Solar Powered Ground Light

• US 20160025287A1
• Filed: 10/01/2015
• Published: 01/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Research Institute Of Medium & Small Shipbuilding
• Original Assignee: Herman N Philhower As Trustee of The H N Philhower Family Trust
• Inventors: Philhower, Herman N., Adair, Robin Charles
• Granted Patent: US 9,273,841 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/022 intended to be recessed in a floor or like ground surface, e.g. pavement or false floor
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/037 the solar unit and the lighting unit being located within or on the same housing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]

Abstract

A solar powered ground lights is typically mounted in a walkway, pathway, pool deck, roadway, park pathway, either in cement, wood, synthetic materials, or otherwise, and are ideally suited for use in walkways, walls, ceilings, and pool or dock areas because they are readily mounted from the top, requiring only a cylindrical depression and possibly three screws for mounting and require no external wiring. The solar powered ground lights are LED or electro-illuminescent or similar type, supported close to a lens for a good low angle view factor and are low voltage and safe. A solar panel recharges the battery. The system may be fully IP68 waterproof rated.

Claims

1. A solar powered ground light further comprising:

a base housing having an upwardly disposed groove;

a lens, having a lower rim for being received in the groove of the base housing to sealably attach the lens to the base housing;

top mounting ring having a central opening for engaging the lens and for attachment to the base housing;

an inner housing, within the base housing;

an organizing support supported by the inner housing and having at least two walls projecting upwardly from the organizing support;

an LED mounted atop the organizing support and adjacent the lens;

a solar panel mounted atop and laterally stabilized and secured by the walls projecting upwardly from the organizing support;

a circuit board underneath the organizing support;

a battery carried within the base housing and operably connected to the LED through connection to the circuit board for controllably powering the LED, the battery operably connected to the solar panel for charging the battery;

the base housing and lens to form a waterproof envelope for the inner housing, an organizing support, LED, battery and solar panel.

2. The solar powered ground light as recited in claim 1 and further comprising a compressible o-ring located within the upwardly disposed groove of the base housing and the lower rim of the lens.

3. The solar powered ground light as recited in claim 1 and wherein the battery is also carried within the inner housing.

4. The solar powered ground light as recited in claim 1 and wherein the LED is connected to the circuit board through at least one opening in the organizing support.

5. The solar powered ground light as recited in claim 4 and wherein the organizing support includes a plurality of openings and wherein the organizing support supports a plurality of LEDs and wherein the plurality of openings of the organizing support is greater than the plurality of LEDs.

6. The solar powered ground light as recited in claim 1 wherein the circuit board is attached to the organizing support.

7. The solar powered illuminated ground light as recited in claim 1 and wherein the solar powered modular structure further comprises a photocell connected to enable illumination of the LED contained within the envelope when ambient light falls below a predetermined threshold.

8. The solar powered illuminated ground light as recited in claim 1 and further comprising a controller operably connected to the battery and operably connected to the LED contained within the waterproof envelope to control illumination of the LED.

9. The solar powered illuminated ground light as recited in claim 8 and further comprising a transmitter and receiver operably connected to the battery and operably connected to the at least one light source contained within the waterproof envelope to control the at least one light source contained within the waterproof envelope.

10. The solar powered illuminated ground light as recited in claim 1 and further comprising a voltage meter operably connected to the battery and operably connected to the controller contained within the waterproof envelope to enable control of the at least one light source contained within the envelope based upon a voltage level of the battery.