Abstract:
An adjustable lighting system for installation on the side walls of a building. The lighting system includes a motor and gears that lower lights when the system is activated and retract them when deactivated, thereby keeping the system hidden from view when not in use. The device is controlled by a mobile application which lowers the lighting units, adjusts the brightness of the lights, and can manipulate the lighting color patterns and designs. Additionally, the device can include speakers and the necessary circuitry in order to play audio.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/077,392 filed on Nov. 10, 2014. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to lighting systems, in particular, to lighting systems that are configured to be mounted on the surface of a structure and that are designed to be lowered when in use and retracted and hidden behind a cover when not in use. 
         [0003]    Exterior and interior lighting systems for houses often contain both pragmatic and aesthetic aspects. While the primary use of a lighting system is to brighten an area that is otherwise too dark for general use, lighting can also be designed to highlight the structural architecture or creative features of a building. Decorative lighting is often mounted on the outer walls of buildings and on the surrounding grounds and positioned to illuminate the structure. 
         [0004]    One disadvantage of these lighting systems is that the lighting hardware, such as the socket and large lights bulbs, are visible even when not in use and can be unsightly both to the structure itself and to the surrounding land. Another disadvantage is that light fixtures that are installed on the ground can become dangerous obstacles to pedestrians and animals, especially when they are deliberately placed to be hidden from view. 
         [0005]    Additionally, many of the current lighting systems are designed to be controlled via a timer switch, which must be set to a preselected schedule and it is often cumbersome to override in order to manually control the lights. Furthermore, the control ability of such switches on these systems is often limited to a binary on or off setting. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there exists a need in the prior art for a lighting system that can be mounted or installed in such a way as to be inconspicuous to onlookers. Moreover, there exists a need for a system that can be controlled with a finer degree of customization both in terms of a schedule as well as in regard to the brightness and color of the lights. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of lighting systems now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a lighting system wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when illuminating an exterior or interior of a building. The present system comprises a housing, a member disposed inside the housing, a number of lights disposed on the member, and a mechanism to lower the member. The mechanism is made up of a motor and a set of gears, wherein one gear is attached to the motor and another is connected to the member. The member is lowered when the gears are engaged and activated by the motor. The present invention also comprises a transceiver and a logic, such as a microprocessor. The transceiver can receive instructions over a network connection and communicate those instructions to the motor via the logic. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the lighting system. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the lighting system. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of an additional embodiment of the lighting system. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the lighting system as installed on a structure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the lighting system. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. As used herein, “logic” refers to (i) logic implemented as computer instructions and/or data within one or more computer processes and/or (ii) logic implemented in electronic circuitry. 
         [0014]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the lighting system. The lighting system comprises a housing  10 , a member  11 , a light  12 , a first gear  13 , a second gear  14 , a motor  15 , a logic  16  and a transceiver  17 . The lights are  12  disposed along the member  11 . The light  12  are operably connected to a power supply  19  through electrical wiring  18 . The member  11  is connected to a first gear  13  that is positioned to engage with a second gear  14 . The second gear  14  is operably connected to a motor  15 , such that when the motor  15  is engaged, the gears  13 ,  14  adjust the position of the member  11 . The motor  15  is operably connected to a logic  16 , such as a microprocessor. The logic  16  is configured to control the motor  15 , which in turn allows the logic  16  to control the direction and rate of movement of the member  11 . 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, the first gear  13  and second gear  14  is a rack and pinion style gear, wherein the first gear  13  is an elongated straight shaft with teeth extending from the member  11  and the second gear  14  is a circular gear with complementary teeth attached to the motor  15  via a first rod  25 . The motor  15  and second gear  14  are mounted in a fixed position onto the housing  10 . When the motor  15  is activated it rotates the attached second gear  14  about an axis through the rotation of the first rod  25 . The second gear  14  engages the first gear  13  and the member  11  is then extended or retracted depending upon the direction of rotation imparted by the motor  15  on the second gear  14 . 
         [0016]    The microprocessor  16  is operably connected to transceiver  17 , to the motor  15  and to the lights  12 . The transceiver  17  is configured to communicate with a device, such as a mobile electronic device or a computer, through a short range wireless communication protocol, such as Bluetooth. The mobile device is then able to control the extension and retraction of the member, whether the lights are activated, and other such variables associated with the present lighting system via sending and receiving wireless communication signals to the logic  16  via the transceiver  17 . In another embodiment of the invention, the transceiver  17  is configured to communicate with a device, such as a mobile electronic device or a personal computer, through a telecommunication network, such as the internet, utilizing either a wired or a wireless connection to a network router. The microprocessor  16  can then be controlled through any device that is configured to communicate with the transceiver  17  over that telecommunication network. Additionally, the mobile device or personal computer can control the scheduling of the invention. For example, a mobile device can relay to the microprocessor  16  that the member  11  should be lowered and the lights  12  activated from dusk until midnight, at which point the lights are to be deactivated and the member  11  retracted into the housing  10 . The microprocessor  16  relays these instructions to the motor  15  and to the lights  12  at the correct times. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, there is an additional manual switch operably connected to the microprocessor  16  that enables control of the lights  12  and motor  15  without use of a wired or wireless network. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment of the invention, the lights  12  are light sockets adapted to connect to screw-type bulbs. In another embodiment of the invention, the lights are light emitting diodes that are capable of emitting light of varying brightness and of varying colors. These light emitting diodes are in communication with the microprocessor  16 , which is configured to control both the brightness and the colors. In another embodiment of the invention, there is a sound system that is integrated with the invention. The sound system comprises audio speakers  50  that are in communication with the microprocessor  16 . The microprocessor  16  is configured to play audio that is transmitted through the transceiver  17  through the audio speakers  50 . The audio speakers  50  can be integrated with the lights  12 . For example, the microprocessor  16  can control the brightness and colors of the lights  12  to correspond aesthetically with the rhythm and volume of the audio being played through the audio speakers  50 . 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a schematic perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention. The member  11  is supported by a cable assembly. In one embodiment, the member  23  is supported by two cables  23 . The first end of each cable  23  is attached to the member  11 . The second end of each cable  23  is wound around a second rod  22  that is connected to the first gear  20 . In this embodiment of the invention, both the first gear  20  and the second gear  21  are circular gears. When the microprocessor  16  relays instructions to the motor  15  to rotate the second gear  21  via the first rod  25 , the first gear  20  is engaged and rotates the attached second rod about an axis, causing the cable  23  to wrap around the rod  26  and retract the member  11 . When the gears turn in the opposite direction, the rope  23  is unwound and the member  11  is extended. 
         [0019]    In another embodiment of the invention, a first cable  23  is attached to both ends of the member  11 . There is a second cable, wherein one end of the second cable is secured to the middle of the first cable, and the other end of the second cable is wound around the second rod  22 . When the motor activates the gears  20 ,  21  via the rod  25 , the second cable is wound around the second rod  22  and the member  11  is retracted into the housing  10 . When the motor turns the gears  20 ,  21  in the opposite direction, the member  11  is extended outside of the housing  10 . 
         [0020]    In another embodiment of the invention, the mechanism used to extend and retract the member  11  is a direct mechanical apparatus. For example, the motor  15  is directly attached to a rod that is connected to the member  11  such that when the motor  15  is engaged, the rod rotates about an axis and the member  11  is extended or retraced. In another embodiment of the invention, the motor is operably connected to a pneumatic piston, wherein the piston is attached to the member  11 . When the motor is engaged, the piston is retracted or extended, and in turn retracts of extends the member  11  as well. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention. The housing  10  comprises a first element  30  and a second element  31 . The first element  30  is mounted to the side of a structure, such as an exterior wall, and the second element  31  is attached to the first element  30  by a fastening device, such as a screw. The second element  31  is designed to aesthetically complement the surroundings where it is to be mounted. This embodiment allows for multiple first elements to be interchanged, depending on the appearance desired by a user. 
         [0022]    Another embodiment of the invention includes apertures  32  in the housing  10  which are configured to allow a fastening device to attach the housing  10  to a structure. For example, bolts  33  can be used to pass through the housing  10  and secure it to the wall of a building. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a perspective view of the invention as it appears when mounted on the sides of an exterior doorway. The lights  12  can be placed in a manner to highlight the structure of the building. For example, to light the perimeter of a doorway, there can be three members mounted to the doorway, one member on each doorpost  41 ,  42  and one member on the lintel  43 . Alternatively, there can be a U-shaped member with a mechanism that extends and retracts the entire member at once. Similarly, the invention can be mounted in various interior locations of a structure. 
         [0024]    It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
         [0025]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.