Abstract:
A rib for a covering with a light source, bulb holder, and globe is disclosed. In one embodiment, the rib comprises a bulb holder configured to secure a light source and includes structure in order to be installed into the rib and allow for a globe device to be attached to the bulb holder in order to protect the light source and for decorative purposes.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/241,889 entitled “Umbrella Having Structural Rib Configured to Receive Electrical Components and Associated Wiring” filed on Sep. 30, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to umbrellas, gazebos and the like, and more particularly to a rib for such a structure that incorporates a light bulb holder.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Coverings such as large, patio-style umbrellas and gazebos are useful on patios, decks, pools, beaches, yards, parks, and other settings for providing protection from the sun or other weather conditions and allowing users a convenient way to enjoy cover while participating in outdoor activities. In addition to providing shade during daytime activities, such coverings can also serve as a focal point for evening activities. For activities after dark, it is desirable for the covering to incorporate some type of lighting.  
         [0004]     Conventional lighting for coverings such as umbrellas and gazebos is often attached to the outside surface of a support member or rib structure and includes unsightly exposed connectors and wires. It would therefore be desirable to provide an arrangement by which the electrical components of the lighting system are largely hidden from view. It would further be desirable for such an arrangement to be easy to install and to service.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     Stated generally, the present invention relates to a covering with lights mounted to a rib. The lighting arrangement comprises a rib that includes a bulb holder for securing a light bulb. The bulb holder includes resilient arms at its upper end that clip under the upper walls of the rib to retain the bulb holder in place within the rib. The bulb holder further comprises an outwardly extending protrusion. A globe includes an elongated portion extending upward from the globe and a ridge extending inward from the elongated portion. The ridge engages the protrusion on the bulb holder to attach the globe to the bulb holder.  
         [0006]     According to one embodiment of the present invention, a rib for a covering comprises a bottom wall, a top wall, first and second side walls extending upwards from the bottom wall to the top wall, and an intermediate wall extending between the first and second side walls at a location intermediate to the bottom wall and top wall. A longitudinal slot is formed in the upper rib wall. The rib further comprises a first hole extending through the intermediate wall and a second hole extending through the bottom wall generally in alignment with the first hole. A bulb holder extends through the first hole and second hole and is adapted to secure a light source. A protrusion extends outward from the bulb holder, and an arm portion extends upward from the bulb holder to the top wall.  
         [0007]     According to another embodiment of the present invention, a globe is configured to guard against damage to the light source.  
         [0008]     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the elongated portion of the globe comprises a groove extending along at least one side of the elongated portion.  
         [0009]     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the covering is an umbrella.  
         [0010]     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the covering is a gazebo.  
         [0011]     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the arm portion of the bulb holder comprises outwardly extending flanges.  
         [0012]     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the arm portion of the bulb holder comprises beveled surfaces on the outer edges of the outwardly extending flanges.  
         [0013]     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the arm portion is configured to retain the bulb holder beneath the top wall.  
         [0014]     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification, when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a section of a rib of a covering such as an umbrella or gazebo according to a disclosed embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a cutaway view taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a front view of a bulb holder for use with the rib of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the bulb holder of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the bulb holder of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a globe for use with the bulb holder of  FIGS. 3-5 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the globe of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  showing a first step in the assembly of the bulb holder of  FIGS. 3-5  onto the rib of  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the rib and bulb holder of  FIG. 8  showing a second step in the assembly of the bulb holder onto the rib.  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the rib and bulb holder of  FIG. 8  showing a third step in the assembly of the bulb holder onto the rib.  
         [0025]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 1  showing a first step in the assembly of the globe of  FIGS. 6 and 7  onto the bulb holder of  FIGS. 3-5 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the globe and bulb holder of  FIG. 11  showing a second step in the assembly of the globe onto the bulb holder.  
         [0027]      FIG. 13  is an isometric view of the rib section with the bulb holder assembled onto the rib and globe exploded from the bulb holder.  
         [0028]      FIG. 14  is a partially cut-away view of the device of  FIG. 13  with the globe attached to the bulb holder.  
         [0029]      FIG. 15  is a side cutaway view of an umbrella with center mast having a lighting arrangement according to the present invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 16  is a side cutaway view of an umbrella with offset mast having a lighting arrangement according to the present invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a gazebo having a lighting arrangement according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0032]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a rib  10  for use on a covering such as a large, patio-style umbrella or gazebo. . The rib  10  includes a top wall  12  that has a longitudinal slot  14  extending along the length of the rib. Below the top wall  12  and opening  14  is an intermediate wall  16  that includes holes  18  formed therethrough. The rib  10  includes a bottom wall  22  and two side walls  24 ,  26  extending between the top wall  12  and bottom wall. The intermediate wail  16  forms two channels  28 ,  30  with the top wall  12  and bottom wall  18  respectively. The bottom wall  22  has holes  32  formed therethrough in coaxial alignment with the holes  18  in the intermediate wall  16 .  
         [0033]      FIGS. 3-5  illustrate a bulb holder  100  to be installed in the rib  10  to secure a light source such as an incandescent bulb, LED, or other suitable light source. The bulb holder  100  includes a cylindrical body portion  101  having a first end  102 . A resiliently deformable head portion  104  extends from the first end  102 . As illustrated, the head portion  104  includes a plurality of legs  106 , each having a flange  108  that extends outwardly with respect to the associated leg  106 . The lower outer edge  109  of each flange  108  is beveled. The resiliently deformable portion  104  may be made of any material that is at least partially bendable under a force and returns to an original position once the force is removed. Such material may include, for example, rubber or plastic.  
         [0034]     The bulb holder  100  includes a bulb receptacle  110  at a second end  111  of the bulb holder. The bulb receptacle  110  is able to receive and hold a light source  112 . Two protrusions  114  extend outwardly with respect to the bulb holder  100  and, as described in more detail below, detachably engage a globe in order to protect the light source  112  and provide easy access to the light source.  
         [0035]     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the bulb holder  100  includes an opening  120  at the upper end  102  of the body portion  101 . Wires from a power source are inserted and connected to the light source through the opening  120 .  
         [0036]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate a globe  200  that is connectable to the bulb holder  100 . The globe  200  includes a globe portion  202  to protect a light source when the globe  200  is connected to the bulb holder  100  and assist in directing the light from the light source for illumination purposes. An elongated portion  204  extends upward from the globe portion  202 . A pair of longitudinal grooves  205  extend downward from the upper end of the elongated portion  204 . Ridges  206  extend inwardly from opposite walls of the longitudinal grooves  205 . The ridges engage the bulb holder protrusions  114  when the globe  200  is connected to the bulb holder  100 . The elongated portion  204  may be made of a resilient material. The elongated portion  204  bends outward slightly to allow the ridges  206  to be fitted around the protrusions  114 ,  116 . When the ridges  206  are around the protrusions  114 ,  116 , the elongated portion  204  returns to its original position.  
         [0037]      FIGS. 8-10  illustrate the assembly of the bulb holder  100  of  FIGS. 3-5  into the rib  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . To install the bulb holder  100  into the rib  10 , the lower end of the bulb holder  100  is directed through the top wall opening  14 . The bulb holder  100  is then inserted through the upper channel  28 , the hole  18  in the intermediate wall  16 , the lower channel  30 , and the hole  32  in the bottom wall  22  until the resilient deformable portion flanges  108  confront the top wall  12 . The flanges  108  are pushed inward, as indicated by the arrows, to a position in which the flanges can pass through the top wall opening  14  and into the channel  28 .  
         [0038]     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , once the resilient deformable flanges  108  clear the top wall  12  of the rib  10 , they return to their original position. After installation, the resilient deformable flanges  108  are captured underneath the top wall  12  to prevent the bulb holder  100  from becorring accidentally detached from the rib  10 . Furthermore, the resilient deformable portion  104  communicates with the intermediate wall  16  to prevent the bulb holder from becoming accidentally detached from the rib  10 . In addition, the light source  112  protrudes slightly out of the hole  32  in the bottom wall  22 .  
         [0039]      FIGS. 11 and 12  show the assembly of the globe  200  of  FIGS. 6 and 7  onto the bulb holder  100  of  FIGS. 3-5 . The globe  200  is installed by first directing the globe  200  upward through the hole  32  in the rib bottom wall  22  and around the light source  112 . The globe elongated portion  204  is bent outward as indicated by the arrows, until the ridges  206 ,  208  clear the bulb holder protrusions  114 ,  116 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , once the ridges  206 ,  208  are located on the upward side of the protrusions  114 ,  116 , the globe elongated portion  204  is released, and it returns to its original configuration. The ridges  206 ,  208  communicate with the protrusions  114 ,  116  to prevent the globe  200  from becoming accidentally detached from the bulb holder  100 .  
         [0040]      FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate the globe  200  being assembled with the bulb holder  100  after the bulb holder  100  is installed in the rib  10 . Specifically,  FIG. 13  shows an isometric view of the rib section  10  with the bulb holder  100  assembled onto the rib  10  and globe  200  exploded from the bulb holder  100  while  FIG. 14  shows a partially cut-away view of the rib  10  with bulb holder  100  installed and with the globe  200  attached to the bulb holder  100 .  
         [0041]     Referring now to  FIGS. 15-17 , illustrated are various types of coverings with ribs  10  in which the bulb holder  100  and globe  200  may be attached. Furthermore,  FIGS. 15-17  show that the bulb holder  100  and globe  200  may be installed throughout the covering ribs  10  where the rib  10  includes any number of bulb holders  100  and globes  200 . For example,  FIG. 15  shows a cutaway view of an umbrella  400  with a center mast  402  and a rib lighting arrangement in which the lights  404  are spaced along the ribs  10 .  FIG. 16  shows an umbrella  500  with an offset mast  502 . The umbrella has a lighting arrangement  504  along the ribs  10 .  FIG. 17  is a gazebo  600  having a lighting arrangement  602  along the gazebo ribs  10 .  
         [0042]     Unless otherwise stated, terms used herein such as “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” and the like are used only for convenience of description and are not intended to limit the invention to any particular orientation.  
         [0043]     While the above description contains many specifics, these specific embodiments should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but merely as examples of the disclosed embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision many other possible variations that are within the scope of the invention.