Patent ID: 8111034

Claim:
A solar-powered charger, comprising: a plurality of solar collectors configured to generate electrical energy when exposed to light, the solar collectors being encapsulated in a waterproof material and arranged in a stacked configuration and coupled to one another at a boss to provide a hinge about which the solar collectors can fan out for deployment between a minimum overlap position and a maximum overlap position; a bore disposed at least partially through the boss and substantially perpendicular to the solar collectors, the bore configured to accept a rod member useable for supporting the solar collectors upon a surface facing the light and for verifying an orientation of the solar collectors toward the light; a connector coupled to the solar collector to provide a pathway for discharging the electrical energy to an external device; and a casing comprising a surface configured to dissipate heat, the surface including a plurality of alternating ridges and depressions; wherein each of the encapsulated solar collectors includes a heat dissipating surface having a plurality of alternating ridges and depressions that are arranged to substantially align with one another when the encapsulated solar collectors are in the maximum overlap position of the stacked configuration.