referring to fig1 and 5 a portable foot bath is shown provided with a tub 10 fabricated of rubber or a soft plastic , such as vinyl . the tub is generally of a rectangular shape and is provided with a peripheral top edge 12 , as seen in fig2 and 5 . the top edge 12 is folded over the sides 14 of the tubs in order to conserve space in a packing carton . however , when it is desired to use the foot bath the top edge 12 is grasped by the user &# 39 ; s hands and pulled up to position shown in dotted lines in fig2 and as well as shown in fig4 and 5 . the floor 16 of the tub 10 has spaced shallow , rounded projections 18 which function as foot massaging elements . the floor of the tub also has a centrally located curved arch support 20 which is designed to massage the arch of the foot . referring now to fig2 and 4 a heater platform 24 is shown mounted on the base support 22 and has a sinuous channel 26 on the top surface of the platform . the channel 26 is provided with a rope heater 28 within the entire sinuous channel 26 in order to radiate heat throughout the floor 16 of the tub . the heater 28 is connected to a power source ( not shown ) and is provided with a thermostat 30 . the rope heater 28 is held in place by holders 32 , as seen in fig3 . a motor bracket 34 is located at the underside of heater platform 28 and is affixed to four bosses 36 projecting downward from the bottom of platform 28 by means of bolts 38 . a motor 40 having a vibrating coil 42 is affixed to the bracket 34 . located above the heater platform 24 having the rope heater 28 are a pair of spaced thin metal reflectors 44 such as aluminum foil . the reflectors 44 are connected by a smaller reflector 46 having a central opening 46 which is aligned with opening 25 in the heater platform 24 . all of the metal reflectors abut the underside of the floor of the tub 10 and function to radiate the heat generated by the rope heater throughout the floor 16 of the tub 10 . the heater platform 24 is fixed to the base platform 22 by means of bosses 48 which are placed in holes 50 in the base platform , and attached by screws 52 . non - marking rubber feet 54 cover the screw heads . the tub 10 is affixed to heater platform 24 by means of bosses 56 in tub 10 and aligned bosses 58 in platform 24 , and connected by means of screws 60 . on the underside of the floor 16 of the tub 10 is a pipe - like projection 62 which passes through an opening in the metal reflector 46 and opening 25 in heater platform 24 to engage the motor bracket 34 thus imparting vibratory motion of the motor directly to the arch support 20 . referring now to fig6 the base platform 22 is provided with compartments 62 and 64 in which compartment 62 has an opening 70 in front wall 66 of the base 22 while compartment 64 has an opening 72 in the rear wall 68 of the base . located within compartment 62 is a power cord 74 with removable remote control unit 76 . in compartment 64 a standard power cord 78 is shown which can be connected to any 110 volt ac outlet . the remote control unit 76 can be placed in the opening 70 as shown in fig5 or it may be removed from the opening , as seen in fig6 in order to operate the foot bath from a distance . this arrangement is especially desirable for people who have difficulty bending down and operating the controls since the foot bath device can be operated from a sitting or standing position . as will be seen in fig2 and 7 , the flexible sides 14 of the tub are folded over , as shown in full lines , for packing and transportation . when the foot bath is desired to be used , the sides 14 are pulled up all around the tub to the dotted line position shown in fig2 . thus the depth of the tub 10 is approximately doubled thereby permitting a higher level of water in the tub . furthermore , the vibratory , rounded projections spaced throughout the floor 16 of the tub 10 , as well as the vibrating arch support 20 , rejuvenate the soles and arches of the feet not only in warm water but in dry heat as well . fig7 shows another embodiment of the present invention wherein the flexible sides 80 are accordion shaped so that tub 10 can be packed and shipped in a collapsed condition , as seen in full lines , or the accordion sides 80a can be pulled up to the enlarged tub position for use , as seen in dotted lines . while the invention has been disclosed and described with reference to several embodiments it will be apparent that changes and modifications may be made therein , and it is intended that the following claims cover each such variation and modification as falls within the true spirit and scope of the present invention .
a wet / dry foot bath having a tub with foldable sides a motor with vibrating coils for reciprocating movement of the tub floor , a rope heating with reflecting plates for radiating heat throughout the floor of the tub , the floor having foot massage bumps and a central arch massager , and a remote control device for operating the foot bath .