Floating subsurface illumination system

Abstract

The invention is a floating subsurface illumination system comprising a leak-proof enclosure, DC electric energy subsystem, LED light source subsystem, translucent diffuser, tethering eyelet, switch and charging port.

Claims

1. A system comprising: a leak-proof containment structure operative to sit above a water surface; a buoyant ring operative to prevent submergence of said containment structure below said water surface; an LED light source; a DC electric power source; said buoyant ring is located externally to said leak-proof containment structure; said buoyant ring is securely affixed to said leak-proof containment structure; said leak-proof containment structure has a lower translucent portion that extends below the surface and is operative to convey light from inside said leak-proof containment structure both downward and to the sides of said leak-proof containment structure; said lower translucent portion has a smaller horizontal dimension than said leak-proof containment structure operative to sit above said water surface; said leak-proof containment structure contains essentially said LED light source and said DC electric power source; said leak-proof containment structure with said LED light source and said DC electric power source contained inside, and said buoyant ring securely affixed outside, has a center of gravity such that said translucent portion is below the surface and positioned to transmit light vertically downward and horizontally sideward when said leak-proof container is floating on said water surface; and said leak-proof containment structure has an external eyelet structure operative to be tied to a tether to prevent said leak-proof containment structure from floating freely.

2. A claim as in claim 1 further comprising: said leak-proof container has a waterproof port with an electrical connector; said electrical connector provide an interface to an electric charging subsystem; and said electric charging subsystem conveys charging power to said DC electric power source when interfaced to said electrical connector.

3. A claim as in claim 2 further comprising: said electric charging subsystem uses utility power.

4. A claim as in claim 2 further comprising: said electric charging subsystem uses solar electric power.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 depicts a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the system.

(2) FIG. 2 depicts a bottom view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 depicts a top view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 4 depicts a DC electrical source subsystem, LED light source subsystem and translucent diffuser in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 5 depicts the DC electrical source subsystem, LED light source subsystem, a switch and charging interface.

(6) FIG. 6 depicts the exemplary embodiment deployed such that it floats on the surface, with the upper portion of the enclosure providing a wider area for stability, and the center of gravity near the lowest position to provide additional stability.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) The invention herein disclosed and claimed is a floating subsurface illumination system. By using efficient LED light sources, and DC electrical energy sources, the system can provide hours of light, during darkness, thereby illuminating areas below the surface of a pool of liquid.

(8) Clearly, a floating subsurface illumination system having electrical subsystems must provide leak-proof containment of those subsystems. Furthermore, the containment should play more than a role of containment and should provide stability such that surface turbulence does not cause significant directional displacement of the light energy.

(9) Whereas the DC electrical energy source could be non-rechargeable and replaced when charge is depleted, it is more convenient and cost-efficient to use rechargeable DC electrical sources.

(10) In addition, it is more efficient to use LED light sources versus other technologies because one achieves a good balance of light intensity per watt. The light sources are typically smaller than other technologies, and the DC electrical sources may be smaller, too, because they need not have as much capacity.

(11) The system disclosed and claimed can provide general purpose subsurface illumination. The dimensions of the enclosure, capacity of the DC energy source, and intensity of the LED source can all be selected to meet application requirements such as maximum illumination depth, maximum illumination time, and the like.

(12) As shown in FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of the system, leak-proof containment is provided by an enclosure comprising an upper portion (101) and lower portion (102). As shown, the upper portion has a larger diameter which provides greater area and thereby greater positional stability. A flotation ring (103) is affixed to the upper portion to provide buoyancy and additional positional stability. FIG. 1 is a side view.

(13) FIG. 2 is a bottom view of this exemplary embodiment.

(14) FIG. 3 is a top view of this exemplary embodiment.

(15) FIG. 4 illustrates one example of the placement of a DC energy source (401) and LED light source (402). In addition, the face of the lower portion of the leak-proof enclosure is a translucent diffuser through which the LED light energy exits the enclosure causing light to be transmitted vertically downward as well as horizontally to the side.

(16) FIG. 5 illustrates the interconnection of the DC energy source (401), the LED light source (402), a switch (501) and charging interface (502).

(17) FIG. 6 provides an exemplary view of the system floating on the surface with an external eyelet (601) to which a tether (602) is attached, and where by placement of the internal subsystems, the center of gravity (603) is near the lowest point of the narrow enclosure portion.

(18) The figures are exemplary. Here the portions are cylindrical shaped but need not be. They could also be polygonal. The recharging could be provided by a subsystem connected to utility lines, or to a subsystem exploiting solar electric energy. The switch and charging interface are shown on the top of the enclosure, when floating, but need not be so located. The figures should therefore not be viewed as limiting the scope of the invention to these exemplary specifics.