U.S. patent application number 09/796517 was filed with the patent office on 2002-09-05 for umbrella structure with lighting device.
Invention is credited to Chen, Tsung-Cheng, Chen, Tsung-Tai, Huang, Sheng Tsai.
Application Number | 20020121295 09/796517 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25168372 |
Filed Date | 2002-09-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020121295 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen, Tsung-Tai ; et
al. |
September 5, 2002 |
Umbrella structure with lighting device
Abstract
An umbrella structure with lighting device comprising a hollow
shaft, a plurality of radial arranged stretchers mounted to the
hollow shaft, a layer of fabric covered onto the stretchers, a
light-emission device mounted at the tip of the hollow shaft, a
handle connected at the bottom end of the hollow shaft, and a power
supply device mounted with the handle, characterized in that the
light-emission device comprises a light transmissive tube cover
screwed at the tip of the hollow shaft, a light-emission body
mounted within the tube cover, a fluorescent plate positioned
between the light-emission body and the tube cover, and a stopper
mounted at the top cover of the tube cover, the light emission body
is lighted to flicker and the intensity of the emitted light is
increased as a result of reflection and refraction by fluorescent
body positioned within the fluorescent plate, the fluorescent light
is emitted through the transparent tube cover to provide an
alarming effect in the night.
Inventors: |
Chen, Tsung-Tai; (Taipei
City, TW) ; Huang, Sheng Tsai; (Taipei City, TW)
; Chen, Tsung-Cheng; (Taipei City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Tsung-Tai CHEN
PO Box 82-144
TAIPEI
TW
|
Family ID: |
25168372 |
Appl. No.: |
09/796517 |
Filed: |
March 2, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/16 ;
135/910 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 3/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/16 ;
135/910 |
International
Class: |
A45B 003/00; A45B
005/00; A45B 003/02 |
Claims
I claim:
1. An umbrella structure with lighting device comprising a hollow
shaft, a plurality of radial arranged stretchers mounted to the
hollow shaft, a layer of waterproof fabric covered onto the
stretchers, a light-emission device mounted at the tip of the
hollow shaft, a handle connected at the bottom end of the hollow
shaft, and a power supply device mounted within the handle,
characterized in that the light-emission device comprises a light
transmissive tube cover screwed at the top of the hollow shaft, a
light-emission body mounted within the tube cover, a fluorescent
plate positioned between the light-emission body and the tube
cover, and a stopper mounted at the top cover of the tube cover,
the light emission body is lighted to flicker and the intensity of
the emitted light is increased as a result of reflection and
refraction by fluorescent body positioned within the fluorescent
plate, the fluorescent light is emitted through the transparent
tube cover to provide an alarming effect in the night.
2. An umbrella structure with lighting device as set forth in claim
1, wherein the inner wall of the light-transmissive tube cover is
provided with zigzag threads so that bright refracted effect of
light is obtained.
3. An umbrella structure with lighting device as set forth in claim
1, wherein the bottom end of the tube cover is provided with a
screw hole and the top end of the hollow shaft is mounted with a
screw seat having a screw rod to combine with the screw hole so
that the tube cover is secured to the screw seat.
4. An umbrella structure with lighting device as set forth in claim
1, wherein the surface of the fluorescent plate is a smooth
surface, and the other surface is provided with a plurality of
conic shaped bodies to enhance the effect of refractions and
reflections.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (a) Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an umbrella structure, and
in particular, an umbrella having lighting device for use in a
raining day and, at the same time in the night, providing walking
safely at night.
[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art
[0004] In raining days, and in particular, in a raining night, the
visibility of road is poor and walking by the roadside at night is
rather unsafe. If the person is provided with a light source,
walking along the road may be safer as drivers can see clearly a
lighted moving object. Taiwan Patent Publication No. 382924 relates
to an umbrella structure having light illumination being
constituted a hollow shaft 12, a plurality of stretchers,
water-resistant fabric 10, and a handle 14. The top end of the
umbrella is provided with a light-emission structure comprising a
hollow fixing seat 16, a light transmissive hollow hood 18 mounted
on the fixing seat 16, and a light bulb 20 located within an
external hood, and a light-focusing hood 22, and a plurality of
alerting light bulbs.
[0005] The drawbacks of the conventional umbrella structure are as
follows:
[0006] (1) The light-focusing bulbs 20 utilize power rapidly and
the utilization time of this umbrella with illumination is
restricted.
[0007] (2) The light-focusing bulb 20 has light ray facing upward,
and drivers cannot see the light ray easily.
[0008] (3) If the light-focusing bulb 20 is used as an
illumination, then the umbrella has to be placed horizontally, but
the length of the umbrella is 75-90 cm, and therefore holding the
umbrella in a horizontal position is not convenient.
[0009] (4) The alerting device of the umbrella causes an increase
of weight of the umbrella. Therefore, holding of the umbrella is
rather laborious.
[0010] (5) A plurality of bulbs have to be used in order to provide
sufficient brightness. Thus, power consumption is increased.
[0011] (6) As a light bulb, focusing hood, an altering light bulb
are to be mounted onto the umbrella, the volume of the fixing seat
16 and the external hood 18 on the umbrella is large. Therefore,
the appearance of the umbrella is unpleasing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide an umbrella structure with lighting device, wherein a
light-emission device is located at the top end of the hollow shaft
of the umbrella, and the light-emission device comprises a light
transmissive tube cover screwed at the top of the hollow shaft, a
light-emission body mounted within the tube cover, a fluorescent
plate positioned between the light-emission body and the tube
cover, and the inner wall of the hollow tube cover has a plurality
of zigzag threads.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
umbrella structure with lighting device, wherein the bottom end of
the hollow shaft is positioned with a power supply device having a
battery slot within the handle of the umbrella, batteries within
the battery slot being connected in series, a spring, a leading
plate, a control switch connected in series with the batteries and
two power source wires within the hollow shaft.
[0014] A further object of the present invention is to provide an
umbrella structure with lighting device, wherein the two power
source wires are respectively connected to two terminals of the
light-emission body, and the control switch is located within the
center section of the handle.
[0015] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an
umbrella structure with light device, wherein, when the
light-emission body is lighted to flicker and the intensity of the
emitted light is increased as a result of reflection and refraction
by fluorescent body positioned within the fluorescent plate, and
the fluorescent light is emitted through the transparent tube cover
to provide an alarming effect during the night.
[0016] The foregoing objects and summary provide only a brief
introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these
and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention
itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the
art, the following detailed description of the invention and the
claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical
reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
[0017] Many other advantages and features of the present invention
will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making
reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets
of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment
incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by
way of illustrative example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the connection of
circuit of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the light emission device of
the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the fluorescent plate of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0024] For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the
principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the
embodiment illustrated in the drawings. Specific language will be
used to describe same. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no
limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended,
alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device,
and further applications of the principles of the invention as
illustrated herein being contemplated as would normally occur to
one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
[0025] The present invention is directed to an umbrella structure
with lighting device.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective exploded
view of the umbrella 10 comprising a hollow shaft 1, a plurality of
radial stretchers 11, a water proof fabric 12, a light-emission
device 2, a handle 3 and a power supply device 4. The perspective
view of the umbrella of the present invention is shown in FIG.
2.
[0027] The interior of the hollow shaft is a hollow slot 13. The
top end of the shaft 1 has a stretcher seat 14 being connected with
a plurality of stretchers 11 arranged in a radial manner. The
surface of the stretchers 11 is covered with a layer of the
waterproof fabric 12, and the top of the stretcher seat 14 is a
screw seat 15 having a screw rod 151 and has two vertical leading
holes 152 for conduction wire. The bottom end of the hollow shaft 1
is connected to a screw cover 16 having screw hole 161 therein, and
having screw hole 162 for two power source wires.
[0028] In accordance with the present invention, the light-emission
device 2 comprises a light transmissive tube cover 21,
light-emission body 22, a fluorescent plate 23, and a top cover 24.
The light transmissive tube cover 21 is a cylindrical structure and
the bottom and thereof is a screw hole 211. The inner wall of the
tube cover is provided with vertically arranged zig-zag threads
212. The fluorescent plate 2 can be inserted into the tube cover 21
and the opening of the tube cover 21 can be sealed with the top
cover 24 to prevent water from entry.
[0029] The handle 3 of the umbrella 10 is "J"-shaped, and the top
end is provided with a screw tube 31 can be inserted into the screw
cover 16 located at the bottom of the hollow shaft 1, and is
screwed to the screw hole 161. In order to prevent water to enter
the handle, a water-resistant seal 34 is mounted at the point of
screw-connection. The interior of the handle 3 is extended from the
top to the bottom a hollow battery slot 32. The center section of
the handle is provided with a notch 33 to adapt a control switch
48.
[0030] In accordance with the present invention, the power supply
device 4 comprises a plurality of batteries 41, a spring 42,
conductive plates 43, 44, 45, power source wires 46, 47, and a
control switch 8. The spring 42 is located at the bottom section of
the battery slot 161 and are connected in series, from the top to
the bottom thereof, with the conductive plate 43, the control
switch 48, the conductive plate 44 and the power source wire 46.
The conductive plate 45 is located within the screw cover 16 and is
connected in series with the wire 47.
[0031] FIG. 3 shows the sectional view of an umbrella structure
with lighting device. The top end of the shaft 1 is connected to
the screw hole 211 of the light transmissive tube cover 21 by means
of the screw rod 151 of the screw seat 15. The light-emission body
22 is positioned at the center region of the tube cover 21, located
at the top of the screw seat 15. The fluorescent plate 23 is
located between the tube cover 21 and the light-emission body 22.
In addition, the screw cover 16 at the bottom end of the shaft 1
and the handle 3 are combined as a unit. The battery slot 32 of the
handle contains batteries 4 connected in series, and the spring 42
urges the negative terminal of the batteries 4. The push button 481
of the control switch 48 is positioned outside the notch 33. The
positive terminal of the top end of the battery 41 is in contact
with the conductive plate 45, and then passes through the hollow
slot 13 of the shaft 1, and finally passes through the screw hole
152 of the screw seat 15, and is connected to the two terminals of
the light-emission body 22. A complete power circuit is shown in
FIG. 4.
[0032] The user pushes the push button 481, and the control switch
48 is connected to the two conductive plates 43, 44. Thus, the
light-emission body 22 (for instance, Christmas Light, etc.) is
thus provided with current supply and is lighted (flickering).
Referring to FIG. 5, when the light is transmitted through the
fluorescent plate 23, due to the fact that one surface of the
fluorescent plate 23 is flat surface and the other surface is a
plurality of conic-shaped bodies (FIG. 6), the fluorescent body
within the fluorescent plate increases light intensity, and the
fluorescent light is refracted through the zigzag threads 212 of
the light transmissive tube cover 21, a bright refracted effect of
light is obtained. If the fluorescent plate 23 is yellow, the
emitted light is yellow. If the fluorescent plate is red, the
emitted light is red.
[0033] It will be understood that each of the elements described
above, or two or more together may also find a useful application
in other types of methods differing from the type described
above.
[0034] While certain novel features of this invention have been
shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is
not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be
understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and
changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in
its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without
departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
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