Abstract:
A hot tub assembly and associated methods for adding desirable features to portable hot tub systems. The hot tub assembly can include a base pedestal and flexible liner for creating a desired seating configuration within a portable hot tub. The base pedestal can comprise a ring-like design wherein the ring can function as a seat while an inner portion can function as a foot well. The base pedestal can further function so as to increase the overall capacity or volume of the portable hot tub. The base pedestal can comprise a number of molded seats as part of the ring so as to define a comfortable seating arrangement. The base pedestal and flexible liner can be provided in kit form for converting an existing flat-bottomed portable hot tub into a portable hot tub assembly with seating features.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/651,767, filed Feb. 10, 2005, and entitled, “HOT TUB ASSEMBLY,” which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates generally to the field of hot tubs. More particularly, the present invention pertains to an assembly for providing increased functionality and features to a portable, disassemblable hot tub system.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Residential hot tubs are well known and have been available for many years. While a small percentage of residential hot tubs are custom designed, built and configured based upon the unique requirements of a homeowner, the vast majority of residential hot tubs comprise standard models and configurations that are manufactured off-site, shipped and installed in selected locations. Generally, these standard models and configurations can comprise rigid hot tub systems utilizing a one-piece polymeric shells, rigid barrel-style tubs with flexible, sheet like liners or portable, disassemblable hot tubs using flexible, sheet-like liners.  
         [0004]     Portable, disassemblable hot tubs have a number of design advantages. First, they are easily transportable such that the hot tub is never permanently located in a set location. Second, their disassemblable nature allows them to be placed and assembled in locations wherein rigid hot tubs cannot be located such as, for example, squeezing them through stairwells for placement in an otherwise inaccessible location. Third, their disassemblable nature requires that these hot tubs be flexible with respect to utility requirements such that the rigid piping and dedicated electrical circuits commonly associated with rigid, non-portable hot tubs are not required. Finally, as portable, disassemblable hot tubs must be flexible with respect to utility requirements, there is generally no site-preparation required prior to assembling the portable hot tub and the use of professionals such as, for example, electricians, carpenters and plumbers can be avoided entirely.  
         [0005]     While portable hot tub systems have a number of advantages over their rigid counterparts, some of the seating features and configurations commonly found within rigid hot tubs are not presently available with portable hot tubs. As such, it would be advantageous to be able to provide owners of portable hot tub systems with such features for both existing portable hot tub systems as well as being available at the time of purchase of new portable hot tubs.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present disclosure addresses a hot tub assembly for adding desirable seating features, such as, for example, seating features commonly found in rigid hot tub designs, to portable hot tub systems. Generally, a kit of the present disclosure can comprise a base pedestal and a flexible liner for creating a desired seating configuration within a previously, flat-bottomed portable hot tub. The base pedestal can comprise a ring-like design wherein the ring can function as a seat while an inner portion can function as a foot well. The base pedestal can further function so as to increase the overall capacity or volume of the portable hot tub. In some representative embodiments, the base pedestal can comprise a number of molded seats as part of the ring so as to define a comfortable seating arrangement. The kit of the present disclosure comprises a portable kit such that the portable nature of the portable hot tub is maintained.  
         [0007]     In one aspect, an assembly for retrofitting a portable hot tub comprises a base pedestal and a liner adapted to conform to said base pedestal. In some representative embodiments, the base pedestal can comprise integral features such as, for example, molded seats. In some representative embodiments, the assembly can provide for an increase in the seating capacity and/or volume of the hot tub.  
         [0008]     In another aspect, a method for adding features to a portable hot tub is disclosed. In some representative embodiments, the method for adding features can comprise adding a base pedestal and liner such that features such as, for example, integral seating arrangements are added to the hot tub.  
         [0009]     In another aspect, the present disclosure describes a portable hot tub having integral seating features.  
         [0010]     The above summary of the various representative embodiments of the disclosure is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the invention. The figures in the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify these embodiments.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portable, disassemblable hot tub of the prior art.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the portable, disassemblable hot tub of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a portable, disassemblable hot tub including a hot tub assembly of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4   a  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a support platform of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4   b  is a top view of an embodiment of a support platform for the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is an exploded, perspective view of a hot tub body being positioned on the support platform of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of a hot tub body positioned on a support platform of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of a hot tub body positioned on a support platform of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a top perspective view of a liner placed within the tub body and support platform of  FIG. 7 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a support platform having a friction enhancing element.  
         [0022]      FIG. 10  is a section view of a hot tub assembly of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 11  is a top view of an embodiment of a support platform.  
         [0024]      Figure 11   a  is  
         [0025]      FIG. 12  is a top view of an embodiment of an empty hot tub assembly.  
         [0026]      FIG. 13   a  is a top view of an embodiment of an empty hot tub assembly.  
         [0027]      FIG. 13   b  a is a top view of an embodiment of an empty hot tub assembly..  
         [0028]      FIG. 14   a  is an exploded, section view of an embodiment of a unitary assembly comprising an outer cover and a liner.  
         [0029]      FIG. 14   b  is a section view of an embodiment of a unitary cover.  
         [0030]      FIG. 15   a  is a top, partially hidden view of an embodiment of a support platform.  
         [0031]      FIG. 15   b  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a hot tub assembly of the present invention.  
         [0032]     While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0033]     A portable, disassemblable hot tub  100  of the prior art is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Generally, portable disassemblable hot tub  100  comprises a tub body  102  and a pump assembly  104 . A representative example of portable, disassemblable hot tub  100  comprises the line of hot tubs available from Softub Inc., of Valencia, Calif. . Tub body  102  generally comprises a body wall  106 , a body floor  108 , a liner  110  and an outer cover  112 . Tub body  102  generally defines a perimeter  114  typically having a generally circular configuration.  
         [0034]     Tub body  102  is generally fabricated to be a single, integral component. Body wall  106  can comprise an interior support material such as, for example, a suitable foam or foam-like material to provide strength and shape to the tub body  102 . Liner  110  and outer cover  112  can then be operably attached over the interior support material to define the body wall  106  and body floor  108 . Liner  110  is generally fabricated of a polymeric, sheet-like material suitable for retaining hot water. Outer cover  112  is generally fabricated of a sheet-like material having properties such as, for example, being waterproof and/or having ultraviolet resistance, such as vinyl. Tub body  102  can be fabricated such that water circulation means such as, for example, piping, jets, valves and the like are contained within the interior support material. The interior support material is fabricated such that an inner wall  115  of the tub body  102  is substantially vertical from a top  116  of the tub body  102  to the body floor  108 . Interior support material is also fabricated such that body floor  108  is substantially flat and coplanar.  
         [0035]     Pump assembly  104  generally comprises a portable housing  118  comprising a pump  120 . In addition, pump assembly  104  can comprise a control panel  121  having control component for operating items such as, for example, flow switches and flow sensors, heaters and water treatment means such as, for example, chlorine or ozone based treatment systems. Pump assembly  104  is generally fluidly coupled to tub body  102  with a supply line  122  and a return line  124  such that pump  120  can continually recirculate heated and treated water to the tub body  102 .  
         [0036]     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a hot tub conversion kit of the present invention can comprise a support platform  202 , a pump platform  203  and a liner  204  for use in conjunction with tub body  102  and pump assembly  104  to form a hot tub assembly  205 . It will be understood that hot tub conversion kit  200  can be used to both retrofit existing portable, disassemble, hot tubs as well as being used integrally during the manufacture and configuration of newly manufactured portable, disassemble hot tubs. Pump platform  203  can comprise an enclosure for lifting the pump assembly  104  to a proper height for coupling the supply line  122  and return line  124  to tub body  102 . In some alternative embodiments, pump platform  203  and pump assembly  104  can be integrally fabricated as a single enclosure.  
         [0037]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b , and  5 , support platform  202  can be fabricated to have a platform perimeter  206  that in some presently preferred embodiments, substantially resembles the configuration of perimeter  114 . Support platform  202  comprises a platform height  208 . Support platform  202  can comprise a single unitary support structure  210  as illustrated in  FIG. 4   a  or can comprise a plurality of platform sections  210   a ,  210   b ,  210   c  and  210   d  as illustrated in  FIG. 4   b . Though support platform  202  is illustrated with four platforms, it will be understood that any number of sections can be selected based on characteristics such as, for example, ease of set-up, shipping and manufacturing. Furthermore, sections  210   a ,  210   b ,  210   c  and  210   d  can comprise interlocking features that help to ensure proper positioning during the installation process. The use of a sectioned configuration including sections  210   a ,  210   b ,  210   c  and  210   d  can prove advantageous during the packaging and shipment of hot tub assembly  205  as existing packaging components for hot tub  100  can be utilized as platform sections  210   a ,  210   b ,  210   c  and  210   d  can be positioned within tub body  102  during shipment. As best seen in  FIG. 4   b , support platform  202  further comprises a platform width  212  that defines a central open portion  214 . Platform width  212  can be uniform around the central open portion  214  or can vary so as to provide alternative configurations for central open portion  214 . Support platform  202  can be fabricated such that central open portion  214  has any desirable depth, diameter and consequently, volume. Support platform  202  can be fabricated of a internal material  215  for use with portable, disassemblable hot tub  100  such as, for example, foam or foam-like materials such as those used in fabricating tub body  102  or other lightweight materials such as, for example, polystyrene. Support platform  202  further comprises an external cover  216 , for example a single unitary cover or alternatively, a sectional cover individually covering platform sections  210   a ,  210   b  and  210   c . External cover  216  can be fabricated of the same or similar materials used in fabricating outer cover  112 . In some presently preferred embodiments, external cover  216  is selected to have the same color as outer cover  112 .  
         [0038]     To use hot tub conversion kit  200 , support platform  202  is arranged as illustrated in  FIGS. 5, 6  and  7 . Support platform  202  can be placed inside in a three or four season room or squeezed down a stairway into a basement or outside on a deck or patio. If support platform  202  comprises multiple sections such as, for example, platform sections  210   a ,  210   b ,  210   c  and  210   d , the individual sections are arranged to form the support platform  202 .  
         [0039]     Next, tub body  102  is prepared for placement on top of the support platform  202 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , body floor  108  is at least partially cut-away and removed to form a floor opening  126  corresponding the size and configuration of central open portion  214 . Tub body  102  is then placed on top of support platform  202  such that the central open portion  214  and floor opening  126  are substantially aligned as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . A plurality of water jets  128  integral to inner wall  115  of tub body  102  remain untouched. In some presently preferred embodiments, platform perimeter  206  and perimeter  114  can define a substantially coplanar vertical wall while in alternative embodiments, platform perimeter  206  can exceed the perimeter  114  so as to define an exterior step  217  for providing easy access into the tub body  102  as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . In some embodiments, support platform  202  can comprise means for retaining the position of tub body  102  on the support platform  202  such as, for example, a friction enhancing member  219  on support platform  202  as illustrated in  FIG. 9  so as to reduce the potential for tub body  102  being slidably dislodged from support platform  202 .  
         [0040]     Following the placement of tub body  102  on support platform  202 , liner  204  is positioned within tub body  102  as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . Liner  204  generally comprises a tear-resistant, polymeric sheet-like material such as, for example, vinyl or like materials suitable for retaining hot water. Liner  204  can be selected to have desired colors and/or visual patterns or pictures. Liner  204  is generally defined by a first vertical surface  218 , a first horizontal surface  220 , a second vertical surface  222  and a second horizontal surface  224 . First horizontal surface  220  can comprise a plurality of fittings  226  or openings corresponding to the position and number of water jets  128 . In general, first horizontal surface  220  is configured to conform to the shape and size of inner wall  115 , first horizontal surface  220  is configured to conform to the shape and size of the remaining portion of body floor  108  and/or platform width  212  while the second vertical surface  222  and the second horizontal surface  224  are configured to conform to the shape and size of central open portion  214 .  
         [0041]     Once liner  204  is positioned with respect to tub body  102  and support platform  202 , fittings  226  are sealingly, fluidly connected to water jets  128  and supply line  122  and return line  124  are operably interconnected between the preexisting connections on tub body  102  and pump assembly  104 . Liner  204  is then filled with water  227  and pump assembly  104  can be activated so as to begin recirculating and heating water. When filling liner  204 , it will be noted that the volume of water within liner  204  is increased as compared to liner  110  due to the inclusion of second vertical surface  222  and the second horizontal surface  224  corresponding to central open portion  214 .  
         [0042]     Once filled, hot tub assembly  205  comprises a number of benefits and features not available with portable, disassemblable hot tub  100 . First, the overall water capacity of hot tub assembly  205  is substantially increased as described above. Secondly, hot tub assembly  205  provides for a seating area  227  and footwell  228  providing comfort and convenience not associated with body floor  108  of portable disassemblable hot tub  100  Finally, hot tub assembly  205  can utilize the existing pump assembly  104  and integral pumping components of tub body  102  such that no plumbing or electrical changes are required to form hot tub assembly  205 . Alternatively, hot tub assembly  205  can utilize a new pump assembly including additional integral features such as, for example, supplemental piping for supplying jets and/or bubblers in footwell  228  and additional electrical connections for supplying items such as optical lighting in footwell  228 .  
         [0043]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 11, 11   a ,  12  and  13   a  and  13   b , support platform  202  and correspondingly, liner  204  can be fabricated to provide a variety of suitable seating features to hot tub assembly  205 . For example, platform width  212  can be variable such to provide seating suitable for different size users, such as, for example, adults and children as illustrated in  FIG. 11 . In another configuration, body floor  108  can be substantially cut-away such that support platform  202  is essentially acting as the support for seating area  226 . As illustrated in  FIG. 11   a , support platform  202  can comprise a variable height seating arrangement having seat levels  230   a ,  230   b ,  230   c  such that users can select their level of submersion within the water or to provide seating suitable for children and adults. Seat levels  230   a ,  230   b ,  230   c  can also function as step to make entry and exit from the hot tub assembly  205  convenient and safe. In another alternative arrangement, body floor  108  can again be substantially cut-away such that support platform  202  acts as the support for seating area  226 . Support platform  202  can comprise an elongated seating feature  232  wherein a user can submerge themselves in a substantially, reclined position as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . In other alternative configurations, support platform  202 , liner  204  and tub body  102  can cooperatively defined configurations for hot tub assembly  205  that are generally found only in rigid hot tubs making use of rigid outer shells. For instance, hot tub assembly  205  can comprise an octagonal configuration  234  as illustrated in  FIG. 13   a  or a rectangular configuration  236  as illustrated in  FIG. 13   b . Other representative configurations can comprise ovals, hexagonal shapes, triangular shapes and other fanciful shapes and combinations thereof.  
         [0044]     As illustrated in  FIG. 14   a , support platform  202  can comprise a perimeter positioning ring  238  corresponding to a perimeter gap  240  on a bottom surface  242  of tub body  102 . Tub body  102  can be positioned on top of support platform  202  such that perimeter positioning ring  238  resides within perimeter gap  240 . The interface between positioning ring  238  and perimeter gap  240  helps to confirm that tub body  102  has been properly positioned on support platform  202  and assists the assembly process by retaining the tub body  102  on support platform  202  as the outer cover  112  and liner  204  are installed.  
         [0045]     As illustrated in  FIG. 14   b , outer cover  112  and liner  204  can comprise a unitary assembly  242  as illustrated in  FIG. 13   a . Outer cover  112  can comprise a draw string assembly  244  for snugly conforming and attaching the outer cover  112  over the tub body  102  and support platform  202  by tightening the draw string assembly  244  under the support platform  202 .  
         [0046]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 15   a  and  15   b , support platform  202  can be fabricated and configured to provide additional features such as, for example, integral distribution piping  246  for supplying footwell jets  248 . In addition, support platform  202  can include other integral components such as, for example, electrical connections and wiring. In various embodiments, integral distribution piping  246  can be configured to connect to either pump assembly  104 , pump platform  203  and pump assembly  104 , or alternatively, a pump assembly  250  as illustrated in  FIG. 14  which can serve a dual function as both the pump assembly and as a step  252  in an integral step arrangement  254  for providing access to tub body  102 . Pump assembly  250  can further comprise additional features such as, for example, a drain connection for emptying hot tub assembly  205 , sanitization and/or chemical injection systems, filters, additional heating capacity, specialized controls such as for controlling features such as massage and foot jets and other similar features.  
         [0047]     The present disclosure describes aspects of one presently preferred embodiment of a hot tub assembly for adding desirable features to existing or new, portable, disassemblable hot tubs. It will be understood by one of skill in the art that additional, alternative embodiments are contemplated and would not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.