Umbrella with fan and retractable fan guard

Abstract

An air fan is secured between two protective cowlings to a lower rib or a stretcher of a patio umbrella or parasol. An actuator mechanism, which may include a Hall sensor, ensures that the fan blades remain parallel to the lower rib (or stretcher) and do not rotate so as not to interfere as the umbrella or parasol is folded. An optional retractable fan guard includes a sliding part that depends from the first cowling and a fixed part that depends from the second cowling, a series of flexible rods linking the sliding part and the fixed part, and a pull cord. The pull cord is fixed at one end to the sliding part, is threaded through the fixed part and is secured at its opposite end to a rib of the plurality of ribs supporting the canopy. The flexible rods bow when the pull cord is tensioned creating a guard screen. The flexible rods straighten when tension is released, facilitating closure of the umbrella or parasol with the air fan still secured to the lower rib.

1 . A patio umbrella, comprising:
 a canopy;   a pole;   a plurality of ribs, wherein each rib of the plurality of ribs comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the second end of each rib of the plurality of ribs is coupled to the canopy, and the first end of each rib of the plurality of ribs is attached to the pole or to an upper hub associated with the pole;   a lower hub;   a plurality of struts, wherein each strut of the plurality of struts has a length and defines a lengthwise axis, and wherein each strut of the plurality of struts connects between a rib of the plurality of ribs and the lower hub; and   at least one attachable fan device attached to at least one strut of the plurality of struts,   wherein the attachable fan device comprises (i) a fan component housing, wherein the fan component housing partially encases an electric motor comprising a shaft which rotates when the electric motor is powered by electricity; and (ii) a fan component, wherein the fan component comprises at least two fan blades and a center hub therebetween, the center hub operably attached to the shaft such that the fan blades are substantially parallel to the lengthwise axis of the at least one strut and have an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the at least one strut.   
     
     
         2 . The patio umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the pole is a center pole and further comprises an upper hub, wherein the plurality of ribs are pivotally attached to the upper hub, and the end of the center pole opposite to the upper hub is reversibly attached to a base; wherein the attachment of each strut of the plurality of struts to the lower hub is a pivotal attachment; wherein the attachment of each strut of the plurality of struts to a rib of the plurality of ribs is a pivotal attachment; wherein the lower hub is slidable along the center pole, and wherein when the lower hub slides up the pole each strut, and rib pivotally attached to it, rotates outward with respect to the center pole, thus raising the canopy and positioning the attachable fan device in an open configuration; and, wherein when the lower hub slides down the center pole each strut, and rib pivotally attached to it, rotates inward with respect to the center pole, thus lowering the canopy and positioning the fan in a closed configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The patio umbrella of  claim 1 , further comprising: a cantilever arm joined for angular movement with respect to the pole; and a hub cord that has a length, a first end and an opposite end, wherein the hub cord is joined or connected at its first end to the lower hub and is joined or connected at its opposite end to a reel turned by a crank to vary the portion of the length of the hub cord that is played out from the reel, so that the lower hub may be raised with respect to the upper hub by reeling in the cord or lowered by playing out the cord. 
     
     
         4 . The patio umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the pole has a substantially vertical section and a cantilevered section joined for angular movement with respect to the substantially vertical section, and further comprises an upper hub, wherein the plurality of ribs are pivotally attached to the upper hub; wherein the attachment of each strut of the plurality of struts to the lower hub is a pivotal attachment; wherein the attachment of each strut of the plurality of struts to a rib of the plurality of ribs is a pivotal attachment; wherein the lower hub is joined to a telescoping pole that that is supported for slidable movement below the upper hub, and wherein when the lower hub slides upwardly, the rib pivotally attached to the lower hub rotates outward thus raising the canopy and positioning the patio umbrella fan in an open configuration; and, wherein when the lower hub slides downwardly, the rib rotates inwardly thus lowering the canopy and positioning the patio umbrella in a closed configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The patio umbrella of  claim 4 , further comprising a hub cord that has a length, a first end and an opposite end, wherein the hub cord is joined or connected at its first end to the lower hub and is joined or connected at its opposite end to a reel turned by a crank to vary the portion of the length of the hub cord that is played out from the reel, so that the lower hub may be raised with respect to the upper hub by reeling in the cord or lowered by playing out the cord. 
     
     
         6 . The patio umbrella of  claim 1 , further comprising: a control unit operably connected to the attachable fan device, wherein the control unit comprises: control circuitry operably connected to an at least one switch, the at least one switch is controllable by a user; wherein an operation of a switch of the at least one switch corresponds to the operation of an electric motor of one of the at least one attachable fan device. 
     
     
         7 . The patio umbrella of  claim 6 , further comprising electrical wiring running upward inside the pole and electrically connected to the control unit, electrically powering the control unit, wherein from the control unit the electrical wiring runs upward inside the pole toward the upper hub, from inside the upper hub the electrical wiring runs inside the at least one rib which is pivotally attached to the at least one strut comprising the attachable fan device, from the said at least one rib the wire runs inside the said at least one strut and on to electrically connect to the motor of the attachable fan device, and thus coupling the control unit to the operation of the electrical motor of the attachable fan device; and, wherein the electrical wiring entering the pole comprises an end positioned outside the pole, said end electrically connectable to a source of alternating current. 
     
     
         8 . The patio umbrella of  claim 7 , wherein the upper hub comprises an upper PCB (Printed Circuit Board); wherein the electrical wiring from the control unit is electrically connected to the upper PCB; wherein electrical wiring which runs inside the at least one rib pivotally attached to the at least one strut comprising the attachable fan device is electrically connected to the upper PCB; and, wherein electrical wiring within the upper PCB electrically connects each of the said electrical wiring from the at least one rib to an electrical power provided by the electrical wiring from the control unit. 
     
     
         9 . The patio umbrella of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one attachable fan device comprises two or more attachable fan devices; wherein the control unit comprises a designated switch for each of the attachable fan devices; wherein the electrical wiring from the control unit comprises an electrical wire operably connected to each switch; wherein electrical wiring from each rib of the plurality of ribs which is pivotally attached to the at least one strut comprising the attachable fan device is electrically and operably connected to a specific switch on the control unit, and, thus, allowing a user to separately control the operation of each one of the attachable fan devices. 
     
     
         10 . The patio umbrella of  claim 8 , further comprising a Hall sensor, the Hall sensor positioned inside the pole; wherein the position of the Hall sensor overlaps with the position of the lower hub when the parasol fan is configured in one of the open configurations of the plurality of pre-determined open configurations; wherein the lower hub comprises a magnet; wherein electrical wiring electrically connects the Hall sensor to the upper PCB; and wherein electrical wiring inside the upper PCB electrically connects the Hall sensor wiring to the electrical wiring from the control unit, thus operably connecting the Hall sensor to the operation of the control unit. 
     
     
         11 . The patio umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the canopy comprises at least one opening, and wherein the opening serves as a vent to allow air circulation for operation of the attachable fan device. 
     
     
         12 . A patio umbrella, comprising:
 a hub movably translatable along at least a portion of a vertical pole, wherein the hub is positioned closer to a top end of the vertical pole when the umbrella is in an open configuration;   a stretcher having a first end and a second end and a length between the first end and the second end, with the first end joined to the hub and the second end joined to a connector movably translatable along at least a portion of a strut supporting at least a portion of a canopy of the umbrella;   a fan with one or more rotatable fan blades, said fan formed on or joined to the stretcher at a position along the length of the stretcher;   a first cowling attached to the stretcher at a position along the length of the stretcher that is spaced apart from the fan;   a second cowling attached to the stretcher at a second position along the length of the stretcher that is spaced apart from the fan on an opposite side of the fan;   a fixed part depending from the first cowling, said fixed part defining a channel or portal configured to receive a cord;   a first pair of movable arms depending from the fixed part, with each movable arm adapted to receive a first end of a respective flexible rod;   a sliding part depending from the second cowling; and   a second pair of movable arms depending from the sliding part, with each movable arm of the second pair adapted to receive a second end of a respective flexible rod;   wherein the cord is attached at one end to the sliding part and is threaded through the channel or portal of the fixed part so that tension applied to an opposite end of the cord causes translational movement of the sliding part along the stretcher toward the fixed part, to cause the flexible rods to bow and form a fan guard for the fan when the patio umbrella is placed into the open configuration.   
     
     
         13 . The patio umbrella of  claim 12 , wherein the first cowling has a blade that is spaced apart from the one or more rotatable fan blades. 
     
     
         14 . The patio umbrella of  claim 13 , wherein the blade has a convexly curved surface directed toward the one or more rotatable fan blades. 
     
     
         15 . The patio umbrella of  claim 13 , wherein the second cowling has a second blade that is spaced apart from the one or more rotatable fan blades. 
     
     
         16 . The patio umbrella of  claim 15 , wherein the second blade has a convexly curved surface directed toward the one or more rotatable fan blades. 
     
     
         17 . The patio umbrella of  claim 12 , wherein the fan has a housing, and wherein the fan housing defines a recess or channel to receive a portion of the cord. 
     
     
         18 . The patio umbrella of  claim 12 , further comprising a third pair of movable arms depending from the fixed part, with each movable arm of the third pair adapted to receive a first end of a respective flexible rod, and further comprising a fourth pair of movable arms depending from the sliding part, with each movable arm of the fourth pair adapted to receive a second end of the respective flexible rod. 
     
     
         19 . The patio umbrella of  claim 12 , wherein the opposite end of the cord is secured to the strut. 
     
     
         20 . The patio umbrella of  claim 19 , further comprising a pin projecting from the strut, and wherein the opposite end of the cord is secured to the pin. 
     
     
         21 . The patio umbrella of  claim 12 , further comprising a canopy supported by one or more struts. 
     
     
         22 . The patio umbrella of  claim 21 , wherein the canopy comprises at least one opening, and wherein the opening serves as a vent to allow air circulation for operation of the attachable fan device. 
     
     
         23 . The patio umbrella of  claim 12 , further comprising: a cantilever arm joined for angular movement with respect to the vertical pole; and a hub cord that has a length, a first end and an opposite end, wherein the hub cord is joined or connected at its first end to the lower hub and is joined or connected at its opposite end to a reel turned by a crank to vary the portion of the length of the hub cord that is played out from the reel, so that the lower hub may be raised with respect to the upper hub by reeling in the cord or lowered by playing out the cord.