This invention relates to a mechanism and devices for moving a portion of a parasol and similar such shade providing apparatus.

Background to the Invention

Conventional parasols are available for those who like to be outside, but who do not wish to expose themselves unnecessarily to the sun. Parasols are often fitted with a tilting mechanism so that the position of the parasol may be adjusted according to the position of the sun. If a parasol does not have such a mechanism, then either the parasol and base has to be moved, or the person has to move their position under the parasol. In either case, as the sun traverses the sky, the person has to regularly readjust the parasol or their position. This is more than inconvenient for the infirm and the young, or for those who want to doze.

Summary of the Invention

The invention provides a mechanism has a housing, a positioning element rotatably mounted on the housing and connected to a parasol, and a clockwork mechanism having a ratchet mounted inside the housing. The clockwork mechanism having a ratchet is connected to the positioning element, so that the ratchet allows the clockwork mechanism to unwind and rotate the positioning element so that it is moved in synchrony with a position of the sun so that the parasol creates static shade over a user. The mechanism may be integrated into a parasol, or may be used with existing parasols.

The invention also includes a device to move a portion of a shade providing apparatus, said device comprising a first part, a second part rotatably connected with said first part and a wind-up mechanism connected with said first and second parts to controllably rotate said first part relative to said second part so that a said portion of a said shade providing apparatus part connected with said first part is automatically moved to enable said shade providing apparatus to provide automatically adjusted shade The invention also includes a shade providing apparatus comprising a lower elongate support, an upper elongate support, a shade providing part attached to said upper elongate support and a device to move said upper elongate support relative to said lower elongate support connected between said upper and lower elongate supports, said device comprising an elastic member deformable to store mechanical energy and a controller that controls release of said stored mechanical energy to provide automatic movement of said upper elongate support relative to said lower elongate support whereby the orientation of said shade providing part is adjusted automatically. The invention also includes a method of providing automatically adjusted sunshade, said method comprising deforming a resilient energy storage member to store energy therein and permitting said energy storage member to progressively resile towards a relaxed condition to automatically move a portion of a shade providing apparatus to adjust the orientation of said portion of said shade providing apparatus.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In order that the invention may be well understood, some embodiments thereof, which are given by way of example only, will now be described with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a mechanism for moving a portion of a shade providing apparatus fitted to a parasol;

Figure 2 is a side view of the mechanism of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the mechanism of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of the mechanism of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of another mechanism for moving a portion of a shade providing apparatus.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiments

Referring to Figure 1 , a mechanism 100 for moving a portion of a shade providing apparatus is shown fitted to a parasol 102 that provides shade 104. The parasol 102 comprises a two-piece pole comprising a lower part 106 and an upper part 108 with a shade providing portion, or canopy 109 connected with an upper end of the upper part 108. The mechanism 100 is fitted between the upper end of the lower part 106 and the lower end of the upper part 108. In the illustrated embodiment, the respective ends of the upper and lower parts 106, 108 are fitted directly to the mechanism 100, which connects the two parts. The lower end of the lower part 106 is connected with a base (not shown) that is configured to provide stability for the parasol 102.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the mechanism 100 comprises a housing 202, a positioning element 204 rotatably mounted on the housing and connectable to the upper part 108 of the two-piece pole of the parasol 102 and a clockwork mechanism 230 having a ratchet 232 mounted inside the housing. The clockwork mechanism 230 is connected to the positioning element 204 so that as the ratchet allows the clockwork mechanism to unwind, the positioning element can rotate relative to the housing 202 so that it can move in synchrony with a position of the sun whereby the parasol can provide static shade 104 over a user.

Ratchet-controlled clockwork mechanisms suitable for use in the mechanism are known and so will not be described in detail herein. For example the mechanism may have two torsion springs linked to the positioning element. These springs are mounted onto gears which initiate the clockwork mechanism when the dial is turned. The clockwork device has the ratchet arranged to control the unwinding of the torsion springs so that the torsion springs uncoil slowly to rotate the positioning element with respect to the housing and progressively tilt the canopy 109 as the sun moves across the sky.

The clockwork mechanism 230 is wound by means of a lever,or knob, 206 mounted on the housing 202. Referring now to Figure 3, which shows the controls for setting up the mechanism so that the parasol is pointed at the sun to create shade for the user, the positioning element has a marker 302, an override switch 210 (Figure 2) and locking pins 212. The override switch 210 is disengaged to allow the positioning element 204 to be rotated with respect to the housing 202 to a position against a dial 208 on the housing corresponding to the current time, conveniently shown on panel, or display, 209. Locking pins 212 are disengaged to allow the housing 202 to tilt with respect to a lower support 214. This means aligning the mechanism has been aligned in a roughly east- west direction as indicated in Figure 3, and the housing tilted to compensate for latitude and time of year, the parasol is pointed in the direction of the sun.

To enable the mechanism to track the sun, lever 206 is set to a position on dial 216 corresponding to the number of hours the user wishes to spend in the shade created by the parasol. Setting the lever 206 thus begins the process of the clockwork mechanism 230 moving the positioning element 204, and hence the parasol 102, so that it tracks the sun as it traverses the sky.

The embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3 is suitable for use with an existing parasol 102: the lower part 106 of the two-piece parasol pole is inserted into a socket on the lower support 214 and a locking screw 217 tightened tightened against it, and the upper part 108 of the pole is inserted into a socket 218 on the positioning element 204 and locking screw 220 tightened against it. It will be understood that as one alternative to locking screws the positioning element 204 and lower support 214 may be provided with a compression nut and/or collet arrangement to secure the mechanism 100 to the upper and lower parts of the parasol pole.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the upper part of the parasol pole is integral with the positioning element 204. It will be understood that alternatively, or in addition, the housing 202 may be integral with the lower part 106 of the parasol pole.

It will be understood that the embodiments provide a mechanism that allows the upper part 108 of the parasol pole to be tilted about a first axis defined by the connection between the housing 202 and the lower support 214 and a second axis that is defined by the rotatable connection between the housing and positioning element 204. In the illustrated embodiments, the axes of rotation are disposed in respective spaced apart horizontal planes and are mutually perpendicular. This arrangement allows the orientation of the shade providing portion of the parasol to be manually adjusted to take account of the seasonal position of the sun in the sky and the position to then be automatically adjusted by the clockwork mechanism to track the movement of the sun as the day progresses.

In the illustrated embodiments the housing 202 is connected to the lower support 214 by a clevis joint to provide for manual tilting of the shade providing portion of the parasol. It will be understood that this is optional and there may be a rigid non- adjustable connection between the two parts.