Abstract:
An electric opening and closing device that retrofits to new and existing patio and market umbrellas. Such umbrellas are commonly used to provide shade outdoors, and are usually installed through a hole in the center of a table or mounted freestanding in a support base. The invention consists of a low voltage reversible electric motor that attaches to the upper end of the umbrella mast, a cable reel driven by the motor, a length of cable with one end affixed to the cable reel and the opposite end affixed to the umbrella yoke, electric control switch, remote control means, and electric supply means.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   U.S. Patent Documents 
   
     
       
             
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
           
           
             
               6612713 
               September, 2003 
               Kuelbs 
               362/102 
             
             
               6543464 
               April, 2003 
               Grady 
               135/22 
             
             
               6374840 
               April, 2002 
               Ma 
               135/22 
             
             
               6182917 
               February, 2001 
               Lai 
               242/390.8 
             
             
               6058951 
               May, 2000 
               Wilson 
               135/20.3 
             
             
               4619281 
               October, 1986 
               Redl 
               135/20.3 
             
             
               4011881 
               March, 1997 
               Becher 
               135/20.3 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable 
   REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
   Not Applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Patio umbrellas and market umbrellas are frequently used to provide shade outdoors, and are also used for various applications indoors in homes, retail shopping centers, hotels, restaurants, and other locations. Patio umbrellas and market umbrellas are similar in form and function. In this text, patio umbrellas and market umbrellas are referred to as conventional patio umbrellas. 
   Conventional patio umbrellas are comprised of a mast that is generally 8 feet or more in height, a canopy having a diameter between 6 feet and 12 feet and made of fabric or other foldable material affixed at its center to the upper end of the mast, a plurality of ribs evenly spaced around the mast circumference, whereby one end of each rib is pivotally attached to the upper end of the mast under the canopy and the opposite end of each rib is attached to the canopy perimeter, and a plurality of levers whereby one end of each lever is pivotally attached to one of the ribs and the opposite end of each lever is pivotally attached to a yoke. The yoke forms a ring applied on the circumference of the mast and is movable along a portion of the length of the mast. Conventional patio umbrellas have a yoke operating means to cause the yoke to move up and down the mast to apply and reduce force on the levers and thereby the ribs causing the canopy to open and close. Yoke operating means of conventional patio umbrellas vary in configuration, however all require human effort to operate. An example of a yoke operating means is a mechanism comprising a hand operated winch, rope and pulley drivingly engaged with the yoke. Another example of a yoke operating means comprises one or more hand operated ropes over pulleys drivingly engaged with the yoke. Another example of a yoke operating means comprises manual hand lifting and lowering of the yoke, or other means requiring human effort to cause the yoke to move up and down the mast and thereby open and close the canopy. 
   When in use, the mast of a conventional patio umbrella stands in a vertical position with the canopy at the upper end and with its lower end installed through a hole in the center of a table and supported, or the mast can be supported by a structure in a freestanding position. In its closed position the canopy is folded compactly around the circumference of the mast. The canopy can be made to open when the yoke operating means forcibly moves the yoke toward the upper end of the mast thereby forcing the levers against the ribs causing the ribs to pivot upwards on mast attachment points and thereby lifting the canopy causing it to spread up and away from the mast to an open position. The canopy is retained in the open position by the yoke operating means or other retention means. In its open position the canopy can be made to close when the yoke operating means causes the yoke to move away from the upper end of the mast thereby reducing the lever force against the ribs and whereby gravity causes the ribs to pivot downward on mast attachment points and the canopy collapses and folds compactly around the circumference of the mast. 
   Various mechanisms have been invented to motorize patio umbrellas, however these involve modifications to the working parts of a conventional patio umbrella, or a completely new patio umbrella design. As described in the art, motorized patio umbrellas are only available as a factory equipped mechanism constructed by patio umbrella manufacturers. Patents disclosing such mechanisms include U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,713 to Kuelbs, U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,464 to Grady, U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,917 to Lai, and others. 
   Factory motorized patio umbrellas are growing in popularity because they offer luxury, convenience, and are easier to operate than conventional patio umbrellas. However, to enjoy these benefits requires the purchase of a new and expensive patio umbrella. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A principal object of the present invention is to provide a low cost retrofit motor for opening and closing new and existing conventional patio umbrellas, and a control means including manual switch and remote control means. 
   An additional object of the present invention is to provide a retrofit motor and control means that an average person can easily install to a conventional patio umbrella with little or no modification to the umbrella. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a conventional patio umbrella with a cut-a-way view of its canopy in an open position. The umbrella opening and closing means is represented in a sectional view of the umbrella mast and includes a winch coupled with and driving a rope suspended over a pulley, whereby the rope is engaged with the umbrella yoke. The umbrella mast is installed through a hole in the center of a patio table and supported by a base. Also illustrated is a view of an embodiment of the present invention mounted to the umbrella mast under the canopy, a control module adjacent to the tabletop, electric wires, AC-DC Adapter and remote control transmitter. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a sectional partial embodiment of the present invention showing its motor housing and mounting bracket assembled to the mast of a conventional patio umbrella. The motor housing comprises a low voltage reversible motor driving gears and a cable reel. Also illustrated is a cable affixed to the cable reel and to the umbrella yoke. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a top down sectional view of a conventional patio umbrella mast and a partial embodiment of the present invention affixed to the mast and comprising a motor housing, a low voltage reversible motor driving gears, motor housing mounting bracket and assembly screws. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a partial view of an embodiment of the present invention showing its control module mounted to the conventional patio umbrella mast adjacent to the top level of a table, with the mast installed through a hole in the table. Also illustrated are control module up and down-switches, electric wires, remote control receiver, and remote control transmitter. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a top down sectional view of a conventional patio umbrella mast and a partial embodiment of the present invention showing its control module and control module mounting bracket affixed to the mast. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a view of a conventional patio umbrella  10  with mast  13  installed through hole  38  in center of patio table  14  and supported in base  15 . Canopy  11  is illustrated in a cut-a-way open position. Canopy  11  is affixed at its center to mast  13  and supported by a plurality of ribs  36  each pivotally engaged at one end to mast  13  and affixed at each opposite end to canopy  11  perimeter. Also illustrated is a plurality of levers  37  pivotally engaged with ribs  36  and yoke  19 . Yoke  19  forms a ring applied on the circumference of mast  13  and movable along a portion of the length of mast  13 . Yoke  19  is driving engaged with winch mechanism  12 . Winch mechanism  12  can be manually rotated to collect and dispense rope  40  over pulley  41  and thereby lift and lower yoke  19  causing levers  37  to pivot ribs  36  up and down and thereby open and close canopy  11 . 
   Further illustrated in  FIG. 1  is an embodiment of the present invention whereby motor housing  16  is affixed to the upper end of mast  13  under canopy  11 , cable  18  is affixed to cable reel  17  at one end and at its opposite end affixed to yoke  19 . Low voltage wire pair  20  connects motor housing  16  to control module  21  that is mounted to mast  13 . Low voltage power cord  22  connects control module  21  to AC-DC electric power supply  23 . Also illustrated is remote control transmitter  33 . 
   Conventional patio umbrella  10  can have various means to open and close canopy  11  such as winch mechanism  12  in  FIG. 1 , or other means previously described in the background of the invention. The present invention provides a device that substitutes for the human effort that is required to drive the opening and closing means of conventional patio umbrella  10 . The present invention can be retrofit to a new or existing conventional patio umbrella  10  with little or no modification to conventional patio umbrella  10 . The present invention is designed for do-it-yourself installation and usually the only tool required is a screwdriver. 
   One example of how to install the present invention is to position conventional patio umbrella  10  vertically with lower end of mast  13  supported in a freestanding position. Next, operate winch mechanism  12  to open canopy  11 , or otherwise open canopy. Position motor housing  16  under canopy  11  near the uppermost end of mast  13  and hold against mast  13 . As in  FIG. 3 , position motor housing mounting bracket  24  on the opposite side of motor housing  16  and hold both against mast  13 . Join motor housing  16  and motor housing mounting bracket  24  using screws  25 . When screws  25  are tightened motor housing  16  and motor housing mount bracket  24  are securely clamped to mast  13  and prevented from moving. As in  FIG. 2 , attach one end of cable  18  to cable reel  17  using retention means in the cable reel  17 . Attach the opposite end of cable  18  to yoke  19  by inserting cable  18  through hole  39  in yoke  19  and secure by tying knot  42  at the end of cable  18  on the bottom side of yoke  19 , or use an alternate means to affix cable  18  to yoke  19 . Thereby yoke  19  is drivingly engaged with motor  26  by means of gears  27 , cable reel  17  and cable  18 . As in  FIG. 4 , position control module  21  against mast  13  on top of table  14 . As in  FIG. 5 , position control module mounting bracket  30  on opposite side of mast  13  and control module  21 . Join control module  21  and control module mounting bracket  30  using screws  31  as illustrated in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 . When screws  31  are tightened control module  21  and control module mounting bracket  30  are securely clamped to mast  13  and prevented from moving. Lower canopy  11  using winch mechanism  12  in  FIG. 1  or use other means until canopy  11  closes fully. Inspect cable  18  to verify that it is stretched tight between cable reel  17  and yoke  19 , and if necessary adjust length of cable  18  by relocating knot  42  until cable  18  is stretched tight between cable reel  17  and yoke  19 . Winch mechanism  12 , rope  40  and pulley  41  are now bypassed and no longer required, yet can remain in place and will not impede operation of the present invention. Plug AC-DC Adapter  23  into wall outlet. 
   In  FIG. 4 , control module  21  comprises up-switch  28  and down-switch  29  that respectively control first polarity and second polarity DC voltage to motor  26  in  FIG. 2 , and whereby actuating up-switch  28  couples the first polarity DC voltage from AC-DC Adapter  23  to drive motor  26  in clockwise rotation, and whereby actuating down-switch  29  couples the second polarity DC voltage from AC-DC Adapter  23  to drive motor  26  in counter-clockwise rotation. Also in  FIG. 4 , control module  21  comprises receiver  32  that is responsive to up-switch  35  and down-switch  34  of transmitter  33 . Receiver  32  has means to control the first polarity and the second polarity DC voltage to motor  26 , whereby actuating up-switch  35  causes receiver  32  to couple the first polarity DC voltage from AC-DC Adapter  23  to drive motor  26  in clockwise rotation, and whereby actuating down-switch  34  causes receiver  32  to couple the second polarity DC voltage from AC-DC Adapter  23  to drive motor  26  in counter-clockwise rotation. 
   To open canopy  11  using the present invention, press and hold up-switch  28  or up-switch  35  in  FIG. 4  to thereby couple the first polarity DC voltage from AC-DC Adapter  23  through power cord  22  to the means of control module  21  and thereby to wire pair  20  and to motor  26 . This causes motor  26  to be energized and rotate clockwise driving plurality of gears  27  and thereby cable reel  17 . Cable reel  17  rotates and collects cable  18  thereby progressively raising yoke  19  on mast  13  and driving levers  37  against ribs  36  thereby causing ribs  36  to pivot upward on their mast attachment points and gradually force canopy  11  to an open position. When canopy  11  reaches desired open position, release up-switch  28  or up-switch  35  to thereby uncouple DC voltage to motor  26  causing motor  26  to stop. When motor  26  stops there is sufficient frictional engagement between motor  26  and gears  27  to prevent cable reel  17  from rotating, thereby cable  18  retains yoke  19  and canopy  11  in its present open position. To close canopy  11  using the present invention, press and hold down-switch  29  or down-switch  34  to thereby couple the second polarity DC voltage from AC-DC Adapter  23  through power cord  22  to the means of control module  21  and thereby to motor  26 . This causes motor  26  to be energized and rotate counter-clockwise driving plurality of gears  27  and thereby cable reel  17 . Cable reel  17  rotates and dispenses cable  18  thereby reducing the holding force on yoke  19 , whereby gravity causes yoke  19  to progressively move to a lower position on mast  13  and thereby levers  37  and ribs  36  follow and canopy  11  gradually closes. When canopy  11  reaches desired position, release down-switch  29  or down-switch  34  to thereby uncouple DC voltage to motor  26  causing motor  26  to stop. When motor  26  stops there is sufficient frictional engagement between motor  26  and gears  27  to prevent cable reel  17  from rotating, thereby cable  18  retains yoke  19  and canopy  11  in its present position. 
   Control module  21  can comprise additional means to start motor  26  and subsequently stop motor  26  automatically when canopy  11  attains open and closed travel limits. In this respect, to open canopy  11  by the additional means of control module  21 , press and release up-switch  28  or up-switch  35  to thereby couple the first polarity DC voltage from AC-DC Adapter  23  through power cord  22  to the additional means of control module  21 , wire pair  20 , and thereby to motor  26 . This causes motor  26  to be energized and rotate clockwise driving plurality of gears  27  and thereby cable reel  17 . Cable reel  17  rotates and collects cable  18  thereby progressively raising yoke  19  on mast  13 . Yoke  19  drives levers  37  against ribs  36  thereby causing ribs  36  to pivot upward on their mast attachment points and gradually force canopy  11  to an open position. When canopy  11  reaches its open travel limit the additional means of control module  21  automatically uncouples DC voltage to motor  26  causing motor  26  to stop. When motor  26  stops there is sufficient frictional engagement between motor  26  and gears  27  to prevent cable reel  17  from rotating, thereby cable  18  retains yoke  19  and thereby canopy  11  in its present position. Also in this respect, to close canopy  11  by the additional means of control module  21 , press and release down-switch  29  or down-switch  34  to thereby couple the second polarity DC voltage from AC-DC Adapter  23  through power cord  22  to the additional means of control module  21 , wire pair  20  and thereby to motor  26 . This causes motor  26  to be energized and rotate counter-clockwise driving plurality of gears  27  and thereby cable reel  17 . Cable reel  17  rotates and dispenses cable  18  thereby reducing the holding force on yoke  19 , whereby gravity causes yoke  19  to progressively move to a lower position on mast  13  and thereby levers  37  and ribs  36  follow and canopy  11  gradually closes. When canopy  11  reaches its closed travel limit the additional means of control module  21  automatically uncouples DC voltage to motor  26  causing motor  26  to stop. When motor  26  stops there is sufficient frictional engagement between motor  26  and gears  27  to prevent cable reel  17  from rotating, thereby cable  18  retains yoke  19  and thereby canopy  11  in its present position.