Underwater light system

• US 8,246,189 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whitemike, LLC
• Original Assignee: Whitemike, LLC
• Inventors: Muller, Michael, Hjermstad, Erik, Peterson, Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Neils, Peggy A.
• Application Number:
  US12/609,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20100246195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 362/101, 362/267, 362/375, 362/477, 114/315
• 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 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 27/02 Cable inlets
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/005 Sealing arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/03 with provision for venting for vehicle head lights F21S45/33; for vehicle rear lights F21S41/192

Abstract

An underwater light system includes a waterproof housing for enclosing a light source. According to one embodiment the housing has a removable, transparent, acrylic dome which seats onto a metal base. Strobe light electric circuitry and one or more light bulbs or other light sources are disposed inside the housing. The housing is configured to be vacuum sealed, and the removable nature of the dome and metal base permits convenient access to the light sources for replacement or other maintenance. An external electrical cable provides power via an external power source for the light sources while in use underwater. The power source is disposed apart from the housing, and the external power cable remains attached to the housing while underwater and in use.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use underwater by a user and for use with an air conduit, an electrical cable, and a light source, the apparatus comprising:

a housing defining a first port and a second port; and

a mechanical seal,

wherein the housing comprises a proximate housing portion and a distal housing portion, wherein the proximate and distal housing portions are configured to be removably secured to one another, and wherein at least a portion of the proximate housing portion is constructed of a material that is transparent,

wherein the light source is disposed within the housing and configured so that light from the light source can travel through the transparent material, and wherein the housing is sized for manual carrying by the user,

wherein the housing defines a housing interior that is configured for fluid communication with the air conduit to permit air to flow from the housing interior through the first port and through the air conduit,

wherein the light source is configured to receive electrical power via the electrical cable so that the electrical power can flow through the second port when the housing is disposed underwater, and wherein at least a portion of the electrical cable is disposed external to the housing when the housing is disposed underwater,

wherein the housing is configured to hold a vacuum within the housing interior when the housing is disposed underwater and when the light source receives the electrical power via the electrical cable,

wherein the distal housing portion has an inner wall, an outer wall and a proximate wall connecting the inner and outer walls,

wherein the proximate housing portion abuts the mechanical seal and the proximate wall of the distal housing portion when the proximate and distal housing portions are secured to one another, and

wherein the mechanical seal is disposed between the proximate housing portion and the proximate wall of the distal housing portion when the proximate and distal housing portions are secured to one another.

2. An apparatus for use underwater by a user and for use with an air conduit, an electrical cable, and a light source, the apparatus comprising:

a housing defining a first port and a second port; and

a mechanical seal,

wherein the housing comprises a proximate housing portion and a distal housing portion, wherein the proximate and distal housing portions are configured to be removably secured to one another, and wherein at least a portion of the proximate housing portion is constructed of a material that is transparent,

wherein the light source is disposed within the housing and configured so that light from the light source can travel through the transparent material, and wherein the housing is sized for manual carrying by the user,

wherein the housing defines a housing interior that is configured for fluid communication with the air conduit to permit air to flow from the housing interior through the first port and through the air conduit,

wherein the light source is configured to receive electrical power via the electrical cable so that the electrical power can flow through the second port when the housing is disposed underwater, and wherein at least a portion of the electrical cable is disposed external to the housing when the housing is disposed underwater,

wherein the housing is configured to hold a vacuum within the housing interior when the housing is disposed underwater and when the light source receives the electrical power via the electrical cable,

wherein the proximate housing portion has an inner wall, an outer wall and a proximate wall connecting the inner and outer walls,

wherein the distal housing portion abuts the mechanical seal and the proximate wall of the proximate housing portion when the proximate and distal housing portions are secured to one another, and

wherein the mechanical seal is disposed between the distal housing portion and the proximate wall of the proximate housing portion when the proximate and distal housing portions are secured to one another.

3. An apparatus for use underwater by a user and for use with an air conduit, an electrical cable, and a light source, the apparatus comprising:

a housing defining a first port and a second port; and

a mechanical seal,

wherein the housing comprises a proximate housing portion and a distal housing portion, wherein the proximate and distal housing portions are configured to be removably secured to one another, and wherein at least a portion of the proximate housing portion is constructed of a material that is transparent,

wherein the light source is disposed within the housing and configured so that light from the light source can travel through the transparent material, and wherein the housing is sized for manual carrying by the user,

wherein the housing defines a housing interior that is configured for fluid communication with the air conduit to permit air to flow from the housing interior through the first port and through the air conduit,

wherein the light source is configured to receive electrical power via the electrical cable so that the electrical power can flow through the second port when the housing is disposed underwater, and wherein at least a portion of the electrical cable is disposed external to the housing when the housing is disposed underwater,

wherein the housing is configured to hold a vacuum within the housing interior when the housing is disposed underwater and when the light source receives the electrical power via the electrical cable.

wherein the distal housing portion has an inner wall, an outer wall and a proximate wall connecting the inner and outer walls,

wherein the proximate housing portion includes a mating portion disposed within the distal housing portion and abutting the mechanical seal and the distal housing portion inner wall when the proximate and distal housing portions are secured to one another, and

wherein the mechanical seal is disposed between the mating portion of the proximate housing portion and the inner wall of the distal housing portion when the proximate and distal housing portions are secured to one another.

4. An apparatus for use underwater by a user and for use with an air conduit, an electrical cable, and a light source, the apparatus comprising:

a housing defining a first port and a second port; and

a mechanical seal,

wherein the housing comprises a proximate housing portion and a distal housing portion, wherein the proximate and distal housing portions are configured to be removably secured to one another, and wherein at least a portion of the proximate housing portion is constructed of a material that is transparent,

wherein the light source is disposed within the housing and configured so that light from the light source can travel through the transparent material, and wherein the housing is sized for manual carrying by the user,

wherein the housing defines a housing interior that is configured for fluid communication with the air conduit to permit air to flow from the housing interior through the first port and through the air conduit,

wherein the light source is configured to receive electrical power via the electrical cable so that the electrical power can flow through the second port when the housing is disposed underwater, and wherein at least a portion of the electrical cable is disposed external to the housing when the housing is disposed underwater, and

wherein the housing is configured to hold a vacuum within the housing interior when the housing is disposed underwater and when the light source receives the electrical power via the electrical cable,

wherein the proximate housing portion has an inner wall, an outer wall and a proximate wall connecting the inner and outer walls,

wherein the distal housing portion includes a mating portion disposed within the proximate housing portion and abutting the mechanical seal and the proximate housing portion inner wall when the proximate and distal housing portions are secured to one another, and

wherein the mechanical seal is disposed between the mating portion of the distal housing portion and the inner wall of the proximate housing portion when the proximate and distal housing portions are secured to one another.

5. An apparatus for use underwater by a user and for use with an air conduit, an electrical cable, and a light source, the apparatus comprising:

a housing defining a first port and a second port; and

a first mechanical seal and a second mechanical seal,

wherein the housing comprises a proximate housing portion and a distal housing portion, wherein the proximate and distal housing portions are configured to be removably secured to one another, and wherein at least a portion of the proximate housing portion is constructed of a material that is transparent,

wherein the light source is disposed within the housing and configured so that light from the light source can travel through the transparent material, and wherein the housing is sized for manual carrying by the user,

wherein the housing defines a housing interior that is configured for fluid communication with the air conduit to permit air to flow from the housing interior through the first port and through the air conduit,

wherein the light source is configured to receive electrical power via the electrical cable so that the electrical power can flow through the second port when the housing is disposed underwater, and wherein at least a portion of the electrical cable is disposed external to the housing when the housing is disposed underwater,

wherein the housing is configured to hold a vacuum within the housing interior when the housing is disposed underwater and when the light source receives the electrical power via the electrical cable,

wherein the distal housing portion has an inner wall, an outer wall and a proximate wall connecting the inner and outer walls,

wherein the proximate housing portion includes an outer surface, a flange extending radially away from the outer surface and a mating portion, wherein the mating portion is disposed within the distal housing portion and abuts the distal housing portion inner wall when the proximate and distal housing portions are secured to one another,

wherein the first mechanical seal is disposed between the proximate housing portion flange and the proximate wall of the distal housing portion when the proximate and distal housing portions are secured to one another, and

wherein the second mechanical seal is disposed between the mating portion of the proximate housing portion and the inner wall of the distal housing portion when the proximate and distal housing portions are secured to one another.

6. An apparatus for use underwater by a user and for use with an air conduit, an electrical cable, and a light source, the apparatus comprising:

a proximate housing portion and a distal housing portion, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the proximate housing portion and the distal housing portion is constructed of a material that is transparent;

wherein the proximate and the distal housing portions are configured to be removably secured to one another and are sized for manual carrying by the user,

wherein a housing interior is defined by at least one of the proximate housing portion and the distal housing portion when the proximate and distal housing portions are removably secured to one another,

wherein one of the proximate housing portion and the distal housing defines a first port leading into the housing interior,

wherein one of the proximate housing portion and the distal housing defines a second port leading into the housing interior,

wherein the light source is disposed within the housing interior and configured so that light from the light source can travel through the transparent material when the proximate and distal housing portions are removably secured to one another;

a first fitting coupled to the first port and configured for removable coupling to the air conduit, wherein the first fitting is further configured to permit the air to flow from the housing interior into the air conduit when the air conduit is coupled to the first fitting, and wherein the first fitting is further configured to inhibit the passage of the air and the water into the housing interior when the air conduit is not coupled to the first fitting;

a second fitting coupled to the second port and configured so that the light source can receive electrical power via the electrical cable and so that the electrical power can flow through the second fitting, wherein the second fitting is further configured so that the electrical cable can be electrically disconnected from and electrically connected to the light source, and wherein the second fitting is further configured to inhibit the passage of the water into the housing interior when the proximate and distal housing portions are removably secured to one another,

wherein the proximate and distal housing portions are configured to hold a vacuum within the housing interior when the proximate and distal housing portions are removably secured to one another and disposed underwater and when the light source is electrically connected to the electrical cable; and

a first mechanical seal and a second mechanical seal,

wherein the distal housing portion has an inner wall, an outer wall and a proximate wall connecting the inner and outer walls,

wherein the proximate housing portion includes an outer surface, a flange extending radially away from the outer surface and a mating portion, wherein the mating portion is disposed within the distal housing portion and abuts the distal housing portion inner wall when the proximate and distal housing portions are removably secured to one another,

wherein the first mechanical seal is disposed between the proximate housing portion flange and the proximate wall of the distal housing portion when the proximate and distal housing portions are secured to one another, and

wherein the second mechanical seal is disposed between the mating portion of the proximate housing portion and the inner wall of the distal housing portion when the proximate and distal housing portions are secured to one another.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the vacuum results in a compressive force exerted on the first mechanical seal by the proximate housing portion flange and the proximate wall of the distal housing portion when the proximate and distal housing portions are removably secured to one another.