Water-Inflated Portable Spa

This invention relates to portable above-ground pools, and more particularly, is concerned with a therapeutic pool or spa having water-inflated seats.

The use of therapeutic pools or spas is well known. Typically such pools allow the user to relax in the pool in a seated or reclined condition with the major portion of his body immersed. Jets of water may be provided to create a general massaging action. Conventionally, spas have been constructed using the same construction techniques as conventional below-grade swimming pools. The walls of the pools can be constructed to provide seating areas in the form of benches or other suitable supporting surfaces on which persons using the pool can sit or recline. Tubs of course have been used to provide the same effects for individual users. Neither approach is suitable for providing a low cost portable spa which can accommodate a number of people when in used and yet can be readily dismantled and packed away in a small space when not in use.

The present invention is directed to an improved design for a portable spa or therapeutic pool which is of light weight construction that can be packed away in a box when not in use and yet is as easy to install as above-ground pools. The spa is capable of accommodating four or six people, for example. In addition, the present invention provides a spa which, when assembled, provides seating in the pool which allows the users to remain in a relaxed position with their bodies fully submerged. The pool, when assembled, provides water recirculation in which the water is filtered, heated, and discharged through suitable jets to provide the desired therapeutic action.

More specifically, the present invention provides a portable spa constructed along the lines of above-ground swimming pools in which a semi-rigid outer wall resting on a flat surface, such as the ground, supports a watertight liner. When filled with water, the liner is pressed against the ground and the surrounding side wall, the side wall being put under tension and confining the water. According to the present invention, the liner is made of double wall construction, providing a confined space between the walls which is inflated by pumping water into the confined space from a recirculating pump. The inner wall of the liner is shaped so that when inflated with water under pressure it forms a bench or seating ledge around the side of the pool beneath the water level in the pool. Another portion of the inner wall provides a back rest above the seat. Small jet holes may be provided in the inner wall of the seat and back area to provide a gentle massaging action. The inflated seat provides a cushion action which, while easily supporting the weight of persons sitting in the pool, readily conforms to the shape of a person's body to give uniform comfortable support.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the pool, indicated generally at 10, is assembled and supported on a flat surface 12 which may be a floor or level area of ground. The pool is constructed in a manner of conventional above-ground swimming pools, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,233,251. Thus upper and lower circular frames 14 and 16 are provided having slots into which the upper and lower edges of a semi-rigid side wall 18 are inserted. The side wall may be made of thin gauge metal or plastic material. Added vertical strength may be provided by a plurality of upright frame members 18a secured at their ends to the upper and lower circular rails 14 and 16.

A flexible waterproof liner, indicated generally at 20, of vinyl or other suitable plastic material extends around the inside of the side wall 18 and across the bottom of the pool. The liner, which is of double-walled construction, includes an outer vinyl sheet 22 which extends around the inside of the side wall with the top edge of the sheet extending over the top edge of the side wall where it is secured in place by the clamping effect of the top rail 14. The outer sheet 22 includes a circular bottom portion 24 which overlaps and is heat sealed to the side wall portion around the outer perimeter.

The inner wall of the double-walled liner includes an annular seat-forming section 28 which is parallel to but spaced from the bottom 24. The outer edge of the seat portion 28 is attached around its perimeter to the side wall by heat sealing, as indicated at 30. A portion 32 of the inner wall is joined to the seat portion 28 around the inner edge thereof, as indicated at 34, and is joined at the lower edge to the bottom 24, as indicated at 36. Thus an annular confined space 38 is provided by the double-walled construction of the liner, which space is inflated by water and under pressure in a manner hereinafter described in detail, to form a bench or seat extending around the inside of the pool.

The double-walled construction of the liner also extends up the sides of the pool. The inner wall includes an inner sheet of vinyl 40 secured around its lower edge to the seat portion 28, as indicated at 42, and secured at its upper edge to the outer wall of the vinyl liner, as indicated at 44. In addition, the inner sheet 40 is attached by heat sealing to the outer wall at small circular areas, which as indicated at 46, to maintain the shape of the inner wall when the space between the inner and outer side walls is inflated with water, as hereinafter described.

Attached to the outside of the pool is a combined filter and pump unit 50, which may be of the self-contained vertically arranged construction described in copending application Ser. No. 647,571, filed Jan. 8, 1976, entitled "Integral Pump Skimmer and Filter Unit For Above-Ground Swimming Pools," and assigned to the same assignee as the present application, and hereby incorporated by reference. The unit 50 includes an intake portion 52 for taking water from the pool when it is filled. The water is withdrawn through a filter and pump (not shown). The unit 50 may also include conventional heating means (not shown) for maintaining the temperature of the water in the pool at the desired level. Water from the recirculating pump unit 50 is discharged through a pair of outlets 54 and 56. The outlet 54 is connected by means of a pipe 58 to arcuately spaced hydrojets, three of which are indicated at 60, through which the recirculating water is discharged into the pool. The hydrojets are located at some of the circular areas 46 where the inner and outer walls of the liner are joined together. The hydrojets may be of a type which mixes air with the water by means of an aspirator, if desired, to introduce bubbles into the pool. The outlet of the pump also is connected through a pipe 62 to additional hydrojets, two of which are indicated at 64 in the side wall of the pool.

In addition, the outlet 56 is connected through a pipe 66 extending downwardly toward the lower edge of the side of the pool, the pipe 66 opening into the pool at the level of the confined space 38 forming the seat. Thus the pump discharges water under pressure into the confined space, thereby inflating the seat, putting the inner wall of the liner formed by the seat portion 28 and cylindrical portion 32 under slight tension. Water discharged through the pipe 66 after entering the confined space 38 is also forced up into the confined space between the side walls of the double-walled liner through ports, such as indicated at 70. Air bleeder valves, as indicated at 72, are provided around the top edge of the double-walled liner, which allows air to escape from the confined spaces of the double-walled liner as water is forced in through the pipe 66 by the recirculating pump unit 59. Once air is at least partially removed from the confined spacing of the double-walled liner, the valves 72 are closed. For example, the air valves may be closed when the water level rises to the level in the pool, leaving air trapped in the top portion of the seat back. Alternatively, air forced out of the confined spaces of the double-walled liner may be directed through a line 74 leading into the skimmer.

It will be seen that once the confined spaces of the double-walled liner are filled with water, the flow through the pipe 66 will substantially cease, but a static head of pressure will be maintained on the water in the confined spaces. The discharge flow of the pump will be directed into the pool through the hydrojets 60 and 64. However, a plurality of additional water jets may be provided by a series of very small openings, indicated at 78, positioned in the seat 28 and in the inner sheet 40 around the sides of the pool. Water discharged through the openings 78 provides additional massaging action and at the same time provides for a continuous although limited flow of water through the confined spaces formed by the double-walled construction of the liner.

The bottom area of the pool surrounded by the seat may be provided with an inner wall 82 which is attached to the liner at a plurality of points 84. Air is pumped into the space formed by the inner wall and liner which is released through openings 86. The air is received from a pump 88 through a tube 90. The air bubbles up through the pool to give a massaging effect.

While the above description represents the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that the shape and size of the inflated seats can be varied as desired. Moreover the inflated seats need not necessarily be attached to the bottom or sides of the pool, in which case they would not use the outer wall of the liner as part of the seat structure, but would be self-contained inflatable units. This would permit the seats to be removable, if desired. The confined space of the individual seats would still be connected to the pump outlet through suitable conduit means to maintain the seats in an inflated condition.

The pump operates to fill the confined spaces with water to force out the air. The pump maintains sufficient pressure in the confined spaces to support the weight of persons seated in the spa, which weight of course is substantially reduced by the buoyant effect of the water. At the same time the pump provides a continuous flow of recirculating water through holes in the seat and through the hydrojets to provide the desired massaging action. No valves or other controls are required to operate the pool. Merely turning on the pump when the spa is being used insures proper inflation of the seats and recirculation of filtered and heated water.

It will be evident from the above description that the invention provides a portable space which can be packaged and sold in the manner of above-ground swimming pools. It can be provided with external decking, if desired. Also, the seat may extend only partially around the inner circumference of the pool, leaving a space within the pool for steps to be provided to make it easier to enter or exit the pool.