System and apparatus for lighting swimming pools

• US 7,578,596 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2007
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canadian General-Tower Limited
• Original Assignee: Canadian General-Tower Limited
• Inventors: Martin, Jean-Maurice
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Y My Quach
• Application Number:
  US11/753,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20080291661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 362/96, 362/101, 362/145, 362/147, 362/267, 362/318, 362/364, 362/365, 119/267, 449/6
• US Class Current: 362/101
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/0043 mainly made of panels E04H4/0031 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/14 Parts, details or accessories not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/148 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/024 intended to be recessed in a wall or like vertical structure, e.g. building facade
• 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 2131/401 for swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A lighting system for a swimming pool includes a sidewall sized and shaped to define a perimeter of the swimming pool, a liner for covering the sidewall and a bottom of the swimming pool so as to create a watertight cavity for receiving water, the liner including a light-transmitting portion, and a back-lighting apparatus connected to the sidewall behind the liner and configured to transmit light through the light-transmitting portion of the liner to illuminate the swimming pool. The back-lighting apparatus includes at least one housing connected to the sidewall behind the liner, the at least one housing having an opening positioned to register with the light-transmitting portion of the liner, at least one light source sized and shaped to fit within the housing for emitting light through the opening of the housing, and a light-transmitting cover shaped to cover the opening of the housing to protect the light source, wherein the light emitted from the light source is transmitted through the light-transmitting cover and the light-transmitting portion of the liner to illuminate the swimming pool.

Claims

1. A lighting system for a swimming pool, comprising:

a) a sidewall sized and shaped to define a perimeter of the swimming pool;

b) a liner for covering the sidewall and a bottom of the swimming pool, the liner being made from a material suitable for creating a watertight cavity for receiving water, the liner including a light-transmitting portion, the light-transmitting portion being made of the material; and

c) a back-lighting apparatus connected to the sidewall and located behind the light-transmitting portion of the liner, the back-lighting apparatus being configured to transmit light through the light-transmitting portion of the liner to illuminate the swimming pool;

d) wherein the back-lighting apparatus comprises at least one housing connected to the sidewall behind the liner, the at least one housing having an opening positioned to register with the light-transmitting portion of the liner, at least one light source sized and shaped to fit within the housing for emitting light through the opening of the housing, and a light-transmitting cover shaped to cover the opening of the housing to protect the light source, wherein the light emitted from the light source is transmitted through the light-transmitting cover and the light-transmitting portion of the liner to illuminate the swimming pool; and

e) wherein the sidewall comprises a plurality of interconnected panels, each panel having a liner contact surface for engaging the liner and a recessed portion that defines the at least one housing.

2. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the recessed portion includes a ledge for receiving the light-transmitting cover.

3. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the back-lighting apparatus is configured to provide a generally continuous distribution of light around at least a portion of a perimeter of the swimming pool.

4. A lighting system for a swimming pool, comprising:

a) a sidewall sized and shaped to define a perimeter of the swimming pool;

b) a liner for covering the sidewall and a bottom of the swimming pool, the liner being made from a material suitable for creating a watertight cavity for receiving water, the liner including a light-transmitting portion, the light-transmitting portion being made of the material; and

c) a back-lighting apparatus connected to the sidewall and located behind the light-transmitting portion of the liner, the back-lighting apparatus being configured to transmit light through the light-transmitting portion of the liner to illuminate the swimming pool;

d) wherein the back-lighting apparatus comprises at least one housing connected to the sidewall behind the liner, the at least one housing having an opening positioned to register with the light-transmitting portion of the liner, at least one light source sized and shaped to fit within the housing for emitting light through the opening of the housing, and a light-transmitting cover shaped to cover the opening of the housing to protect the light source, wherein the light emitted from the light source is transmitted through the light-transmitting cover and the light-transmitting portion of the liner to illuminate the swimming pool; and

e) wherein the at least one housing defines a channel extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the swimming pool, and the at least one light source is housed in the channel to provide a generally continuous distribution of light around at least a portion of the perimeter of the swimming pool.

5. A back-lighting apparatus for a swimming pool having a sidewall defining a perimeter of the swimming pool and a waterproof liner for covering the sidewall, comprising:

a) at least one housing connected to the sidewall, the housing being located behind the liner, the housing having an opening positioned to register with a light-transmitting portion of the liner;

b) at least one light source shaped and sized to fit within the housing for emitting light through the opening of the housing; and

c) a light-transmitting cover shaped to cover the opening to protect the at least one light source, wherein the light emitted from the at least one light source is transmitted through the light-transmitting cover and the light-transmitting portion of the liner to illuminate the swimming pool;

d) wherein the at least one housing defines a channel extending around at least a portion of the perimeter of the swimming pool, and the at least one light source is housed in the channel to provide a generally continuous distribution of light around at least a portion of the perimeter of the swimming pool.

6. A back-lighting apparatus for a swimming pool having a sidewall defining a perimeter of the swimming pool and a waterproof liner for covering the sidewall, comprising:

a) at least one housing connected to the sidewall, the housing being located behind the liner, the housing having an opening positioned to register with a light-transmitting portion of the liner;

b) at least one light source shaped and sized to fit within the housing for emitting light through the opening of the housing; and

c) a light-transmitting cover shaped to cover the opening to protect the at least one light source, wherein the light emitted from the at least one light source is transmitted through the light-transmitting cover and the light-transmitting portion of the liner to illuminate the swimming pool;

d) wherein the light-transmitting portion of the liner includes a decorative pattern having portions of varying light transmittance; and

e) wherein the sidewall comprises a plurality of interconnected panels, wherein each of the panels comprises a recessed portion defining the housing, the recessed portion being shaped for receiving the light-transmitting cover.

7. The back-lighting apparatus of claim 6, wherein the light-transmitting portion of the liner is positioned proximate a water line when the swimming pool contains a pre-determined amount of water, such that an upper portion of the light-transmitting cover is above the waterline and a lower portion of the light-transmitting cover is below the water line.

8. The back-lighting apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one light source comprises at least one LED module.

9. The back-lighting apparatus of claim 6, wherein the light-transmitting cover comprises a panel of translucent or transparent material.

10. A system for forming an illuminated swimming pool, the swimming pool having a waterproof liner for creating a watertight cavity for receiving water, comprising:

a) a plurality of panels shaped to be interconnected to form a sidewall of the swimming pool, each of the panels comprising a front wall defining a liner contact surface for engaging the liner, and a recessed portion connected to and offset from the front wall, the recessed portion being located behind the contact surface and having an opening positioned to register with a light-transmitting portion of the liner;

b) at least one light source sized and shaped to fit within the recessed portion of each panel for emitting light through the opening; and

c) a light-transmitting cover shaped to cover the opening of the recessed portion to protect the light source, wherein the light emitted from the light source is transmitted through the light-transmitting cover and the light-transmitting portion of the liner to illuminate the swimming pool;

d) wherein each panel further comprises vertical side flanges extending rearwardly from side edges of the front wall, the vertical side flange configured for interconnecting the panels together to form a perimeter of the swimming pool.

11. A system for forming an illuminated swimming pool, the swimming pool having a waterproof liner for creating a watertight cavity for receiving water, comprising:

a) a plurality of panels shaped to be interconnected to form a sidewall of the swimming pool, each of the panels comprising a front wall defining a liner contact surface for engaging the liner, and a recessed portion connected to and offset from the front wall, the recessed portion being located behind the contact surface and having an opening positioned to register with a light-transmitting portion of the liner;

b) at least one light source sized and shaped to fit within the recessed portion of each panel for emitting light through the opening; and

c) a light-transmitting cover shaped to cover the opening of the recessed portion to protect the light source, wherein the light emitted from the light source is transmitted through the light-transmitting cover and the light-transmitting portion of the liner to illuminate the swimming pool;

d) wherein the recessed portions of the panels define a channel extending around at least a portion of the perimeter of the swimming pool and the at least one light source is housed in the channel to provide a generally continuous distribution of light around at least a portion of the perimeter of the swimming pool.