Patent Application
20150323389
Thermometers have been placed in bodies of water such as pools, aquariums, and ponds to provide a measure of the water's temperature. These thermometers can be designed such that a portion of the thermometer floats in the water. But conventional water thermometers suffer from various drawbacks, including a lack of decorative appearance and a satisfactory means of illuminating both the thermometer gauge and the thermometer's decorative elements.
The present invention is directed to a floating illumination thermometer apparatus having a floatable housing, a thermometer device for measuring the temperature of surrounding water, and an illumination assembly.
In one embodiment, the invention can be a floating illumination thermometer apparatus comprising: a first light-transmissive housing; a thermometer device coupled to and extending downward from the first light transmissive housing; and a circuit comprising, in operable coupling, a power source, an illumination assembly, and a switch; the illumination assembly configured to generate: (1) a first light into the first light-transmissive housing to illuminate at least a portion of the first light-transmissive housing; and (2) a second light onto the thermometer device to illuminate at least a portion of the thermometer device.
In another embodiment, the invention can be a floating illumination thermometer apparatus comprising: a first light-transmissive housing comprising a first sealed chamber; a second light-transmissive housing disposed within the first sealed chamber, the second light-transmissive housing comprising a second sealed chamber; a circuit disposed within the second sealed chamber, the circuit comprising, in operable coupling, a power source, a board, a first illumination source positioned on an upper surface of the board, a second illumination source positioned on a lower surface of the board, and a switch; a third light-transmissive housing extending from a bottom of the second light transmissive housing, the third light-transmissive housing comprising a third chamber and one or more apertures for allowing water to enter the third chamber; and a thermometer device disposed in the third chamber; the first illumination source configured to generate a first light into the first sealed chamber to illuminate at least a portion of the first light-transmissive housing; and the second illumination source configured to generate a second light into the third chamber to illuminate a gauge surface of the thermometer device.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
The description of illustrative embodiments according to principles of the present invention is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merely intended for convenience of description and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present invention. Relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “front” and “rear” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation unless explicitly indicated as such. Terms such as “attached,” “affixed,” “connected,” “coupled,” “interconnected,” “secured” and similar refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. Moreover, the features and benefits of the invention are described by reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated herein. Accordingly, the invention expressly should not be limited to such exemplary embodiments, even if indicated as being preferred. The discussion herein describes and illustrates some possible non-limiting combinations of features that may exist alone or in other combinations of features. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims appended hereto.
In certain embodiments, the first light-transmissive housing 110 is made of a translucent material. The first housing 110 can take on any color in the color spectrum so long as it has translucent qualities such that light can pass through the first housing 110 to achieve a desired aesthetic effect. The thickness of the material that forms the first housing 110 affects the light transmissivity of the first housing 110, and it is merely desirable that all characteristics of the housing 110 including color and thickness facilitate the illumination of light through the housing 110. In other embodiments, the first housing 110 is made of a transparent or substantially transparent material.
In the exemplified embodiment, the first light-transmissive housing 110 comprises a substantially soft, flexible material, such as a thermoplastic, including but not limited to high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, or thermoplastic elastomer. Such a soft plastic material can bend or move, but will bias back to its original shape. An advantage of using a soft plastic is that if someone in the same body of water accidentally hits into the first housing 110, the soft plastic will help absorb the contact and reduce the risk of injury.
As will be explained in further detail below, in certain embodiments the first housing 110 is sealed to create a first sealed chamber 112. The first sealed chamber 112 is configured to render the first housing 110 substantially hollow. The first housing 110 can then contain an amount of gas sufficient to render the first light-transmissive housing 110 sufficiently buoyant that the floating illumination thermometer apparatus 100 floats in a body of water. This gas can be air or any other gas of sufficient density to enable the floating illumination thermometer apparatus 100 to float in a body of water. In other embodiments, the first light-transmissive housing 110 is solid, but for a cavity for receiving a second light transmissive housing 120. Rather than being filled by a gas, the first housing 110 is comprised of a buoyant material capable of enabling the floating illumination thermometer 100 to float. The buoyant material can be Styrofoam, cork, certain types of wood, or any other material of a density sufficient to float in water.
In the exemplified embodiment, there is an opening at the bottom end 132 of the elongated tubular unsealed housing 130 where a cap 133 is coupled. The cap 133 is made of rubber or a plastic material, though alternative embodiments could make the cap 133 of any suitable material for coupling to the unsealed housing 130. The gauge surface 137 of the thermometer device 136 enables a user to read the temperature of the surrounding water 160. Such gauge surfaces 136 will typically indicate the temperature in both degrees Fahrenheit and Celsius, though the invention does not require both measures. The unsealed housing 130 comprises apertures 135 located at the upper portion of the housing 130 and in the cap 133. As will later be described in more detail, these apertures 135, 134 allow surrounding water 160 to enter the unsealed housing 130 such that the thermometer device 136 is immersed in water 160 and can thereby provide a measure of the temperature of the surrounding water 160.
In the exemplified embodiment, the first light-transmissive housing 110 comprises a first sealed chamber 112 and the second light-transmissive housing 120 is disposed within the first sealed chamber 112, the second light-transmissive housing 120 comprising a second sealed chamber 121. The first sealed chamber 110 and the second sealed chamber 120 can be considered separate, or it can be considered that the first and second light-transmissive housings 110, 120 collectively form the first sealed chamber 112 such that the second sealed chamber 121 forms part of the first sealed chamber. In alternative embodiments, a single housing containing a single, undivided chamber connects directly to the unsealed housing 130.
In the exemplified embodiment, the second light-transmissive housing 120 comprises a top plate 122 and a bottom plate 123 that are substantially parallel. A board 153 is disposed within the second sealed chamber 121 between the top plate 122 and bottom plate 123. The board 153 is substantially parallel to the top plate 122 and bottom plate 123. A circuit 150 and an illumination assembly 154 can be disposed upon the board 153. These features are discussed in greater detail in reference to
In the exemplified embodiment, the third light-transmissive housing 130 comprises a third chamber 131 in which the thermometer device 136 is disposed. The third light-transmissive housing 130 further comprises apertures 134, 135 for allowing water 160 to enter the third chamber 131. Specifically, the cap 133, which is coupled to the bottom end 132 of the third housing 130, comprises two first apertures 134. Arrows in
The illumination assembly 154 can be turned on and off by the switch 152, which can be accessed by a user at the lower surface 126 of the second light-transmissive housing 120. In alternative embodiments, the switch 152 can be positioned at other locations on the floating illumination thermometer 100, such as directly on the first housing 110. In certain embodiments, the switch 152 is activated by a push button as shown by the arrow in
In certain embodiments, the power source 151 comprises a plurality of batteries. In other embodiments, the power source 151 can be a single battery, a solar power unit, or any other type of power source. The circuit 150 can comprise electrical contacts and other commonly known electrical components necessary to enable the light assembly to function as described.
In the exemplary embodiment, the illumination sources 154, 154a, 154b are light emitting diodes (“LEDs”). In alternative embodiments, the illumination sources 154, 154a, 154b are light bulbs or any other device capable of producing light. Further, the illumination sources 154, 154a, 154b can be selected to produce light in any color desired.
In the exemplary embodiment, the third light transmissive housing 130 comprises a substantially rigid plastic material. More specifically, the material that forms the third housing 130 is more rigid than the material that forms the first housing 110. In other embodiments, the first housing 110 and third housing 130 can be formed of the same material, or of different materials having similar rigidity. In the exemplified embodiment, the third housing 130 and the second housing 120 are formed of substantially transparent material. The third housing 130 uses transparent material or clear material to help the user read the gauge surface 137, and the second housing 120 uses transparent material to ensure that adequate light reaches the first housing 110. In alternative embodiments, translucent or other light permeable materials can be used for the second housing 120 and third housing 130.
