Abstract:
A combination spa and video entertainment system is disclosed wherein the video monitor is removably mountable to the spa so that it does not interfere with spa cover removal or replacement. The transportable video monitor is plug connectable to a mounting post attached to a sidewall of the spa which contains power, video and control cables. The video monitor is also plug connectable to a docking station that may be located indoors, which contains power, video and control cables, for viewing the video monitor indoors when the spa is not being used.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to improvements in spas, and more particularly pertains to new and improved video entertainment systems for spas. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Current spa entertainment systems are concerned with including the entertainment units within the spa housing in a manner that will protect the entertainment units from the corrosive environment, both while a spa is in use and when the spa is not in use. Most such systems contemplate the raising and lowering of video monitors and speakers into the spa housing, the monitor being raised when occupants of the spa want to view the monitor, the monitor being lowered when the spa is not in use. Examples of such prior art systems can be found in Lauter et al (Publication No. US 2004/0068786 A1) published Apr. 15, 2004, for a combination spa entertainment system, and Lauter et al (Publication No. US 2003/0088912 A1) for a combination spa and entertainment system, published May 15, 2003. 
   This concept of making entertainment units retractable into the housing for the spa has been adopted by much of the prior art. Examples can be found in Cox (U.S. Pat. No. 6,754,916) for spas having a retractable entertainment unit, granted Jun. 29, 2004. Cox (Publication No. US 2004/0205889 A1) for spas having a retractable antennae unit, published Oct. 21, 2004, Lerma (Publication No. US 2005/0091739 A1) for retractable rotating spa speaker system, published May 5, 2005, and Schmidt et al (Publication No. US 2004/0156517A1) for a retractable speaker system, published Aug. 12, 2004. 
   For those spas that do not retract entertainment units into a spa housing, the entertainment unit is made a permanent fixture on the spa housing. Examples can be found in Japanese Patent JP11099078 published Apr. 13, 1999, Japanese Patent JP4285511 published Oct. 9, 1992, Gardenier et al (Publication No. US 2003/0070218 A1), published Apr. 17, 2003 for a headrest assembly having an illuminated insert for spa, and Artz (Publication No. US 2002/0020797 A1) for a positionable adjustable support arm for items, published Feb. 21, 2002. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A combination spa and entertainment system having a portable video monitor adapted to be plug-connected to a support post at the spa or to a docking station located in or around a dwelling. Video and power is supplied to the video monitor through the plugs at both locations. The video monitor may be removed from the support post when the spa is not in use, and be moved to any other convenient location for viewing through the docking station. The docking station is adapted to receive video signals from multiple sources and to receive game control signals. The support post at the spa is adapted to receive multiple video and audio signals. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The exact nature of this invention, as well as the objects and advantages thereof, will become readily apparent upon consideration of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is perspective of a video entertainment unit in combination with a spa, according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is perspective of the video entertainment unit in combination with the spa, according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective of the mounting post for the video entertainment unit, according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective of the mounting post for the video entertainment unit, according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective of the mounting post of the present invention, attached to the spa structure; 
       FIG. 6  is a rear perspective of the video monitor, according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective of the connector for the monitor of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a plan view of the first half of the plug attached to the monitor, according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a plan view of the second half of the plug attached to the mounting post, according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing the monitor of the present invention being attached to the mounting post; 
       FIG. 11  is a plan top view showing the second half of the plug connector which is attached to the mounting post, according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 12  is top plan view of a tray for attachment to the mounting post of the present invention; 
       FIG. 13  is a cup holder insert that could be used with the tray of  FIG. 12 ; 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a towel ring for attachment to the mounting post of the present invention; 
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a video monitoring docking station, according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective illustration showing the connection of the docking station, according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 17  is a rear perspective of the video monitor of the present invention being mounted to the docking station of the present invention; 
       FIG. 18  is a front perspective of the video monitor mounted to the docking station with remote control pad or a controlling unit, according to the present invention; and 
       FIG. 19  is an assembly drawing of an alternate embodiment of the mounting post. 
       FIG. 20  is a perspective of the assembled mounting post of  FIG. 19 . 
       FIG. 21  is an assembly drawing of the monitor of the present invention. 
       FIG. 22  is an assembly drawing, partially in section, of an alternate embodiment for connecting the monitor to the post. 
       FIG. 23  is a cross-section of the two connector halves of  FIG. 22  showing the electrical connector disengaged. 
       FIG. 24  is a cross-section of the two connector halves of  FIG. 22  showing the electrical connector engaged. 
       FIG. 25  is a block diagram illustration of a preferred system for the video monitor. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The purpose of the present invention is to create a unique video entertainment system that solves the issues pertaining to the realities of spa use. Most spa users do not use their spa daily. Typically the use time is no more than one hour. This means that a permanently installed spa video system is unused for most of the product life of the system, while the system remains exposed to the deleterious spa environment. Prior art systems that utilize “pop out” video screens integrated into the spa shell, are fixed position devices that users cannot adjust as to viewing angle. Furthermore, the spa cover must be removed before these video screens can be used. 
   One of the advantages of the present invention over these prior art systems are that the video monitor of the system is ruggedized so that it can work in the spa environment and can be easily moved to the location of the docking station. The docking station can be used in a motorhome, in a tailgating application, and most anywhere there is electrical power and a place to set the docking station down. 
   When on the spa, the video monitor is set on a mounting pole outside the spa shell, and does not interfere with, nor is it interfered with by the spa cover. The video monitor can be rotated to be viewed from just about any location inside or outside the spa. A homeowner can enjoy the video monitor in his backyard when he is not using the spa by rotating the screen. The video controls can be accessed through an integrated remote control system, allowing the video monitor to be controlled without activating the spa controls. 
   The video entertainment system  11  of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . It includes a video monitor  15  located next to a spa tub  13 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the video monitor  15  has handles  19  for removing the video monitor  15  from a mounting post  17 , and for carrying. By disconnecting the first half of a plug connector  21  located on the video monitor  15  from a second half of a plug connector  23  located on mounting post  17 , the video monitor may be carried to a new location. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates the component parts of the mounting post  17  as being constructed of two basic parts, an upper support bracket  25  and a lower support bracket  27 . Lower support bracket  27  has a foot  29  which rests on the ground, step  1 , when lower support bracket  27  is inserted into upper support bracket  25  as shown in  FIG. 4 . A wiring harness  26  in upper support bracket  25  connects to the second half plug  23 , mounted on the upper support bracket  25 . The wiring harness  26  connects to the wiring harness  28  on lower support bracket  27 . Wiring harness  28  runs through lower support bracket  27  and connects by cables  30  to a signal source (not shown). Once the upper support bracket  25  and lower support bracket  27  are assembled together as shown in  FIG. 4 , plastic cosmetic covers are placed over the structure. A body cover  32  fits over the body of the entire assembled support post. A base cover  31  fits over the foot  29  of the lower support bracket  27 . A top pipe cover  33  fits over the top of the post. 
   When support post  17  is not in use, a protective cover  35  ( FIG. 5 ), having a key slot  36  therein fits over the second half of plug  23  which has a meeting finger  24 . 
     FIG. 6  illustrates the video monitor  15  and its first half plug  21  which has an engagement handle or lever  37  as more clearly illustrated in  FIG. 7 . When the video monitor  15  is mounted on the post  17 , the video monitor is placed so that first half plug  21  of the video monitor  15  fits over second half plug  23  of support post  17  so that the key slot  22  of the first half plug  21  matches the key finger  24  of the second half plug  23 . The lever  37  is moved downward in the direction of arrow  39  (by human hand as illustrated) to force the two plug halves  21  and  23  to engage structurally and electrically. 
     FIG. 8  illustrates the structure within first half plug  21  that performs this function. An electrical connection block  42  having pin connectors  43  therein is mounted within the first half plug connector housing  21  so that it can move in the direction of arrow  40  upon movement of the hand activated lever  37 . As the connector casing  42  moves up and down in the direction of arrow  40 , a pair of grasping levers  41  pivot out or inward depending on the up or down movement of connecting block  42 . As the connecting block  42  moves up, the grasping levers  41  close to grasp the edges  47  ( FIG. 9 ) on electrical connector block  46  in the second half plug  23 . The second half plug  23  has connector receptacles  45  adapted to matingly engage the connector pins  43  in the first half plug  21 . The second half plug  23  is mounted on pole mount  51  in a manner which allows it to rotate in the direction of arrows  49  in a horizontal plane. Applicant contemplates, however, that the second half plug connector  23  could be mounted in a manner that would provide movement in more than one plane by using a gimbal structure well known in the art. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 10 , the connection of the video monitor  15  to the mounting post  17  is illustrated. As the video monitor  15  is grasped by handles  53  and moved in the direction  16  so that the upper connector  21  with its key slot  22  is aligned with the second half connector  23  with its key finger  24 . The electrical contact receptacles  45  in the second half connector are brought together in mating engagement with the contact pins in the first half connector, as explained above. The lever  37  is then activated to securely fasten the first half and second half plugs together, both physically and electrically. 
     FIG. 12  illustrates an accessory that may be utilized with or without the TV monitor mounted on the mounting post.  FIG. 12  illustrates a towel rail  61  which mounts to the mounting post  17  by passing over the second half plug  23  and is held in place by the mating shape of the aperture  62  in the towel rail  61  which matches the shape of the second half plug  23 . The aperture  66  for holding the towels is sized to receive a tray  63  ( FIG. 13 ) which may be designed as a cup holder or with cup holder apertures  64  therein, or simply be a tray for holding appetizers. When the towel rail  61  is utilized for holding a towel  67  ( FIG. 14 ), the tray  63  is simply not used. 
   When the spa is not being used, an important feature of the present invention allows the video monitor to be moved to a location other than the spa as desired by the user, by use of a docking station  55 , located on any convenient surface  73 , which is ready to receive the first half plug  21  of the video monitor by the docking station second half plug  71 . 
     FIG. 16  illustrates the connection of the docking station  55  to a wall outlet by a plug  83  for receiving power and by a coaxial hookup  85  for receiving a video signal. In addition, the docking station  55  has a back cover  75  which lifts up to reveal connector access  77  for gaming equipment and other video and audio connections. 
   When it is desired to mount the video monitor  15  on the docking station  55 , the protective cap  81  is removed from the second half plug  71  and the video monitor  15  is then grasped by the handles  53  ( FIG. 17 ) and moved in the direction  16  so that the first half plug  21  on the monitor  15  engages the second half plug  71  on the docking station  55  so that the key slot  22  on the first half plug  21  is aligned with the key finger  70  on the second half plug  71  of the docking station  55 . The handle  37  is moved as disclosed hereinabove to force the two half plugs together physically and electrically. 
   Once the video monitor  15  is mounted on the docking station  55 , control of the video monitor is conveniently provided by a remote control handheld radio frequency device  57 . 
   The mating first half and second half connectors  21  and  23  of the present invention establish the necessary power, control and video and audio signals for the system. This mating connector is designed to withstand extreme weather conditions and the spa environment while facilitating rotation of the video monitor. Moreover, the connector is designed to comply with all safety requirements and prevent user access to hazardous voltage during the connection and disconnection process. 
     FIGS. 19 and 20  illustrate an alternate preferred embodiment for the support post of the video monitor.  FIG. 19  is an assembly drawing showing the major parts of the post  102 .  FIG. 20  shows the post  102  attached to the side of the spa  13 . The post  102  has an internal support structure made up of a base bracket  106  and a wall post bracket  110 . The base bracket  106  is preferably made of sheet metal of a sufficient thickness to support the weight required. The base bracket  106  has a pair of upstanding legs  107  and  109  and a foot  108  attached thereto. The upstanding legs  107  and  109  have apertures  114  therein aligned on the vertical. The base bracket  106  is bolted to the concrete slab on which the spa sits by bolts passing through apertures (not shown) in foot  108 . 
   The second part of the post, the wall bracket  110 , includes a U-shaped bracket having parallel legs  111  and  113  and a back  115 , preferably made out of sheet metal of the desired thickness. Parallel legs  111  and  113  of wall bracket  110  has a plurality of slots  112  therein at preset aligned locations on the vertical. These slots are used in conjunction with the apertures  114  in the base bracket  106  for height adjustment of the post  102 , as desired. 
   Once the wall bracket and the base bracket are assembled, the wall bracket is fastened to the spa panel by screws (not shown) through the back panel  115  of wall bracket  110 . 
   The wall bracket  110  has a pair of ears  116  extending out from the parallel panels  111  and  113  at the top of the wall bracket. These ears  116  are Z-shaped so that the other end of ear  116  is located within the U of the wall bracket and acts as a ledge to support a conical shaped support top  118  of the pole  102 . 
   A pre-formed plastic housing  104  having an aperture therein that slightly exceeds the diameter of the post top  118 , is then placed over pole top  118  so that it rests upon the top of ears  116 . 
   A plurality of fastening devices  124  such as finger springs are attached to the sides of the wall bracket  110 . An extruded cover  119 , preferably made out of aluminum, is cut to length to match the height of the pole  102 . It is then wrapped around the assembled wall and base bracket so that it presents a clean, unitary appearance, as shown in  FIG. 20 . 
   The video monitor  15  that mounts to the pole is more specifically illustrated in  FIG. 21 . The basic working parts of the monitor  15  includes a rear housing  121  having a cylindrical-shaped connection port  120  as will be more fully explained hereinafter. A front housing panel  129  which mounts to the rear housing. A liquid crystal display  127 , an electronic PC board  125 , and a DVD player  123  are contained inside. A lens  131  fits over the liquid crystal display  127  mounted within the frame of the front housing panel  129 . 
     FIG. 22  illustrates in more detail the structure of connecting port  120  which is attached to the video monitor and the top portion of the post  118  that is formed to mate with the connecting port  120 . The connection port  120  has a mechanism contained therein which includes a lever arm  37  that rotates around a shaft  38  mounted to the housing of connection port  120 . A cam end  149  of lever  37  is attached to a link  147 . A plate  145  having a pivoting connection stud  151  attached thereto is slidably supported by a support structure  159  mounted within port housing  120  so that platform  145  can move laterally substantially along a horizontal plane in platform  159  which is substantially perpendicular to the top of the post  113  in the direction of arrows  160 . The other end of link  147  is attached to the connection stud  151  of plate  145 . A spring buffer  153  is connected to the end of platform  145 . A key slot  141  is located in the bottom surface of the connection port housing  120 , on a side opposite to the side of the lever arm  37 . 
   The top of the mounting post  118  is shaped to receive the connection port  120  so that the bottom edge of connection port  120  rests upon a circumferential ledge  137  located around post  118 . A key  139  formed into the sidewall of post  118  matches the key slot  141  in connection port housing  120  to ensure that connection port  120  is only attached to post  118  in one orientation. Connection post  118  has an upstanding portion  133  which rises above the main top portion  119  a sufficient distance to place a connecting slot  135  along a substantially horizontal plane for connection from the side of the post in the vertical space between the two surfaces. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 23 and 24  which show the connection port  120  and the mounting post  118  in an engaged relationship,  FIG. 23  illustrates the connection port mounted on top of the post  118  before electrical connection is made.  FIG. 24  illustrates the two mounted together with electrical connection made. 
   Before the video monitor is mounted on the post, the connection port  120  must be set in its open state as illustrated in  FIG. 23  by moving the lever arm  37  away from the housing in the direction of the arrow  40  by pivoting it on its axis  38 . This pivoting action will cause the cam surface connected to linkage  147  to move in the direction of arrow  157 , thereby pushing the platform  145  and the connector  155  attached to the underside of platform  145  to the right into a position of disengagement with the post  133 . 
   Once the video monitor is correctly mounted on the post as guided by the key slot  141  and key  139 , electrical connection between the video monitor and the rest of the system installed at the spa is accomplished by simply pushing the lever  37  in the opposite direction, as shown by arrow  40  towards the housing of the mounted connection port  120 . This action will cause the cam surface of the lever  137  to pull the linkage  147  to the left in the direction of arrow  157  which will pull the platform  145  and the connector plug  155  mounted to the underside of the platform into the connecting slot  135  of the post  133  making physical electrical connection with the multi-pin connector located therein (not shown). 
   A wiring harness (not shown) is physically and electrically connected to the multi-pin male connector  155 . This wiring harness is used to provide all the required control and power signals for a system circuit located in the housing for the video monitor. A female multi-pin connector, located in the post  133 , is engaged by the male connector  155  through slot  135  in the post  133 . A wiring harness provides control and power signals from a source outside of the video monitor to the female connector. 
   The video monitor  15  as illustrated in  FIG. 25  is contemplated as having a 23 inch 16:9 aspect ratio LCD display  90 , a DVD player  91 , a video controller board  93 , system interface board  95 , speakers  101 , system interconnect circuitry  97 , as well as associated cables  111 ,  113 ,  103 ,  115  and  117  connecting these parts together. The video monitor of  FIG. 25  is thereby capable of being mounted either on the mounting pole  17  for use at the spa or on the docking station  55  for use at a location away from the spa. 
   The video monitor  15  as illustrated in  FIG. 25  contains a system interconnect circuit  97  which joins the video monitor unit to the spa main control system and/or the base docking station for the purpose of receiving power and spa control signals, video source signals, audio source signals, and on screen display (OSD) push button inputs, as well as infrared input codes, for connection through the system interconnect circuit  97  to the components of the video monitor  15 . By bringing the various external signals into a single housing multi pin connector through the system interconnect circuit  97 , the ability for the video monitor to rotate on the post is greatly enhanced. 
   The video display  90  contains an LCD screen and a backlight unit. The LCD screen displays the program information to the viewer as selected from the various input sources. The video display  90  receives onscreen display control signals from the video controller  93 . The video display  90  receives control signals such as dimming and brightness control from the system interface board  95 . The video display  90  receives its backlight power from the system interconnect  97  and its LCD power from the video controller  93 . 
   The video controller  93  processes the various input from program sources such as the DVD player  91 , via an S video port, cable TV input, component video, or composite video, for example, and directs those signals to the video display  90 . The video controller  93  also has audio inputs and outputs as well as a small audio amplifier to directly drive the internal speakers  101 . The video controller  93  receives power from the system interface board  95 . It receives onscreen display (OSD) control signals from the system interface board  95 . It also receives onscreen display (OSD) control signals from the system interface board  95  for controlling various video display parameters. 
   The system interface board  95  processes control signals from the spa main control system and provides power for the video controller by taking the 24V supply voltage from the system interconnect  97  and conditioning it into supply voltages required by the video controller  93 , the video display  90  and the DVD player  91 . The system interface board  95  translates control information from the spa main control system received from the system interconnect  97  into control signals for the DVD player  91  and the video controller  93 . The system interface board  95  controls the LCD backlight brightness and dimming. The system interface board  95  receives infrared (IR) signals from the system interconnect  97  over line  122  and processes the IR code into control signals for the video controller  93 . The system interface board  93  receives on screen display (OSD) input signals from user accessible pushbuttons (not shown) connected to the system interconnect  97 . These signals are passed up to the video controller  93  for processing over line  122 . 
   In this manner the video monitor  15 , is capable of being mounted for complete use either on the mounting pole  17  at the spa or on the docking station  55  for use at a location away from the spa.