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US 5,283,915 AGranted
Power package for spa apparatus
AssigneeSoftub, Inc.
InventorsCarsten H. Idland, John M. Popovich, Roc V. Fleishman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Tub apparatus comprising a foamed, resiliently compressible, plastic tub wall having an inner side and an outer side, the tub having an interior to receive liquid, and ports extending through the side wall; a plastic pack having a cavity formed therein; a pump unit received in the cavity and protectively enclosed by the plastic pack; and tubular duct structure connected with the pump unit and extending from the cavity to the ports for circulating liquid between the tub interior and the pump unit.
Claims57
Tub apparatus, comprising
- a) a plastic tub wall having an inner side and an outer side, the tub having an interior to receive liquid, and ports extending through said side wall,
- b) a plastic pack having a cavity formed therein,
- c) a pump unit received in said cavity and protectively enclosed by said plastic pack,
- d) and tubular duct means connected with said pump unit and extending from said cavity to said ports for circulating liquid between the tub interior and said pump unit,
- e) said pack including a base and a cover on the base, at least one of the base and cover consisting of plastic material, and there being means enclosing said base and cover for retaining said base and cover in integrated relation, while allowing said duct means to extend relative thereto between the cavity and said ports, as aforesaid.
2 more elements
For combination with tub apparatus comprising a tub wall having an inner side and an outer side, the tub having an interior to receive liquid, and ports extending in said tub wall, the improvement comprising:
- a) a plastic pack having a cavity formed therein,
- b) a pump unit received in said cavity and protectively enclosed by said plastic pack,
- c) and tubular duct means connected with said pump unit and extending from said cavity to said ports for circulating liquid between the pump unit and said tub interior,
- d) said pack including a base and a cover on the base, and there being a flexible jacket enclosing said base and cover for retaining the base and cover in integrated relation, said duct means extending through said jacket.
1 more element
Tub apparatus, comprising
- a) a foamed, resiliently compressible, plastic tub wall having an inner side and an outer side, the tub having an interior to receive liquid, and ports extending through said side wall,
- b) a plastic pack having a cavity formed therein,
- c) a pump unit received in said cavity and protectively enclosed by said plastic pack,
- d) and tubular duct means connected with said pump unit and extending from said cavity to said ports for circulating liquid between the tub interior and said pump unit,
- e) the tub wall plastic being foamed, and wherein the foamed plastic pack is integrated into and projecting from the foam plastic tub wall.
2 more elements
For combination with tub apparatus comprising a tub wall having an inner side and an outer side, the tub having an interior to receive liquid, and ports extending in said tub wall, the improvement comprising:
- a) a plastic pack having a cavity formed therein,
- b) a pump unit received in said cavity and protectively enclosed by said plastic pack,
- c) and tubular duct means connected with said pump unit and extending from said cavity to said ports for circulating liquid between the pump unit and the tub interior,
- d) said pack including a plastic base and a foamed plastic cover received on said base, the pump received in the cavity in said base,
- e) a control means received in said cover and connected with said pump unit, said control means being accessible from the exterior of the cover for controlling the operation of the pump unit,
- f) there being a hole in said cover, and including serrated retainer means carried by the plastic pack at at least one side of the control means to hold said control means in said hole, the serrated retainer means having serrations gripped by the foamed plastic of the cover at the side of the hole.
3 more elements
The method of forming a tub apparatus, which includes:
- a) forming a resiliently compressible, plastic tub wall having an inner side and an outer side, the tub having an interior to receive liquid, and ports extending through said side wall,
- b) forming a plastic pack having a cavity formed therein,
- c) providing a pump unit and placing said unit in said cavity to be protectively enclosed by said plastic pack,
- d) providing duct means connected with said pump unit and to extend from said cavity to said ports for circulating liquid between said pump unit and the tub interior,
- e) providing the pack with a base and a cover thereon, and providing a flexible protective means closely fitting about said base and cover for retaining said base and cover in integrated relation, and extending said duct means through said protective means.
2 more elements
Tub apparatus, comprising
- a) a resiliently compressible, plastic tub wall having an inner side and an outer side, the tub having an interior to receive liquid, and ports extending through said side wall,
- b) a plastic pack having a cavity formed therein,
- c) a pump unit received in said cavity and protectively enclosed by said plastic pack,
- d) and tubular duct means connected with said pump unit and extending from said cavity to said ports for circulating liquid between said pump unit and the tub interior,
- e) said pack including a plastic base and a plastic cover received on the base, the cavity located in the base,
- f) and including a flexible jacket closely fitting about said base and cover for retaining the base and cover in integrated relation, said duct means extending through said jacket.
3 more elements
Tub apparatus, comprising
- a) a foamed, resiliently compressible, plastic tub wall having an inner side and an outer side, the tub having an interior to receive liquid, and ports extending through said side wall,
- b) a plastic pack having a cavity formed therein,
- c) a pump unit received in said cavity and protectively enclosed by said plastic pack,
- d) an tubular duct means connected with said pump unit and extending from said cavity to said ports for circulating liquid between said pump unit and the tub interior,
- e) said pack including a plastic base and a plastic cover received on the base, the cavity located in the base,
- f) a control means received in said cover and connected with said pump unit, said control means accessible from the exterior of the cover for controlling the operation of the pump unit,
- g) and including a flexible jacket closely fitting about said base and cover for retaining the base and cover in integrated relation, said duct means extending through said jacket, said jacket having an opening via which said control means is accessible from the exterior of the pack.
4 more elements
For combination with tub apparatus comprising a tub wall having an inner side and an outer side, the tub having an interior to receive liquid, and ports extending in said tub wall, the improvement comprising:
- a) a plastic pack having a cavity formed therein,
- b) a pump unit received in said cavity and protectively enclosed by said plastic pack,
- c) and tubular duct means connected with said pump unit and extending from said cavity to said ports for circulating liquid between said pump unit and the tub interior,
- d) the base and cover consisting of plastic material, the cavity located in the base,
- e) and including a flexible jacket closely fitting about said base and cover for retaining the base and cover in integrated relation, said duct means extending through said jacket.
2 more elements
For combination with tub apparatus comprising a tub wall having an inner side and an outer side, the tub having an interior to receive liquid, and ports extending in said tub wall, the improvement comprising:
- a) a plastic pack having a cavity formed therein,
- b) a pump unit received in said cavity and protectively enclosed by said plastic pack,
- c) and tubular duct means connected with said pump unit and extending from said cavity to said ports for circulating liquid between the tub interior and said pump unit,
- d) the base and cover both including plastic material, the cavity located in the base,
- e) control means received in said cover and connected with said pump unit, said control means being accessible from the exterior of the cover for controlling the operation of the pump unit,
- f) and including a flexible jacket closely fitting about said base and cover, whereby the cover and base are covered in integrated relation, said duct means extending through said jacket, said jacket having an opening via which said control means is accessible from the exterior of the pack.
3 more elements
Tub apparatus, comprising
- a) a resiliently compressible, plastic tub side wall having an inner side and an outer side, the tub having an interior to receive liquid, and ports extending in said side wall,
- b) a plastic pack having a cavity formed therein,
- c) a pump unit received in said cavity and protectively enclosed by said plastic pack,
- d) and tubular duct means connected with said pump unit and extending from said cavity to said ports for circulating liquid between the pump unit and the interior,
- e) and wherein said plastic pack consists of foamed plastic and has at least one thermally densified surface for supporting the pump unit.
2 more elements
The method of forming a tub apparatus, which includes:
- a) forming a foamed, resiliently compressible, plastic tub wall having an inner side and an outer side, the tub having an interior to receive liquid, and ports extending through said side wall,
- b) forming a plastic pack having a cavity formed therein,
- c) providing a pump unit and placing said unit in said cavity to be protectively enclosed by said plastic pack,
- d) and providing duct means connected with said pump unit and to extend from said cavity to said ports for circulating liquid between the pump unit and the tub interior,
- e) providing said pack with a plastic base and a plastic cover received on the base, the cavity located in the base, below said cover,
- f) and including providing a flexible jacket closely fitting about said base and cover for retaining the base and cover in integrated relation, and extending said duct means through said jacket.
3 more elements
Tub apparatus, comprising
- a) a foamed, compressible, plastic tub side wall with an inner surface and an outer surface, the tub having an interior to receive liquid, and ports extending through said side wall,
- b) a foam plastic pack having a cavity formed therein,
- c) a pump unit received in said cavity and completely protectively enclosed by said plastic pack,
- d) and tubular duct means connected with said pump unit and extending from said cavity to said ports for circulating liquid between the tub interior and said pump unit,
- e) said pump unit including a pump and a motor, the motor having a housing, there being a duct for said liquid wound about the motor housing to receive heat transfer from the motor to thereby heat the liquid,
- f) and including a U-shaped insulative and protective, non-metallic pad means supported in said base, the pump unit seated on said pad, and the pad means extending upwardly at opposite sides of the motor housing.
3 more elements
Tub apparatus, comprising
- a) a foamed, compressible, plastic tub wall having an inner side and an outer side, the tub having an interior to receive liquid, and ports extending through said side wall,
- b) a plastic pack having a cavity formed therein,
- c) a pump unit received in said cavity and protectively enclosed by said plastic pack,
- d) and tubular duct means connected with said pump unit and extending from said cavity to said ports for circulating liquid between the tub interior and said pump unit,
- e) said pack including a plastic base and a foamed, compressible, plastic cover received on said base, the pump received in the cavity, in said base,
- f) and including a control means received in said foamed cover and connected with said pump unit, said control means accessible from the exterior of the cover for controlling the operation of the pump unit,
- g) there being a hole in said cover, and including serrated retainer means at a side of the control means to hold said means in said hole, said serrated retainer means having serrations gripped by the foamed plastic of the cover at the side of the hole.
4 more elements
Tub apparatus, comprising
- a) a foamed, compressible, plastic tub wall having an inner side and an outer side, the tub having an interior to receive liquid, and ports extending through said side wall,
- b) a plastic pack having a cavity formed therein,
- c) a pump unit received in said cavity and protectively enclosed by said plastic pack,
- d) and tubular duct means connected with said pump unit and extending from said cavity to said ports for circulating liquid between the tub interior and said pump unit,
- e) said pack including a plastic base and a foamed, compressible, plastic cover received on said base, the pump received in the cavity, in said base,
- f) and including a control means received in said foamed cover and connected with said pump unit, said control means accessible from the exterior of the cover for controlling the operation of the pump unit,
- g) and including a split in the wall of the foamed cover to pass external electrical wiring to the control means, there being a hole in said cover, the control means having shoulders compressively gripped by the foamed plastic of the cover at the side of the hole.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.