Patent Publication Number: US-2004049842-A1

Title: Remote control bath mat blower unit

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to a blower unit for a bath mat. More particularly, the present invention relates to a blower unit for a bath mat that provides an aerated bubbling, therapeutic massage. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention also provides a remote control unit that controls the operation of a control assembly of the blower unit via a wireless communication protocol. The remote control unit may be connected to the blower unit.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art  
       [0004] Examples of bubbling bath mats demonstrating the state of the art can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,090,403; 5,080,091; 4,962,759; 4,417,568; 4,409,693; and 3,809,073. In addition, German Patent Nos. 2,854,503 and 4,033,021 also reflect the state of the art.  
       [0005] All of the above patents provide bubbling bath mats that introduce air into a body of water through a number of apertures located in an upper and/or side surface of the bath mat. However, the prior art bath mats lack the convenient operation desired by a user. It is not convenient for the user to exit the bathtub in order to operate a control disposed on the blower unit. Remote control of the bath mat blower unit would be advantageous. However, a blower unit having a remote control that controls operation of the blower unit via a wireless communication protocol may become misplaced, damaged, or even pose a hazard in the operating environment of a bubbling bat mat.  
       [0006] A preferred embodiment of the present invention addresses the above-mentioned deficiencies by providing a bubbling bath mat blower unit having the convenience of a remote control unit that is securely, safely, and conveniently connected to the blower unit, yet the remote control unit can control the functions of the blower unit via a wireless communication protocol.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a blower unit for a bubbling bath mat having a remote control unit.  
       [0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide such a remote control unit that is securely and conveniently connected to the blower unit by a connector.  
       [0009] It is still a further object of the present invention to provide such a remote control unit connected to the housing by a retractable connector.  
       [0010] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by the blower unit for a bubbling bath mat. The blower unit of the present invention includes a housing preferably having an air pump, a control assembly, a remote control, and preferably a connector for connecting the remote control to the blower unit. The remote control unit controls the operation of the blower unit&#39;s functions via a wireless communication protocol. Preferably, the remote control unit is connected to the blower unit. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a blower unit for a bubbling bath mat of the present invention with a remote control unit connected to the blower unit;  
     [0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary bath mat for use with the blower unit of the present invention;  
     [0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the blower unit for a bubbling bath mat with a remote control unit connected to the housing of the blower unit by a connector, in accordance with the present invention;  
     [0014]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the blower unit of FIG. 1, in which the remote control unit is connected to the housing of the blower unit by a retractable connector, in accordance with the present invention;  
     [0015]FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the blower unit of FIG. 4, in which the remote control unit is connected to the blower unit by a retractable connector in accordance with the present invention;  
     [0016]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the blower unit of FIG. 1, in which the remote control unit is connected to the housing of the blower unit by a coiled connector; and  
     [0017]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the blower unit of FIG. 6;  
     [0018]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
     [0019]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0020] Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a blower unit for a bath mat in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention generally represented by reference numeral  10 . Blower unit  10  can be removably connected to the bath mat  100  by an air hose  140 . Heated and pressurized air generated in blower unit  10  is directed through air hose  140  into bath mat  100 . A user rests on bath mat  100  within, for example, a bath tub for a relaxing aerated, heated massage. The user can selectively control the aerated and heating sensations generated in the blower unit with a remote control  30 . Typically, blower unit  10  may be placed adjacent to the bath tub on a floor and bath mat  100  placed in the bath tub for the user to selectively lie on top of the bath mat.  
     [0021] With reference to FIG. 2, bath mat  100  includes a receptacle for which heated and/or pressurized air may enter the bath mat from air hose  140 . Bath mat  100  may be made of a flexible material, a vinyl, or any suitable material having a surface that imparts beneficial aspects upon the user. Bath mat  100  may also have a plurality of longitudinally disposed segments including head segment  105  and body segments  110 ,  115 ,  120  and  125  that extend the longitudinal length of bath mat  100 . Preferably, segments  105 ,  110 ,  115 ,  120  and  125  are made of a semi-rigid material.  
     [0022] Head segment  105  has an air distributor controller  130 . Preferably, air distributor controller  130  has an air inlet orifice  135  for receiving and engaging hose  140 . Head segment  105  is connected to segment  110  by two or more air channels. Preferably, the air channels include at least two outer channels  145  and at least two inner channels  150 . Outer channels  145  and inner channels  150  can extend substantially the entire longitudinal length of bath mat  100  and to flexibly traverse joints  155 . Outer channels  145  preferably run along opposing outer edges of bath mat  100  in the longitudinal direction. Inner channels  150  preferably run along an inner portion of mat  100  in the longitudinal direction.  
     [0023] Each segment  110 ,  115 ,  120 , and  125  preferably has one or more apertures  175  randomly distributed throughout a surface of each segment. Preferably, apertures  175  are sized differently. Segments  110 ,  115 ,  120 , and  125  can be flexibly hinged together in any suitable manner, but preferably by link hinges  156  laterally spaced and diametrically opposed along the outer edge of bubbling bath mat  100  at one or more joints  155 . In this manner, heated and pressurized air generated within blower unit  10  is released through apertures  175  to provide the user with a relaxing heat, aerated sensation.  
     [0024] Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown blower unit  10  with remote control  30 . Blower unit  10  has a housing  15 . In housing  15 , there is an air pump, a control assembly, a transmitter, a heater, (all of which are not shown), a cradle  20 , a remote control  30 , and a connector  45  for connecting the remote control to blower unit  10 . The air pump, control assembly, transmitter and heater are all conventionally known. The heater may be a thermally conductive plate, a heater wire, a positive thermal coefficient heater or in-line heater disposed in housing  15 . The pump may be a centrifugal pump, a gear pump, a piston pump, a vane pump, a rotor or any other device or method suitable for pumping the heated air through the air hose  140  to the bath mat  100 . Housing  15  has a number of legs  16  disposed on the exterior thereof for supporting blower unit  10  on a support surface in a stable manner, preferably adjacent to the bath tub. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that housing  15  may be formed as a “U” shaped member or any other suitable shape to house the pump, the heater and the operational components of the blower unit.  
     [0025] Housing  15  also has an aperture  12  for connecting air hose  140  to bath mat  100 . The blower unit  10  is connected to bath mat  100  by air hose  140  in a suitable airtight manner to direct air into the bath mat. Air hose  140  may be made from any suitable thermoplastic material that allows heated and pressurized air to communicate with bath mat  100 . Air hose  140  is suitable to interface with aperture  12 . Aperture  12  preferably has a diameter about the same diameter as air hose  140  such that air hose  140  may selectively interface with aperture. In this manner, the user may removably detach air hose  140  from blower unit  10  and bath mat  100  for storage purposes. Thus, a user resting on top of bath mat  100 , in for example, the bath tub may enjoy a relaxing aerated massaging sensation from air circulated from the pump (not shown) in blower unit  10  to the user&#39;s skin tissues.  
     [0026] An exemplary aspect of the present invention is that remote control  30  is connected to blower unit  10 . The housing  15  has a cradle  20 . Cradle  20  is intended for storing remote control unit  30  therein. Cradle  20  may be a longitudinally shaped notch structure formed in the exterior of the housing or in the interior space of housing  15 . Cradle  20  may also have a translucent plate  25  that extends from the top side of blower unit  10  for selectively engaging remote control unit  30 . Cradle  20  may be any suitable shape for receiving and preferably securing remote control unit  30  with the cradle. Cradle  20  is preferably constructed of a durable thermoplastic material and may have a detent or other retaining device for removably holding remote control unit  30  in the cradle.  
     [0027] Housing  15  also has a receiver  14 . Receiver  14  receives a wireless communication protocol signal, for example, an infrared, a radio frequency, or other type of signal, either analog or digital, from remote control unit  30 . Receiver  14  is electrically connected to a control assembly (not shown) disposed in housing  15  for controlling the various functions of blower unit  10  such as the heater, the pump, an infrared therapy device, a vibration device, and a cooling device.  
     [0028] As can be understood from the drawings, remote control unit  30  is intended to be grasped by the hand and may be waterproof. Remote control unit  30  may be oblong with a top side  32 , a bottom side  34 , and a rear side  36 . In an aspect hereof, top side  32  has one or more buttons  38 . Button(s)  38  may be any configuration that corresponds and permits control of the operational and functional capabilities of blower unit  10  via remote control unit  30 . For example, the button(s)  38  may include a heater button, an air pump activation/deactivation button, a cooling button, a vibration feature activation/deactivation button, an infrared therapy activation/deactivation button, a timer button, or any combinations thereof.  
     [0029] In an aspect of the present invention, remote control unit  30  has a transmitter (not shown) disposed in the remote control unit adjacent to a translucent plate  36 . The translucent plate  36  facilitates transmission of the control signal from the transmitter of remote control unit  30  of blower unit  10 . The transmitter may emit an infrared, a radio frequency, or other type of signal, either digital or analog, through plate  36  to receiver  14  disposed within blower unit  10  for receiving the transmitted signal for controlling the various operational functions of the blower unit. Preferably, the signal is an infrared signal or a radio frequency (RF) signal. One skilled in the art should appreciate that remote control unit  30  may be fabricated in a watertight manner such that the remote control unit  30  will not be damaged upon exposure to liquid.  
     [0030] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, receiver  14  may be located in cradle  20 , such that signals from remote control unit  30  may be received by transmitter (not shown) when remote control unit is seated in the cradle. In this manner, the need for control button(s)  38  on blower unit  10  is obviated. In another aspect of the present invention, remote control unit  30  may include a magnet, a hook and loop fastener, an adhesive or any combinations thereof for removably connecting the remote control unit  30  to the blower unit  10 .  
     [0031] As shown on FIGS. 3 through 6 remote control unit  30  is connected to blower unit  10  by a connector  45 . Referring to FIG. 3, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a post  40  having an aperture therethrough is connected to an exterior surface of housing  15 . Post  40  may be any horizontal or vertical support structure having an aperture for securing remote control unit  30  to blower unit  10 . One end of connector  45  is connected to post  40  and a second end of connector  45  is connected to remote control unit  30 . In this manner, remote control unit  30  may be conveniently and securely attached to blower unit  10  to obviate the user from losing, misplacing or damaging the remote control unit. Connector  45  may include a nylon cord, a sheathed wire, a chain, or other, preferably flexible, material.  
     [0032] As shown on FIGS. 4 and 5, remote control unit  30  may be attached or connected to blower unit  10  by retractable connector  50 . Retractable connector  50  may be disposed on an exterior surface of housing  15 , disposed in blower unit  10  or on an interior surface of cradle  20 . Referring to a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown on FIG. 5, retractable connector  50  may be disposed in the interior of blower unit  10 . Retractable connector  50  is preferably wound around exemplary spindle  55 .  
     [0033] Spindle  55  may have a housing  56  connected to an interior surface of blower unit  10 . Spindle  55  is preferably biased with a spring or coil disposed in housing  56  such that retractable connector  50  retracts with a sufficient force to wind and pull remote control unit  30  from a remote location to a location substantially adjacent to blower unit  10 . In this manner, by retracting remote control unit  30 , the remote control unit avoids being lost, misplaced, and or damaged. Furthermore, remote control unit  30  can be quickly and conveniently retrieved and stored using retractable connector  50  after the user is comfortably resting on bath mat  100  in, for example a bath tub.  
     [0034] Referring to FIG. 6, remote control unit  30  may be connected to blower unit  10  by an exemplary coiled cord  60 . Coiled cord  60  may be connected around post  40 . Coiled cord  60  may be any slender length member of flexible material used to bind remote control unit  30  with post  40  disposed on blower unit  10 . Coiled cord  60  preferably provides tension sufficient to retract remote control unit  30  from a remote location to a position adjacent blower unit  10 . In yet another preferred embodiment shown on FIG. 7, coiled cord  60  may be connected to a lateral flange of housing  15 . In this manner, coiled cord  60  prevents remote control unit  30  from becoming lost, misplaced, or damaged.  
     [0035] Referring again to FIG. 1, bath mat  100  is shown connected to blower unit  10  by hose  140 . Bath mat  100  preferably releases warm aerating bubbles that at least maintains the water temperature of, for example, a bath tub. The function of aeration, as well as other functions, may be controlled in response to a wireless communication protocol signal transmitted from remote control unit  30  attached or connected by connector  45  to blower unit  10 . The pressurized air is routed to bath mat  100  via air hose  140 .  
     [0036] In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown on FIG. 8, blower unit  10  may also include a remote control unit  30  that is selectively separable from blower unit  10  and/or not connected to blower unit  10 . The remote control  30  may be waterproof and wirelessly transmit a control signal to the control assembly disposed in housing  15 . The remote control unit  30  may have a disengageable connector, a hook and loop fastener, a tether, a wire, a reel or any other suitable connector. The control signal may include an infrared signal or a radio frequency signal. The signals will control the operational functions of blower unit  10 . In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, blower unit  10  can include an ionic/ozone producing assembly (not shown) for introducing ions into the heated and pressurized air which in turn is routed to bath mat  100  via air hose  140 .  
     [0037] In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown on FIG. 9, blower unit  10  has a remote control unit  31  connected to the blower unit. Remote control unit  31  is attached to the control assembly (not shown) in the blower unit  10  by an insulated and waterproof electrical wire  62 . The electrical wire  62  is suitable to communicate an analog or a digital signal through the wire to control unit (not shown) of the blower unit. The signals in the rectangular control unit  31  travel through the wire to control the operational functions of blower unit  10 .  
     [0038] It should also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the particular functions and other aspects of blower unit  10  with remote control  30  discussed herein are but examples of the present invention.  
     [0039] It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the present invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances.