Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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UMBRELLA COMPRISING AN ILLUMINATION DEVICE
The invention relates to an umbrella, more preferably a hand-held umbrella,
free-standing
umbrella, or offset hanging umbrella for protection against the rain, or for
use as a sunshade.
Said umbrella comprises a canopy, a supporting construction for said canopy
and an illumi-
nation device that is allocated to the supporting construction.
An apparatus of the mentioned type is known based on utility model patent
application DE
298 11 817 U 1. To improve the safety of pedestrians in traffic, it proposes
an umbrella against
the rain equipped with electrical light sources at the tip of some of the ribs
supporting the
covering of the umbrella. These light sources are intended to improve the
visibility of pedes-
trians in traffic by emitting a blinking or permanent light, particularly at
night and in poor
weather conditions.
Moreover, umbrellas against the rain equipped with illumination devices are
known from
prior art, which are intended to help the user of the umbrella find his or her
way thanks to the
illumination of the immediate surroundings in particular at night and in
difficult terrain. They
are designed to prevent stumbling or accidental falls of the pedestrian. Said
umbrellas against
the rain are equipped for example with commercially available light bulbs or
filament bulbs,
attached to the outside of the supporting construction of the umbrella.
Moreover, sunshades of the mentioned type are known from prior art. Especially
large sun-
shades are used for example in the gastronomic industry, usually placed on
terraces or in beer
gardens. At dusk or at night, sunshades without illumination devices need to
be folded closed
to allow the illumination by existing external illumination devices or to be
able to use the re-
maining sunlight at dusk. To make the complicated opening and closing of these
sunshades
several times a day unnecessary, sunshades equipped with illumination devices
are now being
offered. Several powerful lights are attached for example to the shaft of the
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umbrella. These lights can be turned on and off by the staff of the
gastronomic establishment
as needed.
However, the type-defining umbrellas have the disadvantage that the
illumination device is
very susceptible to damage as a result of the daily operation. Generally, the
illumination de-
vice is attached to the shaft of the umbrella or to the supporting ribs of the
canopy. In par-
ticular when the umbrella or the sunshade is folded open or closed, the
illumination device
can collide with other parts of the umbrella or its supporting construction,
thus getting dam-
aged or destroyed - especially over the long-term.
It is common knowledge that - as articles of the daily use - both umbrellas as
well as sun-
shades are not handled with particular care or treated gently, but are exposed
to major wear as
a result of their intended use and storage. The illumination device attached
to the type-
defining umbrella pursuant to the state of the art can be quickly and
seriously damaged as a
result.
An additional disadvantage of the umbrella comprising an illumination device
known from
prior art is the fact that the user perceives the illumination device as a
highly disturbing for-
eign object within the otherwise familiar construction of the umbrella. The
attachment of il-
lumination devices to the supporting construction of commercially available
umbrellas makes
an amateurish impression on the user and creates an unfavorable aesthetical
appearance. This
unfavorable aesthetical appearance may have an especially negative impact if
the illuminated
umbrella is used in professional surroundings, such as for example in the case
of very large
and cost-intensive sunshades used in the gastronomical industry.
Therefore, the objective of the invention at hand is to develop and redesign
an umbrella of the
type mentioned above in such a way as to achieve the greatest possible
protection for the il-
lumination device, while giving the umbrella a particularly aesthetic
appearance.
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Based on the present invention, the objective mentioned above will be solved
with the char-
acteristics described in patent claim 1. Based on it, an umbrella, in
particular a hand-held um-
brella, free-standing umbrella or offset hanging umbrella for protection
against the rain or for
use as a sunshade is characterized in that the illumination device of the
supporting construc-
tion is essentially integrated into the umbrella.
According to the present invention, it has been determined that the ideal
protection of the il-
lumination device allocated to the umbrella from being damaged or destroyed
can be achieved
by partially or completely integrating the illumination device in the
supporting construction of
the umbrella.
The sensitive illumination device which can consist for example of light
bulbs, filament
bulbs, light emitting diodes, etc., can be partially or completely "embedded"
in the supporting
construction of the umbrella according to the present invention. To the extent
a regularly con-
structed umbrella is used for this purpose, the illumination device can be
integrated for exam-
ple in the shaft, the hub or the holding or supporting ribs of the umbrella.
The isolation of the illumination device from the surroundings achieved with
this encapsula-
tion effectively prevents it from being damaged by the opening and closing of
the umbrella,
by environmental influences or by influences which occur during the storage of
the umbrella.
In addition, it has been determined according to the present invention that
the integration of
the illumination device within the supporting construction of the umbrella
achieves a particu-
larly beneficial aesthetic appearance. If the illumination device of the
umbrella is not in op-
eration, e.g. when daylight is available, the illumination device is not
visible to the user of the
umbrella or is vaguely discernible at best.
On the other hand, if the illumination device is in operation, a superior
aesthetical impression
of the complete umbrella is obtained thanks to the encapsulation of the
illumination device.
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The invention effectively prevents the aesthetical appearance of a
particularly high-quality
umbrella or sunshade from being seriously devaluated due to illumination
devices that are
attached to the outside of the supporting construction, possibly in an
amateurish manner.
Accordingly, the invention relates to an umbrella, in particular a hand-held
umbrella, free-
standing umbrella, or offset hanging umbrella for protection against the rain,
or for use as a
sunshade in which the greatest possible protection of the illumination device
as well as a par-
ticularly aesthetic appearance of the umbrella is achieved.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the umbrella according to the
invention comprises a
supporting construction which is known from commercially available umbrellas
or sunshades.
This means that the supporting construction is equipped with a shaft
consisting of a fixed up-
per hub and a lower hub which is moveable along the shaft, where the upper hub
contains
several holding ribs connected to the canopy, where several supporting ribs
coupled with the
holding ribs are connected to the lower hub and where the canopy can be folded
open and
closed by means of the movement of the lower hub.
The canopy can be made for example of natural or synthetic fabric, which can
be impreg-
nated, if necessary. In addition, it is possible to use a compound material
made of fabric and
synthetic foil. The compound material can consist of several layers. Finally,
it is also possible
to use a cover made of pure synthetic fabric for the canopy.
The lower hub and the shaft in the area of the upper end position of the lower
hub are gener-
ally designed in such a way as to allow the lower hub to lock into its upper
end position with
respect to the shaft.
In addition, the supporting construction can comprise a handle or a base or
similar at the
lower end of the shaft. The umbrella according to the invention can be
designed similar to
commercially available umbrellas and sunshades in this respect.
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In a particularly preferred further development of the umbrella according to
the invention, the
supporting construction integrates the illumination device in such a way that
it is completely
encapsulated and isolated from the surroundings. As a result, the illumination
device is not in
direct contact with the surroundings, thereby providing a particularly
effective prevention of
superficial wear of the illumination device. In other words: the illumination
device is com-
pletely enclosed by the supporting construction in all directions, and as a
result, it is ideally
protected.
Preferably, the supporting construction is made of transparent or translucent
material at least
in the area of the illumination device. If the illumination device is
completely enclosed by the
supporting construction as described above, the supporting construction must
be designed in
such a way at least in the area of the enclosed illumination device that the
light emitted by the
illumination device can penetrate the supporting construction at least
partially to allow the
illumination device to fulfill its purpose.
The achieved light efficiency is particularly high with the use of transparent
material above
the supporting construction. In contrast, the use of translucent material
allows one to achieve
light scattering similar to the effect known from matte light bulbs or lamps
comprising lamp-
shades. This allows the provision of a particularly comfortable illumination
for the user.
Moreover, the use of translucent material allows the realization of color
effects, namely, if the
translucent material is colored and the emitted light acts as a color filter.
In addition, it is pos-
sible to provide various colors of the emitted light within a single
supporting construction, by
using differently colored translucent material in different areas of the
supporting construction.
The translucent material can consist of synthetic material or glass or any
other suitable mate-
rial with translucent properties. Based on prior art, a large number of
different materials are
known in this respect.
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The translucent materials known from prior art can consist of any color and/or
shade or light
permeability. This allows the achievement of interesting color and light
effects with the um-
brella according to the invention which are suitable for the respective
situation.
In an additional embodiment of the umbrella according to the invention, the
color and/or in-
tensity of the emitted light can be changed by the user. The intensity of the
emitted light can
be changed for example in that the user is provided with a dimming function
for the illumina-
tion device. Said dimming function can be realized particularly well with
commercially avail-
able light bulbs. If the illumination device consists of illumination elements
which are un-
dimmable due to their function, the intensity of the emitted light can be
controlled by turning
a larger or smaller number of the illumination elements which form the
illumination device on
or off, depending on the requirements.
The color of the emitted light can be changed by turning illumination elements
with different
colors on or off as needed. For this purpose, the illumination device can
consist of illumina-
tion elements which each emit one of the complementary colors. Any color of
the emitted
light can be provided by selectively turning on and off certain illumination
elements.
In another embodiment of the umbrella according to the invention, the
illumination device
within the supporting construction can be surrounded by a color filter, for
example shaped
like a cylinder, which is equipped with differently colored segments. By
rotating or otherwise
changing the position of the color filter within the supporting construction,
the color of the
emitted light changes depending on the user's selection.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the umbrella according to the
invention, the upper
hub and/or lower hub is at least partially made of transparent or translucent
material and at
least partially integrates the illumination device. This embodiment of the
umbrella according
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to the invention allows the achievement of a particularly uniform light
distribution, in par-
ticular if the illumination device is designed ring-like within the hub. For
this purpose, several
illumination elements with a defined distance between them can form a circle
around the shaft
of the umbrella. The area underneath the umbrella is particularly well lit by
the reflection or
diffusion of the emitted light through the canopy. In addition, the power
supply of the illumi-
nation device is easier thanks to the small distance from the shaft of the
umbrella.
In addition or alternatively to the further development mentioned last, the
umbrella can be
equipped in such a way that one or a plurality of holding ribs and/or one or a
plurality of sup-
porting ribs are at least partially made of transparent or translucent
material and at least par-
tially integrate the illumination device. The integration of the illumination
device within
transparent or translucent supporting ribs ensures the optimal protection of
the illumination
device from being damaged. Moreover, the locally oriented illumination device
is capable of
realizing a particularly good illumination, including the area located outside
the umbrella.
The supporting and holding ribs can have a square profile, with the
illumination device inte-
grated within them. For example, the illumination device can be arranged on a
conducting rod
or metal strip, inserted and fixed in the supporting and holding ribs when
they are manufac-
tured. To avoid a repetition, please refer to the statements above with
respect to the materials
and design options of the hubs, as well as the supporting or holding ribs.
Generally, an embodiment of the invention is preferred, in which the
illumination device is
equipped with one or a plurality of illumination elements. This generally
allows the illumina-
tion of a larger area. Several illumination elements can be distributed
locally in the supporting
construction of the umbrella to ensure the uniform and extensive illumination.
However, it is
also possible to use a single illumination element as illumination device. For
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example, a circular neon tube can be integrated within a transparent or
translucent hub of the
umbrella as it is known from prior art.
The illumination elements can consist of filament bulbs, light bulbs and/or
light emitting di-
odes (LEDs). Filament bulbs or light bulbs have the advantage that they emit a
light that is
perceived particularly comfortable by the user. However, as is generally
known, the power
consumption of light bulbs or filament bulbs is high compared to the emitted
luminous power.
Light emitting diodes have the advantage that they only take up a very small
space within the
supporting construction of the umbrella. In addition, the heat output of light
emitting diodes is
very small because a major share of the collected power is transformed into
luminous power.
Therefore, compared to light bulbs, light emitting diodes generally require
much less power.
Thanks to the small size of light emitting diodes, a particularly large number
of light emitting
diodes can be integrated within the supporting construction of the umbrella
according to the
invention. Moreover, a multitude of light effects can be realized with
differently colored light
emitting diodes. The luminous power can be controlled by selectively turning
light emitting
diodes on and off, whereby the power consumption of the illumination device
can be mini-
mized as well. The minimization of the power consumption is particularly
important for um-
brellas carried by the user, such as hand-held umbrellas for protection
against the rain or sun.
The illumination device is generally equipped with an electrical circuit used
to connect the
illumination device to a power source. The electrical circuit can consist of
wires, cables or
conductive strips with the illumination elements arranged on them.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the umbrella according to the
invention, the electri-
cal circuit is integrated within the supporting construction. As a result, the
electrical circuit is
not visible from the outside and safely protected from being damaged. In case
the circuit is
required to bridge two mobile parts of the supporting construction which are
coupled to one
another, a conductive joint or hinge can be provided. Moreover, it is possible
to
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arrange a piece of cable in such a way that it runs along the outside of the
joint one wishes to
bridge, thereby bypassing it.
In a further development of the umbrella according to the invention, the
illumination device
can be supplied with power by means of a battery or rechargeable battery pack,
external solar
cells or solar cells mounted on the canopy or by means of the public mains
(via inserted recti-
fier, if necessary). If the umbrella according to the invention is equipped
with several types of
power supplies based on the user's selection, the user can select among them
depending on
the available power supply and switch for example from battery or rechargeable
battery op-
eration to operation using the public mains.
In a preferable embodiment, the rechargeable battery pack can be charged via
solar cells
and/or via public mains. This way, an umbrella that is for example carried by
a user, such as
an umbrella for protection from the rain, can be recharged via public mains in
the residence of
the user while he or she stays there. If the umbrella is needed, it is
available fully charged. A
sunshade according to the invention equipped with a solar cell mounted on the
canopy or for
example on the upper hub can be used to charge the rechargeable battery pack
during day-
light. If the illumination of the umbrella is required in the evening or at
night, a fully charged
rechargeable battery is available.
The battery or rechargeable battery pack can be integrated within the shaft,
the handle or the
base, depending on the preferred design of the umbrella according to the
invention and de-
pending on the type of umbrella one wishes to use.
In an alternative embodiment, the battery or rechargeable battery pack can be
fully enclosed
and attached on the outside of the shaft so that it can be detached. In this
embodiment of the
umbrella according to the invention, it is particularly easy to replace the
battery or recharge-
able battery pack with a new or charged battery or rechargeable battery pack,
if it has been
used for so long that it is unable to provide any more energy.
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In a particularly preferred embodiment of the umbrella according to the
invention, the illumi-
nation device can be activated by folding open the canopy. In other words, the
illumination
device is activated by means of a suitably designed contact which is triggered
when the can-
opy is folded open. This way, the hand or foot switch or a remote control to
activate the illu-
mination device is not required.
Preferably, the illumination device is activated when the lower hub is moved
into its upper
end position with respect to the shaft. For this purpose, a switch can be
provided for example
at the outside of the shaft, which is automatically operated by the lower hub
as soon as it is
brought into its upper end position with respect to the shaft. The upper end
position of the
lower hub is deemed taken when the canopy is completely folded open.
In another preferable instance, the transition between the shaft and the lower
hub in the area
of its upper end position is itself designed as an electrical switch which can
be closed by
moving the lower hub into its upper end position. The illumination device is
automatically
activated in that an electrically conductive contact is created between the
hub and the electri-
cal circuit arranged in the shaft in the area of the end position of the hub.
The electrical circuit
for the illumination device is thereby closed. The electrical circuit is
automatically re-opened
if the hub is removed from its upper end position or if one wishes to close
the canopy.
In an alternative embodiment of the umbrella according to the invention, the
automatic acti-
vation of the illumination device based on the opening of the canopy is not
required. In this
case, a hand or foot switch is integrated in the supporting construction which
can be used at
the choice of the user to activate the illumination device. This embodiment of
the umbrella
according to the invention is preferable in case the automatic activation of
the illumination
device with open canopy does not appear to be desirable. For example, for
reasons of saving
energy, it can appear to be rather worthwhile that the illumination device is
exclusively
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activated and deactivated based on the user's choice.
Different options are available to process and further develop the teachings
of the present in-
vention in a beneficial manner. For this purpose, we refer to the claims below
on the one hand
and to the following explanation of several preferred embodiments of the
umbrella according
to the invention based on the corresponding figures on the other hand. In
connection with the
explanation of the preferred embodiments based on the figures, generally
preferred embodi-
ments and further developments of the teachings are explained as well. In the
figures
Fig. 1 shows a side view of the umbrella according to the invention comprising
an illu-
mination device, which has been designed as a free-standing umbrella in this
case,
shows the side view of an alternative embodiment of the umbrella according to
the
Fig. 2 invention, where the umbrella has been designed as an offset hanging
umbrella,
shows a partial view in cross-section of the supporting construction of the um-
Fig. 3 brella according to the invention shown in Fig. 1, where part of the
shaft as well as
the lower hub of the supporting construction arranged in a moveable manner on
the shaft are displayed, where the lower hub is designed in such a way that
the
illumination elements of the illumination device are partially encapsulated
and
where the lower hub is additionally designed in such a way that the
illumination
device can be activated automatically by moving the lower hub into its upper
end
position,
shows a partial view in cross-section of the supporting construction of the um-
Fig. 4 brella according to the invention, where contrary to Fig. 3 the lower
hub of the
supporting construction in this embodiment of the invention is designed in
such a
way that the illumination elements of the illumination device are integrated
com-
pletely isolated from the surroundings, where at least the underside of the
lower
hub is made of transparent or translucent material,
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Fig. 5 shows a partial view in cross-section of the supporting construction of
an addi-
tional embodiment of the umbrella according to the invention, where the
illumina-
tion elements of the illumination device are completely isolated from the sur-
roundings through encapsulation into the supporting ribs of the supporting con-
struction, while no illumination elements are integrated in the lower hub
shown in
this embodiment, where the lower hub is designed similar to Fig. 3 or Fig. 4
in
such a way that the illumination device can be activated automatically by
moving
the lower hub into its upper end position, and
Fig. 6 shows a side view along the longitudinal axis of a supporting or
holding rib, for
example in an embodiment according to Fig. 5, where the illumination elements
of
the illumination device are completely isolated from the surroundings through
encapsulation into the supporting/holding rib, and where the supporting or
holding
rib is at least partially made of transparent or translucent material.
Fig. 1 shows the first embodiment of the umbrella according to the invention.
The umbrella
has been designed as a stand-alone umbrella and is usually used as a sunshade.
The umbrella
includes a canopy 1 and a supporting construction 2 for the canopy 1.
Moreover, the umbrella
is equipped with an illumination device 3, which is indicated by the rays of
the emitted light.
The supporting construction 2 consists of a shaft 4 with a fixed upper hub 5
and a lower hub 6
which can be moved along the shaft. Several holding ribs 7 connected to the
canopy 1 are
attached to the upper hub 5. Several supporting ribs 8 coupled with the
holding ribs 7 are at-
tached to the lower hub 6. As mentioned, the canopy 1 can be folded open and
closed by
moving the lower hub 6 along the shaft 4.
The lower end of the shaft 4 is connected to a base 9 which is only adumbrated
here. The
connection between the shaft 4 and the base 9 is realized with a clamp 10.
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In this embodiment of the umbrella according to the invention, the
illumination device 3 is
supplied with power by means of a battery/rechargeable battery back 11. The
bat-
tery/rechargeable battery pack 11 is attached at the outside of the shaft 4 by
means of a de-
tachable holder 12. In addition, the umbrella includes a solar cell 13 mounted
on the upper
hub 5 used to supply the illumination device 3 or the battery/rechargeable
battery pack 11
with power. Optionally, the solar cell 13 can also be mounted on the canopy 1.
In addition, it
is possible to integrate the battery/rechargeable battery pack 11 within the
shaft 4 or within
the base 9.
In the illustrated embodiment, the illumination device 3 is integrated within
the upper hub 5,
the lower hub 6, the holding ribs 7 as well as the supporting ribs 8. The
illumination device is
completely isolated from the surroundings through encapsulation by the
components men-
tioned above. For this purpose, the components are at least partially made of
transparent or
translucent material. However, it is equally possible that the illumination
device 3 is only par-
tially integrated within the mentioned components. In this type of embodiment,
the transpar-
ent or translucent material may not be necessary.
Fig. 2 shows a side view of another embodiment of the umbrella according to
the invention,
designed as an offset hanging umbrella in this example. The base 9 of the
offset hanging um-
brella is located outside of the extension of the connection between the upper
hub 5 and the
lower hub 6. Moreover, the umbrella comprises two shafts 4. In this
embodiment, the bat-
tery/rechargeable battery pack 11 is attached to one of the supporting ribs 8.
Again, the illu-
mination device 3 is completely isolated from the surroundings through
encapsulation by the
upper hub 5, the lower hub 6, the holding ribs 7 and the supporting ribs 8. To
avoid a repeti-
tion, please refer to the description of the figure under Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows a partial view in cross-section of the supporting construction 2
of an umbrella
according to the invention which is designed identical to the umbrella
described in Fig. I with
respect to the construction. The canopy 1(not shown) is supported by a central
shaft 4. Also
shown is the lower hub 6 arranged on the shaft 4 in a moveable manner, with
the supporting
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ribs 8 attached to it. In this embodiment, the illumination device 3 is
partially isolated from
the surroundings through encapsulation by the lower hub 6. The illumination
device 3 consists
of several illumination devices 14, arranged in a circular manner within the
lower hub 6. The
underside of the lower hub 6 is equipped with openings for the illumination
elements 14. As a
result, the illumination elements 14 only contact the surroundings with a very
small part of
their surface, thus effectively protecting them from being damaged. Moreover,
the illumina-
tion device 3 is hardly noticed by the user thanks to the partial
encapsulation.
An electrical circuit 15 is provided to supply the illumination device 3 with
power. The elec-
trical circuit 15 is made of suitable conductive materials. In the embodiment
shown, the elec-
trical circuit 15 is supplied with power at the lower end of the shaft 4, for
example via a bat-
tery/rechargeable battery pack 11 (not shown). The electrical circuit 15
extends from the
lower end of the shaft 4 within the shaft 4 to the spring 16, which is made of
electrically con-
ductive material. The part of the electrical circuit 15 arranged within the
shaft 4 ends in the
spring 16 made of electrically conductive material. The spring 16 is isolated
from the outside
of the shaft 4; however, it can be used to create an electrically conductive
connection through
the wall of the shaft 4.
The electrical circuit 15 arranged within the lower hub 6 is designed in such
a way that it
automatically creates an electrically conductive connection with the spring 16
if the lower hub
6 is in the upper end position with respect to the shaft 4.
With this construction, the illumination device 3 is always activated when the
canopy 1 is
folded open.
Alternatively, it goes without saying that the illumination device 3 can be
activated manually
by means of a hand or foot switch which can be integrated in any position.
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Fig. 4 shows a partial view in cross-section of the supporting construction of
the umbrella
according to the invention according to Fig. 3, where the illumination
elements 14 of this em-
bodiment are completely integrated in the lower hub 6. As a result, the
illumination elements
14 of the illumination device 3 are completely isolated from the surroundings
through encap-
sulation. The illumination elements 14 are arranged within the lower hub 6 on
the electrical
circuit 15. For this purpose, the electrical circuit 15 has been integrated as
a holder and si-
multaneously as an electrical conductor in a circular fashion within the lower
hub 6. To allow
the emission of light from the lower hub 6, the lower hub 6 is at least
partially made of trans-
parent or translucent material. For this purpose, the lower hub 6 can be at
least partially made
of synthetic material, glass or any other suitable material.
The complete encapsulation of the illumination elements 14 within the lower
hub 6 practically
prevents the illumination elements 14 from being damaged during the use,
transport or storage
of the umbrella according to the invention. In addition, the illumination
elements 14 are
hardly discernible from the outside, particularly not when the illumination
device 3 is in use.
The illumination devices 14 can consist of light bulbs; however, in the
embodiment shown the
illumination elements 14 consist of light emitting diodes (LEDs).
Fig. 5 shows a partial view in cross-section of the supporting construction 2
of an umbrella
according to the invention according to Fig. 1. Contrary to the embodiments
described in Fig.
3 and Fig. 4, the illumination elements 14 are not arranged within the lower
hub 6 here, but
are completely encapsulated by the supporting ribs 8. For this purpose, the
supporting rib 8 is
connected to the electrical circuit 15 which is supplied with power starting
from the lower end
of the shaft 4 as described above. This embodiment of the umbrella according
to the invention
is also equipped with the automatic activation of the illumination device 3 as
soon as the
lower hub 6 takes its upper end position with respect to the shaft 4. This
automatic activation
is described in detail above.
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The supporting rib 8 shown preferably consists of a rectangular cross-section
and is at least
partially made of transparent or translucent material. A longitudinal holder
for the illumina-
tion elements 14 is arranged in the supporting rib 8. The illumination
elements 14 are ar-
ranged on this holder, separated from one another and connected to a power
supply through
the electrical circuit 15 integrated within the holder. The power supply is
not shown in detail.
The illumination elements 14 consist of light emitting diodes. The light
emitting diodes can
have different colors and/or light intensities. Naturally, light bulbs or
filament bulbs can be
used instead of light emitting diodes.
The figure does not show the holding ribs 7 of the umbrella according to the
invention. These
holding ribs 7 can be designed according to the supporting ribs 8 shown and be
electrically
connected, thus allowing them to feed part of the illumination device 3. The
simultaneous
illumination of the holding ribs 7 and the supporting ribs 8 is shown in Fig.
1.
Naturally, an illuminated lower hub 6 pursuant to Fig. 3 or Fig. 4 can be
combined with an
illuminated upper hub 5 and additionally with illuminated holding ribs 7
and/or supporting
ribs 8, depending on the desired illumination intensity and depending on the
size of the area
one wishes to illuminate. An umbrella with integrated illumination device 3
pursuant to Fig. 1
can be provided this way.
Fig. 6 shows a side view of the supporting rib 8 from Fig. 5, where the
cutting plane is ar-
ranged vertically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the supporting rib
8. The supporting
rib 8 consists of a hollow profile with rectangular cross-section, where the
edges of the profile
are rounded.
However, the profile can have any other shape, such as an oval or circular
cross-section.
Four slots 17 are arranged within the profile in a longitudinal direction,
where two slots each
are arranged pair-wise across from one another in the upper and lower area. A
longitudinal
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holder for the illumination elements 14 is inserted into a pair of slots. Said
holder is integrated
in the electrical circuit 15 for the illumination elements 14. The
illumination elements 14 are
arranged on the holder or the electrical circuit 15.
Because the illumination elements 14 are completely encapsulated by the
supporting rib 8, the
supporting rib 8 is at least partially made of transparent or translucent
material. Depending on
the intended illumination result, the holder for the illumination elements 14
which is inte-
grated in the electrical circuit 15 can be made of transparent, translucent or
non-transparent
material.
In the exemplary embodiment shown, the supporting rib 8 is made of synthetic
material.
However, the supporting rib 8 can be made of any other suitable material, such
as glass.
When the supporting rib 8 is produced, the profile with the two pairs of slots
is made first.
Then the longitudinal holder with the illumination elements 14 arranged on the
holder is in-
serted into a pair of slots. The supporting rib 8 can then be installed into
the supporting con-
struction 2 of the umbrella.
If a different direction of the light emission is desired, for example if one
wishes to illuminate
the canopy 1 instead of the floor, the holder with the illumination elements
14 can be mounted
on the other pair of slots, thereby resulting in an opposite direction of the
illumination.
Naturally, the construction shown here can be used both as supporting rib 8 as
well as holding
rib 7 and was only shown here as an example based on the supporting rib 8
shown in Fig. 5.
We would like to refer to Fig. 1 again, which shows an umbrella according to
the invention,
containing both illuminated holding ribs 7 as well as illuminated supporting
ribs 8. In it, the
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design of the holding ribs 7 and the supporting ribs 8 corresponds to the
construction shown
in Fig. 6
Finally, we would like to emphasize that the exemplary embodiments described
above are
discussing the teachings according to the claim, without limiting them to the
exemplary em-
bodiments.
