# US 11,077,018 B2 · Bathing system and method of controlling same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,077,018 B2 - Document ID: US11077018B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/223,748 - Filed: 2018-12-18 - Published: 2019-07-18 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-12 - Assignees: Kohler Co. - Applicants: Kohler Co. - Inventors: Jason M. Kwacz; Madelynn Bouche - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077018B2 ## CPC - A61H 33/065: {with steam generators} - A61H 1/00: Apparatus for passive exercising (A61H5/00 takes precedence); Vibrating apparatus; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones - A61H 33/06: Artificial hot-air or cold-air baths; Steam or gas baths or douches, e.g. sauna or Finnish baths {(artificial climate rooms A61G10/02)} - A61H 33/601: {Inlet to the bath} - A61H 33/6068: {Outlet from the bath} - A61H 2033/068: {Steam baths} - A61H 2201/0207: heated - A61H 2201/50: Control means thereof - A61H 2201/5058: Sensors or detectors - A61H 2201/5082: Temperature sensors - A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N) ## Abstract A bathing system includes a vessel, an air blower, and a steam generator. The vessel comprises an inlet. The air blower is fluidly coupled to the inlet by a conduit, and is configured to provide a flow of air to the conduit. The steam generator is fluidly coupled to the conduit upstream of the inlet, and is configured to provide steam to the conduit to create a mixture of steam and air in the conduit. The air blower is further configured to direct the mixture of steam and air to the vessel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bathing system, comprising: a vessel for accommodating a user, the vessel comprising an inlet; an air blower fluidly coupled to the inlet by a conduit, wherein the air blower is configured to provide a flow of air to the conduit; and a steam generator fluidly coupled to the conduit upstream of the inlet, wherein the steam generator is configured to provide steam to the conduit to combine directly with the flow of air so as to create a mixture of only steam and air in the conduit; wherein the air blower is further configured to direct the mixture of only steam and air to the inlet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bathing system according to claim 1, further comprising a connector coupled to the conduit, wherein the connector fluidly couples the steam generator to the air blower upstream of the inlet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The bathing system according to claim 2, wherein the connector is a T-shaped connector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The bathing system according to claim 2, wherein the connector is a Y-shaped connector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bathing system according to claim 1, further comprising an air source fluidly coupled to the air blower upstream of the air blower, wherein the air source is configured to provide air to the air blower. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The bathing system according to claim 1, further comprising a water source fluidly coupled to the steam generator upstream of the steam generator, wherein the water source is configured to provide water to the steam generator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The bathing system according to claim 1, wherein the mixture has an air to steam ratio of between about 1:1 to about 1:50. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The bathing system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor disposed in the vessel, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect a water level in the vessel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The bathing system according to claim 8, further comprising a controller coupled to the at least one sensor, wherein the controller is configured to control an amount of the mixture provided to the vessel in response to the signal received from the at least one sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The bathing system according to claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to control an amount of air provided to the air blower in response to the signal received from the at least one sensor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The bathing system according to claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to control an amount of water provided to the steam generator in response to the signal received from the at least one sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The bathing system according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the mixture. ### Claim 13 A bathing system, comprising: a bathtub comprising a vessel for accommodating a user, the vessel comprising an inlet; an air blower fluidly coupled to the inlet by a conduit, wherein the air blower is configured to provide a flow of air to the conduit; and a steam generator fluidly coupled to the conduit by a connector upstream of the inlet, wherein the steam generator is configured to provide steam to the connector to combine directly with the flow of air so as to create a mixture of only steam and air at the connector; wherein the air blower is further configured to direct the mixture of only steam and air to the inlet. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The bathing system according to claim 13, wherein the connector is one of a T-shaped connector or a Y-shaped connector. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The bathing system according to claim 13, further comprising an air source fluidly coupled to the air blower upstream of the air blower, wherein the air source is configured to provide air to the air blower. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The bathing system according to claim 13, further comprising a water source fluidly coupled to the steam generator upstream of the steam generator, wherein the water source is configured to provide water to the steam generator. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The bathing system according to claim 13, wherein the mixture has an air to steam ratio of between about 1:1 to about 1:50. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The bathing system according to claim 13, further comprising at least one sensor disposed in the bathtub, the at least one sensor configured to detect a water level in the bathtub. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The bathing system according to claim 18, further comprising a controller coupled to the at least one sensor, wherein the controller is configured to control an amount of the mixture provided to the vessel in response to the signal received from the at least one sensor. ### Claim 20 A method of controlling a bathing system, comprising: receiving, by a controller, a signal from a sensor that indicates a water level in a bathtub of the bathing system, the bathtub comprising a vessel for accommodating a user; providing, in response to the signal, a flow of air from an air blower to a conduit, wherein the conduit is coupled to an inlet of the vessel; providing, in response to the signal, steam from a steam generator to the conduit to combine directly with the flow of air so as to create a mixture of only steam and air, wherein the steam generator is fluidly coupled to the conduit between the inlet and the air blower; and directing, by the air blower, the mixture of only steam and air to the inlet.