Wind powered lamp

• US 6,086,214 A
• Filed: 08/27/1998
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Philip G. Ridge
• Original Assignee: Philip G. Ridge
• Inventors: Ridge, Philip G.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ward, John A.
• Application Number:
  US09/141,532
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 362/96, 362/192, 362/183, 362/249, 416/5
• US Class Current: 362/96
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/026 rechargeable by using wind power, e.g. using wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/043 driven by wind power, e.g. by wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0096 Fans, e.g. ceiling fans forced cooling of lighting devices characterised by the arrangement of fans F21V29/67
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A wind powered lamp for generating light when moving air such as wind or a breeze passes over it. The lamp includes an elongate shaft having a first end mountable to a support structure. A generator for generating electrical energy is mounted to a second end of the shaft. The generator is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft to generate electrical power. A housing substantially encloses the generator. The housing has a plurality of rotor blades extending in a direction radially outwards from the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The housing is coupled to the generator such that rotation of the housing rotates the generator about the longitudinal axis of the shaft to generate electrical energy. A plurality of light sources are also substantially enclosed in the housing and are electrically connected to the generator.

Claims

1. A lamp, comprising:

an elongate shaft having opposite first and second ends, and a longitudinal axis extending between said first and second ends of said shaft;

said first end of said shaft being mountable to a support structure;

a generator for generating electrical energy being mounted to said second end of said shaft, said generator being rotatable about said longitudinal axis of said shaft to generate electrical power as it is rotated, said generator having a rotating portion and a fixed portion, said fixed portion being fixedly coupled to said shaft such that said rotating portion of aid generator may rotate about said longitudinal axis of said shaft to generate electrical energy;

a housing substantially enclosing said generator, said housing having a plurality of rotor blades extending in a direction radially outwards from said longitudinal axis of said shaft;

said housing being coupled to said generator such that rotation of said housing rotates said generator about said longitudinal axis of said shaft to generate electrical energy; and

a plurality of light sources being enclosed in said housing, said light sources being electrically connected to said generator.

2. The lamp of claim 1, further comprising a mounting bracket being coupled to said first end of said shaft, said mounting bracket having a plurality of outwardly radiating mounting arms adapted for mounting said mounting bracket to a support structure.

3. The lamp of claim 1, wherein each of said light sources comprises an LED.

4. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said light sources are divided into first and second sets of light sources, each light source of said first set of light sources being paired with an associated light source of said second set of light sources, said light sources of said first set of light sources being arranged in a first directional series and said light sources of said second set light sources being arranged in a second directional series opposite said first directional series such that rotation of said generator in a first direction illuminates said light sources of said first set of light sources and rotation of said generator in a second direction illuminates said second set of light sources.

5. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said housing has a rotatable front portion forming a rotating hub with the rotor blades mounted thereon, wherein said rotating hub is generally translucent to permit passage of light from said light sources through rotating hub of said housing for permitting light from said light sources to permit passage of light through the rotating hub.

6. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said housing has a rotatable front portion forming a rotating hub with the rotor blades mounted thereon, wherein said rotating hub is generally transparent for permitting light from said light sources to permit passage of light through the rotating hub.

7. The lamp of claim 1, wherein said housing has front and back portions, said rotor blades being located on said front portion of said housing, said generator being mounted to said back portion of said housing, said light sources being coupled to of said back portion of said housing.

8. A lamp, comprising:

an elongate shaft being generally cylindrical and having opposite first and second ends, and a longitudinal axis extending between said first and second ends of said shaft;

said first end of said shaft being mountable to a support structure, said first end of said shaft being threaded;

a mounting bracket being coupled to said first end of said shaft, said mounting bracket having a center hole and a plurality of outwardly radiating mounting arms, said first end of said shaft being extended through said center hole of said mounting bracket;

a pair of nuts being threaded onto said first end of said shaft, said mounting bracket being disposed between said nuts on said shaft such that said nuts couple said mounting bracket to said first end of said shaft;

said mounting arms of said mounting bracket being adapted for mounting said mounting bracket to a support structure, each of said mounting arms of said mounting bracket having a hole therethrough, each of said holes of said mounting arms of said mounting bracket being adapted for extending fasteners therethrough to mount said mounting arms to the support structure;

a generator for generating electrical energy being mounted to said second end of said shaft, said generator being rotatable about said longitudinal axis of said shaft to generate electrical power as it is rotated, said generator having a rotating portion and a fixed portion, said fixed portion being fixedly coupled to said shaft such that said rotating portion of aid generator may rotate about said longitudinal axis of said shaft to generate electrical energy;

a housing enclosing said generator, said housing having a plurality of rotor blades extending in a direction radially outwards from said longitudinal axis of said shaft, said rotor blades being adapted for rotating said housing about said longitudinal axis of said shaft by a wind;

said housing being coupled to said generator such that rotation of said housing rotates said generator about said longitudinal axis of said shaft to generate electrical energy, wherein a mount has a plurality of outwardly radiating arms coupled to said generator and to said housing with threaded fasteners and nuts;

a plurality of light sources being enclosed in said housing, said light sources being electrically connected to said generator, wherein each of said light sources comprises an LED;

said light sources being divided into first and second sets of light sources, each light source of said first set of light sources being paired with an associated light source of said second set of light sources, said light sources of said first set of light sources being arranged in a first directional series and said light sources of said second set light sources being arranged in a second directional series opposite said first directional series such that rotation of said generator in a first direction illuminates said light sources of said first set of light sources and rotation of said generator in a second direction illuminates said second set of light sources;

said housing being generally translucent to permit passage of light from said light sources through said housing;

said housing having front and back portions each having a generally arcuate cross section and a generally circular perimeter edge, said perimeter edges of said front and back portions being coupled together therearound, said perimeter edge of said back portion of housing having a diameter less than the distance across opposite mounting arms of said mounting bracket;

said rotor blades being located on said front portion of said housing;

said generator being mounted to said back portion of said housing; and

said light sources being coupled to of said back portion of said housing, each light source of said first set of light sources being positioned adjacent the associated light source of said second set of light sources, said pairs of said light sources being spaced apart from each other and arranged in a ring extending adjacent said outer perimeter of said back portion of said housing.