Integral light and liquid circulation fitting

For use in conjunction with a water circulation system in a pool, tub or spa, a combination comprising:

• a light assembly for installation beneath water level in a pool, tub or spa;
• a return water inlet fitting for connection to a water circulation system, to return circulating water to the pool, wherein the light assembly and the return water inlet fitting form a unitary structure for attachment to a single opening in a wall of the pool, tub or spa;
• and
• means for cooling the light assembly, including means for circulating air within the light assembly and venting air to the exterior of the pool tub or spa;
• wherein the means for circulating air within the light assembly includes
• an air chamber surrounding the light source;
• and
• an electrical junction box coupled to the air chamber but sealed from the means for circulating water around the light assembly and having a plurality of exit vents;
• whereby the heated air escapes through the exit vents.

For use in conjunction with a liquid circulation system in a liquid container, a combination comprising:

• a light assembly for installation in a liquid container;
• a liquid circulation fitting through which fluid flows to or from the container, wherein the light assembly and the circulation fitting form a unitary structure for installation in the liquid container;
• a pipe fitting for coupling to an opening in the liquid circulation fitting;
• and
• a directionally adjustable port surrounding the light assembly on the inside of the liquid container;
• whereby the circulating liquid emerges from the port in any desired direction.

For use in conjunction with a liquid circulation system in a liquid container, a combination comprising:

• a light assembly for installation in a liquid container;
• a liquid circulation fitting through which fluid flows to or from the container, wherein the light assembly and circulation fitting form a unitary structure for installation in the liquid container;
• and
• means for cooling the light assembly, including means for circulating air within the light assembly and venting air to the exterior of the liquid container;
• wherein the means for circulating air within the light assembly includes
• an air chamber surrounding the light source;
• and
• an electrical junction box coupled to the air chamber but sealed from the means for circulating water around the light assembly and having a plurality of exit vents;
• whereby the heated air escapes through the exit vents.

A combined pool light and water inlet assembly for installation in an opening through the wall of a pool, tub or spa, the wall having a forward surface facing into the water and an oppositely-facing rear surface, the assembly comprising:

• an inlet housing having
• a generally tubular body insertable into the opening in the wall to a position extending therethrough;
• clamping and sealing means connected to the body, having front and rear portions abutting the forward and rear surfaces of the wall, respectively, for clamping the inlet housing fixedly in position in the opening in the wall and sealing against passage of water between the exterior of the body of the wall opening, at least one of the portions of the clamping means being movable to a position permitting placement of the body into and through the opening;
• a generally tubular light housing insertable into the inlet housing, the light housing having
• a lens sealingly mounted across an open forward end of the light housing;
• and
• a light source mounted within the light housing to direct light through the lens;
• front supporting means and rear supporting means connecting forward and rear ends of the light housing to forward and rear regions of the inlet housing, respectively, for supporting the light housing within the inlet housing with spaced regions between them to form a generally annular water passage between the inlet housing and the light housing;
• sealing means extending between the light housing and the light housing for creating a closed rear end to the water passage;
• at least one port between the inlet housing and the light housing for placing a forward end of the water passage in communication with the pool;
• and
• means for connecting a water inlet conduit to the inlet housing for supplying water to the water passage.

For use in a combined pool light and water inlet assembly of the type having an inlet housing extending through an opening in a pool wall, internal sealing regions within the inlet housing for limiting internal water flow and a threaded securing member positioned adjacent and externally of a rear end of the inlet housing, a replaceable lighting unit comprising:

• a sealed light source including a light-transmitting front wall and a generally parabolic shell, with electrical connections extending rearwardly therefrom;
• a light housing enclosing the electric light, the light housing including
• a generally conical region extending around and partially enclosing the light source;
• a lens sealing secured to and extending across an open end of the conical region of the light housing, the lens and the conical region being sufficiently spaced from the light source to permit circulation of air therearound;
• and
• a generally tubular portion extending rearwardly from the conical portion;
• supporting means mounted within the light housing for supporting the light source in position within the conical region with the electrical connections extending through the tubular portion rearward from the supporting means;
• a threaded region on the tubular portion of the light housing adjacent its rear end, for engagement with the securing member of the inlet housing;
• and
• a sealing ring mounted on the light housing and projecting outwardly therefrom for engagement with internal sealing regions of the inlet housing.

A method of mounting a combined pool light and water inlet assembly in an opening through a wall of a pool, the wall having a forward side facing into the interior of the pool and an oppositely facing rear side, the assembly including an inlet housing having a generally tubular body insertable into the opening in the wall to extend therethrough, and front and rear clamping portions connected to the body on opposite sides of the wall for clamping the inlet housing fixedly in position in the opening, at least one of the portions initially being separate from the body to permit placement of the body into and through the opening and then being attached to the body to participate in clamping the body to the wall, a light housing insertable into and through the inlet housing up to a predetermined position at which its further rearward movement is arrested, and a connecting mechanism connecting the light housing to the inlet housing adjacent its rear end, the method comprising the steps of:

• installing the inlet housing, with the one clamping portion separated from it, into the opening until the other clamping portion comes into abutment with the wall;
• attaching the one clamping portion to the body against the other side of the wall to clamp the inlet housing in place;
• inserting the light housing from the front side of the wall rearwardly through the inlet housing until its further rearward movement is arrested;
• and
• connecting the light housing adjacent its rear end to the inlet housing adjacent its rear end, to fixedly secure the light and inlet housings together.

For use in conjunction with a water circulation system in a pool, tub or spa, a combination comprising:

• a light assembly for installation in a pool, tub or spa;
• and
• a return water inlet fitting for connection to a water circulation system, to return circulating water to the pool, wherein the light assembly and the return water inlet fitting form a unitary structure for attachment to a single opening in a wall of the pool, tube or spa;
• a water line fitting for coupling the circulation system to an opening in the return water inlet fitting;
• and
• a directionally adjustable port integrated with the light assembly on the inside of the pool, tub or spa;
• whereby the circulating water emerges from the port in any desired direction.

For use in conjunction with a liquid circulation system in a liquid container, a combination comprising:

• a light assembly for installation in a liquid container;
• a liquid circulation fitting through which fluid flows to or from the container, wherein the light assembly and the circulation fitting form a unitary structure for installation in the liquid container;
• a pipe fitting for coupling to an opening in the liquid circulation fitting;
• and
• a directionally adjustable port integrated with the light assembly on the inside of the liquid container;
• whereby the circulating liquid emerges from the port in any desired direction.

A combined pool light and water inlet assembly for installation in an opening through the wall of a pool, tub or spa, the wall having a forward surface facing into the water and an oppositely-facing rear surface, the assembly comprising:

• an inlet housing having
• a generally tubular body insertable into the opening in the wall to a position extending therethrough;
• means for removably attaching the tubular body in sealing contact with the opening;
• a generally tubular light housing insertable into the inlet housing, the light housing having
• a lens sealingly mounted across an open forward end of the light housing;
• and
• a light source mounted to direct light through tubular light housing and the lens;
• means for supporting the tubular light housing within the inlet housing with spaced regions between them to form a generally annular water passage between the inlet housing and the light housing;
• sealing means extending between the inlet housing and the light housing, for creating a closed rear end to the water passage;
• at least one port between the inlet housing and the light housing for placing a forward end of the water passage in communication with the pool;
• and
• means for connecting a water inlet conduit to the inlet housing for supplying water to the water passage.