Patent Application
20190118908
The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
The present invention relates generally to the field of canopies of existing art and more specifically relates to umbrella fixtures.
An umbrella or parasol is a folding canopy, often supported by wooden or metal ribs, which is mounted on a vertically extending pole. It is designed to protect a person against rain or sunlight. The word umbrella typically refers to a device used for protection from rain, as opposed to a parasol, which provides protection from the sun.
When fishing on a boat, excessive sunlight may cause discomfort for individuals. This may include getting sunburned or simply overheating and perspiring. Holding an umbrella to block the sunlight is not convenient while trying to fish. Fixing an umbrella in place on the boat is not sufficient due to the inability to adjust the umbrella as the sun moves. A suitable solution is desired.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,061 to Jeff Utley relates to a ski post-mounted boat umbrella. The described ski post-mounted boat umbrella includes a boat umbrella and a boat with a post upwardly extending therefrom. A base is provided having a rod including a pair of resilient sleeves mounted to the rod of the base via clamps in concentric relationship with respect to each other such that an axis about which the sleeves are situated resides in parallel with that of the rod. The sleeves include a first sleeve mounted at a lower end of the rod of the base and a second sleeve mounted at a central extent of the rod of the base. The rod of the base also has a threaded bore formed therein adjacent to an upper end thereof for receiving a set screw. The sleeves are designed to releasably receive the post of the boat such that the rod of the base is vertically oriented.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known umbrella fixture art, the present disclosure provides a novel seat-mounted umbrella adapter and method. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a seat-mounted umbrella adapter and method.
A device is disclosed herein. The device includes a seat-sleeve, an umbrella-sleeve, a first-cantilever, and a second-cantilever. The seat-sleeve has a tubular sidewall and a cylindrical cavity within the sidewall. The sidewall of the seat-sleeve is constructed to allow a support of a seat, particularly a boat-seat, to pass through the seat-sleeve, in such a way that the support can slide and rotate freely within the seat-sleeve. Likewise, the umbrella-sleeve also has a tubular sidewall and a cylindrical cavity within the sidewall. The sidewall of the umbrella-sleeve is constructed to allow the shaft of an umbrella to pass through it in such a way that the shaft can slide and rotate freely within the umbrella-sleeve. The first-cantilever and the second-cantilever are each attached to both the seat-sleeve and the umbrella-sleeve, enabling the device to mount the umbrella to the boat-seat.
According to another embodiment, a method of supporting an umbrella from a seat is also disclosed herein. The method of supporting an umbrella from a seat includes providing the above described device, sliding the seat-sleeve over the mount of the boat-seat, inserting the shaft of the umbrella into the umbrella-sleeve, and swinging the device about the seat-axis into a desired position.
For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.
The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a seat-mounted umbrella adapter and method, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.
As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an umbrella fixture and more particularly to a seat-mounted umbrella adapter and method as used to improve the mounting of an umbrella to a boat seat.
Generally, the seat-mounted umbrella adapter provides a support for an umbrella that is attachable to the seat extension on a boat. The adapter is particularly designed for seats which include a vertical support below the resting surface of the seat. The adapter utilizes a tubular attachment means which merely slips over the vertical support of the seat and allows users to freely rotate the adapter and the umbrella about the seat to the desired location in order to maintain shade when fishing. Because the adapter may swing freely about the seat, users may adjust the location of the umbrella as the sun moves throughout the day, thereby ensuring that users may have protection from the sun at all angles.
The seat-mounted umbrella adapter offers users a device for efficiently supporting an umbrella on a boat. The device can be used by any fisherman or other user that has a seat with a vertical seat support. The device may be constructed of tubular connectors joined by two tubular beams, forming an H-like pattern. Preferably, in an in-use condition, the tubular connectors are oriented vertically, while the tubular beams are oriented horizontally. One tubular connector may attach to the vertical seat support, while the other may receive an umbrella. The support may be swung to adjust the location of the umbrella over the boat seat and maintain shade in the desired position. A bolt or other fastener may be passed through the umbrella connector at the bottom in order prevents the umbrella from passing completely through the connector. An adjustable, fold up version of the support may be included, as well as an umbrella. The device may also incorporate a fishing rod holder, drink holder, or other attachments and features in various embodiments. The exact specifications may vary.
Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in
Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as user preferences, design preference, structural requirements, marketing preferences, cost, available materials, technological advances, etc., other structural arrangements such as, for example, alternative cantilever angles, additional mounting or retention features, auxiliary accessories, etc., may be sufficient.
Referring now to
Referring now to
It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for supporting an umbrella from a seat are taught herein.
The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.
The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/575,261 filed Oct. 20, 2017, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62575261 | Oct 2017 | US |
