Solar post attachment and method of use

Abstract

A synthetic fence post assembly for realizing enhanced decorative capabilities of a synthetic fence. The assembly provides an apparatus for securely attaching accessories to the end of a synthetic fence post without structurally degrading the fence post. The apparatus comprises a connector member with a first and second interface surface one of which securely interfaces with the top of a synthetic post and the second of which is available to interface with various fencing accessories. In one embodiment, the connector member is substantially transparent, such that the connector forms a lens that is securely fastenable to a fence post and is capable of supporting a light mounted thereon.

1 . A fence post assembly comprising: 
 a fence post;    a connector member for placement on a top end of said fence post, said connector having a body with a top end and a bottom end, wherein said bottom end is adapted to engage said fence post;    a lens member for placement on said top end of connector member, said lens member comprising a hollow body with a top end and a bottom end, wherein the hollow body includes sidewalls extending between said top and bottom ends to define an enclosed space, and wherein said sidewalls permit the passage of light there through and include a light diffusing means for dispersing light emanating from within the hollow body; and    a top member having a first end for engaging said top end of the hollow body of said connector member.    
   
   
       2 . A solar post attachment, comprising: 
 a support including (a) and (b): 
 (a) a post attaching interface for attaching to an end of a fence post, said post attaching interface including: (i) an interface portion for contacting a portion of the fence post end traverse to a length of the post, and (ii) at least one a projection for overlapping a side of the post; 
 wherein the interface portion and the at least one projection contact the post to retain the post attachment on the end of the fence post; and  
 
 (b) a hollow body having a sidewall for defining an enclosed space having an opening thereto, wherein said sidewall includes a light transmitting portion for dispersing light from within the enclosed space; 
 wherein the post attaching interface is connected to the hollow body for supporting the hollow body on the post end;  
 
   a solar lighting assembly including a housing, a solar collector mounted to the housing for exposure on an exterior side of the housing, a battery for receiving an electrical charge from the solar collector, and a light source operably connected to the battery for generating light;    wherein the housing contacts the opening to the enclosed space, and at least a portion of the hollow body separates the interface portion from at least one of: the battery, the solar collector, and the housing.    
   
   
       3 . The solar post attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the housing is a rigid body.  
   
   
       4 . The solar post attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the side of the post is an interior side of the post.  
   
   
       5 . The solar post attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the side of the post is an exterior side of the post.  
   
   
       6 . The solar post attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the light transmitting portion includes a light dispersing texture for dispersing the light exiting from within the enclosed space  
   
   
       7 . The solar post attachment of  claim 2 , wherein a lower portion of the sidewall contacts the post attaching interface.  
   
   
       8 . The solar post attachment of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the battery and the light source are attached to a side of the housing opposite the exterior side.  
   
   
       9 . The solar post attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the housing attaches to the hollow body, and the hollow body attaches to the post attaching interface for supporting both the solar lighting assembly and the hollow body on the post end.  
   
   
       10 . The solar post attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the enclosed space is substantially directly above the post end when the post attachment is mounted on the post.  
   
   
       11 . The solar post attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the hollow body is between the interface portion and at least one of the battery and the light source.  
   
   
       12 . The solar post attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the solar lighting assembly attaches to the hollow body as a single unit.  
   
   
       13 . The solar post attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the portion of the hollow body separates the interface portion from the battery.  
   
   
       14 . The solar post attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the portion of the hollow body separates the interface portion from the solar collector.  
   
   
       15 . The solar post attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the portion of the hollow body separates the interface portion from the housing.  
   
   
       16 . The solar post attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the light from the light source exits the post attachment substantially from the sidewall.  
   
   
       17 . The solar post attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the light source is positioned for providing light within the enclosed space wherein the light exits the enclosed space through a light diffuser.  
   
   
       18 . The solar post attachment of  claim 17 , wherein the light diffuser is positioned for dispersing light from the light source substantially uniformly about the post.  
   
   
       19 . The solar post attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the light source is at least partially within the enclosed space, and the light source is spaced apart from at least a portion of the hollow body defining the opening.  
   
   
       20 . A solar post attachment, comprising: 
 a support including (a) and (b): 
 (a) a post attaching interface for attaching to an end of a fence post, said post attaching interface including: (i) an interface portion for contacting a portion of the fence post end traverse to a length of the post, and (ii) at least one a projection for overlapping a side of the post; 
 wherein the interface portion and the at least one projection contact the post an effective amount to retain the post attachment on the end of the fence post; and  
 
 (b) a hollow body having a sidewall for defining an enclosed space, wherein said sidewall includes a light transmitting portion for transmitting light from within the enclosed space; 
 wherein the post attaching interface is connected to the hollow body for supporting the hollow body on the post end;  
 
   a solar lighting assembly including a housing, a solar collector mounted to the housing for exposure on an exterior side of the housing, a battery for receiving an electrical charge from the solar collector, and a light source operably connected to the battery for generating light;    wherein at least one component of the battery, and the light source is secured to the housing in fixed alignment with at least part of the solar collector;    wherein the support supports the solar lighting assembly on the post end.    
   
   
       21 . The solar post attachment of  claim 20 , wherein the solar collector, the battery, and the light source are mounted to the housing in fixed alignment with one another.  
   
   
       22 . The solar post attachment of  claim 20 , wherein the housing is a rigid body.  
   
   
       23 . The solar post attachment of  claim 20 , wherein the light source is provided within the enclosed space.  
   
   
       24 . The solar post attachment of  claim 20 , wherein the enclosed space is substantially directly above the post end when the post attachment is attached to the post end.  
   
   
       25 . The solar post attachment of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the battery and the light source is fixedly attached to the housing on a side of the housing opposite the exterior side.  
   
   
       26 . The solar post attachment of  claim 20 , wherein said housing has the solar collector mounted thereto so that the solar collector is stationary in the housing and is exposed on an exterior facing side of the housing; 
 wherein said housing has the battery fixedly attached thereto.    
   
   
       27 . The solar post attachment of  claim 20 , wherein the hollow body has an opening, wherein the opening extents around at least one of: the battery, and a circuit for operating the light source.  
   
   
       28 . The solar post attachment of  claim 20 , wherein the solar lighting assembly is substantially secured in the post attachment by being secured to the housing.  
   
   
       29 . The solar post attachment of  claim 20  further including a circuit for controlling the electrical energy, wherein the circuit includes a DC-DC converter for controlling the charging of the battery.  
   
   
       30 . The solar post attachment of  claim 29 , wherein the circuit includes a field effect transistor for enabling an oscillation process to be started by the voltage from a solar collector.  
   
   
       31 . The solar post attachment of  claim 20 , wherein the solar collector controls an activation of the light source.