HANDS-FREE UMBRELLA HARNESS

Abstract

An umbrella assembly utilizes a harness to hold an umbrella adjacent and above a user's body. The umbrella assembly provides a hands-free system so that the user can carry other articles. An elastic band with adjustable straps is fitted around the user's arms near the shoulders and a clasp is fitted to the adjustable straps to mount the umbrella in a stable manner. The clasp is opened, the umbrella handle is fitted into the clasp, and the clasp is closed to lock the umbrella in place relative to the adjustable straps and ultimately the user's body. In short, the straps are affixed to the body in a manner similar to the straps of a backpack.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

A hands-free umbrella device is provided and more particularly a new umbrella harness device for which is attachable to the shoulders of a person so that the person is covered by the umbrella while permitting the hands to carry groceries, a baby, etc.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of umbrella devices is known in the prior art. Also, it is known to provide an umbrella which includes hands-free construction. These devices employ harnesses, which are positioned around the body and attached to an umbrella. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a hands-free umbrella system that is simpler to use and is less constraining on the user of the umbrella.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a harness system including a securing member to releaseably securing the handle of the umbrella to a harness positioned at the shoulders of the user of the umbrella. This allows the shoulders to do the majority of the lifting of the umbrella without the addition of a harness.

The invention further provides a new umbrella device that also includes a strap for those persons who require additional stability of the umbrella.

To this end, the present invention generally comprises an umbrella including a pole that has a bottom end and a top end. A canopy is attached to the top end of the pole. A harness is attached along the handle between the bottom end and the top end of the pole and extends downwardly away therefrom. The harness has a pair of transverse members and a pair of arm bands or shoulder loops whereby the transverse members extend between the two shoulder loops. A securing member for releasably attaching the harness to the pole is positioned on one of the transverse members in order to secure the pole in place on the harness and, thus, on the body of the user.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a hands free umbrella according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic back perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the clasp as closed to secure the pole to the hardness.

FIG. 5 is an example of an alternate embodiment showing a stopper in place of the hinged clasp of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates an alternate embodiment where two transverse strap members are used to add to the stability of the harness system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new umbrella device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the hands free umbrella 10 generally comprises an umbrella 12 including a pole 14 having a bottom end 16 and a top end 18. A canopy 20 is attached to the top end 18 of the pole 14. The umbrella 14 is conventional in all respects. For that reason, it is assumed that the canopy 20 is selectively collapsible and the pole 14 may or may not be telescoping.

The handle 22 is attached to the bottom end 16 of the pole 14 and extends downwardly away therefrom. The handle 22 has a conventional l-shaped or u-shaped handle or other shapes known to those of skill in the art. For example, the handle may be coated with rubber to form a straight handle or the handle may be wood, metal or plastic.

The harness assembly of the first embodiment comprises a pair of shoulder loops 30, 40 and a transverse member 50. A securing member 55 releasably attaches the pole to at least one of the transverse member(s) 50. Preferably, the securing member 55 is formed by a clasp or connector 32 fixed to the transverse member 50 transversely extending between the two arm bands or shoulder loops 30, 40 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The securing member 55 may take many forms. The preferred embodiments include a hinged clasp 55 a that may be opened as shown in dotted lines to receive the pole, whereby the clasp 55a is closed to secure the pole to the hardness. See FIG. 4. The clasp 55a may be sandwiched between two strips 50′, 50″ forming the transverse member 50. Alternatively, the securing member 56 may be a sleeve with an internal rubber or otherwise resilient stopper that frictionally grips the pole 14 such that the vertical height of the umbrella may be adjusted by the user. See FIG. 5. The securing members 55a, 56 is preferably adhered to the strap 50 via glue or stitching. Alternatively, the securing member may be secured to the strap 50 via Velcro or other securing means.

A second embodiment of the harness assembly is shown in FIG. 6. In the second embodiment, there are provided a pair of transverse members 50a, 50b along the front of the user to add stability to the securing members 55a, 55b. The two securing members 55a, 55b help maintain the vertical orientation of the pole 14 during use.

In use, the device 10 is used primarily used as a means covering the torso of a person 5 with an umbrella without the person using their hands. The person 5 may place a vest or jacket on so that the pole 14 is positioned between the vest and the person 5. The vest will help keep the umbrella 12 upright with the aid of the strap 46.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An assembly for carrying an open umbrella on a person comprising: a harness for securing the holder to the person;an umbrella supporting member connected to said harness such that said supporting member is positioned proximate a chest of the person when said harness is appropriately secured to the person, said supporting member being selectively fixed to a pole of the umbrella;wherein said harness comprises a pair of shoulder loops circumscribing the shoulders of the person and at least on transverse strap extending across the body of the person, said transverse strap interconnecting said shoulder loops.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said supporting member is a hinged clasp the grips the pole of the umbrella.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said supporting member is a tubular member with an internal stop, said pole being slidingly disposed in said tubular member and gripped by said internal stop of retain the pole and the umbrella relative to the body of the person.

4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said harness is adjustable to change a height of said supporting member and the umbrella relative to the person.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said harness includes two transverse straps extending between the two shoulder loops, and wherein each transverse straps is provided with a supporting member that affixes the pole of said umbrella to the harness.

6. An umbrella holding system for removably holding an umbrella in an upright position to a person, said system including: an umbrella including a pole having a bottom end and a top end, a canopy being attached to the top end of the pole; and a handle being attached to the bottom end of the pole and extending downwardly away therefrom, a harness including a pair of shoulder loops circumscribing the shoulders of the person and at least on transverse strap extending across the body of the person, said transverse strap interconnecting said shoulder loops.a securing member for releasably attaching said pole to the transverse strap extending across the chest of the person.

7. The umbrella holding system of claim 6, wherein said securing member is a hinged clasp that grips the pole of the umbrella.

8. The umbrella holding system of claim 6, wherein said supporting member is a tubular member with an internal stop, said pole being slidingly disposed in said tubular member and gripped by said internal stop of retain the pole and the umbrella relative to the body of the person.