Patent Application
20250176680
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The disclosure relates to umbrellas and more particularly pertains to a new umbrella for facilitating access to an interior of a closed umbrella.
The prior art relates to umbrellas. More specifically, the prior art relates to patio umbrellas. Patio umbrellas are typically quite large, heavy, and difficult to move around. Because of their size, patio umbrellas are often positioned on a stand, and have a crank or pulley system for opening and closing the umbrella while the umbrella is on the stand. If the patio umbrella is not used regularly, the inside can get dirty. Because of their size, bugs and other critters can make their way inside of the closed patio umbrella and may nest within the confined space between the umbrella canvas and the stand. The canvas can also be heavy or difficult to move for a user to access the crank or pulley system for opening the umbrella. Thus, there is a need in the art for a device that will facilitate opening a portion of the canvas to permit access to the interior of the closed umbrella for inspection and cleaning.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a base that is configured to be positioned on a surface. A pole is coupled to and extends upwardly from the base. A plurality of ribs is pivotably coupled to the pole distal to the base. The plurality of ribs is movable between a storage position and a usage position. A handle is mechanically coupled to the plurality of ribs. A canopy is coupled to the plurality of ribs. The canopy extends between each of the plurality of ribs. A fastener is coupled to the canopy. The fastener is positioned adjacent to a rib of the plurality of ribs. The fastener is openable to form an access cavity through the canopy wherein the access cavity is configured to facilitate a user in accessing the handle when the plurality of ribs is in the storage position.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure 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 disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure 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:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A plurality of ribs 16 is pivotably coupled to the pole 14 distal to the base 12. The plurality of ribs 16 is movable between a storage position 18 and a usage position 20. The plurality of ribs 16 is folded downwardly proximate to the pole 14 when the plurality of ribs 16 is in the storage position 18. The plurality of ribs 16 extends outwardly from the pole 14 when the plurality of ribs 16 is in the usage position 20.
A handle 22 is mechanically coupled to the plurality of ribs 16 for moving the plurality of ribs 16 between the storage position 18 and the usage position 20. For example, the handle 22 may be rotatably coupled to the pole 14 wherein rotation of the handle 22 pivots the plurality of ribs 16 between the storage position 18 and the usage position 20.
A canopy 24 is coupled to the plurality of ribs 16. The canopy 24 extends between each of the plurality of ribs 16. The canopy 24 generally has an interior surface 36 and an exterior surface 38. The interior surface 36 may be positioned adjacent to the pole 14 when the plurality of ribs 16 is in the storage position 18. The canopy 24 may cover the handle 22 when the plurality of ribs 16 is in the storage position 18. The interior surface 36 is generally spaced from the pole 14 when the plurality of ribs 16 is in the usage position 20.
A fastener 26 is coupled to the canopy 24. The fastener 26 is openable to form an access cavity 34 through the canopy 24. The access cavity 34 is configured to facilitate a user 32 in accessing the handle 22 when the plurality of ribs 16 is in the storage position 18. The access cavity 34 is also configured to facilitate the user 32 in accessing the interior surface 36 of the canopy 24 when the plurality of ribs 16 is in the storage position 18.
The fastener 26 may be positioned adjacent to a rib of the plurality of ribs 16. The fastener 26 may extend past a free edge 28 of the canopy 24 wherein the fastener 26 forms a tab 30. The tab 30 is configured to be gripped by the user 32 so that the fastener 26 is configured to facilitate the user 32 in manipulating the fastener 26.
The fastener 26 should have a size that is configured to form a large enough access cavity 34 for the user 32 to easily access the handle 22 and the interior surface 36 of the canopy 24. For example, the fastener 26 may have a width between 0.5 inch and 2.5 inches. The fastener 26 may also a length between 1.5 feet and 3.5 feet. The dimensions of the fastener 26 may vary depending on the size of the canopy 24 and the desired size of the access cavity 34. Embodiments of the fastener 26 may comprise a zipper. For example, the zipper may comprise a plastic material to inhibit rust damage after prolonged exposure to the outdoor elements. Alternatively, the fastener may comprise a hook and loop coupler or another suitable fastener.
In use, the user 32 can grasp the tab 30 to open the fastener 26 and expose the access cavity 34. The user 32 can then inspect the interior surface 36 and the area underneath the canopy 24 while the plurality of ribs 16 is in the storage position 18. The user 32 can also conveniently access and use the handle 22 to pivot the plurality of ribs 16 into the usage position 20.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, 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 an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure 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 disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
