Patent Application
20230039963
The present disclosure relates to umbrellas, shades and canopies, like those used out on the beach. More specifically, the present disclosure is directed toward a beach umbrella with a slide hammer and a main pole with a hollow interior to house a telescopic retractable umbrella canopy.
Generally speaking, an umbrella or parasol is a folding canopy supported by wooden or metal ribs that is usually mounted on a wooden, metal, or plastic pole. It is designed to protect a person against rain or sunlight. The term umbrella is traditionally used when protecting oneself from rain, with parasol used when protecting oneself from sunlight, though the terms continue to be used interchangeably. Often the difference is the material used for the canopy; some parasols are not waterproof, and some umbrellas are transparent. Umbrella canopies may be made of fabric or flexible plastic. Larger parasols capable of blocking the sun for several people are often used as fixed or semi-fixed devices, used with patio tables or other outdoor furniture, or as points of shade on a sunny beach. As such, parasols are occasionally called sunshades. The term umbrella, as used herein, may refer to any type of umbrella or parasol.
The instant disclosure recognizes that a beach umbrella should be portable, should offer an escape from the sun and heat, and should be fairly easy to assemble, set up, take down and disassemble. In addition, a good beach umbrella should withstand occasional gusts of wind and unexpected weather changes without turning inside out or tumbling down the beach. However, most beach umbrellas are cheaply made and do not withstand the elements, sometimes not lasting more than a few uses and becoming a single use or “throw away” type umbrella. As such, there is clearly a need to provide a beach umbrella that is stronger and will last for many uses.
In addition, typical beach umbrellas include a bag, a bottom portion with a cork screw type end for twisting the bottom portion into the sand, and a top portion with the folding umbrella or canopy. These types of beach umbrellas require the user to take the bottom portion and top portion out of the bag, screw the bottom portion into the sand, which often times is very difficult, connect the top portion to the bottom portion secured in the sand, and then open the umbrella canopy. To take the umbrella down, the user does these steps in reverse and then tries to insert the bottom portion and top portion back into the bag, which often times is very difficult. As such, there is clearly a need to provide a beach umbrella that is easier to transport to the beach, set up on the beach, take back down, and transport from the beach.
In addition, the storage bags that come with typical beach umbrellas do not provide any protection to the umbrella as it is being transported and stored. As an example, most beach umbrellas are stored in storage closets that are loaded with beach accessories and can often times be damaged during the shuffling around of items within the closet. As such, there is clearly a need to provide a storage container or vessel that provide protection to the beach umbrella during transportation and storage.
The instant disclosure may be designed to address at least certain aspects of the problems discussed above by providing a beach umbrella with a slide hammer and a main pole with a hollow interior to house a telescopic retractable umbrella canopy.
The present disclosure may solve the aforementioned limitations of the currently available beach umbrella by providing a beach umbrella with a slide hammer feature and a main pole with a hollow interior to house a telescopic retractable umbrella canopy. The beach umbrella with the slide hammer feature and the main pole with the hollow interior to house a telescopic retractable umbrella canopy may generally include a main pole and an inner telescoping pole. The main pole may have a hollow interior. The main pole may include a pointed closed end and an open end. The open end of the main pole may be for accessing the hollow interior. The slide hammer feature may be positioned between the pointed closed end and the open end of the main pole. The inner telescoping pole may include a retractable umbrella canopy. The inner telescoping pole with the retractable umbrella canopy may be configured to telescopically extend from within the hollow interior of the main pole. Wherein, when the retractable umbrella canopy is retracted to a collapsed position, the inner telescoping pole with the retractable umbrella canopy may be configured to telescopically slide inside of the hollow interior of the main pole. And when the inner telescoping pole is telescopically extended out from the hollow interior of the main pole, the retractable umbrella canopy may be configured to extend out into an extended umbrella position.
One feature of the disclosed beach umbrella with a slide hammer feature and a main pole with a hollow interior to house a telescopic retractable umbrella canopy may be the optional inclusion of an interior spring mechanism. The interior spring mechanism may be configured to bias the inner telescoping pole to telescopically extend out from the main pole. In select embodiments, the interior spring mechanism may be positioned between the pointed closed end of the main pole and a bottom end of the inner telescoping pole. In these embodiments, the interior spring mechanism may be configured to bias the bottom end of the inner telescoping pole from the pointed closed end of the main pole.
Another feature of the disclosed beach umbrella with a slide hammer feature and a main pole with a hollow interior to house a telescopic retractable umbrella canopy may be that the bottom end of the inner telescoping pole may include a bottom lip and the open end of the main pole may include a top lip. The top lip may be configured to prevent the inner telescoping pole from sliding out of the open end of the main pole via the bottom lip of the inner telescoping pole.
In select embodiments of the disclosed beach umbrella with a slide hammer feature and a main pole with a hollow interior to house a telescopic retractable umbrella canopy, the interior spring mechanism may be made from a non-rusting material or plastic configured to not rust.
In other select embodiments of the disclosed beach umbrella with a slide hammer feature and a main pole with a hollow interior to house a telescopic retractable umbrella canopy, the main pole may be made from a polyvinyl chloride material, or a high performance engineered thermoplastic material.
Another feature of the disclosed beach umbrella with a slide hammer feature and a main pole with a hollow interior to house a telescopic retractable umbrella canopy may be the inclusion of a cap on a top end of the inner telescoping pole. The cap may be configured to be removably connected to the open end of the main pole. Wherein, when the inner telescoping pole with the retractable umbrella canopy is telescopically slid inside of the hollow interior of the main pole, the cap can be connected to the open end of the main pole. And when the cap is unconnected from the open end of the main pole, the inner telescoping pole with the retractable umbrella canopy is configured to telescopically extend from the hollow interior of the main pole. The cap may be configured for sealing and securing the inner telescoping pole with the retractable umbrella canopy inside of the hollow interior of the main pole. In select embodiments, the cap may include a first threaded portion and the open end of the main pole may include a second threaded portion. The second threaded portion may be configured to unite with the first threaded portion of the cap. Wherein the cap may be configured to be twisted onto and off of the open end of the main pole for removably connecting the cap to the open end of the main pole.
Another feature of the disclosed beach umbrella with a slide hammer feature and a main pole with a hollow interior to house a telescopic retractable umbrella canopy may be that the open end of the main pole may include a cam lever feature. The cam lever feature may be configured for releasably securing the inner telescoping pole with the retractable umbrella canopy at various positions within the main pole from the collapsed position to the extended umbrella position.
Another feature of the disclosed beach umbrella with a slide hammer feature and a main pole with a hollow interior to house a telescopic retractable umbrella canopy may be that the open end of the main pole may include a funnel member. The funnel member may be configured to guide the inner telescoping pole with the retractable umbrella canopy inside of the hollow interior of the main pole, like when moving from the extended umbrella position to the collapsed position.
Another feature of the disclosed beach umbrella with a slide hammer feature and a main pole with a hollow interior to house a telescopic retractable umbrella canopy may be that the slide hammer feature of the main pole may include an outer tube. The outer tube may be positioned on the main pole. The outer tube may be configured to slide longitudinally along the main pole. In select embodiments, the main pole may include a hammering surface positioned between the pointed closed end and the outer tube positioned on the main pole. The hammering surface may be sized to stop the outer tube of the slide hammer feature from sliding further down the main pole. Wherein the slide hammer feature of the main pole may be configured to hammer the pointed closed end into a surface by sliding the outer tube longitudinally down on the main pole and contacting the hammering surface thereby driving the pointed closed end into the surface. In select embodiments, the pointed closed end of the main pole may include the hammering surface at an upper end of the pointed closed end. In select embodiments, the outer tube of the slide hammer feature may include a gripping surface. The gripping surface may be configured to manipulate the outer tube to slide longitudinally along the main pole. In select embodiments, the outer tube may be made from a glass filled nylon tube material with a gripping surface made from a rubber overlay material.
Another feature of the disclosed beach umbrella with a slide hammer feature and a main pole with a hollow interior to house a telescopic retractable umbrella canopy may be that the pointed closed end of the main pole may include an anchor mechanism. The anchor mechanism may be configured for aiding in hammering the pointed closed end into a sandy surface with the slide hammer feature and for holding the pointed closed end under the sandy surface. In select embodiments, the anchor mechanism may be made of a glass filled nylon material. In other select embodiments, the anchor mechanism may include a spade style shape, an arrow head style shape, or a bullet style shape.
In select embodiments, the disclosed beach umbrella with a slide hammer feature and a main pole with a hollow interior to house a telescopic retractable umbrella canopy may include a first strap connection point, a second strap connection point, and a carrying strap. The first strap connection point may be positioned approximate the open end. The second strap connection point may be positioned approximate the pointed closed end. The carrying strap may be connected between the first strap connection point and the second strap connection point. The carrying strap may be configured to aid in transporting the beach umbrella in the collapsed position.
In select embodiments of the disclosed beach umbrella with a slide hammer feature and a main pole with a hollow interior to house a telescopic retractable umbrella canopy, the retractable umbrella canopy on the inner telescoping pole may include a canopy material, a plurality of strong retractable arms, a retracting locking mechanism, and/or combinations thereof. The canopy material may be made from a thin lightweight fabric, modern synthetic material, tight weave material, a nylon material, a polyester material, or combinations thereof with a high ultraviolet protection factor rating. As an example, and clearly not limited thereto, the canopy material may be a parachute like material. The plurality of strong retractable arms may be made from a carbon fiber composite material. The retracting locking mechanism may be configured for releasably locking the retractable arms of the retractable umbrella canopy in the extended umbrella position.
In another aspect, the instant disclosure embraces the disclosed beach umbrella with a slide hammer feature and a main pole with a hollow interior to house a telescopic retractable umbrella canopy in any embodiment and/or combination of embodiments shown and/or described herein.
In another aspect, the instant disclosure embraces the disclosed beach umbrella with a main pole with a hollow interior to house a telescopic retractable umbrella canopy. This aspect of the beach umbrella may generally include the main pole and the inner telescoping pole. The main pole may have a hollow interior. The main pole may include an open end for accessing the hollow interior. The inner telescoping pole may include a retractable umbrella canopy. The inner telescoping pole with the retractable umbrella canopy may be configured to telescopically extend from within the hollow interior of the main pole. Wherein, when the retractable umbrella canopy is retracted to a collapsed position, the inner telescoping pole with the retractable umbrella canopy may be configured to telescopically slide inside of the hollow interior of the main pole. And when the inner telescoping pole is telescopically extended out from the hollow interior of the main pole, the retractable umbrella canopy may be configured to extend out into an extended umbrella position.
In another aspect, the instant disclosure embraces the disclosed beach umbrella with a main pole with a slide hammer feature. This aspect of the beach umbrella may generally include the main pole with a pointed closed end and the slide hammer feature. The slide hammer feature of the main pole may include an outer tube positioned on the main pole. The outer tube may be configured to slide longitudinally along the main pole. The main pole may include a hammering surface positioned between the pointed closed end and the outer tube positioned on the main pole. The hammering surface may be sized to stop the outer tube of the slide hammer feature from sliding further down the main pole. Wherein the slide hammer feature of the main pole maybe configured to hammer the pointed closed end into a surface by sliding the outer tube longitudinally down on the main pole and contacting the hammering surface thereby driving the pointed closed end into the surface.
The foregoing illustrative summary, as well as other exemplary objectives and/or advantages of the disclosure, and the manner in which the same are accomplished, are further explained within the following detailed description and its accompanying drawings.
The present disclosure will be better understood by reading the Detailed Description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which like reference numerals denote similar structure and refer to like elements throughout, and in which:
It is to be noted that the drawings presented are intended solely for the purpose of illustration and that they are, therefore, neither desired nor intended to limit the disclosure to any or all of the exact details of construction shown, except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the claimed disclosure.
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In another aspect, the instant disclosure embraces beach umbrella 10 with slide hammer feature 20 and main pole 12 with hollow interior 14 to house telescopic retractable umbrella canopy 24 in any embodiment and/or combination of embodiments shown and/or described herein.
In another aspect, the instant disclosure embraces beach umbrella 10 with just main pole 12 with hollow interior to house telescopic retractable umbrella canopy 24. This aspect of beach umbrella 10 may generally include main pole 12 and inner telescoping pole 22. Main pole 12 may have hollow interior 14. Main pole 12 may include open end 18 for accessing hollow interior 14. Inner telescoping pole 22 may include retractable umbrella canopy 24. Inner telescoping pole 22 with retractable umbrella canopy 24 may be configured to telescopically extend from within hollow interior 14 of main pole 12. Wherein, when retractable umbrella canopy 24 is retracted to collapsed position 26, inner telescoping pole 22 with retractable umbrella canopy 24 may be configured to telescopically slide inside of hollow interior 14 of main pole 12. And when inner telescoping pole 22 is telescopically extended out from hollow interior 14 of main pole 12, retractable umbrella canopy 24 may be configured to extend out into extended umbrella position 28.
In another aspect, the instant disclosure embraces beach umbrella 10 with main pole 12 with just slide hammer feature 20. This aspect of beach umbrella 10 may generally include main pole 12 with pointed closed end 16 and slide hammer feature 20. Slide hammer feature 20 of main pole 12 may include outer tube 64 positioned on main pole 12. Outer tube 64 may be configured to slide longitudinally along main pole 12. Main pole 12 may include hammering surface 68 positioned between pointed closed end 16 and outer tube 64 positioned on main pole 12. Hammering surface 68 may be sized to stop outer tube 64 of slide hammer feature 20 from sliding further down main pole 12. Wherein, slide hammer feature 20 of main pole 12 maybe configured to hammer pointed closed end 16 into any surface 70 by sliding outer tube 64 longitudinally down on main pole 12 and contacting hammering surface 68 thereby driving pointed closed end 16 into surface 70.
In sum, the instant disclosure may be designed to provide a better built and better-quality beach umbrella 10, where umbrella 10 may be easier to maintain, store, transport and install into the ground. A feature of the present disclosure of beach umbrella 10 may be its ability to be carried and stored in one simple tube, i.e. main pole 12. Another feature of the present disclosure of beach umbrella 10 may be its ability to be easily hammered into the ground in place of the normal corkscrew method. This feature may be a much easier and stronger technique over the corkscrew or simply trying to manually insert a pole with a tip which also helps for a stronger protection against wind. Another feature of the present disclosure of beach umbrella 10 may be its ability to last for years due to quality construction over the typical cheap “throw-away” umbrellas. Main pole 12 may serves two purposes: umbrella storage via hollow interior 14 and a pole to mount umbrella into ground via slide hammer feature 20.
In select possibly preferred embodiments, beach umbrella 10 may be constructed of formed high grade plastic or PVC pipe. As an example, and clearly not limited thereto, main pole 12 of beach umbrella 10 may have a diameter of approximately 1.5″ with threaded open end 18 at top for screwing umbrella top cap 48 into when not in use and being stored. A pointed tip or pointed closed end 16 at the bottom end for insertion into ground or surface 70, like sandy surface 84. The pointed closed end 16, or tip, may be a separate piece that is slightly larger than main shaft so there is hammering surface 68 at the upper end 74 of it where main pole 12 fits into that the outer tube 64 of slide hammer feature 20 will be able to strike for easy penetration of any surface 70.
Slide hammer feature 20 may include a slightly larger plastic pipe for outer tube 64 that slides over main pole 12 and is used to “Hammer” pointed closed end 16 of main pole 12 into the ground. This outer tube 64 piece may move freely up and down main pole 12.
Interior spring mechanism 30 may be made of plastic or materials that are designed not to rust. Flat pieces on the ends (like washers) may be provided that are slightly larger than the actual spring to prevent it from being able to come out the end of main pole 12 at open end 18.
Inner telescoping pole 22 may be thinner than main body/pole 12. This is the actual umbrella pole to accommodate retractable umbrella canopy 24 and all of its moving parts, including retractable arms 111, top cap 48, fabric umbrella canopy 98, locking mechanism 113 to keep canopy open during use. Top cap 48 may be provided with threads to insert and lock umbrella back into main pole 12. In select possibly preferred embodiments, umbrella arms 111 may be made of extra strong material such as carbon fiber composite material 112.
The advantages of the disclosed beach umbrella 10 over other models may be its ability to be easily installed into the ground through a “hammering” method rather than a “corkscrew” technique which will allow it to be used in harder ground as well. This will also supply umbrella 10 with greater stability and strength against wind. Secondly, transport of umbrella 10 is simplified due to its being fully enclosed into hollow interior 14 of main pole 12 that will have a carrying strap 96 to go over the shoulder. Third is the ease of storage. Umbrella 10 with all of its components stored in hollow interior 14 of main pole 12 may be easily kept in a closet or garage, fully enclosed so that damage to the actual umbrella arms 111 and/or canopy material 98 are no longer a concern.
In the specification and/or figures, typical embodiments of the disclosure have been disclosed. The present disclosure is not limited to such exemplary embodiments. The use of the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The figures are schematic representations and so are not necessarily drawn to scale. Unless otherwise noted, specific terms have been used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation.
The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments. Having thus described exemplary embodiments, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present disclosure. Merely listing or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Many modifications and other embodiments will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein but is limited only by the following claims.
This application claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/230,953, filed on Aug. 9, 2021, entitled “BEACH UMBRELLA WITH SLIDE HAMMER AND MAIN POLE WITH HOLLOW INTERIOR TO HOUSE A TELESCOPIC UMBRELLA CANOPY” which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63230953 | Aug 2021 | US |
