Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/209,044 filed Aug. 12, 2011, and entitled SOLAR LIGHT WITH CENTERING HOOK, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates generally to lighting systems, and more particularly, to a solar-powered hanging basket light. 
         [0003]    Some homeowners enjoy enhancing the look of their home by using hanging baskets to hold and display items such as plants outdoors. Some items may look particularly impressive and may enhance the appearance of a home when they are highlighted during the evening hours with a spot light. 
         [0004]    Some current systems use wall mounted lamps directed to shine on one or more baskets. While providing a flood effect around the basket, the basket itself may partially obstruct the light source causing undesirable shadowing. Other systems may use a conventional copper hardwired incandescent bulb hung chandelier style above the basket. The wiring may be snaked through hanging support cables causing the bulb to hang at uneven angles which may also promote undesirable shadowing. Hardwired systems may also increase power usage costs for the homeowner. 
         [0005]    As can be seen, there is a need for an improved lighting system on hanging plant baskets that also promotes energy conservation. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In one aspect of the present invention, a solar-powered light is provided, comprising a body having an opening formed through the center from an upper side of the body to a bottom side of the body, at least one solar panel on the upper side of the body, and at least one light source on the bottom side of the body. 
         [0007]    In another aspect of the present invention, a method of providing light to a hanging plant is provided, comprising passing wires and a hook of a plant hanger through an opening in a body of a solar light, the wires spreading outward to connect the hook with a pot, allowing the body of the solar light to rest on the wires below the hook, hanging the plant hanger, placing a plant in a pot of the plant hanger below the solar light, and exposing at least one solar panel, located on the top of the body, to light, whereby at least one light source, located on the bottom of the body and electrically coupled to the solar panels, is provided with current and shines light on the plant. 
         [0008]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a solar-powered hanging basket light of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a bottom view of the solar-powered light of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of the solar-powered light of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom perspective view of the solar-powered of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrate a perspective view of the solar-powered light of  FIG. 1  in use; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  illustrates a top perspective view of the solar-powered light of  FIG. 1  in use; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  illustrates a bottom perspective view of the solar-powered light of  FIG. 1  in use; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method of providing light to a plant using the solar-powered light of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
         [0018]    Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention generally provides a solar-powered hanging basket light. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , in an exemplary application, a solar-powered light  100  may include a body  102  with one or more solar panels  104  on its upper side and one or more light sources  106  on its bottom side. In one embodiment, the body  102  may be disk-shaped and have an opening  108  formed through its center. The body  102  may be circular and about 5½ inches in diameter. The body  102  may be manufactured in two or more sections out of any appropriate material, such as aluminum, plastic, etc., and may be weatherproof for outdoors use. The opening  108  may be tapered. In one embodiment, the opening  108  may be wider at the bottom than at the top, such as tapering from about 1¼ inches in diameter at the top to about 1¾ inches in diameter at the bottom. Notches  110  may be spaced around the perimeter of the bottom of the opening  108 . 
         [0020]    The solar panels  104  may be electrically coupled to provide power to charge batteries that may be retained in a battery compartment  112  accessible from the bottom of the body  102 . The batteries may be electrically coupled to the light sources  106 , which may be, for example, light emitting diodes, each of which may be housed within a compartment in the body  102 . If desired, the compartments may be covered with clear, translucent, colored, or light-focusing lenses. The light sources  106  may be chosen for their decorative characteristics or for their growth enhancing characteristics. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 5-8 , in use, the body  102  of the solar light  100  may be placed over a plant hanger  200 , with the solar panels  104  facing upward and with a fastener  202  and stays  204  passing through the opening  108  in the body  102  ( FIG. 8 , step  800 ). The fastener  202  may include a hook, eye, clamp or any other means to hang the planter  200 . The stays  204  may include wires, chains, cables, or any other means to connect a pot  206  of a planter  200  with the fastener  202 .) The stays  204  spread outward to connect the fastener  202  with a pot  206 . The body  102  may then come to rest on the stays  204  below the fastener  202  (step  802 ). The body  102  may be rotated to allow the stays  204  to fit within some or all of the notches  110  around the perimeter of the bottom of the opening  108  (step  804 ). In this position, the solar light  100  may remain level and less susceptible to rotating or moving when the planter  200  is disturbed, such as when the wind blows. A plant  208  may be placed in a pot  206  at the bottom of the stays  204  (step  806 ) and the plant hanger  200  hung from any appropriate location (step  808 ). 
         [0022]    When the solar panels  104  are exposed to artificial or natural light (step  810 ), they charge the batteries to provide electric current to the light sources  106  which, in turn, shine light onto the plant  208  (step  812 ). 
         [0023]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Technology Category: 4