Hands free umbrella

Abstract

A hands free umbrella apparatus that is easily packed and stored without any bulkiness. There is a spring loaded height adjustment mechanism used with a stem and attachment sleeve and two external support belts that utilize hook and loop fasteners or belt buckles to secure the support belts around the user. The external support belts can be conveniently wrapped around the stem and attachment sleeve of the umbrella apparatus and secured by another hook and loop fastener while in storage.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/208,070, filed May 31, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a hands free umbrella that utilizes external support belts and a height control mechanism and is not bulky or cumbersome to store.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] The umbrella is a simple and functional device. Created to be portable and to shield users from rain, inventors have perfected various embodiments of the standard umbrella. It would be desirable that an umbrella be adapted by a user without the user using his hands to hold up the umbrella. This could be a very useful device if a user is carrying a lot of items in the rain and wishes to free up a hand to carry more items.

[0006] There are several types of such umbrellas that are described in the related art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,188,965 issued to Morman outlines a body-mounted umbrella that is secured to a user at the waist and is able to be folded downward while not in use. A shaft carrying a shade in an upright position is supported by a pair of springs which help to stabilize the shaft.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,941 issued to Sobolev, outlines a device that serves as an umbrella shade that is supported by a stem and elastic bands that are wrapped around the user's head and torso. There is also a pocket that is used to receive the handle of the umbrella shade and stem. More specifically, the elastic band that is wrapped around the user's torso is run under the armpit of one side of the person and over the trapezius muscles on the other side, with the receiving pocket being set in front of the user.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,977 issued to Schiro, Jr. et al., outlines an umbrella shade and stem that is held in front of the user with a holster. The holster includes a waist belt and two back and shoulder straps, which secure to the umbrella stem which extends vertically upward from the front of the belt. The holster also provides for positive retention of the umbrella, therein, to prevent the inadvertent lifting of the umbrella from the holster due to wind or other conditions and for the height adjustment of the umbrella stem by a telescoping umbrella handle and tube arrangement.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,786 issued to Drane, outlines an umbrella holder that is strapped to the user's torso. The umbrella holder includes a harness having a shoulder strap which crosses the back and chest of the user at an oblique angle and engages a waist belt also provided as part of the umbrella holder. A support member which secures the umbrella to the harness extends perpendicularly from the belt and engages the shoulder strap.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,612 issued to Hughes also outlines an umbrella holder with an adjustable waist belt and shoulder strap. The umbrella holder is designed to not impinge on a woman's breasts while being worn and enables umbrellas having different shaft lengths to be accommodated, as well as users having differing waist to shoulder dimensions.

[0011] Great Britain patent number 2,172,200 granted to Bates et al. And Great Britain patent number 2,213,716 granted to Wu, outline an umbrella that is worn on a user's head. The umbrella is designed to stay on top of the user's head without the need for the user to hold the umbrella in place with a free hand. This is just another example of one of the “handless” type umbrellas that are in the related art.

[0012] All of the inventions described in each of these patents are useful inventions. Most of these inventions are improvements and variations in previous inventions using the idea of a handless umbrella. Unfortunately, many of these inventions are not easy to store and can be cumbersome to carry. That is what is really needed, a handless umbrella that is easily stored and carried.

[0013] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The present invention is a hands free umbrella apparatus that is easily packed and stored without any bulkiness. There is a spring loaded height adjustment mechanism used with a stem and attachment sleeve and two external support belts that utilize hook and loop fasteners or belt buckles to secure the support belts around the user. The external support belts can be conveniently wrapped around the stem and attachment sleeve of the umbrella apparatus and are held in place by a hook and loop fastener such as VELCRO® while in storage.

[0015] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a hands free umbrella that is easily packed and stored.

[0016] It is another object of the invention to provide a hands free umbrella that easily adjusts to different sized users.

[0017] It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved hands free umbrella that is more stable than the hands free umbrellas that are described in the related art.

[0018] Still another object of the invention is to provide a hands free umbrella with a height adjustment mechanism.

[0019] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

[0020] These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a hands free umbrella, having the upper part of the sleeve partially broken away according to the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a hands free umbrella with external support belts and a height control mechanism in an open position according to the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a hook and loop fastener used to hold the external support belts in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 2C is a perspective view of a boot strapping buckle fastener to hold the external support belts in the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a hands free umbrella being stored in a closed position according to the present invention.

[0026] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] The present invention is a hands free umbrella system 10 that can be supported in an upright position without the user having to hold the umbrella system 10 with his hands, as outlined in FIG. 1.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 2A, hands free umbrella system 10 comprises an umbrella shade 20 that is supported by ribs and opens and closes in a well-known manner. Umbrella system 10 features stem 30 and concentric sleeve 40 supporting umbrella shade 20. Umbrella handle 50 is of conventional design and located at the lower end of umbrella sleeve 40. Umbrella stem 30 supports shade 20 at is upper end. Umbrella system 10 provides for height adjustment and body attachment as described below.

[0029] The umbrella system 10 height adjustment comprises telescoping umbrella stem 30 mounted internally within coaxial sleeve 40. The sleeve 40 slides over the umbrella stem 30 and a spring-loaded button 60 (spring not shown) extends through one of a plurality of linearly arranged adjustment apertures 70 spaced along the sleeve 40. A second spring 80, within the sleeve 40, and located below the bottom of the stem 30 (not shown) exerts a constant and steady upward pressure on the stem 30, resulting in the stem 30 being additionally secured in a fixed position relative to sleeve 40, taking spring loaded button 60 and apertures 70.

[0030] The position of the stem 30 can be changed by depressing the spring loaded button 60 and pushing the stem 30 downward until the spring loaded button 60 catches on another aperture from the plurality of apertures 70, thereby adjusting the height of the umbrella shade 20 in relation to the user's head. This adjustment means is well-known to those schooled in the related art and is not a point of novelty with this invention. An expansion button 95, located on sleeve 40 near handle 50 is provided to actuate apparatus(not shown) to open umbrella system 10 in a manner well known in the art.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, umbrella system 10 is attached to the body around the user's trunk by a pair of body belts 90 that wrap around the user and are each secured in place with a hook and loop fastener 100 or a boot strapping belt buckle 110 and a plurality of holes 120. Both alternatives are shown in FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C. The first embodiment utilizes a hook portion 102 and a loop portion 104 of a hook and loop fastener 100 that can attach on contact. The hook and loop fastener 100 can be separated by simply pulling the hook portion 102 and loop portion 104 apart.

[0032] The second embodiment utilizes a boot strapping belt buckle 110 and a plurality of holes 120. The belt end 130 is pulled through the belt buckle 110, where it is then secured by inserting the latch 140 through one of the plurality of holes 120 and pulling the belt end 130 through the other side of the belt buckle 110. The use of this type of boot strapping belt buckle 110 is well-known to those schooled in the related art. Both embodiments require that the body belts 90 be tightly wrapped around the user wearing the umbrella apparatus 10.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 3, umbrella system 10 in depicted in a closed position, with the body belts 90 rolled up around the umbrella stem 30 and sleeve 40 while the umbrella apparatus 10 is stored. A small hook and loop fastener arrangement 150 is on the end of each body belt 90. This convenient way of rolling up the body belts 90 is an important feature of the umbrella system 10 and makes it very easy to store and pack the umbrella system 10 without any bulkiness.

[0034] Operation and use of the umbrella system 10 is straightforward. A user opens up the umbrella system 10 and tightly wraps the body belts 90 around themselves and secures belts 90 in place, with either hook and loop fasteners 100 or a boot strapping belt buckle 110. An adjustment for the height of the user may also be made by depressing spring loaded button 60, and sliding stem 30 within sleeve 40 until button 60 reaches the desired one of and the plurality of apertures 70 corresponding to the desired height of the umbrella shade 20.

[0035] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A hands free umbrella system, comprising:

an umbrella shade that is operable between and open and a closed configuration;

an umbrella stem, a concentric sleeve, and a handle, said stem being located for telescoping within said concentric sleeve, said stem supporting said shade at its upper end, said handle being located on said sleeve at its lower end;

adjustment means for adjusting the height of said umbrella shade in relation to the user; and

attachment means for attaching said umbrella system to the body of said user, and comprising a pair of horizontally arrayed body belts that wrap around the user's trunk. and are each secured in place with a securing means;

wherein said adjustment means comprises a spring loaded button attached to said telescoping stem, said sleeve defining a plurality of linearly disposed apertures spaced therealong near its upper end, said spring loaded button being so adapted as to selectively engage a desired one of said apertures corresponding to a desired height by the action of said user.

2. The umbrella system according to

claim 1, further comprising hook and loop fastener means, wherein said body belts roll up around said umbrella stem and sleeve and are held in place with said hook and loop fastener while said umbrella system is stored, said securing means also comprising said hook and loop fastener means.

3. The umbrella system according to

claim 1, wherein said securing means is a pair of belt buckles, one for each body belt.

4. The umbrella system according to

claim 1, wherein said securing means is a hook and loop fastener, one for each body belt.

5. The umbrella system according to

claim 1, further comprising a button located upon said sleeve near said handle for opening said umbrella shade upon actuation by said user.

6. A hands free umbrella system, comprising:

an umbrella shade that is operable between and open and a closed configuration;

an umbrella stem, a concentric sleeve, and a handle, said stem being located for telescoping within said concentric sleeve, said stem supporting said shade at its upper end, said handle being located on said sleeve at its lower end;

adjustment means for adjusting the height of said umbrella shade in relation to the user;

attachment means for attaching said umbrella system to the body of said user; and

wherein said attachment means is a pair of body belts that wrap around the user's trunk, and belt buckles, each body belt secured in place with a said belt buckle.

7. The umbrella system according to

claim 7, wherein said body belts roll up around said umbrella stem and sleeve, there further being means for holding said belts rolled up around said umbrella stem.

8. A hands free umbrella system, comprising:

an umbrella shade that is operable between and open and a closed configuration;

an umbrella stem, a concentric sleeve, and a handle, said stem being located for telescoping within said concentric sleeve, said stem supporting said shade at its upper end, said handle being located on said sleeve at its lower end;

adjustment means for adjusting the height of said umbrella shade in relation to the user; and

attachment means for attaching said umbrella system to the body of said user;

wherein said attachment means is a pair of body belts that wrap around the user's trunk, and hook and loop fastener means, each body belt secured in place with a hook and loop fastener; and

wherein said body belts roll up around said umbrella stem and sleeve and are each held in place with a said hook and loop fastener while said umbrella system is stored.