(12) United States Patent
`Pan et al.
`
`US0064.39249B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,439,249 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Aug. 27, 2002
`
`(54) OUTDOOR UMBRELLA WITH LIGHTING
`ARRANGEMENT
`
`5,216,948 A * 6/1993 Sheppard et al. ........... 126/281
`5,611,614 A * 3/1997 Morgan ...................... 135/910
`5,641,223 A * 6/1997 Rustebakke ................. 362/122
`º: º :: º * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - º
`2- -- 2
`::
`U. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`
`.... 135/20.1
`6,196,242 B1 * 3/2001 Xu ..........
`6,217,192 B1 * 4/2001 Stratton ...................... 362/249
`6,270,230 B1 * 8/2001 Mai ........................... 135/910
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner—Carl D. Friedman
`Assistant Examiner—Winnie Yip
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/712,071
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Raymond Y. Chan; David
`(22) Filed:
`Nov. 13, 2000
`and Raymond Patent Group
`(30)
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`Nov. 15, 1999
`(CN) … 99.124017
`An outdoor umbrella with lighting arrangement includes a
`plurality of illuminating units each including an electrical
`(51) Int. Cl." .................................................. A45B 3/04
`extension mounted on a mounting slot of an awning tube of
`(52) U.S. Cl. .......................... 135/16; 135/20.1; 135/98;
`the outdoor umbrella and at least an illuminating connector
`135/910; 362/102
`having a replaceable illuminator mounted thereon electri
`(58) Field of Search ........................... 135/16, 20.1, 21,
`cally mounted on the electrical extension. The illuminating
`135/910, 98, 99, 90, 91; 362/102, 234,
`units are electrically connected together at an upper casing
`249
`of the outdoor umbrella and electrically extended to a
`switchable power supply. So, when the outdoor umbrella is
`unfolded, the lighting arrangement is capable of illuminating
`an area under the outdoor umbrella.
`
`(76) Inventors: Xing Yuan Pan; Wilson Linwei Weng,
`-
`-
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`º of º: Mº ºne 05,
`anoga Park, CA (US)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 31 days.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,053,931 A * 10/1991 Rushing ..................... 135/910
`5,116,258 A * 5/1992 Vennik ...................... 135/20.3
`
`14 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1010, Page 1
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 27, 2002
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
`
`US 6,439,249 B1
`
`
`
`FIG.1
`
`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1010, Page 2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 27, 2002
`
`Sheet 2 of 3
`
`US 6,439,249 B1
`
`
`
`FIG.2
`
`FIG.4
`
`FIG.3
`
`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1010, Page 3
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 27, 2002
`
`Sheet 3 of 3
`
`US 6,439,249 B1
`
`
`
`FIG.5
`
`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1010, Page 4
`
`

`
`1
`OUTDOOR UMBRELLA WITH LIGHTING
`ARRANGEMENT
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT
`INVENTION
`1. Field of Invention
`The present invention relates to an outdoor umbrella, and
`more particularly to an outdoor umbrella with lighting
`arrangement integrally installed therein, wherein the lighting
`arrangement can illuminate an area under the outdoor
`umbrella.
`2. Description of Related Arts
`Outdoor umbrellas are usually provided in a campground
`or on a beach to give a pleasant shade for a user. In the dark,
`a user may merely mount a light on the outdoor umbrella for
`illumination. Conventionally, there are two installation
`methods in order to mount the light on the outdoor umbrella.
`First, the light is hanged on a supporting shaft of the outdoor
`umbrella. Second, the light is adhered on the supporting
`shaft of the outdoor umbrella. However, the two installation
`methods as mentioned above do not work when the outdoor
`umbrella is folded. Thus, when the light is installed into the
`outdoor umbrella, the outdoor umbrella is difficult to be
`folded up since the light may alter the origin structural
`design of the outdoor umbrella. Especially when the light is
`adhered on the outdoor umbrella, it is difficult for the user to
`maintain and repair the light since the light cannot be
`detached form the outdoor umbrella. Also, the external light
`will destroy the beauty appearance of the outdoor umbrella
`as well.
`Moreover, such campground or beach may not provide
`any power source for providing electricity to the light. Even
`though there is a power source in such place, it is inconve
`nient for the user to extend an electrical cord from the light
`to the power source. The user may trip over the extending
`electrical cord which may cause accidents.
`SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
`A main object of the present invention is to provide an
`outdoor umbrella with lighting arrangement which is inter
`nally installed into the outdoor umbrella for well illuminat
`ing an area under the outdoor umbrella.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide an
`outdoor umbrella with lighting arrangement which is easy to
`install to an existing outdoor umbrella and in low cost.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide an
`outdoor umbrella with lighting arrangement wherein elec
`trical cords and a switchable power supply are provided
`inside the outdoor umbrella such that a user is safe and
`hassle-free to operate the lighting arrangement.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide an
`outdoor umbrella with lighting arrangement which can be
`equipped with an existing outdoor umbrella without any
`alteration of the outdoor umbrella.
`Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the
`present invention provides an outdoor umbrella comprises
`an awning frame for supporting a fabric thereon and a
`lighting arrangement; wherein
`the awning frame comprises an upper casing, a lower
`casing, and a folding frame foldably connected
`between the upper casing and the lower casing wherein
`the folding frame comprises a plurality of hollow
`awning tubes radially extended from the upper casing
`and a plurality of hollow supporting bars each radially
`extended from the lower casing and rotatably con
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`US 6,439,249 B1
`
`2
`nected to the respective awning tube, and a supporting
`frame for supporting the awning frame comprising a
`stand and a supporting shaft upwardly extended from
`the stand; and
`the lighting arrangement comprises a mounting slot lon
`gitudinally formed on each of the awning tubes, a
`plurality of illuminating units each comprising an elec
`trical extension securely mounted along the mounting
`slot of the awning tube and at least an illuminating
`connector electrically connected to the electrical exten
`sion for mounting a replaceable illuminator wherein the
`illuminating units are electrically connected together at
`the upper casing and electrically extended to a switch
`able power supply provided in the supporting frame.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an outdoor umbrella with
`lighting arrangement according to a first preferred embodi
`ment of the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an awning tube of the outdoor
`umbrella with lighting arrangement according to the above
`first preferred embodiment of the present invention, illus
`trating a mounting slot formed on the awning tube.
`FIG. 3 illustrates an illuminating unit of the lighting
`arrangement for outdoor umbrella according to the above
`first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 4 illustrates an illuminating unit mounted on the
`awning tube of the outdoor umbrella according to the above
`first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an outdoor umbrella with
`lighting arrangement according to a second preferred
`embodiment of the present invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, an outdoor umbrella
`according to a preferred embodiment of the present inven
`tion is illustrated, wherein the outdoor umbrella comprises
`an awning frame for supporting a fabric thereon and a
`lighting arrangement. The outdoor umbrella, such as a
`standard outdoor umbrella, comprises an upper casing 1 a
`lower casing 6, and a folding frame foldably connected
`between the upper casing 1 and lower casing 6 wherein the
`folding frame comprises a plurality of hollow awning tubes
`3 radially extended from the upper casing 1 and a plurality
`of hollow supporting bars 4 each radially extended from the
`lower casing 6 and rotatably connected to the respective
`awning tube 3, and a supporting frame for supporting the
`awning frame comprising a stand 10 and a supporting shaft
`7 upwardly and vertically extended from the stand 10.
`The lighting arrangement comprises a mounting slot 32
`longitudinally formed on each awning tube 3, a plurality of
`illuminating units each comprising an electrical extension 33
`securely mounted along the mounting slot 32 of the awning
`tube 3 and an illuminating connector 31 spacedly provided
`along the electrical extension 33 for mounting a replaceable
`illuminator 5 wherein the illuminating units are electrically
`connected together at the upper casing 1 and electrically
`extended to a switchable power supply 11 provided in the
`supporting frame.
`Each mounting slot 32 is an elongated slot longitudinally
`formed along each awning tube 3, as shown in FIG. 2.
`Referring, to FIG. 3, the electrical extension 33 is an
`elongated belt adapted for securely mounting on the mount
`ing slot 32 of the awning tube 3 wherein the illuminating
`
`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1010, Page 5
`
`

`
`3
`connectors 31 are electrically connected together along the
`electrical extension 33 in such a manner that the replaceable
`illuminator 5, which is preferably a LED, is spacedly formed
`along each awning tube 3 when the electrical extension 33
`is mounted on the mounting slot 32, as shown in FIG. 4.
`Alternatively, the replaceable illuminator 5 can be a regular
`light bulb so as to increase the brightness of the lighting
`arrangement for the outdoor umbrella.
`The lighting arrangement further comprises a circuit
`board 2 provided in the upper casing 1 wherein the electrical
`extensions 33 of the illuminating units are electrically con
`nected to the circuit board 2 at the upper casing 1.
`According to a first preferred embodiment, the outdoor
`umbrella is an upright type of outdoor umbrella wherein the
`lower casing 6 is mounted on top of the supporting shaft 7
`of the supporting frame.
`An electrical wire 8 is electrically extended from the
`circuit board 2 to the switchable power supply 11 wherein
`the electrical wire 8 is passing through the hollow awning
`tube 3, the hollow supporting bar 4, and the hollow sup
`porting shaft 7 respectively to the switchable power supply
`11, as shown in FIG. 1. The switchable power supply 11 is
`adapted for not only supplying electricity to the lighting
`arrangement but also selectively switching the lighting
`arrangement on and off. The switchable power supply 11 can
`be a rechargeable battery with DC current such that no
`additional wire extension is needed for electrically connect
`ing to an external power supply. Alternatively, the switch
`able power supply 11 can be extended to a power source
`with AC current by an extension power cord.
`The lighting arrangement further comprises an auto
`switching device 12 provided in the lower casing 6 wherein
`the auto switching device 12 are electrically connected with
`the electric wire 8 respectively so as to switch the light
`arrangement on and off. The auto switching device 12 is
`adapted for automatically switching on and off the illumi
`nating units by a folding motion of the outdoor umbrella. In
`other words, when the outdoor umbrella is in an unfolded
`position, the illuminators 5 are automatically turned on.
`Otherwise, when the outdoor umbrella is folded up, the
`illuminators 5 are automatically turned off. Alternatively, the
`auto switching device 12 can be mounted in the upper casing
`and electrically connected with the circuit board 2 to achieve
`the same function of automatically switching on and off of
`the lighting arrangement.
`Referring to FIG. 5, an outdoor umbrella with lighting
`arrangement according to a second embodiment is
`illustrated, which is an alternative mode of the outdoor
`umbrella of the first embodiment. The supporting frame
`further comprises a supporting arm 13' foldably extended
`from the top of the supporting shaft 7" and pivotally con
`nected to one of the awning tube 3' such that the awning
`frame is suspendedly supported by the supporting frame.
`According to the second embodiment, since the structure
`of the outdoor umbrella is slightly different from it first
`embodiment, the electrical wire 8' is detoured to electrically
`connected to the switchable power supply 11'. The electrical
`wire 8' is electrically extended between the circuit board 2'
`at the upper casing 1' to the switchable power supply 11' in
`the supporting frame wherein the electrical wire 8' is passing
`through one of the awning tube 3' to the supporting shaft 7
`through the supporting arm 13'.
`The lighting arrangement further comprises a replaceable
`light bulb 15' mounted underneath the lower casing 6' of the
`awning frame, as shown in FIG. 4, wherein the light bulb 15
`is electrically connected to the circuit board 2' by an
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`US 6,439,249 B1
`
`4
`elongated wire extending through the supporting bar 4 and
`the awning tube 3' respectively. Also, the lighting arrange
`ment further comprises an auto switching device 12" pro
`vided in the lower casing 6' wherein the auto switching
`device 12' are electrically connected with the electric wire 8
`respectively so as to automatically switch the light arrange
`ment on and off.
`In order to reduce the cost of the present invention, the
`lighting arrangement comprises the light bulb 15' mounted
`underneath the lower casing 6' of the awning frame wherein
`the electric wire 8' is directly connected between the light
`bulb 8' and the switchable power supply 11'. Thus, the auto
`switch device 12' are respectively mounted inside the sup
`porting shaft 7" and the lower casing 6' for switching the on
`and off the lighting arrangement, as mentioned above. It is
`worth to mention that the light bulb 15' preferably has higher
`watts so as to provide a better illumination for the outdoor
`umbrella.
`What is claimed is:
`1. An outdoor umbrella, comprising an awning frame
`supporting a fabric thereon and a lighting arrangement;
`wherein
`said awning frame comprises an upper casing, a lower
`casing, and a folding frame foldably connected
`between said upper casing and said lower casing
`wherein said folding frame comprises a plurality of
`hollow awning tubes radially extended from said upper
`casing and a plurality of hollow supporting bars each
`radially extended from said lower casing and rotatably
`connected to said respective awning tube, and a sup
`porting frame for supporting said awning frame com
`prising a stand and a hollow supporting shaft upwardly
`extended from said stand; and
`said lighting arrangement comprises a mounting slot
`longitudinally formed on each of said awning tubes, a
`plurality of illuminating units each comprising a elec
`trical extension securely mounted along said mounting
`slot of said awning tube respectively and illuminating
`connectors electrically connected to said electrical
`extension for mounting replaceable illuminators
`wherein said illuminating units are electrically con
`nected together at said upper casing and electrically
`extended to a switchable power supply provided in said
`supporting frame.
`2. An outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 1, wherein said
`lighting arrangement further comprises a circuit board
`mounted in said upper casing in such a manner that said
`illuminating units are electrically connected to said circuit
`board, and an electric wire electrically extended from said
`circuit board to said switchable power supply, so as to
`electrically connect said illuminating units with said swit
`chable power supply.
`3. An outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 2, wherein said
`lighting arrangement further comprises an auto switching
`device, which is provided in said lower casing and electri
`cally connected with said illuminating units, is adapted for
`automatically switching on and off said illuminating units by
`a folding motion of said outdoor umbrella.
`4. An outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 3, wherein said
`electric wire is passing from said circuit board through said
`hollow awning tube, said hollow supporting bar, and said
`hollow supporting shaft respectively to said switchable
`power supply.
`5. An outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 4, wherein said
`illuminator is a LED.
`6. An outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 4, wherein said
`illuminator is a light bulb.
`
`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1010, Page 6
`
`

`
`5
`7. An outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 3, wherein said
`outdoor umbrella further comprises a hollow supporting arm
`foldably extended from a top of said supporting shaft to said
`awning frame wherein said electric wire is passing from said
`circuit board through said hollow awning tube, said hollow
`supporting arm, and said hollow supporting shaft respec
`tively to said switchable power supply.
`8. An outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 7, wherein said
`lighting arrangement further comprises a light bulb mounted
`underneath said lower casing wherein said light bulb is
`electrically connected to said circuit board through said
`folding frame.
`9. An outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 8, wherein said
`illuminator is a light bulb.
`10. An outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 7, wherein
`said illuminator is a LED.
`11. An outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 2, wherein
`said electric wire is passing from said circuit board through
`said hollow awning tube, said hollow supporting bar, and
`said hollow supporting shaft respectively to said switchable
`power supply.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`US 6,439,249 B1
`
`6
`12. An outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 2, wherein
`said outdoor umbrella further comprises a hollow supporting
`arm foldably extended from a top of said supporting shaft to
`said awning frame wherein said electric wire is passing from
`said circuit board through said hollow awning tube, said
`hollow supporting arm, and said hollow supporting shaft
`respectively to said switchable power supply.
`13. An outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 12, wherein
`said lighting arrangement further comprises a light bulb
`mounted underneath said lower casing wherein said light
`bulb is electrically connected to said circuit board through
`said-folding frame.
`14. An outdoor umbrella, as recited in claim 1, wherein
`said lighting arrangement further comprises an auto switch
`ing device, which is provided in said lower casing and
`electrically connected with said illuminating units, is
`adapted for automatically switching on and off said illumi
`nating units by a folding motion of said outdoor umbrella.
`
`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1010, Page 7