ILLUMINATED WIND INDICATOR

• US 20120075104A1
• Filed: 09/24/2011
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Simon N. Richmond
• Original Assignee: Simon N. Richmond
• Inventors: Richmond, Simon Nicholas
• Granted Patent: US 9,353,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/601
• 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 frame attached to said lamp proximate to the intersection of said at least partially light transmissive lens and said riser portion such that some of said emitted light passes through said lens to illuminate at least part of said frame from below at least part of said frame;

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 ground surface.

2. The solar lamp of claim 1, wherein a portion of said 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 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 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 rigidly fixed to said frame.

9. The solar lamp of claim 6, wherein said power supply unit further comprises a pole portion remote from said riser 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 frame.

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

12. The solar lamp of claim 1, wherein said frame is substantially made from metal 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.

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

a connecting frame connected to said riser portion proximate to said at least partially light transmissive lens;

conductive elements partially disposed within a hollow portion of said riser 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 portion and a substantially vertically-oriented lower pole portion, 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 connecting frame above a ground surface.

14. 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 lamp such that some of said emitted light passes outwards through said lens to illuminate at least part of said decorative element above said riser from below at least part of said decorative element;

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.

15. The solar lamp of claim 14, wherein said decorative element at least partially shields said lens from above.

16. The solar lamp of claim 14, wherein a convex portion of said decorative element at least partially shields a proximate convex portion of said lens from above.

17. The solar lamp of claim 14, 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.

18. An illuminated wind indicator, comprising:

a suspension device;

at least one wind indicator member movably suspended below said suspension device;

a pendulum assembly movably suspended below said suspension device such that said pendulum assembly and said at least one wind indicator member move relative to each other;

at least one light source situated such that a portion of said pendulum assembly emits light;

at least one rechargeable battery connected so as to provide power to said at least one light source;

at least one solar panel connected such that said rechargeable battery accumulates charge when said solar panel is exposed to ambient light levels of sufficient intensity;

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

wherein at least part of said light emitted by said pendulum assembly is reflected by said at least one wind indicator member causing at least part of an exposed surface of said at least one wind indicator member to be illuminated such that movement of said at least one wind indicator member relative to said pendulum assembly is visible at said low ambient light levels.

19. The wind indicator of claim 18, wherein said wind indicator member is at least one chime member.

20. An illuminated wind indicator, comprising:

a suspension member;

a housing;

at least one chime member movably suspended below said suspension member;

a pendulum assembly suspended below said housing, said pendulum assembly comprising a striker and wherein said at least one chime member collides with said striker when at least one of at least one chime member and said striker element is moved by a strong enough wind;

at least one light source situated such that a portion of said pendulum assembly emits light;

connections for at least one battery disposed within said housing connected so as to provide power to said first light source;

a control circuit and a light-sensing subcircuit, wherein when said light sensing subcircuit detects ambient light lower than a predetermined level said control circuit connects said at least one light source and said at least one battery such that said at least one light source emits light; and

wherein at least part of said light emitted by said portion of said pendulum assembly is reflected by an external surface of said at least one chime member.

21. The illuminated wind indicator of claim 20, wherein said at least one light source is situated such that a portion of said striker emits light;

22. The illuminated wind indicator of claim 20, wherein said at least one chime member is a plurality of chime members disposed around said pendulum assembly.

23. The wind indicator of claim 20, further comprising at least one solar panel;

wherein said at least one battery is at least one rechargeable battery; and

wherein said at least one solar panel is connected such that said at least one rechargeable battery accumulates charge when said at least one solar panel is exposed to ambient light levels of sufficient intensity.

24. The illuminated wind indicator of claim 20, wherein said first light source is situated such that a portion of said striker emits light.

25. A solar lamp comprising:

at least two electrically-powered light sources comprising a first light source that emits light of a first color and a second light source that emits light of a second color, and wherein said at least two electrically powered light sources produce light emissions of different colors over time;

electrical connections for at least one rechargeable power source;

at least one photovoltaic panel, wherein said at least one photovoltaic panel is electrically connected to said at least one rechargeable power source and said at least one rechargeable power source is electrically connected to said at least two electrically-powered light sources forming an electrical circuit for converting solar energy into electrical energy, storing said electrical energy and providing said electrical energy to said at least two electrically-powered light sources;

a riser portion wherein said at least two electrically-powered light sources emit light directed above at least part of said riser portion and wherein said riser portion positions said at least two electrically-powered light sources near an upper end of said riser portion and above a ground substrate;

an at least partially light transmissive lens portion connected to said connecting frame;

a connecting frame connected to said riser portion proximate to a lower portion of said at least partially light transmissive lens portion;

wherein said at least partially light transmissive lens portion extends to cover at least part of said at least two electrically-powered light sources and wherein light from said at least two electrically-powered light sources causes at least part of said at least partially light transmissive lens portion to illuminate;

wherein said lens portion comprises at least two light transmissive elements and said elements having a first light transmissive element having a first color and an at least second light transmissive element having a second color;

wherein light emitted by at least one of said at least two electrically-powered light sources illuminates said at least two light transmissive elements;

wherein said light emissions cause said at least two light transmissive elements to illuminate with illuminated colors produced by said light emissions passing through said at least two light transmissive elements, where said illuminated colors change over time; and

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

26. The solar lamp of claim 25:

wherein said first light source is selected from the group consisting of a red light source, a green light source and a blue light source; and

wherein said second light source emits light having a different wavelength to said first light source.

27. The solar lamp of claim 25 wherein said at least partially light transmissive lens portion forms a chamber and is substantially constructed from glass.

28. The solar lamp of claim 27 wherein said glass comprises said at least two light transmissive elements integrally formed within said at least partially light transmissive lens portion.

29. The solar lamp of claim 25, further comprising conductive elements partially disposed within a hollow portion of said riser portion to transmit electrical current from said at least one rechargeable power source to said at least two electrically-powered light sources.

30. The solar lamp of claim 29, further comprising a power supply unit which comprises said at least one rechargeable power source and said at least one photovoltaic panel.

31. The solar lamp of claim 30, wherein said power supply unit is connected to said riser portion below said at least partially light transmissive lens portion.

32. A solar lamp comprising:

a light diffuser portion having an outer diffuser surface and an inner diffuser surface, wherein said inner diffuser surface at least partly forms a chamber;

a recess formed on an upper surface of part of said light diffuser portion;

at least one photovoltaic panel positioned at least partly within said recess so as to be exposed to ambient light;

an upper aperture formed within said light diffuser portion below said at least one photovoltaic panel;

a rim formed at a lower end of said light diffuser portion defining a lower aperture to said chamber;

an at least partly plastic base portion attached proximate to said lower end of said light diffuser portion, wherein said base portion comprises connections for at least one rechargeable power source and a cavity for housing said at least one rechargeable power source;

conductive elements to provide power from said at least one photovoltaic panel via said upper aperture, through said chamber to said connections;

at least one electrical light source mounted to emit light into said chamber; and

wherein said base portion houses said rechargeable power source when in use.

33. The solar lamp of claim 32, wherein said at least one electrical light source is disposed on a surface of said base portion above said connections.

34. The solar lamp of claim 32, wherein said outer diffuser surface is substantially formed of glass.

35. The solar lamp of claim 32, wherein said base portion further comprises a flange surrounding a base aperture and wherein said flange surrounds said rim.

36. The solar lamp of claim 35, wherein said flange and said lower aperture are removably together.

37. The solar lamp of claim 32, wherein said light diffuser portion further comprises luminescent elements deposited on, or embedded within a surface of said light diffuser portion.

38. The solar lamp of claim 37, wherein said light diffuser portion further comprises phosphorescent elements deposited on, or embedded in a surface of said light diffuser portion.