Abstract:
A hydrotherapy massage apparatus for the limbs of a patient having a water-tight chamber and a limb-receiving and surrounding waterproof, flexible sleeve extending longitudinally through an opening in the front wall of the chamber for insertion of the limb to be massaged into the chamber. At least one continuous hollow water head surrounds the sleeve and has opposed, peripherally spaced apart openings facing the sleeve through which water jets may be directed upon peripherally spaced apart portions of the limb within the sleeve.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This is a non-provisional application based upon U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/551,245, filed Mar. 9, 2004, now pending. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to hydrotherapy massage apparatus and, more particularly, to an apparatus which employs pulsating water jets surrounding a limb which is supported in a sleeve of waterproof material.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Hydromassage for therapeutic purposes has been practiced in many forms for many years. One form of hydromassage employs a tank or tub of water in which a patient immerses all or a portion of its body. Massage is achieved by forcing air into the tank to produce a whirlpool effect and/or introducing and removing water of contrasting temperature levels. In another form, water of predetermined temperature and pressure is introduced into the tank to produce a spiral or circulatory motion to the liquid. In still another form, the tank includes a plurality of water injection nozzles spaced around its inside surface for introducing a pulsating flow of water and air into the tank. However, it is inconvenient for most patients to get wet during the hydromassage. Accordingly, there have been developed numerous forms of hydromassage which employ waterproof coverings of one form or another to avoid wetting the patient during therapy. One such waterproof form uses a waterproof cuff surrounding the body portion to be treated and pulsating water is introduced either directly into the cuff or into coils within the cuff. In another waterproof form, the patient inserts a limb to be treated into an opening in a cabinet of multi wall construction. Water is introduced into the walls of the cabinet out of contact with the patient for applying fluid pressure at spaced locations along the limb.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,076 to Thomsen discloses a water jet massage apparatus for the entire body of a patient. The apparatus employs pulsating water jets positioned above a reclining patient with a waterproof sheet of flexible material interposed between the patient&#39;s body and the water jet heads in order to assure that the patient remains dry. The waterproof sheet comprises the bottom wall of the lid of the massage apparatus, which itself is elongated, hollow, completely enclosed and water tight and is supported above the patient, with the flexible, waterproof bottom wall overlying the patient, as the patient reclines on a base. A laterally extending water manifold supports a plurality of pulsating jets in a configuration whereby the jets of water are directed onto the flexible bottom wall of the lid. The manifold is arranged for longitudinal rolling movement on side rail tracks extending substantially along the full length of the lid and along the length of the reclined patient. After striking the bottom wall of the lid, the spent water drains into gutters from which it is recycled into a water reservoir for reheating and reuse.  
         [0005]     Notwithstanding the foregoing prior art attempts to provide hydrotherapy apparatus, none are particularly suitable or effective for applying hydrotherapy to a patients limbs, particularly its arms. It should be apparent that efforts to date suffer from one or more shortcomings which make the apparatus unnecessarily complicated, expensive or insufficiently effective in use. Accordingly, there still exists a need for an economical, simple and effective apparatus for limb hydrotherapy massage by utilizing pulsating and impacting jets of water while assuring that the patient remains dry throughout.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a hydrotherapy massage apparatus, especially for the limbs of an individual, which allows the individual to remain dry and fully clothed throughout the therapy.  
         [0007]     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a hydrotherapy massage apparatus which utilizes pulsating jets of water which impact the limb to be treated around its entire periphery as well as along its entire length.  
         [0008]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a hydrotherapy massage apparatus utilizing water jet rings surrounding the limb for providing pulsating jets of water which alternately impact the limb at different positions around the limb periphery.  
         [0009]     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a hydrotherapy massage apparatus which allows either the user or the operator control over the massaging action of the jets.  
         [0010]     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a hydrotherapy apparatus apparatus which is economical to manufacture and use.  
         [0011]     The foregoing and other objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention by providing a hydrotherapy massage apparatus for the limbs of a patient comprising:  
         [0012]     a water-tight, elongate limb-receiving chamber comprising front, back, top, bottom and side walls, a limb-receiving waterproof, flexible sleeve extending longitudinally in said chamber, an opening defined in the front wall of the chamber and communicating with said sleeve through which the limb to be massaged is inserted into said chamber, said sleeve adapted to surround said limb in said chamber;  
         [0013]     at least two hollow water heads spaced apart about the periphery of said sleeve within said chamber and mounted for longitudinal movement along the length of said sleeve in said chamber, each said head having at least one opening facing said sleeve through which water jets may be directed upon peripherally spaced apart portions of said limb within said sleeve;  
         [0014]     means for providing pulsating jets of water under pressure to said openings;  
         [0015]     means for moving said water heads longitudinally, back and forth, along at least a portion of the limb within said sleeve; and  
         [0016]     means for draining water expelled through said openings from said water tight chamber.  
         [0017]     In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a hydrotherapy massage apparatus for the limbs of a patient including a continuous hollow water head surrounding said sleeve within said chamber, said water head having peripherally spaced apart openings facing the sleeve.  
         [0018]     In still another aspect of the invention, there is provided a hydrotherapy massager for the limbs of a patient including hollow continuous hollow water heads longitudinally spaced apart along the sleeve, each of the water heads surrounding the sleeve within the chamber and having peripherally spaced apart openings facing the sleeve.  
         [0019]     In yet another aspect of the invention , there is provided a hydrotherapy massager for the limbs of a patient wherein the longitudinally spaced apart continuous hollow water heads are ring tori and each ring torus has a first set of one or more openings positioned diametrically opposed to a second set of one or more openings and wherein the diameters connecting the first and second sets of openings in each torus form an angle with each other, the angle being desirably about 90°.  
         [0020]     In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of massaging the limbs of a patient with pulsating jets of water comprising the steps of surrounding and enclosing the limb to be massaged with a waterproof, flexible sleeve, surrounding said sleeve with at least two hollow water heads having spaced apart openings facing said sleeve, directing pulsating jets of water against the sleeve from said spaced apart openings while, at the same time, moving said water head longitudinally, back and forth, along said sleeve to massage longitudinally spaced portions of the limb within said sleeve while, at the same time, massaging peripherally spaced portions of the limb.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective transparent view of the hydrotherapy arm massager of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the arm receiving enclosure with the walls cut away to show the features of the interior thereof.  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the water supply enclosure with the walls cut away to show the features of the interior thereof.  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an individual with his arm positioned within the arm receiving cabinet receiving hydrotherapy massage.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the underside of the torus support and slide plates.  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the torus support and slide plates and the chain drive mechanism therefor.  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is a cutaway perspective view showing the arm sleeve mounted to the arm receiving cabinet and the support means for the sleeve.  
         [0028]      FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  are perspective views showing, separately, each of two tori and the positioning of the nozzles therein.  
         [0029]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the water pulsing and distribution valve for use with the hydrotherapy arm massager of the present invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 10  is a block diagram showing the control circuitry for the hydrotherapy arm massager.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0031]     The hydrotherapy arm massager, as shown in  FIGS. 1-9 , generally includes a water-tight, preferably stainless steel, fiberglass, plastic or combinations thereof, arm enclosure  10  having an end wall  12  through which a patient&#39;s arm is inserted into the interior massage chamber  14 . Remote from the end wall  12  and adjacent massage chamber  14 , but separated therefrom by waterproof bulkhead  16 , is a control chamber  18  which houses an electric motor, drive gears, control electronics, an optional cooling fan  138  and an optional encoder  136 , all as will be discussed more fully hereinafter. The open end of a waterproof, flexible one-size-fits-all sleeve  20  communicates with and extends into chamber  14  from opening  22  formed in end wall  12 . Sleeve  20  loosely receives the arm of a patient and is appropriately dimensioned for that purpose. The end of sleeve  20  within chamber  14  is closed so that the patient&#39;s arm is protected from direct contact with the water expelled from water jets, which provide the hydrotherapy massage. It is desirable that the material from which the sleeve  20  is formed, e.g., vinyl, rubber, or other flexible, material, be not only waterproof but also as thin as possible in order to maximize the massage sensation of water striking the patient&#39;s protected arm. In another form of the invention, sleeve  20  is elastic, stretchable and tight fitting, and formed of as thin a material as possible. Sleeve  20  is supported by at least two longitudinally extending, i.e., in the direction of the inserted arm, plastic or metal rods  21  supported from bulkhead  16  and wall  12 , so that the patient may rest its arm upon the rods when the arm is in chamber  14 . In lieu of rods, other means of arm support may be utilized, such as a waterproof net suspended between bulkhead  16  and wall  12 .  
         [0032]     Massage is accomplished within the chamber  14  by introducing water into the chamber and directing it in a pulsating manner onto the arm of the patient covered by sleeve  20 . The impact of the water upon the sleeve forces the sleeve into contact with the patient&#39;s arm, if it wasn&#39;t already in such contact. By using water under pressure and directing pulsating jets of water, alternately, at different locations around the periphery of the arm, while at the same time causing the water jets to move longitudinally along the length of the arm, the entire arm, or any selected portion of it, can be hydromassaged.  
         [0033]     Water jets  30  are positioned circumferentially spaced apart about at least a portion of a first ring torus  32  to which pulsating water under pressure is supplied. Torus  32  is mounted on a torus support plate  34  which is mounted on slide plate  36  for longitudinal sliding movement along the length of sleeve  20 , which extends through torus  32 . In a preferred embodiment, shown in the FIGURES, a second ring torus  38  is mounted on the opposite side of torus support plate  34 , so that torus  38  is in back-to-back relationship with torus  32 , and both torus  32  and torus  38  are moved longitudinally along the length of sleeve  20 .  
         [0034]     The movement of slide plate  34  is controlled by means of a longitudinal movement control  50 . In the preferred embodiment, a pair of laterally spaced apart, longitudinally extending rails  40  extend along the length of chamber  14  and are supported by bulkhead  16  and wall  12 . Sliding plate  36  has a wall  42  depending from each lateral side thereof and the rails  40  are so positioned within chamber  14  that the slide plate  36  rests upon the rails  40  with the depending walls  42  along the outsides of the rails  40 , so that slide plate  36  straddles the rails  40 , as can most clearly be seen in  FIG. 5 . Extending inwardly from the inside of walls  40  are rollers  44  which ride above and below rails  40  to hold the slide plate  36  on the rails and to facilitate its smooth movement along the rails. Depending from the underside of slide plate  36  are lugs  46  which attach to chain  48  of the longitudinal movement control  50 . Chain  48  is desirably mounted on a plastic block chain support  49  and runs in a groove  51  formed therein. Chain  48  is driven by a reversible DC gear stepper motor  52  which is housed within control chamber  18 . Alternatively, the longitudinal control means could be a screw type cam rod, which feeds through a screw feed support on the torus support plate  34  and which is driven by a stepper motor through reduction gears. In another alternative, the longitudinal control means could be a cable assembly driven by a motor and using drive pulleys, as is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,076.  
         [0035]     Water under pressure is drawn from a reservoir  60 , which feeds the suction of a pump  62  driven by an electric motor  64 . The pump outlet  66  provides water into the inlet  68  of a pulsating and distributing valve  70 . A central spindle  100  of valve  70  rotates under the power of a pulse control DC motor  71 , for supplying pulsating water, alternately, to two outlets  106 , 108 , connected via flexible plastic hoses  76 , 78 , which pass through the bottom of pan  84  to the inlets  80 , 82  of each of the tori  32 , 38 . Increasing the frequency of rotation of spindle  100  of valve  70  increases the pulsating water jet frequency. It will be appreciated that by virtue of pulsating and distributing valve  70  supplying pulsating water, alternately, to each of its outlets, pulsating water is fed alternately to each of the tori.  
         [0036]     In a preferred embodiment, the water jets  30  on each torus  32 , 38  are positioned at different circumferential positions. For example, a furst series of circumferentially spaced apart jets  30  on torus  32  may advantageously be positioned between about 10-11 o&#39;clock and a second series of circumferentially spaced apart jets may be positioned diametrically opposed between about 4-5 o&#39;clock on torus  32 , as you view torus  32  from arm opening  22  (the top center of the torus is 12 o&#39;clock). On torus  38 , which is positioned on the back side of torus  32 , a first series of circumferentially spaced apart jets  30  may be positioned between about 7-8 o&#39;clock and a second series of jets may be positioned diametrically opposed between about 1-2 o&#39;clock as you view torus  38  from arm opening  22  (the jets on torus  38  appear to be at 10-11 o&#39;clock and 4-5 o&#39;clock as you view torus  38  from control chamber  18 , see  FIG. 8   b ). Thus, it can be seen that the diameters connecting the first and second series of jets on each torus  32 , 38  form an angle with each other and that the angle is desirably about 90°. It is preferred when, as here, the patient&#39;s arm is not securely held within arm receiving chamber  14  that the water jets on each torus are diametrically opposed so that the force of the water jets striking the patient&#39;s arm does not cause the patient&#39;s arm to move. It will be appreciated, at any instant in time, an arm positioned in sleeve  20  will be subjected to jet streams of water from the jets  30  on torus  32  and, at the next instant from the jets  30  on torus  38 . Thus, during each brief interval, certain circumferential positions on the arm are being struck by water jets and, shortly thereafter, other circumferential positions on the arm are being struck by the water jets.  
         [0037]     During the course of a hydrotherapy massage, support plate  34  mounting tori  32 ,  38  makes a longitudinal sweep along the length of the patient&#39;s arm and, when it reaches one end of its sweep, reverses direction and makes another longitudinal sweep until it reaches the other end of its sweep, whereupon it reverses direction again, and this sweeping in alternate directions continues throughout the massage session. Electrical limit switches or sensors (not shown) fixed at each end of the sweep, for example, on the inside walls of the interior massage chamber  14 , and keyed to the position of the support plate  34 , limit the maximum length of a sweep. A pair of longitudinally slidable electrical switches or repositionable sensors (not shown) positioned intermediate the limit switches or sensors are slidable/repositionable between the limit positions to define a smaller length of sweep, for example if it is desired to focus the massage on a particular portion of the arm, such as the wrist. A control is provided, operable either by the patient or the operator, to cause the longitudinal sweeping of the support plate  34  to stop in order to massage a particular location on a patient&#39;s arm.  
         [0038]     In another embodiment of the invention, at least one torus is provided with circumferentially spaced apart, diametrically opposed openings facing the sleeve  20 . The at least one torus is caused to rotate about a central axis parallel to the patient&#39;s arm to massage circumferentially different locations on the arm as the torus rotates and makes a longitudinal sweep along the patient&#39;s arm.  
         [0039]     During a massage, the jet streams of water impact, desirably from diametrically opposed jets, alternately on different circumferential, and impact on different longitudinal, positions of the sleeve  20 . After the water streams strike the sleeve, the water drips off and is collected at the bottom of pan  84 , which includes a drain outlet at the bottom. In a preferred form of the invention, the floor of pan  84  is inclined toward a pan drain outlet. The water from the drain is conducted, via conduit  86  to the inlet  88  of reservoir  60 , and is recycled through the pump  62  and valve  70  to tori  32 , 38 . Water within the reservoir  60  may be heated by means of a water heating element  90  immersed in the liquid within reservoir  60 .  
         [0040]     Pulsating and distributing valve  70 , as shown in  FIG. 9 , is a DC motor driven valve which receives water under pressure from pump  62  into one end  68  of a longitudinally extending hollow spindle  100  which is caused to rotate by the DC motor  71 . The spindle  100  is rotatably received in two longitudinally spaced apart housings  102 ,  104 , each having a single outlet opening. As can be seen in  FIG. 9 , housing  102  is generally cube shaped, having an opening in one face  102   a  for rotatably receiving spindle  100  and a corresponding opening in opposite face  102   b  through which spindle  100  can pass and be rotatably received into an opening in face  104   a  of cube-shaped enclosure  104 . Spindle  100  terminates within enclosure  104 . Enclosure  102  has an outlet opening  106  in face  102   c  and enclosure  104  has an outlet opening  108  in face  104   d,  which opens in a direction opposite to the direction in which opening  106  faces. Spindle  100  has a first opening  100   a,  which is positioned to allow water that flows under pressure into spindle  100  to flow out of opening  106  in enclosure  102  at one rotational position of spindle  100 . Spindle  100  has a second opening  100   b  (not shown) longitudinally downstream of opening  100   a  which is positioned to allow water that flows under pressure into spindle  100  to flow out of opening  108  in enclosure  104  at a rotational position of spindle  100  which is 180° out of phase with the rotational position of spindle  100  when opening  100   a  is aligned with opening  106 . When opening  100   a  is in registry with opening  106 , opening  100   b  is not in registry with opening  108 . Conversely, when opening  100   b  is in registry with opening  108 , opening  100   a  is not in registry with opening  106 . Thus, as spindle  100  is rotated by its DC motor, it alternately allows water under pressure to flow out of openings  106  and  108 , thereby creating a pulsating flow of water which is fed by hoses  76 , 78  to the inlets  80 , 82  of tori  32 , 38 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 10  shows a preferred embodiment of the main control circuitry used to provide control functions to massager  10 . Control functions are implemented by means of a processor or embedded processor device, like a microcontroller  142  that receives input control information from the user via remote control  143 , and input information from a water temperature sensor  144 , water level sensor  145 , circuit temperature sensor  146  and encoder  136 . Microcontroller  142  also instigates control through a series of control circuits  147 ,  148 ,  149 ,  150  and  151  for controlling the water heater  90 , pulsator motor  71 , water pump  62 , optional cooling fan  138  and stepper motor  52 , respectively. Control circuit  147  is a dc-controlled ac on/off switch such as an SCR-type circuit, or relay, that turns on/off water heater  90 . Alternatively, the circuit can thermostatically control water heater  90  to achieve a desired water temperature. Control circuit  148  is a dc-controlled ac motor speed-controlled circuit that alters the speed of pulsator motor  64 . control circuit  149  is a dc-controlled ac-powered variable control circuit that alters the power deliver to pump  62 . Control circuit  150  is a dc-controlled ac on/off switch, such as an SCR-type circuit, or relay, that turns on/off optional cooling fan  138 . Control circuit  151  is a dc controlled stepper motor drive circuit that sets the stepping rate and stepping direction of stepper motor  52 . Encoder  136  is linked to longitudinal movement control  50  to record the position of support plate  34 , which is used by microcontroller  142  to determine the position of turi  32 ,  38  relative to the minimum and maximum sweep positions.  
         [0042]     Power is supplied to all electronics via a power supply unit  153 , which receives mains ac power  154  and provides a mains-level ac power port  155  fed to circuits  147 ,  148 ,  149  and  150 . Supply  153  also provides regulated dc port  156   a  for logic circuits, such as microcontroller  142 . Supply  153  provides an additional dc port  156   b  that is fed to circuit  151 .  
         [0043]     Referring to  FIG. 10 , ON/OFF button  157  of remote control  143  acts to turn on/off main power to the massager  10 . Heater ON/OFF button  158 , and pump ON/OFF button  159  are used to selectively turn on/off heater  90  and pump  62 , respectively, once main power is on. Select button  160  is used to select water pressure level of water jets  30 , pulse rate implemented by valve  70 , sweep speed of tori  32 , 38 , sweep range of tori  32 , 38  between minimum and maximum positions or to cause tori  32 , 38  to cease longitudinal motion in order to massage a single location on the patient&#39;s arm, duration (time) of massage session, and temperature of water. Arrow buttons  161 ,  162 ,  163 ,  164  are used to alter function characteristics, such as pressure level, sweep range points, speed of tori  32 , 38  travel, sweep duration and temperature, all of which are displayed on a LCD or LED display  165 . Sweep/hold button  166  is used to pause or hold the motion of tori  32 , 38  during its programmed sweep.  
         [0044]     The present invention has been described in terms of an arm massager. However, it will be appreciated that a like massager, perhaps modified slightly in its dimensions, could be used to provide hydrotherapy massage to the leg of a patient. While the present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design other than as defined in the appended claims.