Abstract:
A theft deterrent outdoor lighting, comprising in combination a light housing for housing a light, a battery for storing electrical energy, an alarm and a motion detector electrically connecting the alarm to the battery to actuate the alarm when motion is detected, whereby theft of the theft deterrent outdoor lighting is deterred by the alarm.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of pending application Ser. No. 09/724,767, filed Nov. 28, 2000. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates to outdoor lighting, and in particular, to theft-deterrent outdoor lighting.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Background Art  
           [0005]    Outdoor lighting devices are well known. In the outdoor lighting and landscaping arts, it is customary to illuminate and delineate pathways, driveways, sidewalks, patios, plant beds, and lawns with outdoor lighting. Such lighting is typically used to provide illumination for practical as well as decorative purposes, including highlighting landscaping and various architectural features of various improvements. Presently, there exists a variety of outdoor lighting devices that use a variety of embodiments and power sources.  
           [0006]    Unfortunately, the ease of installation of outdoor lighting also renders the lighting susceptible to theft. Moreover, in regard to outdoor lighting that is solar powered, there is no wiring to cut or other deterrents to theft. Thus, the risk of theft is significantly increased.  
           [0007]    Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvement which overcomes the aforementioned inadequacies of the prior art outdoor lighting and provides an improvement which is a significant contribution to the advancement of the outdoor lightning art.  
           [0008]    Another object of this invention is to provide outdoor lighting that comprises a theft-deterrent design that reduces the risk of being stolen.  
           [0009]    Another object of this invention is to provide theft-deterrent outdoor lighting that includes a base that allows easy installation but difficult removal, thereby significantly deterring theft.  
           [0010]    Another object of this invention is to provide theft-deterrent outdoor lighting that includes a motion detector for detecting movement, and an alarm that is actuated once movement is detected to thereby draw attention to the lighting once stolen.  
           [0011]    Another object of this invention is to provide theft-deterrent outdoor lighting that includes a wiring harness that is severed if the lighting is improperly removed from the ground as in the case of a theft, such that the functionality of the lighting is destroyed if stolen.  
           [0012]    The foregoing has outlined some of the pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention are set forth in the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    For the purpose of summarizing this invention, this invention comprises outdoor lighting that has a theft-deterrent design. More particularly, in one embodiment of the theft deterrent outdoor lighting of the invention, the outdoor lighting includes a mechanical design that allows easy installation but difficult removal. In another embodiment, the theft deterrent outdoor lighting of the invention includes an electronic design that detects movement representative of theft and sounds an alarm to draw attention to the theft while in progress in anticipation of the thief would then simply drop the outdoor lighting and run off leaving the outdoor lighting behind. In a combined mechanical and electrical embodiment, the theft deterrent outdoor lighting of the invention includes a wiring harness that is destructively severed should the lighting be pulled from the ground, thereby rendering the lighting inoperable in the case of theft.  
           [0014]    The mechanical and the electrical embodiments of the outdoor lighting of the invention may be incorporated into many types and styles of outdoor lighting. Thus there presently exists many varieties of outdoor lighting in which the theft deterrent outdoor lighting of the invention may be incorporated into within the intended scope of this invention. Furthermore, the theft deterrent outdoor lighting of the invention is particularly useful and desirable for use in connection with implementations that are most susceptible to theft. One example includes low-powered landscape outdoor lighting that is customarily only staked into the ground around the landscaping to be illuminated. Such landscaping outdoor lighting is particularly susceptible of theft because it can be simply pulled from the ground, the external supply wires cut without the fear of electrical shock, and then stolen. Moreover, solar-powered outdoor lighting is even more susceptible of being stolen as there are no external supply wires that require cutting. An example of solar-powered outdoor lighting is that described in our patent application entitled “Solar Powered Light Assembly” filed Nov. 28, 2000, Ser. No. 09/724,952, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.  
           [0015]    The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood so that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a prior art outdoor lighting design in the form of a landscaping outdoor lighting having a stake for insertion into the ground around the area of the landscaping to be illuminated;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the landscaping outdoor lighting of FIG. 1 modified to include the mechanical embodiment of the theft deterrent outdoor lighting of this invention that includes a one-way auger that can be screwed into the ground but not easily removed without the use of a special tool;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the outdoor lighting of FIG. 2 with a modified auger;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the one-way clutch mechanism that interconnects the outdoor lighting to the auger to allow easy augering into the ground in one direction and “free-wheeling” in the opposite direction to prevent easy removal from the ground once installed;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the snap-on mechanism that interconnects the outdoor lighting to the auger to allow easy augering into the ground through the use of a tool and subsequent “free-wheeling” once augered into the ground once installed to prevent easy removal thereof without the use of the tool;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is a partial side view of another one-way auger mechanism that allows easy augering into the ground in one direction and “free-wheeling” in the opposite direction to prevent easy removal thereof once installed;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the Solar Powered Lighting Fixture of our aforementioned patent application filed concurrently herewith, modified to include an electronic embodiment of the theft deterrent outdoor lighting of this invention that employs a motion detector;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of another electronic embodiment of the theft deterrent outdoor lighting of this invention that further includes a transmitter for transmitting the alarm signal to an indoor receiver alarm;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of the outdoor lightning assembly of the invention that includes the severable wiring harness that is destructively severed if the event the lighting is stolen by pulling it from the ground;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a ground anchor that comprises a mushroom configuration once installed in the ground;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 11 is a top plan view of FIG. 10 showing the manner in which the elongated support prevents access to the heads of the radially-driven spikes to prevent their removal; and  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 12 is a top plan view showing a modified version of the embodiment of FIG. 11 in which the elongated support may be permanently affixed to the ground anchor with the spikes being positioned non-radially to allow their installation in the ground;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of a ground anchor similar to that shown in FIG. 10 but with a fluted center spike that is driven into the ground prior to installation of the radial spikes being installed in the ground;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 14 is a top plan view of FIG. 13 showing the manner in which the elongated support prevents access to the heads of the radially-driven spikes to prevent their removal after installation of the elongated support; and  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 15 is a top plan view of a modified version of the embodiment of FIG. 13 in which the elongated support may be permanently affixed to the ground anchor with the spikes being positioned non-radially to allow their installation in the ground. 
     
    
       [0032]    Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0033]    As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional outdoor lighting design for illuminating outdoor landscaping typically comprises a light housing  10  containing a light source connected to the end of an elongated support  12 . A spike-shaped stake  14  is connected to the other end of the elongated support  12  allowing the outdoor lighting  10  to be staked into the ground around the landscaping that is desired to be illuminated. Prior art outdoor lighting  10  may be powered by conventional AC or DC electrical current that is typically low-powered to reduce the hazards of inadvertent electrical shock. Other prior art outdoor lighting may be solar-powered.  
         [0034]    As shown in FIG. 2, the mechanical theft deterrent outdoor lighting  20  of the invention comprises a similar light housing  10  connected to the end of the elongated support  12 . However, in lieu of the prior art stake  14  being connected to the other end of the elongated support  12 , the theft deterrent outdoor lighting  20  of the invention employs an auger  16  that is connected to the other end of the elongated support  12  by means of a one-way clutch mechanism  18 .  
         [0035]    The one-way clutch mechanism  18  may comprise any design that engages or locks the auger  16  with the elongated support  12  when turned in the same direction of the thread of the auger  16  but free-wheels in the reverse direction. For example, in the case of an auger  16  having a right-handed thread, the one-way clutch  18  locks the elongated support  12  to the auger  16  when turned in a clockwise direction to allow the auger  16  to be screwed or augered into the ground but, when turned in a counter-clockwise direction, the one-way clutch  18  disengages the elongated support  12  from the auger  16  and allows it to free-wheel. The auger  16  therefore cannot simply be unscrewed from the ground in the counter-clockwise direction. Rather, in order to remove the theft deterrent outdoor lighting  20  from the ground, it must be firmly grasped and forcibly pulled with enough force to dislodge the auger  16  and the ground surrounding its threads. As the amount of force is substantial, removal is not easy and theft of the theft deterrent outdoor lighting  20  of the invention is therefore significantly deterred.  
         [0036]    It is noted that the auger  16  depicted in FIG. 2 comprises a rigid wire that is bent in the shape of a corkscrew to form the thread for threading into the ground. However, as shown in FIG. 3, the auger  16  may comprise a solid thread design. With this solid thread design, the auger  16  has added strength and, when augered into the ground, results in increased difficulty in being removed from the ground (over the wire corkscrew design of FIG. 2) due to its solid thread design.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a one-way clutch  18  that may be employed in the theft deterrent outdoor lighting  20  of this invention. More particularly, in the is preferred embodiment, the end of the elongated support  12  includes an internal thread  22 . A base, generally indicated by numeral  24 , comprises an inverted cup-shaped design with an external thread  26  for threaded engagement with the internal thread  22  of the end of the elongated support  12 . The proximal end  28  of the auger  16  is fitted through a hole  30  in the bottom wall of the cup-shaped base  24  and is dimensioned to allow slight vertical movement and rotation therein. The proximal end  28  interconnects the cup-shaped base  24  with the auger  16  by means of dogs  30  extending from the top wall of the cup-shaped base  24  that engage and lock into corresponding ramped slots  32  formed in the mating surface of the proximal end  28  of the auger  16  when pushed downwardly turned in one direction and that release from the slots  32  when turned in the opposite direction. A tool  34  may be provided to ease installation.  
         [0038]    It is noted that the theft deterrent outdoor lighting  20  of the invention cannot be easily removed from the ground due to the free-wheeling of the one-way clutch  18 , and therefore deters theft. However, during re-landscaping, it also deters repositioning of the outdoor lighting  20  to another desired location around the landscaping to be illuminated. In order to bypass the operation of the one-way clutch  18 , the theft deterrent outdoor lighting  20  of the invention may be sold with a tool  36 , as shown in FIG. 4, that is designed to engage directly into the auger  16 . With the use of such tool  36 , the auger  16  can be turned in the direction opposite to its thread, thereby allowing easy removal of the theft deterrent outdoor lighting  20  from the ground.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a snap-on mechanism  50  that allows the auger  16  to be augured into the ground through the use of a tool (not shown) and precludes removal by an elongated support  12  that is then connected to prevent the auger  16  from being unthreaded from the ground. More particularly, in this embodiment, the snap-on mechanism  50  comprises a base  52  having a bottom wall to which is inserted the proximal end  28  of the auger  16 . The proximal end  28  is then clamped into position to prevent any longitudinal or rotational movement thereof between the base  52  and the auger  16 . Base  52  comprises a substantially cylindrical design having an upstanding wall through which is formed a transverse hole  56 . As should be appreciated, by inserting a tool through the transverse hole  56 , the auger  16  may be augured into the ground by simple rotation of the tool. In order to conceal the transverse hole  56  and otherwise prevent access thereto for unthreading the auger  16  from the ground, the elongated support  12  comprises a lower end which fits over the upper wall of the base  12 , thereby concealing the transverse hole  56  and preventing access thereto. In order to prevent removal of the elongated support  12  from the base  52 , the base  52  may comprise a plurality of tabs  54  that are biased outwardly from its upper side wall. The edge end  58  of the elongated support comprises a generally turned-in configuration that serves to push the tabs  54  inwardly and snap over them during installation of the elongated support  12  onto the base  52 . It is noted that once the inturned end  58  of the elongated support snaps over the tabs  54 , tabs  54  engage against and therefore lock against the inturned ends  58 , thereby preventing the elongated support  12  from being removed from the base  52 . Furthermore, it is noted that the elongated support  12  may freely rotate relative to the base  52  thereby preventing the unthreading of the auger  16  from the ground. Finally, it is noted that the elongated support  12  may comprise an annular indentation  60  of close tolerances to the upper wall of the base  52  to provide a tight fit.  
         [0040]    As shown in FIG. 6, another embodiment of another one-way auger mechanism  62  is provided which allows the outdoor lighting  20  to be augured into the ground but not removed. More particularly, the auger  16  comprises a generally cylindrical design having its lowermost end configured in a point configuration  70  with an enlarged diameter allowing it to easily penetrate the ground. An auger collar  64  of a generally cylindrical design is fitted over the auger  16  and is allowed to freely rotate thereabout. A stop pin  68  is positioned transversely through the auger  16  at a distance from the point  70  that is appreciably greater than the length of the auger collar  64 . Thus, the auger collar  64  is allowed to rotate around the auger  16  and move slightly up and down between the stop pin  68  in the enlarged diameter of the point  70 .  
         [0041]    The auger collar  64  includes one or more auger blades  64  that are configured (e.g., right-handed) to auger into the ground upon rotation. The upper end  72  of the auger collar  64  comprises a pair of diametrically-opposing sloped slots  74 . The sloped notches  74  are sloped in a direction to engage the stop pin  68  when the auger collar  64  is forced upwardly and rotated in the direction of its thread a “lock” position and to release when rotated in a direction counter to the direction of its thread. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the auger thread  66  comprises a right-handed thread. When the point  20  of the auger  16  is initially forced into the ground, the auger collar  64  moves upwardly and upon clockwise rotation of the auger  16 , the diametrically protruding ends of the stop pin  68  engages within the respective sloped slots  74 . The auger  16  is thus locked to the auger collar  64 . This allows further clockwise rotation of the auger  16  to auger the blades  66  into the ground.  
         [0042]    If the auger  16  is counter rotated in a reverse direction, the protruding ends of the stop pins  68  would simply run out of the slots  74 , thereby allowing the auger  16  to freewheel in such reverse direction. Removal of the auger  16  from the ground would therefore be precluded.  
         [0043]    As shown in FIG. 7, one electronic embodiment of the theft deterrent outdoor lighting  20  of the invention may comprise a motion sensor  80  that controls the flow of electrical energy from a battery  82  to an audible alarm  84 . The motion sensor  80  may comprise a normally-open mercury switch having its contacts connected in series with the terminals of the alarm  84  and the battery  82 . Upon tilting movement of the mercury switch, indicative of the theft deterrent outdoor lighting being stolen by being removed from the ground, its contacts close to supply electrical energy from the battery  82  to flow to the alarm  84  and causing it to sound. Upon sounding of the alarm  84 , the public&#39;s attention is drawn to the theft deterrent outdoor lighting  20 . Thus, instead of absconding with the theft deterrent outdoor lighting  20 , the would-be thief would tend to drop it and run away. It is noted that the alarm  84  may be of the type that produces sound of varying frequencies to further increase the attention that is drawn to it when the alarm sounds.  
         [0044]    For added attention-grabbing, the theft deterrent outdoor lighting of the invention may further include a strobe light  86  electrically connected to the motion detector  80 . Upon detecting motion, electrical energy is supplied to the strobe light  86  causing it to strobe. As shown in FIG. 5, the strobe light may be positioned within the light housing  88  above the internal reflector  90  to increase the illumination during strobing.  
         [0045]    As noted above, the theft deterrent outdoor lighting  20  of this invention may be incorporated into our “Solar Powered Light Assembly” invention described in our patent application filed concurrently herewith. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the electrical embodiment of the theft deterrent outdoor lighting  20  of this invention incorporated into our solar-powered light assembly in which a solar photovoltaic array  92  supplies electrical energy to charge one or more batteries  94  during daylight such that, at night, the stored electrical energy in the batteries power one or more low-powered lights  96  such as light-emitting diodes. In this embodiment, the electrical energy provided by the photovoltaic array  92  may be supplied to the batteries to maintain their charge. As only a trickle charge is necessary to maintain the charge on the battery  94 , the amount of electrical energy consumed would not starve the solar-powered light assembly  20  of electrical energy to day-time charge its batteries. However, a light sensing switch  98  may be provided in series with the low-powered lights  96  to prevent them from daytime depleting the charge of the batteries needed for powering the alarm  84 .  
         [0046]    As shown in FIG. 8, another embodiment of the electronic theft deterrent outdoor lighting  20  of this invention may comprise a transmitter  100  that sends an alarm signal to an indoor receiver alarm  102  so as to alert the homeowner of a theft in progress. In this embodiment, the transmitter  100  is serially connected to the contacts of the motion detector  80  and batteries  94  such that upon detecting motion, the contacts of the motion detector  80  close to supply electrical energy from the batteries  94  to the transmitter  100  whereupon the alarm signal is transmitted and received by the indoor receiver alarm  102  to sound its alarm.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the theft-deterrent outdoor lighting  20  of the invention. More particularly, in this embodiment, the base  104  of the auger comprises a generally non-cylindrical design that is dimensioned to slidably receive the lower end of the elongated support  12  and prevent relative rotation therebetween. A transverse pin  106  extends through opposing holes  110  in the side walls of the base  104 . The wiring harness, generally represented by numeral  106 , is threaded down and around the pin  106  and then back up to the associated electronics  108 . Base  104  is coupled to a one-way clutch  18  that is in turn coupled to the auger  16  for allowing auguring the lighting  20  into the ground. In the event that the lighting assembly  20  is grasped and attempted to be jerked or otherwise pulled from the ground, the wiring harness  106  that is entrained around the pin  106  is pulled out, thereby severing all of the leads. The lighting assembly  20  is thus destroyed. That the lighting assembly  20  is destroyed in the event of theft, should be a sufficient deterrent to theft.  
         [0048]    It is noted that in many of the above-described embodiments, a ground anchor having a mushroom configuration may be employed in lieu of the auger  16 . One exemplary type of ground anchor  110  is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The anchor  110  comprises a base  112  having a plurality of radial outwardly angled apertures  114  that are dimensioned to receive elongated spikes  116  therethrough. During use, the base  112  is positioned on the ground in the desired location of the lighting  20 . Spikes  116  are driven through their respective apertures  114  radially into the ground. Once all of the spikes  116  are in position, a mushroom configuration is created, thereby rendering the base  112  difficult to remove. As shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11, the elongated support  12  is then snap-fitted over a corresponding boss  118  by means of a snap-fit, pin or other connection to prevent access to the heads of the spikes  116  that would otherwise allow them to be removed. As the spikes  116  cannot be removed, the lighting  20  is difficult to remove from the ground.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 12 shows an alternative embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11 in which the apertures  114  and spikes  116  extend non-radially from the base  112  to allow installation of the spikes  116  into the ground even when the elongated support  12  is previously affixed to the base  112 .  
         [0050]    [0050]FIGS. 13 and 14 show still another embodiment of the ground anchor similar to that shown in FIGS.  10 - 12 . Specifically, in the embodiment of the ground anchor as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the base  112  comprises a generally rectangular configuration. A center spike  116 C, preferably fluted, is integrally formed to the center of the underside of the base  112 . Opposing sides of the base  112  are provided with radially-outwardly angled apertures  114  that are dimensioned to receive the elongated spikes  116  therethrough. During use, the base  112  is positioned on the ground at the desired location and forced downwardly to drive the center spike  116 C into the ground. It is noted that the flutes of the spike  116 C serve to minimize twisting of the base  112  in the ground as would otherwise occur if the spike  116 C was not fluted. However, as in the case of the ground anchor shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, in this embodiment, the elongated spikes  116  are driven through their respective apertures  114  radially into the ground. The radially-driven spikes  116  serve to prevent twisting of the base  112  in the ground and, more importantly, being driven angularly into the ground, the spikes  116  prevent removal of the base  112  from the ground unless the spikes  116  are first removed. As in the case of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, once the spikes  116  are driven into position in the ground, the elongated support  12  is then fitted over the boss  118  by means of a snap-fit pin or other connection to prevent access to the heads of the spike that would otherwise allow them to be removed. Inasmuch as the spikes cannot be removed because their heads are blocked by the installed elongated support  12 , theft-deterrence is achieved.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 15 is an embodiment similar to that shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, but with the elongated spikes  116  extending non-radially, similar to the configuration shown in FIG. 12. Specifically, in this embodiment, the apertures  114  are positioned non-radially so that the elongated spikes  116  are driven through the base  112  in a non-radial direction. It is noted that this embodiment is not as theft-deterrent as that shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 due to the fact that the access to the head of the spike  116  is not obscured or otherwise blocked by the elongated support  12 .  
         [0052]    The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0053]    Now that the invention has been described,