Patent Application
20130050995
The present invention relates to a lamp, more particularly to a lamp capable of converting heat generated by burning a combustible substance (e.g., a gaseous fuel, kerosene, or a candle) into a driving electric power through using a heat-to-electricity converter, so as to enable a light-emitting element to emit light upon receiving the driving electric power. Thus, the lamp can provide proper illumination even in places (e.g., a field or a park) where power supply devices (e.g., a socket) are absent, and the light-emitting ability of the lamp is effectively enhanced.
Recently, people's way of life has gradually changed with the development of economic and trade activities. In addition to pursuing material enjoyment, more and more emphasis is placed on the enhancement of the spiritual life. To relieve the stress built up from living in a concrete jungle, many people would go outdoors and engage in recreational activities such as hiking, camping, and cycling, so as to be relaxed both physically and mentally. The various recreational activities also provide tremendous business opportunities for the recreational industry. Camping, in particular, is very popular nowadays and is perfect for family members and friends because not only does it bring new experiences to our monotonous daily lives, but also the campers get to form a bond with one another through mutual help and cooperation. Many camping enthusiasts hold that camping is not complete without building a campfire and using candle lamps or kerosene lamps for lighting. These fuel-burning lamps provide warmth during chilly nights, double as insect repellers in summer nights, and add to the camping atmosphere more effectively than their electric counterparts. However, fuel-burning lamps are not bright enough when a strong light source is desired for illumination, and electricity-driven lamps (e.g., an electric lamp powered by a power cable or a flashlight powered by batteries) are usually called for in such cases.
If, in order to use electric lamps in camping, the campsite is deliberately located where electricity is available, the opportunity to get closer to the nature will be reduced, and the spirit of camping, compromised. If flashlights and no other lighting tools are used for illumination in camping, the ambience thus created will be less desirable than that by fuel-burning lamps, not to mention that the warmth and insect-repelling effect of the latter are lost, all of which deprive the campers of the leisurely atmosphere of camping. Moreover, it is difficult, if not impossible, to recharge a flashlight when the flashlight is carried around for a nighttime walk in the field. Should the batteries in the flashlight die during the walk, the user will lose the assistance of the lighting tool, which is dangerous. Therefore, the issue to be addressed by the present invention is to design a lamp configured for providing non-electricity-driven illumination and for automatically generating a driving electric power from a combustible substance so that, whenever a strong light source is needed, the driving electric power can drive a light-emitting element to give off light in addition to the non-electricity-driven illumination. Thus, proper lighting can be achieved even where power supply devices are not available.
In view of the fact that the enjoyment of nighttime outdoor activities is often impaired by the conventional fuel-burning lamps, which tend to produce insufficient light, and the conventional electric lamps, which fail to produce a leisurely camping atmosphere or a warming or insect-repelling effect, the inventor of the present invention conducted years of research and trials and finally succeeded in developing a lamp capable of generating a driving electric power from heat as disclosed herein. The disclosed lamp combines the advantages of fuel-burning lamps and electric lamps and further solves the power supply problem of the latter so as to provide proper illumination even where power supply devices are unavailable.
The first object of the present invention is to provide a lamp capable of generating a driving electric power from heat, wherein the lamp includes a base portion, a top portion, a heat-to-electricity converter, and a light-emitting element. The base portion is provided therein with a receiving space for receiving a combustible substance (e.g., a gaseous fuel, kerosene, or a candle). The combustible substance, when burning, generates both light and heat. The top portion is connected above and spaced from the base portion. The heat-to-electricity converter includes a thermoelectric cooling chip and a current stabilizer. The thermoelectric cooling chip is provided on the top portion and is adjacent to the receiving space. The thermoelectric cooling chip has one side serving as a heated side to be directly or indirectly heated by the heat generated by the combustible substance. The opposite side of the thermoelectric cooling chip serves as a heat dissipation side and is provided with a heat dissipation element (e.g., heat dissipation fins or a heat dissipation paste) for dissipating the thermal energy conducted from the heated side to the heat dissipation side. Thus, the temperature of the heat dissipation side is kept from varying significantly with the heat received by the heated side, and the temperature difference between the two sides of the thermoelectric cooling chip is hence increased or maintained so as for the thermoelectric cooling chip to generate an induced current out of the temperature difference. The current stabilizer is provided on the top portion or the base portion and is connected to the thermoelectric cooling chip in order to receive the induced current and stably convert the induced current into a driving electric power. The light-emitting element is provided on the top portion or the base portion and is connected to the current stabilizer so as to emit light upon receiving the driving electric power. Therefore, by means of the heat-to-electricity converter, the lamp can convert the heat generated by burning the combustible substance into the driving electric power, thereby driving the light-emitting element to emit light. Consequently, the light-emitting ability of the lamp is effectively enhanced. The lamp can provide proper illumination even in places (e.g., a field or a park) where power supply devices (e.g., a socket) are absent.
The second object of the present invention is to provide the foregoing lamp, wherein the lamp further includes a first switch. The first switch is provided on the top portion or the base portion and is connected between the current stabilizer and the light-emitting element so as to control the magnitude of the driving electric power input into the light-emitting element. By turning on or off or adjusting the first switch as needed, the light-emitting element can be turned on or off or adjusted to switch the lamp to a relatively bright or relatively dim lighting mode. This allows the lamp to provide not only the relatively dim lighting mode, in which the light is generated solely by burning the combustible substance, but also the relatively bright lighting mode, in which the first switch is turned on such that the light-emitting element, driven by the driving electric power from the current stabilizer, emits light in conjunction with the burning combustible substance. If applicable, the magnitude of the driving electric power transmitted from the current stabilizer to the light-emitting element can be controlled by adjusting the first switch, with a view to adjusting the current flowing through the light-emitting element and hence the brightness of the light-emitting element.
The third object of the present invention is to provide the foregoing lamp, wherein the lamp further includes a charging device. The charging device is electrically connected to the current stabilizer so as to receive the driving electric power. The charging device may be additionally and electrically connected to at least one electricity storage element (e.g., a battery) so as for the charging device to charge the at least one electricity storage element using the driving electric power and thereby generate a backup electric power. The at least one electricity storage element is electrically connected to the light-emitting element in order to provide the backup electric power thereto. The at least one electricity storage element can be charged while the combustible substance is burning to generate light. Once the combustible substance is used up, the at least one electricity storage element can supply the backup electric power to the light-emitting element, allowing the light-emitting element to continue emitting light.
The fourth object of the present invention is to provide the foregoing lamp, wherein the lamp further includes a motor and a rotating screen. The motor is provided on the top portion or the base portion and is electrically connected to the at least one electricity storage element so as to receive the backup electric power. The rotating screen corresponds in position to either of the light sources in the lamp. Thus, the light generated by the lamp can project outward through patterns or graphics on the rotating screen to form a projected image. Moreover, the rotating screen can be driven to rotate by the motor so that the projected image is rotatable with the rotating screen to produce a dynamic visual effect.
The fifth object of the present invention is to provide the foregoing lamp, wherein the lamp is further provided with a second switch. The second switch is connected between the at least one electricity storage element and the motor so as to control the backup electric power input from the at least one electricity storage element into the motor. Rotation of the motor can be activated or stopped by turning on or off the second switch.
The sixth object of the present invention is to provide the foregoing lamp, wherein the lamp is further provided with a transparent lampshade. The lampshade is provided between the top portion and the base portion and corresponds in position to the receiving space. In addition to diffusing the light generated by burning the combustible substance, the lampshade can prevent ambient air flow from interfering with the combustion of the combustible substance and keep the heat generated by the combustible substance from dissipation.
The structure as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects, and advantages of the present invention will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of some illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The inventor of the present invention has long been engaged in the research and development of products for use in outdoor recreation and entertainment. In the process, the inventor has found that outdoor activity enthusiasts often find it difficult to choose a nighttime lighting tool. While fuel-burning lamps can provide warmth, repel insects, and create a lighting ambience that seems capable of taking the users away from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives, these lamps fail to generate enough light when a strong light source is needed. If electric lamps are used instead, the relatively strong light they produce tends to compromise the atmosphere of an outdoor activity. Furthermore, the conventional electric lamps are not configured for providing warmth and repelling insects, and the use of electric lamps is very likely to limit the users' range of activity to where electricity is available. Even if an electric lamp is powered by batteries, it is practically impossible to recharge the lamp during a nocturnal excursion, in which case the lamp becomes useless once the batteries run out of power, and the failure of a nighttime lighting tool can be extremely dangerous. As such, the choice between fuel-burning lamps and electric lamps is a dilemma indeed. After repeated experiments, the inventor of the present invention finally succeeded in developing a lamp capable of generating a driving electric power from heat. This lamp not only combines the merits of a fuel-burning lamp and an electric lamp but also solves the power supply problem of the latter. Hence, the lamp disclosed herein can provide proper lighting even in places lacking power supply devices.
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While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100215780 | Aug 2011 | TW | national |
