Solar lighting system

• US 6,131,321 A
• Filed: 06/21/1999
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Walter T. Daigle Jr
• Original Assignee: Walter T. Daigle Jr
• Inventors: Daigle, Walter T. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): GREEN, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US09/336,450
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 40/463, 40/564, 40/612, 345/207, 362/157, 362/183, 362/812, 315/156, 315/159, 315/313
• US Class Current: 40/612
• 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 23/0435 activated by remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/005 for orientation or public information
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 in street lighting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/812 Signs

Abstract

A solar lighting system and method which is especially useful for street and address signs. An upper unit contains a solar energy collector, a storage battery and a light sensor to turn the light on and off as needed. A system to bypass the light sensor control includes a radio frequency(RF) radio receiver which responds to a transmitter. The lighting unit may be economically manufactured and installed on new or existing lighting fixtures.

Claims

1. An illumination and control system in combination with an exterior street sign(20) comprising:

a lower post(10) supporting said street sign, said street sign including a street sign light(25),

a tube element(30) above said street sign,

a spherical container element(40) above said tube element,

said spherical container element(40) having a solar collector(41) therein and a storage battery(42) therein, a switch(45) within said spherical container(40) for controlling the flow of electricity to said street sign light(25), a light sensor(43) also within said spherical container(40) for normally activating said switch(45),

wherein said spherical container(40) also has an RF-radio frequency sensor(44) therein for controlling the flow of electricity from said storage battery(42) to said street sign light(25) when it is desired to bypass the normal activation by said light sensor(43),

said illumination and control system further including an external RF transmitter(50) for activating said RF-radio frequency sensor(44),

said illumination and control system providing means whereby an underground wire power system(15) may be easily replaced by the spherical container element(40).