US20130167886A1

US20130167886A1 - Personal Umbrella

Info

Publication number: US20130167886A1
Application number: US13/340,769
Authority: US
Inventors: Meredith Ann Crain; Norman Andrew Crain
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-12-30
Filing date: 2011-12-30
Publication date: 2013-07-04

Abstract

A personal umbrella may comprise a power source that may be positioned within a shaft and/or with a slide mechanism of the umbrella. A controller may be electrically coupled to the power source and configured to receive input from a user of the umbrella. One or more illumination devices may be positioned proximate to a brim of a canopy of the umbrella and electrically coupled to both the controller and the power source. One or more illumination devices electrically coupled to the power source may be integrated in an illumination module coupled to the shaft and/or the slide mechanism. One or more fan blades may be integrated with the illumination module and configured to cause airflow to move in a direction toward the handle of the shaft of the personal umbrella. A powered heating element may be incorporated with the fan blades to provide heated airflow.

Description

BACKGROUND

On dark rainy nights, it is oftentimes difficult for a person to walk outdoors safely, especially in areas and/or along pathways that may not be illuminated by streetlights or other similar outdoor lighting. While a person might opt to protect herself from falling rain by use of a portable and personal hand-held umbrella, darkness may nonetheless make walking on uneven ground treacherous.
Oftentimes, a person using a personal umbrella in such instances may have occasion to need to locate items in bags, purses, pockets, or other items. As a nonlimiting example, a person may, after walking outdoors in a non-illuminated area to a vehicle, may need to locate his or her keys from a personal bag, backpack, or the like. Attempting to locate ones keys while also holding the personal umbrella and whatever additional bags or items that a person might be normally carrying can be a difficult task to execute safely or without dropping and/or causing damage to items being carried.
One possible solution to this common problem is for the individual to incorporate use of a flashlight to help illuminate the individual's path and/or immediate area to make walking or even standing on uneven ground more safe. However, while use of a flashlight in such instances and in such manners might be desirable, doing so while also holding the personal umbrella and one or more other items, such as bags, a phone, etc. may actually complicate the execution of individual outdoor travel, since use of a flashlight would in most instances involve use of another hand (where a first hand might already be occupied to hold the personal umbrella over the individual's head). Accordingly, the result of incorporating use of a flashlight can actually make such a situation more difficult to execute and, therefore, a situation that is less safe to the individual.
Personal umbrellas also are sometimes desirable to be used in daylight conditions as protection from direct sunlight to create shade. As a nonlimiting example, it is not uncommon for individuals engaging in select activities, like as a spectator at a sporting event, to use a personal umbrella to provide shaded relief on a warm, sunny day. Such individuals might also even utilize a personal hand-held cooling device, such as a fan to move air to the individual and create a cooling effect. But, sometimes holding both a personal umbrella and a personal electric cooling device, such as a fan, can create similar difficulties for proper execution, as discussed above, since doing so most likely may occupy both hands of the individual. In such instances, engaging in any additional personal activity by the individual may not be possible or may create an unsafe situation for the individual or others nearby.
Accordingly, for these reasons, there is a need for a previously heretofore unknown solution to the problems described above, which is set forth herein below.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a personal umbrella configured to illuminate an area outside of the boundary defined by the expanded umbrella.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a portion of the shaft depicted in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are non-limiting examples depicting housing of the batteries depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a nonlimiting example of an illumination module positioned near the underside of the personal umbrella of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an illustration showing a nonlimiting example of illumination module of FIG. 5 casting light downward toward the handle of the personal umbrella of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of an alternative embodiment of the personal umbrella of FIG. 1 with a fan incorporated therein.

FIG. 8 is a nonlimiting example of the light and fan configuration described in regard to FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an alternative embodiment illustration of the personal umbrella of FIG. 8 depicting use of micro fans and/or heating elements.

FIG. 10 is an alternative embodiment illustration of the personal umbrella of FIG. 1, with an integrated slide and illumination module.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are alternative embodiment implementations of the slide and illumination module of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is an illustration of an alternative embodiment of the personal umbrella of FIGS. 3 and 10 depicting placement of illumination devices on the support members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is an illustration of personal umbrella 10 configured to illuminate an area outside of the boundary defined by the expanded umbrella. Personal umbrella 10 may comprise, as one of ordinary skill in the art would know, any portable and/or hand-held umbrella or similar cover configured for one to approximately three or even perhaps four individuals depending up the size of the umbrella.
Personal umbrella 10 may comprise, as one of ordinary skill in the art would know, ribs 22, canopy 24, and shaft 18. In this nonlimiting example, shaft 18 is depicted in FIG. 1 with a curved handle; however, one of ordinary skill in the art would know that other handles or ends may be implemented as part of shaft 18. As a non-limiting example, shaft 18 may not have a handle but instead may be fashioned with a clip, latch, or other securing mechanism for securing the personal umbrella to another device, such as a wheelchair, stationary chair, pole, rail, etc., as one of ordinary skill in the art would know.
Further, personal umbrella 10 is configured with an illumination circuit, which may include an illumination device 12 that is controlled by controller 14. In this nonlimiting embodiment, controller 14 may comprise a button that when actuated closes a circuit causing illumination device 12 to illuminate, as shown in FIG. 1. Button 16 may be configured as part of the mechanical umbrella opening/locking mechanism, as one of ordinary skill in the art would know.
Illumination device 12 may be fashioned into or as a part of rib 22 or canopy 24 of umbrella 10 that, as one of ordinary skill in the art would know, moves from a position that is relatively parallel to shaft 18 to an expanded position, as shown in FIG. 1, wherein each rib 22 radially extends outwardly from a position proximate to the top end of the shaft (alternate end to the curved handle shown in FIG. 1). Illumination device 12 may, as one of ordinary skill in the art would know, comprise any type of illuminator, including without limitation an incandescent bulb, light emitting diode (LED) illuminator, xenon lamps, or any other illumination device that would be suitable for positioning in the application as described herein and that can be powered by a relatively small power source that might be positioned in umbrella 10, such as, in another nonlimiting example, shaft 18.
FIG. 2 is a diagram of a portion of shaft 18 depicted in FIG. 1 showing, as a non-limiting example, the interior of shaft 18 with the power source 26 and controller 14 for illumination device 12 (of FIG. 1). More specifically, power source 26 may be configured as any power source that one of ordinary skill in the art might find suitable for positioning on or in umbrella 10. In the nonlimiting example of FIGS. 1 and 2, power source 26 may be configured as one or more batteries 28 in electrical communication with each other. Depending on the diameter of shaft 18, the size of the batteries implemented may vary accordingly. For example, a larger diameter shaft may allow for use of one or more AA batteries, whereas a smaller diameter shaft may allow for use of AAA batteries or other smaller-sized batteries. Nevertheless, batteries 28 may be coupled to controller by wires 25.
In one alternative embodiment, Illumination device 12 may be a small LED illuminator configured as part of rib 22 of umbrella 10. The LED illuminator of illumination device 12 may be electrically coupled to a power source and controller 14 shown in FIG. 1 by means of wiring 25 (FIG. 2) or other energy communication pathway positioned along with or within rib 22 and shaft 18. Alternatively, the LED illuminator of illumination device 12 could be electrically coupled to a power source via wires or other electrical pathways configured into a portion of the canopy 24 of the umbrella 10. If the power source is positioned in the shaft 18 of the umbrella, as discussed in more detail below, then the wiring 25 from the illumination device 12, whether routed within a rib 22 or configured into a portion of the canopy 24, may transition into an interior portion of the shaft 18 at a point beneath where the canopy couples to the shaft 18. In any instance, the wiring 25 is configured to allow for typical movement of the ribs 22 and canopy 24 back and forth from positions of open and closed.
In the nonlimiting example of FIG. 2, controller 14 may be positioned on shaft 18 proximate to handle 32, which may be of any configuration, for easy operation by the user. Controller 14 may be configured for on/off toggle operation or for multi-function operation, if, in another nonlimiting example, illumination device 12 is configurable for multiple levels of brightness. Alternatively, controller 14 may be configured with two or more illumination devices 12 positioned proximately to each other for directional illumination, disparately from each other along the brim of the canopy 24, which may provide either a flood illumination effect or perhaps a decorative illuminative effect, or in another configuration, such as described below. Thus, one of ordinary skill in the art should understand that power source 26 can be controlled by controller 14 to communicate electrical energy to one or more illumination devices 12 positioned collectively and/or separately along the brim of the canopy 24 or elsewhere on portable umbrella 10 to provide the desired illumination effect and coverage area.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, shaft 18 may be configured to receive one or more batteries 28 as power source 26 at one of a number of different positions, which are depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4 as non-limiting examples. As the nonlimiting example in FIG. 3 illustrates, shaft 18 may have a battery compartment door 31 or, alternatively, flap 33 positioned along the length of shaft 18 or at a position proximate to handle 32. As another nonlimiting example, as shown in FIG. 4, one or more batteries 28 may be inserted into the tip of shaft 18 at opening 29. Lid 35 may be configured to close opening 29 and may further be configured to close the circuit with illumination device 12 of FIG. 1. Irrespective of the placement of power source 26 within shaft 18 and the point on shaft 18 where batteries 28 enter shaft 18, the result in each instance is that batteries 28 become electrically coupled to illumination device 12 and controller 14, which may be via wiring 25 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is an illustration of a nonlimiting example of an illumination module 34 positioned near the underside of canopy 24 of portable umbrella 30 so as to provide illumination down and onto the individual holding the portable umbrella 30. In this nonlimiting example, the illumination module 34 may contain one or more individual illumination devices 12 coupled to power source 26 (of FIG. 2) in similar fashion, as discussed above.
One of ordinary skill in the art would know that illumination module 34 should ideally be sized to provide an optimum or maximum amount of illumination while also enabling the umbrella to be fully closed without impair by the illumination module 34. Thus, the illustration in FIG. 5 is not to scale, but is instead merely a general representation of the concepts depicted herein.
Controller 14 (of FIG. 1), in this nonlimiting example may mechanically or electronically be configured to cause electrical energy to transfer from the power source 26 to one or more of illumination devices 12 in illumination module 34 (of FIG. 5). Controller 14 may be configured such that it may be actuated multiple times to cause differently positioned illumination devices 12 in illumination module 34 to illuminate accordingly and/or as desired. Controller 14 may, alternatively, include control logic 37 (FIG. 2), which may comprise a microprocessor, memory, and logic to control the illumination of various illumination devices 12 on portable umbrella 10.
FIG. 6 is an illustration showing a nonlimiting example of illumination module 34 casting light downward toward the handle 32 of personal umbrella 10. As discussed above, controller 14 may be actuated to cause illumination module 34 to cast a broader or narrower cone of light down onto the user as well as at brighter or dimmer levels of light. FIG. 6 also depicts an illumination device 12 positioned above canopy 24 and coupled to shaft 18.
FIG. 7 is an illustration of an alternative embodiment 40 of the personal umbrella 10 of FIG. 1 (depicted in this instance without the curved handle) with a fan incorporated with illumination module 34. In this alternative embodiment, fan blades 42 may be rotated by a motor incorporated in illumination module 34, which also may be coupled to power source 26.
Fan blades 42, as one of ordinary skill in the art would know, could be constructed of any suitable material. Nonlimiting examples of material that may comprise fan blades 42 may include foam or other soft or pliable substances that can collapse when personal umbrella 40 is folded shut and can return to form, as shown in FIG. 7, when personal umbrella 40 is opened. Illumination module 34 and the fan blades 42 that may be coupled thereto may be sized appropriately and in proportion to the size of the personal umbrella 0 to clearly rotate without striking any portion of the underside of the personal umbrella 40, including supports 38.
Controller 14 in FIG. 1 may be configured to control the operation of the fan shown in FIG. 7 in addition to the illumination devices 12, also shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. Alternatively, an additional controller may be coupled to shaft 18 and electrically coupled to power source 28, or, as an alternative nonlimiting example, to a separate power source (not shown) electrically configured to power the fan motor housed in illumination module 34.
FIG. 8 is a nonlimiting example of the light and fan configuration 50 described above in regard to FIG. 7. In this illustration, illumination device 12 a at the brim of canopy 24 may be controlled to illuminate by controller 14. Likewise, controller 14 may be further actuated to control the partial and/or complete illumination of one or more illumination devices 12 b contained in illumination module 34, as described above. Additionally, controller 15 may be controlled to actuate the circulation of fan blades 42 at one of a number of variable speeds to create a flow of air in a downward direction.
As an alternative embodiment and nonlimiting example to the embodiment of FIG. 8, FIG. 9 is an illustration 51 depicting micro fans 44. In this nonlimiting example, micro fans 44 may comprise a relatively low-powered motor that drives one of more micro fan blades to create an airflow in similar fashion as described above. Illumination module 34 may also be configured with one or more illumination devices 12 b. To allow full closing of the personal umbrella 10, illumination module 34 itself may be hinged in two or more positions to aid in collapsing of the personal umbrella 51.
In the nonlimiting example of FIG. 9, micro fans 44 may be further configured to include a heating element 47 to create a flow of heated air that moves from microfans 44 in a direction toward the handle 32 of (FIG. 2) of shaft 18. This nonlimiting embodiment may also include additional batteries 28 in shaft 18 to support the energy needed for the heating element 47 for the desired time of battery life.
FIG. 10 is an illustration of an alternative embodiment 58 to the embodiments described above with respect to the position of illumination module 34 being above supports 38 and slide 46, as shown in FIG. 8. More specifically, FIG. 10 is an illustration of portable umbrella 58 having an integrated slide and illumination module 53, which is configured to move up and down shaft 18. In this way, the illumination module component of slide and illumination module 53 may be sized in a manner differently than as shown in FIG. 8, since the illumination module portion, in this nonlimiting example, does not remain in an upper interior portion of the personal umbrella 58 when closed. Nevertheless, the illumination module component of slide and illumination module 53 may be configured with a number of illumination devices 12 b, as described above, to cast a broad or narrow and/or a brighter or dimmer cone of light, as desired. Similarly, a number of fan blades may also be configured to be integrated with the slide and illumination module 53, as similarly shown in FIG. 7.
FIGS. 11 and 12 are illustrations 53 a and 53 b, respectively, of integrated slide and illumination module 53, as illustrated in FIG. 10 and described above. More specifically, integrated module 53 a in FIG. 11 depicts one alternative embodiment of the slide and illumination module wherein batteries 28 are housed in the integrated slide and illumination module 53 a. Thus, batteries 28 are electrically coupled by wires 25 to illumination devices 12 b, as shown. Controller 14 is also, in this nonlimiting example, contained in slide and illumination module 53 a and is electrically coupled to illumination devices 12 b and batteries 28 via wires 25. Thus, integrated slide and illumination module 53 a operates to both mechanically control the opening and closing of personal umbrella 58, as one of ordinary skill in the art would know, and to provide illumination, as shown and described above.
FIG. 12 is an illustration of an alternative embodiment of slide and illumination module 53 b to the slide and illumination module 53 a shown in FIG. 11. Whereas the slide and illumination module 53 a of FIG. 11 is a self-contained unit, slide and illumination module 53 b is coupled via wires 25 that are contained in or, alternatively, run with support 38. As shown in FIG. 12, wires 25 are contained in shaft 18 and are coupled to batteries 28 and controller 14 (shown in FIG. 2) on the bottom end of shaft 18 (not shown). On the top of shaft 18 (also not shown) wires 25 transition from shaft 18 and are contained in or otherwise run along with rib 22. At a junction of rib 22 and support 38, wires 25 again transition from rib 22 to support 38 and route down support 38 to the slide and illumination module 53 b, as shown in FIG. 12. At the junction of support 38 and slide and illumination module 53 b, wires 25 transition from support 38 to slide and illumination module 53 b and on to one or more illumination devices 12 b, as shown.
With respect to the integrated slide and illumination modules 53 a and 53 b in FIGS. 11 & 12, respectively, a fan motor and blades could also be included therewith, as described above. The fan blades could be configured to fold into or alongside the integrated slide and illumination modules 53 a and 53 b.
One of ordinary skill in the art would know that one or more illumination devices 12 could be coupled to supports 38 and/or ribs 22 beneath the canopy 24. FIG. 13 is an illustration 60 of an alternative embodiment of the personal umbrella of FIGS. 3 and 10 depicting placement of illumination devices 12 on supports 38. Placement of relatively-small sized illumination devices in this configuration may provide the amount of desired light onto the user of the personal umbrella while possibly a different impact on the opening and closing mechanism of the personal umbrella 60. The configuration of illumination devices in FIG. 13 is merely a non-limiting example, as more or less illumination devices 12 could be used. Whether for decorative purposes or for safety purposes, the number, placement, color, intensity/brightness, pattern, etc. of illumination devices can vary.
It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are merely possible examples of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.

Claims

1. A personal umbrella, comprising:

a power source positioned within a shaft of the personal umbrella;

a controller electrically coupled to the power source and configured to receive input from a user of the personal umbrella;

one or more illumination devices positioned proximate to a brim of a canopy of the personal umbrella and electrically coupled to the controller and the power source; and

wherein the controller is configured to cause illumination of the one or more illumination devices when illuminated to vary in intensity in proportion with user input received by the controller.

2. The personal umbrella of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a plurality of batteries electrically coupled to each other.

3. (canceled)

4. The personal umbrella of claim 1, wherein the one or more illumination devices are LEDs.

5. The personal umbrella of claim 1, further comprising:

an illumination module supported by the shaft and positioned proximate to an underside of the canopy, the illumination module being electrically coupled to the power source and the controller, the illumination module further containing at least one illumination device.

6. The personal umbrella of claim 5, the illumination module further comprising:

a motor electrically coupled to an energy source; and

a plurality of fan blades coupled to the motor.

7. The personal umbrella of claim 6, further comprising:

a heating element positioned proximate to the plurality of fan blades and electrically coupled to the energy source and to the controller.

8. The personal umbrella of claim 1, further comprising:

wiring positioned within the shaft and within a rib of the personal umbrella, and further in electrical communication with the one or more illumination devices positioned proximate to a brim of a canopy of the personal umbrella, the controller, and the power source.

9. A personal umbrella, comprising:

one or more batteries;

at least one light positioned on an outer edge of a canopy portion of the personal umbrella and in electrical communication with the one or more batteries; and

a user input device in electrical communication with the one or more batteries and the at least one light, the user input device being adapted to control the intensity of illumination of the at least one light when the at least one light is illuminated.

10. (canceled)

11. The personal umbrella of claim 9, further comprising:

a light module positioned beneath an underside of the canopy proximate to the shaft and coupled to both the one or more batteries and to the user input device, wherein control of the user input device causes at least one light coupled to the light module to illuminate an area below the canopy.

12. The personal umbrella of claim 11, wherein the light module is integrated with a slide mechanism of the umbrella that enables opening and closing of the canopy portion of the personal umbrella.

13. The personal umbrella of claim 9, further comprising:

at least one motor electrically coupled to the power source and to a user input module;

a plurality of fan blades coupled to the motor and configured to rotate and create an airflow in a general direction toward a handle end of the shaft when the motor is energized.

14. A personal umbrella, comprising:

a power source coupled to the umbrella;

a controller electrically coupled to the power source and configured to receive input from a user;

a plurality of illumination devices coupled to the personal umbrella and electrically coupled to both the controller and the power source; and

wherein the controller is configured to cause illumination of the plurality of illumination devices when illuminated to vary in intensity in proportion with user input received by the controller.

15. The personal umbrella of claim 14, wherein at least one of the plurality of illumination devices is coupled proximately to an edge of a canopy of the umbrella and in electrical communication with the power source and the controller.

16. The personal umbrella of claim 14, wherein at least one of the plurality of illumination devices is coupled to the personal umbrella beneath a canopy of the umbrella and in electrical communication with the power source and the controller.

17. The personal umbrella of claim 14, further comprising:

at least one motor electrically coupled to the power source and to the controller;

18. The personal umbrella of claim 17, further comprising:

a heating element electrically coupled to the power source and the controller and positioned proximate to the plurality of fan blades.

19. The personal umbrella of claim 14, wherein one or more of the plurality of illumination devices is coupled to a slide mechanism operable for opening and closing the personal umbrella.

20. (canceled)

21. The personal umbrella of claim 1, wherein the intensity of illumination of the one or more illumination devices varies in accordance with at least one of color of illumination, one or more blinking patterns, and brightness of illumination.

22. The personal umbrella of claim 9, wherein intensity of illumination of the at least one light when the at least one light is illuminated varies in accordance with at least one of color of illumination, one or more blinking patterns, and brightness of illumination.

23. The personal umbrella of claim 1, wherein the intensity of illumination of the plurality of illumination devices varies in accordance with at least one of color of illumination, one or more blinking patterns, and brightness of illumination.