U.S. patent application number 10/305907 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-27 for inflatable umbrella.
Invention is credited to Chang, Yuan-Fu.
Application Number | 20040099296 10/305907 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32325558 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040099296 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chang, Yuan-Fu |
May 27, 2004 |
Inflatable umbrella
Abstract
An inflatable umbrella includes a panel and a plurality of
inflatable ribs made of soft material connected to an underside of
the panel. An inflatable handle made of soft material is connected
to the underside of the panel. The inflatable handle is connected
with the inflatable ribs. One of the inflatable ribs has an inlet.
The umbrella can be folded into a thin layer when not in use. In
addition, a circular rib formed under the panel is flexible and its
diameter is changeable, so the umbrella can be mounted to different
user's heads with similar sizes.
Inventors: |
Chang, Yuan-Fu; (Feng Yuan
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES E. BAXLEY, ESQUIRE
Hart, Baxley, Daniels & Holton
59 John St, 5 Fl
New York
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
32325558 |
Appl. No.: |
10/305907 |
Filed: |
November 27, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/20.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 19/02 20130101;
A45B 11/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/020.2 |
International
Class: |
A45B 019/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An inflatable umbrella comprising: a panel made of water proof
material; a plurality of inflatable ribs made of soft material and
connected to an underside of the panel, the inflatable ribs
connected with one another and one of the inflatable ribs having an
inlet; and an inflatable handle made of soft material and connected
to the underside of the panel, the inflatable handle connected with
the inflatable ribs and being able to be held or mounted to
head.
2. The inflatable umbrella as claimed in 1, wherein branch pipes
are connected between the inflatable ribs and the inflatable handle
with their first ends to connect to the inflatable ribs and with
theirs second ends to connect to the inflatable handle.
3. The inflatable umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein a
circular inflatable rib is formed around the periphery of the panel
and connects with each of the inflatable ribs.
4. The inflatable umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein a
plurality of circular inflatable ribs are formed underside and
around the panel and connects with each of the inflatable ribs.
5. The inflatable umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
inflatable handle comprises two supporting pipes and a circular
inflatable rib, a first end of the supporting pipe is connected to
the inflatable ribs, and the circular inflatable rib is connected
to the second end of the supporting pipe, the circular inflatable
rib is flexible.
6. The inflatable umbrella as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
periphery of the circular inflatable rib has a ribbon formed
thereon.
7. The inflatable umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein each
inflatable rib is isolated from the inflatable handle by heating,
each of the inflatable ribs and the inflatable handle has an
inlet.
8. The inflatable umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein each
inflatable rib is isolated from the inflatable handle by sewing,
each of the inflatable ribs and the inflatable handle has an
inlet.
9. The inflatable umbrella as claimed in claim 5, wherein each
inflatable rib is isolated from the inflatable handle by heating,
each of the inflatable ribs and the inflatable handle has an
inlet.
10. The inflatable umbrella as claimed in claim 5, wherein each
inflatable rib is isolated from the inflatable handle by sewing,
each of the inflatable ribs and the inflatable handle has an inlet.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an umbrella, and in
particularly to an inflatable umbrella which includes a panel with
a plurality of inflatable ribs and an inflatable handle connected
thereto.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A conventional umbrella generally includes a panel with a
plurality of ribs connected to an underside thereof and a shaft is
connected to a center of the panel. A runner that is movably
mounted to the shaft and a plurality of stretchers are pivotably
connected between the runner and the ribs so that when pushing the
runner toward the center of the panel, the panel is expanded by the
ribs. Although some umbrellas have a retractable shaft so that the
umbrella can be folded into a compact size, most of the users do
not take the umbrella with them because the folded umbrellas still
occupy a certain amount space and is not easy to carry. In
addition, the conventional umbrella only can be expanded by with
one hand holding the handle and another hand pushing the runner,
accordingly it is inconvenient for users when carrying goods in
hand. For manufacturers, the assembly for the umbrellas is
complicated and costs too much. In this case, there are some other
conventional umbrellas with a circular rib under panel to mount the
umbrella on the user's head, but it only can fit a fixed size head
because the circular rib is not flexible, furthermore, the user
will feel uncomfortable after long time of being pressed by the
circular rib.
[0003] The present invention has arisen to mitigate the
afore-described disadvantages of the conventional umbrella.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention,
there is provided an inflatable umbrella which comprises a panel
with a plurality of inflatable ribs connected to an underside of
the panel. An inflatable handle is connected to the underside of
the panel and one of the inflatable ribs has an inlet.
[0005] The primary object of the invention is to provide a light
and foldable inflatable umbrella which is convenient to be carried
and occupies only a small space.
[0006] Another object of the invention is to provide an inflatable
umbrella with a flexible circular inflatable rib, which can be
mounted to different heads with similar size.
[0007] The present invention will become more obvious from the
following description when taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings which shown, for purposes of illustration
only, eight preferred embodiments in accordance with the present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view to show the first preferred
embodiment of the inflatable umbrella of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a bottom view to show the first preferred
embodiment of the inflatable umbrella of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 shows the handle of the umbrella is held by a
user.
[0011] FIG. 4 shows the umbrella is folded into a thin layer.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a side cross sectional view to show the second
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a side cross sectional view of the umbrella of the
present invention for the third preferred embodiment FIG. 7 is a
side cross sectional view to show the fourth preferred embodiment
of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 8 is an elevational view, partly in section, to show
the fifth preferred embodiment of the umbrella of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the umbrella of the present
invention to show the umbrella is mounted to a user's head.
[0016] FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the umbrella of the
present invention to show the umbrella is mounted to a user's
head.
[0017] FIG. 11 is a side cross sectional view to show the seventh
preferred embodiment of the umbrella of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 12 is an elevational view, partly in section, to show
the eighth preferred embodiment of the umbrella in accordance with
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the inflatable umbrella of the
present invention comprises a panel 1 made of water proof material,
a plurality of inflatable ribs 2 made of soft material are
connected to an underside of the panel 1 and an inflatable handle 3
made of soft material is connected to the underside of the panel 1.
The after-expanded size of the panel 1 is large enough to cover the
shoulders of a user, and the panel 1 can be folded into a very thin
layer. Each inflatable ribs 2 and the inflatable handle 3 connect
with one another. One of the inflatable ribs 2 has an inlet 21 so
that air may be introduced into the inflatable ribs 2 and the
inflatable handle 3. The inlet 21 of the inflatable rib 2 allows
air to enter into an inside of the inflatable ribs 2 and not to
release. When air is introduced into the inflatable ribs 2 and the
inflatable handle 3, the panel 1 is expanded and the user can hold
the handle 3.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 4, when the umbrella is not in use, the
air is expelled out from the inlet 21 by compressing the inlet 21
and the inflatable ribs 2 and the inflatable handle 3 can be folded
with the panel 1 into a thin layer which is easily to be carried
and occupies a very small space.
[0021] FIG. 5 is the second embodiment of the present invention.
Branch pipes 31 are connected between the inflatable ribs 2 and the
inflatable handle 3 with their first ends to connect to the
inflatable ribs 2 and with theirs second ends to connect to the
inflatable handle 3, so that the umbrella is strengthened.
[0022] FIG. 6 is the third embodiment of the present invention. A
circular inflatable rib 4 is formed around the periphery of the
panel 1 so as to increase a tension of the panel 1
[0023] FIG. 7 is the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
Three circular inflatable ribs 4 are formed underside and around
the panel 1 so as to increase the tension of the panel 1.
[0024] FIGS. 8 and 9 are the fifth embodiment of the present
invention. The inflatable handle 3 comprises two supporting pipes
32 and a circular inflatable rib 33. A first end of the supporting
pipe 32 is connected to the inflatable ribs 2, and the circular
inflatable rib 33 is connected to the second end of the supporting
pipe 32. The circular inflatable rib 33 is flexible, so it can be
mounted to different user's heads with similar sizes.
[0025] In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, A ribbon 34 passes through
the circular inflatable rib 33 to prevent the umbrella is over
mounted to users' head.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the inflatable handle 3 and
each inflatable ribs 2 are isolated from one another by heating or
sewing, each of the inflatable handle 3 and the inflatable ribs 2
has an inlet 22, 35 so that the umbrella still can be used even if
when one or two of the ribs is broken.
[0027] While we have shown and described various embodiments in
accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those
skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
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