FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to underwater lights for use principally in pools and spas, but which could also have use in ponds, fountains, water features and the like. It will be convenient however to describe the invention in relation to its use for pools and spas, but it is to be appreciated that the invention has wider use as indicated above.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following discussion of the background to the invention is intended to facilitate an understanding of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the matters discussed was published, known or part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

Underwater lights for pools and spas are known. One known form of underwater light includes a housing formed of two parts comprising a lens assembly and a body, which are screwed or bolted together to form an internal watertight compartment. Disposed within the compartment is a light emitting device, such as a globe, lamp or light emitting diode (LED), and an electric supply passes into the compartment via a cable or other conductor, such as a post. Applicant's earlier Australian Patent No. 746779 and Australian Patent Application 2007354046 discloses arrangements for connecting an electrical supply to a light disposed within a watertight compartment.

Underwater lights can be fixed in place against the wall surface of the pool or spa (a "surface mounted light") or by connection through the wall of a pool or spa (a "niche light"). In a niche light, a receptacle is fixed in the pool or spa wall, and relevant parts of the light are fixed to or within the receptacle. The relevant parts include the lens and lens rim or surround (if provided), the globe, lamp or LED, the plate or other structure on which the globe, lamp or LED is supported, and other fittings for waterproofing the light and for fixing the parts to the receptacle. In current niche lights, screws are used to fix relevant parts to the receptacle. This is cheap and convenient, and is easy to do.

Once a niche light is installed in a pool or spa, it is sometimes necessary to remove parts which are fitted to the receptacle for example for the purpose of maintenance, or to replace parts that have failed or have worn out. Thus, it is necessary to disassemble parts of the light and this usually involves unscrewing the screws that fix relevant parts of the light to the receptacle. Because the niche light is underwater, this process is not convenient or easy, nor is the process of reinstalling the light when the maintenance has been completed. Often, the person removing and reinstalling the light has to physically enter the pool to get proper access to the screws of the light. This is undesirable particularly in the colder months of the year. Otherwise, the person at least has to reach well into the pool or spa. The use of screws to fix relevant parts of the light together has advantages as indicated earlier, in terms of cost, convenience and ease. However, the use of screws can also contribute to discolouring and staining of light and pool surfaces through corrosion of the screws. This occurs even with screws that are made of stainless steel.

The corrosion of screws is accelerated in the pool environment, in which various chemicals are used to maintain the pool of water safe for swimming. In addition, most new pools employ salt water for chlorination purposes, and the salt can have a particular corrosive effect on the light screws. Particles of salt can gather in any gaps or crevices that exist in the screw connection and the salt can slowly corrode the screws and that corrosion can result in staining to both the face of the light and the pool wall adjacent the light.

Applicant has recognised the difficulties associated with removing and reinstalling niche lights. Applicant has further recognised the difficulties associated with the use of metal screws in the construction of niche lights. Applicant has therefore attempted to provide an improved niche light to address one or more of the foregoing disadvantages. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a niche light which includes a receptacle for mounting to or through the wall of a pool or spa and a housing which is arranged for fixing to the receptacle, the housing defining a sealed compartment that accommodates a light emitting device and the compartment including a lens through which light from the light emitting device can pass, the housing being releasably connected to the receptacle by a rotatable connection comprising a first position of the housing relative to the receptacle in which the housing can be connected to or disconnected from the receptacle and a second position in which the housing is rotated relative to the receptacle from the first position and in which the housing is connected to the receptacle, the rotatable connection further comprising a lock which, when enabled, locks the housing in the second position to prevent the housing being rotated to the first position. An advantage of the present invention is that the connection between the receptacle and the housing is simplified to require a rotational movement between the receptacle and the housing and then the enabling of a lock. The absence of screws aids the simplicity of the connection significantly. Thus, while it may still be necessary for a person who is removing and reinstalling the light to physically enter the pool or spa or to reach well into the pool or spa, the time and effort required during that time is reduced. Also, where it previously was necessary to enter the pool or spa to remove and reinstall a light, the present invention can render that requirement unnecessary because of the simplicity of the connection between the receptacle and the housing. That is, access of the kind previously required to remove screws is not required in the present invention so that arm extension into the pool might be all that is required when previously entry into the pool would have been required.

The present invention also can dispense with the need for screws so that rusting or corrosion of screws no longer occurs. This provides an important advantage over prior art lights by removing a source of corrosion, which would normally be accompanied by staining of the light and adjacent pool wall surface. Moreover, where screws rust or corrode, the difficulty in removing the screws can increase. Manipulating screws under water can also be difficult whereas the present invention can employ a very simple movement not involving manipulation of small and loose parts.

Other advantages include space saving by the use of a connection that does not include screws. For example, reference herein will later be made to the use of a bayonet fitting which can be employed in the present invention without the use of screws and with a consequent space saving as a result.

In some forms of the invention, the lock includes a pair of cooperating parts which cooperate in the second position of the housing, with one of the cooperating parts being associated with the receptacle and the other being associated with the housing. In this form of the invention, the cooperating parts cooperate when the lock is enabled, the lock being disabled by shifting one of the cooperating parts relative to the other so that the housing can be rotated relative to the receptacle from the second position to the first position.

The cooperating parts can shift to a position of cooperation automatically or they can require an input. The input can be a manual input such as a manual shift of one cooperating part relative to the other.

The lock can be enabled as part of the rotational movement of the housing relative to the receptacle. Accordingly, the invention can provide that the cooperating parts of the lock cooperate automatically when the housing reaches the second position. This automatic cooperation can be achieved in any suitable manner and in one arrangement, a first of the cooperating parts rides resiliently over a cam surface as the housing is rotated and shifts into position relative to the second of the cooperating parts at the end of the cam surface and in that position, the lock is enabled. To disable the lock, the first cooperating part can be manually shifted relative to the second cooperating part to interrupt the cooperation and the housing can then be rotated relative to the receptacle to disconnect the housing from the receptacle.

The lock can be of a snap fit form so that the cooperating parts snap into the lock enabled position upon the housing being rotated to the second position. The arrangement described above utilising a cam surface could be of this kind. Shifting one of the cooperating parts relative to the other can be achieved quite simply by using a tool to press one cooperating part relative to the other. The cooperating parts could be located internally of the light requiring that the tool could be elongate, such as screw driver or the like. Alternatively, one or both of the cooperating parts could be located at the outside of the light for direct access for disabling the lock, such as by finger manipulation, or an extension could be provided extending from one or both of the cooperating parts, to enable access to the cooperating parts by finger or tool manipulation. In an example of the latter arrangement, the cooperating parts could be internal of the light and an extension member could extend from one of the cooperating parts to a position flush with or slightly inboard or outboard of a surface of the light. The extension member could include an end surface for receipt of a suitable tool. For example, if the suitable tool is a flat head screw driver, the end surface could include a groove for receipt of the head.

In some forms of the invention, one of the receptacle and the housing defines a recess and the other of the receptacle and the housing defines a projection, whereby the projection is received into the recess upon rotation of the housing to the second position. By that receipt, the receptacle is connected to the housing.

In the above form of the invention, the receptacle and the housing can define a pair of recesses and a pair of projections which are located substantially diametrically opposite to each other. While a snap fit form of lock has been described above, the lock can alternatively be of a bayonet form whereby the bayonet connection is made and the lock enabled upon the housing being rotated to the second position.

Still alternatively, the housing can be connected to the receptacle by a screw thread with the lock being enabled when the screw threaded connection has been made. For the present invention, the screw thread can be a coarse thread and the connection can be made by only a small relative rotation between the housing and the receptacle. The rotation can be less than a full rotation for example and could be a half, third or quarter rotation. The screw threaded connection can include a stop to limit the extent of threaded rotation between the housing and the receptacle. While this form of the invention utilises a screw and while the use of screws has been described herein as disadvantageous, the proposed use of a screw in this embodiment of the invention is considered to be acceptable given the minimal rotation intended to be required for enabling and disenabling the lock.

In some forms of the invention, the lock can be a push lock which is pushed into a locked position once the housing has reached the second position. The push lock can be spring biased towards an unlocked position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, some embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures in which: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of an underwater light according to the invention installed in the wall of a pool or spa.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the underwater light of Figure 1 . Figures 3 and 4 are an exploded view of a portion of the light of Figure 1 .

Figure 5 is an assembled view of the light components of Figure 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to Figure 1 , an underwater niche light 10 is illustrated in position fixed to the wall 1 1 of a fibreglass pool. The wall 1 1 is a portion of a fibreglass wall for illustrative purposes only. It is to be understood that the niche light 10 is applicable not only to fibreglass pools, but also to cement walled pools and vinyl lined pools. The wall 1 1 has a front surface 12 and a rear surface 13. The front surface 12 faces into the pool and is in contact with the body of water which is used to fill the pool.

Components of the underwater light 10 which are visible from the front surface 12 of Figure 1 include the lens 14 and a slotted rim 15. The rim 15 is not only decorative, but forms a guard to protect a heat sink 16 within the rim. In use, when the underwater light 10 is activated, light from an internal LED projects through the lens 14. With reference now to Figure 2, description of the full componentry of the underwater light 10 can be made. The light 10 thus includes the features discussed in relation to Figure 1 , being the lens 14, the rim 15 and the heat sink 16. Further components include an LED 18, a Sil-Pad® 19, and a seal 20. The lens 14 seals against the facing surface of the heat sink 16 via the seal 20, to form a watertight compartment in which the LED 18 and the Sil-Pad® 19 are enclosed. The lens 14 includes a groove for partial receipt of the seal 20.

On the other side of the heat sink 16 is a PCB mounting frame 21 and a PCB 22. The PCB is in electrical contact with the LED 18. Screws 23 screw through the LED 18, the Sil-Pad® 19, the heat sink 20 and into the PCB 22. A body 25 engages against the other side of the heat sink 16 via a seal 26 to form a watertight compartment in which the PCB mounting frame 21 and the PCB 22 are enclosed. The seal 26 is partially located within an annular groove 24 in the body 25. Terminals 27 extend into the rear body portion 28 of the body 25 through O-ring seals 29 and electrically connect with the PCB 22. A terminal cover 30 engages against the facing surface of the rear body portion 28 via a seal 31 to form a watertight compartment in which the terminals 27 are enclosed. The arrangement is such that the PCB 22 is located within the body 25 by opposite edge portions 32 being located within grooves 33 (only one of which is shown in Figure 2) formed in the inside of the body 25. The terminals 27 are located by the positioning of the openings in the rear body portion 28 and match up with the PCB 22. Screws 33 secure the terminal cover 30 to the rear body portion 28.

Further screws 34 are used to close openings that are provided for injecting a sealant into the terminal cover 30 to fill the cover 30 against ingress of water. A lanolin sealant can be used. A bayonet fitting 40 is interposed between the flange 41 of the body 25 and the flange 42 of a niche fitting 43. The bayonet fitting 40 is fixed to the body 25 by screws 44 which pass through the flange 41 , the heat sink 16 and into threaded openings 45 of the rim 15. By this arrangement, the screw fasteners 44 compress the various components between the bayonet fitting 40 and the rim 15 together and force the respective seals between the lens 14, the heat sink 16 and the body 25 together.

The bayonet fitting 40 is releasably connectable to the flange 42 by rotation. The flange 42 includes bayonet projections 46 for cooperation with the bayonet fitting 40. A quick release mechanism includes a release post 47 which can be depressed from outside the rim 15, such as by the end of a screwdriver and once depressed, the bayonet fitting 40 can be rotated to disconnect the bayonet fitting 40 and the components connected to it from the niche fitting 43. This will be described later in more detail but briefly, the arrangement is advantageous as permitting easy access to the respective components, in particular the PCB and the LED, for repair and/or replacement. While reference to the cable 54 will be made later herein, the cable 54 includes a coiled section within the niche fitting 43 that can be uncoiled to allow the bayonet fitting 40 and the components connected to it to be lifted out of the pool still connected to the cable and repaired/replaced as required, while the niche fitting 43 can remain in place in the wall 1 1 of the pool.

The flange 42 of the niche fitting 43 is in facing contact with the front surface 12 of the wall 1 1 when the light 1 0 is installed. The majority of the cylindrical section 50 that extends from the flange 42 extends through the opening 51 in the wall 1 1 . The cylindrical section 50 includes a threaded section 52 and a non-threaded section 53. The cylindrical section 50 has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the opening 51 formed in the wall 1 1 . The cylindrical section 50 therefore fits through the opening 51 . The cable 54 is housed within the cylindrical section 50 and one end includes terminal connectors 55 for watertight connection to the terminals 27 and the other end extends outside of the cylindrical section 50 to an electrical supply.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a conical washer 56 seals against the rear wall surface 13 via a flat washer 57. The flat washer 57 can be sealed to the surface 13 by liquid silicon and seals against leakage of water within the pool or spa through the opening 51 . The flange 42 is also sealed against the front surface 12 to also seal against leakage of water through the opening 51 . A nut 58 is internally threaded to engage the threaded section 52 of the niche fitting 43. The cylindrical section 50 fits through the conical washer 56, the flat washer 57 and the nut 58 (see Figure 3). The nut 58 has a conical leading end 59 which allows the nut 58 to engage the washer 56 at an angle if necessary, so as to compensate for any misalignment between the niche fitting 43 and the wall 1 1 . Thus, if the niche fitting 43 is not mounted absolutely perpendicular to the front surface 12 of the wall 1 1 so that it projects through the wall 1 1 at a slight angle for engagement by the nut 58, the nut 58 can still properly engage the washer 56 at the slight angle and therefore still fix the niche fitting 43 properly in place against the wall 1 1 .

The final components of Figure 2 comprise a conduit take-off 60, a cable nut washer 61 and a cable grommet 62. These components cooperate with the cable 54 at the point at which it exits the niche fitting 43.

The flange 41 of the body 25 includes a plurality of openings 63 which allows passage of water through the flange 41 for contact with the rear side periphery of the heat sink 16. By this arrangement, water is able to contact opposite sides of the edge periphery 64, so that the edge periphery 64 is fully immersed in water.

Likewise, the seals 20 and 26 engage against the front and rear sides of the heat sink 16 inboard of the openings 63 to permit water contact with the heat sink 16 on each side.

The bayonet fitting 40 and the niche fitting 43 connect together to connect the various components connected to the bayonet fitting 40 to the niche fitting 43. The bayonet fitting 40 is shown in larger detail in Figures 4 to 6 and reference to those figures will be made now. With reference to Figure 4, this illustrates in larger view the rim 15, the body 25, the bayonet fitting 40 and the niche fitting 43.

With reference to the bayonet fitting 40, a projection 70 is illustrated extending from the inside surface 71 of the bayonet fitting 40 and while not shown, an similar projection 70 extends from the surface 71 diametrically opposed to the projection shown.

The projection 70 is also shown in Figure 5 which is a larger view just of the bayonet fitting 40, the niche fitting 43 and the washer 56.

The bayonet fitting 40 is shown in Figure 5 in position for connection to the bayonet projections 46. The projection 70 of the fitting 40 is thus positioned for receipt within the recess 72, while a similar arrangement occurs in relation to the other projection of the fitting 40 (not shown) which is diametrically opposite the projection 70 which is positioned for receipt within the recess 73

In the orientation shown in Figure 5, the bayonet fitting 40 can be shifted into position on the flange 42. With contact made between the surface of the flange 42 and the underneath surface of the bayonet fitting 40, the bayonet fitting 40 can be rotated clockwise. That clockwise rotation will bring an abutment head 75 into proximity with a projection 76. The projection 76 includes an inclined ramp 77 and an abutment surface 78. The abutment head 75 is arranged for resiliently riding up the inclined surface 77 and to snapping in behind the abutment surface 78. This is the arrangement shown in Figure 6.

By the clockwise rotation of the bayonet fitting 40, the abutment head 75 has engaged the projection 76, and the projections 70 have been positioned within recesses 79 (only one of which is shown in Figure 5). The bayonet fitting 40 is thus securely connected to the bayonet projections 46and thus the bayonet fitting 40 and the components connected to the bayonet fitting 40 are firmly secured to the niche fitting 43. It will be appreciated that the bayonet fitting 40 cannot be disconnected from the niche fitting 43 while the projections 70 are secured within the recesses 79, and the co-operation between the abutment head 75 and the projection 76 prevents anti- clockwise rotation that would release the projections 70 from the recesses 79.

Figure 6 illustrates the connected form of the bayonet fitting 40 to the niche fitting 43. In order to disconnect the bayonet fitting 40 from the niche fitting 43, an axial load is applied to the release post 47 in a direction toward the niche fitting 43. That load resiliently shifts the abutment head 75 in a direction to force the abutment head 75 to a position between the projection 76 and the adjacent surface 81 of the flange 42. With the abutment head 75 positioned in that space, the head 75 is clear of the abutment surface 78 of the projection 76 and the bayonet fitting 40 can be rotated anti-clockwise to withdraw the projections 70 from the recesses 79. The bayonet fitting 40 and the components connected thereto can thus be removed from connection with the niche fitting 43.

The release post 47 can extend to a position inboard of the rim 15, so that it does not project through the rim 15 and is therefore largely invisible when the underwater light 10 is assembled as shown in Figure 1 . However, the head 80 of the release post 47 can be located for access through one of the slots 17 of the rim 15 such as by a screw driver or similar tool. Indeed, Figures 4 and 5 show that the head 80 of the release post 47 includes a lengthwise slot which is suitable to receive the blade of the flat head screw driver.

It will be appreciated by the above description with reference to Figures 4 to 6, that the components connected to the bayonet fitting 40 can be connected to and removed from the niche fitting 43 with ease. Locking connection between the bayonet fitting 40 and the niche fitting 43 is automatic, upon clockwise rotation of the bayonet fitting 40 relative to the bayonet projections 46. That clockwise rotation will bring the projections 70 into the recesses 79 and will cause locking connection between the abutment head 75 and the projection 76. Simple disconnection is available by exerting an axial load on the release post 47 to shift the abutment head 75 axially into the space between the projection 76 and the surface 81 of the flange 42. With that pressure applied, the bayonet fitting 40 can be rotated anti-clockwise and the housing components connected to the bayonet fitting 40 can thereafter be removed from connection to the niche fitting 43.

The present invention therefore dispenses with the need for unscrewing various screw fittings that have previously existed between housings in each fittings, which can be both time consuming and inconvenient. The present invention also eliminates the need for additional screws which can rust or corrode over time. Throughout the description of this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word, such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives or components or integers.

The invention described herein is susceptible to variations, modifications and/or additions other than those specifically described and it is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations, modifications and/or additions which fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.