Abstract:
As disclosed herein, a rechargable glow stick can be constructed from a photoluminescent material and light source. The rechargeable glow stick can be used to repeatedly illuminate a dark environment without continuously expending energy.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This Application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/613,194, filed March 20 and entitled “RE-LIGHTS RECHARGEABLE GLOW STICKS” by Calvin Griffin which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    A chemiluminescent device, most commonly known as a “glow stick” is a flexible container including two chemical substances that when mixed produce light. Such an inexpensive, device can temporarily provide light in a dark environment. However, such a device is not reusable. Users must often carry more than one and must dispose of each used device when its chemiluminescence is exhausted. Further, while the chemicals included in the glow stick are typically non-toxic, the chemicals included therein can cause skin irritation, swelling, or even nausea and vomiting, if ingested. 
         [0003]    The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The following examples and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools, and methods that are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various examples, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other examples are directed to other improvements. 
         [0005]    According to these teachings, an internal light source can charge and re-charge a photoluminescent material. Once charged the light source can be disabled to conserve power and then re-enabled to re-charge the photoluminescent material. The charged photoluminescent material can be used to illuminate a dark environment. 
         [0006]    Advantageously, the charge and discharge process can be repeated to allow for continuous illumination without the continuous expenditure of energy. Numerous other features can be incorporated, as described herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  depicts an example of a rechargable glow stick. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  depicts an example of a cut-away view of a rechargable glow stick. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  depicts an example of an exploded view of components in a rechargable glow stick. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    In the following description, several specific details are presented to provide a thorough understanding. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the concepts and techniques disclosed herein can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or in combination with other components etc. In other instances, well-known implementations or operations are not shown or described, in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of various examples disclosed herein. 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  depicts an example of a rechargable glow stick  100 . In the example of  FIG. 1 , the device  100  includes a clear cylindrical tube  102 , photoluminescent material  104 , a top cap  106  a handle  108  and a bottom cap  110 . Optionally, rechargeable glow stick  100  may also include a solid core (not depicted) to increase the strength of the device and prevent the device from being inadvertently crushed. Additionally, rechargeable glow stick  100  may be encased in a waterproof housing for use under water. 
         [0012]    In the example of  FIG. 1 , a clear cylindrical tube  102  can be formed from a variety of materials, including but not limited to the following plastic, glass, acrylic, resin, or other known or convenient materials. 
         [0013]    In the example of  FIG. 1 , the photoluminescent material  104  can be composed of a variety of flexible materials that may be designed to fit the inner surface of the tube, and which has rechargeable qualities that allow the material to illuminate and radiate lighting over multiple instances. 
         [0014]    In the example of  FIG. 1 , a top cap  106  can be composed of a variety of materials, including but not limited to plastic, glass, rubber, acrylic, resin, or other known or convenient materials, and which can lit tightly over the top end of the tube so as to protect the inner contents of the tube. Such top cap  106  can be coupled to handle  108  for attaching, carrying or otherwise using rechargable glow stick  100 . The top cap  106  can be made to be removable to allow light to emanate through the top of the rechargeable glow stick, such as to function as a flashlight as well as a glow stick. 
         [0015]    In the example of  FIG. 1 , handle  108  can be comprised of a variety of materials, including but not limited to plastic, glass, rubber, acrylic, resin, or other known or convenient materials. The handle  108  can be attached to top cap  106  to allow the tube to be transported, attached, or otherwise moved. Such handle can be rigid, flexible, long, short, or otherwise adapted to a particular use or need. 
         [0016]    In the example of  100 , a bottom cap  110  can be comprised of a variety of materials, including but not limited to plastic, glass, rubber, acrylic, resin, etc., and which can tit tightly over the bottom end of the tube so as to protect the inner contents of the tube. The bottom cap  110  can include a switch allowing a user to charge photoluminescent material  104 . Such material can then radiate light for a period of time after the switch is disabled. The bottom cap  110  can house a power source powering the device, for example a battery, electro-mechanical storage device, or other known or convenient energy source. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  depicts an example of a cut-away view of a rechargable glow stick  200 , in the example of  FIG. 2 , the rechargable glow stick  200  includes a clear cylindrical tube  202 , a top cap  204 , a bottom cap  206 , a handle  208 , photoluminescent material  210 , a light source  212  and a power source  214 . 
         [0018]    In the example of  200 , the clear cylindrical tube  202  can be formed from a variety of materials, including but not limited to the following: plastic, glass, acrylic, resin, rubber, or another known or convenient material. Clear cylindrical tube  202  can be reinforced using a solid core, liquid core, or other known or convenient structure for preventing the device from being crushed under pressure. 
         [0019]    In the example of  200 , the top cap  204  can be composed of a variety of materials, including but not limited to plastic, glass, acrylic, rubber, resin, or another known or convenient material, and which can fit tightly over the top end of the tube so as to protect the inner contents of the tube. 
         [0020]    In the example of  200 , the bottom cap  206  can be comprised of a variety of materials, including but not limited to plastic, glass, acrylic, resin, rubber or another known or convenient material, and which can fit tightly over the bottom end of the tube so as to protect the inner contents of the tube. The bottom cap  206  includes a switch allowing a user to control the illumination of the tube. The bottom cap  206  can house the power source of the device within its interior. 
         [0021]    In the example of  200 , the handle  208  can be comprised of a variety of materials, including, but not limited to plastic, glass, acrylic, rubber, resin, or another known or convenient material. The handle  208  will be attached to the top cap of the tube to allow the tube to be transported, attached, or otherwise moved. 
         [0022]    In the example of  200 , the photoluminescent material  210  can be composed of a variety of flexible materials that may be designed to fit the inner surface of the tube, and which has rechargeable qualities that allow the material to illuminate and radiate lighting over multiple instances. 
         [0023]    In the example of  200 , the light source  212  can be selected from a light emitting diode (LED), an incandescent light bulb, a fluorescent light bulb, or any other known or convenient light source which has the capacity to host the passing of an electric current through it until it glows. 
         [0024]    In the example of  200 , the power source  214  is housed in the bottom cap, and can be activated by a switch on the bottom cap. The power source  214  is controlled by movement of the piece into a certain position causes a battery to come into contact with the bulb such that the bulb illuminates. Such movement can include turning, twisting, depressing, or otherwise actuating the switch in any known or convenient manner. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  depicts an example of an exploded view of components in a rechargable glow stick  300 . in the example of  FIG. 3 , the rechargeable glow stick  300  includes a bottom cap  302 , a light source  304 , a socket  306 , a power source  308 , and a switch  310  and photoluminescent material  312 . 
         [0026]    In the example of  FIG. 3 , the bottom cap  302  can be comprised of a variety of materials, including but not limited to plastic, glass, rubber, acrylic, resin, etc., and which can fit tightly over the bottom end of the tube so as to protect the inner contents of the tube. The bottom cap  302  can include switch  310  allowing a user to enable the light source  304 . The bottom cap  302  houses within its interior, the power source of the device. 
         [0027]    In the example of  FIG. 3 , the light source  304  can be selected from a light emitting diode (LED), an incandescent light bulb, a fluorescent light bulb, or any other known or convenient light source which has the capacity to host the passing of an electric current through it until it glows. 
         [0028]    In the example of  FIG. 3 , the socket  306  can be a device for coupling the light source  304  to the power source  308 . Such a socket  306  can be a socket adapted to the particular light source selected to serve as light source  304 , for example, an LED socket, a light bulb socket, a fluorescent light ballast and/or socket or another known or convenient socket. 
         [0029]    In the example of  FIG. 3 , the power source  308  can be one or more electro-chemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy, for example a lithium ion battery, alkaline battery, nickel-cadmium battery, or other known or convenient power source. 
         [0030]    In the example of  FIG. 3 , the switch  310  can be a movable piece that is turned, twisted, pressed or otherwise moved into various positions such that power source  308  is electrically connected to light source  304 . 
         [0031]    In the example of  300 , the photoluminescent material  312  can be composed of a variety of flexible materials that may be designed to fit the inner surface of the tube, and which has rechargeable qualities that allow the material to illuminate and radiate lighting over multiple instances. 
         [0032]    It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that the preceding examples and embodiments are exemplary and not limiting to the scope of the present invention. It is intended that all permutations, equivalents, and improvements thereto that are apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings are included within the true spirit and scope of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims include all such modifications, permutations and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.