An interactive spa that may allow users to experience what it would be like to use a fully operational spa. The spa may contain a cutaway, or a void, on one of the sides of the spa to allow users to enter and exit the spa without needing to climb over the sides. The spa may also have windows that allow users to view certain internal aspects of the spa for display purposes. The spa may also utilize one or more virtual reality sensors to allow users to experience, to an extent, what it would be like use an operational spa. The spa may include a monitor stand that may have one or more touch-screen monitors, which may allow users to browse through information about the spa or view the virtual reality content that users are seeing while within the spa.

A method and a control panel are described for facilitating the control of a bathing unit system so that the bathing unit system is caused to transition between operating in accordance with a first operational mode to operating in accordance with a second operational mode. A control signal is generated in response to a unitary user input event performed by a user at a control panel of the bathing unit system, the control signal conveying an ambiance activation command associated with a specific ambience setting, the generation of the control signal comprising selecting the specific ambience setting from a set of ambience settings stored in a memory device. The control signal is then transmitted from the control panel to the controller over a communication link where it is processed to cause the bathing unit system to transition from being in the rest mode to operating in accordance with the specific ambience setting. The method and a control panel may allow simplifying the control of the bathing unit system in order to achieve a desired total effect by allowing a user to cause the bathing unit to operate in accordance with an ambience setting by way of a unitary user input event performed at the control panel.

A bathtub assembly includes a bathtub shell containing a volume of liquid, a circulation system in communication with the shell for creating a flow of liquid to and from the shell, and a dispenser assembly for introducing a substance into a portion of the flow of liquid into the bathtub shell. A control panel is rotatably mounted on an upper rim of the bathtub shell proximate to an inlet to the dispenser assembly and rotates to alternately cover or expose the inlet. A plurality of directed flow jets are connected to the bathtub shell for conveying the flow of liquid into the shell to create a directed flow of liquid within the bathtub shell.

A sauna having a video display device, a loud speaker device, lighting elements, an aromatherapy device, and a user interface device, and includes control circuitry which links the sauna to a remote server. The remote server provides media files for display to a user and collects and stores user profile and usage information. Multiple saunas are be linked into a network or global infrastructure so that a user's profile and usage information follow the user to any sauna connected to the network. Collected data can be used by users to track individual usage and performance metrices, and by service providers to analyze usage data and information for operational and marketing purposes.

Embodiments of the invention provide a pumping system and method including a flow locking feature. A pump controller includes a user interface configured to initially receive and set a plurality of programmed flow rate settings, a maximum locked flow rate, and a minimum locked flow rate. The pump controller is also configured to disable resetting of the maximum flow rate and the minimum flow rate once they are initially received and set and to allow resetting of the plurality of programmed flow rate settings throughout operation of the pumping system. The pump controller is further configured to operate a pump motor in order to maintain a first flow rate set by one of the plurality of programmed flow rate settings as long as the first flow rate is between the minimum locked flow rate and the maximum locked flow rate.

Spa systems may be used all year round and in colder weather provide an enjoyable experience for users through the cold ambient outdoor temperature and the heated water of the spa. However, failures in respect of the water circulating pump and/or heater of the spa system either mechanically, electrically or through overall power outages mean the water in the spa system and its pipework can easily freeze if ambient conditions are cold enough leading to cracks in the spa system or pipes and hence leaks when the water thaws requiring costly repair or replacement of components or entire systems. Accordingly, a freeze protection system is provided that uses a backup thermal management system discretely or in combination with other backup systems. These freeze protection systems offering backup when mechanical failures, electrical failures etc. arise by providing thermal input to the spa system through alternate thermal paths and providing alarms.

The bathtub generally has a wall having a translucent inner layer defining a cavity for receiving water. The bathtub has at least one translucent outer reinforcement member which is secured to a portion of the translucent inner layer, thus forming at least one window with the corresponding portion of the translucent inner layer. The bathtub has a corresponding light source which faces the translucent outer reinforcement member for lighting through the window, into the cavity. The wall further has an outer reinforcement layer covering the translucent inner layer around the at least one window.

A system for monitoring and controlling aquatic equipment is provided. The system includes a variable speed pump, a controller configured to determine operational parameters of the variable speed pump and to control operation of the variable speed pump, and a wireless communication system operatively coupled to the controller. The wireless communication subsystem is configured to transmit one or more of the operational parameters of the variable speed pump to a device over a WiFi wireless and/or a Bluetooth wireless connection. The wireless communication subsystem is configured to receive one or more control parameters from the device, and the controller controls operation of the variable speed pump based on the one or more control parameters.

A method, device and system to facilitate centralized control and monitoring of remote network-enabled bathing unit systems owned and operated by different customers are described. A Graphical User Interface (GUI) is provided for presenting on a computing device a listing of bathing unit systems owned and operated by different customers. The GUI is also configured for displaying operational status indicators associated with at least some of the bathing unit systems presented in the listing of bathing unit systems. Data conveying updated operational status information pertaining to one or more of the bathing unit systems in the listing of bathing unit systems is received over a communication network and, in response, the GUI is dynamically adapted to display updated operational status indicators. User operable inputs may also be provided by the GUI to allow a user to add a new entry to the listing of bathing unit systems. In some implementations, the GUI may be configured to present information conveying one or more replacement parts available for purchase for the bathing unit systems in the displayed listing.

The present invention is directed to a spa tub (and to a spa chair that includes a spa tub) that has a sprayer with a thermal meter so that an employee does not need to touch or feel the water and/or fluids to gauge the temperature of the water and/or fluids. The spa tub may also have a water pump and/or an air pump assembly that is designed and configured to be mounted to the wall of a basin for providing massage therapy to a user. In addition, the spa tub may additionally have a liner and/or an air dispenser. As a non-limiting embodiment, a spa chair includes a spa tub, a basin, a mounting housing member, and a sprayer with a thermal meter. The spa chair may also include a jet assembly, an air pump assembly a spa base, a gasket or seal, an air dispenser, and/or a liner.