Parasol with rechargeable battery device

Abstract

A parasol includes a shank, a rib assembly, a light collecting member, a converting circuit, and a rechargeable battery device. The rib assembly is mounted on an upper portion of the shank, and has a canopy mounted thereon. The light collecting member is mounted on the shank, and is used to receive sunlight and to collect solar energy. The converting circuit is mounted on the shank, is coupled electrically to the light collecting member, and is operable so as to convert the solar energy collected by the light collecting member into electrical energy. The rechargeable battery device is mounted on the shank, is coupled electrically to the converting circuit, and is charged by the electrical energy from the converting circuit.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A parasol comprising: 
 a shank having a lower portion adapted to be mounted on a ground surface, and an upper portion opposite to said lower portion;    a rib assembly mounted on said upper portion of said shank and having a canopy mounted thereon;    a light collecting member, mounted on said shank, for receiving sunlight and for collecting solar energy;    a converting circuit mounted on said shank and coupled electrically to said light collecting member, said converting circuit being operable so as to convert the solar energy collected by said light collecting member into electrical energy; and    a rechargeable battery device mounted on said shank and coupled electrically to said converting circuit, said rechargeable battery device being charged by the electrical energy from said converting circuit.    
     
     
         2 . The parasol of  claim 1 , further comprising a lamp unit, mounted on said shank and coupled electrically to said rechargeable battery device, for generating a light output.  
     
     
         3 . The parasol of  claim 2 , further comprising a sensor device mounted on said shank and coupled electrically to said lamp unit, said sensor device being adapted to sense ambient light conditions and activating said lamp unit according to the ambient light conditions sensed thereby.  
     
     
         4 . The parasol of  claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary battery unit coupled electrically to said rechargeable battery device.  
     
     
         5 . The parasol of  claim 1 , further comprising a load housing mounted on said upper portion of said shank, said rib assembly being connected to said load housing, said light collecting member being mounted on said load housing, said converting circuit being disposed in said load housing, said shank being hollow and having said rechargeable battery device mounted therein.  
     
     
         6 . The parasol of  claim 5 , wherein said load housing includes a transparent container part having a closed bottom end mounted on said upper portion of said shank, and an open top end, and a cover part mounted on said open top end of said transparent container part, said parasol further comprising a lamp unit mounted in said load housing and coupled electrically to said rechargeable battery device, said lamp unit being operable so as to generate a light output.  
     
     
         7 . The parasol of  claim 6 , further comprising a sensor device that includes an ambient light sensor mounted on said cover part, and a control circuit coupled electrically to said ambient light sensor and said lamp unit, said ambient light sensor being adapted to sense ambient light conditions and generating a control signal corresponding to the ambient light conditions sensed thereby, said control circuit controlling activation of said lamp unit in response to the control signal received thereby from said ambient light sensor.  
     
     
         8 . The parasol of  claim 7 , wherein said ambient light sensor is a light sensitive resistor.  
     
     
         9 . The parasol of  claim 5 , further comprising an auxiliary battery unit coupled electrically to said rechargeable battery device and disposed externally of said shank.