Device for applying sludge and method for implementing the device

Abstract

Title: Liquid sludge application device and implementation method. The invention relates to a liquid sludge application device (1) comprising a structure (2) including a peripheral belt wall (3) extending between a ground support base (4), in lower part (5), and an upper part (6) defining a cavity (7) shaped to accommodate a user, said device (1) including sludge injection means (16) and said cavity (7) including sludge evacuation means (25), these injection (16) and sludge evacuation (25) means being connected through sludge recirculation means (26).Advantageously, the peripheral belt wall (3), the ground support base (4), and the upper wall (6) define a housing (29) for receiving a sludge tank (30) to which the sludge injection means (16) and the sludge evacuation means (25) are connected via the sludge recirculation means (26). The invention further relates to a method of implementing this application device. Figure for the abstract: [Fig. 3].

Description

Title of the invention: Device for applying sludge and method for implementing the device

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for applying liquid mud to the body of a user. The invention further relates to a method for implementing such a device.

[0002] The present invention is applicable in the fields of healthcare and in particular: thermalism, thalassotherapy, balneotherapy, spas...

[0003] Various solutions are currently implemented for applying mud to a person's body. One of these solutions consists of manually applying this mud, in the form of thick mud (peloid) or a poultice, to the parts of the body to be treated. Obviously, application using thick mud requires the intervention of healthcare personnel, which can prove particularly time-consuming for this staff in specialized settings, such as a thermal spa, balneotherapy center, or thalassotherapy center. Furthermore, this manual application limits the number of people who can be treated, depending on the size of the staff.

[0004] The application of poultices does not allow direct contact with the mud and its active ingredients.

[0005] Another solution is to immerse almost entirely or at least partially a user in a basin filled with liquid mud which is a collective care.

[0006] Another solution involves the continuous local diffusion of liquid mud onto the joints via articulated nozzles. The mud is delivered and maintained at a temperature to prevent the user from cooling down during treatment. Often, mud is circulated within the tub to enhance the therapeutic effect by renewing the peloid layer on the body's surface. For this purpose, mud injection nozzles are incorporated inside the tub. They are supplied via a recirculation circuit that draws the mud from an overflow point in the tub. In this case, the mud is most often recirculated through a suitable reprocessing unit.

[0007] Apart from the need to maintain a large quantity of thermal mud at temperature, it must be subjected to various sanitary reprocessing operations after each user.

[0008] It should be noted that a device for the localized application of thermal mud to the body of a user, comprising a structure, is known from document FR 2 951 934 shaped to form a cavity for receiving the body of this user in a supine position. This device also includes localized sludge injection nozzles at various locations within said cavity, as well as at least one sludge suction inlet located in the lower part of said cavity and connected to sludge recirculation means in order to convey the sludge towards the injection nozzles via a reprocessing unit external to the device.

[0009] It should be noted that such a sludge treatment unit involves complex filtration and pasteurization operations. Furthermore, the effectiveness of this treatment depends on the sludge residence time in said unit. However, the longer the residence time, the larger the quantities of sludge required for the proper functioning of such a device, as described in document FR 2 951 934.

[0010] In summary, while the device described in this document FR 2 951 934 requires a smaller quantity of treatment sludge compared to a device that uses immersion treatment of the user's body, the total quantity of sludge necessary for the proper functioning of the device remains very large due to the residence time required for sludge reprocessing. This results in the same drawbacks already mentioned above, namely poor energy efficiency due to the large quantity of sludge that must be heated and then maintained at temperature, and a particularly bulky installation almost entirely dedicated to the sludge reprocessing unit.

[0011] Moreover, such reprocessing units are generally unable to extract liquid and / or soluble pollutants that these sludges may progressively contain during successive user treatments, so that, most of the time, they no longer meet the health requirements and standards in force.

[0012] It is within the framework of an inventive approach that a device for applying liquid sludge to the body of a user has been conceived, capable of using only the quantity of sludge strictly necessary for the treatment cycle to be carried out and allowing, where applicable, a single use of this sludge.

[0013] More specifically, the applicant considered installing directly in the structure of the thermal mud application device a reservoir capable of containing a volume of mud corresponding to the treatment of one user, this reservoir being integrated into the means of recirculating mud between injection means and mud evacuation means.

[0014] In a second inventive step, it was thought to equip this tank with means for preparing the sludge comprising at least means for stirring to mix its contents.

[0015] To this end, the invention relates to a thermal mud application device comprising a structure including a peripheral belt wall extending between a ground support base, in the lower part, and an upper part defining a cavity shaped to accommodate a user in a seated, semi-seated or lying position, the said device comprising means for localized injection of mud and the said cavity comprising means for evacuating mud, these means for injection and evacuation of mud being connected through means for recirculating mud.

[0016] Advantageously, the peripheral wall, the ground support base and the upper wall delimit a receiving housing for a sludge tank to which said sludge injection means and said sludge evacuation means are connected via the sludge recirculation means.

[0017] According to another feature of the invention, the tank is equipped with means for preparing the sludge comprising at least means for agitating its contents.

[0018] According to yet another feature of the invention, the localized mud application device includes means for connection to a water supply network.

[0019] According to another feature of the invention, this application device comprises a hood mounted to pivot on the structure capable of occupying at least one closed position in which it extends at least partly over said cavity, this hood being equipped, on its internal side oriented towards said cavity in this closed position, with at least one injector, preferably, at least one sludge injection ramp connected to sludge recirculation means.

[0020] The invention further relates to a method of implementing the application device, consisting of: - to pour or prepare in the tank, a determined quantity of sludge for the treatment of a user; - to bring the hood into the closed position; - to control the supply of the sludge injection means via the sludge recirculation means to discharge the sludge into the cavity; - to maintain, during a determined treatment time cycle, a recirculation of the sludge through the cavity by recovering the sludge in the tank in communication with the evacuation means and the retrieval of this sludge from the tank by the recirculation pump to supply said injection means.

[0021] This process further provides, according to the invention, a first step of heating the cavity consisting of: - to pour hot water into the tank and to supply the injection means and / or the rinsing nozzles of this hot water via the sludge recirculation means; - or to supply the rinsing nozzles with hot fresh water and / or hot seawater through a fresh water or seawater supply network.

[0022] This process according to the invention also includes a cavity rinsing step at the end of a user's treatment cycle. This rinsing can even take place while the user is still in the application device.

[0023] The advantages arising from the present invention consist in the fact that the tank with which the sludge application device is equipped is capable of containing a quantity of sludge strictly necessary for the treatment of a single user. In this regard, this single-use sludge, being dispersed locally on the parts of the body to be treated, represents a small volume of sludge, on the order of 10 liters or even less, requiring only a tiny amount of heat energy to bring it to and maintain its temperature.

[0024] In this regard, in one of the variants of the processes according to the invention, this sludge can be prepared directly in the tank by adding hot water

[0025] These advantages combined with the absence of sludge treatment make it possible to obtain a sludge application device which is very energy-efficient and, therefore, economical, but also, and primarily, very hygienic, capable of meeting current strict health requirements.

[0026] Another important advantage is the easy access in the single-level device which allows direct access for people with difficult or reduced mobility.

[0027] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following description relating to a given embodiment by way of example and not limitation.

[0028] Understanding this description will be facilitated by referring to the accompanying figures in which:

[0029] [Fig-1] Fig.1 schematically illustrates the mud application device, hood closed;

[0030] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a representation similar to [Fig.1], the device mud application being illustrated, hood open;

[0031] [Fig.3] Fig.3 schematically illustrates the hydraulic circuits of this device application, namely, essentially that of mud and water supply;

[0032] Figure 4 schematically illustrates an additional hydraulic circuit for rinsing water.

[0033] As shown in the attached Figures 1 to 3, the present invention relates to a device for applying thermal mud 1.

[0034] This application device 1 comprises a structure 2 including, essentially, a peripheral belt wall 3 extending between a ground support base 4 in the lower part 5 and an upper part 6 defining a cavity 7. The peripheral belt wall 3 closes, at least partially, the structure 2 of the application device 1 around its perimeter.

[0035] The cavity 7 is shaped to accommodate a user in a seated, semi-seated (or partially reclining) position as seen in [Fig.3] or in a totally reclining position.

[0036] At the level of this upper part 6 of the structure 2, this cavity 7 is delimited at least in part on the periphery by a rim 8 preventing the risk of spillage of mud or water to the outside.

[0037] Similarly, this cavity 7 includes at least a lower part 9 of generally concave shape allowing the hydraulic flows to be concentrated there, whether for recirculation or evacuation.

[0038] Advantageously, the cavity 7 can also be anatomically shaped to accommodate a user, depending on the case, in a seated, semi-seated, or reclining position. Thus, this cavity 7 can define, on either side of a seat 10 located preferably at the lower part 9, a backrest 11 and a footrest portion 12. Therefore, this cavity 7 can take the form of a chaise longue. It can also be designed to receive one or more intermediate structures with anatomically shaped contours designed to comfortably accommodate a user, depending on the case, seated or reclining. Such an intermediate structure can be of the interchangeable type.

[0039] Thus, for example, in the lower part 9 of this cavity 7 a seat 13 can be placed and / or the upper part 15 of the backrest 11 can be equipped with a headrest 14.

[0040] This mud application device 1 according to the invention further includes mud injection means 16. These can take the form of localized mud injectors 17 or injection ramps 18, depending on how the mud is to be poured onto the different parts of a user's body.

[0041] Thus, by way of preferred example, in the upper part 15 of the backrest 11, in particular under the headrest 14 when the cavity 7 is equipped with it, at least one mud injector 17 is provided, preferably several, advantageously designed to deliver a sheet of mud capable of flowing, as appropriate, along the cervicals and / or shoulders and / or back of the user.

[0042] These means of injecting mud 16 will more particularly take the form of an injection ramp 18 in this cavity 7 to spray the legs and pelvis of the user installed in the application device 1.

[0043] In this regard, it preferably comprises a cover 19 advantageously mounted pivoting in the upper part 6 of the structure 2. This cover 19 is defined for occupy at least one closed position 20, as seen in [Fig.1], in which it partially covers the cavity 7. More particularly, this cover 19 is defined to, in this closed position 20, cover the footrest portion 12 of the cavity 7.

[0044] This hood 19 is further designed to be tilted into an open position 21, as shown in [Fig.2], so as to facilitate the installation or exit of a user from the cavity 7 of the application device 1.

[0045] As can also be seen in this [Fig.2] illustrating a preferred embodiment, this hood 19 can be mounted tilting on the structure 2 of the application device 1 at the end 22 of the cavity 7, on the side of the footrest portion 12.

[0046] Preferably, this hood 19 is equipped on its inner side 24, oriented towards the cavity 7 when it is in the closed position 20, with at least one injection ramp 18, advantageously with two injection ramps 18, extending substantially longitudinally, that is to say parallel to the longitudinal median plane of the application device 1 in such a way as to pour mud onto the legs and pelvis of the user lying in the cavity 7.

[0047] With reference to [Fig.3], this application device 1 further includes mud evacuation means 25 which can take the simplified form of a hole or a drainage channel in the lower part 9 of the cavity 7. In particular, these mud evacuation means 25 can be located under the seat 13 at the height of the seat 10 of the cavity 7.

[0048] The sludge evacuation means 25 and the sludge injection means 16 are, moreover, connected through sludge recirculation means 26. These include in particular a sludge recirculation pump 27 to which the said evacuation means 25 and the injection means 16 are connected by means of a suitable piping 28.

[0049] According to the invention, the peripheral belt wall 3, the ground support base 4 and the upper wall 6 defining the cavity 7 delimit a housing 29 for receiving a sludge tank 30 to which the injection means 16 and the evacuation means 25 are connected via the sludge recirculation means 26.

[0050] Advantageously, this is defined as having a capacity adapted to the volume of sludge required for the treatment of a user. In particular, this capacity is less than 50 liters, preferably it is between 10 and 30 liters, more particularly between 10 and 20 liters.

[0051] Thus, before each treatment cycle of a user by application of sludge, an operator can, as appropriate, pour or prepare in this tank 30 the quantity of sludge necessary for this treatment.

[0052] For this purpose, this reservoir 30 can be defined as retractable from the housing 29 delimited by the structure 2 of the application device 1.

[0053] However, according to a preferred embodiment, this reservoir 30 extends under the lower part 9 of the cavity 7 and is in the form of a tank 31 closed by a retractable cover 32, while defining a drainage opening 33 in this reservoir 30. In short, this opening 33, in communication with the reservoir 30, substantially constitutes the means of evacuating sludge 25. By way of example, the cover 32 can be defined by the part forming the seat 10 of the cavity 7 or by the seat 13 which can be installed in this cavity 7 at the height of this seat 10.

[0054] Thus, the quantity of sludge required for the treatment of a user can be directly poured by an operator into this tank 30 after removing the cover 32. In particular, this sludge can be preheated to bring it to the treatment temperature before being poured into the tank 30.

[0055] This operator can also directly prepare in this tank 30 this quantity of sludge useful for the treatment of a user, by pouring into it a determined quantity of water, preferably hot, and by adding to this water the different active ingredients, namely a mixture of solid substrate (earth, clay, sediment, precipitates, ...).

[0056] For this purpose, means for preparing this sludge can be installed in this reservoir 30, comprising at least agitation means which can take different forms of embodiment and whose purpose is to homogenize this water and this mixture of solid substrate.

[0057] Advantageously, this tank 30 is connected to the recirculation pump 27 by means of said piping 28 allowing the recirculation of its contents through the injection means 16. Note that this connection of the tank 30 to the recirculation pump 27 can be made through a drain plug 34. In this case, the latter can be equipped with suitable sealing means allowing, at the end of a user's treatment, the sludge contained in the tank 30 to be discharged, as appropriate, into the sewer or into a suitable discharge tank.

[0058] Incidentally, the sludge recirculation means 26 include heating means, for example an electric resistance, for raising and maintaining the sludge temperature. In a preferred embodiment, these heating means are fitted to the sludge tank 30.

[0059] The application device 1 can also be equipped with means of connection 35, 36 to a supply network of cold and / or hot fresh water 37 and / or cold and / or hot sea water 38. It should be noted that in the case of a hot water supply, it is possible to dispense with said heating means, except that they can contribute to maintaining the temperature of the sludge being recirculated in the application device 1.

[0060] The mud recirculation means 26 can, in combination with the injection means 16 and the evacuation means 25, define means for rinsing, or even for heating the cavity 7 of the application device 1, simply by pouring cold or hot water into the tank 30, as appropriate, or by connecting, upstream, the recirculation pump 27 to a supply network of cold and / or hot fresh water 37 and / or cold and / or hot sea water 38.

[0061] According to a preferred embodiment visible in [Fig.4], the cavity 7 and / or the hood 19 of the supply device 1 is advantageously equipped with rinsing and / or preheating nozzles 39. These are connected, as appropriate, to the reservoir 30 through the recirculation pump 27 and / or directly to the supply network of cold and / or hot fresh water 37 and / or cold and / or hot sea water 38.

[0062] As for the method of implementing this application device 1, it essentially consists of: - as appropriate, to be poured or prepared in tank 30, a determined quantity of sludge for the treatment of a user; - to bring the hood 19 into the closed position 20; - to control the supply of the sludge injection means 16 via the sludge recirculation means 26 to discharge the sludge into the cavity 7 of the application device 1; - to maintain, during a determined treatment time cycle, a recirculation of the sludge through the cavity 7 by recovery of the sludge in the reservoir 30 which comprises the evacuation means 25 and the resumption of this sludge from the reservoir 30 by the recirculation pump 27 for the supply of said injection means 16.

[0063] Obviously, these steps of the process are more particularly carried out after a user has comfortably settled into the cavity 7 of the application device 1.

[0064] These steps of the process of implementing the application device 1 can be preceded by a first step of heating the cavity 7 consisting, according to a first variant, of pouring hot water into the reservoir 30 and supplying the injection means 16 and / or the rinsing nozzles 39 with this hot water via the sludge recirculation means 26.

[0065] According to a second variant, this step of heating the cavity 7 consists of supplying the rinsing nozzles 39 with hot fresh water and / or hot sea water through a fresh water supply network 37 or a sea water supply network 38.

[0066] If this temperature-setting step can take place when the user is installed in the application device 1, it is preferably carried out before.

[0067] Advantageously, this method of implementing the application device 1 according to the invention further includes a step of rinsing the cavity 7 at the end of a user's treatment cycle.

[0068] This rinsing step can be carried out in different ways. In particular, it can consist of: • to empty the sludge tank 30, • to pour clean water into the sludge tank 30 • to supply the injection means 16 and / or the rinsing nozzles 39 of this clean water taken from reservoir 30 by the recirculation pump 27 of the recirculation means 26 to discharge it into cavity 7; • to collect the rinsing water in the tank 30, through the evacuation means 25, and to drain the tank 30.

[0069] According to another way of carrying out this rinsing step consists, after having emptied the sludge tank 30; • supply the rinsing nozzles 39 with clean rinsing water via the fresh water supply network 37 and / or sea water 38; • to be collected in the tank 30, through the evacuation means 25, rinsing water to be drained from the tank 30.

[0070] Unlike the cavity 7 heating step, this rinsing step can be carried out at the end of the treatment cycle, with the user still installed in the application device 1, so that the user can himself be rid of the residual sludge on his body before extracting himself from the cavity 7.

[0071] The entire control of the application device 1 can be automated. However, it can be equipped with a control station, for example in the form of a touch screen, installed directly on the structure 2 or remotely, using suitable intercommunication means, so as to be able to intervene on various treatment parameters: duration, temperature, selection of different treatment cycles and / or supply of the injectors 17 and / or the injection rails 18...

[0072] The advantages arising from the present invention consist in the fact that the application device 1, in the form of a self-contained unit, is very compact because it does not require external means of sludge treatment. In particular, such an application device 1, according to the invention, can be used both in a thermal spa, balneotherapy or thalassotherapy establishment and in a beauty salon, hydrotherapy or physiotherapy practice, for example, where it can be installed in an individual cabin.

[0073] In-situ sludge preparation is also a very significant advantage, especially since the quantity of sludge to be prepared can be limited to the treatment of a single user. Furthermore, Thanks to the recirculation system 26, the sludge can be discharged onto the user while being continuously collected by the evacuation system 25. The quantity of sludge required can be reduced to between 7 and 20 liters, preferably around 10 liters. It should be noted that, thanks to the average injection rate, this sludge can be distributed over the entire body.

[0074] Another advantage results from the possibility of rinsing the user while he is still in the application device 1, at the same time as the rinsing of the cavity 7 takes place.

[0075] Moreover, the cost of a treatment by application of sludge on a user proves to be very economical, whether because of the small quantity of sludge used during such treatment or because of a reduced need for energy to maintain the temperature of the various fluids used.

Claims

Demands

1. A thermal mud application device (1) comprising a structure (2) including a peripheral belt wall (3) extending between a ground support base (4), in its lower part (5), and an upper part (6) defining a cavity (7) shaped to accommodate a user in a seated, semi-seated or reclining position, said device (1) comprising mud injection means (16) and said cavity (7) comprising mud evacuation means (25), these injection means (16) and mud evacuation means (25) being connected through mud recirculation means (26), characterized in that: - the peripheral belt wall (3), the ground support base (4) and the upper wall (6) delimit a housing (29) for receiving a mud reservoir (30) to which said mud injection means (16) and said mud evacuation means (25) are connected through sludge recirculation means (26);- the mud injection means (16) comprise localized mud injectors (17) and / or injection ramps (18); - said thermal mud application device (1) comprises a hood (19) pivotally mounted in the upper part (6) of the structure (2) and defined to occupy at least one closed position (20) in which it partially covers the cavity (7); - the hood (19) is equipped on its inner side (24), oriented towards said cavity (7) when it is in the closed position (20), with at least one injection ramp (18) extending longitudinally, parallel to the longitudinal median plane of the application device (1) in such a way as to discharge mud onto the legs and pelvis of the user lying in the cavity (7).

2. Application device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cavity (7) has an anatomical shape to accommodate a user, as the case may be in a seated, semi-seated or lying position and comprises, on either side of a seat (10) located at the level of the lower part (9), a backrest (11) and a footrest portion (12).

3. Application device (1) according to claim 2 characterized in that the reservoir (30) extends under the lower part (9) of the cavity (7) and is in the form of a tank (31) closed by a retractable cover (32), while delimiting a flow opening (33) in this reservoir (30) designating the means for evacuating mud (25).

4. Application device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the reservoir (30) has a capacity of between 10 and 20 litres.

5. Application device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that preparation means comprising at least agitation means are implanted in the reservoir (30).

6. Application device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the upper part (6) of the structure (2) the cavity (7) is delimited at least in part on the periphery by a rim (8).

7. Application device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sludge recirculation means (26) comprise a sludge recirculation pump (27) to which said evacuation means (25) and injection means (16) are connected, the reservoir (30) being connected to the recirculation pump (27) through a drain plug (34).

8. Application device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sludge recirculation means (26) comprise heating means.

9. Application device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sludge recirculation means (26) define, in combination with the injection means (16) and the evacuation means (25), means for rinsing and / or heating the cavity (7).

10. Application device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cavity (7) and / or the hood (19) is equipped with rinsing and / or preheating nozzles (39).

11. Application device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is equipped with means for connection (35; 36) to a water supply network

12. fresh cold and / or hot (37) and / or cold and / or hot sea water (38). Method for implementing the application device (1), according to claims 1 to 11, consisting of: - in a first step of heating the cavity (7) consisting of pouring hot water into the reservoir (30) and supplying the injection means (16) and / or the rinsing nozzles (39) with this hot water via the mud recirculation means (26) or supplying the rinsing nozzles (39) with hot fresh water and / or hot sea water through a fresh water (37) or sea water (38) supply network. - to pour or prepare in the tank (30), a determined quantity of sludge for the treatment of a user; - to bring the hood (19) into the closed position (20); - to control the supply of the sludge injection means (16) via the sludge recirculation means (26) to discharge the sludge into the cavity (7); - to maintain, during a determined treatment time cycle, a recirculation of the sludge through the cavity (7) by recovering the sludge in the reservoir (30) in communication with the evacuation means (25) and the retrieval of this sludge from the reservoir (30) by the recirculation pump (27) for the supply of said injection means (16); - said process further comprising a cavity rinsing step (7) at the end of a user's treatment cycle.

Images