Light with expanding compression member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11022298-B2
Application number	US-201815919915-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2018
Priority date	Sep 27, 2013
Publication date	Jun 1, 2021
Grant date	Jun 1, 2021

Abstract

A light includes a body, a front housing secured to a front end of the body, a translating retainer rotatably engaged with the front housing, a slip ring positioned around the front housing and between the translating member and the front end of the body, a compressible ring positioned around the front housing and between the slip ring and the front end of the body, a lens mounted to the front housing, an electronic assembly, and a light emitting element in electrical communication with the electronic assembly and positioned within the lens. Rotation of the translating retainer in a first direction causes the translating retainer to drive the slip ring toward the front end of the body, compressing the compressible ring and causing the compressible ring to bulge outward to contact, and removably engage, an inner wall of a pipe or conduit that the light is positioned in.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A light, comprising:
a body having a front end and a rear end;
a lens coupled to the body, wherein the body and the lens define a waterproof chamber;
an electronic assembly mounted in the waterproof chamber, the electronic assembly including at least one light-emitting element for emitting light; and
means configured to mount the light to a conduit of a pool or a spa, wherein the means configured to mount comprises a compressible element, the compressible element being adjustable between an uncompressed state and a compressed state, wherein when the compressible element is in the compressed state the compressible element bulges outward.

2. The light of claim 1 , wherein the means configured to mount comprises a front housing secured to the body, the compressible element being positioned around the front housing.

3. The light of claim 2 , wherein the body and the front housing are a unitary structure.

4. The light of claim 2 , wherein the lens is sealed with the front housing by an ultraviolet (UV) cured potting compound.

5. The light of claim 2 , wherein the lens is sealed with the front housing by a gasket.

6. The light of claim 2 , wherein the means configured to mount comprises a translating retainer configured to translate with respect to the front housing, wherein translation of the translating retainer toward the front end of the body causes the translating retainer to compress the compressible element between the translating retainer and the body, and wherein compression of the compressible element between the translating retainer and the body causes the compressible element to bulge outward.

7. The light of claim 6 , wherein the translating retainer is rotatably engaged with the front housing and rotation of the translating retainer in a first direction causes the translating retainer to translate toward the front end of the body, compress the compressible element, and cause the compressible element to bulge outward.

8. The light of claim 7 , wherein the lens is configured to rotate with respect to the translating retainer.

9. The light of claim 7 , wherein the translating retainer is configured to rotate with respect to the lens.

10. The light of claim 7 , wherein the lens includes one or more apertures configured to be engaged by a stationary tool for securing the lens, and the translating retainer includes one or more slots configured to be engaged by a rotating tool for rotating the translating retainer.

11. The light of claim 10 , wherein the stationary tool and the rotating tool are adapted to interface with at least one of a screwdriver, wrench, ratchet, or drill.

12. The light of claim 6 , wherein the means configured to mount comprises a slip ring positioned between the translating retainer and the front end of the body,
wherein translation of the translating retainer toward the front end of the body causes the translating retainer to drive the slip ring toward the front end of the body, compressing the compressible element between the slip ring and the body, and causing the compressible element to bulge outward.

13. The light of claim 12 , wherein the translating retainer is rotatably engaged with the front housing and rotation of the translating retainer with respect to the lens in a first direction causes the translating retainer to translate toward the front the front end of the body and drive the slip ring toward the front end of the body, compressing the compressible element between the slip ring and the body, and causing the compressible element to bulge outward.

14. The light of claim 12 , wherein the body, the front housing, the compressible element, the slip ring, the translating retainer, and the lens form a watertight housing.

15. The light of claim 6 , wherein the translating retainer is configured to secure to a front face of the conduit.

16. The light of claim 15 , wherein the translating retainer is secured to the front face of the conduit.

17. The light of claim 6 , wherein the means configured to mount comprises:
a first heat sink, the first heat sink conducting heat away from the electronic assembly; and
a water pathway placing the first heat sink in contact with water, wherein the water pathway is formed through the translating retainer and the front housing.

18. The light of claim 1 , wherein the compressible element is a compressible ring.

19. The light of claim 1 , further comprising a first heat sink, the first heat sink conducting heat away from the electronic assembly.

20. The light of claim 19 , further comprising a second heat sink, the second heat sink having a higher thermal conductivity than the first heat sink.

21. The light of claim 19 , further comprising a water pathway placing the first heat sink in contact with water.

22. The light of claim 1 , wherein the means configured to mount creates a seal with the conduit in which the light is installed.

23. The light of claim 1 , wherein the means configured to mount secures the light within the conduit in which the light is installed.

24. The light of claim 1 , further comprising a cable extending through the rear end of the body and in electrical communication with the electronic assembly, the cable providing power to the electronic assembly.

25. The light of claim 24 , wherein the cable provides control commands to the electronic assembly.

26. The light of claim 1 , wherein the electronic assembly includes a wireless transceiver.

27. The light of claim 26 , wherein the electronic assembly wirelessly receives control commands through the wireless transceiver.

28. The light of claim 1 , wherein a thermally conductive potting compound encapsulates the electronic assembly.

29. The light of claim 1 , wherein the means configured to mount comprises abrasive teeth for increased pull-out resistance.

30. The light of claim 1 , further comprising an adjustable reflective optic for directional control of emitted light.

31. The light of claim 1 , further comprising a heat-pipe that conducts heat from the electronic assembly and the light emitting element, and spreads the heat evenly throughout the body.

32. The light of claim 1 , wherein the electronic assembly comprises a plurality of printed circuit boards mated using stand-off connectors.

33. The light of claim 1 , wherein the electronic assembly comprises a plurality of printed circuit boards mated using edge card connections.

34. The light of claim 1 , wherein the electronic assembly comprises a plurality of printed circuit boards mated using a flex tail.

35. The light of claim 1 , wherein the body is formed using low-pressure over-molding.

36. The light of claim 1 , wherein the means configured to mount is configured to absorb expansion due to freezing water.

37. The light of claim 1 , wherein the means configured to mount comprises a hollow o-ring that can absorb expansion due to freezing water.

38. The light of claim 1 , wherein the means configured to mount is formed of a flexible material that can absorb expansion due to freezing water.

39. The light of claim 1 , wherein the means configured to mount is coated with a flexible material that can absorb expansion due to

Assignees

• Hayward Ind Inc

Inventors

• Potucek Kevin L
• Carter James
• Fournier Gregory
• Murdock James
• Mitchell Steven
• Sawyer Jr Douglas
• Williamson Matt

Classifications

• F21W2131/401

  for swimming pools · CPC title

• F21V23/006

  the substrate being distinct from the light source holder · CPC title

• F21V21/047

  Mounting arrangements with fastening means engaging the inner surface of a hole in a ceiling or wall, e.g. for solid walls or for blind holes · CPC title

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• F21V29/717

  using split or remote units thermally interconnected, e.g. by thermally conductive bars or heat pipes · CPC title