Inflatable spa

• US 10,815,686 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2018
• Issued: 10/27/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intex Marketing Ltd. (Intex Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intex Marketing Ltd. (Intex Corporation)
• Inventors: Lin, Hua Hsiang, Hsu, Yaw Yuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Baker, Lori L
• Application Number:
  US16/193,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20190085576A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 4538-595, 4495
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 3/06 Collapsible baths , e.g. inflatable; Movable baths
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/023 with means in the air supply lines to prevent back-feed of water, e.g. anti-backflow valves, draining devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0103 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0157 portable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/0087 Therapeutic baths with agitated or circulated water
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/0095 Arrangements for varying the temperature of the liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/02 Bathing devices for use with gas-containing liquid, or liquid in which gas is led or generated, e.g. carbon dioxide baths A61H33/6026 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/028 Means for producing a flow of gas, e.g. blowers, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6005 Special constructive structural details of the bathtub, e.g. of the walls or supporting structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6021 Nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6047 With incorporated pump means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6068 Outlet from the bath
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/0025 with inflatable parts
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/129 Systems for heating the water content of swimming pools solar collectors using pools F24S10/17, F24S10/10; by solar radiation F24S20/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An inflatable spa is disclosed having improved strength. A water cavity of the inflatable spa may receive massaging air bubbles and/or jetted water.

Claims

1. An inflatable pool comprising:

a top wall;

a bottom wall;

an internal wall;

an external wall;

an inflatable air chamber defined by the top wall, the bottom wall, the internal wall, and the external wall;

a water cavity defined by the bottom wall and the internal wall;

an air pump; and

an air passageway that delivers air from the air pump to the water cavity of the inflatable pool, wherein in an area located between the air pump and the external wall of the inflatable pool, the air passageway includes;

a first check valve that is biased closed to prevent a backflow of water from the water cavity to the air pump and is opened under pressure from the air pump, the first check valve having a hemispherical seal;

a second check valve that is biased closed to prevent a backflow of water from the water cavity to the air pump and is opened under pressure from the air pump, the second check valve having a hemispherical seal; and

a drain valve that is biased open to drain any water from the air passageway and is closed under pressure from the air pump.

2. The inflatable pool of claim 1, wherein the air passageway narrows around the first and second check valves such that the first and second check valves become progressively tighter as the backflow of water from the water cavity increases.

3. An inflatable pool comprising:

a top wall;

a bottom wall;

an internal wall;

an external wall;

an inflatable air chamber defined by the top wall, the bottom wall, the internal wall, and the external wall;

a water cavity defined by the bottom wall and the internal wall;

a first tensioning structure that extends from the external wall to the internal wall through the air chamber;

a second tensioning structure that extends from the external wall to the internal wall through the air chamber; and

an air delivery system comprising;

an air pump; and

an air transport pipe in communication with the air pump, the air transport pipe extending from the external wall to the internal wall through the air chamber to deliver air from the air pump to the water cavity, the air transport pipe disposed between the first and second tensioning structures.

4. The inflatable pool of claim 3, wherein the first and second tensioning structures are immediately adjacent tensioning structures.

5. The inflatable pool of claim 3, wherein the first and second tensioning structures each comprise a first layer of a pattern of crossed fibers and an attaching layer to which the first layer is attached.

6. The inflatable pool of claim 3, wherein the first tensioning structure includes:

an upper edge having upper horizontal portions located at the external and internal walls and an upper notch-defining portion located between the upper horizontal portions; and

a lower edge having lower horizontal portions located at the external and internal walls and a lower notch-defining portion located between the lower horizontal portions.

7. The inflatable pool of claim 3, further comprising:

a third tensioning structure that extends from the external wall to the internal wall through the air chamber;

a water inlet pipe that extends from the internal wall to the external wall to direct water from the water cavity to a control system, the water inlet pipe disposed between the second and third tensioning structures; and

a water outlet pipe that extends from the external wall to the internal wall to direct water from the control system to the water cavity, the water outlet pipe disposed between the second and third tensioning structures.

8. An inflatable pool comprising:

a top wall;

a bottom wall;

an internal wall;

an external wall;

an inflatable air chamber defined by the top wall, the bottom wall, the internal wall, and the external wall;

a water cavity defined by the bottom wall and the internal wall; and

an air delivery system comprising;

an air pump;

an air transport pipe with a first end coupled to the external wall in communication with the air pump and a second end coupled to the internal wall;

an air delivery chamber with a plurality of air delivery holes, the air delivery chamber defined at least in part by an inner side of the internal wall; and

an intermediate conduit that extends downward from the second end of the air transport pipe to the air delivery chamber along the inner side of the internal wall.

9. The inflatable pool of claim 8, wherein the bottom wall includes:

an annular perimeter rim attached to the internal wall;

an upper layer attached to the annular perimeter rim; and

a lower layer attached to the annular perimeter rim and the upper layer, a majority of the upper layer being spaced apart from the lower layer to define a space therebetween.

10. The inflatable pool of claim 9, wherein the annular perimeter rim cooperates with the inner side of the internal wall and an angled annular wall to define the air delivery chamber.

11. The inflatable pool of claim 9, wherein the annular perimeter rim is arranged beneath the air delivery chamber.

12. An inflatable pool comprising:

a top wall;

a bottom wall;

an internal wall;

an external wall;

an inflatable air chamber defined by the top wall, the bottom wall, the internal wall, and the external wall;

a water cavity defined by the bottom wall and the internal wall; and

an air delivery system comprising;

an air pump;

an air transport pipe with a first end coupled to the external wall in communication with the air pump and a second end coupled to the internal wall, the air transport pipe extending horizontally between the first and second ends along a horizontal axis, and

an air delivery chamber located inward of the internal wall and having a plurality of air delivery holes, the air delivery holes located beneath the horizontal axis of the air transport pipe.

13. The inflatable pool of claim 12, wherein the air delivery chamber is at least partially defined by the bottom wall.