IP Library Granted Patent US 12,522,525
Granted Patent B1
US 12,522,525 · App. 18/482,859 · Granted Jan 13, 2026

Chemical maintenance systems

Inventors: Joseph A King (Wayzata, MN); David Guy (Maple Grove, MN); Randy Roseth (Chanhassen, MN); Michael Ray (Atlanta, GA); Mary McCarty (Montrose, MN); Jeffrey Johnson (Edina, MN); Eric Barton (Eden Prairie, MN)
Assignee: King Technology, Inc.
C02F1/50C02F2103/42C02F2201/008C02F2209/008C02F2209/02C02F2209/29
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,522,525
App. No.
18/482,859
Granted
Jan 13, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method of maintaining a body of water in a usable condition where a sensor located in the body of water transmits information on water conditions to a server with the server including a database with the server generating a first maintenance recommendation if it is determined that the body of water contains a synergistic chemical combination and a different recommendation if it is determined that the body of water does not contain a synergistic chemical combination even though the transmitted information on the water conditions are the same.

Claims (27)

1 . A method for a hot tub operator to maintain a hot tub body of water in a condition for human immersion through addition of chlorine, the method comprising:

determining whether or not the hot tub body of water contains a silver metal;

upon determining the hot tub body of water does not contain a silver metal:

adding a first batch of chlorine to the hot tub body of water to bring the free chlorine content to at least 1 ppm in the hot tub body of water;

upon determining the hot tub body of water does contain a silver metal:

further determining the hot tub body of water contains a hydantoin; and

adding a different batch of chlorine to bring the free chlorine content to at least 0.5 ppm in the hot tub body of water, the different batch of chlorine beingless than the first batch of chlorine as the combination of the silver metal, the hydantoin, and the chlorine produce a synergistic chemical combination.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a buoyant sensor determines the free chlorine content in the hot tub body of water.

3 . The method of claim 1 , including a buoyant sensor to measure the free chlorine content in the body of water and a server where the buoyant sensor and the server communicate with each other through wireless communication.

4 . The method of claim 1 , including a smartphone configured to alert a person if the free chlorine content of the body of hot tub water falls below a maintenance level based on the presence or absence of a synergistic chemical combination in the hot tub body of water.

5 . The method of claim 1 , determining when to add chemicals to a body of water having a sensor located in the body of water with the sensor including transmitting information on at least one measured water parameter to a server located outside the hot tub body of water with the improvement comprising:

determining if the hot tub body of water contains a silver source metal prior to an identification of an action to add the first batch of chlorine to be taken and identifying a different action to be taken if the hot tub body of water does not contain a silver source.

6 . The method of claim 1 , including determining if the body of hot tub water contains 1, 3-dichloro-5-5 dimethyl hydantoin prior to adding the different batch of chlorine.

7 . The method of claim 1 , including determining if the body of hot tub water contains 1, 3-dichloro-5-ethyl-5-methyl hydantoin prior to adding the different batch of chlorine.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the body of hot tub water is maintained at a temperature of at least 100° F. and a maximum of 104° F.

9 . A method for a hot tub operator to maintain a hot tub body of water in a condition for human immersion through addition of chlorine, the method comprising:

determining if the hot tub body of water contains a silver metal;

upon determining the hot tub body of water does not contain a silver metal:

adding a first batch of chlorine to the hot tub body of water to bring the free chlorine content to at least 1 ppm in the hot tub body of water;

upon determining the hot tub body of water does contain a silver metal:

further analyzing the hot tub body of water to determine the hot tub body of water contains a hydantoin; and

adding a different batch of chlorine to bring the free chlorine content to at least 0.5 ppm in the hot tub body of water, the different batch of chlorine being less than the first batch of chlorine as the combination of the silver metal, the hydantoin, and the chlorine produce a synergistic chemical combination.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein analyzing the hot tub body of water to determine if the hot tub body of water contains a hydantoin includes spectroscopic analysis.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein determining when to add chemicals to a body of water having the sensor located in the body of water with the sensor including transmitting information on at least one measured water parameter to a server located outside the hot tub body of water with the improvement comprising:

determining if the hot tub body of water contains a silver source metal prior to an identification of an action to add the first batch of chlorine to be taken and identifying a different action to be taken if the hot tub body of water does not contain a silver source.

12 . The method of claim 9 , including analyzing the hot tub body of water to determine if the hot tub body of water contains 1, 3-dichloro-5-5 dimethyl hydantoin prior to adding the different batch of chlorine.

13 . The method of claim 9 , including analyzing the hot tub body of water to determine if the hot tub body of water contains 1, 3-dichloro-5-ethyl-5-methyl hydantoin prior to adding the different batch of chlorine.

Assignments (7)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 11, 2024
From: MCCARTY, MARY
To: KING TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 067690/0504 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 11, 2024
From: RAY, MICHAEL
To: KING TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 067690/0658 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 11, 2024
From: KING, JOSEPH
To: KING TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 067687/0509 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 11, 2024
From: ROSETH, RANDY
To: KING TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 067691/0350 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 11, 2024
From: BARTON, ERIC
To: KING TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 067685/0843 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 11, 2024
From: GUY, DAVID
To: KING TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 067687/0166 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 11, 2024
From: JOHNSON, JEFFERY
To: KING TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 067695/0298 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16501329 · Mar 25, 2019
Provisional Application 62917726 · Dec 24, 2018
References Cited (36)
US 4882285A · Ogleby et al. · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 5218983A · King · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5976385A · King · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 6190547B1 · King et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6447722B1 · Rakestraw · 2002 [cited by examiner]
US 6500334B1 · King et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6652871B1 · King et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 7060190B2 · King et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7347934B2 · King et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7501067B2 · King et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7641791B2 · King et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7875191B2 · King et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8070941B2 · King et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8591748B2 · Hill et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8999259B2 · King et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9039988B2 · King et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9187351B2 · King et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9314747B2 · King et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9834451B2 · Miller et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9873625B2 · King et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 9975791B2 · King · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20100230365A1 · Hill · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 20140369886A1 · King et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20170267547A1 · Miller et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180118581A1 · Miller et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
PHin Wi-Fi-Enabled Smart Water, amazon.com website, 3 pages. [cited by applicant]
PHin Smart Pool Monitor, John R. Delaney, PCMag, Sep. 6, 2017, 8 pages. [cited by applicant]
PHin: A Review by Pool Pro, Jan. 1, 2018, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
Swim University, 21 Useful Smartphone Apps for Pools and Hot Tubs, presented by pHin, last updated Dec. 7, 2018, 34 pages. [cited by applicant]
ORP vs pH Chart, Google Search, Jan. 14, 2019, 1 page. [cited by applicant]
FCE: Groundbreaking Measurement of Free Chlorine Disinfecting Power in a Handheld Instrument, Myron L Company White Paper, Jan. 2012, 12 pages. [cited by applicant]
ORP Control in Pools and Spas, J Steininger D. Sc. Copyright SBCS 1998, 4 pages. [cited by applicant]
Hach, Silver Reagent Set, Colorimetric Method, Specifications, 1 page. [cited by applicant]
Test Strips 1 Ea Testing Parameter: Silver Range: 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000 ppb, grainger.com website, Jan. 15, 2019, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
PHin website, https://www. pHin.co/, Supported Chemicals, 11 pages. [cited by applicant]
Taylor Technologies, Inc. Pool & Spa Water Chemistry: A Testing & Treatment Guide, Revised May 2015, 34 pages. [cited by applicant]