TOPSIDE CONTROL PANEL FOR BATHING UNIT SYSTEM

• US 20170017315A1
• Filed: 07/14/2015
• Published: 01/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gecko Alliance Group Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gecko Alliance Group Inc.
• Inventors: CAOUETTE, Martin, LAFLAMME, Benoit
• Application Number:
  US14/798,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20170017315A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 3/00 Baths; Douches; Appurtenances therefor for curative purposes A61H, A61M, e.g. bathing devices for special therapeutic or hygienic purposes A61H33/00; spray heads B05B; devices for suspending or supporting the supply pipe or supply hose of a shower bath E03C1/06; heated bath tubs F24H1/0072
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0103 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5046 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/60 Components specifically designed for the therapeutic baths of groups A61H33/00 plumbing E03C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133311 Environmental protection, e.g. against dust or humidity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A topside control panel for a bathing unit system is provided. The topside control panel comprises a housing including a top surface and a bottom surface opposed to the top surface and a display touch or presence-sensitive assembly positioned upon the top surface of the housing. The topside control panel also includes a circuit board assembly positioned upon the bottom surface the housing. In some embodiments, the bottom surface may be circumscribed by a bottom peripheral wall, which with the bottom surface defines a recess in which is positioned the circuit board assembly. A back panel may be secured to the housing so as to enclose the second recess and form an enclosed space. The back panel may include a ventilation member configured for allowing air communication between the enclosed space and a space external to the topside control panel. In another aspect, a topside control panel having a cover frame including a cut out or window area may be provided for receiving the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly when assembled with the housing and may allow for customizing the aesthetic appearance of the topside control panel by selecting cover frames having different appearances.

Claims

1. A topside control panel for a bathing unit system, said topside control panel comprising:

a. a housing including a top surface and a bottom surface opposed to the top surface;

b. a display touch or presence-sensitive assembly positioned upon the top surface of the housing; and

c. a circuit board assembly positioned upon the bottom surface the housing, the circuit board assembly being electrically coupled to the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly.

2. A topside control panel as defined in claim 1, wherein the top surface of the housing is circumscribed by a peripheral edge for engaging the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly.

3. A topside control panel as defined in claim 2, wherein a sealing material secures the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly to the housing.

4. A topside control panel as defined in claim 3, wherein the peripheral edge includes a groove or channel and wherein the sealing material securing the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly to the housing is positioned within the groove or channel.

5. A topside control panel as defined in claim 1, further comprising a cover frame including a cut out or window area for receiving the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly when assembled with the housing.

6. A topside control panel as defined in claim 1, wherein the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly and the top surface of the housing form an enclosed space.

7. A topside control panel as defined in claim 1, wherein said display touch or presence-sensitive assembly includes:

a. an electronic display,

b. a touch or presence-sensitive layer, and

c. a cover layer overlying a top surface of the touch or presence-sensitive layer.

8. A topside control panel as defined in claim 7, wherein the cover layer of the touch or presence-sensitive assembly includes a translucent or transparent area.

9. A topside control panel as defined in claim 8, wherein the translucent or transparent area is associated with an ambient light sensor positioned on the circuit board assembly.

10. A topside control panel as defined in claim 7, wherein the cover layer of the touch or presence-sensitive assembly includes a tactile zone for associating user tactile input to software-implemented actions.

11. A topside control panel as defined in claim 7, wherein the cover layer is comprised of a glass material.

12. A topside control panel as defined in claim 1, wherein the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly is responsive to changes in capacitance resulting from touching or close proximity of an object to the touch or presence-sensitive layer to generate and transmit signals to a processor located on the circuit board assembly.

36. A bathing unit system comprising:

a. a receptacle for holding water;

b. a plurality of comfort components including at least a circulation pump and a heater;

c. a controller for controlling operational settings associated with the comfort components; and

d. a topside control panel as defined in claim 1, the topside control panel being in communication with the controller for allowing a user of the bathing unit system to control and/or monitor operational settings of at least some of the comfort components in the bathing unit system.

37. A bathing unit according to claim 36, wherein the receptacle for holding water includes a peripheral wall and wherein the control panel is positioned on an upper portion of the peripheral wall.

13. A topside control panel for a bathing unit system, said topside control panel comprising:

a. a display touch or presence-sensitive assembly;

b. a housing having;

i. a top surface circumscribed by a top peripheral wall, the top surface and the top peripheral wall defining a first recess for receiving the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly;

ii. a bottom surface opposed to the top surface, the bottom surface being circumscribed by a bottom peripheral wall, the bottom surface and the bottom peripheral wall defining a second recess; and

c. a circuit board assembly positioned in said second recess of the housing, the circuit board assembly being electrically coupled to the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly.

14. A topside control panel as defined in claim 13, wherein said bottom surface includes a plurality of standoffs protruding therefrom for contacting a top surface portion of the circuit board assembly.

15. A topside control panel as defined in claim 13, wherein said bottom surface includes a plurality of mounting brackets protruding therefrom for securing the circuit board assembly within the second recess.

16. A topside control panel as defined in claim 13, wherein the top surface of the housing is circumscribed by a peripheral edge for engaging the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly.

17. A topside control panel as defined in claim 16, wherein a sealing material secures the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly to the housing.

18. A topside control panel as defined in claim 17, wherein the peripheral edge includes a groove or channel and wherein the sealing material securing the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly to the housing is positioned within the groove or channel.

19. A topside control panel as defined in claim 13, further comprising a cover frame including a cut out or window area for receiving the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly when assembled with the housing.

20. A topside control panel as defined in claim 13, wherein the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly and the top surface of the housing form an enclosed space.

21. A topside control panel as defined in claim 13, wherein said display touch or presence-sensitive assembly includes:

a. an electronic display,

b. a touch or presence-sensitive layer, and

c. a cover layer overlying a top surface of the touch or presence-sensitive layer.

22. A topside control panel as defined in claim 21, wherein the cover layer of the touch or presence-sensitive assembly includes a translucent or transparent area.

23. A topside control panel as defined in claim 22, wherein the translucent or transparent area is associated with an ambient light sensor positioned on the circuit board assembly.

24. A topside control panel as defined in claim 21, wherein the cover layer of the touch or presence-sensitive assembly includes a tactile zone for associating user tactile input to software-implemented actions.

25. A topside control panel as defined in claim 24, wherein the tactile zone provides haptic feedback and/or a mechanical actuator.

26. A topside control panel as defined in claim 21, wherein the cover layer is comprised of a glass material.

27. A topside control panel for a bathing unit, comprising:

a. a display touch or presence-sensitive assembly;

b. a housing including;

i. a top surface circumscribed by a top peripheral wall, the top surface and the top peripheral wall defining a first recess for receiving the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly; and

ii. a bottom surface opposed to the top surface, the bottom surface being circumscribed by a bottom peripheral wall, the bottom surface and the bottom peripheral wall defining a second recess; and

c. a back panel secured to the housing so as to enclose the second recess and form an enclosed space, the back panel including a ventilation member configured for allowing air communication between the enclosed space and a space external to the topside control panel.

28. A topside control panel as defined in claim 27, further comprising a circuit board assembly positioned within the second recess, the circuit board assembly being electrically coupled to the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly.

29. A topside control panel as defined in claim 27, wherein the ventilation member is comprised of an elongated hollow member extending from an aperture formed on a wall of the back panel.

30. A topside control panel as defined in claim 27, wherein the top surface of the housing is circumscribed by a peripheral edge for engaging the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly.

31. A topside control panel as defined in claim 27, wherein said display touch or presence-sensitive assembly includes:

a. an electronic display,

b. a touch or presence-sensitive layer, and

c. a cover layer overlying a top surface of the touch or presence-sensitive layer.

32. A topside control panel for a bathing unit, comprising:

a. a display touch or presence-sensitive assembly;

b. a housing including;

i. a top surface circumscribed by a top peripheral wall, the top surface and the top peripheral wall defining a first recess for receiving the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly so as to enclose at least part of the first recess and form a first enclosed space; and

ii. a bottom surface circumscribed by a bottom peripheral wall, the bottom surface and the bottom peripheral wall defining a second recess; and

c. a back panel secured to the housing so as to enclose at least part of the second recess to form a second enclosed space defined at least in part by the back panel, the bottom peripheral wall of the housing and the bottom surface of the housing, wherein a ventilation path is formed between the top surface and the bottom surface of the housing to allow air communication between the first enclosed space and the second enclosed space.

33. A topside control panel as defined in claim 32, wherein the back panel includes a ventilation member configured for allowing air communication between the enclosed second space and a space external to the topside control panel.

34. A topside control panel according to claim 33, wherein the ventilation member is comprised of an elongated hollow member extending from an aperture formed on a wall of the back panel.

35. A topside control panel according to claim 34, further comprising a circuit board assembly positioned within the second enclosed space of the housing.