Aromatherapy/chromotherapeutic system for tubs and method

Abstract

A system for creating a vapor in the surroundings of a tub. The system comprises a reservoir for receiving a substance. The reservoir is adapted to be positioned adjacent to a tub. A vapor creating device changes the substance to a vapor. An outlet is associated with the vapor creating device for directing the vapor in the surroundings of the tub. The substance is aromatic. A light source is optionally provided so as to diffuse light in the vapor.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/557,680, filed on Mar. 31, 2004, by the present applicants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to washing/bathing tub accessories and, more particularly, to an aromatherapy system to be used in conjunction with tubs, such as bathtubs, spas, pools, etc. The aromatherapy system of the present invention also optionally involves chromotherapy.

2. Background Art

Tubs are well known for their primary use, namely a washroom installation in which a user person washes, bathes. Tubs have however evolved to add relaxation and comfort to practicality, and are found in many forms, such as bathtubs, spas, whirlpools. For instance, tubs are now provided with air jet systems, whirlpool systems.

In order to increase the level of relaxation of bathers, there are provided systems that enhance the senses of the bather. Bathing typically procures stimulation of the sense of touch, by the temperature and feel of the water on the skin. The air jet systems and whirlpool systems increase the stimulation of the sense of touch by creating turbulences in the vicinity of the skin of the bather.

Various systems and apparatuses are used in order to involve other senses during the bathing period. For instance, waterproof radios and the like are more present adjacent to bathtubs. Aromatic oils come in numerous aromas. The tubs remain however limited in the enhancing of other senses.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an aim of the present invention to provide an aromatherapy system that creates an odorous or chromotherapeutic vapor in the surroundings of a tub.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a system creating a colored vapor in the surroundings of a tub.

It is as still further aim of the present invention to provide a method for creating an aromatic/chromotherapeutic vapor in the surroundings of a tub.

It is a still further aim of the present invention to provide a method for creating a colored fog/spray in the surroundings of a tub.

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a system for creating a vapor in the surroundings of a tub, comprising: a reservoir for receiving a substance and adapted to be positioned adjacent to a tub; a vapor creating device for changing the substance to a vapor; and an outlet associated with the vapor creating device for directing the vapor in the surroundings of the tub.

Further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for creating a vapor in the surroundings of a tub, comprising the steps of: providing a reservoir with a substance to be changed to a vapor; creating the vapor with the substance; and directing the vapor in the surroundings of the tub.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment thereof and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aromatherapy system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as mounted to a tub;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the aromatherapy system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the aromatherapy system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the aromatherapy system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-section view, taken along cross-section lines V-V of FIG. 4, of the aromatherapy system.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings and, more particularly, to FIG. 1, an aromatherapy system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is generally shown at 10, as mounted to a tub A. In FIG. 1, the aromatherapy system 10 is supported in a hole in the tub wall.

Referring concurrently to FIGS. 2 to 5, the aromatherapy system 10 has a retention casing 12, a substance reservoir 13 within the casing 12, an atomizer device 14 in the substance reservoir 13 (FIG. 5), and a cover 15, upon an open end of the substance reservoir 13.

Referring to FIG. 5, the retention casing 12 has a concavity 20. The concavity 20 has an open upper end 21 and a closed bottom end 22. A flange 23 projects radially at the open upper end 21 of the concavity 20. By way of the flange 23, the retention casing 12 sits on the periphery of the opening in the tub wall. An opening 24 is defined in the closed bottom end 22 of the concavity 20.

The retention casing 12 is provided so as to support the substance reservoir 13 with respect to the tub A. Moreover, the retention casing 12 will receive leaks of substance from the substance reservoir 13. The retention casing 12 may consist of any suitable plastic material, composite, metal (e.g., ferrous or non-ferrous), wood, preferably with a watertight finish. The retention casing 12 may be secured to the tub A by adhesives or mechanical fasteners. For instance, the retention casing 12 is sealed to the tub A.

Still referring to FIG. 5, the substance reservoir 13 is shown having a concavity 30. The concavity 30 of the substance reservoir 13 is sized so as to be removably nested in the concavity 20 of the retention casing 12. The concavity 30 has an open upper end 31 and a closed bottom end 32. A rim 33 is provided at the open upper end 31 and projects radially therefrom. The rim 33 accommodates the flange 23 of the retention casing 12, such that liquid on the tub wall cannot readily infiltrate between the retention casing 12 and the substance reservoir 13. The rim 33 has a support surface 34 at the periphery of its open upper end 31. A sealing plug 35 is optionally provided in a wall of the concavity 30, such that wiring may enter the concavity 30 from the retention casing 12.

The substance reservoir 13 receives an aromatic substance B, as well as an atomizer 40 of the atomizer device 14. The substance reservoir 13 may consist of any suitable plastic material, composite, metal (e.g., ferrous or non-ferrous), wood, with a watertight body or finish. The substance reservoir 13 is removably secured to the retention casing 12, for instance by various securing systems, such as threading/tapping, releasable clamps, mechanical fasteners or the like. As the substance reservoir 13 is removable from the retention casing 12, the concavity 20 may be washed, or drained from liquid retained therein.

Referring to FIG. 5, the atomizer device 14 is shown having an atomizer 40 supported by the closed bottom end 32 of the substance reservoir 13. Therefore, the atomizer 40, in FIG. 5, is immersed into the aromatic substance B. The atomizer 40 optionally has a light emitting device, emitting light of a given color (e.g., using color lenses). Alternatively, the light emitting device has a light emitting diode (LED) emitting light of one or more colors.

A level switch 41 is mounted to the atomizer 40, and is triggered when the level of substance B is below a threshold level, for instance to turn off the actuation of atomizer 40. Alternatively, an indicator signal may be emitted to indicate that the substance level in the substance reservoir 13 has reached the threshold level. For instance, the indicator signal may be a flashing light emission from the atomizer 40. Moreover, although the atomizer 40 is described as potentially having a light source, the aromatherapy system 10 may be provided with a light source separated from the atomizer 40.

A wire 42 is connected to atomizer 40 so as to provide power thereto. An electric plug 43 is optionally provided at a free end of the wire 42. It is pointed out that the configuration of the aromatherapy system 10 takes into account the fact that electric power is used within a liquid reservoir (i.e., the substance reservoir 13), and adjacent to a tub. Accordingly, all safety measures are taken into consideration so as to prevent any electric hazard.

A sealing plug 44 is provided on the wire 42. The sealing plug 44 is sized so as to be fitted within the opening 24 in the concavity 20, such that any liquid retained by the retention casing 12 remains thereinto, while the wire 42 passes through the opening 24 to reach a power source.

Moreover, the wire 42 may be used in conjunction with the sealing plug 35 to reach the atomizer 40 in the substance reservoir 13, whereby the sealing plug 35 is shown in FIG. 5 although not being used. An alternative solution, illustrated in FIG. 5, consists of providing the closed bottom end of the concavity 30 of the substance reservoir 13 with a hole (not shown) directly under the atomizer 40, with the atomizer 40 preventing the substance B from draining through this hole.

The atomizer 40 atomizes substance B by way of ultrasounds, by evaporation, by vaporization, or any other suitable way of atomizing, evaporating or vaporizing, so as to create an odorous vapor, fog or spray in the surroundings of the aromatherapy system 10, and of the tub A.

Referring to FIG. 5, the cover 15 is shown having a body 50. As the body 50 is visible from an exposed surface of the tub A, it is given a decorative shape. In the present figures, the body has a generally hemispherical shape, with openings 51 defined therein, such that atomized substance B may exit the aromatherapy system 10 to reach the surroundings of the tub A.

As mentioned previously, the aromatherapy system 10 may be provided with a light source (e.g., within the substance reservoir 13), whereby the cover 15 is preferably made of a translucent material, to enable light transmission (e.g., diffusion, refraction). The cover 15 may also add color to the light, by being tinted or colored. The cover 15 also generally shields the concavity 30 from water infiltration (e.g., from the tub A). Although water may infiltrate the concavity 30 through the opening 51 in the cover, the cover 15 will deflect some of the water (e.g., resulting from a splash) away. The openings 51 will guide the atomized substance B out of the aromatherapy system 10.

Therefore, a vapor, fog or spray of the aromatic substance B will be created in the surroundings of the aromatherapy system 10 (e.g., tub A). Light emitted by the aromatherapy system 10 will be diffused by the vapor, fog or spray. Accordingly, a bather will be surrounded by the aromatic fog, and will be subjected to chromotherapy, by the light of various colors that will be diffused by the aromatic fog, to enhance the state of relaxation of the bather.

Although the aromatherapy system 10 is illustrated as secured to an opening in a wall of the tub A, the aromatherapy system 10 may be a self-contained system adjacent to the tub A, or part of furniture, such as cabinet. The aromatherapy system 10 may also be mounted to a shelf, a counter or any other like surface. The tub A is typically any one of a bathtub, a spa, a pool, a basin.

It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any obvious modifications of the embodiments described herein, provided such modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A system for creating a vapor in the surroundings of a tub, comprising:

a reservoir for receiving a substance and adapted to be positioned adjacent to a tub;

a vapor creating device for changing the substance to a vapor; and

an outlet associated with the vapor creating device for directing the vapor in the surroundings of the tub.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the substance is aromatic.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a light source so as to diffuse light in the vapor.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the vapor creating device is an atomizer.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the vapor creating device is actuated through a feed wire projecting from a bottom end of the reservoir, so as to be concealed under the reservoir.

6. The system according to claim 4, further comprising a level switch for indicating a low level of the substance in the reservoir.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the level switch has a light source so as to signal a low level by emitting a light signal.

8. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a retention casing in which the reservoir is removably nested, so as to collect leaks from the reservoir.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the retention casing has a peripheral flange at an open top end, by which the retention casing is supported to an opening in a tub wall.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the reservoir has a decorative rim concealing the flange of the retention casing.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir has an open top end, and a decorative cover is provided to generally cover the open top end.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the outlet is an opening between the reservoir and the decorative cover.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the reservoir has an open top end, and a decorative cover is provided to generally cover the open top end, the decorative cover consisting of a translucent material for light to pass therethrough.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is mounted to a tub wall.

15. A method for creating a vapor in the surroundings of a tub, comprising the steps of:

providing a reservoir with a substance to be changed to a vapor;

creating the vapor with the substance; and

directing the vapor in the surroundings of the tub.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of diffusing light in the vapor.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the substance is aromatic, whereby a scent is created by the vapor in the surroundings of the tub.