High capacity solar charging umbrella
First Claim
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1. A kit for an umbrella comprising a shaft and umbrella shade, the umbrella shade being coupled between a fastener and the shaft, the kit 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 holds a first solar panel, wherein the third hinge portion is adapted to mate with the first hinge portion of the cap to form a first strut hinge;
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 a second solar panel, wherein 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 battery housing comprising a battery housing hole through which the shaft of the umbrella is passed through, wherein the battery housing houses a rechargeable battery, battery charging circuit, voltage converter circuit, and first, second, and third USB charging ports;
a first spring-loaded retractable cover, coupled to the battery housing, covering the first USB charging port;
a second spring-loaded retractable cover, coupled to the battery housing, covering the second USB charging port; and
a third spring-loaded retractable cover, coupled to the battery housing, covering the third USB charging port.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A solar charging umbrella uses solar power to charge electronic devices. The umbrella is self-sustained, capable of charging electronic devices in locations away from electrical outlets. The umbrella has a rechargeable battery that is recharged by sunlight. When charged, the umbrella'"'"'s battery can charge devices when sunlight is not available. The umbrella supports simultaneous charging of high power devices such as tablet computers.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A kit for an umbrella comprising a shaft and umbrella shade, the umbrella shade being coupled between a fastener and the shaft, the kit comprising:
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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 holds a first solar panel, wherein the third hinge portion is adapted to mate with the first hinge portion of the cap to form a first strut hinge; 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 a second solar panel, wherein 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 battery housing comprising a battery housing hole through which the shaft of the umbrella is passed through, wherein the battery housing houses a rechargeable battery, battery charging circuit, voltage converter circuit, and first, second, and third USB charging ports; a first spring-loaded retractable cover, coupled to the battery housing, covering the first USB charging port; a second spring-loaded retractable cover, coupled to the battery housing, covering the second USB charging port; and a third spring-loaded retractable cover, coupled to the battery housing, covering the third USB charging port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A kit for an umbrella comprising a shaft and umbrella shade, the umbrella shade being coupled between a fastener and the shaft, the kit comprising:
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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 holds a first solar panel, wherein the third hinge portion is adapted to mate with the first hinge portion of the cap to form a first strut hinge; 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 a second solar panel, wherein 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; a battery charging circuit, coupled to the rechargeable battery; a plurality of electrical wires, coupling the first and second solar panels in parallel to the battery charging circuit, wherein the battery charging circuit can charge the rechargeable battery using solar power received from the first and second solar panels; and a first printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a PCB hole through which the shaft of the umbrella passes through, wherein the battery charging circuit and a voltage converter circuit are formed on the printed circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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providing a kit for an umbrella comprising a shaft and umbrella shade, wherein the umbrella shade will be coupled between a fastener and the shaft; providing a cap to be coupled between the fastener and the umbrella shade, the cap 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; providing 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 holds a first solar panel, wherein the third hinge portion is adapted to mate with the first hinge portion of the cap to form a first strut hinge; providing 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 a second solar panel, wherein 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, providing a battery housing comprising a battery housing hole through which the shaft of the umbrella passes through, wherein the battery housing houses a rechargeable battery, battery charging circuit, voltage converter circuit, and first, second, and third USB charging ports; providing a first spring-loaded retractable cover, coupled to the battery housing, covering the first USB charging port; providing a second spring-loaded retractable cover, coupled to the battery housing, covering the second USB charging port; and providing a third spring-loaded retractable cover, coupled to the battery housing, covering the third USB charging port. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method comprising:
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providing a kit for an umbrella comprising a shaft and umbrella shade, wherein the umbrella shade will be coupled between a fastener and the shaft; providing a cap to be coupled between the fastener and the umbrella shade, the cap 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; providing 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 holds a first solar panel, wherein the third hinge portion is adapted to mate with the first hinge portion of the cap to form a first strut hinge; providing 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 a second solar panel, wherein 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; providing a rechargeable battery; providing a battery charging circuit, coupled to the rechargeable battery; providing a plurality of electrical wires, coupling the first and second solar panels in parallel to the battery charging circuit, wherein the battery charging circuit can charge the rechargeable battery using solar power received from the first and second solar panels; and providing a first printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a PCB hole through which the shaft of the umbrella passes through, wherein the battery charging circuit and a voltage converter circuit are formed on the printed circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification