Whirlpool service life monitor

Abstract

A disinfection device for a whirlpool tub that indicates the amount of remaining useful life of the device. The device includes two exposed electrical contacts arranged at a selected water level of the whirlpool tub. When the tub is filled and the water level in the tub is high enough to touch the exposed contacts, the water closes the electrical circuit formed by the contacts. The circuit monitors the number of times that the tub has been filled and checks it against a predetermined fill count. When the tub has been filed a selected number of times, the circuit indicates that the disinfection device needs to be replaced.

1 . A monitoring circuit for a disinfection device, comprising: 
 a pair of electrical contacts, wherein water touches the electrical contacts to close an electrical circuit when the water reaches a predetermined level;    a counter that increments a fill count when the electrical circuit is closed; and    an indicator that indicates whether the fill count is below a selected threshold.    
   
   
       2 . The circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the counter includes a timer that monitors a length of time that the electrical circuit is closed, wherein the counter increments the fill count when the timer indicates that the electrical circuit has been closed for a predetermined time period.  
   
   
       3 . The circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the counter includes a comparator that compares the fill count with the selected threshold and actuates the indicator based on whether the fill count is below or at the selected threshold.  
   
   
       4 . The circuit of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator is at least one indicator light.  
   
   
       5 . The circuit of  claim 4 , wherein the counter illuminates said at least one indicator light when the fill count is below the selected threshold.  
   
   
       6 . The circuit of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one indicator light comprises a first indicator light and a second indicator light, wherein the counter illuminates the first indicator light when the fill count is below the selected threshold and wherein the counter illuminates the second indicator light when the fill count is at the selected threshold.  
   
   
       7 . The circuit of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second indicator lights are different colors.  
   
   
       8 . A disinfection device for a whirlpool tub, comprising: 
 a suction cover having a perforated surface;    a disinfecting material;    a conduit that guides water through the perforated surface to the disinfecting material; and    a monitoring circuit having a pair of electrical contacts, wherein water touches the electrical contacts to close an electrical circuit when the water reaches a predetermined level, a counter that increments a fill count when the electrical circuit is closed, and at least one indicator light that indicates whether the fill count is below a selected threshold.    
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the counter includes a timer that monitors a length of time that the electrical circuit is closed, wherein the counter increments the fill count when the timer indicates that the electrical circuit has been closed for a predetermined time period.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the counter includes a comparator that compares the fill count with the selected threshold and actuates the indicator based on whether the file count is below or at the selected threshold.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one indicator light comprises a first indicator light and a second indicator light, wherein the counter illuminates the first indicator light when the fill count is below the selected threshold and wherein the counter illuminates the second indicator light when the fill count is at the selected threshold.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second indicator lights are different colors.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the suction cover, disinfecting material, conduit, and monitoring circuit are integrated together into a self-contained device.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a power source that powers the monitoring circuit.  
   
   
       15 . A disinfection device comprising: 
 a pair of electrical contacts, wherein water touches the electrical contacts to close an electrical circuit when the water reaches a predetermined level;    a counter that increments a fill count when the electrical circuit is closed; and    a transponder for emitting a single indicative of the fill count to an external controller responsive to receipt of an actuation signal.    
   
   
       16 . The device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the counter includes a timer that monitors a length of time that the electrical circuit is closed, wherein the counter increments the fill count when the timer indicates that the electrical circuit has been closed for a predetermined time period.  
   
   
       17 . The device as recited in  claim 15 , including a coil assembly mounted proximate to the transponder for generating the actuation signal.  
   
   
       18 . The device as recited in  claim 15  wherein the external controller actuates an indicating device responsive to fill count communicated by the transponder.  
   
   
       19 . The device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the actuation signal is produced at predetermined intervals for communicating the fill count to the controller.