(12)
`
`United States Patent
`Lee
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,666,224 B2
`Dec. 23, 2003
`
`US006666224B2
`
`(54) BEACH UMBRELLA WITH LAMPS
`
`2002/0124876 A1 * 9/2002 Chen ......................... .. 135/16
`
`2002/0145873 A1 * 10/2002 Rahman . . . . . .
`
`. . . .. 362/252
`
`(76) Inventor; chorng-cheng Lee, NO_ 272, Lane
`365, Wu Feng South Road, Chia Yi
`
`2002/0149934 A1 * 10/2002 Lin . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`. . . .. 362/252
`2003/0067765 A1 * 4/2003 Li ............................ .. 362/102
`
`(TW)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`USC 154 b b 149 da s.
`( ) y
`y
`
`JP
`JP
`
`2000354506
`200117217
`
`* 12/2000
`* 1/2001
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`(21) Appl' NO‘: 09/985’996
`(22) Filed;
`Nov, 7, 2001
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2003/0084931 A1 May 8, 2003
`
`7
`...... .. A45B 3/04
`(51) Int. Cl. .......................................
`(52) U_‘S‘ Cl‘ """"""" "
`135/910’ 135/16’ 362/102
`(58) Fleld of Search
`~~~~~~~ ~~ 135/16> 910; 362/102>
`362/234> 249> 252
`
`(56)
`
`_
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`362/249
`5,758,948 A * 6/1998
`135/910
`6,089,727 A * 7/2000
`.. 362/249
`6,302,560 B1 * 10/2001
`135/16
`6,439,249 B1 * 8/2002
`362/252
`6,443,595 B1 * 9/2002
`6,497,496 B2 * 12/2002 Wang ....................... .. 362/249
`
`Primary Examiner—Lanna Mai
`Assistant Examiner—Hanh V. Tran
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Rosenberg, Klein & Lee
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A beach umbrella With lamps is provided With receiving
`trenches lengthwise on each of the ribs thereof, and the ribs
`each has several spaced through holes communicating With
`the trench. Several of the lamps are each connected to one
`of branches of a conductive Wire. The Wires are placed along
`the ribs, and the branches are each passed through one of the
`through holes With the Wires and the lamps being arranged
`on tWo opposing sides of the ribs; When the trenches are
`formed on bottom of ribs, the lamps can be closely received
`in the trenches With most of the Weight being supported by
`the Wires held on the ribs, therefore the same can’t possibly
`fall off even When the umbrella is being stretched or folded.
`
`4 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
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`LakeSouth Exhibit 2009 – Page 1
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 23, 2003
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`Sheet 1 0f 9
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`US 6,666,224 B2
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`LakeSouth Exhibit 2009 – Page 2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 23, 2003
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`Sheet 2 0f 9
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`US 6,666,224 B2
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`LakeSouth Exhibit 2009 – Page 3
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 23, 2003
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`Sheet 3 0f 9
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`US 6,666,224 B2
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`LakeSouth Exhibit 2009 – Page 4
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 23, 2003
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`Sheet 4 0f 9
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`US 6,666,224 B2
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`LakeSouth Exhibit 2009 – Page 5
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 23, 2003
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`Sheet 5 0f 9
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`US 6,666,224 B2
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`wdHm.
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`LakeSouth Exhibit 2009 – Page 6
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 23, 2003
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`Sheet 6 0f 9
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`US 6,666,224 B2
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`PIG.7
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`LakeSouth Exhibit 2009 – Page 7
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 23, 2003
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`Sheet 7 0f 9
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`US 6,666,224 B2
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`PIGS
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`LakeSouth Exhibit 2009 – Page 8
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 23, 2003
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`Sheet 8 0f 9
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`US 6,666,224 B2
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`P I G.
`9
`(PRIOR ART)
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`LakeSouth Exhibit 2009 – Page 9
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 23, 2003
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`Sheet 9 0f 9
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`US 6,666,224 B2
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`LakeSouth Exhibit 2009 – Page 10
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`

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`US 6,666,224 B2
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`1
`BEACH UMBRELLA WITH LAMPS
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a beach umbrella With
`lamps, and more particularly, to one, of Which the lamps take
`various forms and can be secured in proper position Without
`possibility of moving or falling off or badly affecting the
`appearance of the umbrella.
`Beach umbrellas are Widely used not only on the beach to
`provide shade from the direct light of the sun but also on
`other outdoor recreational places, such as the areas for the
`spectators of a sport and outdoor coffee shops, such that
`people sitting under them can be protected from the sun and
`ram.
`Beach umbrellas usually include a shank, several ribs
`radially spread out from the upper end of the shank,
`spreaders, Which are pivoted to the middle portions of the
`ribs at the outer ends and pivoted to a slidable ring at the
`inner ends, and a canopy secured to the ribs.
`Such beach umbrellas are not needed, and usually folded
`When there is no enough light or illumination lest the places
`under the canopy become too dark. HoWever, it needs much
`additional labor to fold these umbrellas on an outdoor coffee
`shop Where usually many such umbrellas are used. And, the
`dust on the canopies is likely to fall doWn to dirt the tables
`placed under the umbrellas When the umbrellas are folded.
`To avoid the above mentioned trouble, the umbrellas are not
`folded, but additional lamps are placed besides, or hung on,
`the umbrellas for the customers to see clearly With suf?cient
`light; this approach also needs additional labor and therefore
`isn’t ideal, and the lamps hung on the umbrellas Would badly
`affect the look of the umbrella. In addition, because some
`beach umbrellas used on an outdoor coffee shop are ?xed,
`and can’t be moved aWay, the umbrellas Would affect the
`look of the places for the Worse When they are in the folded
`position.
`To deal With the above problem, referring to FIGS. 9, 10
`and 11, a beach umbrella With lamps is provided, Which
`includes a shank 51, ribs and spreaders 52 radially spread
`out from the shank 51 and lamps 54. The ribs and spreaders
`52 each has a receiving trench 53 on the loWer side; the
`receiving trench 53 has a C-shaped section, i.e. the loWer
`opening of the trench 53 is narroWer than the other part of
`the trench 53. Several of the lamps 54 are connected to a
`Wire 541 and received in one of the trenches 53 such that the
`same Won’t fall off the trenches 53 easily. And, because the
`lamps 54 are hidden in the trenches 53, the draWback of the
`lamps shoWing to badly affect the look of the umbrella is
`eliminated.
`HoWever, the umbrella is still found to have draWbacks as
`folloWs:
`1. There is still a possibility that the lamps 54 fall out of
`the trenches 53, especially When the umbrella is being
`stretched on folded, because the lamps 54 are not ?rmly
`?xed to the ribs and spreaders 52.
`2. The trenches 53 can only receive lamps of the same
`siZe, therefore lamps of different siZes can’t be used on
`such umbrella, i.e. the use of the umbrella is very
`limited.
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`10
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`15
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`25
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`35
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`45
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`55
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Therefore, it is a main object of the present invention to
`provide a beach umbrella With lamps, of Which the lamps
`can be secured in position Without possibility of falling off.
`
`65
`
`2
`It is another object of the present invention to make the
`beach umbrella in such a manner that lamps of various
`shapes and siZes can be ?tted thereto.
`The beach umbrella of the present invention includes a
`shank, several ribs and spreaders, and lamps connected to
`branches of Wires like the conventional one. The ribs each
`has a receiving trench lengthWise formed thereon, and
`several through holes communicating With the trench. The
`branches of the Wires are each passed through a respective
`one of the through holes With the lamps and the Wires being
`positioned on opposing sides of the ribs. When the receiving
`trenches are formed on the bottoms of the ribs, the lamps can
`be further hidden in the trenches. When the receiving
`trenches are formed on the upper sides of the ribs, the Wires
`are hidden along the trenches With the lamps be positioned
`beloW the ribs.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`This invention Will be better understood by referring to
`the accompanying draWings, Wherein:
`FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective vieW of the beach
`umbrella With lamps of the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective vieW of the
`beach umbrella of the present invention.
`FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section vieW of the beach
`umbrella of the present invention.
`FIG. 4 is a sectional vieW of the rib according to the ?rst
`embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 5 is a fragmentary exploded perspective vieW of the
`beach umbrella of the second embodiment.
`FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section vieW of the umbrella of the
`second embodiment.
`FIG. 7 is a plan vieW of the umbrella of the second
`embodiment.
`FIG. 8 is another plan vieW of the umbrella of the second
`embodiment.
`FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective vieW of the conven
`tional beach umbrella.
`FIG. 10 is a fragmentary exploded perspective vieW of the
`beach umbrella in FIG. 9.
`FIG. 11 is a sectional vieW of the rib of the beach umbrella
`in FIG. 9.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a beach umbrella of the
`present invention includes a shank 1, several ribs 2, Which
`are pivoted to the upper end of the shank 1 from the inner
`ends and radially spread out, and spreaders (not numbered),
`Which are pivoted to the ribs 2 and a movable ring, and
`lamps 4.
`The ribs 2 each has a receiving trench 3 lengthWise
`formed on the bottom, several through holes 21 formed on
`the upper side to communicate With the receiving trench 3,
`and a gap 22, Which is formed at the outer end portion
`thereof, and communicates With the trench 3. Several of the
`lamps 4 are connected to a Wire 41, and passed through a
`respective one of the through holes 21 of one of the ribs 2
`With the Wires 41 being positioned on the rib 2. The lamps
`4 are further securely hidden in the receiving trench 3 as
`shoWn in FIGS. 3 and 4; the outer end of the Wire 41 is
`passed into the gap 3 With received in the trench 3.
`
`LakeSouth Exhibit 2009 – Page 11
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`

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`US 6,666,224 B2
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`3
`Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a rib 2 of an umbrella
`according to a second embodiment of the present invention
`includes a receiving trench 3 lengthwise formed on the
`upper side thereof, several through holes 21 formed on the
`bottom to communicate With the trench 3 and a gap 22,
`Which is formed at the outer end, and also communicates
`With the trench 3. A Wire 41 having several branches is
`hidden in the receiving trench 3 With the branches being
`passed through a respective one of the through holes 21, and
`With the outer end portion of the Wire 41 being secured in the
`gap 22. The outer ends, and the branches of the Wire 41 are
`further each connected to a lamp 42 placed just beloW the rib
`2, as shoWn in FIG. 6. Thus, the beach umbrella has the
`lamps ?tted to the ribs thereof. And, the user can decide the
`number of lamps to be ?tted to the ribs according to the
`needs, as shoWn in FIGS. 7 and 8.
`
`From the above description, it can be easily understood
`that the beach umbrella With lamps of the present invention
`has the folloWing desirable features:
`
`1. Because most part of the Weight of the lamps is
`supported by the Wire held on the ribs, and only little
`part of the Weight is held by the receiving trench (the
`?rst embodiment), the lamps can’t possibly fall doWn,
`and are much leas likely to fall off than those of the
`conventional umbrella When the umbrella is being
`folded or stretched. And, the lamps are desirably spaced
`out by the through holes.
`2. The umbrella of the second embodiment alloWs lamps
`of various shapes and siZes to be securely ?tted to,
`therefore it can be decorated With different lamps to suit
`various events.
`
`4
`
`What is claimed is:
`1. A beach umbrella With lamps, comprising:
`a shank;
`a plurality of ribs pivoted to said shank from inner ends
`thereof;
`a plurality of spreaders each pivoted at an outer end
`thereof to one of said ribs and pivoted at an inner end
`thereof to a ring mounted on said shank, said ribs each
`having a receiving trench lengthWise formed thereon;
`and,
`a set of lamps, said set of lamps including a plurality of
`subsets of said lamps Where each of said subsets of
`lamps are connected to one of a plurality of branches of
`a single Wire placed along one of said ribs, a plurality
`of through holes being formed through each of said ribs
`and communicating With said trench for permitting said
`branches of said Wires to be passed through With said
`lamps and said Wires being positioned on opposing
`sides of said ribs, each said lamp being received by a
`corresponding through hole, said lamps projecting light
`to a region beneath said ribs.
`2. The beach umbrella With lamps as claimed in claim 1,
`Wherein said receiving trenches are formed on bottoms of
`said ribs, and said lamps are substantially hidden in said
`receiving trenches With said Wires being held on said ribs.
`3. The beach umbrella With lamps as claimed in claim 1,
`Wherein said receiving trenches are formed on upper sides of
`said ribs, and said Wires are hidden in said trenches With said
`lamps being positioned beloW said ribs.
`4. The beach umbrella With lamps as claimed in claim 1,
`Wherein said ribs each further has a gap at an outer end
`portion, said gap communicating With a corresponding one
`of said trenches for an outer end portion of a respective one
`of said Wires to be securely ?tted thereinto.
`
`10
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`15
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`25
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`*
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`*
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`*
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`*
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`*
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`LakeSouth Exhibit 2009 – Page 12
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