Patio Umbrellas
What is a patio umbrella? It is a simple device with a central pole and ribbed canvas canopy that, once opened, provides its user with protection against the sun and rain. But today's models of patio umbrellas have far surpassed the basic form and function of the original design to encompass some modern creature comforts that make the patio umbrellas an even more invaluable fixture in your own backyard.
Auto tile umbrellas: the first breakthrough
Patio umbrellas in some form or another have been around for millennia, but it was not until modern patio furniture became a staple in homes that the auto tilt feature came into being. In the old days, umbrellas had to be opened manually using a rope pulley and were secured with a peg. But modern patio umbrellas are much easier on the back, operating either with a simple collar tilt or crank mechanism. Likewise, umbrellas of yesterday only had two positions: open and close. Modern auto tilt umbrellas, though, are 360 degree adjustable so you can enjoy the shade anywhere and at any time of time. Once the umbrella is as an open position, simply keep cranking (or in some cases, use the collar tilt) and the umbrella will begin tilting to the side.
Wall mounted patio umbrellas: European influence
European styles have long been a source of global inspiration, and wall mounted patio umbrellas are no different. In the past there were two basic stands for patio umbrellas: the table base and the freestanding base. With a table base, you had to actually buy a table with a hole in the center for the umbrella to fit into and sitting in a base underneath. In essence, you had less table space and a big pole in the middle of everything. The freestanding base is not much better. The heavy concrete slab is heavy so as the umbrella does not fall over, but it's really hard to move and gets in the way of people trying to get around. Today's mounts keep your umbrella close enough for use but far enough that they are out of the way.
As mentioned, wall mounted patio umbrellas are of European origin and have for awhile now graced the sides of bistros and villas across the continent. In recent years, the trend has finally seemed to catch on over here. These innovations mount easily to walls via an adjustable aluminum arm and feature a track so that you can adjust the height of the umbrella as well. They store more easily than regular umbrellas as well; once you're finished using them, simply zip the canopy portion of the umbrella into the frame itself and put the entire unit back against the wall.
Solar powered lighted patio umbrellas: the future?
Patio umbrellas are great at keeping you in the shade, but why not put their sun-drenched canopies to good use? A solar powered lighted patio umbrella is equipped with a top solar panel that attracts sunlight during the day, charging a Ni-Mh battery that runs the LED light underneath. The efficiency rate of these umbrellas varies from about 50-85 percent depending on the brand, but overall they should provide you with well over a night's worth of lighting. Once it's dark out, the built in LED lights along the ribs of the umbrella can be flipped on with an easy on/off switch. The resulting light is warm and inviting, perfect for summer dinners outdoors. The best part is, it doesn't use wires or outlets, so you don't have to worry about tripping over cords or running extension cords from inside. And they keep your utility bills lower by using natural energy. It's a bright new way to go green.