Functional umbrella

• US 9,968,168 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2016
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oliver Jeon-An Ma
• Original Assignee: Oliver Jeon-An Ma
• Inventors: Ma, Oliver Jeon-an
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Application Number:
  US15/269,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20180078012A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 135 16, 135 3341, 135910
• 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 2023/0043 the support arm being attached to the stick or to runner, the canopy being suspended there above
• 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 25/10 Umbrella crowns A45B25/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 3/02 with illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 3/04 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

An umbrella includes a supporting frame, an umbrella frame supported by the supporting frame, an umbrella awning, and a functional module. The umbrella includes a guiding arm, an upper hub securely coupled at a top end of the guiding arm, a plurality of awning arms radially and pivotally extended from the upper hub, and an awning cap detachably coupled on the upper hub. The umbrella awning is supported by the awning arms to define a shading area under the umbrella awning, wherein a center portion of the umbrella awning is securely sandwiched between the upper hub and the awning cap to retain the umbrella awning in position. The functional module is detachably coupled on the awning cap for providing an additional function of the umbrella.

Claims

1. An umbrella, comprising:

a supporting frame;

an umbrella frame, which is supported by said supporting frame, comprising a guiding arm, an upper hub securely coupled at a top end of said guiding arm, a plurality of awning arms radially and pivotally extended from said upper hub, and an awning cap detachably coupled on said upper hub;

an umbrella awning supported by said awning arms to define a shading area under said umbrella awning, wherein a center portion of said umbrella awning is securely sandwiched between said upper hub and said awning cap to retain said umbrella awning in position, wherein said upper hub has a coupling slot, and said awning cap has a coupling shaft rotatably engaged with said coupling slot to detachably couple said awning cap on said upper hub so as to securely fasten said center portion of said umbrella awning therebetween; and

a functional module detachably coupled on said awning cap, wherein said functional module comprises a functional housing detachably coupled on said awning cap and a solar cell provided on said functional housing for collecting solar energy, wherein said functional module further comprises a rechargeable battery received in said functional housing for being charged by said solar energy, wherein said functional module further comprises a first contacting terminal provided at a bottom side of said functional housing to electrically connect to said rechargeable battery and a second contacting terminal provided at a top side of said awning cap, such that when said functional housing is coupled on said awning cap, said first and second contacting terminals are electrically contacted with each other.

2. The umbrella, as recited in clam 1, further comprising a light appliance electrically connected to said functional module, wherein said light appliance comprises a plurality of light strings coupled along said awning arms respectively and a plurality of wiring cables electrically extended from said light strings to said second contacting terminal through said upper hub.

3. An umbrella, comprising:

a supporting frame;

an umbrella frame, which is supported by said supporting frame, comprising a guiding arm, an upper hub securely coupled at a top end of said guiding arm, a plurality of awning arms radially and pivotally extended from said upper hub, and an awning cap detachably coupled on said upper hub;

an umbrella awning supported by said awning arms to define a shading area under said umbrella awning, wherein a center portion of said umbrella awning is securely sandwiched between said upper hub and said awning cap to retain said umbrella awning in position; and

a functional module detachably coupled on said awning cap, wherein said functional module, which serves as a solar module, comprises a functional housing detachably coupled on said awning cap and a solar cell provided on said functional housing for collecting solar energy, wherein said functional module further comprises a rechargeable battery received in said functional housing for being charged by said solar energy, wherein said functional module further comprises a first contacting terminal provided at a bottom side of said functional housing to electrically connect to said rechargeable battery and a second contacting terminal provided at a top side of said awning cap, such that when said functional housing is coupled on said awning cap, said first and second contacting terminals are electrically contacted with each other, wherein said functional housing is coupled on said awning cap via first and second attachment units, wherein said first attachment unit comprises an attachment shaft downwardly extended from said bottom side of said functional housing and two attachment wings radially extended from said attachment shaft, wherein said second attachment unit comprises two arc-shaped attachment members provided at said top side of said awning cap to define two opening gaps between two ends of said arc-shaped attachment members and two attachment slots between bottom sides of said attachment members and said top side of said awning cap, such that when said attachment wings are disposed at said opening gaps respectively, said first attachment unit is rotated to slidably engage said attachment wings with said attachment slots so as to couple said functional housing on said awning cap.

4. The umbrella, as recited in claim 3, wherein said first contacting terminal is provided at said attachment shaft, wherein said second attachment unit further has a shaft receiving cavity defined within said arc-shaped attachment members that said second contacting terminal is provided at said shaft receiving cavity, such that when said attachment shaft is disposed in said shaft receiving cavity to alignedly dispose said attachment wings at said opening gaps respectively, said first and second contacting terminals are electrically contacted with each other.

5. An umbrella, comprising:

a supporting frame,

an umbrella frame, which is supported by said supporting frame, comprising a guiding arm, an upper hub securely coupled at a top end of said guiding arm, a plurality of awning arms radially and pivotally extended from said upper hub, and an awning cap detachably coupled on said upper hub;

an umbrella awning supported by said awning arms to define a shading area under said umbrella awning, wherein a center portion of said umbrella awning is securely sandwiched between said upper hub and said awning cap to retain said umbrella awning in position; and

a functional module detachably coupled on said awning cap, wherein said functional module, wherein said functional module comprises a functional housing detachably coupled on said awning cap and one or more mist nozzles provided on said functional housing for generating mists on said umbrella awning.