LED lighting system for patio umbrella

• US 7,125,133 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2003
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dayva International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Dayva International Incorporated, Superlite Technology Co.
• Inventors: Pan, Frank D., Federico, Michael, Bilotti, Alfred J., Riley, Derrick W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi, Ali
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sawhney, Hargobind S.
• Application Number:
  US10/713,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20040100791A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 362/102, 362/183, 362/212, 362/227, 362/431, 362/577, 362/800, 135/16, 135/66, 135/91
• US Class Current: 362/102
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 23/00 Other umbrellas
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 3/04 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A lighting system is provided for use with a patio umbrella or gazebo. The lighting system has a battery housing or power source, and at least one wire branch, with each wire branch releasably attached to a corresponding one of the ribs of the patio umbrella, or to a portion of a gazebo. A plurality of LED devices are spaced apart along each wire branch, and an interconnecting wire couples the battery housing or the power source to the wire branches.

Claims

1. An assembly, comprising:

a patio umbrella having a plurality of ribs, and a pole, the pole having a top end;

a lighting system having;

a power source;

a plurality of wire branches, each wire branch being separate from and releasably attached to one of the ribs;

an interconnecting wire that connects the plurality of wire branches, the interconnecting wire being separate from and removably attached to the top end of the pole;

a pole strap that removably attaches the interconnecting wire to the top end of the pole

a plurality of LED devices spaced apart along each wire branch;

wherein the LED device includes a PCB, a chip driver connected to the PCB, and an LED attached to the PCB; and

a wire that couples the power source to the wire branches.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further including a mounting bracket that is releasably mounted to the pole, with the power source being a battery retained in a battery housing that is removably mounted to the mounting bracket.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the battery housing has a pocket within which the mounting bracket is received.

4. The assembly of claim 1, further including means for securing the interconnecting wire to the pole of the umbrella.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the interconnecting wire forms a ring about the pole.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the interconnecting wire and the wire branches are formed as a single wire.

7. A lighting system that is used with a patio umbrella having a plurality of ribs, and a pole having a top end, the lighting system comprising:

a power source;

a plurality of wire branches, each wire branch being separate from and releasably attached to one of the ribs;

an interconnecting wire that connects the plurality of wire branches, the interconnecting wire being separate from and removably attached to the top end of the pole;

a pole strap that removably attaches the interconnecting wire to the top end of the pole

a plurality of LED devices spaced apart along each wire branch;

wherein the LED device includes a PCB, a chip driver connected to the PCB, and an LED attached to the PCB; and

a wire that couples the power source to the wire branches.

8. The system of claim 7, further including a mounting bracket that is releasably mounted to a pole of a patio umbrella, with the power source being a battery retained in a battery housing that is removably mounted to the mounting bracket.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the battery housing has a pocket within which the mounting bracket is received.

10. The system of claim 7, further including means for securing the interconnecting wire to the pole.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the interconnecting wire forms a ring about the pole.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the interconnecting wire and the wire branches are formed as a single wire.