WO2008072058A1

WO2008072058A1 - Umbrella

Info

Publication number: WO2008072058A1
Application number: PCT/IB2007/003848
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chi-Wai James Lo
Original assignee: Lomak Industrial Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-12-12
Filing date: 2007-12-11
Publication date: 2008-06-19
Also published as: HK1099472A2; KR20090009168U; KR200465155Y1; WO2008072058A8; AU2007331178A2; JP3160853U; AU2007331178A1; MY151752A

Abstract

A collapsible umbrella (10) comprises an elongate central support member (20) having a distal end (22), a proximal end (24), and a central portion(26); a collapsible cover member (30) at the distal end (22) and being moveable from a collapsed configuration adjacent said central portion (26) of the support member (20) to an expanded configuration extending radially outwardly; a plurality of fan blades (40) located below the distal end (22) of said support member (20) and located radially inwardly from said cover member (30), and further being movable from a non-operable configuration adjacent the central portion (26) of said support member (20) when said cover member (30) is in said collapsed configuration to an operable configuration extending radially outwardly from said central support member (20) when said cover member (30) is in said expanded configuration; and drive means (50) for rotating the fan blades (40) when in said operable configuration to move air in a direction to cool a user.

Description

UMBRELLA

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of umbrellas. More particularly, the present invention relates to an umbrella for cooling a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Umbrellas have been used and applied in many forms over the years typically for the purposes of sheltering a user from rain in wet environments, and sheltering a user from the heat of the sun in locations of elevated temperature. Umbrellas may be provided for personal use by a user whereby the umbrella is provided in a collapsible arrangement so as to allow the umbrella to be moved from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration. Alternatively, umbrellas may be provided in a large format for providing shelter to several people or users simultaneously. Such umbrellas are often used in outdoor settings such as beach environments or for extending over a table to provide shelter from rain and heat to users located beneath. Both personal portable umbrellas and large format umbrellas may be provided in both collapsible and permanent form. Further, such umbrellas may or may not be impervious to water, those not impervious to water typically being applicable for providing shade to a user in a sunny environment.

When located or positioned below both personal umbrellas and large format umbrellas in hot or humid environments, users typically experience discomfort due to either ambient heat or humidity, or due to heating being caused beneath the umbrella due to the material from which the umbrella is formed. Umbrellas may be formed from materials having reflective properties such that sunlight is reflected from the outer surface of the umbrella so as to at least partly mitigate heating effects underneath the umbrella. However, in hot and humid environments, although a user may be protected from UV rays and heat, discomfort is still experienced.

The present invention provides an umbrella which at least substantially ameliorates some of the deficiencies exhibited by those of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a collapsible umbrella for cooling a user, the umbrella comprising: ■

• a generally elongate central support member having an distal end, a proximal end and a central portion located therebetween;

• a collapsible cover member for providing shelter to a user, said cover member being engaged with the support member at the distal end and being moveable from a collapsed configuration adjacent said central portion of the support member to an expanded configuration extending radially outwardly from said central support member;

• a plurality of fan blades located below the distal end of said support member and radially disposed about said support member, each fan blade of said plurality of fan blades being movable from a non-operable configuration adjacent the central portion of said support member when said cover member is in said collapsed configuration and being located radially inwardly from said cover member, each fan blade further being moveable to an operable configuration and extending radially outwardly from said central support member when said cover member is said expanded configuration; and

• drive means for rotating said plurality of fan blades about said central support member when in said operable configuration in a manner so as to move air in a direction so as to cool a user positioned proximal of said cover member.

Preferably the cover member comprises a plurality of elongate stays hingedly engaged with and radially disposed about the distal end of said support member and a deformable cover membrane engaged with and carried by said plurality of stays.

The umbrella preferably further comprises a plurality of elongate struts disposed radially about said support member, each strut of said plurality of struts having a first end hingedly engaged with a corresponding stay and a second end slidably engaged with the middle portion of said support member; wherein upon urging of the second ends of said plurality of strut in a distal direction, the strut members urge the stays radially outwardly and distally, and the strut members form a brace between the stays of said cover member.

The plurality of fan blades is preferably disposed between the plurality of struts and the distal end of said support member such that the plurality of struts form a guard between the fan blades and the user.

The umbrella preferably further comprises a collapsible shield member which is carried by said plurality of struts, wherein said plurality of struts is generally parallel to said support member when said cover member is in said collapsed configuration. Preferably the drive means is located adjacent said plurality of fan blades. Preferably the drive means is provided as a direct current electric motor.

The electric motor preferably comprises a stator disposed radially inward of the rotor and being fixedly engaged relative to the support member, the rotor extending at least partly around the stator and being rotatably engaged with the stator; and wherein a first end of fan blades is engaged relative to the rotor such that upon rotation of said rotor the plurality of fan blades is rotated about the support member. The motor may further comprise a coil is disposed radially outward of the stator and is fixedly engaged relative to the stator, and a magnet configuration disposed radially between the coil and the rotor and being fixedly engaged relative to the rotor.

Preferably the plurality of fan blades is structurally rigid and hingedly engaged relative to the rotor such that upon rotation of the rotor the fan blades are urged radially outward to said operable configuration, and upon rotation of the rotor ceasing the fan blades move radially inwardly and distally so as to be substantially parallel to the support member when in said non-operable configuration.

Alternatively, plurality of fan blades may be formed from a structurally flexible material such that upon rotation of the rotor the fan blades are urged radially outward to said operable configuration, and upon rotation of the rotor ceasing the fan blades move radially inwardly and distally so as to be substantially parallel to the support member when in said non-operable configuration.

The umbrella preferably further comprises a power supply carried by said support member. The power supply may be disposed adjacent the distal end of the support member and distal the cover member. A housing may be disposed adjacent the distal end of the support member and distal the cover member, wherein the power supply is located within the housing.

Alternatively the power supply may be disposed at or adjacent the proximal end of the support member. The power supply may be disposed internal of the support member.

The umbrella may further comprise a handle portion disposed adjacent the proximal end of said support member, wherein the power supply is located within the handle portion.

The power supply is provided in the form of battery cells, and the battery cells may be rechargeable battery cells.

Preferably the drive means is activated upon the cover member being moved to said expanded configuration. The umbrella may further comprise a switch mechanism operable upon the cover member moving to said expanded configuration so as to active said drive means.

Alternatively the umbrella may further comprise a user operable switch located at or adjacent the proximal end of said support member for activation of said drive means.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides an umbrella for cooling a user, the umbrella comprising:

• a generally elongate central support member having an distal end, a proximal end and a central portion located therebetween; • a cover member for providing shelter to a user, said cover member being engaged with the support member at the distal end and extending radially outwardly from said central support member;

• a plurality of fan blades located below the distal end of said support member and radially disposed about said support member, each fan blade of said plurality of fan blades extending radially outwardly from said central support member; and

• drive means for rotating said plurality of fan blades about said central support member manner so as to move air in a direction so as to cool a user positioned proximal of said cover member.

In an embodiment of the second aspect, the cover member may be moveable from a collapsed configuration adjacent said central portion of the support member to an erect configuration.

In another embodiment of the second aspect, each fan blade of said plurality of fan blades may be movable from a non-operable configuration adjacent the central portion of said support member when said cover member is in said collapsed configuration and further being moveable to an operable configuration and extending radially outwardly from said central support member when said cover member is said erect configuration.

In a third aspect, the present invention provides an umbrella for cooling a user, the umbrella comprising: • a generally elongate central support member having an distal end, a proximal end and a central portion located therebetween;

• a cover member for providing shelter to a user, said cover member being engaged with the support member at the distal end and extending radially outwardly from said central support member;

• a plurality of fan blades located below the distal end of said support member and radially disposed about said support member, each fan blade of said plurality of fan blades extending radially outwardly from said central support member, said plurality of fan blades being engaged with said cover member; and

• drive means for rotating said cover member and said plurality of fan blades about said central support member manner so as to move air in a direction so as to cool a user positioned proximal of said cover member.

In an embodiment of the third aspect, the cover member may be moveable from a collapsed configuration adjacent said central portion of the support member to an erect configuration.

In another embodiment of the third aspect, each fan blade of said plurality of fan blades may be movable from a non-operable configuration adjacent the central portion of said support member when said cover member is in said collapsed configuration and further being moveable to an operable configuration and extending radially outwardly from said central support member when said cover member is said erect configuration. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of an umbrella according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows an enlarged part sectional perspective view of the embodiment as depicted in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 shows an enlarged sectional perspective view of a drive means of the umbrella according to the present invention;

Fig. 4 shows a first embodiment of a fan assembly of the umbrella according to the present invention;

Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment of a fan assembly of the umbrella according to the present invention;

Fig. 6 shows an enlarged sectional perspective view of a power supply of an umbrella according to the present invention;

Fig. 7 shows a second embodiment of a power supply of an umbrella according to the present invention;

Fig. 8 shows a first embodiment of a switch mechanism of an umbrella according to the present invention; Fig. 9 shows a second embodiment of a switch mechanism of an umbrella according to the present invention;

Fig. 10 shows an enlarged view of the switch assembly as depicted in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 shows a further embodiment of an umbrella according to the present invention;

Fig. 12 shows a third embodiment of a switch mechanism of the umbrella as depicted in Fig. 11 ;

Figure 13 shows an enlarged sectional view of further embodiment of a drive means of the umbrella according to the present invention; and

Figure 14 shoes a perspective exploded view of the drive means as depicted in

Figure 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description refers to preferred embodiments of the umbrella according to the present invention. To facilitate an understanding of the invention, reference is made in the description to the accompanying drawings whereby the system is illustrated in preferred embodiments. Similar components between the embodiments are identified by the same reference numerals.

Referring to Fig. 1 , there is shown a collapsible umbrella 10 for cooling a user according to the present invention. The umbrella 10 comprises a generally elongate central support member 20 having a distal end 22, a proximal end 24 and a central portion 26 located between the distal end 22 and the proximal end 24. The umbrella 10 further comprises a collapsible cover member 30 which is adapted to provide shelter to a user located underneath the umbrella 10 when in use. The cover member 30 is engaged with the support member 22 at the distal end 22 of the support member 20 and is movable from a collapsed configuration whereby it is adjacent the central portion 26 of the cover member 30 to an expanded configuration as depicted in Fig. 1 whereby the cover member 30 extends radially outwardly from the central support member 20. A plurality of fan blades 40 is provided for cooling a user when located below the cover member 30 when the umbrella 10 is in use. The fan blades 40 are located below the distal end 22 of the support member 20 and are radially disposed about the support member 20. A drive means 50 for rotating the fan blades 40 about the support member 20 when the cover member 30 is in an expanded and operable configuration as depicted in Fig. 1 so as to move air in a direction so as to cool a user when using the umbrella 10.

The cover member 30 comprises a plurality of elongate stays 32 which are hingedly engaged with and radially disposed about the distal end 22 of the support member 20. The cover member 30 further comprises a plurality of elongate struts 34 radially disposed about the support member 20 and having a first end hingedly engaged with a corresponding stay 32 and the second end slidably engaged with the middle portion 24 of the support member 20. Upon urging of the second ends of the plurality of struts 34 in a distal direction, the struts 34 urge the stays 32 radially outwardly and distally such that the struts form a brace between the stays 32 of the cover member 30. Each fan blade 40 is adapted to move from a non-operable configuration whereby the umbrella 10 is in a collapsed configuration so as to extend substantially parallel to the support member 20 and being movable to an operable configuration as depicted in Fig. 1 so as to extend radially outwardly from the support member 20 when the cover member 30 is in the expanded or erect configuration. The fan blades 40 are disposed between the struts 34 and the distal end 22 of the support member such that the struts 34 form a guard between the fan blades 40 and the user. It will be appreciated that in other or alternate embodiments that the fan blades 40 may be located beneath the struts 34 without departing from the scope of the invention. In other or alternate embodiments, the umbrella 10 may further comprise a collapsible shield member which is carried by the struts 34 whilst allowing air to pass there through, so as to provide further protection to a user whilst still cooling the user.

Referring to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, as shown the drive means 50 is located adjacent the plurality of fan blades 40. In the present embodiment, the drive means is provided as a DC electric motor and comprises a stator 52 disposed radially inward of a rotor, the stator 52 being fixedly engaged relative to the support member 20, the rotor 54 extending at least partly circumferentially around the stator 52 and being rotatably engaged with the stator 52 by a bearing assembly 56. A first end of the fan blades 54 is engaged relative to the rotor 54 such that upon rotation of the rotor 54, the fan blades 40 are rotated about the support member 20 so as to cool a user when in use.

The drive means 50 further comprises a coil, although not depicted in the present drawings, the coil being radially outward of the stator 52 and being fixedly engaged relative to the stator 52, and a magnet configuration 58 which is disposed radially between the coil and the rotor 54 and being flexibly engaged relative to the rotor 54.

Referring to Fig. 4, the fan blades 40 are structurally rigid and hingedly engaged relative to the rotor 54 by hinged joints 42 such that when the umbrella 10 is in an operable configuration as depicted in Fig. 1 , upon rotation of the drive means 50 the fan blades 40 urged radially outward to the operable configuration and such that upon rotation of the rotor 54 ceasing, the fan blades 40 move radially inwardly and distally so as to be substantially parallel to the support member 20 when in the non-operable configuration.

Referring to Fig. 5, an alternate embodiment of fan blades 40a is shown whereby the fan blades 40a are formed from a structurally flexible material such that upon rotation of the rotor 54 the fan blades are urged radially outward toward the operable configuration. Upon rotation of the rotor 54 ceasing, the fan blades move radially inwardly and distally again so as to be substantially parallel to the support member 20 when in the non-operable configuration. It will be appreciated, that other or alternate embodiments of fan blades may be provided without departing from the scope of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 6, a power supply 60 is provided for supplying power to the drive means 50 so as to rotate the fan blades 40. In the present embodiment, the power supply is located adjacent the distal end 22 of the support member 24 and comprises a housing 64 in which battery cells 62 are housed. The battery cells may typically be dry cell type batteries and may further be rechargeable whilst still being located within the housing 64. Alternatively, the battery cells 62 may be single use type cells and replaced upon expiration by rotatably disengaging the housing 64 from the distal end 22 of the support member 20.

Referring to Fig. 7, an alternate embodiment of a power supply 60a is shown, whereby the housing is provided at the distal end 24 of the support member 20 in the form of a handle and the battery cells 62 located within the handle 64a. Again, the battery cells 62 may be single use type battery cells or alternatively be rechargeable either by removal from the handle 62a or by a direct charging unit, although not depicted in the present embodiment.

Referring to Fig. 8, a switch mechanism 70 is further provided for supplying power from the power supply 60 to the drive means 50 for rotating the fan blades 40 when in the operable configuration. In the present embodiment, a sleeve member 80 is provided for urging the struts 34 radially outward upon sliding in the distal direction, the sleeve member 80 being adapted to urge an operation button 72 in contact with a switch component 74 when the sleeve member 80 is appropriately disposed. As will be appreciated, other or alternate switch mechanisms 70 may be provided in other forms so as to supply power to the drive means, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, an alternate embodiment of a switch mechanism 70a is provided at the distal end 24 of the support member 20 the switch mechanism 70a comprises a user operable button 72a and a contact switch 74a which is operable upon being urged by the button 72a when depressed by a user. Again, it will be appreciated that other or alternate switch mechanisms 70a may be provided without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 11 and Fig. 12, a further embodiment of a switch mechanism 70b is shown in another embodiment of an umbrella 10a according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, the switch mechanism 70b is located between the fan blades 40a and sleeve member 80a and comprises an operation button

72b which is adapted to active switch 74b. A further sleeve 84b is provided which, when urged distally by sleeve 80a, urges operation button 72b to activate switch 74b thus providing power to the motor and rotating the fan blades 40a.

Referring to Figure 13 and Figure 14 there is shown a further embodiment of a drive means 50a according to the present invention. In the further embodiment, the stator 52a is positioned below the rotor 54a, as opposed to the embodiment of the drive means 50 as depicted in Figure 3. In some implementations of the present embodiment, ease of closing of the umbrella may be provided

In other and alternate embodiments of the present invention, an umbrella may be provide whereby the cover member is maintained in a fixed and open arrangement, whereby the fan blades are rotated by a drive means similar or same to that as depicted in the first embodiment, without departing from the scope of the invention. Such umbrellas may be applicable in a fixed arrangement rather than a portable arrangement as described in reference to the first embodiment. Alternatively, in other embodiments the cover member and fan blades may be fixedly engaged integrally formed, such that upon rotation of either the cover member or the fan blades by the drive means, both the cover member and the fan blades are caused to rotate so as to cool a user when in use. In such embodiments, the umbrella may or may not be collapsible, or may or may not be a portable type umbrella as described with reference to the first embodiment.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other drive means or configuration for opening or closing the umbrella may be also provided without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that depending upon a particular application of an umbrella according to the present invention, suitable materials from which the material is formed may be provided, such as light refractive material being used to form the cover member or the cover member being impervious to water in wet environments.

It will be appreciated that the above described embodiments may take alternate forms and include additional features which, when used with the present invention, remain within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and claimed.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

Claims

1. A collapsible umbrella for cooling a user, the umbrella comprising:

2. A collapsible umbrella according to claim 1 , wherein said cover member comprises a plurality of elongate stays hingedly engaged with and radially disposed about the distal end of said support member, and a deformable cover membrane engaged with and carried by said plurality of stays.

3. A collapsible umbrella according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of elongate struts disposed radially about said support member, each strut of said plurality of struts having a first end hingedly engaged with a corresponding stay and a second end slidably engaged with the middle portion of said support member;

wherein upon urging of the second ends of said plurality of strut in a distal direction, the strut members urge the stays radially outwardly and distally, and the strut members form a brace between the stays of said cover member.

4. A collapsible umbrella according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of fan blades is disposed between the plurality of struts and the distal end of said support member such that the plurality of struts form a guard between the fan blades and the user.

5. An umbrella according to claim 4, further comprising a collapsible shield member which is carried by said plurality of struts, wherein said plurality of struts is generally parallel to said support member when said cover member is in said collapsed configuration.

6. An umbrella according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said drive means is located adjacent said plurality of fan blades.

7. An umbrella according to claim 6, wherein said drive means is provided as a direct current electric motor.

8. An umbrella according to claim 7, wherein said electric motor comprises a stator disposed radially inward of a rotor and being fixedly engaged relative to the support member, the rotor extending at least partly around the stator and being rotatably engaged with the stator; and

wherein a first end of fan blades is engaged relative to the rotor such that upon rotation of said rotor the plurality of fan blades is rotated about the support member.

9. An umbrella according to claim 7, wherein the motor further comprises a coil disposed radially outward of the stator and is fixedly engaged relative to the stator, and a magnet configuration disposed radially between the coil and the rotor and being fixedly engaged relative to the rotor.

10. An umbrella according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein said plurality of fan blades is structurally rigid and hingedly engaged relative to the rotor such that upon rotation of the rotor the fan blades are urged radially outward to said operable configuration, and upon rotation of the rotor ceasing the fan blades move radially inwardly and distally so as to be substantially parallel to the support member when in said non-operable configuration.

11. An umbrella according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein said plurality of fan blades is formed from a structurally flexible material such that upon rotation of the rotor the fan blades are urged radially outward to said operable configuration, and upon rotation of the rotor ceasing the fan blades move radially inwardly and distally so as to be substantially parallel to the support member when in said non-operable configuration.

12. An umbrella according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a power supply carried by said support member.

13. An umbrella according to claim 12, wherein said power supply is disposed adjacent the distal end of the support member and distal the cover member.

14. An umbrella according to claim 13, further comprising a housing disposed adjacent the distal end of the support member and distal the cover member, wherein the power supply is located within the housing.

15. An umbrella according to claim 12, wherein the power supply is disposed at or adjacent the proximal end of the support member.

16. An umbrella according to claim 15, wherein the power supply is disposed internal of the support member.

17. An umbrella according claim 12, further comprising a handle portion disposed adjacent the proximal end of said support member, wherein the power supply is located within the handle portion.

18. An umbrella according to any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein the power supply is provided in the form of battery cells.

19. An umbrella according to claim 18, wherein the battery cells are rechargeable battery cells.

20. An umbrella according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive means is activated upon the cover member being moved to said expanded configuration.

21. An umbrella according to claim 20, further comprising a switch mechanism operable upon the cover member moving to said expanded configuration so as to active said drive means.

22. An umbrella according to any one of claims 1 to 19, further comprising a user operable switch located at or adjacent the proximal end of said support member for activation of said drive means.

23. An umbrella for cooling a user, the umbrella comprising:

24. An umbrella according to claim 23, wherein the cover member is moveable from a collapsed configuration adjacent said central portion of the support member to an erect configuration.

25. An umbrella according to claim 24, wherein each fan blade of said plurality of fan blades being movable from a non-operable configuration adjacent the central portion of said support member when said cover member is in said collapsed configuration and further being moveable to an operable configuration and extending radially outwardly from said central support member when said cover member is said erect configuration.

26. An umbrella according to any one of claims 23 to 25, further comprising of any one of claims 2 to 22.

27. An umbrella for cooling a user, the umbrella comprising:

• drive means for rotating said cover member and said plurality of fan blades about said central support member manner so as to move air in a direction so as to cool a user positioned proximal of said cover member;

28. An umbrella according to claim 27, wherein the cover member is moveable from a collapsed configuration adjacent said central portion of the support member to an erect configuration.

29. An umbrella according to claim 28, wherein each fan blade of said plurality of fan blades being movable from a non-operable configuration adjacent the central portion of said support member when said cover member is in said collapsed configuration and further being moveable to an operable configuration and extending radially outwardly from said central support member when said cover member is said erect configuration.

30. An umbrella according to any one of claims 27 to 29, further comprising of any one of claims 2 to 22.