Solar light sign post

• US 7,585,085 B1
• Filed: 10/23/2006
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Israel Basharel
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey T. Holman
• Inventors: Holman, Jeffrey Tedd
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar; Stephen F
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRANSON JR, JAMES W
• Application Number:
  US11/584,937
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 362/154, 362/155, 362/183, 405/41
• US Class Current: 362/183
• 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: G09F 13/02 Signs, boards, or panels, illuminated by artificial light sources positioned in front of the insignia

Abstract

Embodiments of a solar lighting apparatus and method.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a photovoltaic cell to collect solar energy and to convert the solar energy into electrical energy, wherein the photovoltaic cell is integrated with a sign post;

a power storage module coupled to the photovoltaic cell, the power storage module having a rechargeable battery to store at least some of the electrical energy;

a light source coupled to the power storage module by control circuitry, wherein the light source is at least partially recessed in the sign post; and

a light source housing to enclose the light source, wherein the light source housing is at least partially recessed in the sign post and has dimensions approximately equal to a lighting aperture in the sign post.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sign post comprises a vertical member and a horizontal member, and the light source is at least partially recessed in either the vertical member or the horizontal member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the photovoltaic cell comprises a crystalline solar cell, and the photovoltaic cell is adhered directly to a top, substantially horizontal surface of the sign post, and the photovoltaic cell is coupled to the power storage module by at least one wire which enters an interior space of the sign post through a hole beneath the photovoltaic cell.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the light source is fully recessed into the interior space of a horizontal member of the sign post.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a lens assembly integrated with the light source housing, the light source housing coupled to the sign post, the lens assembly to align with a lighting aperture in horizontal member of the sign post.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the light source is oriented within the interior space of the horizontal member of the sign post to illuminate a sign mounted to the sign post.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source is oriented within an interior space of the sign post to provide backlight illumination for a partially translucent panel mounted approximately at an aperture in the sign post.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a fastener to secure the light source housing within the sign post.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the fastener comprises a compressible attachment clip, the compressible attachment clip to compress during insertion of the light source housing into the sign post and to return to engage against an inside surface of the sign post to secure the light source housing within the sign post.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source housing is further configured to house the power storage module.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising another housing to house the power storage module.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a separate housing to house the photovoltaic cell and the power storage module.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a flyer box to hold a flyer;

a solar cell coupled to the flyer box; and

a light source coupled to the solar cell, the light source to illuminate at least a portion of the flyer box.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the light source is oriented to project illumination on a front panel of the flyer box.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the light source is oriented to edge-light a panel of the flyer box.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the solar cell and light source are coupled to a lid of the flyer box.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a crossarm of a sign post, wherein the crossarm has a non-rectangular cross-sectional geometry with at least one side surface at a non-vertical angle;

a photovoltaic cell mounted to the side surface at the non-vertical angle, the photovoltaic cell to collect solar energy and to convert the solar energy into electrical energy;

a power storage module coupled to the photovoltaic cell, the power storage module comprising a rechargeable battery to store at least some of the electrical energy; and

a light source coupled to the power storage module by control circuitry, wherein the light source is at least partially recessed in the sign post and oriented to illuminate a sign below the crossarm of the sign post.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the crossarm has a trapezoidal cross-sectional geometry.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising another photovoltaic cell mounted to a substantially horizontal top surface of the crossarm of the sign post.