NZ548187A

NZ548187A - A touch switch system for a bath or pool

Info

Publication number: NZ548187A
Application number: NZ548187A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Steve Bloxham
Original assignee: Quip Ltd Spa
Priority date: 2006-06-28
Filing date: 2006-06-28
Publication date: 2008-07-31
Also published as: GB2439652A; GB0712661D0; AU2007202989A1; GB2439652B

Abstract

A bath or pool (10) including an unitary bath or pool shell a capacitive switch (26) on the rear side of a wall section of the bath or pool shell or the under side of an integral rim of the bath or pool shell and a marking (26) on a front surface of the wall section of the bath or pool shell or integral rim opposite the capacitive switch. The capacitive switch is mounted to the wall section or integral rim without forming an aperture ion the wall section or rim of the bath or pool. The capacitive switch and bath or pool shell and the marking are all arranged so that touching the front surface of the bath or pool shell or integral rim at the marking operates the capacitive switch on the rear side of the bath or pool shell to switch a function associated with the bath or pool.

Description

tmetieciuai Prope'rfc I Office of N.2 I I 2 8 JUN 2007 I R E C EI v Fnj NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No: 548187 Date: 28 June 2006 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION A TOUCH SWITCH SYSTEM FOR A BATH OR POOL We, SPA-QUIP LIMITED, a New Zealand company of 2 Rothwell Avenue, Albany, Auckland, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: FIELD OF INVENTION The invention relates to baths or pools and in particular spa baths or pools, incorporating one or more touch sensitive switches for controlling a function or functions associated with the bath or pool such as the pump, or blower or other functions of a spa bath or pool.

BACKGROUND A spa bath or pool typically comprises a pump for circulating water from the bath or pool, from an inlet, around and back into the bath or pool through one or more jets, and an air blower for blowing air through the jets also. The pump and blower functions can be controlled by the occupant or occupants of the bath or pool (the user(s)) usually via a switch panel provided on a rim around the bath or pool. Typically the switch panel comprises a frame which mounts a pressure switch for each of the controlled functions and this switch module is in turn mounted in a cut-out in the rim of the bath or pool. The front face of the module is covered by a plastic membrane which covers the pressure sensitive switches and protects them and the electronic componentry and/or wiring behind, from moisture ingress.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention provides an improved or at least alternative switch system for a bath or pool and in particular a spa bath or pool.

In broad terms the invention comprises a bath or pool including a touch sensitive switch for switching a function associated with the bath or pool, the bath or pool comprising a unitary bath or pool shell defining the walls and floor of the bath or pool, the bath or pool including a capacitive switch mounted to the rear of a section of the wall of the bath or pool or the underside of an integral rim around the bath or pool, with a marking on the front side of the bath or pool or rim opposite the capacitive switch, the capacitive switch arranged such that touching of the wall or rim of the bath or pool at the marking by a user operates the capacitive switch to switch a function associated with the bath or pool.

Typically the function controlled by the switch will be the pump or blower of the bath or pool. Optionally the function may be a light of the bath or pool or any auxiliary function. Preferably the bath or pool will include a module comprising a number of adjacent capacitive switches mounted to the back side of the bath or pool wall or underside of the bath or pool rim, for switching multiple functions, with markings on the front side of the wall or rim of the bath or pool indicating the touch regions for each function.

Preferably the or each switch incorporates a light source such as a light emitting diode positioned so that when the led is on light will be visible or apparent through the bath or pool wall or rim to indicate the status of the switched function.

An advantage of the spa bath or pool and touch switch system of the invention is that it is not necessary to form a cut-out in the wall or rim of the bath or pool to accommodate a switch module. This facilitates the manufacture of the bath or pool and in addition removes the possibility of moisture ingress at the switches or control panel of the bath or pool. It is also less prone to collect dirt, and easier to clean.

The term 'comprising' as used in this specification and claims means 'consisting at least in part of, that is to say when interrupting independent claims including that term, the features prefaced by that term in each claim will need to be present but other features can also be present.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred forms of the invention will be described by way of example only and with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bath or pool; and Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view through a part of the wall or rim of a bath or pool. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to Figure 1, the pool or bath 10 shown by way of example comprises a unitary shell 12 that defines the bath or pool cavity, including the walls and floor of the bath or pool. Typically the bath or pool is formed from acrylic or other thermoformable synthetic sheet material a one piece shell thermoformed or formed of fibreglass. Typically the pool or bath comprises an integral rim 20 as shown.

Preferably, protruding through the floor or walls of the unitary shell 12 is one or more of a pump(s), blower(s), lights(s) or any other auxiliary function. The bath or pool 10 may comprise a drain or plug-hole 24.

In the preferred form, one or more markings 26 are located on the integral rim 20 of the unitary shell 12. The or each marking 26 indicating a function switch is positioned opposite a capacitive switch 40 (not shown in Figure 1), mounted on the back surface 16 of the bath or pool shell 12.

Inteilectuai Property Office of N.Z. 23 JUL 2007 RECEIVED With reference to Figure 2, a capacitive switch 40 is mounted to the back surface 16 of the unitary shell 12 defining the wall of the pool or bath 10. Preferably the shell 12 is not thinned at the mounting of the capacitive switch and is not formed of a different material to the rest of the bath or pool shell 12.

The capacitive switch 40 comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) 42 abutting the back section 16 of the shell 12, electronic components 44 (not shown in detail) of the capacitive switch mounted on the PCB 42, connections running from the capacitive switch to an external control panel used to control the auxiliary functions of the bath or pool, which is typically micro-processor based. The PCB 42 also comprises a metal pad 46 and a light emitting diode (LED) 48.

In the preferred form the metal pad 46 is wired into the input circuit to the base of a switching transistor configured so that when a user touches the front surface 14 of the bath or pool 10 opposite the metal pad 46, the input capacitance will change to cause the switching device to change state, as is known for a conventional capacitive switch. When the switching device changes state a signal is transmitted to the external control panel which in turn actuates one or more pump(s), blower(s), light(s) or other auxiliary functions. This also switches on or off the LED 48 to indicate that the auxiliary function has been enabled or disabled. An aperture 50 in the PCB 42 is formed at the LED 48. Preferably the LED 48 is mounted so that the light emitted is focused through the aperture 50 onto the back section 16 of the bath or pool shell 12. light from the LED 48 is sufficiently visible through the interior of the bath or pool wall, to the user. The material from which the bath or pool 10 is formed has some translucence.

As referred to previously a number of such capacitive switches 40 may be mounted to the back side 16 of the bath or pool wall, typically adjacent to one another, to control multiple auxiliary functions of the bath or pool 10 such as the pump, blower, a bath or pool light and any other functions. In a preferred form a single switch module incorporating all required capacitive switches as shown in Figure 2, is mounted to the rear of the bath or pool wall, and is preferably covered from the rear with epoxy or other material which will waterproof the switch module.

A series of LEDs may be associated with a switch such as a switch which controls water temperature or pump or blower speed for example, to indicate spa water heater or water temperature status, or to indicate pump or blower speed (low-medium-high for example, via 3 LEDs which may optionally have different colours).

Markings are provided on the front section 14 of the unitary shell 12 to indicate the touch region for each function, being the region that should be touched to switch that function. For example appropriate markings may be screen printed onto the front surface of the bath or pool wall. Alternatively raised markings may be formed by bonding a ring or other shape plastic material to the front side of the bath or pool wall. A ring of plastic material or similar may be heat melt bonded to the bath or pool wall. This again provides a clear marking indicating the touch area of the switch or switches, without effecting integrity of the bath or pool wall material. Alternatively again a small depression may be heat formed or machined into the wall material adjacent the capacitive switch 40. This may also assist visibility of the status indicator LED 48.

The foregoing describes the invention including a preferred form thereof. Alterations and modifications as would be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated in the scope hereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A bath or pool including a unitary bath or pool shell, a capacitive switch on the rear side of a wall section of the bath or pool shell or the underside of an integral rim of the bath or pool shell and mounted to the wall section or integral rim without forming an aperture in the wall section or rim of the bath or pool, and a marking on a front surface of the wall section of the bath or pool shell or integral rim opposite the capacitive switch, all arranged so that touching the front surface of the bath or pool shell or integral rim at the marking operates the capacitive switch on the rear side of the bath or pool shell to switch a function associated with the bath or pool.

2. A bath or pool according to claim 1 wherein the capacitive switch is arranged to actuate a pump, a blower, or a light of the bath or pool.

3. A bath or pool according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of capacitive switches on the rear side of a wall section of the bath or pool shell or the underside of an integral rim of the bath or pool shell and mounted to the wall section or integral rim without forming an aperture in the wall section or rim of the bath or pool, and markings on a front surface of the wall section of the bath or pool shell or the integral rim opposite the capacitive switches, all arranged so that touching the front surface of the bath or pool shell or the integral rim at the markings operates the capacitive switches on the rear side of the bath or pool shell to enable switching of multiple functions associated with the bath or pool.

4. A bath or pool according to claim 3 wherein the capacitive switches are arranged to switch a pump, a blower, and/or a light of the bath or pool.

5. A bath or pool according to any one of the claims 1 to 4 wherein the marking includes a light source behind the section of the bath or pool shell or integral rim and visible through the bath or pool shell or rim to indicate the status of the switched function.

6. A bath or pool according to claim 5 wherein the or each light source comprises a light emitting diode.

7. A bath or pool according to either claim 5 or 6 wherein at least one capacitive switch comprises a series of light sources visible through the bath or pool shell or rim to indicate the different status levels of the switched function. -7-

8. A bath or pool according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the markings are printed on the front surface of the bath or pool shell or rim.

9. A bath or pool according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the marking includes a raised shape bonded to the front surface of the bath or pool shell or rim.

10. A bath or pool according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the marking includes a depression or raised shape integrally formed in the bath or pool shell or rim