Combined uv and heater for spa applications

Abstract

A spa having a heater and a UV source combined in single housing that receives water from the spa such that water within the housing is simultaneously heated and treated with UV radiation for water treatment purposes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combined heater and UV treatment assembly for a spa comprising:
 a UV source;   a heating element;   a housing that defines an interior space that receives the heater element and the UV source wherein the housing includes an inlet and an outlet so that water can be flowed through the interior space of the housing and so that the water inside of the housing is simultaneously heated by the heater and also subjected to UV radiation from the UV source.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the heater comprises a 1000 to 6000 watt heater and the UV source comprises a standard UV bulb. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a light source housing formed of a transparent tube and wherein the UV light source is positioned within the transparent tube having a mounting assembly and wherein the transparent tube is attached to a side wall of the housing so that the UV source is insulated from the water within the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the transparent tube is formed of quarts or glass. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the mounting assembly comprises a fitting that extends through the housing and wherein a plug is connected to an electrical power source and is held in place in the tube and fitting via a flexible cover that engages with the fitting. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a first housing and a second housing that engage with each other so as to form a substantially watertight enclosure. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the housing has two ends and the heater and the UV light source are positioned on opposite housings at opposite ends. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising a thermostat that is included to measure water temperature within the housing. 
     
     
         9 . A spa assembly comprising:
 a tank containing water that is sized so as to accommodate a person;   a circulation system that circulates water into the spa;   a heater that heats the water;   a UV treatment device that treats the water wherein the circulation system and the heater and UV treatment device are positioned within the same enclosure; and   a housing that receives both the heater and the UV treatment device, wherein the housing is coupled to the circulation system so that water circulates through the interior of the housing so as to be simultaneously treated by the heater and UV treatment device.   
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the housing is elongate and has a first opening on one end and a second opening on an upper surface wherein water flows between the first and second opening. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the housing comprises a first and second members with the UV treatment device mounted on the first member and the heater mounted on the second member. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second members define first and second ends and wherein the UV treatment device is mounted on a first end and the heater is mounted adjacent a second end so as to not overlap in the interior of the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the inlet is mounted on a first end of the first member of the housing and the UV treatment device is mounted on the second end of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the UV treatment device comprises a transparent tube and a UV light source, wherein the transparent tube is positioned within the interior of the housing and receives the UV light source and wherein the UV light source is elongated. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the transparent tube is formed of glass or quartz. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the transparent tube extends through the end wall of the first housing member and is secured thereto by a ring. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the elongate UV source is positioned within the transparent tube through the opening in the first housing member and wherein a flexible cap is positioned over the metal ring to retain the UV source in the tube. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising an electrical cord that is connected to the UV source via the flexible cap. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the cap is formed of plastic. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a thermostat positioned within the interior of the housing.