Abstract:
A bubble generation assembly for a basin, wherein the bubble generation assembly comprises: a base portion comprising a bottom surface, a raised edge, and a top surface comprising raised portions with a plurality of holes therein, wherein the base portion is configured to conform to a base of the basin and the bottom surface is configured to substantially conform to the basin; an extended portion, extending upwardly from the base portion and conforming to a wall of the basin, the extended portion comprising an extended raised portion; wherein the extended raised portion and the raised portions of the base portion are in communication to allow a flow of air from the extended portion to the holes in the raised portions of the base portion.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/044,596, filed Apr. 14, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This application relates to a bubble generation assembly, and in particular to a disposable bubble generation assembly for use with disposable liners within baths, such as foot baths. Although reference is made herein to “foot baths”, it should be understood that the bubble generation assembly can be applied to any of various baths, and in particular, to those where hygienic problems similar to those described below could arise. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In the spa industry, standards with regard to sanitary conditions being dictated by best practices as well as by regulation and legislation are becoming increasingly stringent. In California now, for example, it is the applicant&#39;s understanding that a tub used for manicures or pedicures must be drained after each use, filled with fresh water and a cleaning solution, then circulated for 15 minutes, and dried, all before the next spa customer can be accepted. A typical session with a spa client might be a half-hour. When the cleaning process must be employed, it will be appreciated that the spa owner or operator thus can only process one client per hour per spa, instead of two or perhaps three. The impact on profitability is obvious. 
         [0004]    The need to maintain sanitary conditions is further complicated by air or water jets that are often desired in the basins/tubs. For example, water or air jets commonly have been permanently mounted and may have permanently installed pipes, to circulate water or air in the tub for therapy and relaxation. For example, there may be a pump installed adjacent to, remote from, or on the tub, with inlet and outlet pipes leading to the tub from the pump location. This can lead to problems of infection or other health issues due to the difficulty of adequately cleaning and sanitizing the pipes between uses. Buildup of algae, fungus, bacteria and mold can be problematic. 
         [0005]    While there have been attempts to incorporate air or water flow through a disposable liner that can be installed in the tub/basin to maintain sanitary conditions, these known attempts are complex, expensive to make and difficult to use. As such, there is a need for an improved air flow system for use in spa basins/tubs. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In view of the above, it is an object of embodiments of the bubble generation assembly herein to address at least some of the problems relating to air flow in spa basins while maintaining appropriate sanitary conditions. 
         [0007]    According to one aspect, there is provided a bubble generation assembly for a basin, the bubble generation assembly comprising: a base portion comprising a bottom surface, a raised edge, and a top surface comprising raised portions with a plurality of holes therein, wherein the base portion is configured to conform to a base of the basin and the bottom surface is configured to substantially conform to the basin; an extended portion, extending upwardly from the base portion and conforming to a wall of the basin, the extended portion comprising an extended raised portion; wherein the extended raised portion and the raised portions of the base portion are in communication to allow a flow of air from the extended portion to the holes in the raised portions of the base portion. 
         [0008]    In a particular case, the bubble generation assembly may include a base portion wherein the base portion further includes a stopper portion extending downwardly and configured to act as a stopper in a drain of the basin. 
         [0009]    In another case, the raised portions may comprise concentric circles arranged on the base portion. 
         [0010]    In yet another case, the base portion and extended portion may comprise a top and a bottom that are joined during manufacturing. 
         [0011]    In still yet another case, the bubble generation assembly may be formed from a flexible plastic. Further, the flexible plastic may be selected such that the extended portion is able to remain substantially upright conforming to the shape of the basin even when not otherwise supported. 
         [0012]    In yet a further case, the bubble generation assembly may be configured to assemble with a liner installed in the basin. 
         [0013]    It will be understood that the bubble generation assembly may be configured to be disposable. 
         [0014]    Further details of the bubble generation assembly will be described or will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description and references to the drawings of specific embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a spa chair and basin; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view, showing a basin, a liner, and a bubble generation assembly; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the elements of  FIG. 2 , showing the liner and bubble generation assembly installed in the basin; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view showing top and bottom portions of the bubble generation assembly; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5A  is a top view of the bubble generation assembly; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view of the bubble generation assembly along the section  5 B- 5 B of  FIG. 5A ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5C  is a cross-sectional view of the bubble generation assembly along the section  5 C- 5 C of  FIG. 5A ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective cross-sectional view showing the bubble generation assembly installed in the liner and basin; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6B  is a side cross-sectional view, showing the bubble generation assembly mounted in the liner and basin; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a detailed cross-sectional view of a portion of the basin shown in  FIG. 6B ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a detailed cross-sectional view of a portion of the basin shown in  FIG. 6B ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a detailed cross-sectional view of a portion of the basin shown in  FIG. 6B ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a cross-section showing the basin, liner, and bubble generation assembly during use; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing removal of the bubble generation assembly from the basin. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    In the following description, various embodiments will be described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the bubble generation assembly may be practiced without the specific details. Furthermore, well-known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the embodiment being described. 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  shows an example spa chair  100  for use with, in this example, pedicures. The spa chair  100  includes a body  105 , a seating portion  110 , arm rests  115 , and a foot rest  120 . A basin  125  for water is placed adjacent to the foot rest  120  for insertion of a client&#39;s feet to allow for soaking feet as a part of a pedicure procedure. 
         [0032]    Also shown in  FIG. 1  is an air compressor  130  and an air tube  135  connected to the compressor  130  via a valve  140 . The air tube  135  runs from the compressor  130  to an area adjacent to the basin  125 . It will be understood that the compressor  130 , air tube  135  and valve  140  may be positioned internally or externally to the spa chair  100  and may be controlled and powered in various ways as are known in the art. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  shows the basin  125 , as well as a liner  145  and a bubble generation assembly  150  according to one embodiment herein. As shown, the liner  145  is inserted into the basin  125  and the bubble generation assembly  150  is then inserted into the liner  145 . The combination of the basin  125 , liner  145  and bubble generation assembly  150  is shown in  FIG. 3 . While the example herein relates to a basin for a pedicure, it will be understood that embodiments of the bubble generation assembly described herein may also be used in various other applications and in various types of basins. It will further be understood that the liner  145  and bubble generation assembly  150  are preferably disposable or recyclable so that they can be removed and replaced after a treatment to provide a sanitary cover in the basin  125 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  shows an exploded view of the bubble generation assembly  150 . As shown, the bubble generation assembly  150  includes a top portion  155  and a bottom portion  160 . In this embodiment, the bubble generation assembly  150  is formed in two parts in order to facilitate fabrication, however, it will be understood that this is not a requirement. The top portion  155  and the bottom portion  160  are typically made out of a suitable plastic material and may be formed by various known techniques.  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C show further detail of the bubble generation assembly  150 . 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C, the bottom portion  160  of the bubble generation assembly  150  has a flat dish-like shape with a flat bottom  165  and a raised edge  170 . The bottom portion  160  includes an extended portion  175  which is connected to and extends upward from the raised edge  170 . The extended portion  175  includes a lip  180  opposite the connection to the raised edge  170  that extends generally horizontally from the extended portion  175 . It will be understood that the size and shape of the bubble generation assembly  150  is configured to conform to the size and shape of the basin  125  used in a particular type of spa or other treatment. Various sizes and shapes may be possible depending on the basin to be used. Similarly, the extended portion  175  is configured to conform to the shape of the basin  125  and the lip  180  is configured to extend over a lip of the basin  125 . The lower portion  160  also includes a stopper portion  185  that is configured to act as a stopper in a drain of the basin  125 . It will be understood that the positioning of the stopper portion  185  will be designed to match with the drain in the basin  125 . 
         [0036]    The upper portion  155  of the bubble generation assembly  150  is configured to generally conform with and fit together with the bottom portion  160 . The upper portion  155  include a base  188 , an upper raised edge  190  and an upper extended portion  195 . In addition, the upper portion  155  includes raised areas  200  that allow for the flow of air between the top portion  155  and the bottom portion  160 . The raised areas  200  include a raised portion  205  running along the extended portion  195  that is connected to several concentric circles  210  on the base  188  of the top portion  155  for air flow. Further, the concentric circles  210  include several holes  215  through which air can pass out of the concentric circles  210  to provide the bubbling effect. It will be understood that the actual configuration of the raised areas  200  may be varied as long as there is a path for air to flow from the extended portion through to the holes  215 , so that the air can be vented through the holes  215  into the basin  125 . The upper portion  155  also includes an upper stopper portion  220  that is configured to join with the stopper portion  185  of the lower portion  160 . 
         [0037]    The upper portion  155  and lower portion  160  of the bubble generation assembly  150  may be assembled by various methods as known in the art such as adhesive, heat bonding, and similar methods of bonding plastic elements together. When assembled together the top portion  155  and bottom portion  160  form a base portion having a flat bottom surface and a top surface having raised portions with holes therein as well as an extended portion extending upwardly from the base portion and having an extended raised portion in communication with the raised portion on the base portion. 
         [0038]      FIG. 6A  is a cross section perspective view of the bubble generation assembly  150  as positioned in the basin  125  and showing the stopper portion  185  inserted into the drain of the basin  125 .  FIG. 6B  is a side cross sectional view illustrating the arrangement of  FIG. 6A  and showing detail areas shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 7  shows a detailed view of the extended portion  195  of the bubble generation assembly  150  and illustrates a flow of air into the bubble generation assembly  150 . The air tube of  FIG. 1  (not shown in  FIG. 7 ) is connected to the raised portion  205  of the extended portion  195 . The flow of air (shown by the arrows) travels down the extended portion  175 / 195  into the concentric circles  210  and out of the holes  215  of the top portion  155  of the bubble generation assembly  150 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 8  shows a detail of the raised edge  170 / 190  of the bubble generation assembly  150 . As shown, the raised edge  170 / 190  is configured to conform to the liner  145  and the basin  125  to provide a seal to prevent water from entering between the bubble generation assembly  150  and the liner  145 , so that the bubble generation assembly  150  will remain in place as water fills the basin  125 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 9  shows detail of the drain of the basin  125 . As illustrated, the drain extends downward from the basin  125 . The liner  145  extends into the drain a sufficient distance to ensure that water travels out the drain and will not enter back into the basin  125 . The stopper portion  185 / 220  of the bubble generation assembly  150  is configured to fit into the drain of the liner  145  and basin  125  to act as a stopper and prevent water from exiting the basin until removed. 
         [0042]      FIG. 10  is a cross sectional view showing the bubble generation assembly  150  in operation. In particular, the liner  145  is placed in the basin  125 , the bubble generation assembly  150  is then placed on top of the liner  145  and the basin  125  is then filled with water. As the basin  125  fills with water, the bubble generation assembly  150  acts as a stopper to prevent the water from exiting the basin  125 . The bubble generation assembly  150  can then be connected to an air tube, such as the example shown in  FIG. 1 . The air travels through the extended portion  175 / 195  and into the concentric circles  210  in the bubble generation assembly  150  and exits through the holes  215  and travels through the water to cause a spa effect. 
         [0043]    Upon completion of the spa treatment, the bubble generation assembly  150  can be removed by pulling up on the extended portion  175 / 195  to allow water to flow through the drain of the basin  125 . Both the bubble generation assembly  150  and the liner  145  can then be removed and replaced with a new liner and bubble generation assembly for a subsequent client of the spa. 
         [0044]    The configuration of the bubble generation assembly  150  provides a number of benefits in that the bubble generation assembly  150  provides the access for air into the basin without any need for a separate air inlet within the basin itself, acts as a stopper, allows for quick and efficient release of the water in the basin, and maintains sanitary conditions for each client of the spa. 
         [0045]    Variations of embodiments described herein may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. It is expected that skilled persons will employ such variations as appropriate, and it is expected that the bubble generation assembly may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this application includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter described herein as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the application.