US2312524A - Foot bathing device - Google Patents

Description

March 2, 1943. w, 5, Cox 2,312,524

FOOT BATHING DEVICE Filed Sept. 29, 1941 Miiz'am .ib. 601.

IN V EN-TOR.

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ATTDRN EYS Patented Mar. 2, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE FOOT BATHING DEVICE William B. Cox, Louisville, Ky.

Application September 29, 1941 Serial No. 412,853

3 Claims. 01. 4- 182) f This invention relates to a foot bathing device and has for an object to provide a device of this character in which the water bath will be mechanically agitated to effectively cleanse the feet much in the same manner that a clothes washing machine in which the water is agitated cleanses the clothe without manual rubbing.

A further object is to provide apparatus of this character which will be formed of a few strong, simple and durable parts, which will be inexpensive to manufacture, and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a foot bathing device constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the device taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the motor driven agitator, drawn to large scale.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, the foot bathing device comprises a hollow base l mounted on feet ll consisting of rubber knobs suitably secured to the bottom of the base. A tub l2 having a spherical side wall l3 and a fiat bottom M, has its lower portion positioned in an opening in the top of the base, the wall of the opening being flanged downwardly as shown at l5 to provide an annular flange on which the tub rests and which supports the bottom of the tub above the bottom of the base.

A foot rest l6, consisting of a disk of heavy wire screening ll, or a perforated plate, is located within the tub close to the bottom of the tub, and in the event wire screening is used, he screening is provided with an annular frame ring I8 which is supported upon the spherical wall l3 of the tub and is rigidly secured to the spherical wall at at least four points, in any preferred manner.

A vertically disposed shaft i9 is journaled In a water tight bearing 20 carried centrally by the bottom of the tub. The bottom of the tub is depressed as shown at 21 to provide an inverted 55 to the lower end of the agitator shaft is.

frustum shaped support for a flange 22 which projects from the bearing and the flange may be secured in the inverted frustum shaped support in any preferred manner. A gland nut 23 is threadedly engaged with the top of the bearing 2|] and a packing washer 24 is confined by the gland nut against the top of the bearing to prevent access of water to the bearing.

The upper end of the shaft I9 is equipped with an agitator 25 which is disposed below the foot rest l6 and above the bottom H! of the tub to agitate the water for thoroughly cleansing the feet supported upon the foot rest, when the tub is supplied with preferably a salt water bath.

An electric motor 26 is mounted within the hollow base and the armature shaft 21 of the motor is equipped with a pulley 28 which is connected by a belt 29 to a pully 30 which is fixed The electric motor is located within the base laterally beyond the bottom of the tub so as to reduce to the minimum the possibility of water reaching the motor in the event that the shaft bearing 20 should leak.

An electric socket 3| adapted to receive a plug connector cap 32 of an electric supply cord 33, is secured to the side wall within the hollow base. An electric switch 35 is disposed upon the top wall of the hollow base and is electrically connected to the socket 3| and to the motor 26 by conductor wires 36, 31, and 38.

The hollow base I0 is provided with a hinged door 39 which forms one wall of the hollow base and which is held closed by screws 40 engaged in a flange 4| projecting from the top, bottom and side walls of the hollow base. The door affords access to the interior of the hollow base for inspection and repairs.

The hollow casing is equipped with handles 42 to permit transportation of the foot bathing device.

In operation the tub is supplied with a water bath which preferably is preheated and soap or salt may be added. The operator rests the feet upon the foot rest l6, and after the cord 34 has been plugged into a suitable source of electric current the switch 35 is closed to start the motor and rotate the agitator. The agitated water bath thoroughly cleanses he feet without the user rubbing the feet with a cloth or otherwise.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention gill be fully understood without further explana- What is claimed is:

1. A foot bathing apparatus, comprising a hollow base having an opening in its upper end, a tub supported in said opening and extending below the same, a perforated foot rest disposed horizontally in the tub above its lower end, an agitator in the tub below the foot rest, a vertically disposed agitator shaft connected to the agitator and extending through the bottom of the tub into the hollow base, and an electric motor in the base for rotating the shaft.

2. A foot bathing apparatus, comprising a hollow base having an opening in its upper end provided with a downwardly extending flange, a

spherical tub supported within the opening onthe flange and extending into the hollow base, a perforated foot rest disposed horizontally in the tub above its lower end, an agitator in'the ftub below the foot rest, a vertically disposed shaft a stuifing box in the bottom of the tub into the hollow base, and an electric motor in the hollow base for rotating the shaft.

3. A foot bathing apparatus, comprising a hollow base having a, circular opening in its upper end provided with a curved downwardly extending flange, a spherical tub supported within the opening on the flange and extending into the hollow base below the flange and supported thereby, a perforated foot rest comprising an annular rim supported by the walls of the tub a considerable distance above the bottom, a rotating agitator in the tub below the foot rest, a vertically disposed agitator shaft connected to 1:5 the agitator and extending through a stuffing connected to the agitator and extending' through 20 box in the bottom of the tub into the hollow base, and an electric motor in the base for retating the shaft.

WILLIAM B. COX.

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