Tub surface heating device

Abstract

A combination of a tub surface heating device and a tub has a tub wall with an inner surface which is in contact with water, and an outer surface which stays dry during use of the tub. A heat source heats by conduction the inner surface of the tub wall. A securing configuration secures the heat source on the outer surface of the tub wall. A method for heating the tub wall is also provided.

1 . A combination of a tub surface heating device and a tub, comprising: 
 a tub having a tub wall with an inner surface which is in contact with water and an outer surface which stays dry during use of the tub;    a heat source which heats by conduction the inner surface of the tub wall; and    a securing configuration associated with the heat source so as to secure the heat source to the outer surface of the tub wall.    
   
   
       2 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said heat source has a heating panel enclosing a heating element, said heating panel having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface being secured to the outer surface of the tub wall.  
   
   
       3 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein said heating panel is made of a flexible material so as to conform to the shape of the outer surface of the tub wall.  
   
   
       4 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein said heating panel has a first layer of a material capable of absorbing heat from the heating element to subsequently transfer heat uniformly to the outer surface of the tub wall.  
   
   
       5 . The combination of  claim 4 , wherein said material is a layer of silicone defining the first surface of the panel, so as to transfer heat to the inner surface of the tub wall.  
   
   
       6 . The combination of  claim 5 , wherein said heating panel has an insulating layer defining the second surface of the heating panel, such that heat from the heating element is generally transferred to the tub wall from the first layer.  
   
   
       7 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein the heating element of the heating panel is a heating coil powered by an electric source.  
   
   
       8 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the tub comprises a water line underneath which there is water during use of the tub, the heat source being secured to a part of the outer surface of the tub wall corresponding to a part of the inner surface of the tub wall above the water line, so as to reduce the temperature variation between the water and the inner surface of the tub wall above the water line.  
   
   
       9 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein the heat source is secured to the tub wall at a backrest position.  
   
   
       10 . The combination of  claim 2 , comprising at least two of the heating panel.  
   
   
       11 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein the heating panels are serially interconnected to a single power feed.  
   
   
       12 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein each of the heating panel comprises an electrical receptacle and an electrical plug protruding from the second surface of each of the heating panels, wherein the electrical receptacle is oriented away from the electrical plug and both electrical receptacle and electrical plug project laterally from a wire connector, for side-by-side electrical connection of the heating panels.  
   
   
       13 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein adjacent heating panels are spaced apart so as to receive therebetween jets of an air massage system/whirlpool system.  
   
   
       14 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein the electrical receptacle and the electrical plug are sealingly connected to the second surface of the heating panels, so as to isolate wires therein.  
   
   
       15 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein the heating panels are each connected independently to a controller, whereby the controller produces different temperatures at different locations in the tub.  
   
   
       16 . The combination of  claim 7 , further comprising a thermal fuse in the heating coil so as to limit a maximum temperature of the heat source  
   
   
       17 . A method for heating a tub wall having an inner surface which is in contact with water and an outer surface which stays dry during use of the tub, comprising: 
 securing a heat source to the outer surface of the tub wall;    connecting said heat source to a power source; and    actuating said heat source to heat the tub wall.    
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the step of securing the heat source to the outer surface is performed by applying an adhesive of the heat source and pressuring the heat source against the outer surface in a selected position.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the step of securing a heat source to the outer surface involves securing a plurality of the heat source to the outer surface, and a step of connecting said heat source to the power source involves connecting the heat sources serially and connecting one of the serially connected heat sources to a power source.