Patents Assigned to Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
  • Spa audio system operable with a remote control
    Patent number: 6516070
    Abstract: A portable spa including an audio system designed to use the spa shell as the sound generating device. Transducer devices are mounted within an enclosure which is bonded to the spa shell so as to couple the sound vibration energy to the shell so that sound can be heard when using the spa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen S. Macey
  • Air check valve system for a spa
    Patent number: 6470508
    Abstract: A system for use in a spa for controlling air flow to jets of the spa having a water pump directing water to a water input of a jet nozzle; and a valve directing exhaust air from the water pump to an air input of the jet nozzle, the valve being operated by a vacuum generated at the intake of the water pump, whereby when the water pump is operating and pumping water to the jet nozzle, the valve is opened for directing the exhaust air from the water pump to the jet nozzle. The valve is an air-check valve that has a piston for closing the valve under spring pressure and operative in response to a vacuum for overcoming the spring pressure so as to open the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Denis P. Turner
  • Lighting apparatus for portable spas and the like
    Patent number: 6435691
    Abstract: A spa lighting apparatus including a wall fitting which seats in an opening in a spa wall and threadably receives a light transmissive lens which includes respective plastic layers providing impact and chemical resistance. The lens is further designed to disperse light from a plurality of LED sources to give an appearance similar to that of a single incandescent source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen S. Macey, Neil R. Bergstrom
  • Portable spa construction
    Patent number: 6349427
    Abstract: A spa construction wherein a spa shell is supported and reinforced by a matrix of interlocking horizontal and vertical members attached to a base grid. The matrix supports the spa shell through contact with only two regions of the spa—namely the bar top and footwell areas. The construction eliminates the necessity to encase the shell in structural foam and facilitates ready access to spa plumbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Neil R. Bergstrom
  • Personal Spa
    Patent number: 6324707
    Abstract: A portable spa having three sides and including two seats disposed at an acute angle to one another and sharing a common footwell. Two of the sides of the spa meet at a right angle and one of the seats is disposed parallel to one of these two sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Larsen, Raymond G. Smith
  • Extruded multilayer polymeric shell having textured and marbled surface
    Patent number: 6231938
    Abstract: Multilayer polymeric shells for spas, bathtubs and shower enclosures having a textured and marbled surface layer. The shells are produced by forming by extrusion a multilayer polymeric sheet having a marbled appearing top layer, passing the sheet between rollers to impart a textured surface to the marbled top layer of the sheet, and thermoforming the sheets into the structural shells for spas, bathtubs and shower enclosures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Gary L. Gockel, Kathy L. Pratschner, Steven M. Hammock
  • Spa cover mounting method and apparatus
    Patent number: 6195811
    Abstract: A foam spa cover member is attached to a cover lifter apparatus using a plurality of brackets, each having a horizontal lip inserted into a respective slit in a side surface of the cover and a vertical plate engaging the side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Zeljko Dragovic
  • Neck jet pillow for tub spas
    Patent number: 5928171
    Abstract: A unitarily-molded pillow for mounting in a spa and having a flexible membrane positioned therein and with respect to a water discharge jet by an integrally-molded support structure including an upper collar, a lower rim, and respective side shoulders, the support structure being integrated into a smooth, contoured front surface providing integral neck and head support, with the membrane positioned to provide a pleasing warm neck massage effect and the jet being adjustable via an air valve for user comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Larsen
  • Cartridge heater system
    Patent number: 5872890
    Abstract: A linear cartridge heater has a cylindrical heater element and an integral, concentrically-mounted current collector element positioned within a fire retardant chlorinated PVC enclosure. The enclosure includes a unitarily-molded mounting flange for sealingly mounting the cartridge heater, a unitarily-molded special "tee" section interconnected with the mounting flange, and an alignment bushing. The alignment bushing is interconnected with the special "tee" section by a pipe section to form a fluid flow path between the alignment bushing and the special "tee" section. The special "tee" section provides an outlet for discharging heated water and a mounting place for a first thermistor temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas David LaCombe
  • Spa shell
    Patent number: D436178
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Larsen, Raymond G. Smith
  • Spa shell
    Patent number: D445904
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Larsen
  • Spa shell
    Patent number: D446309
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Ken S. Bower
  • Spa shell
    Patent number: D446310
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Ken S. Bower
  • Spa shell
    Patent number: D446862
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Larsen, Raymond G. Smith
  • Wireless controller
    Patent number: D449281
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Larsen, Ken S. Bower
  • Portable spa
    Patent number: D463028
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth S. Bower
  • Portable spa
    Patent number: D463569
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth S. Bower
  • Portable spa
    Patent number: D465576
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Larsen
  • Spa face plate
    Patent number: D407805
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Larsen
  • Spa shell
    Patent number: D431297
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Larsen, Raymond G. Smith