U.S. patent application number 12/462733 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-18 for umbrella.
Invention is credited to Todd M. Blackmar, Thomas A. Waltz.
Application Number | 20100037928 12/462733 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41680410 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100037928 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Waltz; Thomas A. ; et
al. |
February 18, 2010 |
Umbrella
Abstract
An umbrella that has a shaft and a plurality of bows pivotally
connected to the shaft. A plurality of ribs are slideably
positioned on the shaft and pivotally connected to the bows. A
cover is positioned on the bows and the cover is designed to
protect a user from moisture. An insert is positioned on at least
one of the ribs and the insert is disposed to receive a hold a
towel on the rib.
Inventors: |
Waltz; Thomas A.; (Manitou
Beach, MI) ; Blackmar; Todd M.; (Toledo, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
EMCH, SCHAFFER, SCHAUB & PORCELLO CO
P O BOX 916, ONE SEAGATE SUITE 1980
TOLEDO
OH
43697
US
|
Family ID: |
41680410 |
Appl. No.: |
12/462733 |
Filed: |
August 6, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61188827 |
Aug 13, 2008 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/16 ;
211/88.04 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 3/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/16 ;
211/88.04 |
International
Class: |
A45B 3/00 20060101
A45B003/00; A47F 7/00 20060101 A47F007/00 |
Claims
1. An umbrella comprising: a shaft; a plurality of bows pivotally
connected to the shaft; a plurality of ribs slideably positioned on
the shaft and pivotally connected to the bows; a cover positioned
on the bows to protect a user from moisture and an insert
positioned on at least one rib, the insert being disposed to
receive and hold a towel on the rib.
2. The umbrella of claim 1 wherein the insert is positioned around
the rib and has a plurality of projections disposed to releasably
hold a towel on the towel insert.
3. The umbrella of claim 2 wherein the insert is a resilient
material that is designed to grip and hold a on the towel
insert.
4. The umbrella of claim 3 wherein the insert has a plurality of
projections that extend in a direction toward the cover to form a
gripping surface for a towel.
5. The umbrella of claim 4 wherein the plurality of projections
that extend along the longitudinal axis of the insert in a
direction that is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the
ribs.
6. A towel hanger for use with an umbrella where the umbrella has a
plurality of ribs that position the bows on which the cover is
secured comprising: an insert positioned on at least one rib of the
umbrella, the insert having at least one projection for gripping a
towel to releasably position the towel on the rib when the umbrella
is in an open position.
7. The towel hanger of claim 6 wherein the insert has a
longitudinal axis and an opening extends along the longitudinal
axis of the insert for allowing the insert to be positioned on a
rib of the umbrella.
8. The towel hanger of claim 7 wherein the opening has sidewalls
that are spaced apart less than the width of the rib wherein the
sidewalls of the opening must be disposed to position the insert of
the rib.
9. The towel hanger of claim 8 wherein the insert is made of a
resilient material and the sidewalls of the opening engage the rib
with a force sufficient to retain the insert on the rib in the
desired location.
10. The towel hanger of claim 9 wherein the insert has at least one
projection that engages the towel and removably retains the towel
on the insert.
11. The towel hanger of claim 10 wherein the insert has a plurality
of projections that engage and removably retains the towel on the
insert.
12. The towel hanger of claim 11 wherein the projections extend
longitudinally along the longitudinal axis of the insert.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional patent
application No. 61/188,827 filed on Aug. 13, 2008.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Umbrellas have been used at various sporting events and by
other users where it is desirable to hang or suspend a towel, a
piece of clothing, a golf glove or other items inside the umbrella
wherein the cover of the umbrella protects the item from becoming
wet. Traditionally, one of the ribs that slide along the shaft of
the umbrella and pivotally engage the bows of the umbrella to hold
the umbrella in the open position is used as the hanger. The ribs
are the most likely candidate on an umbrella as the ribs are
disposed in a substantially horizontal orientation when the
umbrella is in the open position and the ribs are located in the
interior of the umbrella and therefore protected from rainfall. The
ribs are also sufficiently long to provide a reasonable surface to
act as a hanger. The ribs are also usually round or a channeled
shaped steel and have a smooth finish. Because of these
characteristics for the ribs, items placed on the ribs are subject
to falling off during the use of the umbrella. This problem is
magnified if the umbrella is being used by a person that is in
motion as the movement of the user will jostle the item positioned
on the rib and facilitate the slippage of the item from the rib. If
the item falls from the rib and hits the ground, the item
frequently becomes wet or soiled, and is no longer suitable for the
use intended by the user of the umbrella.
[0003] Accordingly, there is a need in the industry for an umbrella
that can suspend items under the umbrella in a manner whereby the
items will remain dry and available for use by the user of the
umbrella. The device used to secure an item must not substantially
change the manner in which the umbrella is opened and closed, add
substantial weight to the umbrella or interfere with the
positioning of a user inside of the umbrella.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The invention is directed to an umbrella having a shaft and
a plurality of bows pivotally connected to the shaft. A plurality
of ribs are slideably positioned on the shaft and pivotally
connected to the bows. A cover is positioned on the bows to protect
the user from moisture when the umbrella is in the open position.
An insert is positioned on at least one rib and the insert is
disposed to receive and hold an item on the rib when the umbrella
is in the open position.
[0005] The invention is also directed to a towel hanger for use
with an umbrella where the umbrella has a plurality of ribs that
position the bows on which the cover is secured. An insert is
position on at least one rib of the umbrella and the insert has at
least one projection for gripping a towel to releasably position
the towel on the rib when the umbrella is in the open position.
[0006] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a review of the
following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a partial bottom elevation view looking into the
interior of an open umbrella of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the umbrella of the
present invention.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the towel insert of the
present invention.
[0010] FIG. 4 is an end view of the insert of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0011] This invention relates to an umbrella and more particularly
an umbrella having an insert positioned on at least one of the ribs
where the insert is disposed to receive and can hold a towel or
similar item on the rib. The invention is also directed to a towel
hanger for use with an umbrella having an insert positioned on at
least one rib of the umbrella. The insert has at least one
projection for gripping a towel to releasably position the towel on
the rib when the umbrella is in an open position. Additional
features of the invention will be more readily understood by
referring to the attached drawings in association with the
following description of the invention.
[0012] The figures show an umbrella 10 having a shaft 15 wherein
the shaft has a first end 17 and a handle end 19 that is positioned
on the end of the shaft opposite to the first end 17. A plurality
of bows 23 pivotally connected to the first end 17 of the shaft 15.
A plurality of ribs 29 are secured to a collar 31 and pivotally
connected to the bows 23. The collar 31 is slideably positioned on
the shaft 15. The collar 31 is slideable between a first position
adjacent the handle end 19 of the shaft 15 and a second position
that is adjacent the first end 17 of the shaft 15. The collar 31 is
designed so that it can be retained in the second position 37 by a
locking mechanism (not shown) positioned on the shaft 15. A cover
47 is positioned on the bows 23 and secured to the first end 17 of
the shaft 15 to provide a water or moisture resistance surface for
the umbrella 10. This structure for an umbrella is well known in
the art.
[0013] In operation the collar 31 is advanced from the first
position adjacent the handle end 19 of the shaft 15 to the second
position on the shaft 15. As the collar 31 is advanced, the ribs 29
act upon the bows 23 to move the bows 23 in a direction away from
the shaft 15. The movement of the collar 31 causes the umbrella to
open and when the collar 31 is in the second position 37 the bows
23 are fully extended and the cover 47 is held taught in an
inverted parabolic shape to provide a water resistant enclosure for
the user of the umbrella 10. When the collar 31 is in the second
position 37 the ribs 29 extend from the shaft 15 in a direction
that is substantially perpendicular to the shaft 15. The locking
mechanism releasably retains the collar 31 in the second position
37 on the shaft 15. As described above the umbrella 10 is
essentially the same as umbrellas that are well known in the art
and the umbrella functions in the manner well known in the art.
[0014] The current invention is an improvement over prior art
umbrellas as an insert 53 is positioned on at least one of the ribs
29. The insert 53 has an opening 57 that extends along the length
of the insert and the opening is designed to releasably engage the
rib 29. The sidewalls 59 of the opening 57 can be designed so that
they must be moved apart to be positioned on the rib 29. The insert
53 can be made of a resilient material so that the sidewalls 59
resist being spread apart and provide a biasing force to return the
sidewalls to their original position. The biasing force of the
sidewalls 59 will further act to secure the insert 53 on the rib
29. On the side of the insert 53 opposite to the opening 57 there
is a gripping surface 63 that usually extends along the length of
the insert 53. The gripping surface 63 can be a projection or a
plurality of projections that extend from the insert in a direction
away from the opening 57. The gripping surface can also be a highly
textured surface that provides a good co-efficient of friction for
the gripping surface. It is also possible to place Velcro or
similar type fastening devices along the gripping surface 63 or
portions of the gripping surface 63. A towel, wearing apparel or
similar items can be positioned over the insert 53 and this is
usually done when the umbrella is in the open position with the
collar 31 secured in the second position 37 on the shaft 15. In
this position the ribs 29 and the insert or inserts 53 will be in
an orientation that is generally perpendicular to the shaft 15 of
the umbrella 10. The gripping surface 63 provides an effective way
to retain items on the insert 53 during normal use of the umbrella
10. The gripping surface 63 prevents the items from sliding off the
rib 29 as was frequently a problem with prior art umbrellas when an
item was placed on the ribs to keep the item in a protected area
under the cover 47 of the umbrella. The gripping surface 63,
however, does not prevent removal of the items when it is desired
to use the items for its intended purpose. An insert 53 can be
provided on more than one rib 29 of the umbrella 10. The inserts 53
do not essentially extend into the area usually occupied by the
user of the umbrella 10. Accordingly, the inserts do not alter the
general function or usability of the umbrella 10. However, the
inserts do provide an effective mechanism to retain towels and
other similar devices in the protected area under the cover 47 of
the umbrella. The inserts 53 will retain the items in this position
during normal anticipated use for the umbrella 10.
[0015] The above description is given solely for the sake of
explanation. Various substitutions and modifications, other than
those cited, can be made without departing from the scope of the
following claims.
* * * * *