Collapsible solar-heated hot tub

• US 4,744,112 A
• Filed: 08/20/1986
• Issued: 05/17/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wiley E. Keesling Jr
• Original Assignee: Wiley E. Keesling Jr
• Inventors: Keesling, Wiley E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sholl, Linda J.
• Application Number:
  US06/898,455
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 4/545, 4/542, 4/585, 4/588, 4/493, 4/498, 4/541, 4/559, 4/580, 4/543, 126/415, 126/416
• US Class Current: 4/585
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 3/06 Collapsible baths , e.g. inflatable; Movable baths
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 3/10 Wave-producers or the like , e.g. with devices for admitting gas, e.g. air, in the bath-water baths with gas-containing liquids A61H33/02; for swimming-pools E04H4/0006
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 60/30 storing heat in liquids
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/40 Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers

Abstract

A collapsible, gas-inflatable hot tub which is for use in locations where hot water is not accessible or where hot baths are not available. The water of the hot tub is solar heated by making the walls of the water-holding receptacle black, and by providing an insulating cover for the water-holding receptacle that keeps the heat in until a bath is taken. The bottom of the receptacle is connected to a perforated hose for supplying forced air to the bottom of the receptacle in order to form air bubbles. The hot tub is reinforced by transverse ribs at the bottom.

Claims

1. A solar-heated portable hot tub for use in areas where bathing facilities are not available, comprising:

an inflatable side rim-portion defining the circumferential wall of the hot tub, said side rim-portion having means formed therein for the reception of forced air for inflating said side rim-portion;

a bottom portion upon which rests a bather when taking a bath in the tub, said bottom portion being joined to lower portions of said side rim portion such that said side rim portion projects upwardly beyond said bottom portion to define therein a water-holding chamber in which a bather takes a bath;

said bottom portion comprising means projecting upwardly and shaped concavely to allow for a bather to be seated therein, said means comprising a first longitudinally extending rib having a substantially convex shape facing upwardly, at least one second longitudinally extending rib having a convex shape facing upwardly less than said first rib, and a third rib similar to said first rib and parallel thereto, said second rib being sandwiched between said first and third ribs to define said substantially concave shape;

said first, second and third ribs being colored black for absorbing heat from the sun for heating water placed in the tub;

an insulating cover for closing off the tub, said cover being substantially clear to allow penetration of the sun'"'"'s rays and having insulating qualities to keep the heat thereunder;

at least a pair of longitudinally extending sections, each having a series of holes formed therein for allowing air forced therethrough to penetrate into said water-holding chamber to create bubbles;

said first, second and third ribs defining a pair of upper longitudinally extending spaces therebetween at a lower elevation than the upper surface portions of the convex shapes of said ribs, said pair of longitudinally extending sections being mounted in said pair of longitudinally extending spaces such that said series of holes of each said section lies in a plane spaced below the the upper surface portions of the convex shape of said ribs so that a bather does not block the escape of air through said series of holes.

2. The solar-heated tub according to claim 1, wherein said bottom portion further comprises a fourth rib identical to said second rib, and a fifth rib identical to said first and third ribs, said fourth rib being sandwiched between said third and fifth ribs, said third rib being substantially located at the center portion along the width of said bottom portion, whereby two said concave surfaces are provided for two persons to bathe simultanously.

3. The solar-heated tub according to claim 2, wherein said ribs are all inflated simultaneously.

4. The solar-heated tub according to claim 3,

wherein said bottom portion further comprises another second rib and another fourth rib so that two said second ribs are sandwiched between said first and third ribs and two said fourth ribs are sandwiched between said third and fifth ribs.

5. The solar-heated tub according to claim 1, wherein said means for supplying forced air to said sections comprises a motor, said motor also supplying forced air to said bottom portion to inflate it and to said side rim portion to inflate it, each of said side rim portion, bottom portion, and said pair of sections being inflated independently of the other and at a different time that does not overlap with the inflation of any other portion, whereby a smaller sized motor may be used for each portion'"'"'s inflation and where said plurality of sections may be provided with air to force remaining used water from the tub after the tub has been inverted.

6. The solar-heated tub according to claim 1, further comprising means for draining comprising an adapter means for fitting said draining means to one end of a garden hose;

and a garden hose having a first end coupled to said means for draining, and a second end remote from said first end for allowing the used water to drain out therefrom.

7. The solar-heated tub according to claim 6, in combination with a motor and air fan for supplying air to said tub, said motor and fan supplying the air to said bottom portion, said side rim-portion, and to said pair of sections independent of each other;

and hose means for connecting said motor and fan to said portions and said sections to allow for the passage of air thereto.