Foot spa with remote control features

Abstract

A foot spa and a method for controlling the foot spa is provided. The foot spa has a housing defining a reservoir for locating feet, a remote control unit for controlling a function of the foot spa by transmitting a control signal to the foot spa via wireless communication, and a receiver located in or on the housing for receiving the control signal.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A foot spa comprising: 
 a housing defining a reservoir for locating feet;    a receiver located in or on the housing for receiving a control signal; and    a remote control unit for controlling a function of the foot spa by transmitting the control signal to the foot spa via wireless communication.    
     
     
         2 . The foot spa of  claim 1 , wherein the function is selected from a group consisting of vibration, bubble, and water-jet.  
     
     
         3 . The foot spa of  claim 1 , wherein the function is a program function for initiating execution of at least one function associated with the foot spa.  
     
     
         4 . The foot spa of  claim 3 , wherein the program function initiates a plurality of functions associated with the foot spa in an automated sequence.  
     
     
         5 . The foot spa of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one function is predetermined.  
     
     
         6 . The foot spa of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one function is selectively determined.  
     
     
         7 . The foot spa of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of functions are predetermined.  
     
     
         8 . The foot spa of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of functions are selectively determined.  
     
     
         9 . The foot spa of  claim 1 , wherein the remote control unit has controls for controlling operation of the foot spa.  
     
     
         10 . The foot spa of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal is transmitted using a communication protocol selected from the group consisting of infrared, radio frequency, and sonic transmission.  
     
     
         11 . The foot spa of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid to at least partially enclose the reservoir.  
     
     
         12 . The foot spa of  claim 1 , wherein the remote control unit has two portions that fit together in a watertight fashion to provide resistance to the penetration of water.  
     
     
         13 . The foot spa of  claim 1 , wherein the remote control unit floats when in water.  
     
     
         14 . The foot spa of  claim 1 , wherein the remote control unit has one or more controls selected from the group consisting of on/off control, vibration control, bubble control, water-jet control, and program control.  
     
     
         15 . The foot spa of  claim 1 , wherein the remote control unit has an on/off control, a vibration control, a bubble control, a water-jet control, and a program control.  
     
     
         16 . A method for controlling a foot spa, said method comprising the steps of: 
 transmitting a control signal from a remote control unit to the foot spa via wireless communication, wherein the remote control unit controls a function of the foot spa; and    receiving the control signal by a receiver located in or on a housing of the foot spa; and    processing the received control signal to effectuate execution of the function.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising a step of selecting the function from a group consisting of vibration, bubble, and water-jet.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising a step of activating, from the remote control unit, a program function for initiating execution of at least one function associated with the foot spa.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising a step of activating a program function for initiating execution of a plurality of functions associated with the foot spa.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of transmitting a control signal controls all of the functions of the foot spa.