BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of immersion baths, and more particularly, to a portable ice bath that is configured to contain one or more persons.
2. Description of the Related Art
The present invention is intended to provide a portable and functional way for persons to immerse themselves in an ice bath. The present invention was designed with the following goals in mind: ease of use; ice retention; durability; safety, and transportation. It also incorporates features for the containment of accessories such as towels and beverages.
There is little prior art in the field of immersion baths for human beings, but one example of the prior art is U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2023/0030355 (Edgar). This application discloses a cryotherapy device for manipulating the core body temperature of a human subject by utilizing both convection and conduction. The device comprises an open-topped liquid carrier vessel with an inlet and an outlet, a removable splash guard, chiller means for maintaining the liquid at a predetermined temperature, and a jet inlet for discharging liquid or a combination of liquid and air into the liquid carrier vessel. A pump is configured to create a jet stream within the liquid carrier vessel. The splash guard includes an aperture that allows the jet stream to contact the exposed skin of a person whose body part is placed on top of the splash guard. Unlike the present invention, this particular invention is not a full-immersion bath. Similar prior art references incorporate refrigeration and/or heating modules (which are not part of the present invention) or are configured to receive only part of the body.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a full-immersion ice bath with a pivotable cover and a step that is integrated into the cover to facilitate ingress and egress into and out of the ice bath. It is a further object of the present invention to provide towel and cup holders that are accessible by a person who is positioned within the ice bath. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide wheels that allow the ice bath to be moved from one location to another.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a whole body ice bath comprising: a tub that comprises a front wall, a rear wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a floor; a cover that is pivotally connected to a top rear edge of the tub and that comprises an integral step on an underside of the cover; a pair of wheels that are disposed along a bottom rear end of the tub, each wheel being configured to rotate about a shaft; and a seat that is situated inside of the tub along the rear wall of the tub; and an inlet and an outlet, each of which is configured to be connected to a water chiller; wherein the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, the second side wall, and the floor of the tub are comprised of a layer of insulation in between two layers of molded plastic; and wherein a portion of the first side wall is offset relative to a non-offset portion of the first side wall, a portion of the second side wall is offset relative to a non-offset portion of the second side wall, and a portion of the front wall is offset relative to a non-offset portion of the front wall. In a preferred embodiment, the center part of each of the first and second side walls of the tub comprises a vertical bend of less than ten degrees. The cover preferably comprises a bend on either side of the cover corresponding to the vertical bend in the first and second side walls of the tub.
In a preferred embodiment, the cover further comprises a front edge that is configured to stabilize the front end of the cover against a ground surface when the cover is in an open position. Preferably, the invention further comprises a towel rod that is disposed on a top part of the front wall of the tub. The towel rod preferably comprises a first end and a second end, and a cup holder is situated on both the first end and the second end of the towel rod.
In a preferred embodiment, the invention further comprising a first latch and a second latch, each of which is situated on the front edge of the cover and configured to secure the cover to the front wall of the tub. Preferably, the front edge of the cover comprises a first end and a second end; wherein each of the first end and the second end of the front edge of the cover comprises a padlock receiving area; wherein a top edge of the front wall of the tub comprises a first end and a second end; and wherein each of the first end and the second end of the top edge of the front wall of the tub comprises a padlock receiving area that is configured to mate with one of the two padlock receiving areas on the front edge of the cover to receive a padlock. The invention preferably further comprises a drain port that is situated in a bottom part of the front wall of the tub and configured to allow water to be drained from inside of the tub. A two-way valve is preferably situated directly above the drain port.
In a preferred embodiment, the cover comprises a raised area that rises from a front edge of the raised area to a top edge at a first angle and tapers downward to a rear edge of the cover at a second angle, the first angle being greater than the second angle; wherein the raised area comprises a first surface that extends from the front edge of the raised area to the top edge and a second surface that extends from the top edge to a hinge at the rear edge of the cover; and wherein the second surface of the raised area comprises foam decking. Preferably, the layer of insulation in the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, the second side wall, and the floor has a thickness; and wherein the thickness of the layer of insulation in the floor is greater than the thickness of the layers of insulation in the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall. The cover is preferably comprised of a layer of insulation in between two layers of molded plastic; and wherein the raised area of the cover is filled with insulation.
In a preferred embodiment, a bottom center of the rear wall of the tub comprises a depression that is situated behind the seat on the inside of the tub. Preferably, the invention further comprises a plurality of non-slip pads on an underside of the floor of the tub. A rubber gasket that is preferably positioned around a perimeter of the underside of the cover and configured to couple with a lip around a perimeter of a top edge of the tub to form a seal when the cover is in a closed position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present invention shown with the cover in a closed position.
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the present invention shown with the cover in a closed position.
FIG. 3 is a top view of the present invention shown with the cover in a closed position.
FIG. 4 is a top view of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a front view of the present invention shown with the cover in a closed position.
FIG. 6 is a rear view of the present invention shown with the cover in a closed position.
FIG. 7 is a first section view of the present invention taken at the line shown in FIG. 12.
FIG. 8 is a rear view of the present invention shown with the cover in an open position.
FIG. 9 is a second section view of the present invention taken at the line shown in FIG. 12.
FIG. 10 is a detail section view of the present invention shown with the cover in an open position.
FIG. 11 is a detail section view of the present invention shown with the cover in a closed position.
FIG. 12 is a side section view of the present invention show with the cover in an open position.
FIG. 13 is a detail section view of the cover of the present invention shown with the cover in a closed position.
FIG. 14 is a rear perspective view of the present invention shown with the cover in an open position.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the underside of the cover of the present invention showing the integral step.
REFERENCE NUMBERS
1 Tub
1
a Front wall (of tub)
1
b Rear wall (of tub)
1
c Depression (in rear wall of tub)
1
d First side wall (of tub)
1
e Second side wall (of tub)
1
f Floor (of tub)
2 Cover
2
a Bend (in cover)
3 Latch
4 Recess/hand grip
5 Padlock receiving area
5
a Floor (of padlock receiving area)
5
b Hole (in floor of padlock receiving area)
5
c Wall (of padlock receiving area)
6 Towel bar
7 Cup holder
7
a Break or slot (in cup holder)
8 Drain port
9 Hinge
10 Protrusion
11 First shaft
12 Raised area
12
a Top edge (of raised area)
12
b First surface (of raised area)
12
c Second surface (of raised area)
12
d Foam decking
12
e Side surface (of raised area)
13 Wheel
14 Second shaft
15 Foam insulation
16 Foam insulation injection port
17 Non-slip pad
18 Center seam (in tub)
19 Base (of seat in tub)
20 Two-way valve
21 Bracket
22 Outlet
23 Inlet
24 Lip (on top of tub)
25 Seat
26 Rubber gasket
27 Step
27
a Base (of step)
27
b Side wall (of step)
27
c Outer support bracket (of step)
28
d Central support bracket (of step)
28 Foot (front-most end of cover)
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present invention shown with the cover in a closed position. As shown in this figure, the present invention comprises a tub 1 with a cover 2. The tub 1 is comprised of a front wall 1a, a rear wall 1b, a first side wall 1d and a second side wall 1e. The cover 2 is pivotally attached to the top rear of the tub 1 (see FIG. 2). Two latches 3 are situated along the front edge of the cover and are configured to secure the front end of the cover 2 to the top of the front wall 1a of the tub 1. In a preferred embodiment, the latch 3 is a ROTO™ molded T-handle rubber cooler latch. At the center of the top edge of the front wall 1a of the tub 1 is a recess 4 that is configured to facilitate lifting of the cover 2 by hand when the latches 3 are unlocked. The cover 2 has two front corners, each of which is configured to form a padlock receiving area 5. The padlock receiving area 5 is comprised of a floor 5a with an aperture 5b through which the hook of a padlock may be inserted and a contiguous wall 5c that defines the padlock receiving area 5 (see also FIG. 3). Note that the padlock receiving areas 5 on the cover are configured to mate with similar padlock receiving areas on either side of the top front edge of the front wall 1a of the tub 1.
A towel bar 6 is provided across the entire width of the front wall 1a of the tub 1, directly underneath the latches 3. The towel bar 6 preferably comprises a cup holder 7 configured to receive a beverage holder on each end of the towel bar 6. A drain port 8 is situated at the bottom of the front wall 1a of the tub 1. The drain port 8 may be coupled to a garden hose (not shown). The purpose of the drain port 8 is to allow water to be drained from the tub 1 after use.
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the present invention shown with the cover in a closed position. This figure shows the hinge 9 by which the cover 2 is pivotally connected to the rear of the tub 1. As shown in FIG. 9, two protrusions 10 extend diagonally upward from the top edge of the rear wall 1b and are configured to receive a first shaft 11 about which the cover 2 rotates. The cover 2 comprises a raised area 12 that rises steeply from the front part of the cover to a top edge 12a and then tapers gradually downward to the rear edge of the cover 2 at the hinge 9. The raised area 12 comprises a first surface 12b, which extends from the front edge of the raised area 12 proximate to the front edge of the cover 2 to the top edge 12a, and a second surface 12c, which extends from the top edge 12a to the hinge 9 at the rear edge of the cover 2. In a preferred embodiment, the second surface 12c comprises foam decking 12d for graphic placement.
Referring to FIG. 2, a pair of wheels 13 is disposed at the bottom rear of the tub 1. The wheels 13 are configured to rotate about a second shaft 14. The tub 1 and cover 2 are comprised of a molded plastic body with foam insulation 15 (see FIG. 12) injected in between two layers of plastic. FIG. 2 shows the foam insulation injection ports 16 on the cover 2. A similar foam injection port 16 is situated on a first side wall 1d of the tub 1 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Note that the rear wall 1b of the tub 1 comprises a depression 1c. When the tub is filled with water, each of the tub walls (front, side and rear) must have a break in it to prevent the wall from bowing out due to the pressure of the water inside of the tub. Accordingly, none of the walls of the tub is a flat surface; each wall has at least two different surface levels. The depression 1c shown in FIG. 2 is in the form of a rectangle that is situated in the bottom center of the rear wall 1b behind the seat 25. In a preferred embodiment, the molded plastic tub body is made of DOW™ MDPE DPDA-3152 NT 7 Medium Density Polyethylene Resin manufactured by The Dow Chemical Company of Midland, Michigan.
FIG. 3 is a top view of the present invention shown with the cover in a closed position. As shown in this figure, the raised area 12 further comprises two opposing side surfaces 12e that are angled inward from bottom to top. The entire raised area 12 is comprised of the first surface 12a, the second surface 12b, and the two side surfaces 12e. Viewed from the top, the raised area 12 is in the form of an isosceles trapezium. The cover 2 preferably comprises a bend 2a on the right and left sides of the cover. The sides of the cover 2 extend from the rear edge of the cover at a ninety-degree angle and then taper slightly inward (preferably at a five-degree angle) after the bend 2a. In this manner, the front of the cover 2 is narrower than the rear end of the cover 2. This bend 2a in the cover 2 and in the body of the tub 1 allows the tub 1 to “flex” at the center seam 18 when the tub is full of water (see also FIGS. 4 and 9).
FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the present invention. As shown in this figure, the tub 1 comprises a floor 1f on the underside of which are disposed a plurality of rubber, non-slip pads 17 that help secure the tub to the ground when in use. This figure also shows the base 19 of the seat 25 inside of the tub 1 (see FIG. 9). In a preferred embodiment, each cup holder 7 comprises a break or slot that is configured to allow water to drain out of the cup holder.
FIG. 5 is a front view of the present invention shown with the cover in a closed position, and FIG. 6 is a rear view of the present invention shown with the cover in a closed position. A two-way valve 20 is preferably situated directly above the drain port 18. A bracket 21 is located directly underneath and configured to support the base 19 of the seat 25. The first side wall 1d of the tub 1 comprises an outlet 22 and an inlet 23 for a water chiller (not shown). Water inside of the tub is drawn through the outlet 22 into the water chiller and then pumped back into the tub 1 via the inlet 23, thereby maintaining a constant temperature of the water inside of the tub 1 and circulating and filtering the water. In a preferred embodiment, the water chiller is the Spartan™ water chiller manufactured by Spartan Ice Bath of Old Town, Maine.
FIG. 7 is a first section view of the present invention taken at the line shown in FIG. 12. This figure shows the foam insulation 15 within the walls of the tub 1. In a preferred embodiment, the foam insulation is ECOFOAM™ HD manufactured by Foam Supplies, Inc. of Earth City, Missouri. Note also that the thickness of the foam is preferably greater on the floor 1f of the tub than it is on the side walls 1d, 1e. As shown in this figure, the top part of each side wall 1d, 1e is preferably offset, for the reasons explained above in connection with FIG. 2. In other words, the inside diameter (side-to-side) of the tub 1 in the top part of the tub is greater than the inside diameter of the tub in the bottom part of the tub. Similarly, the outside diameter of the tub 1 in the top part of the tub is greater than the outside diameter of the tub in the bottom part of the tub. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, the offset portion of the tub starts at the top back of each side wall and curves downward as it extends forwardly across the surface of the side wall; at the front wall, the offset portion curves downward and inward to the floor. In a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the front, rear and side walls of the tub is constant (that is, it does not change between the offset and non-offset portions), and it is also equal among the four walls (see also FIG. 9).
FIG. 8 is a rear view of the present invention shown with the cover in an open position. This figure shows the integrated step 27 on the underside of the cover; note that the “underside” of the cover is the outside of the cover when the cover is in the position shown in this figure. This figure also shows the rubber gasket 26 that is positioned around the perimeter of the underside of the cover 2. This gasket 26 serves to seal the cover 2 when it is in a closed position, as explained more fully below.
FIG. 9 is a second section view of the present invention taken at the line shown in FIG. 12. As shown in this figure, the present invention comprises a seat 25 that is formed inside of the tub 1 and is set against the rear wall 1b of the tub. The base 19 of the seat 25 is also visible in FIG. 4.
FIG. 10 is a detail section view of the present invention shown with the cover in an open position, and FIG. 11 is a detail section view of the present invention shown with the cover in a closed position. As shown in these two figures, the cover 2 comprises a rubber gasket 26 that is situated around the perimeter of the underside of the cover and configured to couple with the lip 24 on the top of the tub 1 in the manner shown here (see also FIG. 13).
FIG. 12 is a side section view of the present invention show with the cover in an open position. As shown in this figure, the cover 2 comprises a step 27 that is molded into the underside of the cover 2 to enable a person to step up and into the tub 1. The step 27 is integral to the cover and molded with the cover as a single part. Note that the front-most end of the cover 2 acts as a foot 28 to stabilize the cover 2 against the ground when the cover is in an open position.
FIG. 13 is a detail section view of the cover of the present invention shown with the cover in a closed position. This figure shows the integral step 27 that is described above in connection with FIG. 12. It also shows the rubber gasket 26 that engages with the lip 24 on the top of the tub 1 to form a seal.
FIG. 14 is a rear perspective view of the present invention shown with the cover in an open position, and FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the underside of the cover of the present invention showing the integral step. As shown in these figures, the step 27 is preferably comprised of a base 27a and two side walls 27b. Each side wall 27b is contiguous with a support bracket 27c on the bottom of the step 27. Two central support brackets 27d are situated between the two outer support brackets 27c and configured to provide additional support to the base 27a.
The present invention presents several unique structural aspects. First, the step that is integrated into the cover allows a person to get into and out of the tub with ease. Second the drain port on the front of the tub allows a person to drain the tub in their garage without getting the floor wet. Third, the non-slip pads on the bottom of the tub help secure it (for example, to a garage floor) while in use. Fourth, the seat on the interior of the tub enables a person to rest comfortably while in the ice bath. Fifth, the inlet and outlet allow the tub to be connected to a water chiller, although the present invention may also be used without a water chiller, if desired. Furthermore, the tub is insulated, thereby providing a colder and more consistent temperature than non-insulated ice baths. The latchable and lockable cover keeps unwanted animals and debris out of the ice bath. From a safety perspective, the cover can be secured with a padlock, and the integrated step works only when the cover is open. The wheel system makes the entire system moveable and transportable.
To use the ice bath, it is placed in position, the water chiller system (if used) is attached, the drain port is closed, the cover is opened, and the tub is filled with water and ice. Once the optimum temperature is achieved, a person will use the integrated step to enter the ice bath for the desired period of time. When finished, the person will use the step to exit the ice bath. The lid is closed and locked, a garden hose is attached to the drain port, and the water is drained from the tub.
Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20250194861
