EP4245281B1 - Device for dry massage by means of water jets - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for dry massage using water jets. In particular, the present invention relates to a device for dry massage using water jets, with which the body of a user or patient can be massaged in a variety of massage sequences using water jets without having to accept the risk of wetting the body.

A water jet massage is a long-established form of massage in which the user's body is subjected to the massaging treatment of a water jet. Specific body parts reached by the water jet are touched by the mechanical impact of the water jet under a certain pressure. The repeated and/or prolonged application of pressure to specific body parts of the person results in a pleasant, relaxing, and in many cases healing massage of specific body parts or the entire body of the treated person. Such massages, particularly as so-called "underwater massages," have long been an integral part of the treatment plan for many people in need of massage treatment.

Meanwhile, devices for dry water jet massage have also become known in the prior art. "Dry water jet massage" is understood in the present description and in the patent claims—as well as in the prior art—to mean that the body of a user of a corresponding device or the body of a person in need of a massage, e.g., a patient, is supported on a material of a device that transmits a pressure pulse, for example, a plastic film or a rubber film. Underneath this material, the device has a device for delivering a pressure pulse under adjustable pressure. A movable jet pulse, for example, one or more nozzles each ejecting a water jet, are mounted with the jet directed toward the underside of the film material transmitting the pressure pulses. This device consists of a nozzle carriage that is movable along the longitudinal axis of the device via a toothed belt drive and "travels" on rollers on a - often double-track - rail on the tub floor. The nozzle carriage has a lower section on which an upper section with one or more nozzles is mounted. This nozzle(s) is/are pivotably mounted transversely to the direction of movement of the nozzle carriage. The water jet(s) ejected by the nozzle(s) transmits/transmits the pulse to the plastic or rubber film material, e.g., the natural rubber lying surface, and this transmits the pulse to the body parts of the user/patient lying on the material. The impulse has the desired massaging effect on the body parts that are in contact with the film material transmitting the impulse, thus simulating a massage treatment similar to an underwater massage. This also applies to the transfer of heat from the massage medium (water) to the body of a user/patient lying on the film material. During this type of massage treatment, the user of the device or the person being treated remains dry. Massage programs predefined or those compiled by a masseur or therapist can be transferred to the device's control system via a chip card. Such devices are available, for example, under the name "HYDROJET" from Wellsystem GmbH. They enable a water jet massage both in environments where equipment for a proper underwater massage is not available or the necessary wet rooms cannot be provided, as well as for people/patients who cannot be treated underwater for hygiene or health reasons, for example, due to unhealed wounds.

KR 10 2011 129 315 A describes a device designed as a massage chair for dry water jet massage, in which the area of a backrest is covered with a flat film, and in particular the seating area is provided with a container for water. A jet carriage carrying two jets is moved in a plane along a guide via a belt drive and a motor provided in the backrest. The jets for ejecting massage water can be individually moved via a belt drive with a motor and a belt in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the jet carriage. Furthermore, the jets can be pivoted about a pivot axis aligned parallel to the direction of travel of the jet carriage by a separate drive and an associated gear. A disadvantage of the known device is, on the one hand, that only the back can be massaged. Furthermore, the parts of the body that are not directly in contact with the film are not reached by the massage jet.

US 2009 031 26 80 A1 Describes a device for dry water jet massage, which is designed either as a bed or as a massage chair, in which a tub filled with massage water has a film material on top that simultaneously serves as a lying surface for a person to be treated and enables pressure pulse transmission as a cover that seals the tub watertight. A nozzle carriage is provided which can be moved along rails arranged above the bottom of the tub by means of a carriage with wheels connected to the end of the nozzle carriage. The nozzle carriage can be displaced longitudinally within the tub via a spindle nut connected to it and a spindle screw which extends longitudinally through the tub between the rails and is driven by a motor. The nozzle carriage has a hollow outer plate body on which several nozzles, which can be fed by a pump and are used to eject a water jet against the underside of the film material, are provided. These nozzles are supplied with massage water from the tub via a flexible hose connection. The nozzles move forward and backward in the longitudinal direction of the tank with the movement of the nozzle carriage, while a transverse movement is not provided. Below the film, at points where the water jet is to be concentrated, Above the nozzles, deflection devices in the form of deflection plates are provided, which either concentrate the ejected water centrally onto the film in the area of the head/neck or, for example, distribute it in the area of the foot in such a way that two mountains are created in the film.

The printed matter EP 1 666 017 A1 Describes a device for dry water jet massage, comprising a tub covered by a film serving as a support surface for the patient, and a nozzle carriage mechanism arranged within the tub for generating at least one massage water jet directed against the underside of the film. The nozzle carriage mechanism has at least one guide rail within the tub that is motor-driven to rotate about a longitudinal axis of rotation, and the nozzle carriage mechanism has a nozzle carriage or nozzle slide on the rotatable guide rail that is motor-driven to move along the guide rail and that carries at least one nozzle fed by a pump to generate a massage water jet. When the guide rail, which is motor-driven to rotate about the longitudinal axis of rotation, pivots, the nozzle carriage or nozzle slide running parallel to the axis of rotation on the guide rail also pivots, so that the nozzle arranged on its upper side can change the direction of the pressurized water jet at a right angle to the axis of rotation. Together with the path of the jet carriage running along the axis, the massage water jet can be directed into flat patterns hitting the underside of the lying surface, the course of which in the longitudinal direction of the tub is determined by the movement of the jet carriage on the guide rail and the course of which in the transverse direction of the tub is determined by the pivoting of the guide rail and the jet carriage pivoting with the guide rail with the nozzle arranged on it.

As further state of the art, the publication EP 2 327 386 A1 a tub-shaped device for dry massage by means of water jets of the type already mentioned at the beginning, ie the type with a rail on rollers fixed longitudinally to the tub floor A movable nozzle carriage, driven by a motor operated outside the tub, is located beneath a sheet covering and sealing the tub. The nozzle carriage carries at least two nozzles that can be pivoted transversely to the rails, each ejecting a water jet against the underside of the sheet. The two pivoting nozzles are independently controlled by means of a splined shaft, each mounted longitudinally of the tub so as to rotate about its own axis and running load-free through a sliding bushing in the nozzle carriage. The back-and-forth movement of each splined shaft, which can be controlled as required by a motor (also electronically via a program), is ultimately transmitted via a kinematic system with positive force transmission arranged on the nozzle carriage to the bearing of one of the at least two pivoting nozzles, so that - depending on the extent of the rotation of the associated splined shaft - this deflects the respective water jet transversely to the direction of travel of the nozzle carriage to a greater or lesser extent, thereby creating the desired water jet massage pattern on the underside of the sheet.

US 6 210 351 B1 discloses a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

The disadvantage of the prior art devices for dry water jet massage is that – without exception – all devices are limited to producing a massage effect only on those parts of the body of the person requiring a massage, e.g., a patient, that are in direct contact with the massage pad when the patient is seated on the massage pad for the massage. This is unsatisfactory because body parts such as the upper shoulder muscles, the sides of the neck, and the inside and outside of the arms and legs are areas where many people experience pain and discomfort that could be treated with a massage – including a dry massage using water jets. However, these areas cannot be brought into contact with the massage pad. Therefore, they cannot be massaged with a dry massage using water jets using the devices known to date.

The invention aims to remedy this disadvantage. Surprisingly, the invention provides a device for dry massage using water jets that can massage the body even in areas previously inaccessible to dry massage using water jets. Examples include the shoulders or the soles of the feet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is set out in the appended claims.

SUMMARY OF REVELATION

According to one aspect of the invention, a device for dry water jet massage is provided, comprising a tub filled with massage water, extending from a head end in the longitudinal direction to a foot end and from a left side in the transverse direction to a right side, with a film material as a cover that simultaneously serves as a lying surface for a person to be treated and enables pressure pulse transmission, as a watertight cover on the top of the tub; a nozzle carriage movable in the longitudinal direction of the tub and carrying at least two nozzles, wherein the nozzles, for each ejecting a water jet against the underside of the film material, can be fed with massage water from the tub by means of a pump via a flexible hose connection; a first drive for moving the nozzle carriage forward and backward in the longitudinal direction of the tub, wherein the movement of the at least two nozzles forward and backward in the longitudinal direction of the tub occurs with the movement of the nozzle carriage; and a second drive which displaces the nozzles in the transverse direction of the tub, and this is characterized in that the film material has one or more cavities on the underside of the film which extend in the transverse direction and are directed towards the person lying on the film material and which form one or more cavities on the underside of the film which are convexly formed elevations on the upper side of the film.

A favorable further development results from the fact that means for displacing or pivoting the nozzles out of the plane of the tub are provided, which direct the ejected water jet against the cavity(ies) on the underside of the film and in particular against a surface of the cavity(ies) on the underside of the film that is inclined to the plane of the film. These means, in particular, allow the pivoting of the nozzle holders supporting the nozzles about an axis perpendicular to the direction of travel of the nozzle carriage, whereby the water jet ejected by the nozzle is given a component of orientation opposite or in the direction of travel of the nozzle carriage, so that, in particular, the area of a hollow space on the underside of the film, which protrudes almost perpendicularly from the film, can be easily reached and, in particular, can be treated with the water jet at a relatively small angle to the normal. This allows the massage jet to be effectively applied to a patient's shoulders, in particular, but also to other parts of the body adjacent to the raised areas.

It is preferably further provided that a part of the nozzle carriage carrying the nozzles can be pivoted relative to the nozzle carriage about an axis in the direction of the film, and that the ejected water jet assumes an angle to the normal of the film as a result of the pivoting.

The pivoting movement of the part carrying the nozzles is expediently achieved by a ramp arranged in the tub, wherein the forward and backward movement generated by the first drive displaces the part with respect to the ramp and thus pivots it upwards about a horizontal axis preferably perpendicular to the direction of displacement of the nozzle carriage.

In a favorable embodiment, the nozzle is held eccentrically to the pivot axis by means of the nozzle holder forming a guide rod, so that the pivoting not only advantageously changes the angle of the water jet, but also simultaneously causes a displacement with a component in the z-direction that is perpendicular to the displacement direction of the nozzle carriage and to the perpendicular displacement direction of the nozzle holder. This advantageously allows the distance between the nozzle and the film to be changed without the nozzle carriage itself having to leave its travel plane, thus allowing for a simple design of its drive.

Each of the nozzles is advantageously arranged in its own nozzle holder, which can be independently pivoted upward relative to the travel path of the nozzle carriage. Preferably, all nozzle holders are pivoted together, for example, by coupling them to a part of the nozzle carriage that is deflected by the ramp(s). The coupling is advantageously achieved via a rigid axis that pivots through all nozzle holders.

According to a favorable embodiment, the nozzle holder is connected to a rack, which, as part of the second drive, enables individual adjustment of the nozzle holder in the transverse direction of the tub with a gearwheel of the drive. The rack is expediently connected to a cage that is axially displaceable along a first axis and that drives the nozzle holders in the direction of this axis, for example by gripping the nozzle holders on both sides. This advantageously transmits the displacement of the cages with the rack in the transverse direction, i.e., perpendicular to the displacement direction of the nozzle carriage, to the nozzle holders, regardless of the angle that the nozzle holder assumes about its pivot axis. This advantageously ensures that the coupling of the rack to the associated second drive is always ensured, even when driving over a ramp, so that adjustment or movement of the nozzle in the transverse direction is guaranteed even while the nozzle holders are pivoting.

Preferably, the nozzle holder is therefore also pivotable relative to the rack, wherein in a favorable variant the rack is displaceably connected to two axes of the nozzle carriage, one of which is preferably also the axis about which the nozzle holder can be pivoted.

This advantageously ensures that the nozzle holder is connected to a rigid axis of the nozzle carriage in such a way that it can be both axially displaced and pivoted.

1. (a) eine mit Massagewasser gefüllte, sich von einem Kopfende in Längsrichtung zu einem Fußende und von einer linken Seite in Querrichtung zu einer rechten Seite erstreckende Wanne mit einem gleichzeitig als Liegefläche für eine zu behandelnde Person dienenden, eine Druckimpuls-Übertragung ermöglichenden Folien-Material als die Wanne auf der Oberseite wasserdicht schließender Abdeckung;
2. (b) wobei das Folien-Material einen oder mehrere, sich in Querrichtung erstreckende(n), auf die auf dem Folien-Material liegende Person gerichtete(n) und die Folie zu einer oder mehreren, Folien-oberseitig konvex ausgebildete Erhöhung(en) ausformende(n), Folien-unterseitige(n) Hohlraum/Hohlräume aufweist;
3. (c) einen auf zwei auf dem Boden der Wanne fixierten Schienen auf Rädern in Längsrichtung der Wanne verfahrbaren, mindestens zwei Düsen tragenden Düsenwagen mit einem mittels eines innerhalb der Wanne gelagerten und von außerhalb der Wanne mittels Motor betreibbaren, auf der Unterseite des Düsenwagens angreifenden Antrieb zum auf den Rädern fahrenden Vorwärts- und Rückwärts-Bewegen des Düsenwagens in Längsrichtung der Wanne;
4. (d) wobei der Düsenwagen parallel zum Wannenboden eine auf den Rädern in Wannen-Längsrichtung verfahrbare horizontale Bodenplatte mit je einer an der Bodenplatte linksseitig und rechtsseitig fixierten vertikalen Seitenplatte umfasst, wobei eine in Querrichtung der Wanne verlaufende erste Schwenkachse und optional eine in Querrichtung der Wanne verlaufende, versetzt zur ersten Schwenkachse angeordnete zweite Schwenkachse, die befähigt ist, zu Führungszwecken zu dienen, die vertikalen Seitenplatten fest verbindet,
5. (e) wobei an den jeweiligen Außenseiten der Seitenplatten je ein Kippblech um die in Querrichtung der Wannenverlaufende erste Schwenkachse schwenkbar an dieser angeschlagen ist und ein in Querrichtung der Wanne verlaufende starre Achse die Kippbleche miteinander verbindet, wobei jedes der Kippbleche auf der (in Querrichtung) Außenseite an dem dem Kippblech-Anschlag gegenüber liegenden Ende je ein Laufrad mit je einer zu den ersten und zweiten Schwenkachsen parallelen Rad-Achse aufweist;
6. (f) und wobei der Düsenwagen mindestens zwei auf dem Düsenwagen bewegbare, über eine flexible Schlauchverbindung mit Massagewasser aus der Wanne mittels einer Pumpe speisbare Düsen zum Ejizieren je eines Wasserstrahls gegen die Unterseite des Folien-Materials aufweist,
7. (g) wobei die Bewegung der mindestens zwei Düsen vorwärts und rückwärts in Längsrichtung der Wanne mit der Bewegung des Düsenwagens erfolgt; die Bewegung der mindestens zwei Düsen in Querrichtung der Wanne mittels zweier parallel zur Längsachse der Vorrichtung durch je eine Laufbuchse auf der Unterseite des Düsenwagens verlaufender, im Eingriff mit je einem auf der Unterseite des Düsenwagenbodens angeordneten Zahnrad mit Radachse konzentrisch mit je einer der Keilwellen bewirkt werden kann, und die Keilwellen kopfseitig in je einem im Wannen-Innern liegenden Lager um die eigene Achse drehbar gelagert sind und fußseitig von je einem außerhalb der Wanne liegenden Antriebsmotor zur Ausführung einer drehenden Hin- und Her-Bewegung um die jeweilige Keilwellen-Längsachse angesteuert sind, wobei die mit je einer Keilwelle im Eingriff befindlichen Zahnräder ihrerseits im Eingriff mit parallel zu den Schwenkachsen an unteren Düsenhalterungen angeordneten, eine Düsenbewegung in Querrichtung der Wanne entlang der Schwenkachsen bewirkenden Zahnstangen sind, ohne dass den Keilwellen lastentragende, insbesondere den Düsenwagen tragende Funktion zukommt;
8. (h) wobei mindestens eine der Düsen dafür befähigt ist, ihren ejizierten Wasserstrahl auf der Unterseite des Folien-Materials auf das Innere des einen oder der mehreren, auf der Oberseite des Folien-Materials konvex ausgebildete Erhöhungen ausformenden, Folien-unterseitigen Hohlräume zu richten.

One aspect of the invention relates to a device for dry water jet massage, comprising:

1. (a) a tub filled with massage water, extending from a head end in the longitudinal direction to a foot end and from a left side in the transverse direction to a right side, with a film material as a cover that simultaneously serves as a lying surface for a person to be treated and enables pressure pulse transmission and closes the tub on the top in a watertight manner;
2. (b) wherein the film material has one or more transversely extending cavities on the underside of the film, directed towards the person lying on the film material and forming the film into one or more convex elevations on the upper side of the film;
3. (c) a nozzle carriage which is movable on wheels in the longitudinal direction of the tub on two rails fixed to the floor of the tub and which carries at least two nozzles, with a drive acting on the underside of the nozzle carriage by means of a drive mounted inside the tub and operable from outside the tub by means of a motor for moving the nozzle carriage forwards and backwards in the longitudinal direction of the tub while travelling on the wheels;
4. (d) wherein the nozzle carriage comprises a horizontal base plate which is movable on wheels in the longitudinal direction of the tank, parallel to the tank bottom, with a vertical side plate each fixed to the left and right sides of the base plate, wherein a first pivot axis running in the transverse direction of the tank and optionally a second pivot axis running in the transverse direction of the tank, arranged offset to the first pivot axis and capable of serving for guiding purposes, firmly connects the vertical side plates,
5. (e) wherein on the respective outer sides of the side plates a tilting plate is arranged around the first pivot axis running in the transverse direction of the tub is pivotally attached thereto and a rigid axis running in the transverse direction of the tub connects the tilting plates to one another, each of the tilting plates having on the (transverse) outer side at the end opposite the tilting plate stop a running wheel each with a wheel axis parallel to the first and second pivot axes;
6. (f) and wherein the nozzle carriage has at least two nozzles movable on the nozzle carriage and fed with massage water from the tub by means of a pump via a flexible hose connection for ejecting a water jet each against the underside of the film material,
7. (g) wherein the movement of the at least two nozzles forwards and backwards in the longitudinal direction of the tub occurs with the movement of the nozzle carriage; the movement of the at least two nozzles in the transverse direction of the tub can be effected by means of two gears running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device through a bushing on the underside of the nozzle carriage, each in engagement with a gear wheel with a wheel axis arranged on the underside of the nozzle carriage base, concentric with one of the splined shafts, and the splined shafts are rotatably mounted on the head side in a bearing located inside the tub and are controlled on the foot side by a drive motor located outside the tub to carry out a rotating back and forth movement about the respective splined shaft longitudinal axis, wherein the gears each in engagement with a splined shaft are in turn in engagement with racks arranged parallel to the pivot axes on lower nozzle holders and effect a nozzle movement in the transverse direction of the tub along the pivot axes, without the splined shafts having a load-bearing function, in particular a function of supporting the nozzle carriage;
8. (h) wherein at least one of the nozzles is capable of directing its ejected water jet on the underside of the film material onto the interior of the one or more cavities on the underside of the film forming convex elevations on the upper side of the film material.

Preferred embodiments of the device according to the invention are claimed in the dependent claims.

One aspect of the invention also relates to a dry water jet massage method in which the body of a person to be treated, which is arranged on a film material enabling pressure pulse transmission as the upper cover of a device according to the detailed description below, is exposed to a water jet pressure pulse ejected through at least one nozzle onto the underside of the film material and optionally into the interior of at least one of the one or more transversely extending hollow spaces on the underside of the film, directed towards the person lying on the film material and forming one or more convex elevations on the upper side of the film and cavities on the lower side of the film, with translational movement of at least one of the nozzles delivering the pulse in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the tub for a time which produces a massage effect on the body of the person to be treated or the person in need of a massage.

In particular, the device of the invention enables or facilitates a massage of a person to be treated or of a person in need of a massage by means of the "dry water jets" on themselves, so that under certain conditions the masseur/masseuse is dispensable or can devote himself/herself to the massage of several people in parallel using the device according to the invention.

Finally, one aspect of the invention also relates to the use of the device according to the following detailed description for body massage, preferably for massage to relieve cramps and tensions, for relaxation, for eliminating muscular imbalances, for eliminating stress-related muscular tension, for pain relief, in particular in the case of sports injuries and/or for the treatment of cervical migraine and for other indications.

According to one aspect of the invention, a method for operating a device for dry water jet massage as described above is provided, comprising the step of directing the water ejected from a nozzle Water jet against the film material and/or one of the hollow spaces on the underside of the film, while simultaneously pivoting a nozzle holder carrying the nozzle about an axis perpendicular to the direction of travel of the nozzle carriage, thereby reducing the distance of the nozzle from the film and/or targeting parts of the hollow space(s) on the underside of the film with the water jet. This eliminates the need to provide guide or deflection plates in the tank, which would dampen the water jet and severely restrict the use of the device.

According to a favorable feature, the nozzle is raised or pivoted into the cavity to expose the inner peripheral wall of the cavity with the water jet. This provides the unique feature that the nozzle is applied above the actual level of the foil or the lying surface, thus enabling a very precise massage.

Preferably, the impact angle of the water jet ejected onto the underside of the film can be reduced from a value of 90°, i.e., perpendicular to the underside of the film, to acute angles, preferably to an impact angle of < 10°, for example, approximately 6°. Accordingly, the swivel angle covered by a nozzle holder is almost 90°.

Further advantages, features and developments of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and from the dependent claims.

Fig. 1A

zeigt eine Wasserstrahl-Massagevorrichtung gemäß dem Stand der Technik.

Fig. 1 B

zeigt eine Wasserstrahl-Massagevorrichtung gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung.

Fig. 2A

zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht der Folienmaterial-Wannenabdeckung W von oben.

Figur 2B

zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht der Folienmaterial-Wannenabdeckung von unten.

Fig. 3

zeigt eine Figur 1B ähnliche Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Wasserstrahl-Massagevorrichtung, jedoch ohne die obere Folien-Abdeckung; gezeigt sind beispielsweise auch links und rechts des Kopfes der zu massierenden Person Pe je eine Auflagefläche S für die Folienabdeckung.

Fig. 4A und 4B

zeigt den Düsenwagen der erfindungsgemäßen Wasserstrahl-Massagevorrichtung.

Fig. 5

zeigt eine Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Wasserstrahl-Massagevorrichtung ohne abdeckende Liege-Folie mit dem die Düsen D, D' tragenden und in Position zum Ejizieren von Massagewasser bringenden Düsenwagen 1 in der Ausgangsposition am Fußende der Wanne.

Fig. 6A und 6B

zeigt zwei Ansichten einer weiteren Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Wasserstrahl-Massagevorrichtung in einem Stadium, in dem der Düsenwagen über den dafür vorgesehenen Antrieb weiter in Richtung auf das Kopfende der Vorrichtung bewegt wurde.

Fig. 7A bis 7E

zeigt fünf weitere Ansichten einer Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Wasserstrahl-Massagevorrichtung, in denen die Düsen des Düsenwagens mit dem Ziel, Massagewasser in in der Unterseite der Liegefolie gebildete konkave Hohlräume zu ejizieren, auf das Kopfende der Wanne bewegt wird, wo die Laufräder der Kippbleche über eine in Richtung auf das Kopfende der Wanne ansteigende Rampe aus der Position nahe den Schienen auf dem Wannenboden gefahren werden und sich der Auftreff-Winkel des auf die Unterseite der Folie ejizierten Wasserstrahls von einem Wert von 90 °, also senkrecht zur Unterseite der Folie, hin zu spitzen Winkeln verkleinert, vorzugsweise auf einen Wert des Auftreff-Winkels von < 10 °, beispielsweise etwa 6 °.

Fig. 8A bis 8C

zeigt drei weitere Ansichten desselben Vorgangs, wie er in den Figuren 7A bis 7E gezeigt ist, jedoch in seitlicher Ansicht.

Fig. 9A bis 9B

zeigt beispielhaft Antriebe für die Bewegung des Düsenwagens in der Längsrichtung der Wanne, also einen Zahnriemen und ein metallenes Lochband.

Fig. 10

zeigt beispielhaft Skizzen von möglichen, durch die erfindungsgemäße Wasserstrahl-Massagevorrichtung ausführbaren Massagebildern an der zu massierenden Person.

The invention will be described below with reference to figures which merely describe preferred embodiments of the device according to the invention. However, neither the figures referred to below nor the following description are to be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. Invention is to be understood as referring to the preferred embodiments shown or described.

Fig. 1A

shows a water jet massage device according to the prior art.

Fig. 1 B

shows a water jet massage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2A

shows a perspective view of the foil material tray cover W from above.

Figure 2B

shows a perspective view of the foil material tray cover from below.

Fig. 3

shows a Figure 1B Similar embodiment of a water jet massage device according to the invention, but without the upper foil cover; also shown, for example, are a support surface S for the foil cover to the left and right of the head of the person Pe to be massaged.

Fig. 4A and 4B

shows the nozzle carriage of the water jet massage device according to the invention.

Fig. 5

shows an embodiment of the water jet massage device according to the invention without a covering sheet with the nozzle carriage 1 carrying the nozzles D, D' and bringing them into position for ejecting massage water in the starting position at the foot end of the tub.

Fig. 6A and 6B

shows two views of a further embodiment of the water jet massage device according to the invention at a stage in which the nozzle carriage has been moved further towards the head end of the device via the drive provided for this purpose.

Fig. 7A to 7E

shows five further views of an embodiment of the water jet massage device according to the invention, in which the nozzles of the nozzle carriage are directed towards the head end of the tub with the aim of ejecting massage water into concave cavities formed in the underside of the lying sheet is moved, where the wheels of the tilting plates are moved over a ramp rising towards the head end of the tank from the position near the rails on the tank floor and the angle of impact of the water jet ejected onto the underside of the film is reduced from a value of 90 °, i.e. perpendicular to the underside of the film, to acute angles, preferably to an angle of impact of < 10 °, for example about 6 °.

Fig. 8A to 8C

shows three further views of the same process as in the Figures 7A to 7E shown, but in side view.

Fig. 9A to 9B

shows examples of drives for the movement of the nozzle carriage in the longitudinal direction of the tub, i.e. a toothed belt and a metal perforated belt.

Fig. 10

shows exemplary sketches of possible massage patterns that can be carried out on the person to be massaged by the water jet massage device according to the invention.

It will now Figures 1A and 1B reference is made. Figure 1A shows a device V for dry water jet massage according to the state of the art, for example a device such as that which has been on the market for some time under the name "HYDROJET" and is offered by Wellsystem GmbH; and Figure 1B shows a device for dry water jet massage according to the present invention.

Such devices V for dry water jet massage - for the definition of this term, reference is made to the introduction to the description - usually consist of a tub W, the interior of which is designed for permanent contact with water or aqueous liquids, for example with regard to temperature, tightness, and rust resistance. Such a device V is usually provided with a film material F, which serves as a cover and simultaneously as a lying surface, to protect against water splashing around and escaping from the tub W on the one hand, and to provide a support for a person Pe to be treated on the other hand. closed and thus fastened and stretched to the upper edge of the tub W in a liquid-tight manner. The elasticity of the material of the film F not only allows the person Pe to be treated to get on and off the film F comfortably and to lie down comfortably, but it also allows the pressure pulse of a water jet (or several water jets) hitting the underside of the film F to be transferred from the surface of the film to the body of the person Pe lying on the film material F. Further requirements of this film material F are, in particular, hygienic: The material must be suitable for treatment with agents intended for cleaning and disinfection purposes. Furthermore, the film material F should also be permeable to the heat transported by the water jet. This means that the massaging effect of the water jet pulse can be intensified by applied heat - if desired by the person PE to be treated or prescribed by the therapist. Those skilled in the art are familiar with numerous materials suitable for the covering/lying film F for the desired purposes and can easily test and select them for suitability based on the specified parameters. Natural rubber has proven particularly advantageous as a material for the covering/lying film F, and natural rubber films are therefore preferred, optionally with a carrier layer of chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM).

In Figure 2A is a perspective view of the film material tub cover W in the stretched (as arranged on top of the tub W) state, and in Figure 2B is a perspective view of the film material tub cover in the tensioned (as arranged on top of the tub W) state from below.

According to the invention, the film material F has one or more transversely extending hollow space(s) 100 directed towards the person Pe lying on the film material F and forming the film F into one or more hollow spaces 100 on the underside of the film, which are convexly formed on the upper side of the film. In preferred embodiments of the In accordance with the invention, one cavity or two cavities, three cavities, four cavities or even more cavities can be formed. Very particularly preferably, the film material F has two cavities on the underside of the film extending in the transverse direction of the film F, directed towards the person Pe lying on the film material F and forming the film F into one or more elevations 100 formed convexly on the upper side of the film. By way of example, but not by way of limitation, two such cavities on the underside of the film extending in the transverse direction, directed towards the person Pe lying on the film material F and forming the film F into two elevations 100 formed convexly on the upper side of the film, are Figure 1B as well as in the Figures 2A and 2B visible.

The production of such on the top side of the film (see Figure 2A ) appearing as convex elevations 100 on the underside of the foil (see Figure 2B ) as concave cavities 100 appearing "bumps" can be done in any way known to the person skilled in the art and depends practically on the material used for the film F. In the preferred embodiment of a natural rubber film, a shaping corresponding to the "bumps" can take place simultaneously with the production of the film, for example in a vulcanization process: Tools with the corresponding shapes are fitted onto one another, leaving a suitably selected cavity between two tool halves, wherein the thickness of the film can be selected by the person skilled in the art according to the circumstances in accordance with the cavity left. At the desired parts of the tools - for example, to form a Figures 2A and 2B The cavity is filled with the polymer for the production of the film material F, and the filled polymer layer is polymerized or vulcanized under suitable conditions (e.g., by heating or using vulcanizing aids). The finished film with the cavity(ies) is then removed after completion of the polymerization or vulcanization. The production of such films as well as suitable equipment for use in the production are described in the known to those skilled in the art and can be provided for the present invention as required, without the present invention imposing any restrictions thereon.

In principle, a specialist can freely choose the position of the elevations/depressions/bumps 100 in the area of the film material. With regard to the function, also (for a lying person Pe as in Figure 1B ) vertical parts of the body of the person to be massaged with the water jets of a dry water jet massage, such elevations/depressions/bumps 100 are preferably provided, for example, in the areas of the film F that correspond to the shoulders, the soles of the feet, the inner and outer sides of the arms and the inner and outer sides of the legs of the person Pe lying on the film material F. Preferably, the elevations/depressions/bumps are provided in the areas of the film F that correspond to the shoulders or the soles of the feet of the person Pe lying on the film material F. Accordingly, the two figures 2A and 2B show the (non-limiting) example that two elevations/depressions/bumps 100 are preferably provided, for example, in the areas of the film F that correspond to the shoulders of the person Pe lying on the film material F. As a rule, the foil arranged on the top side of the tub W is therefore manufactured in such a way that the elevations/depressions/bumps 100 are located at a point on the foil F which is suitable for the dry water jet massage of one of the areas specified above (for example, the shoulders of the person Pe in the case of the Figures 1B , 2A and 2B shown cases).

In preferred embodiments of the invention, which can be implemented alone or in combination with another embodiment or another feature or with several or all other embodiments or features of the invention, without being limited thereto, in the dry water jet massage device V according to the invention, the transversely extending surface(s) directed towards the person Pe lying on the film material F and the film F to a or several, preferably two, film-top convex elevation(s) 100 forming(s), film-bottom cavity(ies) of the film material F concave round shape or a concave longitudinal shape (see Figures 2A, 2B ) with a depth in the range of 1 mm to 200 mm, calculated from the inner surface of the film material F, and preferably with a depth in the range of 1 mm to 100 mm. This is advantageous according to the invention because, at this depth, water jets ejected into the cavity(ies) by one of the nozzles D, D', D", D‴ can exert a particularly good massage effect on vertically arranged areas of the body of the person Pe lying on the film.

In the following, the invention will be further explained with reference to concave formations/cavities 100 as shown in Figure 2A and in Figure 2B The requirements for the inclusion of such Figures 2A and 2B However, the features shown and described in relation to the concave formations/cavities 100 shown are not limiting but are exemplary and are intended solely to provide a better understanding of the invention.

As from Figure 3 As can be seen, concave formations/cavities 100 are positioned "on" the film surface on which the person P/patient to be treated lies, such that the person P/patient to be treated can lie down on the film F in such a way that their shoulders rest on the "foot" side of the two concave formations/cavities 100 or lean against the "foot" side. Alternatively, or in conjunction with this (not shown), concave formations/cavities 100 are positioned "on" the film surface on which the person P/patient to be treated lies, such that the person P/patient to be treated can lie down on the film F in such a way that the inside of their arms rests on the right or left side of the two concave formations/cavities or leans against the right or left sides. Alternatively or together with this (not shown), concave formations/cavities 100 are "on" the foil surface on which the person P / patient to be treated is placed in such a way that the person to be treated Pe can lie down on the foil F in such a way that his/her soles of the feet lie on the "head" side of the two concave formations/cavities or lean against the "head" side of the concave formations/cavities.

In this position of the person Pe / patient to be massaged, all parts of the body of the person Pe to be massaged can be treated as before by a dry water jet massage, which can come into contact with the film material due to the person Pe / patient to be treated lying down (as before): As is known to the person skilled in the art, by moving the nozzle carriage 1 in the longitudinal direction of the tub W with the aid of a corresponding motor 2 and by moving the at least two nozzles D, D' arranged displaceably on the nozzle carriage 1 perpendicular to the tub longitudinal direction by means of the splined shafts 5, 5' which are rotatable about their longitudinal axis by one or more suitable motor(s) 2', 2", the following in Figure 10 The massage pattern shown is generated on the underside of the foil material F and the pressure impulses and the heat of the massage medium (e.g. the water) are transferred by means of the foil material F to the parts of the body of the person Pe / patient to be treated that come into contact with the foil material F.

In this way, patterns of dry water jet massage can be created, as they are Figure 10 and the massage experiments described below.

This is how it is (left sketch in Figure 10 ) makes it possible to give the person being treated a circular massage. To do this, the jet carriage 1 is slowly moved lengthwise along the tub, while the two splined shafts are slowly moved back and forth in a mirror-image motion (clockwise or counterclockwise). In this way, the two jets create a spiral motion that mirrors each other. The person being treated (Pe) is thus given a spiral-circular massage, for example, of the back.

The parallel massage image in Figure 10 (second figure above from the left) results from slow movement of the nozzle carriage 1 in the longitudinal direction of the tub and parallel zigzag movement of the nozzles D, D' by parallel control of the spline shafts 5, 5' (ie together clockwise or together counterclockwise).

Accordingly, the mirror image massage results in Figure 10 (fourth figure top from left) with slow movement of the nozzle carriage in the longitudinal direction of the tub and mirror-image zigzag movement of the nozzles D, D' by counter-rotating control of the splined shafts 5, 5' (ie clockwise for nozzle D and counter-clockwise for nozzle D' and vice versa).

Accordingly, point massages ( Figure 10 , third figure above from the left) by massaging one after the other, each time for a certain time, while fixing the nozzles (i.e. for the time of the massage of the specific point, neither a movement of the nozzle carriage in the longitudinal direction of the tub nor a displacement of the nozzles in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tub).

Parallel stroking massages (see Figure 10 , figure below) are given by successively setting the nozzles D, D' to one point each (in the direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tub) by locking the splined shafts 5, 5' and moving the nozzle carriage back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the tub, then readjusting the nozzles in the direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tub by means of the splined shafts 5, 5' and again moving the nozzle carriage 1 back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the tub, etc.

The massage patterns mentioned are merely examples, and the invention is not limited to these patterns. The person skilled in the art will recognize that by any combination of movements (i.e., moving the nozzle carriage in the longitudinal direction of the tub and laterally shifting the nozzles by means of the splined shafts 5, 5' toward the tub's longitudinal walls), or away from them, each using suitable motors 2) any beam combinations can be generated (including asymmetrical or even randomly spontaneously generated ones).

In a manner known to those skilled in the art, it is possible to control the (electric) motors 2, 2', 2" manually or electronically, so that certain massage patterns can be pre-programmed and carried out on the persons to be treated as desired or required, and even repeated.

This makes it possible, according to the invention, to use the device described in detail above for body massage, specifically for the dry body massage of a person being treated using water jets, the impulse of which is transferred to the underside of the lying/covering film and from there to the person lying on the film. It is also conceivable, in principle, to massage only a part of the body of a person being treated that requires a dry water jet massage, or to massage the body of an animal being treated.

According to the invention, the device for dry water jet massage further comprises a nozzle carriage 1 which is movable on two rails fixed on the floor B of the tub W on wheels 4, 4', 4" in the longitudinal direction of the tub W. A preferred example of such a nozzle carriage, which is not to be understood as a limitation of the invention and primarily serves to better and more understandably describe the invention, is shown in the Figures 4A and 4B The wheels 4, 4', by means of which the nozzle carriage 1 travels on the two rails fixed on the floor B of the tub W and is thereby moved in the longitudinal direction of the tub W, have wheel axles arranged transversely to the direction of movement of the nozzle carriage 1. According to the invention, the nozzle carriage can be movable on four, six, or eight wheels, the axles of which are arranged in such a way that an even distribution of the load over the entire nozzle carriage is possible. Accordingly, the full load of the weight of the nozzle carriage and the load The impulse forces exerted by the ejection of massage water from the nozzles onto the underside of the film material F are transferred to the wheels 4, 4' and are transmitted from these to the two rails on the floor of the tub W. While it is not absolutely necessary for the wheels 4, 4' on both sides of the nozzle carriage 1 to run on the rails "in a left and right track," it is preferable for the wheels to run "in track" on the rails. The key advantage is the even load distribution and transfer from the nozzle carriage 1 to the wheels 4, 4' and from these to the two rails.

In addition to the load-bearing wheels 4, 4' described above on the nozzle carriage, one 4" wheel or several 4" wheels can be mounted on both sides of the nozzle carriage 1 or several 4" wheels on one side of the nozzle carriage, the axles of which are arranged vertically and which move laterally along one rail or both rails or two sides of a rail, thus keeping the nozzle carriage "on track" or on the rail. A person skilled in the art will know, based on the requirements arising in each individual case, whether such 4" wheels should or must be provided and can accordingly advantageously provide such 4" wheels to ensure permanent and reliable running of the nozzle carriage 1 on the rails and also select their number.

According to the invention, a drive 3 is provided on the device V for dry water jet massage for moving the nozzle carriage 1 forwards and backwards on the wheels 4, 4', 4" in the longitudinal direction of the tub W. The person skilled in the art knows suitable drives 3 from the prior art and can select them according to the circumstances based on his technical knowledge, without being subject to restrictions in the selection of a drive 3. Examples of corresponding drives 3 are toothed belts (see Figure 9A ), perforated steel bands (see Figure 9B ), chains, ropes (e.g. wire ropes), a trapezoidal thread spindle, a rack and others. For such drives 3, a drive motor 2 is usually provided (as is also the case within the scope of the invention), which is located outside of the wet area of the tub W. The drive motor 2 outside the tub transmits a rotary movement from the outside of the tub W, for example from the bottom of the tub W, into the tub W via an intermeshing gear combination, as is known to the person skilled in the art from conventional power transmission devices, to a deflection roller 11. The deflection roller 11 rotates about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tub (essentially vertical in the device in operation) and transmits its rotary movement into a translational movement of the nozzle slide or nozzle carriage 1 in the longitudinal direction of the tub W. Two such deflection rollers are usually present, one of which is arranged, for example, at the head end of the tub W and one at the foot end of the tub W. One or both deflection rollers can be driven by a drive 3 each, or an embodiment can be chosen in which only one of the deflection rollers is driven by a drive 3 and the other runs "passively".

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the transmission of the rotary movement of the deflection roller(s) into a translational movement of the nozzle carriage 1 in the longitudinal direction of the tub is carried out by means of a toothed belt (see Figure 9A ). The toothed belt engages a corresponding gear in the driven deflection pulley on the one hand and in the nozzle carriage 1 on the other. Rotation of the deflection pulley moves the toothed belt in the longitudinal direction of the tub. The toothed belt 12 also moves the nozzle carriage on both tracks of the guide rail in the longitudinal direction of the tub.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the transmission of the rotary movement of the deflection roller(s) into a translational movement of the nozzle carriage 1 in the longitudinal direction of the tub W is carried out by means of a perforated belt (see Figure 9B ), for example, a perforated stainless steel belt. The perforated belt 13 engages with the protrusions on the guide area of the corresponding deflection roller on the one hand and with the nozzle carriage 1 on the other. A rotation of the deflection roller 11 moves the perforated belt in the longitudinal direction of the tub, and the perforated belt moves the nozzle carriage 1 on the guide rails also in the longitudinal direction of the tub.

In further preferred embodiments of the invention, the transmission of the rotary movement of the deflection roller(s) into a translational movement of the nozzle carriage 1 in the longitudinal direction of the tub in the manner described in more detail above can also be carried out by means of transmission means other than toothed belt 12 and perforated belt 13. The person skilled in the art knows such transmission means and can provide, for example, a chain or a cable, for example a wire cable, a trapezoidal thread spindle, a rack or other comparable means.

According to the invention, the nozzle carriage 1 carries the nozzles that eject the massage water onto the underside of the film material F. According to the invention, at least two nozzles D, D', D" are provided on the nozzle carriage 1.

In principle, the number of nozzles is not limited according to the invention. Thus, two, three, four, or even more nozzles can be arranged on the nozzle carriage 1 or comprised by the device V according to the invention for dry water jet massage. However, for reasons of reliable operability of the water jet massage device V according to the invention, it has proven advantageous to provide at least two nozzles D, D'. In further preferred embodiments of the invention (on and therefore with the nozzle carriage 1), these are not only movable in the longitudinal direction of the tub, but can also be moved transversely to the tub's longitudinal direction by means of a mechanism to be described separately below. This - as described below - results in these (preferably both) nozzles D, D' being able to be moved in the longitudinal direction of the tub W and in the transverse direction of the tub W independently of one another or even with the same movement pattern. This creates the possibility of creating a variety of dry water jet massage patterns by means of the water jets ejected onto the underside of the foil material F (and thus also onto the body of the person being massaged). Person Pe). This allows the type of dry water jet massage to be selected from a variety of such massage patterns.

In further preferred embodiments of the invention, which can be implemented alone or in combination with another embodiment or another feature, or with several or all other embodiments or features of the invention, without being limited thereto, a further nozzle D" is mounted on the nozzle carriage 1 in addition to the at least two nozzles D, D'. This further nozzle D" can preferably be fixedly arranged on the nozzle carriage 1. This additional nozzle D" on the nozzle carriage 1 would thus eject massage water onto the underside of the film material F in such a way that the massage pattern can be varied in the longitudinal direction of the tub W only by the translational movement of the nozzle carriage 1 with the nozzle D" fixed thereon. As a result, if the additional nozzle D" continuously ejects massage water onto the underside of the film material F, it would create a water jet massage pattern in the form of a straight line along the longitudinal direction of the tub. However, this additional nozzle could also be operated in such a way that it could eject the massage water in principle in the line massage pattern described above, but is operated in such a way that it ejects its water jet - with a certain position of the nozzle carriage 1 with a fixed water jet ejection direction of the nozzle D" and, if necessary, with the translational movement of the nozzle carriage under the concave cavity 100 stopped - exactly into one of the concave cavities 100 / hump on the underside of the film F. In such an operation, a "special massage" of the body parts of the person Pe to be massaged, which are adjacent to the concave cavity 100 on the underside of the film or to the concave cavities 100 on the underside of the film on the upper side of the film, could be effected, independent of the other massage actions of the device V for dry water jet massage.

In the in the Figure 1A shown device for dry water jet massage according to the prior art ( Figure 1A ) is on a A multi-part nozzle carriage is arranged on a double-track guide rail fixed to the bottom of the tub W, which can be moved on wheels along the double-track guide rail parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tub W (defined here and hereinafter also for the present invention as the "X-direction"). The nozzle carriage of this prior art consists of an upper part with one or more fixed nozzles and a lower part with a device operable via a rotating toothed belt system for moving the nozzles in a direction more or less perpendicular to the X-direction, at least at an angle between 30 and 60° to the X-direction (defined here and hereinafter also for the present invention as the "Y-direction"). By operating the latter device, which causes the nozzles to move in the Y direction, the massage water jet can be directed over an area defined by the length of the movement of one or more, usually two, nozzles on the nozzle carriage by moving in the X direction and by the respective movement of the nozzle(s) by moving in the Y direction. The disadvantage of this solution is that only a comparatively narrow massage "corridor" of the two nozzles in the Y direction can be exposed to water. With multiple nozzles, for example, two, only a completely identical movement (and thus massage actuation) of the nozzles, shifted only in the Y direction, can be achieved.

This solution, which is already advanced compared to previous solutions, is complemented by a different approach: Surprisingly, it enables a completely independent movement of the jets, at least in the transverse direction of the tub W, and thus allows - as will be described in detail below - a multitude of new massage forms for the dry water jet massage (see Figure 10 ). In addition, at least two nozzles D, D' carried by the nozzle carriage 1 can also eject water jet massage water into the cavities 100 formed on the underside of the foil material F and thereby also massage parts of the body of the person Pe to be massaged that are arranged vertically (i.e., more or less at right angles to the surface of the foil material F), such as For example, the shoulders or soles of the person being massaged. This was not possible with previously known water jet massage devices.

According to the invention, the device V for dry water jet massage further comprises a nozzle carriage 1. This is described below with reference to the Figures 4A and 4B described in more detail. The nozzle carriage 1 comprises, parallel to the tank bottom B, a horizontal base plate 10 which is movable on wheels 4, 4', 4" in the tank's longitudinal direction and has a vertical side plate 12, 12' fixed to the base plate 10 on the left and right sides. A first pivot axis 14 running in the transverse direction of the tank W and optionally a second pivot axis 14' running in the transverse direction of the tank W, arranged offset from the first pivot axis 14 and capable of serving for guiding purposes, rigidly connects the vertical side plates 12, 12' to one another.

Furthermore, the device V for dry water jet massage comprises a vertically extending tilting plate 16, 16' on each of the outer sides of the side plates 12, 12', each of which is pivotably attached to one of these side plates 12, 12' about the first pivot axis 14 running in the transverse direction of the tub W. A connecting support 16a mounted horizontally on the underside of the two vertical tilting plates 16, 16' and a rigid axis 14" running in the transverse direction of the tub W rigidly connect the tilting plates 16, 16' to one another. Furthermore, each of the tilting plates 16, 16' has, on the outer side (in the transverse direction), an impeller 17, 17', each with a wheel axis parallel to the first and second pivot axes 14, 14', at the end of the tilting plate opposite the tilting plate stop.

As can be seen from the Figures 4A and 4B As can be seen, the two tilting plates 16, 16' are connected together with the horizontal connecting support 16a and the rigid axis 14" to form a rigid unit that can be pivoted about the horizontal pivot axis 14. The nozzle holders DH carrying the nozzles D, D' are also pivotable about the pivot axis 14 and are raised from the horizontal "rest position" under the influence of the rigid, also horizontally extending axis 14", as soon as the nozzle carriage 1 is moved up the ramps R with the running wheels 17, 17' arranged on the tilting plates 16, 16', running on the additional rails 18, 18' and the ramps R. By means of the additional optional second pivot axis 14', which also runs transversely of the tub W and is arranged offset to the first pivot axis 14, the lifting of the nozzles for alignment with the formations/cavities 100 of the film material F and the subsequent ejection of water into them for massage purposes can not only be dependent on the rise of the running wheels 17, 17' on the ramps R, but can also be achieved by the offset arrangement of the two horizontal pivot axes 14, 14' in a disproportionate lifting (compared to the rise of the impellers 17, 17' up the ramps). This advantageously achieves that with comparatively little effort and simple mechanical means, the water ejection direction of the nozzles D, D' in the nozzle holders DH can be changed from (essentially) vertically upwards (starting position, compare Figures 7A, 7B , 8A ) via a transitional position (compare Figures 7C, 7D ) in (essentially) horizontal direction towards the foot end of the tub W (ejection position, compare Figures 7E , 8B ) can be changed. In the ejection position, the massage water is essentially ejected into the protrusions/cavities 100 in the film material F, thus causing a massage of the parts of the body of the person Pe to be treated that are adjacent to the protrusions/cavities 100. This is exemplary for massaging the shoulder of a person Pe to be treated in Figure 8C where "F" denotes the entire film and "100" denotes the bulge/cavity.

The essential advantage of this inventive construction of the nozzle carriage 1 is that it allows massage water to be directed not only vertically (ie at an angle of substantially 90° in relation to the underside of the film) onto the underside of the film material, while the nozzle carriage, and with it the at least two nozzles D, D', moves in the longitudinal direction of the tub W and the at least two nozzles D, D' - as explained in detail below - are moved in the transverse direction of the tub W in order to create a desired massage pattern (see Figure 10 ) on the underside of the film material F and thus also on the body of the person Pe to be massaged. Moreover (and in contrast to the prior art), the at least two nozzles D, D' on the nozzle carriage 1 can be moved out of the plane of the base plate 10 by means of the pivotable tilting plates 16, 16' and thus eject their massage water jet in special positions of the nozzle carriage 1 into the cavities 100/bumps/bulges formed on the underside of the film material F. This is described in detail below.

As in the prior art, according to the invention, the nozzle carriage 1 comprised by the device V for dry water jet massage has at least two nozzles D, D', D" movable on the nozzle carriage 1 and fed with massage water from the tub W by means of a pump P via a flexible hose connection for ejecting a water jet each against the underside of the film material F and/or against the cavities on the underside of the film. The pump for feeding massage water from the tub W into the at least two nozzles can be a conventional pump for conveying liquids into the at least two nozzles D, D', as is known to those skilled in the art and can be selected according to the requirements of the individual case. The delivery-side outlet thereof is connected to the nozzle inlet of the at least two nozzles D, D' by means of preferably flexible hoses made of a material adapted to withstand continuous operation in massage water. During operation of the device V for dry water jet massage, the at least two nozzles then eject massage water essentially perpendicularly onto the underside of the film material F. and/or against the cavities on the underside of the film.

The movement of at least two nozzles D, D' forwards and backwards in the longitudinal direction of the tub W takes place with the movement of the nozzle carriage 1. If the nozzle carriage 1, driven by a motor 2 via the Drive 3, moved on the wheels 4, 4' in the longitudinal direction of the tub W, the at least two nozzles D, D', D" mounted next to each other in the width direction of the tub W on the nozzle carriage 1 also move parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the tub W. When the pump is in operation (without transverse movement of the at least two nozzles D, D', D"), two/three massage water jets would be ejected from the at least two nozzles D, D', D" parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the tub W onto the underside of the film.

Independently of the movement of the at least two nozzles D, D', D" in the longitudinal direction of the tub, the movement of the at least two nozzles D, D' in the transverse direction of the tub W can take place in that two splined shafts 5, 5' running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device V through a bushing LB on the underside of the nozzle carriage 1 are controlled by a drive to execute a rotating back and forth movement about the respective splined shaft longitudinal axis. According to the invention, the two splined shafts 5, 5' are each rotatably mounted about their own axis on the head side in a bearing L, L' located inside the tub and are controlled on the foot side by a drive motor each located outside the tub W to execute the rotating back and forth movement about the respective splined shaft longitudinal axis.

Furthermore, the two splined shafts 5, 5' each engage with a gear ZR arranged on the underside of the nozzle carriage base, each with a gear axis concentric with one of the splined shafts 5, 5'. Additionally, the two gears ZR, each engaged with a splined shaft 5, 5', are in turn engaged with two racks Z arranged parallel to the pivot axes 14, 14', 14" on the lower nozzle holders DH, enabling independent movement of the nozzles in the transverse direction of the tub along the pivot axes 14, 14', 14".

In further preferred embodiments of the invention, which can be used alone or in combination with another embodiment or a other feature or with several or all other embodiments or features of the invention, without being limited thereto, the at least one drive motor 2' (arranged outside the tub W) is capable of independently controlling one or both of the splined shafts 5, 5' mounted within the tub W to rotate back and forth about the respective splined shaft axis running along the longitudinal direction of the tub W. The splined shafts 5, 5' mounted at the respective two splined shaft ends and each running through each bushing are not supported by the bushings LB, but run through them (when the nozzle carriage 1 is moved along the longitudinal direction of the tub W) essentially without contact. A gear ZR is arranged below the nozzle carriage base, the gear axis of which is concentric with the respective rotational axis of the associated splined shaft 5, 5', and is moved back and forth with a back-and-forth movement of the associated splined shaft 5, 5'. Each of the at least two nozzles D, D', D" arranged on the nozzle carriage 1 has a nozzle holder DH connecting the lower end of the respective nozzle to the nozzle carriage. Each of the nozzle holders DH is provided with a toothed rack Z arranged in the transverse direction (i.e., parallel to the pivot axes 14, 14', 14"). Each of the two toothed racks Z engages with the associated gear ZR arranged below the nozzle carriage base and extending through a gap in the nozzle carriage base to above the nozzle carriage base. Consequently, the clockwise or counterclockwise movement (as viewed along the spline axis) of the two spline shafts 5, 5', when controlled by the spline drive via the at least one motor 2', is converted into a corresponding clockwise or counterclockwise movement of the respective gearwheel ZR. The two gearwheels ZR, which are each in engagement with a rack Z arranged on one of the at least two nozzles D, D', D", set the two gearwheels in motion to the left or right side of the tub W, which the associated nozzles D, D' execute along the pivot axes 14, 14', 14". The movement of the two spline shafts ultimately results in a movement of the at least two nozzles D, D' in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tank.

If the at least two nozzles D, D' of the nozzle carriage 1 are moved together with the nozzle carriage 1 in the longitudinal direction of the tub W, and if the nozzles are moved - independently of one another, individually, together, or in different ways - by moving the splined shafts 5, 5' (independently of the movement in the longitudinal direction of the tub W) clockwise or counterclockwise to the right or left side of the tub W, this results in a longitudinal movement and simultaneous transverse movement of the at least two nozzles. This transverse movement of the at least two nozzles D, D' can be combined with the longitudinal movement of the nozzles on/together with the nozzle carriage 1 to create any symmetrical or asymmetrical water jet massage pattern on the underside of the film material and thus also on the body of the person Pe to be massaged (see Figure 10 ).

In all of this, with regard to the functions of the splined shafts 5, 5', it should be noted that the splined shafts 5, 5' - even via the bushings LB - do not have a load-bearing function, in particular no function of bearing the weight of the nozzle carriage 1 and no function of "intercepting" the pressure pulse of the massage water ejected by at least two nozzles D, D'.

The splined shafts 5, 5' can be any rods known to those skilled in the art and suitable as power transmission shafts, for example, two rods with a triangular or square cross-section. According to the invention, two such splined shafts 5, 5' are arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device V within the tub W. According to the invention, the splined shafts 5, 5' are preferably arranged inside the tub on the head side (i.e., on the side of the tub W where the head of the person to be treated is usually located (see also Figure 1B with a sketch of the person to be treated) are mounted in a bearing L, L' each located inside the tub, rotatable around the axis. The splined shafts 5, 5' are also mounted on the foot side (i.e. on the side of the tub W, where the feet of the person to be treated (compare also Figure 1B with a sketch of the person to be treated) are each controlled by a drive motor 2', 2''. The drive motors 2', 2" are located outside the tub W and can be motors known to those skilled in the art for this purpose, which can be selected as desired based on known criteria. In preferred embodiments, they are, for example, electric motors. By means of these motors 2', 2", the respective splined shafts 5, 5' can be set into rotation about the longitudinal axis of the splined shafts 5, 5', and specifically into rotation in both directions (clockwise and counterclockwise, viewed along the splined shaft axis). This enables back and forth rotation of the splined shafts 5, 5' about their longitudinal axis. As is known to those skilled in the art, the splined shafts 5, 5' are guided on the foot side by sealed guides from the interior of the tub W to the outside, engaging with the motors 2', 2".

According to the invention, at least one of the nozzles D, D', D" is further capable of directing its ejected water jet on the underside of the film material F onto the interior of one or more cavities 100 on the underside of the film material F forming convex elevations 100 on the upper side of the film material F.

This can be done, as described above, in such a way that at least one nozzle is rigidly arranged on the nozzle carriage 1 in such a way that, when a certain (adjustable) position of the nozzle carriage is reached, it directs its massage water jet exactly into a lower cavity 100 (hump) formed on the underside of the film.

This solution is one of the conceivable possibilities, but requires that the nozzle carriage 1 be moved into the specific position that allows the massage water jet ejection into the desired cavity 100(s) and remains there for a time that allows a dry water jet massage, with the aim of directing the massage water jet precisely into the concave cavity on the underside of the film material F. This is because the nozzle D‴ is rigidly mounted on the nozzle carriage 1. and can therefore change the direction of the massage water jet ejection only in the longitudinal direction of the tub W together with a movement of the nozzle carriage 1.

Alternatively, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, which can be implemented alone or in combination with another embodiment or another feature or with several or all other embodiments or several or all other features of the invention, without being limited thereto, the device V for dry water jet massage comprises at least two nozzles D, D' on the nozzle carriage 1, which are capable of directing their respective ejected water jets substantially perpendicularly onto the underside of the film material F when the nozzle carriage 1 is moved in a plane parallel to the bottom of the tub 1 and spanned by the long sides and the long sides of the tub W. This is done in the manner described above in that the nozzle carriage 1 with its wheels 4, 4' is moved on the rails attached to the tank floor in the longitudinal direction of the tank W and the two nozzles D, D' are simultaneously moved clockwise or counterclockwise by means of the drive of the splined shafts 5, 5' together or independently of one another and in this way the at least two nozzles D, D' can be moved transversely to the tank longitudinal direction in the direction of the sides or in the direction of the tank center.

In further, even more preferred embodiments of the invention, which can be implemented alone or in combination with another embodiment or another feature or with several or all other embodiments or several or all other features of the invention, without being limited thereto, the device V for dry water jet massage comprises on the respective left and right outer sides of the two rails fixed on the floor B of the tub W in the longitudinal direction of the tub W for moving the nozzle carriage 1 in each case an additional rail 18, 18' for the running of the running wheels 17, 17' attached to the two tilting plates 16, 16' parallel to Running of the wheels 4, 4', 4" on the floor of the tub W when the nozzle carriage 1 is moved in the longitudinal direction of the tub W. The rails 18, 18' run at one or more points, preferably in the area of the head end and/or in the area of the foot end of the tub W, towards the tub end on rising ramps. The ramps rising towards the tub end are capable of pivoting the nozzle carriage ends of the tilting plates 16, 16' about the first pivot axis 14 away from the floor B of the tub W in the direction of the film F when the running wheels 17, 17' travel uphill on the ramps, whereby the angle of the respective massage water jet of the respective nozzle D, D' rigidly connected to the tilting plate 16, 16' with the film underside changes from essentially 90° to acute angles with increasing pivoting of the tilting plates 16, 16' changes, preferably up to an angle of < 10 °, for example up to an angle of 6.5 °, relative to the underside of the mat.

As a result, the at least two nozzles D, D' on the nozzle carriage 1 are capable of directing their respective ejected water jets onto the interior of at least one of the one or more transversely extending hollow spaces 100 directed toward the person Pe lying on the film material F and forming the film F into one or more hollow spaces 100 on the underside of the film, which hollow spaces 100 form convex elevations 100 on the upper side of the film. The person Pe, whose body, in particular its vertical parts, rests against the bumps 100 formed on the upper side of the film and is to be subjected to a dry water jet massage, receives the water jet massage pressure pulse via the film material walls of the bumps and is thus dryly massaged.

This will be explained below with reference to the Figures 5 , 6A and 6B , 7A to 7E and 8A to 8C explained in more detail.

Assuming that cavities/bumps 100 are formed on the underside of the film material in the area of the head, as shown in the Figures 2A and 2B As shown in Figure 5A, the position of the nozzle carriage 1 near the foot end of the tub W and with the nozzles 2, 2'"remaining" near the tub floor can be the starting point of the method for dry water jet massage on a person to be massaged. For the sake of simplicity, in all the above-mentioned figures (except where explicitly stated otherwise), the foil material F used to cover the tub W and support the person Pe to be massaged is not shown in the figures (exception: Figures 8A , 8C ).

Starting from the foot end of the tub W, the jet carriage 1 with the at least two jets D, D' arranged thereon, preferably with exactly two jets D, D', can be moved at any speed (rather slow for reasons of a thorough massage) on the wheels 4, 4' running on the rails towards the head end of the tub W, i.e. in the longitudinal direction of the tub W. The speed of the movement can be such that the jet carriage 1 covers the distance between the foot end and the head end of the tub once in (for example and without limitation) 1 to 2 minutes. The jet carriage can then be moved back to the foot end of the tub W along the same route, etc. However, the time can be shorter or longer depending on the requirements of a massage in individual cases and can, for example, be set by a person supervising the dry water jet massage on the person Pe being massaged. Such adjustments can be: both the movement of the at least two nozzles D, D', D" in the longitudinal direction of the tub W, as well as the (to be explained in detail below) movement of the at least two nozzles D, D', D" in the transverse direction of the tub W, as well as the movement of the at least two nozzles D, D' with adjustment of the jet direction of the massage water jet onto one of the cavities 100 arranged on the underside of the nozzles of the film F.

During the movement of the nozzle carriage 1 with the nozzles D, D' arranged thereon from the foot end of the tub W to the head end of the tub W and Back, one or both of the at least two nozzles D, D' can be moved laterally on the nozzle carriage by means of one or both of the splined shafts 6, 6', i.e., in directions transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tub. This can be done jointly by synchronous rotation of the splined shafts 6, 6' in the same direction, or independently of one another by asynchronous or counter-rotation of the splined shafts 6, 6', or by moving one splined shaft while keeping the other splined shaft stationary, or by quickly moving one splined shaft 5 in any direction and slowly moving the other splined shaft 5' in any direction.

The respective clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the splined shaft(s) about their axis running longitudinally to the tank W causes the gear ZR, which is arranged concentrically with the respective splined shaft, to rotate in the same direction and over the same (partial) circumference. Both gears ZR are in engagement with respective racks Z arranged above the base plate of the nozzle carriage 1. The latter are fastened in the transverse direction of the tank W to the lower ends of the holders of the respective nozzles D, D'. The racks Z arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the tank and thus also the nozzles D, D' are thus moved laterally (to the left or to the right) by the gears ZR controlled by the splined shafts 6, 6', namely along the pivot axes 14, 14', 14', which also run transversely to the longitudinal direction of the tank W.

The control of the transverse movement of the nozzles D, D' by rotating the splined shafts 6, 6' clockwise or counterclockwise is independent of the movement of the nozzles D, D' on and with the nozzle carriage 1 in the longitudinal direction of the tub. This allows the execution of a previously unknown variety of water jet massage patterns, of which Figure 10 only a few are shown. The transverse movement of the nozzles D, D' is not shown in any of the figures; however, the person skilled in the art will understand the relationship between the control of the movement of the nozzles D, D' in the transverse direction of the tub W by a movement of one or both of the splined shafts 6, 6' clockwise or counterclockwise and the actual movement of the Nozzles D, D' in the transverse direction of the tub W via the gears ZR and racks Z according to the detailed description above.

As long as the nozzle carriage 1 with the wheels 4, 4', 4" is moved "in the plane" on the floor of the tub W by means of the drive 3 and at the same time (or separately) the nozzles D, D' are moved laterally (transversely to the longitudinal direction of the tub) back and forth in the manner described above, the massage water jet ejected from the nozzles D, D' strikes the underside of the film material F on which the person Pe to be massaged lies, regardless of the movement of the nozzle carriage 1 in the longitudinal direction of the tub (due to the movement of the nozzle carriage 1 on the wheels 4, 4', 4") and also regardless of the more or less strong displacement of the nozzles D, D' arranged on the nozzle carriage 1 in the transverse direction of the tub, essentially perpendicularly. The body parts of the person Pe being massaged that face the film material and are accessible to the pressure pulse of the massage water jet are therefore massaged in the desired manner by the massage water jet that strikes the underside of the film essentially perpendicularly. This process allows all body parts of the person being massaged that come into contact with the material of the film F, i.e., that rest on the film F, to be massaged with a selectable, for example (without limitation) constant, pressure of the massage water jet. This occurs - as mentioned in the example described above - starting from the foot end of the tub W, where, for example, with the progressive movement of the at least two nozzles D, D' on the nozzle carriage 1 in the longitudinal direction of the tub W towards its head end and with controlled back and forth movement of the at least two nozzles D, D' in the transverse direction of the tub by a synchronous or asynchronous or completely independent repeated or even only single movement of one of the at least two nozzles D, D' by means of the splined shafts 5, 5', the heels of the feet, the calves, the undersides of the thighs, the buttocks, the hips, the back, the shoulder blades (if applicable also the neck) of the person to be massaged are dry massaged with the massage water jets striking the underside of the film essentially vertically. In the event that the If the person being massaged Pe lies face down on the cover film F, the corresponding front body parts of the person being massaged can also be moved from the foot end to the head end of the tub W.

The process can be repeated by moving the nozzle carriage in the reverse direction (from the head end to the foot end) and with controlled back and forth movement of the at least two nozzles D, D' in the tub transverse direction by a synchronous or asynchronous or completely independent repeated or even only single movement of one of the at least two nozzles D, D' by means of the splined shafts 5, 5'; etc.

In this procedure, the nozzle carriage 1 with the at least two nozzles D, D' can be moved by moving on the wheels 4, 4', 4" with controlled back and forth movement of the at least two nozzles D, D' in the tub transverse direction by a synchronous or asynchronous or completely independent repeated or even only single movement of one of the at least two nozzles D, D' arranged on the nozzle carriage 1 by means of the splined shafts 5, 5' from the Figure 5 shown state (at the very foot end, nozzles in the "level") to the one shown in the Figures 6A, 6B The nozzle carriage 1 can be moved from the position shown (nozzles in the "level"position; nozzle carriage near the head end) and back. If desired, this can be done in several consecutive cycles or in several of the previously described movement sequences of the nozzle carriage 1 from the foot end to the head end or from the head end to the foot end, with the nozzle carriage being returned to the respective starting position in a "fast" direct manner without ejecting massage water.

In a further embodiment of the invention, at least one of the at least two nozzles D, D' arranged on the nozzle carriage 1 is capable of bringing one or two of the at least two nozzles D, D' into a position upon further movement of the nozzle carriage 1 with the at least two nozzles D, D' arranged thereon, in which at least one of the at least two nozzles D, D', preferably even two of the at least two nozzles D, D', respectively ejected massage water jet into at least one, preferably each into at least one of the cavities 100 formed on the underside of the film. Preferably, two of the at least two nozzles D, D' arranged on the nozzle carriage 1 are capable, upon further movement of the nozzle carriage 1 with the at least two nozzles D, D' arranged thereon, of bringing one or two of the at least two nozzles D, D' into a position in which at least one of the at least two nozzles D, D', preferably even two of the at least two nozzles D, D', can direct their ejected massage water jet into at least one, preferably each into at least one of the cavities 100 formed on the underside of the film. This process is described in the Figures 7A to 7E and 8A to 8C and is described in detail below.

As in the Figures 7A and 8A As shown, additional rails 18, 18' are arranged laterally on the outer side of the rails on the floor B of the tub, on which the nozzle carriage 1 is moved on the wheels 4, 4', 4", and parallel to these rails fixed on the floor B of the tub W, at least in the region of the head end of the tub W. These additional rails 18, 18' run in further preferred embodiments of the device V according to the present invention in an ascending manner towards the respective tub end, in the case described here therefore towards the head end of the tub W. The angle of ascension in relation to the tub floor can be selected by the person skilled in the art in accordance with the technical requirements, for example in accordance with the available space requirements, and is - for example and not restrictively - 10° to 60°, preferably 15° to 45°. The angle of ascension can be the same over the entire length of the additional rails 18, 18', so that the rails 18, 18', starting from a certain From one point onwards, the ramp can run on a steadily rising ramp. Alternatively, the angle of inclination can vary along the ramp, for example (without limitation) increasing towards the end of the ramp. The specialist can select and adjust this according to the specific circumstances of the individual case.

As soon as - as in particular from Figure 7A visible - the nozzle carriage 1 on the rails arranged on the floor B of the tub W on the wheels 4, 4', 4""in the plane", i.e. without lifting the at least two nozzles D, D' by means of the tilting plates 16, 16' and their outer wheels 17, 17', so far in the direction of the tub end - in Figure 7A : in the direction of the head end of the tub W - that the outside wheels 17, 17' assigned to the tilting plates 16, 16' are located at the beginning of the rail 18, 18' rising to the ramp, any further movement of the nozzle carriage 1 on the rails arranged on the floor B of the tub W on the wheels 4, 4', 4" in the direction of the end of the tub W - in Figure 7A : towards the head end of the tub W - to the fact that the nozzle carriage 1 with at least two nozzles D, D' arranged thereon is moved further on the rails arranged on the floor B of the tub W on the wheels 4, 4', 4" in the direction of the head end of the tub W, however, the outside running wheels 17, 17' assigned to the tilting plates 16, 16' on the respective additional outside parallel rail 18, 18' begin to "run" onto the ramps on both sides. This is shown, for example, by Figures 7A and 7B The outer wheels 17, 17' and the tilting plates 16, 16' connected to them are raised according to the slope of the ramps 18, 18' on both sides and pivoted about the pivot axis 14 towards the underside of the film F. This pivoting process takes place on both sides of the nozzle carriage with the same slope, since the tilting plates are rigidly connected via the additional axis 14". Figure 7B The direction of ejection of the at least two nozzles D, D' is schematically sketched with arrows. In Figure 7B It can be seen that already at this stage the angle of the massage water ejection direction with the underside of the film material F (essentially 90 ° with the film underside) changes to a smaller, i.e. more acute angle, compared to the ejection direction of the massage water jet from the at least two nozzles D, D' when the nozzle carriage 1 with the at least two nozzles D, D' is moved "in the plane".

During this process, the movement of the at least two nozzles D, D' arranged on the nozzle carriage 1 in the transverse direction of the tub can be carried out independently - as described above - by rotating the two splined shafts 5, 5' clockwise or counterclockwise around the longitudinal axis of the splined shafts 5, 5', without this being subject to any restrictions - as "in the plane".

During the further movement of the nozzle carriage 1 with the at least two nozzles D, D' arranged thereon in the direction - for example (without limitation) - towards the head end of the tub W on the rails arranged on the floor B of the tub W on the wheels 4, 4', 4", the outer wheels 17, 17' are moved further up the ramp on the additional rail on the ramp 18, 18'. The upward movement of the wheels 17, 17' is - as described above and from the Figures 4A, 4B and 7A to 7E visible - by the offset pivot axes 14, 14' into a disproportionate lifting of the tilting plates 16, 16' with the nozzles D, D' arranged thereon. This is evident from the comparison of the Figures 7C and 7D with Figure 7B As the outer wheels 17, 17' rise on the additional parallel rails on the ramps 18, 18', the tilting plates 16, 16' rise further and pivot further towards the underside of the film around the pivot axis 14", together with the nozzle holders and the at least two nozzles D, D'. Also in these two Figures 7C and 7D The continuously changing jet or ejection direction of the at least two nozzles D, D' is schematically sketched with arrows. It is evident that the angle of the massage water ejection direction with the underside of the foil material F changes to ever smaller acute angles, compared to Figure 7B .

Finally, in Figure 7E shown that during the further movement of the nozzle carriage 1 with the at least two nozzles D, D' arranged thereon in the direction - for example (without limitation) - towards the head end of the tub W on the rails arranged on the floor B of the tub W on the wheels 4, 4', 4", the outside running wheels 17, 17' on the additional Rail on Ramp 18, 18' further up the ramp to the (in Figure 7E shown) end position in the direction of the head end of the tub W. Due to the further rise of the outer wheels 17, 17' on the additional parallel rails on the ramps 18, 18', the tilting plates 16, 16' rise further to the Figure 7E shown end position and pivot towards the underside of the film around the pivot axis 14", together with the nozzle holders and at least two nozzles D, D'. Figure 7E shows that - compared to the Figures 7C and 7D - the angle of impact of the massage water jet on the underside of the film has been further reduced to the course of the underside of the film in the final position of the nozzle carriage 1 with at least two fully extended nozzles D, D'. Figure 7E The (optional) support surfaces S for the cover and lying foil F are also separately marked.

The same sequence of the ascending movements of the outside impellers 17, 17' with pivoting movement of the tilting plates 16, 16' around the pivot axis 14" as in the Figures 7A to 7E show in side view of the nozzle carriage 1 also the Figures 8A to 8C . In the Figures 8A to 8C The (optional) support surfaces S for the cover and lying foil F above the shoulders next to the head of the person to be massaged are also separately marked. The side views of the Figures 8B and 8C only by Figure 8B the cover and lying film F is not shown, but the cover and lying film F is shown in Figure 8C is shown.

Figure 8A shows a Figure 7A comparable view of the device V according to the invention for dry water jet massage, but in a side view of the nozzle carriage 1. In the Figure 8A The side view shown shows the nozzle carriage 1 with at least two nozzles D, D'. Up to this point, the nozzle carriage 1 has moved in the longitudinal direction of the tub W from its foot end towards the head end of the massage tub W "in the plane", i.e., moving on the rails arranged on the tub floor by means of the wheels 4, 4', 4' in the longitudinal direction of the tub W. The at least two nozzles D, D' arranged on the nozzle carriage 1 move i.e. in the longitudinal direction of the tub W together with the nozzle carriage 1 and on the nozzle carriage 1. At the same time, up to this point, the at least two nozzles D, D' are displaced in the transverse direction of the tub by means of the two splined shafts 5, 5' by rotating them around their axis of rotation running in the longitudinal direction of the tub in a lateral direction (= transverse direction of the massage tub W) on the nozzle holders DH outwards (i.e. towards the side tub walls) or inwards (i.e. away from the side tub walls) along the pivot axes 14, 14', 14". The massage water striking the underside of the cover or lying sheet F at an (almost) right angle exerts - as described above - a massage impulse on the underside of the cover or lying sheet, which is transferred to the body of the person Pe lying on the sheet F, and massages this person in this way.

The Figure 8A The position of the nozzle carriage 1 shown is the one at which, as the nozzle carriage 1 continues to travel towards the head end of the tub, the outer wheels 17, 17' on the outside of the two tilting plates 16, 16' begin to travel "uphill" on the additional outer rails 18, 18' that travel up a ramp, and thus pivot the two tilting plates 16, 16' together about the pivot axis 14 out of the plane towards the underside of the film. Within the scope of this pivoting movement, the continuation of which involves further uphill travel of the outer wheels 17, 17' and further pivoting of the tilting plates 16, 16' into the Figures 8B and 8C As shown, the water jet ejection direction of the at least two nozzles D, D' changes from (essentially) right angle in relation to the film bottom (as can be seen from the sequence of Figures 7A to 7E can be seen) to smaller, essentially small acute angles, more preferably to angles < 10 °.

This is also the case in the Figures 8A , 8B and 8C shown: While the angle, related to the underside of the foil, in Figure 8A is about 90 °, the ejection angle in Figures 8B and 8C significantly smaller and is preferably a small acute angle < 10 °. This leads - as can be seen from the sketch of Figure 8C with the Section of the covering and lying film results in an impact angle of the massage water jet ejected by the at least two nozzles D, D' onto the inside of the film cavities 100 of approximately 90° and thus in an application of a massage water pulse by at least one of the at least two nozzles D, D' at an advantageous angle, because it achieves a good massage effect, onto the concave cavity wall for the massage of the body surface area of the person to be massaged adjacent to the wall on the upper side of the film.

After achieving this massage effect, for a time sufficient or desired for a dry water jet massage or at least a fraction thereof, whereby several similar and similarly long massages can be combined to form a complete massage, on the body parts of the person Pe to be massaged that are adjacent to the cavities 100 and are arranged essentially perpendicular to the lying sheet F when the person Pe is lying on the lying sheet F, for example the shoulders or the soles of the feet of the person to be massaged, the jet carriage is moved from the position furthest to the head end of the massage tub (see Figures 8B and 8C ) towards the foot end of the massage tub. This can be done by following the same steps of impulsive action of the water jets ejected by at least two nozzles D, D' in reverse order as described above (see Figures 8C, 8B and 8A or Figures 7E , 7D , 7C , 7B, 7A ) or can be performed in a faster step or several quick steps in the reverse order of the above. The procedure can be controlled by the professional according to the circumstances of the given massage pattern and/or the wishes of the person being massaged.

Afterwards, the dry water jet massage process can be restarted according to the above description by starting again to move the jet carriage 1 and thus also the at least two jets D, D' arranged on the jet carriage 1 "in the plane" from the foot end on the rails attached to the tub floor by means of the wheels 4, 4', 4" towards the head end of the tub W and at the same time to move at least two nozzles D, D' by means of the splined shafts 5, 5' transversely to the tub's longitudinal direction and thereby to create different patterns of a dry water jet massage (see Figure 10 for some examples) on the parts of the body of a person to be massaged that are lying on the film F and that come into contact with the film F.

Such "in-plane" massage processes can be combined in any number and sequence with any number (and in any sequence) of massage processes in the concave cavities 100 formed on the underside of the film. A specialist experienced in this technical field can adjust this to the specific circumstances of the person Pe being massaged, for example, the wishes of the person Pe being massaged or the treatment indication for the person being massaged.

Furthermore, all described massage procedures can be performed with massage water jets using a continuous, consistent pressure that is perceived as pleasant for the individual being treated. Alternatively, it is also possible to vary the pressure during the dry water jet massage or to apply a "pulsating pressure pattern." The specialist can adapt this to the circumstances and requirements of the individual case, for example, the physiological needs of the person being massaged.

In preferred embodiments of the invention (not shown in any of the figures), which can be implemented alone or with another feature of the invention or with several other features of the invention or with all other features of the invention together, without limiting the invention thereto, the device V further comprises at least one nozzle D‴ not arranged on the nozzle carriage 1, which is capable of directing its ejected water jet onto the concave interior of at least one of the one or more concave formation(s)/cavity(ies) 100.

This can be done in any way known to the person skilled in the art, for example continuously or intermittently or pulsatingly or in a rhythm coordinated with the massage water ejection of the nozzles mounted on the nozzle carriage 1. Because the water jet ejected by the nozzle D‴ not arranged on the nozzle carriage 1 is directed continuously, intermittently, or pulsatingly, or in a rhythm coordinated with the nozzle massage water ejections mounted on the nozzle carriage 1, towards the interior of at least one of the one or more concave formations/cavities 100, a massage effect can be produced continuously, intermittently, or pulsatingly, or coordinated with the massage impulse of the nozzle(s) mounted on the nozzle carriage, on the body parts of the person Pe / patient to be massaged, which, with regard to the lying position of the person Pe / patient to be treated, are adjacent to or adjacent to at least one of the one or more concave formations/cavities/cavities 100. This massage effect is obviously temporally and spatially independent of that exerted by the nozzle(s) D, D', D" mounted on the nozzle carriage on the body of the person P / the patient to be treated. This is because while the nozzle D‴ not arranged on the nozzle carriage ejects (or does not eject) massage water onto the interior of at least one of the several concave formations 100, the nozzle carriage 1 with the massage nozzles D, D', D" arranged thereon can be moved independently in the longitudinal direction of the tub or the nozzles D, D' can be displaced in the Y direction by means of the splined shafts 5, 5' (and can thereby - as described above - independently generate any massage pattern of a dry water jet massage (or not generate it if the nozzles D, D' are not moved or displaced)), without this having any influence on the dry water jet massage by the nozzle D‴ not arranged on the nozzle carriage 1 of the inventive Device V has.

In the same way as described above, the massage impulse exerted by the massage water of the nozzle D‴ can also preferably be The controlled concave shape(s) and thus the body parts of the person P/patient being treated can be changed independently of the massage impulses applied by the other jets, or can be specifically adapted to them. The same applies to the massage water temperature: This can also be selected, varied, or adjusted independently.

The invention also relates to a dry water jet massage method. In this method, the body of a person Pe to be treated/a patient, who is placed on a film material F enabling pressure pulse transmission as the upper cover of a device V, as described in detail above as being in accordance with the invention, is exposed to a water jet pressure pulse ejected through at least one of the nozzles D, D', D", D‴ onto the underside of the film material F and optionally into the interior of at least one of the one or more film materials forming convex elevations 100 on the upper side of the film and concave cavities 100 on the underside of the film, for a time that produces a massage effect on the body.

In contrast to the prior art, the dry water jet massage method according to the invention not only allows the above-described diverse planar massage patterns to be generated on the underside of the lying sheet F, with which a massaging pressure pulse can be applied via the lying sheet F to the body parts of the person to be treated that lie directly on the sheet material F. Rather, via the one or more concave formation(s)/cavity(ies) 100 applied to the sheet according to the invention, which are open to the underside of the sheet, massage pulses can also be applied to body parts of the person P to be treated that rise vertically above the surface of the lying sheet and that lie against the one or more concave formation(s)/cavity(ies) 100. For this purpose, either at least one, preferably one, not on the nozzle carriage 1 arranged nozzle D‴, which is/are capable of directing its ejected water jet onto the interior of at least one of the one or more concave formations 100, or at least one, preferably one, nozzle D" arranged on the nozzle carriage 1, which is/are capable of directing its ejected water jet onto the interior of at least one of the one or more concave formations 100, or at least two D, D' of the nozzles on the nozzle carriage 1, each of which is/are capable of directing its ejected water jet onto the interior of at least one or two of the plurality of concave formations 100, are provided. This has been described in detail above, and for the method according to the invention for dry water jet massage, reference is made to these above descriptions.

As with a conventional massage or water jet massage, the dry water jet massage according to the invention can be carried out with the device of the present invention and used as a body massage, preferably for the release of cramps, tensions (for example muscle tensions), tensions (for example stress-related muscular tensions), for the reduction of stress (for example to eliminate stress- or posture-related hardening of the trapezius muscle ), for the relief or elimination of pain (for example in the case of sports injuries or for the relief or elimination of back or joint pain, muscular imbalances, muscular fatigue, disturbances of muscle tone), for the improvement of blood circulation (for example to eliminate a (chronic) venous stasis syndrome or circulatory and metabolic disorders), for the treatment of cervical migraine, for the treatment of fibromyalgia, for the elimination of reversible functional disorders of the spine and for the treatment of cervical and thoracic spine syndrome and the so-called Lumbar syndrome. The terms "cervical spine syndrome", "thoracic spine syndrome" and "lumbar syndrome" are understood to mean a condition of pain in the cervical spine, thoracic spine or lumbar spine, each in general and without specific indication of the Cause of pain. These syndromes are generally difficult to combat or alleviate, but according to the invention, they are specifically alleviated or combated with the new device.

Further possible uses include using the device according to the invention to increase metabolic performance, to loosen subcutaneous tissue, for venous and lymphatic decongestion, to loosen scar tissue, to activate and dampen the autonomic nervous system with beneficial effects on the internal organs.

• Für mehrere, vorteilhafterweise zwei, Düsen D, D' ist ein zentraler Wasser-Druckanschluß installierbar. Beide Düsen sind D, D' auf einem einzigen Düsenschlitten 1 angebracht und lassen sich in Querrichtung der Wanne W voneinander weg und aufeinander zu bewegen.
• Die Antriebsmotoren 2, 2', 2" sind außerhalb der Wanne anbringbar und können über Toleranz-ausgleichende Kreuzkupplungen jeweils eine Welle (Keilwellen 5, 5' oder einen Antrieb 3) antreiben.
• Düsenbewegungen in Längsrichtung und in Querrichtung der Wanne A sind gleichzeitig möglich, können überlagert werden und erlauben Bewegungen der auf dem Düsenwagen montierten mindestens zwei Düsen D, D' in Querrichtung der Wanne W unabhängig voneinander aufgrund der unabhängig voneinander steuerbaren Keilwellen 5, 5', denen keine Lasten tragende Funktion zukommt; die Keilwellen 5, 5' dienen lediglich der durch die Bewegung der Keilwellen 5, 5' um ihre eigene Längsachse initiierten Verschiebung der auf dem Düsenwagen 1 jeweils entlang der Schwenkachsen 14, 14' verschiebbaren Anordnungen der mindestens zwei Düsen D, D'.
• Der Abstand der Düsen D, D' in Querrichtung ist stufenlos von minimal bis maximal variierbar.
• Sämtliche Düsenpositionen sind von außerhalb der Wanne W über eine Drehwinkelmessung der Keilwellen-Antriebe erfassbar.
• Die für das Verschieben der Düsen verantwortliche Einrichtung wie auch der Düsenwagen sind komplett vormontierbar.

Advantages of the device V according to the invention for dry water jet massage compared to the prior art include:

• A central water pressure connection can be installed for several, preferably two, nozzles D, D'. Both nozzles D, D' are mounted on a single nozzle carriage 1 and can be moved away from and toward each other in the transverse direction of the tub W.
• The drive motors 2, 2', 2" can be mounted outside the trough and can each drive one shaft (spline shafts 5, 5' or one drive 3) via tolerance-compensating cross couplings.
• Nozzle movements in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction of the tub A are possible simultaneously, can be superimposed and allow movements of the at least two nozzles D, D' mounted on the nozzle carriage in the transverse direction of the tub W independently of one another due to the independently controllable splined shafts 5, 5', which do not have a load-bearing function; the splined shafts 5, 5' serve only to move the arrangements of the at least two nozzles D, D', which are displaceable on the nozzle carriage 1 along the pivot axes 14, 14', initiated by the movement of the splined shafts 5, 5' about their own longitudinal axis.
• The distance between the nozzles D, D' in the transverse direction can be continuously varied from minimum to maximum.
• All nozzle positions can be detected from outside the tank W via a rotation angle measurement of the spline shaft drives.
• The device responsible for moving the nozzles as well as the nozzle carriage can be completely pre-assembled.

The invention has been explained above using preferred embodiments merely as an example, without being limited to the preferred embodiments.

List of reference symbols

B

Bottom of the tub W

D, D', D", D‴

nozzles

DH

Nozzle holders

F

Foil material

L, L'

Bearings of the splined shafts 5, 5'

LB

cylinder liners

Pe

person

R

ramp

S

Support surface for film cover F

V

Device for dry water jet massage

W

tub

Z

Racks arranged transversely to the tub longitudinal direction

ZR

Gears coaxial and in engagement with the splined shafts 5, 5'

1

jet car

2

Motor

3

drive

4, 4', 4"

Wheels for moving the nozzle carriage 1 on rails on the trough floor

5.5'

Splined shafts

6, 6`

Splined shafts

10

base plate

12, 12'

vertical left/right side panels

14, 14', 14"

Swivel axes in the transverse direction of the tub W

16, 16'

Tilting plates

16a

horizontal connecting beam

17, 17'

external wheels on the tilting plates 16, 16'

18, 18'

Additional outside parallel rails with rising ramp

100

Convex film top-side formation / concave film bottom-side cavities of film F

Claims (14)

1. A device (V) for dry water-jet massage, comprising

   a tub (W), which is filled with massage water and runs from a head end to a foot end in a longitudinal direction and from a left side to a right side in a transverse direction, having a film material (F) as a cover closing the tub (W) water-tight on the top side, which film material is simultaneously used as a lying surface for a person (Pe) to be treated and allows the transmission of pressure pulses;

   a nozzle cart (1), which can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the tub (W) and bears at least two nozzles (D, D', D"), which nozzles (D, D', D") can be fed via a flexible hose connection with massage water from the tub (W) by means of a pump (P) in order to eject one water jet per nozzle against the bottom side of the film material (F);

   a first drive (3) for forward and backward movement of the nozzle cart (1) in the longitudinal direction of the tub (W), the at least two nozzles (D, D') moving forward and backward in the longitudinal direction of the tub (W) with the movement of the nozzle cart (1); and

   a second drive (5, ZR, Z), which moves the nozzles (D, D') in the transverse direction of the tub (W);

   wherein two nozzle holders (DH) are arranged on the nozzle cart (1), and

   wherein one of the nozzles (D, D') is arranged on each of the nozzle holders (DH),

   wherein each of the nozzle holders (DH) is connected to a toothed rack (Z),

   and wherein each nozzle holder (DH) and the nozzles (D, D') are axially displaceable along an axis (14') of the nozzle cart (1) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tub (W),

   characterized in

   that the film material (F) has one or more cavity/cavities on the bottom side of the film, which run in the transverse direction, being directed in use at the person (PE) lying on the film material (F), and shaping the film (F) into one or more elevated portions (100), which are convex on the top side of the film, and

   that the toothed rack (Z), as part of the second drive with an own gear of the second drive, allows an individual, independent from each other displacement of each nozzle holder (DH) in the transverse direction of the tub.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the toothed rack (Z) is axially movably connected to at least one rigid axis (14; 14') of the nozzle cart (1).
3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a part coupling the toothed rack (Z) to two axes (14; 14') of the nozzle cart (1) carries the nozzle holder (DH) in the transverse direction, but is uncoupled from the nozzle holder (DH) in pivot direction.
4. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the toothed rack (Z) is engaged with a shaft, in particular a spline shaft, of the second drive, and wherein the movement of the shaft of the second drive is transformed into the axial movement of the toothed rack (Z) in the transverse direction.
5. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein means for pivoting the the nozzle holders (DH) with the nozzle (D, D') about an axis toward the film (F) out of a plane of the tub (W) parallel to a bottom of the tub (1), spanned by the long sides and the transverse sides of the tub (W), are provided, and wherein the ejected water jet assumes an angle to the normal of the film (F) by pivoting.
6. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a pivoting movement of the nozzle holder (DH) carrying the nozzles (D, D') is achieved by a ramp (R) arranged in the tub (W), and wherein the forward and backward movement generated by the first drive displaces the nozzle holder (DH) with respect to the ramp (R) and thus pivots it upward about a horizontal axis (14').
7. The device according to one of the prededing claims, wherein the nozzle holder (DH) can be pivoted relative to the toothed rack (Z) .
8. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the nozzle cart (1) a can be moved on wheels (4, 4', 4") in the longitudinal direction of the tub (W) on two rails that are fixed on the bottom (B) of the tub (W), and wherein the nozzle cart (1) can be operated with the first drive (3) which acts on the bottom side of the nozzle cart (1) by means of a motor (2") which is mounted inside the tub (W) and can be operated from outside the tub (W) and can be operated for the forward and backward movement of the nozzle cart (1) on the wheels (4, 4', 4") in the longitudinal direction of the tub (W).
9. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the nozzle cart (1) comprises, parallel to the tub bottom (B), a horizontal base plate (10) which can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the tub on the wheels (4, 4', 4") and has a vertical side plate (12, 12') fixed to the bottom plate (10) in each case on the left and on the right, wherein a first pivot axis (14) running in the transverse direction of the tub (W) and optionally a second pivot axis (14') running in the transverse direction of the tub (W) and being offset from the first pivot axis (14) and being able to serve for guiding purposes rigidly connects the vertical side plates (12, 12') together.
10. The device according to claim 9, wherein a vertically extending tilting plate (16, 16') is mounted on each of the outer sides of the side plates (12, 12'), so as to be pivotable about the first pivot axis (14) running in the transverse direction of the tub (W) and a rigid axis (14") running in the transverse direction of the tub (W) rigidly connects the tilting plates (16, 16') to one another, wherein each of the tilting plates (16, 16') has an rolling wheel (17, 17') on the outside (in the transverse direction) at the end lying opposite the tilting plate stop in each case with one wheel axis parallel to the first and second pivot axes (14, 14').
11. The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the movement of the at least two nozzles (D, D') running in the transverse direction of the tub can be effected by means of two spline shafts (5, 5') running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device (V) in each case through a bushing (LB) on the bottom side of the nozzle cart (1) and being in engagement with respectively a gear (ZR) with a gear axis arranged on the bottom side of the nozzle cart bottom being concentric in each case with one of the spline shafts, and the spline shafts (5, 5') are mounted on a head side in a bearing (L, L') lying inside the tub so as to be rotatable about their own axis and are controlled on a foot side by a drive motor (2, 2') lying outside the tub (W) to perform a rotating back- and-forth movement around each spline shaft longitudinal axis, wherein the gears (ZR) that are each engaged with respectively a spline shaft are in turn engaged with toothed racks (Z) that are arranged parallel to the pivot axes (14, 14', 14") on the lower nozzle holders (DH) and cause an independent movement of the nozzles in the transverse direction of the tub along the pivot axes (14, 14', 14"), without the spline shafts (5, 5') having load-bearing function, in particular nozzle cart (1)-bearing function.
12. The device (V) for dry water-jet massage according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the film material (F) has one or more cavity/cavities on the bottom side of the film, which run in the transverse direction, being directed at the person (PE) lying on the film material (F), and shaping the film (F) into one or more elevated portions (100), which are convex on the top side of the film, and wherein the one or more cavity/cavities of the film material (F) on the bottom side of the film, which run in the transverse direction, being directed at the person (Pe) lying on the film material (F) and shaping the film (F) into one or more elevated portions (100), which are convex on the top side of the film, have a depth, calculated from the inner surface of the film material (F), in the range from 1 mm to 200 mm, preferably in the range from 1 mm to 100 mm.
13. The device (V) according to claim 12, wherein at least one nozzle (D, D', D") is configured to direct its ejected water jet on the bottom side of the film material (F) onto the interior of at least one of the one or more cavities on the bottom side of the film, which run in the transverse direction, being directed at the person (Pe) lying on the film material (F), and shaping the film (F) into one or more elevated portions (100), which are convex on the top side of the film, and wherein the film material (F) which allows a transmission of pressure pulse as the top cover of the device (V) is also capable of a heat transmission; preferably wherein the film (F) serving as the top cover of the tub (W) comprises a natural rubber film, optionally with a carrier layer made of chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM).
14. A method for non-therapeutic operating a device (V) for dry water-jet massage according to one of claims 1 to 13, comprising the steps of

    Positioning the nozzle (D; D') arranged on the nozzle holder (DH) in longitudinal direction by the first drive (3);

    Positioning the nozzle (D; D') arranged on the nozzle holder (DH) in transverse direction by the second drive (5, ZR, Z); and

    Pivoting of the nozzle holder (DH) carrying the nozzle (D; D') about an axis (14') running perpendicular to the direction of displacement of the nozzle cart, whereby the distance between the nozzle (D; D') and the film is reduced;

    Directing the water jet ejected by a nozzle (D; D') against the film material (F) and/or one of the cavity/cavities (100) on the bottom side of the film.

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