Patent Application
20070019404
The present invention pertains to a decorative device; more particularly the present invention pertains to a lighted decorative device hung from an overhead support.
In many outdoor areas, on patios attached to residences or in rooms just inside outdoor areas, those who occupy these outdoor areas, patios, or rooms just inside outdoor areas decorate them with hanging devices. Some of these hanging devices include one or more chimes which emit pleasing sounds when moved by breezes or the force of blowing wind. Unfortunately, when darkness falls at the end of the day, many elect to leave outdoor areas, patios, or rooms just inside outdoor areas because of the lack of light.
In recent years, many manufacturers of lighting products, particularly lighting products used outdoors, have incorporated solar panels with lighting products to provide electrical power without having to run wires to carry electrical energy to the lighting products. While such solar panels have found uses in such lighting products as pathway lighting, garden lights, or illuminated address signs, such solar panels have not been incorporated into many other objects frequently found in outdoor areas, patios, or rooms close to outdoor areas.
Accordingly, a need remains in the art to incorporate a solar-powered lighting function into objects frequently found in outdoor areas, patios, or rooms close to outdoor areas.
The device and method of the present invention incorporates solar-powered lighting into hanging decorations typically found in outdoor areas, patios, or in rooms adjacent to outdoor areas, more particularly a wind chime.
The disclosed hanging lighted decorative device of the present invention includes a solar-powered lighting assembly together with hollow tubes which produce sounds when either moved against each other or struck by an impact device because of the force provided by moving air. The hollow tubes are suspended or hung beneath the solar-powered lighting assembly. The solar-powered lighting assembly is hung from an overhead support.
Users of the disclosed hanging lighted decorative device will be able to enjoy the sounds of a wind chime while, at the same time, having the benefit of light emitted by the solar-powered lighting assembly.
A better understanding of the hanging lighted decorative device of the present invention may be had by reference to the drawing figures, wherein:
The hanging lighted decorative device 10 of the present invention includes a lighting assembly 20 which is constructed to transform light energy into electrical energy, store the electrical energy in a storage device, such as a battery 22, and then emit light from a light source 24 such as an LED. The hanging lighted decorative device 10 is hung or suspended from an overhead support.
Suspended underneath or hanging from the lighting assembly 20 is a collection 40 of hollow tubes 42 having different lengths. Each hollow tube 42 emits a different sound when either struck by a suspended impact device 44 or struck by another tube 42 in response to the force of moving air. If desired, the suspended impact device 44 may be weighted 46 to restrict its movement.
As best seen in
The componentry included in such solar-powered lighting assemblies shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the lighting assembly 20 is substantially circular and includes an upper or cover portion 28 and a lower translucent lens portion 36. The electrical componentry, to include the solar panel 30, the circuitry 32, the electrical storage battery 26, and the light source 24, are all contained within the cover portion 28. In the preferred embodiment, the circumference of the substantially circular translucent lens portion 36 is slightly smaller than the cover portion 28. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that a translucent lens portion 36 is helpful in outdoor areas to protect the light source; however, in protected areas, the translucent lens portion 36 may not be needed.
Suspended from the lighting assembly 20 are one or more chimes selected for their ability to emit sound when struck by another chime or by an impact member. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of tubes of different lengths is used; however, any objects which emit a pleasing sound when moved by air or typically used in wind chimes may be suspended from the lighting assembly 20 without departing from the scope of the present invention. The objects selected are preferably chosen for their ability to emit harmonic tones when moved by the action of the wind.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that numerous other embodiments of the disclosed invention have been enabled by the foregoing disclosure. Such numerous other embodiments shall be included within the scope and meaning of the appended claims.
