Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to spa tubs and more particularly to spa tubs having a clip design for removably securing spa panels to a frame thereof.
Description of Related Art
Spa tubs generally include a frame that forms a skeleton of the tub. Spa panels are typically attached to the outside of the frame. Many of the inner workings of the spa tub (e.g., pumps, pipes, filters, etc.) are located within the frame and enclosed behind the panels.
Spa panels have historically been permanently affixed to the frame, for example, fastened to the frame using screws. Permanently affixing the panels to the frame has made accessing the inner workings for the purpose of inspection, maintenance, or repair exceedingly complicated. Additionally, permanently affixed spa panels experience significant stress due to the expansion and contraction of the panels as a result of variation in temperature, making the panels more likely to fatigue and fail over time.
Provided herein is a spa tub having a clip design. The tub includes a frame defining a receptacle. The frame includes a wall having one of a projection or a clip. The tub also includes a panel having the other one of the projection or the clip. Receipt of the projection by the clip connects the panel to the frame. The panels are removably connected to the frame. The frame also includes a corner beam for connecting a plurality of walls to each another.
The wall includes a beam extending in a first direction and a beam extending in a second direction. A cavity for receiving a portion of the panel is defined in the beam extending in the first direction and the projections are connected to the beam extending in the second direction.
The clips are secured to a rear side of the panel and include opposing, biased members defining a receiving portion therebetween for receiving and securing the projection. A shape of the receiving portion of the clip corresponds in shape to a shape of a cross section of the projection. In one particular embodiment, the projection is cylindrical.
The panel further includes a lip for abutting with the frame when the panel is connected to the frame and a mount secured to a rear side of the panel. The mount includes a tab. A portion of the tab is configured to be inserted into the cavity, such that the tab floats within the cavity when the cavity receives the portion of the tab.
The panel further includes a flange configured to engage a flange of an adjacent panel when a plurality of panels are affixed to the frame adjacent to one another.
A method of making a tub having a clip design is also provided. The method includes providing a frame, which defines a receptacle, and includes a wall having a projection or a clip. The method further includes providing a panel including the other one of the projection or the clip and attaching the panel to the frame. Receipt of the projection by the clip connects the panel to the frame. The panels are removably connected to the frame.
In one embodiment, the frame comprises the projection and defines a cavity and the panel comprises a mount and a clip. The step of attaching the panel to the frame further includes aligning the projection and the clip by inserting a portion of the mount into the cavity and pivoting the panel until the clip receives the projection.
A method of gaining access to an interior of a tub is also provided. The spa tub includes a frame defining a receptacle. The frame having a wall including a projection or a clip. The spa tub further includes a panel having the other one of the projection or the clip. Receipt of the projection by the clip removably connects the panel to the frame. The method of gaining access includes removing the panel, accessing inner workings of the tub, and reattaching the panel to the frame. The step of removing the panel further includes disconnecting the projection from the clip and lifting the panel to disengage a mount secured to the panel from a receiving cavity defined in the frame.
The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
The following description is provided to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the described embodiments contemplated for carrying out the invention. For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “lateral”, “longitudinal” and derivatives thereof relate to the invention as it is oriented in the drawing figures. It is to be understood that the specific devices illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the invention. Hence, specific dimension and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be understood as limiting.
The spa panels 16 are removably connected to an exterior portion 23 of the frame 18, thereby simplifying disconnection of the spa panels 16 from the frame 18 and providing a user with an efficient mechanism by which access can be gained to the mechanical inner workings 22. As a result, the present invention streamlines the process of inspecting the inner workings 22 of the spa tub 10 and making necessary repairs thereto.
Referring to
The clips 24 includes opposing, biased members 28, spaced apart from one another and defining a receiving portion 30 therebetween, for receiving and securing a corresponding projection 26. The opposing members 28 may be formed from spring steel although it is contemplated that any resilient material may be used. A distance that the biased members 28 are spaced from one another may vary from a first end 32 of the clip 24 to a second end 38 of the clip 24. The first end 32 of the clip 24 is affixed to the spa panel 16 via a bracket 34 and screws 36, as shown in
The distance the biased opposing members 28 are spaced apart, generally decreases from the second end 38 of the clip 24 to the receiving portion 30. Accordingly, after the projection 26 engages the second end 38 of the clip 24, the opposing biased member 28 guide the projection 26 towards the receiving portion 30 as the biased members 28 are forced apart from one another. After the projection 26 is received by the receiving portion 30, the biased members 28 return to their resting position securing the projection 26 within the receiving portion 30 of the clip 24. Although, preferably the biased members 28 are biased against an outer surface of projection 26 when engaged so as to frictionally hold the projection 26 in place.
In addition to simplifying access to the interior of the spa tub 10 for the purposes of inspecting the inner workings 22 and making repairs thereto, the present invention also advantageously reduces, if not eliminates, the mechanical stresses placed on the spa panels 16 as a result of expansion and contraction of the panels 16 due to variations in temperature. When the spa panel 16 is secured to the frame 18, it is understood that as the spa tub panel 16 expands or contracts in either the vertical or horizontal direction as a result of fluctuations in temperature, the clip 24 will move relative to projection 26. However, with reference to
Referring now to
As is further detailed in
With reference to
With continued reference to
The projections 26 extending from the end beams 44 toward the center beam 46 and the projections 26 extending from the center beam 46 are received within clips 24 secured to a spa panel 16, particularly a side spa panel 56, while the projections 26 extending from the end beams 44 away from the center beam 26 receive clips 24 secured to a spa panel 16, particularly a corner spa panel 58.
A plurality of clips 24 are secured to bracket 34 via screws 36 and the bracket 34 is secured to rear side 66 of the side panel 56, as shown in
Referring to
As is further explained, the tab 68 can be used to align the clips 24 to their corresponding projections 26. For simplicity, the following disclosure will explain the mechanism for aligning one particular clip C1 to its corresponding projection P1, with reference to a particular mount M1 and receiving cavity R1, as shown in
With continued reference to
A method of assembling the spa tub 10 will now be discussed. The method includes providing a frame 18 defining receiving cavities 52 in a portion thereof. The frame 18 includes side walls 40 having projections 26 extending therefrom. The method also includes providing side panels 56 and corner panels 58, collectively referred to as spa panels 16 having a plurality of clips 24 corresponding to each projection 26 and a plurality of mounts 54 corresponding to each receiving cavity 52. The spa panels 16 are attached to the frame 18 by securing the clips 24 of the spa panels 16 onto corresponding projections 26. The spa panels 16 are detachable (i.e. not permanently affixed) to the frame 18. To attach the spa panels 16 to the side walls 40, the mounts 54 are inserted into corresponding receiving cavities 52 of the frame 18, thus aligning the projections 26 and the clips 24, as shown in
The above-described spa tub 10 advantageously simplifies inspection and repair of the inner workings 22 that would otherwise be inaccessible or complicated to access if the spa panels were permanently attached. Accordingly, the present disclosure streamlines inspection and repair as a user does not need to first detach features such as screws affixing the panels to the frame. In contrast, the spa panels 16 of the present invention are easily removed from the frame 18 by disengaging from the projections 26 from each corresponding clip 24 and then lifting the spa panels 16 to disengage the mount 54 from its corresponding receiving cavity 52.
Once access to the inner workings 22 of the spa tub 10 has been achieved, the inner workings 22 may be inspected or general maintenance/repairs may be performed. The removed spa panel 16 is easily reattached to frame 18 when the inspection, maintenance, or repair has been completed.
The present invention disclosed herein provides for spa panels that are quickly detachable, via snap-fit assembly. As a result, the invention simplifies access to the inner working of the spa tub thereby providing efficient inspection, maintenance, or repair to be performed therein.
While embodiments of a clip design for a spa tub are shown in the accompanying figures and described hereinabove in detail, other embodiments will be apparent to, and readily made by, those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive. The disclosure described hereinabove is defined by the appended claims and all changes to the disclosure that fall within the meaning and the range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within its scope.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/219,948, filed on Sep. 17, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62219948 | Sep 2015 | US |