Umbrella

Abstract

An umbrella that offers improved performance in windy conditions is disclosed that includes an umbrella cover that has a plurality of gills positioned throughout its surface to allow for the release of air pressure caused by wind that impacts the umbrella cover. A flap portion may be positioned over each of the gills so that the flap is raised when wind gusts blow into the umbrella in order to permit the release of air from the umbrella. This reduces the risk that the umbrella could blow inside out or reverse itself. The flap is also preferably positioned over the slit in order to prevent water from going through the umbrella and wetting the umbrella's handler.

Description

This application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/404,707 filed Oct. 7, 2010

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to umbrellas and more particularly umbrellas that are less susceptible to wind damage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Umbrellas are ubiquitous on a rainy day. While traditional umbrellas do a good job in light rain they leave much to be desired in heavier downpours and are particularly problematic in windy days. The traditional umbrella really can only protect the head from rain, but does nothing much for the rest of the body. On windy days the umbrella can spend more time inverted as the wind blows it inside out than protecting the user.

Traditional umbrellas usually have an area of a flexible fabric that is secured to a frame. The area of fabric is typically a generally circular disk that is secured to a frame having a center post and a plurality of arms extending outwardly from the post. The arms are designed to extend outwardly when the umbrella is in a raised condition. The arms retract downwardly towards the post when the umbrella is in a lowered position. The post is a generally tubular member that is straight for at least a portion of its length. The tubular member may be a single member or may be multiple members that retract or telescope into each other to reduce the size of the umbrella when it is not being used.

The umbrella's arms are generally thin rods of plastic or metal that are pivotally connected to the post to permit the arms to rotate downwardly when the umbrella is retracted and upwardly when the umbrella is being raised. In many umbrellas there is a ring with an orifice mounted on the post such that the tubular member passes through the ring. The ring is raised and lowered along the post. Extending out from the ring there may also be a plurality of support rods that have one end secured to the ring and a second end pivotally secured to the arms of the umbrella. These support rods can provide support for the aims when the arms are extended. The support rods can also assist the umbrella's arms in opening as they can force the arms upwardly and outwardly.

While umbrellas have been available for many years one of the prime complaints from users is the inability of most umbrellas to keep the user dry in all but most moderate of rain conditions. Also, there are many complaints from users that in even moderate wind conditions a gust of wind can be captured in the umbrella destabilizing the umbrella and causing it to become inverted thereby permitting rain to hit the user or at worst destroying the umbrella. Accordingly there is a need for a new type of umbrella that will overcome the defects of prior art umbrellas.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an umbrella that has improved stability in windy conditions.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an umbrella that provides more superior rain protection.

It is another object of the invention to provide an umbrella that gives users increased visibility during use.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an umbrella that provides extra protection for the back of a user.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide an umbrella with better protection from inversion.

It is still a further objection of the invention to provide an umbrella that reduces the risk of damage to the umbrella in strong winds.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an umbrella that has one or more opening for reducing the force of wind on the underside of an umbrella.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an umbrella that is less susceptible to the effects of wind that includes an umbrella frame and an umbrella cover that is connected to the frame. The frame includes a rod that may have a lower end region and an upper end region where the lower end region includes a handling area for holding the umbrella and where the upper end region includes an end that attaches to the umbrella cover. The umbrella frame also includes a plurality of arms that extend from the upper end region of the frame's rod. A means for locking the umbrella arms of the umbrella frame in an expanded or retracted position is also preferably included.

The umbrella cover includes a surface that extends from the umbrella attaching end of the umbrella frame's rod to an umbrella cover base that is secured generally to the tips of the umbrella's arms. The umbrella cover also includes a plurality of gills that pass from the outer surface of the umbrella cover to the interior surface of the umbrella cover to allow for the release of air pressure caused by wind that impacts the umbrella cover. By the term “gills” is meant to include a slit or opening in the umbrella cover. The opening may have a flap or a folded fabric area. The flap or folded fabric area can be made of the same material as the remainder of the cover or it can be a more porous material that would permit air to pass through the fabric. In one embodiment a flap portion may also be preferably positioned over each of the gills wherein the flap is raised when wind gusts blow into the umbrella permitting the release of air from the umbrella and thereby reducing the risk that the umbrella could blow inside out or reverse itself. The flap is preferably positioned over the slit or other opening to prevent water from going through the umbrella and wetting the umbrella's handler. In a further embodiment, there may be a mesh or other air permeable material over the umbrella cover's openings to provide a release of air pressure that may be caused by wind in the umbrella. This air permeable material can be used with or without a flap or other covering.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side view of the umbrella of the present invention.

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

FIG. 3 is a side view of the umbrella of FIG. 1 during use.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the umbrella of FIG. 1 showing an example of the interior frame configuration.

FIG. 5 shows the umbrella of FIG. 1 in a closed position.

FIG. 6 shows the umbrella of FIG. 5 partially opened.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the umbrella of FIG. 5 fully opened.

FIG. 8 shows a front view of the umbrella of FIG. 5 partially opened.

FIG. 9 shows a rear view of the umbrella of FIG. 5 opened.

FIG. 10 shows a rear view of the umbrella of FIG. 5 partially opened.

FIG. 11 shows a portion of the cover of the umbrella with a slit or narrow opening.

FIG. 12 shows the slit of FIG. 11 with a flap over the slit.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a slit with a porous fabric protecting the opening formed by the slit.

FIG. 14 shows the fabric of FIG. 13 in the form of a fold.

FIG. 15 shows a slit with a mesh protecting the opening.

FIG. 16 is a side view of the cover of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 shows an alternative embodiment of protecting the opening in the cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is directed to umbrellas where the shape of the cover over the metal frame can be any shape including a traditional umbrella shape.

FIG. 1 shows an example of one embodiment of one umbrella 10 of the present invention. The umbrella has a covering 11 and a frame 12 with a handle or rod 13. The handle may be provided with a grip 14 or other means for providing a hand hold for the user. In one embodiment, the end of the handle may have a hook for hanging or carrying the umbrella. The handle or rod may be a generally tubular member that is closed at each end and generally hollow along its interior length. There may be a locking mechanism in the handle that causes the umbrella to remain in its retracted position. The locking mechanism may be a pin 15 that is spring loaded that extends outwardly from the rod to secure a ring 16 that travels along the rod to cause the umbrella to open and close. The pin is preferably in a normally extended position and prevents the ring from moving upwardly. In one embodiment, the ring may be provided with a sleeve. The pin passes through an orifice in the sleeve connected to the ring. There is preferably a similar pin arrangement on the end of the rod opposite the hand hold for securing the ring in position when the umbrella is in a raised position. In operation, a user causes the pin or other locking means to be retracted into the rod freeing the ring to travel along the rod from a first position in the vicinity of the hand hold to a raised position on the rod opposite the hand hold. As the ring rises the umbrella opens. When the umbrella reaches the maximum amount of travel, the upper pin 15 retracts as the ring passes over it and a spring mechanism causes the pin to extend to prevent the ring from returning to the lower position until the pin is again manually retracted. The rod has a plurality of arms 17 that extend outwardly from the rod's upper end region. Each of these arms is rotatably mounted to the top end area 19 of the rod. The arms extend generally downwardly when the umbrella is in its retracted position and outwardly when the umbrella is in its extended position. The arms are caused to extend and retract by means of motion of the ring along the rod. The free ends of the arms 20 are secured generally in the region of their tips to the fabric or cover 21 of the umbrella. In one embodiment, the ring is secured to the arms by means of a plurality of supports that extend from the ring and are secured to the arms. These supports push the arms outwardly as the ring rises from the bottom area of the rod until the ring is in its raised position. Similarly these supports assist in retracting the arms as the ring is lowered to its original unopened position. One skilled in the art will appreciate that there are a number of mechanisms available to raise and lower an umbrella.

As seen in FIG. 1 the covering of the umbrella has a unique configuration. There is a first or front portion 22 which is generally in the form of a quarter of a sphere wherein the front portion cover is attached to the rod at an umbrella attaching end 34 of the rod that is located in the rod's upper end region and wherein the front portion cover extends to a front portion cover base. The front portion cover base 23 is shown in FIG. 1 as extending perpendicularly from the same vertical plane as the rod and as generally having the same length as the distance of the rod from the horizontal plane formed by the bottom of the cover. The arc 24 so formed by the cover is generally a portion of the circumference of a circle. The rear portion 25 of the cover has a different configuration. The rear portion cover is attached to the umbrella attaching end 34 of the rod and the rear portion cover extends to a rear portion cover base. FIG. 1 shows the length of the rear portion cover base 26 from the vertical plane 27 formed by the rod to the end of the rear portion 28 of the base as preferably being at least 1.5 to 2 times the length of the front portion cover base 23. The shape of the umbrella provides the user with significant amount of protection from the rain in the rear thereby protecting the back of the user as seen in FIG. 3. In one embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the sides 30, 31 of the umbrella extend further down than the front portion 33 of the umbrella. This provides the user the benefit of increased visibility. The front panel of the cover can also include a translucent or transparent material such as a clear plastic to permit the user to see even better. This embodiment permits a user to lower the umbrella and have the user's head close to the underside of the cover. In a traditional umbrella the cover is flatter and the sides or edges do not generally extend a different distance along the circumference of the cover. In the present invention, the deep curvature of the cover permits the user's head to be positioned closer to the inside of the cover with the concomitant benefit that the sides of the cover extend to the shoulders or lower when the umbrella is raised. This provides significant additional protection to the user.

One embodiment of the internal structure or frame of the umbrella is shown in FIG. 4. There are a plurality of arms extending from the top region of the rod. The arms have a first section 17 that extends generally upwardly from the point where they are secured on the rod, when the ring is positioned in the umbrella's raised position. The section of the arm 18 may be pivotally mounted to the tubular rod or other suitable mechanism at one end of the first section. The other end of the first section 32 is pivotally mounted to the second section of the arm. The second section of the arm is generally curved and extends generally downwardly from the joint with the first section. The arrangement of the arms gives the umbrella frame a decidedly “crab legs” look when the cover is removed as can be seen in FIG. 4. The ends 35 of the second section opposite the first section can be secured to the cover generally at the base or outer edge of the cover. When the cover is spread out flat on a surface the cover has a generally tear drop shape.

In one embodiment, see FIG. 6, the arms of the rear portion of the umbrella have generally the same configuration as the front portion of the umbrella, however the length of the second portion of the arms in the rear of the umbrella is much greater than the second portion of the arm for the front of the umbrella. In a second embodiment the first and second portions of the arms have the same length all around the umbrella.

FIGS. 5-10 show the umbrella of the present invention in a variety of positions. For example, FIG. 5 shows the umbrella in a retracted arrangement as one would have the umbrella waiting for use. FIG. 6 shows the umbrella being opened but only partially. The cover is fairly flexible at this stage. FIG. 7 shows the umbrella in its opened position. In this position it can be seen that the cover is more taut and there are no folds or generally loose areas of the cover.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the umbrella cover may have one or more gills located along its outer surface that pass through to the interior surface. The gills may be slits or other openings in the cover of the umbrella that permit the release of air or wind gusts that have blown into the underside of the umbrella. The gills may be any configuration including straight, curved or combinations thereof including combinations thereof in a single slit. In addition, the gills also allow for a wind gust to enter through one gill in the umbrella and exit from another gill in order to allow for an easy handling of the umbrella in windy conditions. The gills may also comprise an opening with a flap over the opening wherein the flap is raised when wind gusts blow into the umbrella permitting the release of air from the umbrella and thereby reducing the risk that the umbrella could blow inside out or reverse itself. The flap is preferably positioned over the slit or other opening to prevent water from going through the umbrella and wetting the umbrella's handler. In a further embodiment, there may be a mesh or other air permeable material over the umbrella cover's openings to provide a release of air pressure that may be caused by wind in the umbrella. This air permeable material can be used with or without a flap or other covering.

The slits may be positioned adjacently on the surface of the umbrella cover or they may be in a staggered arrangement. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the slits may be placed in any other fashion as long as they are positioned to allow an airflow through the umbrella while at the same time preventing water from going through the umbrella.

The opening in the umbrella surface may be a slit where there is only a line opening in the surface. Alternatively, the opening may be an orifice of any shape desired as long as it permits air to flow from the interior of the umbrella to the outside when a gust hits the inside of the umbrella. Where there is a mesh or other cloth over the slit or other opening, the cloth can be situated tautly over the opening or if desired, the cloth can form a pouch or sleeve that extends inwardly or outwardly of the outer surface of the umbrella cover.

FIG. 11 shows a portion of the cover 101 of an umbrella with a slit or narrow opening 102 in the cover. The slit or opening may be any shape desired however, it is preferred that the slit be open as little as possible to prevent rain from entering the umbrella. FIG. 12 shows the slit of FIG. 11 with a flap 103 over the slit. The flap is preferably secured to the cover at one end of the flap 104 and the opposite side of the flap 105 is free to be raised and lowered. FIG. 13 shows an opening 120 with fabric 121 extending across the opening. The fabric is preferably porous to the air to permit air to escape from the umbrella. The fabric may be secured to the opening of the cover's edge or to the surface of the cover. Preferably the fabric is on the underside of the cover 122. FIG. 14 shows the porous fabric in the form of a fold 123. FIG. 15 shows the opening with a mesh material protecting the opening. FIG. 17 shows the opening protected where the fabric is not secured to the edges of the cover but to the surface of the cover. Each of the arrangements shown in FIG. 11-16 the fabric could be positioned as seen in FIG. 17.

Claims

1. An umbrella that is less susceptible to wind damage comprising:

a frame, said frame comprising a rod having a lower end region and a length that extends from said lower end region to an upper end region, said rod having a handling area at said rod's lower end region, a plurality of arms connected to said upper end region of said rod at a first end of said plurality of aims, and a means for locking said arms in an expanded or a retracted position; and an umbrella cover connected to said umbrella frame, said umbrella cover having one or more gills that pass from the outer surface of said umbrella cover to the interior surface of said umbrella cover, said gills allowing for the release of air pressure cause by wind gusts that impact the umbrella, and

2. The umbrella according to claim 1 wherein said gills further comprise a flap portion positioned over each of said plurality of gills, said flap portion being raised when wind gusts blow into the umbrella to allow the wind gusts to flow through said gills and permit the release of air from said umbrella, said flap also preventing water from going through said plurality of gills.

3. The umbrella according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said gills is a slit in said cover.

4. The umbrella according to claim 2 wherein an air permeable material is positioned over each of said plurality of gills.

5. The umbrella according to claim 3 wherein said air permeable material is a mesh material.

6. The umbrella according to claim 1 wherein the locking means comprises a first spring loaded pin that extends outwardly from the lower end region of said rod and a second spring loaded pin that extends outwardly from the upper end region of said rod, said first pin and said second pin adapted to secure a ring that travels along the length of said rod, said ring attached to said first end of said arms and said ring causing said arms to expand and retract as said ring travels along said length of said rod.

7. The umbrella according to claim 1 wherein the handling area has a grip.

8. The umbrella according to claim 1 wherein the handling area has a hook.

9. An umbrella that is less susceptible to wind damage comprising:

a frame, said frame comprising a rod having a lower end region and a length that extends from said lower end region to an upper end region, said rod having a handling area at said rod's lower end region and said rod having an umbrella attaching end at said rod's upper end region, a front umbrella portion plurality of arms having a first section and a second section, wherein said first section of said front portion plurality of arms has a first end that connects to said upper end region of said rod and a second end that is pivotally connected to a first end of said second section of said front portion plurality of arms, said second section of said front portion plurality of arms extending downward from said connection with said first section of said front portion plurality of arms to a second end, a rear umbrella portion plurality of arms having a first section and a second section, wherein said first section of said rear portion plurality of arms has a first end that connects to said upper end region of said rod and a second end that is pivotally connected to a first end of said second section of said rear portion plurality of arms, said second section of said rear portion plurality of arms extending downward from said connection with said first section of said rear portion plurality of arms to a second end, and a means for locking said frame in an expanded or a retracted position; and

an umbrella cover connected to said frame, said umbrella cover comprising a front portion cover extending from said umbrella attaching end of said rod to a front portion base that extends perpendicularly from the same vertical plane as said umbrella frame rod, said front portion base being connected to said second end of said frame of said front portion second section's plurality of arms, said front portion base having about the same length as the distance of the umbrella frame rod from the horizontal plane formed by the umbrella cover to the point of extension between the umbrella cover front portion and the umbrella attaching end of said rod, said front portion of said umbrella cover forming a quarter sphere-like appearance; and a rear portion cover extending from said umbrella attaching end of said rod to a rear portion base, wherein said rear portion base extends perpendicularly from the same vertical plane as said umbrella frame rod, said length of said rear portion base at least about 1.5 times the length of said front portion base, said rear portion base being connected to said second end of said frame of said rear portion second section's plurality of arms, and where said front portion cover has a different shape than said rear portion cover.

10. The umbrella according to claim 9 wherein there are one or more gills that pass from the outer surface of said umbrella cover's front portion and said umbrella cover's rear portion to the interior surface of said front and rear cover portions, said gills allowing for the release of air pressure cause by wind gusts that impact the umbrella.

11. The umbrella according to claim 10 further comprising a flap portion positioned over each of said plurality of gills, said flap portion being raised when wind gusts blow into the umbrella to allow the wind gusts to flow through said plurality of gills and permit the release of air from said umbrella, said flap also preventing water from going through said plurality of gills.

12. The umbrella according to claim 11 wherein the umbrella has sides that extend further downwards than the front portion of the umbrella.

13. The umbrella according to claim 12 wherein said front portion of said umbrella includes a front panel and wherein at least a portion of said front panel has a transparent material.

14. The umbrella according to claim 13 wherein said transparent material is a clear plastic.

15. The umbrella according to claim 9 wherein the distance from said rod to a bottom front edge of said cover is less than the distance from said handle to a bottom rear edge of said cover.

16. The umbrella according to claim 15 wherein an arc formed by the outer surface of the front portion of said umbrella has a center point on said rod and the arc of said rear portion does not have a center point on said rod.

17. The umbrella according to claim 16 wherein the distance from said center point of said front portion to said bottom front edge of said front portion is the same as the distance from said center point to the top of said cover.

18. The umbrella according to claim 17 wherein the distance from said center point of said front portion to the top of said cover is less than the distance from said rod to said outer edge of said rear portion.

19. An umbrella that is less susceptible to wind damage comprising:

a frame, wherein said frame comprises a rod having a lower end region and a length that extends from said lower end region to an upper end region, said rod having a handling area at said rod's lower end region, a plurality of arms connected to said upper end region of said rod at a first end of said plurality of arms, and a means for locking said arms in an expanded or a retracted position; and

an umbrella cover connected to said umbrella frame, said umbrella cover having one or more gills that pass from the outer surface of said umbrella cover to the interior surface of said umbrella cover, said plurality of gills allowing for the release of air pressure cause by wind gusts that impact the umbrella, and an air permeable material positioned over each of said gills, said air permeable material allowing wind gusts to flow through said gills and permit the release of air from said umbrella, said air permeable material also preventing water from going through said plurality of gills.

20. The umbrella according to claim 19 wherein said air permeable material is a mesh material.