US3864562A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Means for illuminating underwater areas of swimming pools
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-10-19
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Granted: 1975-02-04
•
Expires: 1993-10-19
Abstract
Abstract An underwater safety light for illuminating water-filled pools, comprising a low voltage sealed beam incandescent lamp carried in a watertight plastic casing, means carried by the casing for mounting it to an inside wall of a pool below the waterline thereof, current carrying lines passing through the wall of the casing and sealed thereto, a low voltage battery located exteriorly of the pool and disposed in a weathertight casing, means for charging the battery, and safety means for disconnecting the lamp from the battery and connecting the latter with the charger for positively electrically isolating the lamp from the battery during charging thereof. The mounting means comprises a suction cup carried by the lamp casing for sealingly engaging an inside wall of the pool, thus providing a permanent mounting for the lamp. The safety means comprises a male electrical connector fitting connected with the battery, a mating female connector fitting connected with the battery charger, and an additional female connector fitting connected with the current carrying lines to the lamp, such that the battery can be connected either with the lamp, or with the charger, but not both simultaneously. By such an arrangement, the lamp is electrically isolated from the charger and battery when charging of the latter is occurring.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald K Hawkins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:39
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21S; F21S8/00; F21S9/00; F21S9/02; F21V; F21V21/00; F21V21/08; F21V21/092; F21V31/00; F21W; F21W2131/00; F21W2131/40; F21W2131/401
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
257 words
An underwater safety light for illuminating water-filled pools, comprising in combination: a. a sealed beam incandescent lamp, b. a cup-shaped molded plastic casing having a wide mouth constituting a window for passing light therethrough, c. means for mounting the lamp in the casing in a position to direct light outward through the casing window, the face of said lamp spanning the window of the casing, d. said casing constituting an enclosure in which the lamp is mounted, e. current carrying lines passing through a wall of the casing, said lines being connected to the lamp to effect energization thereof, f. means carried by said casing for mounting the same on an inside wall of the pool below the waterline thereof, g. a battery disposed at a location exterior of the pool, h. said current carrying lines extending to the battery to receive energization therefrom, i. said battery being characterized by an output voltage of a sufficiently low magnitude so as to present no shock hazard to personnel inadvertently coming in contact with current carrying portions of said lines and lamp, j. means for charging the battery, k. a line cord leading from said battery and connected with said charging means to supply energy to the battery, and l. safety means adapted to disconnect said current carrying lines from said battery and to connecT the latter with the charger, whereby said lamp and current carrying lines are thereby positively electrically isolated from the charger and the battery whenever a circuit is established between the charger and the battery.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
257 words
An underwater safety light for illuminating water-filled pools, comprising in combination: a. a sealed beam incandescent lamp, b. a cup-shaped molded plastic casing having a wide mouth constituting a window for passing light therethrough, c. means for mounting the lamp in the casing in a position to direct light outward through the casing window, the face of said lamp spanning the window of the casing, d. said casing constituting an enclosure in which the lamp is mounted, e. current carrying lines passing through a wall of the casing, said lines being connected to the lamp to effect energization thereof, f. means carried by said casing for mounting the same on an inside wall of the pool below the waterline thereof, g. a battery disposed at a location exterior of the pool, h. said current carrying lines extending to the battery to receive energization therefrom, i. said battery being characterized by an output voltage of a sufficiently low magnitude so as to present no shock hazard to personnel inadvertently coming in contact with current carrying portions of said lines and lamp, j. means for charging the battery, k. a line cord leading from said battery and connected with said charging means to supply energy to the battery, and l. safety means adapted to disconnect said current carrying lines from said battery and to connecT the latter with the charger, whereby said lamp and current carrying lines are thereby positively electrically isolated from the charger and the battery whenever a circuit is established between the charger and the battery.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
92 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. said mounting means for the casing comprises a threaded nipple projecting from the same, said nipple being adapted to pass through a hole in a wall of the pool, b. said nipple having a longitudinal bore, c. a nut carried by said nipple, and d. a gasket carried by said nipple for engagement with peripheral portions of the hole in said wall, constituting a watertight seal around the nipple, e. said current carrying lines extending through said longitudinal bore of the nipple.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1, and further including: a. an electrical overload safety device connected with the current carrying lines to open the circuit thereof in the event of an electrical malfunction downstream of the device, and b. an on-off switch connected with said current carrying lines and located exteriorly of the walls of the pool, for controlling energization of said lamp.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. said safety means comprises a male electrical connector fitting connected with said battery, b. a mating female connector fitting connected with said current carrying lines extending to the lamp, and c. an additional female connector fitting connected with said charger, said male connector fitting being capable of accommodating only one of said female fittings at a time, whereby shock hazard to surrounding personnel is eliminated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein: a. said mounting means for the casing comprises a suction cup and an integral stud on the casing to which the cup is press-fitted, said cup being adapted to sealingly engage an inside wall of the pool.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
The invention as set forth in claim 5, and further including: a. a vertical wall portion of the pool to which the suction cup is attached, and b. a saddle member attached to and overlying the top edge of said vertical wall portion, c. said current carrying lines extending upward from the casing along the interior of said vertical wall portion and extending between the top rim of the latter and said saddle member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention as set forth in claim 5, and further including: a. an additional suction cup and stud on and integral with the casing, said cup being press-fitted to the stud and adapted for engaging said inside wall to supplement the support provided by the first mentioned suction cup.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1, and further including: a. a peripheral exterior skirt integral with the casing and surrounding the cup formation thereof, thereby to constitute in effect a cup having double side walls, b. said mounting means comprising suction cups mounted in the space formed by the double side walls of the casing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention as set forth in claim 8, wherein: a. the inner and outer side walls of the casing are respectively convergent and divergent, forming an annular space therebetween having a wide mouth at the rear of the casing in which the suction cups are disposed.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-03 | 1978-08-05 | 1979-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-03 | 1982-08-05 | 1983-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-03 | 1986-08-05 | 1987-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |