Outdoor shading device with renewable power system

• US 20100154786A1
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oliver Joen-An Ma
• Original Assignee: Oliver Joen-An Ma
• Inventors: Li, Wanda Ying
• Granted Patent: US 8,104,491 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 126/624
• 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 2025/146 with a crank connected to a rope
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2025/186 Umbrellas with two or more covers
• 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 25/00 Details of umbrellas sticks for umbrellas A45B1/00 - A45B9/00; illuminating devices for umbrellas A45B3/02; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/20 Windows in covers
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/55 made of flexible materials
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/12 using posts in combination with upper profiles
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/70 with means for adjusting the final position or orientation of supporting elements in relation to each other or to a mounting surface; with means for compensating mounting tolerances
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 30/20 Collapsible or foldable PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/38 Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 135/91 Illuminated cane or umbrella

Abstract

An outdoor shading device includes a supporting frame, a shading awning supported by the supporting frame to define a shading area underneath the shading awning, and a solar power system. The solar power system includes a solar collecting unit having a solar collecting surface overlapped on the shading awning for solar energy collection, and a power storage supported at the supporting frame to electrically connect to the solar collecting unit, wherein when the shading awning is orientated for providing shade from the sun, the solar collecting surface of the solar collecting unit is aligned with the direction of the sun to maximize the solar energy collection, such that after the solar energy is collected, the solar collecting unit converts the solar energy into electrical energy and stored in the power storage.

Claims

1. An outdoor shading device, comprising:

a supporting frame which comprises a standing frame and an awning frame supported by said standing frame;

a shading awning supported by said awning frame to define a shading area underneath said shading awning; and

a renewable power system, which comprises;

a renewable collecting unit supported by said supporting frame for collecting energy from natural resources, and

a power storage supported at said supporting frame to electrically connect to said renewable collecting unit, wherein when said renewable collecting unit collects said energy, said energy is converted into electrical energy and stored in said power storage.

2. The outdoor shading device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said renewable power system, which is a solar power system, comprises a solar collecting unit as said renewable collecting unit having a solar collecting surface overlapped on said shading awning for solar energy collection, wherein when said shading awning is orientated for providing shade from the sun, said solar collecting surface of said solar collecting unit is aligned with the direction of the sun to maximize the solar energy collection, such that after said solar energy is collected, said solar collecting unit converts said solar energy into electrical energy and stored in said power storage.

3. The outdoor shading device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said solar collecting unit comprises a plurality of discrete solar panels alignedly overlaid on said shading awing to fully utilize a shading surface of said shading awning so as to maximize a gain of said solar energy.

4. The outdoor shading device, as recited in claim 3, wherein said discrete solar panels are foldably coupled with each other side-by-side such that said discrete solar panels are orientated to match with a contour of said shading surface of said shading awning.

5. The outdoor shading device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said solar collecting unit comprises a flexible solar layer overlaid on said shading awning to fully utilize a shading surface of said shading awning so as to maximize a gain of said solar energy.

6. The outdoor shading device, as recited in claim 5, wherein said flexible solar layer is attached on said shading surface of said shading awning to match with a contour of said shading surface of said shading awning.

7. The outdoor shading device, as recited in claim 5, wherein said flexible solar layer is integrally attached on said shading surface of said shading awning to form a one piece parasol structure for providing a dual-function of sun shading and solar energy collection.

8. The outdoor shading device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said solar power system further comprises a reinforcing frame alignedly coupled with said awning frame to retain said solar collecting surface of said solar collecting unit on said shading awning.

9. The outdoor shading device, as recited in claim 4, wherein said solar power system further comprises a reinforcing frame alignedly coupled with said awning frame to retain said solar collecting surface of said solar collecting unit on said shading awning.

10. The outdoor shading device, as recited in claim 6, wherein said solar power system further comprises a reinforcing frame alignedly coupled with said awning frame to retain said solar collecting surface of said solar collecting unit on said shading awning.

11. The outdoor shading device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said awning frame is pivotally coupled with said standing frame to selectively adjust a shading angle of said shading awning for maximizing said shading area thereof and for aligning said solar collecting surface of said solar collecting unit towards the direction of the sun.

12. The outdoor shading device, as recited in claim 9, wherein said awning frame is pivotally coupled with said standing frame to selectively adjust a shading angle of said shading awning for maximizing said shading area thereof and for aligning said solar collecting surface of said solar collecting unit towards the direction of the sun.

13. The outdoor shading device, as recited in claim 10, wherein said awning frame is pivotally coupled with said standing frame to selectively adjust a shading angle of said shading awning for maximizing said shading area thereof and for aligning said solar collecting surface of said solar collecting unit towards the direction of the sun.

14. The outdoor shading device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said awning frame comprises an upper housing coupled at an upper portion of said standing frame and a plurality of awning supporting arms pivotally and radially extended from said upper housing to support said shading awning so as to enable said awning frame being folded between a folded position to minimize said shading area and an unfolded position to provide shade from the sun and to collect said solar energy at the same time.

15. The outdoor shading device, as recited in claim 11, wherein said awning frame comprises an upper housing coupled at an upper portion of said standing frame and a plurality of awning supporting arms pivotally and radially extended from said upper housing to support said shading awning so as to enable said awning frame being folded between a folded position to minimize said shading area and an unfolded position to provide shade from the sun and to collect said solar energy at the same time.

16. The outdoor shading device, as recited in claim 13, wherein said awning frame comprises an upper housing coupled at an upper portion of said standing frame and a plurality of awning supporting arms pivotally and radially extended from said upper housing to support said shading awning so as to enable said awning frame being folded between a folded position to minimize said shading area and an unfolded position to provide shade from the sun and to collect said solar energy at the same time.

17. The outdoor shading device, as recited in claim 2, wherein said power storage comprises a rechargeable battery supported at a base of said standing frame for storing said electrical energy from said solar collecting unit, and a power outlet which is supported by said standing frame at a hand-reachable position and is electrically extended from said rechargeable battery for electrically connecting with an external electronic appliance.

18. The outdoor shading device, as recited in claim 15, wherein said power storage comprises a rechargeable battery supported at a base of said standing frame for storing said electrical energy from said solar collecting unit, and a power outlet which is supported by said standing frame at a hand-reachable position and is electrically extended from said rechargeable battery for electrically connecting with an external electronic appliance.

19. The outdoor shading device, as recited in claim 16, wherein said power storage comprises a rechargeable battery supported at a base of said standing frame for storing said electrical energy from said solar collecting unit, and a power outlet which is supported by said standing frame at a hand-reachable position and is electrically extended from said rechargeable battery for electrically connecting with an external electronic appliance.

20. The outdoor shading device, as recited in claim 18, wherein said power storage is electrically coupled with said solar collecting unit through an electrical cable which is extended through interiors of said awning frame and said standing frame in a hidden manner.

21. The outdoor shading device, as recited in claim 19, wherein said power storage is electrically coupled with said solar collecting unit through an electrical cable which is extended through interiors of said awning frame and said standing frame in a hidden manner.

22. The outdoor shading device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said renewable power system, which is a wind power system, comprises a wind collecting unit supported by a top portion of said supporting frame for extensively collecting wind energy.

23. The outdoor shading device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said renewable power system, which is a rain power system, comprises a rain collecting unit supported by a top portion of said supporting frame for extensively collecting water energy.

24. The outdoor shading device, as recited in claim 1, wherein said renewable power system, which is a kinetic power system, comprises a kinetic power collecting unit supported by said supporting frame for extensively collecting kinetic energy during folding operation of said outdoor shading device.