Portable Recirculating Bath Tub Water Heater

Abstract

A portable bath tub water heater is provided that includes a water pump and a heating element to heat water in a bath tub, wherein the portable bath tub water heater is configured to recirculate bath tub water using inlet and outlet tubes at least partially submerged in the water. The portable bath tub water heater is configured to be disposed on and/or nearby the bath tub in any number of different ways. After usage, the portable bath tub water heater may be purged of any remaining water and stored for future use.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable bath tub heating device comprising:
 a body;   a water pump and a heating element disposed within the body; and   an inlet tube and an outlet tube connected to the body,   wherein the water pump is configured to circulate water from a bath tub through the inlet tube, the outlet tube, and the body, wherein the heating element is configured to raise a temperature of the water, and wherein the portable bath tub heating device is configured to maintain a temperature of the water below a maximum water threshold temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The portable bath tub heating device of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet tube and the outlet tube comprise a rigid or flexible material, and wherein the inlet tube and outlet tube are configured to engage a surface of the bath tub and support a weight of the portable bath tub heating device. 
     
     
         3 . The portable bath tub heating device of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises one or more mechanisms configured to removeably affix the body to an upper or exterior surface of the bath tub. 
     
     
         4 . The portable bath tub heating device of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet tube and the outlet tube are configured or configurable to be routed along a surface of the bath tub, and wherein the inlet tube and/or the outlet tube comprise a plurality of apertures provided at intervals along the inlet tube and/or the outlet tube, respectively. 
     
     
         5 . The portable bath tub heating device of  claim 1 , wherein the water pump and heating element are oriented within the body to facilitate drainage of water from the portable bath tub heating device by gravity. 
     
     
         6 . The portable bath tub heating device of  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface including at least one of: a display and one or more buttons, wherein the user interface is configured to receive a first user input indicative of a minimum water temperature threshold. 
     
     
         7 . The portable bath tub heating device of  claim 6 , wherein the user interface is further configured to receive a second user input, wherein the portable bath tub heating device is further configured to activate the water pump to purge water from the portable bath tub heating device based on the second user input. 
     
     
         8 . The portable bath tub heating device of  claim 1 , wherein the maximum water threshold temperature is 140 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         9 . The portable bath tub heating device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:   determine that the portable bath tub heating device has been turned on;   determine that a water flow rate through the portable bath tub heating device is greater than a threshold flow rate;   determine that the temperature of the water in the bath tub or in the portable bath tub heating device is below a temperature set point; and   send a signal to turn on the heating element based on the determination that the water flow rate is greater than a threshold flow rate and the determination that the temperature of the water is below a temperature set point.   
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a portable bath tub heating device comprising:
 a body; 
 a water pump and a heating element disposed within the body; and 
 an inlet tube and an outlet tube in fluid communication with the body, 
 wherein the water pump is configured to circulate water from a bath tub through the inlet tube, the outlet tube, and the body, and 
 wherein the heating element is configured to heat the water and the portable bath tub heating device is configured to maintain a temperature of the water in the bath tub at less than a maximum water threshold temperature. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the inlet tube and the outlet tube comprise a rigid or flexible material, and wherein the inlet tube and outlet tube are configured to engage a surface of the bath tub and support a weight of the portable bath tub heating device. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the body comprises one or more mechanisms configured to removeably affix the body to an upper or exterior surface of the bath tub. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the inlet tube and the outlet tube are routed along a surface of the bath tub, and wherein the inlet tube and/or outlet tube comprise apertures provided at a plurality of intervals along the inlet tube and/or the outlet tube, respectively. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the water pump and heating element are oriented within the body to facilitate drainage of water from the portable bath tub heating device by gravity. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a user interface including at least one of: a display and one or more buttons, wherein the user interface is configured to receive a first user input indicative of a minimum water temperature threshold. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the user interface is further configured to receive a second user input, wherein the portable bath tub heating device is further configured to activate the water pump to purge water from the portable bath tub heating device based on the second user input. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the maximum water threshold temperature is 140 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:   determine that the portable bath tub heating device has been turned on;   determine that a water flow rate is greater than a threshold flow rate;   determine that the temperature of the water is below a temperature set point; and   send a signal to turn on the heating element based on the determination that the water flow rate is greater than a threshold flow rate and the determination that the temperature of the water is below a temperature set point.   
     
     
         19 . A method comprising:
 determining, using one or more processors associated with a controller of a portable bath tub heating device, that a first temperature is below a minimum water temperature threshold;   activating, using the one or more processors and based on the determination that the first temperature is below the minimum water threshold temperature, a water pump of the portable bath tub heating device, wherein the water pump is housed within a body of the portable bath tub heating device;   determining, using the one or more processors, that a second water temperature is greater than or equal to a maximum water temperature threshold; and   deactivating, using the one or more processors and based on the determination that the second water temperature is greater than or equal to the maximum water threshold temperature, the water pump.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the maximum water threshold temperature is 140 degrees Fahrenheit.