Attachment stand frame for spa umbrella

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6565060
  • Patent Number
    6,565,060
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, February 27, 2001
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 20, 2003
    22 years ago
Abstract
An attachment stand frame for spa umbrella which includes a shaft supporting an awning thereon, wherein the attachment stand frame includes a stand base including a reinforcing panel extended therefrom adapted for mounting underneath an outdoor spa wherein the spa umbrella is uprightly supported on the stand base, and a supporting frame perpendicularly extended from the stand base for substantially attaching to the outdoor spa so as to securely mount the spa umbrella to the outdoor spa. The attachment stand frame further includes a base body, having a receiving chamber provided thereon, adapted to support the shaft, a rotor, which is rotatably disposed in the receiving chamber, having a rotor axial socket for inserting the shaft thereinto, and a locking arrangement for locking up the rotation movement of the rotor. Therefore, the attachment stand frame is adapted to be rigidly supported by the outdoor spa and rotatably mount the spa umbrella.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION




1. Field of Invention




The present invention relates to an outdoor umbrella, and more particularly to an attachment stand frame for spa umbrella, wherein the attachment stand frame is adapted for easily attaching to and detaching from an existing spa without altering the original structure thereof.




2. Description of Related Arts




Under strong pressure of daily work, most people like to take a spa for relieving stress. They normally build a spa in their bathroom so that they can enjoy the spa everyday. However, some people enjoy taking the spa in a natural environment such that they may purchase an outdoor spa that can be placed in their yard.




However, one of the major drawbacks of the outdoor spa is that the sunlight may directly irritate a user while he or she is taking the spa. So, the user may usually purchase an outdoor umbrella for shading the sunlight. Since the sunlight shines in different directions within a day, it is unreasonable for the user to move the entire outdoor umbrella back and forth to obtain the optimum shading area of the outdoor umbrella. Thus, due to the heavy weight of the outdoor umbrella, which is approximately 50 to 60 pounds, the user especially woman, always has difficulty moving the outdoor umbrella. For easily moving, the outdoor umbrella may be reduced in weight so that the user may merely reposition the outdoor umbrella with less effort. However, when a gusty wind hits on outdoor umbrella, the unstable outdoor umbrella may fall down easily and hit any object around it, especially a young child, so as to cause an unwanted injury to the young child.




SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION




A main object of the present invention is to provide an attachment stand frame for spa umbrella wherein the attachment stand frame is adapted for detachably attaching to a spa body easily so as to provide an optimum shading area by an awning of the spa umbrella.




Another object of the present invention is to provide an attachment stand frame for a spa umbrella wherein attachment stand frame, comprised of lightweight but sturdy structure, adequately supports the spa umbrella. In other words, the spa umbrella can be reduced its overall weight for easy carriage.




Another object of the present invention is to provide an attachment stand frame for a spa umbrella wherein a shaft of the spa umbrella is adapted to be rigidly supported on the attachment stand frame and selectively rotated so as to provide an optimum shading area by an awning of the spa umbrella.




Another object of the present invention is to provide an attachment stand frame for a spa umbrella wherein the attachment stand frame is adapted for installing into an existing outdoor spa without altering the original structure of the spa.




Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides an attachment stand frame for a spa umbrella which comprises a shaft supporting an awning thereon, wherein the attachment stand frame comprises:




a stand base comprising a reinforcing panel extended therefrom adapted for mounting underneath a spa wherein the spa umbrella is uprightly supported on the stand base; and




a supporting frame perpendicularly extended from the stand base for substantially attaching to the spa so as to securely mount the spa umbrella to the spa.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of an attachment stand frame for spa umbrella according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a sectional view of the attachment stand frame for spa umbrella according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 3

is an exploded perspective view of the attachment stand frame for spa umbrella according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 4

illustrates an alternative mode of the supporting frame of the attachment stand frame for spa umbrella according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Referring to

FIG. 1

of the drawings, an attachment stand frame for spa umbrella according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the attachment stand is constructed for rigidly supporting a spa umbrella


10


thereon and substantially mounting the spa umbrella


10


to an outdoor spa


20


so as to prevent an unwanted movement of the spa umbrella.




The spa umbrella


10


, such as a conventional outdoor umbrella, comprises a shaft


11


supporting an awning


12


thereon, wherein the awning


12


is arranged to be rotatably driven by the shaft


11


so as to provide a shading area.




The outdoor spa


20


comprises a spa body


21


having a surrounding wall


22


perpendicularly extended therefrom and defining a liquid compartment


23


in the spa body


21


. The spa body


21


can be constructed in circular shape wherein the surrounding wall


22


is formed at a circumference of the spa body


21


. Or, the spa body can be formed in rectangular shape wherein the rectangular surrounding wall


22


is upwardly extended to define the liquid compartment


23


within the rectangular surrounding wall


22


.




According to the preferred embodiment, the attachment stand frame comprises a stand base


30


, a reinforcing panel


31


extended therefrom adapted for mounting underneath the outdoor spa


20


wherein the spa umbrella


10


is uprightly supported on the stand base


30


, and a supporting frame


40


perpendicularly extended from the stand base


30


for substantially attaching to the outdoor spa


20


so as to securely mount the spa umbrella


10


to the outdoor spa


20


.




As shown in

FIG. 2

, the reinforcement panel


31


is integrally extended from the stand base


30


wherein the reinforcement panel


31


, having a predetermined thickness, is adapted for mounting on a bottom of the spa body


21


of the outdoor spa


20


so as to support the spa umbrella


10


in a stable manner. Due to the weight of the outdoor spa


20


, the stand base


30


is depressed by the spa body


21


and the attachment stand frame is securely mounted on the outdoor spa


20


so as to prevent a vertical movement of the spa umbrella


10


.




The supporting frame


40


having a L-shaped comprises a vertical panel


41


fittedly attached on the surrounding wall


22


of the outdoor spa


20


and a horizontal panel


42


mounted on the stand base


30


in such a manner that the supporting frame


40


is rigidly supported on the outdoor spa


20


so as to prevent any lateral movement of the spa umbrella


10


. In other words, when the attachment stand frame is installed to the outdoor spa


20


, the spa umbrella


10


is substantially supported by the outdoor spa


20


so as to prevent any movement of the spa umbrella


10


even when an external force is exerted on the spa umbrella


10


, such as wind blow.




The supporting frame


40


further comprises a supporting arm


43


inclinedly supported between the vertical panel


41


and horizontal panel


42


so as to form a secure triangular structure for supporting the spa umbrella


10


. The triangular shaped supporting arm


43


has a vertical edge portion


431


perpendicularly mounted on the vertical panel


41


and a horizontal edge portion


432


perpendicularly mounted on the horizontal panel


42


of the supporting frame


40


so as to enhance the rigid triangular structure of the attachment stand frame of the present invention.




As shown in

FIG. 3

, the attachment stand frame further comprises a base body


50


, which is integrally mounted on the stand base


30


, having a receiving chamber


51


for uprightly supporting the shaft


11


thereon; a rotor


60


, which is rotatably disposed in the receiving chamber


51


of the base body


50


, having a rotor axial socket


61


for fittedly inserting the shaft


11


thereinto; and a locking arrangement


70


for locking up the shaft


11


on the rotor


60


in a rotatably movable manner.




The locking arrangement


70


comprises a locking member


71


extended into the receiving chamber


51


for engaging with the rotor


60


, a driving lever


72


arranged to drive the locking member


71


to move between a locking position and an unlocked position, and a resilient element


73


for applying urging pressure against the driving lever


72


so as to normally retain the locking member


71


at the locking position. At the locking position, the locking member


71


is engaged with the rotor


60


so as to lock up the rotor


60


from being rotated. At the unlocked position, the locking member


71


is moved away from the rotor


60


so as to disengage with the rotor


60


such that the rotor


60


is capable of being rotated to turn the shaft


11


.




The locking member


71


comprises a locking latch


711


extended into the receiving chamber


51


in a vertical movable manner and an enlarged head button


712


vertically extended from the locking latch


711


to outside, wherein the locking latch


711


is adapted for blocking the rotor


60


in a rotatably movable manner, so as to lock up the rotation of the shaft


11


.




The driving lever


72


is pivotally mounted on the base body


50


wherein one engaging end of the driving lever


72


, having a Y-shaped, is engaged with the locking latch


711


of the locking member


72


while another end of the driving lever


71


has an enlarged step board


721


mounted thereto in such a manner that, when a downward force is applied on the step board


721


, the locking member


71


is driven to move upwardly to disengage with the rotor


60


. In other words, the locking latch


711


is arranged to be driven by the driving lever


72


to move from a normal locking position to an unlocked position.




The resilient element


73


is adapted for applying an urging pressure against the driving lever


72


so as to normally retain the locking member


71


at the locking position. At the locking position, the locking latch


711


of the locking member


71


is extended to the rotor


60


for blocking up the rotor


60


from being rotated in the receiving chamber


51


, so as to lock up the rotation of the shaft


11


. At the unlocked position, the locking latch


711


of the locking member


71


is vertically moved away from the rotor


60


so as to release the blocking up of the rotor


60


, so that the rotor


60


is capable of being rotated to turn the shaft


11


.




Accordingly, the resilient element


73


is a coil spring having two ends biasing against the driving lever


72


and the base body


50


so as to normally urge and retain the locking member


71


in a lower position that the locking member


71


is extended to the rotor


60


to block the rotor


60


from being rotated.




Moreover, the rotor


60


comprises a plurality of engaging teeth


62


evenly formed on an outer circumference of the rotor


60


for selectively engaging with the locking member


71


, so as to ensure the engagement between the rotor


60


and the locking member


71


. In other words, when the locking latch


711


of the locking member


71


is engaged with the engaging teeth


62


of the rotor


60


, the rotor


60


is blocked in a rotatably movable manner so as to lock up the rotation of the shaft


11


.




In order to mount the attachment stand frame to the outdoor spa


20


for supporting spa umbrella


10


, the spa body


21


of the outdoor spa


20


must be placed on top of the reinforcing panel


31


of the stand base


30


wherein the vertical panel


41


of the supporting frame


40


is pressed against the surrounding wall


22


of the outdoor spa


20


in such a manner that the attachment stand frame is securely attached to the outdoor spa


20


and rigidly supports the spa umbrella


20


.





FIG. 4

illustrates an alternative mode of the supporting frame


40


′ according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the vertical panel


41


′ and the supporting arm


43


′ are upwardly extended between the stand base


30


′ and the reinforcing panel


31


′ for rigidly attaching on the surrounding wall


22


of the outdoor spa


20


.



Claims
  • 1. A spa umbrella for an outdoor spa which comprises a spa body having a surrounding wall perpendicularly extended from a bottom to define a liquid compartment therein, wherein the spa umbrella comprises:a shaft supporting an awning which is arranged to be rotatably driven by the shaft so as to provide a shading area covering the spa body; an attachment stand frame, comprising: a stand base wherein the spa umbrella is uprightly supported on the stand base, a reinforcing panel which is extended from the stand base for mounting underneath the outdoor spa for mounting on the bottom of the spa body of the outdoor spa so as to support the spa umbrella on the stand base in a stable manner, and a supporting frame which is perpendicularly extended from the stand base for attaching to the surrounding wall of the spa body, wherein the supporting frame is rigidly supported on the outdoor spa for securely mounting the spa umbrella to the outdoor spa so as to prevent any lateral movement of the spa umbrella; a base body, which is integrally mounted on the stand base, having a receiving chamber to uprightly support the shaft thereon; a rotor, which is rotatably disposed in the receiving chamber of the base body, having a rotor axial socket for fittedly inserting the shaft thereinto; and a locking arrangement for locking up the shaft on the rotor in a rotatably movable manner, wherein the locking arrangement comprises: a locking member extended into the receiving chamber for engaging with the rotor, a driving lever arranged to drive the locking member to move between a locking position and an unlocked position, and a resilient element for applying urging pressure against the driving lever so as to retain the locking member at the locking position, wherein at the locking position, the locking member is engaged with the rotor so as to lock up the rotor from being rotated, and at the unlocked position, the locking member is moved away from the rotor so as to disengage with the rotor so that the rotor is capable of being rotated to turn the shaft; wherein the supporting frame comprises a vertical panel upwardly extended from the stand base for fittedly attaching on the surrounding wall of the spa body of the outdoor spa, a horizontal panel mounted on the stand base, and a supporting arm mounted between the vertical panel and the horizontal panel, wherein the supporting arm has a vertical edge portion perpendicularly mounted on the vertical panel and a horizontal edge portion perpendicularly mounted on the horizontal panel so as to form a secure triangular structure for supporting the spa umbrella.
  • 2. The spa umbrella, as recited in claim 1, wherein the locking member comprises a locking latch extended into the receiving chamber in a vertical manner and an enlarged head button vertically extended from the locking latch to outside, wherein the locking latch is adapted for blocking the rotor in a rotatably movable manner so as to lock up a rotation of the shaft.
  • 3. The spa umbrella, as recited in claim 2, wherein the driving lever, which is pivotally mounted on the base body, having a first end engaged with the locking latch of the locking member and a second end having an enlarged step board mounted thereto in such a manner that, when a downward force is applied on the step board, the locking member is driven to move upwardly to disengage with the rotor, so that the locking latch is arranged to be driven by the driving lever to move from the locking position to the unlock position.
  • 4. The spa umbrella, as recited in claim 3, wherein the resilient element is a coil spring having two ends biasing against the driving lever and the base body so as to normally urge and retain the locking member in the locking position that the locking latch is extended to the rotor to block the rotor from being rotated.
  • 5. The spa umbrella, as recited in claim 1, wherein the rotor comprises a plurality of engaging teeth evenly formed on an outer circumference thereof for selectively engaging with the locking member, so as to ensure an engagement between the rotor and the locking member, so that when the locking member is engaged with the engaging teeth of the rotor, the rotor is blocked for any rotation.
  • 6. The spa umbrella, as recited in claim 4, wherein the rotor comprises a plurality of engaging teeth evenly formed on an outer circumference thereof for selectively engaging with the locking latch, so as to ensure an engagement between the rotor and the locking latch, so that when the locking latch is engaged with the engaging teeth of the rotor, the rotor is blocked for any rotation.
  • 7. A spa umbrella for an outdoor spa which comprises a spa body having a surrounding wall perpendicularly extended from a bottom to define a liquid compartment therein, wherein the spa umbrella comprises:a shaft supporting an awning which is arranged to be rotatably driven by the shaft so as to provide a shading area covering the spa body; an attachment stand frame, comprising: a stand base wherein the spa umbrella is uprightly supported on the stand base, a reinforcing panel which is extended from the stand base for mounting underneath the outdoor spa for mounting on the bottom of the spa body of the outdoor spa so as to support the spa umbrella on the stand base in a stable manner, and a supporting frame which is perpendicularly extended from the stand base for attaching to the surrounding wall of the spa body, wherein the supporting frame is rigidly supported on the outdoor spa for securely mounting the spa umbrella to the outdoor spa so as to prevent any lateral movement of the spa umbrella; a base body, which is integrally mounted on the stand base, having a receiving chamber to uprightly support the shaft thereon; a rotor, which is rotatably disposed in the receiving chamber of the base body, having a rotor axial socket for fittedly inserting the shaft thereinto; and a locking arrangement for locking up the shaft on the rotor in a rotatably movable manner, wherein the locking arrangement comprises: a locking member extended into the receiving chamber for engaging with the rotor, a driving lever arranged to drive the locking member to move between a locking position and an unlocked position, and a resilient element for applying urging pressure against the driving lever, so as to retain the locking member at the locking position, wherein at the locking position, the locking member is engaged with the rotor so as to lock up the rotor from being rotated, and at the unlocked position, the locking member is moved away from the rotor so as to disengage with the rotor so that the rotor is capable of being rotated to turn the shaft; wherein the locking member comprises a locking latch extended into the receiving chamber in a vertical manner and an enlarged head button vertically extended from the locking latch to outside, wherein the locking latch is adapted for blocking the rotor in a rotatably movable manner so as to lock up a rotation of the shaft.
  • 8. The spa umbrella, as recited in claim 7, wherein the driving lever, which is pivotally mounted on the base body, having a first end engaged with the locking latch of the locking member and a second end having an enlarged step board mounted thereto in such a manner that, when a downward force is applied on the step board, the locking member is driven to move upwardly to disengage with the rotor, so that the locking latch is arranged to be driven by the driving lever to move from the locking position to the unlock position.
  • 9. The spa umbrella, as recited in claim 8, wherein the resilient element is a coil spring having two ends biasing against the driving lever and the base body so as to normally urge and retain the locking member in the locking position that the locking latch is extended to the rotor to block the rotor from being rotated.
  • 10. The spa umbrella, as recited in claim 7, wherein the rotor comprises a plurality of engaging teeth evenly formed on an outer circumference thereof for selectively engaging with the locking latch, so as to ensure an engagement between the rotor and the locking latch, so that when the locking latch is engaged with the engaging teeth of the rotor, the rotor is blocked for any rotation.
  • 11. The spa umbrella, as recited in claim 8, wherein the rotor comprises a plurality of engaging teeth evenly formed on an outer circumference thereof for selectively engaging with the locking latch, so as to ensure an engagement between the rotor and the locking latch, so that when the locking latch is engaged with the engaging teeth of the rotor, the rotor is blocked for any rotation.
  • 12. The spa umbrella, as recited in claim 9, wherein the rotor comprises a plurality of engaging teeth evenly formed on an outer circumference thereof for selectively engaging with the locking latch, so as to ensure an engagement between the rotor and the locking latch, so that when the locking latch is engaged with the engaging teeth of the rotor, the rotor is blocked for any rotation.
  • 13. A spa umbrella for an outdoor spa which comprises a spa body having a surrounding wall perpendicularly extended from a bottom to define a liquid compartment therein, wherein the spa umbrella comprises:a shaft supporting an awning which is arranged to be rotatably driven by the shaft so as to provide a shading area covering the spa body; an attachment stand frame, comprising: a stand base wherein the spa umbrella is uprightly supported on the stand base, a reinforcing panel which is extended from the stand base for mounting underneath the outdoor spa for mounting on the bottom of the spa body of the outdoor spa so as to support the spa umbrella on the stand base in a stable manner, and a supporting frame which is perpendicularly extended from the stand base for attaching to the surrounding wall of the spa body, wherein the supporting frame is rigidly supported onthe outdoor spa for securely mounting the spa umbrella to the outdoor spa so as to prevent any lateral movement of the spa umbrella; a base body, which is integrally mounted on the stand base, having a receiving chamber to uprightly support the shaft thereon; a rotor, which is rotatably disposed in the receiving chamber of the base body, having a rotor axial socket for fittedly inserting the shaft thereinto; and a locking arrangement for locking up the shaft on the rotor in a rotatably movable manner, wherein the locking arrangement comprises: a locking member extended into the receiving chamber for engaging with the rotor, a driving lever arranged to drive the locking member to move between a locking position and an unlocked position, and a resilient element for applying urging pressure against the driving lever so as to retain the locking member at the locking position, wherein at the locking position, the locking member is engaged with the rotor so as to lock up the rotor from being rotated, and at the unlocked position, the locking member is moved away from the rotor so as to disengage with the rotor so that the rotor is capable of being rotated to turn the shaft; wherein the supporting frame comprises a vertical panel upwardly extended from the stand base for fittedly attaching on the surrounding wall of the spa body of the outdoor spa and a supporting arm mounted between the vertical panel and the stand base, wherein the supporting arm has a vertical edge portion perpendicularly mounted on the vertical panel and a horizontal edge portion perpendicularly mounted on the stand base so as to form a secure triangular structure for supporting the spa umbrella; wherein the locking member comprises a locking latch extended into the receiving chamber in a vertical manner and an enlarged head button vertically extended from the locking latch to outside, wherein the locking latch is adapted for blocking the rotor in a rotatably movable manner so as to lock up a rotation of the shaft.
  • 14. The spa umbrella, as recited in claim 13, wherein the driving lever, which is pivotally mounted on the base body, having a first end engaged with the locking latch of the locking member and a second end having an enlarged step board mounted thereto in such a manner that, when a downward force is applied on the step board, the locking member is driven to move upwardly to disengage with the rotor, so that the locking latch is arranged to be driven by the driving lever to move from the locking position to the unlock position.
  • 15. The spa umbrella, as recited in claim 14, wherein the resilient element is a coil spring having two ends biasing against the driving lever and the base body so as to normally urge and retain the locking member in the locking position that the locking latch is extended to the rotor to block the rotor from being rotated.
  • 16. The spa umbrella, as recited in claim 15, wherein the rotor comprises a plurality of engaging teeth evenly formed on an outer circumference thereof for selectively engaging with the locking latch, so as to ensure an engagement between the rotor and the locking latch, so that when the locking latch is engaged with the engaging teeth of the rotor, the rotor is blocked for any rotation.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Number Name Date Kind
3455531 Baker Jul 1969 A
5002081 Stromeyer Mar 1991 A
5765582 Molnar Jun 1998 A
5826850 Goldsmith Oct 1998 A
5893547 Cohen, Jr. Apr 1999 A
5918849 Bliss Jul 1999 A
D414053 Ordelman Sep 1999 S
6089246 Barnes Jul 2000 A
6321763 Ma Nov 2001 B1
Non-Patent Literature Citations (4)
Entry
Reference on Spa Umbrellas by FIM Manufacturing Inc., Copyright 1999 as shown on last page, (5 pages in total), shows the spa mount base.*
United States Patent Application Publication 2001/0040208A1, inventor Wanda Ying Li.*
United States Patent Application Publication 2001/0032916A1, inventor Dennis B. Wess.*
Reference on Spa Umbrellas by Raytech Inc., Copyright 2001 as shown on last page, (4 pages in total), shows a spa mount base with lever.