Remotely controlled and electrically operated umbrellas

• US 6,058,951 A
• Filed: 07/28/1998
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Joe Wilson
• Original Assignee: Robert Joe Wilson
• Inventors: Wilson, Robert Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedman, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YIP, WINNIE S
• Application Number:
  US09/123,002
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 135/20.3, 135/22, 135/16, 135/98, 200/49, 116/173, 52/111, 52/302.5
• US Class Current: 135/20.3
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1063 with tables
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/14 Devices for opening and for closing umbrellas
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/165 with fluid or electric actuators

Abstract

A remotely or manually actuated electrically operated umbrella for use with larger canopies in outdoor settings like restaurants. The umbrella uses a gear and chain drive system to urge upward a traveling rod that in turn actuates a bracket to open and close the spokes of the umbrella. The rod is controlled by movements of a pulley turned by a motor. Two actuator pieces in connection with the pulley will contact "up" and "down" switches in order to automatically cut off the motor once the canopy has been closed or opened as the case may be.

Claims

1. An electrically controlled umbrella comprising:

a umbrella having a canopy;

a plurality of arms in connection with said canopy and a central shaft having an upper and a bottom end, said upper end in connection with said canopy, said bottom end in connection with a housing, a bracket having a plurality of spokes, each of said spokes having one end in connection with said bracket and the other end in connection with one of said arms, said bracket fixed for up and down movement upon said central shaft so that up and down movement of said bracket will open and close said canopy by urging the movement of said arms through the movement of said spokes, a rod in connection with said bracket, a reversing motor in connection with a pulley system for operating said pulley system in a counter clockwise or clockwise direction, said pulley system having pulley and a first and second actuator in connection with a chin, said first and second actuator being spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance, said motor in connection with a pair of first and second cutoff switches for cutting off power to said motor;

said cutoff switches placed on either side of said pulley system in said housing for contact with said first and second actuators during said movement of said pulleys, said cut off switches so placed so that said first actuator will contact said first cutoff switch once said canopy has been opened and said second cut off switch placed so that said second actuator will contact said second cutoff switch once the direction of said motor has been reversed and said canopy has been closed, said first actuator having means for contacting said rod so that movement of said pulley will urge said rod to move said bracket so as to open said canopy.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further in connection with a remote operating unit, said remote operating unit having a means for operating said motor from a remote location.