U.S. patent application number 10/663022 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-06 for combination umbrella and fan.
Invention is credited to Gray, Ruben L..
Application Number | 20040084071 10/663022 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32180005 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040084071 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gray, Ruben L. |
May 6, 2004 |
Combination umbrella and fan
Abstract
A combination umbrella and fan includes a centrally located
support rod having upper and lower ends with a fan housing secured
to the upper end of the support rod. The fan housing includes a
lower end having a plurality of open slots extending therethrough
and a plurality of openings extending therethrough near an upper
end. An electrically powered fan motor is provided, the fan motor
having an output shaft secured to a propeller located within the
fan housing. The fan motor is reversible for rotating the propeller
in first and second directions. A power supply provides electrical
power to the fan motor, the power supply including a switch for
reversing the electric motor. A flexible cover member is provided
and a plurality of spaced part rib members and stretchers are
provided for supporting the cover member.
Inventors: |
Gray, Ruben L.;
(Philadelphia, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD L.L.P.
ONE COMMERCE SQUARE
2005 MARKET STREET, SUITE 2200
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103-7013
US
|
Family ID: |
32180005 |
Appl. No.: |
10/663022 |
Filed: |
September 16, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60424044 |
Nov 5, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
135/16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 3/00 20130101; A45B
2200/1009 20130101; A45B 2200/1027 20130101; A45B 2200/1036
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/016 |
International
Class: |
A45B 003/00; A45B
005/00 |
Claims
I/we claim:
1. A combination umbrella and fan for providing improved comfort to
a user comprising: a centrally located support rod having upper and
lower ends; a fan housing secured proximate to the upper end of the
support rod, the fan housing including a lower end having a
plurality of open slots extending therethrough, the fan housing
further including a plurality of openings extending therethrough
proximate an upper end; an electrically powered fan motor having an
output shaft secured to a propeller which is located within the fan
housing, the fan motor being selectably reversible for rotating the
propeller in first and second directions; a power supply for
providing electrical power to the fan motor, the power supply
including a switch for reversing the electric motor; a flexible
cover member; and a plurality of spaced apart rib members and
stretchers for supporting the cover member.
2. The combination umbrella and fan as recited in claim 1, wherein
the lower end of the support rod includes a handle.
3. The combination umbrella and fan as recited in claim 1, wherein
the lower end of the support rod includes an on/off switch for
controlling the fan motor.
4. The combination umbrella and fan as recited in claim 1, wherein
the power supply comprises at least one battery and at least one
solar cell.
5. The combination umbrella and fan as recited in claim 4, wherein
the solar cell provides power to the fan motor.
6. The combination umbrella and fan as recited in claim 4, wherein
the solar cell maintains the charge level of the battery.
7. The combination umbrella and fan as recited in claim 4, wherein
the solar cell is located on the upper end of the fan housing.
8. The combination umbrella and fan as recited in claim 4 further
including at least one battery housing secured to the fan housing
for supporting the at least one battery.
9. The combination umbrella and fan as recited in claim 1 further
including a peg member on the upper end of the fan housing.
10. The combination umbrella and fan as recited in claim 1 wherein
the fan housing is generally cylindrical with the openings
extending at spaced locations through the circumferential surface
thereof.
11. The combination umbrella and fan as recited in claim 1, wherein
the switch is located on the fan housing.
12. The combination umbrella and fan as recited in claim 1, wherein
the fan motor is located in the fan housing.
13. A combination umbrella and fan for providing improved comfort
to a user comprising: a centrally located support rod having upper
and lower ends; a cylindrical fan housing secured proximate to the
upper end of the support rod, the fan housing including a lower end
having a plurality of open slots extending through the
circumferential surface, the fan housing further including a
plurality of openings extending through the circumferential surface
proximate an upper end; an electrically powered fan motor having an
output shaft secured to a propeller which is located within the fan
housing, the fan motor being selectably reversible for rotating the
propeller in first and second directions; a power supply comprising
at least one battery and at least one solar cell for providing
electrical power to the fan motor, the power supply including a
switch for reversing the electric motor; a flexible cover member;
and a plurality of spaced apart rib members and stretchers for
supporting the cover member.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 60/424,044, filed Nov. 5, 2002 and entitled
"Combination Umbrella and Fan", the entire contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to umbrellas and,
more particularly, to an umbrella which has incorporated therein a
fan or other air moving device to provide a flow of cooling air
onto a person using the umbrella or to vent air from beneath the
umbrella.
[0003] Umbrellas which may be used for protecting users from
weather elements such as rain, snow and the like, or for providing
shade to users are generally well known. Typically, the protective
upper surface or cover of an umbrella is generally curved and
circular and includes a central portion which is generally higher,
when the umbrella is in use, than the peripheral or circumferential
outer edges of the protective surface. This arrangement is
typically employed to permit rain, snow or the like, from
accumulating on the protective surface of the umbrella. While
having such an arrangement is beneficial to avoid a build-up of
rain, snow or the like on the protective surface, the shape of the
protective surface tends to inhibit the flow of fresh air to the
undersurface of the umbrella. As a result, warm or stale air is
often trapped within the undersurface of the umbrella resulting in
discomfort to a user whose head may be positioned within or near
the area where the warm, stale air is trapped. The present
invention overcomes the problems associated with prior art
umbrellas by providing a fan or other air moving device to provide
a flow of cooling air directed into the undersurface of the
umbrella to thereby preclude a build-up of hot, stale air within
the umbrella and to provide a flow of cooling air onto or near the
head of a user of the umbrella. The present invention also
functions to vent hot, stale air from the umbrella.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Briefly stated, the present invention comprises a
combination umbrella and fan for providing improved comfort to a
user. The combination includes a centrally located support rod
having upper and lower ends with a fan housing secured proximate to
the upper end of the support rod. The fan housing includes a lower
end having a plurality of open slots extending therethrough. The
fan housing further includes a plurality of openings extending
therethrough proximate an upper end. An electrically powered fan
motor is provided, the fan motor having an output shaft secured to
a propeller which is located within the fan housing. The fan motor
is reversible for rotating the propeller in first and second
directions. A power supply provides electrical power to the fan
motor, the power supply including a switch for reversing the
electric motor. A flexible cover member is provided and a plurality
of spaced part rib members and stretchers are provided for
supporting the cover member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The following detailed description of preferred embodiments
of the invention, will be better understood when read in
conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of
illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings
embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood,
however, that the invention is not limited to the precise
arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
[0006] In the drawings:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination umbrella and
fan in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0008] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the combination umbrella and
fan taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a combination
fan and umbrella 10 in accordance with the present invention. The
umbrella 10, like any other umbrella, includes a centrally located
support rod 12 which is preferably formed of a lightweight high
strength material such as wood, steel, aluminum, some other metal,
or metal alloy, a polymeric material or the like. Preferably the
support rod 12 is generally cylindrical, but it could be of some
other cross-section if desired. The lower or proximal end of the
support rod 12 includes a handle 14 which preferably is of a size
convenient to facilitate holding of the umbrella 10 in the usual
manner. The handle 14 may be made of wood, metal, a polymeric
material, or any other suitable material and may be covered with
some other material such as leather, vinyl or the like to provide
for a more convenient gripping surface. The handle 14 may be
straight or may curve in a manner well known to those in the
umbrella art.
[0010] The upper or distal end of the support rod 12 is secured to
a generally cylindrically shaped fan housing 16. The fan housing 16
is preferably made of a lightweight high strength material such as
aluminum or a polymeric material. The lower axial end of the fan
housing 16 includes a generally circular cover plate 18 which
includes a plurality of generally elongated open slots 20 extending
therethrough. An electrically powered fan 22 is located within the
fan housing 16. The electrically powered fan 22 includes a small
sized, sub-horsepower electric motor 24 having an output shaft
which is secured to a rotating propeller 28 which includes two or
more spaced apart blades. At least one and preferably two battery
housings 30 are secured on opposite sides of the outside of the fan
housing 16. The battery housings 30 are provided for receiving and
holding one or more batteries which are adapted to provide power to
the electrically powered fan 22. Suitable electrical wiring (not
shown) extends between the battery housings 30 and the fan motor
24. Preferably, switch 34 is also provided to permit control of the
direction of rotation of the electrically powered fan 22 by
changing the polarity of the electrical power supplied to the fan
motor 24.
[0011] The upper end of the fan housing 16 includes a plurality of
generally circular openings 36 at spaced locations around the
circumferential surface of the fan housing 16. The openings 36 are
provided to permit an unimpeded flow of air into or out of the fan
housing 16 when the electrically powered fan 22 is operating. When
the switch 34 is in a first position, the fan motor 24 rotates the
propeller 28 in a first direction to cause cooling air to flow in
through the circular openings 36 and downwardly through the fan
housing 16 and out of the slots 20 to impinge upon a user of the
umbrella. When the switch 34 is in a second position, the fan motor
24 rotates the propeller 28 in the opposite direction thereby
drawing warm, stale air from beneath the upper portion of the
umbrella in through the slots 20, through the fan housing 16 and
out of the circular openings 36.
[0012] The upper axial end of the fan housing 16 is covered by a
generally rectangularly shaped solar cell housing 38 which is made
of a lightweight, high strength material. The upper portion of the
solar cell housing 38 includes a plurality of solar cells 40 of the
voltaic type which are well known in the art. The solar cells 40
are covered by a transparent cover which is secured to the solar
cell housing 38 by one or more attachment members such as screws,
bolts or the like. The solar cells 40 are electrically connected to
the battery housings 30. In this manner, when the solar cells 40
are exposed to sufficient sunlight or other light, electrical
energy is generated by the solar cells 40 for recharging the
batteries within the battery housings 30. Alternatively, the solar
cells 40 may be connected directly to the motor 24 of the
electrically powered fan 22. In this manner, when the solar cells
40 are exposed to sufficient sunlight or other light, the
electrical energy generated by the solar cells 40 provides power to
the motor 24 for operation of the electrically powered fan 22. In
this manner, power is supplied to the electric motor 24 by a power
supply comprising the batteries and solar cells 40 in combination
with suitable wiring and the switch 34. As best shown in FIG. 2,
the solar cell housing 38 extends at least slightly beyond the fan
housing 16 and the battery housings 30 to provide some protection
against the elements for the fan housing 16 and battery housings
30. A cylindrical peg member 42 is secured to the upper surface of
the solar cell housing 38 to permit the umbrella 10 to be
maintained in an upright condition, for example in an umbrella
stand.
[0013] The umbrella 10 further includes a plurality of rib members
44 which are pivotally secured at circumferentially spaced
locations around the lower end of the fan housing 16. A similar
plurality of stretchers 46 each have one end pivotally secured to
one of the rib members 44 at a location which is slightly spaced
from the distal end of the rib members 44. The other end of each of
each of the stretchers 46 is pivotally secured to a generally
cylindrical collar member 48 which surrounds the support rod 12.
The collar member 48 may be slid upwardly and downwardly along the
support rod 12. Moving the collar member 48 upwardly along the
support rod causes the stretchers 46 to extend outwardly to thereby
cause the rib members 44 to extend outwardly to open the umbrella
10 in the usual manner as shown in FIG. 2. Similarly, movement of
the collar member 48 downwardly, causes these stretchers 46 to move
inwardly toward the support rod 12 and to correspondingly move the
rib members 44 inwardly toward the support rod 12 to collapse and
close the umbrella 10. The rib members 44 support the protective
surface or cover member 50 of the umbrella 10. The cover member 50
is preferably made of a flexible material such as a fabric, a
polymeric material or the like, and preferably is water repellant.
As with any other umbrella, a suitable catch member (not shown) is
provided near the upper end of the support rod 12 for capturing and
holding the collar member 40 in its upper position to thereby hold
the umbrella 10 in its open condition.
[0014] A switch 54 is provided at the lower end of the support rod
12 proximate to the handle 14. The switch 54 is employed for
activating the electrically powered fan 22. If there is an adequate
amount of sun shining or other light falling on the solar cells 40
the fan motor 24 will cause the shaft to rotate, thereby rotating
the propeller 28. When the switch 34 is in the first position, the
rotating propeller 28 draws cooling air into the fan housing 16
through the openings 36 and causes the cooling air to flow
downwardly through the slots 20 and onto or near the head of a user
holding the umbrella 10. When the switch 34 is in the second
position, warm air from beneath the umbrella is drawn into the
slots 20 and is exhausted out of the circular openings 36. If there
is insufficient power provided by the solar cells 40. Power for the
motor 24 may be provided by the batteries.
[0015] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
changes could be made to the embodiments described above without
departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is
understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the
particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover
modifications within the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
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