US 7,597,652 B2 · Hydrotherapy mounting apparatus and exercise system

Abstract

Systems and techniques to mount equipment in a watertight fashion to a wall. A watertight mount includes a mounting base including a flange and a socket having an interior surface including mating threads. The mount may include a base plate coupled with the mounting base, the base plate defining an opening through which the socket passes. The mount may also include a gasket coupled between the base plate and the mounting base, the gasket defining an opening through which the socket passes, and the base plate may be releasably coupled with the mounting base through a spa wall. The base plate may be coupled with the mounting base using a connector, such as a nut defining a threaded hole that matches securing threads on an exterior surface of a barrel shaped socket in the mounting base.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims24

Dependent claims

A hydrotherapy exercise system comprising:

a swim spa including a partitioning wall having an interior surface and an opposite surface, the interior surface being shaped to contain water in the swim spa;
a plurality of multi-use watertight mounts installed in the partitioning wall, each mount comprising a mounting base including a flange and a recessed socket passing through the partitioning wall and having an interior surface including mating threads, a gasket adjoining the flange and the interior surface of the partitioning wall, and a base plate adjoining the opposite surface of the partitioning wall and coupled with the mounting base;
and
exercise equipment that includes threaded bolts, where each threaded bolt matches the mating threads of the recessed sockets in the multi-use watertight mounts, wherein the exercise equipment comprises multiple rowers, each of the rowers comprising multiple tether attachment points that provide tether attachment configurations for both variable resistance levels and bi-directional resistance.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description5,288 words

Summary376 words

#The present application describes systems and techniques relating to hydrotherapy exercise systems, for example, a watertight mounting system for use in spa or pool-based exercise equipment.

#Traditional hydrotherapy exercise systems include various equipment, such as rowing equipment, designed to be mounted inside a spa or pool. However, these traditional systems use simple mounting and attaching systems that lack versatility. For example, conventional systems for mounting exercise equipment to spas include simple surface mounted devices for attaching a rower. Other conventional systems include a recessed plastic cup that is bonded to the spa wall and a vertical steel rod with a hole through the end to form a simple recessed attachment point.

#In traditional hydrotherapy exercise systems, only a single tension cord or piece of equipment can typically be attached at a time to any mounting point. Additionally, the mounting points must typically be placed in the nearly vertical sidewalls to function properly. Because traditional equipment mounting points are fixed in a vertical position, and recessed, they typically limit the methods and types of attachments available, and the orientation of such attachments.

Brief description of the drawings47 figures

#These and other aspects will now be described in detail with reference to the following drawings.

#FIG. 1 is an angled view of an example swim spa environment for a hydrotherapy exercise system, including example rowing oar attachments.

#FIG. 2 is an angled view of an example swim spa environment for a hydrotherapy exercise system, including an example exercise bar attachment.

Detailed description4,234 words

#Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. Details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the description below with the accompanying drawings. Other features and advantages may be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

#The systems and techniques described here relate to hydrotherapy exercise systems, such as those used in pools, spas, and swim spas. As used herein, the term “wall” means any partition or panel that includes a surface meant to be impermeable to liquid, such as the wall of a spa, swim spa, or pool. The present inventors recognized that conventional hydrotherapy exercise systems lack flexibility and versatility in their mounting and attachment systems. Accordingly, the inventors developed simple to use, flexible and versatile mounting and attachment systems and techniques for use in hydrotherapy exercise systems.

#One or more of the following advantages may be provided. The systems and techniques described can result in watertight orientation-independent mounting of exercise equipment to a spa or pool wall. Such watertight mounting can be performed without tools and with extensive versatility in both types of connectors used and manner of attachment (e.g., fixed or rotational).

Facts

Application

10/211,078Filed 1 Aug 2002 · us provisional application

Priority

28 Nov 2001

Published

US 2003/0100411 A129 May 2003

Granted

6 Oct 2009

Term ended

25 Feb 2026

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 1,304 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification6 codes

A63B 21/0084
Using hydraulic or pneumatic force-resisters: by moving the surrounding water
A61H 33/02
Bathing devices for special therapeutic or hygienic purposes: bathing devices for use with gas-containing liquid, or liquid in which gas is led or…
A63B 2208/03
Characteristics or parameters related to the user or player: the user being in water
A63B 2225/60
Miscellaneous features of sport apparatus, devices or equipment: apparatus used in water

Timeline

28 Nov 2001Priority claimedParent application 60/334,223
1 Aug 2002Application filedUS 10/211,078
1 Aug 2002Assigned to Dimension One Spasassignment of assignor's interest
29 May 2003PublishedUS 2003/0100411 A1
6 Oct 2009GrantedUS 7,597,652 B2
6 Mar 2013Assigned to Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, AS Administrative Agentsecurity agreement
12 Jun 2013Assigned to Bank of America, N.A., AS Administrative Agentpatent security agreement
24 Jul 2013Assigned to Jacuzzi Inc., Sundance Spas, Inc., Thermospas Hot Tub Products, Inc., New Dimension Onespas, Inc.release of security interest
2 Aug 2013Assigned to Cortland Capital Market Services LLCsecurity agreement
20 Sep 2013Assigned to Nd1, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
15 Oct 2013Assigned to New Dimension One Spas, Inc.change of name
7 Jul 2017Assigned to Jacuzzi Inc., Thermospas Hot Tub Products, Inc., New Dimension One Spas, Inc., Sundance Spas, Inc.release of security interest
7 Jul 2017Assigned to Nomura Corporate Funding Americas, LLC, AS Administrative Agentsecurity interest
25 Feb 2019Assigned to Virtus Group, LPsecurity interest
26 Feb 2019Assigned to New Dimension One Spas, Inc., Thermospas Hot Tub Products, Inc.release of security interest in patents recorded at reel 030602, frame 0600
26 Feb 2019Assigned to Jacuzzi Inc., New Dimension One Spas, Inc., Sundance Spas, Inc., Thermospas Hot Tub Products, Inc.termination of intellectual property security agreement recorded at reel 043115, frame 0059
12 Mar 2019Assigned to Bank of America, N.A., AS Administrative Agentsecurity interest
18 Jul 2022Assigned to Delaware Trust Companysecurity interest assignment and assumption
25 Feb 2026Term endedEstimated, includes 1,304 days of adjustment

Hydrotherapy mounting apparatus and exercise system

Life of this patent

Hydrotherapy mounting apparatus and exercise system

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims24

Description5,288 words

Drawings

Classification6 codes

Life of this patent

Description5,288 words