System and apparatus for backlighting swimming pools

Abstract

Lighting systems and apparatus for a swimming pool, having a sidewall sized and shaped to define a perimeter of the swimming pool, a liner for covering the sidewall and a bottom of the swimming pool so as to create a watertight cavity for receiving water, the liner including a light-transmitting portion, and a backlighting apparatus for mounting to a generally continuous surface of the sidewall between the liner and the sidewall and configured to transmit light through the light-transmitting portion of the liner to illuminate the swimming pool. In some embodiments, the backlighting apparatus includes a housing configured for mounting on the surface of the sidewall between the liner and the sidewall, the housing having a light-transmitting front cover configured to align with the light-transmitting portion of the liner, and at least one light source sized and shaped to fit within the housing for emitting light through the front cover to illuminate the pool. In other embodiments, the backlighting apparatus includes a rear sheet portion for mounting on the surface of the sidewall between the liner and the sidewall, a light-transmitting cover sheet portion connected to the rear sheet portion, and at least one light source provided between the rear sheet portion and the cover sheet portion for emitting light through the cover sheet portion and the light-transmitting portion of the liner to illuminate the swimming pool.

1 . A lighting system for a swimming pool, comprising:
 a) a sidewall sized and shaped to define a perimeter of the swimming pool;   b) a liner for covering the sidewall and a bottom of the swimming pool so as to create a watertight cavity for receiving water, the liner including a light-transmitting portion; and   c) a backlighting apparatus for mounting to a generally continuous surface of the sidewall between the liner and the sidewall and configured to transmit light through the light-transmitting portion of the liner to illuminate the swimming pool.   
     
     
         2 . The lighting system of  claim 1 , wherein the backlighting apparatus comprises:
 a) a housing configured for mounting on the sidewall between the liner and the sidewall, the housing having a light-transmitting front cover configured to align with the light-transmitting portion of the liner; and   b) at least one light source sized and shaped to fit within the housing for emitting light through the front cover to illuminate the pool.   
     
     
         3 . The lighting system of  claim 2 , wherein the housing comprises a rear wall providing a mounting surface for mounting the housing to the surface of the sidewall, and wherein the at least one light source is secured to the rear wall. 
     
     
         4 . The lighting system of  claim 2 , wherein the housing comprises a flange providing a mounting surface for mounting the housing to the surface of the sidewall. 
     
     
         5 . The lighting system of  claim 2 , wherein the housing is mounted to the sidewall using an adhesive. 
     
     
         6 . The lighting system of  claim 2  wherein the light-transmitting front cover is made of a rigid material. 
     
     
         7 . The lighting system of  claim 2  wherein the light-transmitting front cover is made of a flexible material. 
     
     
         8 . The lighting system of  claim 3 , wherein the light-transmitting front cover is hingedly-connected to the rear wall and is movable from a closed position to an open position. 
     
     
         9 . The lighting system of  claim 1 , wherein the backlighting apparatus comprises:
 a) a rear sheet for mounting on the sidewall between the liner and the sidewall;   b) a light-transmitting cover sheet secured to the rear sheet; and   c) at least one light source provided between the rear sheet and the cover sheet for emitting light through the cover sheet and the light-transmitting portion of the liner to illuminate the swimming pool.   
     
     
         10 . A backlighting apparatus for a swimming pool having a sidewall defining a perimeter of the swimming pool and a waterproof liner for covering the sidewall, comprising:
 a) a housing for mounting to a generally continuous surface of the sidewall between the sidewall and the liner, the housing comprising a light-transmitting front cover configured to align with a light-transmitting portion of the liner; and   b) at least one light source shaped and sized to fit within the housing for emitting light through the front cover and the light-transmitting portion of the liner to illuminate the swimming pool.   
     
     
         11 . The backlighting apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the housing comprises a rear wall providing a mounting surface for mounting the housing to the surface of the sidewall. 
     
     
         12 . The backlighting apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the housing is mounted to the surface of the sidewall using an adhesive. 
     
     
         13 . The backlighting apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the light-transmitting front cover is made of a rigid material. 
     
     
         14 . The backlighting apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the light-transmitting front cover is made of a flexible material. 
     
     
         15 . The backlighting apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the light-transmitting front cover is hingedly-connected to the rear wall and is movable from a closed position to an open position. 
     
     
         16 . The backlighting apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one light source is configured to provide a generally continuous distribution of light around at least a portion of the perimeter of the swimming pool. 
     
     
         17 . The backlighting apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the light-transmitting portion of the liner includes a decorative pattern having portions of varying light transmittance. 
     
     
         18 . The backlighting apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the light-transmitting portion of the liner is positioned proximate a water line when the swimming pool contains a pre-determined amount of water, such that an upper portion of the light-transmitting cover is above the waterline and a lower portion of the light-transmitting cover is below the water line. 
     
     
         19 . The backlighting apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one light source comprises a least one LED module. 
     
     
         20 . A backlighting apparatus for a swimming pool, comprising:
 a) a rear sheet portion for mounting on a generally continuous surface of a portion of the pool between the portion and a liner of the swimming pool;   b) a light-transmitting cover sheet portion connected to the rear sheet portion; and   c) at least one light source provided between the rear sheet portion and the cover sheet portion for emitting light through the cover sheet portion to illuminate the pool.