Remote control system for spas

• US 4,404,697 A
• Filed: 08/14/1978
• Issued: 09/20/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Internmatic Incorporated A Corporation of Del
• Original Assignee: Intermatic Incorporated (Wpa Participações e Serviços SA)
• Inventors: Hatcher, Frank L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Charles E.
• Application Number:
  US05/933,462
• Time in Patent Office: 1,863 Days
• Field of Search: 4/172, 4/172.15, 4/172.17, 4/178, 4/180, 4/488, 4/489, 4/492, 4/493, 4/494, 4/495, 4/507, 4/508, 4/509, 4/510, 4/538 , 4/540-542, 200/302, 200/331, 200/5 A, 362/158, 340/566, 340/693, 340/694-696, 340/225
• US Class Current: 4/492
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/0079 using remote control signal transmission devices, e.g. ultrasonic, infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/005 Electrical circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/02 Bathing devices for use with gas-containing liquid, or liquid in which gas is led or generated, e.g. carbon dioxide baths A61H33/6026 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/60 Components specifically designed for the therapeutic baths of groups A61H33/00 plumbing E03C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6026 Nozzles in the bathtub connected to an outside pump circuit without modification of the walls

Abstract

The normally provided recirculating pump, jet generating action blower and light in a spa are turned on and off by appropriate pump, jet and light signals. These signals are provided by a radio receiver in turn responsive to different transmitted signals. A battery powered hand-held radio transmitter in turn may be manually operated to generate the different signals and thus enable the recirculating pump, jet action generating blower and light in the spa to be operated from a remote location. The system also contemplates the use of switching valves so that the same recirculating pump for the spa can be remotely controlled for recirculating water in a swimming pool should a user also have a swimming pool on the premises.

Claims

1. A remote control system for spas wherein the spa has a water recirculating pump for passing water into a spa water inlet in the spa and receiving water from a spa water outlet and wherein the spa further includes a water jet generating blower and a light, said control system including in combination:

(a) pump control means responsive to a pump signal to turn said pump on and off;

(b) a radio signal receiver responsive to a transmitted signal for providing said pump signal;

(c) a jet control means responsive to a jet signal for turning said water jet generating blower on and off, said radio signal receiver being responsive to a different transmitted signal for providing said jet signal;

(d) a light control means responsive to a light signal to turn said light on and off, said radio signal receiver being responsive to a still different transmitted signal for providing said light signal; and

,

(e) a hand-held battery powered radio signal transmitter having manually operable means for transmitting said transmitted signal, manually operable means for transmitting said different transmitted signal and manually operable means for transmitting said still different transmitted signal, said transmitter being encased in a watertight housing and having a specific gravity less than 1.0 so that it will float

whereby water in the spa can be recirculated, the said water jet generating blower turned on and off and the light turned on and off by a person holding and operating said transmitter from a remote location as well as when sitting in said spa.

2. A system according to claim 1, in which said system includes a swimming pool having a pool water inlet and a pool water outlet and further includes first and second valves connected between said spa water inlet in said spa and said pump and between said spa water outlet and said pump respectively and responsive to a valve signal to switch both said first and second valves simultaneously between open and closed positions;

and third and fourth valves connected between said pool water inlet and said pump and between said pool water outlet and said pump respectively and responsive to said valve signal to switch both said third and fourth valves simultaneously between closed and opened positions, said receiver being responsive to a further transmitted signal to provide said valve signal, and said transmitter having a further manually operable means for transmitting said further transmitted signal

whereby said recirculating pump can be used to recirculate water in said pool when not being used to recirculate water in said spa.

3. A system according to claim 2, including a thermostat control for said spa connected for actuation by said valve signal when said first and second valves are opened and a thermostat control for said pool connected for actuation by said valve signal when said third and fourth valves are opened.