Illuminating device having folding solar panels

Abstract

An illuminating device having folding solar panels, which comprises a lamp cover, a light source, two solar panels, and a folding holder on which the two solar panels are positioned. The opening of the lamp cover is smaller than the deployed area of the folding holder. When it is intended to place the light source, solar panels, and folding holder inside the lamp cover, the folding holder are folded by a predetermined angle so as to pass through the opening of the lamp cover. Accordingly, the illuminating device may significantly reduce the overall volume thereof without compromising the working efficiency. The illuminating device is flexible in arrangement and assembly, and is also more flexible in construction since the solar panels may be positioned at the highest portion to absorb more sunlight.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An illuminating device having folding solar panels comprising:
 an enclosed hollow lamp cover having at least one opening with a diameter;   a light source electrically connected to a lead line;   at least two solar panels for supplying electrical power to the light source; and   a foldable holder having a bore, the at least two solar panels being borne on the foldable holder, and the lead line of the light source being passed through the bore;   wherein the diameter of the opening of the lamp cover is smaller than a size of the foldable holder in an unfolded form,   wherein the foldable holder is folded to form a predetermined angle so as to pass through the opening of the lamp cover, in order to place the foldable holder, the solar panels and the light source inside the lamp cover or to remove therefrom the lamp cover, and   wherein the foldable holder is unfolded in the unfolded form such that the foldable holder along with the solar panels and the light source are supported inside the lamp cover, when the foldable holder is placed inside the lamp cover.   
     
     
         2 . The illuminating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the foldable holder is comprised of at least two receiving seats hinged to each other which are adapted to receive the at least two solar panels. 
     
     
         3 . The illuminating device according to  claim 2 , wherein the foldable holder includes two receiving seats, the two solar panels are electrically connected to an anode wire and a cathode wire, respectively, each of the two receiving seats includes a through hole through which the anode or cathode wire passes, so that after placing the light source, the solar panels, and the foldable holder, through the opening of the lamp cover, inside the lamp cover, the two receiving seats are stretched to lie flat horizontally by pulling the anode wire and cathode wire toward outside the opening of the lamp cover. 
     
     
         4 . The illuminating device according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a retaining sheet having two or more elastic supporting brackets provided on an upper surface of the retaining sheet, and a central hole through which the lead line of the light source, the anode wire, and the cathode wire of the solar panels pass,   wherein the two or more elastic supporting brackets are arranged through the opening of the lamp cover to urge against the surface of inner wall of the lamp cover.   
     
     
         5 . The illuminating device according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a water-resistant gasket having a grommet,   wherein the water-resistant gasket is provided underneath the retaining sheet, the grommet is fastened in the central hole of the retaining sheet, and the lead line of the light source, the anode wire and cathode wire of the solar panels are arranged to pass through the grommet in a tight fitting manner.   
     
     
         6 . The illuminating device according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a lower housing for accommodating the water-resistant gasket and the retaining sheet therein and for covering the opening of the lamp cover, and a plurality of screws, the plurality of screws being arranged to extend through the lower housing and the water-resistant gasket, and threaded into corresponding fixing holes of the retaining sheet.   
     
     
         7 . The illuminating device according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an electric circuit board and a battery electrically connected thereto, the light source and the solar panels being electrically connected to the electric circuit board through the lead line, anode wire, and cathode wire for charging the battery and lighting the light source.   
     
     
         8 . The illuminating device according to  claim 3 , wherein the foldable holder is comprised of a foldable base plate and a pair of U-shaped side walls to construct the two receiving seats, the pair of U-shaped side walls being arranged opposite to each other with the U-shaped side walls vertically extending from the base plate, and being spaced from each other by a predetermined distance. 
     
     
         9 . The illuminating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined angle ranges from 10° to 170°. 
     
     
         10 . A solar lighting assembly comprising:
 a lamp cover having an opening at a bottom;   an illuminating device mounted inside the lamp cover, the illuminating device comprising:
 a light source electrically connected to a lead line; 
 at least two solar panels for supplying electrical power to the light source; and 
 a foldable holder arranged to support the solar panels, and having a central bore through which the lead line of the light source passes; 
   wherein the opening of the lamp cover is smaller than a size of the foldable holder in an unfolded form,   wherein the foldable holder is folded to form a predetermined angle for passing through the opening of the lamp cover, in order to place the foldable folder along with the light source, solar panels inside the lamp cover or to remove from the lamp cover, and   wherein the foldable holder is unfolded in the unfolded form such that the foldable holder along with the solar panels and the light source are supported inside the lamp cover, when the foldable holder along with the light source and the solar panels are placed inside the lamp cover.   
     
     
         11 . The solar lighting assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the foldable holder comprises at least two receiving seats hinged to each other which are adapted to receive the at least two solar panels. 
     
     
         12 . The solar lighting assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the foldable holder includes two receiving seats to receive the two solar panels which are electrically connected to an anode wire and a cathode wire, respectively, each of the two receiving seats includes a through hole through which the anode or cathode wire passes, so that after placing the light source, the solar panels, and the foldable holder, through the opening of the lamp cover, inside the lamp cover, the two receiving seats are stretched to lie flat horizontally by pulling the anode wire and cathode wire toward outside the opening of the lamp cover. 
     
     
         13 . The solar lighting assembly according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a retaining sheet having two or more elastic supporting brackets provided on an upper surface of the retaining sheet, and a central hole through which the lead line of the light source, the anode wire, and the cathode wire of the solar panels pass,   wherein the two or more elastic supporting brackets are arranged through the opening of the lamp cover to urge against the surface of inner wall of the lamp cover.   
     
     
         14 . The solar lighting assembly according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a water-resistant gasket having a grommet,   wherein the water-resistant gasket is provided underneath the retaining sheet, the grommet is fastened in the central hole of the retaining sheet, and the lead line of the light source, the anode wire and cathode wire of the solar panels are arranged to pass through the grommet in a tight fitting manner.   
     
     
         15 . The solar lighting assembly according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a lower housing for accommodating the water-resistant gasket and the retaining sheet therein and for covering the opening of the lamp cover, and a plurality of screws, the plurality of screws being arranged to extend through the lower housing and the water-resistant gasket, and threaded into corresponding fixing holes of the retaining sheet.   
     
     
         16 . The solar lighting assembly according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 an electric circuit board and a battery electrically connected thereto, the light source and the solar panels being electrically connected to the electric circuit board through the lead line, the anode wire, and the cathode wire for charging the battery and lighting the light source.   
     
     
         17 . The solar lighting assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the foldable holder comprises a foldable base plate and a pair of U-shaped side walls to construct the two receiving seats, the pair of U-shaped side walls being arranged opposite to each other with the U-shaped side walls vertically extending from the base plate, and being spaced from each other by a predetermined distance. 
     
     
         18 . The solar lighting assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined angle ranges from 10° to 170°.