Waterproof flashlight device for umbrellas

• US 6,135,605 A
• Filed: 09/08/1999
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chia Ming Hsu, Wen Shan Yeh
• Original Assignee: Chia Ming Hsu, Wen Shan Yeh
• Inventors: Hsu, Chia Ming, Yeh, Wen Shan
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alavi, Ali
• Application Number:
  US09/391,502
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 362/276, 362/802, 362/186, 362/158, 362/102, 362/208
• US Class Current: 362/102
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 3/04 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

A waterproof flashlight device for umbrellas comprises a shell made of transparent soft material, a circuit board, at least a battery, and a self-control switch. The shell has a seat installed inside. The seat is joined with a stage having a hollow chamber inside through a waterproof grommet. The circuit board is installed inside the stage. The flashlight circuit on the circuit board connects to at least a battery. The self-control switch connects the battery with the flashlight circuit. The self-control switch has two soft circuit boards. A metal ball is lapped on one of the two soft circuit boards. When the user unfolds the umbrella at night, the metal ball will contact the two soft circuit boards, and the battery will provide electricity to the flashlight circuit. The flashlight circuit will thus flash when there is no sufficient light outside.

Claims

1. A waterproof flashing light device for umbrellas, comprising:

a shell formed of a transparent soft material mounted to an umbrella, said shell including a seat adapted for coupling to the umbrella and a stage joined to said seat and having a chamber formed therein;

at least one battery disposed in said chamber; and

,

a circuit board disposed in said chamber, said circuit board including (a) a light emitting diode electrically coupled thereto, (b) a control circuit mounted on said circuit board and electrically coupled to said at least one battery and said light emitting diode for controlling said light emitting diode to illuminate in a flashing manner, and (c) photosensor coupled to said control circuit for initiating operation thereof responsive to an ambient light level being sensed below a predetermined level.

2. The device as recited in claim 1 where said seat is coupled to a head portion of the umbrella.

3. The device as recited in claim 2 where said seat has internal threads for said coupling to the head portion of the umbrella.

4. The device as recited in claim 1 where said photo sensor is a photovaristor.

5. The device as recited in claim 4 where said circuit board further includes a gravity actuated switch coupled to said control circuit for controlling said initiation of operation of said control circuit responsive to an orientation of the umbrella.

6. A waterproof flashing light device for umbrellas, comprising:

a shell formed of a transparent soft material mounted to an umbrella, said shell including a seat adapted for coupling to the umbrella and a stage joined to said seat and having a chamber formed therein;

at least one battery disposed in said chamber; and

,

a circuit board disposed in said chamber, said circuit board including (a) a light emitting diode electrically coupled thereto, (b) a control circuit mounted on said circuit board and electrically coupled to said at least one battery and said light emitting diode for controlling said light emitting diode to illuminate in a flashing manner, (c) photo sensor coupled to said control circuit for initiating operation thereof responsive to an ambient light level being sensed below a predetermined level, and (d) a gravity actuated switch coupled to said control circuit for controlling said initiation of operation of said control circuit responsive to an orientation of the umbrella, wherein said light emitting diode is illuminated in a flashing manner when the umbrella is in a substantially upward orientation and ambient light levels are below said predetermined level.

7. The device as recited in claim 6 where said photo sensor is a photovaristor.

8. The device as recited in claim 6 where said seat is coupled to a head portion of the umbrella.

9. The device as recited in claim 8 where said seat has internal threads for said coupling to the head portion of the umbrella.