The present invention generally relates to tubs, such as bathtubs, bathing enclosures, spas, whirlpools and the like, and, more particularly, to a heating system used in conjunction with such tubs.
Tubs are well known for their primary use, namely a washroom installation in which a user person washes and bathes. Tubs have however evolved to add pleasure and comfort to practicality, and are found in many forms, such as bathtubs, spas, whirlpools. For instance, tubs are now provided with air jet systems and whirlpool systems. There is an increasing variety of products, such as bathing oils, creams, lotions, that emphasize the therapeutic and health-beneficial aspects of bathing.
One of the factors that is adjusted by bathers is the temperature of the fluid within the tub. Taking a hot bath has a soothing effect, while taking a cool bath can be refreshing. In some cases, however, there is a temperature variation between the walls of the tub and the fluid in the tub. For instance, the walls of the tub above the water line can often be cooler than the water.
As bathers typically rest or lean against parts of the tub above the water line, the skin of the bathers contacting these surfaces transmit a feeling of discomfort to the bather.
In order to warm up tub walls, some air ducts systems have been added about hidden surfaces of tub walls so as to heat the tub wall with warm air (i.e., by convection). However, such systems are bulky, and are inefficient in distributing heat to the tub walls uniformly. Moreover, as tubs are often equipped with other systems such as air massage systems, air ducts can not be used due to a lack of space about the hidden surface of the tub wall.
Therefore, it is a feature of the present invention to provide a tub surface heating device to heat parts of walls of a tub.
It is a further feature of the present invention to provide a tub surface heating device and method that addresses issues associated with the prior art.
Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a combination of a tub surface heating device and a tub, comprising a tub having a tub wall with an inner surface which is in contact with water and an outer surface which stays dry during the bath, a heat source which heats by conduction the inner surface of the tub wall, and a securing configuration, said configuration securing the heat source on the outer surface of the tub wall.
Further in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for heating a tub wall having an inner surface which is in contact with water and an outer surface which stays dry during the bath, comprising securing a heat source to the outer surface of the tub wall; connecting said heat source to a power source; and actuating said heat source to heat the tub wall.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring to the drawings and, more particularly, to
The tub surface heating system 10 has tub surface heating devices 12. In the embodiment illustrated in
Referring concurrently to FIGS. 1 to 3, the tub surface heating device 12 is shown having a heating panel 20. The heating panel 20 has a first surface 20A and a second surface 20B. An electric plug 21 is provided at an upper end of the panel 20 on the second surface 20B, and is wired to a heating circuit 22 (
The wire connectors 24 are sealingly connected to the second surface 20B of the heating panel 20, so as to isolate live wires therein. The assembly of the wire connectors 24 with the heating panel 20 is sturdy, so as to prevent exposure of the wires in the wire connectors 24, and thus prevent electrical shocks or short circuits.
In an embodiment, the heating panel 20 receives heat generated by an electric source, i.e., the heating circuit 22. However, it is contemplated to provide other types of heating, such as heat-transfer fluid piping in the heating panel 20.
As seen in
The heating panel 20 is preferably made of a flexible material, so as to conform to the shape of the hidden surface B, and be in an optimized thermal coupling therewith. The material of the heating panel 20 must also transfer heat of the heating circuit 22 uniformly, while being capable of sustaining heat. For instance, the heating panel 20 has a layer of silicone hosting the heating circuit 22, and defining the first surface 20A of the panel 20, so as to transmit uniformly heat from the heating circuit 22 to the tub wall.
The heating panel 20 preferably has an insulating layer defining the second surface 20B of the panel 20, such that heat generated by the heating circuit 22 is mostly directed to the tub wall.
The orientation of the electric plug 21 and the electric receptacle 23 is such that the heating device 12 is readily connectable in series with other heating devices 12, for a single power feed. This is well illustrated in
The preferred configuration of the heating device 12 and its electric plug 21 and receptacle 23 is such that when the heating devices 12 are serially connected, as in
For instance, as shown in
Referring to
As an additional safety feature, a thermal fuse 32 is provided in the heating circuit 22, to prevent overheating of the heating panel 20. The thermal fuse 32 is adapted to break off at temperature above the temperature setting of the regulator 31 (ensuring that the heating shuts off to avoid burning the skin of the occupant of the tub A).
A temperature sensor 33 may also be provided in the heating panel 20. The temperature sensor 33 is wired to the controller 13 (
Referring to
Additionally, the user interface 16 may be provided with a temperature regulator, such that a user person may set a temperature for the heating system 10. The user interface 16 is connected to the electronic controller 13, which will control the power sent to the heating devices 12 in accordance with the temperature settings entered by the user person with the user interface 16. As an example, the user interface 16 has a digital display to indicate the settings of the heating system 10, as well as the temperature measured by the user interface 16.
In order to adjust the temperature of the heating devices 12, the controller 13 may be wired to the sensor 33 of any one of the heating devices 12, and thus modulate the power supply in accordance with the desired temperature.
In an embodiment in which a heat transfer fluid is used rather than electric power to transmit heat to the tub surface, the controller 13 is a pump controlling the feed of the heat transfer fluid to the heating panels 20.
The heating system 10 of the present invention may be used with any type of tub/spa material, such as acrylic, ABS, steel (e.g., stainless steel), cast iron and the like. The heating devices 12 are preferably secured to parts of the hidden surface of the tub corresponding to parts of the exposed surface of the tub wall above the water line (e.g., the maximum water line), so as to reduce the temperature variation between the fluid and the tub wall. The heating devices 12 are strategically positioned where the bather contacts the tub wall, such as at the backrest of the exposed tub surface.
It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any obvious modifications of the embodiments described herein, provided such modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.
This patent application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/631,417, filed on Nov. 30, 2004, by the present applicant.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
60631417 | Nov 2004 | US |