Pool light mounting structure

• US 4,433,366 A
• Filed: 09/30/1982
• Issued: 02/21/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pac-Fab Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Charles E. Wade
• Inventors: Wade, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lechert, Jr., Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US06/429,538
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 362/158, 362/294, 362/306, 362/311, 362/267, 362/362, 362/373, 362/374, 362/375
• US Class Current: 362/267
• 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: F21V 31/03 with provision for venting for vehicle head lights F21S45/33; for vehicle rear lights F21S41/192
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/401 for swimming pools

Abstract

A structure for providing a light in the side of a swimming pool beneath the water. The structure primarily is constructed from sheet metal and includes a bulb shield and receptacle, a front lens, a front mounting ring and a sealing ring. The sealing ring forces portions of the shield and the mounting ring into sealing arrangement with a ring seal mounted about the lens. The seal and the adjacent sealing structure allow steam which may be generated by heat from the enclosed bulb to escape into the water but prevent the water from entering the structure. The structure can be used in traditional concrete or Gunite pools and with an additional component, it can be installed in vinyl lined pools.

Claims

1. A structure for mounting an electrical light bulb under water to a construction such as a swimming pool, the structure including:

a light bulb enclosure having;

a body with;

an outer circumferential flange; and

a frustroconical portion adjacent said outer circumferential flange;

a light bulb socket within said body;

a waterproof connection to said light bulb socket through said body;

a lens with;

an outer circumferential flange positioned adjacent said outer circumferential flange of said body; and

a seal between said outer circumferential flange of said body and said outer circumferential flange of said lens; and

a mounting ring having;

a frustroconical inner portion in contact with said seal; and

means for connecting said mounting ring to the construction.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said light bulb enclosure further includes:

a V band positioned about said outer circumferential flange of said body, at least a portion of said frustroconical inner portion of said mounting ring, and at least a portion of said frustroconical portion of said body to compress said seal between said frustroconical inner portion of said mounting ring, said frustroconical portion of said body, said outer circumferential flange of said body, and said outer circumferential flange of said lens.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2, further including:

a niche positioned in the construction, said light bulb enclosure being positioned in said niche, said niche having;

an outer abutment surface;

a waterproof connection to a source of electrical power; and

a waterproof cable of a predetermined length extending from said niche waterproof connection to said waterproof connection of said body, whereby said predetermined length of cable is sufficient to allow said light bulb enclosure and said mounting ring to be moved above the water.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3, wherein said mounting ring further includes:

a outer abutment surface adapted to engage said outer abutment surface of said niche.

5. The structure as defined in claim 4, wherein said niche further includes:

at least one inwardly extending protrusion adapted for engagement by a fastener, said means for connecting said mounting ring to the construction including;

at least one fastener engaging said mounting ring and said protrusion to hold said mounting ring outer abutment surface and said outer abutment surface of said niche together.

6. The structure as defined in claim 5, wherein the construction is a shell with a flexible liner, the shell and liner having concentric openings for said structure, wherein said mounting ring further includes:

a radial flange adapted to engage the shell about the structure opening therein, said radial flange having;

a frustroconical tip;

means for fastening said radial flange to the shell; and

a first gasket including;

an outer radial surface and an adjacent frustroconical surface for contact with the liner;

an inner radial surface and an adjacent frustroconical slot for contact with said radial flange including said frustroconical tip; and

a radial surface between said frustroconical surface and said frustroconical slot for contact with the shell.

7. The structure as defined in claim 6, wherein said first gasket includes:

at least one fastener opening defined therethrough, said first gasket outer radial surface including;

at least two radial beads extending outwardly therefrom on opposite sides of said opening defined through said first gasket.

8. The structure as defined in claim 6, wherein said mounting ring further includes:

an annular flange member having;

an inwardly facing radial surface; and

a second gasket having;

an outer radial ring surface in contact with said inwardly facing radial surface of said annular flange member; and

an inner radial ring surface in contact with the liner to squeeze the liner against said outer radial surface of said first gasket.

9. The structure as defined in claim 8, wherein said second gasket includes:

at least one fastener opening defined therethrough, said second gasket inner radial ring surface including;

at least two radial beads extending outwardly therefrom on opposite sides of said opening defined through said second gasket.

10. The structure as defined in claim 2, wherein said seal defines a radial, inwardly facing slot for engaging said outer circumferential flange of the lens;

a radially outwardly extending peripheral rib compressed upon engagement with said outer circumferential flange of the body.

11. The structure as defined in claim 2, wherein said seal includes:

a radial, inwardly facing slot for engagement with said outer circumferential flange of said lens;

a radially outwardly extending rib including;

a front surface; and

a frustroconical back surface positioned to contact said outer circumferential flange of said body and be biased toward said front surface thereby; and

a ring protrusion adjacent said frustroconical back surface positioned to contact said outer circumferential flange and said frustroconical portion of said body.