Patent Application
20220265012
The present novel technology relates generally to the umbrella industry, and, more particularly, to a beach umbrella cape that is deployed to provide the user extra protection against the sun as well as other outdoor weather elements.
Umbrellas are used to provide shade during outdoor activities and are commonly used in backyards, on a beach, or in a park. Umbrellas are also a form of protection from the sun's harmful, UV rays which can cause multiple health problems, including skin cancer. Of course, umbrellas are also used to protect the user from elements, in particular rain and wind.
However, the umbrella's purpose is defeated as the sun, or other light source, changes its position, relative to the placement of the umbrella, in a way that is no longer able to be blocked by the umbrella. Further, the effectiveness of the umbrella in regard to the protection from weather elements is also diminished in a similar manner. For instances, an umbrella cannot effectively keep a user dry during a rainstorm if the wind is blowing in a sideways direction, or at an angle with a substantial horizontal component.
Thus, there is a need for an improved umbrella design, in addition to functioning as a traditional umbrella, also provide protection in situations a mentioned above. The present novel technology addresses this need.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the novel technology and presenting its currently understood best mode of operation, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the novel technology is thereby intended, with such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device and such further applications of the principles of the novel technology as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the novel technology relates.
The novel technology shown in
The umbrella system 100 includes a deployable shield screen 105 that may be stored folded or rolled into a cylinder and unfurled or otherwise deployed when the umbrella 101 is opened, and typically comprises a central support shaft 125 connecting a distal end 130 and an oppositely disposed proximal end 135. The lower edge of the screen shield 105 contains one or more weights 112, such as metallic members, to assist in the automatic deployment of the screen shield 105 and to prevent or at least retard the screen shield from flapping excessively in the wind. The distal end 130 of the central support shaft 125 typically includes a grip portion 140 that can be of any convenient shape that accentuate comfort and compliments the design of the umbrella 101. The canopy portion 120 of the umbrella 100 typically includes a plurality of metal, foldable spines 145 affixed to and extending from the proximal end 135 of the central support shaft 125. These metal spines 145 are typically arrayed equidistantly from each other in a radial formation around the central support shaft 125 and typically extend in an outward, concave direction. The metal spines 145 create the framework of the typically concave or ‘bowl shaped’ canopy 120 and may define a foldable steel frame 150. The canopy 120 is generally circular when deployed, although the canopy may be polygonal while still approximating a circle.
Connected to the peripheral edge 110 of the concave canopy 120 is a deployable screen shield 105 and typically includes a plurality of tiny annular, frustoconical openings 155 arrayed and distributed to allow for one-way, unidirectional viewing through the screen shield 105. This typically replacably removable screen shield 105 can be connected to the peripheral edge 110 of the concave canopy 120 through the use of hook and-loop connectors 111, although other types of connectors 111 such as clip-in connectors or the like may likewise be selected. When deployed, the screen shield 105 hangs freely from the canopy 120; in other words, the screen shield 105 is connected to the canopy 120 solely by connectors 111 at one end and nothing else along its run or at the other end, such that the shield 105 hangs freely from the canopy 120.
Unless otherwise secured or tied down, the screen shield 105 will not shield the user from heavy rain or rain driven by wind. The frustoconical openings 155 are not water impermeable, and the lightweight and free-hanging nature of the shield 105 is insufficient to keep water directed away from the user. In the event of rain, the shield 105 is either removed from the umbrella 101 for later reattachment, or rolled up for storage in the canopy 120.
The distal end 130 of the central support shaft 125 of the beach umbrella 160 typically includes a hollow helical assembly 175 that is driven into the ground, typically through manual rotation and/or hammering. The hollow helical assembly 175 can be comprised of durable materials, including steel, aluminum, reinforced fiberglass or the like. The canopy 120 of the beach umbrella includes tie-down lines 165 that are connected to, and spaced equidistantly around, the peripheral edge 110 of the canopy 120. Spiral extensions 170 or the like are typically connected to the ends of these tie-down lines 165. These spiral extensions 170 are inserted into the ground to stabilize the umbrella 160 against movement and fluctuation such as might be caused by wind catching the canopy 120 and/or screen shield 105.
Both embodiments 100, 160 typically include an extension mechanism 180 and canopy deployment mechanism 185. The extension mechanism 180 and canopy deployment mechanism 185 are typically controlled simultaneously by an activation mechanism, such as a spring-driven actuator initiated by a pressable button, that, when actuated, lengthens the central support shaft 125 and opens the canopy 120. Typically, the shield is rolled up or folded when the umbrella 101, 160 is closed, and automatically unfurls/deploys when the umbrella 101, 160 is opened. The user can then disconnect the screen shield 105 by using force to pull apart the hook-and-loop connections located at the end of the screen shield 105, if so desired.
In operation, a user may shade themselves from a light source by opening the umbrella 101 to simultaneously deploy the screen shield 105 and the canopy 120. The screen shield 105 can then be maneuvered between a light source and the user by simple rotation of the handle. When the screen shield 105 and the canopy 120 of a beach umbrella 160 are deployed, the user can stake the screen shield into the ground by securing the tie-down lines 165 into the ground. When finished, the user simply refolds or rerolls the shield 105 and closes the umbrella 101, 160.
While the novel technology has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character. It is understood that the embodiments have been shown and described in the foregoing specification in satisfaction of the best mode and enablement requirements. It is understood that one of ordinary skill in the art could readily make a nigh-infinite number of insubstantial changes and modifications to the above-described embodiments and that it would be impractical to attempt to describe all such embodiment variations in the present specification. Accordingly, it is understood that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the novel technology are desired to be protected.
This patent application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/737,181, filed on Jan. 8, 2020 and claims priority thereto.
