FR2837516A1 - Insulating cover for tub such as outdoor jacuzzi or spa bath, comprises horizontal roller shutter of foam-filled hollow plastic slats - Google Patents

Abstract

The thermal insulation cover for a water-filled tub (11) comprises a roller shutter (16) made from a series of articulated slats (18), deployed horizontally over the water surface (22). Each slat consists of a hollow rigid or semi-rigid plastic extrusion, filled with an injected or extruded plastic foam (25), and with ends closed by plugs. Each slat can have an optional reinforcing rod (34), e.g. of a plastic material with low thermal conductivity. The shutter is deployed with a clearance (J) from the water surface to create a thermally insulating cushion of air (24). The shutter is preferably motorised and remote-controlled.

Description

remote maintenance.

COVERING DEVICE FOR SPA

  The present invention relates to a spa covering device for limiting heat loss, as well as to the spa equipped with said device. A spa generally consists of an acrylic shell containing water at a temperature of the order of 37, and includes means for treating the water, both filtration and heating, as well as injection means water and / or air to obtain a whirlpool bath or

massage jets.

  For aesthetic reasons, the acrylic shell is generally provided with a wooden skirt on which can be attached

  accessories, such as for example tablets.

  When not in use, the spa is covered with a cover allowing to isolate the water in order to reduce the heat losses of the water and its evaporation this in order to reduce, on the one hand, the necessary energy consumption heating water, and secondly, increasing the humidity in the atmosphere when the spa is located inside a home. These blankets are generally in the form of several panels forming mattresses whose edges rest on the edges

  upper parts of the spa shell so as to be positioned above the water.

  To ensure good insulation, these mattresses have a thickness of about 10 cm and consist of a core in the form of foam enclosed in

  a plastic or imitation leather envelope.

  t Even if these mattresses provide good insulation, this solution is not entirely satisfactory because the handling of these mattresses is not easy due to their weight and dimensions, especially since the spa has large dimensions . In addition, when the spa is used it is necessary to provide a place to store these mattresses. Also, the present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by providing an effective spa cover, ensuring a

  thermal and water-repellent insulation, simple design and easy to use.

  - To this end, the invention relates to a spa comprising a shell capable of containing water and being covered by a cover, characterized in that said cover comprises a plurality of blades comprising a foam channel, articulated between them so as to be able to be wound on a roller disposed at an edge of the shell, said cover being capable of occupying two extreme positions, a first position in which the cover is wound around the roller so as to release the surface of the water, and a second position in which the

  cover is deployed and covers the surface of the water.

  Preferably, the cover is arranged above the surface of the water, an air mattress being arranged between the surface of the water and the cover so as to reinforce the thermal insulation, the ends of the blades sliding in grooves made in profiles added on three upper edges of the shell, the edges parallel to the direction of movement of the cover and the edge disposed at the end of the cover in the deployed position. Advantageously, the blades are reinforced using a stiffener

  longitudinal in the form of at least one rod extending in the core.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the roller is arranged in a

  box, an opening allowing the passage of the cover.

  According to another characteristic, the spa includes several covers separated from each other by an air mattress in the deployed position, the covers

winding on the same roll.

  Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the description which

  will follow of the invention, description given by way of example only and

  with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a spa equipped with a cover according to the invention, and

  - Figure 2 is a section along a vertical plane of the spa of Figure 1.

  In the figures, there is shown at 10 a spa comprising a shell 12, for example made of acrylic, capable of containing water, and preferably dressed in a wooden skirt 14. In known manner, the spa 10 includes appropriate means for treating and heating the water as well as a set of conduits and pumps allowing the circulation of the water and its injection in the form of jets. According to the variants, it may include devices allowing the injection of air in order to ensure a whirlpool. This equipment is not described in more detail because it is within the reach of

  Those skilled in the art and are not the main subject of this application.

  To limit heat loss and evaporation of water in the atmosphere, the spa includes a cover 16 essentially consisting of a plurality of blades 18 articulated between them so as to be able to be wound on a roller 20 disposed at level of an upper edge of the shell 12, said cover being capable of occupying two extreme positions, a first position in which the cover 16 is wound around the roller 20 so as to release the surface of the water 22, and a second position in which the cover 16 is deployed and covers the

water surface 22.

  According to one embodiment, the blades 18 are made of plastic,

  for example PVC, and has a polyurethane type foam core.

  The blades 18 have a hollow profile with at the longitudinal edges of the

  complementary forms constituting an articulation between adjacent blades.

  These blades 18 are generally extruded and the foam is injected by a

  end so as to completely fill the cavity.

  The foam contained in the blades increases the power

  thermal insulation of the blade thanks to its low thermal conduction.

  Advantageously, the cover 16 is disposed above the water level 22, an air mattress 24 being disposed between the surface of the water 22 and the cover 16 so as to reinforce the thermal insulation. For this purpose, the ends of the blades 18 slide in grooves 26 arranged above the upper lateral edges of the shell 12, on each side of ia

cover 16.

  According to another characteristic, the underside of the cover 16 oriented towards the water is covered with a reflective coating, in aluminum foil for example, to combat thermal exchanges by

  radiation and improve insulation.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the grooves 26 are formed in wooden profiles 28 arranged at the three upper edges of the shell 12 or of the skirt 14, the parallel edges 30 in the direction of movement of the cover and the edge 32 arranged at the end of the cover in

deployed position.

  To limit the deflection of the blades 18, some are reinforced with the aid of a longitudinal stiffener, for example at least one rod 34 extending in the core of certain blades. To limit the risks of thermal bridging, these

  rods 34 are made of insulating material, preferably of insulating plastic.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the roller 20 is placed in a box 36, preferably made of wood to preserve the aesthetics, placed at the edge 38 of the shell opposite the edge 32, an opening 40 allowing passage of the cover 16. This roller 20 is rotated by any suitable means, for example by a gearmotor by means of a transmission, the gearmotor being able to be controlled at

  distance thanks to a remote control.

  According to another characteristic, means 42 are provided for

  facilitate the winding or unwinding of the cover 16 on the roller 20.

  According to a preferred embodiment, these means 20 comprise at least one elastic strap whose ends are connected to fixed points of the box 36 so that this strap comes to press the cover

  against the face of the roller opposite to the direction of deployment.

  According to another characteristic, a drip brush 44 is arranged at the opening 40 so as to rub the lower surface of the cover 16 in order to remove the drops liable to form by condensation on said surface and limit the introduction of water into the box 36. Furthermore, this brush reinforces the insulation by limiting the

  heat losses towards the box.

  According to another characteristic, if a single cover 16 is not sufficient for thermal insulation, one or more other covers, identical to the first, guided in the same way by means of sets of grooves and separated from one another by a mattress air in the deployed position will be provided,

  the covers being rolled up on the same roll.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described but covers all its variants, in particular as regards the shapes of the spa, the shapes of the skirt and the profiles and their nature as well as the type of

1 5 motorization of the roller.

R EV E N D I C AT I O N S

  1. Spa comprising a shell (12) capable of containing water and of being covered by a cover (16), characterized in that said cover comprises a plurality of blades (18) comprising a foam core, articulated between them so as to be able to be wound on a roller (20) disposed at an upper edge of the shell (12), said cover being capable of occupying two extreme positions, a first position in which the cover (16) is wrapped around the roller (20) so as to dogager the surface of the water (22), and a second position in

  which the cover (16) is deployed and covers the surface of the water (22).

  2. Spa according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover (16) is disposed above the surface of the water (22), an air mattress (24) being disposed between the surface of the water ( 22) and the cover (16) so as to reinforce the thermal insulation, the ends of the blades (18) sliding in grooves (26) formed in profiles (28) attached to three upper edges of the shell (12), the parallel edges (30) in the direction of movement of the cover and the edge (32) disposed at the end of the cover in

deployed position.

  3. Spa according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the blades (18) are reinforced with a longitudinal stiffener in the form of

  at least one rod (34) extending into the core.

  4. Spa according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in

  what it includes means (42) to facilitate the winding or unwinding of the cover (16) on the roller (20), comprising at least one elastic strap whose ends are connected to fixed points so that that the said strap press the cover against the face of the

  roller opposite to the direction of deployment.

  5. Spa according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in

  that the roller (20) is arranged in a box (36), an opening (40)

  authorizing the passage of the cover (16).

  6. Spa according to any one of claims 1 to 5. characterized in

  what it includes an anti-drip brush (44) capable of rubbing against the lower surface of the cover (16) in order to remove the drops likely to be

  forming by condensation on said surface.

  7. Spa according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in

  what it includes several blankets separated from each other by a mattress

  in the deployed position, the covers being rolled up on the same roller.