US20080271768A1 - Outdoor umbrella - Google Patents

Abstract

An outdoor umbrella includes an umbrella frame, an attaching device detachably mounting at an elongated arm of the umbrella frame, and an electrical device supported by the attaching device for suspendedly supporting within a shadowing area of the outdoor umbrella. The attaching device is adapted to detachably mount at a supporting shaft as the elongated arm of the umbrella frame. The attaching device is also adapted to detachably mount at an awning arm as the elongated arm of the umbrella frame. An illuminator as the electrical device is selectively supported within the shadowing area via the attaching device for providing illumination within the shadowing area of the outdoor umbrella.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION
• This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/844,601 filed May 11, 2004, which is a Continuation-In-Part of a non-provisional application having an application Ser. No. 10/436,192 and a filing date of May 12, 20003, and U.S. application Ser. No. 11/147,781 filed Jun. 7, 2005, which is a Continuation-In-Part of a non-provisional application having an application Ser. No. 10/844,601 and a filing date of May, 11, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
• 1. Field of Invention
• The present invention relates to an outdoors umbrella, and more particularly to an outdoor umbrella incorporated a mounting mechanism for securely mounting an electrical apparatus at the outdoor umbrella.
• 2. Description of Related Arts
• Outdoors umbrellas have been proved to be extremely popular among those frequently expose to outdoor environment. In the daytime, a typical outdoor umbrella may be utilized as a temporary shelter so that people or instruments under the umbrella are protected from high temperature or vigorous sunlight. Moreover, depending on the material by which the umbrella fabric is fabricated, even in cloudy or rainy weather, the outdoors umbrella may be utilized as a rain shelter or wind shelter. On the other hand, the typical outdoors umbrella is adapted to incorporate with a lighting system wherein a plurality of illuminating units are mounted on the awning ribs for providing a predetermined degree of illumination to a lighting zone defined as the area under the umbrella fabric. Therefore, people may utilize the outdoors umbrella with the lighting system in a variety of outdoors activities during nighttime, such as barbecuing, camping, outdoors gathering, or other events which involve considerable outdoors exposure at night.
• The very advantage and convenience of the typical outdoors umbrella, however, do not shelter its disadvantages. It is the feature that the umbrella is capable of being utilized as a light source in an outdoors environment that renders its desirability to locate close to an external power source. Yet in an outdoors environment, the external power source, at least in the sense of the most typical power source for lighting system—electrical power source, cannot be guaranteed. One might utilize a rechargeable battery as the power source, but an additional step of charging the battery is inevitably needed. Very often, charging the battery can only be taken place when the umbrella is idle. Therefore, for example, when the user of the umbrella forgets charging the battery, the lighting system would not work on the next day. Sometimes, where the rechargeable battery cannot be conveniently detached from the outdoors umbrella, charging the battery would mean allocating extra space to store or to place the outdoor umbrella while the battery is being recharged.
• The mounting arrangement of most of the outdoors umbrellas represents another problem. A considerable numbers of outdoors umbrellas have their lighting system mounted insecurely or in such a manner that the lighting system is functionally incompatible with the normal operation of the outdoor umbrellas themselves. As result, the performance of the respective lighting system is far from satisfactory. For example, during folding and unfolding operations of the outdoors umbrella, the awning ribs thereof may accidentally destroy the illuminating units of the lighting system. Since such outdoors umbrellas are designed for use in outdoors environment, as a result, secure mounting of the illuminating units are of utmost importance. If the lighting system is so insecure that, when subject to certain outdoors phenomenon, such as against a sudden strong wind, the lighting system is incapable of safely or unstably operating, it would not only cause disruption to the activities in which it uses, but also harm to the users, especially those standing or sitting within the lighting zone.
• Furthermore, from the dawn to the twilight, the sunlight fell on the ground keeps changing at the time. In other to obtain the optimum shade from the outdoor umbrella, the user has to move the entire outdoor umbrella back and forth sometimes.
• Last but not least, the typical lighting system of the outdoors umbrellas tend to be immovable in the sense that the illuminating units are permanently affixed on the awning ribs so that the illuminating directions are limited by the orientation and movement of the awning ribs. As a result, where the outdoors umbrella needs to be inclinedly supported on the ground in order to shield a particular direction, or partially opened for a particular purpose, the lighting system could not be satisfactorily operated.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
• A main object of the present invention is to provide an outdoors umbrella which incorporates with a solar lighting arrangement for providing illumination utilizing solar energy as an external energy source. Thus, the solar lighting arrangement is environmentally friendly and economical to operate.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide an outdoors umbrella with a solar lighting arrangement, wherein the electrical operation of the solar light system is substantially unaffected by the folding and unfolding operation of the outdoors umbrella so that it is capable of fully operating while the outdoors umbrella is partially or inclinedly erected.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide an outdoors umbrella with a solar lighting arrangement which does not alter the original structural design of the outdoors umbrella, so as to minimize any potential risk of damage to the solar lighting arrangement while the outdoor umbrella is folding or unfolding.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide an outdoors umbrella with a solar lighting arrangement which is capable of collecting solar energy while being exposed to sunlight to convert into electrical energy for recharging a power source to the illuminating units whenever necessary.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide an outdoors umbrella comprising a solar lighting arrangement, wherein no complicated mechanical and electrical structure and mechanism is required to incorporate with the outdoors umbrella so as to minimize the manufacturing and related cost of the present invention.
• These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an outdoors umbrella incorporated with a solar lighting arrangement according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the solar lighting arrangement of the outdoors umbrellas according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the solar energy collector of the solar lighting arrangement.
• FIG. 3 is a partially sectional view of the lighting system of the outdoors umbrella according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the illuminating unit of the solar lighting arrangement.
• FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the outdoors umbrella showing the chain lighting arrangement and attachable lighting arrangement of the solar lighting arrangement according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an elongated awning arm incorporated the chain lighting arrangement according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the connection of the chain lighting units according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 7 is a first alternative mode of the chain lighting arrangement according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 8 is a second alternative mode of the chain lighting arrangement according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the attachable illuminating arrangement according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating how the illuminating unit maintains its substantially vertical orientation while the awning arm is extended in an inclined position.
• FIG. 10 is an exploded sectional view of the light support of the solar lighting arrangement according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 11 is a partially sectional view of the light support of the solar lighting arrangement according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the light support being mounted on the supporting shaft.
• FIG. 12 is schematic view of the outdoors umbrella according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an outdoor umbrella according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 14 is a partially perspective view of the outdoor umbrella according to the above third preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the lighting system of the outdoor umbrella according to the above third preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the central illuminator of the outdoor umbrella according to the above third preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an outdoor umbrella according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 18 is a partially perspective view of the outdoor umbrella according to the above fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 19 illustrates an alternative mode of the central illuminator of the outdoor umbrella according to the above fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• Referring toFIG. 1 of the drawings, an outdoor umbrella1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the outdoor umbrella1, such as a conventional outdoor umbrella, comprises anawning frame10 defining a shadowing area101 thereunder and a supportingframe20 comprising a supportingshaft21 having an upper portion connected to theawning frame10.
• The outdoor umbrella1 further comprises asolar lighting system30 comprising asolar energy collector31 mounted on top of theawning frame10 for collecting solar energy, alight support32, and a plurality ofilluminating units33
• Thelight support32, which is adjustably mounted along the supportingshaft21 at a position within the shadowing area101 of theawning frame10, comprises a plurality of supportingarms321 radially extended from the supportingshaft21.
• Each of illuminatingunits33 comprises anilluminator331 electrically connected to thesolar energy collector31 through theawning frame10 and a coupling joint332 connecting theilluminator331 to the respective supportingarm321 in a movably suspended manner such that by selectively adjusting a position of thelight support32 along the supportingshaft21, theilluminators331 are suspendedly self-repositioned for maximizing a light coverage area within the shadowing area101.
• According to the preferred embodiment, theawning frame10 comprises anupper housing11 affixed on top of the supportingshaft21, alower housing12 slidably connected to the supportingshaft21 at a position below theupper housing11, a plurality ofawning arms13 radially and pivotally extended from theupper housing11 to support an awning shelter15 thereon, and a plurality ofawning ribs14 pivotally connecting thelower housing12 with the awingarms13 respectively in such a manner that when thelower housing12 is slid along the supportingshaft21 towards theupper housing11, theawning arms13 are pivotally driven by theawning ribs14 to radially extended from theupper housing11 so as to provide the shadowing area101 under the awning shelter15.
• The supportingframe20 further comprises aground stand22 wherein the supportingshaft21 is upwardly extended from the ground stand22 to support theawning frame10.
• Referring toFIG. 2, thesolar energy collector31 comprises acollector base311, having a circular shaped, coaxially mounted on a top end portion of the supportingshaft21 at a position above theupper housing11, and a solarenergy collecting device312 which is provided on a platform of thecollector base311 and is upwardly oriented for collecting the solar energy so as to convert the solar energy into electrical energy to theilluminators331.
• In order to further secure the attachment between thesolar energy collector31 and the supportingshaft21, thesolar energy collector31 further comprises aprotective cover313 substantially affixed to theupper housing11 on top of the supportingshaft21 so as to securely sandwich thecollector base311 between theupper housing11 and theprotective cover313. As shown inFIG. 2, in order to facilitate the secure attachment, two connectingelements314, which are preferably two rivets, can be utilized to mount theprotective cover313 to theupper housing11 through theupper housing11 to securely clamp thecollector base311 between theupper housing11 and theprotective cover313, so as to retain the solarenergy collecting device312 in position.
• As shown inFIG. 3, thelight support32 further comprises acentral hub322 having a central sliding throughslot323 for the supportingshaft21 sliding therethrough, wherein the supportingarms31 are spacedly and radially extended from thecentral hub322.
• Each of theilluminators331 is embodied as a light bulb wherein theilluminators331 are electrically connected to the solarenergy collecting device312 of thesolar energy collector31 along one of theawning arms13 and therespective awning rib14 via an electric cable, as shown inFIG. 1, in such a manner that the electrical connection between theilluminators331 and thesolar energy collector31 will not be interfered by theawning frame10, especially the folding and unfolding operation of theawning frame10 of the outdoor umbrella1. Accordingly, theawning arms13 and theawning ribs14 are constructed to have a hollow shape such that the electric cable is adapted to pass through therespective awning arm13 and theawning rib14 to electrically connect thesolar energy collector31 to therespective illuminator331.
• It is worth to mention that each illuminator331 is preferably embodied as a Light Emitting Diode (LED) received in a light housing since the LED of theilluminator331 provides a predetermined set of illumination parameters, such as brightness, color etc. so as to provide optimal illumination for a range of designated applications while being energy effective.
• Furthermore, thesolar lighting system30 further comprises achain lighting arrangement34 and an attachable lighting arrangement35, respectively mounted on the body and the lower end ofawning arms13 for primarily providing illumination effect to the shadowing area101 defined by theawning frame10 so as to enrich the illuminating effects.
• Referring toFIG. 4-6 of the drawings, thechain lighting arrangement34 according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. First of all, thechain lighting arrangement34 further comprises a plurality of illumination holders36 provided along theawning arm13 respectively. Accordingly, each of the illumination holders36 is embodied as anelongated receiving groove361 formed along a bottom side of therespective awning arm13. According to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, two retainingwalls362 downwardly and integrally extended along the bottom side of each of theawning arms13 wherein the receivinggroove361 is defined between the respective two retainingwalls362 and the bottom side along therespective awning arm13. Accordingly, an inner side of each of the retainingwalls362 is concavely curved so that it is capable of intensively reflecting any illumination generated within the receivinggroove361 to an outside thereof.
• Second, thechain lighting arrangement34 comprises a plurality ofchain lighting units341 alignedly received in the receivinggrooves361 respectively wherein the illumination generated by thechain lighting units341 are substantially reflected out of the receivinggrooves361 by the retainingwalls362 so as to illuminate the shadowing area101 of the outdoors umbrella1. Moreover, since thechain lighting units341 are substantially received in the receivinggrooves361 respectively, they are substantially protected from any potential damage resulting from any mechanical operation of the outdoors umbrella1 of the present invention, such as folding or unfolding. In other words, thechain lighting arrangement34 of the present invention substantially overcome the conventional disadvantage of frangibility of illuminating elements caused by the umbrella's own mechanical operations, such as folding and unfolding movement.
• According to the preferred embodiment, each of theawning arms13 is a hollow body wherein the electrical wires could be inserted. As a result, it is convenient for communicating the interior ofawning arm13 and the receivinggroove361, for example, through a plurality of slots or a continuous slit, etc.
• In order to further protect thechain lighting arrangement34 from potential physical damage by external objects, thechain lighting arrangement34 further comprises a plurality oflight holders343 slidably inserted into theawning arm13 respectively. Thechain lighting units341 are spacedly mounted at the respectivelight holder343 such thatlight holder343 is capable of holding thechain lighting units341 in position along theawning arms13 thus protecting thechain lighting units341 within the receivinggrooves361 respectively.
• Referring toFIG. 6 of the drawings, thechain lighting units341 disposed in each of theawning arm13 are electrically connected in series through therespective awning arms13 wherein an electric cord is received in therespective awning arm13 for electrical connection. Further, the electric cord has two terminals, namely positive and negative, which are extended to theupper housing11 and then electrically connected to a power source for the provision of energy so as to light up thechain lighting units341. According to the preferred embodiment, thechain lighting units341 could be embodied as regular LEDs which are capable of illuminating light of different colors and brightness.
• Thechain lighting arrangement30 further comprises anIC board37 mounted in theupper housing11 wherein the terminals for electric cord mounted on each of theawning arms13 are electrically connected to theIC board37 which is further electrically connected to a power source via electrical wires.
• From the forgoing description, it is shown that the outdoors umbrella1 of the present invention comprises thechain lighting units341 which are embedded in theawning arms13 respectively to form an integral awning body. As a result, users of the present invention can enjoy illumination without fear of any storage or operational damages to the outdoors umbrella1.
• Referring toFIG. 7 of the drawings, a first alternative mode of thechain lighting arrangement34 according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. According to the first alternative mode, there are twolighting slots344 indently formed on two sidewalls of each of theawning arms13 respectively wherein thechain lighting units341 of thechain illuminating system34 are alignedly received in thelighting slots37 respectively. Here, thechain lighting units341 in each ofawning arms13 are also electrically connected in series through therespective awning arms13 by the electric cord which is received in therespective lighting slot344, wherein the electrical cord has two terminals, namely positive and negative, which are extended to theupper housing11 and then electrically connected to a power source for the provision of energy to light up thechain lighting units341.
• Referring toFIG. 8 of the drawings, a second alternative mode of thechain lighting arrangement34 is illustrated. Here, the retainingwall362 and the receivinggroove361 in the preferred embodiment cease to exist. Furthermore, the L-shapedelectric boundaries363 are provided at a bottom side of each of theawning arms13 to define a receiving groove364, while thelight holders343 is embodied as an elongated protective strip being sildably mounted into the receiving groove364. The electric cord connecting the illuminatingunits341 is arranged to be embedded or totally buried into the elongated protective strip to prevent any possible direct contact with external objects, thus reducing the possibility of being damaged thereby. Likewise, the electric cord is then extended to a power source for acquiring transmitting electricity to thechain lighting units341.
• Referring to theFIG. 9 of the drawing, the attachable lighting arrangement35 is illustrated. Here, the attachable lighting arrangement35 comprises at least an attachable illuminatingunit351 for generating light, and means for attaching the illuminatingunit351 to the lower end of therespective awning arm13 in a vertically down hanging manner so as to maintain the light generated by the illuminatingunit351 directing downwards no matter theawning frame10 is in the unfolded position or in folded position. Preferably, the illuminatingunit351 is a typical light bulb. It is noted that the illuminatingunit351 can be other illuminating article such as LED, halogen lamp, fluorescent lamp, and so on
• As shown in theFIG. 9, the attaching means comprises an illuminatingunit adaptor352 connected to the illuminatingunit351 and an illuminating unit supporter353 provided at the respective lower end of theawning arm13, wherein the illuminatingunit adaptor352 is detachably mounted to the illuminating unit supporter353 in a suspending manner. Moreover, the attachable lighting arrangement35 further comprises a locking means354 for locking the illuminatingunit351 at any position with respect to theawning frame10.
• Furthermore, the attachable lighting arrangement35 is embodied to be detachably mounted at the lower end of therespective awning arm13. According to the preferred embodiment, the illuminating unit supporter353 is embodied as (but not limited to) ashank body355 transversely extended therethrough, which has anenlarged head3551 mounted on an outer side of lower end of therespective awning arm13 and a connectingmember356 protruded from an inner side of the lower end of theawning arm13, wherein a mountingslot357 is transversely penetrating through the connectingmember356.
• Here, as shown in theFIG. 3, each of the coupling joints332 has a ball slot is3321 formed at a distal end of the respective supportingarm321 and comprises aspherical head3322 which is formed on top of therespective illuminator331 and is arranged to engage with therespective ball slot3321 in a rotatably movable manner, so as to provide a ball joint to connect the each of theilluminators331 with the respective supportingarm321. In other words, theilluminators331 are capable of self-rotating while being suspendedly supported by the supportingarms321 so as to enhance the flexibility of the provision of illumination to the outdoors umbrella1.
• It is worth to mention that a size of thespherical head3322 is slightly smaller than the size of therespective ball slot3321 wherein an outer wall of theball slot3321 is fabricated by elastic materials, such as plastic, so that by slightly pressing thespherical head3322 to therespective ball slot3321, thespherical head3322 is capable of moving within therespective ball slot3321 in free-swinging manner.
• According to the preferred embodiment, there are three supportingarms321 radially and suspendedly extended from thecentral hub322 wherein there are threeilluminators331 are suspendedly supported by the supportingarms321 via the coupling joints332 respectively.
• Referring toFIGS. 10 to 11 of the drawings, thecentral hub322 comprises aboundary sleeve3221 having an arc-shaped and aboundary cover3222 interlocked with theboundary sleeve3221 to form the central sliding throughslot323 within inner walls of theboundary sleeve3221 and theboundary cover3222, and a lockingmember3223 having a locking end rotatably penetrated through theboundary cover3222 to bias against the supportingshaft21 so as to lock up thecentral hub322 at the supportingshaft21 in position.
• As shown inFIG. 11 of the drawings, theboundary sleeve3221 has two lockinggrooves3221A formed along two edge portions and theboundary cover3222 has two lockingedges3222A, each having a hook shaped corresponding to the lockinggroove3221A, fittedly engaged with the lockinggrooves3221A so as to interlock theboundary cover3222 with theboundary sleeve3221. Therefore, when theboundary cover3222 is interlocked with theboundary sleeve3221 to retain the supportingshaft21 within the central sliding throughslot323, the lockingmember3223 is rotated through theboundary cover3222 until the locking end of the lockingmember3223 is driven to bias against the supportingshaft21 to lock up thelight support32 on the supportingshaft21.
• Thelight support32 further comprises a first securingmember324 detachably attached to the inner wall of theboundary sleeve3221 to bias against the supportingshaft21 and asecond securing member325 attached to the locking end of the lockingmember3223 at the inner wall of theboundary cover3222 wherein the second securingmember325 is driven by the lockingmember3223 to adjust a size of the central sliding throughslot323 for fittingly biasing against the supportingshaft21 such that the supportingshaft21 is securely clamped between the first and second securingmembers324,325. In other words, thelight support32 is capable of fittingly mounting on different sizes of the supporting shafts having various diameters by selectively adjusting a distance between the first and second securingmembers324,325.
• As shown inFIG. 1, thesolar lighting system30 further comprises apower source unit34 which comprises apower source341 supported by the supportingframe20 to receive in apower source compartment221 provided at theground stand22 and to electrically connect with the illuminatingunits33 and anrecharging device342 electrically connecting thesolar energy collector31 with thepower source341 for converting the solar energy into the electrical energy so as to recharge thepower source341. Accordingly, during the daytime, thesolar energy collector31 collects the solar energy and charges up thepower source341 via therecharging device342 such that thepower source341 is capable of providing electrical energy to theillumination units33 during the nighttime. It is worth to mention that therecharging device342 functions as an auto switch to automatically recharging thepower source341. Therefore, therecharging device342 is capable of determining an electric capacity of thepower source341 wherein when the electric capacity of thepower source341 is full of charge, therecharging device342 stops recharging thepower source341. However, when the electric capacity of thepower source341 is below a predetermined level, therecharging device342 will start recharging thepower source341 from thesolar energy collector31 until the electric capacity of thepower source341 is full of charge.
• It is also worth mentioning that from the forgoing elaboration, one can easily see that thesolar lighting system30 is capable of securing mounting onto the supportingshaft21 of the supportingframe20 without affecting the operation of the outdoors umbrella1 as a whole. Moreover, the illuminatingunits33 of thesolar lighting system30 are capable of freely orientating so that when the outdoors umbrella1 occasionally requires inclined erection or open partially, thesolar lighting system30 will always provide optimal illumination, irrespective of such occasions.
• Referring toFIG. 12 of the drawings, an outdoor umbrella1′ according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the outdoor umbrella1′, such as a conventional outdoor umbrella, comprises anawning frame10′ defining a shadowing area101′ thereunder and a supportingframe20′ comprising a supportingshaft21′ having an upper portion connected to theawning frame10′.
• The outdoor umbrella1′ further comprises a connectingarm22′ sidewardly extended from a top portion of the main supportingshaft21′ in a pivotally moveable manner, and an supporting arm23′ slidably mounted on the connectingarm22′ for supporting anawning frame10′.
• Here, theawning frame10′ comprises alongitudinal awning shaft16′, anupper housing11′ affixed on top of theawning shaft16′, alower housing12′ slidably connected to theawning shaft16′ at a position below theupper housing11′, a plurality ofawning arms13 radially and pivotally extended from theupper housing11′ to support an awning shelter15′ thereon, and a plurality ofawning ribs14′ pivotally connecting thelower housing12′ with the awingarms13′ respectively in such a manner that when thelower housing12′ is slid along theawning shaft16′ towards theupper housing11, theawning arms13 are pivotally driven by theawning ribs14′ to radially extended from theupper housing11′ so as to provide the shadowing area101′ under the awning shelter15′.
• In other words, theawning frame10′ are capable of being moved in such a manner that they are adapted to move between a folded position and a unfolded position, wherein the folded position, theawning arms13′ are pivotally and inwardly folded to overlappedly lay in position, wherein in the unfolded position, theawning arms13′ are pivotally and outwardly extended to support theawning frame10′ thereon and to define a shadowing area101′ under the awning shelter15′.
• The outdoor umbrella1′ further comprises asolar lighting system30′ comprising asolar energy collector31′ mounted on top of theawning frame10′ and top of the supportingshaft21′ for collecting solar energy, alight support32′, and a plurality of illuminatingunits33′.
• Thelight support32′, which is adjustably mounted on thelower housing12′ for strengthening the illumination effects. Preferably, theawning frame10′ comprises a plurality of supportingarms321′ radially extended from thelower housing12′.
• Each of illuminatingunits33′ comprises anilluminator331 electrically connected to thesolar energy collector31′ through theawning frame10′ and a coupling joint332′ connecting theilluminator331′ to the respective supportingarm321′ in a movably suspended manner such that by selectively adjusting a position of thelight support32′ along theawning shaft16′, theilluminators331′ are suspendedly self-repositioned for maximizing a light coverage area within the shadowing area101′.
• It is worth to mention that illuminating33′ could be embodied as a regular bulb mounted on thelower housing12′.
• The supportingframe20′ further comprises aground stand22′ wherein the supportingshaft21′ is upwardly extended from the ground stand22′ to support theawning frame10′.
• Compared with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, theawning frame10 is further extended away from the supportingshaft21′. As a result, the user is able to adjust the outdoor umbrella according to the sun's position from the dawn to twilight.
• Furthermore, thesolar lighting system30 further comprises achain lighting arrangement34′ and an attachable lighting arrangement35′, respectively mounted on the body and the lower end ofawning arms13′ for primarily providing illumination effect to the shadowing area101′ defined by theawning frame10′ so as to enrich the illuminating effects.
• It is noted that the abovechain lighting arrangement34′ and attachable lighting arrangement35, are with identical structure and design withchain lighting arrangement34 and attachable lighting arrangement35 of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
• According to the alternative mode of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, thesolar lighting system30′ comprises at least a central lighting element301′ and a plurality ofchain illuminating units341′ mounted on theawning frame10′ for primarily providing illumination to the shielding zone defined by the plurality ofawning arms13′. Here, in this mode, the central lighting elements301′ is a regular lights bulb mounted on thelower housing12′ for providing strong illumination at a central portion of the shielding zone. The plurality of illuminatingunits341′ are Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) mounted on the plurality ofawning arms13′ respectively for providing mild illumination for the shielding zone.
• Likewise, there is asolar energy collector33′ comprises acollector base311′, having a circular shaped, coaxially mounted on a top end portion of theawning shaft16′ at a position above theupper housing11′, and a solarenergy collecting device312′ which is provided on a platform of thecollector base311′ and is upwardly oriented for collecting the solar energy so as to convert the solar energy into electrical energy to theilluminators331′.
• In addition, in the second preferred embodiment, there is a solar energy collecting device40′ nested on a top portion of the supportingshaft21′, wherein the solar collecting device40′ has a collectingsurface401′ arranged to face upward so that it can be exposed to sunlight for extensively collecting solar energy. Moreover, the solar collecting device40′ is adapted to collect solar energy from sunlight impinged on the collectingsurface401′, and converts the collected solar energy into electrical energy, wherein thesolar lighting system30′ is electrically connected with thesolar collecting device401′ so that the converted electrical energy is supplied to thelight system30′.
• Conclusively, the solar collecting device40′ is mounted on top of the supportingshaft21′ while thesolar energy collector33′ is mounted on theupper housing11′, so that the user of the outdoors umbrella can be able to adjust its orientation for maximizing the absorption of solar energy and enjoy the maximum solar energy.
• At the meanwhile, it is worth to mention that in the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, theilluminators331′ are with same structure and design as theilluminator331 in the first preferred embodiment.
• Each of theilluminators331′ is embodied as a light bulb wherein theilluminators331′ are electrically connected to the solarenergy collecting device312′ of thesolar energy collector31′ via theawning shaft16′.
• Here, as shown in theFIG. 13, each of the coupling joints332′ has aball slot3321′ formed at a distal end of the respective supportingarm321′ and comprises aspherical head3322′ which is formed on top of therespective illuminator331′ and is arranged to engage with therespective ball slot3321′ in a rotatably movable manner, so as to provide a ball joint to connect the each of theilluminators331 with the respective supportingarm321′. In other words, theilluminators331′ are capable of self-rotating while being suspendedly supported by the supportingarms321′ so as to enhance the flexibility of the provision of illumination to the outdoors umbrella1.
• It is worth to mention that a size of thespherical head3322′ is slightly smaller than the size of therespective ball slot3321′ wherein an outer wall of theball slot3321′ is fabricated by elastic materials, such as plastic, so that by slightly pressing thespherical head3322′ to therespective ball slot3321′, thespherical head3322′ is capable of moving within therespective ball slot3321′ in free-swinging manner.
• According to the preferred embodiment, there are three supportingarms321′ radially and suspendedly extended from thelower housing12′ wherein there are threeilluminators331′ are suspendedly supported by the supportingarms321′ via the coupling joints332′ respectively.
• As shown inFIG. 13, an outdoor umbrella of a third embodiment illustrates an alternative mode of the first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the outdoor umbrella comprises an awning frame10A, a supportingframe20A and a lighting system30A.
• The awning frame10A comprises a plurality of elongated awning arms11A radially extended in a pivotally movable manner and a fabric awning12A substantially supported by the awning arms11A to define ashadowing area100A thereunder.
• The supportingframe20A comprises a supportingshaft21A having anupper portion211A connected to the awning frame10A.
• The lighting system30A comprises apower unit31A and a plurality of illuminatingunits32A mounted to the awning frame10A and electrically connected to thepower unit31A along the awning frame10A for illuminating theshadowing area100A under the awning12A.
• As shown inFIGS. 13 and 14, each of the awning arms11A has an inner end and an outer end, wherein the inner ends of the awning arms11A are pivotally connected with each other via anupper hub111A such that the outer ends of the awning arms11A are radially and outwardly extended from theupper hub111A.
• The awning frame10A further comprises acentral hub13A and a plurality offolding ribs14A pivotally and radially extended from thecentral hub13A to pivotally connect with the awning arms11A respectively such that when thecentral hub13A is driven downwardly, the awning arms11A are pivotally folded to fold up the awning12A, and when thecentral hub13A is driven upwardly, the awning arms11A are pivotally folded to tensionally stretch out the awning12A for providing theshadowing area100A thereunder. Accordingly, thecentral hub13A is coaxially positioned below theupper hub111A such that when thecentral hub13A is driven upwardly towards theupper hub111A, the awning arms11A are folded pivotally and outwardly to stretch the awning12A in a tension manner. When thecentral hub13A is driven downwardly away from theupper hub111A, the awning arms11A are folded pivotally and inwardly to fold up the awning12A.
• The supportingframe20A further comprises aground stand22A to support the awning frame10A in stable manner, wherein alower portion212A of the supportingshaft21A is upwardly extended from the ground stand22A to connect with the awning frame10A. Accordingly, theupper portion211A of the supportingshaft21A is slidably penetrated through thecentral hub13A to connect theupper hub111A such that thecentral hub13A is adapted to slide along the supportingshaft21A to fold and unfold the awning12A. Furthermore, the supportingframe20A further comprises a pivot joint23A pivotally connecting theupper portion211A of the supportingshaft21A with thelower portion212A thereof for selectively adjusting a shadowing angle of the awning frame10A. In other words, theupper portion211A of the supportingshaft21A is adapted to pivotally bend with respect to thelower portion212A thereof via the pivot joint23A to change theshadowing area100A of the awning12A.
• The awning frame10A further comprises afolding unit15A for folding the awning12A, wherein thefolding unit15A comprises anelongated element151A having a control portion extended from thecentral hub13A to theupper hub111A and a hidden portion extended within an interior of the supportingshaft21A, and a hand crank152A mounted at the supportingshaft21A to connect the hidden portion of theelongated element151A and arrange to control a length of the control portion of theelongated element151A to drive thecentral hub13A sliding along the supportingshaft21A.
• As shown inFIG. 14, theelongated element151A is a durable cable extended from thecentral hub13A to the hand crank152A through theupper hub111A such that when the hand crank152A rolls up theelongated element151A to shorten the length of the control portion of theelongated element151A, thecentral hub13A is slid upwardly along the supportingshaft21A to stretch out the awning12A. Likewise, when the hand crank152A is released to prolong the length of the control portion of theelongated element151A, thecentral hub13A is dropped downwardly along the supportingshaft21A to fold up the awning12A.
• Thepower unit31A according to the third embodiment comprises apower outlet311A provided on the supportingshaft21A to electrically extend from the illuminatingunits32A, an extension cable312A electrically extended from thepower outlet311A for electrically plugging into an external power source, and a power switch313A provided on the supportingshaft21A to control the illuminatingunits32A in an on and off manner. It is worth to mention that thepower unit31A comprises a transformer to convert an AC power from the external power source into a desired DC power for the illuminatingunits32A.
• As shown inFIG. 15, the illuminatingunits32A are mounted to the awning arms11A respectively, wherein each of the illuminatingunits32A comprises a plurality ofilluminators321A spacedly mounted along the respective awning arm11A and anextension wire322A extended along the respective awning arm11A to electrically connect theilluminators321A with thepower unit31A.
• As shown inFIG. 15, each of theilluminators321A is embodied as a LED electrically connected to thepower unit31A via theextension wire322A to provide a predetermined set of illumination parameters, such as brightness, color etc. so as to provide optimal illumination for a range of designated applications while being energy effective.
• Each of the illuminatingunits32A further comprises a tubularlight housing323A receiving theilluminators321A and theextension wire322A therein such that theilluminators321A generate light to penetrate through thelight housing323A for illuminating theshadowing area100A of the awning12A. Accordingly, thelight housing323A is made of transparent and insulating material, such as plastic, to protect theilluminators321A and theextension wire322A therein. In other words, the illuminatingunits32A are preferably embodied as a plurality of rope lights extending along the awning arms11A respectively.
• Each of the awning arms11A having a U-shaped cross structure has abottom opening slot110A that the respective illuminatingunit32A is received along thebottom opening slot110A to securely retain the illuminatingunit32A in position, as shown inFIG. 15. In other words, the illuminatingunit32A is embedded into the respective awning arm11A while theextension wire322A is hidden within the awning frame10A to electrically extend to thepower unit31A.
• In order to allow the illuminatingunit32A to extend along the respective awning arm11A at a pivot connection between the awning arm11A and thefolding rib14A, the awning arm11A is pivotally connected to thefolding rib14A via a pivot joint16A having a H-shaped cross section and defining twoupper wings161A pivotally connecting to the awning arm11A and twolower wings162A pivotally connecting to thefolding rib14A such that the illuminatingunit32A is received in thebottom opening slot110A to extend between the twoupper wings161A of the pivot joint16A, as shown inFIG. 15, so as to ensure the pivot movement of each of the awning arms11A without interfering with the illuminatingunit32A.
• It is worth to mention that thebottom opening slot110A is formed along each of thefolding ribs14A to receive the respective illuminatingunit32A wherein the illuminatingunit32A is received in thebottom opening slot110A of thefolding rib14A to extend between the twolower wings162A of the pivot joint16A. In other words, each of thefolding ribs14A having a U-shaped cross structure forms thebottom opening slot110A to receive the respective illuminatingunit32A. Therefore, the illuminatingunits32 can be either mounted along the awning arms11A or thefolding ribs14A by forming thebottom opening slot110A.
• It is obvious that the illuminatingunits32A can be mounted along both the awning arms11A and thefolding ribs14A, as shown inFIGS. 14 and 15, wherein thebottom opening slots110A are formed on the awning arms11A and thefolding ribs14A to receive the illuminatingunits32A respectively.
• As shown inFIG. 16, the lighting system30A further comprises acentral illuminator33A suspendedly supported by thecentral hub13A to electrically connect with thepower unit31A for providing extra illumination of theshadowing area100A. Accordingly, thecentral illuminator33A comprises a mountinghub331A, having a plurality ofradial extending arms332A, securely mounted to thecentral hub13A and a plurality of illuminatingelements333A pivotally mounted to theradial extending arms332A respectively such that each of the illuminatingelements333A is adapted to pivotally fold to selectively adjust an illumination orientation for illuminating theshadowing area100A.
• The mountinghub331A, having a ring shape, is coaxially attached to thecentral hub13A to slide along the supportingshaft21A corresponding to the sliding movement of thecentral hub13A, wherein theradial extending arms332A are outwardly and radially extended from the mountinghub331A to pivotally connect the illuminatingelements333A respectively.
• Each of the illuminatingelements333A is preferably embodied as a high-intensity light bulb for generating high-intensity light to provide extra illumination of theshadowing area100A. Accordingly, in order to enhance the adjustment of the illumination orientation of each of the illuminatingelements333A, each of the illuminatingelements333A is connected to the respectiveradial extending arm332A via a ball joint that maximize the adjustment of the illumination orientation of the illuminatingelement333A. It is worth to mention that the illuminatingelement333A can be a regular light bulb or a set of LEDs for providing extra illumination of theshadowing area100A.
• As shown inFIG. 14, the lighting system30A further comprises adetachable illuminator34A detachably mounting to the awning frame10A, wherein thedetachable illuminator34A comprises adetachable clip341A detachably mounting to one of the awning arms11A and thefolding ribs14A and asupplement illuminator342A downwardly extended from thedetachable clip341A to electrically connect to thepower unit31A such that thedetachable illuminator34A is adapted to be selectively mounted to the awning frame10A to provide an illumination for theshadowing area100A.
• As shown inFIG. 17, an outdoor umbrella of a fourth embodiment illustrates an alternative mode of the third embodiment of the present invention, wherein the outdoor umbrella comprises an awning frame10B, a supportingframe20B and a lighting system30B. Accordingly, the outdoor umbrella of the fourth embodiment illustrates another type of outdoor umbrella of the third embodiment wherein the outdoor umbrella of the fourth embodiment illustrates the supportingframe20B is not positioned within the awning frame10B.
• Having the same structural design of the outdoor umbrella of the third embodiment, the awning frame10B comprises a plurality of elongated awning arms11B radially extended in a pivotally movable manner and afabric awning12B substantially supported by the awning arms11B to define ashadowing area100B thereunder. The supportingframe20B comprises a supportingshaft21B having anupper portion211B connected to the awning frame10B. The lighting system30B comprises apower unit31B and a plurality of illuminatingunits32B mounted to the awning frame10B and electrically connected to thepower unit31B along the awning frame10B for illuminating theshadowing area100B under theawning12B.
• As shown inFIG. 18, each of the awning arms11B has an inner end and an outer end, wherein the inner ends of the awning arms11B are pivotally connected with each other via an upper hub111B such that the outer ends of the awning arms11B are radially and outwardly extended from the upper hub11B.
• The awning frame10B further comprises acentral hub13B and a plurality offolding ribs14B pivotally and radially extended from thecentral hub13B to pivotally connect with the awning arms11B respectively such that when thecentral hub13B is driven downwardly, the awning arms11B are pivotally folded to fold up theawning12B, and when thecentral hub13B is driven upwardly, the awning arms11B are pivotally folded to tensionally stretch out theawning12B for providing theshadowing area100B thereunder. Accordingly, thecentral hub13B is coaxially positioned below the upper hub111B such that when thecentral hub13B is driven upwardly towards the upper hub111B, the awning arms11B are folded pivotally and outwardly to stretch theawning12B in a tension manner. When thecentral hub13B is driven downwardly away from the upper hub111B, the awning arms11B are folded pivotally and inwardly to fold up theawning12B. Accordingly, a guidingshaft131B is downwardly extended from the upper hub11B to slidably couple with thecentral hub13B such that thecentral hub13B is slid along the guidingshaft131B to fold and unfold theawning12B.
• The supportingframe20B further comprises a ground stand22B to support the awning frame10B in stable manner, wherein alower portion212B of the supportingshaft21B is upwardly extended from the ground stand22B to connect with the awning frame10B.
• Accordingly, theupper portion211B of the supportingshaft21B is connected to the upper hub11B at a position above theawning12B, wherein theupper portion211B of the supportingshaft21B is pivotally connected to thelower portion212B thereof for selectively adjusting a shadowing angle of the awning frame10B. In other words, theupper portion211B of the supportingshaft21B is adapted to pivotally bend with respect to thelower portion212B thereof to change theshadowing area100B of theawning12B.
• The awning frame10B further comprises afolding unit15B for folding theawning12B, wherein thefolding unit15B comprises anelongated element151B having a control portion extended from thecentral hub13B to the upper hub111B within an interior of the guidingshaft131B and a hidden portion extended within an interior of the supportingshaft21B, and a hand crank152B mounted at the supportingshaft21B to connect the hidden portion of theelongated element151B and arrange to control a length of the control portion of theelongated element151B to drive thecentral hub13B sliding along the guidingshaft131B.
• Thepower unit31B, according to the fourth embodiment, asolar energy collector311B pivotally mounted on top of the awning frame10B for collecting solar energy and transforming said solar energy into an electrical energy to the lighting system30B. Accordingly, thesolar energy collector311B is pivotally mounted on theupper portion211B of the supportingshaft21B at a position above theawning12B wherein thesolar energy collector311B is adapted to be selectively adjusted its orientation for facing towards the sunlight so as to maximize the solar energy to be collected by thesolar energy collector311B. Thepower unit31B further comprises arechargeable battery312B which is supported by the supportingframe20B and is electrically connected to thesolar energy collector311B for storing the electrical energy as a power source for the lighting system30B. Therefore, no external power source is needed to hook up with the outdoor umbrella so as to minimize the extension cable to electrically connect to the external power source. It is worth to mention that thesolar energy collector311B can be incorporated with the outdoor umbrella of the third embodiment as a power source without alternating the original structure of the illuminatingunits32A thereof.
• As shown inFIG. 18, the illuminatingunits32B are mounted to the awning arms11B and/or thefolding ribs14B respectively, as mentioned above the third embodiment, wherein theillumination unit32B has the same structure of theillumination unit32A of the third embodiment which comprises theilluminators321A,extension wire322A andlight housing323A. It is worth to mention that the illuminatingunits32B can be either mounted along the awning arms11B or thefolding ribs14B by forming thebottom opening slot110B. Alternatively, the illuminatingunits32B can be mounted along both the awning arms11B and thefolding ribs14B, as shown inFIGS. 17 and 18, wherein thebottom opening slots110B are formed on the awning arms11B and thefolding ribs14B to receive the illuminatingunits32B respectively.
• In addition, a pivot joint16B has a H-shaped cross section and defines twoupper wings161B pivotally connecting to the awning arm11B and two lower wings162B pivotally connecting to thefolding rib14B such that the illuminatingunit32B is received in thebottom opening slot110B to extend between the twoupper wings161B of the pivot joint16B. When the illuminatingunit32B is mounted along thefolding rib14B, the illuminatingunit32B is received in thebottom opening slot110B of thefolding rib14B to extend between the two lower wings162B of the pivot joint16B.
• As shown inFIG. 18, the lighting system30B further comprises acentral illuminator33B suspendedly supported by thecentral hub13B to electrically connect with thepower unit31B for providing extra illumination of theshadowing area100B. Accordingly, thecentral illuminator33B comprises a mounting hub331B securely mounted to thecentral hub13B and at least an illuminating element333B mounted to the mounting hub331B such that the illuminating element333B is adapted to pivotally fold to selectively adjust an illumination orientation for illuminating theshadowing area100B. Since the supportingshaft21B is positioned out of the awning frame10B, the mounting hub331B is directly attached below thecentral hub13B. Accordingly, the illuminating element333B is a light bulb to provide extra illumination of theshadowing area100B.
• FIG. 19 illustrates an alternative mode of the illuminatingelement333C which is embodied as a high-intensity light bulb powered by solar energy for generating high-intensity light to provide extra illumination of theshadowing area100B. Accordingly, in order to enhance the adjustment of the illumination orientation of the illuminatingelement333C, the illuminatingelement333C is connected to the mounting hub330C via a ball joint that maximize the adjustment of the illumination orientation of the illuminatingelement333C.
• It is worth to mention that thedetachable illuminator34A of the third embodiment also can be detachably mounted to the awning frame10B, such that thedetachable illuminator34A is adapted to be selectively mounted to the awning frame10B to provide an illumination for theshadowing area100B.
• One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
• It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims (21)

1. An apparatus for securely mounting at an elongated arm of an outdoor umbrella; comprising:

an attaching device detachably mounting at said elongated arm of said outdoor umbrella;

an electrical device supported by said attaching device for suspendedly supporting within a shadowing area of said outdoor umbrella.

2. The apparatus, as recited inclaim 1, wherein said attaching device comprises a central hub having a sliding through slot for an supporting shaft as said elongated arm of said outdoor umbrella passing through in a detachably mounting manner; and

3. The apparatus, as recited inclaim 2, wherein said central hub comprises a boundary sleeve and a boundary cover interlocked with said boundary sleeve to form said sliding through slot within inner walls of said boundary sleeve and said boundary cover for detachably mounting said central hub at said shaft of said outdoor umbrella.

4. The apparatus, as recited inclaim 3, wherein said boundary sleeve has two locking grooves formed along two edge portions and said boundary cover has two locking edges, each of which has a hook shaped corresponding to said locking groove, fittedly engaged with said locking grooves so as to interlock said boundary cover with said boundary sleeve.

5. The apparatus, as recited inclaim 3, wherein said central hub further comprises a locking member having a locking end rotatably penetrated through said boundary cover and arranged in such a manner that when said locking member is rotated towards said sliding through slot, said locking end of said locking member is arranged for biasing against said shaft of said outdoor umbrella to securely retain said central hub at said shaft in position.

6. The apparatus, as recited inclaim 4, wherein said central hub further comprises a locking member having a locking end rotatably penetrated through said boundary cover and arranged in such a manner that when said locking member is rotated towards said sliding through slot, said locking end of said locking member is arranged for biasing against said shaft of said outdoor umbrella to securely retain said central hub at said shaft in position.

7. The apparatus, as recited inclaim 5, further comprising a first securing member detachably attached to said inner wall of said boundary sleeve for biasing against said shaft of said outdoor umbrella, and a second securing member attached to said locking end of said locking member at said inner wall of said boundary cover, wherein when said locking member is rotated, said second securing member is driven by said locking member to adjust a size of said sliding through slot for fittingly biasing against said shaft of said outdoor umbrella.

8. The apparatus, as recited inclaim 6, further comprising a first securing member detachably attached to said inner wall of said boundary sleeve for biasing against said shaft of said outdoor umbrella, and a second securing member attached to said locking end of said locking member at said inner wall of said boundary cover, wherein when said locking member is rotated, said second securing member is driven by said locking member to adjust a size of said sliding through slot for fittingly biasing against said shaft of said outdoor umbrella.

9. The apparatus, as recited inclaim 1, wherein said electrical device comprises a plurality of illuminators suspendedly supported by said attaching device for providing illumination within said shadowing area of said outdoor umbrella.

10. The apparatus, as recited inclaim 3, wherein said electrical device comprises a plurality of illuminators suspendedly supported by said attaching device for providing illumination within said shadowing area of said outdoor umbrella.

11. The apparatus, as recited inclaim 8, wherein said electrical device comprises a plurality of illuminators suspendedly supported by said attaching device for providing illumination within said shadowing area of said outdoor umbrella.

12. The apparatus, as recited inclaim 10, wherein said attaching device further comprises a plurality of supporting arms outwardly and radially extended from said central hub, wherein said illuminators are suspendedly supported at distal ends of said supporting arms via ball joints respectively, such that each of said illuminators is capable of self-rotating while being suspendedly supported by said supporting arm in free-swinging manner.

13. The apparatus, as recited inclaim 11, wherein said attaching device further comprises a plurality of supporting arms outwardly and radially extended from said central hub, wherein said illuminators are suspendedly supported at distal ends of said supporting arms via ball joints respectively, such that each of said illuminators is capable of self-rotating while being suspendedly supported by said supporting arm in free-swinging manner.

14. The apparatus, as recited inclaim 1, wherein said attaching device comprises a shank body adapted for transversely extending through an awning arm as said elongated arm of said outdoor umbrella, and an adaptor connected to said shank body to suspendedly support said electrical device within said shadowing area of said outdoor umbrella.

15. The apparatus, as recited inclaim 14, wherein said attaching device further comprises a locking member detachably locking said electrical device at said adaptor to maintain said electrical device at a vertically down hanging manner regardless of said outdoor umbrella being folded between an unfolded position and a folded position.

15. The apparatus, as recited inclaim 15, wherein said shank body comprises an enlarged head adapted for mounting at an outer side of said awning arm and a connecting member protruding from an inner side of said awning arm, wherein a mounting slot is transversely provided at said connecting member for detachably coupling with said locking member so as to lock up said electrical device at said connecting member.

16. The apparatus, as recited inclaim 15, wherein said electrical device comprises an illuminator suspendedly supported at said connecting member of said shank body for providing illumination within said shadowing area of said outdoor umbrella.

17. The apparatus, as recited inclaim 1, wherein said attaching device comprises a detachable clip detachably mounting at an awning arm as said elongated arm of said outdoor umbrella, wherein said electrical device is downwardly extended from said detachable clip, such that said electrical device is adapted for being selectively mounted to said awning arm to select a position of said electrical device within said shadowing area of said outdoor umbrella.

18. The apparatus, as recited inclaim 17, wherein said electrical device comprises an illuminator suspendedly coupled with said detachable clip for providing illumination within said shadowing area of said outdoor umbrella.

19. The apparatus, as recited inclaim 1, wherein said attaching device comprises a protective cover adapted for affixing at a supporting shaft as said elongated arm of said outdoor umbrella, and two connecting elements securely locking said protective cover on top of said supporting shaft, wherein said electrical device is securely sandwiched between said protective cover and said supporting shaft so as to retain said electrical device in position.

20. The apparatus, as recited inclaim 19, wherein said electrical device comprises a solar energy collector which comprises a collector base adapted for affixing on top of said supporting shaft via said attaching device, and a solar energy collecting device which is provided on a platform of said collector base and is upwardly oriented for collecting solar energy and converting said solar energy into electrical energy, wherein said protective cover securely clamps said collector base at said supporting shaft to retain said solar energy collecting device at an upward orientation.

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