Patent Application
20190216187
The present invention relates to an umbrella restraint.
Umbrellas of the invention are typically portable and used in conjunction with outdoor recreational activities. By example, a user would carry his umbrella to a beach, and deploy the umbrella by securing the central support shaft into beach sand thereby providing shade.
Amongst the disadvantages associated with umbrellas, is their lack of stability in windy conditions. This is due to their light weight relative to the volume of trappable wind and subsequent dislodgement force which wind exerts against the umbrella. To overcome such disadvantages users may strap the shaft of the umbrella to a fixed structure. This prior art however only provides a unidirectional restraint and is feasible only where suitably fixed structures are available. Said prior art is therefore unsuitable for beach use. Additionally, a shaft strap provides little restraint against upward gusts of wind.
Additional limitations associated with the use of outdoor umbrellas, is the type of soil in which the umbrella shaft is secured. By example, very hard soil results the umbrella shaft being shallowly inserted into the ground, thereby resulting in poor stability. Where the soil is very soft, such as beach sand, umbrella shaft movement results, again resulting in poor stability.
Due to the requirement of umbrellas being portable, lightweight and thin material is used for the shade providing cloth. The shade cloth is easily tearable and such characteristics makes the shade cloth an unsuitable material through which to restrain the umbrella in windy conditions.
The invention seeks to provide an umbrella restraint that at least partially ameliorates the abovementioned disadvantages associated with current use of umbrellas in windy conditions.
According to the invention there is provided an umbrella restraint for securing over an umbrella, comprising a web having a plurality of securing means extending beyond the web circumference.
Conveniently the securing means comprises ropes which are length adjustable and at least in part define the web of the umbrella restraint. The ropes are thereby able to extend between a position proximal to the umbrella shade cloth and the ground—depending on user preferences. The adjustability of the rope length allows for rope-tension adjustment and is achieved using rope tensioners.
Conveniently the securing means has an attachment means at its free-end, which free-end is distal from the web.
Conveniently the attachment means comprises at least one of a fastener, a hook assembly, or a contortable free-end for tying the securing means to a weight.
Conveniently the attachment means is releasably securable to a weight, which weight comprises at least one of a fillable bag in which sand and the like can be filed, or a peg which can be secured into the ground. The weights may be suspended from the umbrella alternately rest on the ground.
Conveniently the web comprises a positioning means for securing over a protrusion of the umbrella shaft thereby preventing the restraint from moving and facilitating ease of positioning about the umbrella at time of installation.
Conveniently the securing means may be resiliently deformable. Accordingly, when a deforming wind force is applied to the ropes, being an embodiment of the securing means—the ropes are biased against the wind towards their rest position thereby assisting with umbrella position maintenance.
Conveniently the umbrella restraint may additionally function as a storage means when in a collapsed condition, wherein the restraint collapses into a webbed bag-like form in which items may be stored.
Conveniently the securing means may be used to secure items in the umbrella restraint when used as a storage means. As will be appreciated, the plurality of apertures defined by the webbing, provide multiple points of engagement for the securing means to restrain items within the umbrella restraint when functioning as a storage means. Said multiple points of engagement enable items to be securely secured to the webbing of the umbrella restraint despite apertures which would otherwise result in items falling through said apertures.
Conveniently the ropes comprise visual identifiers to prevent people from tripping over the ropes, in use. These visual identifiers comprise at least one of flags situated along the length of the rope, bright colours, or reflective material.
Conveniently the visual identifiers are an advertising means comprising advertisement word or image content, in use.
Conveniently the visual identifiers comprise one or more shapes.
Conveniently the visual identifiers are releasably securable to the umbrella restraint thereby enabling the advertising material to be easily secured or removed from the umbrella restraint. This allows the same umbrella restraint to be used with a plurality of advertising means.
Conveniently the visual identifiers are located within the web of the umbrella restraint to at least partially block the webbing of the umbrella restraint. When so located, the visual identifiers additionally serve as restraint means for preventing items stored in the umbrella restraint as a storage means from falling through the webbing apertures.
Conveniently, the visual identifiers are visible as an advertisement means when the umbrella restraint is folded into a storage means position. Accordingly, when carrying the umbrella restraint folded into a storage means position—the umbrella restraint serves as a mobile advertisement display
Further features, variants and/or advantages of the invention will emerge from the following non-limiting description of an example of the invention made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The ropes have an attachment means at each of their respective free-ends, which free-ends are distal from the web. The attachment means comprises a hook assembly for securing each rope to a weight. In one embodiment of the invention, the weights are comprised of fillable bags 18, in which sand and the like can be filed. In use, the bags are transported in an empty condition to minimise weight. Only at the time of installing the restraint are the bags filled, thereby providing a light-weight restraint which is easily transportable. As will be appreciated, the number of bags filled is user dependant, whereby an increased overall weight of the bags will provide increased umbrella stability.
The ropes comprise visual identifiers 20 to prevent people from tripping over the ropes, in use. These visual identifiers comprise a plurality of flags situated along the length of the rope.
The web comprises a positioning means 22 at its centre point for securing over a protrusion of the umbrella shaft 24. The positioning means is a re-enforced aperture through which the shaft protrusion passes thereby preventing the restraint from moving and facilitating ease of positioning about the umbrella at time of installation.
The invention is not limited to the precise details described above and shown in the drawings. Modifications may be made and other embodiments developed without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example the web which secures over the umbrella may be substantially solid or perforated. The web may additionally comprise collapsible advertising panels upon which advertising content may be printed. Further, the pegs may be used to secure the ropes to the ground. Still further the securing means may be resiliently deformable. Accordingly, when a deforming wind force is applied to the ropes, being an embodiment of the securing means—the ropes are biased against the wind towards their rest position thereby assisting with umbrella position maintenance.
The summary of invention and claims form an integral aspect of the description of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016/06759 | Sep 2016 | ZA | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2017/054981 | 8/16/2017 | WO | 00 |
