Umbrella

Abstract

An umbrella that has a shaft and a plurality of bows pivotally connected to the shaft. A plurality of ribs are slideably positioned on the shaft and pivotally connected to the bows. A cover is positioned on the bows and the cover is designed to protect a user from moisture. An insert is positioned on at least one of the ribs and the insert is disposed to receive a hold a towel on the rib.

Description

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 61/188,827 filed on Aug. 13, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Umbrellas have been used at various sporting events and by other users where it is desirable to hang or suspend a towel, a piece of clothing, a golf glove or other items inside the umbrella wherein the cover of the umbrella protects the item from becoming wet. Traditionally, one of the ribs that slide along the shaft of the umbrella and pivotally engage the bows of the umbrella to hold the umbrella in the open position is used as the hanger. The ribs are the most likely candidate on an umbrella as the ribs are disposed in a substantially horizontal orientation when the umbrella is in the open position and the ribs are located in the interior of the umbrella and therefore protected from rainfall. The ribs are also sufficiently long to provide a reasonable surface to act as a hanger. The ribs are also usually round or a channeled shaped steel and have a smooth finish. Because of these characteristics for the ribs, items placed on the ribs are subject to falling off during the use of the umbrella. This problem is magnified if the umbrella is being used by a person that is in motion as the movement of the user will jostle the item positioned on the rib and facilitate the slippage of the item from the rib. If the item falls from the rib and hits the ground, the item frequently becomes wet or soiled, and is no longer suitable for the use intended by the user of the umbrella.

Accordingly, there is a need in the industry for an umbrella that can suspend items under the umbrella in a manner whereby the items will remain dry and available for use by the user of the umbrella. The device used to secure an item must not substantially change the manner in which the umbrella is opened and closed, add substantial weight to the umbrella or interfere with the positioning of a user inside of the umbrella.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to an umbrella having a shaft and a plurality of bows pivotally connected to the shaft. A plurality of ribs are slideably positioned on the shaft and pivotally connected to the bows. A cover is positioned on the bows to protect the user from moisture when the umbrella is in the open position. An insert is positioned on at least one rib and the insert is disposed to receive and hold an item on the rib when the umbrella is in the open position.

The invention is also directed to a towel hanger for use with an umbrella where the umbrella has a plurality of ribs that position the bows on which the cover is secured. An insert is position on at least one rib of the umbrella and the insert has at least one projection for gripping a towel to releasably position the towel on the rib when the umbrella is in the open position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial bottom elevation view looking into the interior of an open umbrella of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the umbrella of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the towel insert of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the insert of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

This invention relates to an umbrella and more particularly an umbrella having an insert positioned on at least one of the ribs where the insert is disposed to receive and can hold a towel or similar item on the rib. The invention is also directed to a towel hanger for use with an umbrella having an insert positioned on at least one rib of the umbrella. The insert has at least one projection for gripping a towel to releasably position the towel on the rib when the umbrella is in an open position. Additional features of the invention will be more readily understood by referring to the attached drawings in association with the following description of the invention.

The figures show an umbrella 10 having a shaft 15 wherein the shaft has a first end 17 and a handle end 19 that is positioned on the end of the shaft opposite to the first end 17. A plurality of bows 23 pivotally connected to the first end 17 of the shaft 15. A plurality of ribs 29 are secured to a collar 31 and pivotally connected to the bows 23. The collar 31 is slideably positioned on the shaft 15. The collar 31 is slideable between a first position adjacent the handle end 19 of the shaft 15 and a second position that is adjacent the first end 17 of the shaft 15. The collar 31 is designed so that it can be retained in the second position 37 by a locking mechanism (not shown) positioned on the shaft 15. A cover 47 is positioned on the bows 23 and secured to the first end 17 of the shaft 15 to provide a water or moisture resistance surface for the umbrella 10. This structure for an umbrella is well known in the art.

In operation the collar 31 is advanced from the first position adjacent the handle end 19 of the shaft 15 to the second position on the shaft 15. As the collar 31 is advanced, the ribs 29 act upon the bows 23 to move the bows 23 in a direction away from the shaft 15. The movement of the collar 31 causes the umbrella to open and when the collar 31 is in the second position 37 the bows 23 are fully extended and the cover 47 is held taught in an inverted parabolic shape to provide a water resistant enclosure for the user of the umbrella 10. When the collar 31 is in the second position 37 the ribs 29 extend from the shaft 15 in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the shaft 15. The locking mechanism releasably retains the collar 31 in the second position 37 on the shaft 15. As described above the umbrella 10 is essentially the same as umbrellas that are well known in the art and the umbrella functions in the manner well known in the art.

The current invention is an improvement over prior art umbrellas as an insert 53 is positioned on at least one of the ribs 29. The insert 53 has an opening 57 that extends along the length of the insert and the opening is designed to releasably engage the rib 29. The sidewalls 59 of the opening 57 can be designed so that they must be moved apart to be positioned on the rib 29. The insert 53 can be made of a resilient material so that the sidewalls 59 resist being spread apart and provide a biasing force to return the sidewalls to their original position. The biasing force of the sidewalls 59 will further act to secure the insert 53 on the rib 29. On the side of the insert 53 opposite to the opening 57 there is a gripping surface 63 that usually extends along the length of the insert 53. The gripping surface 63 can be a projection or a plurality of projections that extend from the insert in a direction away from the opening 57. The gripping surface can also be a highly textured surface that provides a good co-efficient of friction for the gripping surface. It is also possible to place Velcro or similar type fastening devices along the gripping surface 63 or portions of the gripping surface 63. A towel, wearing apparel or similar items can be positioned over the insert 53 and this is usually done when the umbrella is in the open position with the collar 31 secured in the second position 37 on the shaft 15. In this position the ribs 29 and the insert or inserts 53 will be in an orientation that is generally perpendicular to the shaft 15 of the umbrella 10. The gripping surface 63 provides an effective way to retain items on the insert 53 during normal use of the umbrella 10. The gripping surface 63 prevents the items from sliding off the rib 29 as was frequently a problem with prior art umbrellas when an item was placed on the ribs to keep the item in a protected area under the cover 47 of the umbrella. The gripping surface 63, however, does not prevent removal of the items when it is desired to use the items for its intended purpose. An insert 53 can be provided on more than one rib 29 of the umbrella 10. The inserts 53 do not essentially extend into the area usually occupied by the user of the umbrella 10. Accordingly, the inserts do not alter the general function or usability of the umbrella 10. However, the inserts do provide an effective mechanism to retain towels and other similar devices in the protected area under the cover 47 of the umbrella. The inserts 53 will retain the items in this position during normal anticipated use for the umbrella 10.

The above description is given solely for the sake of explanation. Various substitutions and modifications, other than those cited, can be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. An umbrella comprising:

a shaft;

a plurality of bows pivotally connected to the shaft;

a plurality of ribs slideably positioned on the shaft and pivotally connected to the bows;

a cover positioned on the bows to protect a user from moisture and

an insert positioned on at least one rib, the insert being disposed to receive and hold a towel on the rib.

2. The umbrella of claim 1 wherein the insert is positioned around the rib and has a plurality of projections disposed to releasably hold a towel on the towel insert.

3. The umbrella of claim 2 wherein the insert is a resilient material that is designed to grip and hold a on the towel insert.

4. The umbrella of claim 3 wherein the insert has a plurality of projections that extend in a direction toward the cover to form a gripping surface for a towel.

5. The umbrella of claim 4 wherein the plurality of projections that extend along the longitudinal axis of the insert in a direction that is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the ribs.

6. A towel hanger for use with an umbrella where the umbrella has a plurality of ribs that position the bows on which the cover is secured comprising:

an insert positioned on at least one rib of the umbrella, the insert having at least one projection for gripping a towel to releasably position the towel on the rib when the umbrella is in an open position.

7. The towel hanger of claim 6 wherein the insert has a longitudinal axis and an opening extends along the longitudinal axis of the insert for allowing the insert to be positioned on a rib of the umbrella.

8. The towel hanger of claim 7 wherein the opening has sidewalls that are spaced apart less than the width of the rib wherein the sidewalls of the opening must be disposed to position the insert of the rib.

9. The towel hanger of claim 8 wherein the insert is made of a resilient material and the sidewalls of the opening engage the rib with a force sufficient to retain the insert on the rib in the desired location.

10. The towel hanger of claim 9 wherein the insert has at least one projection that engages the towel and removably retains the towel on the insert.

11. The towel hanger of claim 10 wherein the insert has a plurality of projections that engage and removably retains the towel on the insert.

12. The towel hanger of claim 11 wherein the projections extend longitudinally along the longitudinal axis of the insert.