Automatic umbrella

Abstract

An umbrella includes a frame assembly including a support pole and a canopy support structure associated with the support pole. At least a portion of the canopy support structure is movable relative to a central axis of the canopy support structure. An actuation mechanism including an actuator is operably coupled to a portion of the canopy support structure. The actuation mechanism is selectively operable to move the canopy support structure to at least one of automatically transform the umbrella to an open configuration and automatically transform the umbrella to a closed configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An umbrella comprising:
 a frame assembly including a support pole and a canopy support structure associated with the support pole, at least a portion of the canopy support structure being movable relative to a central axis of the canopy support structure; and   an actuation mechanism including an actuator operably coupled to a portion of the canopy support structure, wherein the actuation mechanism is selectively operable to move the canopy support structure to at least one of automatically transform the umbrella to an open configuration and automatically transform the umbrella to a closed configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is mounted to the support pole. 
     
     
         3 . The umbrella of  claim 2 , wherein the support pole includes a mounting end receivable within a base, the actuator being connected to the support pole adjacent the mounting end. 
     
     
         4 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the canopy support structure further comprises:
 a hub;   a plurality of arms pivotally mounted to the hub;   a transition member; and   a plurality of support members pivotally coupled at a first end to the transition member and pivotally coupled at a second end to the plurality of arms.   
     
     
         5 . The umbrella of  claim 4 , wherein the actuator includes a movable portion and the movable portion is coupled to at least one of the transition member, the plurality or arms and the plurality of support members. 
     
     
         6 . The umbrella of  claim 4 , wherein the actuator is a linear actuator including a movable portion connected to the transition member, wherein the actuator is operable to translate the transition member along the central axis. 
     
     
         7 . The umbrella of  claim 6 , wherein the movable portion is arranged parallel to the support pole. 
     
     
         8 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the actuation mechanism further comprises an input device in communication with the actuator. 
     
     
         9 . The binding assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the input device is operable to move a movable portion of the actuator in both a first direction and a second direction to open and close the umbrella. 
     
     
         10 . The umbrella of  claim 8 , wherein the actuator is continuously operated in response to application of a continuous force a signal received from the input device. 
     
     
         11 . The umbrella of  claim 8 , wherein the actuator is configured to automatically transform the canopy support structure between the closed configuration and the open configuration in response to operation of the input device. 
     
     
         12 . The umbrella of  claim 8 , wherein the actuator is operable to initiate movement of the canopy support structure in response to a first input signal and cease movement of the canopy support structure in response to a second input signal. 
     
     
         13 . The umbrella of  claim 12 , wherein the first input signal and the second input signal are generated by a single input. 
     
     
         14 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the umbrella including the canopy structure is tiltable relative to the central axis. 
     
     
         15 . The umbrella of  claim 14 , further comprising another actuation mechanism operably coupled to the tiltable portion of the umbrella, the another actuation mechanism being operable to tilt the tiltable portion of the umbrella. 
     
     
         16 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , further comprising a battery pack mounted to a portion of the frame assembly, the batter pack being coupled to the actuation mechanism. 
     
     
         17 . The umbrella of  claim 16 , further comprising a solar panel operably coupled to the battery pack. 
     
     
         18 . An umbrella comprising:
 a support pole;   a canopy support structure associated with the support pole, at least a portion of the canopy support structure being movable relative to a central axis of the canopy support structure;   a joint formed in the support pole to define a tiltable portion of the umbrella movable at an angle to the central axis, wherein the tiltable portion includes the canopy support structure; and   an actuation mechanism operably coupled to the tiltable portion, wherein the actuation mechanism is selectively operable to move the tiltable portion between a first configuration where the tiltable portion is aligned with the central axis and a second configuration where the tiltable portion is arranged at an angle to the central axis.   
     
     
         19 . The umbrella of  claim 18 , wherein the actuator is a linear actuator including a movable portion connected to the tiltable portion, wherein translation of the linear actuator causes the tiltable portion to rotate relative to the central axis. 
     
     
         20 . A method of automatically opening an umbrella comprising:
 generating an input signal via a first input device;   communicating the input signal to a first actuator operably coupled to a canopy support structure;   operating the first actuator to rotate a plurality of arms of the canopy support structure outwardly from a central axis of the canopy support structure in response to the input signal;   generating another input signal via a second input device;   communicating the another input signal to a second actuator operably coupled to a tiltable portion of the umbrella; and   operating the second actuator to tilt the tiltable portion of the umbrella including the canopy support structure to a desired angle relative to the central axis in response to the another input signal.