Bathtub for simulating body flotation

Abstract

A bathtub (1) which comprises: a main body (2) having side walls (22, 22a, 22b), at least one of which presents an inner surface provided with guide means (3); supporting means (4) engaged with guide means (3) and configured for supporting at least a portion of user's body in order to allow, in use, simulating user flotation.

Claims

1. A bathtub comprising: a main body configured to contain a floating fluid and to accommodate a user's body, which main body extends according to a longitudinal direction (L) and to a transversal direction, said main body comprising a bottom wall and side walls; guide devices located at one or more of said bottom or side walls; and supporting devices, engaged or adapted to engage with said guide devices and configured for supporting the user's body at one or more discrete locations, so as to allow simulating, in use, a floating condition of such body, wherein said supporting devices are made of material with a specific weight lower than the specific weight of water.

2. The bathtub according to claim 1, wherein said supporting devices comprises a plurality of supporting elements.

3. The bathtub according to claim 2, wherein said supporting elements are engaged at terminal ends thereof with said guide devices.

4. The bathtub according to claim 1, wherein said supporting devices comprise one or more supporting elements each having an elongated shape, preferably a cylindrical or tubular shape.

5. The bathtub according to claim 1, wherein said supporting devices extend according to said longitudinal direction or according to said transversal direction.

6. The bathtub according to claim 1, wherein said supporting devices have an adjustable position relative to said main body.

7. The bathtub according to claim 6, wherein said supporting devices comprise a plurality of supporting elements, being of adjustable position independently from each other.

8. The bathtub according to claim 1, wherein said supporting devices are slidably engaged or adapted to slidably engage said guide devices.

9. The bathtub according to claim 1, wherein said guide devices is are located at said side walls.

10. The bathtub according to claim 1, wherein said guide devices mainly extend along said longitudinal direction.

11. The bathtub according to claim 1, wherein two of said side walls have inner surfaces provided with said guide devices and facing each other.

12. The bathtub according to claim 11, wherein said side walls provided with said guide devices are specular to each other with respect to an axis of longitudinal symmetry of said bathtub.

13. The bathtub according to claim 1, wherein said guide devices comprise a linear groove extending from a first upper terminal portion to a second upper terminal portion of said side wall.

14. The bathtub according to claim 13, wherein said linear groove has a first oblique development direction, descending from said first upper terminal portion, and a second development direction, rising towards said second upper terminal portion.

15. The bathtub according to claim 1, wherein said supporting devices are configured to slide within said guide devices by providing a force overcoming the resistance generated by friction between contact surfaces of said supporting devices and said guide devices.

16. The bathtub according to claim 1, wherein said bottom wall has an upper surface developing according to a substantially U shape, with longitudinal end portions being raised with respect to an intermediate portion.

17. The bathtub according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said side walls is transparent.

18. The bathtub according to claim 1, comprising devices for providing water jets for hydromassage.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Reference will be made to the figures of the annexed drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a perspective view and a partially-transparent side view, respectively, of a preferred embodiment of a bathtub according to the present invention, wherein supporting means are arranged in a configuration apt to support the head of a user;

(3) FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show a perspective view and a partially-transparent side view, respectively, of the bathtub according to the embodiment of FIG. 1, in a first floating simulation configuration;

(4) FIG. 5 shows a partially-transparent side view of the bathtub according to the embodiment of FIG. 1, in a second floating simulation configuration; and

(5) FIG. 6 shows a partially-transparent side view of the bathtub according to the embodiment of FIG. 1, wherein supporting means are arranged in a seat configuration.

(6) The above-mentioned figures are to be meant exclusively by way of example and not for limitative purposes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(7) With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, a bathtub according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is globally denoted by 1.

(8) As will be appreciated in the following, the bathtub 1 is configured for simulating or assist flotation of a user.

(9) The bathtub 1 may comprise means for connection to a water supply network, alternatively it can be used as a tank to be filled from other sources.

(10) The bathtub 1 comprises a main body 2 configured to contain a floating fluid, typically water, and to accommodate a user's body. Main body 2 extends according to a longitudinal direction L, corresponding to human body length or height, and to a transversal direction T, orthogonal to direction L, as shown in FIG. 1 by way of example. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal direction L shown in FIG. 1 can coincide with an axis of longitudinal symmetry of the bathtub 1.

(11) The main body 2 could have any kind of shape, for example with polygonal or circular plan. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention herein described, the main body 2 comprises a bottom wall 22 and two opposite side walls 22a, 22b. Preferably, at least one of said walls is transparent.

(12) The bottom wall 22 can comprise an upper surface with a substantially U shape development, with longitudinal end portions raised with respect to an intermediate portion. According to this configuration, if the intermediate portion has a supporting surface on the floor too small to assure a correct and safe installation of the bathtub, a base or platform 23 apt to be rested on the floor for supporting the bathtub 1 can be provided.

(13) The bathtub 1 according to the present invention comprises supporting means 4 apt to support at least a portion of user's body and maintain the supported portion spaced from the inner surface of the bottom wall 22. The user supported partially or totally by said supporting means 4 experiments the sensation to be partially or totally suspended in water, without the exercise of any effort to maintain such floating condition. To provide the desired effect, such supporting means 4 are configured to realize a continuous or a discontinuous supporting surface for the user.

(14) Supporting means 4 preferably comprises a plurality of supporting elements 41, made for example of material with a specific weight lower than the specific weight of water or an another floating fluid, as to give the user the feeling that supporting means 4 pushes him in a direction opposite to the inner surface of the bottom wall 22 and has an active action in keep the user's body floating. Preferably, such material is in the form of gel or other soft substance, for example foam covered with plastic wrap. Generally, is preferred the use of materials being high compatible with the user's skin.

(15) According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, supporting means 4 comprises one or more supporting elements 41, preferably each having an elongated shape, such as cylindrical or tubular shape. In the preferred embodiment shown in the attached Figures, four tubular shaped supporting elements 41 are provided. Such supporting elements 41 can be configured to have an adjustable position independently from each other.

(16) Supporting means 4 is engaged or configured to engage with guide means 3, preferably by means of a reversible connection. More preferably, the arrangement of the supporting means 4 is adjustable with respect to said guide means 3, thus resulting in being adjustable with respect to the main body 2 of the bathtub 1. This allows to adjust/select the position of supporting means 4 according to the particular anatomy of the user and the therapy, and general the exercises, to be carried out in the simulated floating condition.

(17) Supporting means 4 can extend according to longitudinal direction L or according to transversal direction T, depending upon the overall configuration of the guide means 3 and geometry of the bathtub 1.

(18) Preferably, guide means 3 is located at one or more of said bottom or side walls 22, 22a, 22b. According to one embodiment of the invention (not shown in the attached Figures), guide means 3 can comprise one or more uprights elements arranged along longitudinal direction L, preferably at side walls 22, having upper terminal ends configured to be engaged with or to simply accommodate supporting means 4.

(19) According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, guide means 3 is located at side walls 22a, 22b, preferably mainly extending along longitudinal direction L. In particular, the two side walls 22a, 22b have inner surfaces provided with said guide means 3 and facing each other, more preferably side walls 22a, 22b provided with guide means 3 are specular to each other with respect to axis L of longitudinal symmetry of bathtub 1.

(20) According to the preferred embodiment shown in Figures, guide means 3 comprises a linear groove extending from a first upper terminal portion 10 to a second upper terminal portion 20 of said side walls 22a, 22b.

(21) In particular, the groove has a first oblique development direction, descending from said first upper terminal portion 10, and a second development direction, rising towards said second upper terminal portion 20. Furthermore, at said second upper terminal portion 20, the groove can present a horizontal portion provided in order that supporting means positioned at said horizontal portion realizes a seat for the user.

(22) Accordingly to the above described guide means 3 configuration, supporting elements 41 could be engaged at terminal ends thereof with said guide means 3. In particular, supporting means 4 can be slidably engaged or configured to slidably engage guide means 3. In other words, the adjustment of the position of supporting elements 41 is obtained by sliding said supporting elements 41 along the guide means 3. In particular, each element 41 can be selectively brought into a desired position.

(23) Preferably, supporting means 4 can slide within guide means 3 by providing a force overcoming the resistance generated by friction between the contact surfaces of said supporting means 4 and said guide means 3. The configuration can be such that said force can be manually exercised by the user. As an alternative, bathtub can be provided with automated actuation means of supporting means 4, controlled by an interface mask integrated on the external surface of the bathtub, or by means of a remote control.

(24) Furthermore, the bathtub according to the present invention can comprise means 55 for providing water jets for whirlpool/hydromassage. In particular, a technical area dedicated to hosting technical means 55 necessary for implementing hydromassage function, such as a compressor kit and filters, can be located at a lower portion of the bathtub denoted by 50 in FIG. 2. By virtue of said last configuration, by the floating position the user can turn on the hydromassage function, if wishes so.

(25) Examples of different arrangements with respect to the bathtub of the supporting means in the form of tubular elements are shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 6, as better described below.

(26) FIG. 2 shows supporting elements arranged adjacent each other at the first upper terminal portion 10, in a configuration apt to support the head of a user.

(27) FIG. 4 shows supporting elements spaced relative to one another to realize a first floating simulation configuration, the lower parts of the legs, in particular the calves, being not supported to have the soles of the feet facing towards nozzles at upper surface of the bottom wall in order to enjoy feet soles hydromassage.

(28) FIG. 5 shows supporting elements spaced relative to one another to realize a second configuration of floating simulation of the all user's body, to have complete hydromassage.

(29) FIG. 6 shows supporting elements arranged adjacent each other at the second upper terminal portion 20, to realize a seat configuration or a footbath configuration in order the user to enjoy feet soles hydromassage.

(30) The present invention has been described so far with reference to preferred embodiments, which are intended to be combined if compatible. It is intended that there may be other embodiments which refer to the same inventive concept and fall within the scope of the appended claims.