SOLAR-POWERED COLLAPSIBLE LIGHTING APPARATUS

• US 20090175034A1
• Filed: 03/17/2009
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allsop Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Allsop Incorporated
• Inventors: Allsop, Jamey J., Allsop, James D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,192,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/183
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/037 the solar unit and the lighting unit being located within or on the same housing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 1/06 foldable or collapsible
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/023 Chinese lanterns; Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A solar-powered collapsible lighting apparatus and methods of assembling such a lighting apparatus are disclosed.

Claims

1. A solar-powered collapsible lighting apparatus comprising:

a lighting element assembly having a lighting element;

a solar cell;

a battery unit electrically coupled to the solar cell and to the lighting element assembly;

a collapsible shade including an opening located at the top of the collapsible shade and an opening located at the bottom of the collapsible shade; and

a support unit including a top portion that houses the solar cell and the battery unit, wherein the top portion of the support unit is positioned within and a least partially below the opening located at the top of the collapsible shade and the lighting element assembly is positioned within the collapsible shade when the collapsible shade is in both its collapsed state and its deployed state.

2. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support unit further comprises a bottom portion positioned within or proximate to the opening located at the bottom of the collapsible shade and at connecting device which connects the top portion of the support unit and the bottom portion of the support unit

3. The lighting apparatus of claim 2 wherein the lighting element of the lighting element assembly is located between the bottom portion of the support unit and the top portion of the support unit and is separate from and electrically coupled to the solar cell.

4. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the top portion of the support unit houses the lighting element assembly, the solar cell and the battery unit.

5. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a hanging device for hanging the lighting apparatus.

6. The lighting apparatus of claim 5 wherein the hanging device is a wire.

7. The lighting apparatus of claim 5 wherein the hanging device is connected to the top portion of the support unit.

8. The lighting apparatus of claim 5 wherein the hanging device is a rounded metal handle.

9. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the collapsible shade comprises a collapsible material which allows the partial or complete transmission of light through it and a collapsible frame which imparts a predetermined shape to the collapsible material.

10. The lighting apparatus of claim 9 wherein the collapsible material is located over the collapsible frame.

11. The lighting apparatus of claim 9 wherein the collapsible frame is located within the collapsible material.

12. The lighting apparatus of claim 9 wherein the collapsible material is paper, nylon, fabric or plastic.

13. The lighting apparatus of claim 9 wherein the collapsible material is waterproof or water-resistant.

14. The lighting apparatus of claim 9 wherein the collapsible frame is wire or plastic.

15. The lighting apparatus of claim 9 wherein the predetermined shape is a globe.

16. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the solar cell comprises one or more solar panels.

17. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the battery comprises one or more rechargeable batteries.

18. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a light sensor; and

a switch electrically interposed between the battery and lighting element

assembly, the switch being electrically coupled to the light sensor to be selectively opened and closed thereby.

19. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lighting element assembly further comprises a lighting element cover.

20. The lighting apparatus of claim 19 wherein the lighting element cover focuses light from the lighting element.

21. The lighting apparatus of claim 19 wherein the lighting element cover filters light from the lighting element.

22. The lighting apparatus of claim 19 wherein the lighting element cover diffuses light from the lighting element assembly.

23. The lighting apparatus of claim 22 wherein the lighting element cover is cracked glass.

24. The lighting apparatus of claim 19 wherein the lighting element assembly further comprises a circuit board.

25. The lighting apparatus of claim 19, wherein the lighting element comprises one or more LED'"'"'s electrically coupled to the battery.

26. A solar-powered collapsible lighting apparatus comprising:

a lighting element assembly including a lighting element;

a solar cell;

a battery unit electrically coupled to the solar cell and to the lighting element assembly;

a collapsible shade including an opening located at the top of the collapsible shade and an opening located at the bottom of the collapsible shade; and

a support unit including a top portion that houses the lighting element, the solar cell, and the battery unit, wherein the top portion of the support unit is positioned within and a least partially below the opening located at the top of the collapsible shade and the lighting element assembly is positioned within the collapsible shade when the collapsible shade is in both its collapsed state and its deployed state.