AU2017203752B2 - Disposable liner for a foot spa with inner and outer layers and related method - Google Patents

Abstract

A liner 10 for containing soaking solution in use with a foot spa is disclosed. The liner 10 features two bodies of plastic 16 and 18 which are joined at an interface I to form two, individual layers. An air conduit 20 is formed between the two 5 layers to provide a passageway for pressurized air, which is supplied by an air discharge apparatus 6, across walls of the liner and into the soaking solution. The inner layer has openings 26 such that the air guided through the air conduit 20 can be released into an inside volume of the liner where the soaking solution is containable. Furthermore, the outer layer is imperforate from a location thereon at which a starting 10 end of the air conduit 20 is disposed to a free end of the layers so as to isolate the inside volume of the liner from the soaking basin 2. A method for forming the liner for containing soaking solution in use with a foot spa is also disclosed. Fig 1A. 15 N z-q13 0 ~ -~ ~L. ~ £2 C) 2,LI (J Q 0 0 / 3 o C (2 17 Aip~~/bHAkJ~U /S1/,1

Description

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DISPOSABLE LINER FOR A FOOT SPA WITH INNER AND OUTER LAYERS AND RELATED METHOD FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to liners for foot spas, and

more particularly to liners having air passageways for providing a fluid massage

feature of the foot spa.

DEFINITION

In the specification the term "comprising" shall be understood to have a broad meaning similar to the term "including" and will be understood to imply the

inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion

of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. This definition also applies

to variations on the term "comprising" such as "comprise" and "comprises".

BACKGROUND Foot spas are known in the spa industry for providing pedicures. When

used in a salon setting where a plurality of customers one after another will share a

single foot spa unit over the course of a business day, disposable one-time-use liners

are employed for insertion into the respective foot spa so as to contain a soaking

solution used for a respective client. That is, the respective liner is intended to isolate

the soaking solution from the soaking basin, so that bacteria may not be transferred

from one user to the next. Therefore, only the liner may need to be replaced in order

to prepare the foot spa for a subsequent user, without necessarily having to clean

the soaking basin to remove residue of the soaking solution and thus without concern

about transfer of contaminants from one user to the next.

Therefore, use of disposable liners may enhance hygienic practices in the spa industry by reducing need for sanitizing the soaking basin. Furthermore, use of disposable liners may enhance practices for prevention of infection such as by providing a relatively inexpensive arrangement which is disposable, so that those elements of the pedicure treatment which are contaminated by the feet of the respective patient can be discarded thereby removing possibility of contaminating the next patient.

As known to those with ordinary skill in the art, not only are these foot

spas suited for providing therapeutic soaking of the user's feet, many such spas are

arranged to provide a soothing massage of the feet while the user relaxes his/her

feet in a soaking basin of the foot spa during the therapeutic soak. The massage

may be provided by vibratory elements which engage soles of the feet through the

liner. In other cases, air may be forced through the liner so as to provide streams of

bubbles for performing the massage through the fluid.

In some instances, it is more desirable to provide the bubbles for

performing the massage of the feet than by means of the vibratory elements.

However, it remains preferable especially in a commercial salon setting to balance

performance of the foot spa, such as that characterized by its massage feature, with

hygienic practices.

Additionally, the bubbles may be used for mixing the soaking solution,

which may contain medicinal ingredients or into which medicinal substances may be

added. As such, the bubbles conveniently provide agitation of the soaking solution

so that the soaking solution may be circulated about the user's feet within the

soaking basin of the spa. Thus, in the case that the soaking solution contains

medicinal components, the agitation and circulation of the soaking solution may

afford enhanced diffusion of the medicinal components in the solution and may allow

the medicinal components to reach necessary areas of the user's feet.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Applicant recognises it is desirable to provide a unique solution for a liner and foot spa which provide massage and mixing features by means of bubbles

and provide proper isolation of the soaking solution, from the soaking basin, and

from the previous user.

According to one aspect of the disclosure there is provided a liner for

containing a soaking solution in use with a foot spa, the foot spa having (i) a soaking

basin including a bottom base and an upstanding peripheral basin wall extending

upwardly from the bottom base, and (ii) an air discharge apparatus arranged for

supplying pressurized air at a supply location which is at or adjacent an inside face

of the soaking basin, the liner comprising:

a first body of plastic forming an outer layer of the liner that has an

inner face and an outer face for resting against the inside face of the soaking basin;

a second body of plastic joined to the inner face of the first body of

plastic so as to form an inner layer of the liner;

the joined first and second bodies of plastic being shaped to form a

receptacle having a base floor and an upstanding peripheral liner wall extending

therefrom such that (i) the receptacle delimits an inside volume that is lined by the

second body of plastic for holding the soaking solution, and (ii) the receptacle is

arranged for nesting in the soaking basin in a working configuration;

an air conduit formed between the first and second bodies of plastic;

the air conduit extending from a starting end thereof, which is locatable

at the supply location of the foot spa in the working configuration of the liner, to the

base floor of the receptacle formed by the first and second bodies of plastic for

guiding the pressurized air supplied from the air discharge apparatus to the base

floor;

a coupling arrangement at the starting end of the air conduit for connecting to the air discharge apparatus; a plurality of openings located in the second body of plastic and formed across a full thickness thereof for passing the pressurized air from the air conduit into the inside volume of the receptacle; wherein the first body of plastic is imperforate from a location thereon at which the starting end of the air conduit is disposed to a free end of the first body of plastic defining a top of the peripheral liner wall so as to isolate the inside volume of the receptacle, where the soaking solution is containable, from the soaking basin in the working configuration of the liner.

In the embodiment as described in more detail hereinafter, the

substantially imperforate first body of plastic provides an isolative lining between the

soaking basin and the soaking solution while the perforated second body of plastic

which lines the inside volume locates the openings for transferring the air into the

soaking solution. The air conduit formed between the two layers of plastic may be

capable of sustaining pressure of the air passed therethrough during operation of

the soaking basin, without the soaking solution backing up through the air conduit in

a reverse direction with respect to conventional flow of the pressurized air through

the air conduit.

In one instance, the air conduit comprises a diameter which is sized in

a range between 1 and 25 millimetres.

In another instance, the air conduit comprises a diameter which is

sized in a range between 1.5 and 23 millimetres.

In yet another instance, the air conduit comprises a diameter which is

sized in a range between 2 and 20 millimetres.

In one arrangement, each one of the first and second bodies of plastic

is flexible such that walls of the air conduit are flexible and a diameter of the air

conduit is expandable in response to a pressure value of the pressurized air passed through the air conduit.

In one arrangement, the air conduit forms a chamber at its terminal

end at the base floor with a wall-to-wall width arranged to span across a majority of

the area of the base floor.

In another arrangement, the air conduit forms a closed loop which is located at the base floor of the receptacle.

The air conduit may comprise a plurality of supply branches

converging with the closed loop, each of the supply branches having a respective

one of the coupling arrangement.

Preferably, the supply branches converge with the closed loop at

spaced locations separately of one another.

In one instance, there are provided two supply branches converging

with the closed loop at a common side of the closed loop such that the closed loop

comprises an intermediate portion between junctions with the respective supply

branch and a ring portion which is longer in length than the intermediate portion.

In one arrangement, the coupling arrangement includes an aperture in

the first body of plastic for passing a coupler of the air discharge apparatus

therethrough to communicate the air discharge apparatus with the air conduit.

In such an arrangement, the coupling arrangement may comprise a

sealing gasket embedded in the first body of plastic so as to be carried at the inner

face thereof.

In a different such arrangement, a clip may act to press the liner in an

area around the aperture against the coupler of the air discharge apparatus.

In another arrangement, the coupling arrangement comprises a

flexible tube coupled to at least one of the first and second bodies of plastic and

extending from the starting end of the air conduit so as to provide an extension of

the air conduit to the supply location of the air discharge apparatus.

As such, typically the coupling arrangement comprises an aperture

formed in the liner so that the air discharge apparatus and the air conduct can be

communicated.

According to another aspect of the disclosure there is provided a

pedicure apparatus for treating feet of a user comprising:

a foot spa including:

a soaking basin for receiving the feet of the user, the soaking

basin including a bottom base and an upstanding peripheral basin wall extending

upwardly from the bottom base;

an air discharge apparatus arranged for supplying pressurized

air at a supply location which is at or adjacent an inside face of the soaking basin;

a liner installed in the soaking basin in a working configuration so as to

cover the inside face of the soaking basin, the liner comprising:

a first body of plastic forming an outer layer of the liner that has

an inner face and an outer face for resting at or adjacent the inside face of the

soaking basin;

a second body of plastic joined to the inner face of the first body

of plastic so as to form an inner layer of the liner that is segregated from the inside

face of the soaking basin by the first body of plastic;

the joined first and second bodies of plastic being shaped to

form a receptacle having a base floor which covers the inside face of the soaking

basin at the bottom base thereof and an upstanding peripheral liner wall which

covers the inside face of the soaking basin at the peripheral basin wall, with the

receptacle delimiting an inside volume that is lined by the second body of plastic for

holding a soaking solution into which the user's feet are inserted;

an air conduit formed between the first and second bodies of

plastic; the air conduit extending from a starting end thereof, which is located at the supply location of the foot spa in the working configuration of the liner, to the base floor of the receptacle formed by the first and second bodies of plastic for guiding the pressurized air supplied from the air discharge apparatus of the foot spa to the base floor of the liner; a coupling arrangement at the starting end of the air conduit for connecting to the air discharge apparatus; a plurality of openings located in the second body of plastic and formed across a full thickness thereof for passing the pressurized air from the air conduit into the inside volume of the receptacle; wherein the first body of plastic is imperforate from a location thereon at which the starting end of the air conduit is disposed to a free end of the first body of plastic defining a top of the peripheral liner wall which is located at a top of the peripheral basin wall so as to isolate the inside volume of the receptacle, where the soaking solution is contained, from the soaking basin in the working configuration of the liner.

According to another aspect of the disclosure there is provided a

method of forming a liner with an air conduit that is used with a foot spa for containing

a soaking solution as part of a pedicure treatment of a user's feet, the foot spa having

a soaking basin for receiving feet of the user and an air discharge apparatus

arranged for supplying pressurized air at a supply location which is at or adjacent an

inside face of the soaking basin, the method comprising:

providing a first body of plastic having:

a surface area spanning across two opposite faces and a

thickness measured therebetween;

a central body portion and a fringing body portion surrounding

the central body portion with the first body of plastic being imperforate in all directions across its surface area from a predetermined starting location on the fringing body portion of the first body of plastic; providing a second body of plastic which is sized substantially equal to the first body of plastic or smaller in size than the first body of plastic; the second body of plastic having a surface area spanning across two opposite faces and a thickness measured therebetween; the second body of plastic registering with at least the central body portion of the first body of plastic with the second body of plastic locating a plurality of openings formed across its full thickness; welding the first and second bodies of plastic to one another at a first one of their respective faces with use of heat according to a prescribed heating pattern which applies heat to pre-specified areas of each body of plastic where the bodies of plastic are joined together at their first faces, with untreated areas of the surface of the first face of each body of plastic (i) registering with the predetermined starting location on the first body of plastic and the plurality of openings in the second body of plastic, and (ii) being free to separate from direct engagement with one another so that these untreated areas form the air conduit for guiding the pressurized air supplied from the air discharge apparatus of the foot spa; arranging the first and second bodies of plastic so as to be formable into a receptacle having a base floor and an upstanding peripheral liner wall extending therefrom such that (i) the receptacle delimits an inside volume that is lined by the second body of plastic for holding the soaking solution, and (ii) the receptacle is arranged for nesting in the soaking basin in a working configuration, with the central body portion of the first body of plastic forming the base floor and the fringing body portion thereof forming the peripheral liner wall.

That is, it is preferred that the untreated areas form a path which is

disposed between the first faces of the first and second bodies of plastic and which spans from the predetermined starting location on the fringing body portion of the first body of plastic to the plurality of openings of the second body of plastic.

In one arrangement, the untreated areas form a closed loop at the base

floor which is formed by the central body portions of the first and second bodies of

plastic.

In one arrangement, the first body of plastic comprises an opening

formed across its full thickness at the predetermined starting location such that the

first body of plastic is imperforate across its surface area with exception of said

opening and the method includes a step of embedding a sealing gasket in the first

body of plastic at the opening therein such that the sealing gasket is carried at the

first face thereof for providing an air-tight seal during communication of the air

discharge apparatus with the air conduit.

Alternatively, in another arrangement the method includes a step of

welding a flexible tube in abutting engagement with a free end of at least one of the

first and second bodies of plastic and in a position where the tube is adjacent the

predetermined starting location and in alignment with the air conduit, whereby the

flexible tube extends from a starting end of the air conduit located at the free end of

said at least one of the first and second bodies of plastic and thus provides an

extension of the air conduit to the supply location of the air discharge apparatus.

In the instance that the second body of plastic is sized substantially

equal to the first body of plastic, the second body of plastic includes:

a central body portion and a fringing body portion surrounding the

central portion;

the central body portion and the fringing body portion registering with

the central and fringing portions of the first body of plastic with the central portion of

the second body of plastic locating the plurality of openings;

wherein the central body portion of the second body of plastic forms

10a the base floor of the receptacle with the central body portion of the first body of plastic and the fringing body portion of the second body of plastic forms the peripheral liner wall of the receptacle with the fringing body portion of the first body of plastic. In one arrangement, the second body of plastic has an outer periphery which generally follows a path of the air conduit, where the air conduit traverses an area smaller than the surface area of the first body of plastic, so that a remaining surface area of the first face of the first body of plastic uncovered by the second body of plastic is exposable to the soaking solution. The liner formed by this method may be easier and less expensive to manufacture than prior art liners for foot spas. According to a further aspect of the disclosure there is provided a liner comprising: a first body of flexible plastic having an inner face and an opposing outer face; and a second body of flexible plastic having an inner face and an opposite outer face; wherein the second body of flexible plastic has a plurality of openings therethrough; wherein portions of the inner face of the first body of flexible plastic are joined to corresponding portions of the inner face of the second body of flexible plastic to form a two-layer body of flexible plastic, the two-layer body of flexible plastic forming a liner receptacle having a base and a wall extending from the base; wherein other portions of the inner face of the first body of flexible plastic are not joined to corresponding other portions of the inner face of the second body of flexible plastic, the other portions of the inner faces of the first and second bodies of flexible plastic together defining an air conduit between the first body of flexible plastic and the second body of flexible plastic;

10b

wherein the air conduit is in fluidic communication with at least some

of the plurality of openings in the second body of flexible plastic;

wherein the air conduit has a starting end defining an opening in the

two-layer body of flexible plastic and is configured to receive an air discharge

apparatus at the starting end; and

wherein the liner is configured to be placed in a basin such that the

liner receptacle rests against an inside surface of the basin including the wall of the

liner receptacle resting against an upstanding wall of the basin, the outer face of the

first body of flexible plastic rests against the inside surface of the basin to isolate the

inside surface of the basin from the air conduit, and the liner receptacle delimits an

interior volume for containing liquid in the basin, such that when liquid is placed in

the interior volume of the liner receptacle within the basin, and the air discharge

apparatus is connected to the starting end of the air conduit, and pressurized air is

discharged from the air discharge apparatus into the air conduit, the pressurized air

passes through the air conduit and is discharged from the air conduit through the

plurality of openings in the second body of flexible plastic into the liquid.

According to yet another aspect of the disclosure there is provided a

liner comprising:

a first body of flexible plastic having an inner face and an opposing

outer face, the first body of flexible plastic having a base and a wall extending from

the base configured to form a receptacle to be placed in a basin for containing a

liquid such that the outer face of the first body of flexible plastic rests against an

inside surface of the basin thereby delimiting an interior volume of the receptacle for

containing liquid in the basin and isolating the liquid from the basin;

a second body of flexible plastic joined to the inner face of the base of

the first body of flexible plastic, the second body of flexible plastic forming an air

conduit along the base, the second body of flexible plastic having a plurality of

10c

openings therethrough which provide a fluid pathway from the air conduit to the

interior volume of the receptacle; and

a flexible tube having a first end and a free end, the first end attached

to the second body of flexible plastic such that the first end is in fluid communication

with the air conduit, and the free end configured to be coupled to a source of

pressurized air.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred arrangements of the disclosure will now be described in

conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1A is a top plan view of foot spa and liner according to the

present disclosure showing a first arrangement thereof with a top portion of the liner

removed to show an air conduit therein.

Figure 1B is a top plan view like that shown in Figure 1A but of a

second arrangement of foot spa and liner.

Figure 2A is a cross-sectional view along line 2-2 in Figure 1A of the

first arrangement.

Figure 2B is a cross-sectional view along line 2-2 like that shown in

Figure 2A but of a third arrangement of foot spa and liner.

Figure 2C is a schematic illustration of a further arrangement of liner

showing only a portion of the liner in the vicinity of a coupler of an air discharge

apparatus, where the coupler is shown as if a portion of the liner otherwise covering

same is cutaway for clarity of illustration.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along line 3-3 in Figure 1A.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of first and second bodies of plastic of liner according to the present disclosure where the bodies of plastic are shown

separated from one another.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the first and second bodies of plastic of Figure 4 where the bodies of plastic are shown overlaid one on top of the other so

as to better illustrate treated and untreated areas of the bodies of plastic when they

are joined together.

Figure 6 is a top plan view like that in Figure 5 but of another

arrangement of first and second bodies of plastic where the bodies of plastic are

sized substantially differently in size.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a spa chair comprising a foot spa and

liner according to the present disclosure.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding

parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the accompanying figures, there is illustrated a liner that

is generally indicated by reference numeral 10, which is suited for use with a foot

spa 1. As will be described in more detail hereinafter, the liner is arranged for nesting

in a soaking basin 2 of the foot spa in a working configuration of the liner so as to fit

in the soaking basin and cover an inside face of the soaking basin, with the soaking

basin providing structural support for the liner. Thus, the liner 10, which is disposable

so as to be suited for one-time use, provides a generally basin-shaped receptacle

with a base floor 12 and raised peripheral receptacle wall 14 extending from the base

floor for containing a soaking solution in isolation of the soaking basin 2 of the foot

spa 1.

The soaking basin 2, which is suited for receiving feet of a user,

comprises a bottom base 3 and an upstanding peripheral basin wall 4 extending

upwardly from the bottom base. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom base and

the basin wall are unitary so as to form a single solid body.

An air discharge apparatus 6 (schematically shown) is provided with the foot spa 1 for generating pressurized air. This air discharge apparatus (including

an air pressurization device and tubing/ducting extending therefrom) may be housed

entirely within the soaking basin, such as in the bottom base thereof. In the illustrated

embodiment, the air discharge apparatus comprises an air pump; in other

embodiments, the air discharge apparatus may comprise a suitable air blower. The

air discharge apparatus draws ambient air from outside the soaking basin 2 and

supplies the pressurized air formed by the air discharge apparatus at a supply

location S which is at or adjacent the inside face of the soaking basin. Note that it is

the inside face of the soaking basin which receives the liner 10. Furthermore, in the

illustrated embodiment, the supply location S is located on the inside face just below

a top rim 4A of the basin wall 4. At this particular location, a supply end of the air

discharge apparatus supports an air discharge apparatus coupler, to which the liner

is connectable, in a position which is presented above a typical waterline of the

soaking solution that is indicated at W.

Additionally, the soaking basin includes a heating element 8

(schematically shown) disposed in the bottom base 3 so as to be housed therein.

The heating element 8 is standalone from the air discharge apparatus and generates

heat for heating the soaking solution contained by the liner 10.

Turning now to the liner, the liner 10 comprises a first body of plastic

material 16 which is flexible. This first body of flexible plastic 16 forms an outer layer

of the liner. The first body of plastic has an outer face 16A for resting at or adjacent

the inside face of the soaking basin 2. That is, the outer face 16A of the first plastic body may be rested at the inside face of the soaking basin and thus in engagement therewith. The first body of plastic may also be rested in the soaking basin but with the body's outer face 16A adjacent the inside face of the soaking basin so as to be in spaced relation relative thereto (such that, for example, an additional element may be disposed intermediate the inside face of the soaking basin and the first body of plastic). Furthermore, the first body of plastic has an inner face 16B opposite to its outer face 16A.

The liner includes a second body of plastic material 18, which is also

flexible, joined to the inner face 16B of the first body of plastic. Thus, the second

body of flexible plastic forms an inner layer of the liner, with the inner face 16B of the

first outer plastic layer forming an interface I between the outer and inner layers. The

second body of plastic lines an inside volume of the receptacle formed by the liner

10.

As noted earlier, the first and second bodies of plastic 16, 18 are

shaped to form the generally basin-shaped receptacle for holding the soaking

solution in the inside volume of the liner. The liner may be pre-shaped so as to more

readily conform to a shape of the soaking basin 2 provided by the bottom base 3 and

the peripheral basin wall 4. Also, 'basin-shaped' refers to a structure having a bottom

and an upstanding wall extending upwardly from the bottom about its periphery so

as to form a container. The periphery may be circular or rectangular in shape, for

example, and is thus not intended to be limited in its specific shape.

It will be appreciated that the liner 10, as a whole, may be significantly

flexible so as to be like a garbage bag, where the liner conforms to a shape of the

soaking basin when the liner is nested therein. Alternatively, the liner 10 may be of

a hard shell variety such that the liner takes on the shape of the soaking basin free

of any structural support provided by the soaking basin.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second bodies of plastic are joined at the interface I by heat sealing the two bodies 16, 18 together to one another.

As such, both the first and second bodies comprise suitable thermoplastic material,

which is also sufficiently resistant to heat so as to not melt when the heating element

8 is operated for heating the soaking solution. Through heat sealing, the two bodies

of plastic are permanently coupled to one another at predetermined areas of the

interface I. Also, certain prescribed areas between the first and second bodies of

plastic 16, 18 are left untreated by the heat sealing process so that the two bodies

of plastic are not welded together at these prescribed areas and are thus free to

separate from direct engagement with one another thereat.

Thus, an air conduit 20 is formed between the first and second bodies

of plastic at these prescribed areas where the two bodies of plastic are not affixed to

one another. In the illustrated embodiment, the air conduit 20 extends from a starting

end 21 located at a top free end 14A of the receptacle wall, and across the receptacle

wall 14 to the base floor 12. That is, the air conduit's starting end 21 is spaced just

below a common free end of the first and second bodies of plastic so that a sealed

interface is located between the common free end of the bodies to a side of the

starting end 21 of the air conduit. As such, the air conduit 20 spans a full height of

the receptacle wall 14 and across a majority of a transverse width of the base floor

12. The air conduit 20 is suited for guiding the pressurized air supplied by the air

discharge apparatus 6 to the base floor of the liner. Accordingly, the air conduit has

a coupling arrangement 22 at the respective starting end 21 of the air conduit for

connecting to the air discharge apparatus, which will be described in greater detail

later.

Turning to the air conduit in more detail, the air conduit 20 comprises

a plurality of supply branches - more specifically, a pair of supply branches 23A and

23B in the illustrated arrangements - which converge with a discharge portion of the

air conduit at its terminal end that is located at the base floor 12 of the liner for discharging the air into the liner's inside volume as it will become apparent shortly.

In the first arrangement as more clearly shown in Figure 1A, the

discharge portion of the air conduit forms a centralized closed loop 24 at the base

floor. The closed loop is rectangular in shape in the illustrated arrangement;

however, in alternative embodiments, the closed loop may comprise any polygonal

shape, for example a circle, a hexagon, or a polygon with sides of non-uniform length

so as to be generally annular. Furthermore, in alternative embodiments the closed

loop may be shaped so as to form an outline of a logo or an aesthetically pleasing

pattern. The supply braches 23A, 23B converge with the closed loop at spaced

locations separately of one another, and at a common side of the closed loop 24.

Thus, the closed loop 24 comprises an intermediate portion 24A between junctions

of the respective supply branch with the closed loop, and an outer ring portion 24B

which is longer in length than the intermediate portion of the closed loop.

In another arrangement as shown in Figure 1B, the discharge portion

forms a single centralized chamber 24'fed by two supply branches 23A, 23B which

meet the chamber at spaced locations at its perimeter. As such, the air conduit

enlarges in cross-section from the relatively narrow supply branches 23A or 23B into

the much wider chamber 24' at the air conduit's terminal end. That is, the chamber has a larger wall-to-wall width than either one of the supply branches as measured

diametrically across same in transverse cross-section. In the illustrated

arrangement, the chamber 24' is localized to the base floor 12 of the liner but covers a relatively large area thereof. Note that in other arrangements having the single

chamber 24', the air discharge apparatus may comprise a plurality of individual units such as a plurality of suitable air pumps to provide sufficient pressure through the air

conduit.

In order to complete the transfer of the pressurized air from the air

discharge apparatus 6 and through the air conduit 20 into the inside volume of the liner such as to provide a fluid massage of the user's feet inserted in the soaking solution, a plurality of openings 26 are provided, being located in the second body of plastic 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the openings 26 are aligned with the air conduit 20 so as to be disposed at spaced positions along the air conduit's length.

More specifically, the openings 26 are spaced along the closed loop 24 of the air

conduit and spaced across the plan area of the chamber 24' in two dimensions. The

two example arrangements of the discharge portion of the air conduit may provide

different bubble patterns for the fluid massage of the foot spa. As schematically

shown in Figures 2 and 3, these openings are formed across a full thickness of the

second body of plastic 18, such that the second body of plastic can be considered

to be perforated.

With the openings 26 in the second body of plastic 18, the first body of

plastic 16 is imperforate from a location on the first plastic body at which the starting

end 21 of the air conduit is disposed to the free end of the first plastic body that

defines the top free end 14A of the peripheral liner wall. That is, with the exception

of an aperture 27 in the first plastic body for passing the air discharge apparatus

coupler therethrough for connecting to the air conduit 20, which is located at the top

free end 14A of the liner wall above the typical waterline W of the soaking solution,

the first body of plastic is imperforate across a remaining surface area thereof (both

the outer and inner faces 16A, 16B thereof) so as to completely isolate the soaking

solution containable by the liner from the soaking basin 2. In other words, the first

body of plastic is imperforate in all directions across its surface from the aperture 27

in the first plastic body to the peripheral top free end of the liner wall. Note that the

aperture 27 defines a predetermined starting location on the first body of plastic

generally locating the starting end of the air conduit.

Further to the lack of openings or apertures in the first body of plastic,

the coupling arrangement 22 provides an air-tight seal at a point of connection between the air conduit 20 and the air discharge apparatus 6. As shown in Figure

2A, the coupling arrangement comprises a sealing gasket 22 such as an O-ring that

is embedded in the first body of plastic 16 so as to be carried at the inner face 16B

of the first plastic body by the first plastic body. The air discharge apparatus coupler,

which carries a nozzle N on its end in the illustrated embodiment, may fit snugly

through the sealing gasket 20 and deliver the pressurized air from the air discharge

apparatus 6 into the air conduit 20.

Figure 2B illustrates another arrangement of liner, and more

specifically one in which a different coupling arrangement is employed. That is, in

this liner arrangement of Figure 2B the coupling arrangement comprises a flexible

tube 22' which is coupled at the free end 14A of the two bodies of plastic so as to

extend the air conduit 20 from the starting end 21 thereof to the supply location S of

the air discharge apparatus, which may be presented on the top rim 4A of the

peripheral basin wall. A sealing gasket is disposed at or adjacent a free end of the

flexible tube 22', which is opposite the starting end 21 of the air conduit. The sealing

gasket as illustrated in Figure 2B is disposed in a closed end wall of the flexible tube.

In other arrangements, the sealing gasket may be disposed in a circumferential

peripheral wall of the flexible tube 22'. The flexible tube 22', where it is attached to

the first and second bodies of plastic 16', 18 may be joined to the plastic bodies such as by heat sealing so that the flexible tube and plastic bodies are effectively unitary.

In other arrangements, the flexible tube may comprise an extension of each of the

first and second bodies of plastic that is sealed together to form the flexible tube.

Also, it will be appreciated that in the arrangement as shown in Figure 2B, the first

body of plastic 16' is imperforate across its entire surface area. In this instance, the predetermined starting location on the first body of plastic for the starting end 21 of

the air conduit is located along the free end 14A of the respective plastic body such

that the starting location is defined by a portion of the edge of the plastic body.

Since the first and second bodies of plastic are flexible, circumferential

or perimeter walls of the air conduit 20 are flexible. That is, a top portion of the walls

of the air conduit is defined by an inner face 18A of the second body of flexible

plastic, which forms the interface with the inner face 16B of the first body of plastic.

Furthermore, a bottom portion of the walls of the air conduit is defined by the inner

face 16B of the first body of flexible plastic. As such, a diameter of the air conduit

20, as measured between the inner faces 16B, 18A of the first and second bodies of

plastic, is expandable in response to a pressure value of the pressurized air which

is passed through the air conduit. That is, when no air is passed through the air

conduit, the air conduit may be in a first contracted state with a small, first diameter

value. When air from the air discharge apparatus 6 is passed through the air conduit,

the air conduit may dilate from the first contracted state to a second dilated/expanded

state with a larger, second diameter value. With increasing pressure of the

pressurized air from the air discharge apparatus 6, the air conduit may further

expand with respect to the second diameter value. As such, diameter of the air

conduit 20 may change in size with the particular pressure value of the pressurized

air from the air discharge apparatus, between a minimum diameter when no air is

passed through the air conduit (as in the contracted state) to a maximum diameter

attained at a particular pressure value (after which the air conduit's diameter no

longer increases with rising pressure values which are larger than this particular

pressure value).

Thus, through use of flexible plastics, sufficient pressure may be

maintained along a length of the air conduit 20 so as to resist back pressure of the

soaking solution and thus provide sustained transfer of the pressurized air from the

air discharge apparatus 6, through the air conduit 20, and into the inside volume of

the liner where the soaking solution may be contained.

Although the air conduit's diameter may vary in size depending on the pressure value of the air passed therethrough, the diameter of the air conduit 20 lies in a prescribed size range in order to provide the sustained transfer of the pressurized air throughout operation of the foot spa. The air conduit's diameter may lie in a first prescribed range between 1 and 25 millimetres for proper functionality.

The diameter of the air conduit may also lie in a second prescribed range between

1.5 and 23 millimetres and provide similar functionality to the first prescribed range.

Additionally, the diameter of the air conduit may lie in a third prescribed range

between 2 and 20 millimetres and provide similar functionality to either one of the

first and second prescribed ranges.

As alluded to earlier in this specification, the liner according to the

present disclosure is suited for containing the soaking solution within the soaking

basin as part of a pedicure treatment, in which the user's feet are soaked in the

soaking solution for a prescribed period of time. The liner 10 according to the present

disclosure provides isolation of the soaking solution from the soaking basin 2 and

provides means for generating a fluid massage by releasing a stream of bubbles via

an air conduit 20 formed in the liner 10.

In use, one such liner 10 according to the present disclosure is inserted

into the soaking basin 2 of the foot spa so as to be installed therein. The first body

of plastic 16 rests at or adjacent the inside face of the soaking basin 2, and the

second body of plastic 18 is thus segregated from the inside face of the soaking

basin by the first plastic body. Additionally, it is noted that the base floor 12 of the

liner covers the inside face of the soaking basin at the bottom base 3 thereof and

the peripheral liner wall 14 covers the inside face at the peripheral basin wall 4.

The liner is filled with the soaking solution to the typical waterline W,

which is below the starting end 21 of the air conduit. The air discharge apparatus 6

is operated so as to deliver the pressurized air to the closed loop 24 through both

supply branches 23A and 23B in parallel. Bubbles are discharged from the openings

26 in the closed loop 24 as the air passes from inside the air conduit 20 to the inside

volume of the liner 10 where the soaking solution is contained. After use in the

pedicure treatment, the liner 10 is removed from the soaking basin 2 and the soaking

solution is emptied therefrom so that used liner can be discarded.

We now turn to the method of forming the liner of the illustrated liner arrangements in further detail. Each one of the first and second bodies of plastic 16,

18 have a respective surface area spanning across two opposite large faces of the

plastic and a thickness measured therebetween. The large faces, indicated at 16A

and 16B for the first plastic body and at 18A and 18B for the second plastic body,

are delimited by a peripheral body edge 28. Furthermore, in the illustrated

arrangements of Figures 4 and 5, each one of the large faces defines the respective

one of the inner and outer face of the respective body of plastic 16, 18.

In the illustrated arrangement of Figures 4 and 5, each one of the first

and second bodies of plastic 16, 18 also has a central body portion indicated at 30

and 31 respectively, which comprises a centrally located area of the respective body

that is surrounded by a fringing body portion indicated at 32 and 33 respectively. The

fringing body portion 32, 33 comprises a bordering area of the respective plastic

body that encloses the central body portion 30, 31.

Additionally, in the illustrated arrangement of Figures 4 and 5, the first

and second bodies of plastic are sized and shaped in a manner so as to be

substantially uniform in size (i.e., equal in size to one another) and generally

matching in shape. That is, the first and second bodies of plastic 16, 18 are identical

in shape, and nearly identical in size such that the inner layer of the two (i.e., the

second body of plastic 18 of the illustrated embodiment) is slightly smaller than the

outer layer (i.e., the first body of plastic 16 of the illustrated embodiment).

Typically, the first and second bodies of plastic 16, 18 are provided

ready-to-go, that is with the appropriate openings formed at the appropriate locations on the respective body. That is, the first body of plastic 16 has at least one aperture 27 (more specifically two apertures in the illustrated embodiment) formed across its full thickness and located in its fringing body portion 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the at least one aperture 27 is located at or adjacent a free end of the first plastic body, without intersecting the peripheral body edge 28 so that an amount of plastic is disposed in all directions around the respective aperture. Furthermore, the second body of plastic 18 has the plurality of openings 26 located in its central body portion 31. When the first and second bodies of plastic are brought together before coupling together, the central body portions 30 and 31 of the two plastic bodies register with one another and the fringing body portions 32 and 33 of the two plastic bodies register with one another. That is, the corresponding one of the central body portion and the fringing body portion of one plastic body is aligned with that of the other plastic body, so that they overlap one another in their aligned configuration as better shown in Figure 5.

Once in the aligned configuration, the first and second bodies of plastic

are welded (in other words, fused) to one another at a first one of their respective

faces 16B and 18A. To perform the welding, heat is used to melt the plastic bodies

together, and the heat is applied according to a prescribed heating pattern. That is,

the heat is applied to pre-specified areas 36 of each body of plastic where the bodies

of plastic are intended to be joined together. For example, a heat applicator with

suitable heating control, generally in the form of a heat gun, is brought in sufficiently

close proximity to the bodies of plastic and is moved over the bodies of plastic

according to the prescribed heating pattern; this heat applicator may be carried on a

track system supported over a working area where the plastic bodies 16, 18 are

placed such that the heat applicator is movable in a plane over the working area and

computer controlled in order to apply the heat according the prescribed heating pattern. Untreated areas 38 of each body of plastic are thus free to separate from direct engagement with one another at their first faces 16B, 18A. These untreated areas 38 also register with the at least one opening 27 in the first body of plastic 16 and the plurality of openings 26 in the second of body of plastic 18. Thus, the untreated areas form a path disposed between the first faces 16B, 18A of the two bodies of plastic that spans from the at least one opening 27 in the fringing body portion 32 of the first body of plastic, which is located at or adjacent a common free end of the joined bodies of plastic, to the plurality of openings 26 in the central body portion 31 of the second plastic body. This path forms the air conduit 20 of the liner.

In particular, at the location on the first and second bodies of plastic

where the respective aperture 27 in the first body of plastic is disposed, the two

bodies of plastic are joined across the surface of their first faces 16B, 18A that is

disposed between a periphery of the respective aperture and the peripheral body

edge 28 of the plastic bodies so as to close the air conduit 20 in the area between

the first faces of the bodies of plastic such that the respective aperture 27 defines

the only passageway from outside the joined bodies of plastic into the air conduit 20.

As part of the manufacturing process, the first and second bodies of

plastic are also arranged in a manner such that they can be formed into the

receptacle having the base floor 12 and the upstanding peripheral liner wall 14. For

example, the first and second bodies 16, 18 when joined together may be shaped

into the form of the receptacle. The shaping of the first and second bodies may be

fixed when the liner is made as the hard shell type, and the shaping may alternatively

be pliable when the liner is made to be like a garbage bag. Regardless of the specific

type of liner manufactured, the central body portions 30, 31 of the two plastic bodies

form the base floor 12 and the fringing body portions 32, 33 form the peripheral liner

wall 14. That is, the central body portions are located at the base floor, and the

fringing body portions are located at the liner wall. Thus, the central body portions of the plastic bodies may extend up across a portion of the peripheral liner wall so as to occupy some area of the liner wall in some embodiments, and alternatively the fringing body portions may extend down across a portion of the base floor so as to occupy some area of the base floor in some other embodiments. Furthermore, with the at least one aperture 27 in the first body of plastic located at or adjacent its free end that defines the top free end 14A of the liner wall, the at least one opening is therefore located near a top of the soaking basin 2 as better shown in Figure 2 so as to be at or above the typical waterline W of the soaking solution. According to this arrangement, the untreated areas 38 extend from a location at or adjacent the top free end 14A of the peripheral liner wall 14 that is defined by the common free end of the joined plastic bodies, and across the peripheral liner wall to the base floor where the untreated areas form the closed loop 24 thereat.

Additionally, for the appropriate arrangement, a sealing gasket 22 is

embedded in the first body of plastic 16 such that the sealing gasket is carried at the

first face 16B thereof. The sealing gasket provides an air-tight seal for the air

discharge apparatus coupler when same is communicated with the air conduit 20.

In the other arrangement of the liner as shown in Figure 2B, the flexible

tube 22' is held in abutting engagement with the free end 14A of the two plastic

bodies 16, 18 and thus welded using heat to the free end 14A in the abutting

engagement therewith.

In a further arrangement shown in Figure 2C, the coupling

arrangement of the liner includes an aperture 22" in the first body of plastic which is

not reinforced by any additional element such as the sealing gasket. The air

discharge coupler nozzle N is passed through this aperture 22", and to create a seal

thereat there is provided a clip C which engages the liner at an inside face 18B

thereof that is defined by the second body of plastic 18. In the illustrated

arrangement, the clip is substantially U-shaped so as to extend from a position above the aperture 22" near the top edge 14A of the liner to a position on either side of the aperture that is alongside the aperture longitudinally of the air conduit 20 (shown in dashed line) near the starting end. More specifically, the U-shaped clip C comprises a base C1 and a pair of legs C2 and C3 extending from the base at a location above the aperture of the installed liner, and typically over the top edge 14A, to distal ends of the legs C2, C3 at a location below the aperture 22" so as to provide a seal around the whole periphery thereof. The clip C may be hingedly connected to the top rim

4A of the spa basin so as to be removably securable around the aperture 22" of the

liner for creating the seal.

Generally speaking, the coupling arrangement of the illustrated

arrangements comprises an aperture formed in the liner so that the air discharge

apparatus 6 at the coupler and the air conduct at the aperture can be communicated.

Figure 6 shows an alternate arrangement in which the second body of

plastic 18', which locates the openings 26, is shaped to have an outer periphery 28' which generally follows a path of the air conduit 20. In this alternate arrangement, the second body of plastic 18' includes an inner periphery 40'which follows an inner

perimeter of the air conduit at the closed loop 24. Thus, the second body of plastic

18' is sized in its surface area so as to cover the air conduit 20 with minimal overlap with the first face of the first body of plastic 16. Thus, the interface I between the first

and second bodies of plastic that defines the pre-specified areas to which heat is to

be applied is limited to that along the outer and inner peripheries 28', 40' of the

second body of plastic at the second body's first face 18A. The minimal overlap is enough to form a suitable weld connection between the two bodies of plastic so that

the air conduit is sealed along the outer and inner peripheries of the second plastic

body. As such, a remaining surface area of the first plastic body's first face 16B

including portions of the central body portion 30 thereof and the fringing body portion

32 thereof is left uncovered by the second body of plastic so as to be exposable to the soaking solution. It will be appreciated that the air conduit 20 traverses an area across the surface area of the first body of plastic 16 which is typically much smaller than same. That is, an overall area over which the air conduit spans, even if that delimited by the closed loop 24 is included within the overall area, is smaller than the surface area of the first plastic body such that there a portion of the first plastic body's surface area remains uncovered by the second plastic body 18'. Note that in alternative embodiments, the liner may include more than two bodies of plastic forming more than two layers of the liner. For example, an additional body of plastic may be joined to the outer face 16A of the first plastic body of the illustrated embodiment so as to form an outer layer in relation thereto. This additional body of plastic may be imperforate in a similar manner as the first body of plastic of the illustrated arrangements. That is, with the exception of an aperture in the additional body of plastic for passing the air discharge apparatus coupler therethrough, the additional body of plastic is imperforate from a location thereon at which the starting end of the air conduit is disposed to the free end of the additional plastic body that defines the top free end 14A of the peripheral liner wall. In another example, an auxiliary plastic body may be provided so as to be joined to an outer face 18B of the second body of plastic of the illustrated embodiment that is opposite the second plastic body's inner face 18A. The auxiliary plastic body has openings formed across its full thickness and aligned with the openings 26 of the second plastic body of the illustrated embodiment so that the pressurized air passes from the air conduit 20, through the openings 26 in the second body and through the openings in the auxiliary plastic body to the inside volume of the liner receptacle.

Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the soaking basin 2 is typically

used in combination with a seat 100 receiving a patient of the pedicure treatment in

seating position thereon with the feet of the patient presented forwardly of the seat.

The soaking basin 2 is located in front of the seat 100 such that the feet of the patient are received therein. The soaking basin and seat may be integrated together in the form of a spa chair 102, like that illustrated in Figure 7, which includes a backrest 104 and arm rests 106. Figure 7 shows the air discharge apparatus 6 disposed externally of an enclosure 102A of the spa chair and suitable tubing stemming from the air discharge apparatus to deliver the air to the supply location S. However, in other arrangements the air discharge apparatus may be contained within the enclosure 102A.

Since various modifications can be made in my disclosure as herein

above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made,

it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be

interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Claims (18)

1. CLAIMS: 1. A liner comprising:

   a first body of flexible plastic having an inner face and an opposing

   outer face; and

   a second body of flexible plastic having an inner face and an opposite outer face;

   wherein the second body of flexible plastic has a plurality of openings

   therethrough;

   wherein portions of the inner face of the first body of flexible plastic are

   joined to corresponding portions of the inner face of the second body of flexible

   plastic to form a two-layer body of flexible plastic, the two-layer body of flexible

   plastic forming a liner receptacle having a base and a wall extending from the base;

   wherein other portions of the inner face of the first body of flexible

   plastic are not joined to corresponding other portions of the inner face of the second

   body of flexible plastic, the other portions of the inner faces of the first and second

   bodies of flexible plastic together defining an air conduit between the first body of

   flexible plastic and the second body of flexible plastic;

   wherein the air conduit is in fluidic communication with at least some

   of the plurality of openings in the second body of flexible plastic;

   wherein the air conduit has a starting end defining an opening in the

   two-layer body of flexible plastic and is configured to receive an air discharge

   apparatus at the starting end; and

   wherein the liner is configured to be placed in a basin such that the

   liner receptacle rests against an inside surface of the basin including the wall of the

   liner receptacle resting against an upstanding wall of the basin, the outer face of the

   first body of flexible plastic rests against the inside surface of the basin to isolate the

   inside surface of the basin from the air conduit, and the liner receptacle delimits an interior volume for containing liquid in the basin, such that when liquid is placed in the interior volume of the liner receptacle within the basin, and the air discharge apparatus is connected to the starting end of the air conduit, and pressurized air is discharged from the air discharge apparatus into the air conduit, the pressurized air passes through the air conduit and is discharged from the air conduit through the plurality of openings in the second body of flexible plastic into the liquid.
2. 2. The liner of claim 1 wherein the air conduit has a diameter sized in a

   range between 1 and 25 millimeters.
3. 3. The liner of claim 1 or 2 wherein the air conduit and said at least some

   of the plurality of openings in the second body of flexible plastic in fluidic

   communication therewith are arranged in a closed loop path.
4. 4. The liner of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the opening in the two layer body of flexible plastic comprises at least one opening in the first body of

   flexible plastic, and the first body of flexible plastic is imperforate with the exception

   of said at least one opening therein.
5. 5. The liner of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the first body of flexible

   plastic is imperforate.
6. 6. The liner of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the first and second bodies

   of flexible plastic are each in the form of a sheet.
7. 7. The liner of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the portions of the inner

   face of the first body of flexible plastic are joined to the corresponding portions of the inner face of the second body of flexible plastic by heat-welding.
8. 8. A liner comprising: a first body of flexible plastic having an inner face and an opposing

   outer face, the first body of flexible plastic having a base and a wall extending from

   the base configured to form a receptacle to be placed in a basin for containing a

   liquid such that the outer face of the first body of flexible plastic rests against an

   inside surface of the basin thereby delimiting an interior volume of the receptacle for

   containing liquid in the basin and isolating the liquid from the basin;

   a second body of flexible plastic joined to the inner face of the base of

   the first body of flexible plastic, the second body of flexible plastic forming an air

   conduit along the base, the second body of flexible plastic having a plurality of

   openings therethrough which provide a fluid pathway from the air conduit to the

   interior volume of the receptacle; and

   a flexible tube having a first end and a free end, the first end attached to the second body of flexible plastic such that the first end is in fluid communication

   with the air conduit, and the free end configured to be coupled to a source of

   pressurized air.
9. 9. The liner of claim 8 wherein the free end of the flexible tube is not

   attached to the first body of flexible plastic or the second body of flexible plastic.
10. 10. The liner of claim 8 or 9 wherein the second body of flexible plastic has

    a surface area which is sized so as to form the air conduit with minimal overlap with

    the inner face of the first body of flexible plastic.
11. 11. The liner of claim 10 wherein the second body of flexible plastic is shaped to have an outer periphery which follows a path of the air conduit.
12. 12. The liner of claim 11 wherein the second body of flexible plastic is

    joined to the inner face of the first body of flexible plastic along the outer periphery

    of the second body of flexible plastic.
13. 13. The liner of any one of claims 8 to 12 wherein the second body of

    flexible plastic is joined to the inner face of the first body of flexible plastic by welding.
14. 14. The liner of any one of claims 8 to 12 wherein the second body of

    flexible plastic is joined to the inner face of the first body of flexible plastic by heat

    welding.
15. 15. The liner of any one of claims 8 to 14 wherein the first end of the flexible tube is attached to the second body of flexible plastic by heat-welding.
16. 16. The liner of any one of claims 8 to 15 wherein the first body of flexible

    plastic is imperforate.
17. 17. The liner of any one of claims 8 to 16 wherein the air conduit has a

    diameter sized in a range from 1 to 25 millimeters.
18. 18. The liner of any one of claims 8 to 17 wherein the air conduit forms a

    closed loop path.