Submersible light fixture

• US 6,241,361 B1
• Filed: 12/01/1998
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pentair Pool Products, Inc. (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Pentair Pool Products, Inc. (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Inventors: Pickle, Darrin Kurt, Thrasher, Laurence E., Burkitt, Garrett J. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US09/204,095
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 362/101, 362/267, 362/364, 362/365, 362/145
• US Class Current: 362/101
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/024 intended to be recessed in a wall or like vertical structure, e.g. building facade
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 25/10 coming into action when lighting device is overloaded, e.g. thermal switch
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 27/00 Cable-stowing arrangements structurally associated with lighting devices, e.g. reels storing lengths of cable in general B65H; the lighting devices being vehicle headlamps F21S41/192; the lighting devices being vehicle lights F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/00 Protecting lighting devices from thermal damage; Cooling or heating arrangements specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting fixtures combined with outlets for air-treatment systems F24F13/078
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/00 Gas-tight or water-tight arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/08 for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/401 for swimming pools

Abstract

A submersible light having an electrically nonconductive reflector and no other electrically conductive elements requiring grounding, a tough lens to withstand impacts from swimmers and features providing quick and easy serviceability. Because of these features, the light of the invention meets safety requirements allowing the light to be mounted less that 18 inches below the waterline, thereby allowing its placement in areas of pools that have been heretofore off limits to conventional lights. In addition, a cord holder about the external surface of the light'"'"'s housing and twist lock base and housing with a radial O-ring seal provide for quick and easy disassembly and re-installation of the light.

Claims

1. A submersible pool light system comprising:

a submersible pool light having

an electrically nonconductive housing having an interior surface defining a front opening and a rear opening,

an electrically nonconductive base mounted adjacent to the rear opening of said housing,

an electrically conductive socket mounted within and to said housing,

an electric light having an electrically nonconductive reflector, the light mounted to said socket, and

an electrically nonconductive lens mounted across to the front opening of said housing; and

a transformer remotely located from said housing, said transformer having a voltage input isolated from a voltage output, the voltage output of said transformer coupled to said socket to define a light circuit, the only electrically conductive material of said light being the light circuit such that no ground wire is required on said submersible pool light.

2. The submersible pool light of claim 1, wherein said transformer has a primary winding separated from a secondary winding.

3. The submersible pool light of claim 2, wherein, said transformer has a low voltage output.

4. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein said electric light diffuses light along a 10 to 40 degree arc of frustoconical space.

5. The submersible pool light of claim 4, wherein said electric light directs light along an approximately twenty degree arc of frustoconical space.

6. The submersible pool light of claim 1, wherein said electric light has a prismatic glass reflector.

7. The submersible pool light of claim 1, wherein said lens is made from polymeric material.

8. The submersible pool light of claim 7 wherein said lens is made from polycarbonate material.

9. The submersible pool light of claim 1 wherein said housing is made from glass filled polymeric material.

10. The submersible pool light of claim 9, wherein said housing and said base are made from 20% glass filled polymeric material.

11. The submersible pool light of claim 9, wherein said base is made from glass filled polymeric material.

12. A submersible pool light for mounting in a niche in the wall of a pool, comprising:

a housing having a forward end, a rearward end, and an external surface therebetween;

a power cord extending from said housing;

a front flange mounted adjacent to the forward end of said housing, the front flange extending radially outwardly from the external surface of said housing; and

a rear flange mounted adjacent to the rearward end of said housing, said rear flange extending radially outwardly from the external surface of said housing to hold said power cord between itself and said front flange when said power cord is wrapped around said housing.

13. The submersible pool light of claim 12, wherein said front and rear flanges extend circumferentially around the external surface of said housing.

14. The submersible pool light of claim 12, wherein a cord catch is located on said housing to secure said wrapped power cord to said housing.

15. The submersible pool light of claim 12, wherein said power cord extends from said housing at an angle to facilitate the wrapping of said cord about the external surface of said housing.

16. The submersible pool light of claim 15, wherein a cord catch is located on said housing to secure said wrapped power cord to said housing.

17. The submersible pool light of claim 14, wherein said cord catch is a notch sized to snugly accept said power cord therein.

18. The submersible light of claim 17, wherein said power cord extends from said housing at an angle to facilitate the wrapping of said cord about the external surface of said housing.

19. A light for installation into a niche in the wall of a pool comprising:

a housing having a forward end, a rearward end, and interior surface therebetween defining a chamber sized to enclose an electric light, an opening in the forward end of said housing and an opening in the rearward end of said housing;

a lens mounted across the forward opening of said housing, the lens sealing the forward opening of said housing; and

a base having a seal thereon mounted across the rearward opening of said housing, said base configured to engage said housing to hold the seal in a predetermined position radially between said base and said housing to prevent fluid from entering the chamber of said housing;

wherein said housing has a projection on its interior surface adjacent to its rearward opening, and wherein said base has a forward end, a rearward end, and a circumferential surface located therebetween, the circumferential surface defining a first slot extending circumferentially around said base and curving forwardly, the slot sized to engage the projection so that rotation of said base causes the projection to interferingly ride within the slot until said base is pulled longitudinally into the rearward opening of said housing to move the seal radially between said base and said housing.

20. The submersible pool light of claim 19, wherein the seal is an O-ring and the circumferential surface of said base further defines another slot sized to hold the O-ring circumferentially around said base.

21. The submersible light of claim 19, wherein the circumferential surface of said base further defines a small projection on the first slot and a detent is located on the projection of said housing, the small projection on said base and the detent cooperatively engaging when the seal has fully engaged said housing.

22. The submersible pool light of claim 19, wherein said housing has a second projection and the circumferential surface of said base further defines a second slot extending circumferentially around said base and curving forwardly, the second slot sized to engage the second projection upon rotation of said base with respect to said housing.

23. A submersible light for installation in a niche in the wall of a pool comprising:

an electrically nonconductive housing having a forward end, a rearward end, and internal surface therebetween defining a chamber and an opening in the forward end of the housing;

a light socket mounted within the chamber;

an electric light mounted within the chamber, the light having a nonconductive reflector reflecting light outwardly within a predetermined frustoconical space passing through the opening in the forward end of said housing;

an electrically nonconductive lens mounted across the forward opening of said housing, the lens assembly sealing the forward opening of said housing, the lens aligned so that the light from said light passes therethrough; and

a transformer remotely located from the housing, said transformer having an isolated voltage input and voltage output, the voltage output of said transformer coupled to said light socket to define a light circuit, the only electrically conductive material of said light being the light circuit such that no ground wire is required on the submersible light.

24. The submersible pool light of claim 23, wherein said lens is aligned across the frustoconical light space so that the circumference of said lens is aligned with the cross section of the conical space intersecting said lens.

25. The lighting assembly of claim 23, wherein said electric light diffuses light along a 10 to 40 degree arc of frustoconical space.

26. The submersible pool light of claim 25, wherein the reflector of said electric light directs light along a twenty degree arc of frustoconical space.

27. The submersible light of claim 23, wherein said electric light has a prismatic glass reflector.

28. The submersible pool light of claim 27, wherein said electric light is a low voltage type.

29. The submersible pool light of claim 23, wherein said lens is made from polymeric material.

30. The submersible pool light of claim 29, wherein said lens is made from polycarbonate material.

31. The submersible pool light of claim 23, wherein said housing is made from glass filled polymeric material.

32. The submersible pool light of claim 31, wherein said housing is made from 20% glass filled polymeric material.

33. The submersible pool light of claim 31, wherein said housing includes a rear end cap made from glass filled polymeric material.

34. The submersible pool light of claim 33, wherein said housing is made from 20% glass filled polymeric material.

35. The submersible pool light of claim 23, wherein said transformer has a primary winding separated from a secondary winding.

36. The submersible pool light of claim 23, wherein said transformer has a low voltage output.

37. A submersible pool light comprising:

an electrically nonconductive housing having a forward end, a rearward end, and internal surface therebetween defining a chamber and an opening in the forward end of the housing, the housing made of glass filled polymeric material;

a light socket mounted within the chamber;

an electric light mounted within the chamber, said light having an electrically nonconductive prismatic glass reflector directing light outwardly within a predetermined frustoconical space passing through the opening in the forward end of said housing;

an electrically nonconductive lens assembly having a non-glass lens mounted across the forward opening of said housing, said lens assembly sealing the forward opening of said housing, the lens aligned so that the light from the electric light passes therethrough; and

a transformer remotely located from said housing, said transformer having a voltage input isolated from a voltage output, the voltage output of said transformer coupled to said light socket to define a light circuit, the only electrically conductive material of the pool light being the light circuit such that no ground wire is required.

38. The submersible pool light of claim 37, wherein said lens is aligned across the frustoconical light space so that the circumference of said lens is aligned with the cross section of the conical space intersecting said lens.

39. The submersible pool light of claim 38, wherein said housing is made from a 20% glass filled polymeric material.

40. A lighting assembly for installation in a niche mounted in a pool wall, comprising:

an electrically nonconductive housing with a forward end, a rearward end, an external surface therebetween, and an interior surface defining a front opening and a rear opening;

a two wire electric cord extending from said housing;

a front flange adjacent to the forward end of said housing, said front flange extending radially outwardly from the external surface of said housing;

a rear flange adjacent to the rearward end of said housing, said rear flange extending radially outwardly from the external surface of said housing to hold said electric cord between said front and rear flanges when said cord is wrapped around said housing;

an electrically nonconductive base mounted across the rear opening of said housing, said base having a seal thereabout and configured to engage said housing to hold the seal in a predetermined position radially between said base and said housing to prevent fluid from entering the chamber of said housing;

a conductive socket mounted within said housing and coupled to said electric cord;

an electric light mounted in said socket, said light having a nonconductive reflector reflecting light forwardly within a predetermined frustoconical space passing through the opening in the forward end of said housing;

an electrically nonconductive lens assembly having a lens mounted across the forward opening of said housing, the lens assembly sealing the forward opening of said housing, said lens aligned with the lighted frustoconical space so that the circumference of said lens is aligned with the cross section of the conical space intersecting said lens; and

a transformer remotely located from said housing, the transformer having a voltage input isolated from a voltage output, the voltage output of the transformer coupled to said electric cord to define a light circuit, the only electrically conductive material of the light being the light circuit, the electric light and socket, such that no ground wire is required on the lighting assembly.

41. The lighting assembly of claim 40, wherein said transformer has a primary winding separated from a secondary winding.

42. The lighting assembly of claim 41, wherein said transformer has a low voltage output.

43. The lighting assembly of claim 40 wherein said front and rear flanges extend circumferentially around the external surface of said housing.

44. The lighting assembly of claim 43, wherein said rear flange has a cord catch to secure said wrapped electric cord to said housing.

45. The lighting assembly of claim 44, wherein said electric cord extends from said housing at an angle to facilitate the wrapping of said cord about the external surface of said housing.

46. The lighting assembly of claim 40, wherein said rear flange has a cord catch to secure said wrapped electric cord to said housing.

47. The lighting assembly of claim 46, wherein said cord catch is a notch sized to snugly accept said electric cord therein.

48. The lighting assembly of claim 47, wherein said electric cord extends from said housing at an angle to facilitate the wrapping of said cord about the external surface of said housing.

49. The lighting assembly of claim 46, wherein said electric cord extends from said housing at an angle to facilitate the wrapping of said cord about the external surface of said housing.

50. The lighting assembly of claim 40, wherein said electric cord extends from said housing at an angle to facilitate the wrapping of said cord about the external surface of said housing.

51. The lighting assembly of claim 40, wherein said housing has a projection on its interior surface adjacent to its rearward opening, and wherein said base has a forward end, a rearward end, and a circumferential surface located therebetween, the circumferential surface defining a first slot extending circumferentially around the base and curving longitudinally forwardly to a stop surface, the slot sized to engage the projection so that rotation of said base causes the projection to interferingly ride within the slot until it abuts the stop surface, so that said base is pulled longitudinally into the rearward opening of said housing to move the seal into position radially between said base and said housing.

52. The lighting assembly of claim 51, wherein said seal is an O-ring and wherein the circumferential surface of said base further defines a second slot sized to hold the O-ring circumferentially around said base.

53. The lighting assembly of claim 52, wherein the circumferential surface of said base further defines a small projection in said slot, the small projection sized to engage a detent in the projection on the inside of said housing when said seal has fully engaged said housing.

54. The lighting assembly of claim 40, wherein said electric light diffuses light along a 10 to 40 degree arc of frustoconical space.

55. The lighting assembly of claim 54, wherein said electric light diffuses light along a twenty degree arc of frustoconical space.

56. A light for underwater lighting of a pool, the light comprising:

a housing having an open front portion and an open rear portion;

a lens for mounting on the open front portion;

a base for mounting to the open rear portion; and

an electric cord for delivering electric power to the light;

wherein the housing, lens, and base consist of nonconductive material and the base includes a flange with a cord catch thereon for securing the electric cord.

57. The light of claim 56, wherein the electric cord projects from the base at an angle that facilitates winding of the electric cord around the housing.

58. The light of claim 56, wherein the housing includes an interior surface with a first projection formed thereon, the base includes an exterior surface with a slot formed therein for engaging the first projection, and wherein the first projection and the slot are configured to allow the base to twist on to the housing to releasably mount the base to the open rear portion.

59. The light of claim 58, wherein the first projection includes a detent and the slot includes a second projection, and wherein the projection and the detent are configured to releasably engage when the base is twisted on to the housing.