Flexible Underwater LED Support for Easy Strip Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting apparatuses in water bodies, such as swimming pools and fountains, face challenges in facilitating easy maintenance, particularly the replacement of LED strips, especially when installed in environments with PVC coatings.
Innovation Solution
A lighting apparatus with a flexible support structure that allows for easy insertion and extraction of LED strips, featuring a deformable design and a housing mechanism that enables temporary deformation for maintenance, combined with a method for replacing LED strips.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the support structure is made rigid to ensure stability and proper positioning of LED strips, then structural stability is improved, but ease of maintenance deteriorates because the LED strips cannot be easily extracted for replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is designed to be dynamic rather than static. The housing can assume a first configuration that provides structural stability during operation, and a second configuration that facilitates maintenance by allowing LED strip extraction. This dynamic transformation enables the structure to adapt between operational and maintenance states.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is divided into separable components: a housing and an insert that can be extracted from the housing. This segmentation allows the insert to be removed for LED strip replacement while the housing remains in place, resolving the contradiction between structural integrity and maintenance accessibility.
2Ease of repair
If the support structure is made flexible to facilitate LED strip insertion and extraction, then ease of maintenance is improved, but structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure transitions between a rigid first configuration for stability and a flexible second configuration for maintenance. The housing can be deformed or reconfigured to allow insert removal, providing flexibility only when needed for LED strip replacement, while maintaining structural stability during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is pre-designed with the capability to assume a second configuration that facilitates insert extraction. This preliminary structural design ensures that when maintenance is needed, the housing can be easily reconfigured to provide the necessary flexibility for LED strip replacement without compromising overall structural integrity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the housing is designed with a fixed insert to ensure proper positioning and support, then structural stability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates because the insert cannot be removed for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The relationship between the housing and insert is dynamic rather than fixed. The insert can be extracted from the housing when needed for maintenance, and the housing can assume different configurations to facilitate this extraction. This dynamic design maintains structural stability when the insert is in place while enabling easy removal when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing and insert are designed as separate, separable components. The insert can be extracted from the housing through a slot, allowing maintenance operations. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling both stable positioning during operation and easy removal during maintenance.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the slot for LED strip insertion is made small to maintain housing integrity, then structural stability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates because LED strips cannot be easily inserted or extracted
Solution Approach 1:
The housing structure is dynamic, allowing the slot to be enlarged when needed for LED strip insertion or extraction. The housing can assume a second configuration where the slot passage section is enlarged, facilitating LED strip access while maintaining housing integrity when in the first configuration with the slot at normal size.
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
Facilitates quick and easy maintenance of LED strips, especially in environments with PVC coatings, by allowing for simple replacement and installation, enhancing usability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The support 3 is flexible. Opportunely, the support 3 can be bent at 360° along the main extension direction... The insert 5 is extracted at least partly from the housing 4... this facilitates the temporary deformation of the support 3... allows the passage section of the slot 32 to be enlarged
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A lighting apparatus installable in water, comprising: i) a strip (2) of LEDs; ii) a support (3) with a main linear extension that defines a seat (31) in which the strip (2) of LEDs is placed; the seat (31) in turn defining a slot (32) that allows the strip (2) of LEDs to light the seat (31) externally; The support (3) is flexible, comprises a housing (4) and a linear insert (5) that extends along the main linear extension of the support (3). The support (3) assumes: - a first configuration in which the insert (5) is inserted into said housing (4); and - a second configuration in which the insert (5) is extracted at least partly from the housing (4) to facilitate the temporary deformation of the support (3) and to allow the insertion and/or the extraction of the strip (2) of LEDs with respect to said seat (31) through said slot (32).