Connector for guiding liquid overflow out of a disposable liner when received in a basin for contacting the liquid and related method

A foot spa apparatus, comprising:

• a base arranged for resting on a support surface;
• a chair mounted on the base, the chair having a backrest portion and a seat portion;
• and
• a foot spa basin mounted on the base and positioned forwardly and below the seat portion of the chair, the foot spa basin comprising:
• a basin comprising basin wall, the basin wall having a bottom surface and an upright peripheral wall extending upwardly from the bottom surface to a top rim of the basin, the peripheral wall and the bottom surface collectively defining an interior volume of the basin, the basin having a drain hole in the bottom surface and an overflow aperture extending through the basin wall, the overflow aperture located below the top rim of the basin and above the bottom surface of the basin at an overflow height;
• and
• a disposable liner comprising a body of flexible impermeable material forming an amorphous bag, the liner having a floor portion and a peripheral wall portion extending upwardly from the floor portion to a height above the overflow aperture, the liner arranged in the basin and covering the peripheral wall and the bottom surface of the basin such that an interior of the liner forms a receptacle for containing a liquid;
• and
• a connector having a first end, a second end and a fluid conduit therebetween, the first end positioned within the interior of the liner, the second end positioned through the peripheral wall portion of the liner and into the overflow aperture such that the second end punctures the liner forming an overflow opening in the liner, the fluid conduit providing a fluid path from the interior of the liner to an overflow drainage pathway to enable the liquid to exit the receptacle when the liquid exceeds the overflow height within the basin.

A method of using a replaceable liner to contain liquid in a basin, the basin having a drain hole in a bottom of the basin and an overflow aperture in a basin wall of the basin, the overflow aperture located at an overflow height above the bottom of the basin to enable the liquid to drain out of an interior of the basin delimited by an interior surface of the basin when the liquid exceeds the overflow height, the method comprising:

• inserting a replaceable liner into the basin, the replaceable liner comprising a body of flexible impermeable material forming an amorphous bag configured to conform to a shape of the basin when a liquid is received therein, the liner arranged in the basin such that an interior of the liner forms a receptacle for containing liquid which covers the interior surface of the basin at least up to a height of the basin above the overflow height and the liner covers the drain hole in the bottom of the basin thereby sealing the drain hole from the interior of the liner;
• inserting a connector through the liner at a location registering with the overflow aperture in the basin;
• and
• mating the connector with the overflow aperture such that a first end of the connector is positioned within the receptacle formed by the liner, a second end of the connector is mated to the overflow aperture, and a fluid conduit in the connector between the first end and second end forms a fluid pathway which allows liquid contained in the liner to drain out of the liner and out of the basin when the liquid in the liner exceeds the overflow height.