Adjustable hot tub seating device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hot tub and spa designs feature rigid, immovable seats that fail to accommodate user preferences for different positions, limiting comfort and accessibility, especially for individuals with mobility issues.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of adjustable seating devices with pivotable panels, including an upper body panel, upper leg panel, and lower leg panel, connected by pivot rods and actuators, allowing users to adjust their position between multiple configurations, such as lounger, seated, and lie-down positions, with optional jets and reduced shell penetrations to minimize leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If rigid, immovable seats are used in hot tub design, then structural simplicity and ease of manufacture are improved, but user comfort and adaptability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the rigid, fixed seat into a dynamic, adjustable seating device with multiple panels (backrest panel, seat panel, leg rest panel) that can pivot and adjust to various positions. This allows the seating device to adapt to different user preferences and mobility needs while maintaining structural integrity through pivot rods and support mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The seating device is segmented into multiple independent panels (backrest panel, seat panel, leg rest panel) that can move relative to each other. Each panel can be adjusted independently, providing fine-grained control over seating position and angle, thereby achieving high adaptability without requiring complete redesign of the entire seating structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable seating devices with multiple pivot points are introduced, then user comfort and adaptability are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple adjustment functions into a coordinated system where the backrest panel, seat panel, and leg rest panel are interconnected through pivot rods and supports. This integration allows the panels to move in a coordinated manner, reducing the need for separate control mechanisms for each panel and thereby managing complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
Pivot rods and support structures serve as intermediaries between the different panels, enabling smooth relative movement while maintaining structural connection. These intermediary elements simplify the mechanical linkage between panels, making the adjustment mechanism more manageable and easier to manufacture compared to direct rigid connections.
3Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable seating devices with multiple pivot points are introduced, then user comfort and adaptability are improved, but the number of shell penetrations increases leading to higher leakage risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pivot mechanism from the hot tub shell structure by positioning the pivot rods and support mechanisms within the existing frame structure rather than requiring additional penetrations through the shell. This approach maintains adaptability while minimizing interference with the shell's integrity and reducing leakage risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The seating device utilizes the existing hot tub frame structure for mounting and support, making the frame serve multiple functions: structural support, mounting for pivot mechanisms, and integration with the overall hot tub assembly. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional shell penetrations and associated leakage risks.
Data Source
AI summary
Adjustable seating devices for use in a hot tub may include multiple panels that move relative to one another and/or relative to the hot tub frame to adjust between positions. In some embodiments, one or more panels of the adjustable seating device may include jets. The adjustable seating devices may be adjusted manually, hydraulically, air-actuated, or electronically.