Motor drive for a patio umbrella

Abstract

The motor drive for a patio umbrella is a motorized accessory for raising and lowering a patio umbrella. The motor drive for a patio umbrella has an electric motor contained within a housing mounted to the sliding hub, or to the pole, of a patio umbrella. A spool is fixed on the motor's shaft, and a thin cord is taken up by, or unwound from, the spool as the motor is operated in forward or reverse directions. The cord is fastened to the patio umbrella so that, as the cord is taken up by the spool, the umbrella opens. As the cord unwinds from the spool, the umbrella closes. A control circuit operates the motor automatically in response to a photosensor or a remote control signal, or manually by a simple three-position switch.

1 . A motor drive for a patio umbrella, comprising: 
 a housing, the housing having formed therein means for mounting the housing to a sliding hub on a patio umbrella;    a motor disposed in said housing, the motor having a shaft;    a spool driven by said shaft;    a length of cord connected to said spool; and    fastening means for fastening said cord to a fixed position on said patio umbrella;    whereby said motor is operable to take up said cord on said spool, thereby causing said umbrella to open, or to unwind said cord from said spool, thereby causing said umbrella to close.    
   
   
       2 . The motor drive for a patio umbrella according to  claim 1 , further comprising a control circuit electrically connected to said motor, the motor being operated by said control circuit.  
   
   
       3 . The motor drive for a patio umbrella according to  claim 2 , wherein said control circuit comprises a switch, said motor being operable by said switch.  
   
   
       4 . The motor drive for a patio umbrella according to  claim 2 , wherein said control circuit comprises a photosensor, said motor being operable in response to daylight.  
   
   
       5 . The motor drive for a patio umbrella according to  claim 2 , wherein said control circuit comprises a remote control receiver, said motor being operable in response to a signal received from a remote control transmitter.  
   
   
       6 . The motor drive for a patio umbrella according to  claim 2 , wherein said control circuit comprises a programmable timer.  
   
   
       7 . The motor drive for a patio umbrella according to  claim 1 , further comprising a reduction gear train disposed between said motor and said spool.  
   
   
       8 . The motor drive for a patio umbrella according to  claim 1 , further comprising a source of electric power electrically connected to said motor.  
   
   
       9 . A motor drive for a patio umbrella, comprising: 
 a housing, the housing having formed therein means for mounting the housing to a fixed position on a patio umbrella;    a motor disposed in said housing, the motor having a shaft;    a spool driven by said shaft;    a length of cord connected to said spool; and    fastening means for fastening said cord to a sliding hub on said patio umbrella;    whereby said motor is operable to take up said cord on said spool, thereby causing said umbrella to open, or to unwind said cord from said spool, thereby causing said umbrella to close.    
   
   
       10 . The motor drive for a patio umbrella according to  claim 9 , further comprising a control circuit electrically connected to said motor, the motor being operated by said control circuit.  
   
   
       11 . The motor drive for a patio umbrella according to  claim 10 , wherein said control circuit comprises a switch, said motor being operable by said switch.  
   
   
       12 . The motor drive for a patio umbrella according to  claim 10 , wherein said control circuit comprises a photosensor, said motor being operable in response to daylight.  
   
   
       13 . The motor drive for a patio umbrella according to  claim 10 , wherein said control circuit comprises a remote control receiver, said motor being operable in response to a signal received from a remote control transmitter.  
   
   
       14 . The motor drive for a patio umbrella according to  claim 10 , wherein said control circuit comprises a programmable timer.  
   
   
       15 . The motor drive for a patio umbrella according to  claim 9 , further comprising a reduction gear train disposed between said motor and said spool.  
   
   
       16 . The motor drive for a patio umbrella according to  claim 9 , further comprising a source of electric power electrically connected to said motor.  
   
   
       17 . A motor drive for a patio umbrella, comprising: 
 a motor having a shaft;    a spool driven by said shaft;    a length of cord having a first end connected to said spool and having a second end; and    means for attaching said motor to a first position on a patio umbrella, the second end of said cord being attached to a second position on said patio umbrella such that operating said motor to take up said cord on said spool causes the patio umbrella to open, and operating said motor to unwind said cord from said spool causes the patio umbrella to close.    
   
   
       18 . The motor drive for a patio umbrella according to  claim 17 , further comprising a control circuit electrically connected to said motor, the motor being operated by said control circuit.  
   
   
       19 . The motor drive for a patio umbrella according to  claim 18 , wherein said control circuit comprises a switch, whereby said motor is operable by said switch.  
   
   
       20 . The motor drive for a patio umbrella according to  claim 18 , wherein said control circuit comprises a remote control receiver, said motor being operable in response to a signal received from a remote control transmitter.