Aquarium light strip

• US 8,230,815 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2010
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Current Incorporated (Current Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Current Incorporated (Current Group LLC)
• Inventors: Fredricks, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Swiatek, Rob
• Assistant Examiner(s): EVANS, EBONY E
• Application Number:
  US12/760,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20110253056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 119/245, 119/247, 119/250, 119265-267, 119/269, 362/227, 362/228, 362/229, 362/230, 362/231, 362/232, 362/233, 362/234, 362/235, 362/236, 362/237, 362/238, 362/239, 362/240, 362/241, 362/242, 362/243, 362/244, 362/245, 362/246, 362/247, 362/248, 362/249.01, 362/249.02, 362/249.03, 362/249.04, 362/249.05, 362/249.06, 362/249.07, 362/249.08, 362/249.09, 362/249.1, 362/249.11, 362/249.12, 362/249.13, 362/249.14, 362/249.15, 362/249.16, 362/249.17, 362/249.18, 362/249.19
• US Class Current: 119/266
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/06 Arrangements for heating or lighting in, or attached to, receptacles for live fish

Abstract

A lighting system and apparatus that may be utilized with aquariums. The features and functionality of the lighting system and apparatus provide easy access to the opening of an aquarium for various purposes, such as cleaning and maintenance. In addition, the features and functionality of some embodiments provide a lighting system that does not require ballasts, light sockets, or a multitude of wiring, and includes a modular design. Further, for some embodiments, features of the present invention allow the lighting apparatus to illuminate the aquarium, while simultaneously limiting the evaporation of water from the aquarium.

Claims

1. An aquarium lighting system, comprising:

a modular light fixture, comprising;

a light strip

a plurality of light elements mounted to the light strip;

a heat sink mounted to the light strip and configured to dissipate heat generated by the light elements; and

a clear acrylic cover that covers the light elements from water exposure, wherein the clear acrylic cover comprises a plurality of adjustable optical lenses, each optical lens placed at a location on the clear acrylic cover below each of the plurality of light elements for providing an adjustable angular light dispersion; and

a power supply unit that is electrically coupled to the modular light fixture, wherein the power supply unit supplies power to the modular light fixture.

2. The aquarium lighting system of claim 1 wherein the modular light fixture further comprises a thermal switch configured to shut power off to the modular light fixture when the modular light fixture is operating above a maximum operating temperature.

3. The aquarium lighting system of claim 1, wherein the modular light fixture further comprises an internal circuit configured to shut power off to the modular light fixture when the internal circuit detects a ground fault.

4. The aquarium lighting system of claim 1, wherein each optical lens provides 15, 60, or 90 degrees of angular light dispersion.

5. The aquarium lighting system of claim 1, wherein each optical lens is adjustable to an angular light dispersion between 15 to 90 degrees.

6. The aquarium lighting system of claim 1, wherein the power supply unit is electrically coupled to the modular light fixture through a terminal strip, and the terminal strip provides a screw-less connection between the power supply unit and the modular light fixture.

7. The aquarium lighting system of claim 6, wherein the terminal strip utilizes a tabbed connection mechanism or a clip-connection mechanism to connect the power supply to the modular light fixture.

8. The aquarium lighting system of claim 6, wherein the power supply unit is a direct current driver and the aquarium lighting system further comprises a second terminal strip, wherein the second terminal strip connects the direct current driver to an alternating current power supply.

9. The aquarium lighting system of claim 1, wherein the power supply unit is a direct current driver.

10. The aquarium lighting system of claim 9, further comprising a second terminal strip, wherein the second terminal strip connects the direct current driver to an alternating current power supply.

11. The aquarium lighting system of claim 9, wherein the power supply unit is located on the modular light fixture.

12. The aquarium lighting system of claim 1, wherein the heat sink is constructed of aluminum.

13. The aquarium lighting system of claim 1, wherein an internal reflector is mounted on each light element for providing an angular light dispersion.

14. The aquarium lighting system of claim 13, wherein the internal reflector provides 15, 60, or 90 degrees of angular light dispersion.

15. The aquarium lighting system of claim 13, wherein the internal reflector is adjustable to an angular light dispersion between 15 to 90 degrees.

16. The aquarium lighting system of claim 1, further comprising a mounting mechanism configured to mount the modular light fixture onto an aquarium wall.

17. The aquarium lighting system of claim 16, wherein the mounting mechanism comprises:

a fixture chassis configured to mount to the aquarium wall; and

a screw to mount the modular light fixture to the fixture chassis.

18. The aquarium lighting system of claim 17, wherein the mounting mechanism comprises:

a resting bracket configured to rest on the fixture chassis; and

a screw to mount the resting bracket to the modular light fixture.

19. The aquarium lighting system of claim 1, wherein each light element is removable.

20. The aquarium lighting system of claim 1, wherein each light element includes a light emitting diode, an organic light emitting diode, a xenon bulb, a halogen bulb, or an electroluminescent light source.

21. The aquarium lighting system of claim 1, wherein each light element is mounted on a printed circuit board.

22. The aquarium lighting system of claim 1, wherein the modular light fixture is configured to be connected as a link in a daisy chain of modular light fixtures.

23. The aquarium lighting system of claim 1, wherein the modular light fixture further comprises a male power connection or a female power connection.

24. The aquarium lighting system of claim 1, wherein the power supply unit is configured with a power splitter to power two or more modular light fixtures.

25. The aquarium lighting system of claim 1, further comprising a controller connected between the power supply unit and the modular light fixture, wherein the controller controls a parameter of each light element in the modular light fixture.

26. The aquarium lighting system of claim 25, wherein the parameter includes a color pattern, lighting pattern, light intensity, and light timing.