Electrical Umbrella and Canopy Mechanism
Canopy conducting mechanism for hand held umbrellas is disclosed. The canopy conducting mechanism is especially useful for electrical umbrellas although may be used for manually operated umbrellas as well. The canopy conducting mechanism has short movement between open and closed states of the umbrella and is based on pin and slide joints between the umbrella ribs and between canopy conducting member, allowing for strutless canopy (i.e. a canopy without stretchers extending between the umbrella post and the ribs). Umbrella rib having a flexible end especially useful for strutless umbrellas is also disclosed. Strutless electrical umbrella comprising said canopy conducting mechanism and flexible end ribs is also disclosed, including single-folding and multi-folding canopy embodiments.
The present invention relates to the field of hand held umbrellas.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONUmbrellas that can be opened automatically by triggering a compressed spring, are well known in the market. Those spring loaded umbrellas has the advantage of easy opening, however they have also disadvantages accompanying their spring mechanism. Firstly, their opening is uncontrolled after triggering, that is once the spring has triggered on by pressing and releasing its stopper tooth, it cannot be stopped. For example, one who wants to exit a car cannot open the canopy partially so it could be passed through the door and simultaneously protect from rain and snow during exiting. Secondly, the opening is aggressive, with a risk that the edges of the opened canopy will hurt people in its close proximity. Furthermore, when the umbrella is to be folded, excessive hand power should be exerted in order to close the canopy while retracting the spring for a future opening. It is not only the force that should be exerted, the operation itself is uncomfortable since it requires both hand of the user, one for holding the umbrella and the other for pulling the canopy retraction handle, wherein the motion of the retracted canopy threats to hurt the user in case the umbrella is held too close to the body. The folding procedure ends only after returning the stopper tooth to the initial position, which is not very easy accomplish while the umbrella spring is tensely drawn in full. Failing to return the stopper tooth properly, will cause a sudden aggressive and unintentional opening of the umbrella. The operation of commonly available spring loaded umbrellas, is therefore considered not very comfortable to adults, and very uncomfortable to children, to elders, and to disabled ones.
In non automated umbrellas both—opening and closing operations requires both hands of the user to operate, one for holding the umbrella and the other for pushing the canopy open or for pulling it close. In both, the umbrella should be held distantly in order to eliminate possible hurting by the moving canopy. Furthermore, when a wet umbrella is being closed, the user is normally careful not to fold it close to his body in order to eliminate rain water fall onto his dry clothes. As can be appreciated, both spring loaded or non automated umbrellas are required to be closed remotely from user's body, while using both hands.
It is therefore a need for an umbrella that could be opened and closed automatically, by one hand activation, wherein the operation can be paused, stopped or canceled at any given moment, allowing for partial opening e.g. in order to allow passing through a narrow passageway.
Several patents were issued, disclosing automated mechanisms for hand-held umbrellas, based on electrical motor drive. U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,226; U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,122; U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,010; U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,122 and EP0760609 are examples for the efforts made in the last decades for developing hand-held umbrellas having electrical motor drive. In spite of the efforts made, there is no evidence to a commercial success to any type of electrical umbrellas, and for several decades the only automated umbrellas available in the worldwide markets are half automated umbrellas, of the type having spring for opening, wherein the closing is made manually. According to a survey especially ordered by the inventor of the present invention, there is no electrical umbrella available in the market. As will be further discussed in the following chapters of this specification, is believed that the basic concepts adopted by the inventors of said inventions are certainly prevent a success in developing marketable electrical umbrellas.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,332 discloses umbrellas especially suited for patio and recreational use. Although this patent does not relate to electrical umbrellas and is of limited relevance to hand held umbrellas as a whole, it is considered to be elevant prior art, as will be discussed in detail in the following chapters of this specification.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a motor driven mechanism for hand-held umbrellas that will overcome the preventions that cause the fail of the prior art mechanisms to comply with the long felt need for a reliable and comfortably operated umbrella.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe inventor of the present invention had a basic assumption when starting to develop a successfully marketable electrical umbrella: the umbrella mechanism should be designed so as to allow short movement range of the element which is driven by the motor for conducting the canopy between open and closed states. The element which is driven by the motor for conducting the canopy between open and closed states is called in other patents “rider”, “collar”, “guiding member”, and is located inside the umbrella post and is moveable along the post. In the present invention this element will be referred to as “canopy conducting element”, and it is located and moveable outside of the post, from above. In the context of the present invention ‘short movement range’ relates to a movement distance not greater than 20% of the length of the post, preferably not greater than 14% of it, and most preferably lesser than 7% of it. For example, in a first operating model that was built, the post length is 80 centimeters and the step of the element which conducts the canopy between open and closed states (i.e. the “conducting element”) is of 4 centimeters length, that is about 5% respective to total post length. In order to achieve full canopy deployment through such a short movement range, it is required that the canopy ribs will be driven by a short lever arm which shall be located near the close end of each of the ribs (i.e. the rib end that is close to the post). A new innovative short movement conducting mechanism for operating this short lever arm was developed by the inventor of the present invention in order to comply with the requirement of short movement range of the conducting element.
Accordingly the present invention relates to a short movement less components canopy conducting mechanism for umbrellas, especially useful for hand held umbrellas, and essentially recommended for motor driven hand held umbrellas, comprising (a) a hollow pole of a small diameter (i.e. of a diameter similar and in any event not very much larger than the diameter of poles of conventional hand held umbrellas, that is much lesser than the diameter of posts of stationary umbrellas) having a top end and a bottom end; (b) a canopy conducting member comprising a plurality of a first part (i.e. a pin, or a slide) of a pin and slide joint, spaced angularly and rigidly connected about a common central point; (c) a plurality of angularly spaced canopy ribs each having a short lever arm comprising a second part (a mate of the first part) of the pin and slide joint, the lever is capable of pivoting the rib about a pivot point located between the short lever arm and the rib, the lever arm forms an angle of between 120 degrees and 165 degrees, and preferably of about 135 degrees, with the rib, about the pivot point, the rib is pivotably connected at the pivot point to a spacer keeping the pivot point distantly from the hollow pole; (d) means for moving the canopy conducting member for a short movement between two vertically spaced positions above the top end of the pole, a most lower position wherein the first of the pin an slide joints are close to the top end of the pole and wherein the canopy is open, and a most upper position wherein the first of the pin an slide joints are distant from the top end of the pole and wherein the canopy is closed.
Reference is herewith made to the U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,332 which discloses in
Another disadvantage of the mechanism disclosed by the U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,332 patent is that there is a linkage between the length of the link (20), the distance of the rib connection (40) from the post (12), and the length of movement of the plunger inside the post. For example, in the illustrated umbrella the distance between the rib connection (40) and the post (12) substantially equals to the diameter of the post. In case the distance of the rib connection (40) will be designed as twice much as it is now, the length of the link will have to be enlarged accordingly, and the step of the plunger between open state and closed state of the umbrella will also be increased accordingly. Furthermore, the arc shape of the enlarged links shall need an enlarged diameter of the post so it could be accommodated and be freely moved inside the post.
Contrarily to the U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,332, the mechanism according to the present invention is (a) free of link type connections which move and change orientation inside the post, thus the mechanism according to the present invention allows to minimize the pole diameter to any required measure; (b) free of double pivoting joint, which in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,332 connect the links from their one side to a conducting element moving inside the post and from their next side to the ribs, the mechanism of the present invention has less components, and less moving components, wherein there is only one moving connection which is comprised of a massive pin and slide joint that can easily be assembled and maintained, and which dimensions are not restricted by the diameter of the pole since it is not moving inside the pole; (c) free of linkage between measure of umbrella parts, the pin and slide joint of the present invention allows for designing the distance between the rib pivot joint and the pole without changing the movement range of the conducting member and without changing the pole diameter.
The short movement less components canopy conducting mechanism for of the present invention is especially useful for the production of motor driven electrical umbrella. Due to the short movement of the canopy conducting member—
A) less rounds of the electrical motor of the umbrella are required for opening and closing the umbrella;
B) the umbrella can be built from less parts thus having the benefit of reduced weight and improved durability (e.g. comparing to other electrical umbrella designs having struts and strut joints for supporting the canopy ribs, which struts are driven by a collar for opening or closing the umbrella);
C) due to its strutless construction the canopy can be lowered adjacent the user's head for a maximal protection from rain, snow, and storm winds.
D) a new facile override mechanism can be used (as will be further discussed in detail);
E) an auxiliary hand grip could be added on the umbrella pole near the canopy in order to allow both user hands efficiently gripping the umbrella when complying with storm winds; and
F) more innovative and attractive design could be achieved (i.e. without struts), which may assist in keeping the product competitive despite of its naturally increased price deriving from its increased manufacturing costs respective to non fully automated umbrellas.
G) mass production of single size conducting mechanism can be utilized for different sizes of umbrellas (e.g. an umbrella collection for children and for adults may use the same conducting mechanism). This is in contradiction to strut based umbrella constructions which have a linkage between the canopy size, the pole length, the strut length, and the movement extent of the rider.
According to said paragraph G, the present invention relates not only to a conducting mechanism supplied with the ribs assembled therein, but also to a canopy conducting mechanism for hand held umbrellas (that can be designed for mass production for use with various types and sizes of canopy ribs), comprising; (a) canopy conducting member having a plurality of a first part of pin and slide joint rigidly connected and angularly spaced about a common central hub; (b) a spacer having a central lower end adapted for being connected to a pole of an umbrella, and a plurality of pivot connection points remotely and angularly spaced about the central lower end; wherein said mechanism may receive various types of ribs which may differ in their shape, length, and length of the flexible part located at their distal end (see
The present invention further relates to electrical motor driven hand-held umbrella having a canopy that can be conducted at any desired position between an open state and a closed state by means of a conducting element movable between two points from above the pole of the umbrella, the umbrella comprises a shortened extent screw thread for driving the conducting element between the open and closed states. Preferably, in the various embodiments of the present invention, the motion extent of the conducting element is of effective length of between 20% and 100% comparing to the maximal diameter of the umbrella in its closed state. Most preferably, and according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the motion extent of the conducting element is of effective length of between 50% and 95% of the max diameter of the umbrella in its closed state. The term ‘conducting element’ refers to an element or a combination of elements having back and forth motion along a predetermined extent from above a central pole of the umbrella, wherein said motion conducts the canopy respectively between a close state and an open state. The term ‘effective length’ refers to the actual extent of motion of the conducting element between its two extreme positions from above the pole (respective to close and open states of the canopy), regardless of what is the length of the threading through which motion of the element is achieved (however, preferably the length of the threading is not longer than required, and the threading portion is connected to the electrical motor through plain planner parts having reduced weight comparing to a screw, in order to decrease the total umbrella weight).
As will become more apparent from the following description, and as mentioned above regarding the short movement less components canopy conducting mechanism for hand held umbrellas according to the present invention, the reduction in the movement extent of the canopy conducting element allows for reducing the number of elements from which the umbrella is constructed, allows to increase the durability of some of those elements, allows to maintain a reasonable weight of the complete umbrella, and allows for directing a collection of safe small sized and easily operated electrical umbrellas for children, even small ones. Said and other advantages of the electrical umbrella of the present invention are essential in possessing a significant rank in the global markets, which is essential for maintaining a commercial presence, and making realistic the dream of electrical umbrella, contrarily to all other inventions which were failed in successful development and/or commercialization of electrical umbrellas.
In order to allow for the shortened extent movement of the conducting element, the umbrella of the present invention is designed to be conducted open through the near end of its ribs, and so the canopy could be fully deployed by a levering center concentrated near the top end of the umbrella. The levering center of the umbrella has a diameter similar to the max diameter of the umbrella in its closed state, such that according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, in an open state of the umbrella no struts extend between the canopy ribs and the pole of the umbrella beyond said levering center. This is contrarily to prior art motor operated umbrellas in which the levering center of the umbrella includes struts (stretchers) which protrude from a runner of the umbrella and are of significant length as required to allow a smooth motion of the runner along the post of the umbrella and for essential support of the canopy. Negating the need in struts in the canopy conducting mechanism allows to reduce the number of elements from which the umbrella is constructed, simplifies its manufacturing process, assemblage and maintenance, and allows for enforcing the canopy ribs by thickening, thus having more massive and durable umbrella construction, without significantly increasing the weight of the complete umbrella. The absence of struts allows to provide (according to various embodiments of the present invention) the umbrella with an internal hand grip located near the top end of the umbrella post, which help in stable gripping of the umbrella during storm winds, and enable lowering of the umbrella close to the user's head. This is contrarily to prior art umbrellas which have struts occupying the space around the top portion of the post. It should be however clarified that the present invention does not restrict its scope to a strutless construction, and if one so wishes he may add struts for passive reinforcement, wherein the umbrella will still defer from prior art umbrellas by having the short movement canopy conducting element using for canopy deployment without active help of struts (struts are used for passive support or stabilization purpose only)
Another advantage of the absence of struts visible between the canopy ribs and the post is a more pleasant and attractive design. This allows also to cover the ribs from both sides of the canopy (i.e. by having a double sheet canopy, or by having cloth sleeves extending non interruptedly along the ribs for covering, such that the ribs may be hidden according to various embodiments of the present invention).
As mentioned above, the strutless construction of the umbrella allows for having shortened extent screw thread of the conducting mechanism, useful for erecting the canopy open by a reduced number of motor rounds which allows for faster opening and closing operations, and which reduces motor hours (which is equivalent to reduction in motor wearing).
Accordingly, the present invention further relates to a short movement less components conducting mechanism for hand held umbrellas, especially useful for motor driven hand held umbrellas, comprising (a) a hollow pole of a small diameter (i.e. of a diameter similar and in any event not very much larger than the diameter of poles of conventional hand held umbrellas, that is much lesser than the diameter of posts of stationary umbrellas) having a top end and a bottom end; (b) a canopy conducting member comprising a plurality of a first part (i.e. a pin, or a slide) of a pin and slide joint, spaced angularly and rigidly connected about a common central point; (c) a plurality of angularly spaced canopy ribs each having a short lever arm comprising a second part (a mate of the first part) of the pin and slide joint, the lever is capable of pivoting the rib about a pivot point located between the short lever arm and the rib, the lever arm forms an angle of between 120 degrees and 165 degrees, and preferably of about 135 degrees, with the rib, about the pivot point, the rib is pivotably connected at the pivot point to a spacer keeping the pivot point distantly from the hollow pole; (d) electrical motor geared for moving the canopy conducting member for a short movement between two vertically spaced positions above the top end of the pole, a most lower position wherein the first of the pin and slide joints are close to the top end of the pole and wherein the canopy is open, and a most upper position wherein the first of the pin an slide joints are distant from the top end of the pole and wherein the canopy is closed; (e) battery housing electrically connected for energizing the motor; (f) at least one manual switch allowing a user to control the canopy between open and closed states.
According to various preferred embodiments of the present invention the electrical umbrella is further comprising load recognition circuit which stops the motor (by disconnecting the battery power) upon recognition of increase in the motor current beyond a predetermined threshold. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention the load recognition circuit is used not only to protect the motor but also to automatically stop the motor once the canopy reaches its fully opened state or once the canopy reaches its fully closed state, wherein in both states the motor is physically being blocked from continuing its revolve which in turn causes an increase in the motor current, thus activates the load recognition circuit which in turn disconnects the power from the motor. According to various embodiments, the electrical circuit of the umbrella is designed such that each activation of the load recognizing circuit (that in normal circumstances is equivalent to the termination of a fully opening or of a fully closing operations of the umbrella) inverts the polarity of the power connection to the motor, such that in the next user activation the motor will revolve in an opposite direction respective to its last operation. By means of this arrangement the umbrella may be provided with only one switch for both opening and closing operations, which automatically switches its role after each operation.
It should be appreciated that although the preferred embodiments of the present invention relate to a pin and slide joint connection between the conducting element and each of the ribs, the use of similar or equivalent arrangements such as a telescopic connection wherein a short lever arm of a rib moves in telescopic manner respective to a corresponding arm of the conducting element should be considered within the scope of the present invention, and as will be further claimed.
The present invention further relates to a system of rechargeable electrical umbrella comprised of (a) an electrical umbrella powered by a rechargeable battery/ies and having battery charge circuit ending with terminal contacts and of (b) a stand having a connection to an AC power network, an AC to DC converter, and at least one terminal having contacts matching the terminal contacts of the electrical umbrella; or of (c) a stand having a connection to a vehicle battery and at least one terminal having contacts matching the terminal contacts of the electrical umbrella
According to various preferred embodiments of the present invention, the electrical umbrella is provided with electronic circuit for the detection and alarming of low battery power. The alarm of low battery power is preferably through turning on a LED light.
According to various embodiments the electrical umbrella of the present invention has a back-up battery (or batteries). The back-up battery could be provided in a housing for manually replacement with the main battery upon recognition of decreasing in the power of the main battery (or batteries) wherein the replacement is either by physical replacement or by activating an electrical switch which switches between the electrical circuits, or could be switched automatically by means of switching circuit governed by the circuit for detection of low battery power, wherein in such a case there is an alarming LED showing that the backup battery is in use. The back-up battery can be either of rechargeable or of non-rechargeable type. In case that the main battery is of rechargeable type and having recharging circuit inherent to the umbrella (i.e. the batteries are recharged in their housing inside the umbrella), and the back-up battery is also of rechargeable type, then there is preferably provided a separate recharging circuit for the backup battery capable of recognizing the presence of external power and connecting the backup battery for simultaneous recharging with the main battery, wherein after disconnection of the external power, the backup battery is disconnected and maintained in full power until low power of the main battery is detected. In case that the main battery is of rechargeable type and having recharging circuit inherent to the umbrella (i.e. the batteries are recharged in their housing inside the umbrella), and the back-up battery is of non rechargeable type, then there is provided a switch which prevents mistaken charging of the non-rechargeable battery (the same switch which replaces between the main battery and the backup one).
According to various embodiments of the present invention the electrical umbrella is further comprising location recognizer means allowing for fast locating of the umbrella. The location recognizer means is comprised of a first and a second electronic circuits, the first one is attached to or located inside the umbrella, and the second one is held by the user, wherein an alarm or a beep sound is generated (a) upon the lost of communication between the two circuits (in such a case the alarm will occur at the circuit held by the user), or (b) upon an activation command generated by the user in order to locate the umbrella (in such a case the alarm will occur at the circuit attached to the umbrella). Preferably, each umbrella will have its unique identification code such that one can locate and recognize his own umbrella from a plurality of similar umbrellas. The location recognizer circuit is preferably powered by an inherent battery, i.e. separately from the main umbrella battery, in order to enable locating the umbrella even in cases where the main battery is empty. Accordingly, the location recognizer circuit can be placed in the top portion of the umbrella, near the lifting center and distantly from the handle of the umbrella where the main battery is located.
The present invention further relates to canopy conducting mechanism for multifold canopies. This embodiment differs from the embodiments for plain folding canopies by further comprising a plurality of pivot joints remotely and angularly spaced about the central lower end each is adapted for receiving a rib stretcher to be associated with a rib receivable by a corresponding pivot connection point.
The present invention relates also to a situation wherein the canopy conducting mechanism is further comprising the canopy mechanism. The canopy mechanism for multifold canopies includes: (i) multifold ribs pivotally connected to the pivot connections and further form a plurality of pin and slide joints with the conducting member; and (ii) a plurality of rib stretchers, pivotally connected to respected pivot joints and to respective multifold ribs.
Furthermore the present invention relates to electrical umbrella comprising a canopy conducting mechanism according to the embodiment of multifold canopy. According to this embodiment the canopy conducting mechanism of the multifold canopy is connected at its lower end to the top of a telescopic pole, the telescopic pole is connected at its lower end to a main handgrip of the umbrella, wherein the canopy conducting member is driven along a short path between an uppermost position and a lowermost position from above the pole, corresponding to a closed state and an open state of the umbrella, respectively, upon rotation of an electrical motor located near or inside the main handgrip, powered by batteries located nearby, and transmitting its rotation to a screw or to a helical shaft adapted to convert the rotation into vertical movement of the conducting member and into a telescopic movement of at least two telescopic sections of the pole.
According to various embodiments the umbrella is provided with decorative illumination e.g. through LEDs. Such light may be distributed over the canopy through optic fibers.
According to various preferred embodiments the umbrella of the present invention is provided with a battery recharger having integral power plug concealed inside the handgrip and may be pulled up, opened or unfolded for connecting to a wall outlet.
According to various preferred embodiments the umbrella of the present invention is cooperative with a remote controller through wireless communication means situated at a concealed compartment, preferably from above the upper connection hub.
The umbrella may further have voice or sonic alarm indicative of various abnormal states that may occur during its use, and that are recognizable by its sensors and its electronic utility circuits.
According to various preferred embodiments the handgrip is cushioned or having a padding protection against downfall damages.
According to various embodiments the umbrella of the present invention is further comprising folding or pull out foots accommodated in the handgrip and useful for positioning of the umbrella uprightly.
In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, a preferred embodiment will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present invention will be further explained in detail by
These Figures are solely intend to illustrate several preferred embodiments of the present invention and in no manner intended to limit its scope as defined by the claims.
As can be appreciated, the short movement canopy conducting mechanism which is comprised of the conducting member (4), the base member (1), and the ribs (2), can be manufactured in a mass production and be supplied to umbrella producers, which can then connect it to a post, and cover it with a canopy, according to their own design, wherein the hub (4a) can be connected (either by welding, by having an inner threading for receiving screw connection, or by having a hole open on both ends for receiving a rode reinforced by pressure rings, or through any other acceptable connective means) to a top end of a rod which passes through the hollow middle of the pole (3) and is connected on its next rod end to appropriate driving mechanism selected and designed by each specific producer according to his own product requirements and needs. Different canopy sizes can be produced using the same base member and the same canopy conducting member with different sizes of ribs. This could be performed by means of ribs produced in different sizes or, alternatively, by using ribs of adjustable size.
As an alternative to the permanent connection between the flange (1c) and the pole (3) of the embodiment illustrated by
According to the preferred embodiments of the present invention the override screw-in handgrip (6) can be located very close to the canopy since there are no stretchers of struts disturbing between the pole and the canopy. Therefore, the handgrip (6) is not only essential for the override operation, but also very helpful for gripping the umbrella by both hands, i.e. one hand is gripping the conventional handgrip located at the bottom end of the pole while the other is gripping the handgrip (6) near the canopy, which is very essential when complying with storm winds. Furthermore it could be appreciated that the umbrella according to the present invention has the advantage that it could be lowered and held with the canopy adjacent the user's head, which is very essential for protecting the user from wind driven rain or snow, and which can not be achieved with prior art umbrellas.
As can be appreciated, the motorized system of the umbrella which includes the motor unit (not illustrated in this figure), the rotation transmission rod (5b), and the helical shaft (5) (including the location of the hub (4a) about the helical shaft), remains unchanged and is not involved with the operation of the override mechanism. This separation between the two systems (i.e. override and motorized) assures a simple reliable and user friendly device.
First, the hub (4a) of the conducting member (4) is driven between its uppermost position and its lowermost position by means of hub extension member (4aa) ending with a hollow tube (64) having an inner threading matching an outer threading of a screw rod (65) being the upper end of a rotation transmission rod (not illustrated in this Fig., see
Second, the flange (1c) is extended from below by means of a pipe segment (1cc), which ends with a handgrip (66) fixed to and overlapping its lower end. This handgrip is not a rotating one, and it can be used for pulling or for pushing the flange extension pipe segment (1cc) in a telescopic motion with respect to the pole (63), upon releasing of a rotating tightening nut (66a) of
The short movement conducting mechanism according to the present invention is preferably protected, isolated, and covered, by means of the base member (1) from below, and by means of a conical covering (70) from above.
According to various preferred embodiments of the present invention the battery compartment is made withdrawable, thus can be instantly replaced by fresh recharged batteries located inside a similar spare battery compartment, and put for recharging separately (i.e. out of the umbrella, which can now be used by the replacement battery set until becoming empty, and recurrently).
The handgrip (66) uses also for activating an override arrangement, and when released by rotating the nut (66a) and by pressing a catch lever (see 61d1 of
According to various preferred embodiments illustrated by
According to various preferred embodiments illustrated by
Another option is to make the aeration channels formed not between the canopy cloth and the conducting mechanism base and covering, rather formed as hollow pipes made in the rigid material of the base member and of the covering.
The guide members (240), the extension tube (222) and the base member (201) can all be made of the same piece of material. Alternatively, it is possible to manufacture them as separate parts and to connect them afterwards in any acceptable way.
As can be further observed in this
As can be appreciated, upon rotation of the motor (279) in an opposite direction, i.e. in a direction to close the umbrella, the rotation of the drive shaft (226) inside the tube nut (227) will close the telescopic pole by pushing the lower telescopic section (221) inside the upper telescopic section (220), and when the top of the drive shaft shoulder (226a) will engage the bottom of the downward extension (204d) of the hub, it will start pushing the conducting member (204) upwards, to the initial close position as depicted in this
Upon rotation of the motor (279) in a direction to close the umbrella, the low telescopic section (221) will move into the upper telescopic section (220) due to the advancing of the threading of the drive shaft (226) through the tube nut (227). When the top of the drive shaft shoulder (226a) will reach the bottom of the downward extension (204d) of the hub (204a) the conducting member (204) will be forced upwards while folding the multifold canopy in a process opposite to the opening process described by
Claims
1-27. (canceled)
28. Canopy conducting mechanism for hand held umbrellas, comprising; (a) canopy conducting member having a plurality of a first part of pin and slide joint rigidly connected and angularly spaced about a common central hub; (b) a spacer having a central lower end adapted for being connected to a pole of an umbrella, and a plurality of pivot connection points remotely and angularly spaced about the central lower end each being adapted for receiving a pivot point of a canopy rib (2) having a short lever arm (2a) being the rib portion between the close rib end and the pivot point, the short lever arm (2a) having a second part (2b) of pin and slid joint matching the first part, the pin and slide joints being characterized in that the slides are separated from one another by being formed in angularly spaced bars or cells.
29. Canopy conducting mechanism according to claim 28, further comprising a plurality of canopy ribs pivotably connected to the pivot connections, and further form a plurality of pin and slide joints with the conducting member.
30. Canopy conducting mechanism according to claim 28, connected to the top end of a pole.
31. Canopy conducting mechanism according to claim 28, wherein the spacer has a hollow flange protruding from below.
32. Canopy conducting mechanism according to claim 28, wherein the hub is hollow and having inner threading for moving the hub up and down upon rotation of a screw having outer threading matching the hub's inner threading, for closing and opening the umbrella respective to the rotation direction of the screw.
33. Canopy conducting mechanism according to claim 28, wherein the hub is connected to an extension member having at its lower end a threading connection with a screw, for closing and opening the umbrella respective to the rotation direction of the screw.
34. Umbrella comprised of a canopy conducting mechanism according to claim 29.
35. Umbrella comprised of a canopy conducting mechanism according to claim 29, connected at is bottom end to a top end of a pole of the umbrella, the pole has an upper handgrip connected near its upper end and a main handgrip connected to its lower end.
36. Electrical umbrella comprising an umbrella hollow pole having a main handgrip at a first end thereof; a canopy conducting member having a plurality of a first part of pin and slide joint rigidly connected and angularly spaced about a common central hub; a spacer having a central lower end connected to a second end of the pole and a plurality of pivot points remotely and angularly spaced about the central lower end; a respective plurality of canopy ribs pivotably connected to the pivot points, each rib having a short lever arm (2a) being the rib portion between the close rib end and the pivot point, the short lever arm (2a) having a second part (2b) of pin and slid joint matching the first part, the ribs thereby form a plurality of pin and slide joints with the conducting member (2), wherein the canopy conducting member is driven along a short path between an uppermost position and a lowermost position from above the pole, corresponding to a closed state and an open state of the umbrella, respectively, upon rotation of an electrical motor located near or inside the main handgrip, powered by batteries located nearby, and transmitting its rotation to a screw or to a helical shaft adapted to convert the rotation into vertical movement of the conducting member.
37. Electrical umbrella according to claim 36, further comprising override arrangement.
38. Electrical umbrella according to claim 36, further comprising override arrangement, the override arrangement comprising an extended flange connected to the bottom of the spacer and capable of telescopic movement with respect to the umbrella pole, and means for releaseably tightening the extended flange to the pole.
39. Electrical umbrella according to claim 36, further comprising an upper handgrip located near the top end of the pole and being a part of an override arrangement, the override arrangement comprising an extended flange connected to the bottom of the spacer and capable of telescopic movement with respect to the umbrella pole, and means for releaseably tightening the extended flange to the pole, wherein the upper hand grip is located such that it can be utilized for moving the extended flange up and down in said telescopic movement.
40. Electrical umbrella according to claim 36, further comprising a battery compartment located inside the main handgrip.
41. Electrical umbrella according to claim 36, further comprising a battery compartment located inside the main handgrip in electrical communication with a jack adapted for receiving a plug of a power source for recharging the batteries.
42. Electrical umbrella according to claim 36, further comprising a withdrawable battery compartment located inside the main handgrip.
43. Electrical umbrella according to claim 36, further comprising overload detection circuit capable of disconnecting the battery power from the motor upon recognition of a motor current exceeding a predetermined threshold.
44. Electrical umbrella according to claim 36, further comprising overload detection circuit capable of disconnecting the battery power from the motor upon recognition of a motor current exceeding a predetermined threshold, and further capable of inverting the polarity of the power connection to the motor.
45. Electrical umbrella according to claim 36, further comprising at least one utility electronic or electric circuit selected from; (a) location detector; (b) emergency illumination; (c) safety illumination; (d) low battery alarm; (e) temperature measuring; (f) electronic watch; (g) anti-theft remote sensor; (h) decorative illumination; (i) battery recharger with integral power plug; (j) remote controller in wireless communication with certain electronic or electric circuits of the umbrella; (k) voice or sonic alarm; (l) a combination of at least two of ‘a’ to ‘k’.
46. Umbrella comprised of a canopy conducting mechanism according to claim 29, wherein the ribs are made of a rigid material at their proximal portion and of a flexible bars at their distal portion.
47. Umbrella comprised of a canopy conducting mechanism according to claim 29, characterized by having no struts nor stretchers connecting between the pole of the umbrella and its canopy ribs.
48. Canopy conducting mechanism according to claim 28, further comprising a plurality of pivot joints remotely and angularly spaced about the central lower end each is adapted for receiving a rib stretcher to be associated with a rib receivable by a corresponding pivot connection point.
49. Canopy conducting mechanism according to claim 28, further comprising (i) multifold ribs pivotally connected to the pivot connections and further form a plurality of pin and slide joints with the conducting member; and (ii) a plurality of rib stretchers, pivotally connected to respected pivot joints and to respective multifold ribs.
50. Electrical umbrella comprising a canopy conducting mechanism according to claim 49, the canopy conducting mechanism is connected at its lower end to the top of a telescopic pole, the telescopic pole is connected at its lower end to a main handgrip of the umbrella, wherein the canopy conducting member is driven along a short path between an uppermost position and a lowermost position from above the pole, corresponding to a closed state and an open state of the umbrella, respectively, upon rotation of an electrical motor located near or inside the main handgrip, powered by batteries located nearby, and transmitting its rotation to a screw or to a helical shaft adapted to convert the rotation into vertical movement of the conducting member and into a telescopic movement of at least two telescopic sections of the pole.
51. Electrical umbrella according to claim 36, wherein the handgrip is cushioned or having a padding protection against downfall damages.
52. Electrical umbrella according to claim 36, further comprising folding or pull out foots accommodated in the handgrip and useful for positioning of the umbrella uprightly.
53. Umbrella comprised of a canopy conducting mechanism according to claim 29, wherein the ribs are made of a rigid material and having gradually reduced thickness at their distal ends resulting in flexibility of the ends of the ribs useful for obtaining mushroom shaped canopy.
Type: Application
Filed: May 1, 2005
Publication Date: Aug 14, 2008
Inventor: Chaim Simcha Amsel (Jerusalem)
Application Number: 11/568,359
International Classification: A45B 25/18 (20060101); A45B 19/00 (20060101); A45B 25/16 (20060101);