AN ILLUMINATED GUY ROPE SYSTEM

• US 20190331329A1
• Filed: 03/10/2017
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pup Group Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Pup Group Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: PAP, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 10,718,502 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/20 Side-supporting means therefor, e.g. using guy ropes or struts
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/32 Parts, components, construction details, accessories, interior equipment, specially adapted for tents, e.g. guy-line equipment, skirts, thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/322 Stretching devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 11/00 Means for fastening cables or ropes to one another or to other objects; Caps or sleeves for fixing on cables or ropes attaching ropes or cables to lift cars or cages B66B7/08, to winch drums or barrels B66D1/34; ground anchors E02D5/00; anchoring devices for prestressed members E04C5/00; rope clamps in earth drilling E21B19/12
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/03 rechargeable by exposure to light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/008 Leisure, hobby or sport articles, e.g. toys, games or first-aid kits; Hand tools; Toolboxes
• 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: G02B 6/0006 Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/001 the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre

Abstract

There is provided an illuminated guy rope system comprising: a light source assembly; a guy rope assembly operably fastened to the light source assembly wherein the guy rope assembly comprises at least one fibre-optic cable and wherein the light source assembly comprises a light source and an optic interface configured to shine light via the fibre-optic cable.

Claims

1. An illuminated guy rope system comprising:

a light source assembly;

a guy rope assembly operably fastened to the light source assembly wherein the guy rope assembly comprises at least one fibre-optic cable and wherein the light source assembly comprises a light source and an optic interface configured to shine light via the fibre-optic cable.

2. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fibre-optic cable is a side emitting fibre-optic cable.

3. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fibre-optic cable comprises a plurality of twisted polymer fibres.

4. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the twisted fibres have a diameter of about 0.75 mm.

5. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising an internal reflective PVC core and wherein the polymer fibres are twisted around the PVC core.

6. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a transparent sheath around the fibre-optic cable.

7. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guy rope assembly comprises a tensioning rope material and wherein the guy rope assembly is configured such that the tensioning rope material takes most strain when the guy rope assembly is put under tension.

8. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tensioning rope material comprises twisted cores and wherein fibre-optic cable is one of the twisted cores.

9. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tensioning rope material comprises twisted cores and wherein the fibre-optic cable is wrapped around the twisted cores.

10. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source assembly comprises a housing and wherein the housing comprises an entrance port for the guy rope assembly.

11. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the housing comprises a lower surface and an upper surface and wherein the port is located towards the upper surface such that the centre of gravity of the housing causes the housing to swing to the orientation wherein the upper surface faces upright.

12. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source assembly comprises a housing and wherein the housing comprises a connector for fastening the housing to a structure in use and wherein the connector is located towards the upper surface such that the centre of gravity of the housing causes the housing to swing to the orientation wherein the upper surface faces upright.

13. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a solar panel and a rechargeable battery supply and wherein during daylight hours, the solar panel charges the rechargeable battery supply and wherein, during nighttime hours, the rechargeable battery supply powers the light source.

14. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the light source assembly is configured for measuring the ambient light levels in accordance with the voltage levels output by the solar panel and for controlling the light source when the ambient light levels of full beneath a threshold.

15. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source assembly is configured for controlling the illumination of the light source.

16. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the light source assembly is configured for measuring ambient light levels and wherein the light source assembly is configured for illuminating the light source when ambient light levels falls beneath a threshold.

17. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the light source assembly comprises a light sensor.

18. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the light source assembly is configured for detecting object proximity and wherein the light source assembly is configured for illuminating the light source when a proximate object is detected.

19. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the light source assembly comprises a proximity detector.

20. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the proximity detector comprises a passive infrared detector.

21. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the proximity detector comprises an ultrasonic detector.

22. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the light source assembly is configured for detecting motion of the light source assembly and illuminating the light source when motion is detected.

23. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the light source assembly comprises a motion sensor and wherein the light source assembly is configured for illuminating the light source when the motion sensor sensors motion.

24. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the motion sensor comprises an accelerometer.

25. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light source assembly comprising a light source and an optic interface adjacent the light source wherein the optic interface is configured for receipt of a distal end of the guy rope assembly therethrough in use.

26. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the optic interface comprises an entrance port.

27. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the light source assembly comprises an upper surface and a lower surface and wherein the port is located towards the upper surface.

28. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 26, further comprising a connector opposite the port and wherein the connector is located towards the upper surface.

29. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the optic interface comprises frictional engagement for engaging at least a portion of the guy rope assembly.

30. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 29, wherein the frictional engagement comprises teeth.

31. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 30, wherein the frictional engagement comprises teeth located within the port.

32. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 29, wherein the frictional engagement comprises transverse abutments adjacent the port.

33. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 32, wherein the transverse abutments comprise teeth.

34. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the optic interface is configured for the separation of the fibre-optic from the remainder of the illuminated guy rope system.

35. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 34, wherein the optic interface comprises a lateral offramp for laterally accommodating the remainder of the illuminated guy rope assembly.

36. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 35, further comprising a terminal connector at a terminus of the lateral offramp for securing a distal end of the remainder of the illuminated guy rope assembly.

37. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 36, wherein the terminal connector comprises a screw pier and mating screw.

38. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 26, further comprising a PCB engagement and wherein the PCB engagement is configured so as to locate the PCB such that a light source of the PCB faces and operably collocates with the optic interface.

39. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 38, wherein the optic interface comprises a light port for operably collocating with the light source of the PCB.

40. An illuminated guy rope system as claimed in claim 38, wherein the PCB engagement comprises a pair of vertical PCB slots.