ES2989263T3 - Bathtub - Google Patents

Abstract

Bathtub (1) comprising at least one upper inner wall (2) with at least one lower edge, at least one lower inner wall (3) with at least one upper edge, and at least one lower wall (4), wherein the lower inner wall (3) is arranged between the upper inner wall (2) and the lower wall (4) and the upper inner wall (2) is connected to the lower inner wall (3) by means of at least one intermediate frame (9) with at least one inner edge and at least one outer edge, such that the inner edge of the intermediate frame (9) is connected to the lower edge of the upper inner wall (2) and the outer edge of the intermediate frame (9) is connected to the upper edge of the lower inner wall (3). (Automatic translation with Google Translate, without legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Bathtub

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present description relates to a bathtub, in particular a bathtub which may be provided with a hydromassage. The invention relates to a bathtub provided with at least one light.

DESCRIPTION FRAMEWORK

WO 2013/041978 describes a bathtub comprising an inner container with a perimeter recess that is arranged between an upper inner wall and a lower inner wall, said recess housing nozzles of a hydromassage system and lights for illuminating the interior of the bathtub. The lower inner wall is also connected to an upper outer wall by means of an intermediate frame that includes the nozzles and the lights, such that a cavity that acts as an overflow is arranged between the upper inner wall and the upper outer wall.

However, in this known bathtub, the flow of water emitted by the nozzles and the beam of light emitted by the lights are limited by the size of the recess and by the fact that the lower inner wall is substantially aligned with the upper inner wall, so that the intermediate frame is attached to the lower inner wall by a substantially horizontal portion of the lower inner wall protruding outwards. Furthermore, this structure is relatively expensive, since it cannot be manufactured in one piece.

US 2004/221383 A1, DE 10315599 A1 and US 2166469 A disclose lights and/or nozzles arranged in a recess located below an upper rim of the bathtub, such that the lower edge of the recess limits downwards the flow of water emitted by the nozzles and/or the beam of light emitted by the lights.

SUMMARY OF DESCRIPTION

The object of the present description is therefore to provide a bathtub free of these drawbacks. This object is achieved with a bathtub whose main characteristics are specified in the appended claims. Thanks to the mutual arrangement of the upper inner wall, the lower inner wall and the intermediate frame, the bathtub according to the present description can be provided with more effective hydromassage and/or lighting systems than those of said known bathtubs.

In fact, this mutual arrangement allows not only to hide the hydromassage nozzles and/or the lights for illuminating the bathtub from view, but also to obtain water and/or air flows emitted by these nozzles at a relatively wide angle. For the same reason, the lights, even if hidden, can illuminate the entire lower portion of the bathtub, so as to obtain a lighting effect significantly different from the lighting effect obtained with such known bathtubs.

Such improvements in water and/or air flows and/or light beams may be optimized by tilting the upper inner wall, the lower inner wall, the intermediate frame and/or an upper part of the lower inner wall at particular angles, which may be constant or vary within a particular range, in order to improve the ergonomics of the bathtub. For this purpose, if the bathtub comprises at least four sides with two long sides and two short sides, the two portions of the upper inner wall arranged along the short sides are preferably more inclined than the two portions of the upper inner wall arranged along the long sides.

The particular shape of the bathtub also makes it possible to conceal one or more drains connected to overflow pipes. Furthermore, again thanks to their particular mutual arrangement, the upper inner wall, the lower inner wall, the bottom wall and the intermediate frame of the bathtub can be made of one piece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages and features of the bathtub according to the present description will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed and non-limiting description of some embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows an axonometric view from above of a first embodiment of the bathtub;

- Figure 2 shows a top view of the bathtub in Figure 1;

- Figure 3 shows an axonometric view from above of the bathtub of Figure 1 without the outer walls; - Figure 4 shows an axonometric view from below of the bathtub of Figure 1 without the outer walls; - Figure 5 shows a side view of the bathtub of Figure 1;

- Figure 6 shows section VI-VI of Figure 2;

- Figure 7 shows a front view of the bathtub in Figure 1;

- Figure 8 shows the VMI-VIM section of Figure 2;

- Figure 9 shows section IX-IX of Figure 5;

- Figure 10 shows a front portion, sectioned and enlarged, of the bathtub in Figure 1;

- Figures 11 to 13 show lateral portions, sectioned and enlarged, of the bathtub in Figure 1;

- Figures 14 to 16 show lateral portions, sectioned and enlarged, of three additional embodiments of the bathtub.

EXEMPLARY ACHIEVEMENTS

Referring to Figures 1 to 9, it is noted that a first embodiment of the bathtub 1 comprises an inner container which is suitable to be filled with water and is formed by at least one upper inner wall 2, at least one lower inner wall 3 and at least one bottom wall 4, wherein the lower inner wall 3 is arranged between the upper inner wall 2 and the bottom wall 4. In the present embodiment, the upper inner wall 2 and the lower inner wall 3 are substantially truncated pyramid-shaped with a substantially rectangular cross section, rounded edges and the vertex facing downwards, but in other embodiments they may have different shapes, for example, substantially truncated pyramid-shaped with a polygonal cross section, substantially conical truncated shape with a circular or elliptical cross section, substantially parallelepiped, substantially cylindrical or combinations thereof, with rounded or sharp edges and/or vertices facing downwards or upwards. The upper edge of the upper inner wall 2 may be connected to the inner edge of an upper frame 5 at least partially surrounding the upper inner wall 2. One or more outer side walls 6 (shown in dashed lines in Figures 5 and 7) may be arranged around the bathtub 1 and/or connected to the upper frame 5, in particular by means of a mechanical coupling. The bottom wall 4 has substantially the same shape as the lower edge of the lower inner wall 3, in particular substantially rectangular. The bottom wall 4 is preferably connected to the lower inner wall 3 by means of a lower frame 7, preferably concave upwards, at least partially surrounding the bottom wall 4. The bottom wall 4 may be concave upwards and/or also comprise a drain pan 8, which may be partially covered by a removable cover 8a.

The upper inner wall 2 is connected to the lower inner wall 3 by at least one intermediate frame 9, which is at least partially surrounded by the lower inner wall 3, such that the inner edge of the intermediate frame 9 is connected to the lower edge of the upper inner wall 2 and the outer edge of the intermediate frame 9 is connected to the upper edge of the lower inner wall 3. The intermediate frame 9 is provided with one or more lights 10, in particular one or more LED light strips preferably arranged along the entire length of the intermediate frame 9, suitable for projecting at least one beam of light towards the lower inner wall 3. One or more nozzles 11, for example eighteen nozzles 11, suitable for being connected to a jacuzzi system (not shown in the figures) may be arranged next to the upper edge of the lower inner wall 3 below the intermediate frame 9. One or more drains 12 may be arranged next to the upper edge of the lower inner wall 3 below the intermediate frame 9 for connecting to at least one drainage duct. overflow 13, in particular a curved conduit, for example with a bend arranged next to the upper edge of the upper inner wall 2, which in turn can be connected to the drain sump 8.

The upper inner wall 2 and/or the lower inner wall 3 and/or the bottom wall 4 and/or the upper frame 5 and/or the bottom frame 7 and/or the drain pan 8 and/or the intermediate frame 9 are preferably made in one piece, in particular in a molded plastic part. Preferably, at least the upper inner wall 2, the lower inner wall 3, the bottom wall 4 and the intermediate frame 9 are made in one piece.

Referring also to Figures 10 and 11, which for simplicity do not show the lights 10 and the nozzles 11, it can be seen that the upper inner wall 2 can be inclined with respect to a vertical axis, for example with respect to an outer wall 6, with an angle a of 0°-35°, in particular 9°-25°, constant or variable in this range, so that the upper inner wall 2 is vertical or slightly inclined downwards and towards the centre of the tub 1. In the present embodiment, the tub 1 comprises at least four sides with two long sides and two short sides, wherein the two portions (one portion is shown in Figure 10) of the upper inner wall 2 arranged along the short sides are preferably inclined with an angle a, for example 23°-25°, which is greater than the angle a, for example 9°-11°, of the inclination of the two portions (one portion is shown in Figure 11) of the upper inner wall 2 arranged along the short sides. along the long sides of the tub 1.

The intermediate frame 9 may be inclined with respect to a vertical axis by an angle b of 70°-110°, for example 85°-90°, constant or variable in this range, so that the intermediate frame 9 is horizontal or slightly inclined downwards or upwards.

The lower inner wall 3 may be inclined with respect to a vertical axis by an angle c of 0°-35°, in particular 9°-25°, for example 16°-18°, constant or variable in this range, so that the lower inner wall 3 is vertical or slightly inclined downwards and towards the centre of the tub 1.

An upper portion 3a of the lower inner wall 3, which portion is adjacent to the intermediate frame 9 and may comprise the nozzles 11 and/or the drains 12, is preferably inclined with respect to a vertical axis by an angle d comprised between -5° and 5°, for example approximately -4°, constant or variable in this range, so that the upper portion 3a is vertical or slightly inclined towards the centre or towards the outside of the bathtub 1. The angle d of the inclination of the upper portion 3a of the lower inner wall 3 is preferably equal to or less than the angle c of the inclination of the remaining lower portion 3b of the lower inner wall 3. The height of the upper portion 3a of the lower inner wall 3 is less than the height of the lower portion 3b of the lower inner wall 3.

The upper inner wall 2 and/or the lower inner wall 3 and/or the intermediate frame 9 may be concave, convex or mixed, in which case the angles a, b, c and/or d may be measured with respect to the straight line connecting two points of their respective edges in a vertical section plane.

The height h1 of the upper inner wall 2 is greater than the height h2 of the lower inner wall 3.

At least the major part of the lower inner wall 3, in particular the entire lower inner wall 3, is preferably arranged outside a vertical axis v passing through the lower edge of the upper inner wall 2, relative to the centre of the tub 1. Furthermore, at least the major part of the lower inner wall 3, in particular its entire lower portion 3b, is arranged in the space s arranged beneath the intermediate frame 9 between the inner edge and the outer edge of the intermediate frame 9.

Referring to Figure 12, it is seen that the lights 10, when switched on, project a beam of light 14 covering an angle e of at least 60°, so as to directly and at least partially illuminate the lower inner wall 3, the lower frame 7 and/or the bottom wall 4.

Referring to Figure 13, it is seen that the nozzles 11, when connected to a jacuzzi system that is switched on, can direct towards the bathtub 1 a flow 15 of water and/or air covering an angle f of at least 60°.

Referring to Figure 14, it is seen that a second embodiment of the bathtub 1 is similar to the first embodiment but the drain 12, which is connected to at least one overflow conduit 13 and is preferably formed by at least one channel, is arranged in the upper frame 5 instead of the lower inner wall 3, so that the water in the bathtub 1 is discharged into the overflow conduit 13 when its level reaches the upper frame 5.

Referring to Figure 15, it is seen that a third embodiment of the bathtub 1 is similar to the first embodiment but the heights of the upper portion 3a and the lower portion 3b of the lower inner wall 3 are substantially the same.

Referring to Figure 16, it is seen that a fourth embodiment of the bathtub 1 is similar to the first embodiment but the intermediate frame 9 forms an obtuse angle b. The dimensions of the bathtub 1 can vary according to the number of people to be contained and therefore also form a small pool, if the bathtub 1 is made of large dimensions.

Possible variations or additions to the embodiments described and illustrated herein may be made by those skilled in the art, while remaining within the scope of the following claims. In particular, other embodiments may comprise the technical features of one of the following claims with the addition of one or more technical features described in the text or illustrated in the drawings, taken individually or in any mutual combination.

Claims (15)

1. A bathtub (1) comprising an inner container which is suitable for filling with water and is formed by at least one upper inner wall (2) with at least one lower edge, at least one lower inner wall (3) with at least one upper edge, and at least one bottom wall (4), the lower inner wall (3) being arranged between the upper inner wall (2) and the bottom wall (4), the upper inner wall (2) being connected to the lower inner wall (3) by at least one intermediate frame (9) with at least one inner edge and at least one outer edge, such that the inner edge of the intermediate frame (9) is connected to the lower edge of the upper inner wall (2) and the outer edge of the intermediate frame (9) is connected to the upper edge of the lower inner wall (3), characterized in that the intermediate frame (9) is provided with at least one light (10) suitable for directly and at least partially illuminating with at least one light beam (14) an upper portion (3a) and a lower portion (3b) of the inner wall (2) and the lower portion (3b) of the inner wall (3) and the ... lower (3), which are both arranged under this light (10). 2. Bathtub (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the bottom wall (4) is connected to the lower inner wall (3) by means of a lower frame (7) at least partially surrounding the bottom wall (4), wherein said at least one light (10) is suitable for directly and at least partially illuminating with at least one light beam (14) also the bottom frame (7) and/or the bottom wall (4). 3. Bathtub (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more drains (12) are arranged in the upper part (3a) of the lower inner wall (3) next to the upper edge of the lower inner wall (3) under the intermediate frame (9). 4. Bathtub (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said one or more drains (12) are connected to at least one overflow pipe (13) which is curved and comprises a curve arranged next to the upper edge of the upper inner wall (2). 5. Bathtub (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate frame (9) is inclined with respect to a vertical axis at an angle (b) of 70°-110°, constant or variable in this range. 6. Bathtub (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower inner wall (3) at least partially surrounds the intermediate frame (9). 7. Bathtub (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper portion (3a) of the lower inner wall (3) is inclined with respect to a vertical axis with an angle (d) between -5° and 5°, constant or variable in this range. 8. Bathtub (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper portion (3a) of the lower inner wall (3) is inclined with respect to a vertical axis with an angle (d) equal to or less than the angle (c) of the inclination of the remaining lower portion (3b) of the lower inner wall (3). 9. Bathtub (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the major part of the lower inner wall (3) is arranged outside a vertical axis (v) passing through the lower edge of the upper inner wall (2), with respect to the centre of the bathtub (1). 10. Bathtub (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the major part of the lower inner wall (3) is arranged in the space(s) arranged below the intermediate frame (9) between the inner edge and the outer edge of the intermediate frame (9). 11. Bathtub (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper inner wall (2), the lower inner wall (3), the bottom wall (4) and the intermediate frame (9) are made in one piece. 12. Bathtub (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper internal wall (2) and the lower internal wall (3) face the internal volume of the inner container. 13. Bathtub (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper edge of the upper inner wall (2) is connected to the inner edge of an upper frame (5) which at least partially surrounds the upper inner wall (2). 14. Bathtub (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more nozzles (11) suitable for being connected to a jacuzzi system are arranged in the upper part (3a) of the lower internal wall (3) next to the upper edge of the lower internal wall (3) under the intermediate frame (9). 15. Bathtub (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the height of the upper part (3a) of the lower inner wall (3) is lower than the height of the lower part (3b) of the lower inner wall (3).