Abstract:
An ionic foot bath array for generating an ionic foot bath includes an upper rod support structure, at least one electrically non-conductive support structure leg depending downwards from the upper rod support structure and adapted to extend into and rest on the base wall of a basin in the water solution in which the ionic foot bath array is being placed and a plurality of generally cylindrical stainless steel ionic rods removably mounted and depending downwards from the upper rod support structure, each of the ionic rods having a diameter of at least one-half inch and extending generally parallel with one another in spaced-apart relationship in at least two generally parallel rows with at least one of the rows being positively charged and at least one of the rows being negatively charged.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to ionic foot baths and, more particularly, to an ionic foot bath array for generating an ionic foot bath which includes an upper rod support structure, at least one electrically non-conductive support structure leg depending downwards from the upper rod support structure and adapted to extend into and rest on the base wall of a basin in the water solution in which the ionic foot bath array is being placed and a plurality of generally cylindrical stainless steel ionic rods removably mounted and depending downwards from the upper rod support structure, each of the ionic rods having a diameter of at least one-half inch and extending generally parallel with one another in spaced-apart relationship in at least two generally parallel rows, at least one of the rows being positively charged and at least one of the rows being negatively charged. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Foot bath devices provide a relatively simple and expedient way in which a person can relieve tension and stress, thus increasing relaxation and providing a brief yet meaningful respite from the stress and strain of everyday life. Moreover, foot bath devices can be used to treat some ailments, and the rejuvenating properties of foot baths are likewise well-known. There are many different kinds of foot baths which are currently used, including vibrating liquid massage baths and small whirlpool-type baths, but one of the most useful type of foot baths currently used is the ionic foot bath. Whether the person using the ionic foot bath goes to a foot spa or has a home ionic foot bath, many health benefits may be obtained from the use thereof. 
         [0005]    The manner in which ionic foot baths function is generally the same, as will be described below. Ionic foot baths operate through a process called electrolysis. In this process, an electrical current is generated within the foot bath water which causes the molecules of water to divide producing negative ions. Once an abundance of these negative ions are present in the foot bath water, the body then absorbs the ions through osmosis, which is the movement of particles through a membrane from a higher concentration to a lower concentration. In this case the higher concentration refers to the negative ions produced by the ion field that is set up by placing electrodes into the water. As the vast majority of foreign contaminate matter found on the feet and within the body is positively charged, including such matter as harmful chemicals, heavy metals, parasites and other such materials, the negative ions are attracted to the positively charged foreign contaminates and bind with those foreign contaminates. The body then can readily eliminate the bound foreign contaminates through its own natural processes. The ionic foot bath thus provides more than mere refreshment and revitalization of the feet of the individual, but furthermore binds and removes foreign contaminates therefrom to clean and invigorate the feet. 
         [0006]    However, many ionic foot baths found in the prior art are difficult to assemble and use, and further, these foot baths quickly degrade during the production of ions, thus mandating frequent replacement of the ion production elements in the foot bath devices. There is therefore a need for an improved ionic foot bath array designed for use with ionic foot baths which provides significantly increased usable lifespan and further which may be quickly and easily used in many different basins, tubs, and other such water receptacles used for the foot bath. 
         [0007]    Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved ionic foot bath array. 
         [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved ionic foot bath array which includes its own support stand which rests within the basin in the water of the foot bath to render it easier to use the device in that the user need not fit the array to the particular basin in which he or she will be undertaking the foot bath. 
         [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved ionic foot bath array in which the depending ionic rods are generally cylindrical and have a diameter of at least one-half inch in order to provide extended lifespan for ion production. 
         [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved ionic foot bath array in which the generally cylindrical ionic rods are positioned generally parallel with one another depending from the upper support structure and are positioned in spaced-apart relationship of at least two generally parallel rows thereby forming an array of ionic rods between which current flows and produces ions in the water. 
         [0011]    Finally, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved ionic foot bath array which is relatively simple and durable in design and manufacture and is safe, efficient and effective in use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]    The present invention discloses an ionic foot bath array for generating an ionic foot bath which includes an upper rod support structure and at least one electrically non-conductive support structure leg depending downwards from the upper rod support structure for supporting the upper rod support in an elevated position, the support structure leg adapted to extend into and rest on the base wall of the basin in the water solution therein in which the ionic foot bath array is placed. A plurality of generally cylindrical stainless steel ionic rods are removably mounted on and depend downwards from the upper rod support structure. Each of these stainless steel ionic rods have a diameter of at least one-half inch, the ionic rods extending generally parallel with one another in spaced-apart relationship in at least two generally parallel rows thereby forming an array of ionic rods, with at least one of the rows being positively charged and at least one of the rows being negatively charged. 
         [0013]    The present invention thus provides a substantial improvement over those ionic foot bath devices found in the prior art. For example, because the ionic bars have increased diameters and are constructed of stainless steel, the ion production capacities of the ionic bars are increased and the usable lifespan thereof is likewise increased. This significantly decreases the need for replacing the ionic rods. Also, because the ionic rods are supported on the rod support structure which is supported within the basin in which the foot bath is taking place, there is far less likelihood that the foot bath array will not be positioned correctly within the basin as is encountered with several prior art devices which rest on the edges of the tub or basin in which they are being used. Finally, because the present invention includes ionic rods of increased size, the volume of ions generated by the present invention is increased, thus decreasing the amount of time necessary to conduct the foot bath while simultaneously increasing the efficiency of the foot bath. It is therefore seen that the present invention provides a substantial improvement over those ionic foot baths found in the prior art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a detailed perspective view of the improved ionic foot bath array of the present invention prepared for use in a basin; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a detailed perspective view of the ionic foot bath array of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the ionic foot bath array; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is an end elevational view of the present invention; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an ionic foot bath of the prior art. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]    The improved ionic foot bath array  10  of the present invention is shown best in  FIGS. 1-4  as including an ionic rod support structure  12  which includes an upper rod support structure  14  and two downwardly depending support structure legs  16   a  and  16   b  which are secured to the upper rod support structure  14  by a plurality of screws  18  or other such connection devices. In the preferred embodiment, the upper rod support structure  14  would be constructed of a conductive metal such as aluminum, although steel, brass, or copper could also be used, and would preferably be coated or constructed in such a manner as to preclude rusting or tarnishing due to contact with water, should such a coating be necessary. The upper rod support structure  14  would preferably have dimensions of approximately six to ten inches in length, two to four inches in width, and have a thickness of approximately one-half inch, and would further include a positive support bar  20  and a negative support bar  22  which extend generally parallel with one another and are spaced apart a sufficient distance to preclude arcing of the electrical current therebetween which would short-circuit the invention. 
         [0020]    In the preferred embodiment, the support structure legs  16   a  and  16   b  would be constructed of a transparent or translucent molded plastic material which is electrically non-conductive and is heat, impact and decay resistant. The support structure legs  16   a  and  16   b  would preferably be either molded or cut from a plastic material such as LEXAN® or the like, although the precise nature of the construction material used in connection with the support structure legs  16   a  and  16   b  is not particularly critical to the present invention so long as it is electrically non-conductive and provides a stable and secure support for the upper rod support structure  14 , hence the generally trapezoidal shape of the support structure legs  16   a  and  16   b , as shown best in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The support structure legs  16   a  and  16   b  thus would rest on the base wall  82  of basin  80  in which the foot bath is to take place, and it is an important feature of the present invention that the support structure legs  16   a  and  16   b  rest within the basin  80  instead of being connected to or replaced by the basin  80  itself, as shown in the prior art of  FIG. 5 . This design makes it far easier to use the ionic foot bath array  10  of the present invention, as basins of many different sizes and shapes may be used, and it is a relatively simple matter to insert the ionic foot bath array  10  of the present invention in the basin  80  for use therein. This improvement is not shown in the prior art. 
         [0021]    As the positive and negative support bars  20  and  22  are generally identical to one another in the preferred embodiment, the following description of positive support bar  20  should be understood to apply generally to negative support bar  22 . In the preferred embodiment, positive support bar  20  would include a plurality of vertical rod support holes  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c , and  24   c  which extend through the positive support bar  20 . These rod support holes  24   a - d  have diameters slightly in excess of the diameters of the ionic rods  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c , and  30   d  which extend therethrough and are supported within the rod support holes  24   a - d  by a plurality of set screws  26   a ,  26   b ,  26   c , and  26   d  which extend partially into the rod support holes  24   a - d . The set screws  26   a - d  may be tightened to frictionally engage the ionic rods  30   a - d  resting within the rod support holes  24   a - d  such that the ionic rods  30   a - d  now are depending from and are supported within the rod support holes  24   a - d . Of course, numerous other types of securement devices may be substituted for the rod support holes  24   a - d  and set screws  26   a - d  as described in the present invention, but it is found that the simplicity of the present securement system is a benefit to the present invention and the rod support holes  24   a - d  and set screws  26   a - d  function perfectly fine to secure the ionic rods  30   a - d  on the upper rod support structure  14 . 
         [0022]    The ionic rods  30   a - d  and  32   a - d  which are suspended from the positive and negative support bars  20  and  22 , as shown best in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , extend generally parallel with one another and are generally cylindrical in shape. A critical feature of the ionic rods  30   a - d  and  32   a - d , however, is that each ionic rod has a diameter of at least one-half inch which has been found to significantly increase the ion production lifespan of the ionic rods  30   a - d  and  32   a - d  as compared to those ion production devices found in the prior art. The expanded size of the ionic rods  30   a - d  and  32   a - d  is somewhat counter-intuitive, in that although production of ions is increased, it is also seemingly a requirement that the amperage being sent into the ionic foot bath array  10  would need to be increased to offset the increased size of the larger ionic rods  30   a - d  and  32   a - d . Although at first one would think that this increased amperage is potentially dangerous, in fact it has been found that with the increase in diameter of the ionic rods  30   a - d  and  32   a - d , the spacing between the ionic rods is decreased, thus offsetting the perceived need for increased amperage being passed through the ionic rods  30   a - d  and  32   a - d  for proper functioning of the ionic foot bath array  10  of the present invention. Therefore, although the sizes of the diameters of the ionic rods  30   a - d  and  32   a - d  have been increased to increase ion production and significantly increase the ion production lifespan of the ionic rods, the proximity adjustment between the ionic rods  30   a - d  and  32   a - d  ensures that the increase in amperage necessary to permit proper functioning of the present invention is relatively insignificant and will not affect the safety and efficiency of the present invention. 
         [0023]    In operation, the improved ionic foot bath array  10  of the present invention would function in the following manner. The ionic foot bath array  10  would be placed within the basin  80  with the support structure legs  16   a  and  16   b  resting on base wall  82  of base wall  80 . A direct current power supply  90  would then be connected to the ionic foot bath array  10  via electrical wires  92  and  94 , with electrical wire  94  being the negative wire connected to the negative support bar  22  at wire terminal  42  and positive electrical wire  92  being connected to positive support bar  20  at positive terminal  40 . The basin  80  would then be partially filed with water (not shown) and salts or other such minerals would be added to the water to allow the water to conduct electricity, as per common practice for ionic foot baths. The DC power supply  90  would then be turned on, thus feeding power to the ionic foot bath array  10  such that electrical current flows through the upper rod support structure  14  with the positive lead connected to the positive support bar  20  and the negative lead connected to the negative support bar  22 , and from there into the ionic rods  30   a - d  and  32   a - d  of the ionic foot bath array  10 . The positive current flowing in ionic rods  30   a - d  and negative connection of ionic rods  32   a - d  causes the electrical current to flow between the ionic rods  30   a - d  and  32   a - d  through the water to complete the circuit, thus producing negatively charged ions within the water due to the electrical charge passing through the array. This causes the molecules of the metals within the array, in combination with the water and other elements in the water, to divide thus generating positive and negative ions. These negative ions which are produced are then absorbed into the body through the feet via osmosis and this assists in the detoxification of the feet and, by extension, the body of the person using the ionic foot bath array  10  of the present invention. Once the detoxification process is completed, the DC power supply  90  is turned off and the ionic foot bath array  10  of the present invention is ready for another use. 
         [0024]    It is to be understood that numerous additions, modification and substitutions may be made to the ionic foot bath array  10  of the present invention which fall within the intended broad scope of the appended claims. For example, the size, shape, construction materials and number of ionic rods and rows thereof used in connection with the ionic foot bath array  10  of the present invention may be modified or changed so long as the diameter of the ionic rods  30   a - d  and  32   a - d  remain in excess of one-half inch and therefore the proper functioning of the ionic rods  30   a - d  and  32   a - d  is maintained. Furthermore, although the present invention has been described for use in connection with foot baths, it is entirely possible that the ionic foot bath array  10  of the present invention may be used in connection with bathing of other body parts, and such modifications would be understood by those skilled in the art of ionic bath treatments. Finally, although the present invention has been described as including positive and negative support bars  20  and  22 , it is entirely possible that multiple support bars may be used in connection with the present invention to increase the ion production capacity of the present invention. 
         [0025]    There has therefore been shown and described an ionic foot bath array  10  which accomplishes at least all of its intended objectives.