FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a solar lighting arrangement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a solar lighting arrangement comprising: a housing comprising a photovoltaic (PV) arrangement mounted to a base, the base comprising a transparent or at least translucent dome with a cavity defined therein for accommodating a connector; and a lighting arrangement accommodated within the housing, the lighting arrangement being connected to the PV arrangement and including at least one light source powered by the PV arrangement, with the light source and the dome, in use, directing light radially outwardly through the dome.

In an embodiment, the lighting arrangement includes at least one light source fitted to an electrical circuit on a board, the circuit further being connected to the PV arrangement and to a battery.

In an embodiment, a charging socket is fitted to the board and connected to the electrical circuit, with the dome including an aperture in line with the charging socket, so that a cord from an external electronic device can be connected to the charging socket, via the aperture, to enable the electronic device to be charged.

In an embodiment, the PV arrangement comprises a first switching component connected to the electrical circuit, so that when the first switching component is activated by or connected to an external second switching component, the electrical circuit powers the light source.

In an embodiment, the at least one light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

In an embodiment, the cavity is a central, circular cavity defined in an operatively lower portion of the dome. In a first aspect of the invention, a tethering arrangement is secured to the connector in the cavity of the dome, to enable the base to be securely, yet movably, mounted on top of the mouth of a bottle or similar vessel, with the mouth of the bottle or similar vessel being held captive within the cavity around the connector. In an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the tethering arrangement comprises a cord fitted to the connector, the cord being fitted with an anchoring weight to anchor the solar lighting arrangement in place.

In a further embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, a securing ring arrangement, typically in the form of a silicon or rubber "C" ring, is used to secure the PV arrangement to the base.

Conveniently, the securing ring arrangement is fitted with the second switching component, the second switching component being movably fitted to the ring between an activated position, in which the second switching component is moved towards the first switching component so as to power the light source, and a deactivated position in which the second switching component is moved away from the first switching component. In a second aspect of the invention, the housing is fitted to a jar with a closing ring then being used to secure the housing to the jar.

In an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the jar is fitted with a ring that includes the second switching component, the second switching component being movably fitted to the ring between an activated position, in which the second switching component is moved towards the first switching component so as to power the light source, and a deactivated position in which the second switching component is moved away from the first switching component.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings,

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a solar lighting arrangement according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the solar lighting arrangement of Figure 1 fitted on top of the mouth of a bottle, a base of the arrangement being shown at an angled position relative to the bottle; shows a perspective view of the solar lighting arrangement of Figure 1 , with the base of the arrangement being shown in a horizontal position relative to the bottle; shows a detailed rear perspective view of a portion of the solar lighting arrangement of Figure 2; shows a bottom perspective view of the lighting arrangement with the base removed, showing a board for an electrical circuit to control the operation of the lighting arrangement and a plurality of LEDs; shows a detailed bottom perspective view of a cavity defined in the bottom of the base of the solar lighting arrangement, the cavity including a pin or connector to which a tethering arrangement may be fastened; Figure 7 shows a bottom perspective view of a solar lighting arrangement according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 8 shows a top perspective view of the solar lighting arrangement shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 shows a side view of the solar lighting arrangement shown in Figures 7 and 8; Figure 10 shows an end view of the solar lighting arrangement shown in Figures

7 and 8;

Figure 11 shows a side view of the solar lighting arrangement shown in Figures 7 and 8, in which a handle fitted to a securing ring arrangement is rotated so as to define a supporting stand;

Figure 12 shows a perspective view of the solar lighting arrangement of Figures 7 to 1 1 , with a base of the arrangement being shown at an angled position relative to, and being supported by, the bottle;

Figure 13 shows a bottom perspective view of a solar lighting arrangement according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the solar lighting arrangement may be fitted to a jar; Figure 14 shows a top perspective view of the solar lighting arrangement of

Figure 13 fitted to the jar;

Figure 15 shows a top perspective view of the solar lighting arrangement of

Figure 14 secured to the jar with a closing ring;

Figure 16 shows a top perspective view of a housing comprising a photovoltaic

(PV) arrangement mounted to a base, for use in the embodiments shown in Figures 7 to 15; Figure 17 shows a bottom perspective view of the housing shown in Figure 16; and

Figure 18 shows a side view of the housing shown in Figures 16 and 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring first to Figures 1 to 6, a tethered solar lighting arrangement 10 comprises a photovoltaic (PV) arrangement 12 having a plurality of photovoltaic cells 14. The PV arrangement 12 is mounted to a base 16 so as to define a housing.

In an embodiment, the base 16 comprises a transparent or at least translucent plastics dome 18, thereby allowing light to be directed radially outwardly (i.e. typically downwardly and to the sides, in use) to create even and comfortable illumination, as will become clearer further below. In one version, the plastics dome 18 is made from a polycarbonate plastics material.

A securing ring arrangement (typically in the form of a silicon or rubber "C" ring 19) is typically used to secure the PV 12 arrangement to the base 16.

As best shown in Figure 6, the base 16 defines a cavity 20 that can be movably (typically, swivelably) accommodated on top of the mouth 22 of a bottle 24 or similar vessel (of the type shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4). This arrangement allows the base 16, and thus the PV cells 14 to be tilted for whatever reason, such as to direct light in a required direction or to increase exposure of the PV cells 14 to solar energy (i.e. to track the movement of the sun).

Advantageously, the bottle 24 or similar vessel may be any conventional glass or plastic bottle, and thus the solar lighting arrangement 10 may be used on a very wide range of bottles 24.

The solar lighting arrangement 10 further includes a lighting arrangement 26, as best shown in Figure 5, accommodated between the base 16 and the PV arrangement 12. The lighting arrangement 26 is connected to the PV arrangement 12 and includes at least one light source 28 powered by the PV arrangement 12.

In an embodiment, the at least one light source 28 comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

Thus, in use, the light source 28 directs light downwardly through the transparent portions of the base 16, typically radially through the dome 18 (i.e. downwardly and to the sides), as mentioned above.

In an embodiment, the lighting arrangement 26 comprises a battery 30 connected between the PV arrangement 12 and the at least one light source 28, and a related controlling electrical circuit mounted to a board. A strip of thermal insulation 32 may be provided for the battery 30.

Although not shown in these figures, but which is shown and described with reference to Figure 8, 9, 10, 13, 14 and 15 further below, a switch is provided to control the switching of the at least one light source 28, the switch being connected to the controlling circuit. The switch may either be a capacitive touch switch located inside the base 16, the sensing area of which may be incorporated into the solar panel 12 or the "C" ring 19, or an externally mounted magnetic switch.

Although not shown in these figures, a charging input may be connected to the controlling circuit, to enable a device plugged into the charging input to be charged.

The solar lighting arrangement 10 further includes a tethering arrangement 34 secured to the base 16, to enable the base 16 to be securely, yet movably, mounted on top of the mouth 22 of the bottle 24 (or similar vessel). In an embodiment, the cavity 20 is centrally located and substantially circular, within which a securing connector or pin 36, which may be magnetic, is provided to which the tethering arrangement 34 can be secured. The tethering arrangement 34 comprises a cord 38 fitted to the pin 36, the cord 38 being fitted with an anchoring weight 40 to anchor the solar lighting arrangement 10 in place on top of the bottle 24. The solar lighting arrangement 10 allows various forms of customization, such as providing different colours of silicone rings, and interchangeable anchoring weights. In one version, the anchoring weight 40 may be magnetic, thereby enabling a wide range of metallic objects to be attached to the weight. In yet a further version, the solar lighting arrangement may simply be suspended from a fixture, using at least one hanging cord.

Turning now to Figures 7 to 12, a solar lighting arrangement 50 is shown, which is an improved version of the arrangement 10 shown in Figures 1 to 6. The arrangement 50 comprises a housing 52 comprising a photovoltaic (PV) arrangement 54 mounted to a base 56. The base 56 comprises a transparent or at least translucent plastic dome 58 with a central, circular cavity 60 defined therein (at an operatively lower portion) for accommodating a connector 62.

The solar lighting arrangement 50 further includes a lighting arrangement accommodated within the housing 52. Although not shown, the lighting arrangement is similar to the lighting arrangement 26 described above and thus is connected to the PV arrangement 54 and includes at least one light source powered by the PV arrangement 54, with the light source and the dome 58, in use, directing light radially outwardly through the dome 58.

The lighting arrangement includes at least one light source (LEDs typically) fitted to an electrical circuit on a board, the circuit further being connected to the PV arrangement 54 and to a battery. In an embodiment, a charging socket is fitted to the board and connected to the electrical circuit, with the dome 58 including an aperture 64 in line with the charging socket, so that a cord from an external electronic device can be connected to the charging socket, via the aperture 64, to enable the electronic device to be charged. In an embodiment, the PV arrangement 54 comprises a first switching component 66, which may take the form of a Hall switch, connected to the electrical circuit, so that when the first switching component 66 is activated by or connected to an external second switching component 68, as best shown in Figures 8 and 9, the electrical circuit powers the light source.

In one application, a tethering arrangement, of the type described above, may be secured to the connector 62 in the cavity 60 of the dome 58. This enables the base 56 to be securely, yet movably, mounted on top of the mouth 70 of a bottle 72 or similar vessel, as best shown in Figure 12, with the mouth 70 of the bottle 72 being held captive within the cavity 60 around the connector 62.

A securing ring arrangement 74, typically in the form of a flexible silicon or rubber "C" ring, is used to secure the PV arrangement 54 to the base 56. Conveniently, the securing ring arrangement 74 is fitted with the second switching component 68, which may take the form of a magnet. The second switching component 68 is movably fitted to the ring arrangement 74 between an activated position, in which the second switching component 68 is moved towards the first switching component 66 so as to power the light source, and a deactivated position in which the second switching component 68 is moved away from the first switching component 66.

A handle 76, fitted to the outside of spaced apart holder formations 78, may also be fitted to the securing ring arrangement 74. In one version of the invention, as best shown in Figure 1 1 , the handle 76 may be rotated relative to the securing ring arrangement 74, from the upwardly extending configuration shown in Figures 7 to 10, to a downwardly extending configuration shown in Figure 1 1 . Conveniently, in this configuration, the securing ring arrangement 74 defines a supporting, angled stand, to enable the light to be projected upwardly and/or at an angle. Turning now to Figures 13 to 18, the housing 52 of Figures 7 to 12, without the securing ring arrangement 74, is used, and thus the same reference numerals will be used. In this version, the housing 52 is fitted to a jar 80 with a closing ring 82 (shown in Figure 15) then being used to secure the housing to the jar 80. In an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the jar 80 is fitted with a ring 84 that includes the second switching component 68, the second switching component 68 being movably fitted to the ring 84 between an activated position, in which the second switching component 68 is moved towards the first switching component 66 so as to power the light source, and a deactivated position in which the second switching component 68 is moved away from the first switching component 66.

In the versions shown in Figures 1 to 12, the solar lighting arrangement can be swivelably mounted on top of the mouth of a bottle or a similar vessel. In the version shown in Figures 13 to 15, the solar lighting arrangement can conveniently and securely be fixed to an existing jar 80.

The invention thus provides a simple, effective and versatile solar lighting arrangement. The solar lighting arrangement has many applications, including for use as a table lamp to enable a person to comfortably read, eat and study, for example, by simply using a conventional bottle as a light stand. The solar lighting arrangement is thus relatively compact, and is thus portable.