Underwater sheath device and method for installation

Abstract

An underwater light sheath device and method for installation for preventing water from leaking out of bodies of waterpools and spasthrough a niche housing such as that caused by a broken conduit opening. The sheath device is located over the conduit opening of a niche housing and designed to provide a water-tight seal over a conduit opening of a niche housing. An electrical cord of the light fixture is positioned through the sheath device and conduit opening of the niche housing.

Claims

1. An underwater light sheath device for attaching to a surface of a niche housing and external to a conduit opening in the niche housing, the device comprising: a body component extending from a first end to a second end, the body component including an inside surface and an outside surface, the inside surface defines a first aperture at the first end and a second aperture at the second end, the first end further comprises a top surface and the second end further comprises a bottom surface, the sheath device external to the conduit opening and not inserted within the conduit opening, the bottom surface of the second end configured to attach to the surface of the niche housing so that both the inside surface and the outside surface of the body component are external to the conduit opening, an electrical cord configured to emerge out from the conduit opening of the niche housing and pass through the body component of the device, and the body component includes a base portion, a corrugated portion, and a support portion.

2. The underwater light sheath device of claim 1, wherein the base portion includes a platform element defined by a portion of the bottom surface, a side surface, and an upper surface forming a thin, annular-shaped protrusion about the circumference of the second end.

3. The underwater light sheath device of claim 1, wherein the corrugated portion comprises a plurality of alternating ridges and grooves.

4. The underwater light sheath device of claim 3, wherein the body component comprises five ridges and four grooves.

5. The underwater light sheath device of claim 3, wherein the ridges and the grooves are tapered from the second end to the first end.

6. The underwater light sheath device of claim 1, wherein the body component is fabricated from ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM).

7. A method for repairing an underwater light comprising a niche housing and an electrical cord, the method comprising the steps of: cleaning a surface of the niche housing, applying an adhesive to a bottom surface of a sheath device, attaching the bottom surface of the sheath device to the surface of the niche housing, the sheath device configured to be not inserted within the conduit opening, wherein both the inside surface and the outside surface of the body component are external to the conduit opening, depositing a resin on both the surface of the niche housing and a platform element of the sheath device.

8. The method for repairing an underwater light according to claim 7, the method further comprising the step of routing the electrical cord through a first aperture of a first end of the sheath device.

9. The method for repairing an underwater light according to claim 7, wherein the sheath device comprises: a body component extending from a first end to a second end, the body component including an inside surface and an outside surface, the inside surface defines a first aperture at the first end and a second aperture at the second end, the first end further comprises a top surface and the second end further comprises a bottom surface, and the body component includes a base portion, a corrugated portion and a support portion, wherein the base portion includes a platform element defined by a portion of the bottom surface, a side surface, and an upper surface forming a thin, annular-shaped protrusion about the circumference of the second end, wherein the corrugated portion comprises a plurality of alternating ridges and grooves, each ridge and groove defined by a circumference of a portion of the body component, the ridges and the grooves are tapered from the second end to the first end.

10. The method for repairing an underwater light according to claim 7, wherein the body component is fabricated from ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM).

11. An underwater light sheath device for attaching over a conduit opening in a niche housing, the device comprising: a body component extending from a first end to a second end, the body component including an inside surface and an outside surface, the inside surface defines a first aperture at the first end and a second aperture at the second end, the first end further comprises a top surface and the second end further comprises a bottom surface, the body component includes a base portion, a corrugated portion, and a support portion, the base portion includes a platform element defined by a portion of the bottom surface, a side surface, and an upper surface forming a thin, annular-shaped protrusion about the circumference of the second end, the corrugated portion comprises a plurality of alternating ridges and grooves, each ridge and groove defined by a circumference of a portion of the body component, the ridges and the grooves are tapered from the second end to the first end, and the platform element of the sheath device attachable to the surface of the niche housing, the sheath device not inserted within the conduit opening and positioned external to the conduit opening, so that an electrical cord passing out of the conduit opening of the niche housing passes through the second end of the device, the body component of the device, and the first end of the device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The preferred embodiments of the invention are described in conjunction with the attached figures that illustrate embodiments of the invention.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of an underwater light sheath device according to the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of an underwater light sheath device according to the invention.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a section side view of an underwater light sheath device according to the invention.

(5) FIG. 4A illustrates a first end view of an underwater light sheath device according to the invention.

(6) FIG. 4B illustrates a second end view of an underwater light sheath device according to the invention.

(7) FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method for installation of the underwater light sheath device.

(8) FIG. 6A illustrates an exploded side view of an installation of the underwater light sheath device.

(9) FIG. 6B illustrates an assembled side view of the installation of the underwater light sheath device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) As shown in FIGS. 1-4B, the underwater light sheath device 200 comprises a body component 210 and two opposing ends 220, 230.

(11) Sheath device 200 includes a body component 210 that extends from a first end 220 to a second end 230. The body component 210 includes an inside surface 212 and an outside surface 214. The inside surface 212 defines a first aperture 227 at the first end 220 and a second aperture 237 at a second end 230. A first diameter of the first aperture 227 is smaller than a second diameter of the second aperture 237. The first end 220 includes a top surface 221 and the second end 230 includes a bottom surface 231.

(12) The body component 210 consists of three portions: a base portion 250, a corrugated portion 260, and a support portion 270. The base portion 250 includes a platform element 255. Platform element 255 is defined by a portion of the bottom surface 231, a side surface 233, and an upper surface 235 forming a thin, annular-shaped protrusion about the circumference of the second end 230. The platform element 255 provides additional surface area on which an adhesive, such as a resin or epoxy, is deposited. Adhesive is deposited so that it covers the platform element 255 and surrounding surface of the niche housing.

(13) The corrugated portion 260 comprises a plurality of alternating ridges 262 and grooves 264. Each ridge 262 and each groove 264 is defined by a circumference of a portion of the body component 210. As shown in the embodiment of the figures, the body component 210 comprises five ridges 262 and four grooves 264. The ridges 262 and the grooves 264 are tapered from the second end 230 to the first end 220, i.e., the diameters defined by the circumference of each ridge 262 and each groove 264 gradually decrease in measurement from the second end 230 to the first end 220. The greater the measurement of the ridges 262 and grooves 264, the greater the flexibility of the body component. Thus, the tapered arrangement provides greater flexibility of the body component 210 near the base portion 250 than near the support portion 270.

(14) FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method for installation of the underwater light sheath device. At step 510, the surface of the niche housing is cleaned from water and debris. At step 520, adhesive such as glue is applied to a bottom surface of the sheath device. Then, at step 530, the bottom surface of the sheath device is attached to the niche surface to cover the conduit opening of the niche housing. A resin is deposited on both the sheath device and niche surface at step 540. Specifically, the resin is applied to a platform element and nearby surrounding surface of the niche housing. Finally, at step 550, an electrical cord is routed through the sheath device from the first aperture 227 of the first end 220 through the second aperture 237 of the second end 230. The electrical cord extends beyond the second end 230 and through a conduit opening of the niche housing to a junction box.

(15) The method to install the sheath device may be used any time a new underwater light is installed or repaired. The sheath device may be installed with no water in the niche housing. This is either at the time of a new pool installation or after water is drained from the pool, i.e., to at least the bottom of the niche housing. FIG. 6A illustrates an exploded side view of an installation of the underwater light sheath device and FIG. 6B illustrates an assembled side view of the installation of the underwater light sheath device.

(16) Niche housing 110 includes conduit opening 120 with male thread adapter. Sheath device 200 is attached to the niche surface using an adhesive as detailed above. The first diameter of the first aperture is smaller than a second diameter of the second aperture. The first aperture is configured to receive an electrical cord. The second aperture is configured to be positioned over the conduit opening of the niche housing. A quick-drying resin is deposited on both the sheath device and niche surface to provide a permanent attachment between the sheath device and niche housing. Specifically, the resin is applied to a platform element and nearby surrounding surface of the niche housing. An electrical cord 130 is routed through the first aperture of the sheath device. It is contemplated that a lubricant may be used on the electrical cord to assist with inserting it into the first aperture. The electrical cord and inside surface of the first aperture form a tight fit-pressed fit, interference fit, friction fitto prevent water from entering into the sheath device.

(17) While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific exemplary embodiments of the invention have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have been described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiments disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.