Abstract:
A table can include a surface structure supportable by at least one leg component. A solar module can be operatively coupled to said surface structure and capable of receiving photonic energy impinging upon an upper surface of said table.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a non-provisional of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/057,545, filed on May 30, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Solar energy is a clean, renewable, environmentally friendly source of energy that has been increasingly used in recent years. Embodiments of the present invention include a table incorporating a solar energy source by which power for an electrical device can be provided. Embodiments of the invention can allow for conversion and storage of the solar energy. Embodiments of the invention can also allow for convenient storage and transportation of the product. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary solar powered table product according to some embodiments of the invention. 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional side view of the product of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  shows a simplified block diagram of a circuit that can be located within a portion of the product of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0006]    This specification describes exemplary embodiments and applications of the invention. The invention, however, is not limited to these exemplary embodiments and applications or to the manner in which the exemplary embodiments and applications operate or are described herein. Moreover, the Figures may show simplified or partial views, and the dimensions of elements in the Figures may be exaggerated or otherwise not in proportion for clarity. In addition, as the terms “on” and “attached to” are used herein, one object (e.g., a material, a layer, a substrate, etc.) can be “on” or “attached to” another object regardless of whether the one object is directly on or attached to the other object or there are one or more intervening objects between the one object and the other object. Also, directions (e.g., above, below, top, bottom, side, up, down, under, over, upper, lower, horizontal, vertical, “x,” “y,” “z,” etc.), if provided, are relative and provided solely by way of example and for ease of illustration and discussion and not by way of limitation. In addition, where reference is made to a list of elements (e.g., elements a, b, c), such reference is intended to include any one of the listed elements by itself, any combination of less than all of the listed elements, and/or a combination of all of the listed elements. 
         [0007]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of an exemplary solar powered table  100  is illustrated. The solar powered table  100  can include a frame  102 , a surface structure  110 , and leg components  108 . The frame  102  can hold the surface structure  110 , which can provide an upper surface, or a working surface, upon which various items may be placed and supported. The frame  102  and surface structure  110  can form a table top, which may be provided in multiple sections. For example, in one embodiment the table top comprises two halves that are hingedly attached, whereby a user may unfold the two halves to form the solar powered table  100 . In another embodiment, the table top comprises two halves that are capable of being coupled to one another to form the solar powered table  100 . In yet another embodiment, the table top comprises two halves that may be separated to receive additional table top pieces. As such, the length or width of the table top may be increased by the additional table top pieces. 
         [0008]    A solar module  104  can be attached to the surface structure  110 , the frame  102 , and/or other elements of the table  100 . The surface structure  110  can be transparent or semitransparent or otherwise configured to allow sunlight to strike the solar module  104 , which can comprise a one or more solar panels that convert the sunlight into electrical energy. The solar module  104  may include any material or device capable of generating usable energy via the photovoltaic effect. For example, in some embodiments, the solar module  104  comprises one or more solar cells. The solar cells can comprise silicon and/or can be thin film solar cells. The surface structure  110  can be lacquer or hardened polymer material, such as a polyurethane top coating. In another embodiment, the surface structure  110  can be glass, such as tempered glass, or Plexiglas. 
         [0009]    The solar module  104  can be coupled to the frame  102 , surface structure  110 , or other elements of the table  110  in any suitable manner. For example, in some embodiments, the solar module  104  is attached directly to the surface structure  110  with an adhesive. In another embodiment, the frame  102  can provide recesses (not shown) into which the solar module  104  and/or the surface structure  110  can fit. 
         [0010]    The frame  102  can include one or more electrical outlets  106 . Although shown on a side, outward-facing portion of frame  102 , the outlets  106  may be provided at any location on the frame  102 . For example, outlets  106  can be provided at other locations on the side, outward-facing portion of frame  102 . As another example, outlets  106  can be provided on an upper portion of frame  102 , on a lower portion (e.g., facing the ground on which leg components  108  are disposed) of frame  102 , or on an inward-facing portion of frame  102 . As still other alternatives, outlets  106  can be located on portions of table  100  other than frame  102 . The outlets  106  may include any type of receptacle providing a place in the system where current can be taken to run electrical devices. For example, in one embodiment the outlet  106  comprises a female electrical connector having slots or holes which accept the pins or blades of power plugs inserted into them and deliver electricity to the plugs. The outlet  106  may comprise any configuration or standard applicable to the needs of the user and the electrical devices. In another embodiment, the outlet  106  comprises a plurality of receptacles situated so as to provide convenient access to the user. Although shown on sides of frame  102 , outlets  106  can alternatively be located on an underside of the frame  102  such that the outlets  106 . In another embodiment, a cover (not shown) can be provided for the outlets  106  so as to protect the outlets from the weather. 
         [0011]    Leg components  108  can support the frame  102 . For example, in one embodiment the frame  102  is supported by 4 or more leg components  108 . In another embodiment, the frame  102  is supported by 3 leg components  108 . In another embodiment, the frame  102  is supported by one or more leg components  108 , wherein each leg component  108  is a pedestal. The leg components  108  may comprise a material appropriate to the needs of the table  100 . For example, the leg components  108  may include materials such as metal, plastic, wood, glass, composite, and combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the leg components  108  comprise hollow metal tubing material. The leg components  108  may also be collapsible or capable of being retracted or removed. As such, the overall size of the table  100  may be reduced for ease of transportation and storage. In one embodiment, the leg components  108  are hingedly attached to the frame  102  whereby the leg components  108  may collapse inwardly towards the frame  102 . In another embodiment, the leg components  108  may be removed from the frame  102 . As such, the table  100  may be used without the leg components  108 , or the frame  102  and the leg components  108  may be transported and stored separate from one another. 
         [0012]    The solar powered table  100  further can comprise a power box  204 . The power box  204  generally comprises circuitry and storage components for collecting and storing electrical energy produced by the solar module  104 .  FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary configuration of solar module  104  and power box  204 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , a solar module  104  can convert sunlight  302  into electricity using the photovoltaic effect. For example, photons  304  from the sunlight  302  contain various amounts of energy corresponding to the different wavelengths of light. When photons  304  strike the solar module  104 , the photons  304  may be reflected or absorbed, or they may pass through the module  104 . When photons  304  are absorbed, the energy of the photons  304  is transferred to electrons in an atom of the solar module  104 , which produces electricity. 
         [0013]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the electricity produced by the solar module  104  can be output through a connector  306  to the power box  204 . In some exemplary embodiments, the connector  306  can provide the electricity generated by the solar module  104  to a voltage protection circuit  308  within the power box  204 . The voltage protection circuit  308  is generally provided to protect against supply voltage overloading. Supply voltage overloading typically occurs where spikes in voltage input exceed the systems ability to use and/or store the supplied voltage. As such, voltage overloading can lead to damage within the system  100 . A protection circuit  308  can therefore be provided to prevent, or filter out excessive voltage thereby protecting the circuit. A suitable voltage protection circuit  308  may utilize varistors (VDR), zener diodes, and/or other overvoltage protection devices. 
         [0014]    The power box  204  can further comprise a connector  310  for connecting the voltage protection circuit  308  to an energy storage module  312 . The electricity generated by the solar module  104  can thus be provided to energy storage module  312 , which can store the electricity generated by the solar module  104 . The storage module  312  may include one or more cells or capacitors capable of storing the energy supplied from the solar module  104 . For example, the storage module  312  may include one or more batteries. There are many types of batteries, including galvanic cells, electrolytic cells, fuel cells, flow cells, and voltaic piles, and any such battery can be used. 
         [0015]    The power box  204  can further comprise a connector  314  for connecting the energy storage module  312  to a power inverter module  316 . The power inverter module  316  can include a circuit for converting direct current (DC) from the storage module  312  to alternating current (AC). As such, the DC electricity from the storage module  312  can be used to operate AC equipment, such as those devices commonly plugged into household electrical receptacles. In one embodiment, the power inverter module  316  is provided to convert 12 volts DC to 120 volts AC. In another embodiment, the inverter module  316  is provided to convert 12 volts DC to 220 volts AC. Alternatively, the power inverter module  316  may be configured to step up, or step down the supplied voltage to a desired level. In some embodiments, the power inverter module  316  can be combined with a power regulator (not shown). The power regulator can be provided to step-down the voltage from the storage module  312 . For example, in one embodiment the power regulator (not shown) is a step-down voltage regulator that drops the supplied voltage to 12 volts DC. Therefore, if the voltage supplied from the storage module  312  exceeds 12 volts DC, the power regulator limits the supplied voltage to 12 volts DC. In another embodiment, the power regulator is an adjustable step-down voltage regulator. As such, the power regulator may be adjusted to drop the supplied voltage to a range of voltages less than the supplied voltage. For example, in one embodiment the output voltage of the power regulator (not shown) can be adjusted from 2.8 volts DC to 26.5 volts DC. 
         [0016]    In some embodiments, the power box  204  may include a connector  322  for connecting a backup power supply  320  to the power inverter module  316 . The backup power supply  320  may provide an alternate source of energy during periods where the energy of the storage module  312  is depleted. For example, in situations where sunlight  302  is limited or unavailable, such as during overcast weather conditions or nighttime, lack of photons  304  may prevent energy production and storage. As such, the system  100  may be unable to power a desired electrical device. Therefore, a backup power supply  320  is provided. The backup power supply  320  may include a receptacle for attaching a generator or other similar electricity producing device. In one embodiment, the backup power supply  320  provides access to connect a car battery to the system  100 . 
         [0017]    The power box  204  can also comprise a connector  318  for connecting the power inverter module  316  to the power outlet  106 . As previously discussed, the power outlet  106  may include any number of designs and configurations to accommodate the connectivity needs of a device. However, the power outlet  106  will generally comprise one or more female receptacles, such as those commonly used in household applications. 
         [0018]    The embodiment of power box  204  shown in  FIG. 3  is exemplary only and many variations are possible. For example, in some embodiments power box  204  may not include one or more of the backup power supply  320 , power inverter module  316 , and/or protection circuit  308 . As another example, in some embodiments power box  204  can supply electricity generated by solar module  306  to power outlet  106  through one or more circuits not shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0019]    Although specific embodiments and applications of the invention have been described in this specification, these embodiments and applications are exemplary only, and many variations are possible. For example, in some embodiments, the present invention may be retrofitted or adapted to an existing table surface. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the present invention may be incorporated into a picnic table or a patio table or an outdoor storage table (e.g., for storing boxes, crates, or other such items). Also, the table  100  can be made in many different sizes and shapes.