Patents Assigned to Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
  • Internet based spa networking system having wireless spa nodes
    Patent number: 8688280
    Abstract: A spa node comprising a spa controller, a power sense adapter configured to compute power being drawn by selected spa components; a spa network adapter, and a home network adapter, each of the three adapters including a wireless transceiver wherein the spa network adapter is configured to receive power data transmitted over a wireless link by the power sense adapter and to further receive status/performance data from the spa controller. The home network adapter is configured to receive power and status data transmitted by the spa network adapter over a wireless link and to convert that data to a form suitable for transmission to an Internet access point. The home network adapter is further linkable over the Internet to a central server, a dealer computer and a spa owner or user computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen S. Macey
  • Exchangeable media filter
    Patent number: 8535524
    Abstract: A filter element for a pool or spa including a sintered plastic outer cylinder of a first diameter, a sintered plastic inner cylinder of a second diameter less than said first diameter; the inner cylinder being position coaxially with respect to the outer cylinder to define an annular interior chamber; and a selected granulated filter medium or combination of media residing in the annular interior chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Michael McCague
  • Spa calcium removal methods and apparatus
    Patent number: 8465650
    Abstract: Strong acid cation resins used alone or in combination with zeolite-based ion exchange resins are encapsulated in various water permeable polymer fabric bags of various geometries and thicknesses to reduce the calcium hardness levels during swimming pool and spa water fills. The resin bags are strategically placed in the pool or spa to allow water under pressure to flow through the ion exchange media to exchange calcium or magnesium ions with sodium or other harmless cations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Michael McCague, Jerry E. Rademan
  • Exchangeable media filter
    Patent number: 8431021
    Abstract: A filter element for positioning in a filter compartment of a spa includes a plastic mesh outer cylinder and a plastic mesh inner cylinder, the inner cylinder being positioned coaxially with respect to the outer cylinder to define an annular interior chamber with a filter element of annular cross-section disposed in the chamber and having keyed landings formed on the top and bottom thereof, which respectively mate and interlock with one or more keyed landings on top and bottom caps of the filter element. The apparatus may further include a plurality of vertically disposed mesh compartments interlinked in a ring and disposed within the filter element, the compartments being filled with a selected filter medium or filter media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Michael McCague
  • Exchangeable media filter
    Patent number: 8366922
    Abstract: A filter element for a pool or spa including a sintered plastic outer cylinder of a first diameter, a sintered plastic inner cylinder of a second diameter less than said first diameter; the inner cylinder being position coaxially with respect to the outer cylinder to define an annular interior chamber; and a selected granulated filter medium or combination of media residing in the annular interior chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Michael McCague
  • Portable spa enclosure
    Patent number: 8296873
    Abstract: A portable spa enclosure provides an aesthetically pleasing cover for pre-manufactured spas. Additionally, spa hardware is concealed by the spa enclosure, while lighting is recessed to provide a “soft” light solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Jake Dragovich
  • Spa water sanitizing system
    Patent number: 8273254
    Abstract: A method of sanitizing water contained in a spa is provided which comprises installing a chlorine generating cell including a diamond electrode in a filter compartment of the spa, employing a resin-filled calcium remover bag to reduce the hardness of the water, adding salt to the water; and operating the chlorine generating cell to generate chlorine and other sanitizing agents for sanitizing the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Michael McCague
  • Drop-in chlorinator for portable spas
    Patent number: 8266736
    Abstract: An oxidizer generating apparatus comprising a cylindrical housing and an electrode assembly attached at one end of the housing comprising at least three vertically disposed electrodes, the electrodes being spaced apart so as to define a water flow path between them, the electrodes comprising titanium outer electrodes and at least one inner diamond electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Michael McCague
  • Spa chlorine measurement via temperature shift UV spectrometry
    Patent number: 8212222
    Abstract: A method of measuring chlorine concentration of a solution comprising making a first measurement of transmission of ultraviolet light at a selected wavelength through a first sample of said solution at a first temperature; making a second measurement of the transmission of ultraviolet light at said selected wavelength through a second sample of said solution at a second temperature, said second temperature being different than said first temperature; and determining the chlorine concentration in said solution using the results of said first and second measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Simon Adam Shakespeare, Matthew Emmanuel Milton Storkey
  • Spa shell
    Patent number: D644335
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Carl Larsen, Sage Nathan Baker
  • Spa shell
    Patent number: D649256
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Carl Larsen, Sage Nathan Baker
  • Spa shell
    Patent number: D657881
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Carl Larsen, Sage Nathan Baker
  • Spa shell
    Patent number: D657882
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Carl Larsen, Sage Nathan Baker
  • Spa shell
    Patent number: D657883
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Carl Larsen, Sage Nathan Baker
  • Spa shell
    Patent number: D680656
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Carl Larsen, Sage Nathan Baker
  • Spa shell
    Patent number: D683038
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Carl Larsen, Sage Nathan Baker
  • Spa shell
    Patent number: D683039
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Carl Larsen, Sage Nathan Baker
  • Spa shell
    Patent number: D685104
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Carl Larsen, Sage Nathan Baker
  • Spa shell
    Patent number: D687557
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Carl Larsen, Sage Nathan Baker
  • Spa shell
    Patent number: D702845
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Carl Larsen, Sage Nathan Baker