ZA201009205B

ZA201009205B - Solar powered appliance

Info

Publication number: ZA201009205B
Application number: ZA2010/09205A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: Kenneth Michael Hall
Original assignee: Kijl Nightlights Cc
Priority date: 2010-09-06
Filing date: 2010-12-22
Publication date: 2011-10-26

Description

£42010/7092035 : : SOLAR POWERED APPLIANCE | | | | i I

Field of the Invention : . bE

This invention relates to solar powered appliances such as, for example, solar powered lights.

Background to the Invention

The inventor is aware of many solar powered light devices in which an upwardly directed solar panel is mounted on the device so that the light is in the same orientation when charging as it is when being used. Thus, by day it can charge rechargeable batteries from the solar panel and by night the rechargeable batteries can power LED lamps, or the like.

Although very practical as they can remain in one position at all times and go : through charge and discharge cycles without user intervention, there is a major drawback when it comes to the size of solar panel unit which can be located on the lamp cover or lamp shade of a solar powered lantern since for stability reasons the base of the lantern is often much larger than any single flat surface of the lamp shade or lamp cover.

Thus, a need has been identified for a solar powered appliance having a larger solar panel so that the charging of rechargeable batteries in the device may be achieved quicker and/or so that higher power rated batteries can be charged.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention, there is provided a solar powered appliance including: - a base portion and a working end; and - a solar panel located on the base portion so that the panel is directed away from the direction of ambient light when the appliance is in use.

The appliance may be a lamp.

The working end may include one or more lights that may be powered by re- chargeable batteries located interior the appliance. The lights may be LED's. The ,

+ solar panel may be connected in electrical communication with the re-chargeable batteries.

The base portion and working end may be connected by an elongate body portion.

The body portion may be circular in cross-section. The lights may be located in a cylindrical transparent housing arranged on the elongate body portion at the working end.

When the appliance is in use the solar panel may be directed downwardly so that it is in substantial darkness when the appliance is resting on an opaque surface.

The base portion may be provided with spacer members so as to space the solar panel apart from a surface on which the appliance rests in use so as to inhibit the panel from becoming damaged.

The appliance may be supplied together with a stand for supporting the appliance in an inverted condition, i.e. a position in which the solar panel faces upwardly and is exposed to ambient light.

The stand may be circular when viewed in plan and may be in the shape of a dome or frusto-cone. The stand may include a centrally located female receiving member configured and dimensioned to engage the working end of the appliance in a friction fit manner. The female receiving member may be in the form of an aperture dimensioned to snugly receive the working end.

The stand may rest on its circumferential edge when supporting the appliance in the inverted condition. The diameter of the stand may be selected so as to provide a secure support for the appliance.

When the appliance is in use, the stand may be disengaged from the working end, flipped over and re-engaged with the working end, thereby acting as a lamp shade.

The domed shape of the stand may assist in inhibiting dispersion of the light provided by the lights so that the light is concentrated on a particular area. In this manner, optimum use is made of the lights and the appliance can even be used as a reading light.

The appliance may be manufactured from any suitable synthetic plastics material.

oo 7010709205 . Detailed Description of the Invention : -

The invention will now be described by way of the following non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying representations.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of an embodiment of a solar powered appliance in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional view of the appliance of Figure 1 with a stand acting as a lamp shade fitted thereto; and

Figure 3 shows three-dimensional view of the appliance of Figure 1 with the stand supporting the appliance in an inverted condition.

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates an embodiment of a solar powered appliance in accordance with the present invention.

The appliance 10 includes a base portion 12 and a working end 14. A solar panel 16 is located on the base portion 12 so that the panel 16 is directed away from the direction of ambient light when the appliance 10 is in use.

In the embodiment shown, the appliance 10 is a lamp.

The working end 14 includes lights that are powered by re-chargeable batteries (not shown) located interior the appliance 10. The lights 18 are LED’s. The solar panel 16 is connected in electrical communication with the re-chargeable batteries.

The base portion 12 and working end 14 are connected by an elongate body portion 20. The body portion 20 is circular in cross-section. The lights 18 are located in a cylindrical transparent housing 22 arranged on the elongate body portion 20 at the working end 14.

When the appliance 10 is in use as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the solar panel 16 is directed downwardly so that it is in substantial darkness when the appliance 10 is resting on an opaque surface.

. Poy LE fs '2010/09295 + The base portion 12 is provided with spacer members 24 so as to space the solar panel 16 apart from a surface on which the appliance 10 rests in use so as to inhibit the panel 16 from becoming damaged.

The appliance 10 is supplied together with a stand 26 for supporting the appliance in an inverted condition, i.e. a position in which the solar panel 16 faces upwardly and is exposed to ambient light as shown in Figure 3.

The stand 26 is circular when viewed in plan and is in the shape of a dome. The stand 26 includes a centrally located female receiving member in the form of aperture 28 configured and dimensioned to engage the working end 14 of the 10 appliance in a friction fit manner.

As shown in Figure 3, the stand 26 rests on its circumferential edge 30 when supporting the appliance 10 in the inverted condition. The diameter of the stand 26 is selected so as to provide a secure support for the appliance 10.

When the appliance 10 is in use, the stand 26 is disengaged from the working end 14, flipped over and re-engaged with the working end 14, thereby acting as a lamp shade as shown in Figure 2.

The domed shape of the stand 26 assists in inhibiting dispersion of the light provided by the lights 18 so that the light is concentrated on a particular area. In this manner, optimum use is made of the lights 18 and the appliance 10 can even be used as a reading light.

The appliance 10 is typically manufactured from any suitable synthetic plastics material so as to be both lightweight and durable.

It is to be appreciated, that the invention is not limited to any particular embodiment or configuration as hereinbefore generally described or illustrated.

Claims

. MT 3 \ cL + Claims oo EE

1. A solar powered appliance including: - a base portion and a working end; and - a solar panel located on the base portion so that the panel is directed away from the direction of ambient light when the appliance is in use.

2. An appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the appliance is a lamp.

3. An appliance as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the working end includes one or more lights that are powered by re-chargeable batteries located interior the appliance.

4. An appliance as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the solar panel is connected in electrical communication with the re-chargeable batteries.

5. An appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base portion and working end are connected by an elongate body portion.

6. An appliance as claimed in claim 5, wherein the lights are located in a cylindrical transparent housing arranged on the elongate body portion at the working end.

7. An appliance as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the appliance includes a stand for supporting the appliance in an inverted condition thereby exposing the solar panel to ambient light.

8. An appliance as claimed in claim 7, wherein the stand is circular when viewed in plan and is in the shape of a dome.

9. An appliance as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the stand includes a centrally located female receiving member configured and dimensioned to engage the working end of the appliance in a friction fit manner.

10.An appliance as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein, when the appliance is in use, the stand is disengaged from the working end, flipped over and re-engaged with the working end, thereby acting as a lamp shade.

I keane oo | 2010709205 : 11.A solar powered appliance according to the invention substantially as hereinbefore described or exemplified.

12. A solar powered appliance as specifically described with reference to or as illustrated in any one of the accompanying drawings.

13.A solar powered appliance including any new and inventive integer or combination of integers, substantially as herein described. DATED AT PRETORIA THIS 22" DAY OF DECEMBER 2010. : HAHN & HAHN INC. APPLICANT'S ATTORNEYS