Patent Publication Number: US-2019186703-A1

Title: Solar light systems

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/607,702 filed Dec. 19, 2017, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of illumination and more specifically relates to solar powered lighting. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     In the field of lighting systems, in the current state of the art, most lighting systems are either indoor lighting systems or outdoor lighting systems such as indoor lamps or other types of lighting assemblies, and outdoor assemblies which are of the type which are placed strategically either mounted exteriorly or placed within the ground as a ground lighting system. Solar powered lights have been used for various purposes and particularly for outdoor lights on sidewalks, patios, lawns and the like. Electricity can be an expensive commodity, especially with homes and offices with numerous light fixtures. Solar power is an efficient, environmentally-friendly method of providing power to electrical devices; however, it may be difficult to fully light a home/office using solar energy. People may spend an exorbitant amount of money on electricity and may be looking for additional ways to illuminate certain rooms at night. A suitable solution is desired. 
     U.S. Pub. No. 2011/0089839 to Chung-Chia Chen relates to a system and method of indoor solar illumination. The described system and method of indoor solar illumination includes a system and method especially of using solar electricity for indoor illumination utilizes solar energy generated electricity in solar panel which installed indoor side of window, door of building and the electricity generated stored and connected to the indoor illumination device. The system consisting of at least one solar panel, storage means (battery), an electric switch, a light-sensitive resistor and at least an illumination device (lighting fixture). The electric switch and light-sensitive resistor enables or disables the electrical connection between the battery and the illumination device depending on the degree of brightness/darkness indoor as needed. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known illumination art, the present disclosure provides a novel solar light system. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide users with indoor lighting capable of operating via a solar-powered battery. 
     A solar light system is disclosed herein. The solar light system includes a lighting assembly having a solar cell unit, an illumination member, a transparent housing, a removeable support base, a battery-power supply, and a control unit. The solar cell unit is positioned on a top-portion of the lighting assembly and is configured to collect renewable energy and power the illumination member. The illumination member is housed within the transparent housing and is configured to emit light therethrough when activated. The lighting assembly is removably coupled to the support base. The control unit may include an activation button and may further comprise a sensory apparatus for detecting darkness and automatically activating the illumination member. The solar light system provides an indoor illumination device. 
     For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, solar light systems, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the solar light system during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the solar light system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the solar light system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the solar light system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the solar light system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to illumination and more particularly to a solar light system as used to improve the use of solar powered lighting. 
     Generally, solar light system may comprise an indoor decorative design, light emitting assembly, sensory apparatus, battery power supply, solar cell, and internal processing equipment. In a preferred embodiment, the lighting device may resemble the structure of commonly used outdoor decorative solar lights. The device may be used as a standalone lighting instrument placed near windows or awnings that receive natural sunlight throughout the day. The device may thereby collect power from the embedded solar cell during the daytime to be used at a later point. The internal processing equipment may automatically turn the indoor solar powered lighting device on when the sensory apparatus detects that it is dark in the nearby surroundings. 
     The present invention provides users with indoor lighting capable of operating via a solar-powered battery. It features a solar panel on the top portion, which gathers energy through bright sunlight during daytime hours. It includes a weighted, interchangeable base that allows users to customize the look of the lights at any desired time. The indoor solar lights enhance the atmosphere of any room while offering efficient lighting for working, playing, and the like. The device of this present system may comprise an indoor decorative design, light emitting assembly, sensory apparatus, battery power supply, solar cell, and internal processing equipment. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the lighting device may resemble the structure of commonly used outdoor decorative solar lights. The device may be used as a standalone lighting instrument placed near windows or awnings that receive natural sunlight throughout the day. The device may thereby collect power from the embedded solar cell during the daytime to be used at a later point. The internal processing equipment may automatically turn the indoor solar powered lighting device on when the sensory apparatus detects that it is dark in the nearby surroundings. 
     Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , various views of a solar light system  100 .  FIG. 1  shows a solar light system  100  during an ‘in-use’ condition  150 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the solar light system  100  may include a lighting assembly  110  including a solar cell unit  112 , an illumination member  116 , a transparent housing  120 , a support base  124 , a battery-power supply  128 , and a control unit  132 . The solar cell unit  112  is positioned on a top-portion  114  of the lighting assembly  110  and is configured to collect renewable energy and power the illumination member  116 . The illumination member  116  is housed within the transparent housing  120  and is configured to emit light therethrough when activated. The lighting assembly  110  is removably coupled to the support base  124 . The control unit  132  is configured to control activation and deactivation of the lighting assembly  110 . The solar light system  100  provides an indoor illumination device. 
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the solar light system  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the solar light system  100  may include the lighting assembly  110  comprising the solar cell unit  112 , the illumination member  116 , the transparent housing  120 , the support base  124 , the battery-power supply  128 , and the control unit  132  for providing efficient, low-cost indoor lighting. The illumination member  116  includes at least one light bulb. The battery-power supply  128  provides a back-up power source in a case that the illumination member  116  cannot be powered by the renewable energy collected by the solar cell unit  112 . The battery-power supply  128  is embedded in the top-portion  114  of the lighting assembly  110  and may be removeable and replaceable. The solar light system  100  is rechargeable via sunlight and the solar cell unit  112 . A user may place the device in sunlight for recharging the device. 
       FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the solar light system  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the solar light system  100  may include an indoor lighting solution capable of operating via a solar power. The device includes the lighting assembly  110  and the removeable support base  124 . The control unit  132  of the device comprises an activation button for activating and alternatively deactivating the illumination member  116 . The activation button may be positioned on the top-portion  114  of the lighting assembly  110 . The control unit  132  may further comprise a sensory apparatus for detecting darkness and automatically activating the illumination member  116  when darkness is sensed. 
       FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the solar light system  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the solar light system  100  may include an outer shell  140  which is removeable attachable to the support base  124  to alter an appearance of the support base  124 . The outer shell  140  contours to a profile of the support base  124 . The outer shell  140  may include decorative and functional indicia, 3-dimensional items, various designs, and colors. It offers an environmentally-friendly, functional and decorative way to illuminate a home, office, and more, reducing the amount of money spent on electrical costs. 
       FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the solar light system  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the solar light system  100  may include the lighting assembly  110  comprising the solar cell unit  112 , the illumination member  116 , the transparent housing  120 , the support base  124 , the battery-power supply  128 , and the control unit  132  in functional combination. The support base  124  comprises a greater diameter than the top-portion  114 , such that the support base  124  supports the indoor illumination device stably on a planar surface. The support base  124  comprises an aperture  126  for receiving a connection-member  142  of the lighting assembly  110  and supporting the lighting assembly  110 . The connection-member  142  is positioned on a bottom portion  115  of the lighting assembly  110  opposing the top-portion  114 . In a preferred embodiment, the support base  124  and the top-portion  114  are substantially opaque. The transparent housing  120  preferably comprises a conical profile which tapers towards the support base  124 . The overall parts of the device work in conjunction to create shadows of light in unique patterns to provide a comfortable ambience in a room. The solar light system  100  is a portable, stand-alone indoor illumination device. 
     Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as user preferences, design preference, structural requirements, marketing preferences, cost, available materials, technological advances, etc., other solar power and electrical arrangements such as, for example, powering means, electrical components, etc., may be sufficient. 
     The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.