Abstract:
A solar energy rain gutter system includes a solar panel connectable to a gutter. One or a multitude of solar panels can be connected in series along the length of the gutter to power various electrical devices. The solar panel can be angularly adjusted to collect a maximum amount of light while also allowing rain water to still flow within the gutter. The solar panels can be controlled from a control box including a rechargeable battery and control logic, such as a timer for automatically activating and deactivating various devices at night or during the day.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to solar panels and rain gutters. More particularly, the present invention relates to a solar panel which is attachable within a rain gutter for the operation of various landscape electronic devices. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A rain gutter (also known as eaves trough, eaves channel guttering or simply as a gutter) is a narrow channel, or trough, forming the component of a roof system which collects and diverts rainwater shed by the roof. The main purpose of a rain gutter is to protect a building&#39;s foundation by channeling water away from its base. It also helps to reduce erosion, prevent leaks in basements and crawlspaces, protect painted surfaces by reducing exposure to water, and provide a means to collect rainwater for later use. Water collected by a rain gutter is fed, usually via a downspout (also sometimes called a leader or conductor), from the roof edge to the base of the building where it is either discharged or collected. A collection system strategy for water carried from rain gutters may include a rain barrel or a cistern. 
         [0003]    Rain gutters can be constructed from a variety of materials, including cast iron, lead, zinc, galvanized steel, painted steel, copper, painted aluminum, PVC (and other plastics), concrete, stone, and wood. A rain gutter may be a trough integral along the lower edge of the roof slope which is fashioned from the roof covering and flashing materials. Alternatively, a rain gutter may also be a wall integral structure beneath the roof edge, traditionally constructed of masonry, fashioned as the crowning element of a wall. However, in a large majority of applications a rain gutter is simply a trough of metal or other material that is suspended beyond the roof edge and below the projected slope of the roof. Typically, all gutters have a flat backing which is fixedly attached to the wall with a fastener and an aesthetically formed front portion with a lip/edge facing inwardly at the top. 
         [0004]    Some property owners have installed metal and plastic screens on their gutters in an attempt to keep the leaves and debris out. A screen may be preformed to securely attach within existing rain gutters. More specifically, a screen may have a v-shaped channel formed at its leading edge which captures the inside lip/edge of a traditional rain gutter. This allows the screen to be securely held in place such that leaves and other large debris do not enter the gutter and potential clog the downspout. 
         [0005]    Solar panels use light energy (photons) from the sun to generate electricity through the photovoltaic effect (this is the photo-electric effect). A solar panel (photovoltaic module or photovoltaic panel) is a packaged interconnected assembly of solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells. The solar panel is used as a component in a larger photovoltaic system to offer electricity for commercial and residential applications. The structural (load carrying) member of a module can either be the top layer (superstrate) or the back layer (substrate). The majority of modules use wafer-based crystalline silicon cells or a thin-film cell based on cadmium telluride or silicon. Crystalline silicon, which is commonly used in the wafer form in photovoltaic (PV) modules, is derived from silicon, a commonly used semi-conductor. Because a single solar panel can only produce a limited amount of power, many installations contain several panels. This is known as a photovoltaic array. A photovoltaic installation typically includes an array of solar panels, an inverter, batteries and interconnection wiring. 
         [0006]    Solar panels/arrays are commonly installed on the roof of a residential or commercial property to take advantage of the usable real estate on rooftops. Solar panels are used to generate power for the building they are installed upon and necessarily cover a large amount of surface area to generate enough usable power. Solar panel installation is typically professionally installed and is therefore quite labor intensive and expensive. 
         [0007]    Unfortunately, there are many applications where even a small amount of solar power would be beneficial to provide for landscape lighting, motion sensor lighting, or other general outside electricity needs which do not require a large and costly solar panel/array installation. Accordingly, there is a need for an easily installable solar panel which can be configured to power various outdoor electrical needs. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention concerns a solar energy rain gutter system which comprises a rain gutter for collecting and diverting water shed by a roof, the rain gutter forming a trough having an upper opening defined, at least in part, by a front lip and a rear lip, and a solar panel affixed to the rain gutter and attached to the front lip, the rear lip, or both. 
         [0009]    In a preferred form of the invention, the position of the solar panel relative to the rain gutter is adjustable. This is accomplished, in one embodiment, by means of a clip which engages at least one of the rain gutter lips. The clip has a plurality of notches which allow the angle of the solar panel to be adjusted relative to the rain gutter. 
         [0010]    The solar panel itself may comprise a plurality of solar panels which are electrically connected together. 
         [0011]    One or more outdoor electrical devices may be electrically connected to the solar panel. The electrical devices may comprise a night light, a security light, a motion activated light, a motion sensor, a remote video camera, a pool pump, a pool filter, and air conditioning (AC) unit, a fan, an outside speaker, a radio, or the like. 
         [0012]    A control box is typically included in the system for controlling the one or more electrical devices and how energy is managed. The control box may include a rechargeable battery which is charged during daylight hours and which provides power to the electrical device or devices during the nighttime. 
         [0013]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary solar energy rain gutter system embodying the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of a single solar panel similar to  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 2 , now showing the panel removed from the rain gutter; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a sectional side view taken along line  4 - 4  from  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a sectional side view similar to  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of a single solar panel; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of solar panels prior to being electrically connected together; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 7 , where the two solar panels are now connected; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a diagrammatic view showing the solar energy rain gutter system of the present invention powering various outdoor electrical devices. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention is directed to a solar energy rain gutter system, referred to generally by the reference number  10 . In  FIG. 1 , a multitude of solar panels  12  are shown attached in series along a gutter  14 . The gutter  14  is shown connected at the end of a roof  16  and can be formed as one continuous gutter or a multitude of attached shorter sections. During a rain storm, water collects on the roof  16  and drains into the gutter  16 . The gutter  14  can be formed in a multitude of profiles, but is typically shaped as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . The solar panel  12  is raised such that water can still flow underneath the panel  12  and collect within the gutter  14 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of a rain gutter  14  and a single solar panel  12 . The solar panel  12  can be attached to the gutter  14  in a multitude of methods, and this disclosure is not intended to limit it to the precise form shown herein. This particular embodiment shows the solar panel front edge  18  engaging the inwardly facing front lip  20  of the gutter  14 . The solar panel  12  then attaches to the gutter  14  through the use of a rear clip  22  that engages the inwardly facing rear lip  24  of the gutter  14 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 2 , now showing the panel  12  removed from the gutter  14 . The phantom lines show more specifically how the front edge  18  of the solar panel  12  captures and engages with the front lip  20  of the gutter  14 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a sectional side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2  showing the front edge  18  engaged with the front lip  20  of the gutter  14 . The rear clip  22  can have several notches  26  for the rear lip  24  to engage. The notches  26  allow the angle of the solar panel  12  to be adjusted. 
         [0028]    The solar panel  12  can be positioned at a high angle such that a large gap exists between the solar panel  12  and water in the gutter  14 , or alternatively, the solar panel  12  can be positioned at a lower angle as shown. This adjustability is best shown in  FIG. 5  where the solar panel  12  can be seen being positioned at two different angles. The adjustability of the angle of the solar panel  12  is also used to set an appropriate angle of the solar panel  12  such that a maximum amount of light can be gathered. Different designs of gutters  14  and roofs  16  may require the angle to be adjustable. The angling of the solar panel  12  allows an installer to set the solar panel  12  at the best possible position. 
         [0029]    The rear clip  22  can be of different designs and this disclosure is not limited to the precise form shown herein. The rear clip  22  can be spring loaded or made from a resilient material that can be snapped into position. Alternatively, the solar panel  12  can also be fastened to the gutter  14  through the use of a fastener such that it will not blow off in a high wind. In another embodiment, the gap that exists between the rear edge  28  of the solar panel  12  and the roof  16  can be filled with a screen like mesh. This prevents leaves and other debris from falling within the gutter  14  and later clogging a downspout. In another alternative embodiment, the solar panel  12  can be flush with the roof  16  where no gap exists between the rear edge  28  and the inwardly facing rear lip  24  of the gutter  14 , yet a gap now exists between the front edge  18  of the solar panel  12  and the front lip  20  of the gutter  14 . Rain water would then flow over the solar panel  12  before it is captured within the gutter  14 . 
         [0030]      FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  8  are top views of the solar panel  12 .  FIG. 6  shows a single solar panel  12  with electrical connectors  30 , where one side has a male connector  32  and the opposite side has a female connector  34 .  FIG. 7  shows how two panels  12  can be aligned such that the male connector  32  can be attached to a female connector  34  of an adjacent solar panel  12 .  FIG. 8  shows the two panels  12  now connected together. This connection method is convenient to allow a plurality of panels  12  to be connected in series along a gutter  14 . Typically, a solar panel  12  is 4 feet long, whereas a roof-line can be 20-30 feet. A multitude of solar panels  12  can be fitted to the gutter  14  such that all available space may be utilized. Each solar panel  12  is designed to generate electricity either alone or in series. The more solar panels  12  used results in more energy generated. 
         [0031]      FIG. 9  is a diagrammatic view of the solar energy rain gutter system  10  powering various outdoor electrical devices  36 . The outdoor electrical devices  36  can be any of a number of devices such as night lights, security lights, motion activated lights, motion sensors, remote video cameras, pool pumps, pool filters, AC units, fans, outside speakers, radios and the like. Power lines  38  shown as a dashed line can be routed from the solar panels  12  to the various electrical devices  36 . A control box  40  can be used that further controls the operation of the all the electrical devices  36  and how energy is managed. For instance, in one embodiment, the power generated during the day can be sent to the electrical grid for use by other facilities and people. Then at night power can be pulled from a local power plant or supply. In another embodiment, the control box  40  may contain a rechargeable battery which is charged during the daylight hours for use later at night. An integrated timer can then automatically activate and deactivate the night lights or other electrical devices when needed. In yet another embodiment, it may be a combination of the first two, where a battery is first charged and then excess power is sent into the grid. 
         [0032]    An advantage of the solar energy rain gutter system  10  is it can be easily retrofitted to existing structures that already have gutters  14 . Installing a full sized solar panel array can be difficult and expensive and require the use of trained experts for installation. Whereas the solar energy rain gutter system  10  can be installed by a low-skilled do-it-yourselfer and does not need to be wired to existing electrical lines or systems. The present invention is significantly safer to install to a solar powered external light due to it not being tied directly into an existing live wire which is part of a person&#39;s home or business. The present invention can be sold at a hardware store and installed by the purchaser in a few minutes. 
         [0033]    Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made to each without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.