Intelligent shading objects

• US 10,327,521 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2015
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ShadeCraft, LLC
• Original Assignee: ShadeCraft, LLC
• Inventors: Gharabegian, Armen Sevada
• Primary Examiner(s): Cahn, Daniel P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramsey, Jeremy C
• Application Number:
  US14/810,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20160338457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,429 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 17/00 Tiltable umbrellas
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 19/02 Inflatable umbrellas; Umbrellas without ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 19/04 with telescopic sticks
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 19/08 with collapsible sticks
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2017/005 with additional rotation about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2019/002 Umbrellas stored inside the stick when closed, e.g. collapsible into the handle
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2019/026 Umbrellas without ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2023/0012 Ground supported umbrellas or sunshades on a single post, e.g. resting in or on a surface there below
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2023/0031 Cantilever umbrellas or sunshades with a support arm
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2023/0093 Sunshades or weather protections of other than umbrella type
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2025/003 Accessories not covered by groups A45B25/24 - A45B25/30
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1018 with illuminating devices, e.g. electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1027 with means for generating solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 23/00 Other umbrellas
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/143 automatic
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/16 Automatic openers, e.g. frames with spring mechanisms A45B25/143 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/165 with fluid or electric actuators
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/18 Covers detachable A45B15/00; Means for fastening same
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/00 Compasses; Devices for ascertaining true or magnetic north for navigation or surveying purposes using gyroscopic effect G01C19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/42 using electric radiation detectors optical or mechanical part G01J1/04; by comparison with a reference light or electric value G01J1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4204 : with determination of ambient light solar light G01J2001/4266
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/44 : Electric circuits for command of an exposure part G03B7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2001/4266 : for measuring solar light
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 : specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/7861 : Solar tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 : electric

Abstract

An intelligent shading object, comprises a plurality of shading elements, a shading element deployment mechanism, a support structure, and a base unit. A shading element deployment mechanism deploys a plurality of shading elements independently of each other. A support structure is coupled to the shading element deployment mechanism. A base unit is coupled to the support structure to provide stability to the support structure, the shading element deployment mechanism, and the plurality of shading elements.

Claims

1. An intelligent shading object, comprising:

a plurality of shading elements, each of the plurality of shading elements independently linked to an expansion and retraction unit;

a central support system, the central support system comprising;

a first motor integrated within the central support system;

a storage area to house the plurality of shading elements;

the expansion and retraction unit to drive displacement of the plurality of shading elements; and

a controller, the controller and the first motor integrated into the central support system, where the controller transmits instructions to the first motor to communicate signals to the expansion and retraction unit to deploy one or more of the plurality of shading elements, where the one or more shading elements are individually selected and deployed; and

a base unit in contact with a floor surface and directly connected to the central support system, the base unit comprising;

a second motor,

a power supply, and

a rotational apparatus to rotate the central support system in response to signals from the second motor;

wherein a first shading element of the plurality of shading elements is configured to be deployed in a first position and a second shading element of the plurality of shading elements is configure to be deployed in a second position offset from the first position, and wherein a portion of the second shading element is configured to overlap a portion of the first shading element.

2. The intelligent shading object of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of shading elements has different lengths.

3. The intelligent shading object of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of shading elements has a different geometric shape as compared to a remainder of the shading elements.

4. The intelligent shading object of claim 1, wherein the central support system further comprises a light sensor to identify presence and intensity of solar irradiance, the light sensor being coupled to a second controller in the base unit, wherein the second controller transmits signals to the second motor in the base unit to send signals to the rotational apparatus to rotate the base and the central support system to follow a direction of the solar irradiance.

5. The intelligent shading object of claim 1, the central support system further including a wireless receiver to receive audio signals and transmit the audio signals to a speaker.

6. The intelligent shading object of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of shading elements has photo cells disposed on a surface of the at least one shading element.

7. The intelligent shading object of claim 6, wherein the photo cells transform solar irradiance into electrical energy, which is stored in a power storage element and is utilized to provide power to at least one of the controller, the first motor, or the second motor.

8. The intelligent shading object of claim 6, wherein the base unit further comprises a plurality of weight compartments, wherein at least one weight may be placed into one of the plurality of weight compartments.

9. The intelligent shading object of claim 6, the central support system further including a lighting element, the lighting element to project light onto a surface of at least one of the shading elements.

10. The intelligent shading object of claim 9, the lighting element to further project video or pictures onto a surface of at least one of the shading elements.

11. The intelligent shading object of claim 6, wherein the photo cells transform solar irradiance into electrical power, the electrical power being provided to one of a system power supply or a rechargeable battery, the one of the system power supply or the rechargeable battery providing power to at least one of the controller, the first motor, or the second motor.

12. The intelligent shading object of claim 6, further comprising a power monitor, the power monitor generating a measurement of how much electrical power is available from a rechargeable battery.

13. The intelligent shading object of claim 1, further comprising a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) transceiver, the GNSS transceiver to receive Global Positioning System (GPS) signals from GPS satellites and gather positioning information for the intelligent shading object.

14. An intelligent shading object, comprising:

a plurality of shading elements;

a shading element deployment mechanism to select and deploy a first shading element to a first position and separately select and deploy a second shading element to a second position, the first position being different from the second position, wherein the first position is offset from the second position and a portion of the first shading element overlaps a portion of the second shading element;

a support structure coupled to the shading element deployment mechanism, the support structure having a top end and a bottom end;

a base unit directly connected to the bottom end of the support structure;

a speaker; and

a transceiver connected to the support structure and coupled to the speaker, the transceiver to receive audio signals from an audio source and to transmit the audio signals to the speaker, wherein the speaker produces sound from the received audio signals.

15. The intelligent shading object of claim 14, wherein the transceiver is only activated when the plurality of shading elements are deployed in an open position.

16. An intelligent shading object, comprising:

a plurality of shading elements;

a shading element deployment mechanism to select and deploy a first element rod and a first shading element of the plurality of shading elements to a first position and separately select and deploy a second element rod and a second shading element of the plurality of shading elements to a second position, the first position being different from the second position, wherein a proximal end of the first element rod and a proximal end of the second element rod are connected to the shading element deployment mechanism, a distal end of the first element rod is connected to the first shading element and a distal end of the second element rod is connected to the second shading element;

a support structure coupled to the shading element deployment mechanism, the support structure having a top end and a bottom end; and

a base unit directly connected to the bottom end of the support structure to provide stability to the support structure, the shading element deployment mechanism, and the plurality of shading elements.

17. The intelligent shading object of claim 16, wherein the first shading element has a first deployment length and the second shading element has a different second deployment length.

18. The intelligent shading object of claim 16, further comprising a storage area to house the plurality of shading elements, the support structure deployment mechanism to drive displacement of the plurality of shading elements through an opening in a top surface of the storage area.

19. The intelligent shading object of claim 16, wherein the first shading element is configured to automatically deploy to a first vertical height and the second shading element is configured to automatically deploy to a second lower vertical height.

20. An intelligent shading object comprising:

a first shading element, a second shading element, and a third shading element, the first shading element being physically separate from the second shading element and the third shading element and the second shading element being physically separate from the third shading element;

a first support structure, a second support structure and a third support structure, a proximal end of the first support structure, the second support structure and the third support structure connected to a proximal end of the first shading element, a proximal end of the second shading element and a proximal end of the third shading element, respectively;

a support structure deployment mechanism to deploy the first support structure, the second support structure, and the third support structure, the first support structure, second support structure, and third support structure to be deployed independent of each other;

a central support structure coupled to the support structure deployment mechanism, the central support structure having a top end and a bottom end; and

a base unit directly connected to the bottom end of the central support structure to provide stability to the first support structure, the second support structure, the third support structure, the support structure deployment mechanism, the first shading element, the second shading element and the third shading element.