Aquarium lighting system

• US 5,211,469 A
• Filed: 09/09/1991
• Issued: 05/18/1993
• 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): Cole, Richard R.
• Application Number:
  US07/756,602
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 362/96, 362/101, 362/253, 362/806, 362/811, 362/26, 362/32, 362/800
• 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 2131/308 for aquaria
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

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 decorative aquarium volcano comprising:

a body having an exterior surface shaped to simulate a scale model of a volcano and including a vent-simulating opening in a top portion of said body;

a light source having a lens, said light source mounted in said body, an insulated electrical conductor means electrically connected to said light source, and means sealing the connection between said light source and said conductor means and sealing said lens for operation of said light source while said body is submerged in water, said sealing means being in direct contact with said connection and said lens, said light source being mounted for transmission of light out said top portion of said body; and

gas discharge means mounted for the discharge of gas inside said body for buoyant migration of said gas for escape from said body through said opening.

2. The decorative aquarium volcano as defined in claim 1 wherein,

said body is hollow, and

said top portion is an opening.

3. The decorative aquarium volcano as defined in claim 1 wherein,

said light source is a light emitting diode formed to emit red colored light.

4. An aquarium lighting system for internally illuminating an aquarium tank filled with water, the lighting system comprising:

a multiplicity of lighting sources for disposition within the aquarium tank below the waterline, each lighting source including a light emitting diode, an elongated insulated wire having a connector on a first end and being permanently coupled to the associated light emitting diode on a second end, the wire insulation being waterproof, and insulating means for sealing the light emitting diode from water within the tank and electrically insulating the connection between the light emitting diode and the second end of the elongated wire to prevent its exposure to the water, said insulating means including a plug which seals the connection between said elongated wire and its associated light emitting diode, said plug having an opening extending therethrough that forms a portion of an attachment means for attaching said light emitting means to a support member;

a power supply for providing a low voltage electrical signal; and

a control box for coupling the power supply to the connectors on said plurality of lighting sources, the control box including a housing, and a multiplicity of connector junctions, said housing having a suction cup for attaching to the walls of said aquarium, each said connector junction being adapted to receive a lighting source connector to provide electrical power to the associated lighting source.

5. The lighting system as defined in claim 4, and

a body having an exterior surface shaped to simulate a scale model of a volcano including a vent-simulating light transmissive top portion, and

at least one light emitting diode being mounted to said body for transmission of light out of said top portion.

6. The lighting system as defined in claim 4, and

a body having an exterior surface shaped to simulate a crystal, said body being formed of a light transmissive material, and

at least one light emitting diode being mounted to said body for transmission of light through said body.

7. The lighting system as defined in claim 4, and

a body having a shape simulating a geode including an open side and an interior with simulated crystal structures, and

at least one light emitting diode mounted to said body in a position illuminating said simulated crystal structure.