Adjustable water therapy combination

Abstract

An adjustable water therapy combination has a water basin for retaining a human patient and a pump driven water circulation system which provides streams of pulsating water to a patient through openings in the water basin. The pump is driven by a variable speed electric motor and is controlled by a controller capable of adjusting the pulsing of the water discharged from the pump, both as to frequency and duration. A control panel for controlling the pump motor controller is disposed at a location where it is readily accessible to the patient, so that the patient can easily and conveniently adjust the pulsations of water without having to exit the water basin.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An adjustable water therapy combination comprising: 
 (a) a water basin capable of retaining a human being partially submerged below a level of water, the water basin having at least one drain opening and having a plurality of water input openings;    (b) a water pump having a suction side and a discharged side;    (c) water circulation conduits connecting the at least one water basin drain opening to the suction side of the pump and connecting the discharge side of the pump to the plurality of water input openings in the water basin;    (d) a variable speed electric motor for driving the pump, the variable motor being capable of driving the pump in pulsing flow mode in a plurality of pulsing flow frequencies and durations;    (e) a controller for controlling the speed of the electric motor, the controller also being capable of adjusting the pulsing of water discharged from the pump, both as to frequency and duration; and    (f) a control panel operatively connected to the controller and being accessible to a user disposed within the water basin, for adjusting the speed of the electric motor and for adjusting the frequency and duration of flow pulsations from the pump.    
     
     
         2 . An adjustable water therapy combination comprising: 
 (a) a water basin capable of retaining a human being partially submerged below a level of water, the water basin having at least one drain opening; and    (b) at least one water therapy station, each station comprising: 
 (i) a seating location capable of supporting a seated or reclining human being;  
 (ii) a plurality of water inlet openings defined within the seating location;  
 (iii) a water pump having a suction side and a discharge side;  
 (iv) water circulation conduits connecting the at least one water basin drain opening to the suction side of the pump and connecting the discharge side of the pump to the plurality of water input openings;  
 (v) a variable speed electric motor for driving the pump, the variable motor being capable of driving the pump in pulsing flow mode in a plurality of pulsing flow frequencies and durations;  
 (vi) a controller for controlling the speed of the electric motor, the controller also being capable of adjusting the pulsing of water discharged from the pump, both as to frequency and duration; and  
 (vii) a control panel operatively connected to the controller and being accessible to a user disposed within the seating location, for adjusting the speed of the electric motor and for adjusting the frequency and duration of flow pulsations from the pump.  
   
     
     
         3 . The adjustable water therapy combination of  claim 2  wherein the seating location is contoured to conform to the human body.  
     
     
         4 . The adjustable water therapy combination of  claim 2  wherein the at least one water therapy station comprises a plurality of water therapy stations.  
     
     
         5 . The adjustable water therapy combination of  claim 2  wherein the water inlet opening comprises water jet nozzles.  
     
     
         6 . The adjustable water therapy combination of  claim 2  wherein the water circulation conduits comprise a ejector disposed between the discharge side of the pump and the water inlet openings, the ejector being capable of drawing air into a water stream flowing from the pump to the water inlet openings.  
     
     
         7 . The adjustable water therapy combination of  claim 6  wherein air drawn into the ejector is provided by an air valve disposed proximate to the seating location, the air valve being accessible to a user disposed within the seating location.  
     
     
         8 . The adjustable water therapy combination of  claim 2  wherein the frequency of flow pulsations from the pump is variable between about 26 per minute and about 160 per minute.  
     
     
         9 . The adjustable water therapy combination of  claim 2  wherein the velocity of water pulsing through each of the water inlet openings is between about 1 ft./sec. and about 10 ft./sec.  
     
     
         10 . An adjustable water therapy combination comprising: 
 (a) a water basin capable of retaining a human being partially submerged below a level of water, the water basin having at least one drain opening; and    (b) a plurality of water therapy stations, each station comprising: 
 (i) a seating location capable of supporting a seated or reclining human being, the seating location being contoured to conform to the human body;  
 (ii) a plurality of water inlet openings defined within the seating location, the water inlet openings comprising water jet nozzles;  
 (iii) a water pump having a suction side and a discharge side;  
 (iv) water circulation conduits connecting the at least one water basin drain opening to the suction side of the pump and connecting the discharge side of the pump to the plurality of water input openings, the water circulation conduits comprising a ejector disposed between the discharge side of the pump and the water inlet openings, the ejector being capable of drawing air into a water stream flowing from the pump to the water inlet openings;  
 (v) a variable speed electric motor for driving the pump, the variable motor being capable of driving the pump in pulsing flow mode in a plurality of pulsing flow frequencies and durations;  
 (vi) a controller for controlling the speed of the electric motor, the controller also being capable of adjusting the pulsing of water discharged from the pump, both as to frequency and duration;  
 (vii) a control panel operatively connected to the controller and being accessible to a user disposed within the seating location, for adjusting the speed of the electric motor and for adjusting the frequency and duration of flow pulsations from the pump; and  
 (viii) an air valve disposed proximate to the seating location, the air valve providing air to the ejector, the air valve being accessible to a user disposed within the seating location.  
   
     
     
         11 . The adjustable water therapy combination of  claim 11  wherein the frequency of flow pulsations from each pump variable is between about 26 per minute and about 160 per minute.  
     
     
         12 . The adjustable water therapy combination of  claim 11  wherein the velocity of water pulsing through each of the water inlet openings is between about 1 ft./sec. and about 10 ft./sec.