Illuminated wind indicator

• US 9,353,938 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2011
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Simon N. Richmond
• Original Assignee: Simon N. Richmond
• Inventors: Richmond, Simon Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Hoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, SIGMUND N
• Application Number:
  US13/244,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20120075104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,711 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.4, 340/601, 340/326, 34081541-81577, 34081583-81592, 340/539.28, 340/639.5, 340/693.6, 3403911-3916, 290/1, 362/159, 362/183, 362/86
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/08 with a standard F21S6/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/03 rechargeable by exposure to light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0824 Ground spikes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/00 Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
• 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: F21W 2131/10 Outdoor lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 1/07 mechanically operated; Hand bells; Bells for animals
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1563 without using an external clock H02M3/158 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 in street lighting

Abstract

An illuminated wind indicator including a wind chime assembly with a moveable pendulum assembly. The pendulum assembly includes a suspension member to support moveable suspension of the pendulum assembly proximate the wind chime assembly and further includes a component configuration of components including power and control circuitry, at least one solar panel, at least one light source and a striker, wherein each of the components has a distance relationship to the suspension member, where the power and control circuitry, the at least one solar panel and the at least one light source is electrically connected to form an illumination circuit that is separate and spaced apart from the wind chime assembly.

Claims

1. A solar lamp comprising:

a riser portion;

at least one light source, wherein said at least one light source emits light directed above at least part of said riser portion;

an at least partially light transmissive lens extending over at least part of said at least one light source, wherein emitted light from said at least one light source causes at least part of said lens to illuminate;

a surround frame attached to said lamp proximate to said at least partially light transmissive lens such that some of said emitted light passes through said lens to illuminate at least part of said surround frame from below at least part of said surround frame, said surround frame being configured as an open structural peripheral border that at least partially encircles the lens while residing primarily in a plane passing through the lens;

electrical connections for at least one rechargeable power source;

an activation circuit to provide power to said at least one light source from said at least one rechargeable power source only at low ambient light levels;

at least one photovoltaic panel;

wherein said at least one photovoltaic panel is electrically connected to said electrical connections to charge said at least one rechargeable power source; and

wherein said riser portion connects to said lens via a support frame to position said lens above a ground surface.

2. The solar lamp of claim 1, wherein a portion of said surround frame at least partially girds a portion of said lens to provide at least partial impact protection for said lens.

3. The solar lamp of claim 2, wherein said surround frame includes a shape of part of which is selected from the group consisting of an insect, flower, geometric shape, and astronomical shape.

4. The light device of claim 1, wherein said lens is selected from the group consisting of a light transmissive shade, a globe, a diffuser, an at least partially light transmissive housing, an at least partially translucent material, at least one transparent panel, at least one translucent panel, and a housing portion being at least partially transparent or translucent.

5. The solar lamp of claim 1, further comprising conductive elements partially disposed within a hollow portion of said riser portion to transmit said power from said at least one rechargeable power source to said at least one light source.

6. The solar lamp of claim 5, further comprising a power supply unit which comprises said electrical connections and said at least one photovoltaic panel.

7. The solar lamp of claim 6, wherein said electrical connections are supported by said riser portion below said at least partially light transmissive lens.

8. The solar lamp of claim 7, wherein said at least partially light transmissive lens is fixed to said support frame.

9. The solar lamp of claim 6, wherein said power supply unit further comprises a pole portion remote from said riser portion and wherein said pole portion positions said connections above a ground surface.

10. The solar lamp of claim 1, wherein said at least partially light transmissive lens is affixed to said support frame.

11. The solar lamp of claim 2, wherein said surround frame at least partially surrounds said at least partially light transmissive lens in three dimensions.

12. The solar lamp of claim 1, wherein said surround frame is substantially made from metal and said at least partially light transmissive lens is substantially made from glass.

13. The solar lamp of claim 1, wherein said at least one light source is a diode that emits flickering light.

14. The solar lamp of claim 1, further comprising:

conductive elements partially disposed within a hollow portion of said riser portion to transmit said power from said at least one rechargeable power source to said at least one light source such that said emitted light is directed from within a portion of said at least partially light transmissive lens;

a power supply unit comprising said electrical connections and said at least one photovoltaic panel;

wherein said riser portion comprises an upper pole and a substantially vertically-oriented lower pole, wherein said power supply unit is connected to said riser portion between said upper pole portion and said lower pole portion below said at least partially light transmissive lens; and

wherein said riser portion positions said at least partially light transmissive lens via said support frame above a ground surface.

15. A solar lamp comprising:

a riser portion;

at least one light source, wherein said at least one light source emits light directed above at least part of said riser portion;

an at least partially convex light-transmissive lens forming a chamber and extending to cover at least part of said at least one light source, wherein emitted light from said at least one light source causes at least part of said light-transmissive lens to illuminate;

a decorative element attached to said riser portion such that some of said emitted light passes outwards through said lens to illuminate at least part of said decorative element above said riser portion from below at least part of said decorative element, said decorative element being configured as an open structural peripheral border that at least partially encircles the lens while residing primarily in a plane passing through the lens;

electrical connections for at least one rechargeable power source;

an activation circuit to provide power to said at least one light source from said at least one rechargeable power source only at low ambient light levels;

at least one photovoltaic panel;

wherein said at least one photovoltaic panel is electrically connected to said electrical connections to charge said at least one rechargeable power source; and

wherein said riser portion positions said lens above a substrate.

16. The solar lamp of claim 15, wherein said decorative element at least partially shields said lens from above.

17. The solar lamp of claim 15, wherein a convex portion of said decorative element at least partially shields a proximate convex portion of said lens from above.

18. The solar lamp of claim 15, wherein a portion of said decorative element at least partially girds a portion of said lens to provide at least partial impact protection for said lens.

19. The solar lamp of claim 15, wherein said riser portion is a pole and includes a lower pole connected to an upper pole.