Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to fiber optic illumination of pools, spas, and the like. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Reservoirs of water such as pools and spas are commonly constructed with one or more underwater light sources for illuminating the water within the reservoir. The light sources are visually appealing and the illumination of the water allows for safe use of the pool or spa at night. Conventional lighting units are commonly mounted on the wall of the pool or spa, and comprise a watertight housing that contains an incandescent light source. On one side of the housing is an aperture for the power connection to the light source, and on the other side is a lens to scatter, direct or focus the light from the light source. Each lighting unit requires its own mounting hole in the wall of pool or spa and its own power connection. [See Waterway Plastics Inc., “1999 Product Catalog,” Spa Products, Page 31]. 
     A number of variations to the conventional pool or spa light have been developed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,617,615 to Eychaner, discloses a pool light that uses a circular fluorescent light bulb instead of an incandescent light source. The bulb is mounted in a fixture that can be retrofitted into or be used as an alternative to existing incandescent pool lights. Its primary advantage is that it is relatively low cost and allows for the replacement of high wattage incandescent bulbs with low wattage fluorescent bulbs. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,936 to Guthrie, discloses a pool light that can be mounted over a pool&#39;s water extraction conduit. The light includes a watertight chamber that houses a electric light source, the chamber being held away from the pool&#39;s wall by an annular housing member that has several holes. Water passes through the annular housing holes, behind the chamber, and to the extraction conduit. The advantage of this light is that it can illuminate the pool while providing a protective cover over the extraction conduit. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,875 to Johnson also discloses a pool light mounted on a gunite pool wall or a vinyl liner pool wall. A double quartz halogen lamp is mounted in a sealed light source cavity with the lamp in a plane parallel to the plane of the pool wall on which the light is mounted. The pool light also includes openings that allow the liquid of the pool to circulate behind the light housing to cool the light. 
     One of the disadvantages of the above lights is that a separate hole must be created in the wall of the pool or spa for either mounting the light or allowing the light&#39;s power connection to pass through the wall. The greater the number of holes in a pool or spa wall, the greater the danger of water leaking through a hole. Another disadvantage of the above lights is that when an individual light fails, it can be difficult to repair. The process can require lowering the water level to repair the light from the water side of the pool or spa. Alternatively, the light can be accessed from the exterior side of the pool or spa, which can require removing decking, excavating soils and/or cutting through insulation. Also, to change the color of the light the bulb or lens must be changed. For the same reasons, this can be a difficult process. 
     Another disadvantage is that by having the incandescent, fluorescent or quartz light source close to the water, a short circuit can occur between the light source and the water. This is particularly a problem if there is a crack in the light&#39;s housing. As the number of lights is increased, the total potential current leakage from all the lights increases. 
     Fiber optic lighting systems have been developed for spas by, among others, Coast Spas located in British Columbia, Canada. The system includes a remote light source and numerous optical fibers directed toward a number of holes in the spa wall. Each hole has a cap to hold one of the optical fibers so that the light emitting from the end of the fiber is directed through the cap and into the water within the spa. Each cap has a transparent lens that disperses or focuses the light from the fiber. A typical spa can have dozens of holes for optical fibers that increase the spals complexity and the chances that the spa will leak. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an improved light for illuminating the water within a pool, spa or other water reservoir, all of which will be referred to collectively as a “spa” . The new light combines fiber optic lighting with the spa components. These components include, but are not limited to, jets, returns, drains, and skimmers. 
     The new light includes a remote light source and guides that carry light from the remote light source to the spa component. One or more probes are mounted within each component with each probe receiving light from a respective guide, the light from the guide passing through the probe and emitting from the front of the respective component. 
     In one embodiment, the remote light source transmits the light to each probe by a optical fiber with light emitting primarily from the end of each fiber. The probe is elongated and transparent and is inserted and mounted in a hole in the rear of its component. The probe is hollow, open on its back end and closed at its front end. The optical fiber is inserted into the probe through its open end and is housed within the probe terminating at the probe&#39;s closed end. The light from the fiber passes through the end of the probe and emits from the component. 
     In one spa jet embodiment, the probe is mounted within a hole in the rear of a spa jet, projecting toward the front of the jet along the jet&#39;s longitudinal axis. Near its open end, the probe has axial threads on its outer surface that mate with threads on the hole at the rear of the jet to provide a watertight seal between the two. The probe&#39;s open end opens to the rear of the jet and is accessible when the probe is installed. The optical fiber is inserted into the probe through its open end and held by a metal crimp. The new light has many advantages, one of which is its ability to illuminate the spa without creating additional holes in the spa&#39;s wall. The illumination is provided through the same holes created for the other spa components, i.e. jets, drain, returns, etc. Also, a remote light source is used to provide the light carried by the optical fibers to the spa. There are no light sources near the spa&#39;s water that could short circuit to the spa. Furthermore, if the light source fails, it is easily repaired at its remote location. There is no need to lower the spa&#39;s water level, remove decking, excavate soil, or cut through insulation. Also, it is conventional for fiber optic light sources to contain color wheels that automatically rotate to change the color of light emitted by the optical fibers. The lenses or light sources do not need to be changed to change the color of light emitted from the spa component. 
     These and further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a new spa jet with fiber optic illumination; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the elongated transparent probe with an optical fiber; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the probe shown in FIG. 1, taken along section lines  3 — 3 ; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the spa jet shown in FIG. 3, taken along section lines  4 — 4 ; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the spa jet shown in FIGS. 3 and 4; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a new spa jet with fiber optic illumination; 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the spa jet shown in FIG. 6, taken along section lines  7 — 7 ; 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the spa jet shown in FIGS. 6 and 7; and 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a spa system using the new fiber optic lighting. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A new spa jet  10  with optical fiber illumination constructed in accordance with the invention is shown in FIG.  1 . Most of the jet&#39;s components are formed from a water impervious plastic such as ABS. The jet is particularly adapted to be positioned below the water line of a spa with the majority of the jet positioned behind the spa&#39;s water contacting wall. The jet is connected to the spa&#39;s plumbing water supply, and the jet of air and water which emits is directed toward the water within the spa. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the new jet  10  includes a jet body  11  having a water inlet pipe  12  that receives a standard water supply tube. The body can also have an air inlet tube  13  to allow air into the jet body when aerated water is desired. Water (or aerated water) exits the jet body through outlet  16 . The jet body  11  has an external flange  14  that is positioned on the spa&#39;s water contacting wall. The flange  14  has a series of depressions  15  around its perimeter for gripping to rotate the flange and tighten the jet on the spa wall as more fully described below. 
     The new jet  10  also has an elongated transparent probe  17  the runs the length of the jet along the jet&#39;s longitudinal axis. The preferred probe  17  is inserted into the jet  10  through a hole in the rear of the jet body  11  and threaded into the jet body  11  to provide a watertight seal. The end of the probe  17  at the rear of the jet body  11  has an opening for a optical fiber  18 . The end of the optical fiber  18  is housed within the probe, with the fiber&#39;s emission directed toward the probe&#39;s closed end. The probe runs through the jet outlet  16  and out the front of the jet  10 . Light from the optical fiber passes through the end of the probe  17  to illuminate the water within the spa. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 show the elongated probe  17  with the optical fiber  18  housed within it. The probe  17  has a hollow section  20  along its longitudinal axis, that runs substantially the entire length of the probe. The hollow section is closed at one end and open at its other end. The optical fiber  18  is inserted into the probe  17  through its open end and held in place by a commercially available press fit metal crimp (not shown). 
     Near the probe&#39;s open end threads  19  are provided on the exterior surface that mate with threads in the rear hole of the particular spa component to mount the probe within the component. A screwdriver receiver  21  having a larger diameter is provided at the base of the probe adjacent to it&#39;s open end. The receiver section  21  has slots  21   a  and  21   b  for a standard screwdriver to turn the probe  17  into the component. 
     The size of the probe  17  can be selected to match the spa component into which it fits; its dimensions are not critical to the invention. The preferred length of the probe is in the range of 7 to 13 cm, and the preferred outer diameter (for a round probe) is in the range of 0.5 to 2 cm. The diameter of the hollow portion is preferably about half the probels outer diameter. The probe  17  can be made of many different materials that transmit, disperse or focus light, preferably transparent or semi-transparent polycarbonate. Alternatively, the probe can be opaque along its length and transparent only at its front end, although it is preferably homogeneous throughout its length. 
     The probe can have many different shapes and dimensions, and can be arranged within the jet  10 , or other spa components, in different ways. A probe according to the present invention receives light from a remote light source, through an optical fiber, and passes the light through the spa component into the spa. 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view and FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the jet  10  shown in FIG.  1 . The jet body  11  has an interior threaded cavity  23  that opens toward the interior of the spa, with a flange  24  at the forward end of the cavity  23 . A wall fitting  25  includes a threaded tube  26  that is inserted from the interior of the spa through an opening in the spa wall, and threads into the cavity  23 . The wall fitting  25  is screwed into the housing cavity until a flange  14  on the wall fitting  25  tightens against the spa wall. A circular gasket can be included on the wall fitting  25  to provide a seal between the flange  27  and the spa wall. The jet  10  is held securely in place, with the spa wall sandwiched between the cavity flange  24  and wall mounting flange  27 . 
     Water enters the jet  10  through water inlet pipe  12  and exits through the jet outlet  16 . If a mixture of air and water is desired, air enters the jet  10  through the air inlet tube  13  and the water and air mix within the cavity  28  in the jet housing  11  before exiting through the jet outlet  16 . 
     The probe  17  is inserted into the jet from the rear, with the probe threads  19  screwed into the jet body threads  29  in the jet body&#39;s rear opening  30 . The mated threads form a watertight seal that prevents water passing through the jet  10  from leaking through the threads or into the probe&#39;s hollow section. The optical fiber  18  is housed within the probe  17  with light emitting primarily from its end. The light passes through the hemispherically curved front end of the probe and is refracted into a generally hemispheric pattern. The air and water emitted from the jet outlet  16  help to further refract the light. 
     When the jet  10  does not have a probe  17 , a threaded plug (not shown) is included to mate with the rear opening  30  and provide a watertight seal that prevents water leakage. This allows the jet  10  to function without the probe  17  and without light emitting from the jet. 
     FIGS. 6-8 show a second embodiment of a spa jet  60  with fiber optic illumination, in which the probe and its optical fiber are foreshortened to allow for a rotating jet outlet. The jet includes a jet body  62  with a water inlet  64  to connect to the spa&#39;s plumbing, and an air inlet  66  to aerate the water. The air inlet  66  includes a check valve  67  that prevents water from back flowing into the air supply system. Like the stationary embodiment above, the jet body  62  has a threaded rear opening  68 . A probe  70  is inserted into the jet body  62  through the rear hole and the probe&#39;s threads  72  mate with the rear hole&#39;s threads  74  to form a watertight seal. The probe  70  is aligned with the jet&#39;s longitudinal axis but, unlike the stationary embodiment, it does not extend through the entire length of the jet body  62 . 
     The jet body  62  has exterior threading  76  and a front flange  78  that rests against the spa&#39;s interior wall when the jet is installed. A wall fitting  79  on the spa&#39;s exterior wall opposite the front flange  78  has interior threads  80  that mate with the jet body&#39;s exterior threads  76 . The wall fitting  79  is screwed into the jet body&#39;s exterior threads  76  until the flange  78  tightens against the interior spa wall. A circular gasket  84  can be included on the jet body  62  to provide a seal between the flange  78  and the spa wall. The jet  62  is held securely in place with the spa wall sandwiched between the flange  78  and wall fitting  79 . 
     Water enters the jet  60  through the water inlet  64  and flows through the jet nozzle  86 . The probe  70  passes through the nozzle  86  along the jet&#39;s longitudinal axis, reducing the volume of water that can pass through the nozzle. As a result, the nozzle should have a larger volume than would be necessary for a conventional spa jet. This allows a sufficient volume of water to pass through the jet to maintain it&#39;s water pressure. The interior surface of the nozzle  86  tapers slightly to accelerate the water flowing through the nozzle, creating a venturi effect. A passageway allows air to flow from the air inlet  66  to the forward end of the nozzle  86 . At that location, the air is entrained into the water jet due to the venturi action, causing a desirable water/air mixture to be emitted from the jet. The probe  70  passes through the nozzle&#39;s venturi section and like other nozzle sections, the venturi section should have a larger volume to maintain water pressure. 
     Attached at the downstream end of the nozzle  86  is an eyeball carrier  88  having a rotation bearing  90  mounted within it. A rotatable eyeball  92  is mounted within the carrier  88  at the downstream end of the nozzle  68  so that the water stream enters the eyeball and causes it to rotate. Eyeball  90  is seated within the bearing  90 , with the bearing&#39;s inner race  94  against an eyeball sleeve  96 . The outer race  95  of bearing  90  is against the inside wall of the carrier  88 . 
     Eyeball  92  has a rotation axis  97  that is coincident with the jet&#39;s longitudinal axis. The eyeball  92  also has at least one linear water conduit  98  passing through it, with the conduits having a longitudinal axis that is offset from the eyeball&#39;s rotation axis  97  such that water can enter the conduit  98  around the probe  70  and causes the eyeball to rotate. The jet flow exiting eyeball  92  traces a continuous circular pattern. The eyeball can have more than one conduit, but probe  70  consumes space and reduces the volume of water passing through the jet. Dividing the water flow between more than one conduit reduces the pressure of water exiting each conduit. 
     Located downstream of the eyeball  92  is a diverter cap  100  which diverts the water flowing from the eyeball  92  to produce a series of pulsating jets. The cap includes a plurality of conical bores  102  disposed in a ring around the eyeball&#39;s rotation axis  97 . The bores  102  are aligned with the circular pattern of the jet flow exiting conduit  98  and emit a jet pulse each time the conduit jet passes by them. The result is a circular pattern of jet pulses that is pleasing to the user. 
     The diverter cap  100  attaches to the eyeball carrier  88  by a series of tabs  104  that are equally spaced around the perimeter of the diverter cap and mate with four axial grooves  106  in the carrier  88 . The eyeball  92  is held on the bearing  90  and within the carrier  88  by the diverter cap  100 . An escutcheon  108  is also attached to the eyeball  92  by a series of  110  that mate with the recesses in the carrier. A series of depressions  112  are included around the escutcheon&#39;s perimeter for gripping. Rotation of escutcheon  108  results in rotation of the carrier  88  and nozzle  86 . This in turn regulates the flow of water into the nozzle  86  from the water conduit  64 . 
     Like the stationary embodiment, an optical fiber  112  is held within the probe  70 , such as by a press fit metal crimp (not shown), and light from the optic fiber exits through the end of the probe  70 . The probe does not pass through the entire jet, but extends only partially into the eyeball  92 . The eyeball  92  and diverter cap  100  are made of a transparent or semitransparent material that allows light from the probe  70  to enter the spa. Both the contours of the diverter cap  100  and the air and water from the jets exiting the bores  102  help refract the light. The eyeball and diverter cap can be made of many different materials, but are preferably made of an acrylic or polycarbonate. 
     As shown in FIG. 9, multiple jets and other components having fiber optic illumination can be installed in a spa shell  120  with stationary jets  10 , pulsating jets  60  and/or other types of illuminated jets. 
     The jets are connected to a water pump system  122  which circulates the water throughout the spa system through a series of water conduits  124 . Water from the spa  120  is provided to pump  122  through a drain  126  which is connected to a return water conduit  128 , and in turn to pump  124 . Water from pump  22  is delivered back to spa  120  through conduits  124 , and flows through the into the interior of shell  120 , completing the loop. Additionally, an air system  130  can be included that provides air to the jets  10  and  60 , through an air conduit  132  to aerate the water flowing through the jets. Air system  130  can be pump driven to increase the pressure of the air entering the jet, or the system can be vacuum based with the venturi located within the jets drawing air into the jet water streams. 
     A remote fiber optic light source  134  provides light that is carried by optical fibers  136  to the jets, and to any other desired component such as the drain  126 , if desired. The light source can have a single color, or it can include a color wheel that rotates to continuously change the color. The jets and the drain  126  each include a probe, with one or more of the optical fibers inserted into each of the probes. Light travels from the light source  134  into the jet and the drain  126 . The light that emits from the ends of the optical fibers is refracted through the probes to illuminate the water in the spa  120 . 
     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred configurations, other versions are possible. The invention can be used in spas, pools, tubs and the like. Different spa, pool or tub components can use the invention for water illumination. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the preferred versions described above.

Technology Category: a