EP1695683A1

EP1695683A1 - Massaging device for baths, showers and the like

Info

Publication number: EP1695683A1
Application number: EP06110087A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alessandro Moretto
Original assignee: American Standard Europe BVBA
Current assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BV
Priority date: 2005-02-25
Filing date: 2006-02-17
Publication date: 2006-08-30
Also published as: CA2534173A1; ITMI20050303A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a massaging device for baths, showers and the like, comprising at least one elastically deformable membrane (2), and at least one source of fluid under pressure, operatively connected to the membrane (2) for the intermittent supply of a fluid under pressure to the membrane (2) causing its deformation and elastic rebound.

Description

The present invention relates to a massaging device and in particular a massaging device to be applied in baths and/or showers and/or swimming pools.
Physical exercise has always been one of the privileged means for keeping one's body fit and in harmony, for discharging tension and preventing illnesses, above all relating to the circulatory system.
The hectic life imposed by modern society, however, allows less and less time to be dedicated to one's well being and, in particular, for participating in special courses or frequenting gymnasiums or similar training centres.
Physical exercise, however, should be combined with a correct diet and massaging techniques, in order to maximize its effect.
The latter are normally effected by professional masseurs, outside the domestic environment, involving considerable amounts of time and money.
In order to obviate this drawback, automatic massaging devices have been produced, which normally have a complex structure and effect the massage by means of actuators which exert a discontinuous intermittent pressure, from a maximum to a null value and viceversa.
In other words, the massaging devices currently on the market are not capable of exerting a progressive pressure around the optimal value, on the user.
These devices, as already mentioned, can only operate by generating an intermittent, discontinuous pressure with a maximum and a null value.
In particular, the maximum value is not normally regulated for reaching the optimum pressure to be exerted on the user's body, but is over-dimensioned in order to obtain, combined with the null value, an average value which is close to the optimal pressure.
In this way, however, the actuator, in correspondence with the null value does not exert a sufficient pressure for the massage, whereas, on the contrary, in correspondence with the maximum value, it can have a counterproductive effect.
The automatic massaging devices according to the known art, also require the presence of a person capable of using them on the person who desires the massage.
In view of what is specified above, the need for a massaging device such as that of the present invention, which improves the massaging efficiency, is evident.
An objective of the present invention is to solve the problems of the known art, by providing a massaging device such as that of the present invention, which improves the massaging efficiency with respect to the traditional automatic systems, providing a result which can be compared to that of massages produced by expert masseurs.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a massaging device which can be installed in baths, showers and swimming pools.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a massaging device which is simple from a structural point of view and economical to manufacture.
These and other objectives are achieved by a massaging device according to the present invention which has the characteristics of the enclosed claim 1.
Further characteristics of the invention are indicated in the subsequent claims.
Additional characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more evident from the present description, provided for illustrative and nonlimiting purposes, making reference to the enclosed drawing in which:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of a massaging device according to the present invention in a non-deformed position;
figure 2 shows a perspective view of a massaging device according to the present invention in a partially deformed position;
figure 3 shows a perspective view of a massaging device according to the present invention in a deformed position;
figure 4 shows a perspective view of a bath equipped with a number of massaging devices according to the present invention; and
figure 5 shows a perspective view of a shower box equipped with a number of massaging devices according to the present invention.

With reference to figures 1-5 a massaging device is shown, for baths, showers and swimming pools according to the present invention.
The massaging device, according to the present invention, indicated as a whole with the reference number 100, comprises at least one elastically deformable membrane 2 and at least one intermittent source of fluid under pressure, operatively connected to said membrane 2, for intermittently feeding pressurized fluid to the membrane 2, causing its deformation and elastic rebound.
The elastically deformable membrane 2 includes at least one elastomeric layer 3 which has a visco-elastic mechanical behaviour.
In other words, the link between stress and strain, depends on the fluid pressure rate which acts on the membrane and on the intensity of the pressure itself.
The above behaviour generates a pressure on the outer surface of the membrane 2, which varies progressively and continuously during the time between two minimum and maximum values suitable for obtaining an optimal massaging on the area of the user's body with which it is in contact.
The layer 3 is preferably made of a silicon-based rubber.
According to an advantageous aspect of the present invention, the pressure fluid which reaches the membrane 2 is water coming from a pump coupled with an intermittence control, which represents said water supply source.
The device 100, as better illustrated in figures 1-3, comprises a supporting structure 4 and at least one feeding duct 5, 6 which carries the water under pressure from the intermittent source, not shown, to said membrane 2, through the supporting structure 4, and vice versa, and fixing means, not shown, to a wall 18 of a bath, shower or swimming pool.
In the preferred embodiment, shown in figures 1 to 3, the device 100 has two ducts, and in particular one 5, which has a supply function from the source to the membrane and one 6 which has a return function.
According to an advantageous aspect of the present invention, luminous means 20 are envisaged, situated in correspondence with the membrane 2, for diffusing light through at least one transparent element 21.
The luminous means 20 consist of several transparent elements 21 struck by a luminous ray transported by an optical fibre 19.
In this way, regardless of the external light conditions, the points in which the membrane 2 is present for the massage, are always indicated.
The functioning of the massaging device 100 according to the present invention is evident from what is specified above, and, in short, is as follows.
At the moment of use, the pump or other type of source which allows the intermittent feeding of water under pressure to the membrane 2, is activated.
The water, by pressing the inner surface of the membrane 2, causes an elastic deformation.
In other words, the membrane progressively swells protruding outwardly, as shown in figures 2-3, so as to transmit a proportional pressure on the area of the user's body pressing resting on the membrane 2.
During the period in which the intermittent control stops the pressurized water feeding to the membrane 2, the elastic rebound of the membrane 2, progressively carries the membrane to a non-deformed position, shown in figure 1, progressively decreasing the pressure on the area of the user's body in contact with the same.
The pressure value on the outer surface of the membrane 2 between two deformation phases, in not null, but maintains a certain residual value.
A massaging system for showers, baths and the like is obtained, according to the present invention, by connecting several devices 100 in a closed circuit.
The circuit includes the feeding duct or delivery 5 and return 6 of each device 100 and at least one pump, not shown, intermittently controlled.
The system or simply the device 100 can be advantageously applied to a shower box 30, as shown in figure 4, or to baths 31, as shown in figure 5.
The shower box 30, as shown in figure 4, advantageously has, for this purpose, at least one seat 32 equipped with a number of devices 100 according to the present invention.
In the bath 31, shown in figure 5, the devices 100 according to the present invention are illustrated in correspondence with the two heads 33 of the bath 31.
In both cases, the devices 100 could also be situated in other parts of the bath 31 and the shower box 30, respectively, still remaining within the protection scope of the present invention.
From the above description, with reference to the figures, it is evident how a massaging device according to the present invention is particularly useful and advantageous. The objective mentioned in the abstract of the description is thus achieved.
The invention can obviously have different forms from those shown for purely illustrative and nonlimiting purposes in the drawing, i.e. squared, circular or with an irregular shape.
The protection scope of the invention is therefore delimited by the enclosed claims.

Claims

A massaging device (100) for baths, showers and the like, characterized in that it comprises at least one elastically deformable membrane (2), and at least one source of fluid under pressure, operatively connected to said membrane (2) for an intermittent supply of a fluid under pressure to said membrane (2) causing its deformation and elastic rebound.
The massaging device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said elastically deformable membrane (2) comprise at least one elastomeric layer (3).
The massaging device (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that said layer (3) is preferably based on a silicone rubber.
The massaging device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said fluid is water.
The massaging device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a supporting element (4), at least one feeding duct (5, 6) carrying the water under pressure from said source to said membrane (2) and vice versa, and fixing means to a wall (18) of a bath, shower or swimming pool.
The massaging device (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a feeding duct (5), carrying the water under pressure from said source to said membrane (2) and a return duct (6).
A massaging device for baths, showers and the like, characterized in that it comprises a number of devices (100) according to any of the claims 1 to 6.
The massaging device for baths, showers and the like, according to claim 7, characterized in that said number of devices (100) is connected to a closed circuit comprising said feeding duct (5) and said at least one return duct (6).
A shower box (30) characterized in that it comprises a number of devices (100) according to any of the previous claims 1 to 8.
The shower box (30) according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises at least one seat (32) comprising said number of devices (100).
A bath (31) characterized in that it comprises a number of devices (100) according to any of the claims from 1 to 8.