Originally published January 22 2006
Iowa State student designs solar handbag
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The solar handbag can power a cellphone or any small device that uses a USB port because it is covered with laminated solar panels. The student hopes to put it on the market for under $300.
Iowa State University student Joe Hynek, right, and professor Mark Bryden hold solar purses designed by Hynek.
The 27-year-old mechanical engineering doctoral student at Iowa State University has designed a solar handbag that can power a cellphone or other small electronic device through the power of the sun.
He hopes eventually to market the Solarjo Power Purse to environmentally conscious consumers who want to reduce electricity use, all while looking good.
"I'm hoping this product raises awareness of the capabilities of solar power and will reduce e-junk," he said during a campus interview.
He drew on his experience at Iowa Thin Film Technologies, where he worked as an intern in 2001.
The black, rectangular purse is covered with laminated solar panels, which resemble a very thin camera film separated by white lines.
Mike Coon, chief operating officer with Iowa Thin Film Technologies, said the company has developed its products to integrate with fabric and be capable of charging electronic devices.
"It's a great application for leveraging our lightweight solar technology for portable use," he said of the purse.
"Much of life today is in the niches, between things instead of in the main field ..."
Three patent disclosures have been submitted on various aspects of the design, he said, adding that there's a couple more in the works.
A female undergraduate student has been carrying the purse around campus to test its capabilities.
"It gets me a lot of attention if I carry it," Hynek said with a chuckle.
Hynek also is getting a quick introduction to the business world, looking for investors and manufacturers and deciding how many handbags he could produce for the first batch to be sold.
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