Chlorine generator system

Abstract

A chlorine generator apparatus wherein a housing is adapted to be mounted in an exterior, user-accessible surface of a spa and a chlorine generating electrode cartridge carrying a pair of electrodes is configured to be installable by a user in the housing and to thereafter be removable by the user for replacement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of constructing an electrode cartridge for a chlorinator apparatus comprising:
 forming a handle component grippable by a user;   mounting first and second electrodes beneath the handle;   shaping the electrode cartridge to be slidably insertable into and slidably removable from a mating housing; and   positioning first and second electrical contacts on the electrode cartridge so as to come into contact with first and second electrical contacts located on the mating housing when the electrode cartridge is inserted into an installed position in the mating housing.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 installing the electrode cartridge in the mating housing; 
 signaling a user when the electrode cartridge is spent to facilitate removal and replacement of the cartridge; and 
 
       removing the spent electrode cartridge from the mating housing in response to said signaling. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising replacing the spent electrode cartridge by slidably inserting a second electrode cartridge into the mating housing, the second electrode cartridge having been constructed using the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising installing the electrode cartridge in the mating housing; and
 replacing the electrode cartridge when it is spent by slidably inserting a second electrode cartridge into the mating housing, the second electrode cartridge having been constructed using the method of  claim 1 . 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising configuring the electrode cartridge such that no electrical wires enter or are attached to the electrode cartridge when the electrode cartridge is in an installed position in the mating housing. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising configuring the electrode cartridge such that the first and second electrical contacts of the electrode cartridge constitute the only respective entry and exit points for electrical current into and out of the electrode cartridge. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising configuring the electrode cartridge such that electrical contact with the mating housing is broken simply by pulling the electrode cartridge out of the housing. 
     
     
         8 . A method of constructing an electrode cartridge comprising:
 forming a single piece first electrode so as to include a vertical portion configured to generate chlorine and such that the vertical portion forms into a horizontal base portion from which extends an outwardly curved spring arm electrical contact; and   forming a single piece second electrode so as to include a vertical portion configured to generate chlorine and such that the vertical portion forms into a horizontal base portion from which extends an outwardly curved spring arm electrical contact.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising forming each outwardly curved spring arm electrical contact such that it extends upwardly from its respective horizontal base portion. 
     
     
         10 . A method of constructing an electrode cartridge for a chlorinator apparatus comprising:
 forming a handle grippable by a user;   mounting first and second electrodes beneath the handle;   shaping the electrode cartridge to be slidably insertable into and slidably removable from a mating housing;   positioning a first electrical contact on an exterior side surface of the electrode cartridge in a position selected such that the first electrical contact will come into electrical contact with a first electrical contact located on a side surface of the mating housing when the electrode cartridge is inserted into an installed position in the mating housing; and   positioning a second electrical contact on an exterior side surface of the electrode cartridge in a position selected such that the second electrical contact will come into electrical contact with a second electrical contact located on a side surface of the mating housing when the electrode cartridge is inserted into the installed position in the mating housing.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising configuring the first and second electrical contacts of the electrode cartridge to each function as part of an electrical switch. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising imparting a spring bias to the first and second electrical contacts of the electrode cartridge. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 installing the electrode cartridge in the mating housing; 
 signaling the user when the electrode cartridge is spent to facilitate removal and replacement of the cartridge; and 
 removing the spent electrode cartridge from the mating housing in response to said signaling. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising replacing the spent electrode cartridge by slidably inserting a second electrode cartridge into the mating housing, the second electrode cartridge having been constructed using the method of  claim 10 . 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising installing the electrode cartridge in the mating housing; and
 replacing the electrode cartridge when it is spent by slidably inserting a second electrode cartridge into the mating housing, the second electrode cartridge having been constructed using the method of  claim 10 . 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising configuring the electrode cartridge such that no electrical wires enter or are attached to the electrode cartridge when the electrode cartridge is in an installed position in the mating housing. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising configuring the electrode cartridge such that the first and second electrical contacts of the electrode cartridge constitute the only respective entry and exit points for electrical current into and out of the electrode cartridge. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising configuring the electrode cartridge such that electrical contact with the mating housing is broken simply by pulling the electrode cartridge out of the housing.