Systems and methods for bathtub heating

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/988,959 titled “Systems and Methods for Bathtub Heating”, filed on Nov. 19, 2007, whose inventors are Michael Lee Kenoyer and Richard Gene Washington, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as though fully and completely set forth herein.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to heaters and, more specifically, to bathtub heaters.

2. Description of the Related Art

While individuals may like to take long baths, their bathtub water may cool over time to an uncomfortable temperature. This may require the individual to add more hot water to the tub and drain out some of the cool water to keep the bath water at a constant level. Further, as water is added and drained, soap, bath scents, etc. may need to be added. This may interrupt the bath several times over the life of the bath.

In various embodiments, a bathtub heating system for heating a bathtub fluid (e.g., water, mud, etc.) in a bathtub may include a main unit and a bathtub heater coupled through tubing. In some embodiments, the bathtub heating system may detect the temperature of water in the bathtub and may apply heat to the bathtub fluid to maintain a constant temperature (or change the temperature of the bathtub fluid at the user\'s direction). In some embodiments, as a user adds hot or cold bathtub fluid to the bathtub, the bathtub heating system may adjust the heating of the bathtub heating system to approximately maintain the new detected temperature of the bathtub fluid (or to provide a user indicated and/or predetermined temperature/time profile). In some embodiments, the bathtub heating system may also dispense bath oils, soaps, scents, etc., to the bathtub fluid.

In some embodiments, the main unit may include three compartments (e.g., one compartment for storage space for items to use, for example, with the bath (such as scents, soaps, and bath oils), one compartment for storage of the bathtub heater and tubing, and one compartment (which may be hidden) for the main unit heating elements, pumps, controls, etc. Other configurations are also contemplated. In some embodiments, the pumps may include thermal expansion pumps (other pumps are also contemplated). In some embodiments, the main unit may heat a fluid and pump the fluid through the tubing to a heat exchanger element in the bathtub heater located at the bathtub. The heat exchanger element may place the fluid in thermal contact (which may not be actual contact) with bathtub fluid to add heat to the bathtub fluid. The fluid may then flow back through another compartment of the tubing to the main unit where the fluid may again be heated. In some embodiments, the fluid may be the bathtub fluid. The bathtub fluid may be pumped to the main unit, heated, and returned to the bathtub at the bathtub heater.

In some embodiments, the heated fluid at the bathtub heater may flow through an inlet nozzle and along an interior pathway of the bathtub heater. The interior pathway may include interior walls to direct the fluid throughout the interior of the heat exchanger element. In some embodiments, the fluid may be directed through an interior inlet through a driving mechanism with external blades to turn and direct external bathwater over the surface of the heat exchanger element. In some embodiments, the heat exchanger and/or driving mechanism may be mounted at an angle to the bathtub wall to direct water in a vertical direction upward (as well as side to side). Other directions are also contemplated (e.g., diagonally up or down, or any of other various directions). In some embodiments, the main unit and/or bathtub heater may be incorporated into the bathtub (e.g., in the sidewalls of the bathtub). In some embodiments, the bathtub may be a baby bathtub (other bathtubs are also contemplated).

In some embodiments, the bathtub heating system may include a heating element (e.g., wire) placed on the sides and/or bottom of the bathtub to heat the bathtub fluid in the bathtub. The bathtub heating system may have different zones of heating elements on the bathtub to direct different levels of heat to different portions of the bathtub.

In some embodiments, the bathtub heating system may use one or more temperatures sensors to monitor and approximately maintain the temperature of the bathtub fluid in the bathtub (or to provide a user indicated and/or predetermined temperature/time profile). In some embodiments, the bathtub heating system may not use a temperature sensor. For example, the bathtub heating system may use a fluid level sensor to detect when the bathtub fluid in the bathtub is at a sufficient height to operate and may apply a predetermined amount of power to the heating elements to approximately maintain the temperature of the bathtub fluid in the bathtub.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the present invention may be obtained when the following detailed description is considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a bathtub heating system, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a main unit, according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 3a-b illustrate components of the main unit, according to various embodiments.

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