U.S. patent application number 10/227827 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-04 for large-sized power umbrella.
Invention is credited to Ma, Joen-Shen.
Application Number | 20040040591 10/227827 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31975982 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040040591 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ma, Joen-Shen |
March 4, 2004 |
Large-sized power umbrella
Abstract
An umbrella includes a center post having an upper end to which
a crown is mounted. A number of ribs are pivoted to and radially
extend from the crown. A runner is movably mounted to the center
post. A stretcher is arranged between and pivoted to the runner and
each rib. A canopy is attached to and supported by the ribs. An
inner threaded member is mounted to the runner. A threaded rod
engages the inner threaded member and is coupled to an output
spindle of a motor by a reduction gear set whereby the rotation of
the motor spindle is transmitted to the rod and the rotation of the
rod causes the runner to move thereby opening/closing the umbrella.
The motor is controlled by a control circuit that is in turn
controlled by a remote control unit.
Inventors: |
Ma, Joen-Shen; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
ELLICOTT CITY
MD
21043
US
|
Family ID: |
31975982 |
Appl. No.: |
10/227827 |
Filed: |
August 27, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/98 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 2023/0012 20130101;
A45B 23/00 20130101; A45B 25/143 20130101; A45B 25/06 20130101;
A45B 2200/1027 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/908 |
International
Class: |
E04H 015/00; A45B
023/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An umbrella comprising: an umbrella frame comprising: a center
post, and a runner movable along the center post to open/close the
umbrella; and a driving system comprising: an inner threaded member
mounted to the runner, a threaded rod extending substantially
parallel to the center post and threadingly engaging the inner
threaded member, a motor powered by batteries and controlled by a
control circuit, a gear set connected between an output spindle of
the motor and the threaded rod to transmit rotation of the output
spindle to the threaded rod, and a control unit in signal
communication with the control circuit to selectively move the
runner for opening/closing the umbrella.
2. The umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rod is located
outside the center post and substantially parallel to the center
post, the center post defining an opening for extension of the gear
set therethrough.
3. The umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rod is located
inside the center post and substantially parallel to the center
post, the center post defining an elongate slot movably receiving
and guiding an inward projection of the runner, the inner threaded
member being mounted to the inward projection of the runner.
4. The umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the center post has
a sidewall forming a recessed channel along the center post, the
rod being substantially accommodated in the channel, the runner
forming an inward projection movable along the channel.
5. The umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gear set is a
reduction gear set.
6. The umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is
a wireless remote control communicating with the control
circuit.
7. The umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is
connected to the control circuit by wires.
8. The umbrella as claimed in claim 1 further comprising solar
cells for collecting and converting solar energy into electricity
for powering the motor.
9. The umbrella as claimed in claim 8, wherein the batteries are
rechargeable batteries.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to a large-sized
umbrella, and in particular to a large-sized power umbrella.
[0003] 2. The Related Art
[0004] Large-sized umbrellas are widely used in a variety of
applications, such as beach umbrellas and garden umbrellas. The
conventional large-sized umbrella comprises, in general, an upright
center post having a lower end mounted to ground and an upper end
to which a crown is fixed, a plurality of ribs pivoted to the crown
and radially extending from the crown, a runner slidably mounted to
the post and a plurality of stretchers arranged between and pivoted
to the ribs and the runner. When the runner is moved toward the
crown, the ribs are forced to open and expanding a flexible canopy
attached thereto. When the runner is moved away from the crown, the
umbrella is closed.
[0005] Conventionally, the runner is moved by a rope-pulley system
which winds/unwinds a rope connected to the runner for driving the
runner toward/away from the crown to open/close the umbrella. A
disadvantage of the rope-pulley based driving system is the
requirement of large man force in operating the driving system.
This causes certain troubles to the general consumers.
[0006] Some of the large-sized umbrellas are equipped with a power
driving system for eliminating the requirement of large man power
in operating the umbrella. However, such a conventional power
driving system has a complicated structure, requiring sophisticated
and costly maintenance. In addition, such a power driving system is
expensive and thus making the cost of the umbrella very high.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a
large-sized umbrella comprising a power driving system having a
simple structure.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
large-sized power umbrella having low costs.
[0009] To achieve the above objects, in accordance with the present
invention, there is provided an umbrella comprising a center post
having an upper end to which a crown is mounted. A number of ribs
are pivoted to and radially extend from the crown. A runner is
movably mounted to the center post. A stretcher is arranged between
and pivoted to the runner and each rib. A canopy is attached to and
supported by the ribs. An inner threaded member is mounted to the
runner. A threaded rod engages the inner threaded member and is
coupled to an output spindle of a motor by a reduction gear set
whereby the rotation of the motor spindle is transmitted to the rod
and the rotation of the rod causes the runner to move thereby
opening/closing the umbrella. The motor is controlled by a control
circuit that is in turn controlled by a remote control unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in
the art by reading the following description of preferred
embodiments thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in
which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a large-sized power
umbrella constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the large-sized power
umbrella of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a large-sized power
umbrella constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the
present invention;
[0014] FIG. 4 is another cross-sectional view of the power umbrella
of the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 5 is another cross-sectional view of the power umbrella
of the second embodiment of the present invention; and
[0016] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a power umbrella
constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1
and 2, a power umbrella constructed in accordance with the present
invention comprises an umbrella frame (not labeled) comprising a
center post 10 on which a runner 11 is movably mounted. The center
post 10 has an upper end to which a crown 12 is attached. A number
of ribs 13 are pivoted to the crown 12 and radially extend
therefrom. A stretcher 14 has opposite ends respectively pivoted to
the runner 11 and each rib 13. Moving the runner 11 toward the
crown 12 drives the stretchers 14 to expand the ribs 13, thus
opening the umbrella, and moving the runner 11 away from the crown
12 allows the ribs 13 to collapse and thus closing the umbrella. A
flexible canopy 15 is attached to and supported by the ribs 13.
[0018] Also referring to FIG. 4, the umbrella comprises a driving
system (not labeled) comprising a threaded rod 24 located outside
but parallel to the center post 10. The threaded rod 24 has an
upper end rotatably supported by the crown 12 and a lower end
rotatably supported by a lug (not labeled) of the center post 10.
An inner-threaded collar or nut 16 is mounted to the runner 11. The
rod 24 engages and extends through the inner-threaded collar 16
whereby the upper and lower ends of the rod 24 are located on
opposite sides of the runner 11.
[0019] The driving system further comprises a motor 20 mounted in
the center post 10 and powered by batteries 20 that are also
mounted inside the center post 10. A reduction gear set 23 is
coupled between an output spindle (not labeled) of the motor 22 and
the rod 24. In this respect, the center post 10 forms a cutoff (not
labeled) for the extension of the gear set 23. The rotation of the
output spindle of the motor 22 is transmitted to the rod 24 in a
speed reduced manner. The rod 24 is thus rotated about its own axis
and forces the runner 11 to move with respect thereto due to the
threading engagement between the inner-threaded collar 16 and the
threaded rod 24 whereby opening/closing the umbrella can be
accomplished.
[0020] A control circuit 21 is arranged between the batteries 20
and the motor 22 for controlling power supplied to the motor 22. A
remote control device 30 allows manual control of the motor 22 via
the control circuit 21. The control device 30 can be of wired type
that has a wire connection with the control circuit 21. Or
alternatively, the control device 30 is a wireless remote control
communicating the control circuit 21 by means of electromagnetic
signals.
[0021] FIGS. 3 and 5 show a power umbrella constructed in
accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention
comprising an umbrella frame (not labeled) comprising a center post
10 having an upper end to which a crown 12 is attached. A number of
ribs 13 are pivoted to the crown 12 and radially extend therefrom.
A runner 11 is movably mounted to the center post 10. A stretcher
14 has opposite ends respectively pivoted to the runner 11 and each
rib 13. Moving the runner 11 toward the crown 12 drives the
stretchers 14 to expand the ribs 13, thus opening the umbrella, and
moving the runner 11 away from the crown 12 allows the ribs 13 to
collapse and thus closing the umbrella.
[0022] The umbrella comprises a driving system (not labeled) for
driving the runner 11 toward/away from the crown 12 to open/close
the umbrella. The driving system comprises a threaded rod 24
located inside and parallel to the center post 10. The threaded rod
24 has upper and lower ends rotatably supported by the center post
10. The center post 10 defines an elongate slot 18 extending along
the center post 10. The runner 11 forms an inward projection 17
extending through the slot 18 into the center post 10. The
projection 17 is sized to allow for free movement of the runner 11
with respect to the center post 10. An inner-threaded collar or nut
16 is mounted to the inward projection 17 of the runner 11 and the
rod 24 engages with the inner-threaded collar 16.
[0023] The driving system further comprises a motor 20 mounted in
the center post 10 and powered by batteries 20 that are also
mounted inside the center post 10. A reduction gear set 23 is
coupled between an output spindle (not labeled) of the motor 22 and
the rod 24. The rotation of the output spindle of the motor 22 is
transmitted to the rod 24 in a speed reduced manner. The rod 24 is
thus rotated about its own axis and forces the runner 11 to move
with respect thereto due to the threading engagement between the
inner-threaded collar 16 and the threaded rod 24 whereby
opening/closing the umbrella can be accomplished.
[0024] A control circuit 21 is arranged between the batteries 20
and the motor 22 for controlling power supplied to the motor 22. A
remote control device 30 allows manual control of the motor 22 via
the control circuit 21. The control device 30 can be of wired type
that has a wire connection with the control circuit 21. Or
alternatively, the control device 30 is a wireless remote control
communicating the control circuit 21 by means of electromagnetic
signals.
[0025] FIG. 6 shows a power umbrella constructed in accordance with
a third embodiment of the present invention comprising an umbrella
frame (not labeled) comprising a center post 10 having
circumferential side wall (not labeled) in which a recessed channel
19 is formed and extending along the center post 10. A runner 11 is
movably mounted to the center post 10. A number of stretchers 14
have ends pivoted to the runner 11.
[0026] The umbrella comprises a driving system (not labeled) for
driving the runner 11 along the center post 10. The driving system
comprises a threaded rod 24 located inside the channel 19 and
parallel to the center post 10. The runner 11 forms an inward
projection 17 movably received in the channel 19. An inner-threaded
collar or nut 16 is mounted to the projection 17 of the runner 11
and the rod 24 engages with the inner-threaded collar 16. Ends of
the rod 24 extend through openings defined in the center post 10 to
engage the motor 22.
[0027] The channel 19 allows the rod 24 to be shielded without
causing substantial damage to the structural strength of the center
post 10.
[0028] The power umbrella of the present invention may further
comprise solar cells 40 for collecting and converting solar energy
into electricity for charging the batteries 20. In this respect,
the batteries 20 are rechargeable batteries. Alternatively, the
electricity of the solar cells 40 directly powers the motor 22.
Preferably, the solar cells 40 are mounted on the canopy 15 close
to the crown 12 for efficiently receiving and absorbing
sunlight.
[0029] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it is apparent to
those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and
changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present
invention which is intended to be defined by the appended
claims.
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