Sun Umbrella Light-Transmitting Tubes as Ribs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sun umbrellas with lighting functions face high production and assembly costs due to complex slotting processes and lack of all-directional light emission capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A sun umbrella design featuring an umbrella rod and disc with light-transmitting tubes acting as ribs, copper-wire lights connected in series, and a detachable power supply with USB charging, allowing for direct assembly and efficient light distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional slotting processes and fastener-based assembly are used for mounting PCBs with LED lights on umbrella ribs, then lighting function is achieved, but production and assembly costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting functionVSAvoidproduction and assembly costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the lighting components (PCB with LED lights and light-transmitting plates) from the traditional rib structure and relocates them to the umbrella disc. This eliminates the need for slotting ribs and using fasteners, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and assembly costs while maintaining the lighting function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the lighting components directly into the umbrella disc structure, combining the PCB, LED lights, and light-transmitting plates into an integrated assembly that is mounted as a single unit on the umbrella rod, simplifying both production and assembly processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Illumination intensity

If conventional lighting design is used with PCBs and light-transmitting plates on ribs, then illumination is provided, but all-directional light emission cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight emissionVSAvoidall-directional light emission
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from linear light emission along the ribs to three-dimensional all-directional light emission by positioning the light-transmitting plates on the umbrella disc, which radiates light in multiple directions simultaneously, achieving omnidirectional illumination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses light-transmitting plates with different translucency levels arranged asymmetrically on the umbrella disc to optimize light distribution in various directions, enhancing the all-directional light emission capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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

This design simplifies assembly, reduces production costs, and achieves all-directional light emission while ensuring stable and reliable power supply, enhancing production capacity and meeting market demands.

Implementation Method 1

the opening-and-closing device comprises a plurality of light-transmitting tubes, wherein each light-transmitting tube is internally provided with light strip

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission: Refraction

Implementation Method 2

internally provided with a light strip, wherein the light strip is electrically connected to a power supply through a circuit board

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLED light emission: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP3906804B1Sun umbrella capable of emitting light in all directions
Publication Date: 2024.04.17 LINHAI GUOKANG LEISURE PROD CO LTD
  • EP3906804B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3906804B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3906804B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A sun umbrella capable of emitting light in all directions comprising an umbrella rod and an umbrella disc, wherein the umbrella rod is connected to an opening-and-closing device, and is internally provided with a light strip, wherein circuit boards are fixedly assembled in the umbrella disc, wherein the opening-and-closing device comprises a plurality of light-transmitting tubes, wherein each light-transmitting tube is internally provided with a light strip, and the light strip is electrically connected to a power supply through a circuit board. The light-transmitting tubes are directly used as umbrella ribs. The copper-wire lights, which are directly connected to the circuit boards assembled in the umbrella disc, are directly arranged in the umbrella rod and the umbrella ribs, thus avoiding the slotting process and achieving a simple assembly. The external power supply is detachable, the wire arrangement is reasonable, and the power supply is stable and reliable. Through adopting the technical solution of the present disclosure, the production capacity is improved and the cost is lowered, fully meeting the demands of social development.