UMBRELLA

Abstract

An umbrella includes an umbrella portion, a central portion presented in the form a container for holding liquids extending to a neck portion for filling liquids and pouring liquids out from the container. The central portion is disposed inside the umbrella portion along a central axis. The neck portion of the central portion includes connectors to receive a cap in order to keep liquids from spilling out of the central portion. A cover portion is used to receive and secure the neck portion and the cap of the central portion. The umbrella includes a circular configuration or shape without limiting the scope of the present invention. The umbrella may include a non-circular or rectangular configuration or shape without limiting the scope of the present invention.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to umbrellas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various umbrellas have been known in the art to be used on the beach to protect from sun and rain. The art is replete with umbrellas having umbrella masts structurally combined with various containers. One of such prior art references is U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,213 to Patarra teaches a combination purse and umbrella in which the umbrella canopy collapses around a purse container at the base of the umbrella mast. Another reference, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,108 to Kenney teaches a beach umbrella having secured to its mast several rotatable utility compartments for storing beach equipment and having a base end stake for penetrating the ground.

Yet another reference such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,163 to Levesque, for example, teaches a portable table system including a pair of semi cylindrical containers secured face to face to define a complete cylinder which receives the mast of an umbrella and the upper surface of which functions as a table top. Other prior art reference teaches a sunshade supporting water container made up of two semicircular container halves hinged together along their lateral edges, each having a central longitudinal channel, for placing face to face to receive in the opposing channels the mast of an umbrella. Problems with all of these prior devices include that they do not provide a unified umbrella and ground piercing pointer which is removable from the container and do not provide wheel and handle transport means.

Alluding to the above, U.S. Pat. No. 6,374,839 to Patarra teaches a container apparatus for use in combination with an umbrella having an umbrella mast and umbrella canopy includes a food container having a container top wall, a container side wall and a container bottom wall together defining a container interior, with an umbrella mast passing port, a mast engaging structure, and a container interior access door; so that the umbrella mast of may be inserted into the mast passing port and advanced into the interior of the container and engaged by the mast engaging structure, thereby holding the umbrella mast upright relative to the container and so that the container stabilizes the umbrella, which can be opened over the container.

Alluding to the above, the container preferably is insulated against heat transfer between the container interior and the surrounding environment and the container top wall preferably is substantially horizontal when the container is upright and thereby functions as a table upon which a user can place food and drink items. The apparatus preferably additionally includes a pull handle on the container and at least one wheel rotatably mounted onto the container substantially opposite the pull handle so that the container wheel rolls on the ground as the pull handle is pulled by a user. The apparatus preferably still further includes a container stabilizing mechanism for keeping the umbrella from overbalancing the container and causing the container to tip over when the apparatus rests on a granular surface.

It is still another object of the present invention is to provide an umbrella, which can be used as a container for holding liquids or food items.

It is finally an object of the present invention to provide such an umbrella, which is simple in design, durable, easy to use and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These and other problems have been solved by the improved system and method described below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An umbrella of the present invention includes an umbrella portion, a central portion presented in the form a container for holding liquids extending to a neck portion for filling liquids and pouring liquids out from the container. The central portion is disposed inside the umbrella portion along a central axis. The neck portion of the central portion includes connectors to receive a cap in order to keep liquids from spilling out of the central portion. A cover portion is used to receive and secure the neck portion and the cap of the central portion. The cover portion includes an element that allows the user to carry the umbrella and a central tubular portion used to engage the cap of the central container. The central tubular portion has an outer surface and an inner surface wherein the inner surface defines a radial step to engage the cap of the central portion.

Alluding to the above, the central tubular portion includes a first portion that has a first thickness and a second portion that has a second thickness. The umbrella includes a circular configuration or shape without limiting the scope of the present invention. The umbrella may include a non-circular or rectangular configuration or shape without limiting the scope of the present invention. The umbrella can be form from polymeric, non polymeric materials and combination thereof.

An advantage of the present invention is to provide an umbrella that can be used to protect from sun and rain and as a container for storing liquids and using liquids during travel.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide an umbrella, which is simple in design, durable, easy to use and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other advantages and meritorious features of this invention will be more fully understood from the following description of the preferred embodiment, the appended claims, and the drawings, a brief description of which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an umbrella of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the umbrella; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross sectional view of the umbrella and a cap section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, wherein reference numerals indicate like or similar parts, an umbrella of the present invention is generally shown at 10 in FIGS. 1-3. The umbrella of the present invention includes a body, generally indicated at 12, an umbrella portion, generally indicated at 14, a central portion 16 presented in the form a container 20 for holding liquids extending to a neck portion 22 for filling liquids and pouring liquids out from the container 20.

The central portion 16 is disposed inside the umbrella portion 14 along a central axis A. The neck portion 22 of the central portion 16 includes connectors 26 to receive a cap 24 in order to keep liquids from spilling out of the central portion 16.

As best shown on FIGS. 2 and 3, a cover portion 18 is used to receive and secure the neck portion 22 and the cap 24 of the central portion 16. The cover portion 18 includes an element 42 that allows the user to carry the umbrella 10. The cover portion 18 includes a central tubular portion, generally indicated at 30. The central tubular portion 30 is used to engage the cap 24 of the container 20. The central tubular portion 30 has an outer surface 32 and an inner surface 34 wherein the inner surface 34 defines a radial step 38 to engage the cap 24 of the central portion 16. The central tubular portion 30 includes a first portion 36 that has a first thickness X and a second portion 40 that has a second thickness Y being different that the first thickness X.

The umbrella 10 includes a circular configuration or shape without limiting the scope of the present invention. The umbrella 10 may include a non-circular or rectangular configuration or shape without limiting the scope of the present invention. The umbrella 10 can be form from polymeric, non polymeric materials and combination thereof.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An umbrella comprising;

an umbrella portion device consisting of a circular canopy of cloth on a metal frame supported used as protection against rain and sun,

a central portion inside said umbrella portion device said central portion holding liquids extending to a neck portion for filling liquids and pouring liquids, said central portion disposed inside said umbrella portion device along a central axis A;

said neck portion receiving a cap to keep liquids from spilling out of said central tubular portion; and

a cover portion to receive and secure said neck portion and said cap of said central portion device portion, said cover portion including a central tubular portion to engage said cap and defining an outer surface and an inner surface wherein said inner surface includes a radial step to engage said cap, said central tubular portion including a first portion that has a first thickness and a second portion that has a second thickness being different that said first thickness.

2. (canceled)

3. The umbrella as set forth in claim 1, including a circular configuration.

4. The umbrella as set forth in claim 3, wherein said central portion and said cover portion are formed from polymeric, non polymeric materials and combination thereof.

5. (canceled)