Abstract:
A hanging basket lighting system is disclosed. The system may include a light source and a clip device attachable to the light source providing a manner to hang the light source over a basket so as to shine unobstructed light on the contents of the basket. Additionally, the light source may be solar powered providing an energy conserving mechanism for illuminating the contents of hanging baskets at night.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to lighting systems, and more particularly, to a solar light with a centering hook. 
         [0002]    Some homeowners enjoy enhancing the look of their home by using hanging baskets to hold and display items such as plants outdoors. Some items may look particularly impressive and may enhance the appearance of a home when they are highlighted during the evening hours with a spot light. 
         [0003]    Some current systems use wall mounted lamps directed to shine on one or more baskets. While providing a flood effect around the basket, the basket itself may partially obstruct the light source causing undesirable shadowing. Other systems may use a conventional copper hardwired incandescent bulb hung chandelier style above the basket. The wiring may be snaked through hanging support cables causing the bulb to hang at uneven angles which may also promote undesirable shadowing. Hardwired systems may also increase power usage costs for the homeowner. 
         [0004]    As can be seen, there is a need for an improved lighting system on hanging baskets that also promotes energy conservation. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one aspect of the present invention, a basket lighting system for a hanging basket including a plurality of support hangers extending from an apex downward to the basket comprises a light bulb including an end cap, the end cap including a through hole; a retainer ring attached to the end cap; and a loop including a perimeter and an opening in the perimeter, the loop adapted to slip around the plurality of support hangers, the loop further including a hook extending from the perimeter connected to the retainer ring and adapted to carry the light bulb centered under the apex. 
         [0006]    In another aspect of the present invention, a lighting system includes a solar powered light source; and a circular clip attached to an end of the light source adapted to hold the light source centered within the clip. 
         [0007]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a lighting system in use according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the lighting system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a partial top perspective view of the lighting system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a partial top perspective view of the lighting system of  FIG. 1  attached to chain-linked cables; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a partial top perspective view of the lighting system of  FIG. 1  attached to plastic cables; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of a light emitting diode used in an exemplary embodiment of the lighting system of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
         [0015]    Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide an apparatus providing a directed and unobstructed illumination of objects in a hanging basket. In one aspect, a light source may be attached to shine downward from support cables. In another aspect, an attachment device is adapted to centralize the light source over contents of the basket, providing a uniform illumination while drawing power from ambient light. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , a lighting system  10  is shown according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The lighting system  10  includes a light source  26  and a clip  30 . The lighting system  10  may be, for example, used on hanging baskets  22  that include a plurality of support hangers  12 ; 14 ; 16  attached at an apex  19  of a basket hook  18 . The hanging basket  22  may hold a variety of contents  20  that may include, for example, plants.  FIGS. 3-5  are similar to one another except that the support hangers  12 ; 14 ; 16  are made from different materials, illustrating the versatility of an aspect of the invention. Support hangers  12  may be wire cables. Support hangers  14  may be chain links. Support hangers  16  may be plastic strands. It will be understood that in the remainder of the disclosure, any reference to a support hanger  12  may also be understood as referring to support hangers  14  or  16 . 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3  and  6 , the light source  26  may be a light bulb. The light bulb may include an upper housing section  43  and a lower housing section  45 . 
         [0018]    The lower housing section  43  may include an illuminating device  50 , for example, a light emitting diode ( FIG. 6 ) disposed to shine downward toward the contents  20  when attached to the support hangers  12 . The illuminating device  50  may be obstructed from view by a band  40 . The lower housing section  45  may also include optical features  47  configured to distort light. For example, the optical features  47  may include a crushed glass pattern. 
         [0019]    In one aspect, the light source  26  may be solar powered and include a solar cell  24  powering illumination. The upper housing section  43  may be transparent or translucent. The solar cell  24  may be disposed to face upward in the bulb, capturing light from above the light source  26  through the housing section  43 . The upper housing section  43  may include a stem end  23  covered by an end cap  25 . A retainer ring  28  may be attached to the end cap  25  via a through hole  27 . 
         [0020]    In one aspect, the clip  30  may be attached to the stem end  23  in such a manner as to center the light source  26  within the clip  30 . For example, the clip  30  may be a wire body configured into a circular loop  31 . The loop  31  may partially overlap at a junction  35 . A clip hook  33  may be configured by bending a portion of the wire body to extend inward toward the center from the loop perimeter. The clip hook  33  may include a nadir  29  that is disposed approximately centered within the loop  31 . 
         [0021]    In one exemplary embodiment, the clip  30  may be slipped over each one of the support cables  12  and mounted so that the loop  31  is disposed planar to the apex  19 . The light source  26  may be attached to the clip  30  via the retainer ring  28  so that when hung, the retainer ring  28  rests on the nadir  29  so that the light source  26  hangs centered within the opening of the loop  31  under the apex  19 . The solar cell  24  may be exposed to overhead natural light during the day while the light source is also in position to shine down on an area under the basket hook  18 . Thus, unobstructed light may shine down onto the contents  20  of the hanging basket  22  during the evening providing a dramatic effect on the illuminated contents  20 . 
         [0022]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. For example, other exemplary embodiments may forgo the use of an end cap and provide a retainer ring integrated as part of the upper housing section  43 . Nonetheless, the clip  30  may provide a device adapted to dispose the light source  26  to shine unobstructed down onto a hanging basket.