The Shower Massage Chair

1
The Shower Massage Chair

• ME 160 - Individual Conceptual Design Project
• Lauren Gallagher
• January 22, 2004

2

• If the kitchen is the heart of the home, then
  surely the bath is its comfort zone. Once a place
  designed primarily for cleaning the body, the
  bath has, in recent years, metamorphasized into a
  place to clean and rejuvenate the mind and soul,
  as well.

-Kitchen and Bath Design News
Echo Valley Ranch and Spas - http//www.evranch.co
m/gallery_spa_tours.asp
3
Stress-Relieving, Spa Environment

• Todays bathrooms are used as retreats where
  their users can relax in a private atmosphere
• In the past decade the size of the average
  bathroom in an American home has tripled.
• Sales of whirlpool tubs have exploded in recent
  years, with an annual growth of over 20 since
  the late 1980s.

4
Consumer Need for New Innovation

• In 2000, the oldest members of the Baby Boom
  generation reached 55 years of age.
• This age group was the largest consumers of home
  exercise equipment (over 1.0 billion) and health
  club memberships ( 7.4 million.)
• The popularity of massage therapy has grown
  significantly among the age group of 45 years and
  older. A third of this age group uses massages
  compared to only a quarter of those younger.

Echo Valley Ranch and Spas -http//www.evranch.com
/gallery_spa_tours.asp
5
International Phenomenon

• The interest in massage products is worldwide,
  and consumers are spending increasingly more
  money satisfying their stress-reduction needs.
• A January 2004 study shows that in Japan massage
  chair sales have increased 20 from the previous
  year. This study also shows in the past five
  years consumers have been willing to pay more for
  this luxury item.

Market trends for Massage Chairs
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Need and Problem Definition

• The age group with the greatest desire for these
  pampering bath conveniences has the money to
  spend on such amenities.
• Design of the shower massage chair must resolve
  problems including
• Waterproofing
• Height Considerations- in order to make the
  chair more easily accessible

7
Existing Products

• Three products in the market today that provide
  supplementary relaxation to the showering
  experience include
• Massaging Shower Heads
• Whirlpool Baths
• Steam Showers

8
Massage Shower Heads

• Single or Dual massage shower heads are designed
  with patterned water flows to reduce tension in
  the users muscles.
• Pros The average shower conserves more water
  then a bath.
• Cons Shower heads can not provide the intensity
  of a manual massage.

http//shop.store.yahoo.com/efendos/watsmmasshow.h
tml
9
Whirlpool Baths

• Include jetted as well as air bubbled baths
• Whirlpool sales have led the plumbing products
  sector in recent years.
• Pros Provides relaxation of sitting in tub
  rather than standing, as well as greater massage
  intensity due to close proximity of jets or air
  bubbles.
• Cons More water consumption than a shower and
  still lacks manual massage intensity

Faucet - http//store.faucet.com/cgi-bin/fcom/prod
ucts?idfxM8kjD7mv_argR360mv_pc25
10
Steam Showers

• Not as widespread on the market today
• Pros Health benefits including increased heat
  rate of 50-75, increased blood flow, and
  cleansing of skin and sweat glands
• Cons No extra pressure concentrated on muscles

JS Dyna Technologies-http//www.jsdynatech.com/eut
opa_steam_shower.htm
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Integration of Markets

• Obvious market for relaxation products in the
  shower setting
• The existing shower massage products do not offer
  the benefits of physical contact with the
  muscles.
• Only available seats for shower are uncomfortable
  stools and loveseats
• Integrating a massage chair design into shower
  setting where there is desire for
  stress-reduction products would yield a
  successful product.

Office Designs - http//www.officedesigns.com/inhe
alhtt9.html
Plumbing Supply -http//www.plumbingsupply.com/fol
dingshowerseat.html
12
QFD
13
Concepts

• Permanent or Removable addition to the consumers
  tub
• Removable Shower Massage Chair
• Pros Would provide a more spacious tub when not
  in use
• Cons Not easily removed from tub and
  insufficient storage space in normal bathrooms

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Permanent Shower Massage Chair

• Chair outline incorporated into acrylic tub shell
  during the molding process
• Placement of PVC piping, pump, and motor for jets
  are added to acrylic exterior, similar to
  whirlpool tub design. Motor to drive water pump
  and flow to jets between ¾ and 2 hp.
• Motor(s) to drive massage rollers will also be
  mounted on outer encasing of tub.

http//www.watertechtn.com/buildingwhirlpool.htmA
crylic
http//www.watertechtn.com/buildingwhirlpool.htmA
crylic
15
Permanent Shower Massage Chair

• Add padding
• Material considerations
• QFD results

16
Concept Evaluation

• Most important considerations

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Conclusion
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References

• Echo Valley Ranch and Spas - http//www.evranch.co
  m/gallery_spa_tours.asp
• Demand for Massage Therapy, American Massage
  Therapy Association http//www.amtamassage.org/a
  bot/demand/htm
• Fitness Product and Service Markets
  http//www.feed-back.com/ezine.htm
• Health Benefits of Sauna and Steam AP Sauna
  and Steam Specialists, http//www.diyhomesaunas.co
  .uk/health-benefits.html
• Market Trends for Massage Chairs GfK Japan
  Market Report, January 2004
• The Comfort Zone Kitchen and Bath Design News,
  http//www.kitchen-bath-design.com/BUSINESS-kitche
  ns/FEATURES-bathrooms/071999.htm
• WaterTech Whirlpool Baths - http//www.watertechtn
  .com/building-whirlpool.htmAcrylic