Illuminated umbrella

Abstract

The illuminated umbrella includes a substantially translucent canopy supported by a plurality of ribs pivotally swingable towards and away from a shaft. Each of the ribs has attached intermediately of its length to one end of a spoke. The other spoke end is pivotally attached to a slidable sleeve on the umbrella shaft. At least one flexible isotropic electroluminescent string light source may be disposed along, and fastened to, at least one of the plurality of ribs. Alternatively, instead of being fastened to the ribs, the flexible isotropic electroluminescent string lights may be disposed in a pattern and attached to the canopy. A power supply disposed on the umbrella supplies power to the flexible isotropic electroluminescent light strings. Power may be supplied to the electroluminescent light strings without requiring the use of a connection socket or plug to the electroluminescent light strings.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/773,690, filed Feb. 16, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an illuminated umbrella, and more particularly, to one providing light from a flexible, isotropic electroluminescent (EL) light source attached directly or proximate to a canopy of the umbrella.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional umbrella is essentially comprised of a canopy supported by a plurality of ribs, pivotally swingable towards and away from a shaft, the plurality of ribs, each attached intermediately of its length to one end of a spoke, the other spoke end being pivotally attached to a manually slidable sleeve on the umbrella shaft. Sliding the sleeve upwardly on the shaft moves the spokes against the ribs to extend them to a position that supports the canopy.

Related art illuminated umbrellas generally provide a power source, a switch in the handle, the power source being connected to electric wires through the switch and on to provide power to point, anisotropic illumination sources to make the handle function as a flashlight, or to make the top of the shaft function as traffic alert, or to illuminate the tips of the ribs to function as decoration or a traffic alert, and the like.

These point source lighting effects generally are ineffective either as decoration or as alerts due to their anisotropic nature. Other illuminated umbrellas may employ point source lights while attempting to spread the light through the use of light permeable rods. Yet a problem remains in that significant portions of the umbrella may not receive light treatment due to the rigid nature of the light permeable rods that cannot collapse and bend throughout the extent of a generally collapsible and flexible umbrella canopy, and again, there remains the problem of the lights generally being perceived as emanating from discrete points. Accordingly, lighted umbrellas, such as those disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 9-313,226, published Dec. 9, 1997, Japanese Patent No. 2001-299,420, published Aug. 13, 2001, and Japanese Patent No. 2002-177,028, published Jun. 25, 2002, have attempted to solve the aforementioned problems, but lack the features and technical solutions provided by the present invention.

Thus, an illuminated umbrella solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The illuminated umbrella provides light to an umbrella that achieves all the purposes of safety alerting, lighting, and an esthetically pleasing and decorative design. To achieve this purpose, the illuminated umbrella includes a substantially translucent canopy supported by a plurality of ribs pivotally swingable towards and away from a shaft.

Each of the ribs is attached intermediately of its length to one end of a spoke. The other spoke end is pivotally attached to a slidable sleeve on the umbrella shaft. At least one flexible, isotropic electroluminescent string light source may be disposed along and fastened to at least one of the plurality of ribs. Alternatively, instead of being fastened to the ribs, the flexible, isotropic electroluminescent string lights may be disposed in a pattern and attached to the canopy. A power supply disposed on the umbrella supplies power to the flexible, isotropic electroluminescent string lights, preferably without requiring the use of a plug or socket to complete an electrical connection to the light strings.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of the illuminated umbrella according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the illuminated umbrella according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the illuminated umbrella according to the present invention, showing the switch and handle.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an illuminated umbrella according to the present invention having the light strings attached to the canopy.

FIG. 5 is an electroluminescent (EL) power wiring schematic diagram of an illuminated umbrella according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial side view of an illuminated umbrella according to the present invention, showing further details thereof.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides light to an umbrella to achieve the purposes of safety alerting, lighting, and an esthetically pleasing and decorative design. As shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 6, to achieve this purpose, the illuminated umbrella includes a power source 112; a mode switch 305; a power cable 209; flexible, isotropic electroluminescent (EL) string lights 110; and a typical functioning umbrella that includes a handle 125, a shaft 115, spokes 615, slider sleeve 605, ribs 120, tip 620 and a canopy 117, preferably made of a water-resistant, highly flexible plastic or other similar material.

The plurality of the ribs 120 supports the canopy 117, which is preferably substantially translucent. Each of the ribs 120, being pivotally swingable towards and away from the shaft 115, have one end of a spoke 615 attached at an intermediate point of the rib 120, another end of the spoke 615 being pivotally attached to a slidable sleeve 605 on the umbrella shaft 115. When the slidable sleeve 605 is extended up the shaft 115 to a locked position proximate to the distal end of the shaft 115, the canopy is unfolded to protect a user from the rain. Additionally, as the canopy 117 is unfolded, flexible, isotropic electroluminescent string lights 110 are extended on the canopy 117 or along the ribs 120, and when powered up provide various lighting patterns emanating from the umbrella 105, the lighting patterns being visible to the user as well as others when the canopy 117 is substantially translucent.

The power source 112 and mode switch 305 are provided in or near the handle 125 at a proximal end of the shaft 115. The power source 112 is connected to the power cable 209 at an originating connector. The power cable 209 runs inside a hollow in the shaft 115 and is connected to the flexible, isotropic electroluminescent (EL) string lights 110 at a terminating connector near an upper shaft aperture in close proximity to a distal end of the shaft 115, such as at shaft radial wall aperture 205. Slidable sleeve 605 has a U-shaped slot to provide clearance for the electrical connection at shaft radial wall aperture 205 when the sleeve 605 is locked in a distal position along the shaft 115.

EL lighting strings 110 comprise a cable-like structure having flexible electrodes, i.e., wires, a flexible dielectric core, and electroluminescent material disposed within the cable-like structure. EL lighting strings 110 may be provided in different colors as required for a desired visual effect. Due to the flexible nature of the wiring of EL lighting strings 11 0, electrical connection to the power cable 209 may be achieved by splicing, soldering, crimping, and the like; thus, preferably the illuminated umbrella may not utilize any type of electrical socket or plug to complete the power connection.

Additionally, each individual EL lighting string 110 is capable of direct connection to the power source 112 without an intervening power cable 209, provided that the EL lighting string 110 is of sufficient length to be disposed through the shaft radial wall aperture 205 and run inside the hollow shaft 115 to power connections at the supply 112. With or without the use of a separate power cable 209, the electrical power connections of EL string lights 110 to the power supply 112 are preferably in parallel, as shown in FIG. 5.

The power source 112 is preferably an inverter, which provides a working high voltage alternating current of suitable voltage and frequency to efficiently operate the electroluminescent string lights 110. Preferably the power source 112 is compact, lightweight, and utilizes standard batteries, such as, without limitation, two 1.5-volt AA size batteries. As shown in FIG. 3, the power source 112 may have an indicator light 310. The indicator light 310 may be capable of indicating power on/off status. Additionally, the indicator light 310 may be capable of indicating a pattern mode of EL string lights 110. Preferably on/off power switch 305 is also capable of switching the pattern modes of EL string lights 110. Pattern mode switching provided by power switch 305 in conjunction with power supply 112 may include a continuous mode in which the EL string lights 110 are on continuously, a blink mode in which the EL string lights 110 repetitively turn on and off in a first predetermined duty cycle and frequency, and a strobe mode in which the EL string lights 110 repetitively turn on and off in a second predetermined duty cycle and frequency. Various other lighting pattern modes of EL string lights 110 may be provided, and the aforementioned described pattern modes are not a limitation of the present invention.

Each of the flexible isotropic electroluminescent string lights 110 may be disposed along, and fastened to, at least one of the plurality of ribs 120. As shown in FIG. 2, eight string lights 110 are fastened to eight ribs 120 by substantially cylindrical, preferably resilient, retaining sleeves 207. Each retaining sleeve 207 may have a slit (not shown) through which the light string 110 and rib 120 may be passed through. Due to the resilience of retaining sleeve 207, the slit closes up substantially to keep light string 110 fastened to rib 120 in proximity to the retaining sleeve 207. A plurality of retaining sleeves 207 disposed along the rib 120 secure the fastening of light string 110 to the rib 120 along a predetermined length up to the entire length of the rib 120.

Alternatively, each of the flexible, isotropic electroluminescent string lights 110 may be disposed in a pattern on, and attached to, the canopy 117, preferably along an inside surface of the canopy 117. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the EL string lights 110 are attached to the inside surface of the canopy 117 by canopy attachment sleeves 405 and disposed in a simple radial pattern running substantially parallel to the ribs 120.

However, since the canopy attachment sleeves 405 are attached to the canopy 117 instead of being attached to the ribs 120, the canopy attachment sleeves 405 may be placed in a variety of configurations on the canopy 117, so that the EL string lights 110 being retained by the canopy attachment sleeves 405 may be disposed in a variety of complex patterns defined by the placement of the canopy attachment sleeves 405. The canopy attachment sleeves 405 may be glued on, sewn on or otherwise attached to the canopy 117.

The EL light strings 110 may be threaded through the canopy attachment sleeves 405 and, optionally, glued or sewn to the canopy attachment sleeves 405. Alternatively, the EL light strings may be directly embedded in, glued on, or otherwise attached to the canopy 117 without the assistance of canopy attachment sleeves 405.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. An illuminated umbrella, comprising:

an umbrella having a substantially translucent canopy, a shaft, and a plurality of ribs supporting the canopy, the ribs being pivotally swingable towards and away from the shaft, the shaft having a slidable sleeve mounted thereon, a spoke being pivotally attached between the slider and each of the ribs between opposite ends of the ribs, the canopy being extendible to an open position and collapsible against the shaft in a closed position by sliding the sleeve on the shaft;

at least one flexible, isotropic electroluminescent string light source disposed along and fastened to at least one of the plurality of ribs; and

means for supplying power to the at least one flexible isotropic electroluminescent string light source, the means for supplying power being disposed on the umbrella and having a socketless and plugless connection to the at least one light source.

2. The illuminated umbrella according to claim 1, wherein said umbrella further comprises a handle disposed on the shaft opposite the canopy, the means for supplying power being disposed proximate the handle.

3. The illuminated umbrella according to claim 1, further comprising: a mode switch electrically connected between said means for supplying power and said electroluminescent string for switching illumination patterns of said electroluminescent light source.

4. The illuminated umbrella according to claim 1, wherein the slidable sleeve has a slot defined therein providing clearance for a power connection from said means for supplying power to the at least one electroluminescent light source.

5. The illuminated umbrella according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electroluminescent string light source is directly connection to said means for supplying power.

6. The illuminated umbrella according to claim 1, wherein said at least one electroluminescent string light source comprises a plurality of electroluminescent light sources electrically connected in parallel.

7. The illuminated umbrella according to claim 1, wherein said means for supplying power comprises a source of alternating current.

8. The illuminated umbrella according to claim 1, wherein said means for supplying power comprises an indicator light electrically connected to indicate power on/off status.

9. The illuminated umbrella according to claim 8, wherein said means for supplying power comprises a circuit configured for indicating a pattern mode of the at least one flexible isotropic electroluminescent string light source through said indicator light.

10. The illuminated umbrella according to claim 1, further comprising: a mode switch electrically connected between said means for supplying power and said electroluminescent string for switching illumination patterns of said electroluminescent light source, the switched illumination patterns including a continuous mode in which said electroluminescent strings are on continuously, a blink mode in which said electroluminescent strings repetitively turn on and off in a first predetermined duty cycle and frequency, and a strobe mode in which said electroluminescent strings repetitively turn on and off in a second predetermined duty cycle and frequency.

11. An illuminated umbrella, comprising:

an umbrella having a substantially translucent canopy, a shaft, and a plurality of ribs supporting the canopy, the ribs being pivotally swingable towards and away from the shaft, the shaft having a slidable sleeve mounted thereon, a spoke being pivotally attached between the slider and each of the ribs between opposite ends of the ribs, the canopy being extendible to an open position and collapsible against the shaft in a closed position by sliding the sleeve on the shaft;

at least one flexible isotropic electroluminescent string light source attached to the canopy, the electroluminescent string being arranged in a pattern; and

means for supplying power to the at least one flexible isotropic electroluminescent string light source, the means being disposed on the umbrella.

12. The illuminated umbrella according to claim 11, wherein said umbrella further comprises a handle disposed on the shaft opposite the canopy, the means for supplying power being disposed proximate the handle.

13. The illuminated umbrella according to claim 11, further comprising: a mode switch electrically connected between said means for supplying power and said electroluminescent string for switching illumination patterns of said electroluminescent light source.

14. The illuminated umbrella according to claim 11, wherein the slidable sleeve has a slot defined therein providing clearance for a power connection from said means for supplying power to the at least one electroluminescent light source.

15. The illuminated umbrella according to claim 11, wherein the at least one electroluminescent string light source is directly connection to said means for supplying power.

16. The illuminated umbrella according to claim 11, wherein said at least one electroluminescent string light source comprises a plurality of electroluminescent light sources electrically connected in parallel.

17. The illuminated umbrella according to claim 11, wherein said means for supplying power comprises a source of alternating current.

18. The illuminated umbrella according to claim 11, wherein the at least one electroluminescent string light source is attached to the canopy along an inside surface of the canopy.

19. The illuminated umbrella according to claim 11, further comprising at least one sleeve attached to said canopy, said at least one electroluminescent string light source being disposed through the at least one sleeve.

20. The illuminated umbrella according to claim 11, wherein said at least one electroluminescent string light source is attached directly to the canopy.