U.S. patent number 3,863,660 [Application Number 05/273,852] was granted by the patent office on 1975-02-04 for method and apparatus for controlling sunlight transmission.
Invention is credited to Werner T. Glaeser.
United States Patent |
3,863,660 |
Glaeser |
February 4, 1975 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING SUNLIGHT TRANSMISSION
Abstract
A beach umbrella or parasol construction in which the top
material in one embodiment is provided with a multiplicity of
openings to permit a controlled portion of the sun's rays to pass
through the material and reach the user. The openings also permit
aerodynamic pressure equalization across the top to reduce
likelihood of damaging the top during gusty wind conditions. In
another embodiment of the invention, the top is fabricated from a
number of radially projecting slats which may be pivoted along
their longitudinal axes to vary the amount of sunlight passing
through the slats. In both embodiments means may be provided to
rotate the parasol about its central supporting post so that the
user beneath the parasol will receive brief flashes of sunlight in
rapid sequence.
Inventors: |
Glaeser; Werner T. (Richmond,
NY) |
Family
ID: |
23045690 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/273,852 |
Filed: |
July 21, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/33.2; 135/91;
135/98; 135/33.7; 135/94; 135/115 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B
25/20 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A45B
25/00 (20060101); A45B 25/20 (20060101); A45b
025/20 () |
Field of
Search: |
;135/5,16,19.5,20,33,34,35,2 ;2/10,177 ;128/372,394 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Bell; J. Karl
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hieken, Esq.; Charles Cohen, Esq.;
Jerry
Claims
Having thus described my invention what I desire to claim and
secure by Letters Patent is:
1. An umbrella comprising,
a central supporting pole,
cover supporting means extending about and supported by said
supporting pole,
and cover means supported by said cover supporting means and
including means defining a plurality of continuously open apertures
free from material over substantially the entire surface of said
cover means that transmit both sunlight and air therethrough for
continuously exposing the user therebeneath to a portion only of
the sunrays energy incident upon the top of said cover means and
transmitting the flow of air therethrough,
the remainder of said cover means consisting of portions that
alternate with said apertures for preventing the transmission of
sunrays and air therethrough.
2. An umbrella as defined in claim 1 and further comprising,
means mounting said cover support means and cover means for
rotation about said central supporting pole axis.
3. An umbrella as defined in claim 2 and further comprising,
aerodynamic means comprising said cover means for rotating said
cover support means and cover means in response to the wind.
4. An umbrella as defined in claim 2 and further comprising,
motor means operatively connected to said cover support means for
effecting said rotation.
5. An umbrella as defined in claim 1 wherein said apertures are
arranged to continuously pass between 20 and 75 percent of the
incident sunlight energy therethrough.
6. An umbrella as defined in claim 1 and further comprising,
means for varying the dimensions of said apertures to control the
amount of sunlight energy continuously passing therethrough.
7. An umbrella as defined in claim 6 wherein said means for varying
the dimensions of said apertures comprises,
means forming said cover means from a plurality of slats, said
slats being pivotally mounted about axis which enable the edges of
adjacent slats to be pivoted toward and away from each other.
8. An umbrella as defined in claim 7 wherein each of said slats
extend radially from a central hub and is pivoted along radially
extending axis.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an improved parasol to shade the user
from the full effect of direct sunlight and to control the shade so
that a portion of the sun's rays reach the user. The parasol is
useful particularly in tropical environments or during the
beginning of the summer in more northern latitudes when one
normally must be careful to avoid becoming sun burned as a result
of initial overexposure to the sun. It is useful particularly by
those persons with light and sensitive skin who tend to become
sunburned easily.
Although various suntan lotions, oils and other preparations are
employed commonly to retard sunburn and promote gentle tanning,
these preparations frequently are ineffective when used by a person
who has not been exposed to the sun for some time as would be the
case during the beginning of the summer or by one vacationing in
the tropics. Additionally, it may not always be convenient to
employ such lotions or preparations.
It is among the primary objects of my invention to provide a
parasol which provides sufficient shade to preclude sunburn yet
which permits sufficient sunlight to reach the user to initiate
gentle tanning.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of my invention includes an umbrella or parasol of
generally conventional design having a central pole or other
supporting element and a skeletal frame over which is stretched a
top material of cloth, plastic or other light flexible sheet. A
multiplicity of openings are formed in the top material to permit a
controlled portion of the sun to reach the user beneath the
umbrella top.
An additional feature of the invention resides in the elimination
of any hot spots below the umbrella. Any heat which normally might
tend to become trapped beneath the umbrella, particularly on balmy
days, may rise upwardly through the holes to provide continuous and
cool circulation.
Still another advantage of the invention resides in its resistance
to damage or fracture as a result of gusting winds. The
multiplicity of holes in the top material of the umbrella permits
rapid pressure equalization across both surfaces of the umbrella
top thus reducing materially the stresses which normally might be
imposed on the umbrella top and frame as a result of high or gusty
winds.
In some instances it may be desirable to preclude any sunlight from
passing through the parasol and, for this purpose, the invention
includes a cover which may be fitted over the top of the parasol to
cover the holes formed therein.
In another embodiment of the invention, the top of the parasol is
formed from a plurality of slats which extend radially and
outwardly from the center of the parasol. The slats are mounted to
the frame structure of the parasol so that they may be pivoted
above their longitudinal axes between positions in which the sun is
precluded from passing through the slats and a position in which
the slats lie in a plane substantially parallel to the incident
sunlight which then may pass through the top. The angular position
of the slats may be adjusted to vary the degree of sunlight passing
therebetween.
Both embodiments of the invention may include a further
modification in which the top of the parasol is rotatably mounted
to its central supporting post so that the incident sunlight is
alternately interrupted and reaches the user in rapidly repeated
brief flashes. The parasol top may be rotated by a motor or may
include vanes or the like which rotate the parasol top in response
to the wind.
It is among the objects of my invention to provide a technique for
controlling the transmission of sunlight and to minimize the
likelihood of sunburning, particularly in relatively intense
sunlight.
A further object of the invention is to provide a method and
apparatus for controlling the incident sunlight on the user which
avoids the use of lotions, creams, and the like.
Another object of the invention is to provide a technique for
controlling incident sunlight in which the degree of sunlight
reaching the user may be controlled.
A further object of the invention is to provide a method and
apparatus which enables one to remain outdoors for extended periods
of time while avoiding discomfort from the effects of relatively
intense sunlight.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a parasol
having perforations or openings formed therein which permit only a
portion of the incident sunlight to pass therethrough.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be
understood more fully from the following detailed description
thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is an illustration of one embodiment of the invention in
which the parasol top is of continuous construction except for
numerous perforations formed therein;
FIG. 2 is an illustration of another embodiment of the invention in
which the parasol top is formed from a plurality of radially and
outwardly projecting slats which may be pivoted or twisted to
various positions to control the amount of sunlight passing through
the top;
FIG. 3A is a somewhat diagrammatic illustration of the slats of the
embodiment shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from one end of the slats and
showing the position of the slats when fully closed to block fully
the sunlight; and
FIG. 3B is an illustration of the slats similar to that of FIG. 3A
illustrating the position of the slats when pivoted to permit a
portion of the incident sunlight to pass therethrough.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
As shown in FIG. 1, one embodiment of the invention includes a
parasol or umbrella of generally conventional design having a rigid
center post 10, which supports, at its upper end, a skeletal frame
consisting generally of a plurality of radially extending ribs 12.
In most instances the ribs 12 will be pivotally mounted to the
upper end of the post 10 so that they may be folded downwardly
along the post 10 for more compact storage. The ribs 12 generally
are supported by struts 14 which are also pivoted, at their ends,
to the center of the ribs 12, and also to a sliding ring 16 which
is movable along the post 10. Any number of conventional
arrangements may be employed for locking the ring 16 in a position
to maintain the struts 14 and ribs 12 in a radially extended
position to open the parasol.
The ribs 12 are covered by a flexible umbrella top which may be
formed from a sheet of cloth, plastic, metal foil, rubber or other
material suitable for such use. The umbrella top 18 is formed with
a multiplicity of openings 20 which may be spaced equally from each
other or may be arranged randomly over the surface of the umbrella
top 18. In general, equally spaced holes are preferred in that they
may be more simple to manufacture in mass production techniques.
The opening may be of any selected shape as round, triangular,
pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal or any other shape regular or
irregular.
The multitudinous openings permit some of the sunlight to pass
therebetween to the user. The dimensions and spacing of the
openings can be selected to pass between 20 to 75 percent of the
holes and their spacing may be varied according to the region where
the parasol is to be used. In tropical latitudes where the sunlight
is intense the openings may be smaller and fewer in number. In more
northern latitudes where the sunlight is not as intense, the
openings may be larger and more closely spaced.
Although the invention is shown, in the illustrative embodiment, as
employed in a beach umbrella or a portable hand-carried parasol, it
may be employed with equal efficiency in any protective covering
such as with an awning, roof covering etc.
In some instances it may be desirable to convert the parasol shown
in FIG. 1 to one having no holes or openings. For this purpose, the
invention also includes an outer, supplemental covering which is
continuous and has no holes. This outer covering 22 may be fit over
and about the external surface of the foraminous top 18.
As mentioned above, the other advantages of the parasol include the
tendency to maintain the region beneath the parasol at a cool
temperature by permitting warm air to rise upwardly through the
opening, especially on calm days. Furthermore, the openings permit
the pressure on either side of the top covering 18 to be equalized
thus retarding the likelihood of uprooting of the beach umbrella by
gusting winds or, when the parasol is hand carried, fracturing of
the supporting ribs and struts 12, 14.
In another embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, the
umbrella top is fabricated from a plurality of slats 22 which, when
the umbrella is open, extend radially and outwardly from a central
hub 24 mounted on top of the supporting post 10. This embodiment
also includes the struts 14, and ribs 12 which also are fastened to
the central hub 24. The widthwise dimension of each of the slats 22
diverges radially and and outwardly along its length. The outer
ends of the slats are supported by peripheral frame elements 26
which are of flexible design to enable the umbrella to be folded in
the conventional manner. The slats 22 are pivotally mounted between
the hub 24 and peripheral frame elements 26 to enable the slats to
be pivoted to desired positions about their longitudinal axes 22.
This arrangement may include pivot pins or deformable torsion
elements, indicated generally by the reference character 28, which
are connected to the central hub 24 and peripheral frames 26.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the slats are dimensioned so that they are
pivoted to the position shown in FIG. 3A (hereinafter referred to
as horizontal) the adjacent slats will overlap or abut each other
and will preclude sunlight from passing through the the parasol.
The slats may be pivoted about their longitudinal axis as shown in
FIG. 3B to permit the incident sunlight to pass therethrough. The
quantity of sunlight transmitted is dependent on the angular
position of the slats 22 in relation to the direction of the
sunlight. The slats may be adjusted by the user to transmit the
desired amount of sunlight.
The slats or blades may be fabricated from any number of materials
such as thin metal sheeting, plastic, rubber and the like.
Alternative construction may include a textile covered metal or
plastic frame.
Although the embodiments of the invention described thus far do
permit the amount of transmitted sunlight to be controlled, a more
uniform and homogenous transmission may be obtained by rotating the
umbrella top so that the sunlight transmitted to the user beneath
the parasol reaches him in brief flashes at a relatively high
frequency. In this improved arrangement, the sunlight will not
impinge on the user along a number of fixed beams. Instead, the
plurality of light beams passing through the openings in the top
will sweep continuously past the user to promote even distribution
of the transmitted sunlight beneath the umbrella top.
Any number of arrangements may be employed to rotate the umbrella
top. In the illustrative embodiment, the central hub 24 and ring 16
are mounted rotatably to the supporting post 10. The bearing
surfaces between the hub 24 and rings 16 preferably are low
friction and may be formed from roller bearings, teflon journals,
or any other well-known arrangements. The umbrella top may be
rotated by a battery powered motor (not shown) or by the wind.
Because of the angular disposition of the slats 22 the wind will
rotate the umbrella top as the wind passes through and about the
slats 22. If desired, supplemental aerodynamic vanes 30 may be
attached to the umbrella top to aid in rotating the umbrella top.
In the event that there is no wind, the motor-driven arrangement
may be employed.
Thus, I have provided a method and apparatus for controlling the
rate of tanning by reducing the quantity of sunlight reaching the
user in which the sunlight is transmitted to the user in a
multiplicity of spaced light beams. Additionally, the tanning
action may be made more uniform by causing the light beams to sweep
over the user repetitively.
It should be understood that the foregoing description is intended
merely to be illustrative of my invention and that other
embodiments and modifications may be made thereto without departing
from its spirit. For example, although the invention has been
described as being embodied in a parasol having a central post and
umbrella top, the invention may be practiced with any number of
structures which are intended to block out selected portions of the
incident sunlight and which transmit the unblocked sunlight in a
plurality of spaced beams. Furthermore, the improved version of the
invention in which the beams are caused to sweep repetitively over
the user may be embodied in awnings or other, similar shading
devices. Additionally, although the amount of light reaching the
user is shown as being controlled by adjustable slats, other
arrangements may be provided for controlling the dimensions of the
light transmitting spaces defined between the light blocking
elements.
In the following claims the term "parasol" is intended to mean not
only beach umbrella or hand carried parasols but also to include
any structure such as an awning which is intended to provide shade
and shield the user from the sun.
* * * * *