Patent Publication Number: US-2006005867-A1

Title: Outdoor umbrella structre concurrently having illumination and decoration functions

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      This invention relates to an umbrella, more particularly to an outdoor umbrella concurrently having illumination and decoration functions.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      In general, the structure of a traditional outdoor umbrella fixes a lamp on an umbrella rib and electrically connects the lamp by alternate current. However, if such umbrella is used outdoors, it is necessary to bring the power supply with you all the time. Further, the electric wire is exposed under direct sunlight and rain and thus there is a risk of electric leakage when the insulating surface is damaged or loosened.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The primary objective of this invention is to provide an outdoor umbrella structure concurrently having illumination and decoration functions, wherein a direct current battery is installed into the top of an upper tier; an electric wire at the bottom of the battery is electrically connected to an illuminating member; both ends of the illuminating member are pivotally coupled to the umbrella top rib and a movable lower tier respectively; a light emitting diode is disposed inside the illuminating member for projecting a reflected light in the illuminating member and then projecting the reflected light towards a shaded area under the umbrella in order to provide a pervious function to the illuminating member. Thus, the present invention can achieve the artistic, safe, convenient and power-saving effects.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the whole outdoor umbrella according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 4A  is an enlarged view of a section of  FIG. 4 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Please refer to FIGS.  1  to  4 , it is obvious that the structure of the present invention comprises a support rod  1  erected from the center of an umbrella, an upper tier  2  disposed at the top of the support rod  1 , a top umbrella rib extended outward from the upper tier  2  and an illuminating member  4  having one end pivotally coupled to the bottom of the top umbrella rib  3  and the other end pivotally coupled to a movable lower tier  5 , wherein:  
      The support rod  1  comprises a manual-driven handle  11  at its bottom for pulling the movable lower tier  5  as to spread open or fold up the outdoor umbrella and a power switch disposed on the manual-driven handle  11  for controlling to turn on and off the light emitting diode LED inside the illuminating member  4 .  
      The upper tier  2  is comprised of a pair of symmetric upper and lower decks  22 ,  23 , and a symmetrically radiant groove  24  is disposed on the corresponding ends of the upper and lower decks for receiving an umbrella top rib  3 , and a transversal groove  241  is disposed proximate to the radiant groove  24  for pivotally coupling the umbrella top rib  3 , and a direct current battery  21  is installed at the top of the upper deck  22 , and a battery cover  212  is secured on the top of the direct current battery  21 , and an electric wire  211  is extended from the bottom of the battery  21 , such that the electric wire  211  will be hidden in the upper and lower decks  22 ,  23  after the upper and lower decks  22 ,  23  are coupled. A free end extended from the electric wire is electrically connected to the light emitting diode LED of the illuminating member  4 , and a pair of corresponding screw holes is disposed individually on the upper and lower decks  22 ,  23 , such that after the upper and lower decks  22 ,  23  are aligned, a screw bolt  26  passes through the screw holes  25  to secure the upper and lower decks  22 ,  23 . A protruded pole  32  is protruded from both sides at an end proximate to the umbrella top rib  3 , and the protruded pole  32  is disposed across the transversal groove  241  of the upper tier  2 . After the upper and lower decks  22 ,  23  of the upper tier  2  are aligned and coupled, the front end of the umbrella top rib  3  is pivotally coupled and hidden between the upper and lower decks  22 ,  23 , so that the umbrella top rib  3  radiates outwardly from the periphery of the upper tier  2  and pivotally coupled with the periphery of the upper tier  2 , and the umbrella top rib  3  comprises a pivotal base  31  at its middle for pivotally coupling with the illuminating member  4 .  
      The illuminating member  4  is made of a transparent acrylic material and both ends of the illuminating member  4  individually have a pivotal hole  41  for pivotally coupling with the pivotal base  31  of the umbrella top rib  3  and the movable lower tier  5  respectively. Further, the illuminating member  4  has an accommodating hole  42  therein for accommodating the light emitting diode LED and projecting a reflected light in the illuminating member  4  towards an area under an umbrella as to provide a pervious function to the illuminating member  4 .  
      By pivotally coupling an end of the illuminating member  4  with the movable lower tier  5  and pivotally coupling the other end with the pivotal base  31  of the umbrella top rib  3 , the illuminating member  4  can comply with the requirements of spreading out or folding up an outdoor umbrella.  
      With a direct current battery  21 , the present invention could be used in any place without much limitation. Since a light emitting diode LED is disposed inside the illuminating member  4 , and the reflected light of the light emitting diode LED is focused and projected towards an shaded area under the umbrella as to achieve the artistic, safe, convenient and power-saving effects of the present invention.  
      List of components shown in the figures  
       1  Support Rod  
       11  Manual-Driven Handle  
       12  Power Switch  
       2  Upper Tier  
       21  Battery  
       211  electric Wire  
       212  Battery Cover  
       22  Upper Body  
       23  Lower Body  
       24  Radiant Groove  
       241  Transversal Groove  
       25  Screw Hole  
       26  Screw Bolt  
       3  Top Umbrella Rib  
       31  Pivotal Base  
       32  Latch Pole  
       4  Illuminating Member  
       41  Pivotal Hole  
       42  Accommodating Hole  
       5  Movable Lower Tier  
      LED Light Emitting Diode