Patent Application
20240141663
The present disclosure generally relates to an adjustable frame for spa units.
Spa units or hot tubs may provide many health benefits including stress relief, muscle relaxation, improved sleep, and pain relief, among others.
Spa units come in different sizes. Typical spa units are manufactured using fixed frames that make it difficult to manufacture spa units of different sizes in a cost effective manner. The present disclosure provides for an adjustable spa frame for manufacturing spa units of different sizes in an efficient and cost effective manner.
According to some embodiments, an adjustable spa frame for a spa unit includes a frame member configured to interface with a sliding frame, the sliding frame configured to be adjusted relative to the frame member to secure the sliding frame at a first position or a second position relative to the frame member. The adjustable spa frame can have a first length when the sliding frame is in the first position. The adjustable spa frame can have a second length different than the first length when the sliding frame is in the second position.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the sliding frame is configured to slide relative to the frame member.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the frame member is configured to receive the sliding frame, or vice versa.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the adjustable spa frame further includes a second frame member configured to interface with a second sliding frame.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the second frame member and the second sliding frame are arranged parallel to the frame member and the sliding frame.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the second frame member is configured to be non-adjustably secured to the sliding frame.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the second sliding frame is arranged perpendicular to the sliding frame.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the frame member forms a corner of the adjustable spa frame.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the frame member includes a top rail and a bottom rail, the top rail configured to receive a top arm of the sliding frame and the bottom rail configured to receive a bottom arm of the sliding frame.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein sliding frame configured to be secured to the frame member at a third position.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the adjustable spa frame includes four frame members and four sliding frames.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the frame member includes a rounded region and a flat surface.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the frame member includes a rounded region and a flat surface.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the adjustable spa frame includes a plurality of projections extending from the frame member.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the adjustable spa frame includes a plurality of ports in the sliding frame, each of the plurality of ports configured to receive and secure each of the plurality of projections.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the adjustable spa frame includes a plurality of panels, each panel of the plurality of panels configured to be mounted to a side of the spa.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein each panel of the plurality of panels includes rounded a first portion comprising a flat surface and a second portion comprising a rounded surface.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the adjustable spa frame comprises a first fixed frame member and a second fixed frame member, the first fixed frame member configured to be secured to at least one of the frame member and the sliding frame and the second fixed frame member configured to be secured to the other of the frame member and the sliding frame.
According to some embodiments, an adjustable spa frame configured to receive a spa shell can include a plurality of frame members. Each frame of the plurality of frame members can include a top rail and a bottom rail. The adjustable spa frame can include a plurality of sliding frames. Each of the plurality of sliding frames can include a top arm and a bottom arm. The top rail of each of the plurality of frame members can be configured to receive the top arm of one of the plurality of sliding frames. The bottom rail of each of the plurality of frame members can be configured to receive the bottom arm of one of the plurality of sliding frames. A length of one frame member and one sliding frame when the one frame member and the one sliding frame are secured to each other can be configured to be adjusted by sliding the one sliding frame from a first position to a second position.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the length of the one frame member and the one sliding frame is adjustable by at least 10 inches.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the adjustable spa frame further includes a plurality of bumpers configured to be removably connected to the plurality of frame members, the plurality of bumpers forming rounded corners of the spa frame.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the plurality of frame members further includes a plurality of openings including a first opening and a second opening in the top rail or the bottom rail.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the plurality of sliding frames further includes a push button configured to secure one of the plurality of sliding frames to one of the plurality of frame members by at least partially extending through at least one of the first and second openings.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the plurality of openings further include a third opening and a fourth opening.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the plurality of frame members further includes a plurality of visual markers including a first visual marker and a second visual marker.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the plurality of visual markers are located adjacent to a plurality of openings of the plurality of frame members and provide an indication of the length of the one frame member and the one sliding frame when the one frame member and the one sliding frame are secured to each other.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the plurality of visual markers further include a third visual marker and a fourth visual marker.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the plurality of frame members and the plurality of sliding frames form a quadrilateral shape when the plurality of frame members are secured to the plurality of sliding frames.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the adjustable spa frame further includes a kick rail positioned on a ground facing area of the spa frame. The kick rail can be configured to secure to at least one of a shallow pan and a deep pan.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein a top edge of the spa frame can be configured to receive and secure a shell trim.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the length of the of the one frame member and the one sliding frame when the one frame member and the one sliding frame are secured to each other is between about 60 inches to about 100 inches.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the length of the of the one frame member and the one sliding frame when the one frame member and the one sliding frame are secured to each other is between about 65 inches to about 95 inches.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the length of the of the one frame member and the one sliding frame when the one frame member and the one sliding frame are secured to each other is between about 69 inches to about 89 inches.
According to some embodiments, an adjustable spa frame for a spa unit can include a frame member including a top rail and a bottom rail; and a sliding frame including a first arm and a second arm. The top rail of the frame member can be configured to receive and secure the first arm of the sliding frame. The bottom rail of the frame member can be configured to receive and secure the second arm of the sliding frame. The sliding frame can be configured to be adjusted between at least a first position and second position when the sliding frame is secured to the frame member. The adjustable spa frame can have a first length when the sliding frame is in the first position. The adjustable spa frame can have a second length different than the first length when the sliding frame is in the second position.
A variation of the aspect above is, the techniques described herein relate to an adjustable spa frame, wherein: at least one of the top rail and the bottom rail includes a first opening and a second opening; at least one of the first arm and the second arm includes a button; wherein the first and second openings are configured to receive and secure the button.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the sliding frame is in the first position when the button is secured to the first opening, and wherein the sliding frame is in the second position when the button is secured to the second opening.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the adjustable spa frame further including a plurality of visual markers located adjacent to the first and second openings, the plurality includes visual markers configured to provide an indication of a length of the adjustable spa frame.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the second length is greater than the first length by at least 4 inches.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the adjustable spa frame further includes a bumper configured to be removably connected to the frame member, the bumper forming a rounded corner of the spa frame.
A variation of the aspect above is, the adjustable spa frame further includes a second frame member secured to the sliding member; and a second sliding member secured to the frame member. The second frame member and the second sliding member can be substantially perpendicular to the frame member and the sliding member.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein a top edge along the frame member and the sliding member is configured to receive and secure at least a portion of a shell trim.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the first length is between about 65 inches to about 85 inches.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the first length is between about 69 inches to about 84 inches.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the second length is between about 75 inches to about 90 inches.
A variation of the aspect above is, wherein the second length is between about 80 inches to about 89 inches.
Spa frames for a spa unit, spa shell, or other water basin are described herein. At least some of the spa frames described herein include sliding or otherwise adjustable components for adjusting the dimensions of the spa frame. The adjustable spa frame can be used with different sized spa shells and reduce the number of different sized spa frames that need to be carried in inventory.
In comes cases, and as shown in
In
The spa frame 100 can include a plurality of apertures 140 along the sides of the spa frame 100. The plurality of apertures 140 can be formed by the first, second, and third plurality of support structures 120, 122a, 122b, as shown in
A floor on the interior of the spa frame 100 can include two different sections having two different materials. A first region 102 can be dedicated to the equipment pack and a second region 104 can be dedicated to the spa shell. The first region 102 can include a PVC material and the second region 104 can include a mesh material.
Each of the one or more frame members 210 may include a rounded region forming a corner of the spa frame. Each frame member 210 can interface with at least one sliding frame 212. For instance, each sliding frame 212 can be configured to slide relative to a frame member 210. Each frame member 210 can be configured to receive at least one sliding frame 212, or vice versa. Each frame member 210 can be fixedly connected to a first sliding frame 212 on one side, e.g., by an interlocking connection, and slidably connected to a second sliding frame 212 on the other side. In other implementations, the frame member 210 may be slidably connected to the first sliding frame and the second sliding frame.
In other configurations, each sliding frame 212 may receive at least one frame member 210. Each sliding frame 212 can be fixedly connected to a first frame member 210 on one side, e.g., by an interlocking connection, and slidably connected to a second frame member 210 on the other side.
A sliding frame 212 can slide along a length L1, as shown in
The one or more bumpers 220 can be secured to each of the one or more frame members 210. For example, each bumper 220 can be attached one of the frame members 210 around the corners of the spa frame 200, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Although reference is made to each side of the spa frame 200 having a frame member 210 and a sliding frame 212, in some cases only a subset of the spa frame 200 sides include a frame member 210 and a sliding frame 212. For example, a first pair of parallel sides of the spa frame 200 can each include a frame member 210 and a sliding frame 212. The second pair of parallel sides of the spa frame 200 may not include both a frame member 210 and a sliding frame 212 and may instead include a pair of fixed frame members (e.g., a pair of frame members 210 or a pair of sliding frames 212). For example, the adjustable spa frame 200 can include a first fixed member and a second fixed frame member each secured to a frame member 210 and a sliding frame 212. The fixed frame members of the second pair of parallel sides can each be secured to a frame member 210 and/or a sliding frame 212 of the first pair of parallel sides. Where only two sides of the spa frame 200 each include a frame member 210 and a sliding frame 212, the length of the spa frame 200 may be adjusted by adjusting the position of the sliding frames 212 relative to the frame members 210, or vice versa.
As previously discussed, each frame member 210 can be secured to a sliding frame 212 with an interlocking connection. The interlocking connection can include one or more projections 214a extending from the frame member 210 that can be received and/or secured by one or more ports 214b along a corresponding sliding frame 212, or vice versa. The spa frame 200 can be assembled by securing each frame member 210, for example four frame members 210, to a pair of sliding frames 212. To disassemble the spa frame 200, one end of each frame member 210 may be detached from a sliding frame 212 by releasing the projections 214a from the ports 214b, and each sliding frame 212 may be removed from a frame member 210 by sliding the sliding frame 212 out of the frame member 210. The ability to disassemble the spa frame 200 can allow the components of the spa frame 200, including the frame members 210 and the sliding frames 212, to be packed, stored, and/or transported individually which may beneficially result in decreased packaging, transportation, and/or storage costs.
The length L2 can be adjusted between two or more positions, for example at least two positions, at least three positions, at least four positions, or more. For example, the frame member 210 can include at least four positions, as shown in
Where only two sides of the spa frame 200 each include a frame member 210 and a sliding frame 212, the non-adjustable sides can include a fixed length while the adjustable sides can include an adjustable length ranging from about 69 in. to about 89 in.
After the sliding frame 212 and the frame member 210 are adjusted to a desired length, the sliding frame 212 and the frame member 210 can be locked in the desired position. In some cases, top rail 210b and/or the bottom rail 210c can include one or more visual markers. For example, the top rail 210b of the frame member 210a can include one or more visual markers, as shown in
The sliding frame 212a can be adjusted by advancing or retracting the sliding frame 212a as described above. The top rail 210b can include a visual marker for each length arrangement. For example, a visual marker 230c can indicate a length L2 of 80 in, while a visual marker 230d can indicate a length L2 of 69 in. Similarly, the top rail 210b can include an opening for each length arrangement. For example, an opening 213c can indicate a length L2 of 80 in, while an opening 213d can indicate a length L2 of 69 in. Each frame member 210 can include more than or less than four visual markers and openings for adjusting the length L2 and for providing an indication of such length L2. The position of the openings along the top rail 210b can be adjusted to allow the L2 of the spa frame 200 to measure between around 69 in. to around 89 in. In some cases, the position of the openings along the top rail 210b can be adjusted to allow the L2 of the spa frame 200 to measure between around 84 in. to around 91 in.
The spa frame 200 can also include a kick rail 240, a shallow pan 242, and/or a deep pan 244, as shown in
As shown in
Although certain embodiments and examples are disclosed herein, inventive subject matter extends beyond the examples in the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses, and to modifications and equivalents thereof. While we have described and illustrated in detail embodiments of a spa frame that includes a frame member and a sliding member, it should be understood that our inventions can be modified in both arrangement and detail. Thus, the scope of the claims appended hereto is not limited by any of the particular embodiments described above. For example, in any method or process disclosed herein, the acts or operations of the method or process may be performed in any suitable sequence and are not necessarily limited to any particular disclosed sequence. Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in turn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding certain embodiments; however, the order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations are order dependent. Additionally, the structures, systems, and/or devices described herein may be embodied as integrated components or as separate components. For purposes of comparing various embodiments, certain aspects and advantages of these embodiments are described. Not necessarily all such aspects or advantages are achieved by any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, various embodiments may be carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other aspects or advantages as may also be taught or suggested herein.
Features, materials, characteristics, or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment, or example are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described in this section or elsewhere in this specification unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The protection is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The protection extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.
Furthermore, certain features that are described in this disclosure in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations, one or more features from a claimed combination can, in some cases, be excised from the combination, and the combination may be claimed as a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.
Moreover, while operations may be depicted in the drawings or described in the specification in a particular order, such operations need not be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Other operations that are not depicted or described can be incorporated in the example methods and processes. For example, one or more additional operations can be performed before, after, simultaneously, or between any of the described operations. Further, the operations may be rearranged or reordered in other implementations. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in some embodiments, the actual steps taken in the processes illustrated and/or disclosed may differ from those shown in the figures. Depending on the embodiment, certain of the steps described above may be removed, others may be added. Furthermore, the features and attributes of the specific embodiments disclosed above may be combined in different ways to form additional embodiments, all of which fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Also, the separation of various system components in the implementations described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and it should be understood that the described components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single product or packaged into multiple products.
For purposes of this disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features are described herein. Not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves one advantage or a group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without other input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, and so forth. Also, the term “or” is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list.
Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require the presence of at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z.
Language of degree used herein, such as the terms “approximately,” “about,” “generally,” and “substantially” as used herein represent a value, amount, or characteristic close to the stated value, amount, or characteristic that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, the terms “approximately”, “about”, “generally,” and “substantially” may refer to an amount that is within less than 10% of, within less than 5% of, within less than 1% of, within less than 0.1% of, and within less than 0.01% of the stated amount.
Although the spa frame has been disclosed in the context of certain embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the spa frame and subassemblies extend beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the embodiments and certain modifications and equivalents thereof. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the spa frame herein-disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.
A spa frame configured to receive a spa shell, the spa frame comprising:
A spa frame as described in any embodiment herein, wherein a shape of the first plurality of panels corresponds to a shape of the plurality of openings on the first side.
A spa frame as described in any embodiment herein, wherein a length of the second plurality of panels corresponds to a length of the spa frame.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/381,916, entitled “SPA FRAME” and filed on Nov. 1, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63381916 | Nov 2022 | US |
