An umbrella system includes a support pole connected to a rotating tube positioned around a center tube that extends between the support pole and a center support that is connected to an umbrella frame. The rotating tube has one or more helical grooves therein that are engaged by teeth of a hub which is connected to the umbrella frame. As the rotating tube is rotated, the hub is driven along the length of the rotating tube thereby opening and closing the umbrella frame. In one arrangement system includes a motor housing assembly including a plurality of batteries and a motor that includes a driven gear that meshes with a stationary gear which causes rotation of the rotating tube. The system also includes a counterbalance assembly positioned within the rotating tube. The counterbalance assembly includes at least one spring positioned within the rotating tube that provides a counterbalance force.

A shading object includes a base unit, a support unit coupled to the base unit, and a rotation hub assembly, the rotation hub assembly coupled to the support unit and rotatable in a circular direction about the rotation hub assembly. The shading object also includes a control housing, the control housing coupled to the rotation hub assembly, the control housing having one or more motor assemblies installed therein. The shading object includes a pivot assembly, a shading element frame, and one or more shading elements, the shading element frame coupled to the pivot assembly, the pivot assembly to rotate the shading element frame and the one or more shading elements about the pivot assembly axis.

An intelligent umbrella includes a base unit, a central support unit, a shading element projection mechanism, one or more shading elements; and a GPS/GNSS receiver, the GPS/GNSS receiver to capture a latitude and/or longitude of the intelligent umbrella. The intelligent umbrella includes a controller, the controller to receive the latitude and the longitude measurement of the intelligent umbrella and to calculate an associated azimuth angle for the intelligent umbrella. The intelligent umbrella also includes a first motor, the controller to communicate the associated azimuth angle to the first motor to cause the intelligent umbrella to move to the associated azimuth angle. The controller receives an altitude measurement from the GPS receiver and calculates an elevation angle. The intelligent umbrella also includes a second motor, the controller to communicate the associated elevation angle to the second motor to cause the umbrella to the associated elevation angle.

An intelligent umbrella includes a light sensor to generate a light intensity measurement, a motor to move the light sensor about an azimuth axis, the light sensor generating a plurality of light intensity measurements and associated locations. The intelligent umbrella also includes a controller to receive the plurality of light intensity measurements from the light sensor, and to identify a highest light sensor measurement of the plurality of light sensor measurements and an associated location. The controller generates and communicates a command including the associated location to a motor, which receives the command and moves the light sensor to the associated location. The controller moves a light sensor about an elevation axis, determines a peak intensity value and corresponding elevation location, and moves the light sensor to the corresponding elevation location.

An electric umbrella having roller sets contains: a first stick section, a second stick section, a third stick section, and a transmission mechanism. The second stick section is fitted in the third stick section, and the third stick section is fitted in the first stick section, a lower portion of the second stick section is in connection with a handle. The first stick section includes an upper runner disposed on a top including a first roller set disposed therein, and two ends of the driving rope are fixed on two sides of the lower runner, the driving rope rolls across the first roller set and slides between a top of the third stick section and the first roller set, and the transmission mechanism in the second stick section and drives the third stick section through a driving source in the handle drives the umbrella skeleton to expand or retract.

Embodiments of movable shade apparatus are provided herein. In some embodiments, a movable shade apparatus includes: a roof configured to provide shade when standing below the roof; one or more support posts coupled to the roof, wherein at least one of the one or more support posts includes a power outlet; an actuator coupled to at least one of the one or more support posts and configured to adjust a pitch of the roof with respect to the one or more support posts; and a base assembly coupled to a lower end of each of the one or more support posts, wherein the base assembly includes a support member and one or more weights that are removably attached to the support member.

An electrically-operated umbrella comprises a column (1), an upper tray (2), a lower tray (3), a plurality of long rods (4), a plurality of short rods (5), and an electric air pump (6). One end of each short rod (5) is rotatably connected to the lower tray (3), the other end of each short rod (5) is rotatably connected to the middle portion or the upper portion of the corresponding long rod (4); the column (1) comprises an inner tube (11), and an outer tube (12), the outer tube (12) is sleeved around the inner tube (11); a closed air chamber (A) is defined between the bottom of the inner tube (11) and the bottom or the lower portion of the outer tube (12); the upper tray (2) is connected to the top of the inner tube (11), the lower tray (3) is connected to the outer tube (12) and sleeved around the outer tube (12); the electric air pump (6) is disposed inside the inner tube (11). The present invention is simple in structure, easy and quick to operate, free of lots of structural members, and low in cost. The service life of the umbrella is prolonged, umbrella becomes safer and more reliable in use, and the user experience is greatly improved.

An umbrella may be provided including a hub, a plurality of arms, a plurality of stretchers, a plurality of ribs, a runner, and a motor. Each of the plurality of stretchers is coupled to the hub at one of a plurality of first joints. Each of the plurality of stretchers is coupled to one of the plurality of arms. Each of the plurality of ribs extends outwardly from one of the plurality of arms. Each of the plurality of the arms is more rigid than each of the plurality of ribs. The runner is moveable from a first position to a second position. Each of the stretchers is coupled to the runner at one of the plurality of second joints. The motor is coupled to the runner. The motor is adapted to move the runner from the first position to the second position.

In one example, an umbrella is provided including a hub, a plurality of arms, a plurality of stretchers, a canopy, a runner, and a motor. Each of the plurality of stretchers is coupled to the hub. Each of the plurality of stretchers is coupled to one of the plurality of arms. The canopy has a maximum diameter and extends over the hub and arms. The runner is moveable from a first position to a second position along an advancement distance. Each of the stretchers is coupled to the runner. The advancement distance of the runner is no more than 6.7% of the maximum diameter of the canopy. The motor is coupled to the runner. The motor is adapted to move the runner from the first position to the second position.

An electrically-operated opening and closing structure of a solar-charged umbrella includes a rib assembly and an electrically-operated opening and closing mechanism. When the drive motor of the electrically-operated opening and closing mechanism is started, the screw rod is driven to rotate and the movable disk connected to the screw rod is driven to move up and down so that the movable end of the rib of the rib assembly is driven to slide on a guide rail of the movable disk, thereby changing the angle of the rib to be opened/closed for the umbrella to be opened/closed. The umbrella may be controlled remotely, automatically closed for protection against strong wind, and automatically opened for charging under sunlight.