HOT TUB BOAT AND METHODS OF ASSEMBLING AND USING SAME

Abstract

A maneuverable, rigid-hulled, water vessel having a hot tub recessed into or otherwise installed into a rigid boat hull. The vessel, which takes the form of a “hot tub boat,” can float on a body of water, be maneuverable while being propelled on the water, may be towed on the water, and may be moored at a dock. Since the vessel is a hot tub within a rigid boat hull, the vessel may be propelled through water with an inboard or outboard motor. In one embodiment, the vessel may be piloted while the pilot relaxes in the hot tub or while lounging on a deck of the hot tub boat. The deck of the hot tub boat may have a reverse camber to help direct heated water back into the hot tub. A temperature of the water in the hot tub may be maintained by onboard water heating and circulation systems such that the hot tub boat may be taken out on the water for several hours or more.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/598,888, filed Feb. 14, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a watercraft vessel having a hot tub supported within a rigid boat hull, and more specifically to a watercraft vessel in which a volumetric ratio of the hot tub basin to the boat hull is greater than a large watercraft vessel having a hot tub installed as an accessory.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, the present invention generally relates to a watercraft vessel having a hot tub supported within a rigid boat hull, and more specifically to a watercraft vessel in which the hot tub takes up a significant amount of space relative to the boat hull. The significant amount of space is defined in more detail below. The watercraft vessel, which may also be referred to as a “hot tub boat” herein, may take the form of a powered vehicle that is configurable to meet one or more seaworthy standards imposed by a regulatory body such as, but not limited to, the United States Coast Guard.

In one aspect of the present invention, a boat includes a rigid hull; a power generation system coupled to the rigid hull; and a hot tub received by the rigid hull, wherein a ratio of a fill-level volume of the hot tub to a displacement volume of the rigid hull is about equal to or greater than ten percent.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for assembling a hot tub boat includes the steps of (1) obtaining rigid boat hull having a displacement volume; (2) obtaining a hot tub having a fill-level volume; and (3) installing the hot tub into the rigid boat hull wherein a ratio of the fill-level volume of the hot tub to a displacement volume of the rigid boat hull is about equal to or greater than ten percent.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for using a hot tub boat includes the steps of (1) filling a hot tub with water up to about a fill-level volume of the hot tub, the hot tub installed into a rigid boat hull wherein a ratio of the fill-level volume of the hot tub to a displacement volume of the rigid boat hull is about equal to or greater than ten percent; (2) heating the water to a desired water temperature; (3) propelling the hot tub boat over a body of water; and (4) maintaining the water temperature in the hot tub to about the desired temperature while the hot tub boat is propelled over the body of water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar elements or acts. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawings may not be necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of various elements and angles may not be drawn to scale, and some of these elements may be arbitrarily enlarged or positioned to improve drawing legibility. Preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hot tub boat according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 a rear, elevational view of the hot tub boat of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top, plan view of the hot tub boat of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic, side elevational view of the hot tub boat of FIG. 1 showing on-board propulsion and steering systems according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of a water re-circulation and heating system for a hot tub boat according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a schematic, side elevational view of the water re-circulation and heating system of FIG. 5A arranged in a hot tub boat according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic, side elevational view of a water ballast, filtration and overflow system for a hot tub boat according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention. However, one skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well-known structures associated with boats, boat hulls, hot tub, and methods of assembling, configuring and/or operating any of the above have not necessarily been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the embodiments of the invention.

The present invention is generally directed to a mobile, rigid-hulled, vessel that includes a hot tub received into a boat hull. The vessel, which may be referred to herein as a “hot tub boat” can float on a body of water, be maneuverable while being propelled on the water, may be towed on the water, and may be moored at a dock. Since the vessel is a hot tub within a rigid boat hull, the vessel may be propelled through water with an inboard or outboard motor coupled to the boat hull. In one embodiment, the vessel may be piloted while the pilot relaxes in the hot tub or while lounging on a deck of the hot tub boat. In another embodiment, the decks of the hot tub boat may have a reverse camber to help direct heated water that has been splashed or spilled back into the hot tub. Because the vessel may be taken out on the water for several hours or more, the vessel may include a water heating and circulation system located within the hull and proximate to the hot tub.

Hot tubs, such as JACUZZI® hot tubs, may provide a relaxing, therapeutic and social experience. For purposes of the this description, hot tubs may include any type of container capable of holding a volume of liquid sufficient to allow a human being to at least partially soak in the liquid. Hot tubs may or may not include whirlpool jets or nozzles. Traditionally, hot tubs are restricted to one location after they have been filled, thus meaning that hot tubs are generally not portable or easily movable unless they have been emptied.

Hot tubs have been installed on larger, land-based or water-based vehicles as an opulent accessory, for example hot tubs have been installed in large limousines and in yachts. By way of example, a forty-foot boat with a fifteen-foot beam and a six-foot depth from keel to deck (not including any superstructure) has a boat hull displacement volume of about 3,600 cubic feet. A standard, house-hold style hot tub measuring seven-foot length by a seven-foot width by a two-foot depth has a fluid fill capacity or fill-level volume of about 98 cubic feet. Thus, installing the standard, house-hold style hot tub onto the forty-foot boat would yield a ratio of the hot tub fill-level volume to the boat hull displacement volume of about 2.7%. For purposes of the present invention, the ratio of the hot tub fill-level volume to boat hull displacement volume is about equal to or greater than 10%. This larger volumetric tub-to-hull ratio provides a fundamental difference between a standard hot tub installed on a large boat or installed on a large land-based vehicle versus a small boat that functions essentially as a floating hot tub, or stated otherwise as a hot tub that is itself a boat.

Aside from the aforementioned larger vehicles, small novelty or recreational craft have been configured to receive and hold hot water, but these craft are essentially immobile and/or non-portable when filled. They are constructed of soft, rubber-like materials. To move such a boat requires draining, disassembling, moving, re-assembling, and re-filling with hot water. Some examples of these types of small-scale boats are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,987,531; 7,032,258; 6,795,983; 4,754,502; 4,135,256; and 4,126,905. These craft are not considered to be boats because they are not classified as such under any government regulations, they do not carry safety gear and do not have registration numbers.

In view of how the small novelty or recreational craft are constructed, towing them or moving them over a surface of water (e.g., lake, river, stream, bay, etc.) would most likely cause them to collapse, spill the heated water, potentially cause structural damage to the vessel and/or put passengers in danger. Further, the small novelty or recreational craft lack appropriate towing devices, motor mountings, running gear, steering mechanisms, and an adequate, hydro-dynamic hull design that would allow them to move through the water efficiently or be steered in a desired direction with ease. The small novelty or recreational craft also rely upon externally mounted heating units, which are typically located a substantial distance away from the craft. To maintain the water temperature within these craft at a desired temperature, they must remain close to an external heating unit and/or close to a warm water supply source.

FIG. 1 shows a hot tub boat 100 having a rigid hull 102 and a hot tub 104 recessed into the rigid hull 102. The rigid hull 102 has a hull displacement volume that may be roughly defined by the structural configuration of the boat, similar to the examples provided above, and generally defined as: Hull Displacement Volume (V)=Hull Length (L)×Hull Width (W)×Hull Depth (D). The hot tub 104 includes a fill-level volume 106, which may be roughly defined as the volume of water that held in the hot tub 104 without causing an undesired amount of overflow. In one embodiment, the hot tub 104 may have a layer of insulation foam adhered to an outer surface of the hot tub 104. An amount of floatation foam may be placed over an interior surface of the rigid hull 102 to improve buoyancy and/or to meet certain safety or seaworthiness regulations.

Still referring to FIG. 1 and now also referring to FIG. 2, the hot tub boat 100 includes a deck surface 108. The deck surface 108 may be made from a variety of materials such as, but not limited to wood, treated wood, reinforced composite, etc. The deck surface 108 may operate as a walking surface or a sitting surface for one or more hot tub boat occupants. The deck surface 108 may also function as a support surface for items being loaded or unloaded. In one embodiment, the deck surface 108 may take the form of a reverse cambered deck surface having a reverse camber angle 110 that encourages spill-over water from the hot tub 104 to be directed back into the hot tub 104. Spill-over water may be caused from occupant movement in the hot tub 104, wave movement relative to the boat 100, maneuvering of the boat 100, and a variety of other situations. The deck surface 108, however, may take other forms, such as a flat or non-cambered deck surface.

FIG. 3 shows the hot tub boat 100 having a plurality of towing devices 112, which may be located on an aft portion and/or a forward portion of the rigid hull 102. The towing devices 112 may include eyelets (not shown) for attaching lines when the hot tub boat 100 is being towed, moored or lifted. The towing devices 112 may take many forms such as, but not limited to sampson or samson posts.

The hot tub 104 may include a peripheral rim 114 that extends slightly, vertically above the deck surface 108. In one embodiment, the rim 114 takes the form of a padded, water resistant material that is comfortable for occupants. In another embodiment, the rim 114 may be made from a harder material, such as wood or plastic, for aesthetic purposes as well as its ability to withstand occupant traffic and wear.

FIG. 4 schematically shows the hot tub boat 100 having various systems and/or components that may be employed to propel and/or steer the hot tub boat 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the hot tub boat 100 may include an outboard motor 116 coupled to an exterior surface of the hull 102 or it may include an inboard motor 118 located within the hull 102. The outboard motor 116 may take the form of an outboard-mounted electric motor or a conventional outboard gasoline-powered motor in which the configuration and operation of are well known in the boat industry. The inboard motor 118, which may be alternative to or in addition to the outboard motor 116, includes a propeller shaft 120 and a propeller 122 that are located outside of the hull 102. The motors 116, 118 may obtain fuel and/or electrical power from a fuel tank 124 and a battery storage compartment 126. Either one or both of the motors 116, 118 may be an electrically powered motor, a gasoline powered motor, a diesel powered motor, a steam powered motor or another type of motor that receives energy from an onboard fuel source. In one embodiment, at least some of the energy for a propulsion system for the hot tub boat may be stored in solar panels.

Still referring to the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, the hot tub boat 100 may includes a manual steering system, which employs a rudder 128 coupled to a tiller 130 with a rudder post 132. In one embodiment, the tiller 130 may take the form of a removable tiller. Alternative to or in addition to the manual steering system, the hot tub boat 100 may include a power steering module 134 that receives input from a steering control mechanism through a wired or wireless connection. In one embodiment, the steering control mechanism may take the form of a joystick style controller mounted on the deck 108 (FIG. 2) of the hot tub boat 100.

In one embodiment, the hot tub boat 100 may be operated while a driver (not shown) is soaking within the hot tub 104 or while seated on the deck 108. The power steering module 134 may include a processor to evaluate input signals from one or more sensors, switches and/or servos, which may be electronic, hydraulic, optical-electric, mechanical or some combination thereof. The power steering module 134 provides commands to the rudder 128 and/or motors 116, 118 to change or maintain a speed and direction of the hot tub boat 100.

FIGS. 5A and 5B schematically show a heating and re-circulation system 200 for the hot tub boat 201 (FIG. 5B) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The heating and re-circulation system 200 includes a water conduit loop 202 that takes cooler water from a hot tub 204 and brings warmer water into the hot tub 204. A direction of the water flow into and out of the hot tub 204 is indicated by arrow 206. The amount of water permitted to flow out of the hot tub 204 may be controlled by a first ball valve 208 located downstream of the hot tub 204. For purposes of this description, the terms “downstream” and “upstream” are independent of how the system 200 is oriented in the hot tub 204, but instead merely refers to water leaving the hot tub 204 (i.e., downstream) versus water entering the hot tub 204 (i.e. upstream).

Cooler water removed from the hot tub 204 may be circulated through a first heating unit 210 operable to pump heat energy into the circulating water. A second heating unit 212, downstream of the first heating unit 210, may take the form of an electrically powered water heater. A check valve 214 positioned downstream of the second heating unit 212 may be controlled to modulate a flow rate of the water. Depending on a cooling rate of the water in the hot tub 204, the flow rate of the circulated water may controlled by a low flow water pump loop 216 or a high flow water pump loop 218. Check valves 220 in each of the loops 216, 218 may be used, respectively, to control the flow of circulated water. A second ball valve 220, located just upstream of the hot tub 204, may be used to control a flow rate of heated water entering the hot tub 204. The second ball valve 220 may take a form similar to a hose faucet.

Either one of or both of the first and second heating units 210, 212 may be gas powered, electrically powered, or even take the form of a wood-fired burner or stove to heat the water. The heating units 210, 212 may include one or more heat exchangers to maximize the amount of heat transferred into the re-circulated water.

When the hot tub boat 201 is moored to a dock or another vessel, the hot tub 204 may be filled through a port 222 in fluid communication with the water conduit loop 202. Preferably, but not necessarily, the port 222 may be used to fill the hot tub 204 with potable water from an on-shore water supply source or from a water supply source on the adjacent vessel. A third ball valve 224 may be used to control the water flow rate into the loop 202. In such an embodiment and because of the pressure head of the water supply source, the pumps in the pump loops 216, 218 may remain off while the hot tub 204 is filled or re-filled.

In another embodiment, the hot tub 204 may be filled with water by way of a through-hull fitting or port 226, which may be configured to draw water directly from the body of water in which the hot tub boat 201 resides. The flow of water through the port 226 may be controlled by a fourth ball valve 228. One or both of the pumping loops 216, 218 may be operated to reduce the pressure in the loop 202, which in turn would draw in the water from the body of water.

The water entering the hot tub 204 may be cleaned and sanitized using water treatment products, which may take the form of bio-friendly chemicals, an ultraviolet light filter, a system of mechanical filters, an ozone filter (sometimes referred to as an “ozonator), or some combination thereof. Cleaning and sanitizing the hot tub water in a biologically safe manner allows for direct discharge of the hot tub water into the environment should draining or partial draining be necessary.

FIG. 6 schematically shows a hot tub boat 300 having a rigid hull 302 configured to receive a hot tub 304. In the illustrated embodiment, a water ballast or water storage tank 306 is located beneath the hot tub 304. The water ballast 306 may be in fluid communication with a basin 308 that supplies water for one or more hot tub jets 310. The basin 308 may have one or more pumps 312 for drawing water from the water ballast 306 and providing water to a filter 314 and/or to the hot tub jets 310. The water ballast 306 may be sized to provide an additional amount of heated water that permits the hot tub 304 to be quickly refilled with water at a desired temperature. One or more hot tub overflow drains 315 may be in fluid communication with the water ballast 306.

In one embodiment, the hot tub 304 may be drained by mechanically pumping water out or by allowing water to drain out with the assistance of gravity. The latter draining method may be used when a water level 316 of in the hot tub 304 is at a higher elevation than a waterline 318 of the hot tub boat 300.

The hot tub boat described herein is a fully mobile and maneuverable boat capable of carrying a full or a partially-filled tub of heated water, maintaining the water at a desired temperature with an on-board heating system, and providing a relaxing and fun experience for a full compliment of hot tub occupants. Advantageously, at least one embodiment of a hot tub boat described herein may take the form of a powered, maneuverable, seaworthy boat that meets safety and/or seaworthy standards of a governing body while providing a fun and entertaining vehicle for one or more hot tub boat occupants. The hot tub boat may be customized based on a purchaser's requirements. The hot tub boat may be rented or purchased. In a rental capacity, the hot tub boat may be utilized numerous times in a day by different groups of occupants.

The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the above U.S. patents, patent applications and publications referred to in this specification are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects can be modified, if necessary, to employ devices, features, and concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further embodiments.

These and other changes can be made in light of the above detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all types of rigid boat hulls (e.g., different shapes, designs and sizes), boat decks (e.g., cambered or uncambered), hot tubs (e.g., standard or non-standard sizes and shapes), motors, boat steering systems, water heating systems, water circulation systems, and hot tub filling and draining systems in accordance with the claims.

Embodiments of the hot tub boat described herein may be made out of different materials such as metals, wood, plastics, composites, fiber reinforced plastic, etc. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the disclosure, but instead its scope is to be determined entirely by the following claims.

Claims

1. A boat comprising:

a rigid hull;

a motorized propulsion system coupled to the rigid hull; and

a hot tub received by the rigid hull, wherein a ratio of a fill-level volume of the hot tub to a displacement volume of the rigid hull is about equal to or greater than ten percent.

2. The boat of claim 1, further comprising a cambered deck arranged to form a walking or sitting surface around the hot tub.

3. The boat of claim 2, wherein the cambered deck is a reverse cambered deck.

4. The boat of claim 3, wherein the reverse cambered deck includes a camber angle that operates to encourages water splashed over a rim of the hot tub to be directed back into the hot tub.

5. The boat of claim 1, further comprising a ballast tank located beneath the deck for collecting overflow water.

6. The boat of claim 1, further comprising a water circulation system in fluid communication with the hot tub.

7. The boat of claim 6, wherein the water circulation system is in fluid communication with a ballast tank.

8. The boat of claim 6, further comprising a heating system configured to heat the water as the water flows through the water circulation system.

9. The boat of claim 8, in which the heating system is selected from a group consisting of a hydrocarbon-fueled heating system, an electrical-powered heating system, a solar-powered heating system, and a wood-fueled heating system.

10. The boat of claim 1, further comprising a fluid passageway that permits fluid communication between the fill-volume of the hot tub and a body of water exterior of the rigid hull.

11. The boat of claim 10, further comprising a pump in fluid communication with the fluid passageway, wherein the pump is operable to bring the water exterior of the rigid hull into the fill-volume of the hot tub.

12. The boat of claim 1, further comprising at least one towing device coupled to the rigid hull.

13. The boat of claim 1, further comprising a layer of flotation foam coupled to an interior surface of the rigid hull.

14. The boat of claim 1, further comprising a layer of insulating foam arranged around an exterior surface of the hot tub.

15. The boat of claim 1, further comprising a steering system for maneuvering the boat.

16. The boat of claim 15, wherein the steering system is a manually controlled steering system.

17. The boat of claim 15, wherein the steering system is controlled remotely using a hand-operated controller that provides input to at least one of a switch, a servo, and a motor.

18. The boat of claim 1, wherein the motorized propulsion system includes an outboard motor coupled to the rigid hull.

19. The boat of claim 1, wherein the motorized propulsion system includes an inboard motor located within the rigid hull.

20. A method for assembling a hot tub boat, the method comprising:

obtaining rigid boat hull having a displacement volume;

obtaining a hot tub having a fill-level volume; and

installing the hot tub into the rigid boat hull wherein a ratio of the fill-level volume of the hot tub to a displacement volume of the rigid boat hull is about equal to or greater than ten percent.

21. The method of claim 20, providing a deck surface between a periphery of the rigid boat hull and a periphery of the hot tub.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein providing the deck surface includes providing a reverse cambered deck surface.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising installing a propulsion system in the hot tub boat.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising installing a heating system into the hot tub boat, the heating system configured to maintain water in the hot tub at approximately a desired temperature when the hot tub boat is being used by occupants.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising installing a layer of insulating foam arranged around an exterior surface of the hot tub.

26. A method for using a hot tub boat, the method comprising:

filling a hot tub with water up to about a fill-level volume of the hot tub, the hot tub installed into a rigid boat hull wherein a ratio of the fill-level volume of the hot tub to a displacement volume of the rigid boat hull is about equal to or greater than ten percent;

heating the water to a desired water temperature;

propelling the hot tub boat over a body of water, and

maintaining the water temperature in the hot tub to about the desired temperature while the hot tub boat is propelled over the body of water.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising steering the hot tub boat over the body of water.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein maintaining the water temperature includes re-circulating the water in the hot tub while providing heat to the re-circulated water with a heating system.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein propelling the hot tub boat includes propelling the hot tub boat with an outboard motor coupled to the rigid boat hull.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein propelling the hot tub boat includes propelling the hot tub boat with an inboard motor that is located within the rigid boat hull.