Umbrella Apparatus

• US 20090056775A1
• Filed: 10/21/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LakeSouth Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: World Factory Incorporated
• Inventors: Kuelbs, Gregory G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,753,546 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 135/16
• 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 2025/146 with a crank connected to a rope
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1018 with illuminating devices, e.g. electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1045 with a misting device having at least one nozzle for spraying a fluid, e.g. water
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/14 Devices for opening and for closing umbrellas
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 3/04 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/03 rechargeable by exposure to light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/006 General building constructions or finishing work for buildings, e.g. roofs, gutters, stairs or floors; Garden equipment; Sunshades or parasols
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0096 Fans, e.g. ceiling fans forced cooling of lighting devices characterised by the arrangement of fans F21V29/67
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0035 using evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/54 Free-cooling systems

Abstract

An umbrella apparatus includes a pole portion, a canopy portion hingedly coupled to the pole portion, the canopy portion having a plurality of support ribs and a plurality of support struts, and at least one lamp module mounted to the canopy portion, each lamp module having a plurality of light emitting diodes, each light emitting diode being aimed in a selected fixed direction, at least one of the light emitting diodes being aimed in a direction that is not normal to the support rib to which the lamp module is mounted.

Claims

1. An umbrella apparatus, comprising:

a pole portion;

a canopy portion hingedly coupled to the pole portion, the canopy portion having a plurality of support ribs and a plurality of support struts; and

at least one lamp module mounted to the canopy portion, each lamp module having a plurality of light emitting diodes, each light emitting diode being aimed in a selected fixed direction, at least one of the light emitting diodes being aimed in a direction that is not normal to the support rib to which the lamp module is mounted.

2. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the orientation of the at least one lamp module is adjustable relative to the canopy portion.

3. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one lamp module is mounted to one of the support ribs.

4. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least one lamp module is at least partially recessed within the support rib.

5. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one lamp module is mounted to a side wall of one of the support ribs.

6. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one lamp module is mounted to one of the support struts.

7. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the at least one lamp module is at least partially recessed within the support strut.

8. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one lamp module is mounted a side wall of one of the support struts.

9. An umbrella apparatus, comprising:

a pole portion;

a canopy portion hingedly coupled to the pole portion, the canopy portion having a plurality of support ribs and a plurality of support struts; and

a battery module installed around the pole portion, the battery module having multiple batteries arranged in an array about the pole portion;

wherein the battery module includes an upper plate and a lower plate that cooperate to retain the batteries in the battery module.

10. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a removable cover for enclosing the batteries.

11. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the removable cover translates coaxially with the pole.

12. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the removable cover is a removable clamshell-type cover.

13. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a lighting system carried by the battery module.

14. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a crank case for use in opening and closing the canopy portion, the battery module being mounted to the crank case.

15. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising:

a plurality of lighting elements carried by the crank case.

16. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising:

a translucent lens member coupled to the crank case for enclosing the lighting elements.

17. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the battery module is a two-piece spool-shaped module.

18. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the battery module is a one-piece spool-shaped module.

19. An umbrella apparatus, comprising:

a pole portion;

a canopy portion hingedly coupled to the pole portion, the canopy portion having a plurality of support ribs and a plurality of support struts; and

a crank case for use in opening and closing the canopy portion, the crank case having an upper portion and a lower portion;

a battery module coupled to the upper portion of the crank case, the battery module being disposed about the pole portion, the battery module having multiple batteries arranged in an array about the pole portion;

a first set of light emitting diodes disposed on the lower portion of the crank case; and

a first translucent lens member releasably coupled to the crank case for enclosing the first set of light emitting diodes.

20. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising:

a second set of light emitting diodes carried by the battery module; and

a second translucent lens member releasably coupled to the battery module for enclosing the second set of light emitting diodes.