Aquarium lighting system

• US 5,165,778 A
• Filed: 11/05/1990
• Issued: 11/24/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Universal Fiber Optics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Universal Fiber Optics, Inc.
• Inventors: Peterson, Roger W., Matthias, John D., Schwalbe, Stuart A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hagarman, Sue
• Application Number:
  US07/609,239
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 362/26, 362/32, 362/96, 362/101, 362/122, 362/800, 362/805, 362/808, 362/810, 439/230
• US Class Current: 362/101
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/06 Arrangements for heating or lighting in, or attached to, receptacles for live fish
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/08 Devices for easy attachment to any desired place, e.g. clip, clamp, magnet
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/00 Gas-tight or water-tight arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/00 Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/308 for aquaria
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

An aquarium lighting system for underwater illumination of an aquarium tank. The light sources each include an elongated insulated wire having a light emitting diode on one end. A water impervious encapsulating layer of material extends over the LED lens and preferably seals and electrically insulates the connection between the elongated wire and the light emitting diode. The wire insulation is both waterproof and watertight. The plug has an opening extending therethrough which cooperates with an attachment mechanism such as a tie wrap or a suction cup to facilitate attaching the light emitting diode to either an object within the tank or the tank walls. A decorative aquarium volcano and display stand also are shown.

Claims

1. A light source suitable for use in an aquarium while submerged in water comprising:

a light emitting diode assembly including a base having a diode chip, a transparent lens mounted to said base proximate said chip, and electrical terminal leads electrically coupled to said chip and extending from said base;

elongated electrically conductive wire means electrically coupled to said terminal leads and having insulation means surrounding said wire means from a position proximate said terminal leads to a position remote therefrom;

a water impervious, light transmissive layer of material extending over the entire exterior surface of said lens to seal said lens against contact with water; and

sealing means sealing said terminal leads and said wire means against contact with water, and sealing said terminal leads to said base against entry of water into said diode assembly.

2. A light source as defined in claim 1 wherein,

said sealing means and said layer of material are provided by a single, continuous, light-transmissive coating encapsulating said lens, said base, said terminal leads and said wire means up to said insulating means.

3. A light source as defined in claim 1, and

resistor means electrically mated to said chip and connected between said terminal leads and said wire means.

4. A light source as defined in claim 1 wherein,

said layer of material is provided by a solid plastic material.

5. A light source as defined in claim 1 wherein,

said layer of material produces a color change in light emitted from said diode assembly.

6. A light source as defined in claim 1 wherein,

said sealing means is formed with a mounting aperture in a position maintaining the sealing properties of said sealing means, said aperture being formed to accept an attachment means for attaching said light source to one of an object within said aquarium, and walls of said aquarium.

7. In a submersible light source assembly for an aquarium or the like including an electrical light source, insulated electrical conductor means electrically connected to said light source, and means sealing the connection between said light source and said conductor means, the improvement in said light source assembly comprising:

said light source being provided by a light emitting diode assembly having a lens; and

encapsulating means formed of a light transmissive material and sealing the exterior surface of said lens against contact with water.

8. A light source as defined in claim 7 wherein,

said encapsulating means is provided by a solid plastic material.

9. A light source as defined in claim 7 wherein,

said encapsulating means completely surrounds said light emitting assembly and provides said means sealing the connection between said light source and said base.

10. A light source as defined in claim 7 wherein,

said encapsulating means is formed with a mounting aperture therethrough positioned to maintain the sealing properties of said encapsulating means.

11. In a submersible light source assembly for an aquarium or the like including an electrical light source, insulated electrical conductor means electrically connected to said light source, and means sealing the connection between said light source and said conductor means, the improvement in said light source assembly comprising:

said light source being provided by a light emitting diode assembly having a lens;

encapsulating means formed of a light transmissive material and sealing the exterior surface of said lens against contact with water;

a display stand having a downwardly facing structure formed to engage a support surface for gravity support of said stand in a stable position thereon, and having an upwardly facing display side formed to receive and support a decorative object thereon, and

said light source being mounted to said support stand for transmission of light from said display side upwardly toward a decorative object supported thereon.

12. The light source assembly as defined in claim 11, and

crystal means mounted on said display side and formed of a light transmissive material and with an upper surface refracting light in a multiplicity of directions.

13. The light source assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein,

said display stand includes a planar downwardly facing structure and a planar upwardly facing display side, and

a plurality of said light sources each encapsulated by a light transmissive material and mounted in said display side for transmission of light in an upward direction.

14. In a submersible light source assembly for an aquarium or the like including an electrical light source, insulated electrical conductor means electrically connected to said light source, and means sealing the connection between said light source and said conductor means, the improvement in said light source assembly comprising:

said light source being provided by a light emitting diode assembly having a lens;

encapsulating means formed of a light transmissive material and sealing the exterior surface of said lens against contact with water;

a geode having a viewing opening in one side thereof and an illumination opening in an opposite side thereof, and

said light source being mounted in said illumination opening for transmission of light toward the interior of said geode between said illumination opening and said viewing opening.

15. In a submersible light source assembly for an aquarium or the like including an electrical light source, insulated electrical conductor means electrically connected to said light source, and means sealing the connection between said light source and said conductor means, the improvement in said light source assembly comprising:

said light source being provided by a light emitting diode assembly having a lens;

encapsulating means formed of a light transmissive material and sealing the exterior surface of said lens against contact with water;

a hollow, reduced-scale, volcano-simulating structure having an opening at a top thereof, and

said light source being mounted inside said volcano-simulating structure for transmission of light out said opening at said top.

16. The light source assembly as defined in claim 15, and

gas emitting means mounted for discharge of a gas from within said volcano-simulating structure for buoyant escape of said gas from said opening at said top.

17. The light source assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein,

said gas emitting means is formed for intermittent discharge of gas therefrom,

said light source is formed for intermittent operation of said light emitting diode assembly, and

control means coupled to control discharge of said gas and operation of said light source.

18. In a submersible light source assembly for an aquarium or the like including a light source, and insulated electrical conductor means electrically connected to said light source for transmission of electricity thereto, the improvement in said light source assembly comprising:

said light source is provided by a light emitting diode assembly having a lens;

encapsulating means formed of a light transmissive material surrounding the entire exterior surface of said diode assembly and the electrical connection to said conductor means and sealing the exterior surface of said lens and said connection against contact with water;

a mounting aperture extending through said encapsulating means while maintaining the sealing properties of said encapsulating means; and

a tie wrap mounted through said aperture and formed for attaching said light source to one of an object placed within said aquarium and the walls of said aquarium.

19. In a submersible light source assembly for an aquarium or the like including a light source, and insulated electrical conductor means electrically connected to said light source for transmission of electricity thereto, the improvement in said light source assembly comprising:

said light source is provided by a light emitting diode assembly having a lens;

encapsulating means formed of a light transmissive material surrounding the entire exterior surface of said diode assembly and the electrical connection to said conductor means and sealing the exterior surface of said lens and said connection against contact with water;

a mounting aperture extending through said encapsulating means while maintaining the sealing properties of said encapsulating means; and

a suction cup mounted through said aperture and formed for attaching said light source to one of an object placed within said aquarium and the walls of said aquarium.