MODULAR DECK LIGHT

Abstract

A deck light assembly for attachment to a deck railing includes a C-shaped body with a core nesting within a cover and a top plate extending between two legs. A foot extends inwardly from each of the legs to engage the bottom of the deck railing and secure the deck light assembly thereon. A solar panel on the top plate charges a battery and causes an LED light to illuminate in the absence of ambient light. A shade on the outer surface of one of the legs directs light downwardly. One leg includes a catch with a planar portion biased inwardly to engage the deck railing and configured to flex outwardly to disengage from the deck railing. A nub extends from the catch for application of an outward force to flex the planar portion for attaching or removing the deck light assembly from the deck railing.

Claims

1. A deck light assembly for attachment to a deck railing having a top surface and a bottom surface, the deck light assembly comprising: a body having a generally C-shape including a top plate extending between a first leg and a second leg and defining a lower surface for engaging the top surface of the deck railing, a battery and an LED light disposed at least partially within the body, a portion of the first leg including a catch having a planar portion extending away from the top plate and biased inwardly to engage the deck railing and configured to flex outwardly to disengage the deck light assembly from the deck railing, and a first foot extending inwardly from the planar portion of the catch for engaging the bottom surface of the deck railing.

2. The deck light assembly of claim 1 further comprising: a solar panel disposed upon the top plate for charging the battery when exposed to light and causing the LED light to illuminate in response to an absence of ambient light.

3. The deck light assembly of claim 2 wherein the solar panel is disposed within an inset panel in an upper surface opposite the lower surface of the top plate and located centrally between the legs.

4. The deck light assembly of claim 1 wherein the body includes a core nesting within a cover, and wherein the catch is integrally formed with the core.

5. The deck light assembly of claim 4 further comprising: the core defining an interior surface on one of the first leg and the second leg with a set of third tabs defining a pocket on the interior surface for holding a circuit board.

6. The deck light assembly of claim 5 wherein the LED light is directly attached to the circuit board.

7. The deck light assembly of claim 5 further comprising: a set of rails protruding from the interior surface within the pocket for securing the circuit board in wedging engagement with the third tabs.

8. The deck light assembly of claim 4 further comprising: the core defining a pair of walls extending upwardly from the lower surface parallel to one another along the sides of the top plate and defining a cavity between the walls and below the cover.

9. The deck light assembly of claim 8 further comprising: a plurality of fourth tabs extending further upward from the walls for engaging corresponding depressions in the cover to prevent relative motion between the core and the cover.

10. The deck light assembly of claim 1 further comprising: a nub extending from the catch beyond the first foot for application of an outward force to cause the planar portion to flex outwardly allowing the deck light assembly to be attached or removed from the deck railing.

11. The deck light assembly of claim 1 further comprising: a shade for directing the output of the LED light in a predetermined pattern.

12. The deck light assembly of claim 11 wherein the shade protrudes from an outer surface of one of the first leg and the second leg with the LED light contained therein.

13. The deck light assembly of claim 11 wherein the shade has a parabolic shape extending to a flat bottom defining a hole for allowing light to shine downwardly from the deck railing.

14. The deck light assembly of claim 1 further comprising: the lower surface of the top plate defining a plurality of standoffs for spacing the top plate from the top surface of the deck railing and allowing airflow therebetween.

15. The deck light assembly of claim 1 wherein the first foot has a generally triangular cross-section.

16. The deck light assembly of claim 1 further comprising: a second foot extending inwardly from the second leg opposite the top plate for engaging the bottom surface of the deck railing.

17. The deck light assembly of claim 16 wherein the body includes a core nesting within a cover, and wherein the second foot is integrally formed with the core.

18. The deck light assembly of claim 17 wherein the second foot defines an indentation for receiving a first tab that extends inwardly from the second leg of the cover to secure the core with the cover.

19. The deck light assembly of claim 1 further comprising: the body including a core nesting within a cover, a second tab integrally formed with the core as a portion of the first leg extending perpendicular to the top plate adjacent the cover, and a ledge integrally formed with the cover extending inwardly from an inner surface of the first leg for engaging the second tab to secure the core with the cover at the first leg.

20. A deck light assembly for attachment to a deck railing deck railing having one or more surfaces, the deck light assembly comprising: a body having an interior surface configured to mimic at least a portion of the deck railing, a battery and an LED light disposed at least partially within the body, a portion of the body including a catch having a planar portion biased inwardly to engage a surface of the deck railing and configured to flex outwardly to disengage the deck light assembly from the deck railing, and the catch including a first foot extending inwardly from the planar portion for engaging at least one of the surfaces of the deck railing.

21. A deck light assembly for attachment to a deck railing and comprising: a body having a generally planer top plate extending between a first end and a second end, the top plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface configured to overlie a top surface of the deck railing, a first leg extending generally perpendicularly from the top plate at the first end for engaging a first side of the deck railing, a second leg extending generally perpendicularly from the top plate at the second end for engaging a second side of the deck railing, a battery and an LED light disposed at least partially within the body, a securing mechanism formed on at least the first leg, the securing mechanism movable between a first position biased inward to secure the first leg to the deck railing and a second position flexed outward to allow the first leg to be moved.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Other aspects of the present disclosure will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a deck light assembly in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure;

[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a core for a deck light assembly in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure;

[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a deck light assembly in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure;

[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a deck light assembly engaging a deck railing in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure; and

[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a deck light assembly engaging a deck railing in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a deck light assembly 20 is generally shown for attachment to a deck railing 22 having a top surface 24 and a bottom surface 26. According to an aspect, the disclosed deck light assembly 20 can be easily attached and retained on a deck rail without the need to use wood screws or other permanent security mechanism. According to an aspect, the disclosed deck light assembly 20 can be located for direct lighting placement to allow increased visibility at night, such as for illuminating a plant, a drink cooler, a water feature, etc. This can be accomplished by a simple push and release mechanism, such as disclosed herein.

[0014] According to an aspect, as exemplarily shown in FIGS. 1-5, the deck light assembly 20 includes a C-shaped core 28 nested within a C-shaped cover 30 together comprising a C-shaped body 32. The cover 30 and the body 32 may be fixedly secured to one another but may also be detachable. The C-shaped body 32 includes a top plate 34 extending between a first leg 36 and a second leg 38. The top plate 34 defines an upper surface 40 facing generally upward and a lower surface 42 between the legs 36, 38 for engaging the top surface 24 of the deck railing 22. It will be appreciated that the assembly 20 could be utilized in connection with a variety of other suitable applications. According to an aspect, the assembly 20 may be constructed of a durable and weatherable material, such as a plastic material.

[0015] According to an aspect and as exemplarily shown in FIG. 1, a catch 44 is integrally formed with the core 28 and disposed on the first leg 36. The catch 44 can include a planar portion 46 extending away from the top plate 34 to a first foot 48. The catch 44 may be biased inwardly to engage the planar portion 46 and the first foot 48 with the deck railing 22, as shown in FIG. 5. The catch 44 may also be configured to flex outwardly for disengaging the deck light assembly 20 from the deck railing 22. With the catch 44 in its outward or disengaged position, the deck light assembly 20 may be slid along the deck railing 22 to another location or may be lifted and removed entirely. A nub 50 may extend generally downward from the catch 44 beyond the first foot 48 for application of an outward force to cause the planar portion 46 to flex outwardly and allow the deck light assembly 20 to be attached or removed from the deck railing 22. The nub 50 may have an arc-shape configured to be pushed or pulled with a thumb or finger. However, it may have a variety of other suitable configurations.

[0016] According to an aspect shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of standoffs 52 may be disposed on the lower surface 42 of the top plate 34 for spacing the deck light assembly 20 from the top surface 24 of the deck railing 22 and allowing airflow therebetween. This spacing may provide for cooling of the deck light assembly 20 and also prevent moisture from collecting therebetween.

[0017] According to an aspect, and as exemplarily shown in FIG. 5, the first foot 48 can extend inwardly from the first leg 36 of the core 28 opposite the top plate 34 for engaging the bottom surface 26 of the deck railing 22 to secure the deck light assembly 20 in place on the deck railing 22. The first foot 48 may have a generally triangular cross-section. A second foot 54 may extend inwardly from the second leg 38 of the core 28 opposite the top plate 34 for engaging the bottom surface 26 of the deck railing 22 to further secure the deck light assembly 20 in place on the deck railing 22. The second foot 54 may have a generally trapezoidal cross-section with a floor 56 that extends parallel to and spaced from the top plate 34. According to one aspect, the floor 56 can define an indentation 58 configured to receive a first tab 60 that extends inwardly from the second leg 38 of the cover 30 to secure the core 28 with the cover 30. The indentation 58 in the floor 56 of the second foot 54 and the first tab 60 may each, for example, have corresponding rectangular shapes. It should be appreciated that the feet 48, 54 may have other cross-sections including, as examples, L-shaped, triangle, trapezoid, semicircular, and combinations thereof.

[0018] According to an aspect and as exemplarily shown in FIG. 2, a circuit board 62 with an LED light 64 may be disposed between the core 28 and the cover 30. A battery 66 (not shown in the Figures) may also be disposed between the core 28 and the cover 30 within the deck light assembly 20. Those skilled in the art would appreciate that other energy storage devices, such as capacitors, could be used in place of a battery 66.

[0019] According to an aspect, the upper surface 40 of the top plate 34 can define an inset panel 68 located centrally between the legs 36, 38 which can hold a solar panel 70 for charging the battery 66 when exposed to light and causing the circuit board 62 to illuminate the

[0020] LED light 64 in response to an absence of ambient light. It should be appreciated that the solar panel 70 may also be mounted flush with or protruding above the upper surface 40 of the top plate 34.

[0021] According to an aspect and as exemplarily shown in FIG. 1, a second tab 72 may be integrally formed with the core 28 as a portion of the first leg 36 and can extend perpendicular to the top plate 34 adjacent the cover 30. A ledge 74 may be integrally formed with the cover 30 extending inwardly from an inner surface 76 of the first leg 36 for engaging the second tab 72 to secure the core 28 with the cover 30 at the first leg 36.

[0022] According to an aspect and as exemplarily shown in FIG. 2, the core 28 can define an interior surface 78 on the second leg 38 with a set of third tabs 80 defining a pocket 81 on the interior surface 78 for holding the circuit board 62 with the LED light 64 attached. A set of rails 82 may protrude from the interior surface 78 within the pocket for securing the circuit board 62 in wedging engagement with the third tabs 80.

[0023] According to an aspect and as exemplarily shown in FIG. 2, the core 28 may define a pair of walls 84 extending upwardly from the lower surface 42 parallel to one another along the sides of the top plate 34. A cavity 86 can extend between the walls 84 of the core 28 and below the cover 30 and may contain any combination of wires 88 and the solar panel 70 and the battery 66 and the circuit board 62. A plurality of fourth tabs 90 may extend further upward from the walls 84 for engaging corresponding depressions 92 (not shown) in the cover 30 to prevent relative motion between the core 28 and the cover 30. A partition 94 may extend between the walls 84 adjacent the second leg 38 and may define a notch 96 for accepting wires 88 between any of the solar panel 70 and the circuit board 62 and the battery 66 and the LED light 64.

[0024] The deck light assembly 20 may include a shade 98 with the LED light 64 contained therein for directing the output of the LED light 64 in a predetermined pattern. According to an aspect and as exemplarily shown in FIG. 1, the shade 98 can be parabolic parabolic shape protruding from an outer surface 100 of the second leg 38 and can extend to a flat bottom 102 defining a hole 104 of generally rectangular shape for allowing light to shine downwardly from the deck railing 22.

[0025] According to another aspect, the deck light assembly 20 may be configured for attachment to a deck railing having one or more surfaces. The deck light assembly 20 may include a body 32 having an interior surface configured to mimic at least a portion of the deck railing 22. A portion of the body 32 may include a catch 44 having a planar portion 46. The catch 44 can also include a first foot 48 that extends inwardly from the planar portion 46 for engaging at least one of the surfaces of the deck railing 22. The catch 44 may be biased inwardly to engage the planar portion 46 with the deck railing 22. The catch 44 may also be configured to flex outwardly for disengaging the deck light assembly 20 from the deck railing 22. With the catch 44 in its outward or disengaged position, the deck light assembly 20 may be slid along the deck railing 22 or may be lifted and removed entirely.

[0026] According to a still further aspect, the assembly 20 can account for varying thicknesses in railing boards due to its flexibility. Additionally the assembly 20 can have at least one beverage holder formed in the upper surface. The assembly 20 can also include wireless Bluetooth or Wifi capabilities to allow for streaming of music such as via an associated mobile phone.

[0027] Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described while within the scope of the appended claims.