Modular accessory

• US 9,030,829 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2012
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oliver Joen-An Ma
• Original Assignee: Oliver Joen-An Ma
• Inventors: Ma, Oliver Joen-an
• Primary Examiner(s): Edmonds, Lisa Lea
• Assistant Examiner(s): Morrison, Rashen E
• Application Number:
  US13/657,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20140111948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 361/729, 135/16, 135/28, 362/102
• US Class Current: 361/729
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2023/0037 the support arm being attached to the stick or to the crown, the canopy being suspended there below
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1009 combined with other objects
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1018 with illuminating devices, e.g. electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1027 with means for generating solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 23/00 Other umbrellas
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 3/00 Sticks combined with other objects
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 3/02 with illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 3/04 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0073 having specific features for mounting the housing on an external structure
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0086 portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus casings for switching devices H01H9/02
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/023 Stackable modules

Abstract

An accessory is provided that includes power supply module, a first functional module, and a second functional module. The power supply module can be configured to be suspended beneath an overhead support, such as a hub of an umbrella. The first functional module is configured to affix to the power supply module and to be powered by the power supply module to provide a user directed function. The second functional module is configured to be detachably coupled to either the power supply module or the first functional module to receive power from the power supply module directly or through the first functional module.

Claims

1. A modular accessory for mounting beneath a canopy of a cantilevered umbrella, the modular accessory comprising:

a connection hub comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, and a threaded protrusion projecting away from the lower portion, the upper portion of the connection hub being configured to connect to or forming a portion of a lower hub of a cantilevered umbrella;

a power supply module comprising a power supply housing having a lower side and an upper side, a threaded recess projecting from the upper side of the power supply housing toward the lower side of the power supply housing, and a socket located at the lower side of the power supply housing, the socket comprising one or more contacts to transfer power, the power supply housing enclosing a portable power supply or receiving power from an exterior source;

a plurality of functional modules, each functional module comprising a module housing having an upper side and a lower side, a socket located at the lower side of the module housing and having an electrical contact disposed therein, and a plug located at the upper side of the module housing; and

at least two arrangements wherein the connection hub, power supply module, and at least two functional modules form a unitary structure, wherein, in a first arrangement;

the threaded protrusion of the connection hub is positioned in the threaded recess of the power supply housing to detachably connect the power supply housing to the connection hub;

the plug of a first functional module housing is positioned in the socket of the power supply housing to detachably and directly connect the module housing of the first functional module to the power supply housing, the first functional module receiving power from the power supply module; and

the plug of a second functional module housing is positioned in the socket of the first functional module housing to detachably and directly connect the module housing of the second functional module to the module housing of the first functional module, the second functional module receiving power through the contact disposed in the socket of the first functional module housing, and

wherein, in a second arrangement;

the threaded protrusion of the connection hub is positioned in the threaded recess of the power supply housing to detachably connect the power supply housing to the connection hub;

the plug of the second functional module housing is positioned in the socket of the power supply housing to detachably and directly connect the module housing of the second functional module to the power supply housing, the second functional module receiving power from the power supply module; and

the plug of the first functional module housing is positioned in the socket of the second functional module housing to detachably and directly connect the module housing of the first functional module to the module housing of the second functional module, the first functional module receiving power through the contact disposed in the socket of the second functional module housing.

2. The accessory of claim 1 wherein the functional modules comprise a light module, a power module, and an audio module.

3. The accessory of claim 1, further comprising a cap having an upper side, a lower side and a plug, the plug located on the upper side of the cap, the plug of the cap being positionable into the socket of any of the functional module housings or the power supply housing to detachably connect the cap thereto.

4. The accessory of claim 3, wherein the cap is a domed light that receives power through a contact disposed in the socket of the housing detachably connected to the cap.

5. The accessory of claim 3 wherein any functional module can be interchangeable with any other functional module.

6. The accessory of claim 5 wherein the accessory can be extended by inserting an additional functional module between the cap and the power supply module.

7. The accessory of claim 3, wherein a functional module can be removed from the accessory to shorten the accessory, the remaining functional module(s) being connectable to one or both of the power module and the cap.

8. The accessory of claim 1 wherein the unitary structure comprises a columnar arrangement.

9. A modular accessory for a cantilevered umbrella, comprising:

a connection hub having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion of the connection hub being configured to affix to or forming a portion of a lower hub of a cantilevered umbrella to detachably connect the connection hub to the cantilevered umbrella;

a plurality of functional modules, each functional module comprising a housing having a width greater than a height, each functional module housing having an upper side and a lower side, the upper side configured to be detachably coupled with the connection hub or with the lower side of another functional module housing, each functional module housing being detachable from the other module housing or housings, and each module being electrically connectable to a component disposed between the module and the connection hub; and

at least two arrangements forming a columnar structure extending along a longitudinal axis, the at least two arrangements comprising at least the connection hub, a first functional module, and a second functional module,

wherein a first arrangement comprises the first functional module detachably connected to the second functional module, the lower side of the housing of the first functional module being adjacent the upper side of the housing of the second functional module, and

wherein a second arrangement comprises the second functional module detachably connected to the first functional module, the lower side of the housing of the second functional module being adjacent the upper side of the housing of the first functional module.

10. The accessory of claim 9, further comprising a power supply module comprising a housing having a lower side and an upper side, the upper side of the power supply housing being configured to affix to the connection hub to detachably connect the power supply module to the connection hub.

11. The accessory of claim 9, further comprising a domed light cap having an upper side and a lower side, the upper side being configured to affix to the lower side of any functional module housing or the connection hub to detachably connect the domed light cap to any functional module or the connection hub.

12. The accessory of claim 11 wherein the upper side of either the domed light cap or any functional module housing comprises an insertable connector integrally formed or rigidly attached thereto and the lower side of the power supply housing or any functional module housing comprises a socket integrally formed or rigidly attached thereto configured to receive any of the insertable connectors.

13. The accessory of claim 10 wherein at least one functional module is configured to receive power from either the power supply module or another functional module and is further configured to transfer power to another functional module.

23. The modular accessory of claim 9, wherein the columnar structure comprises at least two functional modules having a same outside diameter.

14. An accessory for a shade structure, comprising:

a power supply module configured to be suspended beneath a component of a shade structure;

a first functional module and a second functional module each comprising a power transfer support integrally formed or rigidly attached to the functional module, the power transfer support comprising at least two tabs radially extending from a central body, the tabs each comprising an electrical connector, the first functional module configured to affix to either the power supply module or the second functional module and to receive power through the electrical connectors of the tabs from the power supply module directly or through the second functional module,

the second functional module configured to be detachably coupled to either the power supply module or the first functional module to receive power through the electrical connectors of the tabs from the power supply module directly or through the first functional module; and

at least two arrangements forming a unit comprising at least the power supply module, the first functional module, and the second functional module,

wherein a first arrangement comprises the first functional module affixed to the power supply module and the second functional module affixed to the first functional module, wherein the power transfer support of the first functional module supports a weight of both the first functional module and the second functional module, and

wherein a second arrangement comprises the second functional module affixed to the power supply module and the first functional module affixed to the second functional module, wherein the power transfer support of the second functional module supports a weight of both the second functional module and the first functional module.

15. The accessory of claim 14, further comprising an umbrella hub or runner having a mounting structure configured to connect to the power supply module.

16. The accessory of claim 15, further comprising a cap having an upper side and a lower side, the upper side being configured to affix to a lower side of any functional module or the mounting structure to detachably connect the cap to any functional module or the power supply module.

17. The accessory of claim 14, wherein the first functional module comprises a light hub having a plurality of light sockets disposed about a periphery thereof and the second functional module comprises an audio module.

18. The accessory of claim 14, wherein the power transfer supports can be inserted into a mating socket of the power supply module or a functional module in at least two configurations comprising a first configuration in which substantially no load can be supported and a second configuration in which the power transfer support supports at least the weight of all of the modules of the accessory disposed below the power transfer support, wherein selecting a configuration comprises rotating the power transfer support within the mating.

19. The accessory of claim 18, wherein the power transfer support of at least one of the functional modules is disposed on an upper side thereof and the mating socket of at least one of the functional modules and the power supply module is disposed on a lower side thereof, the socket having a laterally extending region.

20. The accessory of claim 19, wherein the second configuration is provided by rotating the tabs of the power transfer support in a space within the mating socket such that the tabs are moved from the laterally extending region to a location above a support member of the socket.

21. The accessory of claim 18, wherein the first configuration is provided by moving an upper surface of one of the functional modules upward relative to another functional module or upward relative to the power supply module and the second configuration is provided by rotating the upwardly-moved functional module relative to the other functional module or the power supply module.

22. The accessory of claim 14, wherein the accessory has a generally constant lateral dimension at least at the boundary between the first and second functional modules and between the power supply module and one of the functional modules.

24. The accessory of claim 18, wherein the electrical connectors of the tabs are positioned at a side of the tabs, such that rotating the power transfer support into the second configuration closes an electrical connection between the electrical connectors of the tabs and mating electrical connectors of the mating socket.