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US4564962A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Energy efficient thermosyphoning spa heater system

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1985-06-06
•
Granted: 1986-01-21
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Expires: 2005-06-06
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Abstract

Abstract In a spa a thermosyphoning unit is attached in upright position on the spa shell where such unit comprises an upward flowing cold inlet pipe, a heating pipe, an upward flowing hot outlet pipe, and a heating element. A one speed pump is required. Water is drawn from the spa to the pump through a drain, skimmer, cold inlet pipe and hot outlet pipe. A thermostat controls the operation of the heating element in conjunction with a high limit switch to prevent over heating the water. The spa is completely insulated with a removable insulated top on the spa.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kenneth B. Castleberry
  • 👤 Norman L. McDonald

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 06:57
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H4/00; E04H4/12; E04H4/129

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 241 words
A spa comprising: (a) A spa shell having at least one continuous connected spa shell side surface and a spa bottom; (b) an air blower attached to said spa shell by means of an air pipe interconnected to an air manifold from which a plurality of bubble inlets communicate through said spa shell; (c) a thermosyphoning unit where a heating pipe with a heating element within said heating pipe is attached to said side surface of said spa shell by means of a cold inlet pipe and a hot outlet pipe located above said cold inlet pipe wherein a plane passing through said cold inlet pipe and being perpendicular to said spa bottom will not pass through said hot outlet pipe; (d) a one-speed pump circulating fluid from said spa shell by means of at least four inlets, namely, a drain, a skimmer, along with said cold inlet pipe and said hot outlet pipe of said thermosyphoning unit which communicate through said spa shell where said thermosyphoning unit, said drain by a drain pipe, and said skimmer by a skimmer pipe interconnect to said pump by means of a suction pipe and, further, where said pump provides fluid and air to a spa shell by means of a pump pipe to a plurality of water jets where an air inlet provides air to said pump pipe by means of air inlet pipe which communicates with the atmosphere through an air inlet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 241 words
A spa comprising: (a) A spa shell having at least one continuous connected spa shell side surface and a spa bottom; (b) an air blower attached to said spa shell by means of an air pipe interconnected to an air manifold from which a plurality of bubble inlets communicate through said spa shell; (c) a thermosyphoning unit where a heating pipe with a heating element within said heating pipe is attached to said side surface of said spa shell by means of a cold inlet pipe and a hot outlet pipe located above said cold inlet pipe wherein a plane passing through said cold inlet pipe and being perpendicular to said spa bottom will not pass through said hot outlet pipe; (d) a one-speed pump circulating fluid from said spa shell by means of at least four inlets, namely, a drain, a skimmer, along with said cold inlet pipe and said hot outlet pipe of said thermosyphoning unit which communicate through said spa shell where said thermosyphoning unit, said drain by a drain pipe, and said skimmer by a skimmer pipe interconnect to said pump by means of a suction pipe and, further, where said pump provides fluid and air to a spa shell by means of a pump pipe to a plurality of water jets where an air inlet provides air to said pump pipe by means of air inlet pipe which communicates with the atmosphere through an air inlet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 41 words
The spa of claim 1 wherein said heating element operates independently of said pump circulating causing fluid from said spa shell to circulate through said cold inlet pipe, through said heating pipe, through said hot outlet pipe to said spa shell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 40 words
A spa as in claim 1, including a thermostat electrically connected to said heating element in said heating pipe an to a thermostat setting for upper and lower temperatures where a limit switch controls maximum temperature in said heating pipe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
A spa as in claim 1, including blown-on foam insulation on said spa shell exterior and insulating top on said spa shell.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1617889A Cited
US2228004A Cited
US2577694A Cited
US3400246A Cited
US3571818A Cited
US4339833A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-01-20 1989-07-22 1990-01-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-01-20 1993-07-22 1994-01-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-01-20 1997-07-22 1998-01-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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