United States Patent [19]
`Wu
`
`US006089727A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`6,089,727
`Jul. 18, 2000
`
`[54] ILLUMINATING UMBRELLA HAVING
`RELIABLE CONNECTING WIRES
`
`[76] Inventor; TZun-Z0ng Wu, SF, No_ 76, Lane 103,
`Nei_Hu Road, 560 2, Taipei, Taiwan
`
`[21] APPL N0: 09 /157’464
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Sep. 18, 1998
`
`7
`.......... .. AflSB 3/02
`[51] Int. Cl. .........................................
`[52] US. Cl. ......................... .. 362/102, 362/800, 135/910
`[58] Fleld of Search ................................... .. 362/102, 800,
`362/184; 135/16> 910
`
`[56]
`
`_
`References Clted
`U_S_ PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`252mg ..................................... ..
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`[57]
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`ABSTRACT
`
`An illuminating umbrella includes a top illuminator ?xed on
`a top end of an umbrella central shaft, and a plurality of tip
`illuminators respectively ?xed on a plurality of tips of the
`top ribs of the umbrella. Each illuminator has a positive Wire
`electrically connected to a‘ positive conducting ring secured
`on an outer peripheral portion of an umbrella notch or ferrule
`formed on an upper end of the central shaft, and a negative
`Wire electrically connected to a negative conducting ring
`embedded on the Central Shaft which Serves as a negative
`Conducton The positive Conducting ring is electrically Con_
`nected to a positive pole of a power Source, of Which the
`negative pole is electrically connected to the central shaft
`through an on-off sWitch slidably held on a grip of the shaft
`thereby forming a reliable stable poWer connection circuit
`among the illuminators and the poWer source. A' ?asher is
`connected betWeen the poWer source and the illuminators for
`?ashing the illuminators When turned on
`
`Primary Examiner—Thomas M. Sember
`
`8 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
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`llllllllllllllll '1 II
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`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1007, Page 1
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 18,2000
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`Sheet 1 0f8
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`6,089,727
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`PRIOR ART
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`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1007, Page 2
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 18,2000
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`Sheet 2 0f8
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`6,089,727
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`FIG. 3
`PRKOR ART
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`PRIOR ART ,'
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`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1007, Page 3
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 18,2000
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`Sheet 3 0f8
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`6,089,727
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`7
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`F.
`G.
`////II
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`1111111111.
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`1| 2
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`F168
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`91111///
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`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1007, Page 4
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 18,2000
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`Sheet 4 0f8
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`6,089,727
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`(I
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`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1007, Page 5
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 18,2000
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`Sheet 5 0f8
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`6,089,727
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`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1007, Page 6
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 18,2000
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`Sheet 6 0f8
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`6,089,727
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`all 4
`5
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`F1615
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`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1007, Page 7
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 18,2000
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`Sheet 7 0f8
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`6,089,727
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`411
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`412
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`IN 1|
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`:_
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`H
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`42
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`: _lllf
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`F1018
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`F1617
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`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1007, Page 8
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jul. 18,2000
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`Sheet 8 0f8
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`6,089,727
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`F1619
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`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1007, Page 9
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`

`
`1
`ILLUMINATING UMBRELLA HAVING
`RELIABLE CONNECTING WIRES
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`A conventional illuminating umbrella is shown in FIGS.
`1—4 including a top bulb B ?xed on a top end of a central
`shaft S of the umbrella, and a plurality of ball-tip bulbs B1
`respectively ?xed on the ends of the umbrella ribs for safety
`illuminative purpose.
`HoWever, the Wires W as electrically connected from the
`bulbs B, B1 to a poWer source generally ?xed in the grip of
`the central shaft S may be tWisted, stretched, or bent either
`upWardly or doWnWardly When opening or closing the
`umbrella among the upper notch U, the shaft S and the rib
`assembly R, thereby easily breaking the Wires connected
`betWeen the bulbs B, B1 and the poWer source Without
`lighting the bulbs.
`MeanWhile, so many Wires W are assembled (A) in the
`tiny tube of the central shaft as shoWn in FIG. 3 to increase
`the dif?culty for connecting the Wires such as by soldering.
`The present inventor has found the draWbacks of the
`conventional illuminating umbrella, and invented the
`present illuminating umbrella having reliable connecting
`Wires.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The object of the present invention is to provide an
`illuminating umbrella including a top illuminator ?xed on a
`top end of an umbrella central shaft, a plurality of tip
`illuminators respectively ?xed on a plurality of tips of the
`top ribs of the umbrella; each illuminator having a positive
`Wire electrically connected to a positive conducting ring
`secured on an outer peripheral portion of an umbrella notch
`or ferrule formed on an upper end of the central shaft, and
`having a negative Wire electrically connected to a negative
`conducting ring embedded on the central shaft Which serves
`as a negative conductor, With the positive conducting ring
`electrically connected to a positive pole of a poWer source,
`of Which the negative pole is electrically connected to the
`central shaft through an on-off sWitch slidably held on a grip
`of the shaft thereby forming a reliable stable poWer connec
`tion circuit among the illuminators and the poWer source;
`and a ?asher connected betWeen the poWer source and the
`illuminators for ?ashing the illuminators When turned on.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 shoWs a conventional illuminating umbrella as
`opened.
`FIG. 2 shoWs a closed conventional umbrella.
`FIG. 3 shoWs another conventional illuminating umbrella
`When opened.
`FIG. 4 shoWs the closed umbrella from FIG. 3.
`FIG. 5 is an exploded vieW of the present invention.
`FIG. 6 is a sectional draWing of a tip illuminator of the
`present invention.
`FIG. 7 is a cross sectional draWing as vieWed from 7—7
`direction of FIG. 5.
`FIG. 8 is a cross sectional draWing as vieWed from 8—8
`direction of FIG. 5.
`FIG. 9 is a perspective vieW shoWing the positive and
`negative conducting rings of the present invention.
`FIG. 10 is an illustration of the positive and negative
`conducting rings When assembled and ?xed on the upper
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`notch of the umbrella, also shoWing a connection of Wires
`through the Wire slot in the notch.
`FIG. 11 shoWs another preferred embodiment for poWer
`connection of the positive and negative conducting rings,
`also shoWing the connection of Wires through the Wire slot
`in the notch.
`FIG. 12 is an illustration of the present invention When
`opened.
`FIG. 13 is a cross sectional draWing as vieWed from
`13—13 direction of FIG. 12.
`FIG. 14 shoWs a joint member on the top rib of the present
`invention.
`FIG. 15 shoWs another preferred embodiment of the
`present invention.
`FIG. 16 is a sectional draWing of the tip illuminator When
`assembled from FIG. 15.
`FIG. 17 shoWs still another preferred embodiment of the
`present invention When opened.
`FIG. 18 shoWs the closed umbrella from FIG. 17.
`FIG. 19 is a perspective vieW shoWing the positive,
`negative conducting rings and the related parts thereof, as
`provided in FIG. 18.
`FIG. 20 is an illustration shoWing the assembled conduct
`ing rings from FIG. 19, also shoWing the Wires connected to
`the related rings through the Wire slots apart from the rib
`slots in the notch.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`As shoWn in FIGS. 5—14, the present invention comprises:
`a central shaft 1 having a grip 11 formed on a loWer portion
`of the shaft 1; a rib assembly 2 having at least a top rib 21
`pivotally secured to an upper notch 20 ?xed on a top portion
`12 of the shaft 1, and a stretcher rib 22 pivotally secured to
`each top rib 21 and a loWer runner 23 slidably held on the
`shaft 1; an illuminating means 3 including a top illuminator
`31 Which may be a bulb or a light-emitting diode (LED)
`?xed on a top end of the shaft 1 and a plurality of tip
`illuminators 32 each ?xed on a tip end (or outer end) of each
`top rib 21 and each tip illuminator 32, Which may be a
`light-emitting diode (LED), parallelly electrically connected
`to a poWer source; and a poWer supply means 4 for poWering
`the illuminators 31, 32. An umbrella cloth is provided to
`cover the rib assembly 2.
`The top illuminator 31 has a positive Wire P electrically
`connected to a positive conducting ring 44 ?xed on an outer
`peripheral portion of the upper notch 20 Which may be made
`of electrically insulative material, and a negative Wire N
`electrically connected to a negative conducting ring 45
`embedded or ?xed on the central shaft 1 Which may be made
`of electrically conductive material.
`Each tip illuminator 32 has a positive Wire P electrically
`connected to the positive conducting ring 44, and a negative
`Wire N electrically connected to the negative conducting
`ring 45, both Wires P, N being disposed Within at least a
`protective tube 46 such as a PVC tube Which is clamped
`Within the top rib 21 having a cross section of U shape
`having a pair of crimping edges 211 bent inWardly for
`clamping the protective tube 46 Within the top rib 21 as
`shoWn in FIG. 13.
`Each positive or negative Wire should be covered (or
`integrally formed) With electrically insulative sheath.
`The positive and negative Wires P, N of each tip illumi
`nator 32 are led through an electric-Wire slot 202 juxtapo
`sitioned to each rib slot 201 formed in the upper notch 20 for
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`pivotally securing each top rib 21 on the upper notch 20,
`preferably passing under a fastening Wire 200 Wound on the
`upper notch 20 for pivotally fastening the top ribs 21 on the
`notch 20, and then respectively connected to the positive and
`negative conducting rings 44, 45 such as by soldering or
`other connection methods.
`Each Wire slot 202 for the positive or negative Wire P, N
`is juxtapositioned to each rib slot 201 for the top rib 21 to
`thereby prevent or minimize the tWisting, tangling, bending,
`stretching or even breaking draWbacks as found in a con
`ventional illuminating umbrella.
`Therefore, the present invention provides an illuminating
`umbrella having reliable stable electric-Wire connection for
`prolonging the service life of the illuminators 31, 32 on the
`umbrella.
`The positive conducting ring 44 is electrically connected
`to the positive pole of the poWer source 41, Which may be
`a battery or batteries stored in the grip 11 made of electri
`cally insulative material, through an externally insulated
`positive conductor 411 passing through a hole 121 formed
`through the shaft and through an interior in the central shaft
`1; While the negative conducting ring 45 electrically con
`nected to the negative pole of the poWer source 41 through
`a negative conductor 412 Which may be formed in situ on the
`central shaft 1 as made of electrically conductive material,
`or may be another externally insulated conductor Wire or
`strip (not shoWn) in the shaft 1.
`BetWeen the poWer source 41 and the tWo conducting
`rings 44, 45, a ?asher 43 and an on-off sWitch 42 are
`electrically connected therebetWeen. The on-off sWitch 42 is
`slidably held on the grip 11 for sWitching on (or off) the
`poWer source 41 for actuating (or deactivating) the ?asher
`43 Which may be an integrated circuit for intermittently
`turning on the illuminators 31, 32 for ?ashing and alarming
`purpose especially in a night time.
`The top illuminator 31 and the tWo conducting rings 44,
`45 may be covered With a transparent insulative cap C for
`Water proof purpose for preventing short circuit of the
`positive and negative conducting rings 44, 45 and the Wires
`P, N as shoWn in FIG. 12.
`In each U-shaped top rib 21, tWo protective tubes 46 may
`be provided on opposite sides of the joint member 210 Which
`includes a pair of lugs 210a tapered doWnWardly from tWo
`side tube portions 210b (FIG. 14).
`Each tip illuminator 32 includes a holder 321 secured on
`an outer tip portion of each top rib 21 and each protective
`tube 46 as shoWn in FIGS. 6, 5, and an outer sleeve 322
`circumferentially jacketed on the holder 321 for securing an
`umbrella cloth (not shoWn). The outer sleeve 322 is derived
`from the conventional rib tip, but noW served for protecting
`the tip illuminator 32.
`The holder 321 has a lug L engageable With a slot H
`formed in the outer sleeve 322, While the top rib 21 having
`a lug L1 engageable With the slot H1 formed in the holder
`321, thereby enforcing their mutual locking and engagement
`to be ?rmly ?xed on a rib tip end of each top rib 21.
`Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is
`shoWn in FIGS. 15, 16, in Which, the top rib is modi?ed to
`be a solid rib 21a to be disposed Within a protective (PVC
`or plastic) tube 46a having the positive and negative Wires
`P, N held Within the protective tube and disposed about the
`solid rib 21a.
`The holder 321 has tWo grooves G for passing the tWo
`Wires P, N and having a protrusion X for engaging the hole
`Y formed on the end portion of the top rib 21a. The holder
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`321 is then coupled Within the sleeve 322 Which is ?xed on
`an outer portion of the tube 46a.
`For decorative purpose, the protective tubes 46a for the
`top rib 21a and the tube 22a for the stretcher rib 22 may be
`formed as colorful tubes.
`Still another preferred embodiment of the present inven
`tion is shoWn in FIGS. 17—20 Which is a tWo-fold illumi
`nating umbrella.
`The central shaft I includes a loWer tube la and an upper
`tube 1b telescopically engageable With the loWer tube 1a.
`The negative conducting ring 45 is secured on a male
`threaded collar 203 on an inner portion of the upper notch 20
`by an electrically conductive pin 451 to electrically connect
`the top portion 12 of the central shaft 1 inserted into a central
`hole 204 in the collar 203.
`The positive conducting ring 44 is secured on an outer
`peripheral portion of the upper notch 20 to electrically
`connect the positive conductor 411 passing through the
`central shaft 1.
`A top cap 10 having a female-threaded hole 101 formed
`therein is engaged With the male-threaded collar 203 for
`covering the positive and negative conducting rings 44, 45
`on the upper notch 20.
`Each tip illuminator 32 has a positive Wire P and a
`negative Wire N respectively connected to the positive
`conducting ring 44 and the negative conducting ring 45 by
`passing through each Wire slot 202 formed in an upper
`portion of the upper notch 20 as juxtapositioned to each rib
`slot 201 formed in a loWer portion of the upper notch 20.
`The rib assembly 2 includes a top rib 21 pivotally con
`nected With the upper notch 20 and a stretcher rib 22
`pivotally connected to the runner 23 slid on the shaft 1, an
`outer rib 24 pivotally connected With the stretcher rib 22 and
`connected With a connecting link 25 Which is pivotally
`connected to the top rib 21.
`The Wires P, N connected to each tip illuminator 32 are led
`through a protective tube 46 clamped in the outer rib 24 and
`then electrically connected to the tWo conducting rings 44,
`45 as fastened by a fastener member 51 of the umbrella cloth
`5 secured on the rib assembly 2 (FIG. 17).
`The Wire connection on the upper notch is not in?uenced
`by the top ribs 21 because the Wire slots 202 are positioned
`above the rib slots 201 for pivotally connecting the top rib
`21, thereby enhancing a reliable poWer connection for the
`Wires P, N of the illuminators 32.
`Since the upper tube 1b is telescopically engageable With
`the loWer tube 1a, the positive conductor 411 is connected
`With a coiled conductor 411a telescopically Wound in the
`loWer tube la as shoWn in FIGS. 17, 18 having a plug 1c
`plugged in a loWer end of the upper tube 1b for retaining an
`upper end of the coiled conductor 411a. Such a coiled
`conductor 411a Will alloW the telescopic movement of the
`tubes 1a, 1b of the central shaft 1 When folding or opening
`the umbrella Without breaking the positive conductor 411.
`The present invention may be further modi?ed Without
`departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. The
`?asher 43 is a ?asing driver Which may be integrated circuit
`exerting pulses for ?ashing the illuminators.
`What is claimed is:
`1. An illuminating umbrella comprising:
`a central shaft having a grip formed on a loWer portion of
`said shaft;
`a rib assembly having at least a top rib pivotally secured
`to an upper notch ?xed on a top portion of said shaft,
`and a stretcher rib pivotally connected to said top rib
`and a runner slidably held on said shaft;
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`an illuminating means including a top illurninator secured
`on a top of said shaft, and at least a tip illurninator
`Which is ?xed on a holder ?xed on an outer end of said
`top rib, having an outer sleeve jacketed on a circurn
`ference of said holder for ?rmly securing said tip
`illurninator and for securing an umbrella cloth on said
`sleeve; and
`a poWer supply means including a poWer source of at least
`a battery stored in said grip, an on-off sWitch slidably
`formed on said grip for sWitching on or off said poWer
`source, a positive conducting ring formed on an outer
`peripheral portion of said upper notch for electrically
`connecting a positive pole of each said illurninator
`through an externally insulated positive Wire and elec
`trically connected to a positive pole of the poWer source
`through a positive conductor passing through an inte
`rior in said shaft, and a negative conducting ring
`secured on said central shaft for electrically connecting
`a negative pole of each said illurninator through an
`externally insulated negative Wire and electrically con
`nected to a negative pole of said poWer source through
`the on-off sWitch by a negative conductor in said shaft,
`and
`a ?asher connected betWeen said illurninators and said
`poWer source for operatively ?ashing said illurninators
`When sWitching on said sWitch.
`2. An illurninating urnbrella according to claim 1, Wherein
`each said illurninator is a light-emitting diode.
`3. An illurninating urnbrella according to claim 1, Wherein
`said negative conductor is formed on said central shaft
`Which is made of electrically conductive material.
`4. An illurninating urnbrella according to claim 1, Wherein
`each said tip illurninator has said positive and negative wires
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`disposed in a protective tube clamped in said top rib having
`a cross section of U shape and having a pair of crirnping
`edge portions of said top rib bent inWardly for clarnping said
`protective tube therein.
`5. An illurninating urnbrella according to claim 4, Wherein
`said tip illurninator is ?xed on a holder ?xed on an outer end
`of said top rib, having an outer sleeve jacketed on a
`circumference of said holder for ?rrnly securing said tip
`illurninator and for securing an umbrella cloth on said
`sleeve.
`6. An illurninating urnbrella according to claim 1, Wherein
`each said tip illurninator has said positive Wire and said
`negative Wire led from each said top rib into a Wire slot,
`Which is formed in said upper notch and is juxtapositioned
`to a rib slot formed in said upper notch for pivotally securing
`each said top rib on said upper notch, and then respectively
`connected to said positive and negative conducting rings.
`7. An illurninating urnbrella according to claim 1, Wherein
`each said top rib is a solid rib, having said positive and
`negative Wires connected to each said tip illurninator and
`disposed about a circurnference surface of said solid rib and
`having at least a protective tube jacketed on said solid rib to
`cover said positive and negative Wires Within said protective
`tube.
`8. An illurninating urnbrella according to claim 7, Wherein
`each said tip illurninator is ?xed on a holder having a pair of
`grooves recessed on opposite side portions of said holder for
`holding said positive and negative Wires in said pair of
`grooves; said holder ?xed on an outer end of said solid rib
`and having an outer sleeve jacketed on said holder and
`secured on an outer end portion of said protective tube.
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`Yotrio Ex. YOT-1007, Page 12