Retrofit solar powered lighting assembly for flagpole

摘要

The present invention is an assembly that changes retrofits a flagpole with a solar powered area light, whereby the flag is removed from connection with the residential flagpole and stored. The assembly optionally includes a remote control so that a user can select from a number of operational modes for area lighting. The assembly also includes support bar connectors formed from two parts that are usable in either a connection of a support bar to the top of the flagpole or for connecting the support bar to the top of a downward directed solar lighting fixture.

主权项

1. A flagpole and solar powered light conversion assembly comprising:
(a) a flagpole with an attachment structure for attaching a flag at a top section of the flagpole and with connection means for attaching a decorative piece at a top of the top section; (b) a first connector connected to the connection means; (c) a support bar extending laterally from the first connector; (d) a second connector connected to a distal end of the support bar and the second connector connected with a top end of a protective housing; (e) the protective housing defining a housing axis and a substantial downward concavity on an underside, where an upper surface comprises four or more solar panels fixed substantially equidistant from each other and oriented with a top edge inclination toward the housing axis of from 30 degrees to 60 degrees from vertical; (f) lights arranged on a reflective and downward facing support secured to the underside of the protective housing, where a transparent cover is fixed to the underside of protective housing beneath the downward facing support to define a weather protected space in the protective housing; (g) the solar panels having electrical connection with solar storage batteries and a light microprocessor, both fixed within the weather protected space, the light microprocessor operating under a control program to act to turn on or off the lights according to user input from a user interface communicating with the light microprocessor and from input from a light level sensor that detects ambient light; (h) the first and second connectors are identical and each comprise two housing parts that mate together to form an external housing; (i) the housing parts are a support bar housing part and a cap housing part, each housing part being generally identical to the other except that the support bar housing part comprises a horizontal cylindrical extension extending from a generally vertical half cylinder wall and where the cylindrical extension is adapted to engage one end of the support bar; (j) each housing part comprises a cap plate extending inward toward an axis of the half cylinder wall and also from a top or bottom edge of the half cylinder wall, which cap plate defines a bolt hole; (k) the bolt holes of the housing parts vertically align and are adapted to receive a bolt shaft; and (l) a first bolt is inserted into the bolt hole of the first connector and the bolt fixes the first connector to the connection means.