Portable solar light tower

• US 8,733,963 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2010
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cedar Lane Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bryan P. Sharpley, Kirsten A. Waldorf
• Inventors: Sharpley, Bryan P., Waldorf, Kirsten A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BANNAN, JULIE A
• Application Number:
  US12/719,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20100232148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: 362/183, 362/192, 362/431, 362/157, 362/190, 362/485, 362/403, 362/414
• US Class Current: 362/183
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/18 the object being a searchlight mounting of cameras operating during drive B60R11/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0029 Spatial arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 63/08 Component parts or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/20 Light sources comprising attachment means
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 14/04 carried on wheeled supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/08 characterised by means for in situ recharging of the batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/03 rechargeable by exposure to light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/22 telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/26 Pivoted arms
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/1005 of working places, building sites or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 in street lighting

Abstract

A portable solar light tower includes a trailer mounted extension tower outfitted with high output Light Emitting Diode (LED) flood lights. The portable solar light tower also includes a set of solar panels which fold up for travel mode and fold down for charging mode. A battery bank is housed in a locking compartment built into the trailer deck.

Claims

1. A solar power device, comprising:

a. a substantially horizontal portable base plate, wherein the portable base plate is part of a trailer;

b. a first solar panel coupled to a first side of the portable base plate for converting solar energy into electricity;

c. a second solar panel coupled to a second side of the portable base plate opposite the first side for converting solar energy into electricity; and

d. a light coupled to the portable base plate for illuminating an area using the electricity from the solar panel

wherein the first solar panel and the second solar panel are positioned in a substantially vertical orientation above the portable base plate in a closed position and are rotatable to a substantially horizontal orientation in an open position by opening outward from the closed position, wherein the first solar panel and the second solar panel each face inward toward the trailer when positioned in the closed position, wherein the first solar panel and the second solar panel fold out over fenders of the trailer.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a first protective back plate for protecting the first solar panel and a second protective back plate for protecting the second solar panel.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a battery for storing the electricity and providing the electricity to the light.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a control panel for controlling the light and the solar panel.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a pivotable, telescoping tower coupling the light to the portable base plate, wherein the telescoping tower is extendable and pivotable between a down position to an up position.

6. The device of claim 5 further comprising a winch and pulley system for moving the telescoping tower between the down position to the up position.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising anti-slam shock absorbers coupled to the portable base plate for preventing the solar panel from slamming open.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the first solar panel and the second solar panel are each rotatable to the open position to acquire the solar energy and the closed position to protect the solar panels.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the light is selected from the group consisting of one or more floodlights and one or more light emitting diode floodlights.

10. A solar powered battery operated portable light tower, comprising:

a. a frame of a trailer;

b. a first enclosure supported by the frame, the enclosure including one or more batteries;

c. a second enclosure containing controls;

d. an extension tower including a set of light emitting diode floodlights;

e. a cable winch and pulley system to extend and contract the tower;

f. a first solar panel;

g. a second solar panel;

h. a first rotatable back plate; and

i. a second rotatable back plate, wherein the first solar panel remains substantially in contact with the first rotatable back plate, and the second solar panel remains substantially in contact with the second rotatable back plate while in an open position and a closed position, wherein the first solar panel and the second solar panel face inward toward the trailer when positioned in the closed position, further wherein the first solar panel and the second solar panel are positioned in a vertical orientation when positioned in the closed position, wherein the first solar panel and the second solar panel fold out over fenders of the trailer.

11. The light tower of claim 10 wherein the controls comprise a control panel for controlling the set of light emitting diode floodlights and the first solar panel and the second solar panel.

12. The light tower of claim 10 wherein the tower comprises a pivotable, telescoping tower coupling the floodlights to the frame, wherein the telescoping tower is extendable and pivotable between a down position to an up position.

13. The light tower of claim 10 wherein the first solar panel and the second solar panel are each rotatable to the open position to acquire the solar energy and the closed position to protect the solar panels.

14. A method of utilizing a portable solar light tower comprising:

a. configuring a portable solar light tower on a trailer in a transport mode including placing a first solar panel and a second solar panel in a protected position by rotating the first solar panel and the second solar panel from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position with the first solar panel and the second solar panel each facing inward toward the trailer, with a back plate covering each of the first solar panel and the second solar panel wherein each back plate is separate from the first solar panel and the second solar panel, wherein the first solar panel and the second solar panel fold out over fenders of the trailer;

b. transporting the portable solar light tower;

c. configuring the portable solar light tower in a charge mode including placing the first solar panel and the second solar panel in a position to receive sunlight and lowering an extension tower and lights to a down position;

d. charging a battery using the first solar panel and the second solar panel of the portable solar light tower;

e. configuring the portable solar light tower in a light mode including raising the extension tower into a substantially upright position and placing the first solar panel and the second solar panel in the protected position by rotating the first solar panel and the second solar panel in the substantially vertical position with the back plate covering each of the first solar panel and the second solar panel; and

f. lighting an area.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein configuring the portable solar light tower in the transport mode includes placing the extension tower in a down position.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein transporting includes trailering the portable solar light tower.

17. A system for illuminating an area at night using a renewable energy source comprising:

a. an energy acquisition component for acquiring energy from the renewable energy resource, wherein the energy acquisition component comprises a front side, a back side, a top side, a bottom side, a left side and a right side;

b. a protective component including a backplate rotatable from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position for protecting the energy acquisition component, wherein the backplate is coupled to a trailer, wherein the energy acquisition component faces inward toward the trailer when in the substantially vertical position, wherein the energy acquisition component folds out over a fender of the trailer, wherein the protective component covers the back side, the top side, the bottom side, the left side and the right side of the energy acquisition component, wherein the protective component is separate from the energy acquisition component;

c. a lighting component for illuminating the area; and

d. a raising component for raising the lighting component.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising a transporting component for transporting the system.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the transporting component is the trailer.

20. The system of claim 17 further comprising a battery for storing the electricity and providing the electricity to the light.

21. The system of claim 17 further comprising a control component for controlling the lighting component and the energy acquisition component.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein the raising component comprises a pivotable, telescoping tower coupling the lighting component to the transporting component, wherein the telescoping tower is extendable and pivotable between a down position to an up position.

23. The system of claim 17 wherein the raising component comprises a winch and pulley system for moving the telescoping tower between the down position to the up position.

24. The system of claim 17 wherein the protective component further comprises anti-slam shock absorbers for preventing the energy acquisition component from slamming open.

25. The system of claim 17 wherein the energy acquisition component is rotatable to an open position to acquire solar energy and a closed position to protect the energy acquisition component.

26. The system of claim 17 wherein the light is selected from the group consisting of one or more floodlights and one or more light emitting diode floodlights.

27. A portable system for illuminating an area at night using a renewable energy source comprising:

a. a trailer base with wheels;

b. a plurality of energy acquisition components for acquiring energy from the renewable energy resource, wherein each energy acquisition component comprises a front side, a back side, a top side, a bottom side, a left side and a right side;

c. a protective component including a backplate rotatable from a substantially horizontal position to a vertical position with each energy acquisition component facing inward toward the trailer base for protecting each energy acquisition component, wherein the protective component covers the back side, the top side, the bottom side, the left side and the right side of each energy acquisition component, further wherein the backplate comprises a tubular framework which couples to the trailer base via a pivotal shaft at a pivot point enabling each energy acquisition component to fold out over fenders of the trailer base;

d. a lighting component for illuminating the area; and

e. a raising component coupled to the trailer base for lowering and raising the lighting component before and after transport.