Patent Publication Number: US-10773778-B1

Title: LED lights for surfboard

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of waterborne vessels including, more specifically, a floating structure adapted for use in sporting or pleasure. (B63B35/73) 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The LED lights for a surfboard is a safety device. The LED lights for a surfboard is configured for use with a surfboard. The surfboard is a floating structure. The surfboard is a roughly disk shaped structure. The surfboard comprises a superior face and an inferior face. The LED lights for a surfboard illuminates when the LED lights for a surfboard is placed in water. The illumination of the LED lights for a surfboard discourages predators in the water from attacking the LED lights for a surfboard. The LED lights for a surfboard comprises a housing, an illumination circuit and the surfboard. The housing contains the illumination circuit. The housing mounts on the inferior face of the disk structure of the surfboard. The illumination circuit automatically illuminates when the LED lights for a surfboard is placed in water. 
     These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the LED lights for a surfboard will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the LED lights for a surfboard in detail, it is to be understood that the LED lights for a surfboard is not limited in its applications to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the LED lights for a surfboard. 
     It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the LED lights for a surfboard. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. They are meant to be exemplary illustrations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments of the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. 
     Detailed reference will now be made to one or more potential embodiments of the disclosure, which are illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 7 . 
     The LED lights for a surfboard  100  (hereinafter invention) is a safety device. The invention  100  is configured for use with a surfboard  103 . The surfboard  103  is a floating structure. The surfboard  103  is a roughly disk shaped structure. The surfboard  103  comprises a superior face  131  and an inferior face  132 . The invention  100  illuminates when the invention  100  is placed in water. The illumination of the invention  100  discourages predators in the water from attacking the invention  100 . The invention  100  comprises a housing  101 , an illumination circuit  102  and the surfboard  103 . The housing  101  contains the illumination circuit  102 . The housing  101  mounts on the inferior face  132  of the disk structure of the surfboard  103 . The illumination circuit  102  automatically illuminates when the invention  100  is placed in water. 
     The surfboard  103  is a roughly disk shaped structure. The surfboard  103  floats in a body of water such that the surfboard  103  forms a horizontal platform in the water that is capable of supporting an individual. By supporting an individual is meant that the surfboard  103  is capable of supporting an individual above the superior surface of the water when the individual is resting on the superior face  131  of the surfboard  103 . The surfboard  103  is formed with adequate stability to allow the individual to stand on the superior face  131  of the surfboard  103  such that the individual is above the water while the surfboard  103  is freely floating in the water. The superior face  131  forms the superior surface of the surfboard  103  when the surfboard  103  is used normally in the water. The inferior face  132  forms the inferior surface of the surfboard  103  when the surfboard  103  is used normally in the water. 
     The housing  101  is a rigid structure. The housing  101  has a composite prism shape. The housing  101  contains the illumination circuit  102 . The housing  101  attaches the illumination circuit  102  to the inferior face  132  of the surfboard  103 . The housing  101  is a fluid impermeable structure. The housing  101  protects the illumination circuit  102  from water damage. The housing  101  is formed with all the apertures and form factors necessary to allow the illumination circuit  102  to operate as described in this disclosure. The housing  101  comprises a mounting disk  111  and a lamp disk  112 . 
     The mounting disk  111  is a disk shaped structure. The lamp disk  112  is a disk shaped structure. The lamp disk  112  attaches to the mounting disk  111  to form a composite prism structure. The composite prism is defined elsewhere in this disclosure. The face of the disk structure of the mounting disk  111  that is distal from the lamp disk  112  attaches to the inferior face  132  of the surfboard  103 . The lamp disk  112  inserts into the face of the mounting disk  111  that is distal from the inferior face  132  of the surfboard  103 . The lamp disk  112  contains the illumination circuit  102 . The lamp disk  112  inserts into the mounting disk  111  to form a fluid impermeable structure. The lamp disk  112  is geometrically similar to the mounting disk  111 . 
     The mounting disk  111  comprises a sealing cavity  141 . The sealing cavity  141  is a negative space formed in the face of the disk structure of the mounting disk  111  that is distal from the inferior face  132  of the surfboard  103 . The sealing cavity  141  is geometrically similar to the lamp disk  112 . The sealing cavity  141  is sized such that the lamp disk  112  inserts into the sealing cavity  141  of the mounting disk  111  to form the composite prism structure of the housing  101 . The sealing cavity  141  is sized such that the lamp disk  112  inserts into the sealing cavity  141  to form a water impermeable seal that prevents water from entering the sealing cavity  141  through the space between the lamp disk  112  and the sealing cavity  141 . 
     The lamp disk  112  comprises a battery chamber  151  and an exterior face  152 . The exterior face  152  is the face of the disk structure of the lamp disk  112  that is distal from the inferior face  132  of the surfboard  103  when the lamp disk  112  is properly inserted into the sealing cavity  141 . The plurality of LEDs  123  and the electrolytic switch  122  are mounted in the exterior face  152  such that the plurality of LEDs  123  and the electrolytic switch  122  have appropriate access to the water. The battery chamber  151  is a negative space that is formed in the face of the disk structure of the lamp disk  112  that is distal from the exterior face  152 . The battery chamber  151  is configured to store the battery  121  of the illumination circuit  102  such that the battery  121  is accessible when the lamp disk  112  is removed from the mounting disk  111 . 
     The illumination circuit  102  is an electric circuit. The illumination circuit  102  generates a field of illumination from the inferior face  132  of the surfboard  103  into the water in which the surfboard  103  floats. The illumination circuit  102  automatically initiates the generation of the field of illumination when the illumination circuit  102  senses that the inferior face  132  of the surfboard  103  is placed in the water. The illumination circuit  102  comprises a battery  121 , an electrolytic switch  122 , a plurality of LEDs  123 , and a limit resistor  124 . The battery  121 , the electrolytic switch  122 , the plurality of LEDs  123 , and the limit resistor  124  are electrically connected to form a series electric circuit. 
     The battery  121  is an electrochemical device. The battery  121  converts chemical potential energy into the electrical energy used to power the illumination circuit  102 . The battery  121  is a commercially available device. 
     The electrolytic switch  122  is an electrical device known as an electrolytic switch  122 . The electrolytic switch  122  is an electric switch that controls the flow of electricity from the battery  121  to the limit resistor  124 . The electrolytic switch  122  is actuated to a closed position when the electrolytic switch  122  is immersed in water. The electrolytic switch  122  is defined elsewhere in this disclosure. 
     Each of the plurality of LEDs  123  is a two terminal electrical device. Each of the plurality of LEDs  123  generates an illumination when electricity flows through the plurality of LEDs  123 . Each of the plurality of LEDs  123  are mounted in the exterior face  152  of the lamp disk  112  such that the illumination generated by the plurality of LEDs  123  generates the field of illumination generated by the invention  100 . 
     The limit resistor  124  is an electric circuit element. The limit resistor  124  is electrically connected in series between the electrolytic switch  122  and the plurality of LEDs  123  such that all the electric current that passes through the plurality of LEDs  123  also flows through the limit resistor  124 . The limit resistor  124  limits the amount of electric current that flows through the plurality of LEDs  123 . 
     The following definitions were used in this disclosure: 
     Align: As used in this disclosure, align refers to an arrangement of objects that are: 1) arranged in a straight plane or line; 2) arranged to give a directional sense of a plurality of parallel planes or lines; or, 3) a first line or curve is congruent to and overlaid on a second line or curve. 
     Battery: As used in this disclosure, a battery is a chemical device consisting of one or more cells, in which chemical energy is converted into electricity and used as a source of power. Batteries are commonly defined with a positive terminal and a negative terminal. 
     Cavity: As used in this disclosure, a cavity is an empty space or negative space that is formed within an object. See Saucer 
     Center: As used in this disclosure, a center is a point that is: 1) the point within a circle that is equidistant from all the points of the circumference; 2) the point within a regular polygon that is equidistant from all the vertices of the regular polygon; 3) the point on a line that is equidistant from the ends of the line; 4) the point, pivot, or axis around which something revolves; or, 5) the centroid or first moment of an area or structure. In cases where the appropriate definition or definitions are not obvious, the fifth option should be used in interpreting the specification. 
     Center Axis: As used in this disclosure, the center axis is the axis of a cylinder or a prism. The center axis of a prism is the line that joins the center point of the first congruent face of the prism to the center point of the second corresponding congruent face of the prism. The center axis of a pyramid refers to a line formed through the apex of the pyramid that is perpendicular to the base of the pyramid. When the center axes of two cylinder, prism or pyramidal structures share the same line they are said to be aligned. When the center axes of two cylinder, prism or pyramidal structures do not share the same line they are said to be offset. 
     Composite Prism: As used in this disclosure, a composite prism refers to a structure that is formed from a plurality of structures selected from the group consisting of a prism structure and a pyramid structure. The plurality of selected structures may or may not be truncated. The plurality of prism structures are joined together such that the center axes of each of the plurality of structures are aligned. The congruent ends of any two structures selected from the group consisting of a prism structure and a pyramid structure need not be geometrically similar. 
     Congruent: As used in this disclosure, congruent is a term that compares a first object to a second object. Specifically, two objects are said to be congruent when: 1) they are geometrically similar; and, 2) the first object can superimpose over the second object such that the first object aligns, within manufacturing tolerances, with the second object. 
     Correspond: As used in this disclosure, the term correspond is used as a comparison between two or more objects wherein one or more properties shared by the two or more objects match, agree, or align within acceptable manufacturing tolerances. 
     Diode: As used in this disclosure, a diode is a two terminal semiconductor device that allows current flow in only one direction. The two terminals are called the anode and the cathode. Electric current is allowed to pass from the anode to the cathode. 
     Disk: As used in this disclosure, a disk is a prism-shaped object that is flat in appearance. The disk is formed from two congruent ends that are attached by a lateral face. The sum of the surface areas of two congruent ends of the prism-shaped object that forms the disk is greater than the surface area of the lateral face of the prism-shaped object that forms the disk. In this disclosure, the congruent ends of the prism-shaped structure that forms the disk are referred to as the faces of the disk. 
     Electrolyte: As used in this disclosure, an electrolyte refers to ionic atomic or polyatomic compounds that dissolve in water to create an electrically conductive solution referred to as an electrolytic solution. 
     Electrolytic Switch: As used in this disclosure, an electrolytic switch refers to a switching arrangement wherein the electrolytic switch completes the circuit through: 1) The immersion of the electrolytic switch in an electrolytic solution; or, 2) the generation of an electrolytic reaction. 
     Field of Illumination: As used in this disclosure, a field of illumination refers to an area illuminated by electromagnetic radiation projected from an electrical device such as a lamp or transmission antenna. 
     Force of Gravity: As used in this disclosure, the force of gravity refers to a vector that indicates the direction of the pull of gravity on an object at or near the surface of the earth. 
     Form Factor: As used in this disclosure, the term form factor refers to the size and shape of an object. 
     Geometrically Similar: As used in this disclosure, geometrically similar is a term that compares a first object to a second object wherein: 1) the sides of the first object have a one to one correspondence to the sides of the second object; 2) wherein the ratio of the length of each pair of corresponding sides are equal; 3) the angles formed by the first object have a one to one correspondence to the angles of the second object; and, 4) wherein the corresponding angles are equal. The term geometrically identical refers to a situation where the ratio of the length of each pair of corresponding sides equals 1. 
     Horizontal: As used in this disclosure, horizontal is a directional term that refers to a direction that is either: 1) parallel to the horizon; 2) perpendicular to the local force of gravity, or, 3) parallel to a supporting surface. In cases where the appropriate definition or definitions are not obvious, the second option should be used in interpreting the specification. Unless specifically noted in this disclosure, the horizontal direction is always perpendicular to the vertical direction. 
     Housing: As used in this disclosure, a housing is a rigid structure that encloses and protects one or more devices. 
     Illumination: As used in this disclosure, light refers to electromagnetic radiation contained with an area. Illumination is a synonym for light, particularly in cases where a measure of the amount of visible electromagnetic radiation in a space is called for. 
     Inferior: As used in this disclosure, the term inferior refers to a directional reference that is parallel to and in the same direction as the force of gravity when an object is positioned or used normally. 
     Lamp: As used in this disclosure, a lamp is an electrical device that generates visible light to illuminate objects so they can be seen. 
     LED: As used in this disclosure, an LED is an acronym for a light emitting diode. A light emitting diode is a diode that is also a light source. 
     Limit Resistor: As used in this disclosure, a limit resistor is an electrical resistor that is used to limit the flow of electric current through an electrical circuit. 
     Negative Space: As used in this disclosure, negative space is a method of defining an object through the use of open or empty space as the definition of the object itself, or, through the use of open or empty space to describe the boundaries of an object. 
     One to One: When used in this disclosure, a one to one relationship means that a first element selected from a first set is in some manner connected to only one element of a second set. A one to one correspondence means that the one to one relationship exists both from the first set to the second set and from the second set to the first set. A one to one fashion means that the one to one relationship exists in only one direction. 
     Parallel Circuit: As used in this disclosure, a parallel circuit refers to a method of electrically connecting a plurality of circuit elements to a voltage source. In a parallel circuit each circuit element receives a voltage equal to the full voltage produced by the voltage source. 
     Perimeter: As used in this disclosure, a perimeter is one or more curved or straight lines that bounds an enclosed area on a plane or surface. The perimeter of a circle is commonly referred to as a circumference. 
     Prism: As used in this disclosure, a prism is a three-dimensional geometric structure wherein: 1) the form factor of two faces of the prism are congruent; and, 2) the two congruent faces are parallel to each other. The two congruent faces are also commonly referred to as the ends of the prism. The surfaces that connect the two congruent faces are called the lateral faces. In this disclosure, when further description is required a prism will be named for the geometric or descriptive name of the form factor of the two congruent faces. If the form factor of the two corresponding faces has no clearly established or well-known geometric or descriptive name, the term irregular prism will be used. The center axis of a prism is defined as a line that joins the center point of the first congruent face of the prism to the center point of the second corresponding congruent face of the prism. The center axis of a prism is otherwise analogous to the center axis of a cylinder. A prism wherein the ends are circles is commonly referred to as a cylinder. 
     Resistor: As used in this disclosure, a resistor is a well-known and commonly available electrical device that presents a resistance that inhibits the flow of electricity through an electric circuit. Within an electric circuit processing alternating currents, the resistor will not affect the phase of the alternating current. A current flowing through a resistor will create a voltage across the terminals of the resistor. 
     Rigid Structure: As used in this disclosure, a rigid structure is a solid structure formed from an inelastic material that resists changes in shape. A rigid structure will permanently deform as it fails under a force. 
     Roughly: As used in this disclosure, roughly refers to a comparison between two objects. Roughly means that the difference between one or more parameters of the two compared objects are not significantly different. 
     Series Circuit: As used in this disclosure, a series circuit refers to a method of electrically connecting a plurality of circuit elements to a voltage source. In a series circuit, the proportion of the voltage received by each individual circuit element is divided proportionally between the plurality circuit elements based on the resistance (or impedance) of each circuit element relative to the total resistance of the plurality of circuit elements. The series circuit forms a linear or loop structure often referred to as a daisy chain. 
     Superior: As used in this disclosure, the term superior refers to a directional reference that is parallel to and in the opposite direction of the force of gravity when an object is positioned or used normally. 
     Switch: As used in this disclosure, a switch is an electrical device that starts and stops the flow of electricity through an electric circuit by completing or interrupting an electric circuit. The act of completing or breaking the electrical circuit is called actuation. Completing or interrupting an electric circuit with a switch is often referred to as closing or opening a switch respectively. Completing or interrupting an electric circuit is also often referred to as making or breaking the circuit respectively. 
     Vertical: As used in this disclosure, vertical refers to a direction that is either: 1) perpendicular to the horizontal direction; 2) parallel to the local force of gravity; or, 3) when referring to an individual object the direction from the designated top of The individual object to the designated bottom of The individual object. In cases where the appropriate definition or definitions are not obvious, the second option should be used in interpreting the specification. Unless specifically noted in this disclosure, the vertical direction is always perpendicular to the horizontal direction. 
     With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationship for the various components of the invention described above and in  FIGS. 1  through  7  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 invention. 
     It shall be noted that those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous adaptations and modifications which can be made to the various embodiments of the present invention which will result in an improved invention, yet all of which will fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.