Patent Application
20120293068
1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to rechargeable lighting systems, including remotely located lighting systems that are beyond the reach of a person.
2. Technology Review
Many people attempt to make their homes appear warmer and more attractive by installing professional styled lighting fixtures, such as to illuminate paintings, prints, photographs, awards, artifacts, plants, flowers, or aquariums. A house is typically wired to provide electrical power to ceiling- or wall-mounted lighting devices. In the event a house is not prewired for such lighting in a particular location and it would be intrusive, expensive or inconvenient to rewire the house for that location, it may be desirable to install battery operated lights.
Although battery-powered lighting devices have been proposed, they have not been commercially successful due to poor light quality, which is often linked to power constraints, issues with battery life, and the inconvenience of replacing or recharging the batteries. It is especially inconvenient to replace or recharge batteries that are beyond reach. Such devices require a ladder or chair to reach and access the rechargeable battery.
One solution to this problem is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,604,370 to Dowdy et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 7,772,801 to Dowdy et al. (“Dowdy patents”), which disclose battery recharging systems for hard to reach lighting devices and which are incorporated herein by reference. While the Dowdy patents may provide a solution to the basic problem of recharging hard to reach battery powered lighting devices, the inventors have identified additional problems and needs, which remain unsolved and unmet in the art. For example, decorative lighting devices remain obtrusive, with low aesthetic appeal, particularly if a recharging unit is attached to the lighting device.
The present invention provides remote lighting systems with improved aesthetic appeal and functionality. More particularly, a lighting system for remote placement and powering of a lighting device is provided which is comprised of a lighting device and an external power supply selectively attachable to and detachable from the lighting device. The lighting device includes power receiving means for receiving power from the external power supply, which is provided to at least one of a rechargeable battery, capacitor or light source of the lighting device. The external power supply includes corresponding power delivery means for delivering power to the power receiving means of the lighting device.
According to one embodiment, the power receiving means of the lighting device comprises an inductive power receiver including an electromagnetic power receiver coil for generating AC power in response to electromagnetic power from an external power supply and an AC-to-DC converter (e.g., rectifier) electrically coupled to the electromagnetic power receiver coil, which converts AC power to DC power. The DC power can be delivered to the rechargeable battery and/or capacitor of the lighting system and/or the light source.
According to another embodiment, the power delivery means of the external power supply for delivering power to the power receiving means of the lighting device comprises a DC-to-AC inverter in electrical communication with a rechargeable battery (or high capacity capacitor) and an electromagnetic power generator coil in electrical communication with the DC-to-AC power inverter.
When the external power supply is positioned adjacent to the lighting device in a predetermined position, electromagnetic power produced by the external power supply induces AC power in the power receiving means of the lighting device. The AC power is converted to DC power in order to recharge a rechargeable battery or capacitor and/or provide electrical power to the light source. The external power supply can be used to recharge an onboard battery or capacitor of the lighting system or it can be used as supplemental power for the light source instead of or in addition to the onboard battery or capacitor.
The external power supply can be selectively attachable to and detachable from the lighting device by means of one or more magnets on or in the external power supply and/or lighting device. In this way, the lighting device can have a smooth, aesthetically appealing exterior surface that is free from obtrusive or unattractive hooks, plugs, sockets, protrusions or recesses. The external power supply can have a shape that complements the shape of a sconce body of the lighting device in order to provide an aesthetically appealing lighting system even with the external power source attached to the lighting device.
The external power supply can include an adaptor to receive DC power from an external power source, such as an AC/DC wall adaptor with common DC plug or USB adaptor, in order to recharge an external battery of the external power supply. An extension pole can be provided that is selectively attachable to and detachable from the external power supply (e.g., by a mechanical connection, such as by one or more protrusions, recesses, spring loaded features, and/or magnets). The extension pole provides a user with easy access to the external power supply even if the lighting device is located in a remote location out of the user's reach.
A second or auxiliary external power supply can be attached to the lighting device in order to provide additional charging capability of an onboard rechargeable battery or capacitor and/or as a source of additional power in addition to a first external power supply. Both can be placed against an exposed surface of the lighting device sconce in order to provide a balanced and appealing look.
In an alternative embodiment, the power receiving means of the lighting device and the power delivery means of the external power supply may comprise direct electrical contacts (e.g., positive and negative contacts that are in electric communication with a respective battery and/or capacitor). According to one embodiment, the positive and negative contacts of the lighting device can be provided by different faces or regions of the sconce body, which are electrically isolated from each other. The positive and negative contacts of the external power supply can be provided by corresponding faces or regions of the external power supply body, which are electrically isolated from each other. In this way, positive and negative contacts can be provided that do not look like electrical contacts but rather blend in with the ornamental features of the lighting device and external power supply without compromising the aesthetic appeal of the lighting system.
According to one embodiment, the light source can be positioned within a fixture that is pivotally attached to the sconce body of the lighting device so as to provide for angular adjustment of the light source. In this way, a desired lighting angle can be provided by the user.
These and other advantages and features of the invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
To further clarify the above and other advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:
The disclosed lighting systems for remote placement and powering of a lighting device is comprised of a lighting device and an external power supply selectively attachable to and detachable from the lighting device. The lighting device includes power receiving means for receiving power from the external power supply and delivering electrical power to at least one of a rechargeable battery or a light source. The external power supply includes corresponding power delivery means for delivering power to the power receiving means of the lighting device.
Embodiments of lighting systems as disclosed herein provide one or more of the following features. An external power supply can be selectively attached to and detached from a remotely located rechargeable lighting device. The lighting system may include smooth, aesthetically appealing outer surfaces free of unattractive protrusions, sockets or physical electrical contacts. For example, magnetic attachment between the external power supply and lighting device can eliminate elongated fingers or other aesthetically obtrusive or unappealing appendages.
The external power supply can be a battery (e.g., a rechargeable battery that has a higher voltage and capacity than an onboard battery of the lighting device). Alternatively, external and/or on board power storage can be provided by one or more capacitors (e.g., super/ultra capacitors). Corresponding circuitries within the external power supply and lighting unit facilitate recharging or powering by induction. The external power supply includes a battery that can be charged using a charging station (e.g., a wall mount charging brick, docking station, wall charger with DC plug or USB adaptor, AC-DC plug plugged into an electrical outlet and communicating with the battery via charging contacts located on the pole member or a DC outlet in a side of the power supply body). AC power can be alternatively transferred from a standard wall outlet to the external power supply that includes a self-contained transformer (e.g., via a cord or wire passing through an extension pole). The external power supply can be left in place on a remotely located lighting device to extend operational time (e.g., by providing an auxiliary stored power source). Alternatively, the external power supply can provide the sole source of power to the lighting device (e.g., in case onboard battery or capacitor is discharged, removed, or eliminated). A recharging indicator light on the sconce can be provided to indicate when the onboard batter or capacitor has been fully charged).
The external power supply can be detachably coupled to an extension pole to provide user access to a remotely located lighting device. A swivel or other pivotable connection between the pole and external power supply permits pivoting movement of the pole relative to external power supply instead of a rigid connection (e.g., facilitates attachment of the external power supply to a remotely located lighting device attached to a wall, pillar or other non-horizontal surface rather than a ceiling). The extension pole can be selectively disconnected from the external power supply while powering the remotely located lighting device (e.g., as a result of a mechanical and/or magnetic connection between the pole member and external power supply). The extension pole can be adjustable in length to accommodate different users and/or positions of the lighting device and/or have an ergonomic handle or other graspable feature.
The lighting system may include a remote control for operating the remotely located lighting device. Other features and aspects not specifically disclosed herein, but which may add desired functionality, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,604,370 to Dowdy et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 7,772,801 to Dowdy et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Reference is now made to the drawings, which illustrate embodiments of lighting systems within the scope of the disclosure.
The lighting device 202 further includes a sconce body 210, which includes a proximal side 212 for placement adjacent to a wall, ceiling or other generally flat surface. Alternatively, a lighting device may include a sconce body having a curvature or other shape that accommodates a corresponding structure to which it is to be attached. The sconce body includes an exterior surface which, in the depicted embodiment, is provided by a distal wall 214 spaced apart from the proximal side 212 and a perimeter wall 216 interconnecting and extending laterally between the proximal side 212 and the distal wall 214. According to the embodiment shown, the exterior surface provided by the distal wall 214 and perimeter wall 216 is free of hooks, sockets, plugs, protrusions, or other industrial-looking or non-aesthetically pleasing structures.
A light fixture 218 is pivotally attached to the sconce body 210 by means of a swivel bracket comprised of a pair of arms 220 fixedly attached at one end to the sconce body 210 and at another end to a ring member 222 by means of pivots 224. The ring structure 222 is rigidly attached to a shade member 226, which surrounds and protects a light source 228. The light source may comprise any light source known in the art, such as incandescent bulbs, halogen lamps, light emitting diodes (LEDs), and compact fluorescent bulbs. A power cord 230 interconnects and provides power from the sconce body 210 to the light fixture 218. The power cord 230 can be flexible and/or have a length so as to accommodate movement of the light fixture components.
The external power supply body 440 includes a first wall 444 having a size and shape so as to lie adjacent to a portion of the distal wall portion 414 of the sconce body 410. A second wall 446 of the power supply body 440 is configured so as to lie adjacent to the perimeter wall portion 416 of the sconce body 410. To facilitate contact, the distal wall portion 414 and the perimeter wall portion 416 form an angle that corresponds to an angle formed by first and second walls 444 and 446 of power supply body 440. According to one embodiment, the distal and proximal walls 414, 416 can be substantially perpendicular (i.e., so as to have an angle of 90° or within a range of about 70° to 110°). First and second walls 444, 446 can also be perpendicular to each other so as to form an angle that is approximately 90°, or within a range of about 70° to about 110°. It will be appreciated that the outer surfaces of distal wall 414 and perimeter wall 416 form an angle of 270° when the walls 414, 416 are positioned orthogonally. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the walls of the sconce body and power supply body can have any desired angle, shape, curvature, or other structure that is able to provide a desired contact or proximity between the two. It is possible therefore for the external power supply and sconce body to form a mechanical connection. According to one embodiment, a magnet 450 can be provided on or in the power supply body 440 and/or a magnet 452 can be provided on or in the sconce body 410 in order to facilitate magnetic attraction of the two bodies when placed in close proximity.
The electromagnetic power generator 504 includes a power supply body 540 having a power transfer wall 542 and an interior portion 544. An electromagnetic power generating coil 546 is electronically coupled to a DC-to-AC power inverter 550 by means of electrical contacts or leads 548. A battery 552 is electronically coupled to the DC-to-AC power inverter by means of electrical contacts 554. A DC power socket 556 provides means for electrically coupling the battery 552 to an external power source, such as an AC-DC wall converter.
The power receiver 502 includes a power receiving body 510 (e.g., a portion of a lighting device sconce) that includes a power receiving surface 512 and an interior portion 514. An electromagnetic power receiving coil 516 is positioned near the power receiving wall 512 in order to receive electromagnetic power generated by the electromagnetic power generating coil 546 of power generator 504. The power receiving coil 516 is electronically coupled to an AC-to-DC power converter 520 (e.g., rectifier) by means of electrical contact or leads 518. The AC-to-DC power converter 520 is electronically coupled to a battery (or capacitor) 522 by means of power contacts or leads 524 and also to light source 526. In this way, the light source 526 can be powered by the battery 522, the AC-to-DC power converter 520, or both simultaneously. Alternatively, the AC-to-DC converter 520 can provide electrical power to the light source 526 in the absence of a battery (or capacitor) 522. In this case, the power supply 504 would be the only power source for the light source 526.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/487,268, filed May 17, 2011, entitled “RECHARGEABLE LIGHT AND RECHARGING APPARATUS,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61487268 | May 2011 | US |
