Solar Powered Underwater Multipurpose Illumination Device

• US 20100109556A1
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey T. Beach, Mosholder D. Michael Jr
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey T. Beach, Mosholder D. Michael Jr
• Inventors: Mosholder, D. Michael JR., Beach, Jeffrey T.
• Application Number:
  US12/249,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20100109556A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/294
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/00 Lighting devices intended for fixed installation F21S9/00, F21S10/00 take precedence; using a string or strip of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/037 the solar unit and the lighting unit being located within or on the same housing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/096 Magnetic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/045 the lens having discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/10 Outdoor lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/401 for swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 in street lighting

Abstract

An illumination device includes a housing and a lens disposed at the end of the housing. The lens is in watertight engagement with the housing and includes at least one LED disposed in the housing and for transmitting light through the lens. An infrared sensor is operatively connected to the electronic control unit for remotely operating the electronic control unit. The illumination device also includes a mounting disk and bracket for mounting to underwater surfaces, such as a pool, or a magnet for the same. An electronic driver unit regulates power to the LED module, thereby saving battery power.

Claims

1. An illumination device, comprising:

a housing defining an outer surface, the outer surface defining a space therein, the housing comprising a lens, the housing and the lens being configured so that light can travel from outside the housing to the space and from the space to the outside of the housing, and the housing and the lens form a watertight engagement with each other, so that the housing and lens are configured to prevent water from entering the space in the housing;

at least one LED disposed in the space, the at least one LED for transmitting light through the lens to outside the housing;

a rechargeable battery within the space;

a solar unit within the space, for generating electricity from solar energy for providing power to the rechargeable power source or the LED; and

an electronic control unit within the space, the electronic control unit for directing power from the battery or the solar unit to the at least one LED;

a signal sensor within the space, the signal sensor being operatively connected to the electronic control unit for remotely operating the electronic control unit;

a first magnet integrated with the housing, at a position on the opposite side of the housing from the lens,

wherein the LED, battery, electronic control and solar panel are electrically self contained and have no electrical connection from inside the space to outside the space, and

wherein the housing is configured to not have an opening connecting the space inside the housing to the outside space.

2. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein an infrared sensor is disposed behind the lens.

3. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein at least one LED is operable to emit a plurality of colors.

4. The illumination device of claim 3, further comprising:

a remote control to operate the infrared sensor to change the color of the at least one LED bulb.

5. The illumination device of claim 1, further comprising:

a remote control that is physically independent of the illumination device to operate the infrared sensor to remotely operate the electronic control unit.

6. The illumination device of claim 1, further comprising:

an on/off button for activating and deactivating the power source.

7. The illumination device of claim 1, further comprising:

a charge indicator light which changes colors to indicate different charges.

8. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the lens is shaped to transmit light at an angle substantially perpendicular to a front surface of the lens.

9. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit includes an electronic driver for regulating power from the power source to the at least one LED.

10. The illumination device of claim 1, further comprising:

a metal plate that is magnetically connectable to the first magnet, the metal plate being connectable to a solid object, thereby connecting the illumination device to the solid object.

11. The illumination device of claim 10, wherein the metal plate is magnetically connected to the first magnet and further connected to a solid object with epoxy adhesive.

12. The illumination device of claim 10, wherein the metal plate is magnetically connected to the first magnet and further connected to a solid object with glue.

13. The illumination device of claim 10, wherein the metal plate is magnetically connected to the first magnet and further connected to a solid object.

14. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the lens is shaped so that light is transmitted at an angle substantially perpendicular to a front surface of the lens.

15. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the lens includes a plurality of ridges distributed on the front surface of the lens, the ridges transmitting light at an angle substantially perpendicular to the front surface of the lens.

16. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the housing forms an exterior surface that forms a single continuous outer surface.

17. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a first outer housing part and a second outer housing part that are welded together to establish a continuous outer surface between the first outer casing part and the second outer casing part across and in the vicinity of the weld, thereby forming a housing whose entire outer surface has a continuous surface area.

18. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the first outer casing part and the second outer casing part are glued together to establish a continuous outer surface between the first outer casing part and the second outer casing part across and in the vicinity of the weld, thereby forming a casing whose entire outer surface has a continuous surface area.

19. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein no openings for accessing the inside of the casing from the outside of the casing are provided.

20. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein no electrical connections are provided for electrically connecting to an electricity source outside the casing.

21. The illumination device of claim 10, wherein the metal plate is encapsulated in a plastic or rubber material.

22. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is programmed to restrict power to the LED'"'"'s after a predetermined length of operation time.

23. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is programmed to restrict power to the LED'"'"'s when the solar unit active.

24. An illumination device, comprising:

first and second outer casing parts connected to each other to form a watertight housing;

a lens disposed at an end of the housing, the lens being in a watertight engagement with the housing;

at least one LED disposed in the housing, the at least one LED for transmitting light through the lens;

a power source;

an electronic control unit for directing power from the power source to the at least one LED;

a magnet connected to the housing at the first casing part; and

an infrared sensor operatively connected to the electronic control unit for remotely operating the electronic control unit.