Underwater lighting system
First Claim
1. An underwater lighting system for illuminating an object above the surface of water from a light source under the water surface comprisinga light source means disposed below the water surface to direct light toward the object to be illuminated above the water surface;
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4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An underwater lighting system for the illumination of decorative water displays and the like is disclosed. Each light in a typical lighting system is disposed below the surface of the water, with the light source having a flat lens to avoid the spreading of the rays due to the index of refraction of the water. Disposed over the light source with the upper surface thereof above the water surface and the lower surface thereof below the water surface is a light guide for allowing the passage of light therethrough substantially perpendicular to the upper and lower surfaces, though at the same time substantially inhibiting light from passing therethrough which is not substantially perpendicular to the surfaces of the light guide, at least with respect to one transverse axis thereof. In this manner, the normal diffusing of underwater lighting encountered in water display caused by ripples in the pool are avoided because of the upper surface of the light guide being above the water level. The net result is that light passing directly from the light source to the eyes of the display observer is held to a minimum, as is the intermixing of light from multiple light sources, thereby making the light sources substantially invisible to the observer and allowing illumination of the water display with multiple lights of different colors in a pleasing and effective manner. Various embodiments are disclosed.
26 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An underwater lighting system for illuminating an object above the surface of water from a light source under the water surface comprising
a light source means disposed below the water surface to direct light toward the object to be illuminated above the water surface; - and
a baffle means having an upper surface and a lower surface and being disposed in the path of the light from said light source to the object to be illuminated, said upper surface of said baffle means being disposed above the water surface and said lower surface of said baffle means being disposed below the water surface, said baffle means being a means for allowing light from said light source to pass therethrough in a predetermined first direction, and to inhibit the passage of light therethrough in directions deviating from said first direction, at least about a first axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of illuminating an object above the surface of water from a light source under the water surface comprising the steps of
(a) providing a light source under the surface of the water and directing the light therefrom toward the object to be illuminated (b) providing a transmitting member in the light path from the light source with the upper surface of the transmitting member above the surface of the water and the lower surface of the member below the surface of the water, the transmitting member being substantially transparent to light, at least directed along the light path, whereby light may pass directly through the transmitting member along the light path without being deflected by ripples on the surface of the water adjacent to the transmitting member.
Specification