Luminous umbrella
First Claim
1. A luminous umbrella for illuminating a space proximate to the luminous umbrella, comprising(a) a shaft;
- (b) a canopy openable and collapsible by the user respectively to an open position and a collapsed position and mounted on the distal end of the shaft for sheltering the user when the canopy is open, the canopy having a highly reflective concave undersurface extending when open to an outer periphery to define a generally circular concavity underneath the canopy;
(c) a handle mounted on the proximal end of the shaft;
(d) a light fixture within the concavity defined by the undersurface of the canopy when the canopy is opened, comprising a bulb housing mounted on the shaft within the concavity, a bulb fixture mounted to the bulb housing, said bulb fixture for removably receiving a bulb for providing a light source;
the bulb fixture being retractable into the bulb housing in order to protect the bulb during non-use, and being extendible out of the bulb housing during use to enhance illumination;
the bulb facing the undersurface of the open canopy when the bulb fixture is extended, such that when operational, most of the light from the bulb is directed towards the ground when the open umbrella is vertically oriented, either directly, or by reflection from the undersurface of the open canopy;
(e) a power connection means for connection to a replaceable power source for powering the light source to permit the light source to operate while the umbrella is carried by a user; and
(f) a light switch electrically connected between the light source and the power source for turning the light source on and off.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The luminous umbrella of the present invention uses a high proportion of the light generated by mounting the light bulb high on the shaft such that most of the light from the light bulb is projected at the highly reflective undersurface. The curvature of the undersurface focuses the light from the light bulb down to illuminate a space immediately around the user. This illuminated space widens towards the bottom, thereby providing the widest illumination as the ground where it is most needed. As a result of the light being efficiently focused, the required luminosity of the light bulb is reduced, enabling the umbrella to be used using an incandescent light bulb and a few 1.5 volt batteries. Alternatively, if it is desired to provide increased illumination, the conventional incandescent bulb may be replaced with a halogen bulb. The batteries will still suffice to provide bright illumination by the halogen bulb. Preferably the bulb is retractable to within a protective bulb housing during non-use to mitigate the risk of breakage.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A luminous umbrella for illuminating a space proximate to the luminous umbrella, comprising
(a) a shaft; -
(b) a canopy openable and collapsible by the user respectively to an open position and a collapsed position and mounted on the distal end of the shaft for sheltering the user when the canopy is open, the canopy having a highly reflective concave undersurface extending when open to an outer periphery to define a generally circular concavity underneath the canopy; (c) a handle mounted on the proximal end of the shaft; (d) a light fixture within the concavity defined by the undersurface of the canopy when the canopy is opened, comprising a bulb housing mounted on the shaft within the concavity, a bulb fixture mounted to the bulb housing, said bulb fixture for removably receiving a bulb for providing a light source;
the bulb fixture being retractable into the bulb housing in order to protect the bulb during non-use, and being extendible out of the bulb housing during use to enhance illumination;
the bulb facing the undersurface of the open canopy when the bulb fixture is extended, such that when operational, most of the light from the bulb is directed towards the ground when the open umbrella is vertically oriented, either directly, or by reflection from the undersurface of the open canopy;(e) a power connection means for connection to a replaceable power source for powering the light source to permit the light source to operate while the umbrella is carried by a user; and (f) a light switch electrically connected between the light source and the power source for turning the light source on and off. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification