Illumination – Light source and modifier – With sealing means or artificial atmosphere
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-09
2001-06-26
Sember, Thomas M. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Light source and modifier
With sealing means or artificial atmosphere
C362S145000, C362S147000, C362S101000, C362S364000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250776
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of lighting, and, more particularly, to a niche assembly, and methods therefore. Although the present invention is subject to a wide range of applications, it is especially suited for use in a pool, and will be particularly described in that connection.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A pool light can illuminate the pool from under the surface of the water. A niche assembly provides a way to mount the pool light to a side wall of a pool. As used herein, a pool is used generically to refer to a tank for holding water. Examples of such tanks are recreational swimming pools, spas, and aquariums.
Conventional lighting fixture assemblies for mounting pool lights are known. The niche assembly usually includes a niche, which houses various components that comprise the pool light, such as, the lamp, the lamp socket, and wires leading to the lamp socket. The niche is typically inside mounted, that is, inserted through an opening in the side wall from the inside the pool. A gasket that provides a watertight seal is located between the inner surface of the pool wall and a flange of the niche. The housing has external threads that extend beyond the outer surface of the pool wall. A ring nut with internal threads is used to mount the niche on the wall of the swimming pool by engaging the threads. Thus, the side wall of the swimming pool is captured between the nut and the combination of the flange and gasket.
Although suitable for some pool installations, the conventional niche assembly is cumbersome to mount to the pool wall, and often requires a special tool, such as a plumber's wrench, to grasp the ring nut and provide the torque necessary to tighten the ring nut sufficiently enough to obtain a watertight seal. Furthermore, there must be a means for preventing the niche from rotating as the ring nut is tightened. Oftentimes, two installers are necessary to mount the niche assembly. One inside the pool to hold the niche to prevent it from rotating, and one outside the pool to rotate the ring nut. This doubling of labor can increase the cost of the installation.
Moreover, the ring nut can loosen, and the pool light can wobble. It can be costly to re-tighten a loose pool light after installation is complete. An adhesive can be used to secure the ring nut, but this can increase the time and cost to install the pool light.
Instead of using fiberglass pool walls, it is known to install a vinyl lining over pressboard or metal walls of the pool to make the pool watertight. A conventional fitting assembly for a vinyl-lined pool uses a fitting and faceplate combination. The fitting has a flange with a rear surface that contacts the inside pool wall. A gasket and a faceplate hold the vinyl liner against the flange to provide a watertight seal.
Although suitable for some pool installations, the vinyl lining can tear at the edge of the flange because the flange's front surface is not flush with the inside pool wall. Thus, a step is formed from the pool wall to the flange's front surface that the vinyl lining must follow. If the lie of vinyl lining does not follow the step, e.g., it is stretched tight allowing an air gap between the vinyl liner and the lap of the step, a swimmer brushing up against the vinyl liner can cause the vinyl to puncture. Accordingly, the pool would leak and the water can cause damage.
Moreover, conventional niche assemblies are typically mounted to the pool wall by screws through holes around the flange. There are typically about four to ten holes in the flange. Installation requires drilling holes into the pool wall that perfectly match the holes in the flange, aligning the gasket to the drilled holes and the flange to the drilled holes, ensuring the niche assembly is properly oriented, and screwing the screws throught the flange and gasket into the holes in the pool wall. This is a labor intensive procedure with opportunity for error. For example, the holes may not be drilled to match the flange holes, and, even if the holes are drilled correctly, the niche can be mounted with an improper orientation as it may be rotated one or more holes from proper orientation. A need therefore exists for a niche assembly, and methods therefore, that does not require a special tool to mount the niche assembly to the pool wall, can be mounted by a single installer, will not easily loosen with time and wear, mitigates punctures of the vinyl liner around the pool light in a vinyl-lined pool installation, and is not labor intensive or error prone.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, which tends to address this need, resides in a niche assembly, and methods therefore. The niche assembly described herein provides advantages over known lighting fixture assemblies in that a special tool is not required to mount the niche assembly to obtain a watertight seal, a single installer can perform the installation, the pool light will not easily loosen with time and wear, the vinyl layer is less susceptible to tears around the pool light, and is not labor intensive or error prone.
According to the present invention, providing leverage for screwing the backup ring on the niche. This is accomplished by at least one handle formed on the backup ring. Thus, the backup ring can be manually screwed on without the use of a special tool and the installation is not labor intensive.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, preventing the rotation of the niche when the backup ring rotates onto the niche. This is accomplished by a boss formed on a flange of the niche that is configured to inset in a small hole formed in the pool wall when the niche is fully inserted into a large hole of the wall. Thus, a second installer is not required to prevent the niche from rotating. Furthermore, proper orientation of the niche assembly is assured.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, impeding the rotation of the backup ring in one direction. This is accomplished by a plurality of ribs on the niche and a tab of the backup ring that abuts against a one of the ribs. Thus, the pool light will not easily loosen with time and wear.
Moreover, according to the present invention, gradually sloping the vinyl lining from the pool wall to the flange. This is accomplished by beveling the outer edge of the flange and sloping the outer edge of a seal ring. Thus, the vinyl layer is less susceptible to tears around the pool light because there is no abrupt step from the wall to the flange.
In accordance with the method for mounting a niche assembly of this invention, screwing a backup ring onto the niche by use of at least one handle formed on the backup ring.
The method more particularly comprises inserting a boss formed on the flange into the small hole when inserting the niche through the large hole.
In accordance with a method of manufacture of this invention, forming at least one handle on the backup ring.
The method of manufacture more particularly comprises forming a boss on the flange, and configuring the boss to be inset into a small hole of a pool wall when the niche is fully inserted into a large hole of the pool wall.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and accompanying drawings, wherein the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described and shown, and in part become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, or may be learned by practice of the present invention. The advantages of the present invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
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patent: 2163329 (1939-06-01), Sipior
patent: 2906863 (1959-09-01), Ritter
patent: 3845291 (1974-10-01), Portyrata
patent: 3868732 (1975-03-01), Engelhart
patent: 3962675 (1976-06-01), Rowley et al.
patent: 4433366 (1984-02-01), Wade
patent: 4539629 (1985-09-01), Poppe
Burkitt Garrett J.
Pickle Darrin K.
Alavi Ali
Christie Parker & Hale LLP
Pac-Fab, Inc.
Sember Thomas M.
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