Inflatable solar light

Abstract

A solar rechargeable light is disclosed. In some embodiments, the solar light include the following: an expandable inner bladder including at least front and bottom surfaces; a solar rechargeable light assembly joined with the front surface of the inner bladder, the assembly including a thin-film photovoltaic, a battery charger in electrical communication with the thin-film photovoltaic, a rechargeable battery in electrical communication with the battery charger, and a light emitting diode in electrical communication with the rechargeable battery; and an expandable outer bladder configured to contain the inner bladder. The inner and outer bladders are substantially transparent, flexible, inflatable, and collapsible.

1 . A solar rechargeable lamp, comprising:
 an expandable inner bladder including an outer surface and an internal volume for receiving one or more of a gas, a liquid, and a solid;   an expandable outer bladder including a flat bottom surface, an internal volume and configured to contain the inner bladder within the internal volume of the outer bladder, the outer bladder having a size suitable for being carried in one hand of a user; and   a solar rechargeable light assembly located between the inner bladder and the outer bladder such that the outer bladder is devoid of an opening for the assembly;   wherein in a first state, the internal volume of the inner bladder is substantially free of gas, liquids, and solids and the lamp is substantially collapsed, and in a second state, the internal volume of the inner bladder includes one or more of a gas, liquid, and solid, and in the second state, the inner bladder expands the outer bladder and the lamp is substantially expanded for standing in an upright position on the flat bottom surface of the outer bladder.   
     
     
         2 . The lamp of  claim 1 , the solar rechargeable light assembly being joined to the outer surface of the inner bladder, the assembly comprising:
 a photovoltaic panel;   a battery charger in electrical communication with the photovoltaic panel;   a rechargeable battery in electrical communication with the battery charger; and   a light emitting diode in electrical communication with the rechargeable battery.   
     
     
         3 . The lamp of  claim 2 , further comprising a power switch in electrical communication with the rechargeable battery and the light emitting diode, wherein in a first position, the switch enables the flow of electricity from the battery to the light emitting diode, and in a second position, the switch prevents the flow of electricity from the battery to the light emitting diode. 
     
     
         4 . The lamp of  claim 2 , wherein the assembly includes more than one light emitting diode in electrical communication with the rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         5 . The lamp of  claim 4 , further comprising a power switch in electrical communication with the rechargeable battery and the light emitting diodes, wherein the switch can be configured to control an amount of light provided by the light emitting diodes. 
     
     
         6 . The lamp of  claim 1 , wherein the inner bladder further comprises a valve through which the inner bladder is inflated to be filled and deflated to be emptied. 
     
     
         7 . The lamp of  claim 1 , wherein the outer bladder is sealable so that the lamp both floats and is substantially waterproof. 
     
     
         8 . The lamp of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the inner and outer bladders includes one or more surfaces having a particular pattern configured to promote diffusion of light from the solar rechargeable light assembly. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A solar rechargeable lamp, comprising:
 an expandable inner bladder including an outer surface and an internal volume for receiving one or more of a gas, a liquid, and a solid;   a solar rechargeable light assembly joined with the outer surface of the inner bladder, the assembly including
 (i) a thin-film photovoltaic panel, 
 (ii) a battery charger in electrical communication with the thin-film photovoltaic panel, 
 (iii) a rechargeable battery in electrical communication with the battery charger, and 
 (iv) a light emitting diode in electrical communication with the rechargeable battery; and 
   an expandable outer bladder having a flat bottom surface, a size suitable for being carried in one hand of a user, and configured to contain the inner bladder;   wherein the inner and outer bladders are substantially transparent, flexible, inflatable, and collapsible, and the solar rechargeable light assembly is located between the inner bladder and the outer bladder such that the outer bladder is devoid of an opening for the assembly,   and wherein the flat bottom surface of the outer bladder enables the lamp to stand in an upright position when the lamp is inflated.   
     
     
         11 . The lamp of  claim 10 , wherein the inner bladder further comprises a valve through which the inner bladder is inflated to be filled and deflated to be emptied. 
     
     
         12 . The lamp of  claim 10 , wherein the outer bladder includes one or more surfaces having a particular pattern configured to promote diffusion of light from the light emitting diode. 
     
     
         13 . The lamp of  claim 10 , wherein in a first state, the inner bladder is substantially free of gas, liquids, and solids and the lamp is substantially collapsed and wherein in a second state, the inner bladder includes one or more of a gas, liquid, and solid and the lamp is substantially expanded. 
     
     
         14 . The lamp of  claim 10 , wherein the assembly includes more than one light emitting diode in electrical communication with the rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         15 . The lamp of  claim 10 , further comprising a power switch in electrical communication with the rechargeable battery and the light emitting diodes, wherein the switch can be configured to control an amount of light provided by the lamp. 
     
     
         16 . A solar rechargeable lamp, comprising:
 an expandable inner bladder including an outer surface and a valve for filling the expandable bladder with one or more of a gas, a liquid, and a solid;   a solar rechargeable light assembly joined with the outer surface of the inner bladder; and   an outer bladder configured to contain the inner bladder within the outer bladder so that the assembly is located between the inner bladder and the outer bladder such that the outer bladder is devoid of an opening for the assembly, the outer bladder comprising a flat bottom surface and an aperture, the aperture being aligned with the valve when the inner bladder is contained within the outer bladder, the outer bladder having a size suitable for being carried in one hand of a user;   wherein in a first state, the inner bladder is substantially free of gas, liquids, and solids and the inner and outer bladders are substantially collapsed, and in a second state, the inner bladder is filled with the one or more of a gas, a liquid, and a solid through the valve, thereby expanding the inner bladder for standing in an upright position on the flat bottom surface of the outer bladder.   
     
     
         17 . The lamp of  claim 1 , wherein the inner bladder also has a bottom surface, and in the second state, the bottom surface of the inner bladder is adjacent to the flat bottom surface of the outer bladder. 
     
     
         18 . The lamp of  claim 13 , wherein the inner bladder also has a bottom surface, and in the second state, the bottom surface of the inner bladder is adjacent to the flat bottom surface of the outer bladder. 
     
     
         19 . The lamp of  claim 10 , wherein the outer bladder is sealable so that the lamp both floats and is substantially waterproof. 
     
     
         20 . The lamp of  claim 1 , wherein the assembly has a reflective back surface for reflecting light from the light emitting diode towards the inner bladder. 
     
     
         21 . The lamp of  claim 10 , wherein the assembly has a reflective back surface for reflecting light from the light emitting diode towards the inner bladder. 
     
     
         22 . A waterproof inflatable solar powered lamp, comprising:
 a collapsible translucent housing having a flat bottom surface, a side wall, and an interior, the housing having a size suitable for being carried in one hand of a user;   a valve for inflating the housing;   a watertight seal between the flat bottom surface and the side wall;   a light assembly in the interior of the housing, between the housing and an inner surface such that the housing is devoid of an opening for the light assembly, the light assembly having
 (i) a back side and a front side, 
 (ii) a solar panel on the front side of the assembly, 
 (iii) a rechargeable battery on the back side of the assembly for receiving charge from the solar panel, 
 (iv) at least one light emitting diode on the back side of the assembly for receiving power from the rechargeable battery; and 
   a switch for controlling power from the battery to the light emitting diode, to turn the light emitting diode on and off;   wherein in a first state, the interior of the housing is substantially free of gas, liquids and solids and the lamp is substantially collapsed; and in a second state, the interior of the housing includes one or more of a gas, liquid and solid so the lamp is expanded for standing in an upright position on the flat bottom surface of the housing.   
     
     
         23 . The lamp of  claim 22 , further comprising a reflective surface for reflecting light from the light emitting diode towards the interior of the housing. 
     
     
         24 . The lamp of  claim 22 , wherein the housing is an outer bladder, and further comprising an inner bladder having an outer surface, and wherein the inner surface of the lamp is the outer surface of the inner bladder. 
     
     
         25 . The lamp of  claim 22 , wherein the flat bottom surface of the housing has a curved perimeter.