Modular accessory
First Claim
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1. An electronic accessory for a shade structure, the electronic accessory comprising:
- a power supply unit configured to be suspended beneath a component of the shade structure, the power supply unit comprising a housing having a lower surface with a recess disposed therein; and
a functional unit that utilizes electrical power from the power supply unit to perform a function, the functional unit comprising an upper surface and a power transfer support extending away from the upper surface, the power transfer support comprising a central body and at least two projections extending laterally from the central body, the at least two projections each comprising an electrical contact,wherein the recess of the lower surface of the power supply unit housing comprises at least two laterally extending regions, each of the laterally extending regions corresponding to one of the at least two projections, each laterally extending region being adjacent a support surface disposed within the housing,the projections and laterally extending regions being arranged such that insertion of the projections into the laterally extending regions and relative rotation of the functional unit with respect to the power supply unit positions the projections to be supported by the support surfaces over the support surfaces and engages the electrical contacts of the projections with corresponding electrical contacts disposed within the housing of the power supply unit.
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Abstract
An accessory is provided that includes power supply module, a first functional module, and a second functional module. The power supply module can be configured to be suspended beneath an overhead support, such as a hub of an umbrella. The first functional module is configured to affix to the power supply module and to be powered by the power supply module to provide a user directed function. The second functional module is configured to be detachably coupled to either the power supply module or the first functional module to receive power from the power supply module directly or through the first functional module.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An electronic accessory for a shade structure, the electronic accessory comprising:
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a power supply unit configured to be suspended beneath a component of the shade structure, the power supply unit comprising a housing having a lower surface with a recess disposed therein; and a functional unit that utilizes electrical power from the power supply unit to perform a function, the functional unit comprising an upper surface and a power transfer support extending away from the upper surface, the power transfer support comprising a central body and at least two projections extending laterally from the central body, the at least two projections each comprising an electrical contact, wherein the recess of the lower surface of the power supply unit housing comprises at least two laterally extending regions, each of the laterally extending regions corresponding to one of the at least two projections, each laterally extending region being adjacent a support surface disposed within the housing, the projections and laterally extending regions being arranged such that insertion of the projections into the laterally extending regions and relative rotation of the functional unit with respect to the power supply unit positions the projections to be supported by the support surfaces over the support surfaces and engages the electrical contacts of the projections with corresponding electrical contacts disposed within the housing of the power supply unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An electronic accessory for a shade structure, the electronic accessory comprising:
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a functional unit configured to be suspended beneath a component of the shade structure and to utilize electrical power from a power supply unit to perform a function, the functional unit comprising an upper surface having a power transfer support disposed thereon, the power transfer support comprising at least two projections laterally extending from a central body, the at least two projections each comprising a lower surface for engaging a corresponding support surface disposed within the power supply unit, and the at least two projections each comprising an electrical contact, and wherein the electrical contacts are positioned at a lateral face of the projections such that, when the projections are inserted into the power supply unit, and the functional unit is rotated about an axis of the central body with respect to the power supply unit, the electrical contacts will be moved into engagement with corresponding electrical contacts disposed within the power supply unit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An electronic accessory for a shade structure, the electronic accessory comprising:
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a functional unit comprising an upper surface having a power transfer support disposed thereon, the power transfer support comprising a central body extending away from the upper surface along a first axis to a body free end and a lateral projection extending from the central body away from the first axis to a lateral projection free end; and a support member comprising a lower surface having a receptacle therein, the receptacle having a central area configured to receive the central body and a lateral extension configured to receive the lateral projection, the lateral extension partially bounded by a support surface within the receptacle; a first contact disposed on the lateral projection; and a second contact disposed within the receptacle; wherein the functional unit can be coupled for support and can be electrically coupled to the support member by disposing the lateral projection over the support surface with the first contact electrically connected to the second contact. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification