Hydrotherapy Apparatus & Method

Abstract

A hydrotherapy apparatus used with a pool includes a hydrotherapy jet having an inlet and an outlet through which a pressurized water jet is expelled. A mounting structure immerses the hydrotherapy jet into water in the pool and is adjustable for moving the hydrotherapy jet into different positions to direct a water jet against different parts of the body of a person in the pool. A floating recliner supports a user of almost any size in a seated or reclining position while at least partially immersed in the water in the pool. A water circulation system pumps water in the pool into the inlet and out the outlet of the hydrotherapy jet to provide the pressurized water jet.

1 . A hydrotherapy apparatus comprising:
 a hydrotherapy jet having an inlet and an outlet through which a water jet is expelled,   a mounting structure that enables the hydrotherapy jet to be immersed in water, said mounting structure being adjustable to move the entire the hydrotherapy jet into different positions to direct the water jet against different parts of the body of a person in the water, and   a water circulation system that is attached to the hydrotherapy jet to pump water into the inlet and out the outlet of the hydrotherapy jet to provide said water jet.   
   
   
       2 . The hydrotherapy apparatus of  claim 1  including a plurality of hydrotherapy jets. 
   
   
       3 . The hydrotherapy apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said water circulation system includes means for mixing air into the water jet. 
   
   
       4 . The hydrotherapy apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the mounting structure is attached to a wall segment forming a portion of a pool. 
   
   
       5 . The hydrotherapy apparatus of  claim 1  adapted to be moored adjacent a pool. 
   
   
       6 . The hydrotherapy apparatus of  claim 1  including a floating recliner in which a person undergoing hydrotherapy sits while the recliner floats in a pool, said mounting structure being attached to the recliner and moveable up and down relative to a person sitting in the recliner. 
   
   
       7 . The hydrotherapy apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said floating recliner includes a flexible portion to which the hydrotherapy jet is adjustably attached to move up and down relative to a person sitting in the recliner. 
   
   
       8 . The hydrotherapy apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said floating recliner includes a rigid frame. 
   
   
       9 . The hydrotherapy apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said rigid frame includes adjustable portion to change dimensions of the frame. 
   
   
       10 . A hydrotherapy apparatus for use in a pool having a water circulation system, said apparatus comprising
 a floating recliner in which a person sits while immersed in water in the pool,   a hydrotherapy jet having an inlet and an outlet through which a pressurized water jet is expelled, said inlet being adapted to be placed in communication with the water circulation system so water in the pool flows into the inlet,   said hydrotherapy jet being attached to the recliner and manually adjustable to move relative to a person sitting in the rediner to direct the water jet against selected parts of the body of the person sitting in the recliner.   
   
   
       11 . The hydrotherapy apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said recliner is adapted to be moored to a structure adjacent to a pool. 
   
   
       12 . The hydrotherapy apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said rediner includes a flexible portion to which the hydrotherapy jet is adjustably attached to move up and down relative to a person sitting in the recliner. 
   
   
       13 . The hydrotherapy apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said floating recliner includes a rigid frame. 
   
   
       14 . The hydrotherapy apparatus of  claim 10  including a mounting structure having a bracket that in a first position is adapted to moor the floating recliner while floating in a above-ground pool and in a second and inverted position is adapted to moor the floating rediner while floating in a below-ground pool. 
   
   
       15 . The hydrotherapy apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the mounting structure includes a plurality of rigid rod members connected together by rotatable and lockable devices that are manually loosened and tightened to select a position of the hydrotherapy jet. 
   
   
       16 . A hydrotherapy apparatus comprising
 a floating recliner in which a person sits while immersed in water in a pool,   said recliner comprising a substantially rigid frame, a seat for a person attached to the frame including a back support having a hydrotherapy jet providing a water jet,   said back support being mounted to move up and down to direct water jet against a back of a person sitting in the recliner.   
   
   
       17 . A hydrotherapy apparatus comprising
 a floating recliner in which a person sits while immersed in water in a pool,   said recliner comprising a substantially rigid frame, a seat for a person mounted to the frame comprising a bottom support and a back support including a hydrotherapy jet providing a water jet,   said bottom support and back support being moveable relative to each other so the hydrotherapy jet is adjustable to direct the water jet against different parts of the body of a person.   
   
   
       18 . The hydrotherapy apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the rectangular frame comprises a first substantially U-shaped, substantially solid member with a pair of substantially parallel legs each terminating in an open end with said open ends opposed to each other and a second substantially straight member extending between said open ends, said second straight member having at one end a stop element engaging one of the open ends and another end to which a retainer member is attached to secure the second straight member in position between said parallel legs to form the rectangular frame. 
   
   
       19 . The hydrotherapy apparatus of  claim 17  where the legs pass through a rear portion of the bottom support and the back support is positioned between the legs and disconnected from the legs and includes at least a pair of adjustable straps that carry and pass through the back support and rear portion of the bottom support and extend between the second straight member and the bottom support. 
   
   
       20 . The hydrotherapy apparatus of  claim 19  where the bottom support and the back support each include a buckle member attached thereto through which pass one of the adjustable straps. 
   
   
       21 . A hydrotherapy apparatus which comprises:
 a hydrotherapy jet through which a water jet is expelled;   a mounting structure that enables the hydrotherapy jet to be immersed in water and mounting structure being adjustable;   a water circulation system that is attached to the hydrotherapy jet to pump water into and out of the hydrotherapy jet;   means for attaching the mounting structure in a plurality of in-ground and above ground pools; and   means for adjusting the position of the mounting structure to direct the water jet against different parts of the body of a person.   
   
   
       22 . A hydrotherapy apparatus for use in a pool having a water circulation system, said apparatus comprising:
 a floating recliner in which a person sits while immersed in water in the pool;   a hydrotherapy jet having an inlet and an outlet through which a pressurized water jet is expelled, said inlet being adapted to be placed in communication with the water circulation system so water in the pool flows into the inlet;   said hydrotherapy jet being attached to the recliner and manually adjustable to move relative to a person sitting in the recliner;   means for adjusting the hydrotherapy jet to direct the water jet against selected parts of the body of the person sitting in the recliner;   means for sliding the hydrotherapy jet in a horizontal direction relative to the recliner back frame to adjust the water jet direction and   means for adjusting the hydrotherapy jet and the recliner simultaneously to direct the hydrotherapy jet water direction against selected areas of the body of the person sitting in the recliner.   
   
   
       23 . A method of using a hydrotherapy jet from which a pressurized water jet is expelled, including the steps of:
 (a) mounting the hydrotherapy jet to enable the hydrotherapy jet to be immersed in the water in the pool and manually manipulated to move the entire the hydrotherapy jet into different positions to direct the water jet against different parts of the body of a person in the water in the pool, and   (b) placing the hydrotherapy jet in communication with a water circulation system for the water in the pool to pump water through the hydrotherapy jet to provide said water jet, and   (c) while in the pool said person moving the hydrotherapy jet to said different positions.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  where the hydrotherapy jet is mounted to a floating recliner. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23  where the hydrotherapy jet is mounted to a wall of the pool.