Marina solar energy system and method
OwnerRyan Steven McKenzie, Benjamin Norrieinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A marina solar energy system and method is provided. The system includes one or more base assemblies designed to support corresponding solar panel assemblies. For example, the system may include dock box lids with recesses adapted to receive and secure one or more solar panels, and an energy distribution system to receive and distribute the energy produced by the solar panel assemblies (e.g., to other areas of the marina, to a local power grid, etc.). The system also may include rechargeable power sources, such as rechargeable battery packs, that may store the energy produced by the solar panels. The system also may include electrical outlets for use by occupants of the marina.
Claims19
A solar dock box assembly comprising:
- a first dock box body including a box bottom and box sidewalls defining an inner volume and an open top;
- a first dock box lid adapted to cover the open top and including a topside and an underneath side, and a left side, a right side, a front side, and a rear side defining an outer perimeter;
- a topside sidewall extending about the outer perimeter on the topside and including a first inner surface and a first outer surface, the first inner surface and the topside defining a topside recess;
- a first electrical terminal configured within the topside recess;
- at least one solar panel received into the topside recess and including an electrical output in electrical communication with the first electrical terminal;
- a first opening within the topside recess and passing through the lid from the topside to the underneath side;
- a second opening within the inner volume and passing through a box sidewall to outside the inner volume;
- a second electrical terminal configured on an outside portion of a box sidewall;
- a third electrical terminal configured within the inner volume and coupled to an inside surface of a first box sidewall;
- a first electrical line including a second flexible electrical line in electrical communication with the first electrical terminal and extending through the first opening into the inner volume and terminating at and in electrical communication with the third electrical terminal, and a third electrical line in electrical communication with and extending from the third electrical terminal and through the second opening to outside the inner volume and in electrical communication with the second electrical terminal;
- and
- a gutter configured in the topside sidewall and including a third opening in the topside sidewall extending from within the topside recess to outside the topside recess.
A solar dock box assembly comprising:
- a first dock box body including a box bottom and box sidewalls defining an inner volume and an open top;
- a first dock box lid adapted to cover the open top and including a topside and an underneath side, and a left side, a right side, a front side, and a rear side defining an outer perimeter;
- a topside sidewall extending about the outer perimeter on the topside and including a first inner surface and a first outer surface, the first inner surface and the topside defining a topside recess;
- a first electrical terminal configured within the topside recess;
- at least one solar panel received into the topside recess and including an electrical output in electrical communication with the first electrical terminal;
- a first opening within the topside recess and passing through the lid from the topside to the underneath side;
- a second opening within the inner volume and passing through a box sidewall to outside the inner volume;
- a second electrical terminal configured on an outside portion of a box sidewall;
- a first electrical line in electrical communication with the first electrical terminal and extending through the first opening into the inner volume, and extending through the second opening to outside the inner volume and in electrical communication with the second electrical terminal;
- and
- a gutter configured in the topside sidewall and including a third opening in the topside sidewall extending from within the topside recess to outside the topside recess.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.