U.S. patent application number 09/823178 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-16 for portable cooler apparatus with umbrella mounting means.
Invention is credited to Patarra, Samuel F..
Application Number | 20010013358 09/823178 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27405913 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010013358 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Patarra, Samuel F. |
August 16, 2001 |
Portable cooler apparatus with umbrella mounting means
Abstract
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.
Inventors: |
Patarra, Samuel F.; (Royal
Palm Beach, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OLTMAN, FLYNN & KUBLER
915 MIDDLE RIVER DRIVE
SUITE 415
FORT LAUDERDALE
FL
33304
US
|
Family ID: |
27405913 |
Appl. No.: |
09/823178 |
Filed: |
April 2, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09823178 |
Apr 2, 2001 |
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09317301 |
May 24, 1999 |
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6199570 |
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09823178 |
Apr 2, 2001 |
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09726189 |
Nov 29, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
135/16 ; 206/216;
206/427; 220/592.03 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 2023/0012 20130101;
A45B 2200/1054 20130101; A45B 3/00 20130101; B62B 2202/52 20130101;
B62B 2204/06 20130101; A45C 11/20 20130101; A45B 11/00
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/16 ; 206/216;
206/427; 220/592.03 |
International
Class: |
A45B 003/00; A45B
005/00 |
Claims
I claim as my invention:
1. A container apparatus for use in combination with an umbrella
having an umbrella mast and umbrella canopy, comprising: 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, mast engaging means, and a container
interior access door; such that the umbrella mast may be inserted
into said mast passing port and advanced into the interior of said
container and engaged by said mast engaging means, thereby holding
the umbrella mast upright relative to said container and such that
said container stabilizes the umbrella, which can be opened over
said container.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said container is insulated
against heat transfer between the container interior and the
surrounding environment.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said container bottom wall is
integral with said container side wall.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said container top wall is
substantially horizontal when said container is upright and thereby
functions as a table upon which a user can place food and drink
items.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a pull handle
on said container and at least one wheel rotatably mounted onto
said container substantially opposite said pull handle such that
said container wheel rolls on the ground as the pull handle is
pulled by a user.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said container is a
substantially rectangular box.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said mast engaging means
comprises a mast securing fitting connected to said container
bottom wall which includes an annular flange having an upright
tubular segment for receiving the lower end of said umbrella
mast.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a mast
retaining tube extending from said mast engaging means to said mast
passing port in said container top wall.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising container
stabilizing means for keeping the umbrella from overbalancing said
container and causing said container to tip over when said
apparatus rests on a granular support surface.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said stabilizing means
comprises: a pointer removably secured to the lower end of said
umbrella mast; and a pointer passing port in said container bottom
wall for passing said pointer completely through said container
such that said pointer projects downwardly out of said container
bottom wall and into the granular support surface.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, additionally comprising a depth
marking line on said mast for indicating a suggested pointer
insertion depth when said depth marking line registers with another
part of said apparatus.
12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said pointer comprises a
shaft having substantially the same diameter as the umbrella mast
and has a pointer lower end which is tapered for lower resistance
penetration into the ground.
13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said pointer has a pointer
upper end, and said pointer upper end has an upwardly protruding,
axial, externally threaded pointer bolt portion having a smaller
diameter than the diameter of the umbrella mast; and wherein the
mast lower end has an internally threaded axial mast bore for
threadedly receiving said pointer bolt portion to removably connect
said pointer to said umbrella mast.
14. The apparatus of claim 10, additionally comprising a port
closing door underneath the pointer passing port, so that the
pointer passing port can be closed to prevent mast passage.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said container top wall
comprises a top wall fixed section secured to said container side
wall and includes said mast passing port.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said top wall fixed section
comprises an elongate diametric strip passing over the middle of
said container and connected to said container side wall at
opposing points of said container side wall, additionally
comprising a container lid defining the remainder of said container
top wall and closing said container.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said top wall fixed section
is a diametric strip, and wherein first and second said container
lids are pivotally secured to opposing sides of said top wall fixed
section with hinge means and extend from said top wall fixed
section in opposite directions to meet upper end segments of said
container side wall, thereby completing said container top wall and
closing said container.
18. A container and umbrella apparatus, comprising: an umbrella
having an umbrella mast and umbrella canopy; 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 mast engaging means, and a container
interior access door; such that the umbrella mast may be inserted
into said mast passing port and advanced into the interior of said
container and engaged by said mast engaging means, thereby holding
the umbrella mast upright relative to said container and such that
said container stabilizes the umbrella, which can be opened over
said container.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said umbrella mast
comprises: a mast upper segment; and a mast lower segment separate
from said mast upper segment, said mast lower segment being tubular
and sized such that said mast upper segment telescopingly fits into
said mast lower segment to produce any of a variety of overall mast
heights as desired by the individual user; a cam lever locking
mechanism for releasibly locking said mast upper segment against
movement relative to said mast lower segment at the desired
telescoping position.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the upper end of said mast
lower segment comprises a cam lever opening and wherein cam lever
locking mechanism comprises a cam lever having an elongate lever
end for gripping and moving by hand and having a cam end perforated
by a fulcrum pin port and which fits into said cam lever opening in
said mast lower segment and comprises a cam lever pin passing
through said mast lower segment upper end, through said cam lever
opening and through said fulcrum pin port in said cam lever, such
that said cam lever pivots within said cam lever opening and said
cam end progressively protrudes into the interior of said mast
lower segment to varying degrees as said cam lever is pivoted and
thus progressively bears against and grips said mast upper
segment.
21. A container and umbrella apparatus, comprising: an umbrella
having an umbrella mast and umbrella canopy; a food container
having a container top wall, a container side wall and a container
bottom wall, with an umbrella mast passing port mast engaging
means, and a container interior access door; and container
stabilizing means for keeping the umbrella from overbalancing said
container and causing said container to tip over when said
apparatus rests on a granular support surface, said stabilizing
means comprising a pointer connected secured to the lower end of
said umbrella mast; and a pointer passing port in said container
bottom wall for passing said pointer completely through said
container such that said pointer projects downwardly out of said
container bottom wall and into the granular support surface; such
that the umbrella mast may be inserted into said mast passing port
and advanced into the interior of said container and engaged by
said mast engaging means, thereby holding the umbrella mast upright
relative to said container and such that said container stabilizes
the umbrella, which can be opened over said container.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said pointer is integral
with said umbrella mast.
23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said pointer is removably
secured to said umbrella mast.
24. A container apparatus for use in combination with an umbrella
having an umbrella mast and umbrella canopy, comprising: 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, mast engaging means, and a container
interior access door; a pull handle on said container and at least
one wheel rotatably mounted onto said container substantially
opposite said pull handle such that said container wheel rolls on
the ground as the pull handle is pulled by a user; such that the
umbrella mast may be inserted into said mast passing port and
advanced into the interior of said container and engaged by said
mast engaging means, thereby holding the umbrella mast upright
relative to said container and such that said container stabilizes
the umbrella, which can be opened over said container.
25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said container additionally
comprises at least one container partition wall dividing the
interior of said container into at least two interior regions.
26. The apparatus of claim 25, additionally comprising: an
adjustable table structure having a central table structure port
through which said mast passes; and releasable mast engaging
means.
27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said mast has a mast lower
end and an internally threaded mast axial bore at said mast lower
end, wherein said mast engaging means comprises a mast securing
fitting connected to said container bottom wall which includes an
annular flange having an externally threaded upright tubular
segment for screwing into said internally threaded mast axial
bore.
28. The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a mast
retaining tube extending around and upwardly from said mast
engaging means at least to said mast passing port in said container
top wall.
29. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said stabilizing means
comprises: a pointer having a penetrating pointer lower end and
having an engaging pointer upper end removably secured to said
mast; and a pointer passing port in said container bottom wall for
passing said pointer engaging end such that said pointer projects
downwardly out of said container bottom wall and into the granular
support surface.
30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein said pointer comprises a
shaft and wherein said penetrating pointer lower end is tapered for
minimized penetration resistance into the granular support surface.
Description
FILING HISTORY
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application
Ser. No. 09/317,301 filed on May 24, 1999, and a
continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/726,189 filed on
Nov. 29, 2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to the field of heat
insulated food containers commonly known as coolers. More
specifically the present invention relates to a portable cooler
apparatus which serves as a base for supporting an upright beach
umbrella. The portable cooler apparatus includes a food container
which is preferably insulated against heat transfer with the
surrounding environment, the container having a container top wall,
a container side wall and a container bottom wall preferably formed
integrally with the container side wall, the container top wall
having an umbrella mast passing port and the container bottom wall
having mast engaging means, such that the mast of an umbrella can
be inserted into the mast passing port and advanced into the
container interior and engaged by the mast engaging means, thereby
holding the umbrella upright relative to the container, and two
opposing container interior access container lids. The food
container optionally contains a partition wall dividing the
interior of the container into two regions which can be accessed
separately from corresponding interior access container lids. The
partition wall serves to segregate food items or to keep one region
cool while the other region is frequently opened. The container
acts as a stabilizing base for the umbrella, which can be opened
over the container, and the container top wall preferably functions
as a table on which the user can place food and drink items for
consumption. The mast of the umbrella is removably fitted into the
top of the container, and preferably extends into a mast receiving
tube secured within and extending above the container. An
adjustable table structure is optionally provided which includes a
table port through which the mast receiving tube passes. The table
structure support element releasibly engages the mast receiving
tube at any selected elevation to hold the table structure at a
convenient height. A pull handle is preferably provided on the
container side wall and a pair of wheels are preferably secured to
the lower end of the container side wall opposite the pull handle
so that the container can be pulled conveniently to its
destination. A ground anchoring pointer is optionally removably
secured to extend downwardly from the container.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] There previously have been beach umbrellas having umbrella
masts structurally combined with various containers. Patarra, U.S.
Pat. No. 5,823,213, issued on Oct. 20, 1998 discloses a combination
purse and umbrella in which the umbrella canopy collapses around a
purse container at the base of the umbrella mast. Kenney, U.S. Pat.
No. 5,143,108, issued on Sep. 1, 1992 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. Dolles, U.S. Pat. No. 892,813, issued on
Jul. 7, 1908 reveals a folding umbrella in which the handle at the
base of the mast is tubular and serves as a receptacle for the
folded body of the umbrella. Levesque, U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,163,
issued on May 23, 1989, discloses 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. French
patent number 91 09008 / 2 678 977 filed on Jul. 10 1991 by Guetta
teaches a portable container which may be insulated, and having a
vertical tubular member securely attached to and passing at least
partly through the container for receiving the lower end of an
umbrella mast. French patent 86 15303 / 2 606 063 filed on Oct. 31,
1986 by Rombi reveals 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, do not provide food
supporting table surfaces of selectable height and do not provide
wheel and handle transport means.
[0006] It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a
container apparatus which is designed to receive and hold upright
the mast of an umbrella such as a beach umbrella to form a
composite apparatus which can be disassembled to become
sufficiently compact to fit easily into the trunk of an
automobile.
[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide
such an apparatus which includes a food supporting table structure
of adjustable height for retaining food items retrieved from within
the container at an elevation for easy access depending, for
example, on the height of the user chair.
[0008] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide such an apparatus in which the container is heat insulated
to function as a cooler for food items and the container upper wall
functions as a table for placement of the food items during
consumption of the food items.
[0009] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
such an apparatus which is readily portable without lifting,
including a pull handle and wheels, and from which the umbrella can
be quickly and easily removed without tools.
[0010] It is finally an object of the present invention to provide
such an apparatus which is simple in design, durable, easy to use
and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention accomplishes the above-stated
objectives, as well as others, as may be determined by a fair
reading and interpretation of the entire specification.
[0012] A container apparatus is provided for use in combination
with an umbrella having an umbrella mast and umbrella canopy,
including 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 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.
[0013] The container preferably is insulated against heat transfer
between the container interior and the surrounding environment. The
container bottom wall preferably is integral with the container
side wall. 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 container may be a substantially rectangular box.
[0014] The mast engaging structure preferably includes a mast
securing fitting connected to the container bottom wall which
includes an annular flange having an upright tubular segment for
receiving the lower end of the umbrella mast. The apparatus
preferably additionally includes a mast retaining tube extending
from the mast engaging structure to the mast passing port in the
container top wall.
[0015] 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. The stabilizing mechanism
preferably includes a pointer removably secured to the lower end of
the umbrella mast; and a pointer passing port in the container
bottom wall for passing the pointer completely through the
container so that the pointer projects downwardly out of the
container bottom wall and into the granular surface. The apparatus
preferably additionally includes a depth marking line on the
umbrella mast for indicating a suggested pointer insertion depth
when the depth marking line registers with another part of the
apparatus.
[0016] The pointer preferably includes a shaft having substantially
the same diameter as the umbrella mast and has a pointer lower end
which is tapered for lower resistance penetration into the ground.
The pointer has a pointer upper end, and the pointer upper end
preferably has an upwardly protruding, axial, externally threaded
pointer bolt portion having a smaller diameter than the diameter of
the umbrella mast; and the mast lower end has an internally
threaded axial mast bore for threadedly receiving the pointer bolt
portion to removably connect the pointer to the umbrella mast. The
apparatus preferably still further includes a port closing door
underneath the pointer passing port, such that the pointer passing
port can be closed to prevent mast passage.
[0017] The container top wall preferably includes a top wall fixed
section secured to the container side wall and includes the mast
passing port. Wherein the top wall fixed section preferably
includes an elongate diametric strip passing over the middle of the
container and connected to the container side wall at opposing
points of the container side wall, the apparatus preferably
additionally includes a container lid defining the remainder of the
container top wall and closing the container. Where the top wall
fixed section is a diametric strip, the first and second container
lids are pivotally secured to opposing sides of the top wall fixed
section with hinges and extend from the top wall fixed section in
opposite directions to meet upper end segments of the container
side wall, thereby completing the container top wall and closing
the container.
[0018] A container and umbrella apparatus is provided, including an
umbrella having an umbrella mast and umbrella canopy; 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 mast engaging structure, and a
container interior access door; so that the umbrella mast 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.
[0019] The umbrella mast preferably includes a mast upper segment;
and a mast lower segment separate from the mast upper segment, the
mast lower segment being tubular and sized so that the mast upper
segment telescopingly fits into the mast lower segment to produce
any of a variety of overall mast heights as desired by the
individual user; a cam lever locking mechanism for releasibly
locking the mast upper segment against movement relative to the
mast lower segment at the desired telescoping position.
[0020] The upper end of the mast lower segment preferably includes
a cam lever opening and the cam lever locking mechanism preferably
includes a cam lever having an elongate lever end for gripping and
moving by hand and having a cam end perforated by a fulcrum pin
port and which fits into the cam lever opening in the mast lower
segment and includes a cam lever pin passing through the mast lower
segment upper end, through the cam lever opening and through the
fulcrum pin port in the cam lever, so that the cam lever pivots
within the cam lever opening and the cam end progressively
protrudes into the interior of the mast lower segment to varying
degrees as the cam lever is pivoted and thus progressively bears
against and grips the mast upper segment.
[0021] The container preferably additionally includes at least one
container partition wall dividing the interior of the container
into at least two interior regions. The apparatus preferably
additionally includes an adjustable table structure having a
central table structure port through which the mast passes; and
releasable mast engaging means. The mast has a mast lower end and
preferably has an internally threaded mast axial bore at the mast
lower end, and the mast engaging mechanism preferably includes a
mast securing fitting connected to the container bottom wall which
includes an annular flange having an externally threaded upright
tubular segment for screwing into the internally threaded mast
axial bore. The apparatus preferably additionally includes a mast
retaining tube extending around and upwardly from the mast engaging
mechanism at least to the mast passing port in the container top
wall.
[0022] The stabilizing structure preferably includes a pointer
having a penetrating pointer lower end and having an engaging
pointer upper end removably secured to the mast; and a pointer
passing port in the container bottom wall for passing the pointer
engaging end so that the pointer projects downwardly out of the
container bottom wall and into the granular support surface. The
pointer preferably includes a shaft and the penetrating pointer
lower end is tapered for minimized penetration resistance into the
granular support surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] Various other objects, advantages, and features of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the
following discussion taken in conjunction with the following
drawings, in which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of
the apparatus, shown with the umbrella canopy open, and revealing
in broken lines the interior of the container and the pointer
protruding downwardly into a granular support surface. A beverage
glass is shown on top of the container top wall.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a view generally as in FIG. 1 with the umbrella
canopy closed and the pointer omitted.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the apparatus container
with one of the two opposing lids open, revealing the lower segment
of the mast retaining tube and the mast engaging means.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the apparatus
container, showing the mast passing port in the container bottom
wall with a one piece mast shown in broken lines passing through
the container and the pointer portion extending out of the bottom
of the container through the mast passing port. An interior access
door or container lid is shown in its open position adjacent the
mast passing port which is slidable on parallel tracks.
[0028] FIG. 5 is a broken away perspective view of the pointer and
the mast lower segment lower end, showing the externally threaded
pointer bolt portion positioned for engaging insertion into the
internally threaded axial mast bore.
[0029] FIG. 6 is a broken away side view of telescoping upper and
lower mast segments, and of the cam lever locking mechanism,
showing details of the cam lever as its cam end bears against and
engages the mast upper segment.
[0030] FIG. 7 is a side view of an optional unified mast and
pointer combination for substitution for a mast without a pointer
when placing the apparatus on a granular surface.
[0031] FIG. 8 is an end view of the food container showing the
unified mast and pointer of FIG. 7 with the optional pointer
rotating handle passing fitted through the handle pin port with the
second handle grip positioned for fitting onto the protruding end
of the handle pin, so that the handle can be gripped with two hands
to rotate the mast and pointer to burrow the pointer in the
ground.
[0032] FIG. 9 is a perspective side view of the second embodiment
of the apparatus having the optional adjustable table
structure.
[0033] FIG. 10 is a close-up of the apparatus of FIG. 9 with the
umbrella mast broken away.
[0034] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional side view of the middle part of
the food container showing details of the mast securing fitting and
how the mast retaining tube and mast are secured to the mast
securing fitting.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0035] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention
are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which
may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural
and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted
as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a
representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to
variously employ the present invention in virtually any
appropriately detailed structure.
[0036] Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like
characteristics and features of the present invention shown in the
various FIGURES are designated by the same reference numerals.
First Preferred Embodiment
[0037] Referring to FIGS. 1-8, a cooler apparatus 10 is disclosed
including a food container 20 which is preferably insulated against
heat transfer with the surrounding environment, the container 20
having a container top wall 22, a container side wall 24 and a
container bottom wall 26 preferably formed integrally with
container side wall 24, the container top wall 22 having an
umbrella mast passing port 32 and the container bottom wall 26
having mast engaging means 34, such that the mast 42 of an umbrella
40 can be inserted into the mast passing port 32 and advanced into
the container 20 interior and engaged by the mast engaging means
34, thereby holding the umbrella 40 upright relative to the
container 20, and the container 20 further having a container
interior access door or container lid 28. Container 20 acts as a
stabilizing base for the umbrella 40, which can be opened over
container 20, and the container top wall 22 preferably functions as
a table on which the user can place food and drink items I for
consumption.
[0038] A pull handle 52 is preferably provided on the container
side wall 24 and a pair of wheels 54 are preferably secured to the
lower end of the container side wall 24 opposite the pull handle 52
so that the container 20 can be pulled conveniently to its
destination. An example of a suitable container 20 is a wheeled
cooler made by COLEMAN.TM.. Container 20 may be a rectangular box,
or may take any other suitable configuration. The optional
container 20 insulation may be provided by a conventional double
wall containing an air gap, or by fabrication from an insulating
foam.
[0039] The mast engaging means 34 preferably includes a mast
securing fitting in the form of an annular flange 36 having an
upright tubular segment 38 for receiving the mast 42. See FIG. 3.
Screw fasteners 36a preferably pass through annular flange 36 and
into the container bottom wall 26. It is preferred that a mast
retaining tube 60 be secured to and extend from the mast engaging
means 34 through the mast passing port 32 in the container top wall
22, and protrude a certain distance above container top wall
22.
[0040] Stabilizing means 70 are added to keep the umbrella 40 from
overbalancing the apparatus 10 and tipping it over on a sand or
soil surface S. Stabilizing means 70 include a spike or pointer 72
which is removably secured to the mast 42 lower end, and a pointer
passing port 74 in the container bottom wall 26 at the location of
the mast engaging means 34 for passing the pointer 72 completely
through container 20 so that pointer 72 projects downwardly and out
of the container bottom wall 26 and into the sand or soil. A
pointer rotating handle 84 is provided which includes a handle pin
86 projecting from a handle grip 88, and a handle pin port 86a
through mast 42 through which handle pin 86 is removably fitted so
that handle grip 88 projects. See FIG. 8. A second handle grip 88
is preferably removably fitted over the end of handle pin 86
protruding through mast 42. Then both handle grips 88 are gripped
by user hands and are used as levers to rotate mast 42 so that
pointer rotates and burrows into a granular surface beneath
apparatus 10. A set screw 82 is preferably screwed radially into
and through a threaded retaining tube 60 set screw port to either
abut and frictionally engage the umbrella mast 42 or to screw into
a registering, threaded umbrella mast 42 port to releasibly retain
the umbrella mast 42 within retaining tube 60. A depth marking line
L is provided on the mast 42 which indicates the optimum pointer 72
insertion depth when the depth marking line L registers with the
upper edge of the mast retaining tube 60, or where tube 60 is
omitted, with the upper edge of the mast passing port 32 in the
container top wall 22. When the depth marking line L thus
registers, the pointer 72 is fully inserted into the ground. The
pointer 72 preferably is a shaft having the same diameter as the
umbrella mast 42 and has a pointed lower end 72a. The pointer 72
upper end has an upwardly protruding, axial, externally threaded
pointer bolt portion 78 of smaller diameter than the mast 42 at the
pointer 72 upper end, and the mast 42 lower end has an internally
threaded axial mast bore 76 to threadedly receive the pointer bolt
portion 78 to removably connect the pointer 72 to the mast 42. A
port closing door 80 is preferably provided underneath the pointer
passing port 74, so that the pointer passing port 74 can be closed
to prevent mast 40 passage.
[0041] The umbrella 40 may be of conventional construction, and may
be purchased separately from the apparatus 10 from an existing line
of outdoor or beach umbrellas. Alternatively, the umbrella 40 may
be of the general design disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,213
issued on Oct. 20, 1998 to the present applicant.
[0042] The umbrella mast 42 optionally includes a mast upper
segment 46 and a separate mast lower segment 48, which are tubular
and sized so that the mast upper segment 46 telescopingly fits into
the mast lower segment 48 to any of a variety of overall mast 42
lengths heights as desired by the individual user and as dictated
by the circumstances of the given use. A cam lever locking
mechanism 90 is preferably provided to releasibly lock the mast
upper segment 46 against movement relative to the mast lower
segment 48 at any desired telescoping position. See FIG. 6. Cam
lever locking mechanism 90 includes a cam lever 92 has an elongate
lever end 92a for gripping and moving by hand and has a cam end 92b
perforated by a fulcrum pin port and which fits into a cam lever
opening 94 in the mast lower segment upper end. A cam lever pin 96
passes through the mast lower segment 48 upper end, through the cam
lever opening 94 and through the aligned fulcrum pin port in the
cam end 92b, so that the cam lever 92 pivots within the cam lever
opening 94 and the cam end 92b progressively protrudes into the
interior of the mast lower segment 48 to varying degrees as the cam
lever 92 is pivoted. The mast upper segment 46 is fitted into the
mast lower segment 48 when the cam lever 92 is pivoted to a
position at which the cam end 92b protrudes either not at all or
minimally into the mast lower segment 48 interior, and when the
mast upper segment 46 is telescoped to its desired position
relative to the mast lower segment 48, the cam lever 92 is pivoted
to protrude progressively further into the mast lower segment 48
interior to abut the mast upper segment 46 with progressive force
until a firm friction engagement with the mast upper segment 46 is
achieved. The mast upper segment 46 is subsequently released by
pivoting the cam lever 92 in the opposite direction.
[0043] Pointer 72 is described above as a detachable element from
mast 42. Yet it is also contemplated that pointer 72 may be an
integral part of umbrella mast 42. Where umbrella mast 42 has a
detachable upper and lower mast segments 46 and 48, a lower mast
segment 48 having no pointer 72 portion is provided for use on
solid surfaces and a second lower mast segment 48 having an
integral pointer 72 is provided for use on granular support
surfaces. See FIG. 4. Still alternatively, mast 42 may be provided
as a single integral piece including pointer 72.
[0044] The container top wall 22 preferably includes a top wall
fixed section 22a secured to the container side wall 24 includes
the mast passing port 32. The top wall fixed section 22a is
preferably an elongate diametric strip passing over the middle of
container 20 and secured to or integrally formed with the container
side wall 24 at opposing points of the side wall 24. Container lid
28 forms the remainder of the container top wall 22 and closes the
container 20. Where the fixed section 22a is a diametric strip,
first and second container lids 28a and 28b, respectively, are
pivotally secured to opposing sides of the fixed section 22a with
hinges 22b and extend from fixed section 22a in opposite directions
to meet side wall 24, thereby completing container top wall 22 and
closing container 20.
Method
[0045] When apparatus 10 is to be used on a hard or paved surface,
the port closing door 80 is closed and the pointer 72 is removed
from the mast 42. Then the mast 42 is fitted through the mast
passing port 74 and into the mast engaging means 34, so that the
mast 42 lower end abuts and is supported by port closing door 80.
When apparatus 10 is to be used on a sand or soil surface S, the
port closing door 80 is preferably opened and the pointer 72
attached to the mast 42, as described. When container 20 is in its
desired location for use, the combined pointer 72 and mast 42 are
slid downwardly through the mast passing port 32 and the pointer 72
is slid further downwardly through the pointer passing port 74 and
into the ground until the depth marking line L registers with the
upper edge of the mast passing port 32.
Second Preferred Embodiment
[0046] The second embodiment is like the first, with the following
exceptions. The pointer 72 is secured to the mast securing fitting
rather than to the mast 42 lower end. The port closing door 80 is
eliminated. See FIG. 11. The mast 42 is secured to tubular segment
38. The mast 42 lower end contains a mast axial bore 42a having
axial bore internal threads 42b, and the mast securing fitting
tubular segment 38 has tubular segment external threads 38a, and
the mast axial bore 42a and the tubular segment 38 are sized in
diameter such that the mast axial bore internal threads 42b
removably screw onto the tubular segment external threads 38a.
Retaining tube 60 is optionally provided, and is fitted within a
retaining tube mounting flange 60a to encircle and be radially
spaced from tubular segment 38 a sufficient distance to pass the
mast 42.
[0047] The first and second embodiments each may include a
partition wall 102 within container 20 dividing the interior of
container 20 into two regions which can be independently accessed
from a corresponding one of the two container lids 28a and 28b. See
FIG. 11. In this way, partition wall 102 segregates food items or
keeps one region cool while the other region is open. The mast 42
or tube 60 pass through a slot in or are integral with the
partition wall 102.
[0048] The first and second embodiments also may each include an
adjustable table structure 110 which takes the form of a table
panel 112 having a mast passing table port and mast engaging table
structure support means 114. See FIGS. 9 and 10. Table panel 112
encircles mast 42 above container 20 and may have any desired
perimeter shape, including but not limited to circular, square,
rectangular, hexagonal or octagonal. The mast engaging table
structure support means 114 preferably includes what are known in
the plumbing field as compression fittings 114 which encircle and
are slidable along the mast 42 or the mast retaining tube 60 and
which have external tubular portions which are rotated axially
about the mast 42 in one direction to grip the mast 42 and rotated
about the mast 42 in the other direction to release the mast 42.
Thus table panel 112 and a compression fitting 114 below table
panel 112 are slid upwardly or downwardly along mast 42 or tube 60
to the desired height for table structure 110, and then the
compression fitting 114 is operated to engage the mast 42 and
thereby support table panel 112 at the selected elevation. A second
compression fitting 114 is preferably provided above table panel
112 for bearing downwardly on the fixed table panel 112 and then
operated to engage the mast 42.
[0049] For either embodiment, the container 20 may have any of
several lateral perimeter shapes, including but not limited to
square, rectangular, circular, hexagonal, octagonal or triangular.
Lid gripping handles 122 are optionally provided.
[0050] While the invention has been described, disclosed,
illustrated and shown in various terms or certain embodiments or
modifications which it has assumed in practice, the scope of the
invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be,
limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may
be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved
especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims
here appended.
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