in a basin, which has a plurality of openings and at least one flow tube substantially exterior to the basin connecting the openings, to relax muscles. In this regard, one embodiment of such a method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: pouring water into the basin, which at least partially fills a flow tube with water; heating a heating element in the flow tube, which heats the water in the flow tube and, therethrough, heats the water in the basin; and directing a flow of the heated water via at least one adjustable nozzle.  
         [0011]     The present invention can also be viewed as providing a system for heating water to relax muscles. The system includes a means for storing water. The system also includes a means for circulating water. The system further includes a means for heating water to a temperature over about 100 degrees Fahrenheit.  
         [0012]     Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]     Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the first embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a front side view of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a top view of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a front side view of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram of the operation of the present invention according to the secondary embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]      FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 3  show a first exemplary embodiment of an apparatus  10  for bathing one or more body parts, such as, but not limited to, feet of a user. The following describes the apparatus  10  as a footbath. It should be noted, however, that the apparatus need not be limited to bathing feet.  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  shows a top view of the first exemplary embodiment of the footbath  10 .  FIG. 2  shows a bottom view of the first exemplary embodiment wherein a bottom cover has been removed to expose inner portions of the footbath  10 .  FIG. 3  shows a side view of the first exemplary embodiment, again with the bottom cover removed. The footbath  10  includes a basin  12  that retains the water for bathing. The basin  12  includes a plurality of basin openings. The basin openings include at least one inflow opening  16  and at least one outflow opening  18 . A flow tube  20 , substantially exterior to and, in the first exemplary embodiment, beneath the basin  12 , connects the inflow opening  16  to the outflow opening  18 . A heating element  22  is located substantially within the flow tube  20 .  
         [0023]     The location of the heating element  22 , shown in  FIG. 2 , serves a couple of purposes. The primary purpose of the heating element  22  is to heat the water. Placing the heating element  22  in direct contact with the water makes this design energy efficient. Placing the heating element  22  out of reach from any body parts to be bathed protects those body parts from potential burning. Also, by putting the heating element  22  inside the flow tube  20  the basin  12  is shielded from the heat of the heating element  22 . If the basin  12  is made of plastic, the heating element  22  can reach higher temperatures than previously available in the prior art without melting the basin  12 . Further, by having the heating element  22  submersed in water, a natural cooling agent, the flow tube  20  could be made of plastic without risk of melting from the heating element  22 . The design of the footbath  10  can allow the water to be heated to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit by the heating element  22 .  
         [0024]     The basin  12  may be constructed in any of a number of different designs. The basin  12  may be constructed of a dense plastic or other durable, water impermeable material. The basin  12  may be partitioned, as is shown in a second exemplary embodiment in  FIG. 4 , or may be provided as a wide-open tub. The basin  12  may further be provided with a number of additional features as will be described in further detail herein. Many variations and modifications may be made to the design of the basin  12  without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. In accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the invention, the basin  12  is shaped so as to allow feet of a user to rest therein.  
         [0025]     A number of other variations on the first exemplary embodiment exist. As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the outflow opening  18  is located on a bottom portion of the basin  12 , while the inflow openings  16  are formed in a front side of the basin  12 . The outflow opening  18  may be formed anywhere along the basin  12 , as long as the outflow opening  18  is in position to be at least partially submerged when the basin  12  is filled with water. Similarly, the inflow openings  16  may be formed on any side or on the bottom of the basin  12 , as long as the inflow openings  16  are in position to at least be partially submerged when the basin  12  is filled with water. Any number of inflow openings  16  and outflow openings  18  are possible, as long as they are connected to the flow tube  20 .  
         [0026]     The flow tube  20  also has many available design deviations. The flow tube  20  may run along the underside of the basin  12 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , or may wrap around a side of the basin  12 , depending, in part, on the placement of the openings  16 , 18 . Also, depending on the number of openings  16 , 18 , more than one flow tube  20  may be employed. The flow tube  20  may be made of metal, but is preferably made of plastic. The inside of the flow tube  20  should not come into contact with the heating element  22 , but may be in close proximity with the heating element  22 . Many variations and modifications may be made to the design of the flow tube  20  without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention.  
         [0027]     The heating element  22  may be operated in a variety of manners known to those skilled in the art. In the first exemplary embodiment, the heating element  22  is a resistive heater. A current is supplied from a power source  40 , through the heating element  22 , which causes the heating element  22  to heat and, thus, warm the water within the flow tube  20 . The power source  40  may be battery powered, may receive power from a wall outlet, or both. More than one heating element  22  may be used, particularly if more than one flow tube  20  is used. The heating element  22  should be contained sufficiently within the flow tube  20  to avoid contact with bathing body parts. Toward this end, the openings  14  may contain screens or other obstructions that permit the flow of water into the flow tube  20  without permitting a body part to be inserted in the flow tube  20 . Many variations and modifications may be made to the design of the heating element  22 , including the use of means other than resistive heaters, without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  show a second exemplary embodiment of the footbath  110 .  FIG. 4  shows a top view of the second exemplary embodiment of the footbath  110 .  FIG. 5  shows a bottom view of the second exemplary embodiment wherein a bottom cover has been removed to expose the inner workings of the footbath  110 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  shows a front side view of the second exemplary embodiment, again with the bottom cover removed, as well as a side cover removed. The footbath  110  includes a basin  112  that retains water for bathing. The basin  112  includes a plurality of basin openings. The basin openings include at least one inflow opening  116  and at least one outflow opening  118 . A flow tube  120 , substantially exterior to and, in the second exemplary embodiment, beneath the basin  112 , connects the inflow opening  116  to the outflow opening  118 . A heating element  122  is located substantially within the flow tube  120 . At least one impeller  124  is connected to the flow tube  120 , impelling water from the outflow opening  118 , through the flow tube  120 , and out the inflow opening  116 . The second exemplary embodiment circulates the warm water through the basin  112  more than the first exemplary embodiment.  
         [0030]     The impeller  124  may be driven in many different ways known to those skilled in the art. The impeller  124  may be designed to include a centrifugal pump, wherein the impeller  124  is fixed on a rotating shaft and enclosed in a casing, having an inlet and outlet portion, such that the rotating impeller  124  creates pressure in the liquid, impelling the water to flow.  
         [0031]     A different design would be to fix the impeller  124 , enclosed in a casing, on a rotatable shaft and drive the impeller  124  rotationally with an electromagnet, such that the rotating impeller  124  creates pressure in the liquid, impelling the water to flow. In some designs, the speed of the impeller  124  may be made adjustable for the user. Many variations and modifications may be made to the operation and design of the impeller  124  without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention.  
         [0032]     The position of the impeller  124  may vary from the position shown in the second exemplary embodiment. The impeller  124  may be positioned within the flow tube  120  whereby the impeller  124  impels water through the flow tube  120 . In another design variation, the impeller  124  could be positioned at one of the openings  114  to impel water through the flow tube  120 . Also, the impeller  124  may be positioned tangential to the flow tube  120  to impel water through the flow tube  120 . Many variations and modifications may be made to the operation and position of the impeller  124  without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the impeller  124 , which is to create a flow of water through the flow tube  120 .  
         [0033]     The footbath  110  may include additional elements. According to the second exemplary embodiment, and shown in  FIG. 4 , the basin  112  may contain protrusions  150 , which help to massage the body parts resting in the warmed water. Arch rollers  152 , may also be provided for massaging the arches of feet when feet of a user are soaked in the basin  112 . The basin  112  may be bifurcated to allow for the positioning of two feet within the basin  112 . Also, a control panel  154  may be provided for controlling the operation of the footbath  110 . The control panel  154  may also be designed to receive signals from a remote control for controlling the operation of the footbath  110 .  
         [0034]     Also, at least one drain hole  156  may be provided to drain water from the basin  112  after use, wherein caps  158  are fixed to the drain holes  156  at the underside of the basin  112  to keep water from draining while the footbath  110  is in use. The footbath  110  may further include a tub (not shown) to be placed beneath the basin  112 , to catch any water that leaks or spills from the basin  112 . One alternative to the drain holes  156  would be to allow the user to simply turn the basin  112  on its side to release the water contained therein.  
         [0035]     One of the designs for the present invention call for the water to be maintained at a temperature of approximately 108 degrees Fahrenheit. One way to maintain the temperature is to use a thermistor  136 , electrically connected to the heating element  122  and to one or more temperature sensors  138 . The thermistor  136  will cause the temperature of the heating element  122  to rise if the water temperature falls below a desired level and cause the temperature of the heating element  122  to lower if the water temperature rises above a desired level. If the heating element  122  is a resistive heating element, the thermistor  136  will vary the temperature of the heating element  122  by controlling an intensity of the electrical current passing through the heating element  122 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the thermistor  136  may be connected to or integral with the power source  140 , which would otherwise control the current passing through the heating element  122 . The water temperature level may be preset or the user may control it through the control panel  154 .  
         [0036]     As shown in the second exemplary embodiment in  FIG. 6 , the footbath  110  may include an air inlet  126  connected to the impeller  124  whereby the impeller  124  impels air and water through the flow tube  120 . As is shown, an air inlet  126  is provided through an exterior portion of the basin  112  and piped to each of the impellers  124 . Impelling air through the flow tube  120  and inflow openings  116  onto a body part being bathed further massages the body part being bathed. One alternative design would pipe air from a single air inlet  126 , which was split to feed each of the impellers  124 . The footbath  110  may be designed such that the air inlet opening  128  in the air inlet  126  is adjustable, thereby making adjustable the amount of air impelled through the flow tube  120  and out the inflow openings  116 . Many variations and modifications may be made to the operation and design of the air inlet  126  without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention.  
         [0037]     Also shown in the second exemplary embodiment, particularly in  FIG. 4 , at least one position-adjustable nozzle  130  is located in at least one of the inflow openings  116 , the nozzle  130  has a narrow nozzle opening  132  relative to the flow tube  120 . Making the nozzle opening  132  narrower than a diameter of the flow tube  120  allows the nozzle  130  to provide a stronger, more focused jet of air and water than would otherwise be attained. As is shown in  FIG. 4 , at least one nozzle  130  may be joined to the basin  112  in at least one of the inflow openings  116  with a ball-and-socket joint  134 . The ball-and-socket joint  134  allows the nozzle  130  a range of motion, such that the user of the footbath  110  may position the nozzle  130  to massage the feet of the user accordingly. In some designs, a direction of the nozzle  130  is adjusted electronically. Many variations and modifications may be made to the operation and design of the nozzle  130  and its connection to the basin  112  without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention.  
         [0038]     The second exemplary embodiment shows that a plurality of nozzles  130  and a plurality of impellers  124  may be provided. As shown in  FIG. 6 , each nozzle  130  is connected to a separate impeller  124 , while the air inlets  126  feed each of the two impellers  124 . This individualized assignment of nozzle  130  to impeller  124  creates a balanced flow of water from the nozzles  130 . In alternative designs, multiple nozzles  130  may be fed by a single impeller  124 , a single nozzle  130  may be fed by multiple impellers  124 , or a plurality of nozzles  130  and impellers  124  may exist without any one-to-one correspondence between them. Many variations and modifications may be made to the operation and design of the nozzle  130  and impeller  124  relationship without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention.  
         [0039]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating the architecture, functionality, and operation of a possible implementation of the second exemplary embodiment of the footbath  110  of  FIG. 4 . In this regard, each block represents a module or segment, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified function(s). It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the flow charts. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved, as will be further clarified hereinbelow.  
         [0040]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the present invention can be viewed as providing a method  200  for heating water in a basin  112 . The method  200  shown in  FIG. 7  utilizes the second exemplary embodiment of the footbath  110  (block  202 ), as described above. Water is poured into the basin  112  (block  204 ), which results in the flow tube  120  at least partially filling with water. Then the heating element  122  in the flow tube  120  is heated (block  206 ), which heats the water in the flow tube  120  and the water in the basin  112 , which is in communication with the water in the flow tube  120 .  
         [0041]     Heating the heating element  122  (block  206 ) may involve heating the water to a temperature in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Heating the heating element  122  (block  206 ) may also involve heating the heating element  122  to a temperature in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit.  
         [0042]     The method  200  may further be adapted to take advantage of other features of the second exemplary embodiment of the footbath  110 . The method  200  further includes impelling water through the flow tube  120  with an impeller  124  (block  208 ). While not required, impelling water through the flow tube  120  allows the water in the basin  112  to reach a balanced, warm temperature more quickly. Air from an air inlet  26  may be impelled, along with the water, through the flow tube  120  with an impeller  124  (block  210 ). The method  200  may include adjusting the volume of air impelled (block  212 ) and adjusting a speed of the impeller  124  (block  214 ). Another adaptation of the method  200  includes adjusting a position of a nozzle  130  directing the flow of impelled air and water (block  216 ).  
         [0043]     It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims.