AU2017205702A1

AU2017205702A1 - Portable solar mobile device charger

Info

Publication number: AU2017205702A1
Application number: AU2017205702A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Sebastian Alexander Bessone Kauffman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-01-08
Filing date: 2017-01-06
Publication date: 2018-08-09
Also published as: AR103988A1; WO2017118747A1; ES1224141U; AU2017101834A4; CR20180391U; BR212018013945U2; ECSMU18059741U; ES1224141Y

Abstract

The charger essentially comprises a diptych body formed by two rigid lids covered and assembled by an outer fabric, wherein one of the lids comprises a solar panel and the other lid comprises a charging pocket in which the mobile device with USB port can be placed to be charged and further contains a battery and a circuit. This circuit transmits the energy received from the solar panel and stores it in the battery, which will then deliver power to the USB devices, through a USB port. Both lids can freely pivot at 360 °, since the diptych body does not have hinges or equivalent element that limits its movement, the outer covering fabric being the pivoting line. This particular configuration allows the user to have at least four different charging positions depending on the position of the sun at charging time, the portable charger being arranged in a flat position with both lids opened at 180 °, both lids closed in flat position with the panel facing upwards, both lids opened at 45 ° as if it were a gable roof and both lids closed in flat position with the panel in a vertical manner, hanging from a retractable strap provided for that purpose, among other possible positions.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application refers to a portable solar charger for mobile devices and more particularly to a portable charger with a built-in solar panel to charge solar-powered mobile devices with USB ports, such as cell phones, tablets, portable audio speakers, hand fans and similar devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION - STATE OF THE ART

In recent years, the number of inventions that incorporate solar panels to known devices has increased for the purpose of providing power to mobile devices, mainly cell phones.

Publication US 2008/0125188 A1 discloses a simile cell phone carrying case for belts that does not carry the phone, but comprises a solar cells panel in the cover of the case, capable of collecting solar energy to charge the phone through a connector. This case consists in a carrying case to hold on the body, having small charging capacity and that is unable to hold the mobile device. Therefore, the user must carry the case on his belt and the mobile device is connected to the case in another place, which makes it uncomfortable and poorly adaptable for its use.

Publication US2009/0224722 A1 discloses a bag or wallet with a flexible solar panel incorporated in its handgrip or handle, from which a USB cable is loose, which in turn will be connected to the mobile device to be charged, into the bag. Once again, charging will be minimal and the invention only allows charging a mobile device, which battery is at the point of running out for a limited period of time.

Publication US2012/0042996 A1 is an improved version of the above mentioned document, which incorporates a bigger solar panel on one side of the bag, apart from a LED light. However, this bigger solar panel is a limited charger, since the user must walk permanently turning the back of the bag towards the direction of the sun if a permanent charge of the device is desired; the bag being big, heavy and uncomfortable to carry. In addition, it requires a voltage regulator, which makes its manufacture not only more complex but also more expensive.

Publication US2011/204843 A1 is a closer prior art document, which discloses a portable solar charger which, in one of its embodiments, comprises two pivoting charging solar panels on a hinge axis. This charger requires extra supports to keep the panels in direct

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PCT/EP2017/050287 position to the sun, which cannot be achieved with its own structure, but with one or more retractable legs. The charger then comprises many additional pieces for its assembly and its ductility is limited, while its manufacturing cost is high.

Chinese publication CN103763412 (A), 2014, is another prior art publication that aims to solve the problem of charging cell phones through solar panels. This invention describes a two-lid case for cell phones comprising a solar panel on the outside of the front cover, with a flexible internal perimeter frame attached to the device to be charged. The lids of the case can be opened and turned up to 180 °, however, the battery arrangement and the circuit in the back of the case with relief limits the movement of the lids up to that point. The internal relief of the central compartment where the battery and the circuit are housed does not have any ventilation and only allows charging the cell phone in one position (with the lids closed). The USB cable is also loose and therefore, exposed to be damaged by blows, friction, moisture or dirt in general. Although this invention surpasses the previous ones, it remains rigid, insecure due to the lack of ventilation of components that emit heat. Due to the free arrangement of the USB cable, besides not allowing flexibility of using it in different positions, for example, depending on the time of the day when charging is performed and location of the sun at that moment. Furthermore, this invention does not allow the charger to be adapted to devices with a retractable strap.

All this group of inventions show complex structures to be assembled due to the number of parts that compose them, which are also expensive and limited in their use positions, not being comfortable for carrying, which keeps the need of the state of the art to obtain a charger that overcomes the problems indicated in the prior art documents and that provides the user, mainly, with the possibility of charging in different positions.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable solar charger for mobile devices, with a built-in battery that is economical, lightweight, comfortable, easy to carry, portable and adaptable to be held on any object, which has no single parts to be assembled for use, and that mainly allows the pivoting of their lids from 0 to 360 °, offering the user different charging positions, depending on the position of the sun at the time of use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows an upper front view of the closed portable solar charger, in a not operational position, with the solar panel disabled;

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Figure 2 shows an upper front perspective view of the portable solar charger opened at 180°, in a first use position;

Figure 3 shows a back upper perspective of the portable solar charger opened at 180 °; Figure 4 shows another back upper perspective of the open portable solar charger, with its folded lids, showing the inner pocket;

Figure 5 is an upper front perspective view of the portable solar charger closed with the solar panel activated, in a second use position;

Figure 6 shows a top front perspective view of the open portable solar charger, with its folded lids in a horizontal manner and the solar panel activated, in a third charging position; Figure 7 shows a front top perspective of the open portable solar charger, with its lids folded vertically and the solar panel activated, in a fourth charging position;

Figure 8 is an upper front perspective view of the portable solar charger closed with the solar panel activated, hanging from a retractable strap, in a fifth use position;

Figure 9 shows an internal distribution scheme of the electronic components of the charger; Figure 10 shows a diagram representing the solar panel connections, the circuit, the battery and the output to the USB port;

Figure 11 is a second embodiment of the invention showing a top front perspective view of the open portable solar charger, with its folded lids in a horizontal manner and the solar panel activated hanging of a retractable strap;

Figure 12 is an exploded perspective of the second embodiment of figure 11 showing how the folded lids of the charger hook on the retractable strap; and Figure 13 is a third embodiment comprising a stopper sliding strap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The portable solar mobile device charger (1) basically comprises a solar panel (2) adhered to a two-lid charger body, wherein one of the lids comprises a charging pocket (8) in which the USB device can be placed for charging and also contains a battery (19) and a circuit (18). The circuit (18) transmits the energy received from the solar panel (2) and stores it in the battery (19), which will deliver such energy to the mobile devices with USB port, through a USB case port (10), as outlined in Figures 9 and 10.

The solar panel (2) is composed of a series of solar cells capable of capturing solar energy, collecting solar energy into the system. The solar panel (2) may be composed of various types of technology and various types of number of cells.

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The preferred embodiment of the portable solar mobile device charger (1) comprises a diptych body, formed by two rectangular lids, which can be made of different colors and measures, coated and assembled by an outer fabric (7). One lid comprises a solar panel (2) and the second lid comprises a high-impact rigid plastic sheet (not shown), giving structural stiffness to the diptych body, such stiffness being required for use in the different positions to be described below. Said high-impact rigid plastic sheet is covered by the outer fabric (7), preferably made of trucker cloth (ripstop) or a similar cloth.

The diptych body has no hinges or equivalent elements in order to pivot both lids. The pivoting line is the back (11) of the outer covering fabric (7). This makes the charger extremely ductile in terms of use, since the absence of hinges makes it easily maneuverable and adaptable to the position desired by the users according to their needs; capable of freely pivoting their lids at 360°.

The covering trucker-type fabric (7) is preferably a 100% polyester fabric with special weaving and resin backing which makes it greatly resistant to abrasion and traction (antitear), the fabric being very lightweight and flexible. In addition, this fabric is waterproof, which is a fundamental technical feature for the correct operation of the invention; however, it allows ventilation of the battery and the solar panel circuit, so that it allows the heat emission from inside to outside, but prevents water and moisture from passing to the interior of the solar charger. Cordura © fabric could also be used to form the outer casing.

The preferred embodiment of the solar charger (1) comprises the solar panel (2) adhered or sewed on its edges (6) to one of the lids of the diptych body, so as to cover almost the entire useful surface of such lid. The solar panel (2) is connected to a battery (19) and to a circuit (18), which are located inside a container pocket (8) in the lid opposed to the lid comprising the panel (2). Such inner pocket (8) further comprises a USB case connector (10) in order to make the connection easier for the user. This container pocket (8) comprises a side-by-side velcro-type fastening (20), for the purposes of preventing its content from coming into contact with sand, dirt or moisture.

Figure 2 shows the preferred embodiment of the solar charger (1) with its two lids opened at 180 °, in a first use position, for example, over a table outdoors or over a flat surface on a beach at a time around midday, when the position of the sun is completely vertical. The solar panel (2) is in full operation, sewn on its edges (6) to one of the lids of the charger diptych body (1), while the outer surface (3) of the opposing lid coated with the covering

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PCT/EP2017/050287 fabric (7) is smooth and comprises a space (4) that is intended for product or advertising legends. On its side the solar charger comprises a tape (5) which concludes in a button (5 ') that has built-in locking means in order to hold the charger lids when the solar charger is closed in rest position (closed position), as shown in Figure 1. The front lid (9) of the closed charger also has a surface (9 ') suitable for advertising or specific product legends.

Figure 3 shows the charger (1) with its lids opened at 180 °, but with the solar panel (2) not operating, since it is not directed towards the sun, where the aforementioned front lid (9) can be seen as well as the back face of the opposing lid that comprises the inner pocket (8) with its velcro-type fastening (20), the USB connector (10), the battery (19) and the circuit (18) inserted inside such pocket (8).

Figure 4 shows the charger again in a not operational position of the solar panel, but with its lids pivoting at 45 °, thanks to the pivot freedom provided by the central back (11) of the covering fabric (7). This degree of freedom, ranging from 0 ° to 360 °, is achieved by virtue of the particular configuration of the charger (1), which does not have hinges with volume or equivalent elements that limit the angle of rotation of the lids, allowing the user of the charger (1) to use it at least, for example, in charging positions shown in Figures 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

Figure 5 shows the charger (1) in a second use position, wherein the lids of the diptych body have been folded, leaving the operating panel (2) for midday hours, while the pocket (8) has been left hidden from sun effects.

Figure 6 again shows the preferred embodiment of the portable solar charger (1) in an operational position, wherein the lids form a 45 ° angle and the solar panel (2) has been directed to sun at mid-morning or mid-afternoon, when the sun position is not completely vertical. The extreme ductility and flexibility of the charger structure (1) allows the user to regulate the degree of pivot of the lids to capture the maximum solar energy at each moment of the day, which is not achieved by any prior art document.

This third use position of Figure 6 has a variation, shown in Figure 7, which forms a fourth use position, wherein the lids again form a 45 ° angle but the solar panel (2) is vertically arranged, positioned at sun-height at sunrise or sunset, when the sun position is more horizontal than vertical.

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A fifth use position is represented in Figure 8, which shows the portable solar charger (1) with the lids folded as shown in Figure 5, but no longer supported on a horizontal surface, but hanging from a top support such as a beach umbrella or the crosspiece of a tent on the beach, for example, by means of a retractable strap (12) provided for this purpose, which is threaded under the tape (5), enabling the charger (1) to be hoisted at the desired height, in order to obtain an optimum solar charge, always depending on the position of the sun.

It should be noted that the portable solar charger (1), in the not operational positions of Figures 1, 3 and 4, where the solar panel (2) does not receive sunlight, the previously charged battery (19) may be feeding a mobile device that is connected to the USB port (10). This means that it is not necessary for the panel (2) to be receiving solar energy so that the battery (19) can operate and charge a particular mobile device connected to the USB port (10). This also makes a difference regarding several prior art inventions, in which the solar panel must be receiving energy at the same time the battery is charging the mobile device. In these embodiments, disruption of solar energy means that the charger will no longer be able to deliver power to the mobile device; since some devices have blocking systems to prevent non-constant power supplies.

Both the power and voltage of the solar panel (2) of the preferred embodiment of the invention, such as that of the battery (19) of the circuit (18), its capacity and technology, plus the current of the USB output may vary according to the different requirements of mobile devices. For example, the solar panel (2) incorporated to the charger (1) of the present invention may be single-crystal, poly-crystal, amorphous silicon, CIGS or any other type of solar cell technology, in the form of either rigid or flexible solar panels as long as they have a power output of approximately 2 or 3W and in any voltage output. The preferred embodiment has a solar panel of 5V, 3W. In case of using a solar panel of another output, the respective circuit must be adapted or a voltage regulator must be added to the circuit input in the charging pocket (8), so that it always provides the circuit 5V.

When exposed to the sun the 3W 5V solar panel delivers power to the circuit in a peak of 5v 500ma at 1000W / mt2 or less, depending on solar radiation. As shown in diagrams of Figures 9 and 10, the solar panel (2) comprises a positive output (16) and a negative output (17), which respective sheathed cables (15) are connected to the circuit (18), which at the same time is connected to a 3.7V 2600ma lithium battery (19). The circuit charges the battery, protects it against short-circuit and limits its minimum and maximum voltages. The

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PCT/EP2017/050287 circuit (18) has a 5v USB output used for charging mobile devices with USB ports such as cell phones, tablets, audio players, hand fans and similar devices.

Charging is performed at 5V 500ma, a sufficiently safe charge to prevent temperature problems. However, the features of the covering fabric (7) allow ventilation of the circuit (18), allowing heat emission to pass from inside out. Also for temperature matters, the circuit (18) and the battery (19) are preventively arranged in the lid opposed to the lid of the solar panel (2) within a protective housing (14), that is always shaded when the solar panel is operating.

Once the battery (19) of the solar charger is full, the circuit (18) stops its charge, and once empty, the circuit stops delivering power.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 11 and 12 and comprises a retractable strap (21) which allows the user to hold the charger in any desirable position, for instance, to use it as a bag, to hold the charger from the shoulder, the neck or even to hold it from anywhere the user desires. This second embodiment does not need any additional assembly to be used; the folded lids of the solar charger simply hook on the strap and are capable of sliding along the strap according to the user’s needs.

A third embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 13 and comprises an additional stopper sliding strap (22), engaged to the bottom (5’) in order to prevent the lids from sliding on any sliding surface.

The solar charger’s diptych design, extensor and strap allow the charger to be held on any part of the body or object and to be placed on any flat surface in at least five different positions to direct the solar charger to the sun in any circumstance, taking advantage of solar energy to the maximum, more than any other solar charger of the prior art.

The present description should be interpreted as merely illustrative of the basic principles of the invention, therefore, the invention should not be limited to the exact reproduction of the structure thereof as shown and described, consequently allowing resorting to all appropriate modifications and equivalents that may be within the scope of the invention.

Therefore, some changes may be introduced in the design and configuration of the portable solar charger described, such as optimum dimensional relationships among the parts of the invention, variations in size, materials, shape, function, mode of operation, assembly, use

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PCT/EP2017/050287 and other variations which may be provided by skilled persons in the art without departing from the sphere of the present invention patent which is clearly determined by the scope of the following claims.

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Claims

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Fig. 2

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)

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1) Portable solar charger for mobile devices comprising a diptych body of two rigid lids assembled by an outer covering fabric, without hinges or similar elements between lids,

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Fig. 3

Fig. 4

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)

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2) Charger according to claim 1, wherein the lids of the diptych body can pivot between 0

10 and 360 °.

3) Charger according to claims 1 and 2, wherein the other lid comprises a rigid sheet inside the outer covering fabric, wherein such fabric has a central back portion which provides the lids with rotation freedom to pivot.

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CIRCUIT OUTPUT 5VUSB

Fig. 10

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)

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4) Charger according to claim 1, wherein said pocket comprises locking means.

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)

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5) Charger according to claim 1, wherein the end of the lid opposed to the lid of the solar panel comprises locking means which hold both lids when the charger is closed, in a not operational position of the solar panel.

6) Charger according to claim 5, wherein when the charger is closed and the solar panel is in a not operational position of the solar panel; the previously charged battery is capable of

20 charging a mobile device.

7) Charger according to claim 1, wherein said outer covering fabric allows ventilation of the circuit and the battery.

8) Charger according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a retractable strap from which the charger can be hooked.

25 9) Charger according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a stopper sliding strap capable of limiting the opening angle of the lids.

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5 wherein one of the lids has an only solar panel incorporated and the other lid comprises a pocket with a built-in battery and a circuit connected to such solar panel, in addition to a USB connector, so that the configuration of the charger allows the user to obtain at least four different charging positions, depending on the position of the sun at charging time.

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Fig. 13

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)