Patents Assigned to Softub, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8286276
    Abstract: A pool or spa cover adapted for use with a waterfall chute projecting from the top edge of a pool or spa water receptacle, comprising in combination, the cover having sections hinge connected to allow one section to pivot downwardly toward the waterfall chute while the other section remains peripherally seated on the receptacle, the one section having edge portions adapted to seat on receptacle edge portions at opposite sides of the chute, the one section locally configured to accommodate the cover to the chute as the cover pivots downwardly to seat on the pool or spa receptacle top edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Softub, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Cerda
  • Patent number: 6800205
    Abstract: The method of controlling ozone supply to a pool or spa body of liquid, that includes providing an ozone generator; providing a control valve operatively connected to the generator to control induced flow of ozone to a pool or spa body of liquid, the valve being solenoid controlled; providing a control for timing of operation of the valve; and providing for controlled delivery of ozone via the valve to air supply to the pool or spa or a re-circulating liquid supply to the pool or spa. The invention allows newly designed or pre-existing systems to add ozone gas to a water body, under the control of a valve, without losing sealed integrating of the air delivery system to the water body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Softub, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey W. Collins
  • Patent number: 6444129
    Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of a spa water treating system, where such treating is selected from the group: iv) water filtration v) water sanitizing vi) water heating and that includes the steps: a) determining a desired water treating time interval as a function of timing of spa water prior treating interval, or usage, b) and treating the spa water as a function of said determined time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Softub, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey W. Collins
  • Patent number: 6295662
    Abstract: A spa water delivery system comprising a reciprocating pumping structure to pump water for reception in a spa zone; and driver structure, including a solenoid body element and a solenoid plunger element, the elements being relatively movable; at least one of the elements containing passage structure to receive water in communication with water to be pumped to the zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Softub, Inc.
    Inventors: Carsten H. Idland, Roc V. Fleishman, Peter J. Abdelkerim
  • Patent number: 6066253
    Abstract: A pool or spa filter comprising a filter unit having porous filter wall structure to pass pool or spa water into the filter unit interior, the unit having a suction outlet; a perforated cover plate in water-passing registration with the outlet; the filter unit and cover plate being endwise interconnected and blocked against endwise inadvertent disconnection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Softub, Inc.
    Inventors: Carsten H. Idland, John J. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5983416
    Abstract: A spa water delivery system, the spa includes a wall structure exposed to a water reception zone, and combination comprising: a water delivery structure associated with the wall structure to deliver water to the zone; a manually operable signaling device carried by the wall structure to be operated by a bather in the water reception zone; a sensor spaced from the signaling device to be out of contact with spa water, and responsive to operation of the signaling device to produce a control signal; whereby the control signal may be used to control a flow characteristic of water flowing via the delivery structure to the zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Softub, Inc.
    Inventor: Carsten H. Idland
  • Patent number: 5970530
    Abstract: An improved insulated cover for removable mounting onto a spa or hot tub or the like, wherein the cover is hinged to accommodate folding of the cover to a compact size and shape suitable for convenient shipment and/or storage. The cover comprises a foldable base including a pair of structural membranes formed from a relatively high tensile strength fabric and sewn together on a midline to define a central hinge, and secured together at their peripheries to defined a pair of pockets within which are mounted a pair of insulation panels of relatively stiff foam or the like. In some embodiments, a foldable frame ring formed in hinged or separable half sections may be mounted to the structural membranes at the peripheries thereof. A decorative top sheet is stretched over the foldable base, and a peripheral margin thereof is wrapped over the periphery of the base and radially constricted for retention thereon by a drawstring or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Softub, Inc.
    Inventors: Borg Hansen, Roc V. Fleishman
  • Patent number: 5898957
    Abstract: An improved therapeutic spa or hot tub or the like, such as a spa or hot tub of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,951, includes at least one and preferably a plurality of vibratory mechanical massage elements incorporated into the tub wall at selected locations to provide tub users with a therapeutic vibratory massage action. The vibratory massage element or elements are used in combination with conventional hydraulic air-water spa jets to provide the spa tub with improved therapeutic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Softub, Inc.
    Inventors: Borg Hansen, Rafael Gonzalez, Thomas R. Thornbury
  • Patent number: 5802630
    Abstract: An improved insulated cover is provided for removable mounting onto a spa or hot tub or the like to minimize thermal and evaporative losses, while additionally safeguarding against foreign objects and/or persons falling into the tub. In the preferred form, the insulated cover comprises a frame ring in combination with a structural membrane stretched across the frame ring with a peripheral margin of the membrane wrapped over the outer rim and radially constricted for retention thereon by a drawstring or the like. The constricted drawstring additionally secures an insulation plate or disk relative to the structural membrane and frame ring. The insulation plate fits with close clearance into the spa tub, when the frame ring is supported on the top of the tub wall. An outer insulation skirt may also be provided to project downwardly about the tub wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Softub, Inc.
    Inventors: Borg Hansen, Rafael Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 5799345
    Abstract: The method of providing a spa tub, and comprising providing a load-bearing tub side wall having an inner side and an outer side, the tub having an interior to receive liquid; the tub side wall provided to include at least two wall sections, spaced about the interior, the sections assembled end-to-end to form the side wall to extend in a loop, the sections consisting of synthetic resin; each section having inner and outer panels extending upright throughout the major upright extent of the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Softub, Inc.
    Inventors: Borg Hansen, Rafael Gonzalez, Roc V. Fleishman
  • Patent number: 5794280
    Abstract: A heated therapeutic spa which comprises a spa tub containing water and having plumbing attached thereto, the tub having a wall which is a relatively good thermal conductor; a thermally efficient, insulating container comprising a load bearing outer wall, and a bottom wall; a plenum chamber formed between the tub wall and the container wall and extending about the tub wall; a motor and pump supplying circulating water to the tub and extending in the plenum chamber; a fan located to circulate air that converts heat from the motor into hot air exhausted into the plenum chamber; the fan operating to force the hot exhaust air to circulate around the tub wall, whereby the temperature of the air drops in flowing about the tub wall before returning to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Softub, Inc.
    Inventors: Borg Hansen, Rafael Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 5749107
    Abstract: The method of providing a spa tub, and comprising providing a load-bearing tub side wall having an inner side and an outer side, the tub having an interior to receive liquid; the tub side wall provided to include at least two wall sections, spaced about the interior, the sections assembled end-to-end to form the side wall to extend in a loop, and providing a flexible liner extending at the inner side of said side wall to contain said liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Softub, Inc.
    Inventors: Borg Hansen, Rafael Gonzalez, Roc V. Fleisaman
  • Patent number: 5745934
    Abstract: The method of providing a spa tub, and comprising providing a load-bearing tub side wall having an inner side and an outer side, the tub having an interior to receive liquid; the tub side wall provided to include at least two wall sections, spaced about the interior, the sections assembled end-to-end to form the side wall to extend in a loop, and providing a flexible liner extending at the inner side of the side wall to contain the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Softub, Inc.
    Inventors: Borg Hansen, Rafael Gonzalez, Roc V. Fleishman
  • Patent number: 5742954
    Abstract: In a spa water circulation system, the spa including wall structure facing toward a water reception zone and comprising a plurality of water pumps associated with the wall structure, the pumps spaced about the zone, and oriented to receive water intake from the zone and to discharge water streams into the zone; each pump including water pumping structure, and there being structure for controlling pumping operation of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Softub, Inc.
    Inventor: Carsten H. Idland
  • Patent number: 5619759
    Abstract: An improved insulated cover is provided for removable mounting onto a spa or hot tub or the like to minimize thermal and evaporative losses, while additionally safeguarding against foreign objects and/or persons falling into the tub. In the preferred form, the insulated cover comprises an outer frame ring defining a radially outwardly projecting rim, in combination with a structural membrane stretched across the frame ring with a peripheral margin of the membrane wrapped over the outer rim and radially constricted for retention thereon by a drawstring or the like. The frame ring and structural membrane cooperatively define an upwardly open pocket for receiving and supporting a selected insulation material. A flexible decorative top sheet is stretched across the frame ring to close the insulation pocket, wherein a peripheral margin of the decorative top sheet is wrapped over the outer rim and radially constricted for retention thereon by a drawstring or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Softub, Inc.
    Inventors: Borg Hansen, Rafael Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 5585025
    Abstract: A spa control circuit is provided for regulating a water circulation and heating system in a spa or hot tub or the like. The control circuit comprises a thermostat circuit and a high temperature limit circuit, both of which receive a temperature signal from a common temperature sensor. A safety circuit responds to sensor failure to prevent operation of the circulation/heating system. A latching relay ensures system reset in the same operational state following a power outage. An arc suppression circuit substantially prevents arc damage to relay contacts subjected to frequent opening and closing in response to on-off cycling of the thermostat circuit. In a preferred form, the control circuit components are mounted within a compact housing having a heat transfer member in heat exchange relation with circulating spa water, whereby the spa water is used to prevent overheating of the control circuit components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Softub, Inc.
    Inventor: Carsten H. Idland
  • Patent number: D382945
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Softub, Inc.
    Inventors: Borg Hansen, Rafael Gonzalez, Roc V. Fleishman
  • Patent number: D399306
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Softub, Inc.
    Inventor: Borg Hansen
  • Patent number: D414540
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Softub, Inc.
    Inventor: Roc V. Fleishman
  • Patent number: D430302
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Softub, Inc.
    Inventor: Roc V. Fleishman