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The disclosure and prior art relates to umbrella devices and more particularly pertains to a new umbrella device for PURPOSE.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising an umbrella that is positionable between a deployed position and a stored position. A worm gear is rotatably coupled to the umbrella for urging the umbrella between the deployed position and the stored position. A pole is provided and the umbrella is pivotally coupled to the pole. A base insertably receives the pole such that the umbrella is spaced from the base. A control circuit is positioned in the pole and a worm gear motor is coupled to the umbrella. The worm gear is rotatably coupled to the worm gear motor and the worm gear motor is electrically coupled to the control circuit. The worm gear motor rotates the worm gear in a first direction to urge the umbrella into the stored position. The worm gear motor rotates the worm gear in a second direction to urge the umbrella the deployed position.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A worm gear 38 is provided and the worm gear 38 is rotatably coupled to the umbrella 12 for urging the umbrella 12 between the deployed position and the stored position. The worm gear 38 extends between the bottom tube 22 and the top tube 20 and the worm gear 38 is rotatable 134 in a first direction and a second direction. The worm gear 38 has a top end 40 and a bottom end 42, and the top end 40 of the worm gear 38 is rotatably coupled to the inside surface 34 of the top tube 20. A bearing 44 or the like is coupled between the top end 40 of the worm gear 38 and the inside surface 34 of the top tube 20. In this way the worm gear 38 is coupled to the top tube 20 while still being able to rotate independently of the top tube 20.
The runner 18 threadably engages the worm gear 38. Thus, the runner 18 is urged upwardly along the worm gear 38 when the worm gear 38 is rotated in the first direction for urging the umbrella 12 into the stored position. Additionally, the runner 18 is urged downwardly along the worm gear 38 when the worm gear 38 is rotated in the second direction for urging the umbrella 12 into the deployed position. A washer 46 is included that has an outer surface 48 and an inner surface 50. The outer surface 48 is coupled to the interior surface 30 of the runner 18 and the washer 46 is aligned with the bottom end 28 of the runner 18. The worm gear 38 extends through the washer 46 having the inner surface 50 of the washer 46 threadably engaging the worm gear 38.
A pole 52 is provided and the umbrella 12 is pivotally coupled to the pole 52. The pole 52 has an uppermost end 54, a lowermost end 56 and an outer wall 58 extending therebetween. Moreover, the pole 52 is hollow and each of the uppermost end 54 and the lowermost end 56 is open. The uppermost end 54 has a notch 60 extending downwardly towards the lowermost end 56 and outer wall 58 of the pole 52 has it cut 62 therein. The cut 62 extends around an entire circumference of the pole 52 to define a top portion 64 of the pole 52 and a bottom portion 66 of the pole 52.
A base 68 is provided and the base 68 insertably receives the pole 52 such that the umbrella 12 is spaced from the base 68. The base 68 has a bottom surface 70, a top surface 72 and an outer surface 74 extending therebetween. The outer surface 74 of the base 68 has a plurality of intersecting sides 76 such that the base 68 has an octagonal cross-section taken along a line extending through the bottom surface 70 of the base 68 and the top surface 72 of the base 68. The top surface 72 of the base 68 has a well 78 extending towards the bottom surface 70 and the well 78 is centrally positioned on the top surface 72. The well 78 insertably receives the lowermost end 56 of the pole 52 having the pole 52 extending upwardly from the base 68.
The well 78 comprises a pair of intersecting channels 80 that define a plus shape. The lowermost end 56 of the pole 52 has a retainer 82 coupled thereto and the retainer 82 has a pair of intersecting panels 84 such the retainer 82 has a plus shape. Each of the intersecting panels 84 extends into a respective one of the intersecting channels 80 such that the pole 52 is inhibited from rotating in the well 78. The base 68 contains a weighted material, such as sand or concrete, thereby inhibiting the base 68 from tipping from the weight of the umbrella 12. The retainer 82 is comprised of an electrically conductive material and the bounding surface of the well 78 is comprised of an electrically conductive material. Thus, the retainer 82 is in electrical communication with the bounding surface of the well 78 when the retainer 82 is positioned in the well 78.
A control circuit 86 is positioned in the pole 52 and a worm gear motor 87 is positioned within the bottom tube 22 of the umbrella 12. A plurality of conductors 88 is electrically coupled between the retainer 82 and the control circuit 86. The bottom end 42 of the worm gear 38 is rotatably coupled to the worm gear motor 87 and the worm gear motor 87 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 86. The worm gear motor 87 rotates the worm gear 38 in the first direction when the worm gear motor 87 is turned on to rotate in a first direction. Additionally, the worm gear motor 87 rotates the worm gear 38 in the second direction when the worm gear motor 87 is turned on to rotate in a second direction. The worm gear motor 87 may comprise an electric motor or the like.
A tab 90 is coupled to and extends downwardly from the lower end 32 of the top tube 20 of the umbrella 12. The tab 90 is positioned in the notch 60 in the uppermost end 54 of the pole 52 and the tab 90 has a distal end 92 with respect to the lower end 32 of the top tube 20. The distal end 92 is concavely arcuate with respect to the top tube 20. Moreover, the distal end 92 comprises a plurality of teeth 94. A pin 96 extends through the pole 52 and the tab 90 such that the top tube 20 of the umbrella 12 is pivotally coupled to the pole 52.
A first gear 98 is positioned within the pole 52 and a tilt motor 100 is positioned within the pole 52. The tilt motor 100 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 86 and the first gear 98 is rotatably coupled to the tilt motor 100. The tilt motor 100 rotates the first gear 98 in a first direction when the tilt motor 100 is turned on to rotate in a first direction. The tilt motor 100 rotates the first gear 98 in a second direction when the tilt motor 100 is turned on to rotate in a second direction. The tilt motor 100 may be an electric motor or the like. A second gear 102 is rotatably positioned within said pole 52 and the second gear 102 engages the first gear 98 and the teeth 94 on the tab 90. Thus, the tab 90 rotates about the pin 96 when the tilt motor 100 is turned on for tilting the umbrella 12.
A gearbox 104 is positioned in the top portion 64 of the pole 52 and engages the top portion 64 of the pole 52. A rotation motor 106 is positioned in the bottom portion 66 of the pole 52 and the rotation motor 106 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 86. The gearbox 104 is rotatably coupled to the rotation motor 106. The gearbox 104 rotates the top portion 64 of the pole 52 about a vertical axis when the rotation motor 106 is turned on. In this way the umbrella 12 can be aligned with the sun, when the umbrella 12 is tilted, as the sun travels across the sky. The rotation motor 106 may be an electric motor or the like and the gearbox 104 may be any manner of mechanism that is capable of transferring rotational torque generated by the rotation motor 106 into the top portion 64 of the pole 52.
A plurality of input ports 108 is provided and each of the input ports 108 is coupled to the outer wall 58 of the pole 52. Each of the input ports 108 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 86 and each of the input ports 108 may be electrically coupled to an external electronic device 110 for receiving data from the external electronic device 110. Each of the input ports 108 may be a usb port or the like and the external electronic device 110 may be a smart phone, a personal computer and any other electronic device capable of storing audio data in electronic form. A speaker 112 is coupled to the outer wall 58 of the pole 52 and the speaker 112 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 86. Thus, the speaker 112 receives the data from the input ports 108 and the speaker 112 emits audible sounds outwardly from the pole 52.
An electrical outlet 114 is coupled to the outer wall 58 of the pole 52 and the electrical outlet 114 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 86. The external electronic device 110 may be electrically coupled to the electrical outlet 114 for powering the external electronic device 110. The electrical outlet 114 may be a three prong, female electrical outlet 114 or the like. A plurality of covers 116 is provided and each of the covers 116 is hingedly coupled to the pole 52. Each of the covers 116 is aligned with a respective one of the input ports 108 and the electrical outlet 114. In this way each of the covers 116 protects the respective input ports 108 and the respective electrical outlet 114 from moisture when the covers 116 are closed.
A power supply 118 is positioned within the base 68 and the power supply 118 is electrically coupled the bounding surface of the well 78. Thus, the power supply 118 is in electrical communication with the control circuit 86 when the retainer 82 is positioned in the well 78. The power supply 118 comprises at least one rechargeable battery 120 that is positioned within the base 68. The at least one rechargeable battery 120 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 86. A charge port 122 is coupled to the base 68 and the charge port 122 may be electrically coupled to a power source 124. The charge port 122 is electrically coupled to the at least one rechargeable battery 120 for charging the at least one rechargeable battery 120. Additionally, the power source 124 may be a battery charger or other source of electrical current. The charge port 122 includes a lid 126 that is hingedly coupled to the base 68 for selectively covering the charge port 122.
A pair of handles 128 is provided and each of the handles 128 is pivotally coupled to the pole 52. Each of the handles 128 is positionable in a stored position having each of the handles 128 being oriented collinear with and being recessed into the outer wall 58 of the pole 52. Each of the handles 128 is positionable in a deployed position having each of the handles 128 extending outwardly from the outer wall 58 of the pole 52 for gripping. Moreover, each of the handles 128 may be positioned on opposite sides of the pole 52 with respect to each other. A control 130 is coupled to the pole 52 and the control 130 is electrically coupled to the control circuit 86. The control 130 may comprise a plurality of buttons, and each of the buttons may control 130 operational parameters of a respective one of the worm gear motor 87, the tilt motor 100, the rotation motor 106 and the speaker 112.
In an alternative embodiment 132 as shown in
In use, worm gear motor 87 is turned on to rotate in the second direction to urge the runner 18 upwardly along the worm gear 38. Thus, the umbrella 12 is urged into the deployed position for providing shade from the sun or the block precipitation. Additionally, the tilt motor 100 is turned on to tilt the umbrella 12 into a selected angle with respect to the pole 52 when the sun is at a low angle during early morning hours or late afternoon hours. The rotation motor 106 is turned on to rotate the umbrella 12 on the pole 52 such that the umbrella 12 is aligned with the sun as the sun travels across the sky. The worm gear motor 87 is turned on to rotate in the first direction to urge the runner 18 downwardly along the worm gear 38. Thus, the umbrella 12 is urged into the stored position. The worm gear 38 facilitates the umbrella 12 to be urged between the deployed position and the stored position without requiring manual manipulation of the umbrella 12. In this way elderly users and other physically limited users can deploy and store the umbrella 12 without the risk of injury.
The external electronic device 110 is plugged into a selected input port for communicating an audio signal to the speaker 112. In this way the speaker 112 may broadcast music stored on the external electronic device 110. Additionally, the external electronic device 110 may be plugged into the electrical outlet 114 for powering the external electronic device 110. The charge port 122 is plugged into the power source 124 for recharging the at least one rechargeable battery 120 whenever the at least one rechargeable battery 120 is depleted.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
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