Mobile umbrella support

Abstract

A mobile patio umbrella support which has an upper module comprising a pair of wheels that roll over the railing much as wheels of a train roll over a railroad track and, to keep the support upright and balanced, a lower module, comprising an arrangement of casters, to block sideway motion by special fitting across the lower horizontal part of the railing. A pole, similar in size and type to the pole of a typical umbrella, and on top of which an umbrella is planted, joins the two modules of the mobile umbrella support together.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority based on provisional application 60/436,583 filed Dec. 27, 2003 for claims 1-11

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates generally to beach or patio umbrella supports but more particularly to an apparatus enabling an umbrella to move along a railing.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Patio umbrellas are great to protect people from the harsh rays of the summer sun but unfortunately, they are not always practical in tight areas such as the small balconies of city dwellers. Because of the way the sun moves across the sky and the particulars of the orientation of any given balcony, it is necessary to constantly move, tilt or otherwise reorient the umbrella. In some cases, the only way to move the umbrella is to practically have it stand outside of the balcony. This situation is not ideal since it requires finding a safe way of securing the umbrella to the railing of the balcony, which can be time consuming and then, with the sun constantly moving, the umbrella has to be repositioned again and again.

[0004] Although there are many ways to anchor a patio umbrella, the prior art has not found any reference to a solution quite like the one proposed here so there is indeed a need for a practical mobile umbrella stand designed for small confined areas such as balconies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A first object of the present invention is to provide a practical mobile umbrella support system designed to fit over a railing.

[0006] A second object is to provide a way for the mobile umbrella support to move longitudinally alongside a railing.

[0007] A third object is to provide a mobile umbrella support that can be custom fitted by the user so that it can fit any of a large variety of railing types.

[0008] A fourth object is to provide a mobile umbrella support that can easily be moved from one position to another alongside the railing.

[0009] A final object is to provide for an umbrella support which can be locked in place in between moves so that external forces such as wind cannot move it.

[0010] In order to do so, the invention is a support which has an upper module comprising a pair of wheels that roll over the railing much as wheels of a train roll over a railroad track and, to keep the support upright and balanced, a lower module, comprising an arrangement of casters, to block sideway motion by special fitting across the lower horizontal part of the railing. A pole, similar in size and type to the pole of a typical umbrella, and on top of which an umbrella is planted, joins the two modules of the mobile umbrella support together.

[0011] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described, by way of examples. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] FIG. 1 Front view of mobile umbrella support shown generally, installed on a railing.

[0013] FIG. 2 Detail side view of the braking assembly

[0014] FIG. 3 Top view of the top module of the mobile umbrella support.

[0015] FIG. 4a Rear view of the bottom module assembly as viewed from the balcony side.

[0016] FIG. 4b Side view of the bottom module assembly.

[0017] FIG. 4c Side view of the bottom module assembly with an alternate opposite caster.

[0018] FIG. 5 Top view of the opposite caster adjustment system.

[0019] FIGS. 6ab Side and bottom view along line A-A respectively of alternate brake.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020] FIG. 1A mobile umbrella support (10) has an upper module (12) and a lower module (14). A pole (16), similar in size and type to the pole of a typical umbrella and on top of which an umbrella (26) is planted, joins the two modules of the mobile umbrella support (10) together.

[0021] The upper module (12) comprises a pair of wheels (18) that roll over the top of a railing (20) much as wheels of a train roll over a railroad and which are joined together by a joining member (46), to keep the stand upright and balanced, the lower module (14), comprising an arrangement of casters (22), joined together by a base plate (44) blocks sideway motion by special fitting across the lower section of railing (24) which will be described later. Both the base plate (44) and the joining member (46) are usually L shaped to increase their sturdiness.

[0022] FIG. 2 The mobile umbrella support (10) can easily roll along the railing (20) and sometimes a bit too easily, that is why a brake assembly (26) is provided to normally block at least one of the wheel (18). The brake assembly (26) is comprised of a lever (28) that has two configurations: depressed and released. When released, a pin (30) pushed by a biasing means (32) presses against a brake pad (34) which applies pressure to the wheel (18) to block it. This way, the mobile umbrella support (10) can remain in place until the lever (28) is depressed, which releases the brake pad (34). An alternate approach is the use of a brake pad (34) being itself biased against the wheel (18), thus eliminating the need for the biasing means (32). Another alternative is to have the lever (28) being biased to also obviate the the need for the biasing means (32). Any three options or combinations thereof can be used. To hold all the components of the brake assembly (26) together, a cover (36) encompasses the entire braking assembly (26) and serves as both a holding means and a protection against the elements. A fourth alternative is described in FIGS. 6ab wherein an alternate braking system (50), not used in conjunction with the previous discussed system (but shown in FIG. 1 for simplification) has a push button (56) which pushes a braking element (54) which is held onto the joining member (46) by a biased retainer block (58) so named because it biases the braking element (54) back from its dotted line position back to its original position, it is also fixedly attached to the joining member (46). A comb (52) uses vertical railing members (60) as a means to lock the mobile umbrella support (10) in place either in a space between two adjoining vertical railing members (60) or by engaging one such vertical railing members (60) as illustrated in FIG. 6b.

[0023] FIG. 3 Since there are variations in the distance between the top railing (20) and the lower railing (24) across different types of railing, the upper module (12) can be adjusted along the length of the pole (16) by loosening a clamp (38).

[0024] FIGS. 4abc In order to hold the mobile umbrella support (10) on the railing, the lower module (14) has a pair of casters (22), seen here on the other side of the lower portion of the railing (24), and at least one opposing caster (40), seen here on this side of the lower portion of the railing (24). Because there are different types of railing constructions and therefore different types of lower portion of the railing (24), the casters (22) of the lower module (14), although always the same shape, are opposing two basic types of opposing casters (40, 40′) the first (40) being narrow and pin shaped as in FIG. 4b, while the latter (40′) being like a small wheel as in FIG. 4c.

[0025] FIG. 5 The opposing caster (40, 40′) can be adjusted to various lower railing (24) width by simply loosening a nut (48) and moving it along a notch (42).

Claims

1. A mobile umbrella support for moving an umbrella across a railing comprising:

an upper module and a lower module;

a pole configured and sized similarly to a standard umbrella pole and into which can be installed an umbrella;

said pole also used for joining both said upper and lower modules;

said upper module having a pair of wheels that roll over the top of a railing;

said wheels being joined together by a joining member;

said lower module comprising an arrangement of casters;

said casters being joined together by a base plate to block sideway motion by special fitting across said lower section of railing;

a brake assembly to normally block at least one of said wheel.

2. A mobile umbrella support for moving an umbrella across a railing as in claim 1 wherein:

said upper module being adjustable along the length of said pole by loosening a clamp.

3. A mobile umbrella support for moving an umbrella across a railing as in claim 1 wherein:

said arrangement of casters having a pair of casters and at least one opposing caster

4. A mobile umbrella support for moving an umbrella across a railing as in claim 3 wherein:

said opposing caster being narrow and pin shaped.

5. A mobile umbrella support for moving an umbrella across a railing as in claim 3 wherein:

said opposing caster being like a small wheel.

6. A mobile umbrella support for moving an umbrella across a railing as in claim 3 wherein:

said opposing caster being adjustable to various lower railing width by loosening a nut and moving it along a notch.

7. A mobile umbrella support for moving an umbrella across a railing as in claim 1 wherein:

both said base plate and said joining member being L shaped to increase their sturdiness.

8. A mobile umbrella support for moving an umbrella across a railing as in claim 1 wherein:

said brake assembly comprised of a lever having two configurations wherein one configuration is depressed and the other configuration is released;

when in a released configuration, a pin pushed by a biasing means presses against a brake pad which applies pressure to said wheel so as to to block it;

9. A mobile umbrella support for moving an umbrella across a railing as in claim 1 wherein:

said brake assembly comprised of a lever having two configurations wherein one configuration is depressed and the other configuration is released;

said brake pad being itself biased against said wheel.

10. A mobile umbrella support for moving an umbrella across a railing as in claim 1 wherein:

said brake assembly comprised of a lever having two configurations wherein one configuration is depressed and the other configuration is released;

said lever being biased.

11. A mobile umbrella support for moving an umbrella across a railing as in claim 1 wherein:

a cover encompassing said braking assembly so as to protect it against the elements and to serve as connecting means for said braking assembly.

12. A mobile umbrella support for moving an umbrella across a railing as in claim 1 wherein:

an alternate braking system having a push button to push a braking element;

said braking element being onto said joining member by a biased retainer block;

said biased retainer block being fixedly attached to said joining member;

a comb using vertical railing members as a means to lock said mobile umbrella support in place in a selection of one of two possible ways which are a space between two adjoining vertical railing members or by engaging one such vertical railing member.