Electrical Umbrella and Canopy Mechanism

Abstract

Canopy conducting mechanism for hand held umbrellas is disclosed. The canopy conducting mechanism is especially useful for electrical umbrellas although may be used for manually operated umbrellas as well. The canopy conducting mechanism has short movement between open and closed states of the umbrella and is based on pin and slide joints between the umbrella ribs and between canopy conducting member, allowing for strutless canopy (i.e. a canopy without stretchers extending between the umbrella post and the ribs). Umbrella rib having a flexible end especially useful for strutless umbrellas is also disclosed. Strutless electrical umbrella comprising said canopy conducting mechanism and flexible end ribs is also disclosed, including single-folding and multi-folding canopy embodiments.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . Canopy conducting mechanism for hand held umbrellas, comprising; (a) canopy conducting member having a plurality of a first part of pin and slide joint rigidly connected and angularly spaced about a common central hub; (b) a spacer having a central lower end adapted for being connected to a pole of an umbrella, and a plurality of pivot connection points remotely and angularly spaced about the central lower end each being adapted for receiving a pivot point of a canopy rib ( 2 ) having a short lever arm ( 2   a ) being the rib portion between the close rib end and the pivot point, the short lever arm ( 2   a ) having a second part ( 2   b ) of pin and slid joint matching the first part, the pin and slide joints being characterized in that the slides are separated from one another by being formed in angularly spaced bars or cells. 
     
     
         29 . Canopy conducting mechanism according to  claim 28 , further comprising a plurality of canopy ribs pivotably connected to the pivot connections, and further form a plurality of pin and slide joints with the conducting member. 
     
     
         30 . Canopy conducting mechanism according to  claim 28 , connected to the top end of a pole. 
     
     
         31 . Canopy conducting mechanism according to  claim 28 , wherein the spacer has a hollow flange protruding from below. 
     
     
         32 . Canopy conducting mechanism according to  claim 28 , wherein the hub is hollow and having inner threading for moving the hub up and down upon rotation of a screw having outer threading matching the hub's inner threading, for closing and opening the umbrella respective to the rotation direction of the screw. 
     
     
         33 . Canopy conducting mechanism according to  claim 28 , wherein the hub is connected to an extension member having at its lower end a threading connection with a screw, for closing and opening the umbrella respective to the rotation direction of the screw. 
     
     
         34 . Umbrella comprised of a canopy conducting mechanism according to  claim 29 . 
     
     
         35 . Umbrella comprised of a canopy conducting mechanism according to  claim 29 , connected at is bottom end to a top end of a pole of the umbrella, the pole has an upper handgrip connected near its upper end and a main handgrip connected to its lower end. 
     
     
         36 . Electrical umbrella comprising an umbrella hollow pole having a main handgrip at a first end thereof; a canopy conducting member having a plurality of a first part of pin and slide joint rigidly connected and angularly spaced about a common central hub; a spacer having a central lower end connected to a second end of the pole and a plurality of pivot points remotely and angularly spaced about the central lower end; a respective plurality of canopy ribs pivotably connected to the pivot points, each rib having a short lever arm ( 2   a ) being the rib portion between the close rib end and the pivot point, the short lever arm ( 2   a ) having a second part ( 2   b ) of pin and slid joint matching the first part, the ribs thereby form a plurality of pin and slide joints with the conducting member ( 2 ), wherein the canopy conducting member is driven along a short path between an uppermost position and a lowermost position from above the pole, corresponding to a closed state and an open state of the umbrella, respectively, upon rotation of an electrical motor located near or inside the main handgrip, powered by batteries located nearby, and transmitting its rotation to a screw or to a helical shaft adapted to convert the rotation into vertical movement of the conducting member. 
     
     
         37 . Electrical umbrella according to  claim 36 , further comprising override arrangement. 
     
     
         38 . Electrical umbrella according to  claim 36 , further comprising override arrangement, the override arrangement comprising an extended flange connected to the bottom of the spacer and capable of telescopic movement with respect to the umbrella pole, and means for releaseably tightening the extended flange to the pole. 
     
     
         39 . Electrical umbrella according to  claim 36 , further comprising an upper handgrip located near the top end of the pole and being a part of an override arrangement, the override arrangement comprising an extended flange connected to the bottom of the spacer and capable of telescopic movement with respect to the umbrella pole, and means for releaseably tightening the extended flange to the pole, wherein the upper hand grip is located such that it can be utilized for moving the extended flange up and down in said telescopic movement. 
     
     
         40 . Electrical umbrella according to  claim 36 , further comprising a battery compartment located inside the main handgrip. 
     
     
         41 . Electrical umbrella according to  claim 36 , further comprising a battery compartment located inside the main handgrip in electrical communication with a jack adapted for receiving a plug of a power source for recharging the batteries. 
     
     
         42 . Electrical umbrella according to  claim 36 , further comprising a withdrawable battery compartment located inside the main handgrip. 
     
     
         43 . Electrical umbrella according to  claim 36 , further comprising overload detection circuit capable of disconnecting the battery power from the motor upon recognition of a motor current exceeding a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         44 . Electrical umbrella according to  claim 36 , further comprising overload detection circuit capable of disconnecting the battery power from the motor upon recognition of a motor current exceeding a predetermined threshold, and further capable of inverting the polarity of the power connection to the motor. 
     
     
         45 . Electrical umbrella according to  claim 36 , further comprising at least one utility electronic or electric circuit selected from; (a) location detector; (b) emergency illumination; (c) safety illumination; (d) low battery alarm; (e) temperature measuring; (f) electronic watch; (g) anti-theft remote sensor; (h) decorative illumination; (i) battery recharger with integral power plug; (j) remote controller in wireless communication with certain electronic or electric circuits of the umbrella; (k) voice or sonic alarm; (l) a combination of at least two of ‘a’ to ‘k’. 
     
     
         46 . Umbrella comprised of a canopy conducting mechanism according to  claim 29 , wherein the ribs are made of a rigid material at their proximal portion and of a flexible bars at their distal portion. 
     
     
         47 . Umbrella comprised of a canopy conducting mechanism according to  claim 29 , characterized by having no struts nor stretchers connecting between the pole of the umbrella and its canopy ribs. 
     
     
         48 . Canopy conducting mechanism according to  claim 28 , further comprising a plurality of pivot joints remotely and angularly spaced about the central lower end each is adapted for receiving a rib stretcher to be associated with a rib receivable by a corresponding pivot connection point. 
     
     
         49 . Canopy conducting mechanism according to  claim 28 , further comprising (i) multifold ribs pivotally connected to the pivot connections and further form a plurality of pin and slide joints with the conducting member; and (ii) a plurality of rib stretchers, pivotally connected to respected pivot joints and to respective multifold ribs. 
     
     
         50 . Electrical umbrella comprising a canopy conducting mechanism according to  claim 49 , the canopy conducting mechanism is connected at its lower end to the top of a telescopic pole, the telescopic pole is connected at its lower end to a main handgrip of the umbrella, wherein the canopy conducting member is driven along a short path between an uppermost position and a lowermost position from above the pole, corresponding to a closed state and an open state of the umbrella, respectively, upon rotation of an electrical motor located near or inside the main handgrip, powered by batteries located nearby, and transmitting its rotation to a screw or to a helical shaft adapted to convert the rotation into vertical movement of the conducting member and into a telescopic movement of at least two telescopic sections of the pole. 
     
     
         51 . Electrical umbrella according to  claim 36 , wherein the handgrip is cushioned or having a padding protection against downfall damages. 
     
     
         52 . Electrical umbrella according to  claim 36 , further comprising folding or pull out foots accommodated in the handgrip and useful for positioning of the umbrella uprightly. 
     
     
         53 . Umbrella comprised of a canopy conducting mechanism according to  claim 29 , wherein the ribs are made of a rigid material and having gradually reduced thickness at their distal ends resulting in flexibility of the ends of the ribs useful for obtaining mushroom shaped canopy.