TOPSIDE CONTROL PANEL FOR BATHING UNIT SYSTEM

1 . A topside control panel for a bathing unit system, said topside control panel comprising:

a. a housing including a top surface and a bottom surface opposed to the top surface;

b. a display touch or presence-sensitive assembly positioned upon the top surface of the housing; and

c. a circuit board assembly positioned upon the bottom surface the housing, the circuit board assembly being electrically coupled to the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly.

2 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the housing is circumscribed by a peripheral edge for engaging the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly.

3 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 2 , wherein a sealing material secures the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly to the housing.

4 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 3 , wherein the peripheral edge includes a groove or channel and wherein the sealing material securing the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly to the housing is positioned within the groove or channel.

5 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a cover frame including a cut out or window area for receiving the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly when assembled with the housing.

6 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 1 , wherein the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly and the top surface of the housing form an enclosed space.

7 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 1 , wherein said display touch or presence-sensitive assembly includes:

a. an electronic display,

b. a touch or presence-sensitive layer, and

c. a cover layer overlying a top surface of the touch or presence-sensitive layer.

8 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 7 , wherein the cover layer of the touch or presence-sensitive assembly includes a translucent or transparent area.

9 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 8 , wherein the translucent or transparent area is associated with an ambient light sensor positioned on the circuit board assembly.

10 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 7 , wherein the cover layer of the touch or presence-sensitive assembly includes a tactile zone for associating user tactile input to software-implemented actions.

11 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 7 , wherein the cover layer is comprised of a glass material.

12 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 1 , wherein the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly is responsive to changes in capacitance resulting from touching or close proximity of an object to the touch or presence-sensitive layer to generate and transmit signals to a processor located on the circuit board assembly.

13 . A topside control panel for a bathing unit system, said topside control panel comprising:

a. a display touch or presence-sensitive assembly;

b. a housing having:

i. a top surface circumscribed by a top peripheral wall, the top surface and the top peripheral wall defining a first recess for receiving the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly;

ii. a bottom surface opposed to the top surface, the bottom surface being circumscribed by a bottom peripheral wall, the bottom surface and the bottom peripheral wall defining a second recess; and

c. a circuit board assembly positioned in said second recess of the housing, the circuit board assembly being electrically coupled to the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly.

14 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 13 , wherein said bottom surface includes a plurality of standoffs protruding therefrom for contacting a top surface portion of the circuit board assembly.

15 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 13 , wherein said bottom surface includes a plurality of mounting brackets protruding therefrom for securing the circuit board assembly within the second recess.

16 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 13 , wherein the top surface of the housing is circumscribed by a peripheral edge for engaging the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly.

17 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 16 , wherein a sealing material secures the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly to the housing.

18 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 17 , wherein the peripheral edge includes a groove or channel and wherein the sealing material securing the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly to the housing is positioned within the groove or channel.

19 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 13 , further comprising a cover frame including a cut out or window area for receiving the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly when assembled with the housing.

20 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 13 , wherein the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly and the top surface of the housing form an enclosed space.

21 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 13 , wherein said display touch or presence-sensitive assembly includes:

a. an electronic display,

b. a touch or presence-sensitive layer, and

c. a cover layer overlying a top surface of the touch or presence-sensitive layer.

22 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 21 , wherein the cover layer of the touch or presence-sensitive assembly includes a translucent or transparent area.

23 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 22 , wherein the translucent or transparent area is associated with an ambient light sensor positioned on the circuit board assembly.

24 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 21 , wherein the cover layer of the touch or presence-sensitive assembly includes a tactile zone for associating user tactile input to software-implemented actions.

25 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 24 , wherein the tactile zone provides haptic feedback and/or a mechanical actuator.

26 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 21 , wherein the cover layer is comprised of a glass material.

27 . A topside control panel for a bathing unit, comprising:

a. a display touch or presence-sensitive assembly;

b. a housing including:

i. a top surface circumscribed by a top peripheral wall, the top surface and the top peripheral wall defining a first recess for receiving the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly; and

ii. a bottom surface opposed to the top surface, the bottom surface being circumscribed by a bottom peripheral wall, the bottom surface and the bottom peripheral wall defining a second recess; and

c. a back panel secured to the housing so as to enclose the second recess and form an enclosed space, the back panel including a ventilation member configured for allowing air communication between the enclosed space and a space external to the topside control panel.

28 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 27 , further comprising a circuit board assembly positioned within the second recess, the circuit board assembly being electrically coupled to the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly.

29 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 27 , wherein the ventilation member is comprised of an elongated hollow member extending from an aperture formed on a wall of the back panel.

30 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 27 , wherein the top surface of the housing is circumscribed by a peripheral edge for engaging the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly.

31 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 27 , wherein said display touch or presence-sensitive assembly includes:

a. an electronic display,

b. a touch or presence-sensitive layer, and

c. a cover layer overlying a top surface of the touch or presence-sensitive layer.

32 . A topside control panel for a bathing unit, comprising:

a. a display touch or presence-sensitive assembly;

b. a housing including:

i. a top surface circumscribed by a top peripheral wall, the top surface and the top peripheral wall defining a first recess for receiving the display touch or presence-sensitive assembly so as to enclose at least part of the first recess and form a first enclosed space; and

ii. a bottom surface circumscribed by a bottom peripheral wall, the bottom surface and the bottom peripheral wall defining a second recess; and

c. a back panel secured to the housing so as to enclose at least part of the second recess to form a second enclosed space defined at least in part by the back panel, the bottom peripheral wall of the housing and the bottom surface of the housing, wherein a ventilation path is formed between the top surface and the bottom surface of the housing to allow air communication between the first enclosed space and the second enclosed space.

33 . A topside control panel as defined in claim 32 , wherein the back panel includes a ventilation member configured for allowing air communication between the enclosed second space and a space external to the topside control panel.

34 . A topside control panel according to claim 33 , wherein the ventilation member is comprised of an elongated hollow member extending from an aperture formed on a wall of the back panel.

35 . A topside control panel according to claim 34 , further comprising a circuit board assembly positioned within the second enclosed space of the housing.

36 . A bathing unit system comprising:

a. a receptacle for holding water;

b. a plurality of comfort components including at least a circulation pump and a heater;

c. a controller for controlling operational settings associated with the comfort components; and

d. a topside control panel as defined in claim 1 , the topside control panel being in communication with the controller for allowing a user of the bathing unit system to control and/or monitor operational settings of at least some of the comfort components in the bathing unit system.

37 . A bathing unit according to claim 36 , wherein the receptacle for holding water includes a peripheral wall and wherein the control panel is positioned on an upper portion of the peripheral wall.