Environmentally protected switch and device using same
Assignee9609385 Canada Inc.
InventorTIMOTHY D.F. FORD
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An environmentally protected switch and water activated device using the switch is disclosed. The switch comprises an elongate housing having an open end and divided into a pair of chambers and into which a probe is inserted. When water infiltrates the housing an electrical circuit is completed between the two probes. There is also disclosed a lens/selector assembly comprising a selector ring encircling a lens and a wave spring which biases the selector ring into one of a number of predetermined positions around the lens. Illustratively, a magnet is placed within the selector ring a position of which can be detected by electronics within the lens.
Claims23
An environmentally protected switch for activating an electronic device in the presence of a conductive fluid, the switch comprising:
- a hollow elongate housing comprising an open end;
- a partition dividing said elongate housing longitudinally into two elongate chambers;
- and
- a flexible insulated two conductor cable, each of said conductors coupleable at a first end to the electronic device and terminated at a second end by a respective one of a pair of probes wherein each of said probes is positioned in a respective one of said elongate chambers and at an end opposite said opening;
- wherein upon submersion of said elongate housing into the conductive fluid, the fluid penetrates each of said chambers, the conductive fluid electrically interconnecting said first probe and said second probe to enable an electrical current to flow between said first probe and said second probe for closing an electrical path and activating the electronic device.
A water activated device comprising:
- a battery;
- a light source comprising at least one LED;
- an environmentally protected switch for activating an electronic device in the presence of a conductive fluid, the switch comprising:
- a hollow elongate housing comprising an open end;
- a partition dividing said elongate housing longitudinally into two elongate chambers;
- and
- a flexible insulated two conductor cable, each of said conductors coupleable at a first end between said battery and said light source and terminated at a second end by a respective one of a pair of probes wherein each of said probes is positioned in a respective one of said elongate chambers and at an end opposite said opening;
- wherein upon submersion of said elongate housing into the water, the water penetrates each of said chambers, the water electrically interconnecting said first probe and said second probe to enable an electrical current to flow between said first probe and said second probe for closing an electrical path between said battery and said light source and illuminating said at least one LED.
A lens/selector assembly comprising:
- a lens comprising a cylindrical outer side wall, a tab receiving groove ringing said cylindrical outer side wall and an annular ledge adjacent said groove;
- a selector ring mounted for rotation about said cylindrical outer side wall, said selector ring comprising an inner surface defining an aperture sized for receiving said cylindrical outer side wall therein, and a plurality of tabs spaced along said inner surface and projecting inwards towards said lens, said tabs engaging with and held within said tab receiving groove;
- said tab receiving groove further comprising a plurality of notches spaced along said groove, each of said notches dimensioned to receive one of said tabs;
- and
- a wave spring positioned between said annular ledge and said selector ring, said wave spring biasing said plurality of tabs against said groove and such that when each of said plurality of tabs is positioned adjacent a respective one of said notches, said tabs are biased into said notches thereby preventing said selector ring from being rotated;
- wherein a user disengages said tabs from said notches by pressing said selector ring against a biasing of said wave spring, thereby allowing said selector ring to be rotated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.