Patent Publication Number: US-7591564-B1

Title: Underwater lighting system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an underwater lighting system and more particularly pertains to illuminating a large body of water in a safe, convenient and economical manner. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The use of lighting systems of known designs and configurations is known in the prior art. More specifically, lighting systems of known designs and configurations previously devised and utilized for the purpose of providing illumination through known methods and apparatuses are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
   By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,031,544 issued Jun. 21, 1977 to Lapetina relates to a Sonar/Television System for use in Underwater Exploration. U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,429 issued Nov. 13, 2001 to Grandolfo relates to an Underwater Lighting System. U.S. Pat. No. 6,633,110 issued Oct. 14, 2003 to McGuire relates to an Underwater Lamp. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 7,008,081 issued Mar. 7, 2006 to Lunt relates to an Underwater Light. 
   While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe an underwater lighting system that allows for illuminating a large body of water in a safe, convenient and economical manner. 
   In this respect, the underwater lighting system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of illuminating a large body of water in a safe, convenient and economical manner. 
   Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved underwater lighting system which can be used for illuminating a large body of water in a safe, convenient and economical manner. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of lighting systems of known designs and configurations now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved underwater lighting system. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved underwater lighting system and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
   To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises an underwater lighting system. First provided is a housing. The housing has a circular open top. The housing has a circular closed bottom. The housing has a cylindrical side wall. The side wall is provided between the top and the bottom. The housing forms a chamber. The chamber is provided interiorly. The housing includes an annular lower flange. The lower flange extends radially outwardly from the top. The lower flange has eight holes. The holes are equally spaced around the circumference of the lower flange. The lower flange has an upper face. The upper face terminates interiorly at the chamber and externally at the lower flange. The upper face has a semicircular recess. The recess is provided around the entire upper face. The housing is molded of an elastomeric material. The elastomeric material is selected from the class of elastomeric materials. The class of elastomeric materials includes plastic and rubber, natural and synthetic, and blends thereof. The bottom of the housing has a thickness more than twice the thickness of the side wall. The housing has lead weights. The weights are integrally formed into the bottom of the housing. In this manner the weight of the housing is increased for ballast purposes when submerged. 
   A lens is provided. The lens is in an upwardly extending hemispherical configuration. The lens has an annular upper flange. The lens has an upper face. The lens has a lower face. The lower face of the lens is in mating contact with the upper face of the lower flange. An O-ring  44  is provided. The O-ring is received within the recess between the faces. The lens is fabricated of a transparent material. The transparent material is selected from the class of transparent materials. The class of transparent materials includes glass and plastic. 
   Provided next is a pressure ring. The pressure ring is in an annular configuration. The pressure ring has an upper face. The pressure ring has a lower face. The lower face of the pressure ring is in contact with the lower flange of the housing. The upper flange of the lens has eight holes. The holes are equally spaced around the circumference of the pressure ring. The holes are aligned with the holes of the lower flange. Bolts are provided. The bolts extend through the holes of the lower flange and pressure ring. Wing nuts are provided. The wing nuts provide for coupling. 
   A socket assembly is provided. The socket assembly is provided within the chamber. The socket assembly includes a base. The base is positioned on the bottom. Bolts are provided. The bolts secure the base. The socket assembly also includes projections. The projections terminate in spaced light sockets. The projections terminate at an elevation midway between the bottom and the top of the housing. 
   A reflector is provided next. The reflector is in a downwardly extending semicircular configuration within the chamber. The reflector is coupled to the socket assembly. The reflector has spaced apertures. In this manner passage of the light sockets is allowed. 
   Further provided is an elongated metal halide bulb. The bulb has opposed ends. The bulb is removably received within the light sockets of the socket assembly. The bulb is adapted to be replaced without contacting the reflector. 
   Provided last are electrical components. The electrical components include a control station. The electrical components include wires. The wires have upper ends. The upper ends of the wires are coupled to the control station. The wires have lower ends. The lower ends of the wires are coupled to the light sockets. The control station has an AC power adapter, a switch, a ballast, a timer and a light sensor. The lower end has a compression washer and an O-ring. In this manner the wire may be coupled to the housing. 
   The preferred source of illumination is a lamp which emits UV-A in the range of ultra violet light between 320 and 400 nanometers and designed to peak at 360 nanometers. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached. 
   In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
   As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved underwater lighting system which has all of the advantages of the prior art lighting systems of known designs and configurations and none of the disadvantages. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved underwater lighting system which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
   It is further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved underwater lighting system which is of durable and reliable constructions. 
   An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved underwater lighting system which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such underwater lighting system economically available to the buying public. 
   Even still another object of the present invention is to provide an underwater lighting system for illuminating a large body of water in a safe, convenient and economical manner. 
   Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved underwater lighting system. A housing has an open top and closed bottom. The housing has a cylindrical side wall. In this manner a chamber is formed interiorly. The housing includes an annular lower flange. The lower flange extends outwardly from the top. A lens is in an upwardly extending hemispherical configuration. The lens has an annular upper flange. The upper flange is in mating contact with the lower flange. A socket assembly including a base is provided within the chamber. The base has projections. The projections terminate in spaced light sockets. A reflector is in a downwardly extending semicircular configuration within the chamber. A bulb has opposed ends. The opposed ends are removably received within the light sockets. Electrical components include a control station and wires. The wires have upper ends and lower ends. The upper ends are coupled to the control station. The lower ends are coupled to the light sockets. 
   These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated not only the primary and preferred embodiment of the present invention but also an alternate embodiment of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of an underwater lamp system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged front elevational view of the underwater lamp system in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of the system taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged illustration of the components in Circle  4  in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the system taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged front elevational view of an underwater lamp system constructed in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged front elevational view of an underwater lamp system constructed in accordance with another alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of the system taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 . 
   

   The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various Figures including the primary and preferred embodiment of the invention but also the alternate embodiment of the invention. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 1  thereof, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved underwater lighting system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
   The present invention, the underwater lighting system  10  is comprised of a plurality of components. Such components in their broadest context include a housing, a lens, a socket assembly, a reflector, a bulb and electrical components. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective. 
   First provided is a housing  14 . The housing has a circular open top  16 . The housing has a circular closed bottom  18 . The housing has a cylindrical side wall  20 . The side wall is provided between the top and the bottom. The housing forms a chamber  22 . The chamber is provided interiorly. The housing includes an annular lower flange  24 . The lower flange extends radially outwardly from the top. The lower flange has eight holes  26 . The holes are equally spaced around the circumference of the lower flange. The lower flange has an upper face  28 . The upper face terminates interiorly at the chamber and externally at the lower flange. The upper face has a semicircular recess  30 . The recess is provided around the entire upper face. The housing is molded of an elastomeric material. The elastomeric material is selected from the class of elastomeric materials. The class of elastomeric materials includes plastic and rubber, natural and synthetic, and blends thereof. The bottom of the housing has a thickness more than twice the thickness of the side wall. The housing has lead weights  32 . The weights are integrally formed into the bottom of the housing. In this manner the weight of the housing is increased for ballast purposes when submerged. 
   A lens  36  is provided. The lens is in an upwardly extending hemispherical configuration. The lens has an annular upper flange  38 . The lens has an upper face  40 . The lens has a lower face  42 . The lower face of the lens is in mating contact with the upper face of the lower flange. An O-ring  44  is provided. The O-ring is received within the recess between the faces. The lens is fabricated of a transparent material. The transparent material is selected from the class of transparent materials. The class of transparent materials includes glass and plastic. 
   Provided next is a pressure ring  48 . The pressure ring is in an annular configuration. The pressure ring has an upper face  50 . The pressure ring has a lower face. The lower face of the pressure ring is in contact with the lower flange of the housing. The upper flange of the lens has eight holes  52 . The holes are equally spaced around the circumference of the pressure ring. The holes are aligned with the holes of the lower flange. Bolts  54  are provided. The bolts extend through the holes of the lower flange and pressure ring. Wing nuts are provided. The wing nuts provide for coupling. 
   A socket assembly  58  is provided. The socket assembly is provided within the chamber. The socket assembly includes a base  60 . The base is positioned on the bottom. Bolts  62  are provided. The bolts secure the base. The socket assembly also includes projections  64 . The projections terminate in spaced light sockets  66 . The projections terminate at an elevation midway between the bottom and the top of the housing. 
   A reflector  70  is provided next. The reflector is in a downwardly extending semicircular configuration within the chamber. The reflector is coupled to the socket assembly. The reflector has spaced apertures  72 . In this manner passage of the light sockets is allowed. 
   Further provided is an elongated metal halide bulb  76 . The bulb has opposed ends. The bulb is removably received within the light sockets of the socket assembly. The bulb is adapted to be replaced without contacting the reflector. 
   Provided last are electrical components. The electrical components include a control station  80 . The electrical components include wires  82 . The wires have upper ends. The upper ends of the wires are coupled to the control station. The wires have lower ends. The lower ends of the wires are coupled to the light sockets. The control station has an AC power adapter  84 , a switch  86 , a ballast  88 , a timer  90  and a light sensor  92 . The lower end has a compression washer  94  and an O-ring  96 . In this manner the wire may be coupled to the housing. 
   Reference is now made to the alternate embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The lower end of the wires includes a nut  102 . The nut is provided adjacent to the housing. A PVC sleeve  104  is provided. The PVC sleeve is provided adjacent to the nut. An adhesive is provided. The adhesive couples the sleeve to the wires to the housing. The remaining components of the system are the same as in the primary embodiment described above. 
     FIG. 7  is an enlarged front elevational view of an underwater lamp system  200  constructed in accordance with another alternate embodiment of the present invention while  FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of the system taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 . Such system includes a rigid male member  202  extending through an aperture in the housing. Such aperture is shown as threaded but is unthreaded in another alternate embodiment. The end of the male member inside of the housing is threaded and receives a threaded female member  204 . A marine adhesive sealant  206  with limited flexibility is located between the interior surface of the housing and the female member. The preferred material for the marine adhesive sealant is 3M 5200, a marine adhesive sealant. 3M 5200 is a trademark of Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, a corporation of Delaware, having a place of business in Minneapolis, Minn. The female member and the forward portion of the male member extending through the housing are preferably fabricated of brass. The rearward portion of the male member is a cable gland and is located exterior of the housing and extends into the forward portion. The cable gland is preferably fabricated of polyvinyl chloride. Electrical wires in a plastic conduit extend through the male and female members to bring electric power to the bulb. The remaining components of the system are the same as in the primary embodiment described above. 
   The preferred source of illumination is a lamp which emits UV-A in the range of ultra violet light between 320 and 400 nanometers and designed to peak at 360 nanometers. Such light has been shown to stimulate retinal reactivity in non-mammalian organs. UV-A is the light spectrum region that causes pigment to darken in human and other mammalian cells but is invisible to species in that group. Primarily fish, insects and some invertebrates are able to visibly detect UV-A in nature, but some birds may have the ability, as well. 
   As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.