U.S. patent application number 10/649357 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-17 for umbrella gizmo.
Invention is credited to Martinez, Evelyn C., Palmer, John M., Palmer, John M. JR..
Application Number | 20040112414 10/649357 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32511226 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040112414 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Palmer, John M. ; et
al. |
June 17, 2004 |
Umbrella gizmo
Abstract
A device for mounting an umbrella in front of the operator on a
riding lawn mower. The fixed base of the device attaches to the
lawnmower structure in front of the seat mesial the operator's
legs. An offset frame pivotally attached at it's lower end to the
fixed base is configured to clear the operator's hands as he or she
moves the mower's steering levers. The frame can be easily rotated
forward, lowering the umbrella, for traversing under low tree
branches and for mounting and dismounting the mower. The umbrella
is rotationally mounted in the upper end of the vertical frame
allowing it to turn when it comes in contact with stationary
objects, such as a walls, fences, hedges etc. while the mower is
traveling parallel to them.
Inventors: |
Palmer, John M.; (Dallas,
TX) ; Palmer, John M. JR.; (Lutz, FL) ;
Martinez, Evelyn C.; (Clearwater, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John M. Palmer, Jr.
P.O. Box 115
Lutz
FL
33548
US
|
Family ID: |
32511226 |
Appl. No.: |
10/649357 |
Filed: |
August 26, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60407544 |
Aug 29, 2002 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
135/19 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 11/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/019 |
International
Class: |
A45B 021/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. An umbrella support device for mounting in front of the
operator's seat of a lever steering type riding lawnmower,
comprising: an offset frame, the lower end of the offset frame
mounted on the mower's structure mesial said operator's legs and
below said operator's seat, said offset frame configured to clear
said operator's hands when moving the steering levers, the upper
end of said offset frame configured to receive the lower end of an
umbrella's shaft.
2. An umbrella support device as defined in claim 1, wherein said
lower end of said offset frame is pivotally mounted to said mower's
structure allowing said operator to pivot the umbrella forward and
aft.
3. An umbrella support device as defined in claim 2, further
including pivoting means and locking means to secure said offset
frame in a desired position.
4. An umbrella support device as defined in claim 3, wherein the
locking means may include ball and spring plungers, detents,
friction assemblies, and the like.
5. An umbrella support device as defined in claim 1, wherein the
upper end of said offset frame is configured to rotationally
receive the lower end of the umbrella's shaft.
6. An umbrella support device as defined in claim 5, further
including spindle means mounted on the lower end of said umbrella's
shaft, the spindle means provides for rotation in said upper end of
said offset frame and for vertical adjustment when said offset
frame is in a vertical position.
7. An umbrella support device as defined in claim 1, further
including an umbrella.
8. An umbrella support device for mounting in front of the
operator's seat of a lever steering type riding lawnmower,
comprising: an offset frame, the lower end of the offset frame
pivotally mounted on the mower's structure mesial the operator's
legs and below said operator's seat, allowing said operator to
lower a mounted umbrella by pushing it forward and to raise it to a
vertical position by pulling it aft, said offset frame configured
to clear said operator's hands when moving the steering levers, the
upper end of said offset frame configured to rotationally receive
the lower end of an umbrella's shaft, the lower end of the umbrella
shaft mounted in spindle means providing for rotation and for
vertical adjustment in said upper end of said offset frame, and an
umbrella.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of 60/407,544, filed
Aug. 29, 2002.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] This invention relates to umbrella supports for riding
lawnmowers..
[0004] 2. Description of Prior Art
[0005] Over the years a number of umbrella support devices have
been developed for holding umbrellas behind the operators of
lawnmowers, tractors, wheelchairs and the like. Gainey (1990) in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,117 discloses a system which mounts on the
frame of a tractor behind the operators seat. It lacks any
provision for adjustment vertically or horizontally or for quick
lowering for traversing under low hanging tree branches. Kennedy
(1998) in U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,583 discloses a system which is
magnetically attached to a surface. It lacks the features needed to
quickly and easily position an umbrella for rider mower use. Davis
(1998) in U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,327 discloses a system which clamps
on the side or rear of the frame of a chair, and Diaz shows in U.S.
Pat. No. 6,105,594 a device that is adjustable vertically from
behind the operator. The devices if these two inventions would be
difficult to adjust while steering a moving riding mower.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
[0006] Several of the many objects and advantages of the present
invention are to provide an improved umbrella support device for a
riding lawnmower, which
[0007] (1) provides for placement of the umbrella in front of the
operator.
[0008] (2) provides for unobstructed movement of the operator's
hands while moving the mower's steering levers.
[0009] (3) provides for the umbrella to rotate when it comes in
contact with a stationary object while the mower is moving parallel
to the stationary object.
[0010] (4) provides for lowering the umbrella by pivoting the
device forward and for raising the umbrella by pulling it to a
vertical position.
[0011] (5) provides for quick and easy removal of the umbrella from
the device.
[0012] (6) provides for hooking a raised mower deck for those
mowers which pivot to a vertical position for maintenance.
[0013] (7) provides for a strong and durable device that can be
economically manufactured.
DRAWING FIGURES
[0014] In the drawings, closely related figures may have the same
number but different alphabetic suffixes.
[0015] FIG. 1 shows in a side elevation view the device and an
umbrella mounted on the body of a riding lawnmower just forward of
the operator's seat.
[0016] FIG. 2 shows the device of the previous FIG. in a lowered
position.
[0017] FIG. 3 shows a more detailed view of the device in FIG.
1.
[0018] FIG. 4 shows in a front elevation view the device mounted on
the body of the riding lawnmower.
[0019] FIG. 5 shows the umbrella shaft spindle in a lowered
position.
[0020] FIG. 6 shows the support post assembly and deck latch
hook..
[0021] FIG. 7 shows a more detailed view of the device in FIG. 2
with the umbrella removed.
1 REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 10 riding lawnmower 20 the device
and umbrella 30 support post assembly 40 offset frame 50
spindle
SUMMARY
[0022] In accordance with the present invention the device
comprises a support post, an offset frame and a spindle in which an
umbrella is mounted.
DISCLOSURE
[0023] A typical embodiment 20 of the gizmo of the present
invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 showing it mounted on a
lever steering type mid mounted deck 11 riding lawn mower 10 which
is residing on surface 17. In FIG. 1 the umbrella 22 is open and in
an overhead position for protecting the operator sitting in seat 15
from the sun and rain. In FIG. 2 the umbrella 22 is open and in a
lowered position. It is desirable to have the umbrella in the
lowered position when the operator is mounting and dismounting the
mower, and when traversing under low overhanging tree branches.
[0024] In FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 support post's 30 base 32 is shown
mounted on a horizontal surface 14 of the mower. The support post
could be reconfigured so it could also be mounted on surfaces 12 or
13 if desired.
[0025] FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 show offset frame 40 shaped so that
the operator can move the mower steering levers 16A and 16B forward
and aft without interference from the offset frame. This allows for
the umbrella to be located overhead and just in front of the
operator while not interfering with the operation of the steering
levers. The offset frame is pivotally attached by axle 49 to the
vertical section 34 of the support post at thru hole 39 shown in
FIG. 6. Spring plungers 48 located in the sides 42A and 42B of the
offset frame engage detents 36, shown in FIG. 6, in the horizontal
section of the support post when the umbrella is positioned
overhead. A plurality of detents allows for the fine adjustment of
the umbrella position. A stop 47 can be provided to limit the
lowered position of the umbrella. Hook 38 is provided on some front
mounted mower decks for holding the mower deck in a vertical
position for maintenance.
[0026] FIG. 4 shows spacer 44 joining sides 42A and 42B providing
rigidity to the frame. Hub 46 joins the sides at the top. The lower
end of the umbrella shaft 24 is attached to the umbrella height
adjusting and rotating spindle 50 and rotationally resides in hub
46. FIG. 3 shows the height adjusting and rotating spindle in an
upper position and in FIG. 5 in a lower position. Keeper 52 locks
the height adjusting and rotating spindle in a desired vertical
position. Pin 54 keeps the wind from blowing the umbrella out of
hub 46.
[0027] FIG. 7 shows offset frame 40 in the lowered position with
the umbrella removed.
SUMMARY, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE
[0028] Accordingly, the reader will see that the umbrella support
device of this invention can be easily installed, that it can be
economically produced and marketed. Since it is supported in front
of the operator rather than behind, such as those similar to Diaz,
U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,594, it allows him or her to control the
position of the umbrella easily without having to turn around.
Furthermore, it can be quickly removed when desired.
[0029] Although the description above contains many specifications,
these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the
invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the
presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the
offset frame could be molded as a single unit, the pivoting
assembly could be of a friction design , etc.
[0030] Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the
appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the
examples given.
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