Patent Publication Number: US-7712913-B2

Title: Lighted panel system for hot tub, spa, or pool installation

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates broadly to the field of lighting systems. More particularly, this invention relates to a lighting system for hot tubs, spas, and swimming pools where the lighting system includes a light source housed in a light diffusing panel that directs light in a direction principally parallel to the wall of the hot tub to which the lighting system is mounted. 
     2. State of the Art 
     Hot tubs, swim spas, and pools are used for personal enjoyment, exercise, and physical therapy. Hot tubs and swim spas are frequently used for treating sore muscles, relaxing after a long day, exercising, or following a rigorous workout. Pools are often used for these purposes, as well as for cooling off on a warm day, playing sports such as water polo, lounging with friends or family, or enjoying a festive event, such as a pool party. 
     These activities often occur outside after dark or inside in areas without sufficient overhead lighting. Lighting systems are often mounted in hot tubs, swim spas, above-ground pools, and in-ground pools in order to enable their use, enjoyment, and safety when used outside after dark, or indoors at insufficiently lit locations. Such lighting systems also provide a safety purpose, such as highlighting the hot tub&#39;s or pool&#39;s borders and swimming areas, both for the users and for onlookers, curious children, or people passing by the area. These lighting systems also help to create a positive atmosphere or ambience, which may change as a function of the brightness of the lights, the types and colors of the lights, the number of light sources, and the location of the light sources relative to the users. 
     Lighting systems in hot tubs or pools have historically involved placing point light sources below the water level in water tight fixtures that either slightly protrude from the walls of the hot tub or pool, or, more commonly, are recessed within a niche formed into the walls to which they are mounted. Light is typically supplied from an incandescent light bulb or a light emitting diode (LED) lamp placed in the fixture. Installations such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,244,037 connect one or more of such fixtures to a wall, thereby lighting the body of water contained therein. 
     The lighting systems in the art all involve one or more point light sources of varying brightness placed below the water line. These light sources propagate light into a body of water in a direction principally perpendicular to the wall on which the light source is mounted. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a lighted panel system for use in hot tubs, swim spas, and swimming pools (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “tub”) that is mounted to the wall or lining of a tub. The lighted panel system comprises a light diffusing panel, a light source that illuminates the light diffusing panel, and a mounting structure that couples the light diffusing panel to the tub wall. Diffusers are preferably provided to the light diffusing panel in line with the light source and mounting structure to decoratively hide such components and further diffuse the light. 
     More particularly, the light diffusing panel comprises a formed transparent or translucent sheet of plastic, preferably made from a durable polycarbonate thermoplastic resin or acrylic polyethylene. The sheet includes a front service having a plurality of grooves that give the appearance of a plurality of tiles. The style of the grooves can vary to match or blend with the design of the wall of the tub to which the light diffusing panel is attached. In one embodiment of the invention, the grooves define four equally sized rectangular integrated tile portions. The sheet also includes a rear surface that is preferably sand blasted, etched, or otherwise textured to assist with diffusing the light, and, optionally, to illustrate an image through the light diffusing panel to the user. The front surface of the sheet may alternatively or additionally be textured. In addition, or, alternatively, the sheet itself may be somewhat translucent by formation, e.g., having a cloudy or smoked appearance. This texturing of at least one of the front surface, the rear surface, and/or the light transmissive quality of the material of the sheet itself is deemed to render the light diffusing panel “light diffusing.” The rear surface contains a recess running along the outer perimeter thereof for receiving sealant. 
     The light source includes a plurality of LED lamps mounted on a circuit board retained relative to the light diffusing panel, preferably wiring coupling the circuit board to a step down power supply, and a control unit through which a user interacts with a plurality of such lighted panel systems. In a preferred embodiment, the circuit board is provided with two LED lamps that point in opposite directions, both of which are parallel to the front surface of the light diffusing panel, and consequently, to the wall of the tub in which the light diffusing panel is mounted. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the mounting structure includes two tubular conduits threaded at one end that are placed through holes drilled through a wall of a tub. A nut, in conjunction with sealant, engages with a threaded end of the tubular conduit and secures the light diffusing panel to the wall of a tub in a watertight manner. A rubber boot coupled to the light source wiring fits around the tubular conduit via a friction fit and retains the LED lamps within the panel. 
     The lighted panel system may be installed in at least a part of a wall of a tub, and is preferably placed at water level with half of the light diffusing panel above the water line and half of it below the water line. A plurality of light diffusing panels can be arranged in series, and preferably, side by side in contact with each other at the same level along the wall, thereby creating continuous light coverage along the wall or around the entire tub. 
     The lighted panel system creates a new appearance and ambiance resulting from the glow of the light diffusing panels at waterline level, which diffuse and conduct light in a principally lateral direction around the perimeter of the tub. The lighted panel system will not produce the glare typically associated with point light sources or light reflecting off of the water. It will instead project a different lighting effect, one that will help to create the relaxed feeling associated with being in a tub outside at night or indoors. By diffusing the light and channeling it in a principally lateral direction, the light source will appear to the user as glowing tiles along the water&#39;s edge rather than as point light sources below the water. In addition, the lighted panel system will provide better lighting coverage for the user in the tub through its potentially continuous coverage around the perimeter of the tub. 
     Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the detailed description taken in conjunction with the provided figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a longitudinal section view of a lighted panel system according to the invention installed in a tub wall. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the lighted panel system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the lighted panel system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 4A-4C  show rear views of the lighted panel system of  FIG. 1  with exemplary decorative designs. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the lighted panel system of  FIG. 1  in which multiple light diffusing panels are placed side by side and mounted to the wall or lining of a tub. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic of the step down power supply, control unit, wiring, driver circuit, and LED lamps of the lighted panel system of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , shown is a longitudinal section view of a lighted panel system  10  according to the invention. As described in more detail below, the lighted panel system  10  includes a light diffusing panel  12 , a light source  14  that illuminates the light diffusing panel  12 , and a mounting structure  16  that couples the light diffusing panel  12  to a wall/lining  18  of a tub. Diffusers  20  are preferably provided to a front surface  26  of the light diffusing panel  12  in line with each light source  14  to decoratively mask each light source  14  and further diffuse the light. 
     The light diffusing panel  12  comprises a formed transparent or translucent sheet  22  of plastic, preferably made from a durable polycarbonate thermoplastic resin such as LEXAN or acrylic polyethelyne. The sheet  22  comprises a plurality of preferably vertical grooves  24  on the front surface  26  of the sheet  22 . The style of the vertical grooves  24  can vary to match or blend with the design of the wall  18  of the tub to which the light diffusing panel  12  is attached. In one embodiment of the invention, the vertical grooves  24  cut into or are otherwise defined in the front surface  26  of the light diffusing panel  12  run from a top side  25  of the front surface  26  to a bottom side  27  ( FIG. 2 ) of the front surface to define four equally sized integrated tile portions  28  such that the panel has the appearance of several tiles. By way of example, the light diffusing panel  12  is preferably approximately four inches in height by eight inches in width, and each tile portion  28  is preferably approximately four inches in height by two inches in length. ( FIG. 2 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the light diffusing panel  12  further includes a recess  30  defined about the perimeter of a rear surface  32  of the sheet  22 . The front surface  26  and rear surface  32  of the sheet  22  are preferably planar. In assembly, sealant  34  is placed in the recess  30  between the rear surface  32  and the tub wall  18  to help prevent water from leaking out of the tub. The rear surface  32  of the sheet  22  is preferably sand blasted, etched, or otherwise textured to assist with diffusing the light and masking the wall of the tub. The front surface  26  of the sheet  22  may also be textured, and the sheet itself may be translucent, having a cloudy or smoked appearance. At least one of the front surface  26  or the rear surface  32  should be textured and/or the panel translucent to render the panel  12  “light diffusing.” In one embodiment of the invention, an image can be textured into the rear surface  32  of the light diffusing panel  12 . Examples of such images are shown in  FIGS. 4A-4C , which illustrate a wave design  68  ( FIG. 4A ), a diamond design  70  ( FIG. 4B ), and a seahorse design  72  ( FIG. 4C ), respectively. Likewise, such imaging can be placed in the front surface  26  of the panel  12 . 
     Turning back to  FIG. 1 , the light source  14  of the lighted panel system  10  comprises a plurality of LED lamps  36  that light the light diffusing panel  12 . In a preferred embodiment, two LED lamps  36  are mounted to a circuit board  39  protected by a circular rubber boot  38  that is inserted over a tubular conduit  50  provided at the rear surface  32  of the light diffusing panel  12 . The two LED lamps  36  point in opposite directions, both of which are parallel to the front surface  26  of the sheet  22 , and consequently, to the wall  18  of the tub in which the light diffusing panel  12  is mounted. The LED lamps  36  are preferably RGB, but can be monochromatic. 
     A schematic illustrating the operation of the light source  14  of the lighted panel system  10  is shown in  FIG. 6 . As shown, the light source  14  further comprises a step down power supply  40 , wiring  42 , a control unit  44 , and a driver circuit  48 . The step down power supply  40  supplies AC current into the control unit  44 . The control unit  44  converts the AC current into DC current in order to drive the LED lamps  36 . The control unit  44  also allows the user to control the specific colors desired for the light diffusing panels  12  and/or to run preset programs that drive the actuation of the light diffusing panels  12 . The control unit  44  sends both DC current and various commands to the driver circuit  48  that actuates the LED lamps  36 . The LED lamps  36  then convert the signal from the driver circuit  48 . 
     Turning back to  FIG. 1 , in one embodiment of the invention, the mounting structure  16  comprises two tubular conduits  50  formed at the rear surface  32  of the sheet  22  of the light diffusing panel  12 . The tubular conduits  50  are placed through holes  52  drilled into the tub wall  18 . A nut  54  or other fastener is fastened around the tubular conduit  50 , which is preferably threaded at a first open end  56 , and used to secure the tubular conduit  50 , and consequently the light diffusing panel  12 , to the wall  18  of the tub. Sealant  34  is preferably placed between the nut  54  or fastener and the wall  18  or lining of the tub to form a tight seal. Sealant  34  may also be placed between the inner diameter of the nut  54  and the outer diameter of the tubular conduit  50  to further prevent any water leakage. Alternatively, the tubular conduits  50  may be received through grommets in the tub wall  18  as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,920,924 and 6,094,754, which are incorporated by reference herein. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the tubular conduits  50  may be attached as separate pieces that screw into the sheet  22 . In such a design, threaded holes could be drilled into the sheet  22  to accommodate the tubular conduits  50 . 
     The wiring  42 , circuit board  39 , driver circuit  48 , LED lamps  36 , and circular rubber boot  38  are inserted through the first open end  56  of the tubular conduit  50  and through the channel defined by the tubular conduit  50  and the panel  12  to a position between the front and rear surfaces  26 ,  32  of the panel  12 . In another embodiment of the invention, the light source  14  may be attached to the light diffusing panel  12  by an additional mount that is attached to the tubular conduits  50  at a second fixed end  58 . Other fastening devices may also be used to attach the light diffusing panel  12  to the wall  18  of the tub, and to connect the light source  14  to the light diffusing panel  12 . 
     In the embodiment of the invention depicted in  FIG. 1 , the tubular conduits  50  are provided at the rear surface  32  of the sheet  22  along axes  60 ,  62  perpendicular to first and third grooves  24  cut into the front surface  26  of the sheet  22 . This arrangement of the tubular conduits  50  places the LED lamps  36  directly behind two of the vertical grooves  24  cut into the front surface  26  of the sheet  22  with each LED lamp directed laterally into a single tile portion  28 . Each LED lamp  36  thus lights its own tile portion  28  ( FIG. 2 ). 
     The diffusers  20  are preferably attached to the light diffusing panel  12  on the front surface  26  of the sheet  22  at the vertical grooves  24  just opposite the LED lamps  36 . The diffusers  20  have a preferably larger cross section than that of the tubular conduits  50  formed at the rear surface  32  of the light diffusing panel  12 . When placed on the front surface  26  of the sheet  22 , the diffusers  20  will thus mask the LED lamps  36 , as well as the tubular conduits  50  and any wrinkles or indentations in the sheet  22  resulting from forming the tubular conduits  50 . The diffusers  20  are also preferably faceted to assist with diffusing the light. 
     When the LED lamps  36  are actuated, light is directed in a principally lateral direction, parallel to the tub wall  18 . The sheet  22  disperses and diffuses the light throughout the light diffusing panel  12 . The diffusers  20 , when placed at the vertical grooves  24  just above each LED lamp  36 , help to diffuse the light along the tiles  28  and mask the presence of the LED lamps  36  from the user. As at least one of the rear surface  32 , the front surface  26 , and the sheet  22  material itself are preferably textured, the user will not be able to see the tub wall  18  behind the light diffusing panel  12 . The user will instead see the textured surface or image on the rear surface  32  of the light diffusing panel  12 , which will be visible through the sheet  22 . 
     The invention is meant to be installed along at least a part of a wall  18  of a tub at water level. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the light diffusing panels  12  can be arranged in series side by side along the wall  18  of a tub. The light diffusing panels  12  are preferably placed at water line  64 , half above and half below it; i.e. at the same level as the tub or pool skimmer  66 . When arranged in series, the light diffusing panels  12  will provide continuous lighting coverage along the wall  18  of the tub or around the entire perimeter. The control unit  44  allows the user to control which light diffusing panels  12  are actuated, what colors they will be, and whether they will be lit continuously or, e.g., intermittently in a blinking pattern or prearranged program. 
     There have been described and illustrated herein several embodiments of a lighted panel system, a tub installation with such lighted panel systems, and methods of installing lighted panel systems in a tub. While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto, as it is intended that the invention be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Thus, while particular materials, dimensions, circuits, LED lamps, etc. have been disclosed, it will be appreciated that other suitable substitutes can be used as well. It will therefore be appreciated by those skilled in the art that yet other modifications could be made to the provided invention without deviating from its spirit and scope as claimed.