This invention relates to aquatic spas for recreational and therapeutic use and to such spas in combination with an electronic entertainment system.
Spas, also known as hot-tubs, find widespread use in homes, hotels, gymnasiums and hospitals as a means of relaxation or medical treatment by providing aquatic massage therapy to the muscles and joints of a person immersed in a bath of temperature controlled water. Water is heated and pumped within the spa which typically comprises a tub having a plurality of nozzles to direct jets of water wherever desired on the person to relieve tension, as well as joint and muscular pain.
Spas have evolved beyond a strictly functional device merely providing therapy to occupy a position as an appurtenance used in leisure time and as a vehicle promoting social activity. As such, it is desirable to incorporate or associate other devices, also associated with leisure and social activities, with the spa. Such devices may be broadly classified as an entertainment system and include, for example, televisions, radios, compact disc players video tape players and recorders, digital video disc players and their required accessories such as stereophonic speakers.
There is a problem in integrating such an entertainment system with a spa due to the presence of a reasonably large volume of water in which people are immersed and the fact that such systems are electronic in nature and require that electricity be supplied to power them. Unless proper precautions are taken, the combination of a spa with an entertainment system presents electrical hazards to the occupants of the spa, as well as potential damage to the various components of the entertainment system.
The invention concerns a combination spa and electronic entertainment system for personal therapy and relaxation by immersion of one or more people in a volume of water. The combination spa and entertainment system comprises a tub adapted to hold the water and accommodate one or more people for immersion therein. The tub comprises a bottom and a plurality of sidewalls surrounding the bottom, the sidewalls having an upper edge extending around the tub. A surface extends substantially horizontally from one of the sidewalls and proximate to the upper edge. The surface has an aperture therein. The aperture is preferably surrounded by a rib positioned on the surface and projecting outwardly from it. A water-tight housing defining an interior adapted to hold a component of the entertainment system is positioned within the aperture and is movable between a first position beneath the surface and a second position projecting above the surface. The housing has a cover projecting beyond the perimeter of the aperture, the cover comprising a sealing area facing the surface. The sealing area preferably has a groove spaced to coincide with the rib on the sealing area. The groove is sized to receive the rib and contribute to the effectiveness of the seal when the housing is in the first position beneath the surface. The combination further includes a mechanism for moving the housing between the first and the second positions, as well as a control system for controlling the moving mechanism.
Preferably, the housing holds a television monitor and has a transparent cover facing the tub permitting the monitor to be viewed by the people within the tub. In addition to the housing holding the monitor, the combination may also include a second surface extending substantially horizontally from another one of the sidewalls and proximate to the upper edge. The second surface has a second aperture therein, the second aperture being preferably surrounded by a second rib positioned on the second surface and projecting outwardly therefrom. A second water-tight housing defining an interior adapted to hold another component, such as an electronic speaker, is positioned within the second aperture and movable between a first position beneath the second surface and a second position projecting above the second surface. The second housing also has a cover projecting beyond the perimeter of the second aperture, the top comprising a second sealing area facing the second surface. The second sealing area preferably has a groove spaced to coincide with the rib on the sealing area. The groove is sized to receive the second rib and thereby contribute to effectiveness of the seal of the second aperture when the second housing is in the first position beneath the surface. The combination has a second mechanism for moving the second housing between the first and the second positions. Preferably, the second moving mechanism is controlled by the same control system as controls the first moving mechanism.
Preferably the moving mechanism comprises a first support column and a first carriage movably mounted on the first support column for movement in a substantially vertical direction. A first platform is mounted on top of the carriage, the platform adapted to support, for example, a water-tight housing to hold electronic components. A first pulley is rotatably mounted on the first support column and a second pulley rotatably mounted on the first carriage. A motor is operatively associated with the mechanism, the motor having or being coupled to a rotatable shaft. A control system is linked to the motor for controlling it. A cable is fixedly attached at one end to the support column, engages the first and the second pulleys, and is attached at its other end to the rotatable shaft. Turning of the shaft by the motor in one direction winds the cable about the shaft and draws the cable over the first and second pulleys, moving the carriage upwardly on the support column. Turning of the shaft in an opposite direction unwinds the cable from the shaft and allowing movement of the carriage downwardly under gravity on the support column.
Multiple mechanisms may be linked together to simultaneously raise and lower various housings. Preferably such multiple mechanisms would further include a second support column and a second carriage movably mounted on the second support column for movement in a substantially vertical direction. A second platform is mounted on top of the second carriage, the second platform also adapted to support a water-tight housing. A third pulley is rotatably mounted on the second support column and a fourth pulley is rotatably mounted on the second carriage. In addition, a fifth pulley is rotatably mounted and fixed in position between the first and second support columns. A second cable is fixedly attached at one end to the second support column and engages the third, the fourth and the fifth pulleys, the cable being attached at another end to the first carriage. Motion of the first carriage upwardly draws the second cable over the third, fourth and fifth pulleys and moves the second carriage upwardly on the second support column, motion of the first carriage downwardly allows movement of the second carriage downwardly under gravity on the second support column.
The mechanism may also include a motion limiting device. The preferred motion limiting device comprises a first sensor in communication with the control system and capable of generating a signal indicative of a cable tension less than a first predetermined level and a second sensor in communication with the control system and capable of generating a signal indicative of a cable tension greater than a second predetermined level. A movable member is engaged with the cable and movable into a first position in engagement with the first sensor when tension in the cable is less than the first predetermined level, and into a second position in engagement with the second sensor when tension in the cable is greater than the second predetermined level. Engagement of the movable member with either of the first and the second sensors causes a signal to be generated and communicated to the control system, the control system halting the motor in response to the signal.
It is an object of the invention to provide a spa combined with an electronic entertainment system.
It is another object of the invention to provide a spa wherein the components of an electronic entertainment system may be raised and lowered between a hidden position beneath the surface of the spa structure and above the surface for use by persons in the spa.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a mechanism for raising and lowering the components of the entertainment system.
It is still another object of the invention to provide a mechanism for raising and lowering multiple components of an entertainment system.
It is further another object of the invention to provide a mechanism for limiting the motion of the mechanism for raising and lowering the components of the entertainment system.
It is again another object of the invention to provide a sealing system for safely positioning electrical and electronic components proximate to a body of water.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the drawings and detailed description of preferred embodiments.
The electronic components comprising the entertainment system are contained in water-tight housings, such as 24 for holding a television monitor and 26 for holding a speaker. Each housing is mounted within an aperture 28 in a respective surface 30 which extends substantially horizontally from one of the sidewalls 14, the upper surfaces 30 being positioned near to the upper edge 22 of the tub 12. As shown in
As shown in
Water-tight housing 24 is preferably formed of high-strength plastic and adapted to hold and protect a television monitor 48 shown schematically in dashed line in FIG. 3. The television may be connected to a cable network, as well as any other components of the entertainment system, such as a video tape recorder/player, a digital video disk system and the like. The television is operated by a remote control unit by the occupants of the spa. The housing 24 has a transparent cover 50 which faces the tub to permit viewing of the television 48 by the occupants within the tub.
Water-tight housing 26, shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Other embodiments of the moving mechanism, using hydraulic or pneumatic components, as well as other forms of mechanical components, are also feasible. The preferred moving mechanism supporting water-tight housing 24 holding the television 48 comprises a platform 60 mounted on a carriage 62 which is slidably movable along and guided by a support column 64 which is mounted to the ground by a base plate 66. A pulley 68 is rotatably mounted on the carriage 62 and is rotatable about a horizontal axis 69. Another pulley 70 is mounted on the support column 64 and rotatable about a horizontal axis 71. A cable 72 has one end 74 fixed to the support column 64 and is routed over the pulleys 68 and 70. The other end 76 of cable 72 is attached to a rotatable shaft 78 driven by a motor 80, preferably electrically powered. The motor is controlled by the control system 34 through a communication link 82.
When it is desired to raise the television for viewing, an occupant of the tub 12 presses a button 84 on the control system 34 which activates motor 80 through the communication link 82. Motor 80 turns and winds cable 72 onto shaft 78. The winding of cable 72 onto the shaft draws the cable over the pulleys 68 and 70 which rotate about their respective axes causing carriage 62 to slide upwardly along support column 64 and move the housing 24 containing television 48 from its position shown in
The limits of motion of the carriage 62 are determined by motion limiting device 36 best shown in FIG. 2. Motion limiting device 36 comprises a base 86 having two pulleys 88 and 90 mounted thereon and rotatable about respective horizontal axes 92 and 94. A movable member, preferably an arm 96 has one end 98 pivotally attached to base 86 for pivoting movement about a horizontal axis 100. The other end 102 of arm 96 has a pulley 104 mounted thereon for rotation about a horizontal axis 106. Pulleys 88, 90 and 104 are positioned in substantially the same vertical plane. A finger 108 extends from end 102 of arm 96 and is engageable with two sensors, preferably in the form of limit switches, namely, an upper motion limit switch 110 and a lower motion limit switch 112. The limit switches are connected to the control system 34 through respective feedback links 114 and 116. A biasing member, preferably a compression spring 118, is positioned between ends 98 and 102 of the movable arm 96, the spring 118 biasing the arm away from base 86.
Cable 72 is directed from pulley 70 on support column 64 through an idler pulley 120 and loops under pulley 88, over pulley 104 and back under pulley 90 before engaging shaft 78 on motor 80. The motion limiting device 36 operates as follows. When button 84 is pressed to raise television 48, motor 80 turns shaft 78 to wind the cable 72 about the shaft. This causes carriage 62 to rise as described above. When the bottom portion 62a of the carriage encounters a stop 122 on support column 64, further motion of the carriage is prevented. The motor continues to turn however and increases the tension on cable 72 causing arm 96 to pivot downwardly about axis 100 against spring 118 until finger 108 engages the upper motion limit switch 110. Closing of this switch is communicated to control system 34 by feedback link 114, the control system then stopping motor 80 and applying a brake 124 to the motor or the shaft 78 to hold the carriage in the raised position. The spring constant of spring 118 is chosen to allow sufficient tension to develop in cable 72 to raise the television without tripping the limit switch but will prevent significant excess tension, which occurs, for example, when the carriage encounters stop 122 or if a heavy object is positioned on top of cover 38 preventing motion of the housing 24 above the surface 30.
When it is desired to lower the television, button 84 is pressed, releasing brake 124 and reversing motor 80 to unwind the cable 72 from the shaft 78. The carriage 62 slides downwardly along support column 64 under gravity and keeps enough tension in the cable 72 to compress biasing spring 118 and prevent finger 108 from engaging lower limit motion switch 112 prematurely. Once the carriage 62 bottoms out and can move no further downwardly, the motor continues to turn, further relieving tension in cable 72 and allowing arm 96 to pivot upwardly about axis 100 under the force of biasing spring 118 until finger 108 engages lower limit motion switch 112. Closing of switch 112 is communicated to control system 34 by feedback link 116 and the control system shuts off motor 80.
Moving mechanism 32 also raises and lowers speakers 52 in housings 26. A housing 26 is supported on a platform 126 mounted on a carriage 128 slidably movable along and guided by a support column 130. Support column 130 is mounted on a base 132 and has a pulley 134 mounted thereon for rotation about a horizontal axis 136. Another pulley 138 is mounted on carriage 128 and is rotatable about a horizontal axis 140. A cable 142 has one end 144 fixed to support column 130. Cable 142 is routed around pulleys 138 and 134 to an idler pulley 146 on base 132, the idler pulley being rotatable about a horizontal axis 148. Cable 142 continues toward support column 64 and is routed around another idler pulley 150 mounted on base 66 and also rotatable about a horizontal axis. The other end 152 of cable 142 is attached to carriage 62. Thus, when motor 80 raises carriage 62 as described above the motion of the carriage 62 draws cable 142 along pulleys 138, 134, 146 and 150 to also slide carriage 128 upwardly along support column 130 to raise speaker 52 in housing 26 above surface 30 simultaneously with the television. Similarly, when the carriage 62 is lowered carriage 128 will also be lowered as cable 142 is payed out due to the downward motion of carriage 62. As shown in
The combination spa and entertainment system according to the invention promises to improve the safety and reliability of operation of the spa and thereby promote it as a form of relaxation and therapy.
This application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/332,861, filed Nov. 6, 2001.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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60332861 | Nov 2001 | US |