Patent Abstract:
The present invention is a self contained lighting system, including a light member, the light member having at least one light emitting member operably coupled to an ambient light sensor, the light sensor opening a path of electric energy to at least one light emitting member at a first certain sensed level of ambient light and closing the path of electric energy to at least one light emitting member at a second certain sensed level of ambient light, an electric energy storage device operably coupled to the path of electric energy and an electric energy generation device operably coupled to the electric energy storage device, the electric energy generation device for providing electric energy to the electric energy storage device, and a generally thin walled tube being operably coupled to the light member, the tube defining an inner aperture, an opening at the first end of the tube opening to the inner aperture, and at least one threaded, generally transverse bore defined in the thin wall, the at least one bore for threadedly receiving a set screw. A method of forming the self contained lighting system, is further included.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/366,636, filed Jul. 22, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to the field of portable lighting, dock poles, more particularly, the present invention relates to lighting that may be affixed to a dock or impaled in the ground. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Inadequate lighting on walking paths remote from electrical power is a chronic and potentially serious safety hazard. It is often impractical to run electric power to remote areas; these remote areas may be as far as a camp site located miles away from a source of electric power or as close as the edges of one&#39;s own yard. Because these areas are without power, they are often unlit at night. This inadequate lighting can cause a number of safety hazards, the first and foremost being the increased chance of tripping over an unseen obstacle. For example, paths through wooded areas often traverse over exposed tree roots and rocks. These obstacles are trip hazards during the day when the path is well lighted; the potential for tripping is only increased at night. Worse yet, when these walkways are near, or even over water (as in the case of a lake or river dock), the risk of tripping poses the additional hazard of falling into the water at night and possibly drowning. 
         [0004]    The absence of lighting on a dock also makes the location of the dock, or identification of the correct dock when multiple docks are present, difficult when approaching by boat at night. Most lake and river docks contain a number of spaced apart support or docking poles. These dock poles extend from the dock platform down to the bottom of the body of water. When boating, locating a dock from across a dark body of water, where only the unlit dock poles and platform extend above the water, can be a difficult task. Often the boater must approach the shore near the area of the dock before location of the dock is possible. When in close proximity to the shore, the shallow water poses the risk of damaging the boat by striking the hull or prop against sunken logs, rocks, or other obstacles. 
         [0005]    Once the boater locates the dock, without adequate lighting there is an increased probability that the boater will misjudge the boundaries of the dock and collide with the dock. Although the speed of the boat prior to collision is not likely to be great, the sudden stop caused by the collision may cause passengers, particularly those who are standing, to fall and injure themselves. Moreover, the collision is likely to cause damage to the boat. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention addresses these hazards by providing a means to light previously unlit areas, remote from electric power, through a self-powered mobile safety light mounted to a multi-use pole. The invention consists of a solar-powered safety light which may be attached to a multitude of different utility poles. One embodiment of the utility pole allows the user to slip the utility pole over an existing dock pole so that if a self-powered safety light is positioned on each dock pole on the dock, the boundary of the dock would clearly be defined and the dock surface would be illuminated. Use of the present invention in this manner would reduce the chance of tripping on the dock and increase the viability and location of the dock at night by boat. Furthermore, because of the self-powered safety light is lightweight and easily portable. When finished boating, users may slip the self-powered safety light off the dock pole and carry it with them like a torch to provide lighting along their desired path. 
         [0007]    The present invention is a self contained lighting system, including a light member, the light member having at least one light emitting member operably coupled to an ambient light sensor, the light sensor opening a path of electric energy to at least one light emitting member at a first certain sensed level of ambient light and closing the path of electric energy to at least one light emitting member at a second certain sensed level of ambient light, an electric energy storage device operably coupled to the path of electric energy and an electric energy generation device operably coupled to the electric energy storage device, the electric energy generation device for providing electric energy to the electric energy storage device, and a generally thin walled tube being operably coupled to the light member, the tube defining an inner aperture, an opening at the first end of the tube opening to the inner aperture, and at least one threaded, generally transverse bore defined in the thin wall, the at least one bore for threadedly receiving a set screw. A method of forming the self contained lighting system, is further included. 
         [0008]    The utility pole may also be configured with a stake or pointed end, such that the user may stick the pole into the ground. This enables the user to provide fixed lighting for an area or path remote from electric power, thereby reducing the chances of tripping over unseen obstacles. Again, because of the ease in mobility of the safety light, if a user wishes to depart from the remote area, the user may simply remove the self-powered safety light from the ground and carry the light with them along their desired path. This highly adaptable configuration of the safety light&#39;s utility pole makes the light readily implantable wherever lighting is needed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exploded side elevation view of a dock pole cover with a self-powered mobile safety light in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of a dock pole cover with a self-powered mobile safety light in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  depicts a wiring harness to be used in conjunction with a with a low voltage version of the mobile safety light lighting in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of a self-powered mobile safety light configured on a telescoping pole with a pointed foot in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of a self-powered mobile safety light configured on a segmented pole assembly with a pointed foot in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of a self-powered mobile safety light configured with both a dock pole cover and pointed foot; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  depicts several dock pole covers with a self-powered mobile safety lights positioned on a lake or river dock during nighttime operation; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of self-powered mobile safety light configured with a dock pole cap. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate an embodiment of a dock pole cover with a self-powered mobile safety light  100  adapted to both cover an existing dock pole  15  and provide solar powered light. Dock pole cover with a self-powered mobile safety light  100  includes: pipe  10 , set screw  19 , nut  12 , washer  14 , cap  16 , skirt  18 , solar powered light  20 , bolt  22 , and top housing  24 . 
         [0018]    The inner diameter  11  of pipe  10  should be larger than the outer diameter of the existing dock pole  15 , such that the assembled dock pole cover with a self-powered mobile safety light  200  may be slid onto, and fit over, an existing dock pole  15 . As such, the assembled dock pole cover  200  serves as a boat bumper, minimizing damage to both the boat and the dock pole  15  when boats approach or are moored to the dock pole  15 . Pipe  10  may consist of a segment of ultraviolet (UV) coated polyvinyl chloride (PVC) piping, as UV coated PVC piping generally is more durable and does not fade or yellow like regular PVC piping. This, however, should not be considered limiting; pipe  10  can be made from a variety of materials. To accommodate most dock poles  15 , pipe  10  is typically generally thin walled and may consist of a section of standard size PVC pipe having a wall  11  with a nominal inside diameter of approximately 2 inches and an outside diameter of approximately 2.31 inches, yielding a wall thickness of 0.31 inches; however, a larger diameter pipe may be used to accommodate larger dock poles  15 . Pipe  10  may be manufactured in lengths from 1 to 6 feet in length, although the length could be longer or shorter as necessary. Self-powered mobile safety light  200  can be secured in place when fitted over top the dock pole  15  by tightening set screw  19 . Several threaded holes  21  are positioned longitudinally along pipe  10  to allow set screw to be selectively placed. 
         [0019]    In one embodiment, the dock pole cover with a self-powered mobile safety light  100  is assembled by drilling hole  17  into cap  16 . Cap  16  can consist of a standard UV coated PVC end cap appropriately sized to fit pipe  10 ; although the cap can also be constructed of a number of other suitable materials. The nominal drilled hole  17  will generally range from 0.5 to 2.12 inches in diameter; however, the hole can vary in size as necessary to accommodate skirt  18  and bolt  22 . After hole  17  is drilled, skirt  18  and solar light  20  are placed on top of cap  16  and secured in place by bolt  22 , washer  14 , and nut  12 . Bolt  22 , washer  14 , and nut  12  can be constructed of a variety of weather resistant materials, including, but not limited to plastic or stainless steel. Top housing  24  is fastened on top of solar light  20 , typically either being glued in place or mating with integrated mechanical connectors within the respective components. Once skirt  18  and solar light  20  have been secured in place, cap  16  is then fitted on the top of pipe  10 . A multitude of holes  21  are drilled in pipe  18  and threaded to accommodate set screw  19 . Set screw  19  is partly screwed into one of the drilled holes  21  and left in place. 
         [0020]    Solar light  20  houses solar light circuitry  900 , as depicted as in  FIG. 9 . Solar light circuitry  900  is comprised of at least one light emitting member  124  operably coupled to an ambient light sensor  122 . Light sensor  122  acts as both a light sensor and an on/off switch for light emitting member  124 . Sensor  122  does this by opening a path of electric energy to light emitting member  124  at a first certain sensed level of ambient light and closing the path of electric energy to light emitting member  124  at a second certain sensed level of ambient light. Light emitting member  124  is operably coupled to and powered by an electric energy storage device  126 . Electric energy storage  126  is operably couple to an electric energy generation device  120 , which provides electric energy to the energy storage device  126 . Solar light  20  containing solar light circuitry  900  is assumed to be commercially available. One example of this type of light is sold by Yard &amp; Beyond®. 
         [0021]      FIG. 8  shows and alternative configuration of the present invention  800  readily adaptable to fit over top dock pole  118 . This embodiment  800  is constructed in a similar manner to the previous embodiment  200 , but instead of having a dock pole cover pipe  10  this embodiment has only a coupler  116  affixed to the lighted assembly  112 , where coupler  116  is appropriately sized to fit snuggly a top a standard sized lake or river dock pole  118 . To fit snuggly over most standard sized dock poles  118 , the inner diameter of coupler  112  can measure 2 5/16 inches; however, larger or smaller diameters may be used to accommodate other mounting poles. 
         [0022]    As depicted in  FIG. 7 , the esthetic effect of the employment of multiple self-powered mobile safety lights  200  on a dock  105  is enhanced by setting all the self-powered mobile safety lights  200  at a common height above the deck of the dock  105 . This may be effected by the employment of a set screw  19 . The set screw  19  is threadedly engaged in a respective threaded bore  21  defined in the wall  11 . Multiple bores  21  may be defined in the wall  11  as desired and multiple set screws may thereby be employed. Once the self-powered mobile safety light  200  is adjusted to the desired height relative to the respective dock pole  15 , one or more set screws are then turned in to engage the dock pole  15 , thereby fixing the height of the respective self-powered mobile safety light  200 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a multitude of dock pole cover pipes  38  fitted with low voltage lights  30  can be connected via a wiring harness assembly  300 . The low voltage light  30  is assembled together with pipe  38  in a similar manner to the previous embodiment  200 ; however, unlike the solar powered models, the individual low voltage lights  30  of embodiment  300  must be connected to an external power source. Wiring harness  300  fulfills this need while protecting the wire from exposure in an attractive housing. Wiring harness assembly  300  includes: wire  42 , wire shielding  40  and  50 , and water proof connectors  44 . 
         [0024]    Wire  42 , which electrically connects the individual low voltage lights  30  to external power, will typically consist of between 14 to 20 gauge standard electrical wire. Wire  42  may, however, be of a larger or smaller gauge as needed. 
         [0025]    The wire shielding  40 , encompassing wire  42 , will typically be constructed of a weather resistant vinyl; however, a number of other materials may also be suitable. In  FIG. 3 , the wire  42  and wire shielding  40  assemblies are configured in two lengths: eight feet  52  and three feet  51 . However, the depicted lengths should not be considered limiting, as these assembles may be configured in any length necessary to connect the individual lights  30 . 
         [0026]    The eight foot assembly  52  can be attached to the outer surface of the dock, while the three foot wiring assembly  51  can be attached to pipe  38 . Both wiring assemblies  51  and  52  can be attached by an adhesive. To facilitate this, a double-side adhesive tape is applied to one surface of wiring assembly  51  and  52  with a removable covering protecting the outer side of the double-side tape for later use. When assembly  51  or  52  is ready to be installed by the user, the cover is peeled off; exposing the adhesive. Wiring assembly  51  or  52  is then pressed into place. 
         [0027]    Waterproof connectors  44  attached to the end of the wiring assemblies  51  and  52 , connecting them together. The waterproof connectors  44  can range from one to six inches in length; however other lengths can be constructed as needed. 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in which a solar powered light is affixed to the top of a telescoping pole  400 . The telescoping pole solar light assembly  400  includes: pointed foot  52 , foot bracket  54 , finger rings  64 , telescoping metal poles  56 A and  56 B, holes  58 A,  58 B, and  58 C, hole nib  60 , and solar light assembly  62 . 
         [0029]    The extendable metal poles  56 A and  56 B can be constructed of a variety of materials, including, but not limited to aluminum tubing. The telescoping pole solar light assembly  400  depicts two poles  56 A and  56 B that are each two feet in length; however, there can be more than two poles, and each pole can vary in length. With a plurality of telescoping poles, each pole should be successively sized, both in diameter and length, to fit within the next larger sized pole. The largest pole can be positioned either closest to solar light assembly  62  or pointed foot  52 . Holes  58 A,  58 B and  58 C are placed along the length of the extended metal pole  56 B to vary the height of telescoping pole assembly  400 . A hole nib  60  is placed on pole  56 A to lock pole  56 B in place after the appropriate height for solar extended pole light  400  has been determined. 
         [0030]    Pointed foot  52  and foot bracket  54  are secured to pole  56 A using standard manufacturing techniques. Pointed foot  52  is approximately eight inches in length; however, pointed foot  52  can constructed to be significantly longer or shorter depending on the need. Foot bracket  54  can be used to push pointed foot  52  into the ground. Use of the foot bracket in this manner significantly reduces the compressive stress on the components of light assembly  400 , thereby increasing component life. The foot bracket  54  can also be used to extract the pointed foot  52  from the ground. Finger rings  64  are provided for use as a grip during extraction. 
         [0031]    Solar light  62  is mounted to pole  56 B in a similar manner as previously described in connection with embodiment  200 . Alternatively, a low voltage light, as described in connection with embodiment  300  can be attached to pole  56 B. 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  illustrates an alternative embodiment  500 , wherein the telescoping pole  56 A and  56 B of the previous embodiment  400  are replaced with a plurality of connectable pole segments  75 . The segmented pole assembly  500  includes: a plurality of poles  75  and connectors  78 . Poles  75  depicted in assembly  500  are each approximately two feet in length; however, each pole can vary in substantially length. The poles can be constructed of a variety of materials, including, but not limited to aluminum. The connectors  78  can be inserted approximately halfway into the open ends of each pole  75 , fitting snuggly, such that poles  75  can be connected together to achieve the desired height. After use, the segmented pole assembly  500  can be disassembled for easy storage and transportation. Embodiment  500  is assembled together with solar light assembly  70 , pointed foot  18 , and foot plate  80  in substantially the same manner as described in connection with embodiment  400 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  illustrates an alternative embodiment  600 , wherein in addition pipe  97  for covering dock pole  91 , embodiment  600  also includes a inner pole  95  and pointed foot  99  sized such that pole  95  and pointed foot  99  fit within the inner diameter of  101  of dock pole  91 . In this configuration, the dock pole cover with a self-powered mobile safety light  600  can be readily removed from a dock pole  91  and carried with a user the purpose of providing illumination. If the user so chooses, the self-powered mobile safety light  600  can be fixed to the ground via pointed foot  99 . Embodiment  600  is assembled together with cap  96  and solar light assembly  90  in substantially the same manner as described in connection with embodiment  100 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the dock pole cover with a self-powered mobile safety light  700 , can be manufactured to the same height; thereby providing an aesthetically pleasing panorama of adequate lighting for users walking along the dock  105  or while approaching dock  105  via boat. 
         [0035]    Various modifications and alterations of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention, and it should be understood that this invention is not to be unduly limited to the illustrative embodiments set forth herein.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8