Bathing facilities have taken various forms. Large indoor, heated pools date from antiquity. In Roman times families and social groups gathered at the baths. Soaking in the warm water was a significant part of the experience, but it was principally a social activity. In more recent years, smaller bathtubs have been provided for the purpose of bathing with soap to clean the body. With this function in mind, they were configured for the purpose of cleanliness and included the changing of the water. The smaller size is compatible with the changing of the water after each bath.
The hot tub has found resurgence in recent years as a social meeting place, with mutual soaking in a larger hot water-containing tub, without changing the water. Since the tub was larger, it usually has been placed outdoors. As a consequence, the outdoor hot tub has been provided with shelter from sun and wind. During non-use, such an outdoor hot tub has a cover to keep windblown contaminants from entering the water and to save the heat in the water. Sometimes these outdoor hot tubs are called “spas” after a town in eastern Belgium which has mineral baths. For many years, such a natural mineral bath was believed to have therapeutic effects. The modern hot tub usually does not have significant mineral content. The hot tub took advantage of the fact that resting in warm water is soothing and restful. Modern bathtubs combine the cleanliness of changing the water with the soothing pleasure of resting in the warm water filled tub.
In order to aid in the understanding of this invention, it can be stated in essentially summary form that it is directed to an indoor/outdoor bathtub/hot tub. An enclosure, such as a house, has a wall in which an opening is made. The bathtub/hot tub is positioned partly inside and partly outside of the wall. The opening in the wall provides sufficient clearance above the bathtub/hot tub to permit conventional use thereof. A movable cover is provided and is configured to be movable from a position where it covers the inside portion of the bathtub/hot tub to make it open to the outside to a position where it covers the outside portion of the bathtub/hot tub to permit the bathtub/hot tub to be accessible from the inside. In both cases, the cover encloses the opening in the wall to close the inside space from the outside.
It is, thus, a purpose and advantage of this invention to provide an indoor/outdoor bathtub/hot tub wherein the pleasures of having an indoor bathtub/hot tub and the pleasures of having an outdoor bathtub/hot tub are combined in the same bathtub/hot tub.
It is another purpose and advantage of this invention to provide an indoor/outdoor bathtub/hot tub wherein a movable cover which extends over about half of the bathtub/hot tub and encloses the wall opening so that the bathtub/hot tub is accessible only from the inside or only from the outside, depending upon movable cover position.
It is another purpose and advantage of this invention to provide a movable cover for the bathtub/hot tub which closes the opening in the wall so that the interior of the building into which the bathtub/hot tub is built is separated from the outdoors when the cover is in either of its end positions.
The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
A house 10 is represented by a wall 12. The house is a complete enclosure with floor, walls and roof so as to define an enclosed living space. Instead of a living space, it may be any other type of enclosed space, including a health club building, building for recreational activities or other building. There is a floor 14 within the building and an outside ground level 16 outside of the building. There is an opening 18 in the wall, see
Movable cover 34 is formed of a transparent synthetic polymer composition material. Lexan brand of polycarbonate is suitable. Transparent is preferable. The movable cover is a one-quarter hollow sphere in general configuration. It has a pivot pin 36 on which the cover is pivoted on the tub shell 24. This pivot pin defines the rotational axis of the cover, which is substantially a diameter of the quarter sphere.
The cover 34 has an outside edge 38, see
The cover 34 is pivotable on the pivot pin 36 from the outer position shown in
A seal is also necessary around the opening 18. Liner 30 is positioned in the opening. The sealing surface is provided by the groove in the liner 30 between the ridges 32. The outside edge 38 of the cover is provided with a seal nose 46, which extends radially outward. When the outside edge 38 is in the raised position, this nose 46 engages into the seal groove between ridges 32. In similar manner, the inside edge 40 of the cover, see
In either of the end positions of motion, the movable cover 34 is sealed against the tub's edge and is sealed with respect to the wall opening. In
A circular tub and a quarter-spherical movable cover are the preferred embodiment. However, other tub shapes and other cover shapes are possible. Rectangular and elliptical and other shapes are possible. The movable cover will seal against the bathtub/hot tub ledge, with a variety of tub shapes, as long as the tub shape is symmetrical with respect to the house wall. The bathtub/hot tub 20 is a bathing tub. The tub can be used for cleanliness and/or for restful immersion. The water may be reused or changed after each usage. It can be used with soap or with clear water. It can be used with water at any tolerable temperatures. In hot ambient conditions, cold water may be preferable. In cool ambient conditions, hot water is preferable.
This invention has been described in its presently preferred embodiment, and it is clear that it is susceptible to numerous modifications, modes and embodiments within the ability of those skilled in the art and without the exercise of the inventive faculty.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4246663 | Aragona et al. | Jan 1981 | A |
6209149 | Song et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |