WO2012170609A2

WO2012170609A2 - Window-mounted solar light

Info

Publication number: WO2012170609A2
Application number: PCT/US2012/041222
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephen Katsaros
Original assignee: Stephen Katsaros
Priority date: 2011-06-07
Filing date: 2012-06-07
Publication date: 2012-12-13
Also published as: WO2012170609A3

Abstract

A window-mounted solar light 100 wherein during daytime, a solar panel 102 converts sunlight traveling through the window 10 into energy that is stored in a rechargeable battery 104; and, wherein the energy stored in the rechargeable battery 104 is selectively supplied to a light emitter 106 to produce light.

Description

PATENT APPLICATION WINDOW-MOUNTED SOLAR LIGHT

Inventors: STEPHEN B. KATSAROS a citizen of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA residing at: 2540 FOREST STREET, DENVER, CO 80207

WINDOW-MOUNTED SOLAR LIGHT

BACKGROUND

[00011 In numerous instances, people need emergency lighting. Lighting is traditionally provided by grid-based power, but when the grid is inoperable or sporadic, please rely on battery-powered lighting. Battery lighting works provided that fresh batteries are available. Often, batteries are unavailable or the system has been in storage for such a long period of time that the batteries are dead.

SUMMARY

(0002| A window-mounted solar light having: a housing defining a front surface and an opposite back surface; a solar panel disposed on the front surface; a suction cup disposed on the front surface for readily removably attaching the housing to the window; a rechargeable battery disposed inside the housing, the rechargeable battery being electrically coupled with the solar panel; a light emitter disposed on the housing, the light emitter being electrically coupled to the solar panel via the rechargeable battery; wherein during daytime, the solar panel converts sunlight traveling through the window into energy that is stored in the rechargeable battery; and, wherein the energy stored in the rechargeable battery is selectively supplied to the light emitter to produce light.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE.DRAWINGS

(0003 | FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of one example of a window-mounted solar light.

[0004] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the window-mounted solar light of FIG. 1 .

(0005) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exploded condition of the window-mounted solar light of FIG. 2.

(0006] FIG. 4 is a front side elevation view of the window-mounted solar light of FIG. 1. [0007] FIG. 5 is a back side elevation view of the window-mounted solar light of FIG. 1 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] With reference to FIG. 1 showing a side elevation view of one example of a window-mounted solar light 100 that is readily removably attached to a window 10 (having an inside surface 12 and an opposite outside surface 14). The light 100 is attached to the window inside surface 12, while the sun 16 shines sun onto the window outside surface 14. In a process that will be described later herein, energy from the sun strikes the window outside surface 14 passes through the body of the window 10 and emits from the window inside surface 12. The energy continues to a solar panel 102 where it is converted to electricity. This electricity is stored in a rechargeable battery 104 located inside the light 100. The electricity is provided from the battery 104 to at least one light emitter 106 via a switch 132 (FIG. 3).

[0009] With reference to FIG. 2 showing a perspective view of the window-mounted solar light 100, the light 100 is provided with a housing 108 (defining a front surface 1 10 and an opposite back surface 1 12), a solar panel 102 disposed on the back surface 1 12, a suction cup 1 14 disposed on the back surfacel 12 for readily removably attaching the light 100 to the window 10; a rechargeable battery 104 disposed inside the housing 108, a light emitter 106 disposed on the housing 108, the light emitter 106 being electrically coupled to the solar panel 102 via the rechargeable battery 104; wherein during daytime, the solar panel 102 converts sunlight traveling through the window 10 into energy that is stored in the

rechargeable battery 104; and, wherein the energy stored in the rechargeable battery 104 is selectively supplied to the light emitter 106 to produce light.

[0010] With reference to FIG. 3 showing a perspective view of an exploded condition of the window-mounted solar light 100, the housing 1 10 may have a front 1 16 and a back 1 18. The front 1 16 may include an access opening 120 through which the battery 104 travels. The access opening 120 includes a variety of features for readily and removably receiving a

2 battery door 122 such as a clasp 124 and a hook 126. The back 1 1 8 includes a variety of features for receiving the front 1 16 and supporting other components of the light 100 such as the solar panel 102, the suction cup 1 14, etc. The back 1 18 includes a feature for attaching the suction cup 1 14 thereto, such as a hole 128. In this configuration, the suction cup 1 14 includes a protrusion 130 that engages the hole 128 to firmly attach the suction cup 1 14 to the housing back 1 1 8. In a similar manner, the housing front and back 1 16, 1 1 8 are configured to receive a switch 132. The switch might include a cover 134 to improve the aesthetics of thelight 100.

[00111 With continued reference to FIG. 3, the light 100 is further provided with a support bracket 136 that serves as a carrier for electronics such as the solar panel 1 02, the light emitter 106, the switch 1 32, as well as other components utilized in solar products (e.g.

controllers, resistors, etc.). The support bracket 136 may be configured for receiving the light emitter 106 as illustrated wherein the light emitter 106 is three individual light emitting diodes (LEDs) 138, 140, 142. It is noted that any of an large number of styles of the light emitter 106 may be utilized. In a similar manner, the support bracket 1 36 may be configured to receive a lens 144 adjacent to the light emitter 106.

[0012] With reference to FIG. 4 showing a front side elevation view of the window- mounted solar light 100, the battery door 122 can be moved in a first direction 146 to expose the underlying battery 104. The process of moving the battery door 122 causes the clasp 124 and hook 126 to interface the housing front 1 16. Therefore, replacement of the rechargeable battery 104 is facilitated by the present design.

[0013] With reference to FIG. 5 showing a back side elevation view of the window- mounted solar light 100, the solar panel 102 is located on the same side as the suction cup 1 14.

[0014] In one alternative embodiment illustrated best in FIG. 3, the suction cup 1 14 may be provided with a tab 148. The tab 148 is provided to facilitate the release of the suction cup 1 14 from the window 10. In this configuration, the suction cup protrusion 130 is large enough versus the housing back hole 128 to prohibit rotation of the suction cup 1 14 with respect to the housing back 1 1 8. During time of construction, the suction cup tab 148 is positioned at the furthest extent from the housing 1 10 (as best illustrated in FIG. 4).

[0015 j In another alternative embodiment best illustrated in FIG. 4, the light 100 is configured with the suction cup 1 14 on a first distal end 150, while the light emitter 106 is on a oppositely disposed second distal end 152. In this configuration, the switch cover 134 is located near the second distal end 152 such that a right-handed person can readily grab the light 100, pull it off the window 10 and use the thumb on their right hand to activate the light emitter 106.

(0016] In another alternative embodiment, the light emitter 106 may include one surface- mounted light emitting diode (LED).

[0017] The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and other modifications and variation may be possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and descried in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include other alternati ve embodiments of the invention except insofar as limited by the prior art.

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Claims

What is claimed is: 1 . A window-mounted solar light comprising:

a housing defining a front surface and an opposite back surface; a solar panel disposed on said front surface;

a suction cup disposed on said front surface for readily removably attaching said housing to said window;

a rechargeable battery disposed inside said housing, said rechargeable battery being electrically coupled with said solar panel;

a light emitter disposed on said housing, said light emitter being electrically coupled to said solar panel via said rechargeable battery;

wherein during daytime, said solar panel converts sunlight traveling through said window into energy that is stored in said rechargeable battery; and,

wherein said energy stored in said rechargeable battery is selectively supplied to said light emitter to produce light.

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