Protection device such as a parasol and a set of such devices connected to one another

Abstract

A protection device such as a parasol includes at least one pole defining a vertical reference axis extending between a lower end portion having at least one foot configured to be anchored to the ground and an upper end portion to which at least one sheltering platform is attached. The platform is configured to protect at least one user located underneath in a deployed position. The protection device includes power-generating means for generating electrical power to supply at least one electric battery, and is configured to supply electrical power to at least one item of electrical equipment of the protection device. The power-generating means, the electric battery and the item of electrical equipment are interconnected in an electrical circuit of the protection device. The protection device is characterized in that the sheltering platform includes an edge delimiting a closed contour, and includes mechanical connection means and electrical connection means.

1 . A protection device such as a parasol comprising at least one pole defining a vertical reference axis extending between a lower end portion comprising at least one foot configured to be anchored to the ground and an upper end portion to which at least one sheltering platform is attached, the platform being configured to protect at least one user located underneath in a deployed position, the protection device comprising power-generating means for generating electrical power to supply at least one electric battery, and configured to supply electrical power to at least one item of electrical equipment of the protection device, the power-generating means, the electric battery and the item of electrical equipment being interconnected in an electrical circuit of the protection device, the protection device being characterized in that the sheltering platform comprises an edge delimiting a closed contour and comprising:
 mechanical connection means configured to mechanically and sealingly connect at least one portion of the edge of the sheltering platform to at least one portion of an edge of a sheltering platform of an adjacent protection device; and   electrical connection means configured to transfer electrical power between the electrical circuit of the protection device and at least one electrical circuit of the adjacent protection device.   
     
     
         2 . The protection device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the power-generating means comprise at least one photovoltaic sensor secured to the sheltering platform and oriented in the deployed position upwards on a side opposite the pole with respect to the sheltering platform. 
     
     
         3 . The protection device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the power-generating means comprise at least one channel and a hydraulic turbine located at least partly in the path of the channel so as to conduct rainwater by gravitational flow towards the hydraulic turbine to drive it in rotary motion, preferably about the reference axis. 
     
     
         4 . The protection device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the power-generating means comprise at least one wind generator secured to the sheltering platform, and placed above the sheltering platform in the deployed position, an axis of rotation of the wind generator preferably being coincident with the reference axis of the pole. 
     
     
         5 . The protection device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the pole comprises a hollow structure delimiting an interior space housing the channel and having an inlet mouth at its upper end portion and communicating with at least one opening of the sheltering platform so that rainwater flowing onto the sheltering platform is guided, in a deployed position of the sheltering platform, to the inlet mouth to feed the channel, the channel preferably being delimited by the hollow structure of the pole. 
     
     
         6 . The protection device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the sheltering platform is mounted so as to be inclinable relative to the pole, the sheltering platform preferably being mechanically connected to the pole by a ball-and-socket joint, the inclination of the sheltering platform preferably also being electrically controlled by at least one electric actuator, for example an electric stepper motor. 
     
     
         7 . The protection device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the foot of the pole is secured to a mobile base, the electric battery preferably being secured to the mobile base so as to ballast the parasol pole, the base preferably also being provided with wheels. 
     
     
         8 . The protection device according to  claim 2 , characterized in that it comprises a plurality of photovoltaic sensors arranged in the form of at least one photovoltaic panel, the sheltering platform consisting of at least one of the photovoltaic panels. 
     
     
         9 . The protection device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the item(s) of electrical equipment is/are selected from the following electrical equipment: at least one electrical heater, at least one lighting device, at least one air conditioner, at least one fan, at least one misting device, at least one electrical socket, at least one electrical device charging interface, a wireless charging transmission medium, at least one Internet access device. 
     
     
         10 . The protection device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it is at least energy self-sufficient. 
     
     
         11 . The protection device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the mechanical connection means preferably comprise magnets, the magnets preferably also being electromagnets. 
     
     
         12 . The protection device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the electrical connection means preferably comprise magnets, the magnets preferably also being electromagnets. 
     
     
         13 . The protection device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the mechanical connection means and the electrical connection means are shared. 
     
     
         14 . A set of at least two adjacent protection devices according to any of the preceeding claims,  claim 1 , characterized in that each protection device ( 1 ,  1 ′) of the set is mechanically connected by mechanical connection means to at least one other of the protection devices of the set and each protection device of the set is electrically connected by electrical connection means to at least one other of the protection devices of the set.