Solar powered lighting assembly

• US 7,018,063 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2003
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kenneth George Michael, Vernon George Michael
• Original Assignee: Kenneth George Michael, Vernon George Michael
• Inventors: Michael, Vernon George, Michael, Kenneth George
• Primary Examiner(s): Ward, John Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSIDULKO, MARK
• Application Number:
  US10/718,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20040100794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 362/183, 362/188, 362/191, 362/145, 362/249, 362/250, 362/269, 362/285, 362/418, 362/427, 362/432
• US Class Current: 362/183
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/032 the solar unit being separate from the lighting unit
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/14 Adjustable mountings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 27/00 Cable-stowing arrangements structurally associated with lighting devices, e.g. reels storing lengths of cable in general B65H; the lighting devices being vehicle headlamps F21S41/192; the lighting devices being vehicle lights F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/006 General building constructions or finishing work for buildings, e.g. roofs, gutters, stairs or floors; Garden equipment; Sunshades or parasols
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/30 Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/38 Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

A solar powered lighting assembly for attachment to an eaves trough mounted on an outer wall surface includes a lamp, a rechargeable power source, a solar panel assembly, a mounting bracket and a connector arm. The rechargeable power source is connected to the lamp to provide operational power. The solar panel assembly is coupled to the rechargeable power source to provide electrical power for recharging the rechargeable power source. The mounting bracket is coupled to the inside surface of the eaves trough and is used to support the rechargeable power source and the solar panel assembly. The connector arm is coupled to the lamp and is adapted to be removeably coupled in between the eaves trough and the outer wall surface.

Claims

1. A solar powered lighting assembly for attachment to an eaves trough mounted on an outer wall surface, said lighting assembly comprising:

(a) a lamp;

(b) a rechargeable power source coupled to said lamp to provide operational power to said lamp;

(c) a solar panel assembly connected to the rechargeable power source to provide electrical power for recharging the rechargeable power source;

(d) a mounting bracket coupled to the inside surface of the eaves trough for supporting said rechargeable power source and said solar panel assembly; and

(e) a connector arm coupled to said lamp, said connector arm containing at least one wedge-shaped protrusion for securing the connector arm between said eaves trough and said outer wall surface.

2. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein said lamp further comprises a reflector for focusing the light emitted by said lamp.

3. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein said rechargeable power source further comprises an LED charge indicator for indicating that the energy supplied by solar panel array is charging said rechargeable power source.

4. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the vertical position of said connector can be adjusted by moving said connector arm vertically between said eaves trough and said outer wall surface.

5. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein said lamp is rotatably coupled to said connector arm such that the position of lamp relative to the connector arm can be manually adjusted.

6. A lighting assembly for attachment to an eaves trough mounted on an outer wall surface, said lighting assembly comprising:

(a) a lamp;

(b) a power source connected to said lamp to provide operational power to said lamp; and

(c) a connector arm coupled to said lamp, said connector arm containing at least one wedge-shaped protrusion for securing the connector arm between said eaves trough and said outer wall surface such that said lamp is positioned to provide light on the outer wall surface.

7. The lighting assembly of claim 6, wherein said lamp further comprises a reflector for focusing the light emitted by said lamp.

8. The lighting assembly of claim 6, wherein the vertical position of said connector can be adjusted by moving said connector arm vertically between said eaves trough and said outer wall surface.

9. The lighting assembly of claim 6, wherein said lamp is rotatably coupled to said connector arm such that the position of lamp relative to the connector arm can be manually adjusted.

10. A kit for assembling a solar powered lighting assembly for attachment to an eaves trough mounted on an outer wall surface, said kit comprising:

(a) a lamp;

(b) a rechargeable power source adapted to be coupled to said lamp to provide operational power to said lamp;

(c) a solar panel assembly adapted to be coupled to the rechargeable power source to provide electrical power for recharging the rechargeable power source;

(d) a mounting bracket adapted to be coupled to the inside surface of the eaves trough for supporting said rechargeable power source and said solar panel assembly; and

(e) a connector arm adapted to be coupled to said lamp, said connector arm containing at least one wedge-shaped protrusion for securing the connector arm between said eaves trough and said outer wall surface.