Patent Application
20060090256
The present invention relates to bathtubs, and more particularly, to air massage bathtubs.
Air massage bathtubs are well known and widely utilized in many households and health clubs around the world. Essentially, an air massage bathtub is a typical bathtub having the ability to inject warm air into water that has been filled in the tub. One type of air massage system is a channel-type system. In a channel-type system, a cavity or channel surrounds the bathtub above the bottom of the bath well. Several holes are drilled through the surface of the tub and into the channel. In operation, air is directly blown into the channel and escapes through the holes, thereby creating the massaging effect that is particularly useful in soothing the body. After bathing the water is removed from the tub through a drain similar to those utilized in standard bathtubs. Unlike spas or hot tubs, this type of system requires a user to draw and drain a bath for each use.
Air massage bathtubs have many advantages over other water massaging tubs. For example, the ability place the air compressor necessary for the operation of the air massage tub at any location allows for less floor space to be required than the standard whirlpool tub that must be fixed in place with its pump. Additionally, the fact that air massage bathtubs do not recirculate water through jets, means that it is safe to use bath oils, sea salts and therapeutic mud masks. However, air massage bathtubs, especially air channel systems, are not without their drawbacks.
The placement of the various holes in the tub may allow for water to enter and remain in the aforementioned channel after use. Residual water such as this enhances the possibility that bacteria and other pathogens may become present in the system. Subsequent uses of the tub will introduce such undesirable particles into the water and into contact with the user. Many prior art systems combat this problem by providing a channel that allows this water to gravity drain into the bath well, where it flows into a drain. Some other systems also provide a mechanical drying cycle where, after a certain amount of time subsequent the use of the tub, air is forced through the channel to clean out excess moisture from the channel. In many instances, however, even a combination of these solutions does not sufficiently dry the channel. Thus, in the prior art, an unacceptable amount of water remains in the air channel of the system.
In view of the above-noted deficiencies in the prior art, there remains a need for a drain system that allows for higher drainage rates of water from an air channel after using the system and draining water from the tub.
A first aspect of the present invention is a bathtub. The bathtub according to this aspect includes a bath well defined by side walls and a bottom portion where the bottom portion has a recessed area, a drain located within the recessed area, a channel located at least partially below the bath well and in communication with the recessed area and a plurality of first apertures in the bath well, at least some of the first apertures extending into the channel.
Another embodiment of the present invention is another bathtub. The bathtub according to this embodiment includes a bath well defined by side walls and a bottom portion where the bottom portion has a recessed area, a drain located within the recessed area, a channel located at least partially below the bath well, a plurality of first apertures in the bath well extending into the channel and a blower for forcing air into the channel and through the first apertures.
Yet another embodiment of the present invention is yet another bathtub. The bathtub according to this embodiment includes a bath well defined by side walls and a bottom portion including a recessed area, a drain located within the recessed area, a channel, where a portion of the channel extends at least partially around the recessed area, a plurality of first apertures in the bath well extending into the channel and at least one second aperture in the recessed area in communication with the portion of the channel that extends at least partially around the recessed area, the at least on second aperture allowing fluid located within the channel to drain in said drain.
A more complete appreciation of the subject matter of the present invention and the various advantages thereof can be realized by reference to the following detailed description in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:
In describing the preferred embodiments of the subject matter illustrated and to be described with respect to the drawings, specific terminology will be used for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to any specific terms used herein, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.
Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like elements, there is shown in
Bottom portion 16 is designed for the support of a person, and may include sections designed for comfort. As is best shown in
As best shown in
It is contemplated that channel 26 can be of any size or shape, and can be situated around bath well 12 in any fashion. For example, in certain embodiments like those shown in the drawings, channel 26 is continuous and extends entirely around the perimeter of bottom portion 16 of bath well 12. In other embodiments, channel 26 may be non-continuous and situated around any portion of bath well 12. Channel 26 may also be connected to a blower, compressor or other compressed air source, as well as a heater (not shown) so that air may enter bath well 12, as will be discussed further below.
Bathtub 10 further includes a plurality of apertures 32. As shown in the figures, apertures 32 are essentially holes extending through bath well 12 and into channel 26. These apertures 32 are designed to allow for air to travel into and out of bath well 12 and channel 26. Although, as discussed further below, water may also travel therethrough. Apertures 32 are typically sized and shaped to allow for a massaging effect to occur when air is blown through channel 26 and into a filled bath well 12. In the embodiment shown in the Figures, apertures 32 extend around the perimeter of bottom portion 16 along the same path as that of channel 26. However, it is contemplated that apertures 32 can be situated in any manner that allows for their fluid communication with channel 26. For example, in certain embodiments, apertures 32 are formed through bottom portion 16 or side walls 14a-d. It is also contemplated that apertures 32 can be situated so that the entire body of a user or specific portions of a user's body are targeted by the operation of the bathtub.
The aforementioned blower or compressed air source (not shown) may be any blower that is suitable for producing and forcing enough air through channel 26 to create a massaging effect in a filled bath well 12. Blowers of this type are well known in the art and readily utilized on existing air massage bathtubs. The connection of the blower and channel 26, while often determined by the type of blower, is also well known and readily utilized on existing air massage bathtubs. Similarly, heaters (also not shown) suitable for use with the present invention are well known. The use of such a heater may allow for the introduction of heated air into a filled bath well 12, thus enhancing the massaging effect. It is contemplated that different blowers and heaters may be utilized depending upon the size of bath well 12 or the massaging effect desired. In order to properly control the massaging effect of the present invention, it is contemplated that bathtub 10 may include controls for operating the functions of the blower or heater. For example, a control may be supplied that allows a user to vary the amount of air blown through channel 26 and/or the temperature of such air. As with the blower and heater elements, controls of this type are widely used and well known in the art.
In operation, a user first fills bath well 12 to a desired water fill level. This may be accomplished with or without the user already situated in bath well 12. It is noted that air massage bathtubs typically do not preclude the use of bath oils or the like because the massaging effect is created by the introduction of air, rather than the recirculation of water. Therefore, such additional therapy elements may be introduced into the water at any time without the worry of clogging or corroding the mechanical aspects of the tub. Once the desired water fill level is achieved, the user may turn on the blower and/or heater elements. To accomplish this, the aforementioned control may be utilized. When sufficient air begins to blow through channel 26 and into bath well 12 through apertures 32, the massaging effect may be felt by the user. Depending upon the amount of water and/or the level of heat applied to the air, the temperature of the water contained within bath well 12 may also begin to rise.
After the user is finished with his or her massaging bath, the water is drained from bath well 12. As mentioned above, bathtub drain is operated to allow water to flow therethrough and into drain pipe 24. As was also mentioned above, bottom portion 16 may be pitched or tilted towards recessed area 18 so as to allow for the gravity draining of the water. This allows for the often vast amount of water to drain at a quicker rate. Unfortunately, the passages formed by apertures 32 through bath well 12 into channel 26 creates the possibility of residual water entering and remaining within the channel during times when air is not forced into channel 26. As discussed in the background section, prior art systems often combat this problem by allowing their channels, which reside above the bath well, to gravity drain into the bath well and through their drains. Additionally, some of these systems also provide a mechanical dry cycle, where after a certain amount of time subsequent to the use of the tub, the blower is re-activated for a short period to force the residual water out of the channel and into the bath well. The present invention provides channel 26, situated in a tilted fashion below bath well 12 and in fluid communication with recessed area 18. As discussed above, this design allows gravity to force the residual water to flow directly from channel 26, through channel extension 28, out of drain holes 30, into drain assembly 20, and eventually to the waste water system. This creates a more efficient channel draining system that offers a significantly higher drainage rate over those of the prior art.
While the design of channel 26 of the present invention may alone provide for a significant improvement over the prior art, it is also contemplated to include a mechanical drying cycle. Essentially, the blower and/or any controls associated with the blower provide the drying cycle at a predetermined time after the use of the tub. For example, the present invention may be configured so as to actuate the blower for a period of about sixty seconds approximately beginning approximately fifteen minutes after use. This cycle allows bath well 12 and channel 26 to initially gravity drain and then forces any remaining residual water in channel 26, which has not gravity drained into recessed area 18, to be either forced through channel extension 28 and into recessed area 18 or through apertures 32 and into bath well 12 where it can then gravity drain into recessed area 18. It is contemplated that this mechanical drying cycle can be configured to operate at any time for any amount of time after using the tub. In embodiments of the present invention that incorporate a mechanical drying cycle such as this, the drainage percentage of the volume of space within channel 26 may be greater than 97% and, in fact, may be even substantially higher than 99%.
Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
