UMBRELLA APPARATUS

Abstract

An umbrella that is constructed with a portion that takes the appearance of the crown of a hat and another portion which takes the appearance of the brim of a hat.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

An umbrella apparatus is disclosed that includes a raised interior cover, a substantially horizontal outer cover, and optional fabric wall that extends around the perimeter. The wall may be formed from porous material which permits drainage of water off the umbrella cover. The umbrella can then be in the form of a hat with the interior cover forming the crown of the hat, the outer cover forming the brim of the hat and the wall forming an upturned edge of the brim of the hat.

REFERENCE TO RELATED ART

Umbrellas have been used in connection with patio furniture for many years, and have likely been available for personal use even longer. However, configurations that deviate from the traditional “dome” shaped umbrella are less well known. One reason for this is that new umbrella configurations may be less efficient at protecting the user from the weather. Another consideration is that new designs may be more difficult to manufacture. Therefore, it would be advantageous to have an umbrella apparatus that may allow a user to adopt more innovative umbrella shapes for use in marketing and advertising or the like while still retaining the principal functions of the umbrella.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will be made infra to drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of an embodiment of an umbrella apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a planar side view of the umbrella apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a planar top view of the umbrella apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a planar bottom view of the umbrella apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of the umbrella apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the top notch assembly of the umbrella apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the runner assembly of the umbrella apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the umbrella apparatus of FIG. 1 with the cover partially collapsed;

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the umbrella apparatus of FIG. 1 with the cover fully collapsed; and

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the umbrella apparatus with the cover fully extended and excluding a perimeter wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The umbrella apparatus of the present invention includes a tube or support, a top notch mounted at or proximate an end (i.e., top) of the tube, and a runner movably mounted to the tube and spaced apart from the top notch. A plurality of stretchers may be pivotably secured to the runner, with each stretcher extending radially horizontally or nearly horizontally (i.e., between 0 and 10 degree) outwardly from the runner. A plurality of ribs, equal in number to the stretchers, may also be provided with each rib being pivotably secured at one end to the top notch and pivotably secured at an opposite end to a separate stretcher. The cover of the apparatus may include an interior cover that extends over the ribs of the apparatus. Likewise, an outer cover may extend from a point of overlap with the interior cover (e.g., where the ribs engage the stretchers) to a point at or proximate the opposite end of the stretcher. A perimeter wall may also be formed around the perimeter of the umbrella that may be supported by the vertically extending or curved end portions of each stretcher. The wall may be formed using porous material, while a nonporous material is used to construct the cover.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, the umbrella apparatus 10 includes a tube or support 12, a top notch 14 mounted at or proximate an upper end (i.e., top) of the tube 12, and a runner 16 movably mounted to the tube 12 and spaced apart from the top notch 14. A plurality of stretchers 18 may be pivotably secured to the runner 16, with each stretcher 18 extending radially horizontally or nearly horizontally (i.e., between 0 and 10 degree) outwardly from the runner 16. A plurality of ribs 20, equal in number to the stretchers 18, are provided with each rib 20 being pivotably secured at one end 22 to the top notch 14 and pivotably secured at an opposite end 24 to a separate stretcher 18.

Still referring to FIG. 5 a cover 26 of the apparatus preferably includes an interior cover 28 that extends over the ribs 20 of the apparatus 10. Likewise, an outer cover 30 may extend from a point of overlap 32 with the interior cover 28 (e.g., where the ribs engage the stretchers) to a point 34 at or proximate the opposite end of the stretcher. A perimeter wall 36 may also be formed around the perimeter of the apparatus 10 that is supported by vertically extending or curved end portions 38 of each stretcher 18. The wall 36 may be formed using porous material, while a nonporous material is used to construct the cover 26.

As best shown in FIGS. 5-9, the tube 12 may be a cylindrical aluminum tube 12 having a diameter in a range of 1 and 3 inches. A hand crank assembly 40 is provided along the length of the tube 12, with a cable 42 being positioned in the interior 44 of the tube 12 and attached to the crank 40. As shown, the cable 42 may exit the tube 12 interior through an aperture 46 located proximate the top notch 14 and with an opposite end secured to the runner 16.

Referring now to FIG. 7, an annular channel 47 extends around the runner 16 with a plurality of uniformly spaced openings 48 that radiate outwardly from the channel 47. An end 50 of each stretcher 18 may be pivotably secured to a ring 52, and the ring 52 positioned in the channel 47 so that each stretcher 18 may extend through one of the openings 48. A lid 54 may also be provided that is positioned over a top 56 of the runner 16 and functions to retain the ring 52 and the stretchers 18 within the channel 47. In addition, the runner 16 may include an annular grip 58 that may extend from an underside 60 of the runner 16 and function as a handhold for a user when opening or closing of the cover 26.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the top notch 14 of the apparatus 10 may be substantially similar in construction to the runner 16 with the exception that the top notch 14 does not include a grip 58. Accordingly, as shown, an end 22 of each rib 20 may be pivotably secured to a ring 64, with the ring 64 being positioned in a channel 66 so that each rib 20 may extend through one of several openings 68 of the top notch 14. However, unlike the runner 16, the ring 64 and ribs 20 of the top notch 14 may be retained in the channel 66 by the material of the interior cover 28 which is secured to the apex 70 of the apparatus 10 by a cap 72 that is securable to the end or top 74 of the tube 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, 8 and 9, each stretcher 18 may include one of the vertically extending or curved end portions 38 that functions as a rib or support for the perimeter wall 36. As mentioned supra, the perimeter wall 36 may be formed from a mesh or like porous material so that water collected by the cover 26 may drain from the edge of the cover 26.

Referring now to FIG. 10, an alternative embodiment of the umbrella apparatus 10 is shown that does not include a perimeter wall 36.

The ribs 20, which extend downwardly from the top notch 14 to engage the stretchers 18, may be configured into a variety of shapes. For example, as shown, the ribs 20 may be configured so that the interior cover 28 has the outward appearance of a cone. Moreover, when combined with the horizontal arrangement of stretchers 18, the entire apparatus 10 when covered may take on the outward appearance of a hat with the ribs 20 and the interior cover 28 forming the crown of the hat and the stretchers 18 and the outer cover 30 forming the brim of the hat. Indeed, as shown in FIG. 10, the look of a hat (e.g., here a “witches” hat) may be modified through variation in the length and configuration of the ribs 20, and through adjustment of the attachment point of the ribs 20 with the stretchers 18.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-9 and with the curved ends 38 and the cover 36 a hat with an outer upwardly curved end is formed so that the umbrella ca n take on the appearance of a sombrero.

FIGS. 1-5 show the umbrella of the present invention in an open position with the stretchers 18 in a substantially horizontal position. FIG. 9 shows the umbrella of the present invention in a collapsed position in which the stretchers 18 and the ribs 20 are in a substantially vertical position adjacent the support 12. FIG. 8 shows the umbrella in an intermediate position between an open position and a closed position.

Having thus described various embodiments of the umbrella apparatus, various other embodiments will become apparent to those of skill in the art that do not depart from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An umbrella comprising;

a substantially vertically extending support,

a plurality of stretchers pivotally and axially carried on said tubular support,

a plurality of ribs pivotally attached to and extending from the top of said tubular support with each of said ribs respectively pivotally attached to one of said stretchers at a point intermediate the ends of said stretcher whereby said ribs and said stretchers are movable toward and away from said support to move said umbrella between an open position in which said stretchers are substantially horizontal to a collapsed position in which said ribs and said stretchers are adjacent said support and substantially vertical; and

each of said ribs having an upper portion attached to said support, said upper portion extending substantial horizontally a short distance and then curved downwardly toward one of said stretchers whereby said ribs and said stretchers take the form of a hat in the open position of the umbrella.

2. The umbrella as defined in claim 1 and including an interior cover covering said ribs.

3. The umbrella as defined in claim 2 and including an outer cover covering said stretchers from a point at the juncture of said ribs and said stretchers to the ends of said stretchers.

4. (canceled)

5. The umbrella as defined in claim 7 and in which said stretchers are substantially horizontal with the umbrella in the open position and in which said stretchers are provided with upwardly curved end portions with said outer cover attached to said end portions with the end portions and the outer cover taking the form of an upwardly extending edge of the brim of a hat.

6. The umbrella as defined in claim 3 including a runner slidably axially attached to said support; said ribs pivotally connected to said runner.

7. The umbrella as defined in claim 3 and in which said interior cover with said ribs forms the crown and the top of a hat and the outer cover with said stretchers forms the brim of the hat.

8. The umbrella as defined in claim 5 and including a mesh portion formed in said outer cover adjacent said upwardly extending edge of the brim of the hat.