The present invention relates generally to an umbrella having a canopy in an off-centered position to provide enhanced rain protection for a user.
No one will doubt the effectiveness of an umbrella for keeping one dry while walking in the rain. Their simple, but effective design has served mankind well over the years with minimal changes to its basic design. However, umbrellas suffer from one (1) common flaw in that the handle and shaft must be positioned away from the body when using. This position places the canopy of the umbrella off to one (1) side of the user, leaving the other side of the user's body at the very edge of the umbrella, or even beyond. This then subjects the user to rain, especially in blowing and driving rain conditions. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which umbrellas can provide complete and maximum coverage for all extents of the user's body, in order to eliminate the problems as described above.
The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention in providing an umbrella having a shaft assembly that includes a lower shaft, an upper shaft, an offset hinge assembly disposed therebetween, and a handle. The umbrella also includes a canopy assembly with a plurality of extendable ribs operatively disposed between the distal end of the upper shaft and the runner. The canopy is operatively disposed over the ribs and affixed to a distal end of the upper shaft and the runner wherein the offset hinge assembly is adapted to be selectively positioned in a stowed position in which said canopy can be opened and closed, and in a deployed position in which said open canopy is offset from said handle. The use of the present invention provides an elegant solution for keeping umbrella users dryer, in a manner which is quick, easy, and effective.
The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:
The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within
The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items.
The present invention describes a device and method for an umbrella (herein described as the “apparatus”) 10, which provides an umbrella with a canopy assembly 50 and a shaft assembly 12 and that includes an offset upper shaft section 60 to allow for better positioning of the umbrella canopy 52 over the user to aid in keeping the user dry. The apparatus 10 allows the user to position the umbrella handle 61 in the normal position in front of their torso, while centering the canopy 52 directly overhead.
Referring now to
Referring now to
The shaft sections 58, 60 and bars 22, 24 provide a continuous cylindrical shape when the apparatus 10 is in an upright and stowed position, which allows normal collapsing of the umbrella apparatus 10. The shaft sections 5860 are preferably of an identical circular cross-section being positioned above and below the offset hinge assembly 20. Each bar portion 22, 24 of the offset hinge assembly 20 has a cross-sectional shape being a semi-circular segment which represents approximately thirty percent (30%) of a circle's area, thereby forming a gap 36 in between the bars 22, 24 as seen in
The apparatus 10 provides mechanical features to retain the apparatus 10 in a stowed position by engagement of a spring plunger assembly 66 disposed within the upper shaft section 60. The spring plunger assembly 66 includes a plunger ball 68 that is pressed into and captured in a spring plunger aperture 70. A spring 72 disposed within the aperture 70 presses outward on the plunger ball 68 so that a portion of the ball 68 will rest in a retaining depression 74 formed on the inner surface of the upper bar 22. In this manner, when the apparatus 10 is in the stowed position, and the upper bar 22 is in line with the upper and lower shafts 58 and 60, the plunger ball 68 seats in the retaining depression 74 and that provides a spring loaded retention to hold the apparatus 10 in place. To close the umbrella in a normal manner, the user then presses upon a runner spring lock device 62 and slides the runner 56 downwardly to collapse the apparatus 10 when no longer needed for protection from rain.
Additionally, the apparatus 10 includes an internal return spring 30 which expands during deployment of the offset hinge assembly 20. The return spring 30 provides motion dampening as the canopy assembly 50 descends to the offset position. The return spring 30 includes end portions which are affixed to inwardly-facing flat surfaces of the bars 22, 24 using respective first fastener 32a and second spring fastener 32b portions. The return spring 30 provides a tensile spring device and occupies a gap 36 formed between flat side portions of the bars 22, 24.
Finally, the lower shaft section 58 includes a protruding spring-loaded spring stop 34 disposed along a side surface immediately below the first lower shaft slot 59a to prevent the upper and lower bars 22 and 24 from over extending. When moving to the deployed position, as best shown in
Referring now to
The alternate locking hinge 120 provides an alternate lower bar portion 124a which further includes first arm 124b and second arm 124c portions. The arms 124b, 124c provide flat parallel protrusions which extend along side surfaces of the alternate upper shaft 160. The alternate lower bar 124a is pivotally attached to the alternate upper shaft 160 via the alternate bar pin 128b. The first arm 124b further comprises first spring groove 126a and second spring groove 126b features located along a perimeter edge and being spaced approximately ninety (90°) degrees apart. The alternate upper shaft 160 further includes a locking spring 125 being affixed thereto via a spring fastener 129. The locking spring 125 is positioned so as to be in alignment with the spring groove portions 126a and 126b of the first arm 124b as the alternate lower bar 124a is rotated about the alternate bar pin 128b. Rotation of the alternate lower bar 124a relative to the alternate upper shaft 160 provides selective engagement of the spring 125 within either the first 126a or second 126b spring groove, thereby securing the apparatus 10 in the offset state or vertical state, respectively. The locking spring 125 is envisioned to be an arcuate leaf-type spring being biased inwardly to engage the grooves 126a, 126b when released. The arcuate shape of the locking spring 125 allows a user to grasp and motion the locking spring 125 outwardly, rotate the alternate lower bar 124a, and re-engage the locking spring 125 into a desired groove 126a, 126b.
The arms 124b, 124c are positioned along opposing side surfaces of the alternate upper shaft section 160 in a recessed manner within parallel and recessed first alternate slot 164a and second alternate slot 164b features so as to maintain the combined cylindrical shape of the alternate lower bar 124a and the alternate upper shaft section 160 when configured in the stowed position.
It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus 10, it would be utilized as indicated in
The method of utilizing the apparatus 10 may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring a model of the apparatus 10 having a desired size and color based upon a user's preference; deploying the canopy assembly 50 from a stowed position by grasping the handle 61 or lower shaft section 58 of the apparatus 10; grasping and sliding the runner 56 upwardly over the offset hinge assembly 20 and onto the upper shaft section 60 until the runner 56 is secured above the runner spring lock 62; deploying the offset hinge assembly 20 to the offset position by grasping the lower 58 and upper 60 shaft sections and applying a sideways force to disengage the spring plunger assembly 66; motioning the upper shaft section 60 outwardly and downwardly until the upper bar 22 obtains a horizontal orientation and contacts the spring stop 34; holding the handle 61 and positioning one's self under the offset canopy portion 52 of the canopy assembly 50; and, benefiting from improved protection from rainfall afforded a user of the present invention 10.
The method of utilizing a model of the apparatus 10 equipped with the alternate locking hinge 120 may be achieved by performing the following extra steps: deploying the canopy 52 and umbrella ribs 54 of the canopy assembly 50 as described above; reconfiguring the offset hinge assembly 20, equipped with the locking hinge 120, to the offset state by grasping and pulling the arcuate locking spring 125 outwardly from the second groove portion 126b of the first panel 124b, thereby rotationally unlocking the alternate lower bar 124a from the alternate upper shaft section 130; rotating the alternate lower bar 124a downwardly to a horizontal position; aligning and releasing the locking spring 125 into the first groove 126a to secure the apparatus 10 in the offset state; and, utilizing the additional security provided by the alternate locking hinge 120 to provide additional protection in an event of violent inclement weather.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/928,679, filed Jan. 17, 2014, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61928679 | Jan 2014 | US |