Abstract:
A garden light including a movable display device and a solar powered light is provided. A control element is in electrical communication with the movable display device and the solar power light. The control element is operable to adjust control the movable display device and the solar powered light based on an ambient light input. When the ambient light input is above a threshold level, the control element activates the movable display device. When the ambient light input is below the threshold level, the control element deactivates the solar powered light.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional Application No. 61/483,377 filed May 6, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a solar garden light including a display device creating the effect of a flying object. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a garden light is provided. The garden light includes a movable display device and a solar powered light. A control element is in electrical communication with the movable display device and the solar power light. The control element is operable to adjust control the movable display device and the solar powered light based on an ambient light input. When the ambient light input is above a threshold level, the control element activates the movable display device. When the ambient light input is below the threshold level, the control element deactivates the solar powered light. 
         [0004]    In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the control element deactivates the movable display device when the ambient light input is below the threshold level so that movable display device does not move. 
         [0005]    In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure the control element activates the solar powered light when the ambient light input is below the threshold level so that the light turns on. 
         [0006]    In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the control element includes a photoelectric control element with a light sensor configured to detect ambient light, the light sensor generating a signal responsive to the detected ambient light. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the photoelectric control element further includes a light detection control circuit in communication with the light sensor, the control circuit generating an output in response to the threshold of ambient light. 
         [0008]    In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the garden light includes a simulated flower portion. The electro-motor is located in a central cavity of the flower portion. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the garden light includes a solar panel disposed along a stem. 
         [0010]    In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the light is disposed in a housing of the electro-motor. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the moveable display device includes an electro-motor and a simulated insect. When the electro-motor rotates, the insect simulates flying. 
         [0012]    In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the insect is attached to the electro motor with a flexible wire. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment of the present disclosure the solar powered light includes a light-emitting diode (LED). 
         [0014]    In one other embodiment of the present disclosure, a garden light is provided. The garden light includes a movable display device and a solar powered light. The garden light includes a controller in electrical communication with the movable display device and the solar power light. The controller is operable to adjust control the movable display device and the solar powered light based on an ambient light input. The controller provides a first control setting when the ambient light input is above a threshold level and provides a second control setting when the ambient light input is below the threshold level. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is an environmental perspective view of the garden light during the daylight when the flying insect is activated and the light is off; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is an environmental perspective view of the garden light during the night when the flying insect is stopped and the garden light is on, illuminating the flower; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the garden light; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the garden light; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 5-6  are a side perspective view of the garden light; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  illustrates a flowchart detailing the method of operating the garden light using a photoelectric control apparatus; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the garden light according to an alternate embodiment; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of the garden light according to an alternate embodiment; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of the garden light according to an alternate embodiment; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a bottom perspective view of the garden light according to an alternate embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
         [0026]    Referring to the Figures, a garden light  10  according to one embodiment is provided having a simple wireless installation with no cords or plugs since the garden power is from the solar panel. The garden light  10  is designed to enhance the appearance of a home or garden beautiful lighting effects at night and by simulating fluttering insect effects during the day. 
         [0027]    The garden light includes an artificial winged insect  12  which is rotationally driven by a solar powered electro-motor  20  to simulate flight of insects. The insect  12  may be a butterfly, a bee, a dragonfly or other similar winged insect. The insect  12  may be connected to the garden light  10  with a wire  14 . The winged insect may be connected at the first upper  16  end of the wire while the second end  18  of the wire  14  is connected to the garden light. 
         [0028]    The garden light includes an electro-motor  20  to provide movement of the winged insect. The electro-motor  20  may include a spinning disk  22  extending from a rod  24  from one end of the motor housing  26 . The wire  14  may be connected to the garden light  10  along the spinning disk  22 . The wire  14  may be connected along a periphery  28  of the spinning disk or at any suitable mounting location on the spinning disk  22  so that when the spinning disk  22  rotates the winged insect  12  rotates respectively. The spinning disk  22  is driven by the electro-motor  20 . 
         [0029]    The garden light  10  includes a flower portion  30  is shaped and colored to look like a flower. The electro-motor  20  is connected to and sitting inside the artificial flower  30 . In one embodiment, the flower  30  may be shaped and colored like a day lily, as shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . In another embodiment, the flower portion  30  may be shaped and colored similar to a calla lily, as shown in  FIGS. 8-11 . However, any suitable flower design is contemplated. In one embodiment, the flower portion  30  may be formed of plastic. Alternatively, the flower portion  30  may be formed of glass, or any other suitable material. 
         [0030]    The flower portion  30  may have an elongated throat region  32  in order to enclose the electro-motor  20  in a center cavity  34  of the flower  30 . The throat region  32  may conceal the electro-motor  20  from view. The electro-motor  20 , being located at the center of the flower  30  may be made to look like a center of a flower, such as the stamen or pistil of a flower. The housing  26  of the electro-motor  30  and the spinning disk  22  may be formed of colors and shaped to further simulate the center portion of the flower. 
         [0031]    The electro-motor  20  is powered by a solar panel  40  attached to the garden light  10 . When the garden light  10  is placed in a garden under direct sunlight, the electro-motor  20  powered by the solar panel  40  starts to rotate the spinning disk  22  with the wire  14  attached to the flying insect  12 . The upper end  16  of the wire is bent so the butterfly trails in the direction of rotation of the spinning disk  22 . The wire produces a particularly life-like swinging movement of the flying insect. 
         [0032]    The solar panel  40  includes a plurality of solar cells  42  for converting solar energy into electricity. The solar cells  42  may be photovoltaic cells for converting solar energy into electricity, or any suitable solar cell for collecting solar energy. 
         [0033]    At the same time the solar cells provide electricity to electro-motor  20 , the solar cells also charge a battery  46  inside a battery compartment  48 . The battery  46  may be a rechargeable battery such as a nickel metal hydride battery or any other suitable rechargeable battery. The battery  46  and battery compartment may be located below the solar cells  42 . 
         [0034]    The garden light  10  may also include a sensor  50  for detecting ambient light. The sensor  50  may be a photoelectric sensor. The sensor  50  may be connected to a controller  52 . The controller  52  may include a control circuit  54  for generating an output in response to a threshold level of ambient light. The sensor  50  and controller  52  may provide photoelectric control and operation of the electro-motor  20  and garden light  10 . 
         [0035]    The sensor  50  and controller  52  provide photoelectric control and operation of the garden light  10 . During daylight, when the ambient light is above a threshold level, the photoelectric control allows the electric power generated by the solar cells  42  to operate the electro-motor  20  in order to operate the insect  12 , such as a fluttering butterfly, during the daylight hours. In the daylight hours the photoelectric controller  52  automatically turns the light  10  off. And as the sun goes down during the evening and the ambient light falls below a threshold level, the photoelectric controller  52  turns the electro-motor  20  off and automatically turns on the solar light  10  to provide illumination at night. By turning off the motor  20 , the solar cell  52  and battery  46  may provide enough energy to power the light  10  for up to eight hours or more. 
         [0036]    The light  10  may be a light emitting diode (LED). The LED light may provide up to eight hours of light from the charge in the battery  46 . The light  10  may be located inside of a housing of the electro-motor. The housing  26  of the electro-motor  20  may be generally transparent in order to allow the light  10  to shine through the housing  26  and illuminate through the artificial flower portion  30 . In another embodiment, the light may be located on a different part of the garden light such as an artificial flower portion  30 , bud  56  or leaf  58  or other artificial object attached to the garden light  10 . 
         [0037]    The garden light  10  includes a stem  60  to which the motor  20 , flower portion  30  and solar panel  40  may be attached. The stem  60  may be formed of metal, or plastic or any other suitable material for mounting the garden light. The stem may also include a lower stake portion  62  for mounting the garden light  10  in the soil. Alternatively, the stem  60  may include a foot portion  64  for placing the garden light on a level surface such as a walkway or flooring. The stem  60  may be colored and shaped to look like the stem of a flower. 
         [0038]    The stem  60  may be formed of a plurality of stem portions  66  which may be connected together to form the stem  60 . The stem portions  66  may be separated for easy packaging and storage of the garden light  10 . The solar panel  40  may be attached to one of the stem portions  66 . The solar panel  40  may be attached to a middle stem portion  68  and may attach to a top stem portion  70  including the electro-motor  20  and flower portion  30 . A lower stem portion  72  having the stake  74  or foot  76  may also be attached to the middle stem portion  68 . The solar panel  40  may be rotatable with respect to the stem  60  for easy packaging and storage, as well as positioning the solar panel  40  in the sunlight. But locating the solar panel  40  along the middle portion  68  of the stem  60 , the solar panel  40  may be shaped and colored to look like a leaf or bud of the flower. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a method of controlling the garden light is illustrated in flowchart  100 . The ambient light conditions adjacent the garden light  10  are sensed, as represented by block  110 . The ambient light may be sensed with sensor  50  or any suitable photovoltaic apparatus. A signal (S 1 ) is generated in response to the sensed ambient light, as represented by block  112 . The signal (S 1 ) may be generated by the sensor  50 , the photoelectric controller  52  and a combination of sensors and controllers, as a person of ordinary skill in the art would understand. 
         [0040]    A threshold level (T) of ambient light is determined, as represented by block  114 . The threshold level of light may be a predefined value, or may be a combination of factors such as time of day, for example. 
         [0041]    Based on the threshold level (T) of light, the controller  52  produces an output control, as represented by block  116 . If the sensed ambient light signal (S 1 ) is greater than the threshold level (T), then the controller produces a first output, as represented by block  118 . Based on the first output signal, the controller regulates the devices to a first setting, as represented by block  120 . For example, if the ambient light signal (S 1 ) is greater than the threshold level (T), this may indicate a daytime condition so the controller activates the motor  20  and turns off the solar light  10  during the daytime. During the daytime hours when the ambient light signal (S 1 ) is greater than the threshold level (T), the controller activates the motor to turn the disk  22  and simulate the flying insect  12 . 
         [0042]    If the sensed ambient light signal (S 1 ) is less than the threshold level (T), then the controller produces a second output, as represented by block  122 . Based on the second output signal, the controller regulates the devices to a second setting, as represented by block  124 . For example, if the ambient light signal (S 1 ) is less than the threshold level (T), this may indicate a nighttime condition so the controller deactivates the motor  20  and turns on the solar light  10  during the nighttime. During the nighttime hours when the ambient light signal (S 1 ) is less than the threshold level (T), the controller activates the light  10  to provide lighting in dark or low light below the threshold level (T). 
         [0043]    While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.