IP Library Granted Patent US 12,253,223
Granted Patent B2
US 12,253,223 · App. 18/525,305 · Granted Mar 18, 2025

Expandable solar-powered light

Inventors: Anna Stork (Chicago, IL); Andrea Sreshta (Chicago, IL)
Assignee: LuminAID LAB, LLC
F21L4/08A63B43/06F21S9/037F21V3/02F21V3/026F21V3/062F21V3/0625F21V23/005F21V23/04F21V23/0414F21V31/00F21V31/005A63B41/00F21W2111/10F21Y2115/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,253,223
App. No.
18/525,305
Granted
Mar 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An inflatable solar-powered light is provided. The solar-powered light includes a bladder and a solar-powered light assembly disposed entirely within the bladder. The solar-powered light assembly includes a solar panel, a rechargeable battery in electrical communication with the solar panel, and at least one light-emitting diode in electrical communication with the rechargeable battery. The bladder is substantially transparent, flexible, inflatable, and collapsible.

Claims (34)

1. An expandable lamp, comprising:

an expandable bladder comprising:

a first surface; and

a second surface, the second surface opposed to the first surface, the expandable bladder having a collapsed state and an expanded state; and

an electronics assembly coupled to the first surface, the electronics assembly comprising:

a solar panel,

a circuit board,

a rechargeable battery electrically connected to the circuit board, and

at least one light-emitting diode (LED) configured to aim toward the second surface when the expandable bladder is in the expanded state; and

a substantially transparent cover portion configured to cover the solar panel at an exterior surface of the first surface, the substantially transparent cover portion being waterproof.

2. The expandable lamp of claim 1 , wherein the solar panel is positioned with respect to the first surface such that the at least one LED is located on an interior surface of the first surface and the solar panel is located on the exterior surface of the first surface.

3. The expandable lamp of claim 2 , wherein the LED is configured to direct light toward an interior surface of the second surface when the expandable bladder is in the expanded state.

4. The expandable lamp of claim 2 , wherein the expandable bladder is configured to be folded into a substantially rectangular shape when the expandable bladder is in the collapsed state.

5. The expandable lamp of claim 4 , further comprising at least one closure mechanism configured to retain the expandable bladder in the collapsed state.

6. The expandable lamp of claim 5 , wherein the at least one closure mechanism comprises straps with hook and loop portions.

7. The expandable lamp of claim 1 , further comprising a carabiner loop coupled to the expandable bladder.

8. The expandable lamp of claim 1 , wherein the expandable bladder further comprises a valve providing a valve passage through the first surface to an interior of the expandable bladder, the expandable bladder configured inflatable by a gas or liquid through the valve passage.

9. The expandable lamp of claim 8 , wherein the valve comprises a removable cover over the valve passage.

10. The expandable lamp of claim 1 , further comprising a power switch in electrical communication with the rechargeable battery and the at least one LED, wherein the power switch is configured to control an amount of light emitted by the LED.

11. An expandable lamp, comprising:

an expandable bladder comprising:

a first flexible surface; and

a second flexible surface, the second flexible surface opposed to the first flexible surface, the first and second flexible surfaces configured to have at least partially rounded shapes defined by first and second edges, respectively, and the expandable bladder having a collapsed state and an expanded state; and

an electronics assembly coupled to the first flexible surface, the electronics assembly comprising at least one light-emitting diode (LED) configured to aim toward the second flexible surface when the expandable bladder is in the expanded state;

wherein in the expanded state the first flexible surface is moved away from the second flexible surface such that the expandable bladder has a pillow-like rounded shape.

12. The expandable lamp of claim 11 , wherein the first flexible surface has a length from a first end to a second end greater than a width from a first side to a second side.

13. The expandable lamp of claim 11 , wherein the first flexible surface and the second flexible surface comprise polymeric materials.

14. The expandable lamp of claim 13 , wherein the polymeric materials are waterproof and flexible.

15. The expandable lamp of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first flexible surface and the second flexible surface is configured to diffuse light from the LED.

16. The expandable lamp of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first flexible surface and the second flexible surface comprise a semi-transparent material.

17. The expandable lamp of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first flexible surface and the second flexible surface comprises a substantially transparent material.

18. The expandable lamp of claim 11 , the electronics assembly further comprising a power switch in communication with the at least one LED, the power switch configured to control an amount of light output by the at least one LED.

19. The expandable lamp of claim 11 , wherein the first flexible surface comprises a first panel defined by a first edge, and the second flexible surface comprises a second panel defined by a second edge, the second panel opposed to the first panel, the first panel sealed to the second panel at the first and second edges.

20. The expandable lamp of claim 11 , further comprising a carabiner loop coupled to the expandable bladder.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2025
From: TENDER CORPORATION; LUMINAID LAB LLC
To: SOUND POINT AGENCY LLC
Reel/Frame 071890/0492 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 27, 2023
From: STORK, ANNA; SRESHTA, ANDREA
To: THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 065958/0580 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 27, 2023
From: THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
To: LUMINAID LAB, LLC
Reel/Frame 065958/0611 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation 18104412 · Feb 1, 2023
Continuation 17666082 · Feb 7, 2022
Continuation 15585450 · May 3, 2017
Continuation 15161670 · May 23, 2016
Continuation 14397722
Provisional Application 61640769 · May 1, 2012
Related Publication 20240344674A1 · Oct 17, 2024
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