Detachable pool light

• US 7,740,367 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2007
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zodiac Pool Systems, LLC (Fluidra, S.A.)
• Original Assignee: Nexxus Lighting, Inc.
• Inventors: Koren, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Sawhney; Hargobind S
• Application Number:
  US11/761,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20070263378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 362/101, 362/555, 362/556, 362/800, 439/282, 439/351
• 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: F21S 8/033 the surface being a wall or like vertical structure, e.g. building facade
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/02 for roads, paths or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/109 of gardens
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/401 for swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A swimming pool light assembly for connecting a light to a side wall of a pool where a pool light niche is not provided, said assembly can have an interchangeable light, a watertight connector comprising a first end and a second end operable to deliver at least one of power and control signals to said light through said first end, and a cable with a first end connected to said connector for providing at least one of power from a power source and a control signal from a controller to said light, wherein said light is operable for connecting and disconnecting from said watertight connector while both said connector and said light are submerged in water.

Claims

1. A swimming pool light assembly for connecting a light fixture to a wall of a pool, said assembly comprising:

a light fixture;

a watertight connector comprising a first end and a second end operable to deliver at least one of power and control signals to said light fixture through said first end;

a cable with a first end connected to said watertight connector for providing power from a power source to said light fixture;

an adapter to secure said watertight connector and said cable within said wall, wherein the adapter is positionable within the wall of the pool such that the light fixture is contained within the pool and is proximate to a non-recessed portion of the wall, wherein the watertight connector extends into the adapter, and wherein the light fixture is connectable and disconnectable from the watertight connector while the light fixture and the watertight connector are submerged in water;

one or more locking receptacles positioned in the watertight connector and one or more prongs positioned on the light fixture, wherein when the one or more prongs are inserted into the one or more locking receptacles and the light fixture is rotated then the one or more prongs are locked within the one or more locking receptacles, and water is forced out.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a hole that is formed in said wall having a diameter that is smaller than a perimeter of said light fixture, wherein the hole has a diameter that is configured to hold at least one of said adapter and said watertight connector within said wall.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said light fixture comprises an indicator to determine at least one of when said light fixture is secured to said wall and when a watertight seal is achieved.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said light fixture comprises a plurality of LED bulbs.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said light fixture comprises a laser light source.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said light fixture is a fiber optic light.

7. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising an alignment pattern that is provided on said light fixture and said watertight connector to guide connection of said light fixture to said watertight connector.

8. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a conduit to hold said cable between said connector and said power source.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein insertion of said plurality of prongs forces water out of said plurality of locking receptacles.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said cable provides a control signal from a controller to said light fixture.

11. A method of connecting a light fixture to a wall of a pool, the method comprising:

providing a light fixture;

providing a watertight connector comprising a first end and a second end operable to deliver power and control signals to said light fixture through said first end, wherein the watertight connector is secured to the wall of the pool and a cable by an adapter, wherein the cable provides the power from a power source and the control signal from a controller to the light fixture when the light fixture is connected to the watertight connector, wherein the adapter is positionable within the wall of the pool such that the light fixture is contained within the pool and is proximate to a non-recessed portion of the wall, wherein the watertight connector extends into the adapter;

connecting the light fixture with the watertight connector while the light fixture and the connector are submerged in water, wherein the connection of the light fixture with the watertight connector forces the water away from the cable;

providing one or more locking receptacles on at least one of the light fixture and the watertight connector; and

providing one or more prongs on at least the other of the light fixture and the watertight connector, wherein when the one or more prongs are inserted into the one or more locking receptacles and the light fixture is rotated then the one or more prongs are locked within the one or more locking receptacles and the water is forced away from the cable.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more locking receptacles are positioned in the watertight connector and the one or more prongs are positioned along the light fixture.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising forming a hole in the wall of the pool, wherein the hole has a diameter that is smaller than a perimeter of said light fixture, the hole having a diameter that is configured to hold at least one of said adapter and said watertight connector within said wall.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said light fixture comprises an indicator to determine at least one of when said light fixture is secured to said wall and when a water tight seal is achieved.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said light fixture comprises a plurality of LED bulbs.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said light fixture comprises a laser light source.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said light fixture is a fiber optic light.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising guiding the connection of the light fixture with the watertight connector by way of an alignment pattern on said light fixture and said watertight connector.