Abstract: A hold down member arranged for projection within a beach surface to secure a blanket and the like is provided, having a conical body including a plurality of rows of rigid legs canted from the side wall of the body towards the uppermost end of the body, with a clamp structure mounted to the uppermost end of the body for securing and receiving a blanket therewithin.

Abstract: A tail rib structure comprises a tail rib with its inner end pivotally connected to the outer end of a flexible rib by way of a pin passing through a round hole on a flat portion formed on the inner end of the tail rib and a husk encasing the joint between the tail rib and the flexible rib. The tail rib structure can provide high wind-resistant strength for an umbrella.

Abstract: An umbrella carrying bag employs an inner and outer sleeve. The inner sleeve is water absorbing and air permeable to help capture and disperse water collected on an umbrella after use. The outer sleeve is air permeable and water resistant to prevent the water collected from the umbrella from being transferred to adjacent articles but to allow evaporation of the water from the inner sleeve. The inner sleeve may include an inwardly facing nap having fingers to wipe the surface of the umbrella as it is placed within the bag, further dispersing the water.

Abstract: A flashing umbrella allowed to emit flashing light on rainy, dark day has a tubular handle connected to a hollow rod which is further connected to an upper tube. An upper collar is engaged at the upper periphery of the rod having a plurality of ribs pivotally extending therefrom. A plurality of LEDs each is installed at the end of a corresponding rib. The tubular handle has a circuit board and a battery installed therein for providing electrical pulses from the circuit board. A button switch is installed on the tubular handle for controlling the ON/OFF of the circuit board. A positive electrical line and a negative electrical line extend from the circuit board and elongate upward inside the rod and each having a plurality of branches each extending therefrom to electrically connect a corresponding LED, thereby transmitting the electrical pulses from the circuit board to the LEDs and enable the latter to flash.

Abstract: A device for supporting a person while standing or walking or sitting having a frame and a seat assembly. The frame supports the person while walking or standing while the seat assembly allows him to sit. The seat assembly is slidably attached to the frame between a raised position and a lowered position. The seat assembly is spring biased towards the raised position. The seat assembly moves from the raised position to the lowered position when the person sits down. The action of the spring biasing assists the person up as the person stands from the seat assembly. The seat assembly includes a main seat portion and a pivotal seat portion. The pivotal seat portion is collapsible from a supportive position where both seat portions provide support to the person and a stowed position where at least the collapsible portion of the seat is tucked away from the person while the person is walking.

Abstract: A device for supporting the leg cast includes a cast engaging member which engages and supports the leg cast of person. In one embodiment, the device is attached to a crutch and is shiftable between collapsed and erect positions. In another embodiment, the device is attached to the cast itself and is shiftable between collapsed and erect positions. When the device is in the erect position, the cast of a user will be supported thereon when the user is in a sitting position. When the device is in the collapsed position, it is suspended vertically in an out-of-way position from the cast or crutch of the user.

Abstract: A support container includes a plurality of link members, with the outermost link member having a semi-annular array of ribs projecting therefrom, wherein the ribs are arranged in a pivotal relationship about a platform, the ribs mounting an umbrella web, whereupon a pull cable permits the retraction of the link members and the ribs within the support container.

Abstract: An improvement on simplified fully automatic umbrella is disclosed. This umbrella comprises a shank consisting of an inner tube and an outer tube, the inner tube has at upper section a middle ring and an extension while the outer tube has at upper end a lower ring with an upper pawl; an umbrella opening spring received within the extension; a cylinder mounted around the extension and provided at lower end with an upper ring; an umbrella closing spring mounted around the inner tube; an actuating mechanism consisting of a push button, an upper insert containing a compression spring, a lower insert containing a lower pawl, an actuator and a detent, and a wire interconnected between the two inserts; a canopy structure connected to the upper, middle and lower rings; and a handle provided at bottom of the outer tube.

Abstract: A combined stability cane and device for assisting a handicapped person in traveling up and down a flight of stairs having vertically spaced steps is disclosed. A rectangular block member or platform has a flat upper surface within which a connector mechanism is provided at its central area, and a second connector mechanism is provided in the upper surface adjacent one of the sides of the block member and opposite the central area. A walking cane having a cooperative connector mechanism adjacent its lower end is provided to alternatively rigidly connect the same to one of the two connector mechanisms in the upper surface of the block member. When the cane is connected to the connector mechanism at the central area of block member, the combination functions as an excellent stability cane.

Abstract: A water collector for umbrella includes: a catcher member having a plurality of resilient jaws radially secured to a central collar or a retainer fixed on a tip portion of the umbrella, an absorbent lining secured to an inner surface of the catcher member for absorbing rainwater or raindrops drained from a wet umbrella when retracted or closed, and a web member circumferentially disposed around an outer surface of the catcher member, whereby upon opening of an umbrella cloth as urged by the umbrella ribs and tensioning springs, the rainwater absorbed and held in the absorbent lining in the catcher member will be outwardly squeezed and stripped as the lining is pressed in between the opened umbrella cloth and the resilient jaws of the catcher member, thereby automatically squeezing and removing water from the umbrella as previously absorbed in the water collector of the umbrella.

Abstract: A tent assembly (10) for sheltering a personal riding vehicle and one or more people that is lightweight, compact and easy to set up is disclosed. The tent assembly (10) comprises a floor section (12) having one side (14) secured to the ground along side a parked vehicle and extending away from the vehicle, a wall section (32) connected to the side (16) of the floor section (12) farthest from the vehicle and a roof section (44) extending from the top of the wall section (32) over the floor section (12) and over the vehicle. The roof section (44) is secured to either the vehicle or to the ground on the opposite side of the vehicle from the floor section (12) and is supported at one side (46) by the wall and at an intermediate portion (50) by the vehicle. Storm flaps (52) may be connected to either end (70,72) of the roof section (44).

Abstract: An expansion joint and flexible seal for refractory lined flues includes a flexible insulating body having a pair of end faces, a pair of lateral faces and a longitudinal dimension. The flexible seal further includes a filter element positioned adjacent to one of the end faces and extending in the longitudinal dimension. The filter element is attached to the insulating body and the assembly may be placed with other seal assemblies in endwise fashion around the periphery of a pair of opposing flue members. A further external pressure seal is provided, mounted to each end of the flue elements.

Abstract: A closure assembly can be mounted on a cover, such as tarpaulin, or the like, and an opening through the cover defined beneath the closure assembly to permit movement through the opening while also permitting the opening to be sealed as necessary. The opening can be large enough to permit a motor vehicle to be driven through the cover, as in a situation where a cover is used to close a building access door, or the opening can be sized to permit a person to move through the cover.

Abstract: A composite roof covering securement element is comprised of an elongated rubber membrane onto which a plastic batten strip is adhesively bonded. The membrane and strip have a range of flexibility which permits the same to be rolled into a coil for manual prepositioning on a roof and then unrolled to lie flat upon the roof for attachment along the perimeter. When installed the composite element resists shear loads and securely retains the overlying roof covering in place.

Abstract: There is disclosed a one-hand openable and closable umbrella which does not cause relative rotational movement and displacement between an inner shaft and an outer shaft. The inner shaft has a U-shaped groove extending in the lengthwise direction thereof and the outer shaft has a convex block provided inside a lower nest mounted on the top of the outer shaft. By the engagement of the convex block of the outer shaft with the U-shaped groove of the inner shaft, the inner and outer shaft neither turn nor displace relative to each other when the latter slides on the latter. Moreover, since a plastic sleeve is put on the upper end portion of the inner shaft inside a spring mounted thereon, any frictional force between the spring and the inner shaft and between the spring and an upper nest can be decreased, by which the umbrella can be smoothly opened and closed.

Abstract: A dry storage unit for use in storing vehicles or other equipment for long periods of time, capable of being easily deployed and redeployed and enabling the vehicle or equipment to be readily placed into and taken out of storage. The storage unit includes a tubular member made of flexible material. The desired shape is imparted to the unit by semi-rigid support members which are kept in the proper orientation by a connection made up of two cylindrical sections placed one within the other.

Abstract: A folding collapsible frame assembly for an automatic folding umbrella, which includes a lower shaft, an upper shaft made to slide in the upper shaft, a collapse control spring, a lock ring moved to lock the collapse control spring in the compressed condition as the umbrella is opened, a stretch control spring controlled by a bottom spring on the handle of the umbrella to automatically push the umbrella into the open condition, a guide control mechanism controlled by a control bottom on the handle of the umbrella to release the lock ring from the collapse control spring for allowing the umbrella to be collapsed automatically.

Abstract: A tensioning device for the canvas of a light shelter in the shape of a tent on a supporting structure. The structure comprises a plurality of inclined bars whose lower ends are supported by anchoring device formed of a frame, maintained at a distance from the ground by supporting posts, at least two bars being connected at their respective upper ends by a rigid linking element which is connected to the upper end of at least one other bar by spacer device which is able to vary the distance separating the upper ends of the inclined bar in the horizontal plane in such a way as to cause a rotation toward the upper part of each bar around its lower end.

Abstract: The present invention includes an umbrella which converts to at least two separate canopy configurations. The umbrella has a closed position, from which it can be opened and latched into at least one middle position. Such a middle position can be used as a car window shade to shade the car from sun entering the front windshield. Alternatively, the middle position can be a partially opened position latched in place for use as an umbrella in restricted places such as a seat in an open air stadium.

Abstract: An umbrella has an elongate shaft, a web member, and a foldable support linkage for enabling an opening of the umbrella from a collapsed storage configuration to an opened use configuration and for supporting the web in the opened configuration of the umbrella. The foldable linkage is connected to the shaft and to the web member and has a plurality of radially extending ribs angled with respect to each other. The foldable linkage also includes a plurality of elongate flexible tie members each connected at opposite ends to free ends of adjacent ones of the ribs. The tie members have central arcuate portions which are inserted into an annular pocket formed at the periphery of the web by an inwardly turned flange. The flange is stitched or otherwise connected to a main body of the web member at circumferentially spaced locations on concave sides of the central arcuate portions.