Decorated spa & tub construction and method of manufacture

Abstract

An aesthetically pleasing spa or jetted bath tub having a preferably vinyl, decorative film disposed over at least a portion of the underside of the spa shell, subsequent to the molding thereof; a coating of an adhesion accelerator disposed over at least the portion of the spa shell underside that is not covered by a decorative film, with optional hand painted indicia applied to the spa body underside upon at least decorative film uncovered areas of the spa body, prior to the application of the fibreglass lay up to the spa body. The method of manufacture of the spa is also disclosed.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An aesthetically pleasing spa or jetted bath tub comprising a spa body having a topside and an underside, which spa body has a decorative film applied to at least a portion of the underside of said spa body, subsequent to the formation of the spa body, the underside thereof, and a fibreglass lay up disposed over the seal coat.  
     
     
         2 . An aesthetically pleasing spa comprising a spa body having a topside and an underside, which spa body has a decorative film applied to at least a portion of the underside thereof subsequent to the formation of the spa body, a seal coat placed over the film, and a fibreglass lay up disposed over the seal coat.  
     
     
         3 . An aesthetically pleasing spa or jetted bath tub comprising a spa body having a topside and an underside, which spa body has a decorative film applied to at least a portion of the underside of said spa body, subsequent to the formation of the spa body, the underside thereof, an adhesion accelerator coating is placed over at least the portion of the underside of the spa body that does not have decorative film thereon, wherein painted indiciums are added to at least one area of the spa body not covered by film over the adhesion accelerator coating, and a fibreglass lay up is disposed over the seal coat.  
     
     
         4 . The spa of  claim 3  wherein the decorative film is vinyl film and a seal coat is placed over the entire underside of the spa body prior to the fibreglass lay up.  
     
     
         5 . The spa of  claim 1  wherein the spa body is vacuum formed acrylic plastic.  
     
     
         6 . The spa of  claim 3  wherein further including painted indicia on at least one area of the spa body not covered by film and the film itself.  
     
     
         7 . An aesthetically pleasing spa or jetted bath tub comprising a vacuum formed acrylic spa body having a topside and an underside, which spa body having a decorative vinyl film adhered to at least a portion of the underside of the spa body, said vinyl film, being sealed in place by a seal coat, and a fibreglass lay up disposed against the seal coat.  
     
     
         8 . The spa body of  claim 2  wherein painted indicia are added to at least one area of the spa body not covered by film and the film itself.  
     
     
         9 . The spa body of  claim 1 , wherein painted indicia are added to at least one area of the spa body not covered by film and to the film itself  
     
     
         10 . A process for preparing an aesthetically pleasing spa or jetted bath tub which process comprises: 
 a] vacuum forming a plastic sheet to create a spa body having a topside and an underside;    b] applying a front surface adhesive bearing decorative film to the underside of at least a portion of the underside of the previously formed spa body;    c] applying a fibreglass lay up to the spa body containing decorative film; and    d] plumbing the completed spa for installation.    
     
     
         11 . A process for preparing an aesthetically pleasing spa or jetted bath tub which process comprises: 
 a] vacuum forming a plastic sheet to create a spa body having a topside and an underside;    b] applying a front surface adhesive bearing decorative film to at least a portion of the underside of the spa body, and leaving a portion of the underside of the spa body uncovered by decorative film;    c] applying an adhesion accelerator to at least the part of the spa body uncovered by decorative film,    d] applying paint by any mode of application to create indicia on at least one area of the spa body not covered by decorative film;    d] applying a fibreglass lay up to the spa body; and    e] plumbing the completed spa for installation.    
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 8  including the step of applying a seal coat to the underside of the spa body prior to the fibreglass lay up step.  
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 10  including the step of applying a seal coat to the film prior to the fibreglass lay up step.  
     
     
         14 . The spa of  claim 6  wherein the paint in the paint layer is sign maker's paint.  
     
     
         15 . A process for preparing an aesthetically pleasing spa or jetted bath tub which process comprises: 
 a] vacuum forming an acrylic plastic sheet to create a spa body having a topside and an underside;    b] applying a front surface adhesive bearing decorative vinyl film to the underside of at least a portion of the underside of the spa body;    c] applying a layer of adhesion accelerator to the entire underside of the spa body, both film covered and uncovered by film;    d] optionally painting at least one portion of uncovered underside of the spa body to place indicia thereon, and the vinyl film;    e] applying a fibreglass lay up to the spa body; and    e] plumbing the spa unit for installation.    
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 14  further including the steps of sanding the formed underside of the spa body, washing the underside of the spa body and air-drying the spa body prior to applying a film layer thereto.  
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16  further including the additional step of sealing the applied vinyl film to the spa body.