BACKGROUND

[0001] To improve the number fish caught during the night, artisanal fishermen use kerosene lamps on makeshift rafts. Light from the kerosene lamp illuminates the surface of the water and attracts fish. After a period of time, fish are localized in the illuminated water and the fishermen capture the fish with a net. This process is practiced worldwide with huge impact on the finances of the fishermen and the environment. Operation of a single kerosene lamp costs about six hundred dollars per year in fuel and maintenance. With ever increasing concerns over food security and environmental impact, the practice of attracting fish with kerosene lamps must be reduced.

SUMMARY

[0002] A solar utility light comprising: a solar panel assembly; a housing hermetically sealed to the solar panel thereby defining an interior space, the housing comprising: a container formed in the housing; and, a circuit assembly disposed in the housing interior space; at least one light emitting diode electrically interfaced with the circuit assembly, the light emitting diode emitting light from the housing interior space; a battery electrically interfaced with the solar panel and the circuit assembly; a water-mass defined as the weight of water held in the housing interior space less than the volume of the battery, the circuit assembly, and the light emitting diode, the water-mass being greater than a total weight of the solar utility light; wherein the solar utility light floats on a body of water.

[0003] A solar A method of attracting fish in a body of water with light, the method comprising: providing a solar utility light comprising: a solar panel assembly; a housing hermetically sealed to the solar panel thereby defining an interior space, the housing comprising: a container formed in the housing; and, a circuit assembly disposed in the housing interior space; at least one light emitting diode electrically interfaced with the circuit assembly, the light emitting diode emitting light from the housing interior space; a battery electrically interfaced with the solar panel and the circuit assembly; positioning the solar panel assembly in sunlight during daytime; charging the battery via the solar panel assembly; activating the light emitting diode to emit the light from the housing interior portion, the activating discharges the battery via the circuit assembly and the light emitting diode; floating the solar utility light after the positioning, the charging, and the activating thereby placing the light emitting diode under a top surface of the body of water; attracting the fish via an increased luminous flux in a section of the body of water by the light.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] Illustrative embodiments of the present solar utility light are illustrated in the accompanying figures of the drawing in which:

[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of a solar utility light;

[0006] FIG. 2 is a perspective bottom view of a solar utility light;

[0007] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a solar utility light showing a solar panel assembly and four floats;

[0008] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of a solar utility light showing a window and a button formed in a housing;

[0009] FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a solar utility light

[0010] FIG. 6 is a perspective top view of a solar utility light in an exploded condition showing a plurality of floats, a solar panel assembly, a battery, a circuit assembly, a battery, and a housing;

[0011] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the solar utility light taken across plane 7-7 in FIG. 4;

[0012] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a float;

[0013] FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the float of FIG. 8;

[0014] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the float taken across plane 10-10 of FIG. 9;

[0015] FIG. 11 is a perspective bottom view of a solar utility light without a bezel;

[0016] FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of a solar utility light including a sun utilized for charging via a solar panel assembly and light emitting from a light emitting diode; [0017] FIG. 13 is a side elevation view of a solar utility light in a fishing application, wherein the solar utility light is floating on a body of water and emitting light from a light emitting diode into the water;

[0018] FIG. 14 is a perspective top view of a solar utility light mounted to a vertical extension, the vertical extension having one end fixed to earth and a another end fitted with a bezel, wherein the solar utility light charges during daytime and attracting fish at night with light emitting from the solar utility light;

[0019] FIG. 15 is a bottom plan view of a solar utility light supported with a plurality of cables above ground and between two fixed objects, e.g. two buildings;

[0020] FIG. 16 is a top plan view of a solar utility light provided with a light emitting diode and capacitive touch button on a top surface thereof;

[0021] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a pair of solar utility lights attached to a roof of a building, the roof is acting as the bezel for mounting; and,

[0022] FIG. 18 is a side elevation view of a solar utility light with a beacon attached thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] FIGS 1-17, in general, illustrate a solar utility light 100 for industrial scale usage such as attracting fish or generally providing light for dark spaces.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of the solar utility light 100 having a top surface 102 and a bottom surface 104. The top and bottom surfaces 102, 104 are defined at their edges by a front edge 106, a left edge 108, a back edge 110, and a right edge 112. The top surface 102 is provided with a solar panel assembly 120 comprising a transparent cover 122, adhesive 124, a plurality of solar modules such as individual solar module 126, and a backing material 128. When the components of the solar panel assembly 120 are assembled as known in the art, energy from the sun can be converted to electricity and utilized as described later herein. With continued reference to FIG. 1 , the solar utility light 100, in one embodiment, includes one or more floats such as a first float 130, a second float 132, a third float 134, and a fourth float 136. The floats 130, 132, 134, 136 are attached to the solar panel assembly at the edges 106, 108, 110, 112, respectively, and the floats support the solar panel assembly 120 on water as described later herein.

[0025] With reference to FIG. 2 showing a perspective bottom view of the solar utility light 120 including a housing 140 assembled to the solar panel assembly 120 creates a hermetically sealed interior portion 142 that is non-communicative with an exterior portion 144. In other words, the interior portion 142 is sealed and separated from the exterior portion 144 to create a waterproof area where electronics are housed in the interior portion 142. The housing 140 may be a variety of materials (e.g. plastic, aluminum, brass, etc.), but in this configuration it is made of stainless steel formed out of a sheet. One item formed in this sheet-configuration is a container 150 so that the interior portion 142 contains enough air to allow the solar utility light 100 to float on water. However, to improve the stability of the solar panel assembly 120 when floating on water, the floats 130, 132, 134, 136 are provided.

[0026] With continued reference to FIG. 2, the housing container 150 may, for example, include a light window 152 formed at the axial center. Additionally, the container 150 may include a battery window 154 and a button hole 156. A piece of glass 158 is attached to the housing 150 in the interior portion 142 to hermetically seal the solar utility light 100.

Substantially similar to the glass 158, a flexible membrane 160 is attached to the housing 150 in the interior portion 142. In a manner described later herein, the flexible membrane 160 is pushed by a user to control the solar utility light 100.

[0027] With reference to FIG. 3 showing a top plan view of the solar utility light 100 provided with the solar panel assembly 120 and four floats 130, 132, 134, 136 in a symmetrical manner, the solar utility light 100 is durable due to the impact absorbing properties of the floats. The solar panel assembly 120 may be provided with fasteners such as stainless steel bolts 162, 164, 166, 168 for attaching the floats to the housing 140. The solar utility light 100 may be provided with eyelets 170, 172, 174, 176 captured by the bolts 162, 164, 166, 168, respectively. The eyelets 162, 164, 166, 168 are provided for improving security and anchoring points during usage as a fishing light or security light. FIG. 3 also illustrates that the transparent cover 122 supports and protects elements of the solar panel assembly 120 such as the solar module 126

[0028] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the solar utility light 100 showing the light window 152, the battery window 154, and the button hole 156 formed in the housing 140.

[0029] With reference to FIG. 5 showing a side elevation view of the solar utility light 100, the floats, e.g. fourth float 136 may be formed with a top surface 180 and a bottom surface 182 that are parallel and transvers from a central axis 184 as illustrated by angle 186. When two solar utility lights 100 are placed together, the configuration of the surfaces 180, 182 help to register the lights together for easy storing and transportation.

[0030] Referring now to FIG. 6 showing a perspective top view of the solar utility light 100 in an exploded condition showing the plurality of floats 130, 132, 134, 136, the solar panel assembly 120, a seal 190, a battery 192, a circuit assembly 194, and the housing 140, the interior portion 142 is separated from the exterior portion 144. The assembly of the solar utility light 100 captures the battery 192 and the circuit assembly 194 between the housing 140 and the solar panel assembly 120 with the seal 190. In one embodiment, the seal 190 is a silicone adhesive used to seal a windshield of an automobile to its frame. The seal is attached to the backing material 128 of the solar panel assembly 120. With continued reference to FIG. 6, the housing 140 may be provided with guards 196, 197, 198, 199 that protrude from the top surface of the housing 140 beyond the top surface of the solar panel assembly 120. When provided with the guards (e.g. guard 196), the solar panel assembly 120 is protected when used without the floats (e.g. first float 130). Protection of the solar panel assembly 120 by the guards 162, 164, 166, 168 is best illustrated in FIG. 12.

[0031] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the solar utility light 100 taken across plane 7-7 in FIG. 4 and shows the hollow interior portion 142. This cross-sectional view also shows that the fioats, e.g. float 136, 132 are hollow such as formed by blowmolding of plastic. The total volume of these air cavities enable the solar utility light 100 to float on top of a body of water for fishing applications.

[0032] FIG. 8 shows a top plan view of the first float 130. The first float 130 has a first end 200 and an oppositely disposed second end 202 formed with holes, 204, 206, respectively. The holes 204, 206 receive the bolts 168, 162 for attaching the float to the housing. The first float 130 may be provided with a corner cover 208 to capture and protect the solar panel assembly 120 (FIG. 1) as best illustrated in FIG. 1. With continued reference to FIG. 8, while the first float 130 may be made of a large variety of components, one embodiment utilizes high density polyethylene manufactured by blow molding which results in a sealed interior portion as previously described.

[0033] FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the first float 130 of FIG. 8 wherein the first end 200 is located on one side of a plane 10-10 and the second end 202 is on the opposite side of the plane 10-10. This configuration assists in assembly of the first float 130 to the housing 140. [0034] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the first float 130 taken across plane 10-10 of FIG. 9. As illustrated, the hollow float 130 defines an interior portion 210.

[0035] FIG. 11 is a perspective bottom view of the solar utility light 100 without a bezel (e.g. floats 130, 132, 134, 136) which can be used in a number of applications when provided with a plurality of tangs 218 formed in the housing 140, such as first tang 220, second tang 222, third tang 224, and fourth tang 226. The tangs 218 are provided with holes 228, 230, 232, 234 for receiving rope, cable, or bolts. As previously shown (e.g. FIG. 3), the holes capture bolts for mounting the floats.

[0036] Having described various components and assemblies of the solar utility light 100, the usage will now be described with reference to FIG. 12 showing a side elevation view of the solar utility light 120. Generally shown is that the sun 230 emits energy which impacts the solar panel assembly 120. The solar panel assembly 120 converts the sun's energy into electricity by a process well known in industry. This electricity is stored in the battery 192 (FIG. 6) and generally referred to as a charging condition. When the user desires, the flexible membrane 160 (FIG. 11) is depressed to act on a button (not shown, but included with the circuit assembly 194) to activate a light emitting diode 232 (also shown in FIG. 11) that is part of the circuit assembly 194 (FIG. 6). Light 234 emits from the light emitting diode 232 as long as there is energy stored in the battery 192 during a process generally referred to as a lighting condition. This process of charging the battery during the charging condition occurs during the daytime, while the process of producing light with the light emitting diode 232 occurs during the nighttime. This daily process of charging and lighting conditions can continue as long as the individual components of the solar utility light 100 have usable life.

[0037] With reference to FIG. 13 showing a side elevation view of the solar utility light 120 used in a fishing application, the solar panel assembly 120 floating on a top surface 240 a body of water 242 and emitting the light 234 from the light emitting diode 232 (FIG. 11) into body of water 242. The light 234 in the body of water 242 attract fish— in other words, the density of fish is greater in the light 234 than outside the light 234. Due to the high cost of kerosene used in traditional lights, the present solar panel assembly 120 is a much safer, environmentally appropriate, and economical way to attract fish. After these fish are attracted over a period of time (e.g. 4 hours), the fishermen run a net around them and reel the net into their boat.

[0038] FIG. 14 is a perspective top view of a solar utility light 100 mounted to a vertical extension 250. With reference to FIG. 14, the vertical extension 250 has one fixed end 252 fixed to earth 254 and a distal end 256 fitted with a bezel 258. With this configuration of the solar utility light 100 and vertical extension 250, the solar utility light 100 charges during daytime and attracting fish at night with light 260 emitting from the solar utility light 100. In certain applications, this vertical extension 250 may be used for other applications for industrial applications beyond fishing, such as travelling by walking, processing agriculture products, reading, etc. The vertical extension 250 creates a very useful platform for many applications.

[0039] FIG. 15 is a bottom plan view of a solar utility light 100 supported with a plurality of cables 270 such as individual cables 272, 274, 276, and 278 above ground and between two fixed objects, e.g. two boats, docks, trees or buildings. The first cable 272 is captured by the hole 230; the second cable 274 is captured by the hole 232, the third cable 276 is captured by the hole 228; and, the fourth cable 278 is captured by the hole 230. While this illustration is described with four individual cables 270, it is to be understood that if configured properly, one cable may provide enough support for supporting the solar utility light 100. Therefore, this apparatus may be useful as an informal light between two stationary objects (e.g. over a footpath from the water's edge to a village, for example).

[0040] FIG. 16 is a top plan view of a solar utility light 100 provided with a light emitting diode 232 and a capacitive touch button 280 on a top surface of the solar panel assembly 120. Because this solar utility light 100 must be water-tight, this alternative embodiment moves the light emitting diode 232 from the housing 140 to the solar panel assembly 120. In doing so, it is important that a backing material 282 (FIG. 6) have a window through to the transparent cover 122 of the solar panel assembly 120 adjacent to the light emitting diode 232. As further illustrated in FIG. 16, the solar utility light 100 may include an additional capacitive touch button 284. These capacitive touch buttons 280, 284 can be utilize for turning the solar utility light 100 on or increasing brightness, for example.

[0041] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a pair of solar utility lights 100 attached to a roof 290 of a building 292, the roof 290 is acting as the bezel for mounting the solar utility light 100. When the solar utility light 100 is utilized in a building as illustrated, the lumen inside the building enable work, socializing, etc. during the day or night as needed by the user.

[0042] Another alternative embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 18 which includes a locator beacon 300 attached to the solar utility light 100. When used on an open body of water 242, the solar utility light 100 can be difficult to locate. When the locator beacon 300 is provided, it can reflect light from a running light, moonlight, a flashlight, etc. [0043] While a number of example implementations, aspects, and embodiments have been described above, persons skilled in the art will recognize other modifications, permutations, additions, and subcombinations that are within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention. Therefore, it is intended that the following claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted and construed to include all such modifications, additions, and subcombinations and equivalents as are within their true spirit and scope, and to not limit such claims the exact construction and process shown and described above. The words "comprise," "comprises," "comprising," "composed," "composes," "composing," "include," "including," and

"includes" when used in this specification and in the following claims are intended to specify the presence of stated features, integers, components, or steps, but they do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, components, steps, or groups thereof.