SPA SHELL PILLOW

Abstract

A pillow having an arched elongated body with a front surface and a back surface, the front surface receiving a user's head, the back surface having at least two pillow bases, the arched elongated body forming an air gap between the at least two pillow bases to provide space for deflection of the arched elongated body when receiving the user's head.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 11/867,632, and 29/295,737, entitled “Spa Shell Pillow,” filed on Oct. 4, 2007, the contents of which applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

This disclosure relates to spas, whirlpools, and the like and, more particularly, to an apparatus providing a pillow in association with such equipment.

SUMMARY

A tub apparatus comprising a tub structure having a mounting surface with a first fastener and a second fastener, and an arched pillow having a back surface with a first base and a second base, the first base having a first engaging member and the second base having a second engaging member, the first and second engaging members cooperatively engaging the first and second fasteners, respectively, to couple the arched pillow onto the mounting surface. The first and second fasteners may be positioned behind the arched pillow for concealment. The first base and the second base may be configured to cooperatively contour with the mounting surface.

According to a feature of the present disclosure, a spa shell pillow is disclosed. The pillow comprising an arched elongated body having a front surface and a back surface, the front surface receiving a user's head, the back surface having at least two pillow bases, the arched elongated body forming an air gap between the at least two pillow bases to provide space for deflection of the arched elongated body when receiving the user's head. The arched elongated body may be a unitary molded foam material selected from a group consisting of cross-linked polyethylene material and ethyl vinyl acetate foam. The pillow may include a light source positioned behind the back surface to provide backlight effects.

DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned features and objects of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a spa structure with a spa shell pillow, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the spa shell pillow of FIG. 1 along line 2-2;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a spa structure for cooperating with the spa shell pillow of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fastener for the spa shell pillow, according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the spa shell pillow of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is back view of the spa shell pillow of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to a preferred embodiment, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that these embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. As such, the description of the embodiments that follow are for purposes of illustration and not limitation.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tub or spa structure 10 with a spa shell pillow 12, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The spa structure 10 may include a mounting surface 14 for coupling the spa shell pillow 12 onto the spa structure 10. In one embodiment, the mounting surface 14 may be recessed with respect to the surrounding region 16 of the spa structure 10. For example, the mounting surface 14 may be contoured inward so as to create a concavity for receiving a user's head.

A detailed structure of the spa shell pillow 12 is further illustrated in FIG. 2. The spa shell pillow 12 may be made from an elongated dense foam material 20 with a support frame 18. The spa shell pillow 12 may include a first engaging member 22 and a second engaging member 24 for receiving and engaging a first fastener 26 and a second fastener 28, respectively. The first 26 and the second fastener 28 being coupled to the mounting surface 14 using, for example, screws 30 and 32, to cooperatively mount the spa shell pillow 12 to the spa structure 10. The first 26 and second 28 fasteners may be cantilevered horseshoe fasteners that mate with the first 22 and second 24 engaging members.

The spa shell pillow 12 is preferably sized and shaped to receive and position the user's head 34. In one embodiment, the spa shell pillow 12 may be configured to arch in a bow-like fashion, leaving an air gap 36 in the middle between a first pillow base 35 and a second pillow base 37. When supporting the user's head 34, the arched spa shell pillow 12 deflects, from a first position 38 to a second position 40, providing a perception of softness as it gives way in the middle to the shape of the user's head 34.

In one embodiment, the spa shell pillow 12 has an arched elongated body with a front surface and a back surface, the front surface receiving a user's head 34, the back surface having at least two pillow bases 35, 37 coupled to the mounting surface 14, the arched elongated body forming an air gap 36 between the at least two pillow bases 35, 37 to provide space for deflection of the arched elongated body when receiving the user's head.

As can be envisioned by a person skilled in the art, the spa shell pillow 12 may have various configurations included within the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the spa shell pillow 12 may include at least one pillow base 35 with at least one engaging member 22 for receiving and engaging at least one fastener 26.

The spa shell pillow 12 may be adapted to injection molding or exothermic foam molding processes. The spa shell pillow 12 may be fabricated from various materials known in the art, including cross-linked polyethylene material, Ethyl Vinyl Acetate (EVA) foam, or the like. Preferably, the material used exhibits low-temperature properties, hydrolysis resistance, and/or fungus resistance, and is suitable for injection molding, blow molding, or extrusion.

While it is advantageous to integrally mold the spa shell pillow 12 as a unitary molded article to provide for easy manufacture and a pleasant soft feel, structures according to the invention could be fabricated of several individually molded or otherwise separately fabricated parts attached together by various conventional means. Thus, for example, support frame 18 may be fabricated in one step, for example, by molding or other processes, and elongated dense foam material 20 formed in a separate step and attached to the support frame 18 by bonding or other processes.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of spa structure 10 for cooperating with the spa shell pillow 12 of FIG. 1. The spa structure 10 may include mounting surface 14 with first fastener 26 and second fastener 28. The first 26 and the second fastener 28 being coupled to the mounting surface 14 using, for example, screws 30 and 32. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the fasteners 26 and 28 may be positioned behind the spa shell pillow, as desired, to provide for appropriate concealment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of fastener 26 coupled to the mounting surface 14, using one or more screws 32. As can be envisioned by a person skilled in the art, various mounting means may be used to couple the spa shell pillow 12 to the mounting surface 14. For example, the fastener 26 may be coupled to the mounting surface 14 by gluing or bonding. Another example may include gluing, bonding or attaching the spa shell pillow 12 directly to the mounting surface 14 without using fasteners.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a top view and a back view of the spa shell pillow 12, respectively. As shown in FIG. 5, the first pillow base 35 and the second pillow base 37 may be configured to cooperatively contour with the mounting surface 14. In one embodiment, the spa shell pillow 12 may be arched to provide a height “a” equal to the distance from the mounting surface 14 at the pillow base 35, 37 to the outer surface 42 of the spa shell pillow 12 furthest away from the mounting surface 14. The spa shell pillow 12 may have a length “b” and width “c”, as shown in FIG. 6. According to an embodiment of the invention, the height “a” may be about 2.50 inches, length “b” may be about 14.40 inches and width “c” may be about 4.90 inches.

As shown in FIG. 6, the spa shell pillow 12 may have first engaging member 22 and second engaging member 24 formed from a cavity in first pillow base 35 and in second pillow base 37, respectively. In one embodiment, the first engaging member 22 and second engaging member 24 include a first lip 46 and a second lip 48. The first lip 46 and the second lip 48 engage cantilevered arm 50 of fastener 26, 28, shown in FIG. 4. The first pillow base 35 and the second pillow base 37 may provide flexibility to snug tight the fastener 26, 28 in the cavity. Preferably, the width “d” of engaging member 22, 24 is less than the width “c” of the spa shell pillow 12. For example, if width “c” of the spa shell pillow 12 is about 4.90 inches, then width “d” of engaging member 22, 24 may be about 2.00 inches.

In one embodiment, the spa shell pillow 12 may have a cutout 44 on the back side. The cutout 44 may decrease the thickness of the spa shell pillow 12 to allow further deflection of the spa shell pillow 12 when supporting the user's head 34. The cutout 44 may also allow insertion of a light source (not shown) to provide backlight effects to the spa shell pillow 12.

While the apparatus and method have been described in terms of what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure need not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. The present disclosure includes any and all embodiments of the following claims.

Claims

1. A tub apparatus comprising:

a tub structure having a mounting surface with a first fastener and a second fastener; and

an arched pillow having a back surface with a first base and a second base, the first base having a first engaging member and the second base having a second engaging member, the first and second engaging members cooperatively engaging the first and second fasteners, respectively, to couple the arched pillow onto the mounting surface.

2. The tub apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arched pillow is a unitary molded foam material.

3. The tub apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arched pillow is fabricated from a foam material selected from a group consisting of cross-linked polyethylene material and ethyl vinyl acetate foam.

4. The tub apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second fasteners are positioned behind the arched pillow for concealment.

5. The tub apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second fasteners are cantilevered horseshoe fasteners.

6. The tub apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first base and the second base are configured to cooperatively contour with the mounting surface.

7. The tub apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a light source positioned behind the back surface of the arched pillow to provide backlight effects.

8. A pillow comprising an arched elongated body having a front surface and a back surface, the front surface receiving a user's head, the back surface having at least two pillow bases, the arched elongated body forming an air gap between the at least two pillow bases to provide space for deflection of the arched elongated body when receiving the user's head.

9. The pillow of claim 8, further comprising an engaging member for coupling the pillow onto a mounting surface.

10. The pillow of claim 8, wherein the arched elongated body is a unitary molded foam material.

11. The pillow of claim 8, wherein the arched elongated body is fabricated from a foam material selected from a group consisting of cross-linked polyethylene material and ethyl vinyl acetate foam.

12. The pillow of claim 8, further comprising a light source positioned behind the back surface to provide backlight effects.

13. A spa apparatus comprising:

a spa structure having a mounting surface; and

a pillow having an arched elongated body with a front surface and a back surface, the front surface receiving a user's head, the back surface having at least two pillow bases coupled to the mounting surface, the arched elongated body forming an air gap between the at least two pillow bases to provide space for deflection of the arched elongated body when receiving the user's head.

14. The spa apparatus of claim 13, wherein the arched elongated body is a unitary molded foam material.

15. The spa apparatus of claim 13, wherein the arched elongated body is fabricated from a foam material selected from a group consisting of cross-linked polyethylene material and ethyl vinyl acetate foam.

16. The spa apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a light source positioned behind the back surface to provide backlight effects.

17. The spa apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least two pillow bases are configured to cooperatively contour with the mounting surface.

18. The spa apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least two pillow bases are coupled to the mounting surface using a fastener.

19. The spa apparatus of claim 18, wherein the fastener is positioned behind the at least two pillow bases for concealment.