U.S. patent application number 11/406482 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-18 for umbrella light.
Invention is credited to Robert Blatecky.
Application Number | 20070242450 11/406482 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38604648 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070242450 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Blatecky; Robert |
October 18, 2007 |
Umbrella light
Abstract
An umbrella light that can be attached to most common outdoor
umbrellas using a pair of opposing semi-circular housings
permanently joined by a hinge and a single torsion spring. The
spring is biased inward towards the central aperture thereby
creating an effective means of attachment. Within the housings are
a plurality of LED's, batteries and an optional IC charging
monitor. An optional solar panel is attached to the umbrella via an
attachment clip. All components are wired in a standard way. The
housings each include a centrally located hemispherical cut out
area creating a circular aperture to allow for attachment to the
support pole of a standard outdoor umbrella, and a self contained
flat clip for non-pole use. The floor of the housings has a
plurality of apertures that allow light from the enclosed LED's to
exit.
Inventors: |
Blatecky; Robert; (Danville,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROBERT BLATECKY
4359 QUAIL RUN LN.
DANVILLE
CA
94506
US
|
Family ID: |
38604648 |
Appl. No.: |
11/406482 |
Filed: |
April 17, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/102 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 3/04 20130101; A45B
2200/1027 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/102 |
International
Class: |
A45B 3/02 20060101
A45B003/02 |
Claims
1. An umbrella light that can be attached to most common outdoor
umbrellas comprising: a pair of permanently hinged opposing
semi-circular, weather resistant housings that together form a
doughnut, "C" or other shape; a plurality of LED's; a plurality of
DC batteries; a torsion spring; a plurality of resilient gripping
members; an on-off and light selector switch; a plurality of metal
battery contacts; and said LED's, said battery contacts, said
on-off switch, and said batteries wired in a standard way within
said housings to cause said LED's to illuminate; said housings
being permanently hinged and each including a centrally located
hemispherical cut out area thereby creating a circular aperture to
allow for attachment to the support pole or sliding collar of a
standard outdoor umbrella; the floor of said housings having a
plurality of apertures that allow light to exit from said enclosed
LED's; said housings including said torsion spring at one side of
said housings so that said housings are spring biased inward
towards each other thereby creating a pole retaining means.
2. An umbrella light that can be attached to most common outdoor
umbrellas as claimed in claim 1 wherein the single spring biased
nature of said pole aperture allows for said housing to snuggly fit
onto a variety of pole diameters or sliding pole collars
3. An umbrella light as claimed in claim 1 wherein said LED's
include independently operating cool white and amber color output
so that when used together, a more balanced warm light is emitted
and wherein said selector switch can be positioned so that said
cool white LED's or said amber LED's can be activated separately
for more energy efficiency use.
4. An umbrella light as claimed in claim 1 wherein said C type
battery holders can be converted to AA type battery holders by
means of hinged AA battery adaptor members located within the floor
of said standard C battery retaining walls.
5. An umbrella light as claimed in claim 1 further including a
hanger bracket that can be removably attached to said light housing
thereby allowing said housing to be supported by a standard hook
rather than an umbrella pole.
6. An umbrella light as claimed in claim 1 wherein said batteries
can be a recharging type and are charged by a charging system
including a solar panel attached by an attachment clip that can be
removably attached to the edge of a standard outdoor umbrella; said
charging system including an IC charging monitor which allows for
more accurate and efficient measurement of power coming from said
solar panel.
7. An umbrella light as claimed in claim 1 wherein said umbrella
solar panel attachment clip includes an approximately five inch
extension arm to enable said solar panel to not interfere with the
standard overlap vent flap found on many standard outdoor
umbrellas.
8. An umbrella light as claimed in claim 1 wherein said solar panel
can be attached to the fabric portion of an umbrella by alternate
means such as a standard pin through fabric and associated clasp,
magnetic clasps, or attachment to the top of said umbrella and
retained by means of its standard finial.
9. An umbrella light as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an
optional solar power clip retaining pocket that can be glued or
sewn or otherwise attached to an umbrella that does not have a vent
flap configuration.
10. An umbrella light that can be attached to most common outdoor
umbrellas as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing can be affixed
to an umbrella pole without the need for additional tools or
buckles and without the need for detaching said housing members
from each other.
11. An umbrella light as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a
plurality of high friction resilient strips mounted to the inside
surface of said circular pole aperture so that said housing will
not slip down said umbrella pole.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX
[0003] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This invention relates generally to the field of outdoor
umbrella accessories and more specifically to an umbrella
light.
[0005] Outdoor umbrellas have been used in residential and
commercial settings for many years. Traditionally they serve the
purpose of creating comfortable shade in an otherwise sunny, hot
environment. However, in recent times it has also become popular to
use outdoor umbrellas during evening activities such as having an
outdoor dinner or other evening event. It is desirable to have a
source of illumination during such evening events.
[0006] To this end, the addition of a lighting fixture to the
underside of an umbrella, which could shine light down on a table
and surrounding people or other objects would be desirable. Another
desirable feature would be a lighting source that, by using
batteries as a power source, did not require to be plugged into a
standard 120 VAC outlet. And even more desirable would be a
lighting fixture that used the sun as a means of recharging its
battery source.
[0007] A number of inventors have anticipated this problem and
suggested potential solutions. These include U.S. Pat. No.
6,612,713, U.S. Pat. No. 6,966,667 and patent applications
2005/0117326, 2004/0149325. However, each solution described in
prior art includes certain deficiencies that the present invention
overcomes. None of the above patents or applications describes a
way to easily attach an umbrella light to an existing standard
umbrella in a way which universally requires no assembly, tools or
closure buckles. None include a combination of independently
controlled cool white and amber LED's for optimum color balance,
and none uses a choice of AA or C type batteries. Finally, none
includes an umbrella attachment clip to easily attach a solar panel
to the outside fabric of a standard umbrella.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The primary object of the invention is to provide an
umbrella light that derives electrical power from a DC battery
source located within the light housing.
[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide a fully
assembled umbrella light that can be easily attached, by means of a
single torsion spring, at any desired height to the support pole of
an outdoor umbrella.
[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide an umbrella
light whose color output can be balanced using a combination of
independently adjustable cool white and amber LED's.
[0011] A further object of the invention is to provide an umbrella
light that allows easy attachment of a solar panel to the fabric
portion of an umbrella and includes an electrical cable that feeds
power to rechargeable batteries located within the light
housing.
[0012] Another object of the invention is to provide an umbrella
light that can alternately be hung on any convenient hook for non
umbrella pole applications.
[0013] Yet another object of the invention is to provide an
attachment means for an umbrella light that requires no tools or
buckles to install.
[0014] Still yet another object of the invention is to provide an
umbrella light that can accommodate C or AA type batteries.
[0015] Another object of the invention is to provide a charging
system that uses an integrated circuit instead of a light sensor to
manage use between the solar cell and battery operations.
[0016] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of
illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is
disclosed.
[0017] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention,
there is disclosed an umbrella light that can be attached to most
common outdoor umbrella's comprising: a permanently hinged pair of
opposing semi-circular housings that together form a doughnut
shape, a plurality of LED's, a plurality of batteries, an IC
charging monitor, an optional solar cell panel, a solar cell to
umbrella attachment clip, a torsion spring, a plurality of
resilient gripping members, an on-off and light selector switch,
and a plurality of metal battery contacts. Said LED's, said battery
contacts, said on-off switch, said batteries and said IC charging
monitor wired in a standard way within said housings to cause said
batteries to charge in daylight and cause said LED's to illuminate
during darkened conditions. Said battery holding area include a
pair of hinged support members that allow either C type or AA type
or other batteries to be used. Said attached, hinged housings each
including a centrally located hemispherical cut out area thereby
creating a circular aperture to allow for attachment to the various
sized support poles of standard outdoor umbrellas, the floor of
said housings having a plurality of apertures that allow light from
said enclosed LED's to exit, said housings including said torsion
spring at one side of said housings so that said housings are
spring biased inward towards each other thereby creating a pole
retaining means. Said optional solar cell attachment clip having a
solar panel attached at one end and the opposite end having a
spring biased clamping member capable of attaching to the edge of
the vent area of a standard outdoor umbrella.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The drawings constitute a part of this specification and
include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be
embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some
instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated
or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention attached to a
standard outdoor umbrella.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a side section view of the solar panel attachment
means.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the LED housing.
[0022] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the housing showing location
of torsion spring.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the LED housing with the top
removed.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the solar panel and attached
solar panel clip.
[0025] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the battery conversion
support members.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are
provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present
invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific
details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but
rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for
teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in
virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a perspective view of the invention
100 attached to a standard umbrella 2. It consists of housing 50
that is doughnut or other shaped so that it can attach to a
standard umbrella pole 6. A pair of coiled insulated wires 20
travel from the housing 50 to a solar panel 10 located on the
outside of the umbrella fabric and held in place by solar panel
clip 8. The coiled nature of the insulated wires allows for
adjustment in height of the light housing 50 without the need for
additional wire retaining ties or clips. FIG. 2 shows a partial
side section view of umbrella 2 and wind vent portion 4. Attached
housing 50 is comprised of two permanently hinged opposing housings
50A and 50B. The housing 50 can also be attached to slide-able
collar 22 so that the housing 50 can raise and lower along with the
umbrella portion 2. This means that the housing does not have to be
removed when the umbrella 2 is in the lowered or stored position.
Most outdoor umbrellas have wind vents 4. The present invention
takes advantage of the interruption in fabric created by the wind
vent 4 to attach solar panel clip 8 in place by U shaped spring
biased portion 8A. The extended length, approximately five inches,
of clip arm 8 accommodates the overlap in material formed by the
wind vent 4 as it overlaps the main umbrella 2 and allows solar
panel 10 to be in full view of the sky without being covered by the
wind vent flap 4. Other methods of holding solar panel 10 onto
umbrella 2 include a standard pin and clasp method where a pin
located on the back of solar panel 10 would penetrate the fabric of
umbrella 2 and be held by a clasp. Another method includes having
an aperture in the frame of solar panel 10 that can be placed
between the top of the umbrella 2 and the top finial 5, which can
be unscrewed and re-screwed for this purpose. For attaching the
solar panel 10 to an umbrella that does not have a wind vent flap,
a pocket type attachment made of cloth or plastic can be provided
to the user for attachment by glue, magnetic clasp or sewing to the
exterior of the umbrella surface. The pocket can then accept the
clip end 8A of solar panel clip holder 8. FIG. 3 shows a bottom
view of the housings 50A and 50B. LED lights 30, 32 emit light from
corresponding apertures in housing 50A, 50B. The LED lights are
alternating in color. Half are cool white 30 and half are amber 32.
On/off selector switch 34 allows the user to select whether both
amber 32 and cool white 30 are on together, or one or the other
light up separately. By mixing both amber 32 and cool white 30, a
balanced warm light is generated which makes skin tones and food
look more appealing. Additionally, if the user chooses to use only
cool white 30 or only amber 32, the batteries will last twice as
long as when using both together. The combination of hinged torsion
spring 44 and resilient bumpers 36 allow poles 6 of widely
differing diameters to be held snuggly within aperture 34. FIG. 3
also shows wire hanger 39 which can be inserted into slots 35, 37
and can act as a hanger means for non umbrella applications such as
when hanging on a hook within a camping tent. FIG. 4 shows an
exploded view of housings 50A and 50B. Torsion spring 44 is placed
over tubular post 48. The top end of spring 44 rests in cradle 42.
The bottom end of spring 44 rests in cradle 52. Post 46 of the
bottom plate 50B2 can penetrate aperture 40 to form a shaft for
allowing housings 50A and 50B to be hingedly joined. The torsion
spring 44 is biased inward so that housings 50A and 50B tend to be
forced in towards each other thereby allowing umbrella pole 6 to be
securely held. To attach housing 50A,B the user simply pulls the
housings apart until the umbrella pole 6 can fit in the center
portion 34, and then releases the housings 50A,B allowing them to
spring inward and grasp the pole 6 by resilient pads 36. FIG. 5
shows a perspective view of the housing 50A,B with components in
place. C type batteries 62 provide much longer illumination periods
in comparison to AA type batteries. The present invention can
operate on C batteries without any solar charging accessories, or
can operate on rechargeable C batteries and an associated solar
charging system as shown in the present drawings. Additionally, as
shown in FIG. 7, hinged AA battery support members 80, 82 can be
deployed within C type battery holder 72, 72A so that the unit may
run on either C type batteries or AA type batteries. IC circuit 60
measures input voltage from solar panel 20 to the battery. When the
input voltage reaches approximately zero at dusk, it instructs the
batteries to connect to LED lights 30, 32 to turn on. This is a
more precise and efficient way to maximize solar recharging and to
sense when to turn on the lights as compared to the more common
photo sensor method. PC boards 64, 66, 68, 70 all support LED's 30,
32 in the standard way. Metal battery contacts 72, bring power from
standard recharging circuit, not shown, to rechargeable C or AA
batteries 62. Adaptor socket 74 allows a person to plug in either
solar power cable 20 or to plug in an adapter cable that can
provide power to the rechargeable batteries 62 or directly to LED's
30, 32 via an AC to DC wall converter. FIG. 6 is a perspective view
of the solar panel 10 and attached solar panel attachment clip 8,
8A. Extension arm 8B is approximately five inches long and allows
the solar panel to rest on the surface of umbrella 2 so that vent
flap 4 will not cover the panel 10 thereby increasing the ability
of the panel 10 to absorb the day light.
[0027] While the invention has been described in connection with a
preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the
invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it
is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and
equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *