Portable Spa Panel and Corner Assembly for Thermal Expansion Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Portable spas face challenges in accommodating thermal expansion and contraction of materials used in their construction, which can lead to structural damage due to differing coefficients of expansion between components.

Innovation Solution

A spa structure design featuring trapezoidal side panels that can slide horizontally and vertically within corner pieces, with pivotable panel clips for easy assembly and disassembly, and angled force transfer members to support the spa shell, allowing for expansion and contraction without distorting the panels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If side panels are rigidly fixed to corner pieces, then structural stability is improved, but thermal expansion and contraction causes structural damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidstructural integrity under thermal stress

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The side panels are designed to slide within grooves of the corner pieces, transforming the rigid fixed connection into a dynamic movable connection. This allows the panels to move relative to the corner pieces during thermal expansion and contraction, preventing structural damage while maintaining stability during normal use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The groove structure acts as an intermediary element between the side panels and corner pieces. It provides a controlled path for movement during thermal expansion while maintaining structural connection, mediating between the need for stability and the need to accommodate thermal stress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If side panels are securely attached to prevent movement, then structural integrity is improved, but assembly and disassembly becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidease of assembly and disassembly

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The connection system uses movable panel clips that can pivot between a retained position (providing secure attachment for structural integrity) and a released position (enabling easy assembly and disassembly). This dynamic mechanism allows the same connection to serve both purposes at different times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment system is segmented into multiple independent panel clips rather than a single rigid fastening mechanism. Each clip can be independently operated to retain or release the side panel, providing both secure attachment when engaged and ease of assembly/disassembly when disengaged.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9750376B2Portable spa construction

Publication Date: 2017.09.05 WATKINS MANUFACTURING CORP

AI summary

Spa side panels are trapezoidally-shaped and mounted in respective grooves defined by adjacent tapered corner pieces and their mounting brackets to accommodate differences in coefficients of expansion of the respective parts and prevent structural damage. Angled force transfer members are configured to mate with swept back side surfaces of a spa base pan to achieve a pedestal appearance, and the bottom surface of the base pan is constructed to reduce heat transfer to the spa support surface.