Solar Power Conversion Kit for Umbrella

Abstract

A solar power conversion kit allows converting of a standard umbrella into a solar charging umbrella, which can then use solar power to charge electronic devices. The solar charging umbrella is self-sustained, capable of charging electronic devices in locations away from electrical outlets. The umbrella has a rechargeable battery that is recharged by sunlight. When charged, the umbrella's battery can charge devices when sunlight is not available. The umbrella supports simultaneous charging of higher power devices such as tablet computers.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 providing a kit for an umbrella comprising a shaft and umbrella shade, wherein the umbrella shade will be coupled between a fastener and the shaft;   providing a cap to be coupled between the fastener and the umbrella shade, the cap comprising at least a first hinge portion and a second hinge portion, wherein the fastener couples the cap to the shaft;   providing a first strut, comprising first and second ends, a third hinge portion at the first end, and between the first and second ends is a first solar panel, wherein the third hinge portion couples to the first hinge portion of the cap to form a first strut hinge;   providing a second strut, comprising third and fourth ends, a fourth hinge portion at the third end, and between the third and fourth ends is a second solar panel, wherein the fourth hinge portion couples to the second hinge portion of the cap to form a second strut hinge,   the umbrella comprises an open position during which the umbrella shade is extended into a position away from the shaft and a closed position during which the umbrella shade is folded into a position closer to the shaft,   when changing the umbrella from the closed to the open position, the umbrella shade pushes against a bottom of the struts while the umbrella shade is extended, causing the struts to rotate via the first and second strut hinges in a first turn direction, so that an angle between a top of the first strut and a top of the cap increases from a first angle in the closed position to a second angle in the open position, and the second angle is greater than the first angle;   providing a battery housing comprising a battery housing opening through which the shaft of the umbrella is passed through;   providing a rechargeable battery within the battery housing, wherein a voltage converter circuit is coupled to the rechargeable battery;   providing a battery charging circuit within the battery housing, coupled to the rechargeable battery; and   providing a plurality of electrical wires, wherein the electrical wires are used to couple the first and second solar panels to the battery charging circuit, and the battery charging circuit can charge the rechargeable battery using solar power received via the first and second solar panels.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  comprising:
 providing a first universal serial bus (USB) charging port, coupled to the voltage converter circuit; 
 providing a second USB charging port, coupled to the voltage converter circuit; and 
 providing a third USB charging port, coupled to the voltage converter circuit, wherein the battery housing houses the first, second, and third USB charging ports. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  comprising:
 providing a first spring-loaded retractable cover, coupled to the battery housing, covering the first USB charging port; 
 providing a second spring-loaded retractable cover, coupled to the battery housing, covering the second USB charging port; and 
 providing a third spring-loaded retractable cover, coupled to the battery housing, covering the third USB charging port. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  comprising:
 providing a first spring-loaded retractable cover, coupled to the battery housing, covering the first USB charging port; 
 providing a second spring-loaded retractable cover, coupled to the battery housing, covering the second USB charging port; and 
 providing a third spring-loaded retractable cover, coupled to the battery housing, covering the third USB charging port. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein when changing the umbrella from the open to the closed position, the bottom of the struts rest against the umbrella shade while the umbrella is folded, causing the struts to rotate via the first and second strut hinges in a second turn direction, so that the angle between the top of the first strut and the top of the cap decreases from the second angle to the first angle, and the second turn direction is opposite of the first turn direction. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  comprising:
 providing at least one printed circuit board through which the shaft of the umbrella passes through, wherein the battery charging circuit and the voltage converter circuit are formed on the at least one printed circuit board. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  comprising:
 providing a first wireless charging port, coupled to the voltage converter circuit; and 
 providing a second wireless charging port, coupled to the voltage converter circuit. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  comprising:
 providing a first inductive charging port, coupled to the voltage converter circuit; and 
 providing a second inductive charging port, coupled to the voltage converter circuit. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  comprising:
 providing a first wireless charging port, coupled to the voltage converter circuit; 
 providing a second wireless charging port, coupled to the voltage converter circuit; and 
 providing a third wireless charging port, coupled to the voltage converter circuit. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  comprising:
 providing a first inductive charging port, coupled to the voltage converter circuit; 
 providing a second inductive charging port, coupled to the voltage converter circuit; and 
 providing a third inductive charging port, coupled to the voltage converter circuit. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the battery housing comprises at least one indicator element, coupled to a battery level indicator circuit, wherein the at least one indicator element is visible from an exterior of the battery housing. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the at least one indicator element comprises a light emitting diode. 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 providing a kit for an umbrella comprising a shaft and umbrella shade, wherein the umbrella shade will be coupled between a fastener and the shaft;   providing a cap to be coupled between the fastener and the umbrella shade, the cap comprising at least a first hinge portion and a second hinge portion, wherein the fastener couples the cap to the shaft;   providing a first strut, comprising first and second ends, a third hinge portion at the first end, and between the first and second ends is a first solar panel, wherein the third hinge portion couples to the first hinge portion of the cap to form a first strut hinge;   providing a second strut, comprising third and fourth ends, a fourth hinge portion at the third end, and between the third and fourth ends is a second solar panel, wherein the fourth hinge portion couples to the second hinge portion of the cap to form a second strut hinge,   the umbrella comprises an open position during which the umbrella shade is extended into a position away from the shaft and a closed position during which the umbrella shade is folded into a position closer to the shaft,   when changing the umbrella from the closed to the open position, the umbrella shade pushes against a bottom of the struts while the umbrella shade is extended, causing the struts to rotate via the first and second strut hinges in a first turn direction, so that an angle between a top of the first strut and a top of the cap increases from a first angle in the closed position to a second angle in the open position, and the second angle is greater than the first angle;   providing a battery housing comprising a battery housing opening through which the shaft of the umbrella is passed through, wherein the battery housing comprises at least one indicator element, coupled to a battery level indicator circuit, wherein the at least one indicator element is visible from an exterior of the battery housing;   providing a rechargeable battery within the battery housing, wherein rechargeable battery comprises a lithium ion cell, and a voltage converter circuit is coupled to the rechargeable battery;   providing a battery charging circuit within the battery housing, coupled to the rechargeable battery; and   providing a plurality of electrical wires, wherein the electrical wires are used to couple the first and second solar panels to the battery charging circuit, and the battery charging circuit can charge the rechargeable battery using solar power received via the first and second solar panels.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  comprising:
 providing a first universal serial bus (USB) charging port, coupled to the voltage converter circuit; 
 providing a second USB charging port, coupled to the voltage converter circuit; and 
 providing a third USB charging port, coupled to the voltage converter circuit, wherein the battery housing houses the first, second, and third USB charging ports. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  comprising:
 providing a first spring-loaded retractable cover, coupled to the battery housing, covering the first USB charging port; 
 providing a second spring-loaded retractable cover, coupled to the battery housing, covering the second USB charging port; and 
 providing a third spring-loaded retractable cover, coupled to the battery housing, covering the third USB charging port. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  comprising:
 providing a first spring-loaded retractable cover, coupled to the battery housing, covering the first USB charging port; 
 providing a second spring-loaded retractable cover, coupled to the battery housing, covering the second USB charging port; and 
 providing a third spring-loaded retractable cover, coupled to the battery housing, covering the third USB charging port. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein when changing the umbrella from the open to the closed position, the bottom of the struts rest against the umbrella shade while the umbrella is folded, causing the struts to rotate via the first and second strut hinges in a second turn direction, so that the angle between the top of the first strut and the top of the cap decreases from the second angle to the first angle, and the second turn direction is opposite of the first turn direction. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  comprising:
 providing at least one printed circuit board through which the shaft of the umbrella passes through, wherein the battery charging circuit and the voltage converter circuit are formed on the at least one printed circuit board. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  comprising:
 providing a first wireless charging port, coupled to the voltage converter circuit; and 
 providing a second wireless charging port, coupled to the voltage converter circuit. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  comprising:
 providing a first inductive charging port, coupled to the voltage converter circuit; and 
 providing a second inductive charging port, coupled to the voltage converter circuit.