Abstract: A system for filtering water in a spa that provides safety and greater filtration. The system may include a filter secured to a core. The core may include first and second cages with a plurality of openings allowing water to freely pass through the filter and core while preventing larger objects from passing through. The first cage may provide an orientation feature to position the filter in one direction. The second cage may hold mineral cartridges. The core may be secured to a fitting that is secured to the suction line of a spa via a ratchet like engagement feature. The fitting and core prevent back out of the core unless manually overriding the arm on the core which engages fins on the fitting. The filter may be removed and replaced while the core remains in place providing safety to the user. A cap secures the whole assembly into place.

Abstract: A system for filtering water in a spa that provides safety and greater filtration. The system may include a filter secured to a core. The core may include first and second cages with a plurality of openings allowing water to freely pass through the filter and core while preventing larger objects from passing through. The first cage may provide an orientation feature to position the filter in one direction. The second cage may hold mineral cartridges. The core may be secured to a fitting that is secured to the suction line of a spa via a ratchet-like engagement feature. The fitting and core prevent back out of the core unless manually overriding the arm on the core which engages fins on the fitting. The filter may be removed and replaced while the core remains in place providing safety to the user. A cap secures the whole assembly into place.

Abstract: A system for power line communications between an in-home wireless network and a pool or spa. The system may include a spa network interface in electrical wired connection to an in-home network interface. The spa power line communication module may be hard wired to a spa control unit, and power to the spa may be provided by one or more of a first 120V conductor having a first phase of power, a second 120V conductor having a second phase of power, a ground conductor, and a neutral conductor. The system may optimize the connection between the in-home powerline communications module connected to one phase of power via a home receptacle, and the spa powerline communications module by testing the connection over each conductor and selecting the conductor with the best throughput.

Abstract: Blender and food processing devices dampen impact forces between a blending blade and a blending jar. One blender includes a blender base and a blending jar that has a seal opening. A blending blade assembly in the jar includes a blending blade, a jar shaft attached to the blending blade and extending through the seal opening, a circular motion guide positioned around the jar shaft, and a jar seal positioned between the circular motion guide and the seal opening. The jar seal prevents contact between the circular motion guide and the seal opening and dampens forces induced by relative motion between the seal opening and the blending blade, jar shaft, and/or circular motion guide. The dampening may reduce wear or damage to the jar and may improve quality of the blending jar and blade assembly.

Abstract: A blending apparatus includes a blending jar and a lid. The blending jar has an internal surface defining an internal volume, and a mixing blade positioned within the internal volume. The lid is releasably mounted to the blending jar and includes at least one scraper extending into the internal volume. The at least one scraper is adjacent to the internal surface of the blending jar and is arranged and configured to disrupt rotational flow of food particles within the internal volume and/or scrape food particles from an inner surface of the blending jar.

Abstract: A system for filtering water in a spa that provides safety and greater filtration. The system may include a filter secured to a core. The core may include first and second cages with a plurality of openings allowing water to freely pass through the filter and core while preventing larger objects from passing through. The first cage may provide an orientation feature to position the filter in one direction. The second cage may hold mineral cartridges. The core may be secured to a fitting that is secured to the suction line of a spa via a ratchet like engagement feature. The fitting and core prevent back out of the core unless manually overriding the arm on the core which engages fins on the fitting. The filter may be removed and replaced while the core remains in place providing safety to the user. A cap secures the whole assembly into place.

Abstract: An ice dispensing assembly includes a hopper, a metering disk, a shelf member, and a separating wall. The hopper includes an outlet opening defined in a bottom end of the hopper, and an ice inlet defined in a top end of the hopper. The metering disk is positioned in the hopper and includes a plurality of cavities. The shelf member is arranged to at least partially shield the cavities from a supply of ice held in the hopper. The metering disk is rotatable relative to the hopper between a first position wherein at least one cavity is exposed to the supply of ice to be filled with ice, and a second position wherein the cavity is separated from the supply of ice by the separating wall and ice in the cavity is dispensed through the outlet opening.

Abstract: A system for filtering water in a spa that provides safety and greater filtration. The system may include a filter secured to a core. The core may include first and second cages with a plurality of openings allowing water to freely pass through the filter and core while preventing larger objects from passing through. The first cage may provide an orientation feature to position the filter in one direction. The second cage may hold mineral cartridges. The core may be secured to a fitting that is secured to the suction line of a spa via a ratchet like engagement feature. The fitting and core prevent back out of the core unless manually overriding the arm on the core which engages fins on the fitting. The filter may be removed and replaced while the core remains in place providing safety to the user. A cap secures the whole assembly into place.

Abstract: A blending apparatus includes a blending jar and a lid. The blending jar has an internal surface defining an internal volume, and a mixing blade positioned within the internal volume. The lid is releasably mounted to the blending jar and includes at least one scraper extending into the internal volume. The at least one scraper is adjacent to the internal surface of the blending jar and is arranged and configured to disrupt rotational flow of food particles within the internal volume and/or scrape food particles from an inner surface of the blending jar.

Abstract: A blending apparatus includes a blending jar and a lid. The blending jar has an internal surface defining an internal volume, and a mixing blade positioned within the internal volume. The lid is releasably mounted to the blending jar and includes at least one scraper extending into the internal volume. The at least one scraper is adjacent to the internal surface of the blending jar and is arranged and configured to disrupt rotational flow of food particles within the internal volume and/or scrape food particles from an inner surface of the blending jar.

Abstract: Blender and food processing devices are described that dampen impact forces between a blending blade and a blending jar. An example blender includes a blender base and a blending jar that has a seal opening. A blending blade assembly in the jar includes a blending blade, a jar shaft attached to the blending blade and extending through the seal opening, a circular motion guide positioned around the jar shaft, and a jar seal positioned between the circular motion guide and the seal opening. The jar seal prevents contact between the circular motion guide and the seal opening and dampens forces induced by relative motion between the seal opening and the blending blade, jar shaft, and/or circular motion guide. A motor in the blender base drives the jar shaft to rotate the blending blade in the blending jar. The dampening may reduce wear or damage to the jar and may improve quality of the blending jar and blade assembly.

Abstract: An ice dispensing assembly includes a hopper, a metering disk, a shelf member, and a separating wall. The hopper includes an outlet opening defined in a bottom end of the hopper, and an ice inlet defined in a top end of the hopper. The metering disk is positioned in the hopper and includes a plurality of cavities. The shelf member is arranged to at least partially shield the cavities from a supply of ice held in the hopper. The metering disk is rotatable relative to the hopper between a first position wherein at least one cavity is exposed to the supply of ice to be filled with ice, and a second position wherein the cavity is separated from the supply of ice by the separating wall and ice in the cavity is dispensed through the outlet opening.

Abstract: A blending apparatus includes a blending jar and a lid. The blending jar has an internal surface defining an internal volume, and a mixing blade positioned within the internal volume. The lid is releasably mounted to the blending jar and includes at least one scraper extending into the internal volume. The at least one scraper is adjacent to the internal surface of the blending jar and is arranged and configured to disrupt rotational flow of food particles within the internal volume and/or scrape food particles from an inner surface of the blending jar.

Abstract: A container rinsing apparatus and method of rinsing a container that includes a nozzle positioned to spray liquid at a particular spray angle toward the interior surface of the container when the top surface of the container depresses a base cover of the rinsing apparatus. The rinsing apparatus is capable of completely rinsing virtually any shape of container without requiring manipulation of the container relative to the rinsing device during rinsing. When the container is positioned to engage the rinsing apparatus, the nozzle is closer to the open end of the container than the closed end.