Abstract:
An aesthetic and practical solar powered light fixture that has a 3D enhanced lens. In one embodiment, the fixture is an independent light capable of being moved to any outdoor position where the fixture will receive sunlight. The solar powered fixture does not require wires to be run or buried since it is solar-powered. The fixture comprises a cap assembly, a lens, a post, and a spike. The medium providing a 3D enhancement for the lens is lenticular lens material. The lens comprises this material and also may have a top and bottom lip for securing the lens to the cap assembly and the post. A light emitting diode in one embodiment may be used to provide the light source for the fixture. Configured in this manner, the fixture provides a welcoming ambiance for a home or business.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to outdoor lighting, particularly to lighting instruments typically positioned around buildings and building pathways used for both aesthetic and practical lighting. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Outdoor lighting provides a number of practical and aesthetic benefits for buildings and homes and for garden areas such as lawns, walkways, and pool facilities. Among the practical benefits of this type of lighting are safety for walking and security. These benefits are provided by lighting dark areas and shadows around buildings and homes and lighting walkways, steps, and obstacles. 
         [0005]    Outdoor lighting also provides important aesthetic benefits. These benefits include making visible the beauty and charm of a home or business after dark. Features, such as walkways, of a building&#39;s exterior may be highlighted and landscape areas may be accented. 
         [0006]    Small outdoor lighting fixtures are used to mark walkways and enhance the appearance of landscaping. Some of these small outdoor lighting fixtures include solar panels that capture light energy and then convert the light energy into electrical energy. The electrical energy is then stored in a battery and is directed, when needed, to a light source, such as a light emitting diode (LED), which illuminates upon receiving the electrical energy obtained from the battery. 
         [0007]    Current outdoor pathway lights have generally static displays. Previous light fixtures typically have shrouded light sources that are exposed directly to the open air. There are also outdoor landscape lights that have lenses or globes that surround the light sources. These lenses or globes are typically either clear to provide the maximum delivery of light, frosted to provide diffused light, or multi-colored to provide ambiance lighting. 
         [0008]    A common variant of such outdoor solar powered light fixtures includes a body having a stake that is driven into a ground surface. At the upper end of the stake, a diffuser lens assembly is mounted that encompasses a chamber which surrounds a light emitting device such as one or more LEDs. The light emitting device extends from the bottom of the cap assembly, which is attached to the open, upper end of the diffuser lens. The cap assembly typically includes a solar panel, a battery assembly, and other electrical components. 
         [0009]    To enhance their commercial and decorative value, the structures of such outdoor light fixtures are often made to be as attractive as possible. Previously, a wide variety of efforts have been made that enhance the aesthetic qualities of such outdoor light fixtures. Numerous ornamental designs have been created featuring diffuser lens assemblies and other lens assemblies of various shapes. Nonetheless, a continuing need exists for developing innovative methods and designs to further enhance the aesthetic qualities of such outdoor light fixtures. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention provides an aesthetic and practical solar powered light fixture that has a 3D effect. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment, the light fixture has a 3D enhanced lens displaying a 3D effect and is situated on top of a cylindrical post having a four-flanged spike attached to the bottom of the post for driving and holding the fixture into the ground. On top of the 3D enhanced lens is a cap assembly which can act as a shroud and supplies the housing for the fixture&#39;s light source. Also housed in the cap assembly is a rechargeable battery, a solar panel, and a printed circuit board. 
         [0012]    The 3D enhanced lens itself comprises lenticular sheet material and, in some embodiments, may be shaped like a cone. An upper and a lower lip may be added to the lens to facilitate securing the lens to the cap assembly and the post respectively. Additionally, supports are added to the bottom of the lens for stability. The fixture in one embodiment is powered by the solar panel which charges the rechargeable battery while the fixture receives sunlight. The rechargeable battery powers a bright light emitting diode (LED) that shines from behind the 3D lens, enhancing the 3D effect. By changing the angle from which the fixture is viewed, for example when walking by the light fixture, the 3D effect becomes more pronounced. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment, the LED in the fixture is turned on and off automatically. The solar panel acts as a photocell that detects when it begins to get dark. The LED then turns on and stays on until the battery is discharged or until the photocell detects daylight again. In certain embodiments, a separate photocell is provided to measure the ambient light conditions and to turn the LED on or off when the ambient light crosses pre-configured thresholds. Likewise, a switch may be provided to turn the LED on or off. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment, the light fixture does not have a post or spike. In such an embodiment, the light fixture is able to be hung from different locations. For example, the light fixture may be hung from valences, planter hooks, or placed directly on concrete sidewalks or patios. 
         [0015]    In yet another embodiment, a separate solar panel supplies the power to several light fixtures that are connected by wires. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    A more complete understanding of the method and apparatus of the present invention may be had by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the light fixture; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2A  is a front exploded view of an embodiment of the light fixture; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of a section of the 3D enhanced lens from one angle in one embodiment; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2C  is a perspective view of a section of the 3D enhanced lens from a second angle in one embodiment showing foreground-background object movement; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2D  is a perspective view of a section of the 3D enhanced lens from a second angle in one embodiment showing relative position object movement; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a close up view of a section of a lenticular lens strip in one embodiment; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4A  is a close up view of a section of prior art images illustrating how the images are divided into sections; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4B  is a close up view of a section of a prior art image showing how the sections from  FIG. 4A  are interleaved to form a lenticular image; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view showing the underside of the cap assembly in one embodiment with the 3D enhanced lens in ghost; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5B  is a top view perspective of a 3D enhanced lens in one embodiment; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a typical electrical schematic in one embodiment; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the light fixture; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the light fixture system. 
       
    
    
       [0030]    Where used in the various figures of the drawing, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “top,” “bottom,” “first,” “second,” “upper,” “lower,” “height,” “width,” “length,” “end,” “side,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” and similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawing and are utilized only to facilitate describing the invention. 
         [0031]    All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings of the present invention only; the extensions of the figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the embodiment will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similar requirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the light fixture. In this embodiment, the light fixture includes a 3D enhanced lens  102 . The upper portion of an outdoor lighting fixture  100  comprises the 3D enhanced lens  102  and a cap assembly  104 . The cap assembly  104  comprises a solar panel  106  and a photocell  114 . The solar cell is used to gather light to charge a rechargeable battery  602  ( FIG. 6 ). The photocell  114  is used to measure the ambient light and can control the function of the fixture when so configured. In an embodiment, the solar panel  106  acts as the photocell. 
         [0033]    An exploded view of the fixture  100  is provided in  FIG. 2A . In this view, components of the cap assembly  104  can be seen. In this embodiment, the cap assembly  104  comprises the solar panel  106 , an upper housing  204 , a printed circuit board (PCB)  212 , a light source  202 , and a bottom plate  208 . The bottom plate comprises a battery housing  206  that houses the rechargeable battery (not shown). In another embodiment, the bottom plate  208  may also contain a switch  606  ( FIG. 6 ) to control the functioning of the light. In one embodiment, the switch controls the light turning on or off. For example, when the switch is in one position the light is on, and when the switch is in another position, the light is turned off. It is envisioned that the switch may control other functions. Multiple switches or multi-position switches to control a combination of functions are also envisioned. In this embodiment, the fixture has a reflector  210  used to reflect light from the light source  202  onto the 3D enhanced lens  102 . The reflector  210  can be made from any material capable of reflecting light. For example, the reflector can be made of metal, plastic, or glass. The reflector may also be made of any material capable of being coated with a reflective material such as chrome. 
         [0034]    In one embodiment, the outdoor lighting fixture  100  has a four-flanged spike  110  which holds the fixture firmly in place. The spike may be used to hold the outdoor lighting fixture in a number of landscape materials such as dirt or gravel. Although, the current embodiment has a four-flanged spike  110 , as one skilled in the art would easily recognize, spike  110  may have any number of flanges  112 , or no flanges at all. 
         [0035]    As depicted, the spike  110  is connected to a cylindrical post  108 . The flanges  112  extend beyond the circumference of the post  108  at the top of the spike  110  and have a stair-step taper until the flanges meet at a point at the bottom of the spike  110 . The post  108  supports the upper portion of the outdoor lighting fixture  100  and, in this embodiment, sets the elevation of the light. 
         [0036]      FIG. 2A  is a front exploded view of an embodiment of the light fixture. As can be seen, small, tapered, tabular protrusions  222  are used to connect the spike  110  and the lens  102  to the post  108  by friction. Other methods of securing the spike  110  and the lens  102  to the post  108 , such as screw posts or glue, are also practical and well known to one skilled in the art of manufacturing or designing lighting fixtures. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2A , the bottom plate  208  is connected to the upper housing  204  by one or more screws  224 . Any number of fastening methods may be used to secure the solar panel  106 , upper housing  204 , printed circuit board  212 , and bottom plate  208  including screws, glue, clamps, and pressure tabs. 
         [0037]    In one embodiment, the 3D enhanced lens  102  is a substantially conically shaped lens covered by lenticular strip material  300  ( FIG. 3 ). The light source  202  is connected to the printed circuit board  212  and may be, for example, an incandescent light, light emitting diode, or an array of light emitting diodes. In one embodiment, a surface mount LED is used as the light source. The light source  202  is located behind the 3D enhanced lens  102 . By placing the light source  202  behind the 3D lens, the 3D experience is improved. An observer  250  will experience an enhanced 3D effect when the observer&#39;s position is changed relative to the fixture. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 2B and 2C  are perspective views of a section of the 3D enhanced lens from different angles.  FIGS. 2B and 2C  illustrate how the 3D effect changes from different observer views  250 A and  250 B by changing the observer&#39;s position relative to the fixture.  FIG. 2B  shows, in one embodiment, certain objects  251  in the imbedded image appearing in the foreground while other objects  252  appear in the background from one viewing angle  250 A.  FIG. 2C  illustrates when the observer views the same portion of the lens from a different angle  250 B. When moving from viewing angle  250 A to the angle  250 B, the objects  252  appear to move from the background to the foreground, while other objects  251  will appear to move from foreground to background. 
         [0039]    In addition or instead of moving from foreground to background and from background to foreground, the objects  251  and  252  may show a 3D effect by appearing to move relative to each other. For example, an object  251  may appear to pass in front of an object  252  when an observer views the 3D enhanced lens  102  from different angles.  FIGS. 2B and 2D  illustrate how, in one embodiment, objects  251  and  252  appear to move relative to each other with respect to the objects  251  and  252 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  is a close up view of a section of a lenticular lens strip in one embodiment. A magnified portion of a lenticular lens sheet  300  is illustrated. The lens sheet  300  is made up of a number of lenticular lenses each having a cylindrical portion  304 A and a thickness portion  304 B. A 3D image  302  is placed on the bottom surface of the thickness portion of the lens  304 B. As used herein, the term 3D image means any image creating the impression of depth. The 3D image may be attached to the bottom surface in several ways. For example, the image may be printed directly on the bottom surface or placed on a laminate sheet  306  and then sealed to the bottom of the thickness portion  304 B. The 3D image  302  may also be laminated to the lenticular sheet  300  by using a double-sided adhesive sheet. 
         [0041]    The lenticular lens material  300  may be made of any number of translucent or semi-translucent materials such as plastic or glass. As used herein, translucent or semi-translucent means allowing the passage of visible light. In one embodiment, the lenticular lens material spans the length of the lens. In other embodiments the lens is only partially made up of lenticular lens material. The lens may be made of more than one layer of translucent or semi-translucent material, however, at least one layer comprises lenticular lens material. 
         [0042]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are close up views of a section of a prior art image showing how the sections from  FIG. 4A  are interleaved to form a lenticular image. The 3D image  302  is formed by interlacing two or more images  410  as can be seen in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . A first image  410 A is divided up into a number of sections (e.g. A 1 -A 3 ) with a width corresponding to a portion of the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the lens  304 A. Other images  410 B may be divided up in a similar manner. The separate images  410  may be of different subjects to create a “flip” image, or of different angles of the same subject to create a 3D effect.  FIG. 4B  illustrates an example of the image interleaving process. 
         [0043]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view showing the underside of the cap assembly in one embodiment with the 3D enhanced lens in ghost. The 3D enhanced lens  102  of the embodiment in  FIG. 5A  provides an improved aesthetic and viewing experience for the observer  510 . One advantage of the 3D enhanced lens is that the improved aesthetic is also available during the daytime when the light source may not be shining. As the observer  510  passes by the light fixture, the objects in the 3D image appear to move with the observer. This provides an inviting effect and makes an observer feel more relaxed and welcome when viewing the light fixture. When viewed at night, when the light source is illuminated, the 3D experience is further enhanced by light passing through the 3D enhanced lens. 
         [0044]      FIG. 5B  is a top view perspective of a 3D enhanced lens  102  in one embodiment. In this embodiment, the top of the lens  102  has a lip  501  with two mounting tabs  201 . The tabs  201  align with slots  515  in the bottom plate  208  of the cap assembly  104 . This is a friction fitting similar to a bayonet fitting requiring a slight clockwise or counterclockwise twist of the lens  102  with respect to the cap assembly  104  to secure or to loosen the 3D lens from the bottom plate  208 . 
         [0045]    The bottom of the 3D lens also has a lip  505  which supports six support flanges  509  which in turn are connected at the center of the bottom of the 3D lens  102 . The flanges provide structural support for the 3D lens  102 . Although, the current embodiment has six support flanges  509 , as one skilled in the art would easily recognize, lens  102  may have any number of flanges  509 , or no flanges at all. 
         [0046]      FIG. 6  is a typical electrical schematic  600  in one embodiment. The exemplary circuit  600  comprises electrical components configured on a printed circuit board  212  ( FIG. 2 ). The circuit  600  comprises a photocell light sensor  618 , an LED light source  612  and a rechargeable battery  602  coupled to a solar panel  604 . The rechargeable battery  602 , in one embodiment, is used to provide electrical current to the LED light source  612  comprising one or more light emitting diodes. 
         [0047]    A photocell light sensor  618  and other circuit elements are included in an embodiment to turn the LED light source  612  on and off when the light sensor  618  detects a certain level of ambient light. The light sensor  618  is typically isolated from the LED light source  612  so that the light sensor  618  does not receive light from the LED light source. When the light sensor  618  detects a certain level of light above a predetermined threshold (for example, the light sensor  618  is exposed to sunlight), the integrated circuit  616  prevents the flow of electricity from the battery  602  to the LED light source  612 . Conversely, when the light sensor  618  detects a light level below a predetermined threshold (e.g., the sensor is exposed to darkness), the integrated circuit  616  permits the flow of electricity from the battery  602  to the LED light source  612 . In another embodiment, the solar panel  604  acts as a photocell. In this embodiment, the integrated circuit  616  automatically detects when the solar panel  604  is receiving light for charging and automatically turns the LED light source  612  off until the solar panel is no longer detecting light. 
         [0048]    A switch  606 , in one embodiment, is also provided to control the system (for example, to turn the system on and off). Opening the switch  606  prevents electricity from flowing from the battery  602  and the solar panel  604  to the integrated circuit  616  and the LED light source  612 . 
         [0049]    The embodiment  700  in  FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the light fixture that illustrates one of the ways that the light fixture may be employed without using a stake placing the fixture near the ground. This embodiment  700  is also a solar powered outdoor lighting fixture as previously described that can be located and continuously operated in any area that receives daytime exposure to sunlight. The light fixture  700  is designed to be a hanging variant. Thus, the light fixture  700  depicted does not include a spike for attachment to the ground. Instead, the light fixture  700  comprises a 3D lens assembly  702  removably attached to a cap assembly  720  that includes a hanging instrument  750 . 
         [0050]    As previously described in another embodiment, the cap assembly  720  houses the power and control assemblies of the present system. In addition, the cap assembly  720  may also include a hanging mechanism  750 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the hanging mechanism  750  comprises a length of wire or cord having its two distal ends attached to a peripheral edge of the cap assembly  720 . Configured in this manner, the fixture may be hung using the hanging device  750  from items such as planter hooks, valences, or fence posts. Additionally, the light fixture may be placed directly on concrete or other surfaces not suitable for driving a stake into. The portability of this embodiment also has the advantage of being able to easily move the fixture to a sunny or well-lit location for charging the battery, and then moving the fixture to another location that may not have sufficient daytime lighting or sunshine. 
         [0051]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the light fixture system that shows the system  800  comprising a solar panel  810  used to provide electrical power to a number of light fixtures  820  by wires  830 . In this embodiment, the rechargeable batteries may be co-located with the solar panel  810  or located in each individual lighting fixture  820 . An advantage of the system  800 , is that the solar panel  810  may be placed in a location that is likely to receive direct sunlight while the individual light fixtures  820  may be placed in locations less likely to receive direct sunlight such as under a shrubbery, a tree, or other shade producing object. Additionally, the solar panel  810  may be much larger with respect to the size of the cap assembly  204  providing a larger surface to support solar panels much larger than the solar panel  106 . 
         [0052]    While the present invention has been disclosed according to its preferred and alternate embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand the other embodiments have been enabled by the foregoing description. Such other embodiments shall be included in the scope and meaning of the appended claims. 
         [0053]    More than one embodiment has been described. In one embodiment, a solar powered light having a 3D lens comprises a cap assembly having a solar panel operatively coupled to a rechargeable battery and a light source operatively coupled to the rechargeable battery, wherein the rechargeable battery receives its charging power from the solar panel and the light source receives its operational power from the rechargeable battery; and a lens having a bottom portion and a top portion, the lens surrounding the light source wherein the lens comprises lenticular sheet material and wherein the lens is configured to be coupled to the cap assembly. 
         [0054]    In another embodiment, a solar powered light having a 3D lens comprises a lens having a bottom portion and a top portion, the lens surrounding a light source, wherein the lens presents a 3D image, the lens is at least semi-translucent, and the lens is configured to be coupled to a cap assembly comprising a solar panel operatively coupled to the light source. 
         [0055]    It will now be evident to those skilled in the art that there has been described herein an improved solar powered light fixture. Although the invention hereof has been described by way of an embodiment, it will be evident that other adaptations and modifications can be employed without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The terms and expressions employed herein have been used as terms of description and not of limitation; and thus, there is no intent of excluding equivalents, but on the contrary it is intended to cover any and all equivalents that may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.