Lighting apparatus for portable spas and the like

• US 6,435,691 B1
• Filed: 11/29/1999
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Watkins Manufacturing Corporation (Masco Corporation)
• Inventors: Bergstrom, Neil R., Macey, Stephen S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zeade, Bertrand
• Application Number:
  US09/450,898
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 362/101, 362/154, 362/147, 362/240, 362/311, 362/363, 362/267, 362/374, 362/375, 362/235, 362/244, 362/800, 362/246, 362/364
• 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 17/12 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0055 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/04 Recessed bases
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/401 for swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A spa lighting apparatus including a wall fitting which seats in an opening in a spa wall and threadably receives a light transmissive lens which includes respective plastic layers providing impact and chemical resistance. The lens is further designed to disperse light from a plurality of LED sources to give an appearance similar to that of a single incandescent source.

Claims

1. Spa lighting apparatus comprising:

a wall fitting having a cylindrical segment sized to fit in a circular opening in a spa wall, the cylindrical segment having a threaded outer surface and a threaded inner surface;

a light lens having a curved light transmissive surface and a rear cylindrical segment, said rear cylindrical segment having a threaded outer surface for engaging the threaded inner surface of the cylindrical segment of said wall fitting; and

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED'"'"'s) mounted within said wall fitting whereby the plurality of LED'"'"'s appear as a single light source through the light lens.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a bezel having a cylindrical segment with an inner threaded surface for engaging the threaded outer surface of the cylindrical segment of said wall fitting.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said lens comprises:

a first plastic layer providing impact strength; and

a second layer overmolded on said first layer to provide chemical resistance.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first plastic layer is a polycarbonate layer and said second layer comprises an acrylic material.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further including a textured inner surface on said lens.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said LED'"'"'s are mounted on a panel sized to fit within said wall fitting.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said LED'"'"'s are mounted on a panel sized to fit within said wall fitting.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the number of LED'"'"'s on said panel is twelve.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a gasket between the light lens and cylindrical segment of the wall fitting to provide a water tight seal when the light lens is threaded into the wall fitting.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a portable spa wall having an opening therein;

a wall fitting having a cylindrical segment with a threaded outer surface and a threaded inner surface mounted to the spa wall by passing the cylindrical segment through the opening, the wall fitting having a glue well formed about the periphery thereof, said glue well mating with said spa wall;

a light lens having a curved light transmissive surface and a rear cylindrical segment, said rear cylindrical segment having a threadable outer surface for engaging the threaded inner surface of the cylindrical segment of said wall fitting; and

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LED'"'"'s) mounted within said wall fitting whereby the plurality of LED'"'"'s appear as a single light source through the light lens.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a bezel having a cylindrical segment with an inner threaded surface for engaging the threaded outer surface of the cylindrical segment of said wall fitting.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said lens comprises:

a first plastic layer providing impact strength; and

a second layer overmolded on said first layer to provide chemical resistance.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said first plastic layer is a polycarbonate layer and said second layer comprises an acrylic material.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further including a textured inner surface on said lens.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said LED'"'"'s are mounted on a panel sized to fit within said wall fitting.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said LED'"'"'s are mounted on a panel sized to fit within said wall fitting.

18. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a gasket between the light lens and cylindrical segment of the wall fitting to provide a water tight seal when the light lens is threaded into the wall fitting.

19. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising an adapter ring having an opening thereon that fits around the outer surface of the cylindrical segment of the wall fitting and is held against the spa wall by the bezel when threaded into the wall fitting.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a wall fitting having a recess therein adapted to fit into an aperture in a wall of a portable spa;

a circuit board having a plurality of LED'"'"'s mounted thereon, the circuit board sized to fit into the recess of the wall fitting; and

a lens adapted for attachment to the wall fitting, the lens including means for dispersing the light from said plurality of LED'"'"'s creating the appearance of a single light source.