Patent Publication Number: US-2006011194-A1

Title: Solar energy collection device and associated methods

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to solar energy collection devices and, more particularly, to such devices that are ornamental.  
      2. Description of Related Art  
      Solar panels are known for converting solar energy into dc electricity. Such panels are known to be placed on, for example, roof structures, and are typically not particularly attractive.  
      Artistic uses have been made of solar panels in landscaping applications, such as the “Solarscaping®” products of Amelia Amon (Alt.Technica, New York, N.Y.), including a fountain incorporating solar panels. G. Curci has also created sculptures that are solar-powered and kinetic. In his “Solar Flower Blossom” sculptures, the flower portion opens and closes under solar power.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide a decorative device for collecting solar energy for conversion into electricity.  
      It is a further object to provide such a decorative device that is environmentally mimetic.  
      It is another object to provide such a decorative device that is environmentally adaptive.  
      It is an additional object to provide such a decorative device that is phototactic.  
      It is yet a further object to provide such a decorative device that is environmentally coherent.  
      It is yet another object to provide a method of constructing such a decorative device.  
      It is yet an additional object to provide a method of collecting solar energy.  
      These and other objects are achieved by the present invention, a decorative solar energy collection device. The device comprises a base and a plurality of tubular elements affixed at a bottom end to the base. The tubular elements extend closely adjacent each other along a middle section to form a trunk-like appearance, and then diverge at a top section, so that each tubular element forms a branch-like appearance.  
      A plurality of solar panels are provided, with one solar panel affixable adjacent a top end of a tubular element. Each solar panel comprises means for collecting solar energy and for converting solar energy into electricity. The solar panel further comprises a connector and circuitry for transmitting electricity from the collecting and converting means to the connector. The number of solar panels comprises no more than the number of tubular elements.  
      The device further comprises a plurality of cables. One cable extends through a lumen of each tubular element in connecting relation between a solar panel connector at the cable&#39;s top end and the base at the cable&#39;s bottom end.  
      The features that characterize the invention, both as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description used in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. It is to be expressly understood that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. These and other objects attained, and advantages offered, by the present invention will become more fully apparent as the description that now follows is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a side front perspective view of a first embodiment of the solar energy collection device.  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a nonrotating embodiment of a base.  
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a rotating embodiment of a base.  
       FIG. 4  is a top/side front perspective view of a second embodiment of the solar energy collection device.  
       FIG. 5  is a side rear perspective view of the first embodiment.  
       FIG. 6  is a top/side perspective view of the second embodiment illustrating the solar panel levels.  
       FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the solar panels of  FIG. 6 .  
       FIG. 8  is a side view of the solar panel levels.  
       FIG. 9  is a rear view of a solar panel with a solar sensor thereon.  
       FIG. 10  is a side view of a tracking rotor.  
       FIG. 11  is a top-side, partially cutaway view of a third embodiment of a base.  
       FIG. 12  is a top-side view of the assembled base of  FIG. 11 .  
       FIG. 13  is a side perspective view of a first embodiment of the solar energy collection device, with added foliage. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      A description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be presented with reference to  FIGS. 1-13 .  
      The solar energy collection device  10  of the present invention is designed to resemble a tree. The device  10  comprises a base, which in a first embodiment ( FIG. 2 ) includes a placement base  11  having bolt or screw holes  12  for permitting the placement base  11  to be affixed to a surface  90 . Alternatively, the placement base  11  may simply rest on a surface  90 . Above the placement base  11  is affixed a trunk platform  13  having a plurality of holes  14  through a top end  15  thereof and a cable opening  16  through a side wall  17  thereof. Alternatively, this base embodiment could comprise a unitary element comprising the placement base and trunk platform.  
      A second embodiment of the base ( FIGS. 1 and 3 ) comprises a placement base  21  having bolt or screw holes  22  for permitting the placement base  21  to be affixed to a surface  90 . Alternatively, as above, the placement base  21  may simply rest on a surface  90 .  
      Atop the placement base  21  is rotatably affixed a rotating base  23  that has an interior space  24 . The rotating base  23  has a plurality of openings  25  at a top end  26  extending into the interior space  24  and a cable opening  27  that extends from the interior space  24  to the exterior for passing a power cable  28  therethrough. Preferably the rotating base  23  is adapted to rotate through approximately 180°.  
      A plurality of tubular elements  30  extend from the base at their bottom ends  31 . The tubular elements  30  extend closely adjacent each other along a middle section  32  to form a trunk-like appearance. The tubular elements  30  diverge at a top section  33  to form a branch-like appearance. In a particular embodiment, the tubular elements  30  flare outward along a bottom section  34  to form a root-like appearance.  
      In one embodiment ( FIG. 1 ), the tubular elements  30  extend in substantially vertical fashion along the middle section  32 . In another embodiment  10 ′ ( FIG. 4 ), the tubular elements  30 ′ are twisted about one another along the middle section  32 ′.  
      A plurality of solar panels  40  are provided ( FIGS. 1 and 5 ), in a particular embodiment KC-series solar panels of Kyocera (Japan). Each solar panel  40  comprises at least one solar cell  41  housed in a frame  42 . The solar cell  41  is adapted to collect solar energy and convert the collected solar energy into electricity. Each solar panel  40  further comprises a connector  43  and circuitry  44  for transmitting electricity from the solar cell  41  to the connector  43 . Each solar panel  40  is affixable adjacent a tubular element&#39;s top end  35 , at most preferably one solar panel  40  per tubular element  30 . Thus there are at least as many tubular elements  30  as there are solar panels  40 .  
      Preferably the solar panels  40  are arrayed for optimizing solar energy collection. For example, preferably the solar panels  40  are arrayed in substantially nonoverlapping fashion when viewed along an incoming solar ray vector, such as when viewed from a position approximately above the device  10 . As an example, the device  10  of  FIG. 6  is shown in top projection in  FIG. 7 , wherein the solar panel levels  1 - 5  are shown as extending increasingly farther out from the “trunk” as one proceeds upward. Thus a first set of solar panels  40  in a preferred embodiment extend farther outward from the tubular element middle section  32  than a second set of solar panels  40  positioned farther from the base than the first set of solar panels  40 . In particular, the solar panels  40  are arrayed to form a substantially dome-shaped aspect when viewed from the side ( FIG. 8 ).  
      The device  10  additionally comprises a plurality of cables  50  ( FIG. 3 ). Each cable  50  extends through a lumen  36  of each tubular element  30  in connecting relation between a solar panel connector  43  at the cable&#39;s top end  51  and the base at the cable&#39;s bottom end  52 . The base&#39;s holes  25  are for admitting the cable&#39;s bottom ends  52  into the rotating base interior space  24 .  
      The device  10  also comprises a coupler  53  that receives the cable&#39;s bottom ends  52  and outputs a unitary power cable  28 . The coupler  53  is housed in the interior space  24 , and the power cable  28  extends to the exterior through the cable opening  27 .  
      In order to enhance the tree-like appearance of the device  10 , a plurality of leaf elements  61  are affixed along at least some of the tubular elements  30 , either or both along the middle section  32  or the top section  33 . In addition, an ivy-like element  62  can be added along the middle section  32  and/or the top section  33 , as depicted in  FIG. 13 , to further enhance the tree-like appearance of the device  10 .  
      In a third embodiment ( FIGS. 9-12 ), the device  10  additionally comprises a solar sensor  54  ( FIG. 9 ) that is affixed to a tubular element  30  and is adapted to sense a directionality of incoming solar energy. A motor (not shown) is also provided in the interior space  57  for rotating the rotating base  58  responsive to a directionality signal transmitted by a signal cable  56  from the solar sensor  54  through the tubular element  30  to which the sensor  54  is affixed. The tracking rotor  55  is shown in  FIG. 10 , as encased in a third embodiment of the base  59  ( FIGS. 11 and 12 ), the interior space  57  to which is accessed via access lid  60 . This embodiment optimizes a collection of solar energy by the solar panels  40  by turning the device  10  to position the solar panels  40  to face the sun optimally.  
      The solar energy collection device  10  of the present invention is thus designed to resemble a tree, which permits the device  10  to appear coherent with the environment as well as to portray an aspect of simulated form and function. Thus the “leaves,” i.e., solar panels, of the “tree” collect solar energy and convert it to useful electrical energy. The “trunk” and “branches” of the tree support the energy-gathering elements, the solar panel “leaves,” and also serve as conduits between the “roots” and the “leaves.” It may be appreciated by one skilled in the art that additional embodiments may be contemplated, including other environmentally suggestive sculptures such as bushes and shrubbery.  
      In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity, and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for description purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the embodiments of the apparatus illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.  
      Having now described the invention, the construction, the operation and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby, the new and useful constructions, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.