Illumination – Self powered lamp – With hermetic seal
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-15
2001-11-13
Lee, Y Quach (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Self powered lamp
With hermetic seal
C362S263000, C362S267000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315429
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field underwater lighting systems and, more particularly, to a lighting system that is deployed adjacent a structure for an aquascaping effect.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Underwater lighting systems have been proposed since at least early in the twentieth century. In U.S. Pat. No. 867,256, Dion taught a subaqueous light system that served as an aid to navigation. This system comprised a cable laid along the deepest portion of bottom of a channel and included short cables leading to incandescent lamps. The lamps had floats attached to them so that the lamps would not rest on the bottom.
Other systems included lamps that were attached to floats so that the lamps would hang down into water to attract fish. U.S. Pat. No. 1,192,011 to Ryan, No. 1,338,528 to Reinewald, No. 4,187,533 to Hampton, No. 4,190,976 to Hurt, No. 4,598,346 to Bodde, and No. 5,651,209 to Rainey all describe variations on that concept. U.S. Pat. No. 2,097,357 to Watts describes an illuminated sinker to fishing, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,757,276 to Campbell illustrates a light on the end of a wand for attracting fish. U.S. Patent No. to Quereau describes an ornamental light system for a swimming pool to develop a changing light pattern by using mirrors on a curved surface.
Thus, it is known that placing a light underwater will attract fish. And Quereau teaches that an attractive light pattern may be developed underwater. However, none of these references discloses a permanently or semi-permanently installed lighting system that is primarily directed to providing lighting from beneath the surface of a body of water to display what is underwater to those above the surface of the water.
What is really needed, though, is an underwater lighting system that can be deployed and left in place to provide an aquascape lighting arrangement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses this need in the art. In one aspect, the present invention comprises a high intensity light in a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) receptacle and extension system. The receptacle is adapted to be releasably anchored on the bottom of a channel or an underwater area adjacent to a structure which provides alternating current (AC) power from a shoreside mains. The high intensity lamp may be sealed within a transparent enclosure, but is preferably left exposed to minimize sealife growth on the lamp. The PVC receptacle is preferably weighted, such as for example with concrete, to help anchor the receptacle to the bottom. The receptacle further includes rebar extending from the receptacle to penetrate the hard pack below the silt on the bottom.
In another aspect of this invention, a method of deploying an underwater lighting system is provided. A high intensity lamp is assembled into a PVC receptacle, the receptacle is joined to a predetermined length of conduit enclosing an electrical wire, and the assembly is deployed adjacent an electrical outlet available shore side. An inflated bladder, such as a balloon, is attached to or adjacent the receptacle, and the assembly is then floated to a point on the surface of the water above the point where the installation is desired. Then, the bladder is deflated, such as by bursting the balloon, and the assembly drops to the bottom. The ballast in the receptacle drives protruding rebar down below the silt covering the bottom of the channel, and into the hard pack underneath.
These and other features and objects of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 867256 (1907-10-01), Dion
patent: 1192001 (1916-07-01), Ryan
patent: 1338528 (1920-04-01), Reinewald
patent: 2097357 (1937-10-01), Watts
patent: 2709217 (1955-05-01), McCluskey
patent: 2757276 (1956-07-01), Campbell
patent: 3949213 (1976-04-01), Paitchell
patent: 4187533 (1980-02-01), Hampton
patent: 4190976 (1980-03-01), Hurt
patent: 4598346 (1986-07-01), Bodde
patent: 5213410 (1993-05-01), Acks
patent: 5386355 (1995-01-01), Acks
patent: 5651209 (1997-07-01), Rainey
patent: 5934796 (1999-08-01), Quereau
Aquatic Attractor Inc.
Bracewell & Patterson L.L.P.
Lee Y Quach
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