Source: http://www.patentgenius.com/patent/7134762.html
Timestamp: 2018-10-22 19:19:57
Document Index: 447378925

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 101', 'art 104', 'art 101', 'art 111', 'art 112', 'arts 111', 'arts 111', 'art 113', 'art 114', 'art 101', 'art 101', 'art 104', 'art 104', 'art 101', 'art 141', 'art 141', 'art 101', 'art 101', 'arts 136', 'art 132', 'art 135', 'art 132', 'art 101', 'art 132', 'art 135', 'art 136', 'art 135', 'arts 111', 'arts 136', 'art 136', 'arts 136']

Light providing apparatus attachable to umbrella and stand assembly - Patent # 7134762 - PatentGenius
7134762 Light providing apparatus attachable to umbrella and stand assembly
Application: 10/715,096
Inventors: Ma; Oliver Joen-An (Arcadia, CA)
Attorney Or Agent: Knobbe, Martens, Olson &Bear
U.S. Class: 362/102; 135/910; 362/396; 362/431; 362/577
Field Of Search: 362/102; 362/431; 362/577; 362/183; 362/523; 362/173; 362/20; 362/396; 362/367; 362/365; 362/581; 362/543; 362/249; 362/436; 362/438; 362/450; 362/352; 135/910
International Class: A45B 3/02; F21S 13/10
U.S Patent Documents: 4020858; 4174532; 4225909; 4425602; 4601120; 4787019; 4788995; 4867187; 4872468; 4881154; 4953839; 4962779; 5007811; 5055984; 5126922; 5152495; 5213122; 5280799; 5291908; 5323798; 5349975; 5449012; 5502624; 5584564; 5611614; 5707135; 5816685; 5954417; 5960805; 6013985; 6024464; 6086006; 6126291; 6135605; 6158451; 6270230; 6283610; 6382809; 6659616; 6837255; 6851823; 2004/0007259; 2004/0031513; 2004/0055627; 2004/0095749; 2004/0100791
Foreign Patent Documents: 9319387; 2396205; WO 90/96069; WO 93/05688; WO 98/49915; WO 00/13541; WO 02/69751; WO 03/092428
Other References: US 5,865,202, 02/1999, Murphy (withdrawn) cited by other.
European Search Report, dated Dec. 22, 2005 regarding Application No. EP 05 01 9669. cited by other.
Abstract: A light provider for an umbrella and stand assembly, including a body releasably attachable to the assembly, a source or sources of electric light carried by the body, to direct light away from the body, and incident light responsive means on the body to provide electrical energization for the light source, the means configured to receive incident light from a direction or directions spaced away from light directed from the source or sources.
1. A light for an umbrella pole, comprising in combination: a) a body comprising an inner surface and a clamping device comprising a gripping surface and a spring located between theinner surface and the gripping surface, the spring configured to resiliently urge the gripping surface into engagement with the umbrella pole, whereby the body is releasably attachable to the umbrella pole, b) a source or sources of electric lightcarried by the body, to direct said light away from the body, c) and incident light responsive means on the body to provide electrical energization for said light source, said means configured to receive incident light from a direction or directionsspaced away front light directed from said source or sources.
9. The light of claim 7 wherein said means comprise solar cells spaced about said through opening, and said light sources comprise LEDs spaced about said central opening, in light concentrating clusters, each cluster received in a lightreflecting receptacle.
16. A lighting device suitable for fastening to a pole-like object, comprising: a) a base part, b) and a light source; c) wherein, the base part comprises a first base part and a second base part pivotably coupled with the first base part,said first and second base parts being divided so that each has an inner sidewall surface facing that of the other, said sidewall surfaces forming a through hole to substantially encircle the pole-like object when said two base parts are connected, saidsidewall surfaces having at least one recess formed therein, said base part having a clamp comprising a gripping surface and a resilient member at least partially located in the recess, the gripping surface being movable relative to the sidewall surfacebetween an extended position and a range of clamping positions, the clamping positions being between the extended position and the sidewall surface, the resilient member configured to urge the gripping surface toward the extended position, whereby thelighting device can be self-supported on umbrella poles of different sizes.
17. The lighting device of claim 16, wherein the gripping surface is a first gripping surface and the clamp further comprises: a first member extending from a recess in the inner sidewall surface of the first base part, the first membercomprising said first gripping surface; and a second gripping surface generally opposing said first gripping surface; the clamp configured to urge the gripping surfaces into frictional engagement with the pole-like object.
22. The lighting device of claim 16, wherein the base part includes a recess and the clamp further comprises: a first member comprising a sliding block slidable within the recess and a first engagement surface; a plurality of threaded pillarparts configured to drive the sliding block; a transmission transmitting longitudinal force to the sliding block via rotation of the threaded pillar parts; and a crank handle configured to cause the pillar parts to rotate whereby the first engagementsurface is urged into engagement with the pole-like object.
23. The lighting device of 22, wherein the transmission further comprises: a drive gear coupled with the crank handle; and a pair of driven gears coupled with the drive gear and with the pillar parts; wherein rotation of the crank handleinduces rotation in the pillar parts to slide the sliding block.
25. The lighting device of claim 24, wherein the solar power charging unit further comprises: a plurality of solar panels located on the base part; a plurality of wires; and a solar-charging circuit, wherein, each solar panel is electricallyconnected in series to the solar-charging circuit in the base part by said wires.
26. The lighting device of claim 16 wherein the base part has a generally circular, disk shape, and further comprising: a symmetrically divided first base part and a second base part each having a semi-circularly curved inner sidewall surfacefacing that of the other in which a circular through hole is formed to substantially encircle the pole-like object when said two base parts are locked together; and a clamp to lock said two base parts together.
27. The lighting device of claim 16, wherein the base part further comprises: a hinge; and a latch; wherein the first and second base parts are held together by the hinge along a corner edge of each of said first and second base parts whilethe other corner edges are releasably coupled together by the latch.
33. A light for an umbrella pole, comprising in combination: a) a body comprising an inner sidewall surface at least partially defining an opening for receiving an umbrella pole, b) a clamping device comprising a gripping surface and aresilient member located between the gripping surface and the inner sidewall surface, at least a portion of the clamping device being movable relative to the sidewall surface between an extended position and a range of clamping positions, the clampingpositions being located between the extended position and the sidewall surface, the resilient member urging the gripping surface toward the extended position, whereby the light can be self-supported on umbrella poles of different sizes, c) a source orsources of electric light carried by the body, to direct said light away from the body, d) and means on or in the body for providing energy to said light source.
41. A light for mounting around a pole, comprising: a clamshell housing having an outer periphery and comprising a first portion and a second portion pivotably coupled to the first portion adjacent a location on the outer periphery, the firstportion having a first inner sidewall surface and a first lateral surface extending outwardly from the inner sidewall surface to the outer periphery of the clamshell housing, the second portion having a second inner sidewall surface and a second lateralsurface extending outwardly from the inner sidewall surface to the outer periphery of the clamshell housing, the first and second portions defining an opening configured to receive the pole having a longitudinal axis; at least one light source and powersupply for the light source(s) carried by the clamshell housing, the housing having one or more opening(s) by means of which the light source(s) direct light away from at least one of the first and second lateral surfaces; at least one clamp forengaging in use, the pole in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pole, the clamp extending in said direction from at least one of the inner sidewall surfaces and being spring-biased in said direction; the first and second portionsbeing connectable together adjacent the opening between them, to cause the clamp to grip the pole so that the light is self supported thereon; and the clamp being biased to be able to engage poles of different diameters and to be mountable at variouslocations along the pole.
It is a common practice for ordinary people to use a garden umbrella in various outdoor resting/dining areas as a means to shade sunlight or to block rain drops when spending their leisure time outdoors. Hence, in this way a comfortable andrelaxing environment can be provided. At present, since there is no lighting device specifically designed to be used with a garden umbrella when the surrounding lighting condition becomes dim, and people tend to improvise by attaching a corded lightingdevice to the umbrella to provide sufficient lighting to adjacent area. Nevertheless, although this type of lighting device is readily available, the disadvantages for using a corded lighting device in this way often poses a hazardous situation topeople moving around in this area, because of the dangling electrical cord; and further the hanging electrical cord gives an undesirable contrast to the nature background which can easily ruin the relaxing atmosphere.
There is also need at umbrella and stand locations, such as patios, for controlled illumination, associated with selected individual umbrella locations, instead of general illumination of the entire area. It appears that no way was previouslyknown to achieve these objectives in the novel and unusual manner, and with unusual results, as are now provided by the present invention.
c) and incident light responsive means on the body to provide electrical energization for the light source, said means configured to receive incident light from a direction or directions spaced away from light directed from said source orsources.
It is an objective of the present invention to solve all technical issues to meet the need for the referenced need by providing a portable, multi-purpose lighting device which can be easily fastened to, as well as un-fastened from, a pole-likeobject such as an umbrella stand, and without the trouble of having an electrical cord hanging undesirably from it.
The present invention achieves desired objectives by providing a multi-purpose lighting device comprising a plurality of base parts, preferably a lighting means integrated to each base part, and a power supply part. The present invention in oneform is characterized by two structurally divided base parts A and B, each having a semi-circularly curved inner sidewall surface facing that of the other and in which a circular through hole is formed when the two base parts A and B are joined together. The present invention is further characterized by having a solar power charging part and a grip locking means for gripping to a pole-like structure when said two base parts are coupled together while regulating gripping tension at the same time.
Another object is to provide the incident light responsive means in the form of a solar cell or cells, and said light source or sources comprise an LED or LEDs. The LEDs may be provided in clusters received in light reflecting receptacles, forproducing concentrated light beams, the intensity and/or color of which may be controlled.
Another object includes provision of a carrier body central opening to receive the umbrella stand. The body may include multiple sections that become interconnected when said body is attached to the assembly stand. At least two sections mayhave hinged interconnection, whereby the sections are clampingly connected to the stand.
Additionally, a stand gripper or grippers may be provided at the central opening, and carried by the body; and the two body sections may respectively carry two grippers, with a spring or springs urging at least one gripper toward the other, togrip the stand therebetween. Stands of different diameters can thereby be gripped.
Latch elements may be carried by the body sections to latch together when the sections are closed about an umbrella stand; and a latch release may be provided on one section. The construction enables inverting of the carrier body, to directlight upwardly or downwardly.
Typically, a grip locking means is provided to include a gripping claw, a sliding block, a crank handle, and a transmission part substantially connected to said crank handle; wherein, a slot is integrally formed inside each of the above-mentionedbase part for slidably receiving said sliding block. Preferably, the grip locking means further comprises two threaded pillar parts substantially perpendicular to the coupling surface for rotatably driving said sliding block and transmission part. Thegripping claw is securely coupled to the sliding block which enables inward or outward sliding movements of the gripping claw along longitudinal direction of said slot. Thus, gripping tension of said gripping claw can be suitably adjusted when grippingto a pole-like object by suitably adjusting the extension of said gripping claw protruding from the slot of said coupling surface.
The base part preferably includes a circular disk shape, wherein, a circular hole is formed through the center of the base part by having two structurally divided base parts A and B, combined together having a symmetrical semi-circularly curvedinner sidewall surface facing that of the other.
The transmission structure may comprise a larger first gear and a pair of smaller second gears both engaging said first gear. The first gear is mounted inside a gear box part by means of an axle part while the second gears drive a threadedpillar part.
The sliding block and the gripping claw may both be of rectangular shape. A curved gripping surface is formed on the gripping claw such that a gripping teeth profile is preferably formed on the curved gripping surface. Furthermore, alongitudinal extending recessing strip formed on each side wall of said slot slidably receives a corresponding longitudinal extending protruding strip formed on each side wall of the sliding block.
The lighting means is preferably a battery-powered high luminance LED lamp. Compared with the prior lighting devices, the present invention has the advantage of comprising a locking means capable of regulating gripping tension of said grippingclaw to achieve firm grip to a pole-like object of different circumferential dimensions. Furthermore, the locking means is easy to be positioned, installed and uninstalled.
The present invention has another advantage of using a solar power charging part for charging a rechargeable battery directly which provides a safer and easier use of the device. Additionally, said rechargeable battery part is equipped with acorded charging unit, and the rechargeable battery is preferably concealed inside the base part.
FIG. 4 is an elevation view taken on lines 4--4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 9 is an elevation view taken on lines 9--9 of FIG. 7, showing female latching elements;
FIG. 10 is an elevation view taken on lines 10--10 of FIG. 7, showing male latch elements;
FIG. 16 shows a cross-sectional view of FIG. 15 along an A--A dissecting plane;
FIG. 17 shows a cross-sectional view of FIG. 15 along a B--B dissecting plane;
FIG. 18 shows a cross-sectional view of FIG. 15 along a C--C dissecting plane;
In FIGS. 1 and 2, an umbrella 10 is supported in a central stand 11, projecting from a base 12. The stand may or may not have an upper section 11a which can be tilted, at joint 14. An optional table is indicated at 13.
In accordance with the invention, a preferred light provider or fixture 15 is installed in supported position on the stand section 11b. In FIG. 1, light beams 15a are directed downwardly, away from body 16 of the light provided; and in FIG. 2,light beams 15b are directed upwardly away from the inverted body 16. A source or sources 18 of projected light are carried by the body 16, and may comprise clusters 18a of LEDs, as shown in FIG. 5. Such clusters are spaced about the stand axis 20; andeach cluster may comprise between 2 and 8 LEDs, as shown. Receptacle shaped reflectors 21 re-direct light rays from the LED clusters downwardly in FIG. 1, and upwardly in FIG. 2. See also FIG. 14. The LEDs are protectively received in the receptacleswhich are sunk into the body 16, from surface 16a. Concentrated beams are produced by the multiple clustered LEDs.
FIGS. 3 and 4 show one form of incident light responsive means on the body to provide for electrical energization of the light source or sources 18. That light responsive means is typically configured to receive incident light from a directionor directions 22a in FIG. 1, and 22b in FIG. 2, spaced away from light beams 15 and 15b from the source or sources. Such incident light is typically ambient daytime light. FIG. 13 shows ambient light rays 22a or 22b incident upon a solar cell or cells26. The latter generate electricity transmitted as by circuit 27 to the LED light sources 18. A dry cell battery or batteries 29 may be incorporated in circuit 27 to store electricity generated by cell or cells 26 as during daytime; and a controlswitch 30 may be operated to cause circuit 27 to deliver electricity from the battery or batteries to the LEDs. Elements 18, 26, 27, and 29 are carried on, within, or by invertible body 16. As shown in FIG. 13, solar cells 26 have upwardly facinginlets 26a, at upper side 16c of body 16; and LEDs 18 generate light rays that are transmitted downwardly and away form the lower side 16d of body 16, as in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 shows a receptacle 90 on the body to receive AC current, to energize the LEDs, ifdesired.
See also FIGS. 3 and 4 showing multiple solar cells 26 spaced clockwise about the body or stand central upright axis 20; and also see FIG. 5 showing the LED clusters 18a and reflectors 21 spaced clockwise about the axis 20, for concentrating theLED light in beams transmitted from the reflectors.
Also shown in FIG. 13 is a remote control means 80, connected as by wiring 81 (or a radio link) with circuit 27, for controlling the intensity and/or color of light transmission from the LED or LEDS. Switch 30 enables-switching power to lights18 from solar cell energization, to battery power energization to household AC energization.
Preferably, the body 16 is comprised of two sections, as shown at 16e and 16f in FIGS. 3 7. Those sections may have semicircular peripheries, as at 36 and 37, and flat sides 36a and 37a that interface when the body sections are closed togetherabout the stand, as enabled by hinge connection of the bodies as at 40. When the sections are closed together, the stand becomes attached or clamped to the stand frictionally, in such manner as to allow quick release, or adjustment of the body 16 alongthe stand, or removal from the stand, or inverting of the body and attachment to the stand or pole as in FIG. 2.
As shown in FIGS. 5, 11 and 12, grippers 50 and 51 are carried by the body sections to grip the stand, when the sections are closed together. The grippers may have serrated edges as at 50a and 51a to frictionally grip or clamp the stand. Compression springs 52 and 53 urge the grippers toward the stand, the grippers being slidable in recesses 54 and 55 in the body sections. This also accommodates stands of different diameters, as in FIGS. 11 and 12, to which the device may be readilyattached.
FIGS. 6 10 show the provision of a latch or latches 60 protruding from section 16e and receivable in slots 61 formed in body section 16f, as the two sections close together. FIG. 7 shows that latches 60 are carried on a plunger 62 movable in aguide groove or grooves 63 and 64, parallel to axis 20. When the sections are closed together, latches 60 are cammed downwardly at keeper shoulders 65 and 66, the plunger 62 then downwardly compressing a spring 67. Upon full closure of sections 16e and16f, the latches hook into keeper recesses 68 and 69. A protruding release button 70 is manually operable upon being pushed, to move the plunger and latches downwardly, allowing their removal from recesses 68 and 69, and spreading apart of the bodysections 16e and 16f, to release the carrier body from the stand. A guide protrusion 85 may be provided on section 16f, to fit into guide recess 86 in section 16e to assist in orienting the sections 16e and 16f during closure.
Body sections 16e and 16f have cover plates 16e' and 16f' which may be upwardly convex or domed.
As shown in FIG. 15, another form of the present invention seen at 99 comprises a base part 101, a lighting means 102, a locking means 103, and a solar power charging part 104. See also solar windows 104a. Furthermore, the base part 101 ispreferably of circular disk shape comprising a symmetrically divided first base part 111 and a second base part 112 each having a semi-circularly curved inner sidewall surfaces 115 and 116 facing that of the other in which (when 111 and 112 are closedtogether) a circular through hole 119 is formed to substantially encircle a pole-like object 200 when said two base parts 111 and 112 are jointly bound together. See FIG. 19. The two base parts 111 and 112 are connected together by means of a hingepart 113 along a corner edge of each base part while the other corner edges are coupled together by means of a separable binding part 114 for ease of binding and un-binding. A perpendicular slot 117 extending inwardly through each of the inner sidewallsurfaces 115 and 116, to slidably receive a locking means 103 for gripping to a pole-like object of different circumferential dimensions.
Preferably, the lighting means 102 of the present invention comprises a plurality of high luminance LED lamps evenly distributed on the base part 101, to which the electrical power of each LED lamps is supplied by a rechargeable battery 143 seenin FIG. 18. Each rechargeable battery 143 is concealed in a corresponding battery holder in the base part 101.
Typically, the rechargeable battery 143 is recharged with a corded charging unit. It is a feature of the present invention to use a solar power charging part 104 for charging a rechargeable battery directly. That solar power charging part 104comprises a plurality of solar panels 142 formed on the base part 101, and each solar panel is electrically connected in series to a solar-charging circuit part 141 in the base part by means of wires 144. The solar panels 142 collect solar energy to beconverted by the solar-charging circuit part 141 to electrical energy for supplying power to the rechargeable battery 143. Each solar panel 142 is inserted and bonded inside a recess 118 of the base part 101 as shown in FIG. 16.
Referring to FIG. 16, said locking means 103 is preferably fixed inside the perpendicular slot 117 of the base part 101 for gripping to a pole-like object of different circumferential dimensions. The locking means 103 further comprises agripping claw 138, a sliding block 137, a crank handle 131, a plurality of threaded pillar parts 136, and a transmission part. The transmission part preferably comprises a gear mounting part 132, a larger first gear 133, a pair of smaller second gears134 both engaging said first gear 133, and an axle part 135. The gear mounting part 132 may be fixed to the base part 101 by means of screws. The first gear 133 is rotatably fixed to the gear mounting part 132 by means of the axle part 135, while thesecond gears 134 drive the threaded pillar part 136. An open end of the axle part 135 is coupled to the crank handle 131. The perpendicular slot 117 is integrally formed inside each of the first and second base parts 111 and 113 for slidably receivingsliding block 137. Typically, the two threaded pillar parts 136 rotatably drive sliding block 137.
As seen in FIG. 21, a longitudinal extending recessing strip 172 formed on each side wall 171 of the perpendicular slot 117 slidably receives a corresponding longitudinal extending protruding rail 372 formed on each side wall of the sliding block137. Sliding block 137 further comprises a plurality of threaded through holes 371 (see FIG. 16) which preferably are two in number in this embodiment. Each threaded through hole 371 receives a threaded pillar part 136 by means of such thread. Secondgears 134 enable inward or outward sliding movements of the sliding block 137 along the longitudinal direction of the perpendicular slot 117 through rotation of the threaded pillar parts 136. The gripping claw 138 is securely coupled to the slidingblock 137 by means of screws. Typically, the sliding block 137 and the gripping claw 138 are both of rectangular shape.
A concavely curved gripping surface is formed on the gripping claw 138 such that a curved gripping teeth profile 381 is preferably formed on the curved gripping surface. The gripping claw 148 is securely coupled to the sliding block 137 whichslides along the longitudinal direction of 117 which extends normal to the device axis. Thus, gripping tension of said gripping claw can be suitably adjusted when gripping to a pole-like object by suitably adjusting the extension of said gripping claw148 protruding from the perpendicular slot 117 of said coupling surface.
FIG. 20 shows the device 99 attached to stand 200 supporting umbrella 98. FIG. 22 shows a modified device 199, like 99, but upwardly domed at 198 so that light receiving windows 197 are angled to efficiently receive light from under the edges ofthe umbrella.
Although the present invention has been explained by the embodiments shown in the drawings described above, it should be understood to the ordinary skilled person the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments, but rather thatvarious changes or modifications thereof are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention shall be determined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.
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