INVERTED COLLAPSIBLE UMBRELLA

Abstract

A collapsible umbrella including a canopy having a top side and a bottom side. The umbrella is capable of being manipulated between an open position and a closed position. The top side of the canopy is substantially exposed when the umbrella is in the open position, and the bottom side of the canopy is substantially exposed when the umbrella is in the closed position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/882,360, filed Dec. 28, 2006, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to umbrellas and more particularly, to collapsible umbrellas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Collapsible umbrellas have been known for a substantial period of time. The advantage of collapsible umbrellas over the non-collapsible types is that collapsible umbrellas can provide cover for the user when needed, but can be quickly collapsed for storage or non-use. Generally, collapsible umbrellas have a plurality of support arms to support an umbrella canopy, which is used to protect a user from rain, snow, or other weather elements. The support arms are generally hinged in one or more locations to render the support arms and canopy collapsible. A typical collapsible umbrella can be seen in FIGS. 1-4. As best seen in FIGS. 3-4, the top surface of the umbrella, which is the surface that is exposed to rain or other elements when in use, is exposed to the user when the umbrella is in a collapsed configuration. Because the top surface of the umbrella is generally exposed to a user when collapsed, water often splashes onto the user, the user's clothes, or leaks onto surrounding items, such as car floorboards, flooring, etc.

Thus it can be seen that a need exists for improvements to collapsible umbrellas to provide for an umbrella that permits a user to collapse the umbrella without getting wet. It is to the provision of this need and others that the present patent application is directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention is a collapsible umbrella including a canopy having a top side and a bottom side. The umbrella is capable of being manipulated between an open position and a closed position. The top side of the canopy is substantially exposed when the umbrella is in the open position, and only the bottom side of the canopy is substantially exposed when the umbrella is in the closed position.

In another aspect, the present invention is a collapsible umbrella including a canopy, a central support shaft, a plurality of support braces, and a sliding carriage attached to the central support shaft. The canopy has a top side and a bottom side. The support braces are coupled to the canopy and the sliding carriage. User operation of the sliding carriage along the central support shaft manipulates the umbrella between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The top side and bottom side of the canopy are substantially exposed when the umbrella is in the open configuration, and the top side is substantially enclosed when the umbrella is in the closed configuration.

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be understood with reference to the drawing figures and detailed description herein, and will be realized by means of the various elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following brief description of the drawings and detailed description of the invention are exemplary and explanatory of preferred embodiments of the invention, and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a known collapsible umbrella shown in an open configuration.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the collapsible umbrella of FIG. 1 shown without a canopy for clarity.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the collapsible umbrella of FIG. 1 shown in a closed configuration.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the collapsible umbrella of FIG. 1 shown in a closed configuration without a canopy for clarity.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a collapsible umbrella according to an example embodiment of the present invention shown in an open configuration.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the collapsible umbrella of FIG. 5 shown in a closed configuration.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a collapsible umbrella according to another example embodiment of the present invention shown in a closed configuration.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a collapsible umbrella according to still another example embodiment of the present invention shown in a closed configuration.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the collapsible umbrella of FIG. 5 shown in an open configuration without a canopy for clarity.

FIGS. 10-13 show the manipulation of the collapsible umbrella of FIG. 5 from an open configuration to a closed configuration.

FIG. 14 is a front view of a collapsible umbrella according to another example embodiment of the present invention shown in an open configuration without a canopy for clarity.

FIGS. 15-16 show the manipulation of the collapsible umbrella of FIG. 14 from an open configuration to a closed configuration depicted without a canopy for clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed invention. Also, as used in the specification including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.

With reference now to the drawing figures, a typical collapsible umbrella 10 can be seen in FIGS. 1-4. Generally, a known collapsible umbrella includes a canopy 20, a central support shaft 30, a sliding carriage 40, and a plurality of hinged support braces 50. The canopy 20 has a top surface 22, which is directly exposed to the elements, and a bottom surface 24. When the umbrella 10 is in the open position, as best seen in FIG. 1, the canopy 20 is stretched over the support braces 50, providing cover for a user of the umbrella from rain, sleet, snow, sun exposure, etc. When a user has finished utilizing the umbrella and wishes to close it for storage, entry into a vehicle or building, or for any other reason, a user may collapse the umbrella 10 as seen in FIG. 3. Typically, to close the umbrella 10, a user may slide the carriage 40 along the support shaft 30 in the direction away from the canopy 20. When the carriage 40 is moved vertically away from the canopy 20, the support braces 50, which are generally connected to both the canopy 20 and to the carriage 40, slide vertically with the carriage causing the canopy 20 to collapse and fold into partitions. To aid in the collapse of the canopy 20, the support braces 50 usually have one or more hinges 52 that permit the braces to bend into two or more pieces, as best seen in FIG. 4. Optionally, the support shaft 30 is telescoping to further minimize the size of a closed collapsible umbrella 10. A typical collapsible umbrella 10 may also include a handle 60 for user ease in holding the umbrella during use.

As detailed above, a typical collapsible umbrella 10 can be very convenient for a user because of its ability to provide cover for a user during inclement weather, while permitting a user to collapse the umbrella into a fraction of the size for storage. However, a drawback to the collapsible umbrella 10 is that when a user utilizes the umbrella for cover against rain, it is likely that the user will get wet when trying to collapse the rain soaked umbrella canopy 20. The user is likely to get wet because the top surface 22 of the canopy can harbor a substantial amount of water immediately after use, and the water is often directed towards the user or other surroundings when the umbrella 10 is closed. This occurs because the top surface 22 of the umbrella 10 is exposed when the umbrella is either in the open or closed position.

The collapsible umbrella 110 of the present invention avoids the above listed deficiencies of the typical collapsible umbrella 10 and dramatically reduces the amount of water that a user may contact when using. In reference to FIGS. 5-6, a collapsible umbrella 110 according to a first example embodiment of the present invention is depicted, having a canopy 120, a central support shaft 130, a sliding carriage 140, a plurality of support braces 150 (not shown), and a handle 160. The canopy can be described as including a top surface 122 and a bottom surface 124. Uniquely, the collapsible umbrella 110 of the present invention permits a user to close the canopy 120 of the umbrella in the opposite direction from typical collapsible umbrellas 10, such that the canopy is reversed upon closing, as best seen in FIG. 6. It can be seen that while the top surface 122 of the canopy 120 is exposed to the elements when in use, the bottom surface 124 becomes the surface that is exposed to the user and surroundings when in the closed position. Because water that remains in connection with the canopy 120 after use by a user typically resides only on the top surface 122 of the canopy, the bottom surface 124 is generally dry. By enabling a user to close the umbrella 110 such that the bottom surface 124 is exposed, a user is thus able to interact with exposed areas of the umbrella without getting wet. Additionally, a user is able to better direct/shake the accumulated water from the top surface 122 of the canopy 120 by holding the umbrella 110 upside down and permitting the water to drain away from the user.

In another example embodiment of the present invention, a user can collapse the umbrella 110 into the handle 160 such that little or no part of the canopy 120 is exposed when the umbrella is in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 7. In alternate embodiments, the handle 160 can include means for enclosing the canopy 120 within, such as with Velcro®, one or more zippers, a waterproof cover, etc.

In still another example embodiment of the present invention, the umbrella 110 can collapse into foldable sections to minimize the size of the umbrella when closed, as best seen in FIG. 8. In such an embodiment, the support braces 150 have multiple joints to permit two or more folds in the canopy 120. Such an embodiment allows the umbrella 110 to collapse into a more vertically compact position for storage or non-use. This embodiment will be described in greater detail below.

With reference now to FIG. 9, an example embodiment depicting a collapsible umbrella 110 is shown without a canopy 120 for clarity. It can be seen that the support braces 150 further comprise two sections: a lower section 155, and an upper section 156 and are coupled to each other through a hinge 152. The distal end of the lower section 155 is connected to the central support shaft 130 with a cable, wire, or string 170, which provides stability and support for the brace 150 and canopy 120 when the umbrella 110 is in the open position. The base end of the lower section 155 is directly coupled to the sliding carriage 140. The upper section 156 is connected to the sliding carriage 140 with a second wire 172, which rotates the upper section of the support brace 150 vertically when the umbrella 110 is being closed. The wire 172 is preferably connected to the distal end of the upper section 156, although it is not necessary, and preferably connects to the carriage 140 through the interior of the central support shaft 130 as seen in FIG. 9. In alternate embodiments, the wire 172 connects the upper section 156 to the carriage 140 via the exterior of the support shaft 130.

FIGS. 10-13 further depict an example embodiment of the present invention in operation. When a user wishes to close the umbrella 110, the user can slide the carriage 140 along the central support shaft 130 towards the handle 160. In doing so, the carriage moves the lower sections 155 of the support braces 150 into a substantially vertical position as seen in FIGS. 11-13. At the same time, as the sliding carriage 140 is moved towards the handle 160, the wires 172 rotate the upper sections 156 of the braces 150 towards a vertical position exposing the bottom side of the canopy 120. As the sliding carriage 140 vertically traverses the central shaft 130 towards the handle 160, the central shaft can telescopically be compacted as best seen in FIG. 13. FIG. 6 depicts a similar embodiment shown with the canopy 120 included.

Another example embodiment of the present invention is seen in FIGS. 14-16. Having many of the same features as the previous example umbrella 110, this embodiment is different it that it has two or more hinges 152 in the support braces 150, creating a lower section 155, an upper section 156, and an intermediate section 157. Because of the multiple hinges, the braces 150 and the canopy 120 are collapsible into a plurality of sections, minimizing the vertical height of the collapsed umbrella 110 while still exposing the bottom side 124 of the canopy to the user when the umbrella is closed. FIG. 8 depicts a similar embodiment shown with the canopy 120 included.

It should be noted that there are numerous additional mechanical configurations that can be utilized to achieve a collapsible umbrella according to the present invention and the present invention is not limited to the configurations presented herein. For example, the distal ends of the support arms can include magnetic tips to keep the support arms together when umbrellas according to example embodiments of the present invention are in the collapsed position.

While the invention has been described with reference to preferred and example embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications, additions and deletions are within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A collapsible umbrella comprising a canopy having a top side and a bottom side, wherein the umbrella is capable of being manipulated between an open position and a closed position, wherein the top side of the canopy is substantially exposed when the umbrella is in the open position, and wherein only the bottom side of the canopy is substantially exposed when the umbrella is in the closed position.

2. A collapsible umbrella comprising:

a canopy having a top side and a bottom side;

a central support shaft;

a plurality of support braces; and

a sliding carriage slidably coupled to the central support shaft;

wherein the support braces are coupled to the canopy and the sliding carriage and wherein user operation of the sliding carriage along the central support shaft manipulates the umbrella between an open configuration and a closed configuration;

wherein the top side of the canopy is substantially exposed when the umbrella is in the open configuration and substantially covered when the umbrella is in the closed configuration; and

wherein the bottom side of the canopy is substantially exposed when the umbrella is in the open configuration.