ELECTROLUMINESCENT UMBRELLA
An electroluminescent umbrella includes an umbrella shaft; a collapsible canopy frame carried by the umbrella shaft; an umbrella canopy carried by the umbrella shaft, at least a portion of the umbrella canopy being electroluminescent; and an electrical power source electrically connected to the at least a portion of the umbrella canopy. The electroluminescent panels can cover a portion or a majority of the canopy. The electroluminescent panels can present a logo, an image, or an animated image. Examples of animated images include a series of dynamic volume indicator bars, which can illuminate in synchronization with music or other audible inputs, a clock that can present actual time, an animated logo, and others. The electroluminescent panels can be operated by a manual switch or by using an integrated switch, wherein the process or opening the umbrella activates the electroluminescent panels.
This Patent Cooperative Treaty (PCT) Application claims priority to Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/560,861 filed on Nov. 17, 2011, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to umbrellas. More particularly, the invention relates to an umbrella having electroluminescent canopy panels or electroluminescent logos or other designs on the canopy panels.
2. Background Art
The purpose of the invention is to provide an apparatus for transporting large objects such as vehicles. Vehicle transport systems, commonly referred to as tow trucks, have been evolving in parallel with the automobile. There are several classifications of towing equipment, including a boom, a hook and chain, a wheel-lift, a flatbed, and an integrated system.
Portable electronic equipment and computer data terminals of video display systems frequently utilize liquid crystal displays (LCD's). Liquid-crystal displays may require some form of backlighting which imparts functional brightness and visibility to the video display. The backlighting of LCD's may utilize electroluminescent panels to provide the necessary light intensity. Electroluminescent backlight panels typically include an electroluminescent material that emits visible light when actuated by an alternating current.
Umbrellas have long been used to shelter people from inclement weather and the sun. A conventional umbrella includes an umbrella shaft fitted with a handle. A collapsible canopy is supported by canopy ribs, wherein the canopy ribs are pivotally attached to the umbrella shaft. A runner is slidably mounted on the umbrella shaft and multiple stretcher arms are pivotally attached to the runner and to the respective canopy ribs. The umbrella canopy is selectively deployed by sliding the runner up the umbrella shaft and selectively collapsed by sliding the runner downwardly on the umbrella shaft. Some businesses such as hotels and the like sell umbrellas the canopies of which display logos that advertise or represent the business for advertising purposes when the umbrella canopy is deployed.
Placing logos and other designs on the exterior surfaces of umbrella canopies is a long-standing practice. Logos or other designs are placed on an umbrella canopy using paint or ink, which is typically applied using conventional printing techniques. Therefore, logos or other designs that are printed on an umbrella canopy are typically not visible in a dark or semi-dark environment. Moreover, because they have been used for many years, printed logos or designs may lack the eye-catching attributes or visual appeal, which may be desirable in advertising or other applications.
Therefore, an electroluminescent umbrella having electroluminescent canopy panels or electroluminescent logos or other designs on the canopy panels may be useful or desirable for some applications.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTIONThe disclosure is generally directed to an electroluminescent umbrella having electroluminescent canopy panels or electroluminescent logos or other designs on the canopy panels. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the umbrella canopy may be electroluminescent. In some embodiments, electroluminescent logos or other designs may be provided on the umbrella canopy.
The electroluminescent umbrella may include:
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- an umbrella shaft;
- a collapsible canopy frame carried by the umbrella shaft;
- an umbrella canopy carried by the collapsible canopy frame, the umbrella canopy forming a convex surface and an opposite concave surface when deployed and at least a portion of the umbrella canopy comprising an electroluminescent material;
- an electrical power source; and
- an electroluminescent drive circuit obtaining electrical power via electrical communication with the electrical power source and illuminating the electroluminescent material of the umbrella canopy via electrical communication therewith.
In a second aspect, the umbrella canopy forms a convex surface and an opposite concave surface when deployed.
In another aspect, the electroluminescent material directs emitting light outward from the convex canopy surface.
In another aspect, the electroluminescent material directs emitting light outward from the concave canopy surface.
In another aspect, the electroluminescent umbrella further comprises a switch in signal communication with the electroluminescent drive circuit, wherein the switch provides operational control for illuminating the electroluminescent material of the umbrella canopy.
In another aspect, the electroluminescent umbrella further comprises a switch in signal communication with the electroluminescent drive circuit, wherein the switch provides operational control for illuminating the electroluminescent material of the umbrella canopy.
In another aspect, the switch provides operational control for illuminating the electroluminescent material of the umbrella canopy, the switch automatically activates the electroluminescent drive circuit to illuminate the electroluminescent material when the canopy transitions from a collapsed configuration into a deployed configuration.
In another aspect, the electroluminescent material is designed forming an image, the image comprising a series of features, each feature having an independently controlled electroluminescent segment.
In another aspect, the image is animated by an illumination pattern provided by the electroluminescent drive circuit.
In another aspect, the electroluminescent material is fabricated comprising a light transmissive cover layer covering at least one electroluminating layer.
Various illustrative embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, where like designations denote like elements, and in which:
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, the illustrative embodiments described herein are not exhaustive and embodiments or implementations other than those which are described herein and which fall within the scope of the appended claims are possible. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. Relative terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “above”, “below”, “top”, “horizontal” and “vertical” as used herein are intended for descriptive purposes only and are not necessarily intended to be construed in a limiting sense.
A first exemplary embodiment of an electroluminescent umbrella, hereinafter umbrella 100 is illustrated in
A collapsible canopy frame 120 may be provided on an upper end of the umbrella shaft 101. The canopy frame 120 may include multiple frame ribs 121 a proximal end of each of which is pivotally attached to the umbrella shaft 101 at a corresponding frame rib hinge 124. A runner 126 may be slidably mounted on the umbrella shaft 101. Each of multiple stretcher arms 130 may be pivotally attached to the runner 126 at a corresponding runner hinge 131 and to each frame rib 121 at a corresponding rib hinge 132. A flexible umbrella canopy 136 may be provided on the umbrella shaft 101. Responsive to sliding of the runner 126 on the umbrella shaft 101, the umbrella canopy 136 is configurable between the open or deployed configuration illustrated in
As illustrated in
Details of an exemplary pliant electroluminescent panel 138 are provided in a cross sectional view illustrated in
A control circuit 160, illustrated in
The main raw battery 112 electrically connects through the interface transformer 163 to a p channel metal oxide semiconductor charge control transistor 166 (PMOS). Each pliant electroluminescent panel 138 additionally electrically connects through the interface transformer 163 to a PMOS discharge control transistor 167 (PMOS). The PMOS charge control transistor 166 controls the charge cycle of the pliant electroluminescent panel 138 whereas the PMOS discharge control transistor 167 controls the discharge cycle of the pliant electroluminescent panel 138. This configuration essentially implements a flyback power supply to provide power to each pliant electroluminescent panel 138 and to recover a portion of that power to recharge the main battery 112.
When a charge signal is applied to a gate 168 of the PMOS charge control transistor 166 (such as by actuation of the switch 110), the charge control transistor 166 is turned on, causing electrical current to flow through the main battery electric mesh 171. The current flowing through the main battery electric mesh 171 flows through the interface transformer 163 and thereby induces current to flow in a panel mesh 172. A gate 169 of the discharge control transistor 167 is held low during the charging cycle. In this configuration during the charging cycle, the discharge control transistor 167 essentially acts as a forward-biased junction diode due to the characteristic behavior of its internal semiconductor junctions. The junction diode of the discharge control transistor 167 allows the induced canopy panel electric mesh 172 to flow in only one direction, thereby charging the pliant electroluminescent panel 138. Thus, energy flows from the main battery 112 into the pliant electroluminescent panel 138.
During the charging process, energy is transferred from the main raw battery 112 to the pliant electroluminescent panel 138. A portion of the energy supplied to the pliant electroluminescent panel 138 is dissipated as light 145 (
Control of the discharge of the energy capacitatively stored in each pliant electroluminescent panel 138 may be accomplished by applying a discharge signal to the gate 169 of the discharge control transistor 167. The discharge control transistor 167 is turned on, causing current to flow in the canopy panel electric mesh 172. The gate 168 of the charge control transistor 166 is held low during the discharge cycle causing it to function as a junction diode in the same manner as the discharge control transistor 167 functioned during the charge cycle. Thus, when one of the transistors 166, 167 functions as a switch the other transistor 166, 167 functions as a diode.
During the discharge cycle the reverse of the charge cycle occurs. Accordingly, the energy capacitively stored in the pliant electroluminescent panel 138 as electric charge flows in the panel mesh 172 when the discharge control transistor 167 is turned on. The current flowing through the panel mesh 172 flows through the interface transformer 163 inducing a current to flow in the battery mesh 171. The junction diode of the charge control transistor 166 allows the induced current to flow in only one direction in the battery mesh 171, thereby recharging the main raw battery 112. Thus, the energy stored capacitively in the pliant electroluminescent panel 138 flows back into the main raw battery 112.
As was noted herein above, a switch 110 (
Referring next to
Another alternative exemplary embodiment is presented as an electroluminescent umbrella 300, which is illustrated in
In some embodiments, the control circuit 160 may include components that facilitate progressive elongation of the electroluminescent dynamic volume control bars 350 in response to and in proportion to the volume of music, noise or other ambient sounds. For example and without limitation, in some embodiments a potentiometer (not illustrated) may interface with the electroluminescent dynamic volume indicator bars 350. A CPU (not illustrated) may interface with the potentiometer. A microphone (not illustrated) may interface with the CPU. Accordingly, the microphone picks up the ambient sounds and the CPU operates the potentiometer corresponding to the volume of the ambient sounds picked up by the microphone. The potentiometer varies the electrical voltage to the electroluminescent dynamic volume indicator bars 350 such that the lengths of the electroluminescent dynamic volume indicator bars 350 vary in response and in proportion to the volume of the ambient sounds.
Another alternative exemplary embodiment is presented as an electroluminescent umbrella 400, which is illustrated in
In some embodiments, the control circuit 160 may include components which facilitate movement of the clock hands 457 around the clock face 456 of the electroluminescent clock 455 over time. For example and without limitation, in some embodiments a CPU (not illustrated) may interface with the electroluminescent clock 455. A timer (not illustrated) may interface with the CPU. Accordingly, responsive to input from the timer, the CPU operates the clock hands 457 of the electroluminescent clock 455 at such a rate that the clock hands 457 keep track of time and indicate the elapsing time on the clock face 456.
It is understood that the exemplary electroluminescent umbrella 100 can include additional features commonly known in the umbrella industry, including collapsible frames, dual layer venting umbrellas, and the like.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. An electroluminescent umbrella, comprising:
- an umbrella shaft;
- a collapsible canopy frame carried by said umbrella shaft;
- an umbrella canopy carried by said collapsible canopy frame, said umbrella canopy forming a convex surface and an opposite concave surface when deployed and at least a portion of said umbrella canopy comprising a pliant electroluminescent panel, said electroluminescent panel comprising: a rear electrode; an insulating layer on said rear electrode; an electroluminescent layer on said insulating laver; and a transparent electrode on said electroluminescent layer, comprising an illuminated surface;
- an electrical power source; and
- an electroluminescent drive circuit obtaining electrical power via electrical communication with said electrical power source and illuminating said electroluminescent panel via electrical communication therewith.
2. An electroluminescent umbrella as recited in claim 1, comprising: further comprising a switch in signal communication with said electroluminescent drive circuit, wherein said switch provides operational control for illuminating said electroluminescent panel.
3. (canceled)
4. An electroluminescent umbrella as recited in claim 2, wherein said switch automatically activates said electroluminescent drive circuit to illuminate said electroluminescent panel when said canopy transitions from a collapsed configuration into a deployed configuration.
5. An electroluminescent umbrella as recited in claim 1, wherein said electroluminescent panel is designed forming an image, the image comprising a series of features, each feature having an independently controlled electroluminescent segment.
6. An electroluminescent umbrella as recited in claim 5, wherein the image is animated by an illumination pattern provided by said electroluminescent drive circuit.
7. An electroluminescent umbrella as recited in claim 1, wherein said electroluminescent panel further comprises a light transmissive cover layer covering said electroluminescent layer.
8. An electroluminescent umbrella as recited in claim 1, wherein said electroluminescent panel directs its emitted light outward from the concave canopy surface.
9-14. (canceled)
15. An electroluminescent umbrella as recited in claim 7, wherein said light transmissive cover layer includes at least one color tinted translucent section.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 18, 2012
Publication Date: Oct 16, 2014
Inventor: Oren Zemach (Netanya)
Application Number: 14/356,169
International Classification: A45B 25/18 (20060101);