Solar powered exterior lighting system

A self-contained solar powered light having a battery system where the battery container is mounted between two cantilevered arms on an upright vertical support. The light element is mounted at the distal end of one of the cantilevered arms. The photovoltaic panels are mounted on the upper cantilevered arm and point upward toward the sun. A computer is operably connected between the battery and the photovoltaic panels and the light element to determine when the light element should be actuated and deactuated based upon amperage produced by the photovoltaic panels. The vertical support has a U-shaped cross member which can engage poles with circular cross section or poles with external side flats. Threaded fasteners fix the vertical support onto the pole member.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present invention relates to exterior lighting and more particularly to 
photovoltaic panels connected to a storage battery which in turn is 
operably connected to an exterior lighting element. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Exterior lighting systems have been used for many applications including 
outdoor stadiums, municipal highways, sidewalks, patios and parking lots. 
It is most common to have these exterior lights powered by electricity 
that has been generated at a remote location either by a hydroelectric 
power plant, fossil fuel burning power plant or a nuclear power plant. In 
recent times, concerns have been raised that the high demand for 
electricity is taxing the capacity of existing electrical generating 
plants. Furthermore, concerns regarding the availability and environmental 
safety of fossil and nuclear fuel are being raised. As a result of the 
above factors, the price of electricity has significantly increased and 
other alternate means of lighting are now becoming practical. 
Various exterior lighting systems have been devised using photovoltaic 
panels commonly referred to as solar panels in conjunction with batteries. 
These exterior lighting systems have been designed such that sunlight 
impinging on a solar panel charges a battery during the day time. The 
battery can subsequently provide a source of electricity for a lighting 
element during the nighttime. These systems all are fabricated 
particularly for the battery being mounted in or about a fixed vertical 
pole. These systems, by being specifically adapted to require a special 
pole which must have an access panel, limit the applicable uses for a 
lighting element structure. 
What is needed is a solar powered battery storage lighting system that is 
adaptable to variety of applications and which can be expeditiously 
mounted on top of a metal or cement pole support or alternately mounted 
against a flat vertical member such as a wall. 
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a lighting system includes 
a substantially vertical support member having a lower cantilevered 
support arm and a upper cantilevered support arm extending from the 
vertical support member to form a frame assembly. The two cantilevered 
arms are connected at a point spaced away from the vertical support 
member. A lighting element is desirably connected to the distal end of one 
of the support arms. A photovoltaic panel is connected to one of the 
cantilevered support arms for receiving sunlight and converting it into 
electrical power. An electrical storage battery preferably in a storage 
container is mounted to the frame assembly between the two cantilevered 
support arms for providing power to the light element. The electrical 
storage battery, the photovoltaic panel and the lighting element are 
operably interconnected together via a control means for actuating and 
deactuating the lighting element in response to the ambient sun light 
conditions about the lighting system. This can be accomplished by use of a 
photocell that measures the daylight or by a device that measures the 
amount of electricity being generated by the solar panels. It is 
preferable that a storage battery is mounted within a perimeter of the 
frame assembly defined by the vertical support member and the two 
cantilevered support arms. The photovoltaic panel is preferably pivotally 
connected to the upper cantilevered support arm so they can be aligned 
toward the sunlight and provide a slope so that rain water can drain 
therefrom. 
The vertical support member is adapted to be mounted on top of a pole or to 
be attached to a vertical member such as a wall. In a preferred 
embodiment, the vertical support is a U-shaped bracket having a channel 
facing away from the light element such that the U-shaped bracket can 
engage and be mounted to the side of a circular in cross section steel 
pole with the side walls of the U-shaped bracket providing lateral 
rigidity against the steel pole. The U-shaped bracket can also be sized 
such that it can be mounted against the periphery of the standard cement 
light pole. The U-shaped bracket can also be mounted against a flat wall 
support. The cantilevered arms are preferably tubular members welded onto 
the U-shaped bracket. In one embodiment the U-shaped bracket can have 
holes through which the tubular members extend and are welded thereto. 
In a preferred embodiment, the container that houses the battery has two 
tabs which abut against a wall of the U-shaped channel and engage mounting 
bolts extending from the U-shaped channel. 
In the preferred embodiment, the photovoltaic panels have mounting channels 
that run transverse to the length of the cantilevered arm. The channels 
have a clamping surface therein which are engaged by a tab of a bracket 
that extends into the channel. A second bracket extends into the channel 
and is disposed at an opposite side of the cantilevered arm such that when 
the two brackets are bolted together the brackets clamp the clamping 
surface against the cantilevered arm to affix the solar panel in place. 
Preferably, each panel has at least two axially displaced channels that 
each engage two brackets. 
In this fashion the frame assembly mounts a complete and functional 
lighting system and can be adapted to a variety of uses such as 
streetlamps by being mounted to either steel or cement poles. The exterior 
lighting system can also be mounted directly against a wall member. The 
battery container and solar panels are positioned such that they do not 
interfere with the variety of mountings in which the vertical support 
member can be used.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawings and in particularly FIG. 1, a solar powered 
lighting assembly 10 is mounted near the top of a square steel streetlight 
pole 12. The lighting assembly 10 includes a substantially vertical 
support member 14 and two cantilevered arms 16 and 18 that form a frame 
assembly 20. At the distal end of the cantilevered arm 16 is a light 
fixture 22. A battery container 24 is mounted on the vertical support 14. 
The construction of the lighting assembly 10 is shown in more detail in 
FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. As shown in these figures, the vertical support member 
14 is generally U-shaped to form an open channel 26 situated between two 
side walls 28. A front wall 30 having an exterior surface 31 and interior 
surface 33 spans between the two side walls 28. The interior surface 33 
and two side walls 28 define the vertically oriented channel 26. The lower 
cantilevered arm 18 has its one end 32 cut at an angle such that it 
flushly abuts the front wall 30 and is welded thereto. Similarly 
cantilevered arm 16 has its end 34 cut so that it flushly abuts the front 
wall 30 and is welded thereto. The cantilevered arm 18 and 16 are also 
welded together at location 36. The two cantilevered arms 16, 18 and 
vertical support member 14 form a triangular shaped assembly with an open 
interior section 38. Alternatively, vertical support may have apertures 
sized to receive ends 32 and 34 which then can be welded in place. 
The light fixture 22 can include a sodium lamp, halogen lamp or any other 
conventional lighting element 41 that is suitable for exterior use. The 
fixture 22 may have a transparent or translucent lens cover 42 to refract 
and disperse light in any desired fashion. 
The battery container 24 is mounted within the open triangular interior 
section 38 onto the vertical support member 14. The battery container 
mounting is shown in more detail in FIG. 5 where the container 24 has two 
tabs 44 at its extending upwardly and downwardly respectively member 14 
with its two side walls 28 and its front wall 30 snugly fits in the space 
45 defined between the tabs 44 such that the tabs 44, abut against the 
side walls 28. Each tab 44 has a hole 46 and slot 47 upwardly extending 
therefrom. The hole 46 is sized to laterally engage two threaded bolts 48 
which are threaded into holes 49 or otherwise affixed in the front wall 30 
and extend horizontally therefrom. Once the container 24 is mounted 
against the front wall 30 and the bolts 48 are within the slots 47, the 
bolts 49 can be tightened to affix the tabs 44 in place and to secure the 
container 24 onto the vertical support 14. 
Referring back to FIGS. 2-4, a pair of photovoltaic panels 50 are mounted 
on the top cantilever arm 16 with the photovoltaic surface 51 facing 
upwardly such that sunlight can impinge thereupon. The panels 50 are 
attached to the cantilevered arm 16 by bracket assemblies 52. One bracket 
assembly 52 is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 6 and 7. The bracket 
assembly 52 includes a channel member 54 attached to the panels 50. Each 
panel 50 has two axially spaced channel members 54 affixed thereto that 
extend transversely to the cantilever arm 16. Each channel member 54 has 
downwardly extending side walls 56. The side walls 56 at their lower edge 
have inwardly turned flanges 58 which provide for an opening 60 
therebetween. The channel member 54 with its side walls 56 and flanges 58 
define a channel 59 therein. 
A pair of bracket member 62 each have a pair of distal tabs 66 that fit 
within the channel 59 above flanges 58. Two opposing slots 64 of the 
bracket members 62 receive the flange 58. The bracket 62 has a contoured 
section 68 which extends laterally besides the upper cantilevered arm 16. 
Each bracket 62 has a lower connecting section 69 with an aperture 70 
therethrough. A bolt 72 and nut 74 are used to draw the two connecting 
sections 69 together which in turn pull the tabs 62 down to clamp against 
the flanges 58 and force the flanges 58 against the arm 16. As 
particularly shown in FIG. 6, the bracket assembly 52 can be fastened 
securely on the arm 16 in an adjustable fashion to affix the panels 50 in 
a plurality of positions. The panels 50 can be pivoted to a horizontal 
position with the photovoltaic surface 51 facing directly upward or the 
panels 50 be slightly canted to provide for water to drain therefrom 
and/or to provide a more direct angle to an inclined sun. The pivotal 
adjustments of the panels is about the longitudinal axis of arm 16. 
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 8, the lighting assembly is connected to the 
square steel pole 12 via vertical support member 14. The width of each 
flat side 85 of pole 12 is greater than spacing 45 between flanges 28 such 
that the rear distal edges 75 abut the pole side 85. The lighting pole 12 
has two standard vertically spaced openings 72 therethrough. The U-shaped 
bracket has similarly spaced openings 78 in its front wall 30. Fastener 
connectors 70 include bolts 76 passing through openings 78 and through 
openings 72. A nut 74 engages bolt 76 to fasten the lighting assembly 16 
onto the pole 12. The nut 74 may optionally be welded in place onto or in 
pole 12. 
Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, the lighting assembly 10 can also be 
connected to the circular steel pole 12a via the vertical support member 
14. The pole 12a extends substantially within channel 29. The typical 
outer diameter dimensions of the pole 12a are five inches. The side walls 
28 are positioned to be four inches apart and are long enough such that 
the rear distal edges 75 abut the periphery 80 of pole 12a when the inside 
surface 33 of front wall 30 abuts the periphery at location 82. The 
combination of the two vertically spaced connectors 70 with the abutment 
of side walls 28 and front wall 30 against pole 12a provide for a stable 
fixed connection between the frame assembly 20 and the light pole 12a. 
The frame assembly 20 is also adapted to be securely mounted onto a cement 
pole as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. A cement pole 84 is typically tapered 
and has a pentagonal cross-section with five exterior flats 86. One of the 
flats 86 has two vertically spaced apertures 88 therethrough that can be 
provided with a threaded nut 90 affixed thereto and aligned with aperture 
88. The pole is tapered such that each flat 86 has a nine inch width 
toward the bottom of the pole and has an approximately five inch width 
toward the top of the pole. Since the side walls 28 of vertical support 14 
are four inches apart, the walls 28 abut against one of the side walls 86. 
The bolts 76 pass through the apertures 78 in front wall 30 and pass 
through the openings 88 and threaded nut 90 to engage the pole 84. The 
rear distal edges 75 of walls 28 abut the flat 86 and the bolts 76 secure 
the vertical support 14 against the flat 86 to fixedly mount frame 
assembly 20 onto cement pole 84. 
Besides being adaptable to be secured onto both steel and cement poles, the 
frame assembly 20 can also be secured against a vertical wall in much the 
same fashion as shown for the cement pole where a flat wall would abut 
against the side walls 28 and the threaded bolt 72 can extend through the 
front wall 30 of vertical support and a wall member in the same fashion as 
shown in FIG. 12. 
As shown in FIG. 13, the light element 41 and panels 50 have one end 
grounded at 90. The ground 90 can be achieved through the frame assembly 
20 itself if it is made out of electrically conductive material, e.g. 
metal. The positive ends of the light element 22 and panels 50 have wires 
92 and 94 running to the battery container 24. The container 24 houses the 
battery 104 and computer 100. The container has two isolated connectors 96 
and 98 thereon which operably connect to a computer 100. The computer 100 
is connected to the positive terminal 102 of the battery 104. 
The computer 100 is a commercially available detector which detects the 
amperage output from the panels 50. If the amperage output is below a 
predetermined level, the computer closes the circuit between the terminal 
102 and terminal 98 to complete the circuit to the light element 41. 
Conversely if the amperage level is over a predetermined amount the 
computer opens the circuit to the light element 41. It is also foreseen 
that a photo detector can be used in place of the computer 100 to measure 
the ambient sunlight directly to control the actuation and deactuation of 
the light element 22. 
In this fashion, self-contained photovoltaic light assembly with power 
supply is adaptable to be mounted on cement poles, wood poles, metal poles 
or flat wall surfaces. The photovoltaic panels are easily mounted on a 
frame member via brackets and channel assemblies. The battery container is 
easily mounted on the vertical support which is a U-shaped channel via 
tabs having slots therein which engage bolts extending from the U-shaped 
vertical support. The battery container is protectively mounted between 
two cantilevered arms of the frame assembly. The photovoltaic panels are 
mounted on the top cantilevered arm and can be tilted. 
Other variations and modifications are possible without departing from the 
scope and spirit as defined by the appended claims.