Underwater LED light

Abstract

An underwater light, e.g., for a pool or spa, includes an ordinarily watertight housing, an outer compartment within the housing and floodable by water flowing therein in the event the housing is no longer watertight, a current shield within the outer compartment and at least partially defining an inner compartment within the outer compartment, a light emitter within the inner compartment, a passageway communicating between the inner and outer compartments such that outer compartment flood water can enter the inner compartment and contact the light emitter, and a conductor. The conductor is positioned so as to collect stray electrical current conducted from the inner compartment by water within the passageway, thereby reducing the risk of shock presented by such stray electrical current. The underwater light is installable within a wet niche, and includes a transformer housed in a separate compartment that extends into the wet niche for thorough cooling thereof.

1. An underwater light, comprising: 
 an ordinarily watertight housing; 
 an outer compartment within said housing, said outer compartment being subject to flooding by water flowing therein from outside said housing in the event said housing is no longer watertight; 
 a current shield disposed within said outer compartment, said current shield at least partially defining an inner compartment within said outer compartment; housing, said current shield inhibiting a stray electrical current from escaping said inner compartment when said housing is no longer watertight and said inner compartment is subject to flooding by water flowing therein; 
 a light emitter disposed within said inner compartment; a passageway communicating between said inner compartment and said outer compartment such that at least a portion of any water flooding said outer compartment can enter said inner compartment and come into contact with said light emitter; and and  
 a conductor positioned so as to collect any and substantially all the stray electrical current that may be conducted from said inner compartment by water within said passageway, thereby reducing the risk of electrical shock presented by such the stray electrical current. 
 
     
     
       2. The underwater light of  claim 1 , wherein said conductor includes an electrically conductive surface which at least partially defines said passageway. a passageway between said inner and outer compartments. 
     
     
       3. The underwater light of  claim 2 , wherein said current shield includes an electrically insulative surface which at least partially defines said passageway, said electrically insulative surface being disposed opposite said electrically conductive surface so as to cause any and all stray electrical current that may be conducted from said inner compartment by water within said passageway to pass  along and in close proximity to said electrically conductive surface, thereby facilitating the collection of such stray electrical current by said conductor. 
     
     
       4. The underwater light of  claim 3 , wherein said current shield is dome-like in shape and includes a lower peripheral edge which includes said electrically insulative surface. 
     
     
       5. The underwater light of  claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of said electrically insulative surface is in physical contact with said electrically conductive surface. 
     
     
       6. The underwater light of  claim 3 , wherein said electrically insulative surface and said electrically conductive surface are separated by a gap. 
     
     
       7. The underwater light of  claim 6 , wherein said gap is not more than about 0.1 inches. 
     
     
       8. The underwater light of  claim 6 , wherein said gap is not more than about 0.02 inches. 
     
     
       9. The underwater light of  claim 4 , wherein said lower peripheral edge of said current shield has a width of not less than about 0.04 inches. 
     
     
       10. The underwater light of  claim 4 , wherein said lower peripheral edge of said current shield has a width in a range from about 0.05 inches to about 0.07 inches. 
     
     
       11. The underwater light of  claim 2 , wherein said conductor is adapted for connection to an electrical ground. 
     
     
       12. The underwater light of  claim 2 , wherein said conductor includes a metal plate, and said conductive surface is a portion of said metal plate. 
     
     
       13. The underwater light of  claim 12 , wherein said light emitter is mounted to said metal plate. 
     
     
       14. The underwater light of  claim 1 , wherein said light emitter includes an array of light emitting diodes. 
     
     
       15. The underwater light of  claim 1 , wherein said housing includes a lens which defines at least a portion of said outer compartment. 
     
     
       16. The underwater light of  claim 15 , wherein said lens is made from glass. 
     
     
       17. The underwater light of  claim 15 , wherein said current shield is made from translucent plastic and is disposed between said lens and said light emitter. 
     
     
       18. The underwater light of  claim 15 , wherein said current shield is made from transparent plastic. 
     
     
       19. The underwater light of  claim 1 , further comprising a transformer compartment spaced apart from said inner and outer compartments by a distance sufficiently long so as to permit a free flow of water in a space between said transformer compartment and said inner and outer compartments for efficient removal of heat therefrom. 
     
     
       20. An assembly comprising the underwater light of  claim 19  installed within a wet niche of standard size for a below-ground spa installation. 
     
     
       21. An underwater light, comprising:
 an ordinarily watertight housing;   an outer region within said housing, said outer region being subject to flooding by water flowing therein from outside said housing in the event said housing is no longer watertight;   a current shield disposed within said housing, said current shield at least partially defining an inner region within said housing, said current shield inhibiting a stray electrical current from escaping said inner region when said housing is no longer watertight and said inner region is subject to flooding by water flowing therein;   a light emitter disposed within said inner region; and   a conductor positioned so as to collect the stray electrical current from said inner region, thereby reducing the risk of electrical shock presented by the stray electrical current.   
     
     
       22. The underwater light of claim 21, wherein said conductor includes an electrically conductive surface which at least partially defines a passageway between said inner and outer regions. 
     
     
       23. The underwater light of claim 22, wherein said current shield includes an electrically insulative surface which at least partially defines said passageway, said electrically insulative surface being disposed opposite said electrically conductive surface so as to cause any and all stray electrical current that may be conducted from said inner region by water within said passageway to pass along and in close proximity to said electrically conductive surface, thereby facilitating the collection of such stray electrical current by said conductor. 
     
     
       24. The underwater light of claim 23, wherein said current shield is dome-like in shape and includes a lower peripheral edge which includes said electrically insulative surface. 
     
     
       25. The underwater light of claim 23, wherein at least a portion of said electrically insulative surface is in physical contact with said electrically conductive surface. 
     
     
       26. The underwater light of claim 23, wherein said electrically insulative surface and said electrically conductive surface are separated by a gap. 
     
     
       27. The underwater light of claim 26, wherein said gap is not more than about 0.1 inches. 
     
     
       28. The underwater light of claim 26, wherein said gap is not more than about 0.02 inches. 
     
     
       29. The underwater light of claim 24, wherein said lower peripheral edge of said current shield has a width of not less than about 0.04 inches. 
     
     
       30. The underwater light of claim 24, wherein said lower peripheral edge of said current shield has a width in a range from about 0.05 inches to about 0.07 inches. 
     
     
       31. The underwater light of claim 22, wherein said conductor is adapted for connection to an electrical ground. 
     
     
       32. The underwater light of claim 22, wherein said conductor includes a metal plate, and said conductive surface is a portion of said metal plate. 
     
     
       33. The underwater light of claim 32, wherein said light emitter is mounted to said metal plate. 
     
     
       34. The underwater light of claim 31, wherein said light emitter includes an array of light emitting diodes. 
     
     
       35. The underwater light of claim 31, wherein said housing includes a lens which defines at least a portion of said outer region. 
     
     
       36. The underwater light of claim 35, wherein said lens is made from glass. 
     
     
       37. The underwater light of claim 35, wherein said current shield is made from translucent plastic and is disposed between said lens and said light emitter. 
     
     
       38. The underwater light of claim 35, wherein said current shield is made from transparent plastic. 
     
     
       39. The underwater light of claim 31, further comprising a transformer compartment spaced apart from said inner and outer regions by a distance sufficiently long so as to permit a free flow of water in a space between said transformer compartment and said inner and outer regions for efficient removal of heat therefrom. 
     
     
       40. An assembly comprising the underwater light of claim 39 installed within a wet niche of standard size for a below-ground spa installation. 
     
     
       41. An underwater light, comprising:
 an ordinarily watertight housing provided with a lens area ordinarily occupied by a lens;   an outer region within said housing, said outer region being subject to flooding by water flowing therein from outside said housing in the event said housing is no longer watertight;   a current shield disposed within said housing, said current shield at least partially defining an inner region within said housing, said current shield inhibiting a stray electrical current from escaping said inner region when said housing is no longer watertight and said inner region is subject to flooding by water flowing therein;   a light emitter disposed within said inner region; and   a conductor positioned so as to collect the stray electrical current from said inner region, thereby reducing the risk of electrical shock presented by the stray electrical current;   wherein said current shield guides the stray electrical current to said conductor when said inner region is flooded.   
     
     
       42. The underwater light of claim 41, wherein said current shield comprises a span. 
     
     
       43. The underwater light of claim 42, wherein said span comprises a material that is at least one of transparent and translucent. 
     
     
       44. The underwater light of claim 43, wherein said span comprises a polymer. 
     
     
       45. The underwater light of claim 41, comprising a lens occupying said lens area at least when said housing is watertight.