Umbrella opening and closing system

• US 9,713,368 B1
• Filed: 05/20/2014
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LakeSouth Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: LakeSouth Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Kuelbs, Gregory G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hawk, Noah Chandler
• Application Number:
  US14/282,678
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• Field of Search: 135 16, 135 203, 362102
• 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 2200/1018 with illuminating devices, e.g. electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1027 with means for generating solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1036 with means for promoting air movement, e.g. ventilation holes, fans, ventilators, special shape for ventilation, suction means
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1045 with a misting device having at least one nozzle for spraying a fluid, e.g. water
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/00 Details of umbrellas sticks for umbrellas A45B1/00 - A45B9/00; illuminating devices for umbrellas A45B3/02; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/14 Devices for opening and for closing umbrellas
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/143 automatic
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 3/00 Sticks combined with other objects
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 3/04 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/03 rechargeable by exposure to light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0004 Personal or domestic articles
• 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: F21V 33/0096 Fans, e.g. ceiling fans forced cooling of lighting devices characterised by the arrangement of fans F21V29/67
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/10 Outdoor lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/00 Air-conditioning systems or apparatus not covered by F24F1/00 or F24F3/00 , e.g. using solar heat or combined with household units such as an oven or water heater
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0035 using evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0046 using natural energy, e.g. solar energy, energy from the ground
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/272 Solar heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 : Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 : in street lighting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/54 : Free-cooling systems

Abstract

An umbrella apparatus having a canopy portion hingedly coupled to a pole portion. The umbrellas apparatus includes a rechargeable electrical power system that provides electrical power to an electromechanical opening and closing system and a light assembly and an entertainment system. A solar energy system is conductively coupled to the rechargeable electrical power system and is utilized to collect and convert solar energy to electrical energy for recharging the electrical power system. The entertainment system features a USB port and allows users to stream music and control the color of the light assembly.

Claims

1. An umbrella apparatus comprising:

a pole portion;

a canopy portion hingedly coupled to the pole portion;

a power module carried by the pole portion above the canopy portion, the power module having an upper portion and a lower portion;

a rechargeable electrical power system for providing electrical power to the umbrella apparatus;

a solar energy system carried by the upper portion of the power module, the solar energy system being adapted to collect solar energy and convert the solar energy into electrical energy, the solar energy system being conductively coupled to the rechargeable electrical power system, such that the solar energy collected and converted into electrical energy recharges the rechargeable electrical power system;

a crank housing;

an electromechanical opening and closing system for opening and closing the canopy portion, the electromechanical opening and closing system being conductively coupled to and powered by the rechargeable electrical power system, the rechargeable electrical power system having;

an electric motor carried by the pole portion, the electric motor located in the crank housing;

a gear system coupled to the electric motor;

a hand crank coupled to the gear system for manual operation of the opening and closing system; and

a cable and pulley system coupled to the gear system and the canopy portion;

a slide hub sliding coupled to the pole portion and hingedly coupled to the canopy portion, the slide hub having;

a lower limit switch located on a lower portion of the slide hub; and

an upper limit switch located on an upper portion of the slide hub;

a first plunger coupled to the lower limit switch; and

a second plunger coupled to the upper limit switch;

wherein both the first plunger and the second plunger are coupled between the upper portion of the slide hub and the canopy portion;

a lighting system carried by the canopy portion, the lighting system being conductively coupled to and powered by the rechargeable electrical power system;

wherein the lighting system comprises;

a plurality of rib members coupled to the canopy portion; and

a plurality of light emitting diode elements carried by the rib members and fully recessed into the rib members, each light emitting diode element being conductively coupled to and powered by the rechargeable electrical power source;

a controller;

a wireless module conductively coupled to the controller; and

a remote device in communication with the wireless module;

wherein the plurality of light emitting diode elements are spaced along the rib members for illuminating an area under the canopy portion.

2. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a speaker;

wherein the remote device streams encoded music through the wireless module and through the controller to the speaker.

3. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the speaker is located proximate the canopy portion.

4. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the speaker is located proximate the crank housing.

5. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller adjusts a color and an intensity of the lighting system in response to the encoded music.

6. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electromechanical opening and closing system further comprises:

a current sensor for measuring a current draw of the electric motor.

7. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the controller utilizes the current sensor to control the electric motor.

8. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a universal serial bus port.

9. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the universal serial bus is located proximate the crank housing.

10. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller adjusts a color and an intensity of the lighting system in response to a command from the remote device.

11. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a motion sensor;

wherein the controller dims an intensity of the lighting system in response to lack of activity measured by the motion sensor.

12. The umbrella apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting diode elements are grouped by rib member to form groups of light emitting diode elements;

and

wherein the controller controls each group of light emitting diode elements separately.