Portable solar canopy with modular connections

Abstract

A portable solar cell canopy or tent with supports to elevate the canopy or tent and expose solar cells affixed thereon to the sun to collect energy for use within the tent. Flexible components, including spray-on solar cells, permit dismantling and reassembly of the entire apparatus into a portable kit for remote usages. The present invention provides energy in remote areas, such as drawing water from a deep well and providing emergency phone service, as well as providing energy in urban or other areas.

1 . A solar canopy comprising:
 at least one solar panel;   a canopy, said canopy disposed above a substrate, said at least one solar panel disposed on an exterior surface of said canopy with exposure to the sun;   a support, said support holding said canopy with said at least one solar panel thereon off the substrate; and   a power outlet, said power outlet being disposed within said canopy and providing power to a user therein, said power outlet receiving power from said at least one solar panel,   whereby said canopy and said at least one solar panel thereon are flexible, collapsible and portable.   
     
     
         2 . The solar canopy according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one solar panel collects light energy, said light energy being selected from the group consisting of visible light, infrared light, ultraviolet light and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The solar canopy according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one solar panel is composed of a material being selected from the group consisting of plastic, composite, thin film semiconductor material, thin film photovoltaics, nanotechnology materials, thin film nanocomposites, quantum dot materials, spray-on composites, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The solar canopy according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one solar panel comprises a plurality of solar panels arrayed on said canopy. 
     
     
         5 . The solar canopy according to  claim 1 , wherein said canopy forms a shape when configured, said shape having a footprint selected from the group consisting of rectangular square, triangular and circular. 
     
     
         6 . The solar canopy according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one electrical device connected to said power outlet, said at least one electrical device secured to said power outlet via a locking means.   
     
     
         7 . The solar canopy according to  claim 6 , wherein said at least one electrical device is selected from the group consisting of a fan, a water pump, adaptor, electrical socket, extension cord, multi-plug device, converter, regulator, cell or portable phone, computer, PDA devices, GPS device and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The solar canopy according to  claim 1 , wherein said support comprises at least three poles, said poles holding said canopy above the substrate. 
     
     
         9 . The solar canopy according to  claim 8 , wherein said power outlet is affixed to at least one of said poles of said support. 
     
     
         10 . The solar canopy according to  claim 8 , wherein said poles include at least one center pole, said power outlet affixed to said at least one center pole. 
     
     
         11 . The solar canopy according to  claim 10 , wherein said at least one center pole does not extend to the substrate. 
     
     
         12 . The solar canopy according to  claim 1 , wherein said solar canopy components are detachable, said canopy and at least one solar panel flexible for folding, and said support detachable from said canopy, said canopy components capable of rapid assembly and disassembly. 
     
     
         13 . The solar canopy according to  claim 1 , wherein said canopy further includes a plurality of walls, forming an enclosure, said walls being detachable. 
     
     
         14 . The solar canopy according to  claim 13 , wherein said canopy and walls are secured together by attachment means, said attachment means being selected from the group consisting of zippers, ties, ropes, clamps, grommets, snaps, buttons, Velcro and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The solar canopy according to  claim 13 , wherein said walls are perpendicular to the substrate or at an angle thereto. 
     
     
         16 . The solar canopy according to  claim 13 , wherein said walls have at least one solar panel affixed thereto. 
     
     
         17 . The solar canopy according to  claim 1 , wherein said canopy has at least one aperture therethrough, said aperture being selected from the group consisting of vents, windows, doors and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The solar canopy according to  claim 1 , wherein said support for said canopy is deployable over a plurality of substrates, said substrates selected from the group consisting of ground, rock, sand, ice and water. 
     
     
         19 . A solar canopy comprising:
 solar panel means for gathering solar energy;   canopy means, said canopy means disposed above a substrate, said solar panel means disposed on an exterior surface of said canopy means with exposure to the sun;   support means supporting said canopy means above said substrate;   power means disposed within said canopy means and providing power to a user therein, said power means receiving power from said solar panel means,   whereby said canopy means and said solar panel means thereon are flexible, collapsible and portable.   
     
     
         20 . A solar canopy kit comprising:
 a plurality of solar panels for gathering solar energy;   a canopy portion, said canopy portion made of a flexible material, said plurality of solar panels being affixed to an exterior surface of said canopy portion with exposure to the sun, said canopy with said plurality of solar panels thereon capable of being folded for transport;   a plurality of supports to elevate said canopy portion above a substrate;   an electrical conduit, said electrical conduit receiving power from said plurality of solar panels and disposed within said canopy portion, said electrical conduit providing power to a user therein, at least a portion of said electrical conduit being flexible,   whereby said canopy portion with said plurality of solar panels thereon and said electrical conduit are flexible, collapsible and portable, said plurality of supports detachable, and the entire solar canopy capable of being assembled and disassembled.