AU624809B2

AU624809B2 - Automobile umbrella holder

Info

Publication number: AU624809B2
Application number: AU32213/89A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michael Colin Taylor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-03-29
Filing date: 1989-03-29
Publication date: 1992-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 2009-03-29
Also published as: AU3221389A

Description

1' COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALI 2 4 8 0 9A PATENTS ACT 1952 orm V COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int. Cl: Application Number: Lodged: PI7507 29 March 1988 Complete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Lapsed: Published: Priority: Related Art: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: MICHAEL COLIN TAYLOR o- c r c r Address of Applicant: 9 -F5uber-Pl ae- V 1 N a Actual Inventor: MICHAEL COLIN TAYLOR Address for Service: GRIFFITH HACK CO.

71 YORK STREET S DNEY NSW 2000

AUSTRALIA

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: AUTOMOBILE UMBRELLA HOLDER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 0970A 29/0:5/99 -2 This invention relates to an automobile umbrella holder and is designed to retain a wet furled umbrella safely within the interior of an automobile.

It is a problem in wet weather when entering an automobile after using an umbrella, to store the umbrella vi-thin the automobile in a comfortable and safe position.

Normally a wet furled umbrella is simply placed on the floor of an automobile, where it leaks and drips water into the flooring material which may damage the interior of the automobile and cause discomfort to the occupants.

Furthermore a loose umbrella on the floor of an automobile may be extremely dangerous in the event of a o. sudden braking or cornering maneouvre or in a collision.

The present invention therefore provides an umbrella 1 5 holder for a furled umbrella comprising an elongate tube o having one open end and one closed end, proportioned such o. that a furled umbrella may be inserted into the tube through the open end, characterised by the provision of one or more constrictions arranged within the tube such that the furled umbrella is squeezed by the constrictions as it is inserted into the tube and any water which may be dislogded from the umbrella as it is squeezed by the constrictions is caused to be relocated to a position within the tube.

*o 25 Preferably one or more water traps are provided within the tube arranged to retain water squeezed from the umbrella by the constrictions.

Preferably ventilation openings are provided in the tube.

Preferably the tube is adapted to be removably mounted on and supported by a mounting bracket adapted to be secured within the interior of an automobile.

Notwithstanding any other forms that may fall within its score, one preferred form of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- 19682-B/428/17,03-92 -2a Fig. 1 is a top, and as they appear the same, a bottom view of an umbrella holder according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a front, and as they appear the same, a back view of the umbrella holder shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front view of a mounting bracket for the umbrella holder; Fig. 4 is an end view of the umbrella holder showing S4* 4 t 1 5 19582-B/426/17,03.92 the opening through which the umbrella is inserted; and Fig. 5 is an end view of the mounting bracket shown in Fig. 3; In the preferred form of the invention an umbrella holder is provided in the form of an elongate tube (1) which has one open end and one closed end The tube is generally circular in section as shown in Fig. 4.

The tube is proportioned such that a furled umbrella may be inserted into the tube through the open end In this regard the umbrella holder could be sized to accept either a folding type umbrella, in which case the tube is relatively short in overall length, or may be sized to received a full size (non-folding) umbrella in which case the tube will be comparatively longer.

15 The tube is provided with internal constrictions arranged to squeeze the furled umbrella as it is inserted into the tube through the open end The constrictions may take any suitable form, but in the preferred form of the invention comprise rows of flexible fins which extend radially inwardly from the side wall of the tube toward the central axis of the tube.

The flexible fins are preferably mounted to the tube across ventilation openings which preferably comprise two elongate openings extending down diametrically opposed sides Of the tube as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The umbrella holder is further provided with two .o water traps, one such water trap being located toward the closed end of the tube and the other water trap is an elongate water trap located down one side of the tube between the ventilation openings For versatility the water trap may also be provided on the diametrically opposed side of the tube to avoid confusion when the tube is mounted in a motor vehicle as will be described further below.

The fins do not form a complete circle within the tube, but are broken wher: they reach the middle of the water trap to allow water to flow to the water trap 4787S/rs S- 3 if the tube is inclined. This can be seen at The tube is secured to the interior of a motor vehicle by way of a mounting bracket (Fig. 3) which is moulded out of plastic having two incomplete circular sections (10) at each end (Fig. 5) which correspond to narrow sections on the tube When the tube is pushed against the opening of the circular section (10) of the mounting bracket it forces them apart until the tube clips into them, allowing the tube to be rotated so that no matter where the bracket is mounted the water trap can be placed at the bottom to catch the water.

The mounting bracket may be fastened to the interior of an automobile in any convenient location but is typically located on the floor of the vehicle between the S driver's seat and the adjacent door sill, or on the transmission tunnel, or the kick panel forward of the drivers door or under or on the dashboard. Alternatively the mounting bracket may be fastened to the interior of the automobile in a verticle orientation, typically on the door pillar between the front and rear doors, In use the tube is normally engaged with the mounting bracket (Fig. 3) and retained in the interior of an automobile. Upon entering the automobile with a wet furled umbrella the user simply inserts the umbrella into the tube, whereuipon the umbrella is safely retained against inadvertent movement within the vehicle, and the majority of the water is squeezed by the fins into the water trap if mounted horizontally or if in a vertical position. The umbrella is not only safely Lretained within the vehicle but damage to the interior of the vehicle from water leaking from the umbrella is prevented.

When the umbrella is to be removed from the vehicle, the tube (Fig. 1 and 2) may also be removed at the same time by disengaging the tube from the mounting bracket (Fig. 3) and the water retained in the water trap emptied 4787S/rs 4 i k 1 from the tube.

The tube may then be returned to its position on the mounting bracket for further use at a later date.

The tube and mounting bracket may be fabricated from any suitable material, but is typically moulded from a suitable plastics material.

It is a further feature of the invention that the ventilation openings in either side of the tube allow water to evaporate from the interior of the tube and prevent the umbrella from becoming mouldy even if it is left in a wet condition within the tube for a lengthy period of time. Although the flexible fins have been shown as being mounted across the ventilation openings it will be appreciated that the ventilation openings 15 could take any other form allowing the circulation of air '4 within the tube and that the constrictions for squeezing hthe water from the furled umbrella could be provided in forms other than the flexible fins te 4 4787S/rs 5

Claims

1. An umbrella holder for a furled umbrella comprising an elongate tube having one open end and one closed end, proportioned such that a furled umbrella may be inserted into the tube through the open end, characterised by the provision of one or more constrictions arranged within the tube such that the furled umbrella is squeezed by the constrictions as it is inserted into the tube and any water which may be dislodged from the umbrella as it is squeezed by the constrictions is caused to be relocated to a position within the tube.

2. An umbrella holder as clairmed in claim I wherein one or more water traps are provided within the tube arranged to retain water squeezed from the umbrella by the 15 constrictions. S t a A

3. An umbrella holder as claimed in claim 2 wherein there are a plurality of water traps and wherein one said 4tl water trap is located adjacent the closed end and another 4S :said water trap is an elongate water trap located down one side of the tube.

4. An umbrella holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein ventilation openings are provided in the tube.

An umbrella holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the constrictions comprise flexible fins mounted on the tube wall and extending inwardly into the tube.

6. An umbrella holder as claimed in claim 5 when dependent upon claim 4 wherein the ventilation openings comprise two elongate openings extending down diametrically opposed sides of the tube and wherein the flexible fins are disposed in rows across the openings

19582-B/426/1 7,03,92 S. j 2^ 7 extending radially inwardly toward the central axis of the tube.

7. An umbrella holder as claimed in any one preceding claims wherein the tube is adapted removably mounted on and supported by a mounting adapted to be secured within the interior automobile. of the to be bracket of an

8. An umbrella holder substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. t 4 4 4 4 4 4 ft 44 I *4 4 4 44 4 fl ff i 4 4 4 t 4 4 r4 44 4 4 10 DATED this 17th day of March 1992 MICHAEL COLIN TAYLOR By his Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK CO. 4 14 I95~82 B/426/ 7O3.i2