Modular solar-powered lighting devices and components thereof

• US 10,180,221 B1
• Filed: 02/12/2018
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mpowerd Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mpowerd Incorporated
• Inventors: Jeong, Seungah, Salzinger, John, Mailmail, Mehmet
• Primary Examiner(s): NEILS, PEGGY A
• Application Number:
  US15/894,727
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/08 characterised by means for in situ recharging of the batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/032 the solar unit being separate from the lighting unit
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/33 annular
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/22 for optics

Abstract

Modular solar devices and kits of various components for assembling such devices are described. The kit may include a lighting component, one or more lights, a power storage component, and/or a solar component. The lighting component may include a control circuit and at least one light connector operably coupled to the first control circuit, wherein the light(s) may be configured to electrically connect to the light connector(s). The power storage component may include a control circuit and at least one rechargeable battery operably coupled to the control circuit. The solar component may include a solar panel, e.g., the solar component being configured to supply electricity generated by the solar panel to the power storage component and/or the lighting component to illuminate the light(s).

Claims

1. A kit for assembling a solar device, the kit comprising:

a lighting component comprising a first control circuit enclosed within a first housing and at least one light connector operably coupled to the first control circuit, the first housing including a first electronic connection in communication with the first control circuit and the at least one light connector;

a plurality of lights, each light configured to electrically connect to the at least one light connector of the lighting component;

a power storage component comprising a second housing that encloses a second control circuit and at least one rechargeable battery operably coupled to the second control circuit, the second housing including a second electronic connection in communication with the second control circuit and the at least one rechargeable battery; and

a solar component comprising a third housing that encloses a solar panel, the third housing including a third electronic connection in communication with the solar panel;

wherein the first housing includes one or more mating features complementary to one or more corresponding mating features of each of the second housing and the third housing; and

wherein the solar component is configured to supply electricity generated by the solar panel to at least one of the power storage component or the lighting component to illuminate at least one light of the plurality of lights.

2. The kit of claim 1, wherein, the kit further comprises at least one connector configured to electrically connect the third electronic connection of the solar component to at least one of the second electronic connection of the power storage component or the first electronic connection of the lighting component, the at least one connector being selectively attachable to each of the second electronic connection and the third electronic connection.

3. The kit of claim 2, wherein each of the first electronic connection, second electronic connection, and third electronic connection is a universal bus (USB) connection, and the at least one connector is a USB cord.

4. The kit of claim 1, wherein the second housing of the power storage component includes two second electronic connections configured to receive power from the solar component and to provide power to the lighting component, respectively.

5. The kit of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first housing, the second housing, or the third housing is transparent.

6. The kit of claim 1, wherein each of the first housing, the second housing, and the third housing is cylindrical in shape having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall therebetween.

7. The kit of claim 6, wherein the side wall of the first housing includes the first electronic connection, and the at least one light connector extends through the top wall of the first housing.

8. The kit of claim 1, further comprising a cover configured for attachment to the lighting component, such that the cover and the first housing of the lighting component form a chamber that contains the at least one light connector.

9. The kit of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the third housing covering the solar panel is transparent.

10. The kit of claim 1, wherein the power storage component includes at least one user element operably connected to the second control circuit, and wherein the second control circuit is configured to control at least one operating mode of the lighting component or the power storage component via the first control circuit when a user actuates the at least one user element.

11. The kit of claim 10, wherein the at least one operating mode includes providing power to the lighting component, terminating power to the lighting component, adjusting an intensity of light emitted by the lighting component, initiating a timed sequence of the lighting component, or a combination thereof.

12. The kit of claim 10, wherein the at least one user element includes a first user element for controlling the at least one operating mode of the lighting device and a second user element configured to indicate or provide an indication of an amount of power remaining in the at least one rechargeable battery.

13. The kit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lights include light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and at least one of the LEDs is configured to emit a different color of light than at least one of the other LEDs.

14. The kit of claim 1, wherein the lighting component comprises at least six lighting connectors, and the plurality of lights includes at least seven light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

15. A kit for assembling a solar device, the kit comprising:

a lighting component comprising a first housing, a first control circuit enclosed within the first housing, and at least one light connector operably coupled to the first control circuit and extending through a portion of the first housing;

a plurality of lights, each light including a base complementary to a terminal of the at least one light connector, such that each light is configured to be selectively attached to and detached from the at least one light connector of the lighting component;

a power storage component comprising a second housing that contains a second control circuit and at least one rechargeable battery operably coupled to the second control circuit; and

a solar component comprising a third housing that contains a solar panel, at least a portion of the third housing that covers the solar panel being transparent;

wherein the solar component is configured to supply electricity generated by the solar panel to the power storage component, and the power storage component is configured to supply power to the lighting component to illuminate the chamber; and

wherein each of the first housing, the second housing, and the third housing includes a top surface parallel to a bottom surface, the bottom surface of the first housing including mating features complementary to (i) at least one of the top surface or the bottom surface of the second housing, and (ii) at least one of the top surface or the bottom surface of the third housing, such that the lighting component is configured to be selectively attached and detached from each of the power storage component and the solar component.

16. The kit of claim 15, wherein the second housing has a thickness ranging from about 0.10 inch to about 1.0 inch as measured from the top surface to the bottom surface of the second housing.

17. The kit of claim 15, wherein the mating features of each of the first housing, the second housing, and the third housing comprise projections, recesses, or a combination thereof.

19. The kit of claim 15, further comprising a cover configured for attachment to the lighting component, such that the cover and the housing of the lighting component form a chamber that contains the at least one light connector.

18. A modular solar device comprising:

a lighting component comprising a first housing, a first control circuit enclosed within the first housing, and a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) operably and removably coupled to the first control circuit via a plurality of light connectors extending through the first housing, wherein the first housing includes a first electronic connection in communication with the first control circuit and the plurality of light connectors;

a cover removably attached to the lighting component, such that the cover and the first housing form a chamber that contains the plurality of LEDs;

a power storage component comprising a second housing that contains a second control circuit and at least one rechargeable battery operably coupled to the second control circuit, the second housing including two second electronic connections in communication with the second control circuit and the at least one rechargeable battery; and

a solar component comprising a third housing that contains a solar panel, at least a portion of the third housing that covers the solar panel being transparent, the third housing including a third electronic connection in communication with the solar panel;

wherein at least one of the second housing or the third housing is removably attached to the first housing opposite the cover via complementary mating features, and the second housing is removably attached to the third housing via complementary mating features; and

wherein the solar component is configured to supply electricity generated by the solar panel to the power storage component via the third electronic connection and one of the two second electronic connections, and the power storage component is configured to supply power to the lighting component to illuminate the LEDs via the other of the two second electronic connections.

20. The modular solar device of claim 18, wherein the second housing is cylindrical in shape having a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall therebetween, the two second electronic connections being disposed opposite each other along the side wall.

21. The modular solar device of claim 18, wherein the first housing, the second housing, and the third housing are stacked, and the first electronic connection, the two second electronic connections, and the third electronic connection are disposed along side surfaces of the respective first housing, second housing, and third housing.