BLACK LIGHT ASSEMBLIES PRINCIPALLY FOR SWIMMING POOLS AND SPAS

Abstract

Lighting assemblies principally for swimming pools and spas may produce ultraviolet (UV) radiation (i.e. black light). They also may supply visible light if desired. The assemblies may be submerged within pools or spas or located externally thereof, and the light sources may be controlled either collectively or individually.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/680,360, filed Jun. 4, 2018, and having the same title as appears above, the entire contents of which application are hereby incorporated herein by this reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to lighting assemblies and associated methods and more particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, to luminaires configured to provide (at least) black light in order to illuminate regions in or near water-containing vessels such as swimming pools and spas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Numerous lighting devices exist for swimming pools and spas. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0285475 of Perkins addresses various such devices, including both lights fitted into niches affixed to pool surfaces and a nicheless light that “can be removably fastened to a horizontal surface, such as a pool deck, or a vertical surface, like a wall of a pool, via fasteners.” See Perkins, p. 2, ¶0020. According to the Perkins application, the light may include a light-emitting diode (LED). See id., ¶0023.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0338072 of Garcia, et al., discloses another swimming pool lighting assembly. The lighting assembly includes “a self-adhering base mountable to a side wall of a pool.” See Garcia, p. 1, ¶0013 (numeral omitted). The assembly further is described as a “waterproof LED pool accent light,” with translucent, interchangeable lenses used to change the color of the projected light. See id.

Detailed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0362166 of Hanke, et al., is another lighting system for installation in pool walls. See Hanke, p. 1, ¶0001. Modules of the system may include red, green, and blue (RGB) LEDs. See id., p. 2, ¶¶0016-0027. The system additionally includes an electronic controller capable of communicating with the modules so as to control their actions. See id., ¶¶0029-0035. U.S. Pat. No. 6,971,760 to Archer, et al., details further electronically-controllable LED-based pool lighting.

A black light produces, principally, ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Unlike visible light, UV radiation typically is not visible to the human eye. However, phosphors may emit visible light in response to UV radiation, furnishing an observable reaction to the radiation. In many cases phosphor-coated objects may appear to “glow in the dark,” or otherwise appear in ghostly manner, when subjected to UV radiation.

Absent from disclosures of these patent applications is any reference to providing black lighting for pools, either instead of or in addition to providing conventional visible-spectrum lighting. Equally absent from these disclosures is any contemplation of using black light LEDs to provide such black lighting for pools and spas. Yet doing so could enhance usefulness of these vessels, especially for fun and recreational purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention thus seeks to satisfy this desire by supplying innovative lighting assemblies and associated methods of their use. Luminaires may include black lights configured to produce UV radiation. If desired, they also may include sources of visible light.

Any suitable sources may be employed to provide lighting consistent with the present invention. Advantageously, though, LEDs may be utilized to supply both UV and visible light. A controller may control the LEDs electronically and either collectively or individually as appropriate or desired. Accordingly, the lighting assemblies may furnish numerous colors and hues and excite phosphors or other materials capable of responding to UV light.

The light emitters may be mounted suitably on one or more PCBs of a lighting assembly. Assemblies, furthermore, may be submerged within a swimming pool or spa. Alternatively or additionally, lighting assemblies may be positioned external to pools or spas. In either circumstance, they may illuminate water of the pools or spas, equipment (including water features) of the pools or spas, areas adjacent the pools or spas, or otherwise as desired.

It thus is an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide lighting assemblies for water-containing vessels such as swimming pools and spas.

It is also an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide lighting assemblies including at least one source emitting UV radiation.

It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide lighting assemblies comprising sources of both visible light and UV radiation.

It is a further optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide lighting assemblies including one or more PCBs including both UV and RGB LEDs.

It is, moreover, an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide lighting assemblies including one or more PCBs including UV, RGB, and white LEDs.

It is an additional optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide lighting assemblies containing multiple individually-controllable LEDs.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant field with reference to the remaining text and the drawings of this application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematicized view of a first printed circuit board (PCB) containing black light and RGB LEDs.

FIG. 2 is a schematicized view of a second PCB containing black light, RGB, and white LEDs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 is an exemplary PCB 10 that may form part of a lighting assembly (or luminaire) of the present invention. Shown as present on PCB 10 are four LEDs 14A-D, with LEDs 14A-C respectively providing red, green, and blue (i.e. RGB) light in the visible spectrum. LED 14D, by contrast, is a black light, producing predominantly UV radiation. In at least some versions of the invention LED 14D produces black light of wavelength between 320-400 nm, with one presently preferred LED 14D producing black light having average wavelength of approximately 385 nm. Another alternate LED 14D may produce black light at average wavelength of approximately 365 nm.

Lighting assemblies of the invention may be configured and structured in any suitable manner, including (but not limited to) the configurations and structures disclosed in the Perkins, Garcia, and Hanke applications and the Archer patent, as examples. LEDs 14A-D likewise may be controllable electronically as appropriate or desired. In some versions of the invention, LEDs 14A-D may be powered and controlled collectively or independently in order to produce a wide variety of colors and hues as well as excite objects capable of responding to the UV light supplied by LED 14D. The lighting assemblies further may be located underwater within a pool or spa (whether or not in a niche) or external to the pool or spa.

FIG. 2 depicts another exemplary PCB 10′ capable of inclusion in a lighting assembly consistent with the present invention. As with PCB 10, PCB 10′ may comprise red (14A′), green (14B′), blue (14C′), and UV (14D′) LEDs. PCB 10′ additionally may include a white LED 14E, further enhancing the controllable color schemes available to an owner or user of a pool. Again, each of LEDs 14A′-E may be powered and controlled collectively or independently.

Lighting assemblies thus may provide not only standard (RGB) lighting but also black lighting for swimming pools and spas. Accordingly, the assemblies may be used conventionally (by illuminating combinations of the RGB LEDs 14A-C or 14A′-C′ and 14E) when desired. They also may be used unconventionally, by illuminating UV LEDs 14D or 14D′ either alone or together with any of other LEDs.

Exemplary concepts or combinations of features of the invention may include:

• • A. A lighting assembly for a pool or spa containing at least one light source emitting UV radiation.
  • B. A lighting assembly for a pool or spa containing LEDs configured to emit either or both of visible light and UV radiation.
  • C. A method of illuminating a pool or spa comprising causing a lighting assembly to emit UV radiation.
  • D. A method of illuminating a pool or spa comprising causing one or more LEDs of a lighting assembly to emit either or both of visible light and UV radiation.

These examples are not intended to be mutually exclusive, exhaustive, or restrictive in any way, and the invention is not limited to these example embodiments but rather encompasses all possible modifications and variations within the scope of any claims ultimately drafted and issued in connection with the invention (and their equivalents). For avoidance of doubt, any combination of features not physically impossible or expressly identified as non-combinable herein may be within the scope of the invention.

The entire contents of the Perkins, Garcia, and Hanke applications and the Archer patent are incorporated herein by this reference. Further, although applicant has described lighting assemblies and techniques for use with swimming pools, persons skilled in the relevant field will recognize that the present invention may be employed in connection with other objects and in other manners. Finally, references to “pools” and “swimming pools” herein may also refer to spas or other water containing vessels used for recreation or therapy and for which lighting is needed or desired.

Claims

1. A method of illuminating a swimming pool or spa comprising causing a lighting assembly to emit UV radiation.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising causing the lighting assembly to emit visible light.

3. A method according to claim 2 further comprising separately controlling emission sources of the UV radiation and the visible light.

4. A method according to claim 3 further comprising locating the lighting assembly within water of the swimming pool or spa.

5. A method according to claim 4 in which the act of causing the lighting assembly to emit visible light comprises supplying electrical power to at least one of a red LED, a green LED, a blue LED, or a white LED.

6. A method according to claim 5 in which the act of causing the lighting assembly to emit visible light comprises causing the lighting assembly to emit visible light simultaneously with the emission of UV radiation.

7. A swimming pool or spa lighting assembly comprising at least one first light source emitting UV radiation.

8. A swimming pool or spa lighting assembly according to claim 7 further comprising at least one second light source emitting visible light.

9. A swimming pool or spa lighting assembly according to claim 8 in which the at least one first light source and the at least one second light source comprise LEDs.

10. A swimming pool or spa lighting assembly according to claim 9 in which the LEDs are mounted on a PCB.

11. A swimming pool or spa lighting assembly according to claim 10 in which the at least one first light source is controlled independently of the at least one second light source.

12. A swimming pool or spa lighting assembly according to claim 11 submerged within water of the swimming pool or spa.

13. A swimming pool or spa lighting assembly comprising a black light emitting radiation at wavelength between 320-400 nm.

14. A swimming pool or spa lighting assembly according to claim 13 submerged within water of the swimming pool or spa.

15. A swimming pool or spa lighting assembly according to claim 13 in which the black light emits radiation having average wavelength of approximately 385 nm or 365 nm.