Table umbrella apparatus

• US 6,298,866 B1
• Filed: 04/10/2000
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Strategic Product Innovations, Inc.
• Original Assignee: William F. Molnar IV
• Inventors: Molnar, William F. IV
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Application Number:
  US09/546,695
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 135/16, 135/98, 135/910, 108/58.12, 108/58.13, 362/102
• 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 2200/1036 with means for promoting air movement, e.g. ventilation holes, fans, ventilators, special shape for ventilation, suction means
• 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 2200/1063 with tables
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 23/00 Other umbrellas
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 3/00 Sticks combined with other objects
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 37/04 Tables specially adapted for use in the garden or otherwise in the open air, e.g. with means for holding umbrellas or umbrella-like sunshades
• 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: Y10S 135/91 Illuminated cane or umbrella

Abstract

A table umbrella apparatus having a base, an umbrella with an inner surface extending therealong, a tubular support affixed to and extending from the base and supporting the umbrella a desired distance above the base, and a fan connected to the tubular support. The fan has a fan blade mounted so as to rotate about a vertical axis. The fan directs air flow at least upwardly toward the umbrella. A motor is connected to the fan so as to rotate the fan blade in a desired direction. A baffle is affixed to umbrella so as to direct air from the fan along the inner surface of the umbrella. The umbrella has at least one adjustable slat extending outwardly from the inner surface so as to direct air flow from the fan to a desired location below the umbrella. A table is positioned around the tubular support and over the base.

Claims

1. A table umbrella apparatus comprising:

a base;

an umbrella having an inner surface extending therealong;

a tubular support affixed to and extending from said base, said tubular support supporting said umbrella a desired distance above said base;

a fan means connected to said tubular support, said fan means having a fan blade mounted so as to rotate about a vertical axis, said fan means directing air flow at least upwardly towards said umbrella, said fan means for causing either an evaporative cooling effect or a heating effect; and

a motor connected to said tubular support, said motor drivingly connected to said fan means so as to rotate said fan blade, said motor capable of bi-directionally rotating said fan blade, said fan means and said fan blade being mounted in a cage affixed to said tubular support, said umbrella affixed to said cage opposite said tubular support.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a baffle affixed to said umbrella so as to direct air from said fan means along said inner surface of said umbrella.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a table positioned around said tubular support and above said base.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a plurality of struts affixed to an underside of said table and extending from said tubular support, said plurality of struts maintaining said table in a horizontal plane.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, said table having a plurality of legs connected to an underside thereof so as to support said table in a horizontal plane a desired distance above an underlying surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, said fan means comprising:

an evaporative cooling means affixed to said tubular support and extending along said inner surface of said umbrella, said evaporative cooling means for passing a cooling mist below said umbrella.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, said base having a water reservoir therein, said evaporative cooling means having a conduit extending through said tubular support from said water reservoir, said evaporative cooling means having a nozzle connected to said conduit and directed downwardly from said inner surface of said umbrella.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a light connected to said tubular support and positioned below said fan blade, said light having an electrical line extending through said tubular support to a power supply.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, said light being in the form of a street lamp having a globe extending downwardly from an arm extending radially outwardly of said tubular support.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a power supply electrically connected to said fan means, said power supply being positioned in said base, said power supply having an electrical line extending through said tubular support to said fan means.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, said base having a flange extending radially outwardly therefrom at a bottom of said base, said flange having bolt holes formed therein so as to allow said base to be affixed to an underlying surface.

12. A table umbrella apparatus comprising:

a base;

an umbrella having an inner surface extending therealong;

a tubular support affixed to and extending from said base, said tubular support supporting said umbrella a desired distance above said base;

a fan means connected to said tubular support, said fan means having a fan blade mounted so as to rotate about a vertical axis, said fan means directing air flow at least upwardly towards said umbrella, said fan means for causing either an evaporative cooling effect or a heating effect; and

a cage affixed to said tubular support and extending upwardly therefrom, said umbrella being affixed to a top of said cage opposite said tubular support, said fan blade positioned interior of said cage, said cage having openings directed towards an inner surface of said umbrella.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

a speaker affixed to said cage, said speaker having an electrical line connected thereto and extending through said tubular support.

14. A table umbrella apparatus comprising:

a base;

an umbrella having an inner surface extending therealong;

a tubular support affixed to and extending from said base, said tubular support supporting said umbrella a desired distance above said base; and

a fan means connected to said tubular support, said fan means having a fan blade mounted so as to rotate about a vertical axis, said fan means directing air flow at least upwardly towards said umbrella, said fan means for causing either an evaporative cooling effect or a heating effect, said fan means comprising;

a heating element affixed to said tubular support and positioned below said fan blade, said fan blade directing said air flow downwardly over said heating element.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, said heating element being powered by a gaseous fuel, said fuel retained in said base, said heating element having a fuel passing line extending through said tubular support.

16. A table umbrella apparatus comprising:

a base;

an umbrella having an inner surface extending therealong;

a tubular support affixed to and extending from said base, said tubular support supporting said umbrella a desired distance above said base; and

a fan means connected to said tubular support, said fan means having a fan blade mounted so as to rotate about a vertical axis, said fan means directing air flow at least upwardly towards said umbrella, said fan means for causing either an evaporative cooling effect or a heating effect, said umbrella having at least one adjustable slat extending from said inner surface, said slat for directing air flow from said fan means to a desired location below said umbrella.

17. A table umbrella apparatus comprising:

a base having a liquid supply therein;

an umbrella having an inner surface extending therealong;

a tubular support affixed to and extending from said base, said tubular support supporting said umbrella a desired distance above said base;

a fan means connected to said tubular support, said fan means having a fan blade mounted so as to rotate about a vertical axis, said fan means directing air flow at least upwardly towards said umbrella, said fan means for causing either an evaporative cooling effect or a heating effect; and

a liquid dispenser line extending outwardly of said tubular support, said liquid dispenser line connected to said liquid supply so as to selectively dispense said liquid supply outwardly therefrom.