Illuminated wind indicator

• US 8,089,370 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2009
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Simon N. Richmond
• Original Assignee: Simon N. Richmond
• Inventors: Richmond, Simon Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang, Sigmund
• Application Number:
  US12/555,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20090322495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.4, 290/1, 362/159
• US Class Current: 340/815.4
• 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;

a connecting frame connected to said 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 to cover at least part of said at least one light source and wherein light emitted 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 the intersection of said connecting frame and said riser portion such that some of said light passes through said lens to illuminate at least part of said surround frame from below at least part of said surround frame;

electrical connections for at least one rechargeable power source, wherein said riser portion positions said connections above a ground surface;

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

at least one photovoltaic panel, wherein said at least one photovoltaic panel is electrically connected to said at least one light source via said at least one rechargeable power source, converting solar energy into electrical energy, storing said electrical energy and providing said electrical energy to said at least one light source.

2. The solar lamp of claim 1, wherein said lens comprises luminescent material and wherein light from said at least one light source causes at least part of said lens to luminesce.

3. The solar lamp of claim 1, wherein said lens comprises glass portions of at least a first color and a second color and wherein light emitted by said at least one light source causes said glass portions to illuminate with more than one color.

4. The solar lamp of claim 1, wherein said lens is substantially spherical and wherein said surround frame at least partially encircles said lens.

48. 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.

49. The solar lamp of claim 4, wherein said surround frame includes a shape which is selected from the group consisting of an insect, flower, geometric shape, and astronomical shape.

50. The solar lamp of claim 1, wherein said lens is substantially spherical and wherein said surround frame at least partially surrounds said lens.

5. An illuminated wind indicator, comprising:

a suspension device;

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

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

6. The wind indicator of claim 5 wherein said pendulum assembly includes a striker element and wherein said at least one chime member collides with said striker element when at least one of said chime member and said striker element is moved by a strong enough wind.

7. The wind indicator of claim 6 wherein said pendulum emits light.

8. The wind indicator of claim 7 wherein said pendulum is movably connected to said striker element.

9. The wind indicator of claim 6 wherein said striker element emits light.

10. The wind indicator of claim 5 wherein said pendulum assembly has at least one light transmitting region and said at least one light source is situated such that light is emitted from said pendulum assembly via said at least one light transmitting region.

11. The wind indicator of claim 5 wherein said at least one light source comprises at least one diode that emits light when energized.

12. The wind indicator of claim 5 wherein said at least one chime member is a bell.

13. The wind indicator of claim 5 wherein said light emitted by said pendulum assembly varies in brightness.

14. The wind indicator of claim 5 wherein said light emitted by said pendulum assembly varies in color.

15. The wind indicator of claim 5, wherein said suspension device is a ring.

16. The wind indicator of claim 5, wherein said suspension device is a hook.

17. A solar light module for illuminating a wind chime, the wind chime comprising at least one chime member and a striker, the module comprising:

a housing;

a rechargeable electrical power source carried by said housing;

a solar energy system conductively coupled to the rechargeable electrical power source for recharging the rechargeable electrical power source; and

at least one light source for illuminating at least part of said chime member,

a striker suspended below said housing such that said striker and said at least one chime member move relative to each other;

wherein said at least one light source is attached to said striker for illuminating at least part of said chime member;

an activation circuit to provide power to said lighting element from said rechargeable electrical power source only at low light levels.

18. A lighting apparatus comprising:

a suspension device;

an at least partly flexible pendulum assembly having an upper and lower end, and wherein said pendulum assembly is flexibly suspended via said upper end from said suspension device;

a housing flexibly suspended below said suspension device;

at least one chime member;

a striker;

a lighting circuit including;

a rechargeable electrical power source carried by said housing;

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

assembly emits light;

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

wherein at least a part of said lighting circuit is disposed on said pendulum assembly proximate to said lower end;

a solar energy system conductively coupled to the rechargeable electrical power source for recharging the rechargeable electrical power source;

wherein said striker is suspended below said housing such that said striker and said at least one chime member move relative to each other; and

wherein said at least one light source is attached to said striker for illuminating at least part of said chime member.

19. An illuminated wind indicator, comprising:

a suspension device;

at least one chime member for producing at least one sound, wherein said at least one chime member is movably suspended below said suspension device;

a pendulum assembly movably suspended from said suspension device such that said pendulum assembly and said at least one chime 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;

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

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

20. The wind indicator of claim 19, wherein said at least one chime member is at least a first tube and a second tube, and wherein when said first tube is moved by force of wind into contact with either at least part of said pendulum assembly or into contact with said second tube causing vibration of at least said first tube to produce said at least one sound.

21. The wind indicator of claim 19, wherein said at least one solar panel is suspended below said suspension device.

22. The wind indicator of claim 20, wherein at least part of said light emitted by said pendulum assembly is reflected by said first tube causing at least part of an external surface of said first tube to be illuminated such that the movement of said first tube is visible at low light levels.

23. The wind indicator of claim 20, wherein said pendulum assembly further comprises a striker element adjacent to said at least one chime member, and wherein said striker element emits said light.

24. The wind indicator of claim 20, wherein said pendulum assembly further comprises a wind catcher element proximate to a lower end of said pendulum assembly, and wherein said wind catcher element emits said light.

25. The wind indicator of claim 19, further comprising a housing suspended from said suspension device, wherein said at least one chime member is movably suspended below said suspension device via said housing.

26. The wind indicator of claim 19, further comprising a spacer having a substantially central aperture around a central vertical axis, wherein said spacer is suspended from said suspension device and moveable relative to said pendulum assembly and wherein said at least one chime member is movably suspended via said spacer, and wherein said spacer positions said at least one chime member relative to said pendulum assembly around said central vertical axis.

27. The wind indicator of claim 26, further comprising at least one battery compartment for housing said at least one rechargeable battery, and wherein said at least one battery compartment is affixed to said pendulum assembly below said suspension device and is movable relative to said spacer.

28. An illuminated wind indicator comprising:

a wind chime assembly;

a pendulum assembly including;

a suspension member to support moveable suspension of said pendulum assembly proximate said wind chime assembly;

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 said components has a distance relationship to said suspension member;

wherein said power and control circuitry, said at least one solar panel and said at least one light source are electrically connected to form an illumination circuit; and

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

29. The illuminated wind indicator of claim 28 wherein said wind chime assembly includes:

a support frame;

a plurality of wind chime members;

chime suspension lines to movably suspend said plurality of wind chime members below said support frame; and

at least one suspension cable to support suspension of said support frame moveably and proximate to said pendulum assembly.

30. The illuminated wind indicator of claim 29 wherein said support frame is a circular shaped ring having a central aperture about which said plurality of wind chime members are suspended and said pendulum assembly is located generally along a central axis of said wind chime assembly though the aperture of the support frame.

31. The illuminated wind indicator of claim 28 wherein said wind chime assembly includes a plurality of wind chime members disposed longitudinally in a circular pattern to define a generally cylindrical shape having a hollow core and wherein said pendulum assembly is located generally along a central axis of said plurality of chime members.

32. The illuminated wind indicator of claim 28 wherein said component configuration includes a wind catcher.

33. The illuminated wind indicator of claim 28 wherein said component configuration includes sensors selected from the group consisting of environmental sensors, light sensors, motion sensors and any combination thereof.

34. The illuminated wind indicator of claim 28 wherein said pendulum assembly is demountably connected to said wind chime assembly.

35. The illuminated wind indicator of claim 28 wherein said illumination circuit is located entirely on said pendulum assembly.

36. The illuminated wind indicator of claim 28 wherein said illumination circuit is entirely suspended by said suspension member.

37. The illuminated wind indicator of claim 28 wherein said illumination circuit is located in spaced apart relation to and separate from said wind chime assembly.

38. The illuminated wind indicator of claim 28 wherein said suspension member is selected from the group consisting of a rope, a rigid hangar, a strap, a cable, a chain, and any material conventionally used for suspending an object above a surface.

39. The illuminated wind indicator of claim 28 wherein said suspension member is connected to an anchor device.

40. The illuminated wind indicator of claim 28 wherein said anchor device is selected from the group consisting of a rod, a hook, a ring and a device used for suspending an object.

41. The illuminated wind indicator of claim 28 wherein said suspension member is connected to a first anchor device and said wind chime assembly is connected to a second anchor device.

42. The illuminated wind indicator of claim 28 wherein said distance relationships to said suspension member vary depending upon whether components are co-located together or tethered below each other by electrical cable.

43. An illuminated wind indicator comprising:

a wind chime assembly having a central longitudinal aperture;

a central pendulum assembly including;

a suspension member to support moveable suspension of said pendulum assembly movably within said central longitudinal aperture of said wind chime assembly;

power and control circuitry suspended by said suspension member;

at least one solar panel in circuit with said power and control circuitry and suspended by said suspension member;

at least one light source in circuit with said power and control circuitry and suspended by said suspension member;

a striker suspended by said suspension member;

a wind catcher suspended by said suspension member;

a housing surrounding said power and control circuitry and connecting said circuitry to said suspension member and supporting said at least one solar panel thereon;

said at least one light source is disposed below said housing via an electrically transmissive tether and co-located with said striker which is in the form of a light transmissive shade surrounding said at least one light source; and

said wind catcher is disposed below said at least one light source via a tether;

wherein said electrical components are located below said suspension member and in separate spaced apart relation to said wind chime assembly.

44. The illuminated wind indicator of claim 43 including a plurality of solar panels and said wind catcher having a surface with at least one of said plurality of solar panels disposed thereon, and said tether to said wind catcher being electrically transmissive.

45. An illuminated wind indicator comprising:

a wind chime assembly having a central longitudinal aperture;

a moveable central pendulum assembly including;

a suspension member to support suspension of said pendulum assembly movably within said central longitudinal aperture of said wind chime assembly;

power and control circuitry suspended by said suspension member;

at least one solar panel in circuit with said power and control circuitry and suspended by said suspension member;

at least one light source in circuit with said power and control circuitry and suspended by said suspension member;

a striker suspended by said suspension member;

a wind catcher suspended by said suspension member;

a housing surrounding said power and control circuitry and connecting said circuitry to said suspension member and supporting said at least one solar panel thereon;

said at least one light source is disposed below said housing via an electrically transmissive tether and having a light transmissive shade surrounding said at least one light source;

said striker is disposed below said shade via a tether; and

said wind catcher is disposed below said striker via a tether;

wherein said electrical components are located below said suspension member and in separate spaced apart relation to said wind chime assembly.

46. The illuminated wind indicator of claim 45 including a plurality of solar panels and said wind catcher having a surface with at least one of said plurality of solar panels disposed thereon, and said tether from said at least one light source to said wind catcher is electrically transmissive.

47. The illuminated wind indicator of claim 45 wherein a vertical arrangement of said suspension member to said housing to said at least one light source and shade to said striker to said wind catcher is removably aligned along a central axis of said wind chime assembly.