RECLINING SEAT

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention is based on a reclining seat in a swimming pool or wellness pool, which reclining seat is anchored but at the same time is autonomous with respect to the tub and has technical means in accordance with the pre-characterizing clause of the first claim.

PRIOR ART

Relaxation pools have been known for a long time and, with the invention of the Jacuzzi whirlpool, the effervescent bath with massage nozzles and air feed really gained momentum in the private sector, in hotels and public facilities for the first time. Application, forms and technical equipment and advantages can best be looked up in Wikipedia.

Common to all is that they have an appropriately large and in part intricately shaped tub which is fitted with appropriate nozzles, and the user can control these at will. Such a SPA is described in the U.S. Pat. No. D683,039S. A SPA with replaceable nozzle inserts can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,754,989 and US 2007/0289057 A1.

Swimming pools rarely have seating opportunities with the exception of generous steps in appropriate tubs, such as the Roman steps for example.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based in the case of a SPA on the object of, instead of the usual deep-drawn form or cast concrete form or other material, forming the tub extremely simply, having walls and bottom which are as straight and flat as possible and in return designing the reclining seats as separate elements. This results in more possibilities with regard to shape, number of places, functions, even personalized shapes for a particular body, more selective spout and nozzle positions and easier maintenance of the whole system. Reclining seats are rarely used in swimming pools as a swimming pool is a place for swimming; the seats would otherwise take up too much swimming space, and relaxing is therefore kept to permanently-secured effervescent loungers in a separate part.

Today's SPAs, here as an umbrella term for whirlpools, wellness oases, Jacuzzis and other names, are usually produced using the deep-draw method and are then marketed as SPAs with the appropriate shaping, e.g. for two and more people. Furthermore, they are permanently equipped ex-works with an appropriate number of nozzles, wherein the individual nozzles can be replaced to provide pulsating massages instead of effervescent design. Only the water and air channeling is the subject of this document and not the disinfection system which is considered as a part for the modular design and for maintenance purposes.

Instead of further and further squeezing even more complex and more and more new types of niches into SPAs, the invention goes in a different direction, namely that, for a given size and shape of SPA, appropriate reclining seat elements are fitted in the showroom or “just in time” when the customer places his order. If the customer should later change his mind, he now only has to change the reclining seat element, thus saving money and always getting what he specifically needs. As an example, a family of four indulges in a SPA, but after a few years the children leave home and therefore the layout of the internal partitioning of the SPA can be changed. As a further example, it may be that with advancing age a parent suffers from an illness which can be better treated with an appropriate water or air nozzle configuration. Also, two reclining seat elements can be “stacked” in one position in order by so doing to have two different seating variations. The configuration possibilities are therefore great, the costs for changing a module are low and with the further advantage that when carrying out a repair the appropriate reclining seat element only has to be folded up to get to the appropriate component. Folding out the reclining seat elements can also serve to make space for sports equipment located beneath them, such as a counter current system for swimming training or a treadmill or a folding stair climber. Furthermore, the water inlets and outlets are not visible as they are positioned behind the reclining seat elements, and openings under the waterline are not required as all pipes are connected to the outside of the tub above the waterline or lie in a channel above the waterline and are fed to the appropriate points.

The basis is a reclining seat element which advantageously rests on three points, namely a) two on the head section, which can be at the edge of a tub of a SPA or a swimming pool, suspended or designed as a rotating element, and b) supported on the tub bottom or on the tub side wall. In addition, with this design, an infinite number of shapes can be formed and can be simply placed in the tub. A superior design has a hollow reclining seat element which has a directly flanged water pump, and the water is therefore transmitted under pressure directly to the nozzles in the reclining seat element without a long detour and is used to massage parts of the body.

For increased comfort, the reclining seat element can also be adjusted by means of rotating joints on the reclining seat element so that a flat, lying position can ultimately be assumed from the sitting position. This is achieved by means of one or more buoyancy bodies; when the buoyancy bodies are filled with water, the reclining seat element sinks or the water is pumped out of the buoyancy body by means of the pump and air is simultaneously drawn in so that the empty buoyancy body becomes “light” and the reclining seat element rises in accordance with Archimedes' law. Further, the whole reclining seat element is adjustable in height with respect to the waterline, the back element likewise, so that the reclining seat can be optimally positioned in the tub for any body stature.

One or more vibration motors are fitted at the top pivot point of the reclining seat element or at another suitable point so that not only can pulsating water flow out via nozzles, but also the reclining seat element simultaneously acts effectively as a vibration body.

As nothing is fitted below the large-area SPA tub or swimming pool, everything can be repaired, serviced or new items fitted and removed from above by folding up the reclining seat element, thus saving money and aggravation.

Likewise the hose routing of circulating water or water/air mixture can be realized extremely easily with such a modular system and can be easily connected and disconnected again by means of plug-in couplings. At the same time, the reclining seat elements serve as means for the covers, behind which the whole water routing for the disinfection of the water in the tub circulates. The tub is therefore absolutely watertight without openings under the waterline.

An extremely elegant covering of the surface of the water can also be ensured so that the heat of the water remains in the tub. For this purpose, a wind-up mechanism is located beneath the modular, easily removable reclining seat element on the bottom of the tub and a roller cover can be fed above the waterline of the water by means of a deflector roller behind and on the reclining seat element so that the water surface of the SPA is well insulated against heat loss.

According to the invention this is achieved by the characteristics of the first claim.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be seen from the dependent claims.

The core element of the invention is to place in a simple tub a modular reclining seat which is fixed and mounted on the edge of the tub and, by means of a pressure-generating pump fitted to the reclining seat element, the water is forced into the interior of the reclining seat element and thereby through the nozzles and in this way enables an effervescent or massage activity as required. For maximum comfort, the reclining seat element can be adjusted from a seat to a lounger and also adjusted in height as well as fitted with vibration functions. The reclining seat element can also be folded out and have a treadmill or other sports equipment and covering means located beneath it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the different figures are given the same references.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a three-quarter view of a SPA having a tub with reclining seat elements with nozzle assembly and armrest fitted therein, which seat elements are rotatably fixed at the top and are supported on the bottom of the tub

FIG. 2 shows a three-quarter view of a SPA having a tub with reclining seat elements fitted with nozzles fitted therein, which seat elements are fixed at the top by means of rotatable mountings and are supported on the bottom of the tub, of which one reclining seat element is folded out by means of a double joint and the armrests mutate into grab handles and the underside of the reclining seat element has steps

FIG. 3 shows a three-quarter view of a swimming pool with motor and equipment covers fixed to the edge of the pool and adjustable reclining seat elements with buoyancy bodies and armrests fitted thereto

FIG. 4 shows a side view of a SPA having a tub with a reclining seat element rotatably mounted therein with buoyancy bodies and lateral side cheeks fitted with nozzles, and a reclining seat element with a plurality of rotating mountings and two buoyancy bodies as well as a folding nozzle bar

FIG. 5 shows a top view of a SPA having a tub with a plurality of adjustable reclining seat elements fitted therein with an opening for a roller cover and deflector rollers of the roll-up mechanism mounted beneath the reclining seat elements

FIG. 6 shows a side view of a SPA having a reclining seat element fitted therein with rotating mounting with unbalance motor, nozzle assembly, armrest with pushbutton panel, circulating motor with the two pipes, and the air hose with filter.

Only the elements essential for the immediate understanding of the invention are shown.

WAYS OF IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION

• FIG. 1 shows a three-quarter view of reclining seat elements 1 with nozzles 2 and armrests 3 fitted therein, which seat elements are rotatably fixed at the top by means of rotatable mountings 4 to a tub 5 and are supported on the bottom 8 of the tub 5.
  • The aim of the reclining seat element 1 is to provide a facility for a seat or lounger in a SPA or a swimming pool which serves as a comfort or relaxation lounger or as a wellness or therapy massage lounger. The reclining seat element 1 can consist of an anatomically designed form and practically float in the water W, retained by means of rotating mountings 4 which are fitted to the pool edge 7 or rest on the floor 8 of the tub 5. The reclining seat element 1 can also be double-walled and provided with a hollow space and equipped with nozzles 2, which are today available for purchase on the market in a large number of variations and which either pulsate, or a water jet with narrow or wide spray angle or the water outlet is swirled, all this with or without air feed and further special equipment as described below. Armrests 3 are also instrumental to the comfort equipment, so that this also serves to provide an extremely relaxed body posture, and also has further functions as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6. The reclining seat elements 1 can be short or long or, as described in FIG. 4, have a variable length and a variable position in the tub 5.
• FIG. 2 shows a three-quarter view of reclining seat elements 1 which are rotatably fixed at the top by means of double rotating joints 9 to a tub 5 and have the reclining seat element 1, nozzles 2 and armrests 3, which also serve as grab handles 10, and steps 11 on the underside of the reclining seat elements 1.
  • The rotating mounting of a reclining seat element 1 at the pool edge 7 is not only advantageous with regard to fitting or replacement of such a reclining seat element 1, but also allows it to be folded up for inspection and cleaning and, by means of the double rotating joint 9, also allows the reclining seat element 1 to be completely folded out to the floor level of a SPA. The underside of such a reclining seat element 1 can be equipped with steps 11, the armrests 3 therefore mutate into grab handles 10 and have a locking device so that a person can hold safely thereto when climbing up or down into the tub 5. The space freed can therefore be used for sports activities in that a treadmill, for example, is located beneath the reclining seat element 1 and is now freely accessible. The SPA therefore not only offers wellness but also sporting options. In any case, jogging in the water is extremely health-promoting, as in the water W the body weighs only a fraction of its weight on land and therefore protects joints and tendons when training. If the SPA has adequate length, advantageously with a minimum internal length of approx. 250 cm, a counter current system for swimming, which is located beneath the reclining seat element 1 and, when folded up, acts just under the waterline WL, can also be fitted in the tub 5.
• FIG. 3 shows a three-quarter view of a tub 5 in the form of a swimming pool with equipment containers 12 fixed to the pool edge 7 and adjustable reclining seat elements 1, nozzles 2 with buoyancy bodies 13, which have a water inlet 13a and a water outlet 13b and armrests 3, fitted thereto.
  • Particularly in a swimming pool with an appropriately large tub 5, it is desirable to be able to use as much space as possible for swimming. Nevertheless, it would also be desirable to relax occasionally in such a large tub 5 and this can be very easily accomplished with the reclining seat element 1 described here. In this regard, an equipment container 12, which is fixed to the pool edge 7 and has rotating mountings 4 or even double rotating joints 9 and also contains a circulating pump, bilge pump, air filter 14, control equipment and possibly also a power transformer and a cover 15, is located on the top part of the rotatably mounted reclining seat element 1 as shown in FIG. 6.
  • A reclining seat element 1, fitted with nozzles 2 if required, can therefore be folded out at any time in that, when the reclining seat element 1 is in the rest position, the buoyancy body 13 is in the vertical position, i.e. is rotatably mounted on the equipment container 12 and “hangs” down, this as a result of the buoyancy body 13 which is filled with water W and therefore the reclining seat element 1 is effectively heavier than the water W. If the bilge pump, which is located in the buoyancy body 13 or in the equipment container 12, is activated, then the water W is pumped out of the buoyancy body 13 through the water outlet 13b into the tub 5. At the same time, there is a hose on the buoyancy body 13 which leads above the waterline WL, ideally into the equipment container 12, to which an air filter 14 is fitted and the now emptying buoyancy body 13 is simultaneously provided with outside air so that a vacuum does not exist in the buoyancy body 13. From a certain emptying point, there is sufficient buoyancy in the buoyancy body 13 that the reclining seat element 1 rises and ultimately also supports a person by means of the buoyancy body 13 in the manner of an air mattress. A locking device can be fitted to the rotating mountings 4 so that the reclining seat element 1 lies rigidly in the water W or can freely rock with the waves in the tub 5. Water W can be directly sucked out of the tub 5 by means of a circulating pump and forced through the nozzles 2, thus producing an effervescent or massage function. As shown in FIG. 6, depending on how the reclining, effervescent or vibration function is used, the opening of the water inlet 13a can be opened by means of a simple Bowden cable and the buoyancy body 13 is flooded. The air in the buoyancy body 13 is blown out via a hose and the air filter 14 so that no positive air pressure remains in the buoyancy body 13. In addition, a spring or catch can also force or hold the reclining seat element 1 against the wall 16 of the tub 5 so that the reclining seat element 1 does not continuously move when the reclining seat element 1 is not being used and when waves are present.
• FIG. 4 shows a side view of a SPA having a tub 5 with a reclining seat element 1 rotatably mounted therein which has a buoyancy body 13 with lateral side cheeks 17 fitted with nozzles, and a reclining seat element 1 with a plurality of hinges 18 which has two separately operated buoyancy bodies 13 as well as a folding nozzle bar 19.
  • In a tub 5 having a reclining seat element 1 fitted therein, comfort also includes a comfortable sitting or lying position as well as a comprehensive effervescent source in the event that this is to be used for a serious massage to promote blood circulation or for relaxing the body. This is additionally assisted by means of lateral side cheeks 17 which either act passively and the effervescent water from the nozzles 2 is kept channeled for a while around a person's body, in particular when warmer water W than the surrounding water W flows from the nozzles 2 into the tub 5. Or, nozzles 2 which effect an active additional massage are likewise fitted to the side cheeks 17; the water W from the nozzles 2 therefore remains concentrated between the side cheeks 17 for a time. In order to obtain a really comprehensive body massage, a nozzle bar 19 which has nozzles 2 and is mounted singly or severalfold in an articulated manner and therefore at the same time also exerts a massage or effervescent function on a person's body from the front, is located on the equipment container 12. The water W and the pressure comes by means of a diverter from a circulating pump, which also applies pressure to the reclining seat element 1, as described in FIG. 6.
  • Further, not only can the reclining seat element 1 be pivoted about the rotating mounting 4, but the seat element 1 can also assume a sitting position, a semi-reclining or fully reclining position or any intermediate position in that the reclining seat element 1 consists of two or more parts which are held together by means of hinges 18. The individual seat elements 1a can have individual buoyancy bodies 13 which can be operated separately. By this means, for example the back part of the seat element 1a, the water W can easily and elegantly be pumped out of the buoyancy body 13 and the angle of the back part reduces, the seat part also rises as far as the horizontal position as an angular limit relating to the folding-out operation is incorporated in the hinge 18 and in the rotating mounting 4—which can be released manually if required—the foot part of the seat element 1a remains pointing downwards however until, here, the water W is pumped out of the buoyancy body 13 and therefore this part also rises. The foot part only can also be raised, wherein an angular limit with regard to the folding-out operation also acts in the case of this hinge 18 so that the reclining seat element 1 remains in the sitting position but with extended foot part. The user can therefore easily and quickly select his individual seat position by means of the buoyancy body 13. The hinges 18 can also be locked if required.
• FIG. 5 shows a top view of a SPA having a tub 5 with a plurality of adjustable reclining seat elements 1 with nozzles 2 fitted therein with an opening 20 for a roller cover and deflector rollers 21 of the roll-up mechanism mounted beneath the reclining seat elements which accommodates a cover.
  • A further advantage of a separately retained reclining seat element 1 is that space can be left between the rotating mountings 4 and the reclining seat element 1 in order to have an opening 20 for a roller cover between them. This is expedient as there is a lot of free space beneath the reclining seat element 1 which, as described above, can be used for sports equipment or a roll-up mechanism on which a SPA cover is located, which cover has an insulating function so that when the SPA is not being used this can be extended and the water W can therefore be kept warm or, when outside, screened against leaves and branches. The SPA cover can be retracted and extended manually or by means of a motor.
• FIG. 6 shows a side view of a SPA having a reclining seat element 1 fitted therein with a rotating mounting 4 with an unbalance motor 22, nozzles 2, armrest 3 with pushbutton panel 23, fold-out cushion 24, bilge pump 25 and, on the equipment holder 12, a circulating pump 26 with the two pipes 27, and the air hose 28 with air filter 14 and air mixture filter 29.
  • As shown in the preceding figures, the hollow and sealed-all-round reclining seat element 1 is fixed to a rotating mounting 4. An unbalance motor 22, which in action executes a vibration, is located on the rotating mounting 4. This can be used as an additional product to the massages by means of nozzles 2 from which the water W emerges under pressure in a straight line or fanned out or swirled. Deep-seated muscle groups among other things can be better loosened by means of such underwater vibrations. In order that the head does not vibrate at the same time, a softly upholstered headrest 30, which acts as a damper and which otherwise also constitutes a comfortable part of the reclining seat element 1, is located on the equipment container 12. The water W for the nozzles 2 is not the first sucked in by an external circulating motor 26 by means of long pipes and then fed to the nozzles 2 again by means of long pipes, but the path is kept extremely short with the suction pipe 27a and the pressure pipe 27b next to the circulating pump 26 and the efficiency of such a system is therefore increased up to 40%, i.e. a smaller electric motor can be used, less current is consumed and the space required is smaller. Here too, a water/air mixture which is central for effervescent activities can be produced. The air is sucked in via the air mixture filter 29 and added to the water W in the pressure pipe 27b to a greater or lesser extent by means of a valve. The pressure pipe 27b is mechanically connected to the reclining seat element 1 by means of a telescoping or similar principle so that the water W can be forced under pressure into the hollow space 31 in the reclining seat element 1 when the reclining seat element 1 and the pressure pipe mounting 27c are lowered or raised and emerge at the nozzles 2.
  • For children who have short thighs, for example, a fold-out cushion 24, which also has nozzles 2 and to which the water W is fed by means of a hose or bellows or telescopic tube, can be extended, thus enabling them to likewise spend time in comfort on a reclining seat element 1.
  • Furthermore, the control as well as the valves, transformer and similar can be fitted in a compact matter in the equipment container 12. The equipment container 12 can also be kept watertight so that electrical components can also be fitted, and the equipment container 12 can also be below the waterline WL, wherein the electric motors for the bilge pump 25 or circulating pump 26 are operated with direct current and max. 30 V.
  • The water quantity, the temperature of the water W, which is supplemented from the warm water feed pipe 32 by means of a valve, and also one or more buoyancy bodies 13, which can be mounted beneath the reclining seat element 1, appropriately flooded with water W or the water W emptied from the buoyancy bodies 13, can be comfortably controlled by means of the pushbutton panel 23 on the armrest 3. The bilge pump 25 can be fitted in the equipment container 12 or also watertight directly in the buoyancy bodies 13.
  • The warm water feed pipe 32 can advantageously lie in a channel 33 which also accommodates the electrical cable or the water conditioning hoses, these therefore being all above the waterline WL and not seen due to a covering means.

The invention is of course not only restricted to the exemplary embodiments shown and described.

LIST OF REFERENCES

• 1 Reclining seat element
• 1a Seat element
• 2 Nozzle
• 3 Armrest
• 4 Rotating mounting
• 5 Tub
• 7 Pool edge
• 8 Bottom
• 9 Double rotating joint
• 10 Grab handle
• 11 Step
• 12 Equipment container
• 13 Buoyancy body
• 13a Water inlet
• 13b Water outlet
• 14 Air filter
• 15 Cover
• 16 Wall
• 17 Side cheek
• 18 Hinge
• 19 Nozzle bar
• 20 Opening for roller cover
• 21 Deflector roller
• 22 Unbalance motor
• 23 Pushbutton panel
• 24 Fold-out cushion
• 25 Bilge pump
• 26 Circulating pump
• 27 Pipe
• 27a Suction pipe
• 27b Pressure pipe
• 27c Pressure pipe holder
• 28 Air hose
• 29 Air mixture filter
• 30 Head rest
• 31 Cavity
• 32 Warm water feed pipe
• 33 Channel
• W Water
• WL Water line