Illuminated Wind Indicator

• US 20090207596A1
• Filed: 01/02/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Simon N. Richmond
• Original Assignee: Simon N. Richmond
• Inventors: Richmond, Simon Nicholas
• Granted Patent: US 8,077,052 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/159
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/03 rechargeable by exposure to light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0824 Ground spikes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/00 Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/109 of gardens
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 1/07 mechanically operated; Hand bells; Bells for animals
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1563 without using an external clock H02M3/158 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 in street lighting

Abstract

An illuminated wind indicator that provides visual indication of wind motion even at night. One or more chime members and a pendulum assembly are suspended from a support of housing, and arranged so that the chime members and the pendulum assembly may more relative to each other. In addition, a light source is situated such that a portion of the pendulum emits light. The light source is powered by a solar cell and a rechargeable battery. A light source may be used to detect ambient light and switch the battery from accumulating charge to powering the light source. The light source may include a luminescent material.

Claims

1. An illuminated wind indicator, comprising:

a housing;

at least one chime member movably suspended from said housing;

a pendulum assembly suspended from said housing such that said pendulum assembly and said at least one chime member move relative to each other; and

a first light source situated such that a portion of said pendulum assembly emits light and wherein said first light source comprises one of a phosphorescent material and a fluorescent material.

2. The wind indicator of claim 2 further comprising a second light source having a suitable wavelength and being situated such that said second light source causes said first light source to emit light.

3. The wind indicator of claim 2 further comprising at least one solar panel, a rechargeable battery, a control circuit and a light sensor, connected such that said rechargeable battery accumulates charge when said solar panel is exposed to ambient light level of sufficient intensity and that when said light sensor detects ambient light lower than a predetermined level said control circuit connects said second light source and said rechargeable battery such that said second light source emits light.

4. A solar powered device, comprising:

a housing;

at least one suspended photovoltaic region below said housing;

a rechargeable power source connected to said photovoltaic region for storing energy from said photovoltaic region; and

a control circuit connected to said power source for releasing said energy from said power source.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said photovoltaic region is flexibly suspended below said housing.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said device further comprises a light source connected to said power source via said control circuit such that said light source illuminates when ambient light falls below a predetermined threshold.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein said power source is flexibly suspended below said housing.

8. The device of claim 4 wherein said photovoltaic region is planar and is oriented substantially vertically.

9. The device of claim 4 wherein said photovoltaic region comprises two photovoltaic portions and wherein said two photovoltaic regions are disposed such that the back surfaces of the photovoltaic portions confront each other.

10. The device of claim 4 wherein said housing is a ring.

11. The device of claim 4 wherein said housing further comprises a support structure including a ground stake.

12. The device of claim 5 wherein said housing further comprises a wind indicator.

13. A decorative article, comprising:

a transparent or translucent object;

a first light source comprising luminescent material deposited on or embedded within said object, and wherein said luminescent material is both fluorescent and phosphorescent;

and electrically powered second light source supported in proximity to said object and comprising an electrical circuit capable of cycling said second light source from an on state, in which said second light source causes said luminescent material to emit fluorescent light, to an off state in which luminescent material emits phosphorescent light.

14. The decorative article of claim 13 wherein said second light source comprises a light emitting diode and wherein said electrical circuit activates said light emitting diode in a temporal pulsed mode.