Outdoor umbrella with power supply arrangement for electrical appliance

• US 20030067765A1
• Filed: 10/05/2001
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oliver Joen-An Ma
• Original Assignee: Wanda Ying Li
• Inventors: Li, Wanda Ying
• Granted Patent: US 6,598,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/102
• 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 2023/0043 the support arm being attached to the stick or to runner, the canopy being suspended there above
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2023/005 the support arm being attached to a rib or being formed by a rib
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1027 with means for generating solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1036 with means for promoting air movement, e.g. ventilation holes, fans, ventilators, special shape for ventilation, suction means
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 23/00 Other umbrellas
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 3/04 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/007 with provision for shipment or storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

An outdoor umbrella with power supply arrangement for electrical appliance includes an awning frame and a lighting arrangement. The awning frame includes an upper housing and a plurality of tubular awning arms radially extended from the upper housing in a pivotally movable manner. The lighting arrangement includes an electric hub disposed in the upper housing, a plurality of illuminating units each including a plurality of illuminators spacedly mounted on the awning arms, a connecting device having at least a first connector radially extended from the electric hub, and a second connector provided on each illuminating unit for electrically connecting to the first connector, so as to electrically connect the illuminating units with the electric hub, and a control device electrically connecting with the electric hub. Therefore, the illuminating units are electrically connected to the electric hub by connecting the second connectors to the first connectors when assembling the awning frame.

Claims

1. An outdoor umbrella, comprising:

a fabric awning;

a foldable awning frame which is constructed to support said fabric awning thereon and comprises an upper housing, a lower housing, a plurality of awning arms radially extended from said upper housing in a pivotally movable manner, and at least a connecting arm pivotally connected one of said awning arms with said lower housing;

a supporting frame comprising a support stem and a supporting arm pivotally connecting said awning frame with said support stem; and

a lighting arrangement, comprising;

an electric hub having an electric inlet disposed in said upper housing;

a plurality of illuminating units mounted on said awning arms respectively, wherein each of said illuminating units comprises a plurality of illuminators spacedly extended along said respective awning arm;

a plurality of connecting devices, each of which comprises a first connector and a second connector, for electrically connecting said plurality of illuminating units with said electric hub respectively, wherein said first connectors are radially provided on said electric hub and said second connectors are electrically provided on said illuminating units respectively, wherein each of said illuminating units is capable of electrically connecting with said electric hub by connecting said second connector thereof with said respective first connector; and

a control device which is provided along said supporting frame and comprises a power supply, an electric outlet detachably connecting to said electric inlet of said electric hub, and an electric cord electrically connecting said power supply with said electric outlet.

2. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said illuminating units further comprises an elongated element mounted on said respective awning arm of said awning frame, wherein said illuminators are electrically and spacedly mounted on said elongated element and said second connector is electrically connected to an inner end of said elongated element.

3. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 1, wherein said electric hub comprises a hub casing having a circular shaped received in said upper housing of said awning frame and at least a pair of electric wires protected by said hub casing for electrically connecting said first connectors.

4. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 2, wherein said electric hub comprises a hub casing having a circular shaped received in said upper housing of said awning frame and at least a pair of electric wires protected by said hub casing for electrically connecting said first connectors.

5. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 1, wherein said electric hub comprises two C-shaped hub members, having a positive charge and a negative charge respectively, coaxially disposed in said upper housing of said awning frame wherein said first connectors are spacedly provided on said two hub members for electrically connecting said second connectors of said illuminating units respectively, wherein each of said second connectors has two connecting wires extended from said elongated element and arranged to mount on said two first connectors respectively, so as to electrically connect said illuminating units to said electric hub.

6. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 2, wherein said electric hub comprises two C-shaped hub members, having a positive charge and a negative charge respectively, coaxially disposed in said upper housing of said awning frame wherein said first connectors are spacedly provided on said two hub members for electrically connecting said second connectors of said illuminating units respectively, wherein each of said second connectors has two connecting wires extended from said elongated element and arranged to mount on said two first connectors respectively, so as to electrically connect said illuminating units to said electric hub.

7. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary electrical apparatus which comprises an electrical appliance mounted underneath said lower housing of said awning frame and a connecting wire electrically extended from said electrical appliance to said electric hub through said connecting arm.

8. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 4, further comprising an auxiliary electrical apparatus which comprises an electrical appliance mounted underneath said lower housing of said awning frame and a connecting wire electrically extended from said electrical appliance to said electric hub through said connecting arm.

9. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 6, further comprising an auxiliary electrical apparatus which comprises an electrical appliance mounted underneath said lower housing of said awning frame and a connecting wire electrically extended from said electrical appliance to said electric hub through said connecting arm.

10. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 4, wherein each of said awning arms has an elongated slot formed thereon and said elongated element of said illuminating unit is fittedly received in said mounting slot so as to securely mount said illuminating unit on said awning arm.

11. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 8, wherein each of said awning arms has an elongated mounting slot having a U-shaped cross section formed thereon and said elongated element of said illuminating unit is fittedly received in said mounting slot so as to securely mount said illuminating unit on said awning arm.

12. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said awning arms has an elongated mounting slot having a U-shaped cross section formed thereon and said elongated element of said illuminating unit is fittedly received in said mounting slot so as to securely mount said illuminating unit on said awning arm.

13. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 4, wherein each of said awning arms has a plurality of through holes spacedly provided thereon and said elongated element is mounted in said respective awning arm and head portions of said illuminators are arranged to protrude outside of said awning arms through said through slots.

14. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 8, wherein each of said awning arms has a plurality of through holes spacedly provided thereon and said elongated element is mounted in said respective awning arm and head portions of said illuminators are arranged to protrude outside of said awning arms through said through slots.

15. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said awning arms has a plurality of through holes spacedly provided thereon and said elongated element is mounted in said respective awning arm and head portions of said illuminators are arranged to protrude outside of said awning arms through said through slots.

16. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 4, wherein each of said awning arms has an elongated mounting slot, having an arc-shaped cross section and opening downward, provided thereon and said elongated element having a tubular shape for receiving said illuminators therein is fittedly received in said mounting slot so as to securely mount said illuminating unit on said awning arm.

17. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 8, wherein each of said awning arms has an elongated mounting slot, having an arc-shaped cross section and opening downward, provided thereon and said elongated element having a tubular shape for receiving said illuminators therein is fittedly received in said mounting slot so as to securely mount said illuminating unit on said awning arm.

18. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said awning arms has an elongated mounting slot, having an arc-shaped cross section and opening downward, provided thereon and said elongated element having a tubular shape for receiving said illuminators therein is fittedly received in said mounting slot so as to securely mount said illuminating unit on said awning arm.

19. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 4, wherein said first connector comprises a tubular holder having a pair of engaging slots provided at a bottom surface of said tubular holder wherein ends of electric wires inside said electric hub are extended to said tubular holder through said engaging slots respectively, wherein said second connector comprises a connecting head having a rod-like shaped adapted to fittingly receive in said tubular holder of said first connector and a pair of parallel terminals outwardly protruded from said connecting head and electrically connected to said illuminators for fittingly inserting into said engaging slots respectively, so as to electrically connect said illuminating units to said electric hub.

20. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 6, wherein said first connector comprises a tubular holder having a pair of engaging slots provided at a bottom surface of said tubular holder wherein ends of electric wires inside said electric hub are extended to said tubular holder through said engaging slots respectively, wherein said second connector comprises a connecting head having a rod-like shaped adapted to fittingly receive in said tubular holder of said first connector and a pair of parallel terminals outwardly protruded from said connecting head and electrically connected to said illuminators for fittingly inserting into said engaging slots respectively, so as to electrically connect said illuminating units to said electric hub.

21. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 10, wherein said first connector comprises a tubular holder having a pair of engaging slots provided at a bottom surface of said tubular holder wherein ends of electric wires inside said electric hub are extended to said tubular holder through said engaging slots respectively, wherein said second connector comprises a connecting head having a rod-like shaped adapted to fittingly receive in said tubular holder of said first connector and a pair of parallel terminals outwardly protruded from said connecting head and electrically connected to said illuminators for fittingly inserting into said engaging slots respectively, so as to electrically connect said illuminating units to said electric hub.

22. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 13, wherein said first connector comprises a tubular holder having a pair of engaging slots provided at a bottom surface of said tubular holder wherein ends of electric wires inside said electric hub are extended to said tubular holder through said engaging slots respectively, wherein said second connector comprises a connecting head having a rod-like shaped adapted to fittingly receive in said tubular holder of said first connector and a pair of parallel terminals outwardly protruded from said connecting head and electrically connected to said illuminators for fittingly inserting into said engaging slots respectively, so as to electrically connect said illuminating units to said electric hub.

23. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 16, wherein said first connector comprises a tubular holder having a pair of engaging slots provided at a bottom surface of said tubular holder wherein ends of electric wires inside said electric hub are extended to said tubular holder through said engaging slots respectively, wherein said second connector comprises a connecting head having a rod-like shaped adapted to fittingly receive in said tubular holder of said first connector and a pair of parallel terminals outwardly protruded from said connecting head and electrically connected to said illuminators for fittingly inserting into said engaging slots respectively, so as to electrically connect said illuminating units to said electric hub.

24. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 1, wherein said electric cord is cut into predetermined sections wherein said first connector is provided at one end of said respective section of said electric cord and said second connector is provided at another end thereof, wherein said sections of said electric cord is detachably connected together by connecting said second connector with said first connector when assembling said outdoor umbrella.

25. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 4, wherein said electric cord is cut into predetermined sections wherein said first connector is provided at one end of said respective section of said electric cord and said second connector is provided at another end thereof, wherein said sections of said electric cord is detachably connected together by connecting said second connector with said first connector when assembling said outdoor umbrella.

26. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 6, wherein said electric cord is cut into predetermined sections wherein said first connector is provided at one end of said respective section of said electric cord and said second connector is provided at another end thereof, wherein said sections of said electric cord is detachably connected together by connecting said second connector with said first connector when assembling said outdoor umbrella.

27. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 7, wherein said electric cord is cut into predetermined sections wherein said first connector is provided at one end of said respective section of said electric cord and said second connector is provided at another end thereof, wherein said sections of said electric cord is detachably connected together by connecting said second connector with said first connector when assembling said outdoor umbrella.

28. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 10, wherein said electric cord is cut into predetermined sections wherein said first connector is provided at one end of said respective section of said electric cord and said second connector is provided at another end thereof, wherein said sections of said electric cord is detachably connected together by connecting said second connector with said first connector when assembling said outdoor umbrella.

29. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 13, wherein said electric cord is cut into predetermined sections wherein said first connector is provided at one end of said respective section of said electric cord and said second connector is provided at another end thereof, wherein said sections of said electric cord is detachably connected together by connecting said second connector with said first connector when assembling said outdoor umbrella.

30. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 16, wherein said electric cord is cut into predetermined sections wherein said first connector is provided at one end of said respective section of said electric cord and said second connector is provided at another end thereof, wherein said sections of said electric cord is detachably connected together by connecting said second connector with said first connector when assembling said outdoor umbrella.