Lighted bench

• US 7,258,460 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2005
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: World Factory Incorporated
• Original Assignee: World Factory Incorporated
• Inventors: Jones, Chad H., Kuelbs, Gustav P., Plasek, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Laura K.
• Application Number:
  US11/205,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20060039135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 362/253, 362/127, 362/131, 362/134
• US Class Current: 362/131
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 11/00 Benches not otherwise provided for school forms A47B39/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/66 Means to protect against weather
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/72 Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/725 for illumination, e.g. lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/03 rechargeable by exposure to light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0012 Furniture hospital beds F21V33/0072
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/301 for furniture
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2023/005 on seats
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 23/00 Advertising on or in specific articles, e.g. ashtrays, letter-boxes on or in vehicles G09F21/00

Abstract

A safer and more decorative bench system comprising a plurality of ends, a seat supported by the ends, and a lighting system for providing illumination is provided.

Claims

1. A bench system, comprising:

a plurality of ends;

at least one seat supported by the ends;

a lighting system, coupled to the bench system for providing illumination, wherein the lighting system provides illumination to exterior surfaces of the bench system from a location exterior to the bench system; and

a solar recharging system for collecting solar energy and converting the solar energy into electrical energy for providing power to the lighting system.

2. The bench system according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the lighting system is carried within a recessed space within one end.

3. The bench system according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the lighting system is carried within a recessed space within the seat.

4. The bench system according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the lighting system is attached to the end.

5. The bench system according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the lighting system is attached to the seat.

6. The bench system according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the lighting system is attached to an arm portion of at least one of the ends.

7. The bench system according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one back rest.

8. The bench system according to claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the lighting system is carried within a recessed space within the back rest.

9. The bench system according to claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the lighting system is attached to the back rest.

10. The bench system according to claim 1, wherein the lighting system further comprises:

at least one remote lighting element.

11. The bench system according to claim 1, wherein the lighting system further comprises:

a strip of lights.

12. The bench system according to claim 1, wherein the lighting system further comprises:

a rechargeable power system.

13. The bench system according to claim 12, wherein the rechargeable power system comprises:

a removable rechargeable battery pack.

14. The bench system according to claim 12, wherein the rechargeable power system is adapted to be recharged by an alternating current power source.

15. The bench system according to claim 12, wherein the rechargeable power system is adapted to be recharged by a direct current power source.

16. The bench system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a canopy located above the seat.

17. The bench system according to claim 16, wherein the canopy supports at least a portion of the lighting system.

18. The bench system according to claim 1, wherein the seat is a portion of a movable swing.

19. A method of lighting a bench, comprising the steps of:

providing a bench;

attaching a lighting system to the bench, wherein the lighting system provides illumination to exterior surfaces of the bench from a location exterior to the bench; and

collecting solar energy and converting the solar energy into electrical energy for providing power to the lighting system.

20. The method of lighting a bench of claim 19, further comprising the step of:

providing a rechargeable power source.