Umbrella for two

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is closely related to and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/684,758 filed May 26, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to an umbrella, and, more particularly, the present invention relates to an umbrella which is rectangular that is designed for furnishing protection for two persons.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

People of all ages enjoy going for walks, sporting events, outdoor concerts and a variety of other events taking place outdoors. Unfortunately, there is no predicting what the weather will be like for activities that are scheduled well in advance. Thus, many of outdoor events take place during inclement weather. Rain, snow, sleet and even harsh sunshine can make these outdoor activities uncomfortable and many times even unpleasant.

To provide for these eventualities people are forced to carry at least two umbrellas and many times even more to provide cover for the family. This can completely bog down the family members who carry them. Those who may be forced to share one umbrella are generally squashed together under the umbrella. This can be uncomfortable for both parties and often exposes at least one of them, if not both, to the elements.

Thus, it would be advantageous if there were an umbrella which could be shared by two persons and still be comfortable and protected under the umbrella.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus for providing protection for two people from rain, snow, sleet and harsh sunlight. The apparatus comprises a shaft member having an upper end and a lower end and having a rib connector disposed on the shaft member closely adjacent an upper end thereof. A transfer sleeve is mounted on the shaft member for reciprocal movement along the shaft member for opening and closing the apparatus. There is a cover portion that is engageable with the rib connector and extending outwardly therefrom. The cover portion has a substantially rectangular shape and is formed from a predetermined material. Such predetermined material being a durable, lightweight material sufficiently strong to repel rain, snow and sleet. There is a rib structure for connection with the rib connector, the cover portion and the transfer sleeve. A tubular sleeve is mounted on the upper end of the shaft member intermediate the rib connector and the transfer sleeve and a handle member is disposed on a bottom portion of the shaft member.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide an umbrella which can be shared by two people.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an umbrella which is rectangular and has a pyramid shape.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an umbrella which has an adapter that can attach to the handle so the umbrella can be attached to a predetermined object.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an umbrella which can be attached to a stadium bench or the back of a chair so the umbrella can be used as a hands free umbrella.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an umbrella wherein the shaft is telescoping so it can be raised to a higher height when attached to a bench or chair.

These and various other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent after a full reading of the following detailed description, particularly, when read in conjunction with the attached drawings as described below and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention showing the pyramid shape of the open umbrella with a rectangular bottom.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an adapter that can be attached to the handle or shaft of the umbrella so the umbrella can be attached to a stadium bench or a chair back.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the umbrella attached to a stadium bench showing the telescoping shaft which permits the shaft to extend to a greater height.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the umbrella showing how it would be used by two people sharing the umbrella.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identical components which have identical functions have been designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings.

The present invention provides an apparatus, generally designated 10, for providing protection for two people from rain, snow, sleet and harsh sunlight. The apparatus 10 comprises a shaft member 2 having an upper end and a lower end and having a rib connector 3 disposed on the shaft member 2 closely adjacent an upper end thereof. A transfer sleeve, generally designated 20, is mounted on the shaft member 2 for reciprocal movement along the shaft member 2 for opening and closing the apparatus. There is a cover portion 6 that is engageable with the rib connector 3 and extending outwardly therefrom. The cover portion 3 has a substantially rectangular shape and is formed from a predetermined material. Such predetermined material being a durable, lightweight material sufficiently strong to repel rain, snow and sleet. Such apparatus 10 has is a rib structure, generally designated 30, for connection with the rib connector 3, the cover portion 6 and the transfer sleeve 20. A tubular sleeve 4 is mounted on the upper end of the shaft member 2 intermediate the rib connector and the transfer sleeve and a handle member 12 is disposed on a bottom portion of the shaft member.

The rib structure 30 of such apparatus 10 includes a plurality of rib members 14 that are attached on a first end thereof to the rib connector 3 and connected on a second end thereof to said cover portion 6. Such plurality of rib members extend outwardly from the rib connector 3 to an outer edge of the cover portion 6. Such plurality of rib members 14 may also engage such cover portion 6 at various place along the plurality of rib members 14 to ensure that the cover portion 6 is attached snugly to the plurality of rib members 4.

Such rib structure 30 further includes a plurality of retracting ribs 16 that are engageable on a first end thereof with the upper portion of the transfer sleeve 20 and is engageable with the plurality of ribs 14 on a second end thereof. The plurality of retracting ribs 16 are engageable with the plurality of rib members 14 at substantially a mid point thereof. Thus when the transfer sleeve is retracted the retracting ribs 16 are retracted and the plurality of rib members 14 are retracted also which also retracts such cover portion 6.

As stated previously such bottom portion of cover portion 6 has a rectangular shape when the apparatus is in an open position and further the cover portion 6 has a pyramid shape when the apparatus is in an open position. By being rectangular the cover portion 6 provides better protection for the two parties that are using the apparatus 10 than is achieved with the conventional circular umbrella. FIG. 4 shows how the apparatus 10 would be used by two people sharing the umbrella.

The plurality of rib members 14 is four. That is, there is a rib for each corner of such pyramid shape of the cover portion 6. Further, the plurality of retracting ribs 16 is also four. Again there is one retracting rib 16 for each of plurality of ribs 14.

The predetermined material that is used for the cover portion 6 selected from plastic, nylon, cotton or combinations thereof. It is preferred that such predetermined material is plastic and, further, it is preferred that such plastic is vinyl. Such plastic can come in a variety of colors and/or various designs.

Such apparatus 10 further includes an adapter member 18 that is engageble with a bottom end of one of the handle member 12 and the shaft member 2 for attaching such apparatus 10 to a predetermined object so as to permit a hands free use of the apparatus. Such adapter member 18 includes an adjustable clamp 22 for attaching the apparatus to such predetermined object.

The adapter member 18 is removably engageable with one of the handle member 12 and the shaft member 2. Thus, such adapter 18 can be attached when needed and removed when not required. Such predetermined object is selected from one of a stadium bench or the back of a seat or chair. The adapter member 18 is engageable with one of such handle member 12 or shaft member 2 by means of snap on, slide on or clip on.

The shaft member 2 of such apparatus 10 is telescoping 24 which permits the shaft member 2 to be adjusted to a different height when it is used in the manner where the apparatus 10 is attached to a stadium bench as seen in FIG. 3. This permits the shaft to be lengthened so that the cover portion 6 will be above the users who will be sitting on the benches. When the apparatus is used as a normal umbrella being held by the user the shaft 2 is a normal length and there is no need to use the telescoping additional length of the shaft; however when the apparatus 10 is attached to the bench, as seen in FIG. 3, the additional shaft 2 length is required to raise the cover portion so that it will be above the heads of the users. Such adapter member 18 could be used to attach the apparatus 10 to a chair back or other items that could support the umbrella without the need for the user to hold it.

Thus, the telescoping shaft member 24 is designed to raise the apparatus to a sufficient height when the adapter 18 member is attached to whatever predetermined object is used.

The transfer sleeve 20 Of the apparatus 10 further includes a spring member 26 for biasing such apparatus 10 to an open position. When the apparatus is opened the spring member 26 opens the umbrella to the point where the upper end of the transfer sleeve 20 contacts the lower end of the tubular sleeve which stops the transfer sleeve 20 from opening any further. Button 32 on such shaft member 2 closely adjacent the handle member 12 releases such spring member so as to open such cover portion 6 easily.

Such plurality of retracting ribs 16 of the apparatus 10 further includes a plurality of supporting ribs 28 that are engageable with a lower end of the transfer sleeve 20 and with the plurality of retracting ribs 16 on a second end thereof for providing additional strength to the plurality of retracting ribs 16.

While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments of the present invention has been described in detail above, it should be understood that various other adaptations and/or modifications of the invention can be made by those persons who are particularly skilled in the art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.