Illumination – Light fiber – rod – or pipe – With ventilating or cooling or thermally controlled light guide
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-30
2001-10-16
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Light fiber, rod, or pipe
With ventilating or cooling or thermally controlled light guide
C362S581000, C362S551000, C362S267000, C362S345000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302571
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to systems for delivering light to one or more light guides, and, more particularly, to a waterproof system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Lighting fixtures adapted for operation in outdoor environments are commonly used to illuminate optical fibers. These systems mounted above ground, employ exterior shields to protect the internal components from rain and water splashed from adjacent pools or ponds. The optical fibers may be positioned in decorative arrays around a pool or pond, and also illuminate the pool. Often, a color wheel is interposed between the light source and the inlet ends of the optical fibers to enhance the visual effects with colored light from the fibers. Cooling air is drawn into the housing, circulated around the inlet ends of the optical fibers and the light source, and then channeled from the fixture under a pressure differential established by a fan positioned along the cooling path of air flowing through the fixture.
Various attempts have been made to configure these lighting fixtures with a low profile above the ground, and to prevent the internal light source from leaking (spurious) light from the light box to the adjacent area. However, such above-ground fixtures are vulnerable to collision with people and moving equipment such as carts and bicycles, and to associated damage from such collisions. They are also vulnerable to intrusion by wildlife such as insects or rodents that may disturb sensitive components, or to dirt and dust that accumulates over time on the optics to reduce their light output.
Another approach is to channel the spurious light into a translucent globe and so make the light box visible. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,353, entitled “Weather-Protected Lighting Apparatus and Method.” This approach, however, draws attention to the light source and away from the dramatic and aesthetically pleasing fiberoptic pool-lighting display.
It would be desirable to provide a lighting fixture with fiber connections that could be buried beneath the surface of the ground. This would require the lighting fixture to be completely sealed. This, in turn, would require the lighting fixture to be efficient enough to deliver ample illumination at a sufficiently low power to avoid the need for external cooling air.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a preferred form, the invention provides a light delivery system including a light source. A first generally tubular, hollow coupling device with an interior light-reflective surface receives light from the source at an inlet and transmits it to an outlet. The coupling device increases in cross sectional area from inlet to outlet in such manner as to reduce the angle of light reflected from the surface as it passes through the device. A thermal-isolating region has an inlet positioned in proximity to an outlet of the coupling device and has an outlet for passing light to an optical member, the thermal-isolating region comprising one or more members. A waterproof container for the light source and coupling device has an aperture allowing light to pass out of the container. The aperture is sealed in part by a portion of a member of the thermal-isolating region.
Advantageously, the foregoing system can be buried beneath the ground. This avoids the problems of people or equipment colliding with the system. The components in the sealed container are protected from intrusion by wildlife or deterioration from dirt and dust. In some embodiments, the container may be free of a fan, reducing the complexity and noise of the system.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3712984 (1973-01-01), Lienhard
patent: 4149086 (1979-04-01), Nath
patent: 5058985 (1991-10-01), Davenport et al.
patent: 5099399 (1992-03-01), Miller et al.
patent: 5587626 (1996-12-01), Parham et al.
patent: 5675677 (1997-10-01), Davenport et al.
patent: 5676579 (1997-10-01), Parham et al.
patent: 5812714 (1998-09-01), Hulse
patent: 5826963 (1998-10-01), Cassarly et al.
patent: 5927849 (1999-07-01), Cassarly et al.
patent: 6224248 (2001-05-01), Chiba
Cassarly et al., “Comparison of Dual Focus Collector Schemes for Fiber Systems,” SAE Paper No. 970254, presented at the Feb. 1997 SAE Congress, pp. 1-10.
W.T. Welford and R. Winston, High Collection Nonimaging Optics, New York: Academic Press, Inc. (1989), chapter 4 (pp. 53-76).
Buchina Raymond A.
Buelow, II Roger F.
Davenport John M.
Haugaard Eric J.
Raleigh Craig D.
Bruzga Charles E.
DelGizzi Ronald E.
Fiberstars Incorporated
O'Shea Sandra
LandOfFree
Waterproof system for delivering light to a light guide does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Waterproof system for delivering light to a light guide, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Waterproof system for delivering light to a light guide will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2568280