Umbrella Hub Battery Pack Assembly With Keyed Direct Power Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable battery packs are inconvenient to use without charging cords or adapters, and there is a need for a convenient power source on umbrellas to directly connect battery packs.
Innovation Solution
An umbrella hub assembly with a support portion and a battery pack that can be directly connected without cords or adapters, featuring alignment features and electrical contacts for power transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If portable battery packs are used without integrated power connections, then the battery packs remain portable and easy to carry, but they become inconvenient to use without charging cords or adapters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the battery pack with the umbrella hub by integrating a receptacle directly into the hub body. This allows the battery pack to connect directly to the umbrella's power system without requiring external charging cords or adapters, thereby improving ease of operation while eliminating the need for separate charging accessories.
Solution Approach 2:
The umbrella hub is designed with a receptacle that can universally accept battery packs with matching configurations. This multi-functional design allows the same hub structure to serve both as a structural component of the umbrella and as a power integration system, reducing the need for device-specific charging accessories.
2Ease of operation
If a receptacle is integrated into the umbrella hub for direct battery pack connection, then direct power connection is enabled without cords or adapters, but the hub structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The receptacle is merged with the hub body as an integrated component rather than a separate attachment. This combination allows the power connection feature to be built into the existing hub structure, providing direct power connection capability while minimizing additional structural complexity through unified design.
3Reliability
If alignment features are added to ensure proper connection between battery pack and hub, then electrical contact reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric clocking features including a keyed slot in the hub receptacle and a corresponding key on the battery pack. This asymmetric design provides unique orientation guidance that ensures reliable electrical contact alignment while using a simple, single-pair alignment mechanism rather than multiple symmetric alignment features.
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
Provides a convenient and direct power connection for battery packs on umbrellas, enhancing usability in various settings.
Implementation Method 1
The battery cell is disposed in the housing and configured to supply or receive power through an electrical connection
Implementation Method 2
The projection is configured to rest on the support portion of the umbrella hub to couple the battery pack to the umbrella hub
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
An assembly is provided that includes an umbrella hub and a battery pack. The umbrella hub includes a hub body and a support portion. The hub body to be disposed about an umbrella pole. The hub body including an upper surface and a lower surface. The support portion disposed at the lower surface of the hub body. The battery pack includes a housing, an outer periphery, an inner periphery, a projection, and a battery cell. The housing includes a first portion and a second portion. The outer periphery and the inner periphery are each defined in part by the first portion and the second portion. The projection extends from the inner periphery. The projection to rest on the support portion of the umbrella hub to couple the battery pack to the umbrella hub. The battery cell disposed in the housing to supply or receive power through an electrical connection.