Attachable lighting system for outdoor umbrella

• US 6,692,135 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2002
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oliver Joen-An Ma
• Original Assignee: Wanda Ying Li
• Inventors: Li, Wanda Yiing
• Primary Examiner(s): HUSAR, STEPHEN F
• Application Number:
  US10/172,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20030230331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 362/102, 362/234, 362/396, 362/403, 135/161, 135/910
• US Class Current: 362/102
• 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 2023/0043 the support arm being attached to the stick or to runner, the canopy being suspended there above
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 3/04 electrical
• 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

An attachable lighting system for an outdoor umbrella includes at least an illuminating arrangement which includes at least an illuminating unit for illumination, an illuminating unit supporter which has an guiding surface formed on a bottom portion thereof and is securely connected to the awning frame, an illuminating unit adaptor, and a power supply device. The illuminating unit adaptor has a holding member securely connected to the illuminating unit and an engagement member having an engaging surface arranged to slidably engage with the guiding surface of the illuminating unit supporter, wherein the illuminating unit adaptor is detachably attached to the illuminating unit supporter in such a manner that the illuminating unit connected to the illuminating unit adaptor is capable of sliding to maintain a substantially vertical orientation when the awning frame is folding and unfolding or supported in an inclined position. The power supply device electrically connected to the illuminating unit and supported by the awning frame for transmitting electricity to the illuminating unit.

Claims

1. An outdoor umbrella, comprising:

an umbrella awning;

an umbrella supporting frame which comprises a main supporting stem;

a foldable awning frame which is supported by said main supporting stem and comprises a plurality of awning supporting arms outwardly extended from said umbrella supporting frame to support said umbrella awning in a foldable manner to define a shading zone thereunder;

an attachable lighting system comprising at least an illuminating arrangement which comprises;

at least an illuminating unit for illumination;

at least an illuminating unit supporter securely connected to said awning frame; and

at least an illuminating unit adaptor having an engagement member attached to said illuminating unit, wherein said illuminating unit adaptor is detachably attached to said illuminating unit supporter in such a manner that said illuminating unit connected to said illuminating unit adaptor is capable of maintaining a substantially vertical orientation when said awning frame is folding and unfolding or supported in an inclined position; and

a power supply device electrically connected to said illuminating unit and supported by said awning frame for transmitting an electricity to said illuminating unit.

2. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 1, wherein said illuminating unit supporter is detachably mounted to one of said awning supporting arms.

3. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 1, wherein said illuminating unit supporter is mounted on a lower housing of said awning frame.

4. The outdoor umbrellas, as recited in claim 3, wherein said foldable awning frame further comprises an upper housing where said awning supporting arms are spacedly and radially extended therefrom, a plurality of lower connecting bars each having a lower end pivotally connected to said lower housing and an upper end pivotally connected to a mid-position of said respective awning supporting arms so as to support said awning supporting arms in a pivotally movable manner that said awning frame is capable of folding between a folded position by moving said lower housing apart from said upper housing and an unfolded position by moving said lower housing towards said upper housing, wherein said illuminating unit supporter is attached to said lower housing of said awning frame.

5. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 2, wherein said illuminating unit supporter which has a guiding surface and said engagement member of said illuminating unit adaptor has an engaging surface arranged to slidably engage with said guiding surface of said illuminating unit supporter in such a manner that a weight of said illuminating unit maintains said illuminating unit to hang down from said illuminating unit supporter due to gravity, regardless of any inclined angle of said awning supporting arm.

6. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 3, wherein said illuminating unit supporter which has a guiding surface and said engagement member of said illuminating unit adaptor has an engaging surface arranged to slidably engage with said guiding surface of said illuminating unit supporter in such a manner that a weight of said illuminating unit maintains said illuminating unit to hang down from said illuminating unit supporter due to gravity, regardless of any inclined angle of said awning frame.

7. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 4, wherein said illuminating unit supporter which has a guiding surface and said engagement member of said illuminating unit adaptor has an engaging surface arranged to slidably engage with said guiding surface of said illuminating unit supporter in such a manner that a weight of said illuminating unit maintains said illuminating unit to hang down from said illuminating unit supporter due to gravity, regardless of any inclined angle of said awning frame.

8. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 1, wherein said illuminating unit supporter comprises a supporting holder slidably mounted on a predetermined position of one of said awning supporting arms, wherein said supporting holder has a connecting member provided at a bottom bar thereof through which a threaded connecting hole is formed, and a mounting member positioned between a bottom side of said awning supporting arm and said bottom bar of said supporting holder, wherein a mounting slot is defined between said mounting member and said connecting member.

9. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 2, wherein said illuminating unit supporter comprises a supporting holder slidably mounted on a predetermined position of one of said awning supporting arms, wherein said supporting holder has a connecting member provided at a bottom bar thereof through which a threaded connecting hole is formed, and a mounting member positioned between a bottom side of said awning supporting arm and said bottom bar of said supporting holder, wherein said guiding surface is formed at a bottom surface of said mounting member so as to define a mounting slot transversally extended between said guiding surface of said mounting member and said connecting member.

10. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 2, wherein said illuminating unit supporter is a shank body transversely extended therethrough, which has an enlarged head mounted on an outer side of one of said awning supporting arms and a connecting member protruded from an inner side of said awning supporting arm, wherein a mounting slot transversely penetrates through said connecting member.

11. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 2, wherein said illuminating unit supporter is a shank body transversely extended therethrough, which has an enlarged head mounted on an outer side of one of said awning supporting arms and a connecting member protruded from an inner side of said awning supporting arm, wherein a mounting slot transversely penetrates through said connecting member, wherein said guiding surface is formed at a top surface of said mounting slot.

12. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 3, wherein said illuminating unit supporter comprises a coupling device which comprises a coupling base attached to said lower housing and a connecting member which has a mounting slot transversally provided at an upper portion and a threaded lower portion.

13. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 8, wherein said engagement member of said illuminating unit adaptor has a circular shaped hook-like hanging arm attached to and upwardly extended from said illuminating unit, wherein said mounting slot has a size slightly larger than a cross section area of said engagement member and said illuminating unit adaptor is attached to said illuminating unit supporter by hooking said engagement member through said mounting slot.

14. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 9, wherein said engagement member of said illuminating unit adaptor has a circular shaped hook-like hanging arm attached to and upwardly extended from said illuminating unit, wherein said mounting slot has a size slightly larger than a cross section area of said engagement member and said illuminating unit adaptor is attached to said illuminating unit supporter by hooking said engagement member through said mounting slot, wherein said guiding surface is an arucate surface and said engagement member has an arcuate engaging surface formed thereon, wherein said engaging surface is shaped and sized to have a surface curvature matched with said surface curvature of guiding surface of said illuminating unit supporter.

15. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 10, wherein said engagement member of said illuminating unit adaptor has a circular shaped hook-like hanging arm attached to and upwardly extended from said illuminating unit, wherein said mounting slot has a size slightly larger than a cross section area of said engagement member and said illuminating unit adaptor is attached to said illuminating unit supporter by hooking said engagement member through said mounting slot.

16. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 11, wherein said engagement member of said illuminating unit adaptor has a circular shaped hook-like hanging arm attached to and upwardly extended from said illuminating unit, wherein said mounting slot has a size slightly larger than a cross section area of said engagement member and said illuminating unit adaptor is attached to said illuminating unit supporter by hooking said engagement member through said mounting slot, wherein a top surface of said mounting slot forms said guiding surface which is an arucate surface and said engagement member has an arcuate engaging surface formed thereon, wherein said engaging surface is shaped and sized to have a surface curvature matched with said surface curvature of guiding surface of said illuminating unit supporter.

17. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 12, wherein said engagement member of said illuminating unit adaptor has a circular shaped hook-like hanging arm attached to and upwardly extended from said illuminating unit, wherein said mounting slot has a size slightly larger than a cross section area of said engagement member and said illuminating unit adaptor is attached to said illuminating unit supporter by hooking said engagement member through said mounting slot.

18. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a locking means for locking said illuminating unit at a predetermined position with respect to said awning frame by securing said illuminating unit supporter with said illuminating unit adaptor.

19. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 2, further comprising a locking means for locking said illuminating unit at a predetermined position with respect to said awning frame by securing said illuminating unit supporter with said illuminating unit adaptor.

20. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 13, further comprising a locking means for locking said illuminating unit at a predetermined position with respect to said awning frame by pressing said engaging surface of said illuminating unit adaptor against said guiding surface of said illuminating unit supporter.

21. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 14, further comprising a locking means for locking said illuminating unit at a predetermined position with respect to said awning frame by pressing said engaging surface of said illuminating unit adaptor against said guiding surface of said illuminating unit supporter, wherein said locking means which comprises a connector which is a bolt screwed into said threaded connecting hole until a top biasing end thereof is pressed against said lower surface of said engagement member so as to press said engaging surface of said engagement member against said guiding surface to provide a friction therebetween and thus fasten said engagement member in position, thereby by unfastening said connector until said top biasing end is not contact with said engagement member, said engagement member is free to pivotally slide along said mounting slot to adjust a hanging position of said illuminating unit.

22. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 15, further comprising a locking means for locking said illuminating unit at a predetermined position with respect to said awning frame by pressing said engaging surface of said illuminating unit adaptor against said guiding surface of said illuminating unit supporter.

23. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 16, further comprising a locking means for locking said illuminating unit at a predetermined position with respect to said awning frame by pressing said engaging surface of said illuminating unit adaptor against said guiding surface of said illuminating unit supporter, wherein said locking means comprises a connector which is a bolt screwed into an axial threaded connecting hole, which is penetrated from a bottom end of said illuminating unit supporter and upwardly extended to said mounting slot, until a top biasing end of said connector is pressed against said lower surface of said engagement member so as to press said engaging surface against said guiding surface and said supporting surface to provide a friction therebetween and thus fasten said engagement member in position, thereby by unfastening said connector until said top biasing end is not contact with said engagement member, said engagement member is free to pivotally slide along said mounting slot to adjust a hanging position of said illuminating unit.

24. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 17, further comprising a locking means for locking said illuminating unit at a predetermined position with respect to said awning frame by pressing said engaging surface of said illuminating unit adaptor against said guiding surface of said illuminating unit supporter.

25. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 17, wherein said mounting slot is an arcuate through hole and said upper portion of said connecting member upwardly penetrates through a connecting hole provided at a bottom wall of said coupling base until said mounting slot is positioned inside said coupling base, wherein said locking means comprises a connector which is adapted to screw to said threaded lower portion of said connecting member so as to hold said engagement member in position, moreover by screwing said connector against said coupling base substantially pulls said engagement member down against said coupling base via said connecting member so as to fasten said engagement member at a predetermined position.

26. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 25, wherein an upper surface of said mounting slot forms a guiding surface adapted to direct said illuminating unit to move in a pivot manner, a surface curvature of said guiding surface is arranged to match with said shape and size of said engaging surface of said engagement member, wherein said guiding surface is in full contact with said engaging surface of said engagement member to maximize said supporting surface area for said engagement member with respect to said illuminating unit supporter.

27. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 17, wherein said coupling device further comprises a clamping means for detachably mounting said coupling base to said lower housing.

28. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 24, wherein said coupling device further comprises a clamping means for detachably mounting said coupling base to said lower housing.

29. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 25, wherein said coupling device further comprises a clamping means for detachably mounting said coupling base to said lower housing.

30. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 26, wherein said coupling device further comprises a clamping means for detachably mounting said coupling base to said lower housing.

31. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 27, wherein said clamping means comprises a plurality of resilient clamping members each having a coupling portion coupled with said coupling base and one clamping portion upwardly extended therefrom to define a clamping cavity between said clamping portions of said clamping members to receive said lower housing therein and a fastening device for fastening said clamping portions of said clamping members to said lower housing.

32. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 30, wherein said clamping means comprises a plurality of resilient clamping members each having a coupling portion coupled with said coupling base and one clamping portion upwardly extended therefrom to define a clamping cavity between said clamping portions of said clamping members to receive said lower housing therein and a fastening device for fastening said clamping portions of said clamping members to said lower housing.

33. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 31, wherein said fastening device comprises a control button and a fastening strap, wherein said control button comprises a receiving body and a presser slidably inserted thereto, wherein said receiving body has a through hole formed and said fastening strap is arranged to slidably insert into said through hole of said receiving body, wherein said control button further comprises a resilient element which is received in said receiving body and arranged to normally apply an urging force to said fastening strap in such a manner that when said presser is depressed, said fastening strap is capable of freely sliding, and when said depressing force is relieved, said presser is rebounded to its original position and said fastening strap is pressed by said resilient element, wherein said coupling device is mounted to said lower housing when a bottom portion of said lower housing in inserted in to said clamping cavity of said coupling device and said fastening strap is tightened around said clamping members by operating said control button.

34. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 32, wherein said fastening device comprises a control button and a fastening strap, wherein said control button comprises a receiving body and a presser slidably inserted thereto, wherein said receiving body has a through hole formed and said fastening strap is arranged to slidably insert into said through hole of said receiving body, wherein said control button further comprises a resilient element which is received in said receiving body and arranged to normally apply an urging force to said fastening strap in such a manner that when said presser is depressed, said fastening strap is capable of freely sliding, and when said depressing force is relieved, said presser is rebounded to its original position and said fastening strap is pressed by said resilient element, wherein said coupling device is mounted to said lower housing when a bottom portion of said lower housing in inserted in to said clamping cavity of said coupling device and said fastening strap is tightened around said clamping members by operating said control button.

35. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 3, wherein said illuminating arrangement comprises a ring-shaped lamp housing having a storage cavity provided therein, wherein the storage cavity has a C-shaped cross section and said illuminating unit is arranged to be securely mounted and received inside the storage cavity.

36. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 5, wherein said engagement member of said illuminating unit adaptor is in spherical shape, while said illuminating unit supporter has a C-shaped interior receiving cavity formed therein that forms said guiding surface in semi-spherical shape, wherein said illuminating unit supporter pivotally holds and suspends said illuminating unit adaptor so as to attach said illuminating unit to said illuminating unit supporter, wherein a portion of said engagement member of said illuminating unit adaptor is received inside said interior receiving cavity while said engaging surface is in contact with said guiding surface.

37. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 36, further comprising a locking means for locking said illuminating unit at a predetermined position with respect to said awning frame by securing said illuminating unit supporter with said illuminating unit adaptor by increasing a friction therebetween.

38. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 37, wherein said illuminating unit supporter is pre-divided into a pair of left half portion and right half portion and said locking means comprises a connector to secure said left and right half portions together, wherein by joining said left and right half portions together, said illuminating unit adaptor received in said illuminating unit supporter is detachably connected to said respective awning supporting arm.

39. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 6, wherein said engagement member of said illuminating unit adaptor is in spherical shape, while said illuminating unit supporter has a C-shaped interior receiving cavity formed therein that forms said guiding surface in semi-spherical shape, wherein said illuminating unit supporter pivotally holds and suspends said illuminating unit adaptor so as to attach said illuminating unit to said illuminating unit supporter, wherein a portion of said engagement member of said illuminating unit adaptor is received inside said interior receiving cavity while said engaging surface is in contact with said guiding surface.

40. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 39, further comprising a locking means for locking said illuminating unit at a predetermined position with respect to said awning frame by securing said illuminating unit supporter with said illuminating unit adaptor by increasing a friction therebetween.

41. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 40, wherein said illuminating unit supporter is pre-divided into a pair of left half portion and right half portion and said locking means comprises a connector to secure said left and right half portions together, wherein by joining said left and right half portions together, said illuminating unit adaptor received in said illuminating unit supporter is detachably connected to said respective awning supporting arm.

42. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 1, wherein said power supply device comprises at least one connecting plug extended from one of said illuminating units, at least a connecting socket which is securely mounted on said awning frame and arranged to be plugged by said connecting plug, and a power inlet which is connected to said connecting socket via at least an electrical cord for electrically connecting with an external power source so as to transmit electricity to said illuminating unit.

43. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 42, wherein said power supply device further comprises a cord holder for securely mounting said electrical cord to said awning frame.

44. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 43, wherein said cord holder comprises a ring-shaped holding body defining a cord-receiving cavity for receiving said electrical cord therethrough and a frame-holding cavity, which is communicated with said cord-receiving cavity, for receiving one of said awning supporting arms therethrough.

45. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 44, wherein said cord holder further comprises a securing member adapted to engage with said holding body for tightening up said cord holder and securely mounting said cord holder to said respective awning supporting arm.

46. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 45, wherein said securing member has two securing slots at two ends respectively, wherein a plurality of ratchet teeth are formed on two inner side of two parallel holding arms of said holding body for engaging through said two securing slots of said securing member respectively so as to tightening up said cord holder, wherein said electrical cord can be securely mounted onto said awning supporting arm by penetrating said electrical cord through said cord-receiving cavity, then putting said awning supporting arm into said frame-holding cavity, and finally engaging said securing member with said plurality of ratchet teeth on said holding body.

47. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 42, wherein said power supply device further comprises a cord holder and a socket holder for securely mounting said electrical cord and said connecting socket to said awning frame.

48. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 47, wherein said socket holder comprises a socket holder body defining a socket-receiving cavity for receiving said connecting socket and a frame-receiving cavity for receiving said awning supporting arm.

49. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 48, wherein said socket holder further comprises a tightening member adapted to engage with said socket holder body for tightening up said socket holder.

50. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 49, wherein said tightening member has two tightening slots at two ends thereof respectively, wherein a plurality of ratchet teeth are formed at two inner sides of two parallel holder arms for engaging through said two tightening slots of said tightening member respectively so as to tightening up said socket holder, wherein said connecting socket is able to be securely mounted onto said awning supporting arm by securing said connecting socket in said socket-receiving cavity, then penetrating said awning supporting arm through said frame-receiving cavity, and finally engaging said tightening member with socket holder body.

51. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 5, wherein said power supply device comprises at least one connecting plug extended from one of said illuminating units, at least a connecting socket which is securely mounted on said awning frame and arranged to be plugged by said connecting plug, and a power inlet which is connected to said connecting socket via at least an electrical cord for electrically connecting with an external power source so as to transmit electricity to said illuminating unit.

52. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 51, wherein said power supply device further comprises a cord holder for securely mounting said electrical cord to said awning frame.

53. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 52, wherein said cord holder comprises a ring-shaped holding body defining a cord-receiving cavity for receiving said electrical cord therethrough and a frame-holding cavity, which is communicated with said cord-receiving cavity, for receiving one of said awning supporting arms therethrough, wherein said cord holder further comprises a securing member adapted to engage with said holding body for tightening up said cord holder and securely mounting said cord holder to said respective awning supporting arm, wherein said securing member has two securing slots at two ends respectively, wherein a plurality of ratchet teeth are formed on two inner side of two parallel holding arms of said holding body for engaging through said two securing slots of said securing member respectively so as to tightening up said cord holder, wherein said electrical cord can be securely mounted onto said awning supporting arm by penetrating said electrical cord through said cord-receiving cavity, then putting said awning supporting arm into said frame-holding cavity, and finally engaging said securing member with said plurality of ratchet teeth on said holding body.

54. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 51, wherein said power supply device further comprises a cord holder and a socket holder for securely mounting said electrical cord and said connecting socket to said awning frame.

55. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 54, wherein said socket holder comprises a socket holder body defining a socket-receiving cavity for receiving said connecting socket and a frame-receiving cavity for receiving said awning supporting arm, wherein said socket holder further comprises a tightening member adapted to engage with said socket holder body for tightening up said socket holder, wherein said tightening member has two tightening slots at two ends thereof respectively, wherein a plurality of ratchet teeth are formed at two inner sides of two parallel holder arms for engaging through said two tightening slots of said tightening member respectively so as to tightening up said socket holder, wherein said connecting socket is able to be securely mounted onto said awning supporting arm by securing said connecting socket in said socket-receiving cavity, then penetrating said awning supporting arm through said frame-receiving cavity, and finally engaging said tightening member with socket holder body.

56. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 6, wherein said power supply device comprises at least one connecting plug extended from one of said illuminating units, at least a connecting socket which is securely mounted on said awning frame and arranged to be plugged by said connecting plug, and a power inlet which is connected to said connecting socket via at least an electrical cord for electrically connecting with an external power source so as to transmit electricity to said illuminating unit.

57. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 56, wherein said power supply device further comprises a cord holder for securely mounting said electrical cord to said awning frame.

58. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 57, wherein said cord holder comprises a ring-shaped holding body defining a cord-receiving cavity for receiving said electrical cord therethrough and a frame-holding cavity, which is communicated with said cord-receiving cavity, for receiving one of said awning supporting arms therethrough, wherein said cord holder further comprises a securing member adapted to engage with said holding body for tightening up said cord holder and securely mounting said cord holder to said respective awning supporting arm, wherein said securing member has two securing slots at two ends respectively, wherein a plurality of ratchet teeth are formed on two inner side of two parallel holding arms of said holding body for engaging through said two securing slots of said securing member respectively so as to tightening up said cord holder, wherein said electrical cord can be securely mounted onto said awning supporting arm by penetrating said electrical cord through said cord-receiving cavity, then putting said awning supporting arm into said frame-holding cavity, and finally engaging said securing member with said plurality of ratchet teeth on said holding body.

59. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 56, wherein said power supply device further comprises a cord holder and a socket holder for securely mounting said electrical cord and said connecting socket to said awning frame.

60. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 59, wherein said socket holder comprises a socket holder body defining a socket-receiving cavity for receiving said connecting socket and a frame-receiving cavity for receiving said awning supporting arm, wherein said socket holder further comprises a tightening member adapted to engage with said socket holder body for tightening up said socket holder, wherein said tightening member has two tightening slots at two ends thereof respectively, wherein a plurality of ratchet teeth are formed at two inner sides of two parallel holder arms for engaging through said two tightening slots of said tightening member respectively so as to tightening up said socket holder, wherein said connecting socket is able to be securely mounted onto said awning supporting arm by securing said connecting socket in said socket-receiving cavity, then penetrating said awning supporting arm through said frame-receiving cavity, and finally engaging said tightening member with socket holder body.