Method and system for underwater light display

• US 7,717,582 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2008
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jose Longoria, Loren Taylor
• Original Assignee: Jose Longoria, Loren Taylor
• Inventors: Feldman, Traci Heather, Taylor, Loren T., Longoria, Jose
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Y My Quach
• Application Number:
  US12/136,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20080239706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 362/35, 362/101, 362/158, 362/237, 362/240, 362/242, 362/244, 362/246, 362/249.05, 362/269, 362/317, 362/363, 239/18, 239/19, 239/20, 441/13, 441/16, 43/175
• 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: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0407 for flashing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/401 for swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/24 using tubes or the like filled with liquid, e.g. bubbling liquid

Abstract

An underwater light display system for providing a decorative light display on the surface of a container holding a body of water and/or objects located within a body of water is provided. An exemplary system comprises a shell and a light assembly. The shell comprises a bottom and a top portion. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the light assembly is preprogrammed to produce variable light patterns and is secured to the interior surface of the top portion so as to direct light downward. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the light assembly may further comprise a plurality of lenses configured to direct light. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the light assembly further comprises a weight having a lens configured to direct light.

Claims

1. A light display system for creating a decorative light pattern on a surface within a body of water, said light display system comprising:

a shell comprising a substantially opaque portion and a substantially translucent portion;

a light assembly located within said shell, wherein said light assembly directs light towards the surface within the body of water;

a plurality of lenses within said substantially translucent portion, wherein said lenses are substantially flush with an exterior surface of said substantially translucent portion; and

a stabilization mechanism,

wherein said plurality of lenses direct light produced by said light assembly towards the surface within the body of water; and

wherein said plurality of lenses define a buoyant surface of said shell, wherein said stabilization mechanism orients said shell such that substantially all of said plurality of lenses are located underwater.

2. A light display system of claim 1, further comprising a weight secured to said shell.

3. A light display system of claim 2, wherein said weight is configured with a pad located beneath said weight to facilitate drop-testing.

4. A light display system of claim 2, wherein said weight comprises a lens configured to direct light.

5. A light display system of claim 1, wherein said shell is a decorative shape.

6. A light display system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of lenses comprise a shape selected from a group consisting of dots, stars, characters, and letters.

7. A light display system of claim 1, wherein said light assembly comprises at least one light emitting diode.

8. A light display system of claim 1, wherein said light assembly comprises a control system configured for remote control of said light assembly.

9. A light display system of claim 1, wherein said light assembly comprises a rotation platform configured to facilitate at least one of rotational and translational movement of at least an entire light assembly or at least one light device within said light assembly.

10. A method of creating a light display on surfaces within a body of water, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a shell having a first portion and a second portion;

providing a light assembly comprising a light emitting diode in said shell;

programming said light assembly to generate light in at least one flashing pattern or continuous pattern;

embedding lenses in the surface of said shell, wherein said lenses are further aligned along more than a single plane through said surface; and

directing said light in said at least one flashing pattern or continuous pattern through said lenses towards a lower surface beneath a top surface of the body of water to generate the light display on said lower surface.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising configuring said shell to float on the surface of the body of water.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising providing a weight and securing said weight to the exterior of said shell.

13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising said light assembly to be secured to the interior surface of said second portion.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising configuring said light assembly to direct light downward.

15. The method according to claim 13, further comprising said light assembly to be configured for at least one of rotational or translational movement within said shell.

16. The method according to claim 10, further comprising configuring said shell to be translucent.

17. A light display system for creating a decorative light display on the surface of objects beneath a top surface of a body of water, said light display system comprising:

a shell configured to float on said top surface of said body of water; and

a light assembly secured to a rotation platform, wherein said rotation platform is secured to the interior surface of said shell, wherein said light assembly is preprogrammed to produce light directed at least partially downward in a plurality of flashing or continuous patterns,

wherein said rotation platform is configured to facilitate rotational movement of said light assembly within said shell, and wherein said light directed at least partially downward creates said decorative light display on the surface of objects beneath said top surface of said body of water, and wherein said flashing or continuous patterns are independent of said rotational movement.

18. The light display system of claim 17, wherein said top portion comprises a textured section configured to minimize exposure of sunlight to said light assembly.

19. The light display system of claim 17, wherein said shell further comprises one or more lenses integrally formed in said bottom portion of said shell, wherein said lenses are configured to perform at least one of focusing, refracting or defocusing of light produced by said light assembly.

20. The light display system of claim 17, wherein the shape of said shell is selected from a group comprising at least one of a sphere, a lily, a frog and a flower.

21. The light display system of claim 17, said light display system further comprising at least one of a perimeter float or a barge floater.

22. A light display system for creating an underwater light display, said light display system comprising:

a first shell portion having a plurality of light devices being secured to an interior surface of said first portion and directing light from said plurality of light devices downward to create said underwater light display; and

a second shell portion having a plurality of lenses further directing said light directed downward by said first portion from said plurality of light devices to create said underwater light display on a lower surface within a body of water, said second shell portion further comprising a buoyant configuration to maintain said plurality of lenses underwater and said first shell portion above water,

wherein said shell is configured to substantially prevent light from passing above water.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said plurality of light devices are configured for at least one of rotational or translational movement within said shell.

24. A light display system for creating a decorative light pattern on a surface within a body of water, said light display system comprising:

a shell comprising a substantially opaque portion and a substantially translucent portion;

a light assembly located within said shell, wherein said light assembly directs light towards the surface within the body of water;

a plurality of lenses within said substantially translucent portion; and

a stabilization mechanism,

wherein said plurality of lenses direct light produced by said light assembly towards the surface within the body of water; and

wherein said plurality of lenses define a buoyant surface of said shell, wherein said stabilization mechanism orients said shell such that substantially all of said plurality of lenses are located underwater.