MOISTURE AND HEAT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Abstract

A bathtub tent enclosure comprising a flexible supporting frame encased in fabric that opens in a figure-eight configuration and is adjustable in size to fit over a variety of sizes of water receptacles. The enclosure adheres to the bathtub or other water receptacle or a surface surrounding the bathtub or other receptacle with suction cups that are attached to adjustable-length cords. Fabric curtains overlap in the front and include adjustable-length cords that allow the curtain opening to be adjusted to a user's desired setting, from overlapping to fully open. The back of the enclosure includes a continuous sheet fabric curtain. The enclosure can be collapsed by holding the tent flat and twisting the flexible supporting frame over itself until it forms three overlapping continuous loops that lay flat, and can be inserted into a round fabric case for storage when not in use.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/635,139, titled BATHTUB TENT ENCLOSURE, filed Apr. 18, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many homes built in the late 1990's and early 2000's have spacious master bathrooms with large soaking tubs that are separate from the shower. These are very attractive, but the user is typically colder than expected due to a large bathroom area dissipating the warmth and vapor created by hot water. Many of these bathrooms do not even have a door, which provides an open feeling, but also limits privacy.

The bathtub tent enclosure disclosed herein is a moisture and heat management system that solves these problems by providing an attractive, easy to set up enclosure over the bathtub, hot tub, small pool, or other water receptacle designed for bathing or swimming. The enclosure forms a microclimate that contains warmth and vapor from the hot water within the receptacle, thus creating an optimal bathing environment and alleviating the need to continue adding hot water to the receptacle. The enclosure can provide different levels of privacy based on the types of materials (such as opaque, semi-transparent and/or sheer fabrics) or closure devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a bathtub tent enclosure for retaining heat and hot water vapor while bathing. The enclosure provides an inexpensive method of creating an optimal bathing environment at home.

The bathtub tent enclosure is a self-erecting tent that, in the preferred embodiment, uses a figure-eight steel wire or plastic frame to support fabric panels. The enclosure is designed for use with a bathtub, hot tub, small pool, or other water receptacle designed for bathing or swimming.

The enclosure may be of varying sizes for use with various water receptacles, and in some embodiments the enclosure is of an adjustable size. For example, the enclosure may be adjustable for approximate length of bathtub opening between 60″ and 72″. The enclosure can be secured in or around a surface of a water receptacle with suction cups on adjustable length cords. Desired cord length may be set with cord-locks on the cords. As an example, the height of the enclosure may vary between 46″ and 49″ as the length is adjusted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of the present invention with curtains open.

FIG. 2 is a front view of one embodiment of the present invention with curtains closed.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 depicts a typical opening procedure for the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a left perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention configured over a bathtub with the curtains open.

FIG. 8 is a left perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention configured over a bathtub with the curtains closed.

FIG. 9 is front view of the fabric case according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the disclosed bathtub tent enclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the appended claims. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover applications or embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims attached hereto. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

In some embodiments, the enclosure may be comprised of hydrophobic, quick-drying, waterproof, water-resistant, or mildew-resistant fabrics. Examples of possible fabrics that may be used include polyester, nylon, treated nylon or other similar fabrics. The entirety of the tent may be transparent or semi-transparent, or some portions of the tent may be transparent or semi-transparent and other portions may be opaque. Fabrics with different densities can provide varied ability to maintain heat and moisture. The interior portion of the tent fabric could employ an insulating layer made of a flexible synthetic film, such as MYLAR, which can direct heat back to the water/tub area.

The fabrics used to construct the tent enclosure may vary to provide the optimal combination of warmth, ventilation, and privacy. For example, the curtain portion of one embodiment of the tent may be comprised of a transparent fabric and the sides and back may be comprised of on opaque fabric. Many combinations of fabric can be used to construct the bathtub tent enclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, in the preferred embodiment, the tent utilizes a flexible supporting frame 102 as its support structure. The frame 102 may be comprised of steel, wire, fiberglass, carbon fiber, aluminum, plastic or other similar materials. The frame 102 is enclosed in a fabric channel 104, and, as such, the frame is not visible to the user. Alternatively, the enclosure may use a shock-connected sectional pole system, wherein the frame is comprised of rods that are semi-detachable but connected by an inner shock-cord so that they can be disconnected and folded.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in the preferred embodiment, the enclosure further comprises at least one fabric panel 118, at least one fabric curtain 116, at least one elastic cord 114, at least one non-elastic adjustable-length cord 110, and at least one cord lock 112. The enclosure may be used with the fabric curtains 116 in an open position, as shown in FIG. 1, or in a closed position, as shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, there may be an additional fabric curtain 116 located at the back of the enclosure. The at least one fabric panel 118 is located at the left and right sides of the enclosure, as shown in FIG. 4. The enclosure may have the same appearance from the left side as from the right side.

The bathtub tent enclosure can be stored in a round fabric case 106, as depicted in FIG. 9. The tent enclosure, when collapsed, can also include a strap to hang the tent from a wall adjacent to the tub or from a shower curtain rod. The enclosure may, in some embodiments, include a separate strap with a snap, VELCRO, hook and loop, button, or other mechanism to hold the enclosure in a collapsed position. Upon removal from the case 106, the tent structure self-erects as the frame 102 is unfolded, as illustrated in FIG. 6. In some embodiments, the flexible supporting frame 102 opens in a figure-eight configuration as it self-erects. In an alternative embodiment, the tent structure can be assembled by a user using a shock-connected sectional pole system, by inserting the shock-connected poles into the fabric channel 104 to assemble the enclosure.

Referring now to FIG. 7, once the enclosure is erected, the user places the enclosure over their bathtub or other water receptacle and uses suction cups 108 or other anchoring means, the non-elastic adjustable-length cord 110, and the cord-locks 112 to secure it to a smooth surface in or around the tub. Elastic cord 114 and cord-locks 112 may be used to adjust the tent for use with tubs of various sizes as needed. In an alternative embodiment, the tent structure can simply be placed on top of the tub without any suction cups or other means to anchor the tent to the tub. FIG. 7 shows the enclosure in place over a bathtub with the curtains 116 in an open position; FIG. 8 shows the enclosure in place over a bathtub with the curtains 116 in a closed position.

FIG. 5 shows a preferred embodiment of the enclosure from a top view. As a further embodiment, the tent structure could include a hook or other means of attachment at the peak of the enclosure to allow the enclosure to be suspended from a ceiling above the tub and then placed in contact with the outer rim of the tub.

Referring again to FIG. 7, non-elastic cord 110 and cord-locks 112 may be used to adjust the opening in the fabric curtain 116 for entry and exit. When closed, the curtain fabrics overlap to contain heat and vapor from the hot water within the bathtub. The curtain fabric may also or in the alternative include other components to secure the curtains in a closed position, such as hook and loop closures, buttons or snaps, among other things.

As shown in FIG. 8, the curtains 116, when closed, are designed in such a way that they may also lessen the visibility of the bathtub and user from elsewhere in the bathroom, both because the fabric may be semi-transparent, and because it is typically darker inside the tent than the surrounding room. The user in the bathtub can see out quite clearly, as it is typically lighter in the surrounding room than inside the tent. The tent further may include fabric panels 118 around the sides and back of the tent, as shown in FIG. 4, which assist in containing the heat and vapor from the hot water within the bathtub when the tent is in use.

Removal and storage of the tent is the reverse of the opening procedure shown in FIG. 6. The fabric used in the preferred embodiment is quick-drying, so the tent can be left in place to dry and then collapsed.

As an additional feature, the enclosure may include a temperature-sensitive material or temperature sensing device to indicate the relative heat or temperature of the air inside the enclosure. The material or temperature sensing device may indicate when a specific level is reached, but could also have different colors or lights to show as temperature is increasing or declining. For example, the tent fabric itself may be of a temperature sensitive material that changes color with the increase or decrease in temperature. The temperature sensor could also be affixed somewhere on the interior or exterior portion of the fabric.

The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the claims attached hereto. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. An enclosure for use over a water receptacle comprising, a supporting frame, and at least one panel made of flexible material.

2. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the at least one panel made of flexible material is fabric.

3. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the supporting frame is flexible.

4. The enclosure of claim 1, further comprising at least one curtain made of a flexible material.

5. The enclosure of claim 4, wherein the at least one curtain made of a flexible material is made of fabric.

6. The enclosure of claim 1, further comprising, at least one non-elastic adjustable-length cord, and at least one cord lock.

7. The enclosure of claim 3, wherein the flexible supporting frame opens in a figure-eight configuration.

8. The enclosure of claim 3, wherein the flexible supporting frame is made of steel.

9. The enclosure of claim 2, further comprising at least one suction cup attached to the supporting frame, configured to anchor the enclosure to the water receptacle.

10. The enclosure of claim 3, wherein the enclosure is self-erecting.

11. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein the fabric is comprised of a waterproof material.

12. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein the fabric is comprised of a material chosen from polyester, nylon, or treated nylon.

13. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein the fabric curtains and fabric panels are comprised of a material that is semi-transparent.