With Gas Or Liquid Container Patents (Class 362/562)
  • Patent number: 6393192
    Abstract: A water feature provided with both water and an illuminating optical fiber through a single tube. The tube is sealingly connected to a housing having separate inlets for water and the fiber optic cable. A fitting connected between the tubing and the housing allows water to flow through the annulus between the fiber outside diameter and the tubing inside diameter. Water provided to the fitting from a water source passes through the tubing into a fixture where it then exits to form a waterfall or other water display. Light emitted from an end of the fiber optic cable illuminates the water display. By using a transparent or translucent tube, light emitted from along the length of the cable may be used to illuminate the translucent fixture itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Oasis Waterfalls LLC
    Inventor: Pinhas Paul Koren
  • Patent number: 6379018
    Abstract: A portable, illuminated, drinking vessel assembly for receiving a variety of sizes of liquid containing drinking vessels, such as an infant's bottle. The assembly comprises a generally circular, vessel receiving housing formed of a light-weight material, such as may be molded of a semi-rigid foam. The housing includes a base having a central cavity mounting a light and power source. Further, the housing includes an upstanding circular side wall terminating in an annular surface to define a vessel receiving recess. Within the wall are plural radially and upwardly extending, light transmitting, fiber optic filament segments. The respective segments extend from positions in close proximity to the light to the annular surface. By the use of a movable wheel, having different color filters, between the light and the respective filament segments, movement of the wheel effects a changing color light pattern about the annular surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Inventors: Kendall Rycroft, Everett B. James, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6375342
    Abstract: A waterfall illuminated by a plurality of optical fibers having their ends disposed along an underside of the edge of the waterfall and directing light downward from the fiber ends onto the surfaces under the waterfall. A fiber optic cable bundle is directed within a fiber conduit along the edge of a generally rectangular water conduit, with the individual fiber ends projecting through respective holes formed in an underside of the fiber conduit. The water and fiber conduits may be located between a wall of a pool or spa and the surrounding coping, with both water and fiber connections being made from the rear portion of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Oasis Waterfalls LLC
    Inventors: Pinhas Paul Koren, Laurie Beth Bernota
  • Patent number: 6371624
    Abstract: A glow cup modular system comprising a generally rigid exterior member that has a side wall with a top edge and a bottom edge to form an upper cavity for receiving and retaining a beverage container. The exterior member further has a circular planar surface located at an intermediate height. The system also includes a interior member that has a side wall with a planar top surface at the top end and has a recessed portion extending downward from the center of the planar top and fabricated of a pliable material. The generally rigid interior member also has a bottom end with a horizontal lip coupled to the horizontal lip of the exterior member form an air tight intermediate gap is formed between the two members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Inventor: Peter Dorney
  • Patent number: 6257750
    Abstract: An illuminating fire hose includes a fire hose having a first end, a second end, an interior wall and an exterior wall remote from the interior wall. The fire hose has at least light emitting element exposed at the exterior surface of the fire hose for selectively emanating light. The light emitting element is preferably attached to the exterior surface of the fire hose using an adhesive or securing threads for sewing the light emitting element to the exterior surface of the hose. The light emitting element may include a fiber optic cable, a chemiluminescent cable or a series of light emitting diodes. The light emitting element is activated during a fire to provide fire fighters with a visible marker that may be seen in a darkened and/or smoke-filled enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Inventors: Richard T. Strasser, Roger J. Brown
  • Patent number: 6238078
    Abstract: Chemical reaction is effected utilizing light of an appropriate frequency supplied preferably via optical fibers to one or more light extractors having light-emissive surfaces in contact with reactants. The light can be concentrated before being delivered. Wave guides and a plurality of such extractors can be provided within the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Gate Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventor: Aharon Zeev Hed
  • Patent number: 6234439
    Abstract: An illuminated cup holder assembly (10,10′) generally includes an elongated waveguide (12,12′), a cup holder bottom portion (14,14′), and a cup holder top portion (16,16′). The cup holder bottom portion (14,14′) includes a waveguide support (22,22′) disposed above a base (18,18′), with at least a portion of the waveguide (12,12′) disposed on the waveguide support. The cup holder top portion (16,16′) includes a shield (24,24′) extending over the waveguide (12,12′). This assembly (10,10′) splits the cup holder in two wherein the two pieces (14,14′ and 16,16′) create a pocket to hold the waveguide (12,12′) in place. In other words, the top and bottom portions (14,14′ and 16,16′) sandwich the waveguide (12,12′) into place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad Steven Townsend, James Burr Anderson, George Robert Hulse
  • Patent number: 6210015
    Abstract: A stand for cakes or pastries comprises a base, a transparent column mounted to said base, and a platform positioned on said transparent tube to support the cake or pastry. Air bubbles are introduced into water in the transparent tube, and an electric bulb in the base lights up the water and air bubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Inventor: Kenneth Alan Ross
  • Patent number: 6193399
    Abstract: An optical waveguide for illuminating the interior of a cup holder in a vehicle is disclosed. The waveguide includes a piece of solid material having a ring portion sized and shaped to be received within a cup holder and configured to release light into the cup holder. An input face receives light from a light source. An input portion extends between the input face and the ring portion. The input portion confines light through internal reflection to direct light from the input face to the ring portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Cooper Automotive Products, Inc.
    Inventor: George R. Hulse
  • Patent number: 6132056
    Abstract: An apparatus for creating an illuminated waterfall comprising a waterfall vessel, the vessel including a front wall, a pack wall, side ends with apertures, a top wall and a bottom wall; the vessel further including a plurality of baffles and/or combinations of baffles with apertures therein for converting turbulent flow to a waterfall stream at an exit to the vessel; and means for illuminating the waterfall. The means for illuminating the waterfall includes a clear rod or a side-light emitting fiber optic cable installed longitudinally within the vessel with a fiber optic light source juxtaposed to one end of the clear rod or cable. The clear rod or the cable may be installed within a clear tube as an alternative embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Inventor: Douglas Ruthenberg
  • Patent number: 6030108
    Abstract: The light transmission hose included in the waterproof lighting apparatus according to the present invention is of a watertight structure, so it can easily be used as laid in or on water without any special protective means. Since the light source is installed in a location apart from water, it can be easily maintained and lamp replacement is also easy. By selecting a desired one of the kinds of light source, the illumination can be changed, resulting in a great effect of illumination. If provided with a powerful light source, the waterproof lighting apparatus according to the present invention can be used for warning any hazardous area to walkers, bicycle riders, car drivers, ships, aircraft and the like vehicles. Even if the lighting apparatus is located far away, the light from the light-emitting portion permits the walker or vehicle driver to readily be aware of a hazardous area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Ishiharada, Itsuo Tanuma, Kazuo Naito, Yasuhiko Matsumuro, Takao Aoki, Kiyoshi Koyama
  • Patent number: 6015216
    Abstract: A water tank with an illuminating device comprises a source of light and a condenser positioned outside the water tank and below the bottom thereof, a light guide made of a transparent material to guide the condensed light upwards, with the top end of the light guide positioned above the level of water filled in the water tank, and a reflecting surface to reflect the guided light toward the water tank below. The water tank is illuminated from above without locating any illuminating device atop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Hirose Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasushi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5980076
    Abstract: An illuminator assembly that has a lid that can be easily removed, a spare bulb holder, a color wheel that easily accepts additional filters without disassembly and a snap on filter for a window on the illuminator assembly. The illuminator assembly illuminates one end of a bundle of fiber optic fibers for a lighting system for a swimming pool or a spa or other area to be illuminated. The illuminator assembly includes a hollow housing containing a light socket assembly for illuminating the end of the bundle of fiber optic fibers. The housing has a first tab mounted adjacent to its open upper end. A light bulb is mounted in the light socket assembly and a lid is provided that is sized to cover the open upper end of the housing. The lid has a second tab configured to selectively engage the first tab on the housing upon the rotation of the lid with respect to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: American Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis C. Dunn, Kevin L. Potucek, Richard L. Swain, Laurence E. Thrasher
  • Patent number: 5974602
    Abstract: A remote control and indication system for an electric device (20, 22) in a sanitary environment comprises: at least one light carrier (42; 50) for indicating operational status information about the electric device to a user present in the sanitary environment, a first end (43) of said light carrier receiving light from at least one light source (46; 56a-b) in response to the operational status of the electric device; and control means (40; 52) for controlling at least one function of the electric device (20, 22), said control means being connected by at least one pneumatic or hydraulic pressure line (41; 51) to the electric device. The control means (40; 52) and a second end (44) of the light carrier (42; 50) are adjacently arranged at a position in the sanitary environment, which is visible and accessible to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventor: Peter Theander
  • Patent number: 5879071
    Abstract: A lighted planter includes a container having a bottom and side walls and an opening formed by the walls and spaced from the bottom wall. The side walls include a generally horizontally extending edge portion adjacent the opening and a light source integral with the edge portion providing upwardly projecting illumination to directly light a plant planted therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventor: Sammie J. Sanford, Jr.