Water feature with integrated lighting system
A lighting device for an illuminated water feature has an annular housing with an interior surface. The interior surface of the annular housing defines a fluid pathway through the annular housing. A lighting unit is positioned within the annular housing in a location not interfering with the fluid pathway. An electrical plug adapter extends from the annular housing in a location not interfering with the fluid pathway.
1 . A lighting device for an illuminated water feature, comprising: an annular housing; an interior surface of the annular housing defining a fluid pathway through the annular housing; a lighting unit positioned within the annular housing in a location not interfering with the fluid pathway; an attachment with a base; an electrical plug adapter electrically connectable to the lighting unit and extending from the annular housing, wherein the electrical plug adapter is offset from the fluid pathway; and a bubbler lens having an annular window and an aperture, the annular window directs at least a portion of a light pathway from the lighting unit into the attachment; wherein the fluid pathway fluidically extends through the annular housing, the aperture of the bubbler lens, and the base of the attachment.
2 . The lighting device of claim 1 , further comprising: a lip formed in the base of the attachment; at least one discontinuity in the lip of the base of the attachment; and a mounting adapter with at least one mounting flange formed to accommodate the at least one discontinuity of the lip, wherein the attachment is mateably connectable to the mounting adapter with a removeable connection between the at least one mounting flange and the at least one discontinuity of the lip of the base of the attachment.
3 . The lighting device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical plug adapter further comprises a bayonet connector to electrically connect an electrical cable.
4 . The lighting device of claim 1 , further comprising an outer niche housing connectable to the annular housing, wherein the annular housing is positionable at least partially within the outer niche housing.
5 . The lighting device of claim 2 , further comprising:
an inner niche housing connectable to the annular housing, wherein the annular housing is at least partially positionable within the inner niche housing;
an outer niche housing at least partially positioned within a pool deck, wherein the inner niche housing is positionable at least partially within the outer niche housing, wherein the inner niche housing is engageable with the outer niche housing, wherein the mounting adapter forms a mechanical connection between the attachment and at least one of the inner niche housing or the outer niche housing.
6 . The lighting device of claim 5 , further comprising: a trough in a top surface of the mounting adapter; a first gasket positionable within the trough of the mounting adapter, wherein when the lip of the base of the attachment mateably connects with the mounting adapter, a substantially watertight seal is formed with the first gasket, the base of the attachment, and the mounting adapter; the bubbler lens positioned between the mounting adapter and the attachment, wherein the bubbler lens is in contact with the first gasket; a niche housing flange formed in the inner niche housing, wherein the niche housing flange is removably connectable with the outer niche housing; and a second gasket positionable between the niche housing flange and the mounting adapter.
7 . The lighting device of claim 6 , wherein the second gasket is positioned between the niche housing flange and a sidewall of the annular housing, wherein the annular housing is positioned at least partially above the inner niche housing.
8 . The lighting device of claim 5 , wherein the inner niche housing further comprises:
a niche housing flange positioned toward the outer niche housing, wherein the niche housing flange is removably connectable to the outer niche housing; and
a second gasket in contact with the niche housing flange, wherein a substantially watertight seal is formed with the second gasket, the inner niche housing, and the mounting adapter when the niche housing flange is removably connected to the outer niche housing.
9 . The lighting device of claim 2 , further comprising a light pathway from the lighting unit of the annular housing to the attachment.
10 . The lighting device of claim 1 , wherein the attachment further comprises:
a hollow sphere connected to the base, wherein at least a portion of the light pathway is directable from the lighting unit through the hollow sphere; and
a spout formed in the hollow sphere, wherein the spout is fluidically connected to the fluid pathway through the base.
11 . The lighting device of claim 10 , wherein the hollow sphere further comprises at least one of: a transparent material or a translucent material.
12 . A method to retrofit a water feature with an illuminated feature, comprising: acquiring a mounting adapter with at least one mounting flange; fastening the mounting adapter to a water bubbler, wherein the water bubbler is positioned at least partially within a pool deck, wherein the water bubbler has: a lighting unit positioned within an outer housing, wherein the lighting unit is configured to emit a quantity of light along a light pathway; a bubbler lens attached to the outer housing, wherein an annular window of the bubbler lens is positioned along the light pathway, wherein the bubbler lens is positioned at least partially within the pool deck; a fluid pathway from the outer housing through the bubbler lens; positioning an attachment over the mounting adapter, wherein the attachment has: a base with an opening to accommodate the fluid pathway of the water bubbler; a lip formed in the base of the attachment, wherein the lip has at least one discontinuity configured to accommodate the at least one mounting flange; aligning the at least one discontinuity of the lip of the base of the attachment with the at least one mounting flange; and mating the attachment to the mounting adapter with a removeable connection, wherein the mating forms a substantially watertight seal between the attachment and the mounting adapter, and wherein when the attachment and the mounting adapter are mated the fluid pathway of the water bubbler is aligned with the opening in the base of the attachment, and wherein the annular window of the bubbler lens is positioned to direct at least a portion of the quantity of light from the water bubbler into the attachment.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
removing an internal component from the water bubbler; wherein the outer housing of the water bubbler is pre-installed in the pool deck; and
replacing the internal component with at least one of an inner housing engageable with the outer housing of the bubbler, an electrical plug adapter removably attachable to the lighting device, a new bubbler lens configured for the mounting adapter, or an annular housing positionable within the inner housing, wherein the annular housing contains the lighting device.
14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
electrically connecting an electrical plug adapter to the lighting unit, wherein the bubbler further comprises:
an annular housing positioned within the outer housing, wherein the annular housing contains the lighting unit, wherein the electrical plug adapter extends from the annular housing, wherein the electrical plug adapter is offset from the fluid pathway; and
forming a substantially watertight seal between the electrical plug adapter and the annular housing when the electrical plug adapter is connected to the lighting unit.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein a spout formed in the attachment is fluidically connected to the fluid pathway through the base of the attachment.
16 . The method of claim 12 , the attachment further comprising at least one of a transparent material or a translucent material.