GB2169196A - Integrated stereo and bathtub system - Google Patents

Abstract

A bathtub (10), in particular a whirlpool bathtub or spa, is provided with an upwardly extending surrounding wall portion or surrounding collar (30) at the sitting end of the tub. The collar is preferably formed of plastics materials as an integral unit with the plastics bathtub walls (20), and has a plurality of apertures (36) formed therein for the mounting of speakers (38, 40) therein. The speaker apertures are placed above level of the overflow (16) of the bathtub (Fig. 1), and are sealed at the rear by a baffle plate (42) to form one or more acoustic chambers (44). Overlying the speaker apertures is an open grillework (52), and the speakers are connected to a sound producing system, such as a radio, tape deck or cassette. Sloping drainage channels (50) are provided, just below the speaker apertures, to drain water from the vicinity of the speakers back into the bathtub. The sitting area is thus surrounded by rearwardly enclosed multiple speakers, mounted above the waterline. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Integrated stereo and bathtub system The invention relates to a means for integrating a stereophonic or monophonic sound system into a bathtub, and particularly, a whirlpool bathtub or outdoor spa.

The closest prior art known to the applicant are the following patents: U.S. Patent No. 3,585,991 to Balamuter U.S. Patent No. 4,114,215 to Santo The Balamuter patent discloses a pair of speakers mounted in a headset above a bathtub by means of a hollow pedestal, and connected through the pedestal to a radio, cassette player, or the like.

Santos discloses a radio and speaker formed in the bed frame of a waterbed. Neither of these patents discloses a system for achieving a truly integrated stereophonic sound system in an economical, aesthetic and practical manner.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a bathtub, and in particular, a whirlpool bathtub or spa, is provided with an upwardly extending surrounding wall portion or surrounding collar at the sitting end of the tub. The collar is preferably formed of plastic as an integral unit with the plastic bathtub wall, and has a plurality of apertures formed therein for the mounting of speakers therein. The speakers, once mounted within the apertures surround the sitting area of the bathtub. The speaker apertures are placed above the overflow of the bathtub.

The speaker apertures are sealed at the rear by a baffle plate, to form one or more acoustic chambers.

Overlying the speaker apertures is an open grillework. The speakers are connected to a sound producing system, such as a radio, tape deck or cassette.

Sloping drainage channels are provided, just below the speaker apertures, to drain water from the vicinity of the speakers back into the bathtub.

The sitting area is thus surrounded by rearwardly enclosed multiple speakers, mounted above the waterline, the speakers being integrated into an upward extension of a bathtub wall by means of the integrally formed speaker apertures. The speakers are further protected by grillework and drainage channels to minimize contact with water.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE lisa perspective view of the bathtub of the invention; FIGURE la is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view, taken generally along the line la-la of FIGURE 1 at the sitting end of the bathtub; FIGURE 2 is a cross-section of the bathtub taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1; and FIGURE 3 is a cross-section taken along the line 3--3 of FIGURE 1a.

Referring to the drawings, the bathtub of the invention is designated generally by the numeral 10.

It is provided with a seat 12, a sloping backrest portion 14, an overflow outlet 16, preferably as described in the applicant's copending U.S.

application, Serial No. 572,703, whirlpool jets 18 which may be of conventional design, and connected to a source of water and air, under pressure. The interior of the bathtub 10 has generally vertical or tapering sidewalls 20, contoured arm rests 22, and a floor 24. The bathtub 10 is formed with a horizontally extending upper rim 28. Overflow outlet 16 is placed near the upper portion of the sidewall 20 and just below rim 28.

The bathtub 10 is preferably formed of a moldable plastic resin formulation, which may be conventional in nature, such as multiply fiberglass reinforced polyester resin formulations.

Integrally molded to the bathtub wall 20, above the level of the overflow outlet 16 but at the seating end of the bathtub 10, is an upwardly extending wall portion, or collar 30, as best seen in FIGURES 1 and 1 a. The collar 30 has an upwardly and rearwardly extending interior wall 32. The back wall 34 of collar 30 diverges from interior wall 31 to form, in crosssection, an inverted V, as shown in FIGURES 1a and 2.

A cavity means, comprising a plurality of apertures 36, is formed in the interiorwall 32 of collar 30, and a pair of speakers 38, 40 are mounted therein, by conventional mounting plates 39, 40 and screws 41. The speakers 38,40 are electrically connected to a power source (not shown) in a conventional manner. Speakers 38 may be woofers, whereas speakers 40 may carry the mid-range and/ or high frequencies. It is to be noted that the speaker 38,40 surround the user of the bathtub, who will normally be sitting on seat 12, and reclining against backrest 14. The speakers 38,40 are preferably spaced equidistantly about the longitudinal axis of the bathtub 10 in order to create a true stereophonic effect.

The space behind the pair of speakers 38 and 40 is enclosed by means of a baffle plate 42 to create an acoustic chamber 44 to enhance the sound of the speakers.

Downwardly sloping drainage channels 50 are integrally molded into interior wall 32 of collar 30, just below speakers 38, 40, and any water splashing onto, or in the vicinity of, the speakers will be drained therefrom by channels 50, in the direction of the arrows a, as shown, and thence into the interior of bathtub 10.

An open grillework 52 overlies the speakers 38,40 and is supported at the upper and lower ends of the interior wall 32 of collar 30. The grillework 52 may be hingedly mounted to the wall 32 (not shown) or may merely loosely abut the interior wall 32, as shown, for ease of removal.

The user's neck or head preferably rests against a pillow 60, as shown in FIGURE 1, which pillow, in turn, rests on a ledge 62 (see FIGURE 1) and is in communication with a jet 18, as shown in applicant's copending application, Serial No.

572,699 (U.S.A.), incorporated herein by reference.

The water from the channels 50 drains around the ends of pillow 60, as earlier described.

It is to be noted that the tub overflow outlet 16 is in an upper portion of tub wall 20 and that the collar 30, in which the speaker apertures are formed, lies above the overflow outlet, so that the normal water level will be below the speakers 38,40. The collar 30, and the speaker apertures 36 formed therein, are integrally formed or molded with the tub walls 20 and the remainder of the tub 10.

While the preferred embodiment ofthe invention has been shown and described, modifications therein may be madewithout departing from the scopeofthefollowing Claims.

Claims (12)

1. A bathtub adapted to contain a liquid medium and provided with an overflowoutletforsaid liquid in a first upper wall portion of said bathtub, characterised by: a second wall portion of said bathtub extending above said overflow outlet; and a cavity means formed in said second wall portion of said bathtub adapted to contain at least one speaker of a sound system.

2.The bathtub according to Claim 1,further characterized by: said first upperwall portion and said second wall portion of said bathtub being formed as an integral unit.

3. The bathtub of Claim 1 or Claim 2,further characterized by: said first upperwall portion and said second wall portion of said bathtub being formed as an integral unitfrom a plastic resin formulation.

4.The bathtub of any preceding Claim,further characterized by: said cavity means including a plurality of spacedapartaperturesformed in said second wall portion of said bathtub.

5. The bathtub of any preceding Claim,further characterized by: said cavity means includesatleastonepairof apertures formed in said second wall portion of said bathtub, each one of said pair of apertures being spaced equidistantly aboutthe longitudinal axis of said bathtub.

6. The bathtub of any preceding Claim,further characterized by: a sloping channel means provided below said cavity means for draining liquid from said cavity means into said bathtub.

7. The bathtub of Claim 6, further characterized by: said sloping channel means being formed as an integral unit, with said cavity means.

8. The bathtub of any preceding Claim,further characterized by: said bathtub being provided with at least one jet outlet connected to a source of air and water under pressure for the creation of a whirlpool action in said liquid medium adapted to be contained therein.

9. The bathtub of any preceding Claim,further characterized by: a baffle means spaced from said cavity means and enclosing the rearthereoftoform an acoustic chamber behind each of said speakers contained in said cavity means.

10. The bathtub of any preceding Claim, further characterized by: an open grilleworkcovering said cavity means.

11. A bathtub, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. The meansforintegrating a sound system into a bathtub, as defined in any preceding Claim.