POOL SKIMMER WITH INTEGRATED LIGHT
The present invention is a pool skimmer with an integrated underwater light. The skimmer's body has a mouth and a face plate to cover the mouth. The face plate is provided with a cavity below the skimmer's mouth that accommodates a light source element, and this light source element connects to a low voltage power supply means.
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This application is based on Provisional application No. 62/102,959 filed on Jan. 13, 2015. The present invention relates to a swimming pool skimmer face with an integrated underwater light. All swimming pools require a skimmer apparatus to remove floating debris such as leaves and insects. A skimmer face is standard equipment in every pool. The present invention is an improved skimmer face that adds advantageous and aesthetic underwater illumination. It is easy to install, and does not require for a pool to be drained for installation.
Underwater illumination is a desirable feature of any swimming pool. It adds value, usability and aesthetics. Most underwater light systems need major modifications to a pool's infrastructure, including draining the pool, drilling holes in the pool wall and installing complicated wiring assemblies adapted for underwater use.
The present invention combines both elements in one simple, unitary panel without the need to drain the pool and drill an extra hole in the swimming pool wall for a light. It also eliminates the need to install complicated, dangerous power wiring for a light. Any skimmer face can be swapped for the present invention, permitting a swimming pool user to install underwater illumination quickly and easily.
BACKGROUNDThere exists U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,499 for INTEGRAL LIGHT AND LIQUID CIRCULATION FITTING. There is also known U.S. Pat. No. 7,188,378 for SWIMMING POOL IMMERSED LIGHT FIXTURE. Both these patents are for a return fitting, not a skimmer. A return fitting is the inlet for the water that is returned into the pool through a pump to promote a circulatory current to move debris into the pool a skimmer.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention permits a swimming pool user to install underwater illumination without drilling holes in the pool wall or installing wiring. This is accomplished by changing a typical swimming pool skimmer faceplate with the faceplate of the present invention. The faceplate of the present invention incorporates a light source below the skimmer's mouth. Alternatively the light could be placed on either side of the face plate or on both sides of the face plate or on all three sides of the face plate.
The faceplate of the present invention has all necessary electric wiring built in and pre-wired, so that the user simply plugs the wiring harness into a power supply outside of the pool wall near to the skimmer, and the swimming pool instantly has underwater illumination. In one alternative, the user can drill a hole in the skimmer's body above the water line to feed the wire. In another alternative, if the user does not want to drill a hole in the skimmer, he can remove a pre-scored notch from the present invention to accommodate the wire over the top edge of the faceplate.
The present invention is an elegant, slim and streamlined alternative to an otherwise expensive and complicated swimming pool addition. Since no additional holes need to be drilled in the pool wall, leaks are averted. Considering all wiring is built into the faceplate of the invention, accidents relating to dangerous electric mal-installations are averted. Changing the LED lights is very easy, as the LED holder is part of the skimmer's faceplate and not hard-wired into the pool wall infrastructure.
The present invention allows a pool to be fitted with underwater lighting for a fraction of the usual cost, and with almost no tools. No changes are necessary to the pool's structure, no electrical wiring needs to be installed, and fitting the underwater lights can be accomplished within minutes.
The present invention uses a feature common to all swimming pools: the skimmer. Instead of a normal skimmer faceplate, the present invention comprises an improved faceplate with an integrated light and hard-wired for low voltage electricity. The user removes the old faceplate and installs the present invention. Once plugged in, the light incorporated into the present faceplate acts as an underwater illumination, adding value and usability to any pool.
Referring now to drawings, the preferred embodiment is described on
In operation, in the first embodiment, user snaps light 8 into its cavity 22 inside faceplate 4, clips wire 10 along faceplate 4's inside edge, drills a hole in skimmer 2's body, feeds wire 10 through the resulting hole, installs through-fitting 12, and plugs in LED light 8's plug 16 into a low voltage power supply apparatus (not shown). In another embodiment shown on
A power converter to convert household current (110V, etc.) to 12-volt is provided to the user with the invention. Other power transmission means are possible.
Claims
1. A pool skimmer comprising:
- a skimmer body provided with a mouth,
- a face plate adapted to cover said mouth;
- said face plated is adapted to accommodate
- a light source element incorporated within said face plate,
- said light source is provided with an electrical means adapted to connect
- said light source element with a low voltage power supply means.
2. A pool skimmer according to claim 1, wherein said face plate is provided with a cavity adapted to accommodate said light source element.
3. A pool skimmer according to claim 2, wherein said cavity is located in a lower part of said face plate below said mouth.
4. A pool skimmer according to claim 3, wherein said face plate has substantially rectangular configuration and a bottom portion of said face plate has a semi-circular configuration, said cavity of said face plate has an elongated configuration, wherein a bottom portion of said cavity has a semi-circular configuration and wherein said light source element also has an elongated configuration with a bottom portion having a corresponding semi-circular configuration to accommodate said light source element within said cavity.
5. A pool skimmer according to claim 4, wherein said cavity of said face plate is provided with at least two locking elements, said locking elements are adapted to securely hold said light source element within said cavity.
6. A pool skimmer according to claim 5, wherein said locking elements extend outwardly from an inner edge of said cavity and wherein said light source element is provided with a corresponding groove formed around outer walls of said light source element, said locking elements are adapted to securely lock said light source element within said cavity formed in said face plate by means of said groove.
7. A pool skimmer according to claim 1, wherein said electrical means is a wire integrally connected to said light source element, said wire is of a sufficient length to connect said light source element from inside of said face plate to said outside low voltage power supply.
8. A pool skimmer according to claim 7, wherein said wire of said light source element is connected to said power supply by means of a hole drilled in the body of said skimmer, said wire is provided with a through-fitting adapted to prevent water from leaking out of said skimmer when pool is in use.
9. A pool skimmer according to claim 7, wherein said faceplate is provided with a wire-fitting notch formed on said faceplate, said notch provided to feed said wire from said face plate through a resulting opening, thus eliminating a need to drill a hole in said skimmer body.
10. A pool skimmer according to claim 1, wherein said light source element is LED light.
11. A pool skimmer comprising:
- a skimmer body provided with a mouth,
- a face plate adapted to cover said mouth;
- said face plated is adapted to accommodate
- a light source element incorporated within said face plate,
- said light source is provided with an electrical means adapted to connect
- said light source element with a low voltage power supply means,
- said face plate is provided with a cavity adapted to accommodate said light source element.
12. A pool skimmer according to claim 11, wherein said cavity is located in a lower part of said face plate below said mouth.
13. A pool skimmer according to claim 12, wherein said face plate has substantially rectangular configuration and a bottom portion of said face plate has a semi-circular configuration, said cavity of said face plate has an elongated configuration, wherein a bottom portion of said cavity has a semi-circular configuration and wherein said light source element also has an elongated configuration with a bottom portion having a corresponding semi-circular configuration to accommodate said light source element within said cavity.
14. A pool skimmer according to claim 13, wherein said cavity of said face plate is provided with at least two locking elements, said locking elements are adapted to securely hold said light source element within said cavity.
15. A pool skimmer according to claim 14, wherein said locking elements extend outwardly from an inner edge of said cavity and wherein said light source element is provided with a corresponding groove formed around outer walls of said light source element, said locking elements are adapted to securely lock said light source element within said cavity formed in said face plate by means of said groove.
16. A pool skimmer according to claim 11, wherein said electrical means is a wire integrally connected to said light source element, said wire is of a sufficient length to connect said light source element from inside of said face plate to said outside low voltage power supply.
17. A pool skimmer according to claim 16, wherein said wire of said light source element is connected to said power supply by means of a hole drilled in the body of said skimmer, said wire is provided with a through-fitting adapted to prevent water from leaking out of said skimmer when pool is in use.
18. A pool skimmer according to claim 16, wherein said faceplate is provided with a wire-fitting notch formed on said faceplate, said notch provided to feed said wire from said face plate through a resulting opening, thus eliminating a need to drill a hole in said skimmer body.
19. A pool skimmer according to claim 11, wherein said light source element is LED light.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 30, 2015
Publication Date: Jul 14, 2016
Applicant: CANADIAN PLASTICS INC. (LaSalle)
Inventor: Robert Lafontaine (Boucherville)
Application Number: 14/954,451