Abstract:
Apparatus for illuminating a plant comprising an elongated support member and a housing mounted on a elongated support member is disclosed. A light is mounted on the housing. A control turns the light on or off and/or otherwise controls the light. Coupling structure on the elongated support member and mating coupling structure on the housing is included. The mating coupling structure mating with the coupling structure on the housing allows the elongated support member to be detachably attached to the housing.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No. 12/169,623 entitled “LONG LIFE CRANKING MINIMIZED FLASHLIGHT” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference and a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No. 12/236,501, entitled “LIGHT FOR ILLUMINATING PLANTS” filed Sep. 24, 2008 as a non provisional but which is being converted to a provisional application. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates to devices for illuminating plants in pots, plantings and the like. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0003]    (Not applicable) 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Plants lend a vibrant, relaxing and natural atmosphere to a space, whether it is indoor or outdoor. In the case of indoor plants, the same also have the good effect of increasing oxygen and humidity in the air. Plants may also trap some air pollutants, rendering even further healthful effects. 
         [0005]    Certainly another one of the advantages of plants is the fact that they may be seen and, when seen, have the effect of psychologically relaxing people, as well as lending beauty and ambience to the space in which they are located. 
         [0006]    However, modern lifestyles often mean work for long hours and arrival at home long after the sun has fallen. Thus, plants are not likely in many cases to be seen unless they are illuminated. However, given increasing fuel costs (which, in recent memory goes back certainly as far back as the early 1970s), environmental reasons to reduce consumption of electricity, and so forth, lights put on at night in a space may be task oriented, such as desk lamps, or event oriented, such as a lamp on a coffee table which will only illuminate the area surrounded by a group of people talking, for example, at a cocktail party. There are also other circumstances which may restrict the amount of light available in the space, such as a room or patio, and these may include, for example, low levels of lighting used for economical reasons or to create a certain mood, and sometimes low levels of lighting associated, for example, with colored lights also intended to create a mood. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, plants located on a windowsill, for example, may not be sufficiently illuminated to be visible when lights in a room are turned on. Likewise, plants located in outdoor planting beds proximate to, for example, an open or closed patio, are not likely to be illuminated by general lighting. 
         [0008]    On another note, the dramatic effect of illuminated plants is apparent. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide independent function-oriented lights for illuminating plants in indoor and outdoor spaces. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In accordance with the invention, apparatus for illuminating a plant comprises an elongated support member and a housing mounted on the elongated support member. A light is mounted on the housing. A control turns the light on or off and/or otherwise controls the light. 
         [0010]    Coupling structure is located on the elongated support member and mating coupling structure is located on the housing. The mating coupling structure mates with the coupling structure on the housing allows the elongated support member to be detachably attached to the housing. 
         [0011]    The housing may support a solar cell. 
         [0012]    The light may be powered by a rechargeable battery. A circuit prevents the light from going on unless the rechargeable battery meets a minimum performance criteria. 
         [0013]    A generator may be used to charge a rechargeable battery for powering the light. 
         [0014]    Optionally the light output by the plant light may vary from one light color to another. 
         [0015]    The light may be powered for a fixed period of time after the control is actuated. 
         [0016]    The housing may be configured for ergonomic use as a flashlight when the elongated support is detached. 
         [0017]    In accordance with the invention, optics may be provided for variably controlling light output from the light to achieve a desired illumination pattern. 
         [0018]    The control may optionally turn on the light in response to ambient light dropping below a predefined level. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The operation of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates a general implementation of the plant light of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  shows the inventive plant light illuminating a plant in a pot; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  illustrates a plant light of the present invention in a configuration to be used as a flashlight; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  illustrates a spike which may be unscrewed to convert the plant light into a flashlight according to the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of the inventive flashlight illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the inventive flashlight; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a rear view of the embodiment of the inventive flashlight illustrated in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram illustrating the plant light of  FIGS. 6-7  of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is a block diagram of another alternative embodiment of the invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 10  is a block diagram of still another alternative embodiment of the invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 11  illustrates the plant light of  FIG. 10  in use; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 12  illustrates the placement of parts in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIGS. 10-11 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the inventive plant light  10  comprises a housing  12  which houses the components of the inventive plant light  10 . Housing  12  supports an optics housing  14 . Optics housing  14  houses a reflector  16  and a light source  18 . Light source  18  may be a light emitting diode. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , reflector  16  serves the purpose of concentrating the output of light emitting diode  18 . Alternatively, or in addition, a lens may be used to cooperate with reflector  16 . 
         [0033]    In accordance with the invention, optics housing  14  may be located to perform a focusing function in which the position of the focal point of the optics concentrating the output of light source  18  is varied with respect to light source  18 , resulting in the light coming to a focus at varying distances from light source  18 . This also has the consequence of varying the width of the bundle of illumination which outputs housing  14  at varying distances from the inventive plant light  10 . Accordingly, the light may be concentrated to illuminate a desired portion of, for example, a plant  19  in a pot  21 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Control of the lighting may be achieved by adjustment of the focusing optics and/or orientation of the plant light  10 , as more fully appears below. 
         [0034]    Other light concentrating structures may be used, such as those illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,959,999 directed to a flashlight having a manual charging device, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated into this specification by reference. Single lenses, multiple lenses, single reflectors, multiple reflectors and the like may be employed. 
         [0035]    Inventive plant light  10  also comprises a pushbutton actuator  20 . Pushbutton actuator  20  may be a simple single pole-single throw on-off electrical switch, or it may be of more complex structure and incorporates other functions, such as timing, number of lights illuminated, etc. 
         [0036]    In accordance with the invention, plant light  10  comprises a spike  23  formed of four tangs  25 , of conventional design. Tangs  25  extend from a base  27 . Base  27  supports a threaded member  29  which screws into a tapped hole  31  in housing  12 . This permits plant light  10  to be unscrewed from spike  23  and used as a flashlight, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Spike  23  ( FIG. 4 ) may then be stored when it is desired to again use plant light  10  to illuminate a plant. At that time, spike  23  may then be screwed into tapped hole  31  by threaded member  29 . 
         [0037]    Spike  23  allows plant light  10  to be supported in earth  33 , contained in pot  21 , at any desired angle as illustrated in phantom lines in  FIG. 2 . This, together with the other adjustments provided in accordance with the invention, as detailed herein, such as the adjustment of lighting bundle width and color, provide for a significant measure of flexibility in lighting plants using the inventive plant light  10 . 
         [0038]    The operation of a preferred embodiment of the inventive plant light may be seen with reference to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of the inventive plant light. More particularly, power is supplied by a battery  22  which is coupled to an electronic switch  24 . Electronic switch  24  provides power to a light selection circuit  26  which determines when and how power will be applied to one or more lights  18 . This is selected by the user by operating switch  30 . 
         [0039]    In accordance with the invention, it is also possible to have a plurality of lights, each of a different color. The user would then be able to select the color of light with which he wishes to illuminate the plant  19 . Still yet another alternative is for the color of the lights to be varied as is done in the prior art, for example each light varying in intensity over time, causing the output light from the device to vary in color, and cycle through, for example, the colors of the rainbow, or between two or three different colors. 
         [0040]    In accordance with the invention, intensity alone may simply be varied by varying the number of lights which are provided with power by light selection circuit  26 . 
         [0041]    Another feature of the invention is to optionally minimize the drainage of battery  22  during use. For example, when switch  20  is actuated, it may trigger a timer  32 , causing timer  32  to turn on electronic switch  24  for a fixed period of time, for example, three hours, or some other period of time which would be typical of an evening spent alone or as part of a group in a room. The result is to conserve the electrical power in battery  22 , as well as to extend the life of battery  22 , particularly important in the event that it is a rechargeable battery. 
         [0042]    In accordance with the invention, the provision of power to light or lights  18  may be triggered by a photocell  34  which produces a small electrical signal in ambient light during the day, and when the sun goes down produces a smaller or no electrical signal, resulting in the triggering of timer  32  which causes the inventive plant light to output light for a fixed period of time. Such an embodiment of the present invention would be of particular value to a plant light  10  which is to be placed underneath a plant in a garden, and where the user wants the plant to be illuminated after darkness. Again the provision of timer  32  results in conservation of battery  22 . 
         [0043]    As discussed above, in accordance with the invention, a focusing mechanism  36  to provide lens adjustment and variation of the size of the illuminating beam output from the inventive plant light  10  is provided. 
         [0044]    In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an alternative embodiment of the inventive plant light  110  may incorporate a solar battery  122  as illustrated in  FIGS. 6-7 . Battery  122  may be covered with a transparent face  138  to protect the solar battery  122  from the elements. As may be seen from  FIG. 7 , solar battery  122  takes up most of the top of flashlight  110 , barely leaving room for light sources  118 . This maximizes the area for solar power generation. 
         [0045]    The operation of plant light  110  illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7  may be understood with reference to the schematic diagram of  FIG. 8 . Generally, the operation of plant light  110  is substantially the same as that of the operation of plant light  10 , except where indicated as different herein. In the various embodiments herein, to the extent practical, parts have been numbered, with numbers which are multiples of  100  different from those of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-5  where function and/or structure of those parts is similar or analogous. 
         [0046]    Solar power is provided by solar cell  122 . Coupling circuit  140  couples the output of solar cell  122  to a rechargeable battery  22   a.  Coupling circuit  140  is of conventional design, for example, ensuring proper charging and preventing against undue discharge of rechargeable battery  22   a.    
         [0047]    By the closure of switch  120 , or the output of photocell circuit  134  reaching a threshold value, timer  132  is caused to activate electronic switch  124  to pass power to light selection switch  126 . The passage of power through light selection circuit  126  is under control of switch  130 , and occurs substantially in the manner described above in connection with the embodiment of  FIG. 5 . Lights  118  are then illuminated and depending upon the adjustment of the focusing mechanism  136 , a desired portion of a plant, or other object for that matter, is illuminated in accordance with the invention. 
         [0048]    In accordance with the invention, it is contemplated that a plant in a pot will be located in a window thus providing for light coming from the direction of the window. Accordingly, the solar powered plant light of  FIGS. 6-8  is probably oriented with solar cell  122  facing the window. In the case of the inventive plant light being used outdoors, solar cell  122  is usually best faced somewhat upwardly and in a general southerly direction to maximize the collection of available sunlight. Of course, depending upon other objects, time of year, and so forth, the position of the light may be varied. Generally, the light is oriented to face generally toward the sun available for the longest period of time with the highest intensity, corresponding to the highest output of energy. 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , still yet another alternative embodiment of the inventive plant light  210  is illustrated in schematic form. The operation of the circuit of  FIG. 9  is substantially identical to that of the circuit of  FIG. 8 , except that while electronic switch  224  is responsive to switch  220  and photocell  234  in the manner described above, electronic switch  224  will not turn on the light unless threshold detector  242  determines that the voltage across rechargeable battery  222   a  is above a certain threshold. Generally, rechargeable batteries are likely to be damaged if their voltage is allowed to drop below a threshold value, and thus threshold detector  242  prevents the damage of the battery due to too deep a discharge. 
         [0050]    In accordance with the invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , inventive plant light  310  may comprise a rechargeable battery  322   a  in a circuit much like that illustrated in  FIG. 8 , except that the system further includes a generator  344 . Generator  344 , together with a solar cell  322  is coupled by coupling circuit  340  to rechargeable battery  322   a.  In accordance with this embodiment, a mechanically driven generator, for example a generator driven by a crank used to recharge rechargeable battery  322   a  in the absence of sunlight falling on solar cell  322 . 
         [0051]    The detachable flashlight portion of solar and crank-rechargeable plant light  310  may take the form of a flashlight as is disclosed in my co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/169,623 directed to Long Life Cranking Minimized Flashlight (the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference), as is illustrated in  FIG. 11 . It is also contemplated that plant light  310  may be spike mounted in the soil contained within a pot  321  through the use of a spike  323 . 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , the layout and general proportions of the parts of alternative inventive plant light  310  are illustrated schematically. In this embodiment, the convention used above of numbering analogous parts with numbers separated from analogous parts in other embodiments by multiples of a hundred has been followed. Multiple functions are reflected by multiple designations in the drawings.  FIG. 12  generally shows a mechanical layout of the parts schematically to result in easy access to the battery and easy cranking using a crank  332 . The layout of  FIG. 12  has the advantage of allowing one side to be substantially covered only by the solar cell. The design is thus, at once, ergonomic to hold, ergonomic to crank and involves an efficient use of space. At the same time, it allows a crank  332  to be placed substantially in the center of the bottom of the plant light  310 , allowing placement of a battery receiving compartment  345  in a position which allows easy replacement of the battery when it wears out and no longer takes a sufficient charge in the estimation of the user. 
         [0053]    Charging of battery  322   a  by generator  334  and solar cell  322  is done through coupling circuit  340  which is located on the same circuit board as electronic switch  324  and timer  332 , as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . Likewise, switches  320  and  330  may be put in a common position, side by side or arranged in some other fashion. Actuation of lights may be controlled switches  320  and  330  acting through circuit board  324 ,  332 ,  340 . 
         [0054]    Charging is achieved by the cranking of a crank  332 , in a manner detailed in my co-pending application referenced above. This results in applying a rotary mechanical input to a gear train  350  ( FIG. 12 ). 
         [0055]    Gear train  350  comprises a number of gears, as illustrated and detailed in the above referenced application which is incorporated by reference. 
         [0056]    When it is desired to charge the inventive flashlight, crank  332  is rotated outwardly in the direction of arrow  366 , until it may be cranked to turn generator  344 . Such rotation is begun and is continued until crank  332  is substantially parallel to the housing  312  of plant light  310 , allowing easy cranking. 
         [0057]    While an illustrative embodiment of the invention has been described, it is understood that modifications will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such modifications are within the spirit and scope of the invention which is limited and defined only by the appended claims.