Illuminated umbrella assembly having self-contained and replacable lighting

• US 6,837,255 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2002
• Issued: 01/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Colette M. Bunch, Shaheen T. Shaheen
• Original Assignee: Colette M. Bunch, Shaheen T. Shaheen
• Inventors: Bunch, Colette M., Shaheen, Shaheen T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Application Number:
  US10/219,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20040031513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 135/910, 135/16, 362/102, 362/253, 362/240, 362/237
• US Class Current: 135/16
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1027 with means for generating solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 3/04 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/2238 to be placed on the ground Christmas tree stands A47G33/12
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 135/91 Illuminated cane or umbrella

Abstract

An illuminated umbrella assembly having self-contained and protected lights is described. The illuminated umbrella assembly comprises (i) a lower vertical support pole having a first end for engagement to a generally horizontal surface and a second end extending upwardly there from; (ii) an upper vertical support pole having a first end coupled to the second end of the lower vertical support pole and a second end extending upwardly there from; (iii) a plurality of umbrella support bars extending from the second end of the upper vertical support pole; (iv) an umbrella panel overlaying and coupled to the plurality of umbrella support bars; (v) a hinged column coupled coaxially around and selectively movable along the upper vertical support pole; (vi) a plurality of hollowed, elongated and non-opaque support rails, each having a first end coupled to the hinged column and a second end coupled to one of the plurality of umbrella support bars; (vii) a plurality of light strands positioned internally within and extending substantially along the length of the plurality of hollowed, elongated and non-opaque support rails, each of the plurality of light strands having one of a plurality of plugs on one end thereof; (viii) a battery sleeve containing a series of rechargeable DC batteries wherein the battery sleeve is contained coaxially within the lower vertical support pole and is electrically wired to provide power to the light strands by including outlets to engage with said plugs; (ix) a solar panel overlaying at least a portion of the umbrella panel and electrically wired to provide power to the light strands through the outlets; and (x) a plurality of coupling hinges for individually attaching the second ends of the support rails to the plurality of umbrella support bars. A power switch is often provided to control the illumination of the light strands.

Claims

1. An illuminated umbrella assembly comprising:

a vertical support pole;

a plurality of umbrella support bars extending from the top of said vertical support pole;

an umbrella panel overlaying and coupled to said plurality of umbrella support bars;

a hinged column coupled coaxially around and selectively movable along said vertical support pole;

a plurality of hollowed, elongated and non-opaque support rails, each having a first end coupled to said hinged column and a second end coupled to one of said plurality of umbrella support bars;

replaceable lighting encased wholly within at least one of said plurality of hollowed, elongated and non-opaque support rails; and

a power supply for illuminating said replaceable lighting.

2. The illuminated umbrella assembly of claim 1 further comprising a power switch to control the illumination of said replaceable lighting.

3. The illuminated umbrella assembly of claim 1 further comprising a crank on said vertical support pole for selectively moving said hinged column, thereby opening or closing said umbrella assembly.

4. The illuminated umbrella assembly of claim 1 wherein said power supply includes a solar panel overlaying at least a portion said umbrella panel.

5. The illuminated umbrella assembly of claim 1 wherein said power supply includes a battery sleeve for containing a series of DC batteries wherein said battery sleeve is contained coaxially within said vertical support pole.

6. The illuminated umbrella assembly of claim 1 wherein said vertical support pole comprises a lower vertical support pole and a upper vertical support pole.

7. The illuminated umbrella assembly of claim 1 comprising a plurality of coupling hinges for selectively attaching the second end of each hollowed, elongated and non-opaque support rail to one of said plurality of umbrella support bars.

8. The illuminated umbrella assembly of claim 7 wherein said replaceable lighting is a strand of bulbs having a plug on one end of said strand.

9. The illuminated umbrella assembly of claim 8 further comprising electrical wiring having a first end coupled to said power supply, extending through at least one of said plurality of umbrella support bars to a position near one of said plurality of coupling hinges, and having a second end comprising a socket for electrical engagement with said plug.

10. The illuminated umbrella assembly of claim 9 further comprising a flexible and removable light strand insertion rod for extending said strand of bulbs along the length a said support rail.

11. The illuminated umbrella assembly of claim 1 further comprising an umbrella support stand coupled to said vertical support pole for enabling said illuminated umbrella assembly to be free-standing.

12. The illuminated umbrella assembly of claim 11 wherein said power supply includes a battery contained within said umbrella support stand.

13. An illuminated umbrella assembly comprising:

a lower vertical support pole having a first end for engagement to a generally horizontal surface and a second end extending upwardly therefrom;

an upper vertical support pole having a first end coupled to said second end of said lower vertical support pole and a second end extending upwardly therefrom;

a plurality of umbrella support bars extending from said second end of said upper vertical support pole;

an umbrella panel overlaying and coupled to said plurality of umbrella support bars;

a hinged column coupled coaxially around and selectively movable along said upper vertical support pole;

a plurality of hollowed, elongated and non-opaque support rails, each having a first end coupled to said hinged column and a second end coupled to one of said plurality of umbrella support bars;

a plurality of light strands encased wholly within and extending substantially along the length of said plurality of hollowed, elongated and non-opaque support rails, each of said plurality of light strands having one of a plurality of plugs on one end thereof;

a battery sleeve containing a series of rechargeable DC batteries wherein said battery sleeve is contained coaxially within said lower vertical support pole and is electrically wired to provide power to said light strands by including outlets to engage with said plugs;

a solar panel overlaying at least a portion of said umbrella panel and electrically wired to provide power to said light strands through said outlets; and

a plurality of coupling hinges for individually attaching said second ends of said support rails to said plurality of umbrella support bars.

14. The illuminated umbrella assembly of claim 13 further comprising a power switch to control the illumination of said plurality of light strands.

15. The illuminated umbrella assembly of claim 13 further comprising a crank on said lower vertical support pole for selectively moving said hinged column, thereby opening or closing said umbrella assembly.

16. The illuminated umbrella assembly of claim 13 wherein said solar panel is further electrically coupled to said battery sleeve for recharging said batteries.

17. The illuminated umbrella assembly of claim 13 further comprising a flexible and removable light strand insertion rod for extending said light strands along the lengths of said plurality of support rails.

18. The illuminated umbrella assembly of claim 13 further comprising an umbrella support stand coupled to said first end of said lower vertical support pole for enabling said illuminated umbrella assembly to be free-standing.

19. The illuminated umbrella assembly of claim 18 wherein said umbrella support stand further houses a battery electrically wired to provide power to said light strands through said outlets.

20. The illuminated umbrella assembly of claim 19 wherein said solar panel is further electronically coupled to said battery housed within said umbrella support stand for recharging said battery.