US2007226891A1PendingUtilityA1

Spa including thermoelectric module for providing cooling of beverages

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Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Apr 4, 2006Filed: Apr 4, 2006Published: Oct 4, 2007
Est. expiryApr 4, 2026(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Timothy Pflueger
F25B 21/02A61H 2201/0207A61H 2201/0214A61H 2201/0242A61H 2201/025A61H 2201/0285F25D 2331/809
38
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Claims

Abstract

The present invention provides a spa comprising a spa wall, a bar top region disposed on top of the spa wall, a cup holder disposed in the bar top region and a thermoelectric module for cooling the bar top region so that a beverage disposed within the cup holder remains cool, wherein the thermoelectric module is in thermal contact with the bar top region

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A spa, comprising: 
 a spa wall;    a bar top region disposed on top of the spa wall;    a cup holder disposed within the bar top region; and    a thermoelectric module for cooling the bar top region so that a beverage disposed within the cup holder remains cool.    
   
   
       2 . The spa of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric module is in thermal contact with the bar top region.  
   
   
       3 . The spa of  claim 2 , wherein the thermoelectric module is contoured to substantially match a contour of the spa wall.  
   
   
       4 . The spa of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric module also provides heating for the bar top region so that a beverage disposed within the cup holder remains hot.  
   
   
       5 . The spa of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric module comprises a Peltier device.  
   
   
       6 . The spa of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric module comprises: 
 a thermally conductive plate for contacting the bar top region;    a thermally conductive block for housing an electrical switch; and    a Peltier device in thermal communication with the thermally conductive block and the thermally conductive plate.    
   
   
       7 . The spa of  claim 6 , wherein the electrical switch is designed to switch the Peltier device between a cooling device and a heating device by reversing the current in the device.  
   
   
       8 . The spa of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the thermoelectric module is employed to cool a water bladder containing water; and    the cooled water is delivered to a localized region of the spa.    
   
   
       9 . The spa of  claim 8 , wherein the localized region comprises the bar top region.  
   
   
       10 . The spa of  claim 8 , wherein the thermoelectric module includes a thermally conductive plate in thermal communication with the water bladder.  
   
   
       11 . The spa of  claim 8 , wherein the thermoelectric module includes an external coil in thermal communication with the water within the water bladder.  
   
   
       12 . The spa of  claim 8 , further comprising a pump for moving the cooled water through a hose to the localized area.  
   
   
       13 . The spa of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric module includes an external coil that is in thermal communication with the cup holder.  
   
   
       14 . The spa of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric module includes a thermoelectric plate that is in thermal communication with the cup holder.  
   
   
       15 . A spa, comprising: 
 a spa wall;    a bar top region disposed on top of the spa wall;    a plurality of cup holders integral with the bar top region; and    a plurality of thermoelectric modules for cooling the bar top region so that a beverage disposed within the cup holder remains cool.    
   
   
       16 . The spa of  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of spa areas, wherein one cup holder is provided for each spa area.  
   
   
       17 . The spa of  claim 15 , wherein the bar top region and integral cup holders comprise a thermally conductive material.  
   
   
       18 . The spa of  claim 17 , wherein the thermally conductive material comprises Aluminum.  
   
   
       19 . The spa of  claim 15 , wherein each thermoelectric module comprises: 
 a thermally conductive plate for contacting the bar top region;    a thermally conductive block for housing an electrical switch; and    a Peltier device in thermal communication with the thermally conductive block and the thermally conductive plate.    
   
   
       20 . The spa of  claim 15 , wherein the bar top region is continuous such that the entire bar top region is cooled simultaneously.  
   
   
       21 . The spa of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the bar top region is divided into a plurality of sections; and    each section may be selectively and independently cooled.

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