Solar awning and method
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorRobert C. Woodall, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar awning system is provided with a spool housing containing a sheet of flexible solar light array material rolled into a spool within the spool housing. The spool is rotatably mounted for spooling and unspooling the flexible sheet to and from the spool housing. The spool housing may be attached to a wall or other object or mounted on supports to quickly provide a shaded and lighted region at a desired location. The flexible sheet is quickly retracted into the spool housing to pack up, whereupon the spool housing protects the flexible solar light array material for subsequent use.
Claims13
A solar awning to provide a shaded and lighted region, comprising:
- a spool housing;
- a flexible sheet of flexible solar light array material rolled into a spool within said spool housing, said spool of flexible solar light material being rotatably mounted for spooling and unspooling said flexible sheet to and from said spool housing to cover and uncover said shaded and lighted region;
- said flexible sheet of flexible solar light array material further comprising,
- a plurality of solar cells affixed to said flexible sheet,
- a plurality of solar cell electrical conductors affixed to said flexible sheet and electrically connected to said plurality of solar cells,
- a plurality of lights affixed to said flexible sheet,
- a plurality of light electrical conductors affixed to said flexible sheet and electrically connected to said plurality of lights;
- and
- a spooling mechanism mounted to said spool housing operable for said spooling and unspooling said flexible sheet to and from said spool housing for covering and uncovering said shaded and lighted region.
A method for making a solar awning to provide a shaded and lighted region, comprising:
- forming a flexible sheet of flexible solar light array material comprising a plurality of solar cells, a plurality of lights, and electrical conductors;
- rolling said flexible sheet onto a spool;
- rotatably mounting said spool of flexible solar light material within a spool housing for spooling and unspooling said flexible sheet to and from said spool housing;
- electrically connecting a rotary connector to said plurality of solar cells through a plurality of solar cell electrical conductors, which are electrically connected to said plurality of solar cells on said flexible sheet;
- electrically connecting said rotary connector to said plurality of lights through a plurality of light electrical conductors which are electrically connected to said plurality of lights;
- and
- affixing a spooling mechanism to said housing to control said spooling and unspooling said flexible sheet to and from said spool housing for covering and uncovering said shaded and lighted region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.