Flush-Mounted Underwater Pool Light with Directional Reflector
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Underwater pool lights are bulky and expensive to install due to the need for niches in pool walls, pose maintenance challenges due to bulb replacement requirements and lack of heat sensing, and often cause glare with undirected light output.
Innovation Solution
A flush-mounted underwater pool light with a mounting assembly that attaches to the pool wall without excavation, featuring a reflector for directional light output, a removable lens cover for color options, and a temperature sensor for overheating prevention, along with a design that allows for easy maintenance and reduced glare.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional underwater lights are installed using wet niche lights, then illumination under water is achieved, but installation complexity and cost increase due to requiring nine to twelve inches wide holes and additional reinforcing
Solution Approach 1:
The light housing is divided into separable components including a removable lens cover, bulb access mechanisms, and modular mounting elements. This segmentation allows for simplified installation without requiring complex niche construction, as the light can be assembled and mounted more easily compared to traditional integrated wet niche lights
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional side-mounted niche installation to a flush-mounted configuration that can be installed from the front face of the pool wall. This dimensional change in installation approach eliminates the need for deep lateral excavation and complex reinforcing structures
2Illumination intensity
If clear covers or lenses are used without directional control, then light output is maximized, but glare and safety hazards increase due to illumination of surrounding area
Solution Approach 1:
The lens is designed with non-uniform optical properties featuring specific refraction patterns that redirect light locally in desired directions while minimizing glare in unwanted areas. The lens elements have varying curvatures and refractive indices to control light distribution spatially
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful scattered light that causes glare into beneficial directed illumination by using strategically positioned reflectors and shaped lens elements to redirect otherwise wasted light back into the pool area, improving illumination efficiency while reducing glare
3Device complexity
If underwater lights lack heat sensing devices, then device complexity is reduced, but safety hazards and maintenance costs increase due to overheating
Solution Approach 1:
A temperature sensing mechanism provides feedback about the thermal state of the light housing and bulb assembly. When excessive heat is detected, the system can trigger cooling mechanisms, alert systems, or automatic shutdown protocols to prevent dangerous overheating conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates proactive thermal management features including heat sinks, thermal barriers, and preventive cooling mechanisms that are built into the design before overheating problems can occur. These features cushion against potential thermal runaway scenarios
4Reliability
If underwater lights require complete disassembly to replace bulbs, then sealing is improved, but maintenance difficulty and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light housing is divided into separable components including a removable lens cover and modular bulb assembly that can be accessed independently. This segmentation allows bulb replacement without compromising the overall seal integrity, as access points are designed to maintain waterproofing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates dynamic sealing mechanisms such as flexible gaskets, O-rings, and snap-fit connections that maintain waterproof seals during assembly and disassembly operations. These dynamic elements allow for easy maintenance access while preserving seal integrity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables cost-effective, safe, and low-maintenance underwater lighting with directed light output, reducing installation complexity and glare, while ensuring prolonged operation and safety through heat sensing and directional control.
Implementation Method 1
The lens can include a plurality of contiguous parallel concave lens elements extending in a single direction to disperse light perpendicularly to the single direction
Implementation Method 2
Underwater lights should include an effective reflector to direct light out into the pool
Data Source
AI summary
An underwater light that can include a mounting assembly attachable to a pool wall without having to make a niche in the wall, a housing coupled to the mounting assembly and including a light source cavity, a reflector in the light source cavity, a light source in front of the reflector, and a lens in front of the light source. The lens can include a plurality of contiguous parallel concave lens elements extending in a single direction to disperse light perpendicular to the single direction. The underwater light can include a removable lens cover that is at least one of red, green, yellow, and blue, in order to shine colored light into the pool.