Abstract: An underwater lighting fixture adapted for installation in a lamp receiving recess in the wall of a swimming pool. The fixture includes a lamp housing having a pair of reflector-mounted incandescent lamps mounted therein. A plate having a pair of apertures is mounted in the housing with the apertures mounted in alignment with the lamps. A pair of secondary reflectors are mounted to face the plate apertures and are provided with light-transmitting portals. A color wheel having dichroic filter segments is mounted so that identically colored pairs of segments pass the portals when the color wheel is driven by a motor. A synchronization circuit is responsive to an alternating-current source of power applied to the lighting fixture.

Abstract: A header for a heat exchanger having a plurality of parallel hollow tubes mounted between a pair of flat mounting plates and defining a plurality of passages through the plates. The header comprises a tubular elongated body portion having an outer surface and an interior cavity. The body portion is provided with a plurality of parallel, hollow ports projecting from the outer surface to provide fluid communication between the passages and the cavity. The projecting ports space the header from the tube plate so that the header body remains relatively cool. This permits the header to be made from a plastic material.

Abstract: A spa jet comprising a first nozzle, a second nozzle, and an aeration chamber therebetween, are all disposed in a housing. One seal forms a watertight seal between the first nozzle and the housing, and another seal forms a watertight seal between the second nozzle and the housing. A ring is affixed to the second-nozzle downstream end, and a third nozzle is pivotally mounted in the ring. A retainer is mounted to the ring and it frictionally secures the third nozzle in any one of a continuum of angular positions. The ring can be a ball-bearing ring, whereby the third nozzle can freely rotate in the ball-bearing ring under the force of a water stream exiting the third nozzle. A non-circular opening in the third nozzle assists in rotating the third nozzle even when centered in the ring. A barrel, comprising the first and second nozzles and the aeration chamber, has latching tabs formed thereon, and the housing has a retaining profile formed therein for engaging the latching tabs.

Abstract: A niche assembly (8) for a pool having outer wall (20), flange (22) and boss (34) formed on the flange. The boss is configured to inset in small hole (38) of pool wall (40) when the niche is fully inserted into large hole (42). At least one handle (32) is formed on backup ring (12) that screws on to the niche to mount the niche to the pool wall. The inset boss prevents rotation of the niche. The niche further includes plurality of ribs (50) formed on the outer wall. The backup ring further includes a tab (56) projecting towards the ribs. The tab and the ribs cooperate to impede unscrewing the backup ring off the niche. A seal ring (16) and 24. a gasket (18) seal a vinyl liner (64) to the flange. The seal ring has a sloping outer edge (68) and the flange has a beveled outer edge (72).

Abstract: A lighting system (100) comprises a nonconductive niche (110) that is free of ground connections and bond connections, and a lighting fixture (108) having no conductive components, except for a current-carrying circuit (112). Snap fasteners (124) secure the lighting fixture to the niche, and lamp sockets are arranged to radiate multiple light beams from halogen lamps in different directions. An electronic isolation transformer (200), which supplies a two-wire, ungrounded source of power to the halogen lamps, presents a linear load and a conduction path to a dimmer switch, and inhibits switching in the electronic isolation transformer when an AC signal (204) applied to the electronic isolation transformer is within a predetermined range. A nonconductive junction box (600) houses the electronic isolation transformer and physically isolates a high-voltage, low-frequency power source (106) from the low-voltage, high-frequency power source in the junction box.

Abstract: A spa jet comprising a first nozzle, a second nozzle, and an aeration chamber therebetween, are all disposed in a housing. One seal forms a watertight seal between the first nozzle and the housing, and another seal forms a watertight seal between the second nozzle and the housing. A ring is affixed to the second-nozzle downstream end, and a third nozzle is pivotally mounted in the ring. A retainer is mounted to the ring and it frictionally secures the third nozzle in any one of a continuum of angular positions. The ring can be a ball-bearing ring, whereby the third nozzle can freely rotate in the ball-bearing ring under the force of a water stream exiting the third nozzle. A non-circular opening in the third nozzle assists in rotating the third nozzle even when centered in the ring. A barrel, comprising the first and second nozzles and the aeration chamber, has latching tabs formed thereon, and the housing has a retaining profile formed therein for engaging the latching tabs.

Abstract: The invention resides in apparatus and methods for isolating and collecting cells from donor tissue for later use in medical procedures. The apparatus includes a sealed enclosure, at least one screening material inside the enclosure, an inlet port configured to conduct a fluid through the screening material, and an outlet port for receiving the fluid from the screening material and conducting the fluid out of the enclosure. A material to be screened is placed inside or conducted into the enclosure. Screened material is entrained in the fluid. The fluid carries bits of the material through the screening material and out of the enclosure for later separation from the fluid. Preferred embodiments include a series of screening materials of decreasing pore size, usually in the range from ten to one thousand micrometers in diameter.

Abstract: An improved fiber optic end coupling apparatus for a bundle of optical fibers that is heat resistant and that can precisely and easily align different-sized fiber optic bundles along an axis of the beam of light. The end coupling releasably connects one end of a fiber optic bundle to a housing containing an illumination source to light an object, which, by way of example, can be a swimming pool, a spa or the like. The cable has a bundle of exposed coaxial optical fibers in a region adjacent to the end of the cable. The coupling includes a tubular body that has a forward end and that is mounted concentrically on the bundle so that the exposed ends of the fibers are out of contact with the body and extend axially forward from the forward end of the body. The coupling also includes a connector mounted on the body in releasable engagement with the housing to support the ends of the fibers close to the illumination source.