Abstract:
An underwater illumination system for use in a pool is disclosed. The system includes a light source, which is recessed within a wall of the pool. The light source has a light emitting face which is directed at a downward angle, into the pool.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates generally to underwater illumination devices and more particularly to an improved system for illuminating a swimming pool, hot tub, spa and the like.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.  
         [0005]     Most if not all swimming pools and many other aquatic pools, hot tubs, spas, fountains and the like are equipped with underwater lights for providing illumination at night. In the case of swimming pools, the lights serve the dual function of providing the illumination necessary for convenient and safe night time use of the pools and providing the pools with a highly aesthetic night time appearance.  
         [0006]     There are a variety of lighting devices for supplying light to a pool. The term “pool” is used herein to include swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, and the like. Perhaps the most common type of pool lighting fixture is an incandescent lamp sealed within a fixture or niche installed in the wall of the pool. An example of such a lighting fixture is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,875 to Johnson (1991).  
         [0007]     Incandescent lamps can be very bright and are individually capable of illuminating a significant portion of a pool. Alternatively, fiber optic light sources are capable of providing a variety of lighting effects within a pool and are generally regarded as safer than incandescent pool lighting because the illuminating bulb for a fiber optic lighting system may be located remote from the pool area. An example of a fiber optic lighting apparatus for under water use is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,397 to Koren (2002). One use of fiber optics for pool illumination includes utilizing end-emitting fiber optic cables as point sources of light disposed in a fitting along a pool wall. Such prior art fiber optic lighting fixtures generally include a device for holding the light emitting end of a fiber optic cable proximate a protective plastic shield within an aperture in a pool wall. Fiber optic light sources are generally not as bright as incandescent lights.  
         [0008]     In addition to incandescent and fiber optic light sources, light emitting diodes (LEDs) are also often used for underwater pool illumination. An example of a LED assembly for use in a pool is disclosed in U.S. patent application No. 2003/0048631 to Archer (Pub. Mar. 13, 2003). Although not as bright as incandescent lights, LEDs are capable of producing light in a variety of different colors. Many pool owners appreciate the colored effects that LEDs may produce in their pools.  
         [0009]     Regardless of the light source used, one problem with current underwater illumination systems is that the light sources are positioned so that they are easily visible from within or without the pool. They are often unsightly and therefore detract from the beauty of the pool environment. Additionally, these light sources produce a glare which can cause discomfort to a person&#39;s eyes when the person is in the pool either underwater, or above the water&#39;s surface, or alternatively when looking towards the pool from outside. Moreover, the resulting glare can be both an inconvenience and a safety hazard. Furthermore, current underwater illumination systems tend to highlight imperfections on the pool floor, further detracting from the beauty of the pool environment. Particularly, they create shadows across the pool floor thereby enhancing inconsistencies in the floor.  
         [0010]     It will be appreciated from the foregoing that there has been a need for improvement in the field of underwater pool lighting systems. In particular, there has been a need for an underwater pool lighting system that will cause no glare, that will not highlight imperfections on the pool floor and will improve upon both the aesthetic appearance of the pool as well as the safety features for which pool lights are used. Furthermore, it would be optimal if such an underwater lighting system would be adaptable to a variety of lighting sources, including fiber-optics, light emitting diode (LED), fluorescent, incandescent, iridescent, quartz and metal halide.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     The present invention solves the problems of the prior art discussed above. In particular, the underwater illumination system of the present invention is recessed within a pool wall&#39;s foundation. Additionally, the present invention directs a light source at a downward angle. The positioning of the light source would optimally directly illuminate the pool floor. This would significantly minimize the shadowing effect caused by current pool lighting systems, which direct light across the pool rather than towards the floor. It would additionally minimize glare both inside and outside of the pool. Furthermore, the light source itself would be hidden from a vantage point above the surface of the water in the pool and would therefore be more subtle and present a more attractive appearance than current pool lighting systems.  
         [0012]     An additional benefit of the present invention is its practical ability to make better use of the pool industry&#39;s most current lighting options. As explained above, the industry is currently offering LED and fiber optic lighting options, among others. These options have not generated significant consumer demand due to their limited illumination inasmuch as their brightness is less than desirable. They do not match the brightness capabilities of the older and more common, but less attractive incandescent or iridescent light sources. According to the current practice, adding more LED or fiber optic lights in a pool to increase brightness would only add to the aforementioned unsightly appearance and resulting glare of the blatant external light sources on the pool wall. However, the present invention may be used in conjunction with many LED or fiber optic light sources to provide the desired brightness in a pool, without detracting from the beauty of the pool environment or effectiveness of the lighting effects.  
         [0013]     In accordance with the present invention, an underwater illumination system for use in a pool is disclosed. The system comprises a light source having a light emitting face, the light source being recessed within a vertical wall of the pool. The light emitting face is directed at a downward angle, into the pool.  
         [0014]     Alternatively, the system comprises a niche installed into a vertical wall of the pool. A light source having a light emitting face is housed and secured within the niche. The light emitting face is directed downward and at an angle into the pool. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     The invention will be described in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals designate like elements and wherein:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a cross sectional view of a concrete pool into which an embodiment of the present invention is installed;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a rear view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of a vinyl pool into which an alternative embodiment of the present invention is installed.  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a cross-sectional view of an in-ground concrete swimming pool  101  having a vertical wall  105  and a floor  107 . The vertical wall  105  and floor  107  are water-tight so as to prevent any water in the pool  101  from seeping into the ground  102 . As depicted, the pool  101  is filled with water  104 , the upper-most surface  106  of the water  104  reaching to a point just below the edge  110  of the pool  101 . The surface  106  of the water  104 , being in its calm state, defines a flat plane.  
         [0023]     A prefabricated niche  100  of the present invention is installed in a recess within a wall  105  of the pool  101 . The term “wall” as used herein broadly refers to any surface within the pool  101  that is not parallel with the plane defined by the surface  106  of the water  104 , including such wall  105  as depicted in  FIG. 1 , the rise portion of a stair step or any other structure fitting within the above definition.  
         [0024]     The niche  100  includes a rounded housing  112  for an incandescent light source  120 . The housing  112  may have alternative geometries (not shown) to a rounded shape, such as square, rectangular, triangular, oval, elliptical, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, or irregular, for example. Although the light source  120  shown in  FIG. 1  is an incandescent light source, alternative types of light sources may be used (not shown) such as fiber-optics, light emitting diodes (LED), fluorescent lights, iridescent lights, quartz lights, or metal halides, for example. Additionally, the niche  100  may be made, for example, predominantly out of either a plastic, a resin or a metal. The housing  112  preferably completely surrounds all sides of the light source  120  except for the light emitting face  128  of the light source  120 . A tubular electrical conduit  108  made out of a material that is preferably water-tight, e.g., PVC pipe, is coupled to the niche  100  through its housing  112  at one end, and runs through a portion of the wall  105  and through a section of the ground  102 , to an area (not shown) preferably located outside of the pool  101 , preferably above the surface of the ground  102 . Through the conduit  108  runs an electrical wire (not shown) that is electrically coupled to the light source  120 , thereby providing power to the light source  120  from a power source (not shown) located in an area (not shown) preferably outside of the pool  101 , preferably above the surface of the ground  102 . Alternatively, through the conduit  108  runs a fiber optic cable (not shown) which has a light emitting face that is housed within the housing  112 .  FIG. 1  clearly demonstrates how the niche  100  is designed and installed such that the light source  120  is recessed entirely within the wall  105  and is directed at a downward angle X, e.g., 10°-80° relative to the plane defined by the surface  106  of the water  104 , towards the floor  107 . In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the niche  100  is partially, rather than entirely, recessed within the wall  105 .  
         [0025]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the cross sectional view of the niche  100  shown in  FIG. 1  is enlarged and depicted in greater detail. A portion of the electrical conduit  108  is shown as it connects to the housing  112 , thereby providing ingress for an electrical wire (not shown) to feed into the housing  112  and electrically couple to the light source  120 . The niche  100  further comprises a diagonal niche extension  114  extending downward from the rear of the housing  112 , the niche extension  114  having a rear portion  116  and a front portion  118 . A thin, plastic anchor fin  122  is either fixedly secured to or integral with the rear portion  116  of the niche extension  114 . The anchor fin  122  may alternatively be fabricated out of resin, fiberglass, or metal, for example.  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the anchor fin  122  secures the niche  100  within the concrete wall  105 . When the concrete pool  101  is being constructed, the niche  100  would be recessed within a portion of the concrete wall  105  before it hardens. Thus, soft concrete would surround the light housing  112  and rear portion  116  of the niche extension  114  of the niche  100 . Additionally, the soft concrete would surround the anchor fin  122  and fill in thru-holes  124  in the anchor fin  122 . In this manner, once the concrete hardens, the niche  100  would be permanently embedded within the concrete, thereby preventing the niche  100  from slipping out of the wall  105 .  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , front and rear perspectives of the niche  100  are shown, respectively. Both  FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate how the sides of the niche extension  114  converge to form a rounded tip  126  at the bottom of the niche extension  114 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the front surface  118  of the niche extension  114  is concave about its longitudinal axis (not shown).  FIG. 4  shows the rear of the thin anchor fin  122 .  
         [0028]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a prefabricated niche  200  of the present invention is depicted, as installed within an in-ground vinyl pool  201 . The niche  200  may alternatively be installed into an above ground pool (not shown). The pool  201  has a vertical vinyl wall  205 , a diagonal vermiculite wall  209  and a vermiculite floor  207 . The vertical wall  205 , diagonal wall  209  and floor  207  are water-tight so as to prevent any water in the pool  201  from seeping into the ground  202 . A standard concrete collar  246  retains the vertical wall  205  in its proper position, in a manner known in the pool construction art. As depicted, the pool  201  is filled with water  204 , the uppermost surface  206  of the water  204  reaching to a point just below the edge  210  of the pool  201 . The surface  206  of the water  204 , being in its calm state, defines a flat plane.  
         [0029]     As also shown in  FIG. 5 , but depicted in greater detail in  FIG. 6 , the niche  200  includes a rounded housing  212  for an incandescent light source  220 . Although the light source  220  shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  is an incandescent light source, alternative types of light sources may be used (not shown) such as fiber-optics, light emitting diodes (LED), fluorescent lights, iridescent lights, quartz lights, or metal halides, for example. The housing  212  may have alternative geometries (not shown) to a rounded shape, such as square, rectangular, triangular, oval, elliptical, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, or irregular, for example. The housing  212  preferably completely surrounds all sides of the light source  220  except for the light emitting face  228  of the light source  220 . A tubular electrical conduit  208  made out of a solid material, e.g., PVC pipe, is coupled to the niche  200  at one end, and runs through a section of the ground  202 , to an area (not shown) located outside of the pool  201 , above the surface of the ground  202 . Through the conduit  208  runs an electrical wire (not shown) that is electrically coupled to the light source  220 , thereby providing power to the light source  220  from a power source (not shown) located in an area (not shown) outside of the pool  201 , above the surface of the ground  202 . Alternatively, through the conduit  208  runs a fiber optic cable (not shown) which has a light emitting face that is housed within the housing  212 .  FIG. 5  clearly demonstrates how the niche  200  is designed and installed such that the light source  220  is recessed entirely within the vertical wall  205  and is directed at a downward angle Y, e.g., 10°-80° relative to the plane defined by the surface  206  of the water  204 , e.g., towards the diagonal wall  209  and/or floor  207 .  
         [0030]     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , the cross sectional view of the niche  200  shown in  FIG. 5  is enlarged and depicted in greater detail. Additionally shown in  FIG. 6  is “View A,” which depicts in detail the means through which the niche  200  is retained within the vertical wall  205 . In “View A,” there is shown a screw  240  which fastens a face plate  244  through a portion of the vertical wall  205  into a gasket  242 , which is a flanged extension of a section of the front portion of the housing  212 . The screw  240  thereby acts as an anchor to secure the niche  200  within the vertical wall  205  so that the niche  200  will not disassociate itself from the vertical wall  205 . Additionally, the face plate  244 -gasket  242 -screw  240  combination maintains water-tightness between the niche  200  and the vertical wall  205 . A portion of the electrical conduit  208  is shown as it connects to the housing  212 , thereby providing ingress for an electrical wire (not shown) to feed into the housing  212  and electrically couple to the light source  220 . The niche  200  further comprises a diagonal niche extension  214  extending downward from the housing  212 , the niche extension  214  having a rear portion  216  and a front portion  218 .  
         [0031]     The present invention may be adapted to pools other than those constructed out of concrete or vinyl, for example fiberglass, or any other material used in pool construction.  
         [0032]     While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific examples thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.