Umbrella With Heated Ribs and Rectenna Recharging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional umbrellas do not provide adequate protection from rain, snow, and sunlight, nor do they offer heating solutions for cold weather, and they lack efficient recharging mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
An umbrella with a heating subsystem that produces warm air, an air moving subsystem to circulate this air through ribs, and a recharging subsystem using a rectenna to recharge a battery within the handle, along with operator controls to manage these features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional umbrella is used, then it provides basic rain and sunlight protection, but it does not provide heating solutions for cold weather
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a traditional umbrella structure with a heating subsystem, integrating multiple functions (rain protection, sunlight protection, and heating) into a single device. The heating subsystem includes a heater, battery, and air moving components that work together with the umbrella's canopy and ribs to provide comprehensive weather protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The umbrella is designed to perform multiple functions: protecting from rain, blocking sunlight, and providing warmth through the heating subsystem. This multi-functional design allows a single device to address various weather conditions that previously required multiple separate products.
2Temperature
If a battery-powered heating subsystem is added to the umbrella, then warm air can be produced and released through ribs, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating subsystem is divided into distinct functional segments: a heater element for generating heat, a battery for power supply, an air moving subsystem with fans or blowers for circulation, and control circuitry. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and facilitates easier maintenance and replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating subsystem components are nested within the umbrella structure. The battery is housed in the handle, the heater is integrated into the canopy or rib structure, and the air moving components are positioned to utilize the existing umbrella framework, thereby minimizing additional space requirements.
3Productivity
If an air moving subsystem is added to circulate air through the umbrella, then warm air distribution is improved, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air moving subsystem operates in periodic cycles rather than continuously. The control system activates the fans or blowers intermittently to circulate warm air, allowing the heater to operate at lower power levels between cycles. This periodic operation reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining effective warm air distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system utilizes the umbrella's existing structure (ribs, canopy, and natural air currents) to assist in air circulation. The design leverages passive convection currents created by temperature differences and the umbrella's geometry to enhance warm air distribution without requiring high-power active air moving components.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If a rectenna recharging subsystem is integrated into the handle, then continuous operation is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rectenna subsystem replaces traditional mechanical recharging methods (such as removable battery packs or wired connections) with a wireless electromagnetic energy transfer system. The rectenna captures electromagnetic signals from the environment and converts them to electrical energy for battery recharging, eliminating the need for physical connections or user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The rectenna system enables automatic, hands-free recharging of the battery by capturing ambient electromagnetic energy. The system continuously or periodically recharges the battery without requiring user action, ensuring the heating subsystem remains operational without manual battery replacement or charging intervention.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The umbrella effectively keeps users dry and warm in inclement weather by releasing warm air through ribs, while the recharging subsystem ensures continuous operation without the need for frequent battery replacement.
Implementation Method 1
The heating subsystem may produce warm air that may be released from a plurality of ribs of the umbrella during cold weather
Implementation Method 2
The air moving subsystem may move the warm air into the plurality of ribs
Implementation Method 3
The recharging subsystem may recharge a battery located within a handle of the umbrella
Data Source
AI summary
The umbrella with heater includes an umbrella, a heating subsystem, an air moving subsystem, a recharging subsystem, and one or more operator controls. The umbrella may be a collapsible cover adapted to keep rain, snow, and sunlight off of a user. The heating subsystem may produce warm air that may be released from a plurality of ribs of the umbrella during cold weather. The air moving subsystem may move the warm air into the plurality of ribs. The recharging subsystem may recharge a battery located within a handle of the umbrella. A canopy of the umbrella may comprise a waterproof coating. The one or more operator controls may be adapted for the user to enable and disable the heating subsystem, the air moving subsystem, or combinations thereof.