Arm rest massage feature for whirlpool tubs

Abstract

A bathing device preferably includes at least one armrest, a seat and a wall connecting the armrest to the seat. The wall preferably defines an undercut arrangement that increases a volume of the bathing device below the armrest to provide additional space for a bather while the bather is seated. The armrest is positioned at a height to support an arm of the bather and preferably defines one or more air and/or fluid emitting orifi that direct a flow of pressurized fluid (e.g., water) and/or air onto a hand, finger, and/or forearm of the bather. The bathing device may be a bath tub, hot tub, spa, whirlpool, or pool and may have various jets or other fluid emitting features for conducting fluid and/or air to give the user pleasure or relief from pain. The bathing device may also be sized and shaped to accommodate multiple bathers simultaneously.

1 . A device for bathing comprising: 
 at least one armrest positioned at a height to support at least one arm of a bather; and    at least one orifice defined by the at least one armrest, the at least one orifice being sized and shaped to direct a flow of at least one of pressurized fluid and pressurized air upward onto at least one of a hand, a finger and a forearm of the bather.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one water jet disposed in the at least one orifice.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one orifice comprises air bubbling orifi.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a seat to enable the bather to sit within the device; and    a wall connecting the seat to the at least one armrest, the wall defining an undercut arrangement that increases a seating area of the seat and a volume of the device below the armrest to enhance comfort for the bather.    
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a floor; and    a second wall connecting the seat to the floor, the second wall being sloped from vertical toward a center of the seat to further enhance comfort for the bather.    
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a seat to enable the bather to sit within the device;    a wall connecting the seat to the at least one armrest, the wall defining a taper that increases a seating area of the seat and a volume of the device below the armrest to enhance comfort for the bather; and    a duct for carrying water under pressure to the at least one orifice, the armrest being sized and shaped to accommodate routing of the duct under a length of the armrest.    
   
   
       7 . A device for bathing comprising: 
 at least one armrest positioned at a height to support at least one arm of a bather, the at least one armrest defining at least one orifice; and    at least one jet positioned within the at least one orifice to direct a flow of water or air upward onto at least one of a hand, a finger and a forearm of the bather.    
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one jet comprises at least one water jet and at least one air jet.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a seat to enable the bather to sit within the device; and    a wall connecting the seat to the at least one armrest, the wall defining an undercut arrangement that increases a seating area of the seat and a volume of the device below the armrest to enhance comfort for the bather.    
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a floor; and    a second wall connecting the seat to the floor, the second wall being sloped from vertical toward a center of the seat to further enhance comfort for the bather.    
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the second wall defines at least a second orifice sized and shaped to direct a flow of water at legs or feet of the bather.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the wall is further arranged to accommodate a back of the bather and defines a plurality of orifices, the device further comprising: 
 a plurality of water jets positioned within the plurality of orifices of the wall to direct a flow of water across the back of the bather; and    a headrest coupled to the wall to support a head of the bather.    
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the seat defines a plurality of orifices to permit air under pressure to be emitted at the bather.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a second seat to enable at least a second bather to sit within the device;    a second armrest positioned at a height to support at least one arm of the second bather, the second armrest defining at least a second orifice;    a second jet positioned within the second orifice to direct a flow of water or air upward onto at least one of a hand, a finger and a forearm of the second bather; and    a second wall connecting the second seat to the second armrest, the second wall defining a second undercut arrangement that increases a seating area of the second seat and a volume of the device below the second armrest to enhance comfort for the second bather.    
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a seat to enable the bather to sit within the device; and    a wall connecting the seat to the at least one armrest, the wall defining a taper that increases a seating area of the seat and a volume of the device below the armrest to enhance comfort for the bather.    
   
   
       16 . A device for bathing comprising: 
 a water tight vessel that is sufficiently large to hold a bather;    at least one armrest integrally connected to the vessel and positioned at a height to support at least one arm of the bather, the at least one armrest defining a plurality of orifices;    at least one air jet positioned within at least one of the plurality of orifices to direct a flow of air upward onto at least one of a hand, a finger and a forearm of the bather;    at least one fluid jet positioned within at least one of the plurality of orifices to direct a flow of fluid within the device;    a seat integrally connected to the vessel to enable the bather to sit within the device; and    a wall connecting the seat to the at least one armrest, the wall defining an undercut arrangement that increases a seating area of the seat, a surface area of the at least one armrest, and a volume of the device below the armrest to enhance comfort for the bather.    
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a floor; and    a second wall connecting the seat to the floor, the second wall being sloped from vertical toward a center of the seat to further enhance comfort for the bather.    
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the second wall defines at least one orifice sized and shaped to direct a flow of water at legs or feet of the bather.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a second seat integrally connected to the vessel to enable at least a second bather to sit within the device;    a second armrest integrally connected to the vessel and positioned at a height to support at least one arm of the second bather, the second armrest defining at least a second orifice;    a second jet positioned within the second orifice to direct a flow of water or air upward onto at least one of a hand, a finger and a forearm of the second bather; and    a second wall connecting the second seat to the second armrest, the second wall defining a second undercut arrangement that increases a seating area of the second seat and a volume of the device below the second armrest to enhance comfort for the second bather.    
   
   
       20 . A device for bathing comprising: 
 at least one armrest positioned at a height to support at least one arm of a bather;    a seat positioned at a height below the at least one armrest to enable the bather to sit within the device; and    a wall connecting the seat to the at least one armrest, the wall defining an undercut arrangement that increases a seating area of the seat and a volume of the device below the armrest to enhance comfort for the bather.    
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the wall defines a taper away from a center of the seat to produce the undercut arrangement.  
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one armrest defines at least one orifice, the at least one orifice being sized and shaped to direct a flow of at least one of pressurized fluid and pressurized air upward onto at least one of a hand, a finger and a forearm of the bather.  
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one armrest comprises two armrests positioned at opposing edges of the seat, the two armrests being substantially mirror images of each other, and wherein a minimum distance between edges of the two armrests is less than a distance across the seating area of the seat measured from an intersection of the seat and a portion of the wall below a first of the two armrests to an intersection of the seat and a portion of the wall below a second of the two armrests.  
   
   
       24 . A device for bathing comprising: 
 a seat defining a seating area;    a pair of armrests positioned above the seat and at opposing edges of the seating area, the armrests being substantially mirror images of one another; and    a wall connecting the seat to the pair of armrests, the wall defining an undercut arrangement such that a minimum distance between edges of the pair of armrests is less than a distance across the seating area of the seat measured from an intersection of the seat and a portion of the wall below a first armrest of the pair of armrests to an intersection of the seat and a portion of the wall below a second armrest of the pair of armrests.    
   
   
       25 . A bathing vessel comprising: 
 a floor;    a surrounding sidewall joined to an outer periphery of the floor and extending upwardly from the floor;    a seat integrally connected to the sidewall above the floor and defining a seating surface; and    at least one arm rest integrally connected to the sidewall above the seat, the at least one arm rest defining an arm resting surface and a support wall extending between the arm resting surface and the sidewall, the support wall tapering away from a center of the seat to increase the seating surface of the seat.    
   
   
       26 . The bathing vessel of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one armrest comprises a pair of arm rests that are substantially mirror images of each other and are positioned above opposing edges of the seat.  
   
   
       27 . A bathing vessel comprising: 
 a floor defining an outer periphery including opposing side edges, the floor having a first distance between the opposing side edges;    a side wall having a lower peripheral edge that is connected to the floor; and    a pair of armrests connected to the side wall at a height above the floor, a first armrest of the pair of armrests being positioned above a first of the opposing side edges of the floor and a second armrest of the pair of armrests being positioned above a second of the opposing side edges of the floor, the pair of armrests being spaced apart at their closest points by a second distance;    wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.