FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to pathway and landscape lights, and in particular to devices, apparatus, systems, and methods for providing pathway and landscape lights with vertically adjustable top covers over the lights to control light patterns and with raiseable and lowerable side shades for the lights for adjusting light patterns emitting from the lights.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART

Pathway and landscape lights have become increasingly popular over the last several years for providing light to pathways, sidewalks and driveways, and the like.

Typical pathway and landscape lights have a light source with a fixed shade cover on top of a pole that can be inserted into the ground adjacent to pathways, sidewalks and driveways. A typical U.S. Patent in this technology includes U.S. Design Pat. No. D500,161 to Bucher et al. which is incorporated by reference in its' entirety.

FIG. 1is a prior art view of a typical ground based landscape/pathway light1with a fixed top cover2. Most of these lights include a light source4(such as an incandescent bulb, halogen bulb or LED (light emitting diode)) on a post5with a ground engaging stake8. The light source4has a fixed top cover2, where 360-degree emissions5come out from the light source4. The top cover2is not moveable to adjust the light patterns that come out the sides of the light source4. These light sources4usually do not allow for adjusting and controlling light being emitted about the outer side perimeter.

Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide devices, apparatus, systems, and methods for providing pathway and landscape lights with vertically adjustable top covers over the lights to control light patterns being emitted from the lights

A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide devices, apparatus, systems, and methods for providing pathway and landscape lights with raiseable and lowerable side shades for the lights for adjusting light patterns emitting from the lights.

A third objective of the present invention is to provide devices, apparatus, systems, and methods for providing pathway and landscape lights with both vertically adjustable top covers over the lights to control light patterns and with raiseable and lowerable side shades for the lights for adjusting light patterns emitting from the lights.

An embodiment can include a pathway light with a vertically adjustable shade, having a fixture body having an upper end and a lower end, a light source within the fixture body, the light source for emitting light therefrom, and a vertically adjustable shade with top cover mounted adjacent to the upper end of the post, the vertically adjustable shade cover having a down position for causing the light source to reflect downward about the post from top cover. The vertically adjustable shade can have a raised position for causing the light source to reflect and emit light patterns sideways away from the post and in a downward angled direction about a perimeter of the post.

The vertically adjustable shade can include an upper moveable assembly having a top end attached to the top cover, and a bottom end, and a fixture body for supporting the light source, the upper moveable assembly for allowing the vertically adjustable shade to move from the raised position to the down position, and back to the raised position.

The upper moveable assembly can include an upper cylinder with translucent sides having an upper diameter, and a lower cylinder with translucent sides having a lower diameter being smaller than the upper diameter.

The fixture body can include a top facing opening having a diameter sized to receive the lower cylinder of the moveable assembly.

The pathway light can further include a seal ring between the lower cylinder and the fixture body.

The top cover can include a raised mid portion and perimeter edges sloping downward from the raised middle portion.

The light source can include a LED (light emitting diode).

The pathway light can include a ground engaging member for supporting the pathway light in a vertical orientation.

The vertically adjustable shade can include a moveable assembly with translucent sides having a top end attached to the top cover, and a bottom end a fixture body for supporting the light source, the bottom end of the moveable assembly for telescoping into and out of the fixture body. The moveable assembly can be used for allowing the top cover to move from the raised position to the down position, and back to the raised position.

Another embodiment can include a pathway light with a telescoping shade, having a post, a light source attached adjacent an upper end of the post for emitting light, a vertical telescoping shade with cover mounted to the post, the vertical telescoping shade can include telescoping cylinders having translucent sides for allowing light to pass through. The vertical telescoping shade can include a down position for causing the light source to reflect and emit light patterns in a downward angled direction about a perimeter of the post from the cover, and a raised position for causing the light source to reflect and emit light patterns sideways and in a downward angled direction about a perimeter of the post from the top cover; and

A second embodiment of a pathway light can include a frame having a generally centrally located light source, and at least one side opening in the frame, at least one vertically adjustable side shade positioned in the at least one side opening, wherein the at least one vertically adjustable side shade opens and closes the at least one side opening, a top cover attached on top of the frame for directing light emissions from the light source away from the frame and a ground engaging member for supporting the frame over a ground surface.

The pathway light can include a pair of vertical side members in the frame for forming the at least one side opening.

Each of the side members can include vertical channels facing each other for supporting outer side edges of the at least one vertically adjustable shade.

The at least one vertically adjustable side shade can include a handle on an outside surface for allowing the at least one vertically adjustable side shade to be moved up and down.

The pathway light can further include a set of louvers about a lower portion of the at least one side opening in the frame.

The pathway light can further include a first side opening in the frame, a first pair of vertical side members in the frame forming the first side opening, and first vertical channels facing each other in the first pair of vertical side member for supporting outer side edges of a first vertically adjustable shade, a second side opening in the frame on an opposite side of the frame, a second pair of vertical side members in the frame forming the second side opening, and second vertical channels facing each other in the second pair of vertical side member for supporting outer side edges of a second vertically adjustable shade.

The pathway light can further include a plurality of side openings about a perimeter of the frame, a plurality of parallel spaced apart side by side vertical side members about t perimeter of the frame forming the plurality of the side openings, a plurality of vertical channels facing each other in the side by side vertical side members, and a plurality of vertically adjustable side shades, each in the plurality of the parallel spaced apart side by side vertical side members, wherein side edges of each of the plurality of the vertically adjustable side shades slides within the plurality of the vertical channels.

The pathway light can further include a first handle for the first vertically adjustable shade, for raising and lowering the first vertically adjustable shade, and a second handle for the second vertically adjustable shade, for raising and lowering the second vertically adjustable shade.

The pathway light can further include a plurality of handles, each of the handles for raising and lowering each of the plurality of vertically adjustable side shades.

The second embodiment of the pathway light with vertically adjustable side shades can include a frame having a generally located light source, a plurality of side openings in the frame, a plurality of vertically adjustable side shades, each of the shades being positioned within each of the side openings of the frame, each vertically adjustable side shade opens and closes each side opening to allow light emissions from the light source to be emitted from the pathway light, a top cover on the frame, and a post having an upper end attached beneath the frame and an opposite end for being inserted into a ground surface for allowing the pathway light to be vertically oriented.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings.

