Selectable beam lens for underwater light

• US 7,488,084 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2005
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pentair Water Pool And Spa Incorporated (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Pentair Water Pool And Spa Incorporated (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Inventors: Dunn, Dennis, Potucek, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunwiddie; Meghan K.
• Application Number:
  US11/260,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20060092636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 362/244, 362/267, 362/101, 362/374, 362/477, 362/645, 362282-284, 362322-325
• US Class Current: 362/101
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/00 Lighting devices intended for fixed installation F21S9/00, F21S10/00 take precedence; using a string or strip of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/02 of prismatic shape F21V5/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/401 for swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 Combination of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/02 with non-spherical faces G02B3/10 takes precedence

Abstract

A lens for a wet environment lighting device that has a fixture with an interior that has an opening, and at least one light source located within the fixture interior. Light from the light source proceeds out through the opening. The lens is for location in front of the fixture and the light source located therein and the lens encloses the opening from the wet environment. The lens has a first light-directing area for directing light in a first beam pattern. The lens also has a second light-directing area, distinct from the first light-directing area, for directing light in a second beam pattern, distinct from the first beam pattern. The lens is positioned relative to fixture and light source therein to select from the distinct beam patterns based on the alignment of the light-directing areas relative to the light source resulting from a positioning of the lens.

Claims

1. A lens for a wet environment lighting device that has a fixture and at least one light source located within the fixture, the lens comprising:

a first light-directing area for directing light in a first beam pattern; and

a second light-directing area, distinct from the first light-directing area, for directing light in a second beam pattern, distinct from the first beam pattern;

wherein the lens is manually rotatable about a central axis through the fixture and the lens without removing the lens from the fixture in order to select from distinct beam patterns based on the alignment of the first light-directing area and the second light-directing area relative to the at least one light source;

wherein the lens is a single lens that encloses the fixture from the wet environment;

wherein the first light-directing area includes structure for directing light such that the first beam pattern is laterally oriented, and the second light-directing area includes structure for directing light such that the second beam pattern is laterally and vertically disperse.

2. A lens as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lens has a central axis, and the first and second light-directing areas are located away from the axis.

3. A lens as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first light-directing area includes elongate protrusions that are parallel to each other, and the second light-directing area includes hemi-spheroid protrusions.

4. A lens for a wet environment lighting device that has a fixture and at least one light source located within the fixture, the lens comprising:

a first light-directing area for directing light in a first beam pattern; and

a second light-directing area, distinct from the first light-directing area, for directing light in a second beam pattern, distinct from the first beam pattern;

wherein the lens is manually rotatable about a central axis through the fixture and the lens without removing the lens from the fixture in order to select from distinct beam patterns based on the alignment of the first light-directing area and the second light-directing area relative to the at least one light source;

wherein the lens is a single lens that encloses the fixture from the wet environment;

wherein the lighting device has two light sources, and the lens has a pair of first light-directing areas and a pair of second light-directing areas.

5. A lens as set forth in claim 4, wherein the lens is a unitary member.

6. A lighting device for a wet environment, the lighting device comprising:

a fixture for location within the wet environment;

at least one light source located within the fixture; and

a lens located in front of the fixture and the at least one light source, the lens enclosing the fixture from the wet environment and having a plurality of light-directing areas, and each one of the plurality of light-directing areas having a different light-directing feature;

wherein the relative position between the lens and the at least one light source is variable by manual rotation of the lens about a central axis through the fixture and the lens without removal of the lens in order to associate different light-directing areas with the at least one light source and provide different light beam patterns for light proceeding from the at least one light source through the lens and into the wet environment dependent upon the different light-directing areas and light source associations resulting from the position variation;

wherein the lens is a single lens that encloses the fixture from the wet environment;

wherein each light-directing area includes a surface geometry on the lens.

7. A lighting device according to claim 6, wherein one of the light-directing areas includes elongate, protrusions that are parallel to each other, and another of the light-directing areas includes hemi-spheroid protrusions.

8. A lighting device according to claim 6, wherein the lens has a circular periphery and variation of positioning of the lens includes rotation of the lens about a central axis of the lens.

9. A lighting device for a wet environment, the lighting device comprising:

a fixture for location within the wet environment;

at least one light source located within the fixture; and

a lens located in front of the fixture and the at least one light source, the lens enclosing the fixture from the wet environment and having a plurality of light-directing areas, and each one of the plurality of light-directing areas having a different light-directing feature;

wherein the relative position between the lens and the at least one light source is variable by manual rotation of the lens about a central axis through the fixture and the lens without removal of the lens in order to associate different light-directing areas with the at least one light source and provide different light beam patterns for light proceeding from the at least one light source through the lens and into the wet environment dependent upon the different light-directing areas and light source associations resulting from the position variation;

wherein the lens is a single lens that encloses the fixture from the wet environment;

wherein the lens position is variable without change of distance between the lens and the light source.

10. A lighting device for a wet environment, the lighting device comprising:

a fixture for location within the wet environment;

at least one light source located within the fixture; and

a lens located in front of the fixture and the at least one light source, the lens enclosing the fixture from the wet environment and having a plurality of light-directing areas, and each one of the plurality of light-directing areas having a different light-directing feature;

wherein the relative position between the lens and the at least one light source is variable by manual rotation of the lens about a central axis through the fixture and the lens without removal of the lens in order to associate different light-directing areas with the at least one light source and provide different light beam patterns for light proceeding from the at least one light source through the lens and into the wet environment dependent upon the different light-directing areas and light source associations resulting from the position variation;

wherein the lens is a single lens that encloses the fixture from the wet environment;

wherein the light source is a color-changing light source.