Patent Abstract:
A gas light assembly including a stand member having a recessed portion sized to receive a fuel container. The recessed portion is accessible through an opening of the stand member. A panel member is coupled to the stand member and movable between a closed position covering the recessed portion and an open position wherein the recessed portion is accessible for inserting or removing the fuel container.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to lighting systems, and more specifically relates to gas light systems and methods of operating the same. 
   2. Related Art 
   Outdoor lighting systems typically require a source of energy such as electricity or some type of combustible fuel such as natural gas or propane in order to produce light. Such energy sources are often routed from a home or other living structure as electrical lines or fuel lines that are buried or otherwise concealed in the path between the living structure and the light-generating device. Installing and maintaining such routed lines can be costly and difficult depending on a number of variables including, for example, the distance and terrain separating the living structure and the light-generating device. These lighting systems, in particular gas lighting systems, are also not typically portable between a number of locations. An improved light system that addresses these and other disadvantages of known outdoor lighting systems would be an advance in the art. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to gas light systems and methods of operating gas lighting systems. An example gas light system according to principles of the invention includes a light-generating member, a stand member including a recessed portion sized to receive a fuel container, and a panel member coupled to the stand member and configured to cover an opening in the recessed portion when in a closed position to conceal the fuel container. The stand member supports the light-generating member at a base thereof. A fuel line is configured to deliver fuel from the fuel container to the light-generating member when the fuel container is positioned in the recessed portion. 
   The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. Figures in the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify embodiments of the invention. While certain embodiments will be illustrated and describing embodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited to use in such embodiments. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of an example gas light assembly according to principles of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded top perspective view of the assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the assembly shown in  FIG. 1  with the panel member in a closed position; 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the assembly shown in  FIG. 1  with the panel in an open position; and 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the assembly shown in  FIG. 3  taken along cross-sectional indicators  5 — 5 . 
   

   While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternate forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example and the drawings, and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The present invention generally relates to gas lighting systems and methods of operating gas lighting systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a gas light that includes a stand member including a recessed portion sized to receive a fuel container. A panel member is coupled to the stand member and configured to cover at least a portion of the recessed portion when in a closed position to conceal at least a portion of the fuel container. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–5 , a gas light system  10  is shown. The gas light system  10  is a portable system that can be positioned as desired. 
   The gas light system  10  includes a light-generating member  20 . The light-generating member  20  defines an interior space  22  (see  FIG. 5 ) in which combustible gas can be ignited to generate a flame that is visible from and generates light to the outside of the light-generating member  20  through one or more transparent panels (not clearly shown) positioned within a frame  23 . Alternatively, the transparent panels can be removed from the light-generating member. A top cap  24  is coupled to a roof member  25  of the light-generating member  20  and is configured to allow exhaust to exit the interior space  22 . The light-generating member  20  is a mere example light-generating device and may be any device or structure capable of providing a source of light. 
   The gas light system  10  also includes a stand member  30 . The stand member  30  includes a lower portion  31  defining a recessed portion  32  and an upper portion  33 . The lower portion  31  of stand member  30  can be cylindrical in shape. Alternatively, the stand member  30  and lower portion  31  can be a different shape. 
   The lower portion  31  of the stand member  30  includes a base  34 . The base  34  defines holes  35  through which one or more fastening members (not shown) can be used to attach the gas light system  10  to another structure such as a deck floor, a deck rail, a wall, or other structure. The base  34  can be any desired shape. In alternative embodiments, the base can be coupled to another structure through any suitable fastening device that secures the gas light system  10  to the structure. For example, a mounting bracket can be attached to a structure and the base of the stand member can be sized to fit within the mounting bracket. In some embodiments, multiple mounting brackets at multiple locations may be used for mounting the portable gas light system at a selected location. 
   The recessed portion  32  defines an opening  37  (see  FIG. 2 ) that is sized to receive a fuel container  38 . A coupling member  40  is positioned within the stand member  30  to connect to the fuel container  38 . The coupling member  40  is attached to a fuel line  41  through a regulator  39 . The fuel line  41  extends vertically from the recessed portion  32  toward the light-generating member  20  through a hollow interior space of the stand member  30 . The stand member also includes a locking ring  36  positioned above the opening  37 . 
   The upper portion  33  of the stand member  30  includes a gas valve housing  42  coupled to the light-generating member  20  at an end  43 . A gas valve  44  is positioned within the gas valve housing  42  to receive fuel from the fuel line  41 . A supply line  45  extends from the gas valve  44  into the interior space  22 . Combustible gas exits the supply line  45  for combustion within the interior space  22 . A switch  46  is coupled to the gas valve housing  42  to allow for the activation of an igniter  47  such as, for example, a piezoelectric ignition system, that extends from the switch  46  into the interior space  22  to start combustion of the gas exiting the supply line  45 . The switch  46  can also be used to start the flow of gas through the gas valve  42 . For example, as the switch  46  is engaged, a voltage from a battery can be sent to the gas valve  42  causing the gas valve  42  to open. Alternatively, the gas valve  42  can include a manual adjustment system that regulates the flow of combustible gas to the supply line  45 . Air is provided through the end  43  of the gas valve housing  42  as shown in  FIG. 4  by arrows  49 . The air feeds the combustion of the gas and generation of the flame within the interior space  22 . 
   Alternatively, the gas valve housing and gas valve can be positioned within a different portion of the stand member and can be of a different shape such as a cylindrical shape that is sized to match the diameter of the remainder of and forming an integral part of the stand member. For example, the gas valve can be positioned closer to the coupling and a longer supply line can be used to provide combustible gas to the light-generating member. The switch  46  can also be positioned in a different location on the gas light system. 
   A panel member  50  is coupled to the stand member  30  and configured to move or slide generally in direction X (see  FIG. 3 ) along the stand member  30 . The panel member  50  can extend around the entire circumference of the lower portion  31  of the stand member  30 . Alternatively, the panel member can extend around a portion of the lower portion sufficient to cover the opening in the recessed portion, or can be hinged, hung, fastened, or otherwise secured in any suitable way to stand member  30 . For example, a door can be hinged to the stand member  30  to cover the opening  37  when in a closed position. 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , a locking tab  52  can be coupled to the panel member  50 . The locking tab  52  can be constructed of a semi-rigid yet flexible material. Alternatively, the locking tab can be formed of a solid material. The locking tab  52  is sized to fit within a space  54  defined between the stand member  30  and panel member  50 . 
   When the fuel container  38  becomes empty, the panel member  50  can be vertically raised to expose the fuel container  38  and the coupling member  40 . The fuel container  38  can then be disconnected from the coupling member  40  and removed from the recessed portion  32  through the opening  37 . The empty fuel container then can be replaced with a full fuel container. After replacing the empty fuel container, the panel member can then be lowered back to the closed position. 
   As the panel member  50  is moved from the closed position shown in  FIG. 3  to the open position shown in  FIG. 4 , the locking tab  52  can engage the locking ring  36  to hold the panel member  50  in the open position while the fuel container  38  is disconnected from the coupling member  40  and replaced with another fuel container. 
   In an alternative embodiment, the locking ring can define a lock opening sized to allow a solid locking tab to pass through the lock opening. After the locking tab passes through the lock opening, the panel member can be rotated to allow the locking tab to engage the locking ring and hold the panel member in the open position. Many other devices and structures can be used to hold the panel member  50  in an open position. Similar devices and structures may also be used to hold the panel member  50  in a closed position or at some intermediate position between the open and closed position. 
   The present invention should not be considered limited to the particular examples or materials described above, but rather should be understood to cover all aspect of the invention as fairly set out in the attached claims. Various modifications, equivalent processes, as well as numerous structures to which the present invention may be applicable will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art to which the present invention is directed upon review of the instant specification.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5