Solar powered yard marker

• US 4,843,525 A
• Filed: 01/11/1988
• Issued: 06/27/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Power Plus, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Power Plus, Inc.
• Inventors: Williams, Lloyd E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/141,822
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 362/190, 362/191, 362/145, 362/431, 362/183, 362/152, 362/253, 362/153, 362/157, 362/812, 362/196, 40/553, 40/564, 40/565, 40/575, 40/576, 136/291
• US Class Current: 362/157
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 2/00 Systems of electric lighting devices systems employing both electric and non-electric light sources or exchangeable light sources F21L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/037 the solar unit and the lighting unit being located within or on the same housing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0824 Ground spikes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/291 Applications

Abstract

A solar powered illuminated yard maker including a solar powered battery recharging network that recharges a storage battery at a constant rate and can be selectively operated to burn continuously to produce a continuous light or to burn intermittently to provide a flashing light. A solar cell recharges the storage battery in the light when sunlight is impinging upon the solar cell to provide virtually maintenance free and long term operation of the illuminated yard marker during the dark or twilight hours.

Claims

1. A self charging illuminated yard marker assembly comprising, in combination:

a. An indicia display assembly comprising;

(1) a pair of light emitting assembly enclosing halves which are matingly and abuttingly engaged with one another along opposed vertical, peripheral edge portions to define an interior chamber therebetween, one of said halves having transparent window means therein for displaying indicia means, each of said halves having a top end, an bottom end, and a plurality of holes therein for receipt of fastener means,

(2) connecting means for connecting said halves together,

(3) light emitting assembly means located in said interior chamber of said halves,

b. a top assembly for holding solar cell means comprising;

(1) a generally rectangular top for connection to the top ends of said halves, said rectangular top having a transparent sheet in the upper portion thereof,

(2) solar cell means located in said top beneath and adjacent to said transparent screen,

(3) holder means located in said top beneath said solar cell means for holding and supporting said solar cell means,

c. solar cell means connected to said holder means,

d. rechargeable storage battery means connected to said holder means,

e. base means connectable to said bottom ends of said halves for receiving and holding said light emitting assembly means,

f. means for electrically connecting said storage battery means to said light emitting assembly means, and

g. means for electrically connecting said solar cell means to said storage battery means.

2. The yard marker assembly of claim 1 wherein said holder means has a plurality of holes therein aligned with said holes in said halves for receipt of fastener means.

3. The yard marker assembly of claim 2 wherein said top as a plurality of holes therein aligned with said holes in said halves and said holes in said holder means for receipt of fastener means.

4. The yard marker assembly of claim 1 wherein said base means is generally rectangular in shape.

5. The yard marker assembly of claim 4 wherein said base means has a generally rectangular bottom.

6. The yard marker assembly of claim 5 wherein said base means has fastener means connected thereto for connecting said base means to said halves.

7. The yard marker assembly of claim 6 wherein said light emitting assembly means extend upwardly from said bottom of said base means.

8. The yard marker of claim 1 wherein stake means are connected to said halves for connecting said yard marker assembly to the ground.

9. The yard marker of claim 1 wherein said base means is received in the bottom end of said halves.

10. The yard marker assembly of claim 9 wherein said halves have recess means in the bottom end thereof for receipt of fastener means connected to said base means.

11. The yard marker assembly of claim 10 wherein said halves have recess means in the top thereto for receipt of said top.

12. The yard marker assembly of claim 1 wherein indicia means are connected to said one of said halves having window means therein.

13. The yard marker assembly of claim 12 wherein said indicia means are adjacent to said window means.

14. The yard marker assembly of claim 1 wherein stake holding means are attached thereto for connecting said assembly to the ground or desired location.

15. The yard marker assembly of claim 13 wherein said stake holding means are connected to said halves of said yard maker assembly.

16. The yard marker assembly of claim 15 wherein stake means are connected to said stake holding means for connecting said yard marker assembly to a desired object.