Abstract:
A system and method for driveway marker light safety system mainly to assist the snowplow drivers during adverse weather conditions is disclosed. The lighting marker system comprises a set of telescoping tubes positioned on either side of the driveway wherein it has extending sections along with a light fixture placed on top of the apparatus. The system further comprises a photo eye detector for detecting the snow obstruction and adjusts the marker light section by using a gear drive or coiled plastic rod mechanism. A solar panel is provided in the apparatus for supporting the power supply.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to driveway marker lights and more specifically relates to an automatic self-adjusting marker lights to assist motorists, vehicle drivers and snowplow drivers. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Snowfall during winter storm generally accumulates large amount of snow. During this time, the ground temperature goes as low as possible to allow precipitation. This can also happen in other seasons like late autumn and early spring bringing serious problems to the civic bodies. Especially highway roads during snow storm experience serious issues like safety of motorists, poor visibility, road closure, time and economic losses and so on. In order to avoid the aforementioned problems, significant number of steps has been taken and a snowplow device is one of that which removes ice and snow from outdoor surfaces and specifically used on winter servicing vehicles. 
         [0003]    Snowplow devices exist in different configurations to efficiently remove snow from the driveway to reduce congestion for the drivers. However, during adverse weather conditions or any catastrophe, these snowplow drivers encounter a lot of problems to remove the snow due to huge accumulation of snow and poor visibility. During these times, the snowplow drivers face an uphill task to identify the edge of the road covered with snow. Many prior art technologies have attempted to solve these problems by having a safety lighting system on the device or other safety signboards. However, these systems have many additional limitations like power, electrical failure, icing problem and so on. 
         [0004]    There are some lighting systems available in the prior art that are designed in such a way it can be controlled by a central system for various outdoor applications especially during adverse weather conditions including snowstorm. Ground based lighting system is used to provide proper illumination for the snowplow drivers but however, these systems do not provide more sustainability and efficiency during conditions like extreme and adverse weather, traffic congestion and so on. 
         [0005]    One of the common limitations in the ground lighting safety system is the use of retraction of the marker lamp placed on the pole as it needs a separate mechanism like actuators for lifting and lowering the same. The lifting mechanism used in these inventions encounter a lot of problems from extreme weather conditions and it is prone to lose its efficiency. A separate power source is also needed to operate the system components. Additional cost and economic factor add to these limitations and eventually the efficiency of the entire unit is mitigated. 
         [0006]    In light of aforementioned drawbacks and limitations, there exists a need for an improved driveway marker light safety system mainly to assist the snowplow drivers during adverse weather conditions. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention relates to a self-adjusting driveway marker light system that can be powered by a solar or any electric source. 
         [0008]    According to the present invention, the driveway marker light will automatically adjust its height in different levels with regards to height of the snow covered in the area in order to assist the snowplow drivers to identify the boundary of the driveway clearly. The system includes telescoping tubes with teeth on it and a gear drive mechanism configure to actuate the telescoping tubes. The system also includes a photo eye sensor to detect the level of snow by which the gear in the drive mechanism turns and raises the telescoping tubes each level up along with the marker light unit. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the self height adjustable lighting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows a gear drive mechanism of the self height adjustable lighting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows a coil drive mechanism of the self height adjustable lighting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  shows a remote wireless control of the self height adjustable lighting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The following detailed description of the different exemplary embodiments presents a description of certain specific embodiments to assist in understanding the claims. However, the present invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 1  in more detail, the reference numeral  10  generally designates a self height adjustable lighting apparatus embodying an aspect of the present invention. Self height adjustable lighting apparatus  10  comprises a base  12  and a plurality of telescoping tubes  14  each placed at a distance or interval of one foot. Several stages such as stage one, two, three and four of telescoping tubes  14  can be added to the base  12 . Telescoping tubes  14  can be constructed of stainless steel or sturdy hollow plastic tubing material. A photo eye detector  16  is integrated with the telescoping tubes  14  to detect the obstruction i.e. snow level. Based on the detected snow level, the self height adjusting tube raises from foot level to next level. Light housing  20  is configured on the top of the self height adjustable lighting apparatus and it further comprises a swivel head  18  and this unit is adjustable using a supporting fixture fixed to telescoping tube  14  at angle of 90° and it points the edge of the driveway road. A screw is also provided to adjust swivel head  18  is present in the apparatus  10 . A solar panel  32  with twenty four solar cells configured as twelve cells in the front and back side respectively is attached to the top section of the apparatus to receive solar energy. In a exemplary embodiment, the dimension of solar panel  32  is kept as 2×4 feet. Receiver  36  placed in the light assembly for receiving remote transmitting signals and adjusting the height of the telescoping tubes. The Light unit  26  comprising LEDs (light emitting diodes) emits light beam in a downward direction illumaniting the driveway 
         [0015]    According to  FIG. 1  which shows an in-ground application of self height adjustable lighting apparatus  10  comprising telescoping tubes  14  with a lower and upper portions. The photo eye detector  16  is configured to look at each other across the width of the driveway. For example, the photo eye detector  16  can be a photoelectric sensor or photo eye which is used to detect the distance of an object using a light transmitter. The configuration of photo eye detector  16  can differ in commercial and residential units. The light housing  20  can include hardware connections  24  that extend to multiple light units  26 . Multiple light units  26  are shown, but it will be appreciated that a single light unit can operate in a stand-alone mode. For example, a photovoltaic cell or solar panel  32  According to  FIG. 2 , which illustrates working of gear drive mechanism in the self height adjusting apparatus. The height adjustment can be accomplished by drive mechanism  22 . The teeth in the telescoping tubes  14  is configured to contact the gear drive to bring the tubing section to next higher level depending on the snow level. Gear drive assembly  22  can be operated by a motor  30 . The motor  30  can comprise any suitable motive source, including electrical motors, solenoids, piston-and-cylinder units (pneumatic and hydraulic), etc. A gear drive mechanism  22  is provided in the apparatus for raising the telescoping tubes  14  each level up as photo eye detector detects the obstructing snow level. 
         [0016]    Another alternative embodiment of  FIG. 3  describes about working mechanism of self height adjusting apparatus. A coil mechanism  54  comprising coiled plastic rod can be configured to push up various sections of telescopic tubes  14 . The coiled plastic rod can be either flat or round tube. 
         [0017]    According to  FIG. 4  describes the self height adjustable lighting apparatus  10  can receive control signals from a remote transmitter  46 . A photo eye detector  16  in the self height adjustable lighting apparatus  10  can detect the snow fall level. For example, the photo eye detectors  16  can respond to surrounding light conditions and providing an appropriate light level indicating signal to the microprocessor. A light assembly  26  comprises a suitable light source, which can vary considerably depending upon the desired lighting effects. For example, incandescent and fluorescent light fixtures OR LEDs (light emitting diodes) can be utilized effectively, including applications with low voltage electrical power. The self height adjustable lighting apparatus  10  comprising photo eye detectors  16  detects snow level such that height of the telescoping tubes can be adjusted to next level. The light assembly  26  can be automatically activated, for extending the light to edge of the road through which user can visualize the drive way. Suitable devices can be utilized for such an automatic illumination function. 
         [0018]    According to alternative embodiment of  FIG. 4 , describes the self height adjusting apparatus  10  comprising an alternative aspect or embodiment of the invention with a wireless remote controlling the height of the telescoping tubes  14 . The height variation can be up to four feet for residential driveway units and chromed steel or plastic tubing tubular telescoping can be used. The main body section is one foot tall. The Light would be attached to the  3 rd or top tube which can be four such that the top or 3rd tube is fully extended the unit will be four feet tall. On the commercial units the base section  12  is two feet tall with three telescoping two foot sections and can be eight feet tall fully deployed. Telescoping units  14  come back down, once the obstruction blocking the road is cleared when snow actually melts. A rechargeable battery  40  provides power supply whereby the self height adjustable lighting apparatus  10  can operate independently of external connections. 
         [0019]    The photo eye detector  16  detects the rise of the snow fall and thereby the driver of the snowplow vehicle user can visualize the edge of the road easily. The passage of the radio waves over the antennas inside car or vehicle produces minute electrical charges. Depending on the length of the antenna design, differing frequencies of AM and FM bands to provide good reception. Based on the above configuration, mobile phone or smart phone or electronic devices  62  can wirelessly control the height of the self height adjusting apparatus. 
         [0020]    The operation of self height adjusting apparatus  10  can be preprogrammed for a wide variety of light effects. The swivel head  18  can rotate or turn around to show the edge of roads for the user inside the vehicle or car. Remote transmitter  46  from the mobile device or Smartphone  62  transmits signal to the receiver  36  which in turn activates the gear drive mechanism or coil mechanism to raise the telescoping tubes  14  to the next level based on the snow accumulation. For example, extension and retraction of the telescoping tube  14  units can be timed for operation during predetermined hours of darkness. Photovoltaic or solar panel  32  can be provided for automatically charging in response to predetermined light levels during the day time. The light units  26  can be preprogrammed for sequential operation and various other operating sequences, including random operation. 
         [0021]    According to another embodiment  FIG. 4 , the light assemblies  26  can utilize various lighting technologies in order to achieve desired operating and lighting effects. For example, incandescent, fluorescent, LED and other lighting technologies can be utilized. The light assemblies can comprise multiple individual lights, which in turn can have different characteristics such as color, intensity, directional orientation, etc. The individual lights within the light units  26  can also be individually controlled for sequencing and timing effects which provides the driveway for the vehicle user. The self height adjusting maker light  10  with a remote control  46  uses either solar  32  or electric power to clearly show the snow pile accumulation for the vehicle drivers. 
         [0022]    Provided self height adjusting apparatus for detecting the occurrence of an amount of snowfall, or of drifting snow, above a predetermined level and providing a signal to the vehicle driver or user. The light source  26  is arranged to project a beam of light through the apertures in to a predetermined distance based on the snow fall detection of the photo eye detector  16 . Upon interruption of the light beam by accumulated snow and detection of the snow level, the height of the telescoping tubes  14  should be adjusted automatically or the like to thereby indicate that a predetermined level of snowfall or drifted snow has occurred. 
         [0023]    It is to be understood that the invention can be embodied in various forms, and is not to be limited to the examples discussed above. Other components and configurations can be utilized in the practice of the present invention.