Walk-in hot tub

A walk-in hot tub which can enable one or more users to walk into and out of a hot tub in a dry state may include a hot tub compartment. The hot tub compartment may have a hot tub compartment interior. A tub transfer compartment may be disposed adjacent to the hot tub compartment. The tub transfer compartment may have a transfer compartment interior. An openable transfer compartment door may provide walking access to a user from outside the tub transfer compartment into the transfer compartment interior of the tub transfer compartment. An openable hot tub compartment door may provide walking access to one or more users between the hot tub compartment interior of the hot tub compartment and the transfer compartment interior of the tub transfer compartment.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to baths, spas, hot tubs and the like, and more particularly, to a walk-in hot tub having a tub entry compartment which enables a user to walk into and out of the hot tub in a dry state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A hot tub, or spa, is a pool which is filled with water for the purpose of relaxation or pleasure. In some applications, hot tubs may be used for hydrotherapy. A hot tub may be sufficiently large to simultaneously accommodate multiple persons and may be installed indoors or outdoors.

A typical conventional hot tub may include a tub wall and a tub floor which form a hot tub interior. A seat may be formed in the hot tub interior to accommodate multiple persons as the persons sit in the hot tub interior. At least one drain opening may be provided in the tub floor. Water jets extend through the wall and communicate with the hot tub interior. A pump, filter and water heater communicate with the drain opening and the water jets to circulate water from the drain opening, heat and filter the water and discharge the heated and filtered water back into the hot tub interior through the water jets.

Hot tubs utilize hot water which is typically comforting and, in some cases, therapeutic for many persons. Hot tubs may be installed outdoors under a cover and are typically constructed of wood, plastic, or fiberglass. The water heater may be gas or electric. Because the water in the hot tub is typically not replaced between uses, the water filter and additive chemicals are frequently used to sanitize the water.

Some types of hot tubs may be recessed into an outdoor deck or an indoor platform or other surface. Accordingly, a user of the hot tub may simply step down from the deck or surface into the hot tub with relative ease. Other types of hot tubs may be self-standing with sidewalls which extend upwardly from a support surface. Therefore, the hot tub user may be required to step over the sidewall in order to access the hot tub interior. A user who is physically challenged may therefore encounter difficulty in traversing the sidewall into the hot tub interior. In some cases, the physically challenged person may sit on the sidewall and then lift and swing his or her legs over the sidewall before descending from the sidewall into the tub interior. However, this procedure may be difficult and hazardous for such a person to accomplish without assistance.

Accordingly, there is a need for a walk-in hot tub having a tub entry compartment which enables a user to walk into and out of the hot tub in a dry state.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide systems and devices that allow for baths, spas, hot tubs and the like, and more particularly, a walk-in hot tub having a tub entry compartment which enables a user to walk into and out of the hot tub in a dry state, as specified in the independent claims. Embodiments of the invention are given in the dependent claims. Embodiments of the present invention can be freely combined with each other if they are not mutually exclusive.

The present invention is directed to a walk-in hot tub which may enable a user to walk into and out of the hot tub in a dry state.

In some embodiments, the walk-in hot tub that allows a user to walk into and out of the hot tub in a dry state comprises a hot tub compartment and a tub transfer compartment coupled to the hot tub compartment. The tub transfer compartment may comprise a transfer compartment door configured to move between closed and opened positions allowing entry to and exit from the hot tub, and a hot tub compartment door configured to move between closed and opened positions coupling the tub transfer compartment to the hot tub compartment. The hot tub may further comprise a transfer compartment pump disposed in fluid communication with the tub transfer compartment. The transfer compartment pump may be configured to pump water to and from the tub transfer compartment, allowing the user to walk into and out of the hot tub in a dry state.

In some embodiments, the hot tub may further comprise a hot tub compartment drain opening disposed on a tub floor of the hot tub compartment, one or more water jet nozzles disposed on an inner tub wall of the hot tub compartment, and a hot tub pump fluidly connected to the hot tub compartment drain opening and the one or more water jet nozzles by a tub pump conduit, configured to pump the water from the hot tub compartment drain opening through the one or more water jet nozzles in order to circulate the water in the hot tub compartment. The transfer compartment pump may be fluidly connected to the hot tub pump by a transfer compartment pump conduit such that the water pumped from the transfer compartment is transferred by the hot tub pump through the one or more water jet nozzles to the hot tub compartment. The hot tub may further comprise one or more water heaters disposed along the tub pump conduit such that the water pumped by the hot tub pump is heated, and one or more water filters disposed along the tub pump conduit such that the water pumped by the hot tub pump is filtered.

The hot tub pump may be fluidly connected to an external source of water such that the hot tub compartment can be refilled. The transfer compartment door may comprise a gasket to facilitate a fluid-tight seal when the transfer compartment door is in the closed position. The hot tub compartment door may comprise a gasket to facilitate a fluid-tight seal when the hot tub compartment door is in the closed position. The hot tub compartment may further comprise a tub seat. The hot tub may further comprise a sloped entry ramp coupled to the transfer compartment door. The hot tub may further comprise a water bladder fluidly connected to the transfer compartment, configured to contain a sufficient quantity of water to fill the transfer compartment and maintain a constant level of the water in the transfer compartment preparatory to opening of the hot tub compartment door.

In an illustrative implementation of the invention, a walk-in hot tub which can enable one or more users to walk into and out of a hot tub in a dry state may include a hot tub compartment. A tub transfer compartment may be disposed adjacent to the hot tub compartment. An openable transfer compartment door may provide access to the tub transfer compartment. An openable hot tub compartment door may provide walking access to one or more users between the tub transfer compartment and the hot tub compartment. The hot tub compartment may have a hot tub compartment interior. The tub transfer compartment may have a transfer compartment interior. The openable transfer compartment door may be disposed exterior to the tub transfer compartment. The transfer compartment door may provide walking access to a user from outside the tub transfer compartment into the transfer compartment interior of the tub transfer compartment. The openable hot tub compartment door may be disposed between the hot tub compartment interior of the hot tub compartment and the transfer compartment interior of the tub transfer compartment. The hot tub compartment door may provide walking access to one or more users between the hot tub compartment interior of the hot tub compartment and the transfer compartment interior of the tub transfer compartment.

In typical application of the walk-in hot tub, the hot tub compartment interior of the hot tub compartment may be filled with water. The transfer compartment door may be opened to enable one or more users to walk from outside the walk-in hot tub into the transfer compartment interior of the tub transfer compartment. The transfer compartment door may then be closed to seal the transfer compartment interior, after which the hot tub compartment door may be opened to allow the user to walk from the transfer compartment interior into the hot tub compartment interior of the hot tub compartment.

After use, the hot tub compartment door may be opened to enable the user to walk from the hot tub compartment interior into the transfer compartment interior of the tub transfer compartment. The hot tub compartment door may be closed, and water may be drained from the transfer compartment interior of the tub transfer compartment. The transfer compartment door may then be opened to enable the user to walk from the transfer compartment interior.

In a second aspect, at least one tub seat may be provided in the hot tub compartment interior of the hot tub compartment.

In another aspect, the hot tub compartment may include a tub floor and a front wall segment, a pair of side wall segments and a rear wall segment extending from the tub floor.

In another aspect, at least one transfer compartment drain may be provided in the tub floor of the hot tub compartment.

In another aspect, the tub transfer compartment may include a transfer compartment floor and at least one transfer compartment wall which extends from the transfer compartment floor and separates the transfer compartment interior of the tub transfer compartment from the hot tub compartment interior of the hot tub compartment.

In another aspect, the at least one transfer compartment wall may include an inner transfer compartment wall and a side transfer compartment wall.

In another aspect, the inner transfer compartment wall may extend from one of the side wall segments and the side transfer compartment wall may extend from the front wall segment to the inner transfer segment wall.

In another aspect, the transfer compartment door may be provided in the front wall segment.

In another aspect, the hot tub compartment door may be provided in the inner transfer compartment wall.

In another aspect, a transfer compartment door opening may extend through the front wall segment, and the transfer compartment door may be disposed in the transfer compartment door opening.

In another aspect, a hot tub compartment door opening may extend through the inner transfer compartment wall, and the hot tub compartment door may be disposed in the hot tub compartment door opening.

In another aspect, the transfer compartment door may be pivotally mounted in the transfer compartment door opening.

In another aspect, the hot tub compartment door may be pivotally mounted in the hot tub compartment door opening.

In another aspect, the transfer compartment door may be slidably mounted in the transfer compartment door opening.

In another aspect, a sloped entry ramp may extend from the transfer compartment door opening.

In another aspect, the hot tub compartment door may be slidably mounted in the hot tub compartment door opening.

In another aspect, a plurality of water jet openings may be provided in at least one of the front wall segment, the side wall segments and the rear wall segment of the hot tub compartment.

In another aspect, at least one pump system may facilitate circulation of water into and from the hot tub compartment interior of the hot tub compartment.

In another aspect, the at least one pump system may be disposed in fluid communication with the hot tub compartment drain opening and the plurality of water jet openings in the hot tub compartment.

In another aspect, the at least one pump system may be disposed in fluid communication with the transfer compartment drain opening of the transfer compartment.

In another aspect, the at least one pump system may include a tub pump disposed in fluid communication with the hot tub compartment drain opening and the plurality of water jet openings of the hot tub compartment.

In another aspect, the at least one pump system may include a transfer compartment pump disposed in fluid communication with the at least one transfer compartment drain opening of the tub transfer compartment.

In another aspect, the at least one pump system may include at least one water filter.

One of the unique and inventive technical features of the present invention is the implementation of a transfer compartment in a hot tub such that water is pumped to and from the transfer compartment. Without wishing to limit the invention to any theory or mechanism, it is believed that the technical feature of the present invention advantageously provides for gradual acclimation to water upon entering the hot tub as well as the exiting of the hot tub in a dry state. None of the presently known prior references or work has the unique inventive technical feature of the present invention.

Furthermore, the inventive technical feature of the present invention contributed to a surprising result. For example, one skilled in the art would not recommend the implementation of a pump system for filling up the transfer compartment, instead implementing a bulkhead that is released to rapidly fill the transfer compartment with water. This is due to the amount of time necessary to utilize a pump system to fill a transfer chamber. Surprisingly, the implementation of a pump in the present invention provides for gradual and comfortable entry into a hot tub through use of the same system that allows for a user to exit the hot tub in a dry state. Thus, the inventive technical feature of the present invention contributed to a surprising result.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Following is a list of elements corresponding to a particular element referred to herein:

104front wall segment

106side wall segments

108rear wall segment

116inner tub wall

120hot tub compartment interior

124water jet opening

128hot tub compartment drain opening

140hot tub transfer compartment

144side transfer compartment wall

150transfer compartment door opening

152exterior transfer compartment door

154transfer compartment drain opening

156hot tub compartment door opening

158hot tub compartment door

164sloped entry ramp

Shown throughout the figures, the present invention is directed toward a walk-in hot tub which may enable a user to walk into and out of the hot tub in a dry state.

Referring initially toFIGS.1-8, a walk-in hot tub, hereinafter hot tub100, is illustrated in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown for instance inFIG.1, the hot tub100may include a hot tub compartment102. The hot tub compartment102may have a hot tub compartment interior120. A hot tub transfer compartment140may be disposed adjacent to the hot tub compartment102. The hot tub transfer compartment140may have a transfer compartment interior146.

An exterior transfer compartment door152may provide access to the transfer compartment interior146of the hot tub transfer compartment140from outside the hot tub100. A hot tub compartment door158may provide access from the transfer compartment interior146of the hot tub transfer compartment140to the hot tub compartment interior120of the hot tub compartment102.

As shown inFIGS.5-8, in typical application of the walk-in hot tub100, which will be hereinafter described, with the hot tub compartment door158closed, the hot tub compartment interior120of the hot tub compartment102may be filled with water180, as illustrated inFIG.5. The transfer compartment door152may then be opened to enable one or more users (not illustrated) to walk into the transfer compartment interior146, after which the transfer compartment door152may be closed.

As illustrated inFIG.6, the hot tub compartment door158may next be opened to enable the user or users to walk from the transfer compartment interior146of the tub transfer compartment140into the hot tub compartment interior120of the hot tub compartment102. The hot tub compartment door158may again be closed, as illustrated inFIG.7.

After use of the hot tub100, the hot tub compartment door158may again be opened to enable the user to walk from the hot tub compartment interior120back into the transfer compartment interior146of the tub transfer compartment140, and the hot tub compartment door158closed. As further illustrated inFIG.7, the water180may be drained from the transfer compartment interior146of the tub transfer compartment140. The water180may be emptied from the transfer compartment interior146of the tub transfer compartment140, as illustrated inFIG.8, and the transfer compartment door152opened to enable the user to walk from the transfer compartment interior146.

The hot tub compartment102may have any desired size and shape. As illustrated inFIGS.1-4, in some embodiments, the hot tub compartment102may be square-shaped with a front wall segment104; a pair of parallel, spaced-apart side wall segments106extending from the front wall segment104; and a rear wall segment108extending between the side wall segments106. A pair of front corners110may connect the front wall segment104to the respective side wall segments106. A pair of rear corners112may connect the rear wall segment108to the respective side wall segments106.

Each of the front wall segment104, the side wall segments106and the rear wall segment108may have an inner tub wall116. The hot tub compartment interior120may be formed by the inner tub wall116. A tub floor118may be recessed in the inner tub wall116of the front wall segment104, the side wall segments106and the rear wall segment108. At least one hot tub compartment drain opening128may extend through the tub floor118.

A plurality of water jet openings124may extend through the inner tub wall116of at least one of the front wall segment104, the side wall segments106and the rear wall segment108. A water jet nozzle126(FIGS.5-8), which may be standard or conventional, may be disposed in the front wall segment102, each side wall segment106and/or the rear wall segment108. Each water jet nozzle126may interface with a corresponding water jet opening124.

As illustrated inFIGS.5-8, at least one pump system168may be disposed in fluid communication with the hot tub compartment drain opening128and the water jet nozzles126which interface with the respective water jet openings124. The pump system168may include at least one tub pump170. The tub pump170may be disposed in fluid communication with the hot tub compartment drain opening128. A tub pump conduit182may be disposed in fluid communication with the tub pump170. At least one water filter174and at least one water heater178may be disposed in fluid communication with the tub pump conduit182(e.g. along the tub pump conduit). Each water jet nozzle126may be disposed in fluid communication with the water filter174and the water heater178. The tub pump170may be connected to an external source of water (not illustrated). Accordingly, responsive to operation of the tub pump170and the water heater178, the tub pump170may continuously pump water through the water filter174and the water heater178. The heated water may be discharged from the water jet nozzles126through the respective water jet openings124into the hot tub compartment interior120of the hot tub compartment102, respectively. The water180may then be drained from the hot tub compartment interior120through the hot tub compartment drain opening128back to the hot tub pump170and circulate back through the tub pump conduit182, the water filter174, the water heater178and the water jet nozzles126, respectively, back into the hot tub compartment interior120.

In some embodiments, at least one tub seat134may be provided in the hot tub compartment interior120of the hot tub compartment102, typically beneath the water jet openings124. The tub seat134may extend along the interior of at least one of the front wall segment104, the side wall segments106and the rear wall segment108. In some embodiments, the tub seat134may be continuous and may extend along the interior of the front wall segment104, the side wall segments106and the rear wall segment108.

As further illustrated inFIGS.1-4, the tub transfer compartment140may include a transfer compartment floor148(FIGS.3and4). At least one transfer compartment wall142,144may extend from the transfer compartment floor148. The transfer compartment walls142,144may separate the transfer compartment interior146of the tub transfer compartment140from the hot tub compartment interior120of the hot tub compartment102.

In some embodiments, the at least one transfer compartment wall may include an inner transfer compartment wall142and a side transfer compartment wall144. The inner transfer compartment wall142may extend from one of the side wall segments106. The side transfer compartment wall144may extend from the front wall segment104to the inner transfer segment wall142. Accordingly, a transfer compartment door opening150may extend through the front wall segment104. The transfer compartment door152may be disposed within the transfer compartment door opening150. A hot tub compartment door opening156may extend through the inner transfer compartment wall142. The hot tub compartment door158may be disposed within the hot tub compartment door opening156.

In some embodiments, a sloped entry ramp164may extend from the transfer compartment door opening150. The entry ramp164may facilitate ease in ingress and egress to the transfer compartment interior146of the tub transfer compartment140.

In some embodiments, the transfer compartment door152may be pivotally mounted in the transfer compartment door opening150. In other embodiments, the transfer compartment door152may be slidably mounted in the transfer compartment door opening150. The transfer compartment door opening150may include gaskets and/or other seals (not illustrated) which facilitate a fluid-tight seal with the transfer compartment door152when the transfer compartment door152is closed in the transfer compartment door opening150.

In some embodiments, the hot tub compartment door158may be pivotally mounted in the hot tub compartment door opening156. In other embodiments, the hot tub compartment door158may be slidably mounted in the hot tub compartment door opening156. The hot tub compartment door opening156may include gaskets and/or other seals (not illustrated) which facilitate a fluid-tight seal with the hot tub compartment door158when the hot tub compartment door158is closed in the hot tub compartment door opening156.

At least one transfer compartment drain opening154may extend through the transfer compartment floor148of the tub transfer compartment140. As illustrated inFIGS.5-8, at least one transfer compartment pump172may be disposed in fluid communication with the transfer compartment drain opening154. A transfer compartment pump conduit176may be disposed in fluid communication with the transfer compartment pump172. Accordingly, the transfer compartment pump172may be operably configured to pump water180from the transfer compartment interior146in operation of the hot tub100.

Referring again toFIGS.5-8, in typical application of the walk-in hot tub100, the transfer compartment door152and the hot tub compartment door158may initially be deployed in the closed positions in the respective transfer compartment door opening150and hot tub compartment door opening156. As illustrated inFIG.5, the hot tub compartment interior120of the hot tub compartment102may be filled with water180. The transfer compartment door152may next be opened to enable one or more users (not illustrated) to walk typically up the sloped entry ramp164through the open transfer compartment door opening150into the transfer compartment interior146, after which the transfer compartment door152may be closed.

As illustrated inFIG.6, the hot tub compartment door158may next be opened to enable the user or users to walk from the transfer compartment interior146of the tub transfer compartment140through the open hot tub compartment door opening156into the hot tub compartment interior120of the hot tub compartment102. Simultaneously, water180may flow from the hot tub compartment interior120through the hot tub compartment door opening156into the transfer compartment interior146, as illustrated inFIG.7. The hot tub compartment door158may again be closed, as illustrated inFIG.7.

In some embodiments, at least one water bladder (not illustrated) may be disposed in fluid communication with the transfer compartment interior146of the tub transfer compartment140. The water bladder may be suitably configured to contain a sufficient quantity of water to fill the transfer compartment interior146and maintain a constant level of the water180in the transfer compartment interior146preparatory to opening of the hot tub compartment door158when the hot tub compartment interior120is filled with water.180. Accordingly, the water180in the transfer compartment interior146may balance out the water180in the hot tub compartment interior120to facilitate opening of the hot tub compartment door158.

Throughout use of the hot tub100, the pump system168may pump, filter, heat and circulate the water180from the hot tub compartment interior120through the hot tub compartment drain opening128, the tub pump conduit182, the filter174and the water heater178and discharge the water180through the water jet nozzles126and the respective water jet openings124into the hot tub compartment interior120, respectively.

After use of the hot tub100is completed, the hot tub compartment door158may again be opened to enable the user to walk from the hot tub compartment interior120back into the transfer compartment interior146of the tub transfer compartment140, and the hot tub compartment door158closed. As further illustrated inFIG.7, the water180may be drained from the transfer compartment interior146of the tub transfer compartment140until the transfer compartment interior146of the tub transfer compartment140is empty, as illustrated inFIG.8. Draining of the water180from the transfer compartment interior146may be accomplished by operation of the transfer compartment pump172of the pump system168. The transfer compartment door152may then be opened to enable the user to walk from the transfer compartment interior146typically down the sloped entry ramp164.

In some embodiments, the hot tub and the transfer component can be configured in a plurality of different arrangements. For example, as shown inFIG.9, the transfer compartment may be surrounding the hot tub compartment. In other embodiments, the transfer compartment may be coupled to the hot tub compartment as an isolated chamber not surrounding the hot tub compartment.

In some embodiments, the pump system may be controlled by a computing system comprising a processor capable of executing computer-readable instructions, a memory component comprising a plurality of computer-readable instructions, and an input component allowing for the user to trigger the processor to execute computer-readable instructions stored in the memory component. The plurality of computer-readable instructions may comprise pumping water from the hot tub compartment to the transfer compartment until the height of water in the transfer compartment is level with that of the hot tub compartment through use of the transfer pump, and pumping water from the transfer compartment to the hot tub compartment until the transfer compartment is empty through use of the transfer pump. The computing system may additionally be capable of controlling the temperature and number of active jets in the hot tub compartment.