IT202100001379A1 - UNDERWATER LIGHTING ARM - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION OF INDUSTRIAL INVENTION

DESCRIPTION of an industrial invention entitled: Underwater lighting arm.

FIELD OF TECHNIQUE

The present industrial invention relates to the technical field relating to underwater illuminators for underwater housing systems containing photo-video shooting devices, such as reflex cameras, video cameras, smartphones, action cameras and the like.

CURRENT STATE OF THE ART

The designers of companies in the diving equipment manufacturing sector have always been on the constant search for technical and ergonomic solutions capable of making scuba diving more and more enjoyable. comfortable and safe.

In this context, the technique of underwater photo-video shooting also fits fully because of the need to do so. that divers have, practicing the same, in having to minimize the number and size of their shooting systems.

The evolution of the prior art in the sector has always split, and still splits, in a well-defined way underwater lighting devices, such as for example the one claimed by US9746170B1 and adjustable arm systems for underwater photo-video shooting which act as them from supports and that I am going to describe.

I mention in particular the sub photo-video arms claimed by in US4916471A, by in US5477287A, by in JP2017207102A, by in JP2009288594A and in JP2010007766A, the inventions of which comprise an arm, or modular systems composed of several? sub photo-video arms which serve exclusively as a support for external lighting devices.

Instead, the sub photo-video arms claimed by in JPH11237688A and by in JP2009251256A, with respect to the above arms, have the functionality? additional to be able to regulate their floating, but nothing more?.

An adjustable arm for underwater photo-video shooting, but structurally more? complex and cumbersome whose adjustment takes place essentially through a system of positioning wheels, but whose function is? always and exclusively that of supporting external lighting devices, ? the one claimed by in DE4401763A1.

Other types of arms for underwater photo-video shooting structurally and conceptually different from those described up to now, in that they integrate circuit components and batteries in a watertight manner, are those claimed by in US3252393A and by

in US20160219253A1.

However, the function of the arm claimed in US3252393A ? only that of acting as a support for an external flash, while the function of the arms claimed in US20160219253A1 ? only that of acting as grips for the remote control of the camera to which they are connected.

In any case, all the inventions described above are only considered accessories whose only function is that of acting as a support for external lighting devices without which they would be totally useless.

Also in US4218122A it claims two arms for photographic shooting having tubular profiles each of which, differently from what is claimed in US3252393A and in US20160219253A1, in addition to containing circuit components and a battery, also includes a unit? flash whose flash passes through a small transparent window placed on the surface of each of said arms.

The limitations of US4218122A are evident in that the light emitted by the flash is fixed and non-adjustable, also said two units? require a sync cable connected to the shutter of the camera to which they are connected. Furthermore, as written, their use ? limited to underwater photography only.

A quote ? dutiful also for the luminous signaling device claimed by in US5865524A, even if the same does not belong to the field of the technique relating to underwater photo-video shooting.

The invention claimed in US5865524A ? structurally and conceptually similar to those claimed in US3252393A, in US20160219253A1 and in US4218122A, since US5865524A claims a rod or rod, whatever you prefer, also having a hollow tubular body inside which circuit components are contained watertight, a battery and more of multicolored light-emitting diodes.

However, the purpose of the lighting device claimed in US5865524A is only and exclusively that of fulfilling a simple and elementary luminous signal to transmit a visual communication even in extreme environments such as underwater.

Therefore, nothing to do with the technical field of underwater photo-video shooting in which the invention is inserted, object of the present invention, this field is much more? complex as the lighting systems must respond to certain characteristics, such as the power, the brightness?, the width of the light beam produced, as well as? seek solutions for dissipating the heat produced by the components with which they are made.

Furthermore, in US5865524A he also claims the fact that his invention must be held exclusively in the hand and simply swung to attract the attention of people trying to make them understand the type of visual information transmitted.

Therefore, the invention claimed in US5865524A is not not even conceived for combined use with adjustable arm systems and underwater housing systems typical of the technical field of underwater photo-video shooting.

Therefore?, for all of the above mentioned and described, ? evident that the known technique of the underwater photo-video shooting sector? still lacking an invention such as the underwater lighting arm like the one object of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the underwater lighting arm, object of the present invention, is that of reducing the number and size of lighting devices to be used underwater with underwater housing systems containing photo-video shooting devices, such as reflex cameras, video cameras, smartphones, action cameras and the like, eliminating or minimizing the limits and problems of the inventions described above that the prior art of the aforementioned sector currently offers.

Said lighting arm pu? be made of composite material, or polycarbonate, or aluminum, has a double-chamber tubular profile, blind on the bottom, while its extremity? superior ? closed watertight by one or more? o-rings and a removable cap.

Inside this double room? enclosed a LED lighting system for underwater photo-video shooting.

Said lighting arm includes a window through which to project the light produced by said LED lighting system, it ? closed watertight by means of a transparent polycarbonate lens.

This lens can be of the removable type with sealing o-ring and fixing members, or be inextricably welded watertight on the surface of said arm by means of a co-molding process with the same or by means of an ultrasonic welding process.

Said lighting arm also includes a safety lock to protect against its accidental opening with its consequent flooding.

The first chamber of said two contained within said lighting arm includes two guides disposed at 180? which in turn include a removable aluminum support on which the components of said LED lighting system for underwater photo-video shooting are fixed and interconnected, such as: one or more? Lighting LED, one or more? small alarm signaling LEDs, a? unit? control electronics of said LED lighting system.

While, the second chamber of said two contained within said lighting arm, includes a unit? rechargeable and removable power supply for the operation of said LED lighting system for underwater photo-video shooting.

The dissipation of the heat produced by the components of this LED lighting system? ensured by the fact that said aluminum support and said unit? power supply are in direct contact with the body of said arm which in turn? in direct contact with water.

In addition to that? will be It is also possible to install a mini cooling fan (not shown) inside this arm.

Said lighting arm, includes one or more? unit? for activating and controlling said LED lighting system for underwater photo-video shooting, they can be constituted by buttons of the mechanical type, or of the magnetic type, or be constituted by sensors.

Said lighting arm also includes a charging socket for said unit. of rechargeable power.

Finally, said lighting arm includes two connection terminals for its adjustable interconnection with said underwater housing systems containing photo-video shooting devices, such as reflex cameras, video cameras, smartphones, action cameras and the like.

In conclusion, underwater photo-video shooting? a kind of complicated recovery due to the limitations and problems associated with the marine environment in which one is operating.

To avoid smashing corals and gorgonians, plowing the seabed or getting caught in some roughness? or network, ? is necessary to know how to move also minimizing the quantity? and the encumbrance of the shooting system to be taken while diving.

In fact, the continuous maneuvers to adjust the correct orientation of the illuminators, pilot lights and torches fixed at the head of the sub photo-video arms that act as supports, commit and put even the most experienced divers to the test. experts in controlling their buoyancy.

As a diving instructor that I am, in carrying out the courses for underwater video and photographic shooting I always remind my students and my diving companions that an excessive number and clutter of lighting devices underwater lead to poor concentration due to the continuous adjustments of the themselves.

Encumbrance, poor concentration and effort in trying to control your buoyancy? they can endanger not only the safety of the diver, but also that of the marine environment in it.

The advantages relating to the industrialization of the invention are also equally important, since its simplicity? constructive makes it conveniently usable on a large scale.

Therefore, in the light of all the above ? the advantage that said underwater lighting arm, according to the invention, brings to the technique of the underwater photo-video shooting sector is undoubted. and inventiveness resulting new and not enclosed in the state of the art hitherto made accessible to the public, differentiating itself in a qualified way from what is contained in it, surpassing its normal evolution prospects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following definitions will be oriented according to the Cartesian coordinate system constructed in Table 1: the side corresponding to the positive axis X ? defined as the right side, the side corresponding to the negative X axis? defined as the left side, the side corresponding to the positive Y axis? defined as the upper side, the side corresponding to the negative Y axis? defined as the underside.

Table 1, Fig.1, shows the front view of invention 1.

Table 2, Fig.2, illustrates the front view of the lighting arm 1 without the removable cap 30 and the transparent lens 40.

Table 2, Fig.3, illustrates said removable cap 30.

Table 2, Figs. 4 and 5, illustrates the front and side view of the transparent lens 40 for closing the window 12.

Table 3, Fig.6 illustrates the view of the invention 1 rotated at 90? to the left of the view shown in Fig.1.

Table 4, Figs.7, 8 and 9 illustrate the safety catch 33 and the housings 18-32 where it is inserted.

Table 5, Fig.10, illustrates the invention 1 rotated at 180? compared to what is illustrated in Fig.1.

Table 6, Fig.11, illustrates the side view of the unit? power supply 70. Table 6, Figs. 12 and 13, illustrates the top and side view of the aluminum support 51 complete with the components 50 52 53 56 57 of the LED lighting system.

Table 7, Fig.14, illustrates the top view of the extremity top 13 of the lighting arm 1 without cap 30.

Table 8, Fig.15, illustrates the same view as Fig.14, with the addition of the unit of power supply 70 and of the aluminum support 51 inserted in their housings 26 21.

Table 9, Fig.16, illustrates the same view of Fig.14 closed by a circular lid 61.

Table 10, Fig.17, illustrates the front section of the top view of the lighting arm 1 relative to the area of the window 12.

Table 11, Fig.18, illustrates another preferred embodiment of the invention 2. Table 12, Fig.19, illustrates the use of the lighting arm 1 with an underwater case system 100.

The embodiment of the invention, its characteristics and the advantages of its use will be given below in further detail in combination with the preferred embodiments according to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

It should be noted that the embodiments of the underwater lighting arm, object of the present invention, will be described hereinafter by way of example only and do not constitute any limitation to the inventive scope of the same.

In accordance with the attached tables, the references of which are given in bold, said lighting arm 1 ? made of composite material with carbon fiber, it has a 6026 double chamber tubular profile, blind on the bottom, while its extremity? upper 13 threaded ? closed by a removable cap 30 also threaded whose watertightness ? secured by two sealing o-rings 14a 14b, inside said double chamber 60 26 ? enclosed a LED lighting system for underwater photo-video including: a? unit? rechargeable power supply consisting of a rechargeable battery pack 70; a removable flat section aluminum support 51 on which the following are fixed and interconnected: three lighting LEDs 50 complete with reflector 52, a small water infiltration signaling LED 56, a small charging status signaling LED of said batteries 57 and a?unit? electronic control 53 of said lighting system; a?unit? for the activation and control of said lighting system consisting of a button 23; a recharging socket for said rechargeable battery pack consisting of a connector 77;

Longitudinally along its surface, said lighting arm 1 includes a window 12 around the edge of which eight small hollow bushings 15 internally threaded in metal resistant to oxidation are embedded.

Said window 12 is sealed watertight by means of a transparent polycarbonate lens 40 delimited all around by as many eight small unthreaded through holes 41 coinciding with the holes of the eight small threaded bushings 15 embedded around the edge of the same 12 inside which insert and tighten as many screws 43 to fix said lens 40 to said window 12.

Is the watertightness of said transparent lens 40 ? secured by a sealing o-ring 42 housed in a groove 40 formed around its inner edge 44.

The first chamber 60 of said two contained within said lighting arm 1, includes two grooved guides 21 disposed at 180? and inextricably imprinted on its 60 surface.

Inside said two grooved guides 21 ? inserted said removable aluminum support 51 complete with the three lighting LEDs 50 with reflector 52, the two alarm signaling LEDs 56 57 and the unit? control electronics 53 of said LED lighting system.

Inside said first chamber 60? contained the second chamber 26 of said two, it 26 ? indissolubly printed on the surface thereof 60 and includes said rechargeable battery pack 70.

The dissipation of the heat produced by the components of this LED lighting system? ensured by the fact that said aluminum support 51 and said battery pack 70 are in direct contact with said lighting arm 1 which in turn? in direct contact with water.

In this preferred, but not exclusive embodiment, on said lighting arm 1? a mechanical type button 23 23a for activating and controlling said LED lighting system is built-in watertight 23b.

On said arm? also recessed said charging connector 77 for said rechargeable battery pack 70.

It 77, ? indissolubly welded to the bottom of an internally threaded hollow bushing 74 in oxidation-resistant metal which in turn is indissolubly welded in a passing way inside said lighting arm 1.

Is the watertightness of said connector 77 ? secured by a metal threaded cap 76 resistant to oxidation which is in turn provided with an o-ring 79.

Once said battery pack 70 and said aluminum support 51 have been inserted in their housings 2621, the connections 5473 between the same 70 and said unit are activated. electronics 53, as well as? between 7275 said battery pack 70 and the connector 77 for its recharge.

In this preferred embodiment, said battery pack 70 and said aluminum support 51 are kept blocked in their respective housings 21 26 thanks to a circular cover 61 provided with many small unthreaded through holes inside which the same number of screws 62 are inserted and tightened 63 to small threaded bushings 20 22 indissolubly embedded, respectively, in the plane of the edge of said second chamber 26 and at the head of said two grooved guides 21.

To prevent the electric connection cables from creating interference with said circular cover 61, two grooves 2425 have been made on the edge of said second chamber 26 so that they can be inserted in a hidden way in the same 2425.

In order to avoid accidental openings of said lighting arm 1 with its consequent flooding, on its 1 external surface, immediately below its extremity? top 13 threaded, ? a small non-passing grooved pocket 18 was made.

Also on the outer edge of said removable cap 30? a small grooved pocket 32 has also been made which does not pass through similarly to the one 18 made on the surface of said lighting arm 1.

Once said cap 30 ? been screwed, the same 32 fits with the other 18 so as to allow the precise insertion of a lock 33.

Two connection terminals 11 31 of the fixed type have been molded on said lighting arm 1, one 11 at its base and one 31 at the top of said removable cap 30, for its 1 use with underwater case systems 100 containing shooting devices photo-video.

A type of underwater lighting arm 2 according to another preferred embodiment of the invention ? the one shown in Table 11, Fig.18, with the only difference that the transparent polycarbonate lens 40, by which to close said window 12 watertight, is not? of the removable type and does not include fixing screws and sealing o-rings, but? said transparent lens 40 ? fixed type and ? been welded inextricably watertight by means of a co-moulding process with the same 2.

The invention, according to the invention, is susceptible to modifications and variations all falling within the inventive concept expressed in the attached claims.

The found ? been described with particular reference to the attached tables, used to improve understanding of the invention and do not constitute any limitation to the claimed scope of protection.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS CLAIMS of industrial invention entitled: Underwater lighting arm. 1. Underwater lighting arm for underwater housing systems containing photo-video shooting devices, such as reflex cameras, video cameras, smartphones, action cameras and the like, characterized in that said arm has a double chamber tubular profile, blind on the bottom, while its extremity? superior ? closed watertight by one or more? o-rings and a removable cap, inside said double chamber? enclosed a LED lighting system for underwater photo-video shooting. 2. Underwater lighting arm according to claim 1, characterized in that said arm includes a window through which to project the light produced by said LED lighting system for underwater photo-video shooting. 3. Underwater lighting arm according to claim 2, characterized in that said window is closed watertight by means of a transparent polycarbonate lens. 4. Underwater lighting arm according to claim 1, characterized in that the first chamber of said two contained within said arm includes two guides disposed at 180° to each other. 5. Underwater lighting arm according to claim 4, characterized in that said two guides include a removable aluminum support, on which the components of said LED lighting system for underwater photo-video shooting are fixed and interconnected, such as a or more Lighting LED, one or more? small alarm signaling LEDs, a? unit? control electronics of said LED lighting system. 6. Underwater lighting arm according to claim 1, characterized in that the second chamber of said two contained within said arm includes a unit? rechargeable and removable power supply for the operation of said LED lighting system for underwater photo-video shooting. 7. Underwater lighting arm according to claim 1, characterized in that said arm includes one or more lights. unit? command for the activation and control of said LED lighting system for underwater photo-video shooting. 8. Underwater lighting arm according to claim 6, characterized in that said arm includes a recharging socket for said unit? of rechargeable power. 9. Underwater lighting arm according to claim 1, characterized in that said arm includes a safety lock to protect against its accidental opening and consequent flooding. 10. Underwater lighting arm according to claim 1, characterized in that said arm includes two connection terminals for its adjustable interconnection with said underwater housing systems containing photo-video shooting devices, such as reflex cameras, camcorders, smartphones, action cameras and similar.