US20030014811A1

US20030014811A1 - Spa with armrests

Info

Publication number: US20030014811A1
Application number: US09/911,140
Authority: US
Inventors: Steven Hammock
Original assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corp
Current assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corp
Priority date: 2001-07-23
Filing date: 2001-07-23
Publication date: 2003-01-23

Abstract

A portable spa having seats molded into its interior provides armrests for each seat that are unobtrusively molded into the sides of the spa. The armrests, two for each seat, are located with respect to the seat so that the spa user can comfortably rest both arms in an outstretched manner while still keeping them mostly under water.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to improvements in spas, and more particularly pertains to new and improved portable spas for more than one person.

2. Description of Prior Art

In the field of personal portable spas, it has been the practice to form seating into the walls of the spa. The seating can vary, being upright and reclining, to provide as many comfortable seating options as possible, for as many people as possible, in the space dictated by the spa size. For the most part, designers of portable spas have ignored the arms of people using the spas, assuming instead that the arms would be hung over the top or lip of the spa, or kept down along the side of the body. The present invention, on the other hand, provides for comfortable placement of arms in a spa.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A portable spa with water containing walls and floor, and a circumscribing lip, has seats formed into the walls. Platforms are formed into the walls adjacent to the seats at a level that will allow either both arms or elbows, of a person of normal build, to rest on the platform at a comfortable level within the spa.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The exact nature of this invention as well as its objects and advantages will become readily apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanied drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein: [0006]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the water containing enclosure of a spa according to the present invention; and [0007]
FIG. 2 is a partially broken away section of the spa of FIG. 1.[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A portable spa [0009] 11 incorporating a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The water container 12 is made up of a plurality of walls 15 which are circumscribed by a lip 13 that overhangs the outside support structure 14 for the container 12. Container 12 is preferably molded in one piece out of any one of a number of well known plastic materials. A preferred arrangement of seats 22 having bottoms 19 and backs 20 are formed into the walls 15 as part of the molding process. A floor 17 is also formed as part of this process.
The [0010] seats 22, which comprise a sitting portion or bottom 19 and a back 20, are placed within the container 12 so the top of the backs 20 of the seats are below the water line when the container is filled to capacity. At about the same height as the backs 20 of the seats 22, on each side of each back 20, platforms 23, 21, 25 are formed. These platforms may be in any one of a variety of shapes. The triangular shape shown in FIG. 1 is a preferred shape. These platforms are all at or slightly below the normal water line. They serve as armrests, supporting both arms or elbows of a person sitting in any one of the seats 22. When arms (not shown) are rested on the platforms, they are at a comfortable shoulder level, or slightly lower, depending upon the size of the individual, while still being slightly under the water line.
Referring now to FIG. 2, which illustrates a broken away section of wall of the spa [0011] 11 of FIG. 1, substantially along sectional line 2-2 of FIG. 1, the relative height relationships between a seat bottom 19, an armrest platform 23, the lip 13, and the water line 27, is illustrated. The water line 27 within the spa 11 is at a preferred distance 31 from the bottom 19 of a seat 22. In one preferred model, the distance 31 is about 22 inches. The distance 28 from the water line 27 to the lip 13 of the spa 11 is about 6 inches, leaving plenty of height to contain the agitated bubbling water. The distance 29 from the water line 27 to the platform armrests 23 is about 3¼ inches in one preferred model, but may be greater, as desired. If it is desired to maintain the arms fully submerged while resting upon the armrest platforms 23, a greater distance could be used here.
As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the [0012] armrest platforms 23 form an integral part of the seats 22, blending in with the backs 20 of the seats 22, formed into the walls 15 of spa 11 as a continuous line providing an aesthetically pleasing look, as well as armrest platforms 21. The placement of the platforms allow a user to comfortably rest his arms or elbows away from his body, allowing the hands to still be kept out of the water to hold a drink, for example, thus greatly enhancing the enjoyment of the spa.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A portable spa comprising:

a container having enclosing walls and a circumscribing lip for holding water;

a seat formed into the walls of the container below the circumscribing lip; and

an armrest formed into the walls of the container adjacent to the seat, below the circumscribing lip.

2. The portable spa of claim 1 wherein said armrest is below the water line when the container is full to capacity at a level below the circumscribing lip.

3. The portable spa of claim 1 wherein said armrest is formed into the walls of the container as a part of the seat formed into the walls of the container.

4. The portable spa of claim 3 wherein said armrest is below the water line when the container is full to capacity at a level below the circumscribing lip.

5. The portable spa of claim 3 wherein said armrest is traingular.

6. The portable spa of claim 5 wherein said armrest is below the water line when the container is full to capacity at a level below the circumscribing lip.

7. The portable spa of claim 1 wherein said armrest is below the water line when the container is full to capacity by a distance that permits the arms of a person seated in said seat to be supported below the water line.

8. The portable spa of claim 7 wherein said armrest is about 3.23 inches below the water line.

9. A portable spa comprising:

a container having enclosing walls with a circumscribing lip for holding water;

a plurality of seats formed into the walls of the container below the circumscribing lip; and

armrests formed into the walls of the container adjacent to the seats below the circumscribing lip.

10. The portable spa of claim 9 wherein each seat has an armrest at each side of the seat.

11. The portable spa of claim 9 wherein said armrests are below the water line when the container is full to capacity with the water line below the circumscribing lip.

12. The portable spa of claim 9 wherein said armrests are formed into the walls of the container as part of the seats formed into the walls of the container.

13. The portable spa of claim 9 wherein said armrests are triangular.

14. The portable spa of claim 9 wherein said armrests are below the water line, when the container is full to capacity with the water line below the circumscribing lip, by a distance that permits the arms of a person of normal build seated in one of said seats to be supported below the water line.

15. The portable spa of claim 14 wherein each seat has an armrest at each side of the seat.

16. The portable spa of claim 15 wherein said armrests are formed into the walls of the container as part of the seats formed into the walls of the container.

17. The portable spa of claim 16 wherein said armrests are triangular.