Inflatable Solar-Powered Light

• US 20150131263A1
• Filed: 10/25/2012
• Published: 05/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Luminaid Lab, LLC
• Original Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Inventors: Stork, Anna R., Sreshta, Andrea M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,347,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/96
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 41/00 Hollow inflatable balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 43/06 with illuminating devices ; with reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/08 characterised by means for in situ recharging of the batteries or cells
• 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 23/005 the substrate is supporting also the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/026 being inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/062 the material being plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/0625 the material diffusing light, e.g. translucent plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/00 Gas-tight or water-tight arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/005 Sealing arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/10 for personal use, e.g. hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

An inflatable solar-powered light is disclosed. In some embodiments, the inflatable solar-powered light includes the following: an expandable bladder including a plurality of surfaces; a solar-powered light assembly positioned on at least one of the plurality of surfaces of the bladder; and one or more cover portions positioned over the assembly and joined with the at least one of the plurality of surfaces of the bladder around its edges, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the at least one or more cover portions is substantially transparent and each of the one or more cover portions forms a substantially waterproof envelope with the at least one of the plurality of surfaces of the bladder in which the solar-powered light assembly is contained.

Claims

1. An inflatable solar-powered light, comprising:

an expandable bladder including a plurality of surfaces;

a solar-powered light assembly positioned on at least one of said plurality of surfaces of said bladder; and

one or more cover portions positioned over said assembly and joined with said at least one of said plurality of surfaces of said bladder around edges of said one or more cover portions, wherein at least a portion of at least one of said at least one or more cover portions is substantially transparent and each of said one or more cover portions forms a substantially waterproof envelope with said at least one of said plurality of surfaces of said bladder in which said solar-powered light assembly is contained.

2. The light of claim 1, said assembly further comprising:

a solar panel;

a battery charger in electrical communication with said solar panel;

a rechargeable battery in electrical communication with said battery charger; and

a light emitting diode in electrical communication with said rechargeable battery.

3. The light of claim 2, wherein said solar panel is a photovoltaic panel.

4. The light of claim 2, further comprising a printed circuit board on which at least two of said battery charger, said rechargeable battery, and said light emitting diode are positioned.

5. The light of claim 4, further comprising one or more of resistors, capacitors, and integrated circuit chips to prevent overcharging said rechargeable battery and to control the flow of current to said light emitting diode.

6. The light of claim 1, wherein said bladder further comprises a valve through which said bladder is inflated or filled and deflated or emptied.

7. The light of claim 6, wherein said bladder is filled with one or more of a gas, liquid, and solid.

8. The light of claim 1, wherein said bladder is fabricated from a semi-transparent plastic material to promote diffusion of light from said light emitting diode.

9. The light of claim 1, wherein said bladder is fabricated from a frosted plastic material to promote diffusion of light from said light emitting diode.

10. The light of claim 1, wherein said bladder includes one or more surfaces having a particular pattern configured to promote diffusion of light from said light emitting diode.

11. The light of claim 10, wherein said pattern includes a white background portion having a grid of transparent portions thereby defining an about thirty percent transparent white pattern.

12. The light of claim 1, wherein said bladder is sealable so that said light floats.

13. The light of claim 2, further comprising a power switch in electrical communication with said rechargeable battery and said light emitting diode, wherein said switch can be selectively controlled to both introduce and prevent the flow of electricity from said battery to said light emitting diode.

14. The light of claim 1, wherein in a first state, said bladder is substantially free of gas, liquids, and solids and said light is substantially collapsed and wherein in a second state, said bladder includes one or more of a gas, liquid, and solid and said light is substantially expanded.

15. The light of claim 2, wherein said assembly includes more than one light emitting diode in electrical communication with said rechargeable battery.

16. The light of claim 15, further comprising a power switch in electrical communication with said rechargeable battery and said light emitting diodes, wherein said switch can be configured to control an amount of light provided by said light.

17. An inflatable solar-powered light, comprising:

an expandable bladder including at least inside and outside surfaces; and

an inflatable solar-powered light assembly joined with one of said inside and outside surfaces of said bladder, said assembly including a thin-film photovoltaic, a battery charger in electrical communication with said thin-film photovoltaic, a rechargeable battery in electrical communication with said battery charger, and at least one light emitting diode in electrical communication with said rechargeable battery; and

wherein said bladder is substantially transparent, flexible, inflatable, and collapsible.

18. The light of claim 17, further comprising a cover portion for covering said assembly when it is joined with said outside surface of said bladder, said cover portion being joined with said outside surface of said bladder around edges of said cover portion thereby forming a substantially waterproof envelope in which said solar-powered light assembly is contained.

19. The light of claim 17, wherein in a first state, said bladder is substantially free of gas, liquids, and solids and said light is substantially collapsed and wherein in a second state, said bladder includes one or more of a gas, liquid, and solid and said light is substantially expanded.

20. The light of claim 17, further comprising a power switch in electrical communication with said rechargeable battery and said at least one light emitting diode, wherein said switch can be configured to control an amount of light provided by said at least one light emitting diode.