Systems and Methods for Bathtub Heating

Abstract

In some embodiments, a bathtub heating system may detect a temperature of bathtub fluid (e.g., water, mud, etc.) in a bathtub and may apply heat to the bathtub fluid to maintain a substantially constant temperature (or to provide a user indicated and/or predetermined temperature/time profile). In some embodiments, the bathtub heating system may not use a temperature sensor. For example, the bathtub heating system may use a fluid level sensor to detect when the bathtub fluid in the bathtub is at a sufficient height to operate and may apply a predetermined amount of power to the heating elements to approximately maintain the temperature of the bathtub fluid in the bathtub.

1 . A bathtub comprising a bathtub heating system, comprising:
 a bathtub configured to hold a bathtub fluid, wherein the bathtub comprises a bottom and side walls, wherein each of the bottom and side walls include an interior and exterior surface;   a heating element that is positioned 1) proximate to the exterior surface of at least one of the bottom and/or side walls; and/or 2) within at least one of the bottom and/or side walls; and   a sensor operable to detect a presence of a fluid within the bathtub;   wherein the heating element is configured to heat the bottom and/or side walls of the bathtub to thereby heat the bathtub fluid within the bathtub when the sensor detects a presence of a fluid within the bathtub.   
   
   
       2 . The bathtub of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor;   wherein a temperature detected by the temperature sensor is associated with a temperature of the bathtub fluid in the bathtub and wherein the detected temperature is used to approximately maintain the temperature of the bathtub fluid.   
   
   
       3 . The bathtub of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the bathtub heating system is operable to maintain a temperature of the bathtub fluid after an initial temperature adjustment period; and   wherein the initial temperature adjustment period is a period during which a user adds bathtub fluid to the bathtub of a different temperature than the bathtub fluid in the bathtub.   
   
   
       4 . The bathtub of  claim 3 , further comprising maintaining a second bathtub fluid temperature detected during a subsequent temperature adjustment period that is subsequent to the initial temperature adjustment period. 
   
   
       5 . The bathtub of  claim 4 , wherein the subsequent temperature adjustment period is determined by the bathtub heating system monitoring detected temperatures from a temperature sensor and wherein the subsequent temperature adjustment period is defined as a period during which a detected temperature change rate of the bathtub fluid exceeds a threshold. 
   
   
       6 . The bathtub of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element is nichrome ribbon. 
   
   
       7 . The bathtub of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a faucet; and   a drain;   wherein the bathtub is configured to receive the bathtub fluid from the faucet and wherein the drain is configured to allow the bathtub fluid to exit the bathtub.   
   
   
       8 . The bathtub of  claim 1 , wherein power is applied to the heating element to approximately maintain a temperature of the bathtub fluid in the bathtub. 
   
   
       9 . The bathtub of  claim 1 , wherein power is applied to the heating element, and wherein the power applied to the heating element is applied to achieve a variable bathtub fluid temperature. 
   
   
       10 . A bathtub heating system for a bathtub, wherein the bathtub is configured to hold a bathtub fluid, wherein the bathtub comprises a bottom and side walls, wherein each of the bottom and side walls include an interior and exterior surface, the bathtub heating system comprising:
 a heating element that is adapted to be positioned 1) proximate to the exterior surface of at least one of the bottom and/or side walls; and/or 2) within at least one of the bottom and/or side walls; and   a sensor operable to detect a presence of a fluid within the bathtub;   wherein the heating element is configured to heat the bathtub fluid within the bathtub when the sensor detects a presence of a fluid within the bathtub.   
   
   
       11 . The bathtub heating system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor;   wherein a temperature detected by the temperature sensor is associated with a temperature of the bathtub fluid in the bathtub and wherein the detected temperature is used to approximately maintain the temperature of the bathtub fluid.   
   
   
       12 . The bathtub heating system of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the bathtub heating system is operable to maintain a temperature of the bathtub fluid after an initial temperature adjustment period; and   wherein the initial temperature adjustment period is a period during which a user adds bathtub fluid to the bathtub of a different temperature than the bathtub fluid in the bathtub.   
   
   
       13 . The bathtub heating system of  claim 12 , further comprising maintaining a second bathtub fluid temperature detected during a subsequent temperature adjustment period that is subsequent to the initial temperature adjustment period. 
   
   
       14 . The bathtub heating system of  claim 13 , wherein the subsequent temperature adjustment period is determined by the bathtub heating system monitoring detected temperatures from a temperature sensor and wherein the subsequent temperature adjustment period is defined as a period during which a detected temperature change rate of the bathtub fluid exceeds a threshold. 
   
   
       15 . The bathtub heating system of  claim 10 , wherein the heating element is nichrome ribbon. 
   
   
       16 . The bathtub heating system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a faucet; and   a drain;   wherein the bathtub is configured to receive the bathtub fluid from the faucet and wherein the drain is configured to allow the bathtub fluid to exit the bathtub.   
   
   
       17 . The bathtub heating system of  claim 10 , wherein power is applied to the heating element to approximately maintain a temperature of the bathtub fluid in the bathtub. 
   
   
       18 . The bathtub heating system of  claim 10 , wherein power is applied to the heating element, and wherein the power applied to the heating element is applied to achieve a variable bathtub fluid temperature. 
   
   
       19 . A method of manufacturing a bathtub, comprising:
 providing a bathtub configured to hold a bathtub fluid, wherein the bathtub comprises a bottom and side walls, wherein each of the bottom and side walls include an interior and exterior surface;   coupling a heating element to the bathtub, wherein the heating element is positioned 1) proximate to the exterior surface of at least one of the bottom and/or side walls; and/or 2) within at least one of the bottom and/or side walls; and   coupling a sensor to the bathtub, wherein the sensor is operable to detect a presence of a fluid within the bathtub;   wherein the heating element is configured to heat the bottom and/or side walls of the bathtub to thereby heat the bathtub fluid within the bathtub when the sensor detects a presence of a fluid within the bathtub.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 coupling a temperature sensor to the bathtub;   wherein a temperature detected by the temperature sensor is associated with a temperature of the bathtub fluid in the bathtub and wherein the detected temperature is used to approximately maintain the temperature of the bathtub fluid.   
   
   
       21 . A method of operating a bathtub, wherein the bathtub is configured to hold a bathtub fluid, wherein the bathtub comprises a bottom and side walls, wherein each of the bottom and side walls include an interior and exterior surface, the bathtub heating system comprising, comprising:
 detecting a presence of a fluid in the bathtub, wherein the presence of the fluid is detected through a sensor; and   applying heat to the bathtub fluid in the bathtub through a heating element, wherein the heating element is positioned 1) proximate to the exterior surface of at least one of the bottom and/or side walls; and/or 2) within at least one of the bottom and/or side walls;   wherein the heating element is configured to heat the bottom and/or side walls of the bathtub to thereby heat the bathtub fluid within the bathtub when the sensor detects a presence of a fluid within the bathtub.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 detecting a temperature of the bathtub fluid through a temperature sensor;   wherein the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is associated with a temperature of the bathtub fluid in the bathtub and wherein the detected temperature is used to approximately maintain the temperature of the bathtub fluid.   
   
   
       23 . A bathtub comprising a bathtub heating system, comprising:
 a tub means configured to hold a bathtub fluid, wherein the tub means comprises a bottom and side walls, wherein each of the bottom and side walls include an interior and exterior surface;   a heating means that is positioned 1) proximate to the exterior surface of at least one of the bottom and/or side walls; and/or 2) within at least one of the bottom and/or side walls; and   a sensor means operable to detect a presence of a bathtub fluid within the tub means;   wherein the heating means is configured to heat the bottom and/or side walls of the tub means to thereby heat the bathtub fluid within the tub means when the sensor detects a presence of a bathtub fluid within the tub means.   
   
   
       24 . The bathtub of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor means;   wherein a temperature detected by the temperature sensor means is associated with a temperature of the bathtub fluid in the tub means and wherein the detected temperature is used to approximately maintain the temperature of the bathtub fluid.   
   
   
       25 . The bathtub of  claim 23 , wherein the bathtub heating system is configured to heat the bathtub fluid in the tub means without circulating the bathtub fluid in the tub means.