Solar lamps with radial elements
A solar-powered lamp is disclosed. The lamp includes a plurality of radiating extensions, each being formed from a plurality of flat panels that can fold relative to each other along lines between respective ones of the plurality of flat panels; and an electronics assembly, wherein the lamp is collapsible, and the flat panels for each of the radiating extensions fold relative to each other as the lamp is collapsed.
1. A solar-powered lamp, comprising:
a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the top portion and the bottom portion are (i) positioned parallel to each other when the lamp is in a fully expanded state, (ii) defined by rigid outer edges, and (iii) connected to each other via a plurality of sections;
an electronics assembly contained in a watertight enclosure on a flat panel within the top portion, electrically interconnected, a solar panel, a rechargeable battery, a printed circuit board, and one or more LEDs arranged to direct light from inside the lamp and out through the plurality of sections,
wherein the lamp is collapsible along a vertical central axis and the plurality of sections comprise telescoping sections that are collapsible relative to each other.
2. The solar-powered lamp of claim 1 , wherein the lamp includes a charging port for charging the rechargeable battery.
3. The solar-powered lamp of claim 2 , further comprising a removable cap that seals water-tight over the charging port.
4. The solar-powered lamp of claim 2 , wherein the charging port faces out of the lamp along a line that is perpendicular to a plane of the printed circuit board.
5. The solar-powered lamp of claim 2 , wherein the charging port faces out of the lamp along a line that is parallel to a plane of the printed circuit board.
6. The solar-powered lamp of claim 1 , further comprising a handle having a first portion attached to a first part of the lamp and a second portion attached to a second part of the lamp on a side of the lamp opposed to where the first portion is attached.
7. The solar-powered lamp of claim 6 , wherein the handle is removable.
8. The solar-powered lamp of claim 1 , wherein the lamp includes at least one charge indicator light that indicates a present level of charge of the battery.
9. The solar-powered lamp of claim 1 , wherein the rigid outer edge of the top portion and the rigid outer edge of the bottom portion have the same profile.
10. The solar-powered lamp of claim 1 , wherein the top portion and the bottom portion are positioned parallel to each other when the lamp is in a fully collapsed state.
11. A solar-powered lamp for generating and providing electricity, comprising:
one or more solar panels;
one or more batteries arranged to be charged with electric power from the one or more solar panels;
one or more light emitting devices (LEDs) arranged to be powered from the one or more batteries;
one or more electric connectors arranged to receive electric power from the one or more batteries and to connect to combined power/data connections on portable electronic devices that are separate from the lamp; and
an expandable and collapsible housing comprised of a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the top portion and bottom portion are connected by a plurality of telescoping elements that are collapsible by collapsing the elements relative to each other, and are positioned to receive light from the one or more LEDs; and
wherein the flat bottom panel and the flat top panel are positioned parallel to one another when the lamp is in a fully expanded state.
12. The solar-powered lamp of claim 11 , wherein the lamp includes a charging port for charging the rechargeable battery.
13. The solar-powered lamp of claim 12 , further comprising a removable cap that seals water-tight over the charging port.
14. The solar-powered lamp of claim 12 , wherein the charging port faces out of the lamp along a line that is perpendicular to a plane of a printed circuit board.
15. The solar-powered lamp of claim 12 , wherein the charging port faces out of the lamp along a line that is parallel to a plane of a printed circuit board.
16. The solar-powered lamp of claim 11 , wherein the rigid outer edge of the top portion and the rigid outer edge of the bottom portion have the same profile.
17. The solar-powered lamp of claim 11 , wherein the top portion and the bottom portion are positioned parallel to each other when the lamp is in a fully collapsed state.
18. The solar-powered lamp of claim 11 , further comprising a handle having a first portion attached to a first part of the lamp and a second portion attached to a second part of the lamp on a side of the lamp opposed to where the first portion is attached.
19. The solar-powered lamp of claim 18 , wherein the handle is removable.
20. The solar-powered lamp of claim 11 , wherein the lamp includes at least one charge indicator light that indicates a present level of charge of the battery.