Topside control panel for bathing unit system

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.

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. 
     
     
         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. 
     
     
         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.