Motorized umbrella fan

Abstract

A motorized umbrella fan whereby a motor drives the rotation of an umbrella assembly, which is comprised of an umbrella skeleton and a canopy, stretched over the skeleton. The canopy functions as a sunshade and plurality of fan blades each of triangular shape radially extending from a hub. A leading edge of each of the plurality of blades has a unshaped portion that is attached to a trailing edge of a preceding blade in a manner that creates vertical spacing between the leading edge and trailing edge of adjacent blades. This creates a slope within each fan blade and a channel between adjacent blades through which air flows. The air flow pushes stale hot air from underneath the canopy, providing a cooling breeze.

1 . An outdoor umbrella comprising:
 a support shaft;   a support base supporting the support shaft;   an umbrella assembly comprised of at least a plurality of blades radially extending from a hub attached to the support shaft wherein a first end of each blade is attached to the hub;   a motor operatively connected to the support shaft to facilitate rotation of the plurality of blades;   wherein the second end of each of the plurality of blades has a u-shaped portion formed on a leading edge of each of the plurality of blades, wherein the u-shaped portion on the leading edge of each blade is attached to a trailing edge of a preceding blade in a manner that creates vertical spacing between the leading edge and the trailing edge of adjacent blades.   
   
   
       2 . The outdoor umbrella of  claim 1  wherein the leading edge and trailing edges of adjacent blades overlap. 
   
   
       3 . The outdoor umbrella of  claim 1  wherein the vertical spacing between the leading edge and trailing edge of adjacent blades is greatest at the second end of each blade and decreases in the direction of the first end of each blade. 
   
   
       4 . The outdoor umbrella of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of blades are comprised of fabric and a stability rod, wherein the stability rod, having a first end attached to the hub, extends radially out from the hub, wherein the stability rod is attached to the fabric along a first edge of the fabric creating the leading edge of the blade, wherein the stability rod further includes a u-shaped portion on a second end of the stability rod, wherein the first edge of the fabric is further attached along the u-shaped portion. 
   
   
       5 . The outdoor umbrella of  claim 4  wherein the trailing edge of and adjacent blade is attached to the u-shaped portion of the end of the stability rod. 
   
   
       6 . The outdoor umbrella of  claim 5  wherein the trailing edge of the blade further includes a sail portion extending vertically downward, wherein the sale portion directs the air flowing through the vertical spacing between the leading edge of each blade and the trailing edge of each blade downward. 
   
   
       7 . The outdoor umbrella of  claim 4  wherein the umbrella assembly further comprises a support shaft having a first end hingedly connected to stability rod and a second end hingedly connected to a support shaft hub slidably connected to the support shaft, wherein the movement of the support shaft up the support shaft causes the umbrella assembly to open and movement of the support shaft down the support shaft causes the umbrella assembly to close. 
   
   
       8 . The outdoor umbrella of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of blades are sloped at an angle of at least 18 degrees. 
   
   
       9 . The outdoor umbrella of  claim 1  wherein the support base is comprised of at least a tripod stand comprised of a first support leg, a second support leg and a third support leg. 
   
   
       10 . The outdoor umbrella of  claim 9  wherein the first support leg includes a partial first collar and a partial second, wherein the second support leg includes a partial first collar and a partial second collar, wherein the third support leg includes a partial first collar and a partial second collar, wherein the joining of the first, second and third legs at the edges of the partial first and second collar portions creates a first collar and a second collar positioned around a tubular support member. 
   
   
       11 . The outdoor umbrella of  claim 9  wherein the first, second and third support legs of the tripod stand each include a motor support arm that positions the motor above the bottom of the base. 
   
   
       12 . The outdoor umbrella of  claim 1  further including a support collar attached to the tubular support member, wherein the support collar has a bearing surface that allows the support collar and the tubular support member to freely rotate about the axis of the tubular support member, wherein the support collar rests on the top of the support base, wherein the tubular support member is attached to the collar in a manner that allows the weight of the support shaft and umbrella assembly to be distributed to the support base. 
   
   
       13 . The outdoor umbrella of  claim 12  wherein the support collar is comprised of a top portion, bottom portion and a bearing surface between the top and bottom portions, wherein the bottom portion of the support collar is stationarily rests on support base, allowing the top portion of the support collar and the tubular support member to rotate. 
   
   
       14 . A motorized outdoor umbrella comprising:
 an umbrella canopy assembly;   a support shaft positioned to support the umbrella canopy;   a tripod base assembly; and   a motor supported by the tripod base assembly in a manner whereby the motor is suspended above the base of the tripod base assembly;   
     wherein the tripod base assembly is configured to receive and support the support shaft; wherein the tripod base assembly is comprised of a tripod support assembly positioned on top of a base, wherein the tripod assembly comprises a first support leg, a second support leg and a third support leg, wherein the first support leg includes a first portion of a top collar, a first portion of a bottom collar, and a first motor support arm, wherein the second support leg includes a second portion of a top collar, a second portion of a bottom collar, and a second motor support arm, wherein the third support leg includes a third portion of a top collar, a third portion of a bottom collar and third motor support arm, wherein the first, second and third legs of the tripod assembly are positioned to create the top collar and bottom collar through which the support shaft is extended in order to engage the motor, the tripod base assembly including a support collar attached to the top of the tripod assembly, wherein the support shaft is attached to the support collar in a manner that allows the weight of the support shaft and umbrella canopy assembly to be distributed to the tripod assembly, wherein the support collar has a bearing surface that allows the support collar and the support shaft to freely rotate about the axis of the support shaft. 
   
   
       15 . The motorized outdoor umbrella of  claim 13 , wherein the umbrella canopy assembly is comprised of a plurality of blades radially extending from a hub wherein a first end of each blade is attached to the hub which has the support shaft connected to its center, wherein a leading edge of each of the plurality of blades has a u-shaped portion formed on a second end of each of the plurality of blades, wherein the u-shaped portion on the leading edge of each blade is attached to a trailing edge of a preceding blade in a manner that creates vertical spacing between the leading edge and trailing edge of adjacent blades, thereby creating an umbrella canopy, wherein each of the plurality of blades includes a support rod comprised of a rigid material, wherein the support rod has a first end attached to the hub and extends radially out from the hub, wherein the support rod is attached to the blade along the leading edge of the blade, wherein the support rod further includes a u-shaped portion on a second end of the support rod. 
   
   
       16 . An outdoor umbrella comprising:
 a support shaft;   a support assembly supporting the support shaft;   an umbrella assembly comprised of a plurality of triangular shaped fabric portions each having a stability rod attached along a first edge of the fabric creating a leading edge of a blade, wherein a first end of the stability rod is attached to a hub, the stability rod being configured to have a u-shaped portion on its second end, wherein the first edge of the fabric is further attached along the u-shaped portion of the stability rod, wherein a second edge of the fabric that opposes the first edge of the fabric is attached to the u-shaped portion of the stability rod of an adjacent blade, thereby creating a trailing edge of the blade;   a motor operatively connected to the support shaft to facilitate rotation of the plurality of blades.   
   
   
       17 . The outdoor umbrella of  claim 16  wherein the support assembly is comprised of a tripod stand and a base positioned thereon, wherein the tripod stand is comprised of a first support leg, a second support leg and a third support leg, wherein each of the first, second and third support legs each include a motor support arm that positions the motor above the base and under the tripod stand.