Patent ID: 8117729

Claim:
A method for rapidly deploying a floating hot tub, comprising: providing a collapsible frame of connected rigid members having a collapsed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein the deployed frame forms defines an interior volume, at least one seat for a person within the interior volume, and an upper periphery; deploying the collapsible frame; providing an insulated liner sized and shaped to fit closely against and attach to the deployed collapsible frame; coupling the deployed collapsible frame and the insulated liner to form a subassembly and define a hot tub fill volume within the insulated liner; providing an inflatable pontoon arranged to buoyantly support the collapsible deployed frame and the insulated liner subassembly; inflating the inflatable pontoon and placing it in a body of water, filling the hot tub fill volume with water so that the upper periphery of the collapsible frame is buoyantly supported by the inflatable pontoon above the water level; and circulating heated water to the hot tub fill volume.