Audio system for outdoor umbrella

• US 8,393,341 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2008
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oliver Joen-An Ma
• Original Assignee: Oliver Joen-An Ma
• Inventors: Li, Wanda Ying
• Primary Examiner(s): Hawk, Noah Chandler
• Application Number:
  US12/313,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20090071516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,569 Days
• Field of Search: 135/16
• 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 2023/005 the support arm being attached to a rib or being formed by a rib
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1009 combined with other objects
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1027 with means for generating solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 3/00 Sticks combined with other objects
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 3/04 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/34 Supporting elements displaceable along a guiding element telescopic mounting of lighting devices F21V21/22
• 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: F21W 2131/10 Outdoor lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/026 Supports for loudspeaker casings

Abstract

An outdoor umbrella includes an umbrella frame and an audio system. The umbrella includes a supporting frame and an awning frame supported by the supporting frame to define a shadowing area under the awning frame. The audio system includes at least a speaker unit supported by the umbrella frame and an audio input operatively linked to the speaker unit such that when the audio input sends an audio signal to the speaker unit, the speaker unit is adapted for producing audio effect within the shadowing area as an additional function for the outdoor umbrella.

Claims

1. An outdoor umbrella, comprising:

an umbrella frame which comprises a supporting frame and an awning frame supported by said supporting frame to define a shadowing area under said awning frame, wherein said awning frame comprises a plurality of awning arms radially extending in a pivotally movable manner and are moved between an unfolded position to define said shadowing area and a folded position; and

an audio system, which comprises a plurality of speaker units supported by said umbrella frame without interfering a folding operation of said umbrella frame, and an audio input operatively linked to said speaker units such that when said audio input sends an audio signal to said speaker units, said speaker units are adapted for producing audio effect within said shadowing area as an additional function for said outdoor umbrella when said awning frame is moved at said unfolded position; and

means for detachably attaching said speaker units to said umbrella frame, wherein said attaching means, which is an audio support, comprises a central hub having a central sliding through slot for a supporting shaft of said supporting frame and a plurality of supporting arms spacedly and radially extended from said central hub to support said speaker unit, wherein said central hub comprises a boundary sleeve having an arc-shape and a boundary cover interlocked with said boundary sleeve to form said central sliding through slot within inner walls of said boundary sleeve and said boundary cover, and a locking member having a locking end rotatably penetrated through said boundary cover to bias against said supporting shaft so as to lock up said central hub at said supporting shaft in position, wherein said speaker units are suspendedly supported at distal ends of said supporting arms respectively.

2. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 1, wherein said attaching means further comprises a first securing member detachably attached to said inner wall of said boundary sleeve to bias against said supporting shaft and a second securing member attached to said locking end of said locking member at said inner wall of said boundary cover, wherein said second securing member is driven by said locking member to adjust a size of said central sliding through slot for fittingly biasing against said supporting shaft such that said supporting shaft is securely clamped between said first and second securing members.

3. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 2, wherein said attaching means further comprises a plurality of coupling joints for coupling said speaker units with said supporting arms respectively, wherein each of said coupling joints has a ball slot formed at said distal end of said respective supporting arm and comprises a spherical head which is formed on top of said respective speaker unit and is arranged to engage with said respective ball slot in a rotatably movable manner, such that said speaker units are self-rotated while being suspendedly supported by said supporting arms.

4. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 3, wherein said audio input comprises an auxiliary input provided at said umbrella frame for communicatively connecting to a portable music player to receive said audio signal therefrom, such that said audio signal is transmitted to said speaker unit for music broadcasting.

5. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 2, further comprising a solar system which comprises a solar energy collector coupled to said umbrella frame at a position above said shadowing area, and a power source unit electrically connecting said solar energy collector for storing electrical power being converted from a solar energy, wherein said speaker unit is electrically powered by said power source unit.

6. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 3, further comprising a solar system which comprises a solar energy collector coupled to said umbrella frame at a position above said shadowing area, and a power source unit electrically connecting said solar energy collector for storing electrical power being converted from a solar energy, wherein said speaker unit is electrically powered by said power source unit.

7. The outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 4, further comprising a solar system which comprises a solar energy collector coupled to said umbrella frame at a position above said shadowing area, and a power source unit electrically connecting said solar energy collector for storing electrical power being converted from a solar energy, wherein said speaker unit is electrically powered by said power source unit.