Light Device

• US 20090078604A1
• Filed: 09/23/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Simon N. Richmond
• Original Assignee: Simon N. Richmond
• Inventors: Richmond, Simon N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,104,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/459.100
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2201/00 Means or constructions for testing or controlling the contents
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/08 with a standard F21S6/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/03 rechargeable by exposure to light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/007 with provision for shipment or storage
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0824 Ground spikes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/10 Outdoor lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/109 of gardens
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/38 Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 in street lighting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

A light device and packaging assembly having packaging containing a product. The product may be a solar powered light device. The packaging includes a switch that is operable to activate the product while the product is still within the packaging so that a user may observe operation of the product without removing the product from the packaging.

Claims

1. A light device comprising:

a lens being at least partially light transmissive lens;

at least one light emitting element which receives electrical power from at least one electrical power storage device disposed during use in said light device, said at least one light emitting element being arranged so as to generate light which passes outwardly of said light device through said lens;

a solar power converting device arranged to convert solar power to electrical power for recharging said at least one electrical power storage device disposed during use in said light device;

a control circuitry arranged to control supply of electrical power to said at least one light emitting element during use;

a light activation sub-control circuitry to activate said control circuitry at low light levels; and

a test device including;

an insulator;

a first conductor electrically connected to said electrical power storage device disposed during use in said light device;

a second conductor separated from said first conductor and electrically connected to said control circuitry; and

a test switch connected across said first and second conductors,

wherein at least one of said first and second conductors is disposed on a first side of said insulator; and

wherein said test device is disposed between said control circuitry and said at least one electrical power storage device, said test device being disposed in a first configuration wherein electrical power is able to pass through said test device between said electrical storage device and said control circuitry, and disposed in a second configuration wherein electrical power is not able to pass through said test device between said electrical storage device and said control circuitry.

2. A solar powered light fixture and device package assembly comprising:

a solar powered light fixture including;

an at least partially light transmissive lens;

at least one light emitting element arranged so as to generate light which passes outwardly of said lens;

at least one rechargeable power source which supplies electrical power to said at least one light emitting element;

a solar power converting device arranged to convert solar power to electrical power for recharging said at least one at least one rechargeable power source during normal use;

a control circuitry arranged to control supply of electrical power from said at least one rechargeable power source to said at least one light emitting element during use;

a light activation sub-control circuitry to activate said control circuitry at low light levels during normal use;

a solar light display device package comprising

a package housing including;

an at least partially non-light transmissive upper region which shields at least part of said lens from ambient light,

a back region proximate to said upper region,

at least one side region proximate to said upper region;

a lower region proximate to said at least one side region,

a front region proximate to said upper region and having at least one light transmissive aperture, and

wherein said upper, back, side, front and lower regions form a cavity; and

a user-operable and user-detachable test device disposed between said control circuitry and said at least one rechargeable power source,

wherein said test device is disposable in a first configuration which is manually activated by a user wherein electrical power is able to pass through said test device between said least one rechargeable power source and said control circuitry such that said at least one light emitting element generates light which passes outwardly of said front region through lens and then said aperture;

wherein said test device is disposable in a second configuration wherein electrical power is not able to pass through said test device between said least one rechargeable power source and said control circuitry; and

wherein at least a portion of said fixture including said at least partially light transmissive lens, said at least one light emitting element and said at least one rechargeable power source are fully disposed within said cavity during display use; and

wherein said solar powered light fixture is in a first instance associated with said packaging housing during said display use and in a second instance is removed from said package housing and detached from said test device during said normal use of said solar powered light fixture.

3. The solar powered light fixture and device package assembly of claim 2, wherein said package housing shields at least part of said light activation sub-control circuitry from light in order to activate said control circuitry when said test device is disposed in said first configuration.

4. The solar powered light fixture and device package assembly of claim 2, wherein said solar powered light fixture further includes at least one battery compartment and wherein said rechargeable power source is at least one rechargeable battery disposed within said battery compartment, and wherein said test device further comprises:

a switch supported by said display package housing and positioned to enable a user to operate said switch without opening said package housing; and

an electric connector electrically attached to said switch; and

wherein said connector includes an insulator in respect of said at least one rechargeable battery and said control circuitry, and said insulator extends into said battery compartment, and is slidably removable there from to provide for connection of said battery electrically to said control circuitry.

5. The solar powered light fixture and device package assembly of claim 2, wherein said test device comprises:

a switch supported by said package housing and positioned to enable a user to operate said switch without opening said package housing during display use;

an electric connector electrically attached to said switch and removably attached to said control circuitry, and wherein said connector includes an insulator in respect of said at least one rechargeable power source and said control circuitry, and said insulator is slidably removable there from to provide for connection of said at least one rechargeable power source electrically to said control circuitry; and

wherein said switch is operated by a user during display use to cause said control circuitry to be energized and therefore said control circuitry to be operated, with said at least one rechargeable power source powering said control circuitry by operation of said switch, with operative detachment of said connector with respect to said control circuitry also providing for powering of said control circuitry by said at least one rechargeable power source during normal use, and thereof operation of said control circuitry.

6. The solar powered light fixture and device package assembly of claim 5, wherein said switch comprises a button that is pressed to activate said control circuitry, with said button being recessed relative to an outer surface of said front region.

7. The solar powered light fixture and device package assembly of claim 5, wherein said connector includes two conducting members attached to said switch, with said switch including a user engaged member that is moved to a position in said first configuration electrically connecting said two members in said first configuration, and is urged to a position not connecting said members in said second configuration.

8. The solar powered light fixture and device package assembly of claim 5, wherein said electric connector further comprises a first conductor electrically connected to said rechargeable power source, a second conductor separated from said first conductor and electrically connected to said control circuitry, and wherein said switch is connected across said first and second conductors, and wherein at least one of said first and second conductors is disposed on a first side of said insulator.

9. The solar powered light fixture and device package assembly of claim 5, wherein said test device connects in parallel to a portion of said control circuitry such that said test device operates independently of said portion of said control circuitry.

10. The solar powered light fixture and device package assembly of claim 8, wherein said second conductor is disposed on a second side of said insulator and separated from said first conductor by said insulator.

11. The solar powered light fixture and device package assembly of claim 5, wherein said connector includes a strip including longitudinally extending conductive strip portions between which there is located an insulating strip portion, with said conductive strip portions being connected to said switch so that operation of said switch electrically connects said two conductive portions with detachment of said strip with respect to said control circuitry providing for said operative detachment of said connector with respect to said control circuitry.

12. The solar powered light fixture and device package assembly of claim 11, wherein said at least one rechargeable power source is a battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and said control circuitry further includes a positive terminal to be operatively associated with said positive terminal of said battery and a negative terminal to be operatively associated with said negative terminal of said battery, and said strip is arranged at a location between at least one of said two positive terminals and said two negative terminals so as to electrically isolate said battery from said control circuitry, said strip being removable from said location so that said battery can electrically energize said control circuitry.

13. The solar powered light fixture and device package assembly of claim 11, wherein said strip passes through at least one aperture in said battery compartment.

14. The solar powered light fixture and device package assembly of claim 5, wherein said connector is elongated to enable removal of said product from said packaging without disconnection from said switch.

32. The product and device package assembly of claim 5, wherein said connector disables said control circuitry when attached thereto until said switch is operated.

15. A product and device package assembly comprising:

an electrically operated product including;

a control circuitry to electrically operate a part of said product, said control circuitry including said at least one battery to energize said circuit;

an enclosure containing said battery; and

a display device package including;

a package housing generally forming a cavity;

a switch supported by said package housing and positioned to enable a user to manually operate said switch without opening said package housing;

an electric connector electrically attached to said switch and removably attached to said control circuitry, and wherein said connector includes an insulator in respect of said at least one battery and said part, and wherein said insulator extends into said enclosure, and is slidably removable there from to provide for connection of said battery electrically to said part;

wherein said switch is operated by a user to cause said control circuitry to be energized and therefore said part to be operated, with said battery powering said control circuitry by operation of said switch, with operative detachment of said connector with respect to said control circuitry also providing for powering of said control circuitry by said battery, and thereof operation of said control circuitry; and

wherein said electrically operated product including said battery is fully disposed within said cavity.

16. The product and device package assembly of claim 15, wherein said connector includes a first conductor electrically connected to said battery, a second conductor separated from said first conductor and electrically connected to said control circuitry, wherein said switch is connected across said first and second conductors, and wherein at least one of said first and second conductors is disposed on a first side of said insulator.

17. The product and device package assembly of claim 16, wherein said second conductor is disposed on a second side of said insulator and separated from said first conductor by said insulator.

18. The product and device package assembly of claim 15, wherein said battery is a battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and said control circuitry further includes a positive terminal to be operatively associated with said positive terminal of said battery and a negative terminal to be operatively associated with said negative terminal of said battery, and wherein said insulator is arranged at a location between at least one of said two positive terminals and said two negative terminals so as to electrically isolate said battery from said control circuitry, said insulator being removable from said location so that said battery can electrically energize said control circuitry.

19. The product and device package assembly of claim 15, wherein said package housing includes a wall, and said switch is recessed relative to said wall.

20. The product and device package assembly of claim 15, wherein said connector includes two conducting members electrically attached to said switch, with said switch including a user engaged member that is moved to a first position electrically connecting said two members and therefore causes operation of said control circuitry, and is urged to a second position not connecting said members.

21. The product and device package assembly of claim 15, wherein said connector includes a strip including longitudinally extending conductive strip portions between which there is located an insulating strip portion, with said conductive strip portions being electrically attached to said switch so that operation of said switch electrically connects said two conductive portions with detachment of said strip with respect to said control circuitry providing for said operative detachment of said connector with respect to said control circuitry.

22. The product and device package assembly of claim 15, wherein said connector is elongated to enable removal of said product from said package housing without disconnection from said switch.

23. The product and device package assembly of claim 15, wherein said connector disables said control circuitry when attached thereto until said switch is operated.

24. The product and device package assembly of claim 15, wherein said connector passes through an aperture in said enclosure.

25. The solar powered light fixture and device package assembly of claim 15, wherein:

said switch is a packaging switch and wherein said solar powered light fixture further includes;

a device switch operable to control delivery of electric power from said battery to operate said control circuitry, said device switch being a user-accessible switch, and wherein said device switch is in parallel to said packaging switch.

26. The product and device package assembly of claim 15, wherein said battery is a rechargeable battery and said product is a solar powered light including:

an at least partially light transmissive lens;

at least one light emitting element arranged so as to generate light which passes outwardly of said lens;

said at least one rechargeable battery which supplies electrical power to said at least one light emitting element;

a solar power converting device arranged to convert solar power to electrical power for recharging said at least one at least one rechargeable power source;

a control circuitry arranged to control supply of electrical power from said at least one rechargeable power source to said at least one light emitting element during use;

a light activation sub-control circuitry to activate said control circuitry at low light levels during normal use; and

wherein said package housing further includes;

an at least partially non-light transmissive upper region which shields at least part of said lens from ambient light,

a back region proximate to said upper region,

at least one side region proximate to said upper region;

a lower region proximate to said at least one side region,

a front region proximate to said upper region and having at least one light transmissive aperture, and wherein said upper, back, side, front and lower regions form a cavity; and

wherein said switch is disposable in a first configuration which is manually activated by a user via said front region wherein electrical power is able to pass through said test device between said least one rechargeable power source and said control circuitry such that said at least one light emitting element generates light which passes outwardly of said front region through lens and then said aperture;

wherein said switch is disposable in a second configuration wherein electrical power is not able to pass through said connector between said least one rechargeable battery and said control circuitry; and

wherein at least a portion of said fixture including said at least partially light transmissive lens, said at least one light emitting element and said at least one rechargeable battery are fully disposed within said cavity during display use; and

wherein said solar powered light fixture is in a first instance associated with said package housing during said display use and in a second instance is removed from said package housing and detached from said connector during said normal use of said solar powered light fixture.

27. The product and device package assembly of claim 26, wherein said package housing shields at least part of said light activation sub-control circuitry from ambient light in order to activate said control circuitry when said switch is disposed in said first configuration.

28. The product and device package assembly of claim 26, wherein said switch includes a button that is pressed to activate said control circuitry, with said button being recessed relative to said wall.

30. The product and device package assembly of claim 26, wherein said connector includes a strip including longitudinally extending conductive strip portions between which there is located an insulating strip portion, with said conductive strip portions being attached to said switch so that operation of said switch electrically connects said two conductive portions with detachment of said strip with respect to said control circuitry providing for said operation detachment of said connector with respect to said control circuitry.

31. The product and device package assembly of claim 30, wherein said connector is elongated to enable removal of said product from said package housing without disconnection from said switch.

33. The product and device package assembly of claim 26, wherein said at least one battery is a battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and said control circuitry further includes a positive terminal to be operatively associated with said positive terminal of said battery and a negative terminal to be operatively associated with said negative terminal of said battery, and said connector is an insulator in respect of said battery by being located between said two positive terminals and/or said two negative terminals so as to electrically isolate said battery, said insulator being removable from between said terminals so that said battery can electrically energize said control circuitry.

34. The product and device package assembly of claim 15, wherein said connector disables said control circuitry when attached thereto until said switch is operated.

35. The product and device package assembly of claim 26, wherein said connector disables said control circuitry when attached thereto until said switch is operated.

29. The product and device package assembly of claim 29, wherein said connector includes two conducting members attached to said switch, with said switch including a user engaged member that is moved to a position electrically connecting said two members and therefore causes operation of said control circuitry, and is urged to a position not connecting said members.

36. A product and device package assembly comprising:

an electrically operated product including;

a control circuit to electrically operate said product;

a battery electrically connected to said control circuit;

an enclosure for housing said control circuit and battery; and

said enclosure having at least one slot to receive at least one insulated pull-tab that when received in said aperture disrupts the electrical connection between said battery and said control circuit; and

a device package including;

a package housing having an outer surface forming a cavity;

a switch accessible from said outer surface of said package housing; and

an electric connector having at least one package pull-tab having an insulated portion and an electrically conductive portion electrically connected to said switch;

wherein, when said at least one package pull-tab is received in said at least one slot, the electrical connection between said battery and control circuit is routed through said switch.