Sélection de la langue

Search

Sommaire du brevet 2759912 

Énoncé de désistement de responsabilité concernant l'information provenant de tiers

Une partie des informations de ce site Web a été fournie par des sources externes. Le gouvernement du Canada n'assume aucune responsabilité concernant la précision, l'actualité ou la fiabilité des informations fournies par les sources externes. Les utilisateurs qui désirent employer cette information devraient consulter directement la source des informations. Le contenu fourni par les sources externes n'est pas assujetti aux exigences sur les langues officielles, la protection des renseignements personnels et l'accessibilité.

Disponibilité de l'Abrégé et des Revendications

L'apparition de différences dans le texte et l'image des Revendications et de l'Abrégé dépend du moment auquel le document est publié. Les textes des Revendications et de l'Abrégé sont affichés :

  • lorsque la demande peut être examinée par le public;
  • lorsque le brevet est émis (délivrance).
(12) Brevet: (11) CA 2759912
(54) Titre français: SYSTEME DE SUPPORT POUR LANTERNES SOLAIRES ET METHODE D'UTILISATION
(54) Titre anglais: BRACKET SYSTEM FOR SOLAR-POWERED LANTERNS AND METHOD OF USING SAME
Statut: Réputé périmé
Données bibliographiques
(51) Classification internationale des brevets (CIB):
  • F16M 13/02 (2006.01)
  • F16B 9/02 (2006.01)
  • F16L 3/13 (2006.01)
  • F21L 4/00 (2006.01)
  • F21K 9/00 (2016.01)
(72) Inventeurs :
  • CHRYSANTHOUS, VAN (Canada)
(73) Titulaires :
  • NORTHERN PLASTICS LTD. (Canada)
(71) Demandeurs :
  • CHRYSANTHOUS, VAN (Canada)
(74) Agent: EDWARDS, ANTONY C.
(74) Co-agent:
(45) Délivré: 2014-09-23
(22) Date de dépôt: 2011-11-29
(41) Mise à la disponibilité du public: 2013-05-29
Requête d'examen: 2013-03-20
Licence disponible: S.O.
(25) Langue des documents déposés: Anglais

Traité de coopération en matière de brevets (PCT): Non

(30) Données de priorité de la demande: S.O.

Abrégés

Abrégé français

Des supports d'installation tiennent des lanternes solaires comme celles utilisées pour l'éclairage des jardins et des sentiers. Les lanternes peuvent être tenues à la main lorsqu'elles sont installées pour être libérées du support d'installation où elles reçoivent le rayonnement solaire de charge et où un utilisateur aura souvent besoin d'utiliser une lanterne. Elles peuvent être installées, par exemple, sur le côté des portes ou sur des piquets de clôture ou de portail ou sur des murs comme des murs extérieurs d'un bâtiment ou dans une enceinte fermée comme une remise, des contenants de stockage métalliques, etc. Un utilisateur n'aura aucune difficulté à repérer la lanterne la plus proche à la noirceur puisque les lanternes activent automatiquement leurs éléments éclairants à la tombée du jour. L'utilisateur peut ensuite simplement retirer la lanterne de son pieu, qui sert alors de poignée de lanterne, et les pinces résilientes du support d'installation libèrent la lanterne.


Abrégé anglais

Mounting brackets hold solar-powered lanterns such as used for garden and pathway lighting. The lanterns make useful hand held lighting if they are releasably mounted in the mounting bracket where they will get sunshine for charging and where a user will often need to use a lantern. They may be mounted for example beside doors or on fence or gate posts, or on walls such as the outside walls of buildings or enclosures such as storage sheds, metal storage containers, etc. A user has no trouble locating the closest lantern after dark as the lanterns automatically turn their lighting elements on when it gets dark. The user may then merely pull the lantern by its stalk, which now serves as the lantern handle, and the resilient tongs of the mounting bracket releases the lantern.

Revendications

Note : Les revendications sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.


WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A system for providing portable hand-held lighting comprising:
a mounting bracket having a base at a base end of said bracket and a pair of
resiliently
operable tongs at an opposite distal end, distal from said base end, a shank
extending
between said base and distal ends, wherein said base lies substantially in a
base plane
and wherein said pair of tongs define a throat having an opening between ends
of said
pair of tongs wherein said opening opens and closes as said pair of
resiliently operable
tongs resiliently open and close to expand and contract a cross-sectional area
of said
throat, and wherein said throat has a bore axis passing substantially
centroidally
therethrough, said bore axis inclined relative to said base plane,
a solar powered lantern having a solar powered lighting head at an upper end
of said
lantern and a rigid elongate stalk at a lower end of said lantern, said stalk
mounted
under said head so as to extend substantially linearly downwardly from said
head and
wherein said head has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of said
stalk, and
wherein said diameter of said stalk is substantially in the range of 3/8 inch
to one inch,
and wherein said stalk has a longitudinal axis extending substantially
centroidally
along and through said stalk and said head, and wherein said stalk is
releasably
mountable into said throat through said opening into a mounted position
wherein said
longitudinal axis is substantially co-linear with said bore axis, and wherein
said stalk is
manually removable from said throat by pulling of said stalk through said
opening as
said opening said resiliently opens and closes, wherein said base is adapted
for
mounting to a rigid substantially vertical mounting surface so as to dispose
said bore
axis upwardly and outwardly inclined from said base plane when said base is
mounted
to said vertical mounting surface so that said base plane is adjacent and
substantially
parallel to said vertical mounting surface.
17

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of said mounting
brackets and a
corresponding plurality of said lanterns, said plurality of said mounting
brackets
adapted for mounting to said vertical mounting surfaces when said vertical
mounting
surfaces are chosen from the group of locations comprising: a tree, a post, a
pole, a
door, a gate, a door frame, a railing, a wall.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein said base's of said plurality of said
mounting brackets
are adapted for mounting to said vertical mounting surfaces at an elevated
location for
ease of grasping of said stalks by the user and said pulling of said stalks by
the user.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein said pairs of tongs are made of resilient
material.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein said material includes 90 A durometer
polyurethane.
6. The system of claim 4 wherein said base is made of resilient material.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein said material includes 90 A durometer
polyurethane.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein said mounting bracket is entirely made up
of said
material.
9. A method for providing portable hand-held lighting comprising:
(a) providing a mounting bracket having a base at a base end of
said bracket
and a pair of resiliently operable tongs at an opposite distal end, distal
from said base end, a shank extending between said base and said distal
end, wherein said base lies substantially in a base plane and wherein said
pair of tongs define a throat having an opening, wherein said opening
opens and closes as said pair of resiliently operable tongs resiliently open
18


and close to expand and contract a cross-sectional area of said throat, and
wherein said throat has a bore axis passing substantially centroidally
therethrough, said bore axis inclined relative to said base plane,
(b) providing a solar powered lantern having a solar powered lighting head
at an upper end of said lantern and a rigid elongate stalk at a lower end of
said lantern, said stalk mounted under said head so as to extend
substantially linearly downwardly from said head and wherein said head
has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of said stalk, and wherein
said diameter of said stalk is substantially in the range of 3/8 inch to one
inch, and wherein said stalk has a longitudinal axis extending
substantially centroidally along and through said stalk and said head,
(c) releasably mounting said stalk into said throat through said opening
into
a mounted position wherein said longitudinal axis of said stalk is
substantially co-linear with said bore axis of said throat, and wherein said
stalk is manually removable from said throat by pulling of said stalk
away from said mounting bracket and through said opening in said pair
of tongs as said opening said resiliently opens and closes,
(d) mounting said base to a rigid substantially vertical mounting surface
so
as to dispose said bore axis upwardly and outwardly said inclined from
said base plane and so that said base plane is adjacent and substantially
parallel to said vertical mounting surface.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising providing a plurality of said
mounting
brackets and a corresponding plurality of said lanterns, and mounting said
plurality of
said mounting brackets to said vertical mounting surfaces, when chosen from
the group
of locations comprising: a tree, a post, a pole, a door, a gate, a door frame,
a railing, a
19


wall, and wherein said locations are exterior locations chosen to position
upper ends of
said heads of said plurality of said lanterns so that they are exposed to
sunlight on a
sunny day.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising mounting said base's of said
plurality of
said mounting brackets at elevated said locations for ease of grasping of said
stalks by
the user and for ease of said pulling of said stalks by the user.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein said pairs of tongs are made of
resilient material.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein said material includes 90 A durometer
polyurethane.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein said base is made of resilient material.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein said material includes 90 A durometer
polyurethane.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein said mounting bracket is entirely made
up of said
material.
17. The method of claim 9 wherein said inclination of said bore axis is
substantially in the
range of ten to fifteen degrees from the vertical.
18. The system of claim 1 wherein said inclination of said bore axis is
substantially in the
range of ten to fifteen degrees from the vertical.

Description

Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.


CA 02759912 2011-11-29
BRACKET SYSTEM FOR SOLAR-POWERED LANTERNS AND METHOD OF USING
SAME
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to wall-mountable brackets for holding implements in
particular to a system for providing portable hand-held lighting which
includes resilient
amounting brackets for holding the stalk of a solar-powered solar-rechargeable
lantern of the
kind conventionally provided for mounting into the ground in gardens or
alongside pathways,
and to the method of using in the system the combination of such mounting
brackets and
lanterns.
Background of the Invention
Applicant is aware of United States design patent 177,955 which is issued June

12, 1956 to Arbogast for a Bracket for a Flashlight or the Like which
discloses an ornamental
design for a bracket for a flashlight.
Applicant is also aware of United States Patent number 7,178,777 which issued
February 20, 2007 to Banker for an Adjustable Tension Clip and Method of Use,
wherein
Banker discloses an adjustable tension clip assembly used for retaining a tool
such as a
welding torch. The tension clip assembly is engaged with a clamp which is able
to be
removably mounted onto a surface, wherein the clamp maybe a common c-clamp.
The tension
clip assembly has a pair of mirror-image resilient clip members positioned in
spaced-apart
parallel alignment. The tool is held within the resilient clip members.
1

CA 02759912 2011-11-29
Applicant is also aware of United States Patent number 4,903, 929 which issued

February 27, 1990 to Hoffman for a Portable Apparatus for Holding Objects
wherein Hoffman
describes a holding device which clamps onto fixtures such as furniture,
counter tops trees,
fences, etc. and holds pole-shaped objects. An open, curved, resilient member
holds the pole-
shaped object. A c-clamp mounts the resilient member to the fixture.
Applicant is also aware of United States Patent number 4,895,329 which issued
January 23, 1992 Sloan for a Flashlight Clamp, wherein Sloan teaches a clamp
for holding a
flashlight in position while removably securing the flashlight to a support.
The clamp includes
a u-shaped retaining member and a threaded connector cooperative with the
retaining member
to enable adjustment of gripping tension on the flashlight body. Tension in u-
shaped arms that
retain the flashlight by a clamping action is adjustable without need for
manual manipulation
through bending or otherwise, wherein the threaded connector maybe a bolt or
screw whereby
a turning movement results in tension adjustment of the retaining arms. As the
threaded
connector is turned the retaining arms are brought closer together increasing
the tension on the
body of the flashlight being held.
Applicant is also aware of United States Patent number 3,908,948 which issued
September 30, 1975 to Hawthorne for an Adjustable Container Support wherein
Hawthorne
discloses a bracket for removably hanging items on a wall for use with
association with peg-
board type storage units. A pair of spaced ears at the top of a bracket
support member secure to
a peg-board wall. The bracket includes a hanger member having a pair of
spaced, article
clamping arms to support a container.
Applicant is also aware of United States Patent number 2,896,896 which issued
July 28, 1959 Revzin for an Accessory Clamp wherein Revzin teaches a portable
clamp
assembly for attaching lamps and other accessories to fixed objects such as
work benches,
tables etc. a c-clamp is provided wherein the upper portion of the c-clamp
pivots relative to the
2

CA 02759912 2011-11-29
lower portion of the c-clamp upon adjustment of a screw by rotation of its
associated control
knob, and wherein a clamping ring is mounted to the upper portion of the c-
clamp for
clamping therein a tubular accessory support.
Summary of the Invention
The mounting bracket according to one aspect of the present invention holds
lanterns
which are commercially sold as solar-powered garden and pathway lighting which
use light
emitting diodes (LEDs). Such lanterns are often designed to be stuck into the
ground on spikes
which extend downwardly from the stalk of the lantern. These lanterns
typically have quite
wide "heads", i.e. the upper part which contains the LEDs or other light
elements, which heads
may be in the order of two to eight inches across and are mounted on the upper
end of the
elongate stalks. The stalks may have having diameters in the range of 3/8 inch
to 1 inch
approximately. An example of such a lantern is the NOMA TM Eco-Bright Metal
LED Garden
Light supplied by NOMA Lites Ltd of Weybridge, United Kingdom. According to
the present
invention these ground lanterns also make useful hand held lighting if they
are releasably
mounted where they will get sunshine for charging and where a user will often
need to use a
lantern. They may be mounted for example beside doors or on fence or gate
posts, or on walls
such as the outside walls of buildings or enclosures such as storage sheds,
metal storage
containers, etc. The lanterns also decorative when elevated and mounted at,
for example, eye
level, on a releasable holder bracket.
Thus, according to another aspect of the present invention, the lanterns lend
a
decorative appearance to the front of the building or enclosure or gate, or
along the fence line
demarking a user's property, etc. A user has no trouble locating the closest
lantern after dark as
the lanterns automatically turn their LEDs or other light elements on when it
gets dark. The
user may then merely pull the lantern by its stalk, which now serves as the
lantern handle, and
the mounting bracket releases the lantern because the pinchers or tongs on the
distal end of the
3

CA 02759912 2011-11-29
bracket, that is, the end farthest from the vertical mounting surface on which
the bracket is
mounted, is resilient, for example being made of resilient polyurethane. The
base of the
mounting bracket is also resilient so that for example the bracket may be
mounted on a tree
and will not crack if mounted over a knot, etc.
For over-size diameter lantern stalks, the ends of the tongs are flared
outwardly so that
a rubber band or other tether may be looped over the distal ends of the tongs
to mechanically
close over the opening into the tongs. Because the head of the lantern is
relatively wide,
advantageously the throat of the tongs angles the stalk of the lantern
upwardly and outwardly
so that the head of the lantern clears the vertical mounting surface on which
the bracket and
lantern are mounted.
In summary, the present invention may be characterized in one aspect as both a
system
and a method for providing portable hand-held lighting.
The system includes a mounting bracket having a base at a base end of the
bracket and
a pair of resiliently operable tongs at an opposite distal end of the bracket,
distal from the base
end. A shank extends between the base and distal ends of the bracket. The base
lies
substantially in a base plane. The pair of tongs define a throat having an
opening between ends
of the pair of tongs. The throat opening opens and closes as the pair of
resiliently operable
tongs resiliently open and close to expand and contract a cross-sectional area
of the throat as
the stalk of a lantern is mounted onto or removed from the throat of the
bracket. The throat has
a bore axis passing substantially centroidally there through. The bore axis is
inclined relative
to the base plane, for example at ten to fifteen degrees from the vertical.
When in use, the system also includes a solar-powered hand-held lantern having
a solar
powered lighting head at an upper end of the lantern and a rigid elongate
stalk at a lower end
of the lantern, wherein the lantern stalk is mounted under the lantern head so
as to extend
4

CA 02759912 2011-11-29
substantially linearly downwardly from the head and wherein the head has a
diameter that is
greater than a diameter of the stalk. The diameter of the stalk may be
substantially in the range
of 3/8 inch to one inch. The stalk has a longitudinal axis extending
substantially centroidally
along and through the stalk and the head of the lantern.
The stalk is releasably mountable into the throat of the mounting bracket
through the
opening into a mounted position wherein the longitudinal axis of the lantern
is substantially
co-linear with the bore axis of the throat so as to position the lantern. The
stalk is manually
removable from the throat by pulling of the stalk through the opening as the
throat opening
said resiliently opens and closes.
The base is adapted for mounting to a rigid substantially vertical mounting
surface so
as to dispose said bore axis upwardly and outwardly inclined from the base
plane. That is,
when the base is mounted to the vertical mounting surface so that the base
plane is adjacent
and substantially parallel to the vertical mounting surface, the bore axis is
inclined upwardly
and outwardly.
Advantageously the system includes a plurality of the mounting brackets and a
corresponding plurality of the lanterns. The plurality of the mounting
brackets are adapted for
mounting to vertical mounting surfaces chosen from the group of locations
comprising: a tree,
a post, a pole, a door, a gate, a door frame, a railing, a wall.
Further advantageously the vertical mounting surfaces are at an elevated
location for
ease of grasping of the stalks by the user and for ease of pulling of the
stalks by the user.
The pairs of tongs or the shank, or the base, or all of those components may
be made of
resilient material such as 90A durometer polyurethane.
5

CA 02759912 2011-11-29
A method for providing portable hand-held lighting includes:
(a) Providing a mounting bracket as described above for use in the system,
Providing a solar powered lantern as described above for use in the system,
(b) releasably mounting the stalk into the throat through the opening into a
mounted position wherein the longitudinal axis of the stalk is substantially
co-linear with the
bore axis of the throat, and wherein the stalk is manually removable from the
throat by pulling
of the stalk away from the mounting bracket and through the opening in the
pair of tongs as
the opening the resiliently opens and closes,
(c) Mounting the base of the bracket to a rigid substantially vertical
mounting
surface so as to dispose the bore axis upwardly and outwardly the inclined
from the base plane
and so that the base plane is adjacent and substantially parallel to the
vertical mounting
surface.
Preferably a plurality of the mounting brackets and a corresponding plurality
of the
lanterns are provided, and the plurality of the mounting brackets mounted to
vertical mounting
surfaces, where surfaces are chosen from the group of locations comprising: a
tree, a post, a
pole, a door, a gate, a door frame, a railing, a wall, and wherein the
mounting locations are
exterior locations chosen to position upper ends of the heads of the plurality
of the lanterns so
that they are exposed to sunlight on a sunny day.
Further advantageously the base's of the plurality of the mounting brackets
are
mounted at elevated locations for ease of grasping of the stalks by the user
and for ease of
pulling of the stalks by the user.
6

CA 02759912 2011-11-29
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is, in front elevation view, a prior art garden and pathway solar-
powered lantern.
Figure 1 a is, in side elevation view, a solar-powered hand held-lantern
mounted
into a mounting bracket which is mounted to a rigid vertical surface, wherein
the lantern has a
relatively narrow diameter head as compared to the diameter of the stalk of
the lantern.
Figure lb is, in side elevation view, the mounting bracket of figure la with a
solar-powered hand-held lantern mounted therein which has a much wider
diameter head as
compared to the lantern of figure la.
Figure 2 is, in partial cutaway perspective view, a fence around a residential
property showing the use of the system according to one embodiment of the
present invention
to provide portable hand-held lighting at useful locations around the
property.
Figure 3 is, in perspective to view, a shed showing the solar-powered hand-
held
lighting system according to one aspect of the present invention installed in
the front opening
of a shed.
Figure 4a is, in perspective view, the resilient mounting bracket according to

one embodiment.
Figure 4h is, in side elevation view, the mounting bracket of figure 4a.
Figure 4c is, in plan view, the mounting bracket of figure 4a.
7

CA 02759912 2011-11-29
Figure 4d is, in end elevation view, the tong end of the mounting bracket of
figure 4a.
Figure 5 is, in side elevation view, one solar-powered hand-held lantern
releasably mounted into the mounting bracket according to one embodiment.
Figure 6 is, in partially cut away perspective view, the mounting bracket of
figure 5 mounted to the stalk of a lantern.
Figure 7 is, in partially cut away end elevation view, the mounting bracket of
figure 6.
Figure 8a is, in rear perspective view, a mounting bracket according to an
alternative embodiment shown partially closed such as for holding a small
diameter lantern
stalk.
Figure 8b is, in side elevation view, the mounting bracket of Figure 8a.
Figure 8c is the mounting bracket of Figure 8a, in the open position for
holding
a medium or large diameter lantern stalk.
Figure 8d is, in front perspective view, an alternative embodiment of the
mounting bracket of Figure 8a, in the partially closed position.
Figure 9a is, in front perspective view, a further alternative of the mounting
bracket with the tongs resilient open wide to clamp a large diameter lantern
stalk.
8

CA 02759912 2011-11-29
Figure 9b is the view of Figure 9a with the tongs resiliently closed to clamp
a
small diameter lantern stalk.
Figure 9c is, in side elevation view, the mounting bracket of Figure 9b.
Figure 9d is, in rear perspective view, the mounting bracket of Figure 9a.
Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention
As stated above, solar-powered rechargeable garden lights which, are intended
for mounting into the ground for decorative use in gardens and for
illumination of pathways,
are commercially available. One example sold by NOMATm lights ltd is the Eco-
BrightTM
metal LED garden light such as seen in figure 1, referred to herein
generically as lantern 10.
Such solar powered garden and pathway lanterns are designed to be stuck into
the ground,
typically on a spike 10a. They typically have a head 10b which contains LED
lights. The head
10b is mounted on top of an elongate stalk 10c. The stalk 10c is of
significantly smaller
diameter than the lantern head 10b. As an example, the lantern head of
conventional solar-
powered pathway lighting lanterns may have a diameter in the order of 4-8
inches, and the
stalk may have a diameter of substantially 3/8 of an inch to 1 1/4 inches. The
lanterns solar
panel 10d is typically mounted across the top of the lantern head.
Applicant has discovered that such solar-powered garden and pathway lighting
lanterns make useful hand held lanterns, and especially so if the lanterns are
releasably
mounted adjacent to locations where a user will often need to use a hand held
lantern, and
wherein they are releasably mounted for example using the resilient mounting
bracket 12
better described below, and where the lanterns will be positioned with their
solar panels, for
recharging their solar-powered rechargeable batteries, directed at the sun for
at least part of the
9

CA 02759912 2011-11-29
day on a sunny day. In this way, the lanterns will, as they are designed to
do, keep themselves
recharged during the day and then automatically turn on when it becomes dark.
Consequently, as seen in figures 2 and 3, when lanterns 10 are releasably
mounted in mounting bracket 12, for example to or adjacent to exterior doors
14a to a house
14, or to or adjacent to the exterior vertical supports 16a (such as poles,
posts, frame members,
etc) of a barn or shed (or to the fences 18 or gate 20 themselves), or when
the lanterns are
mounted to or adjacent to fence posts 18a or gate posts 20a, in the dark a
user will be able to
locate a lantern which is lit up and which is positioned to cast it's light
where needed, for
example on a latch or locking mechanism of a door 14a or gate 20. Because the
lantern 10 is
releasably mounted, it may be held by the user grasping the stalk 10c and
removed from the
resilient mounting bracket 12 so the lantern 10 may be carried into a dark
enclosure, or carried
while the user is moving across dark terrain. When the user has finished with
the lantern 10,
the lantern 10 may be simply returned to the resilient bracket 12 and left
there until needed the
next time.
In figures la and lb, other examples of conventional solar powered garden and
pathway lights are shown mounted in a resilient holder 12 which is mounted to
a rigid vertical
surface 22. Examples are mentioned above of useful vertical surfaces 22 to
which the
mounting bracket 12 may be mounted, although these are not intended to be
limiting. Thus as
stated above, resilient brackets 12 may be mounted to posts which include
fence posts 18a,
gate posts 20a, and support beams or members 16a which define the opening to a
shed 16.
Mounting brackets 12, although shown mounted adjacent the door 14a to house 14
may also
be mounted to or adjacent to doors on other forms of buildings such as
garages, shops, sheds,
barns, or on fixed mobile temporary shelters such as steel containers,
campers, or on larger
vehicles or vessels, etc, or on trees or other substantional fixtures. Because
mounting bracket
12 is made of resilient material better described below, the base 12a of
mounting bracket 12
may be mounted to irregular surfaces such as tree trunks. Base 12a is mounted
to vertical

CA 02759912 2011-11-29
surfaces by means of threaded fasteners such as screws (not shown) mounted
through
corresponding apertures in base 12a. Because the base 12a is resilient,
mounting of the base to
an irregular vertical surface 22 such as a tree trunk will not typically crack
base 12a and will
allow the mounting bracket 12 to be used in association with, when mounted on,
surfaces also
having different curvatures such as fence posts having a narrow diameter.
Mounting bracket 12 includes base 12a, shank 12b, and tongs 12c.
Advantageously, the entirety of mounting bracket 12 is made from a resilient
material having
rubber-like properties so that not only does the base conform to a vertical
surface which is
irregular, but the tongs 12c resiliently open to accept into the throat 12d of
the tongs the stalk
10a of lantern 10, where stalk 10c may have a diameter in range between for
example 1/4 inch
to 1 inch and still be accommodated resilient tongs 12c.
Throat 12d maybe circular. The opening 12e into throat 12d maybe an opening
along the circumference of a circle defined by the throat. Advantageously,
however, and as
illustrated throat 12d is non-circular. Throat 12d has along axis L1 which is
longer than its
lateral axis L2. Tongs 12c will accommodate a somewhat wider range of stalk
diameters if the
throat is non-circular as described below; that is, will accommodate wider
diameters than if the
throat is merely circular in horizontal cross-section. As seen in figures 4a-
4c the shape of the
cross section of throat 12d may be described as an ogive, although other non-
circular shapes
such as ovals, ellipses, parabolas may also work. The use of the illustrated
ogive for the cross
sectional shape of throat 12d provides gripping surfaces 12g which are in
opposed facing
relation laterally spaced across from one another across the width of the
throat. The stalk 10c
of the lantern 10 when mounted in the tongs 12c is primarily gripped by the
opposed facing
interior side surfaces 12g of the tongs. The interior vertex 12h of the throat
is at the vertex of
the ogive and is typically not in contact with the stalk of the lantern when
the stalk is held by
the tongs so as to be mounted within the throat 12d. The vertex 12h allows the
individual pair
of tong arms 12i to separate further in direction A from one another than, in
the applicant's
11

CA 02759912 2011-11-29
experience, is possible where the throat is merely circular in cross section.
This allows the
throat to accommodate the widest diameter lantern stalk of which applicant is
aware, and in
particular an approximately 1 inch diameter lantern stalk, when the dimensions
of mounting
bracket 12 are in the order of:
Height (h): approximately 1/4 inches
Length (1): approximately 3 inches
Depth (d): approximately 1/4 inch
Throat width (w) (axis L2): approximately 5/8 inch
Throat opening diameter (o): approximately 1/4 inch
Base thickness tl : approximately 1 inch
Shank thickness t2 approximately 1/2 inches
Individual tong thickness t3: approximately 1/4 inch
Mounting inclination angle B: approximately 10-15 degrees
In one embodiment, mounting bracket 12 may be made of 90A durometer
polyurethane.
Conventional garden and pathway lighting lanterns typically have a lantern
head 10b which is wider in diameter than the diameter of the corresponding
stalk 10c. For
example, to applicant's knowledge the above mentioned NOMATm lantern 10 has an
8 inch
diameter lantern head 10b and an approximately 3/4 inch diameter stalk 10c.
Inclining the angle
B at which the stalk 10c is held in the mounting bracket tongs 12c, apart from
lending a
decorative look to the lanterns held in the mounting brackets, also inclines
the head 10b of the
lantern outwardly from the vertical surface 22 to which the base 12a of the
mounting bracket is
mounted. For a length 1 of approximately three inches, a stalk inclination
angle B of
approximately 12 degrees is sufficient to provide clearance for the wider
diameter head so it
doesn't contact the vertical mounting surface 22 of the post, building. If the
stalk is
insufficiently long, or the mounting bracket shank is in insufficiently long,
or the inclination
12

CA 02759912 2011-11-29
angle from the vertical is insufficiently small, the lantern head 10b may
interfere with the
vertical mounting surface 22 when the stalk 10c is mounted into the tongs 12c
of the mounting
bracket. Thus for example, where the length 1 is approximately 3 inches, the
stalk may be in
the order of 8-12 inches in length, not including the ground spike 10d
typically provided for
driving the stalk into the ground, and the inclination angle B may be in the
order of 12 degrees.
If length 1 is longer than 3 inches, then the base 12a may have to be thicker
or
otherwise more rugged so as to support the increased torque on the base due to
the longer
moment arm of the shank (given that lanterns 10 may weigh in the order of a
pound or two
each).
The conventional garden and pathway lighting lanterns of which the applicant
is aware have the solar panel 10d for recharging the lantern mounted in the
uppermost surface
of the top of the lantern head 10b so as to expose the solar panel 10d
upwardly to sunlight
when the lantern is installed with the stalk 10c vertically in the ground. To
the applicants
knowledge the solar panel is mounted on top of the lantern head to maximize
the sunlight
intensity on the solar panel to thereby most quickly recharge the lantern's
battery when the sun
is shining. The problem with mounting lanterns 10 to, for example, the walls
of buildings or
other vertical surfaces 22 which are underneath the eaves of a roof, is that
the eaves or roof
overhang will cast a shadow down the wall. When the sun is directly overhead
the eaves of
roof overhang will prevent sunlight from shining directly down the length of
the wall. Thus if
the lantern is mounted vertically and closely adjacent to the wall, the solar
panel on the top of
the lantern will often be in shadow under the eaves and especially will be in
shadow when the
sun is most intense, i.e. directly above the building. Inclining the head 10b
of the lantern
outwardly from the wall 22 orients the solar panel 12d of the lantern more
directly towards the
sun the sun will be in its position to shining directly onto the lantern That
is from the
obstruction of the eaves and overhang. This then provides for most efficient
charging of the
lantern's batteries, that is, when the solar panels 12d are at approximately
right angles to the
incoming sunlight angling in to strike the lantern under the eaves. The solar
panels are at right
13

CA 02759912 2011-11-29
angles to the sunlight when the stalks are inclined outwardly and
approximately angle B, or at
least are brought more closely to such right angles.
A further advantage of inclining the lantern's stalks from the vertical so as
to
expose the lantern's head's outwardly from the vertical support surface 22, is
that the lower-
most end of the stalk, whether or not the ground mounting spike 10a is
installed into the base
of the stalk, is brought into closer proximity to the vertical support surface
22. This is
advantageous where the lantern is of a larger size and therefore heavier and
in particular when
the lantern head 10b is larger and heavier than that of other smaller lanterns
10. For such larger
lanterns, when the head 10b is inclined for more efficient battery charging as
stated above, an
increased rotational moment is exerted by the lantern 10 on the tongs 12c, and
an increased
rotational moment is also exerted on the mounting bracket because of the
moment arm of the
shank. In the event that the stalk 10c begins to rotate out from between the
grip of the tongs
12c of the mounting bracket, the lower end of the stalk will rotate inwardly
towards the
vertical support 22 and engage against the vertical support 22 thereby
preventing further
rotation of the lantern stalk in the tongs of the mounting bracket. This may
prevent the lantern
head from rotating any further outwardly from the tongs of the mounting
bracket and thus may
prevent the lantern from falling.
In a further embodiment, the distal ends of the mounting bracket tongs each
have an outwardly flared flange 12j. A tether 24 for example a ring or loop of
material such as
for example an o-ring or elastic band may be wrapped around the flanges 12j so
as to close
over the opening 12e into the tongs 12c and thereby to retain the lantern
stalk 10c within the
tongs 12c. This is useful to safeguard against the falling of a lantern 10
when the lantern stalk
10c is of the maximum diameter which may be accommodated between the tongs 12c
such as
for example seen in figures 5-7.
14

CA 02759912 2011-11-29
In an alternative embodiment, the mounting bracket is made of materials other
than, or in combination with, polyurethane. For example, the tongs on the
mounting bracket
may be of rigid material such as rigid plastic or metal, and the tongs mounted
for spring-biased
pivoting relative to one another so that one or both arms of the tongs pivots
against the return
biasing force of a spring to open the tongs to accept a lantern stalk, and
then is biased closed to
hold the stalk in the tongs. The shank and base of the mounting bracket may
also be made of
rigid material. Further alternatively, the arms of the tings may be rigid and
the base ends of
the arms mounted in a resilient base so that the arms may be pivoted open
relative to one
another and are biased closed by the resilient base.
Examples of the alternative embodiments, which are not intended to be
limiting, are seen in Figures 8a-8d and Figures 9a, 9b and 9c.
In Figures 8a-8d, the tongs 26 have a fixed arm 26a and a hinged arm 26b.
Hinged arm 26b may have a protruding trigger 26c. A coiled spring (not shown)
is mounted
on hinge pin 30, between the hinged and fixed arms. The tongs 26 are mounted
on one end of
shank 32. Base 34 is mounted on the other end. The arms of tongs 26 adjust
against the return
biasing force of the spring to hold lantern stalks 10c.
In Figures 9a-9d tongs 36 may be rigid or resilient and combined with a rigid
or
resilient split-shank 38 for example made of more rigid plastic such as from
Nylon or fibre-
glass-filled Nylon. Each tong arm 36a and 36b are formed as a unitary
extension of its
corresponding shank half 38a and 38b. The base ends of shank halves 38a and
38b are
mounted in a rigid or resilient base 40. The materials are adapted so that the
tongs are
resiliently biased towards their closed position so as to clamp larger
diameter lantern stalks
when opened widely as seen in Figure 9a, and to clamp narrower diameter
lantern stalks as
seen in Figure 9b.

CA 02759912 2014-01-06
As before, in the alternative embodiments, the tongs hold the lantern stalk
inclined at angle B.
16

Dessin représentatif
Une figure unique qui représente un dessin illustrant l'invention.
États administratifs

Pour une meilleure compréhension de l'état de la demande ou brevet qui figure sur cette page, la rubrique Mise en garde , et les descriptions de Brevet , États administratifs , Taxes périodiques et Historique des paiements devraient être consultées.

États administratifs

Titre Date
Date de délivrance prévu 2014-09-23
(22) Dépôt 2011-11-29
Requête d'examen 2013-03-20
(41) Mise à la disponibilité du public 2013-05-29
(45) Délivré 2014-09-23
Réputé périmé 2021-11-29

Historique d'abandonnement

Il n'y a pas d'historique d'abandonnement

Historique des paiements

Type de taxes Anniversaire Échéance Montant payé Date payée
Le dépôt d'une demande de brevet 200,00 $ 2011-11-29
Requête d'examen 400,00 $ 2013-03-20
Enregistrement de documents 100,00 $ 2013-03-20
Enregistrement de documents 100,00 $ 2013-03-20
Taxe de maintien en état - Demande - nouvelle loi 2 2013-11-29 50,00 $ 2013-11-04
Taxe finale 150,00 $ 2014-07-08
Taxe de maintien en état - brevet - nouvelle loi 3 2014-12-01 50,00 $ 2014-11-28
Taxe de maintien en état - brevet - nouvelle loi 4 2015-11-30 50,00 $ 2015-11-04
Taxe de maintien en état - brevet - nouvelle loi 5 2016-11-29 100,00 $ 2016-11-09
Taxe de maintien en état - brevet - nouvelle loi 6 2017-11-29 100,00 $ 2017-10-12
Taxe de maintien en état - brevet - nouvelle loi 7 2018-11-29 300,00 $ 2019-01-29
Enregistrement de documents 100,00 $ 2019-11-19
Taxe de maintien en état - brevet - nouvelle loi 8 2019-11-29 100,00 $ 2019-11-27
Taxe de maintien en état - brevet - nouvelle loi 9 2020-11-30 100,00 $ 2020-11-03
Titulaires au dossier

Les titulaires actuels et antérieures au dossier sont affichés en ordre alphabétique.

Titulaires actuels au dossier
NORTHERN PLASTICS LTD.
Titulaires antérieures au dossier
0938954 B.C. LTD.
CHRYSANTHOUS, VAN
SOLARKLIP ENTERPRISES LTD.
Les propriétaires antérieurs qui ne figurent pas dans la liste des « Propriétaires au dossier » apparaîtront dans d'autres documents au dossier.
Documents

Pour visionner les fichiers sélectionnés, entrer le code reCAPTCHA :



Pour visualiser une image, cliquer sur un lien dans la colonne description du document. Pour télécharger l'image (les images), cliquer l'une ou plusieurs cases à cocher dans la première colonne et ensuite cliquer sur le bouton "Télécharger sélection en format PDF (archive Zip)" ou le bouton "Télécharger sélection (en un fichier PDF fusionné)".

Liste des documents de brevet publiés et non publiés sur la BDBC .

Si vous avez des difficultés à accéder au contenu, veuillez communiquer avec le Centre de services à la clientèle au 1-866-997-1936, ou envoyer un courriel au Centre de service à la clientèle de l'OPIC.


Description du
Document 
Date
(yyyy-mm-dd) 
Nombre de pages   Taille de l'image (Ko) 
Paiement de taxe périodique 2019-11-27 1 33
Paiement de taxe périodique 2020-11-03 1 33
Abrégé 2011-11-29 1 20
Description 2011-11-29 16 678
Revendications 2011-11-29 4 159
Dessins 2011-11-29 11 164
Dessins 2012-03-06 6 76
Dessins représentatifs 2013-05-27 1 8
Page couverture 2013-05-27 1 39
Dessins 2014-01-06 9 137
Revendications 2014-01-06 4 155
Description 2014-01-06 16 671
Dessins représentatifs 2014-08-28 1 8
Page couverture 2014-08-28 1 39
Paiement de taxe périodique 2017-10-12 1 33
Paiement de taxe périodique 2019-01-29 1 33
Cession 2011-11-29 5 144
Poursuite-Amendment 2012-03-06 9 133
Cession 2013-03-20 6 264
Poursuite-Amendment 2013-03-20 2 74
Correspondance 2013-03-20 2 74
Poursuite-Amendment 2013-09-20 1 22
Poursuite-Amendment 2013-10-04 4 145
Taxes 2013-11-04 1 33
Poursuite-Amendment 2014-01-06 28 827
Poursuite-Amendment 2014-01-21 4 195
Poursuite-Amendment 2014-04-22 7 312
Correspondance 2014-07-08 1 44
Taxes 2014-11-28 1 33