TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to solar-powered lighting devices. More particularly, embodiments of the present disclosure include portable, rechargeable lighting devices, such as lanterns powered by solar energy.

BACKGROUND

Certain situations require alternative lighting solutions, such as during limited or interrupted power access, or a lack of power altogether. Examples include cases of natural disaster and other emergencies, remote/rural locations far from a power station or electricity grid, and developing countries that have limited and/or unreliable power. Yet, current lighting options are often short-lived, unreliable, inefficient, non-reusable/non-rechargeable, impractical, and/or expensive to produce and operate.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A collapsible solar-powered lighting device comprising a housing including a first wall, a second wall opposite the first wall and one or more side walls extending between the first wall and the second wall, wherein the first wall, second wall, and one or more side walls define an inflatable bladder; at least one solar panel integrated into an outside surface of at least one of the first wall and the second wall, thereby defining the at least one of the first wall and the second wall that includes the at least one solar panel as an electronics wall of the housing; a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) integrated into an inside surface of the electronics wall of the housing, the plurality of LEDs forming a generally annular arrangement and facing an interior of the housing; a rechargeable battery integrated into the electronics wall between the inside surface of the electronics wall and the outside surface of the electronics wall, the rechargeable battery being electrically connected between the at least one solar panel and the plurality of LEDs, such that the rechargeable battery is configured to supply current to the plurality of LEDs and be recharged by the at least one solar panel; a button integrated into one or more of the first wall, the second wall, and the one or more side walls, the button being selectable by a user to control an operating mode of the plurality of LEDs; a microprocessor integrated into the electronics wall of the housing between the inside surface of the electronics wall and the outside surface of the electronics wall, the microprocessor being electrically connected to the button, the rechargeable battery, and the plurality of LEDs; and a current regulator coupled between the rechargeable battery and the microprocessor, the current regulator maintaining a threshold current delivered to the plurality of LEDs as controlled by the microprocessor; wherein the microprocessor is configured to control a plurality of operating modes of the LEDs, at least one of the operating modes including changing, a color of light emitted from the housing such that a first press of the button causes the plurality of LEDs to emit a first color of light, a second press of the button causes the plurality of LEDs to emit a second color of light, a third press of the button causes the plurality of LEDs to emit a third color of light, and an nth press of the button causes the plurality of LEDs to initiate a transition sequence, the transition sequence causing the plurality of LEDs to begin emitting the first color of light, gradually change to the second color of light, gradually change to the third color of light, and gradually change to the nth color of light.

The present disclosure further includes an inflatable solar-powered lighting device comprising: a housing, including a first wall, a second wall opposite the first wall, and one or more side walls extending between the first wall and the second wall, wherein the first wall, second wall, and one or more side walls define an airtight inflatable bladder; at least one solar panel integrated into an outside surface of at least one of the first wall and the second wall; a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) integrated into an inside surface of the at least one of the first wall and the second wall, the plurality of LEDs arranged in a generally annular arrangement and facing an interior of the airtight inflatable bladder defined by the first wall, second wall, and one or more side walls; a rechargeable battery integrated into the t least one of the first wall and the second wall between the inside surface of the at least one of the first wall and the second wall and the outside surface of the at least one of the first wall and the second wall, the rechargeable battery being electrically connected between the at least one solar panel and the plurality of LEDs, such that the rechargeable battery is configured to supply current to the plurality of LEDs and be recharged by the at least one solar panel; a button integrated into one or more of the first wall, the second wall, and the one or more side walls, the button being selectable by a user to control an operating mode of the plurality of LEDs; a microprocessor integrated into the at least one of the first wall and the second wall between the inside surface of the at least one of the first wall and the second wall and the outside surface of the at least one of the first wall and the second wall, the microprocessor being electrically connected between the button, the battery, and the plurality of LEDs; and a current regulator coupled between the rechargeable battery and the microprocessor, the current regulator maintaining a threshold current delivered to the plurality of LEDs as controlled by the microprocessor; wherein the microprocessor is configured to control a plurality of operating modes of the LEDs, at least one of the operating modes including changing a color of light emitted from the housing.

The present disclosure further includes a collapsible solar-powered lighting device comprising: a housing including a first wall, a second wall opposite the first wall, and one or more side walls extending between the first wall and the second wall, wherein the first wall, second wall, and one or more side walls define an inflatable bladder; at least one solar panel integrated into an outside surface of at least one of the first wall and the second wall, the solar panel defining the at least one of the first wall and the second wall as an electronics wall of the housing; a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) integrated into an inside surface of the electronics wall of the housing, the plurality of LEDs arranged in a generally annular arrangement and facing an interior of the inflatable bladder defined by the first wall, second wall, and one or more side walls a rechargeable battery integrated into the electronics wall of the housing between the inside surface of the electronics wall and the outside surface of the electronics wall, the rechargeable battery being electrically connected between the at least one solar panel and the plurality of LEDs, such that the rechargeable battery is configured to supply current to the plurality of LEDs and be recharged by the at least one solar panel; a button integrated into one or more of the first wall, the second wall, and the one or more side walls, the button being selectable by a user to control an operating mode of the plurality of LEDs; and a microprocessor integrated into the electronics wall of the housing between the inside surface of the electronics wall and the outside surface of the electronics wall, the microprocessor being electrically connected between the button, the battery, and the plurality of LEDs; wherein the microprocessor is configured to control a plurality of operating modes of the LEDs, at least one of the operating modes including changing a color of light emitted from the housing such that a first press of the button causes the plurality of LEDs to emit a first color of light, a second press of the button causes the plurality of LEDs to emit a second color of light, and a third press of the button causes the plurality of LEDs to emit a third color of light.

