CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
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A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights rights whatsoever.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to backpacks and umbrellas, and more particularly to the combination of a backpack having a deployable umbrella.
2. Description of Related Art
The use of umbrellas is universally known for providing a shield from the elements, such as rain and sun. Hand-held umbrellas are commonly carried by individuals and used as shielding from the elements. Hand-held umbrellas typically comprise a collapsible canopy, a shaft that may be telescopically extendable, and a handle disposed at the lower end of the shaft. Conventional umbrellas are carried by the user and selectively deployed from a generally compact configuration when required for use.
Since umbrellas are required outdoors, it is desirable to combine umbrellas with backpacks to assist the user with the carrying and deployment of the umbrella. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,053, 385, issued Apr. 25, 2000 to Ward et al. discloses a backpack that includes an umbrella support assembly and an umbrella. The umbrella is storable within an umbrella storage compartment provided along an entire side edge of the backpack. The collapsible rain canopy is sized to shield the back pack and the user from rain when deployed. U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,722, issued to Christie, discloses an umbrella and backpack combination that includes an umbrella having a collapsible canopy and a straight center shaft extending to a lower extremity having a spring-biased locking feature, with a backpack having an umbrella holding structure having a vertically disposed tubular receiver and horizontally disposed stabilizing bars attached to the receiver. The lower extremity of the shaft enters the receiver and releasibly locks therewith.
While the devices disclosed in the prior art are generally suitable for limited uses, there remains a need for an improved backpack and umbrella combination wherein the umbrella is compactly stored within the backpack during periods on non-use and readily deployed when needed.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages present in the art by providing backpack adapted to store an umbrella in a compact configuration within the backpack, and to enable to the user to selectively deploy and adjust the umbrella so as to shield the backpack wearer. In a preferred embodiment, the umbrella is compactly stored in a generally tubular storage compartment connected to the backpack and may be auto-deployed to a telescopically extended configuration in overhead shielding relation with the user. In an alternate embodiment, the umbrella is rotationally adjustable to provide cover from the elements, such as morning or afternoon sun, or wind driven rain.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved backpack adapted to store a deployable umbrella.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a backpack in combination with an automatically deployable umbrella.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a backpack with a deployable and adjustable umbrella.
In accordance with these and other objects, which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a backpack with a deployable umbrella in accordance with the present invention;
FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views thereof;
FIGS. 4-6 depict the backpack with the umbrella in various stages of deployment;
FIG. 7 is a detail sectional view depicting a rotationally adjustable joint on the deployment mechanism;
FIG. 8 is a detail view of a deployment mechanism;
FIG. 9 is a top view of the backpack and deployment mechanism;
FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of the deployment mechanism;
FIGS. 11-12 are perspective views of an alternate embodiment backpack with deployable umbrella;
FIG. 13 is a side perspective view thereof with the umbrella removed;
FIGS. 14-16 are perspective views of an embodiment wherein the umbrella is deployed from a medial location on the backpack;
FIG. 17 is a perspective view depicting the umbrella deployed from a side storage compartment;
FIG. 18 is a top perspective view of a backpack with an umbrella deployed from a medial location;
FIGS. 19 and 20 are perspective view of an auto-deploy mechanism; and
FIG. 21 is top perspective view of an umbrella deployed from a medial location.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With reference now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-21 depict a preferred and alternate embodiments of a backpack, generally referenced as 10, in accordance with the present invention. In accordance with the present invention a backpack 12, having a main body 14 and shoulder straps 16, is adapted to store an umbrella 20 in a compact configuration within main body 12. Umbrella 20 is selectively deployable as seen in FIG. 1, from a stowed configuration as depicted in FIG. 2. More particularly, umbrella 20 may be compactly stored within the backpack and selectively extended in telescopic fashion and opened above backpack 12 to provide cover and shade for the backpack and backpack wearer.
FIGS. 1-10 depict a first embodiment wherein umbrella 20 is compactly stored in a storage compartment 30 connected to the side of backpack 12. In this embodiment, storage compartment 30 includes an outer shell 32 having an open end 34, and a generally tubular umbrella holder 36 and may be auto-deployed to a telescopically extended configuration in overhead shielding relation with the user. Tubular umbrella holder 36 preferably has a bottom defining a plurality of drain holes 38 to allow any water that may enter holder 36 to promptly drain as best depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10. In addition, tubular umbrella holder 36 may further include a handle 39 disposed at or near the lower portion thereof to provide the user with a structure to grasp during the deployment of umbrella 20. Handle 39 is preferably oriented forward such that the user is able to grasp and deploy the umbrella by simply pulling the umbrella holder forward. Once umbrella holder 36 is pulled from outer shell 32 the umbrella preferably automatically deploys. Accordingly, the user deploys the umbrella by grasping handle 39 and pulls holder 36 forward, whereby umbrella 20 automatically telescopically extends and unfurls to a deployed/open configuration as best seen in FIG. 6.
As best seen in FIG. 7, umbrella holder 36 may be in slidable engagement with outer shell 32 by telescopic connection. More particularly, umbrella holder 36 may include a horizontally projecting outer tubular member 40 in sliding telescopic engagement with an axially disposed inner tubular member 42 connected to outer shell 32. Inner tubular member 42 preferably terminates in a ball-shaped end 44 which functions as a stop for outer tubular member 40 while allowing rotational adjustment of umbrella holder 36. Accordingly, the umbrella may be rotated from one side to the other to best shield the user from the elements.
FIGS. 11-13 and 17 depict another embodiment wherein a backpack 12 is adapted with an internal compartment for holding an umbrella 20. In this embodiment, backpack 12 is adapted with an internally mounted, generally tubular umbrella holder 50. As best depicted in FIG. 12, tubular umbrella holder 50 includes a bottom portion defining a plurality of drain outlets 52. Umbrella 20 is configurable from a stowed configuration wherein umbrella 20 is at least partially stored within backpack 12, to a deployed configuration wherein umbrella 20 is deployed from holder 50 in an open configuration with the canopy disposed above backpack 12. The deployment is preferably assisted by a biased, i.e. by a spring or hydraulic biasing mechanism, to the deployed configuration wherein the umbrella pole telescopically extends and the umbrella canopy opens. FIG. 17 depicts yet another alternate embodiment wherein umbrella 20 is adapted with an articulating arm 22 having first and second bendable joints, referenced as 24 and 26. This embodiment allows for positioning of umbrella 20 to best cover and shield the user and backpack.
FIGS. 14-21 depict another embodiment wherein a backpack 12 is adapted with an umbrella 20 deployably mounted in a generally vertical orientation in a medial position on the backpack. As discussed herein above, umbrella 20 is configurable from a stowed configuration wherein umbrella 20 is substantially stored within a generally tubular storage compartment 50 to a deployed configuration wherein umbrella 20 is telescopically extended with the canopy deployed as best depicted in FIG. 18. FIGS. 19 and 0 depict an embodiment of an auto-deploy mechanism, generally referenced as 60, for use in accordance with the present invention. Auto-deploy mechanism 60 is preferably biased, either by spring or pneumatic pressure, to deployed configuration. Auto-deploy mechanism thus includes a storage and deployment compartment 62, and a deployment trigger 64 that functions to deploy umbrella 20 upon the push of a button. Umbrella 20 may be manually returned to the stowed configuration by the user.
The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.
Patent Application
20070039638
