US2012047817A1PendingUtilityA1

Solar energy rain gutter system

41
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Aug 25, 2010Filed: Aug 24, 2011Published: Mar 1, 2012
Est. expiryAug 25, 2030(~4.1 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:James L. Prentice
Y02E10/40E04D 13/076Y02B10/10Y02E10/50H02S 20/00H02S 20/23Y02E10/44F24S 20/67F24S 40/44Y02B10/20
41
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

A solar energy rain gutter system includes a solar panel connectable to a gutter. One or a multitude of solar panels can be connected in series along the length of the gutter to power various electrical devices. The solar panel can be angularly adjusted to collect a maximum amount of light while also allowing rain water to still flow within the gutter. The solar panels can be controlled from a control box including a rechargeable battery and control logic, such as a timer for automatically activating and deactivating various devices at night or during the day.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solar energy rain gutter system, comprising:
 a rain gutter for collecting and diverting water shed by a roof, the rain gutter forming a trough having an upper opening defined, at least in part, by a front lip and a rear lip; and   a solar panel fixed to the rain gutter and attached to the front lip, the rear lip, or both.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the position of the solar panel relative to the rain gutter is adjustable. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the solar panel includes a clip for engaging at least one of the rain gutter lips, the clip having a plurality of notches which allow the angle of the solar panel to be adjusted relative to the rain gutter. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the solar panel comprises a plurality of solar panels. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein adjacent solar panels are electrically connected together. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , including one or more outdoor electrical devices electrically connected to the solar panel. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the outdoor electrical devices comprise a night light, a security light, a motion activated light, a motion sensor, a remote video camera, a pool pump, a pool filter, an air conditioning (AC) unit, a fan, an outside speaker, or a radio. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , including a control box for controlling the one or more electrical devices and how energy is managed. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the control box includes a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         10 . A solar energy rain gutter system comprising:
 a rain gutter for collecting and diverting water shed by a roof, the rain gutter forming a trough having an upper opening defined, at least in part, by a front lip and a rear lip;   a solar panel fixed to the rain gutter and attached to the front lip, the rear lip, or both, wherein the position of the solar panel relative to the rain gutter is adjustable; and   one or more outdoor electrical devices electrically connected to the solar panel.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the solar panel includes a clip for engaging at least one of the rain gutter lips, the clip having a plurality of notches which allow the angle of the solar panel to be adjusted relative to the rain gutter. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the solar panel comprises a plurality of solar panels electrically connected together. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the outdoor electrical devices comprise a night light, a security light, a motion activated light, a motion sensor, a remote video camera, a pool pump, a pool filter, an air conditioning (AC) unit, a fan, an outside speaker, or a radio. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , including a control box for controlling the one or more electrical devices and how energy is managed. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the control box includes a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         16 . A solar energy rain gutter system, comprising:
 a rain gutter for collecting and diverting water shed by a roof, the rain gutter forming a trough having an upper opening defined, at least in part, by a front lip and a rear lip;   a solar panel fixed to the rain gutter and attached to the front lip, the rear lip, or both, wherein the position of the solar panel relative to the rain gutter is adjustable, the solar panel comprising a plurality of solar panels electrically connected together;   one or more outdoor electrical devices electrically connected to the solar panels; and   a control box for controlling the one or more electrical devices and how energy is stored.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the solar panel includes a clip for engaging at least one of the rain gutter lips, the clip having a plurality of notches which allow the angle of the solar panel to be adjusted relative to the rain gutter. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the outdoor electrical devices comprise a night light, a security light, a motion activated light, a motion sensor, a remote video camera, a pool pump, a pool filter, an air conditioning (AC) unit, a fan, an outside speaker, or a radio. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the control box includes a rechargeable battery.

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