The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 09, 1999
Filed:
Oct. 18, 1996
Dennis C Dunn, Thousand Oaks, CA (US);
Kevin L Potucek, Simi Valley, CA (US);
Richard L Swain, Simi Valley, CA (US);
Laurence E Thrasher, Simi Valley, CA (US);
American Products, Inc., Moorpark, CA (US);
Abstract
An illuminator assembly that has a lid that can be easily removed, a spare bulb holder, a color wheel that easily accepts additional filters without disassembly and a snap on filter for a window on the illuminator assembly. The illuminator assembly illuminates one end of a bundle of fiber optic fibers for a lighting system for a swimming pool or a spa or other area to be illuminated. The illuminator assembly includes a hollow housing containing a light socket assembly for illuminating the end of the bundle of fiber optic fibers. The housing has a first tab mounted adjacent to its open upper end. A light bulb is mounted in the light socket assembly and a lid is provided that is sized to cover the open upper end of the housing. The lid has a second tab configured to selectively engage the first tab on the housing upon the rotation of the lid with respect to the housing. The interlocking tabs advantageously allow the installation and removal of the lid without the removal and replacement of troublesome mechanical fasteners, such as screws, nuts and bolts or the use of tools for these fasteners. As described above, the invention also provides other advantageous features.