Patent Publication Number: US-2019183215-A1

Title: Sunshade umbrella

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based on and claims priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 201721782146.1, filed on Dec. 19, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to the field of solar cell technology, and in particular to a sunshade umbrella. 
     BACKGROUND 
     As people&#39;s requirements for quality of life increase, sunshade umbrellas play an increasingly important role in life. For example, the sunshade umbrellas may be required at outdoor cafes, fruit stalls, beach and personal use. However, the sunshade umbrellas usually only have a single function of shading the sun and windshield, and cannot meet people&#39;s increasingly diverse requirements. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides a sunshade umbrella, which includes an umbrella rod, an umbrella body at an end of the umbrella rod, an umbrella handle at an opposite end of the umbrella rod, a solar cell component, a current output structure in the umbrella handle and in an electrical connection with the solar cell component, a first connection structure at the umbrella body and a second connection structure at the solar cell component. The solar cell component is detachably mounted to the umbrella body through detachable engagement between the first connection structure and the second connection structure. 
     In the above sunshade umbrella, optionally, each of the first connection structure and the second connection structure includes a connection negative terminal and a connection positive terminal. The connection positive terminal of the first connection structure is insertable in the connection negative terminal of the second connection structure; and the connection positive terminal of the second connection structure is insertable in the connection negative terminal of the first connection structure. 
     In the above sunshade umbrella, optionally, the connection negative terminal is a hole; and the connection positive terminal is a protruding structure. 
     In the above sunshade umbrella, optionally, the solar cell component includes a central connection portion, a solar cell unit, a third connection structure at the solar cell unit and a fourth connection structure at the central connection portion. The solar cell unit is detachably mounted to the central connection portion through detachable engagement between the third connection structure and the fourth connection structure. The second connection structure is at the central connection portion; the central connection portion is detachably mounted to the umbrella body through detachable engagement between the first connection structure and the second connection structure. 
     In the above sunshade umbrella, optionally, each of the third connection structure and the fourth connection structure includes a connection negative terminal and a connection positive terminal. The connection positive terminal of the third connection structure is insertable in the connection negative terminal of the fourth connection structure; and the connection positive terminal of the fourth connection structure is insertable in the connection negative terminal of the third connection structure. 
     In the above sunshade umbrella, optionally, the connection negative terminal of each of the third connection structure and the fourth connection structure is a hole; and the connection positive terminal of each of the third connection structure and the fourth connection structure is a protruding structure. 
     In the above sunshade umbrella, optionally, the solar cell unit includes a plurality of monolithic cells and a fifth connection structure at each monolithic cell; every two adjacent monolithic cells are detachably connected through detachable engagement between the fifth connection structures. 
     In the above sunshade umbrella, optionally, each fifth connection structure includes a connection negative terminal and a connection positive terminal; the connection negative terminal of each fifth connection structure is a hole; and the connection positive terminal of each fifth connection structure is a protruding structure. 
     In the above sunshade umbrella, optionally, the solar cell component includes a central connection portion, a substrate, a solar cell unit at the substrate, a fourth connection structure at the central connection portion, and a sixth connection structure at the substrate. The substrate is detachably mounted to the central connection portion through detachable engagement between the sixth connection structure and the fourth connection structure. The second connection structure is at the central connection portion; the central connection portion is detachably mounted to the umbrella body through detachable engagement between the first connection structure and the second connection structure. 
     In the above sunshade umbrella, optionally, each of the fourth connection structure and the sixth connection structure includes a connection negative terminal and a connection positive terminal. The connection positive terminal of the fourth connection structure is insertable in the connection negative terminal of the sixth connection structure; and the connection positive terminal of the sixth connection structure is insertable in the connection negative terminal of the fourth connection structure. 
     In the above sunshade umbrella, optionally, the connection negative terminal of each of the fourth connection structure and the sixth connection structure is a hole; and the connection positive terminal of each of the fourth connection structure and the sixth connection structure is a protruding structure. 
     In the above sunshade umbrella, optionally, the solar cell component further includes a seventh connection structure at the solar cell unit and an eighth connection structure at the substrate; the solar cell unit is detachably mounted to the substrate through detachable engagement between the seventh connection structure and the eighth connection structure. 
     In the above sunshade umbrella, optionally, each of the seventh connection structure and the eighth connection structure includes a connection negative terminal and a connection positive terminal. The connection positive terminal of the seventh connection structure is insertable in the connection negative terminal of the eighth connection structure; and the connection positive terminal of the eighth connection structure is insertable in the connection negative terminal of the seventh connection structure. 
     In the above sunshade umbrella, optionally, the connection negative terminal of each of the seventh connection structure and the eighth connection structure is a hole; and the connection positive terminal of each of the seventh connection structure and the eighth connection structure is a protruding structure. 
     In the above sunshade umbrella, optionally, the solar cell component includes a plurality of solar cell units; the solar cell units are disposed on the substrate around the central connection portion. 
     In the above sunshade umbrella, optionally, a clamping ring and a clamping post are provided at two opposite sides of each solar cell unit, respectively; in every two adjacent solar cell units, the clamping post of one of the two adjacent solar cell units is pivotally snapped into the clamping ring of the other one of the two adjacent solar cell units. 
     In the above sunshade umbrella, optionally, the sunshade umbrella further includes a battery. The battery is in the umbrella handle; and the battery is coupled to the solar cell component. 
     In the above sunshade umbrella, optionally, the sunshade umbrella further includes a voltage regulator circuit; wherein the voltage regulator circuit is coupled to the solar cell component. 
     In the above sunshade umbrella, optionally, the solar cell component is coupled to the battery, the current output structure and the voltage regulator circuit through the wire; the umbrella rod is a hollow structure, and the wire is within the hollow structure. 
     In the above sunshade umbrella, optionally, the current output structure is a socket in the umbrella handle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a sunshade umbrella according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the sunshade umbrella according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a solar cell unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a connection structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view showing engagement between two connection structures according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a clamping ring according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a clamping post according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The following description refers to the accompanying drawings in which the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements unless otherwise indicated. The following description of exemplary embodiments is merely used to illustrate the present disclosure and is not to be construed as limiting the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5 , a sunshade umbrella provided in some embodiments of the present disclosure includes an umbrella body  100 , an umbrella rod  200 , an umbrella handle  300 , connection structures  500  and a solar cell component  400 . Two ends of the umbrella rod  200  are connected with the umbrella body  100  and the umbrella handle  300 , respectively. The solar cell component  400  is detachably mounted to the umbrella body  100  through the connection structures  500 . 
     In one embodiment, the connection structure  500  includes a connection negative terminal and a connection positive terminal. The connection negative terminal is a hole  520 . The connection positive terminal is a protruding structure  510  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) that is capable of being inserted into the hole of another connection structure. The umbrella handle  300  is provided with a current output structure  302 . The current output structure is electrically coupled to the solar cell component  400 . In one embodiment, the current output structure  302  may be a socket provided in the umbrella handle  300 , and may be coupled to the connection structure  500  through a wire  301  extending in the umbrella handle  300  and the umbrella rod  200 , and then is electrically coupled to the solar cell component  400  through the connection structure. 
     In sunny days, after the sunshade umbrella is unfolded, the solar cell component  400  may be mounted to the umbrella body  100  through the connection structures  500 , thereby converting solar energy into electrical energy and then supplying power to an electrical device through the current output structure without an external power source. At night or in rainy days, or in weak light environment in which the solar cell component  400  cannot carry out effective photoelectric conversion, the solar cell component  400  can be removed away from the umbrella body  100  by disassembling the connection structures  500 , thereby preventing service life of the solar cell component  400  from being shorten due to bad weather. In addition, if the solar cell component  400  is non-detachably fixed to the umbrella body  100 , after the utilization of the sunshade umbrella, it is difficult to fold up the umbrella body  100  as the umbrella body  100  is supported by the solar cell component  400 , and it is not convenient for use and management; while in the sunshade umbrella provided in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the solar cell component  400  can be removed away from the umbrella body  100  in an unused state, which is convenient for folding up the umbrella body  100  and maintenance of the solar cell component  400 . 
     Specifically, referring to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , one connection structure  500   a  (which is also referred as a first connection structure) may be fixed to the umbrella body  100 . Another connection structure  500   b  (which is also referred as a second connection structure) capable of engaging with the connection structure  500   a  may be fixed to one side of the solar cell component  400 , and the one side of the solar cell component  400  engages with the umbrella body  100 . The first connection structure  500   a  and the second connection structure  500   b  may be inserted into each other, thereby enabling the umbrella body  100  to be electrically coupled to the solar cell component  400  through mutual insertion of the two connection structures  500 . 
     Specifically, in order to facilitate mounting of the solar cell component  400  on the umbrella body  100 , the solar cell component  400  includes a central connection portion  420  and a solar cell unit  410 . The solar cell unit  410  is detachably mounted to the central connection portion  420  through detachable engagement between the connection structures  500  (i.e., detachable engagement between a third connection structure  500  disposed on the solar cell unit  410  and a fourth connection structure disposed on the central connection portion  420 ). The central connection portion  420  is connected with the umbrella body  100  through the connection structure  500  (i.e., the second connection structure). 
     One connection structure  500  such as the second connection structure may be disposed on one surface of the central connection portion  420  for engaging with the umbrella body  100 , and may engage with one connection structure  500  such as the first connection structure on the umbrella body  100  by means of mutual insertion. One connection structure  500  such as the fourth connection structure may be disposed at a lateral side of the central connection portion  420  for engaging with one connection structure  500  such as the third connection structure on the solar cell unit  410 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the solar cell unit  410  may include a plurality of monolithic cells connected through connection structures  500 . Each monolithic cell may be provided with one connection structure  500  (which may be referred as a fifth connection structure). Then, a certain quantity of the monolithic cells may be connected in series through the connection structures  500  (i.e., fifth connection structures) according to a size of the umbrella body  100 . In this way, the solar cell unit  410  is suitable for the umbrella body  100  of different sizes. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the solar cell component  400  further includes a substrate  430 . The substrate  430  is detachably mounted to the central connection portion  420  through detachable engagement between the connection structures  500  (i.e., detachable engagement between a sixth connection structure disposed on the substrate  430  and the fourth connection structure disposed on the central connection portion  420 ). When the solar cell component  400  includes the substrate  430 , the above third connection structure disposed on the solar cell unit  410  may be omitted, or the above third connection structure disposed on the solar cell unit  410  and the sixth connection structure disposed on the substrate  430  may be implemented as an identical connection structure. The solar cell unit  410  is detachably mounted to the substrate  430  through detachable engagement between the connection structures  500  (i.e., detachable engagement between a seventh connection structure disposed on the solar cell unit  410  and an eighth connection structure disposed on the substrate  430 ). 
     Each of the central connection portion  420  and the substrate  430  may be a hollow structure for accommodating circuits, thereby protecting the circuits. 
     Specifically, in order to improve photoelectric conversion efficiency of the solar cell unit  410  and ensure providing enough power, there may be two or more solar cell units  410 . The quantity of the solar cell units  410  may be varied and may be set according to the size of the umbrella body  100  and power consumption of the electrical device, which are not specifically limited. 
     Further, referring to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , a clamping ring  700  and a clamping post  600  may be provided at two opposite sides of the solar cell unit  410 , respectively. The clamping post  600  of one solar cell unit  410  may be snapped into the clamping ring  700  of another adjacent solar cell unit  410 , thereby ensuring that a variety of the solar cell units  410  can be assembled together in proper shapes to fit the umbrella body  100 . In addition, since the clamping post  600  may be snapped into the clamping ring  700  and an engagement surface between the clamping post  600  and the clamping ring  700  is a cylindrical surface, the solar cell units  410  may be adjusted in the snapping process. In other words, the rotatable engagement between the clamping post  600  and the clamping ring  700  can ensure engagement between the solar cell units  410  and the umbrella body  100 . 
     In order to enable the sunshade umbrella of some embodiments of the present disclose to provide external power supply when the solar cell component  400  cannot carry out effective photoelectric conversion, the sunshade umbrella may further include a battery  304 . The battery  304  may be disposed in the umbrella handle  300 . The battery  304  is coupled to the solar cell component  400 . The battery can store surplus electricity generated by the solar cell component  400 . Thus, electricity demands of the electricity device in various weather conditions can be satisfied. 
     It should be noted that, in order to adjust the current generated by the solar cell component  400  through photoelectric conversion into a stable direct current so as to ensure normal operation of the electrical device, a voltage regulator circuit  306  may be disposed in the umbrella handle  300 . The voltage regulator circuit  306  is coupled to the solar cell component  400 . 
     It can be understood that the solar cell component  400  may be coupled to the battery  304 , the current output structure  302  and the voltage regulator circuit  306  through the wire  301 . In order to protect the wire, the umbrella rod  200  may be a hollow structure for accommodating the wire therein. 
     It should be noted that, the first connection structure, the second connection structure, the third connection structure, the fourth connection structure, the fifth connection structure, the sixth connection structure, the seventh connection structure and the eighth connection structure may have the same structure and connection mode, for example, they may employ the structure and connection mode shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 . 
     In the sunshade umbrella according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the presence of the solar cell component  400  enables the sunshade umbrella to provide power supply. Meanwhile, the solar cell component can be removed away from the umbrella body in an unused state, which is convenient for folding up the umbrella body and maintenance of the solar cell component. 
     Based on the embodiments shown in the drawings, the structure, characteristics and effect of the present disclosure are explained in detail. The above are merely the optional embodiments of the present disclosure and shall not be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. It should be noted that, a person skilled in the art may make improvements and modifications without departing from the principle of the present disclosure, and these improvements and modifications shall also fall within the scope of the present disclosure.