Illumination – Light source and modifier – Plural serial lens elements or components
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-14
2001-03-20
Chang, Audrey (Department: 2872)
Illumination
Light source and modifier
Plural serial lens elements or components
C362S267000, C362S331000, C362S455000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203173
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to lighting systems, and more particularly to lighting systems that can operate in air or fully or partially submerged in water.
2. Prior Art
Water displays such as fountains or cascades are used to bring pleasure through their contextually motivated water features. In the absence of physical barriers, these displays invite participation from the audience and enables each water feature to interact with its surrounding landscape. To enhance the synthesis, kinetics, context, and interaction features that are innate in such water displays, color and light from underwater lighting systems are incorporated with the display to accentuate the unique character of the display.
In conventional underwater lighting systems, a lamp may be used to provide light through optical elements that are located within the lighting system. The process of maintaining the lighting system such as by changing out the lamp is a slow process that requires tools and frequently results in finger prints on the optical elements. Moreover, where underwater lighting systems are used in lakes and large bodies of water, the heavier-than-water lighting systems need to receive extra support while the lamp is being changed.
For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,661,893, the top of the enclosure of an underwater lighting system is fastened by screws, necessitating the need to manipulate a tool while steadying the lighting system in order to remove the enclosure top and change the lamp. Other inventions characterize the same problems. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,443 (In-ground directional light fixture); U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,499 (Integral light and liquid circulation fitting); U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,151 (High-intensity underwater light source); and U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,811 (Method and apparatus for illumination of a liquid droplet fountain to produce rainbows).
Thus, in a water lighting system, there is a need for an apparatus that permits quick lamp maintenance in lakes and large bodies of water, that permits quick lamp maintenance without the need for tools, and that minimizes the risk of placing finger prints on the optical elements while changing the lamp. Moreover, there is a need for a water lighting system having the capability of operating fully submerged, partially submerged, or completely dry such that the need for a thermal cutout switch, otherwise required to prevent the overheating that would be caused by the accidental dry operation of the fixture designed to be run submerged for cooling, is eliminated.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a water lighting system that can be maintained with relative ease. The system has a plurality of finger clamps disposed about the perimeter of a housing that permit the installation and removal of a front lens without tools. With the front lens removed, the system further has an optical cassette having changeable optical elements for light beam and color control that can easily be removed without tools to expose the lamp. The lamp then can be replaced without the need for tools or without accidentally touching a lens in the optical cassette. Other features are disclosed.
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Backman Robert
Duff David
Fuller Mark W.
Blakely , Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman LLP
Chang Audrey
Wet Enterprises, Inc.
Winstedt Jennifer
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