Translucent Flange Lighted Fittings for Bathing Installations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bathing installations such as whirlpool baths and pools often lack effective lighting solutions for fittings passed through walls or surfaces, which can result in inadequate illumination and aesthetic issues.
Innovation Solution
A lighted fixture assembly featuring a translucent flange structure with integrated light sources, such as LEDs or incandescent bulbs, that can be securely mounted through a wall or panel, providing illumination on the opposite side while maintaining functionality and water sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If fittings are passed through walls or surfaces in bathing installations, then functionality and water sealing are maintained, but lighting and aesthetic appeal are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fitting structure with lighting components by integrating light sources, reflectors, and translucent materials into a unified assembly that passes through the wall. The fitting housing incorporates built-in lighting elements, eliminating the need for separate lighting installations and maintaining structural simplicity while adding illumination functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces translucent materials as intermediaries between the light sources and the external environment. These translucent components allow light to pass through while maintaining water sealing and structural integrity, serving as a mediator that enables lighting without compromising the fitting's functional or sealing properties.
2Illumination intensity
If traditional lighting is added to fittings, then illumination is improved, but water sealing and secure mounting are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs translucent flexible materials or thin film structures that can be sealed against water penetration while allowing light transmission. These translucent sealing elements maintain water-tight integrity while enabling illumination, resolving the conflict between lighting and water sealing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes composite material structures combining transparent/translucent materials with sealing and mounting components. These composite constructions integrate multiple functions (light transmission, water sealing, secure mounting) into a single reliable assembly, ensuring both illumination and water-tightness without compromising reliability.
3Illumination intensity
If multiple components are added for lighting, then aesthetic appeal is improved, but ease of installation and maintenance is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lighting system into modular components that can be independently installed and maintained. The fitting assembly includes separate but integrated lighting modules that can be accessed, replaced, or adjusted without disassembling the entire fitting structure, maintaining ease of installation and maintenance while providing aesthetic illumination.
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 enhances the aesthetic appeal of bathing installations by providing consistent and visible lighting for fittings like air jets, valves, and controls, while ensuring secure mounting and water-tight sealing.
Implementation Method 1
A lighted fixture assembly featuring a translucent flange structure with integrated light sources, such as LEDs or incandescent bulbs, that can be securely mounted through a wall or panel, providing illumination on the opposite side
Data Source
AI summary
A fixture for through hole mounting to a panel includes a flange structure fabricated of a translucent material. The flange structure includes a body portion adapted to extend through a mount hole in the panel and having a outer peripheral portion, and a transverse flange portion having an outer size larger than the hole opening. A periphery flange portion overlaps the panel surrounding the hole when the flange structure is installed in the panel hole. A light source attachment portion is configured to direct light emitted from a light source into the body portion of the flange structure, so that at least some of the emitted light passes into the flange portion to illuminate the flange portion.