Abstract:
A solar-powered attachable light is adapted for use as a holiday decoration and includes a lamp pivotably mounted to an enclosure. A solar cell charges an internal rechargeable battery during daytime hours and the rechargeable battery powers the lamp during nighttime hours. A rear of the enclosure includes a clip assembly for removable attachment of the device to various outdoor structures. The device eliminates the presence of wires and the requirement of connection to a fixed power source in a manner particularly beneficial when simultaneously arranging decorative outdoor lighting in a variety of locations.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to decorative lights, and in particular, to a solar-powered and rechargeable light having a position adjustable lamp that is attachable to variety of support structures. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Festive lighting products are known. While these lighting products are effective, they still require connection of an electrical source and positioning upon elevated surfaces each of which tend pose as safety concerns. Existing lighting products require proper positioning and arranging of each light to illuminate a desired area which can be time consuming Additionally, the existing lighting products are troublesome to safely secure to a structure. 
         [0003]    Various attempts have been made to provide solar-powered attachable lights. Examples of these attempts can be seen by reference to several U.S. patents. U.S. Pat. No. 8,002,427, issued in the name of Lavigne, describes a solar rechargeable decorative light. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,055,984, issued in the name of Hung et al., describes a solar rechargeable light for illuminating a ground or wall section. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,674,002, issued in the name of Wang, describes a portable solar-powered light source. 
         [0006]    While these attempts may fulfill their respective, particular objectives, each of these references suffer from one (1) or more disadvantages. Many are not suited to provide omni-directional positioning of the light. Others are limited and provide only a single attachment feature. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The inventor has recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and lack in the art and observed that there is a need for an attachable illumination device that provides the fun and enjoyment of holiday light decorations without the drawbacks associated with electrical power connections. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present embodiments of the invention to solve at least one (1) of these problems. The inventor has addressed this need by developing a solar powered attachable light that provides a cost effective and safe way to operate holiday lighting displays without the cost and aggravation associated with conventional light strings. The inventor has thus realized the advantages and benefits of providing an omni-directional lamp that is rechargeable by a solar cell having the ability to be attached to various support features in a multiple of ways. 
         [0009]    To achieve the above objectives, it is a feature of the present invention to provide an individual solar powered attachable light that is powered by a solar cell attached to an exterior of a housing enclosure. The solar panels charge a battery which energizes the light. 
         [0010]    Another feature of the present invention is to provide an attachment feature having a spring actuated clip assembly attached to a side surface of the enclosure. 
         [0011]    Yet still another feature of the present invention is to provide another attachment feature having a ring located on a bottom surface of the enclosure. 
         [0012]    Yet still another feature of the present invention is to have a controller to provide a microprocessor-based module to enable the solar cell to automatically charge the battery. 
         [0013]    Yet still another feature of the present invention is to attach a lamp to an omni-directional positioning holder which is manipulated via a ball-and-socket joint. 
         [0014]    Yet still another feature of the present invention is to provide a method of utilizing the device that provides a unique means of utilizing the clip assembly or ring to suspend the device, allowing the solar cell to charge the battery, and, benefiting from decorative illumination of the lights during periods of low lit conditions. 
         [0015]    Furthermore, the described features and advantages of the disclosure may be combined in various manners and embodiments as one skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The disclosure can be practiced without one (1) or more of the features and advantages described in a particular embodiment. 
         [0016]    Further advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a solar-powered attachable light in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a section view of the solar-powered attachable light taken along section line A-A of  FIG. 1 ; and, 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is an electrical block diagram depicting the major electrical components of the solar-powered attachable light. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
               10  solar-powered attachable light 
               20  enclosure 
               22  controller 
               30  solar cell 
               40  battery holder 
               42  battery 
               44  battery contact 
               46  ring feature 
               50  light sensor 
               60  clip assembly 
               62  movable jaw 
               63  stationary jaw 
               64  axle hinge 
               66  handle actuator 
               68  spring 
               80  lamp holder 
               82  lamp 
               83  illumination 
               84  ball joint 
               85  socket 
               100  object 
               105  wiring 
           
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0043]    In accordance with the invention, the best mode is presented in terms of a preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 3 . However, the disclosure is not limited to a single described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the disclosure and that any such work around will also fall under its scope. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure, and only one particular configuration may be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
         [0044]    The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
         [0045]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , depicting a solar-powered attachable light (herein described as a “device”)  10 , where like reference numerals represent similar or like parts. In accordance with the invention, the present disclosure describes the device  10  providing an individual solar-charged, battery powered illuminating lamp  82  used for holiday decorating or the like. 
         [0046]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of the device  10  including a pivoting lamp  82  mounted on top of a small plastic enclosure  20 . At least one (1) exterior face of the enclosure  20  is provided with a small solar cell  30  being approximately one-half (½) inch in width and one (1) inch in length. Another side surface of the enclosure  20  is provided with a spring-loaded clip assembly  60  for attaching the device  10  to various objects  100  during use. It is envisioned that a plurality of devices  10  would be purchased and applied to trees, bushes, gutters, railings, house outlines, or anywhere conventional holiday lights are typically applied. The device  10  provides additional versatility by eliminating the presence of wires as well as providing automatic on and off functionality. The lamp  82  is a light emitting diode (LED) or equivalent illumination source and is to be introduced in a variety of illuminating colors. 
         [0047]    The device  10  can be introduced in various packaged quantities such as twelve (12), twenty-five (25), fifty (50), and so forth. 
         [0048]      FIG. 2  shows a section view of the device  10  taken along section line A-A of  FIG. 1 . The enclosure  20  provides a weather-proof housing for the internal electronic and electrical components necessary to the operation of the device  10 . Housed within the enclosure  20  are an electronic controller  22  which is in electrical communication with the solar cell  30 , a rechargeable battery  42 , a light sensor  50 , and the lamp  82 , as well as internal wiring  105  to electrically connect all components. 
         [0049]    The controller  22  is microprocessor-based computing module having electronic components and embedded software which work in conjunction with the externally disposed and integral light sensor  50 . The solar cell  30  automatically charges the small internal rechargeable battery  42  during daytime hours. The rechargeable battery  42  automatically powers the lamp  82  during nighttime hours when electrically actuated by the light sensor  50 . 
         [0050]    The lamp  82  is permanently inserted and affixed within a lamp holder  80  with adhesives, potting materials, or the like. The lamp holder  80  is pivotably connected to the enclosure  20  and provides omni-directional movement and positioning of the lamp  82  relative to the enclosure  20 . The pivot connection between the lamp holder  80  and the enclosure  20  is a mechanical ball joint  84  and socket  85  connection. The ball joint  84  also includes an access pathway to internally route the wiring  105  from the lamp  82  to the controller  22  along a center longitudinal axis. 
         [0051]    A battery holder  40  is also provided including a circular, molded plastic part which snaps upwardly into an open bottom end of the enclosure  20 . The battery holder  40  has a female feature along a top surface to nest the small rechargeable battery  42  which in turn provides incidental electrical contact with a pair of superjacent battery contacts  44  disposed within an interior of the enclosure once inserted into the enclosure  20 . The battery contacts  44  are a pair of brass or copper strap-like conductors in electrical communication with the controller  22 . The battery holder  40  also includes a molded-in circular ring feature  46  which protrudes downwardly along a bottom surface for attachment of the device  10  to various insertable objects  100 , such as tree branches, cord, or the like. 
         [0052]    The clip assembly  60  is located along a side surface of the enclosure  20 , preferably at an opposite side as the solar cell  50 . The clip assembly  60  includes a movable jaw  62 , a stationary jaw  63 , an axle hinge  64 , a handle actuator  66 , and a spring  68 . The movable jaw  62  and the actuator handle  66  jointly form a downwardly extending “S”-shaped member pivotably attached to the enclosure  20  at an intermediate location by the axle hinge  64 . A torsion spring  68  is wrapped around the axle hinge  64  and includes an end in mechanical contact with and acts upon the actuator handle  66  and an opposing end in contact with the enclosure  20 . The force of the spring  68  biases the jaw  62  of the clip assembly  60  in a closed position. Upon receiving a force applied to the actuator handle  66 , the movable jaw  62  separates from a stationary jaw  63  disposed on the body of the enclosure  20 . Once the jaws  62 ,  63  are in an open position, any support object  100  can be inserted which is in turn clamped between the jaws  62 ,  63  upon by release of the actuator handle  66 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 3  shows an electrical block diagram of the device  10  depicting the major electrical components. The device  10  receives power from the rechargeable battery  42 . The rechargeable battery  42  is in electrical communication with and provides power to the controller  22 , the light sensor  50 , and the lamp  82 . The controller  22  provides board-level electronics to manage power received from the photovoltaic solar cell  30  during daylight hours and controls the charging of the battery  42 . A current from the battery  42  is utilized to power the lamp  82  during periods of low light in an automatic alternating day-to-night fashion. Light and dark hours are sensed and communicated to the controller  22  via the light sensor  50 . The light sensor  50  is a photosensitive diode device. 
         [0054]    It can be appreciated by one skilled in the art that other styles and configurations of the invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure and only one particular configuration has been shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
         [0055]    In accordance with the invention, the preferred embodiment can be utilized by the user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training After initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it is installed and utilized as indicated in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . 
         [0056]    The method of installing and utilizing the device  10  can be achieved by performing a series of steps. It can be appreciated that the steps described can be performed in alternative order and as such should not be viewed as a limiting factor. Procuring a packaged plurality of devices  10  having lamps  82  of a desired color or colors. Utilizing the clip assembly  60  to fasten and arrange each device  10  upon a tree, bush, gutter, railing, house outline, or anywhere conventional holiday lights are typically applied. Allowing the devices  10  to charge the battery  42  during daylight hours. Benefiting from decorative illumination  83  of the lamps  82  during periods of low light in an automatic alternating day/night cycle. 
         [0057]    The devices  10  can also be affixed to additional types of appendages such as tree branches or strung along cords, by inserting the tree branches or routing the cord through the ring feature  46  in lieu of or in combination with the clip assembly  60 . 
         [0058]    The lamps  82  of each device  10  can also be oriented to project illumination  83  to a desired configuration by orienting each lamp  82  relative to the enclosure  20  via the ball joint  84  and socket  85  feature. 
         [0059]    The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Various modifications and variations can be appreciated by one skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. The embodiments have been chosen and described in order to best explain the principles and practical application in accordance with the invention to enable those skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments with expected modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the invention.