FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a solar light unit that is particularly suitable for providing light to individuals and families that either have no conventional electricity supply or, alternatively, do not wish to, or cannot afford to pay for, electrical energy in the normal course of events.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is known to illuminate the interior of a building, especially, but not necessarily, a low-cost residential building, a shack, or even an unsophisticated workplace with daylight, using clear large capacity beverage bottles (typically of 1 to 2 litre capacity) located in appropriate holes in a roof and suitably sealed to the roof either simply by the pressure of fitment or by some form of sealant or shroud.

In order to enhance the light transmission properties of such a bottle, it may be filled with water together with an appropriate antibacterial addition that is commonly a small amount of bleach in order to prevent the growth of algae and consequent opaqueness.

There are also available a wide variety of different solar panels and associated lights, typically garden lights or the like, that utilise solar energy to charge a battery or capacitor that serves to illuminate the light during at least some hours of darkness. Modern day technology dictates that suitably bright light emitting diodes are most appropriate for this purpose as they deliver an appreciable amount of light for a relatively low input of electrical energy. Published United States patent application no US 2010/0214774 describes a solar light in the form of a bottle having a solar light unit that screws onto a thread on the bottle. There is, however, no means for controlling the use of electrical energy generated using the solar panel and stored in the battery and the bottle described and illustrated is of a totally incompatible shape for installation in a hole in a roof, for example, in the manner described above.

There is thus a need for a solar operated light unit that will be more versatile and useful than solar light units currently available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a solar light unit comprising a body, a solar panel mounted on the body so as to be capable of being exposed to sunlight, in use; an electronic circuit carried by the body and connected to the solar panel; an electrical energy storage facility; wherein the body has a screw threaded socket for attaching it to a complementarily screw threaded outlet of a transparent beverage bottle, a light source directed to shine light generally axially relative to the socket in a direction opposite the direction in which the solar panel faces and a manually operable switch for controlling the flow of electricity from the electrical energy storage facility to the light source.

Further features of the invention provide for the light source to be one or more light emitting diodes arranged to direct light generally axially by way of a neck of a beverage bottle to which the body is attached, in use; for the light source to be generally waterproof to enable it to extend into a body of water filling a transparent beverage bottle, in use; for a reflector to surround the light source to aid in directing the light in the general direction of the axis of the socket; for the electrical energy storage facility to be a battery compartment operatively receiving rechargeable batteries or alternatively a suitable capacitor arrangement, or both; for the electronic circuit to include a control switch in series with the manually operable switch for de-activating the light source during hours of sufficient natural light and to close the circuit when natural light diminishes the below a predetermined level; for the a manually operable switch to be associated with an input for attachment to a flexible element that enables remote closure of the manually operable switch or alternatively for the manually operable switch to be pressure or vibration activated optionally by squeezing or tapping a beverage bottle to which the solar light unit may be fitted, in use; and for the electronic circuit to include a flasher switch to enable a flashing light to be employed for security or communications purposes.

The invention also provides a method of assembling a solar light assembly comprising selecting a beverage bottle that has a screw threaded neck complimentary to a screw through socket in a solar light unit as defined above; and fitting a solar light unit as defined above to the beverage bottle.

Further features of the method of the invention provide for the beverage bottle to be a used beverage bottle in which instance the method includes the step of rinsing the bottle; for a quantity of water to be introduced into the beverage bottle before the solar light unit is fitted to it, preferably sufficient water to cause the light source to become immersed in water in the assembled condition; for a suitable antibacterial compound such as a bleach or other chlorine containing compound to be added to the water in the bottle; and for a light dispersing or enhancing material to be added to the bottle prior to fitment of the solar light unit to it, the light dispersing or enhancing material being selected to either form a dispersion in the water or provide multiple reflective surfaces. The light dispersing or enhancing material may be a fluorescent material that converts non-visible radiation to visible light. The invention has numerous applications. In a first application, the solar light unit can be fitted to a clear beverage bottle that may be passed through a hole in a roof in the manner indicated above so that, at night-time, or at any other time when natural light is below a suitable level, the light source can be switched on and be operated off an electrical charge contained in the electrical energy storage facility.

The invention therefore provides, in combination, a clear beverage bottle fitted with a solar light unit as defined above. In a second application, the solar light unit can be fitted to a clear beverage bottle that has had the bottom, or an entire lower section of the bottle, removed. In such an application the combination of the solar light unit and bottle can be used as a manually held flashlight. The invention therefore provides, in combination, a clear beverage bottle that has the lower section thereof removed together with a solar light unit as defined above.

In a third application, the solar light unit and clear beverage bottle that may or may not be cut off or have the bottom removed, can be supported on the solar panel, or a surround or feet fitted to the solar panel, such that the solar panel forms a base on which the combination can stand in the manner of a lamp. The invention therefore provides, in combination, a clear beverage bottle that may optionally have a bottom section removed together with a solar light unit as defined above wherein the solar light unit has a solar panel located on a surface that is suitable for being supported on a support surface. Doubtless, numerous other applications exist for the invention. In order that the above and other features of the invention may be more fully understood, one embodiment of solar light unit and various applications thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is an exploded view of a clear beverage bottle and one embodiment of solar light unit according to the invention with a part of the wall of the socket of the latter being removed to show the light source and its associated reflector and with the beverage bottle orientated for use in a hole in a roof;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the solar light unit and beverage bottle assembled;

Figure 3 is a block circuit diagram of the solar light unit;

Figure 4 illustrates an application of the solar light unit in a "flashlight" configuration with a cut off beverage bottle; and,

Figure 5 illustrates an application of the solar light unit as a lamp with a cut off beverage bottle forming a lampshade that is directed upwards.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, a solar light unit (1 ) comprises an injection moulded plastics body (2) of generally squat cylindrical shape and having a solar panel (3) attached to one end thereof. The other end of the body is formed into a screw threaded socket (4) for attaching it to a complementarily screw threaded outlet (5) of a clear transparent beverage bottle (6) that will typically be of plastic material but that could alternatively be of glass. Preferably, the outer surface of the beverage bottle will be of a smooth cylindrical shape to enable it to be conveniently installed in a hole in a roof, for example.

A light source in the form of a sealed and waterproof light emitting diode (7) is carried at an inner end region of the socket and is directed to shine light generally axially away from the socket in a direction opposite that in which the solar panel faces. In use, light will be directed generally axially by way of the neck of a bottle to which the body is attached. In order to increase the amount of light directed in the generally axial direction, a truncated conical reflector (8) surrounds the light emitting diode to aid in reflecting light in the general direction of the axis of the socket. Also, a light diffuser (not shown) could extend into the bottle in order to assist with the diffusion of light.

An electronic circuit carried on a printed circuit board (1 1 ) is located in the body and is connected to the solar panel, and a battery compartment (1 2) for receiving rechargeable batteries (1 3), in use.

The electronic circuit includes a control switch (14) arranged to ensure that the light source is switched off during hours of sufficient natural light and to close the circuit when natural light diminishes the below a predetermined level. The electronic circuit also has a series arranged manually operable switch (1 5) that is optionally associated with an input (16) for attachment to an elongated flexible element (1 7) that enables remote closure of the manually operable switch. As an alternative to the elongated flexible element, a pressure or vibration activated manually operable switch may be employed that is operable by squeezing or tapping the beverage bottle to which the solar light unit may be fitted, in use. A two way pressure switch could operate by a first light squeeze of the bottle for light to turn on, and a second light squeeze of the bottle for the light to turn off. A spring may be used in the pressure switch to determine the pressure required when squeezing to activate or deactivate the switch.

The exact arrangement of the manually operable switch may depend, at least to some extent, on the final intended application of the solar light unit. The electronic circuit may also include a flasher switch (18) to enable a flashing light to be employed for security or communications purposes by closing of a separate manually operable switch (19).

In one application of the solar light unit described above it can be fitted to a clear beverage bottle that is typically filled with water and a suitable quantity of antibacterial agent that is commonly a small amount of bleach in order to prevent the growth of algae and consequent opaqueness. As indicated above, at this stage a light dispersing or enhancing material could be added to the bottle and such a material would preferably have the ability to fluoresce under operative conditions

With the solar light unit screwed onto the screw threaded opening to the bottle, the solar panel mounted on the body is directed upwards and is exposed to sunlight, in use, as and when sunlight is available.

This bottle may be installed in a hole in a roof (21 ) in the manner indicated above so that, at night-time, or at any other time when natural light is below a suitable level, the light source can be switched on and be operated off electrical energy contained within the battery in the battery compartment. Switching of the light on and off can be effected in an appropriate manner depending on the nature of the manually operable switch employed. In the application of the solar light unit (1 ) illustrated in Figure 4 , the solar light unit can be fitted to a clear beverage bottle (22) that has had the bottom, or an entire lower section of the bottle, removed. In such an application the combination of the solar light unit and bottle can be used as a manually held flashlight.

In a further application of the solar light unit (1 ) that is illustrated in Figure 5, it can be attached to a clear beverage bottle (23) that may or may not be cut off or have the bottom removed and the assembly can be inverted relative to the orientation illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. In this instance the assembly can be supported on a surround or feet fitted adjacent the solar panel, such that the solar panel is directed downwards and the combination can stand in the manner of a lamp on surround or feet. Of course, the surround or feet serve to obviate damage to the solar panel itself. Alternatively, a removable cover may also be provided for the solar panel. The assembly can therefore stand in the manner of a lamp as illustrated in Figure 5.

In the event that a somewhat larger solar panel is to be employed, or multiple solar panels, it may be advisable to elevate the solar panels somewhat relative to the socket by increasing the height of the body appropriately.

Numerous variations may be made to the embodiment of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof. Also, numerous other applications of the solar light unit are possible.