Cord seal for swimming pool and spa light niches

• US 7,705,240 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2006
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2005
• 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: Teran, Louis, Armstrong, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayo, III; William H
• Application Number:
  US11/544,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20070097667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 174/74.R, 174/77.R, 174/84.R, 174/92, 174/93
• US Class Current: 174/74.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 27/02 Cable inlets
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/00 Gas-tight or water-tight arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/401 for swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/088 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings or inlets
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/20 Ceiling roses or other lighting sets
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/22 Installations of cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings, e.g. into buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A cord seal for use in an underwater niche including a main seal and a seal cap. The main seal includes a one-piece member with passages that are accessible from one side of the main seal and an opposite side of the main seal. The main seal includes at least a first split. The seal cap is placed in physical contact with the opposite side of the main seal. The first split spans from the one side of the main seal to the opposite side and the first split begins at an edge of one of the passages and ends at an outer circumferential edge of the main seal.

Claims

1. A cord seal for use in an underwater niche comprising:

a main seal that includes a plurality of passages that are accessible from one side of the main seal and an opposite side of the main seal;

wherein the main seal includes a first split and a second split;

a seal cap placed in physical contact with the opposite side of the main seal; and

wherein the main seal is deformable in response to the physical contact of the seal cap to provide a water-tight seal;

wherein the first split spans from the one side of the main seal to the opposite side of the main seal and the first split begins at an edge of one of the plurality of passages and ends at an outer circumferential edge of the main seal;

wherein the second split spans from the one side of the main seal to the opposite side of the main seal and the second split begins at an edge of another one of the plurality of passages and ends at a second outer circumferential edge of the main seal; and

a cylindrical seal inserted into one of the plurality of passages;

wherein the cylindrical seal comprises a seal body and a stop portion located at each end of the seal body;

wherein the stop portion has a larger diameter than the seal body.

2. A cord seal for use in an underwater niche according to claim 1, wherein:

the stop portion on one end of the seal body contacts one side of the front seal support and the other stop portion on the other end of the seal body contacts one side of the rear seal support.

3. A cord seal for use in an underwater niche according to claim 1, further comprising a grounding wire inserted into one of the plurality of passages.

4. A cord seal for use in an underwater niche according to claim 1, further comprises one support piece placed above or below the main seal.

5. A cord seal for use in an underwater niche according to claim 1, wherein the main seal is circular in shape and has an overall diameter and thickness to fit a standard sized hub for an underwater niche in a pool.

6. A cord seal for use in an underwater niche according to claim 1, wherein the main seal is made from a deformable rubber.

7. A cord seal for use in an underwater niche comprising:

a main seal that includes a plurality of passages that are accessible from one side of the main seal and an opposite side of the main seal;

wherein the main seal includes one split;

a seal cap placed in physical contact with the opposite side of the main seal;

wherein the main seal is deformable in response to the physical contact of the seal cap to provide a water-tight seal; and

one support piece placed above or below the main seal;

wherein the one split spans from the one side of the main seal to the opposite side of the main seal and the one split begins at an edge of one of the plurality of passages and ends at an outer circumferential edge of the main seal;

wherein the main seal further comprises a second split that spans from the one side of the main seal to the opposite side of the main seal and the second split begins at an edge of another one of the plurality of passages and ends at an outer circumferential edge of the main seal;

one support piece placed above or below the main seal;

wherein the one support piece is a front seal support comprised of two halves, each half includes one semi-circle to correspond to the circumference of one of the plurality of passages and another semi-circle to correspond to the circumference of another one of the plurality of passages;

wherein each half has at least one projection extending out from one side of the front seal support to the main seal for connecting the front seal support to the main seal; and

wherein the main seal further comprises a plurality of apertures that are accessible from one side of the main seal and an opposite side of the main seal to receive each projection from the front seal support.

8. A cord seal for use in an underwater niche according to claim 7:

further comprising a second support piece that is a rear seal support;

wherein the rear seal support is comprised of two halves, each half includes one semi-circle to correspond to the circumference of one of the plurality of passages and another semi-circle to correspond to the circumference of another one of the plurality of passages;

wherein each half has at least one stub extending out from one side of the rear seal support for connecting the front seal support to the main seal;

wherein each half of the rear seal support includes a plurality of apertures to receive the projections from the front seal support;

wherein the plurality of apertures of the rear seal support are accessible from one side of the rear seal support and an opposite side of the rear seal support to receive each projection from the front seal support; and

wherein the main seal further comprises at least one cavity located on one side of the main seal to receive each stub from the rear seal support.

9. A cord seal for use in an underwater niche according to claim 8, wherein:

each half of the rear seal support includes a flange portion that has a radius slightly larger than each half of the rear seal support to prevent over tightening by providing a stop against an inner portion of the seal cap.

10. A niche assembly comprising:

a niche in a wall that houses a lighting structure;

wherein the lighting structure is connected by an electrical conduit to a power source located on the exterior of the niche;

a main seal located between the lighting structure and the electrical conduit to prevent water from entering the electrical conduit and the exterior of the niche;

wherein the main seal includes a plurality of passages that are accessible from one side of the main seal and an opposite side of the main seal;

wherein the main seal includes one split;

a seal cap is placed in physical contact with the opposite side of the main seal;

a cord routed though the exterior of the niche in the electrical conduit, through the main seal, and into the interior of the niche;

wherein the cord is routed through the main seal by spreading apart the main seal at the location of a first split in the main seal;

wherein the main seal is deformable in response to the physical contact of the seal cap to provide a water-tight seal;

wherein the one split spans from the one side of the main seal to the opposite side of the main seal and the one split begins at an edge of one of the plurality of passages and ends at an outer circumferential edge of the main seal; and

wherein the main seal further comprises a second split that spans from the one side of the main seal to the opposite side of the main seal and the second split begins at an edge of another one of the plurality of passages and ends at an outer circumferential edge of the main seal;

one support piece placed above or below the main seal;

wherein the one support piece is a front seal support comprised of two halves, each half includes one semi-circle to correspond to the circumference of one of the plurality of passages and another semi-circle to correspond to the circumference of another one of the plurality of passages;

wherein each half has at least one projection extending out from one side of the front seal support to the main seal for connecting the front seal support to the main seal; and

wherein the main seal further comprises a plurality of apertures that are accessible from one side of the main seal and an opposite side of the main seal to receive each projection from the front seal support.

11. A niche assembly according to claim 10,

further comprising a second support piece that is a rear seal support;

wherein the rear seal support is comprised of two halves, each half includes one semi-circle to correspond to the circumference of one of the plurality of passages and another semi-circle to correspond to the circumference of another one of the plurality of passages;

wherein each half has at least one stub extending out from one side of the rear seal support for connecting the front seal support to the main seal;

wherein each half of the rear seal support includes a plurality of apertures to receive the projections from the front seal support;

wherein the plurality of apertures of the rear seal support are accessible from one side of the rear seal support and an opposite side of the rear seal support to receive each projection from the front seal support; and

wherein the main seal further comprises at least one cavity located on one side of the main seal to receive each stub from the rear seal support.

12. A niche assembly according to claim 11, wherein:

each half of the rear seal support includes a flange portion that has a radius slightly larger than each half of the rear seal support to prevent over tightening by providing a stop against an inner portion of the seal cap.

13. A niche assembly according to claim 10, further comprising:

a cylindrical seal inserted into one of the plurality of passages;

wherein the cylindrical seal comprises a seal body and a stop portion located at each end of the seal body; and

wherein the stop portion has a larger diameter than the seal body.

14. A niche assembly according to claim 13, wherein:

the stop portion on one end of the seal body contacts one side of the front seal support and the other stop portion on the other end of the seal body contacts one side of the rear seal support.

15. A niche assembly according to claim 10 wherein:

a grounding wire is inserted into one of the plurality of passages and the grounding wire is connected to a bonding lug in the interior of the niche.

16. A niche assembly according to claim 15 wherein:

the grounding wire connects to the bonding lug in the interior of the niche by the use of a sealant.

17. A niche assembly according to claim 10:

wherein the main seal is circular in shape and has an overall diameter and thickness to fit a standard sized hub for an underwater niche in a pool.

18. A niche assembly according to claim 10:

wherein the main seal is made from a deformable rubber.

19. A method for installing a cord seal in an underwater niche, the method comprising:

routing a cord inside a niche through a seal cap and an electrical conduit;

pulling the required length of the cord through the niche;

inserting a cord into a passage of a main seal by spreading apart the main seal at the location of a first split in the main seal;

sliding a cord seal containing the main seal down into the niche and inserting the cord seal into a threaded hub in the niche; and

connecting a seal cap to the main seal.

20. A method for installing a cord seal in an underwater niche in accordance with claim 19, further comprising the step of inserting a cylindrical seal into a second passage of the main seal by spreading apart the main seal at the location of a second split in the main seal.

21. A method for installing a cord seal in an underwater niche in accordance with claim 19, further comprising:

inserting a grounding wire into a second passage of the main seal by spreading apart the main seal at the location of a second split in the main seal;

pulling the grounding wire through the niche but leaving enough slack to connect the grounding wire to a bonding lug; and

connecting the grounding wire to the bonding lug inside the niche by the use of a sealant.

22. A method for removing an installed cord seal in an underwater niche comprising:

removing a light assembly from the niche;

cutting a cord that is connected to an existing light;

unscrewing a seal cap from the niche;

pulling the cord to loosen a cord seal from the niche;

using an extraction tool to pull on a plurality of fastening projections connected to a main seal to spread apart the main seal to provide access for removing a cord; and

removing the main seal from the cord and from the niche.

23. A method for removing an installed cord seal in an underwater niche according to claim 22, further comprising the step of removing a grounding wire from a passage in the main seal.

24. A method for removing an installed cord seal in an underwater niche according to claim 22, further comprising the steps of removing a cylindrical seal from a wire receiving passage in the main seal.