Abstract:
A steam foot bath device that includes a steam output vent, a steam basin, a water reservoir to be heated to produce steam, a boiler for producing steam, and multiple control devices including a remote control as well as a control panel on the body of the device. Alternate embodiments of the present invention include a detachable remote control that serves as a body control panel when selectively affixed to the body.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/964,364 filed on Oct. 13, 2004, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/510,973 filed on Oct. 14, 2003, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to footbath devices for therapy or comfort and, more particularly, to steam footbath devices.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     It is known in the art to provide various types of footbaths and foot spa therapy devices. Typical footbaths utilize water that is heated, so that a user&#39;s feet may be submerged into the heated water. At least one known device utilizes steam that can be released into a footbath basin that is similar in construction to a water-type footbath. Such a device lacks convenient and versatile controls in order to vary functions among optional modes.  
       OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     It is an object of the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art mentioned above. These and other objects are achieved by the present invention described herein.  
         [0007]     The present invention is directed to a steam footbath device that includes a steam output vent, a steam basin, a water reservoir to be heated to produce steam, a boiler for producing steam, and multiple control devices including a remote control as well as a control panel on the body of the device. Alternative embodiments of the present invention include a detachable remote control that serves as a body control panel when selectively affixed to the device body. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of a device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing an open lid mode.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a removable water tank and steam vent.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4A  is a side cross-sectional view of the body according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4B  is a front cross-sectional view of the body according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a side perspective view according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of a component of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a schematic of a component of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is an electronic control circuit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is an infrared remote control circuit diagram according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  is an infrared receiver circuit diagram according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     A preferred embodiment of the present invention steam foot bath  10  is shown in  FIG. 1 . The bath  10  comprises a body  12  that has a base  14  and a basin  16  formed therein. A lid  22  that is moveable between a closed position as shown in  FIG. 1  and an open position as shown in  FIG. 2  is provided. A hinge  23  or multiple hinges can be used to enable the lid  22  to be pivoted between positions. When the foot bath  10  is being operated, the lid  22  can be placed in the closed position to act as a splash guard. In an alternate embodiment, the lid  22  can be spring loaded so that the lid is biased toward the closed position.  
         [0020]     A steam vent  18  is provided in the basin  16  to emit steam into the basin  16 . The steam can be generated by first filling a removable water tank  20  with water and replacing the water tank  20  into the body  12  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Once placed in the body  12 , the water from the tank  20  can travel through valves  28  and conduits  30  to a boiler  32  or heater tank housed in the body  12 , as can be seen in  FIG. 4A . A heater  34  within the body  12  heats the water and converts it to steam.  
         [0021]     As shown in  FIG. 4B , a fan  36 , powered by a motor  38 , creates ventilation so that the steam may flow away from the boiler  32  and toward a steam outlet or vent  18 . The fan  36  enables the steam to flow out from the vent  18  gently and evenly. In an alternate embodiment, the steam may flow out through the vent  18  under its own pressure. In a preferred embodiment, a steam cover  40  on top of the vent  18  directs the steam downward into the basin. The steam cover  40  also acts to prevent direct contact with the vent  18 . One or more vents  18  may be implemented in the basin  16 . The vent  18  may or may not be provided with flow control mechanisms including partially closeable louvers  42  and/or louvers  42  that may be aimed to direct the vapor flow.  
         [0022]     A control unit  24  is provided having buttons that are connected to an electronic control circuit. An electronic control circuit is shown in  FIG. 8 . Various functions are controlled by the unit  24 , such as power, steam, vibrations, water jets and heat, for example. The unit  24 , in a preferred embodiment, is mounted as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  to be a body control panel, and is removable as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  to be used as a wireless remote control. The remote control can be selectively attached to the body through the use of a magnet  44 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , or by any other applicable means. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the remote control  24  may be tethered by a cord  26  to the body  12 . In another embodiment, the remote control  24  can have buttons to operate the footbath  10 , in addition to a control panel located on the body  12 .  FIG. 9  shows an exemplary infrared remote control circuit diagram and  FIG. 10  shows an exemplary infrared receiver circuit diagram.  
         [0023]     A user fills the tank  20  with water and positions the user&#39;s feet into the basin  16 . The lid  22  is closed. The removable water tank  20  is filled with water and placed in the body  12 . The “steam” mode is activated by pushing the corresponding button on the controller  24 . As the water is heated by the boiler  32 , steam is emitted. The fan  36  gently directs the steam toward the vent  18  and the steam cover  40  directs the steam into the basin  16 .  
         [0024]     The bath  10  may include additional components such as a series of massage devices, water jets, and bubble jets as shown in the Figures and being of the type generally known. Thus, for example, the user may fill the basin  16  with water. The water will be heated and circulated by known means such that the device  10  can operate as a liquid foot bath with selectively actuable bubbles and/or water jets, as well as vibrational modes.  
         [0025]     Thus, the device  10  may be a dedicated steam foot bath as described above, or it may be a combination steam foot bath and water foot bath. The device  10  may also be used for other functions where heat is applied to objects placed within the basin  16  including, but not limited to, heated stone therapy where heated stones are placed in the basin  16  to be heated and then removed for stone application to a user&#39;s body. The control panel  24 , which may be removably attached to the body  12 , may be adapted for toe control by having large buttons. The lid  22  may be double-hinged for compound folding. An additional alternative includes implementing a programmable timer circuit to time-out the steam function or other functions after a predetermined period of time.  
         [0026]     While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein disclosed and described, it is understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.