Sunshades with solar power supplies for charging electronic devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device comprising:
- a shaft;
an umbrella shade, coupled between a fastener and the shaft;
a frame structure comprising;
a cap, coupled between the fastener and the umbrella shade, comprising a cap opening and at least a first hinge portion and a second hinge portion, wherein the fastener couples to a bolt of the shaft that passes through the cap opening;
a rigid first strut, comprising first and second ends, a third hinge portion at the first end, and between the first and second ends is a first sleeve that houses at least a first solar panel, wherein the first sleeve comprises a first clear surface that is above the first solar panel such that light can pass through the first clear surface to be collected by the first solar panel for conversion into electrical energy, and the third hinge portion is adapted to mate with the first hinge portion of the cap to form a first strut hinge; and
a rigid second strut, comprising third and fourth ends, a fourth hinge portion at third end, and between the third and fourth ends is a second sleeve that holds at least a second solar panel, wherein the second sleeve comprises a second clear surface that is above the second solar panel such that light can pass through the second clear surface to be collected by the second solar panel for conversion into electrical energy, and the fourth hinge portion is adapted to mate with the second hinge portion of the cap to form a second strut hinge,the umbrella comprises an open position during which the umbrella shade is extended into a position away from the shaft and a closed position during which the umbrella shade is folded into a position closer to the shaft,when changing the umbrella from the closed to the open position, the umbrella shade pushes against a bottom of the struts while the umbrella shade is extended, causing the struts to rotate via the first and second strut hinges in a first turn direction, so that an angle between a top of the first strut and a top of the cap increases from a first angle in the closed position to a second angle in the open position, and the second angle is greater than the first angle, andwhen changing the umbrella from the open to the closed position, the bottom of the struts rest against the umbrella shade while the umbrella is folded, causing the struts to rotate via the first and second strut hinges in a second turn direction, so that the angle between the top of the first strut and the top of the cap decreases from the second angle to the first angle, and the second turn direction is opposite of the first turn direction;
a rechargeable battery configured to be recharged by the first and second solar panels; and
a charging terminal, coupled to the rechargeable battery, configured to connect to a portable electronic device and supply charge from the rechargeable battery to the portable electronic device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for providing electrical power from light for charging a portable electronic device includes a frame structure, a shade attached to the frame structure, and a solar panel attached to the frame structure and positioned above the shade. The device includes a rechargeable battery configured to be recharged by the solar panel, and a charging terminal configured to connect to the portable electronic device and supply charge from the rechargeable battery to the portable electronic device.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a shaft; an umbrella shade, coupled between a fastener and the shaft; a frame structure comprising; a cap, coupled between the fastener and the umbrella shade, comprising a cap opening and at least a first hinge portion and a second hinge portion, wherein the fastener couples to a bolt of the shaft that passes through the cap opening; a rigid first strut, comprising first and second ends, a third hinge portion at the first end, and between the first and second ends is a first sleeve that houses at least a first solar panel, wherein the first sleeve comprises a first clear surface that is above the first solar panel such that light can pass through the first clear surface to be collected by the first solar panel for conversion into electrical energy, and the third hinge portion is adapted to mate with the first hinge portion of the cap to form a first strut hinge; and a rigid second strut, comprising third and fourth ends, a fourth hinge portion at third end, and between the third and fourth ends is a second sleeve that holds at least a second solar panel, wherein the second sleeve comprises a second clear surface that is above the second solar panel such that light can pass through the second clear surface to be collected by the second solar panel for conversion into electrical energy, and the fourth hinge portion is adapted to mate with the second hinge portion of the cap to form a second strut hinge, the umbrella comprises an open position during which the umbrella shade is extended into a position away from the shaft and a closed position during which the umbrella shade is folded into a position closer to the shaft, when changing the umbrella from the closed to the open position, the umbrella shade pushes against a bottom of the struts while the umbrella shade is extended, causing the struts to rotate via the first and second strut hinges in a first turn direction, so that an angle between a top of the first strut and a top of the cap increases from a first angle in the closed position to a second angle in the open position, and the second angle is greater than the first angle, and when changing the umbrella from the open to the closed position, the bottom of the struts rest against the umbrella shade while the umbrella is folded, causing the struts to rotate via the first and second strut hinges in a second turn direction, so that the angle between the top of the first strut and the top of the cap decreases from the second angle to the first angle, and the second turn direction is opposite of the first turn direction; a rechargeable battery configured to be recharged by the first and second solar panels; and a charging terminal, coupled to the rechargeable battery, configured to connect to a portable electronic device and supply charge from the rechargeable battery to the portable electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An umbrella comprising:
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an umbrella shaft; an umbrella shade, coupled between a fastener and the shaft; a frame structure comprising; a cap, coupled between the fastener and the umbrella shade, comprising a cap opening and at least a first hinge portion and a second hinge portion, wherein the fastener couples to a bolt of the shaft that passes through the cap opening; a rigid first strut, comprising first and second ends, a third hinge portion at the first end, and between the first and second ends is a first sleeve that houses at least a first and a second solar panel, wherein the first sleeve comprises a first clear surface that is above the first and second solar panels such that light can pass through the first clear surface to be collected by the first and second solar panels for conversion into electrical energy, and the third hinge portion is adapted to mate with the first hinge portion of the cap to form a first strut hinge; and a rigid second strut, comprising third and fourth ends, a fourth hinge portion at third end, and between the third and fourth ends is a second sleeve that holds at least a third and a fourth solar panel, wherein the second sleeve comprises a second clear surface that is above the third and fourth solar panels such that light can pass through the second clear surface to be collected by the first solar panel for conversion into electrical energy, and the fourth hinge portion is adapted to mate with the second hinge portion of the cap to form a second strut hinge, the umbrella comprises an open position during which the umbrella shade is extended into a position away from the shaft and a closed position during which the umbrella shade is folded into a position closer to the shaft, when changing the umbrella from the closed to the open position, the umbrella shade pushes against a bottom of the struts while the umbrella shade is extended, causing the struts to rotate via the first and second strut hinges in a first turn direction, so that an angle between a top of the first strut and a top of the cap increases from a first angle in the closed position to a second angle in the open position, and the second angle is greater than the first angle, and when changing the umbrella from the open to the closed position, the bottom of the struts rest against the umbrella shade while the umbrella is folded, causing the struts to rotate via the first and second strut hinges in a second turn direction, so that the angle between the top of the first strut and the top of the cap decreases from the second angle to the first angle, and the second turn direction is opposite of the first turn direction; a rechargeable battery, configured to be recharged by the solar panels; a first USB charging terminal, coupled to the rechargeable battery, configured to connect to a first portable electronic device and supply charge from the rechargeable battery to the first portable electronic device; a second USB charging terminal, coupled to the rechargeable battery, configured to connect to a second portable electronic device and supply charge from the rechargeable battery to the second portable electronic device; and a printed circuit board, coupled to the rechargeable battery and the charging terminal, wherein the printed circuit board comprises an aperture through which the shaft passes through, thus securing the printed circuit board to the umbrella, and the printed circuit board comprises; a first DC-to-DC converter circuit, coupled between the rechargeable battery and the first and second charging terminals, wherein the first DC-to-DC converter circuit comprises an input to receive a first voltage level from to the rechargeable battery and an output to provide a second voltage level to the first and second charging terminals, and the second voltage level is above the first voltage level; and a solar cell battery charging block comprising a second DC-to-DC converter circuit, coupled between the solar panels and the rechargeable battery, wherein the first and second USB charging terminals are not directly coupled to the solar panels. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. An umbrella comprising:
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an umbrella shaft; an umbrella shade, coupled between a fastener and the shaft; a frame structure comprising; a cap, coupled between the fastener and the umbrella shade, comprising a cap opening and at least a first hinge portion and a second hinge portion, wherein the fastener couples to a bolt of the shaft that passes through the cap opening; a first strut, comprising first and second ends, a third hinge portion at the first end, and between the first and second ends is a first sleeve that houses at least a first and a second solar panel, wherein the first sleeve comprises a first clear surface that is above the first and second solar panels such that light can pass through the first clear surface to be collected by the first and second solar panels for conversion into electrical energy, and the third hinge portion is adapted to mate with the first hinge portion of the cap to form a first strut hinge; and a second strut, comprising third and fourth ends, a fourth hinge portion at third end, and between the third and fourth ends is a second sleeve that holds at least a third and a fourth solar panel, wherein the second sleeve comprises a second clear surface that is above the third and fourth solar panels such that light can pass through the second clear surface to be collected by the first solar panel for conversion into electrical energy, and the fourth hinge portion is adapted to mate with the second hinge portion of the cap to form a second strut hinge, the umbrella comprises an open position during which the umbrella shade is extended into a position away from the shaft and a closed position during which the umbrella shade is folded into a position closer to the shaft, when changing the umbrella from the closed to the open position, the umbrella shade pushes against a bottom of the struts while the umbrella shade is extended, causing the struts to rotate via the first and second strut hinges in a first turn direction, so that an angle between a top of the first strut and a top of the cap increases from a first angle in the closed position to a second angle in the open position, and the second angle is greater than the first angle, and when changing the umbrella from the open to the closed position, the bottom of the struts rest against the umbrella shade while the umbrella is folded, causing the struts to rotate via the first and second strut hinges in a second turn direction, so that the angle between the top of the first strut and the top of the cap decreases from the second angle to the first angle, and the second turn direction is opposite of the first turn direction; a rechargeable battery, configured to be recharged by the solar panels; a first USB charging terminal, coupled to the rechargeable battery, configured to connect to a first portable electronic device and supply charge from the rechargeable battery to the first portable electronic device; a second USB charging terminal, coupled to the rechargeable battery, configured to connect to a second portable electronic device and supply charge from the rechargeable battery to the second portable electronic device; a third USB charging terminal, coupled to the rechargeable battery, configured to connect to a third portable electronic device and supply charge from the rechargeable battery to the third portable electronic device; and a printed circuit board, coupled to the rechargeable battery and the charging terminal, wherein the printed circuit board comprises an aperture through which the shaft passes through, thus securing the printed circuit board to the umbrella, and the printed circuit board comprises; a first DC-to-DC converter circuit, coupled between the rechargeable battery and the charging terminals, wherein the first DC-to-DC converter circuit comprises an input to receive a first voltage level from to the rechargeable battery and an output to provide a second voltage level to the charging terminals, and the second voltage level is above the first voltage level; an analog-to-digital converter circuit, coupled to the rechargeable battery; and a battery gauge circuit, coupled to the analog-to-digital converter circuit, wherein the battery gauge circuit comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), and the battery gauge circuit causes one or more of the LEDs to illuminate to indicate an amount of charge remaining in the rechargeable battery, and a greater number of LEDs that are illuminated indicates a greater amount of charge remaining in the rechargeable battery. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification