GB2045338A

GB2045338A - An Umbrella Support

Info

Publication number: GB2045338A
Application number: GB7944374A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Mcfarlane D J
Current assignee: Mcfarlane D J
Priority date: 1979-01-05
Filing date: 1979-12-24
Publication date: 1980-10-29
Also published as: JPS55101207A; AU5388079A

Abstract

An umbrella support particularly suitable for the clamping of a golf umbrella to a golf buggy or trundler so that the umbrella is supported above the buggy and may be tilted to a desired orientation. A clamp 1, located on a handle shaft 8 of the golf buggy, is provided with a series of radial serrations 11, and a movable block 13 is provided with a series of co- operating radial serrations 14. The movable block 13 is slidable on a vertically orientated shaft 21 which is provided with a clamp 25 attached to an umbrella handle shaft 28. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An Umbrella Support This invention relates to an umbrella support and has been devised particularly though not solely for the support of a golf umbrella.

At present golf trundlers or buggies are commonly provided with a holder for a golf umbrella in which the umbrella may be placed in the folded condition so that it will be ready for use in the event of rain or strong sunshine. This arrangement has the disadvantage that should it rain the golfer must firstly remove the umbrella from the holder and then erect the umbrella which he must then hold over his head with one hand while waiting to play or while moving from place to place on the golf course. This can be an awkward or difficult manoeuvre particularly when selecting golf clubs and furthermore the umbrella must be folded and replaced in the trundler or laid on the ground while the golfer is making his shot.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an umbrella support which will obviate or minimize the foregoing disadvantages in a simple yet effective manner or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Accordingly the invention consists in an umbrella support comprising a clamp arranged to engage a tubular member, support means adapted to support the handle of an umbrella and adjustable connecting means between said support means and said clamp arranged to allow the inclination of said support means to be varied relative to said tubular member.

Notwithstanding any other forms that may fall within its scope one preferred form of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing which is an exploded perspective view of an umbrella support according to the invention.

In the preferred form of the invention an umbrella support particularly adapted for use with a golf trundler to support a golfing umbrella is constructed as follows: A clamp 1 is provided which may for example be cast or moulded from a suitable metal or plastics material and which has a C-shaped crosssection having one end of the C formed to a Vshaped notch 2. A clamping screw 3 is provided having a threaded portion 4 and an operating handle 5. The clamping screw is engaged with the clamp by threading the threaded portion 4 into a bush 5 having a corresponding female threaded portion extending into the rounded end 6 of the Cshaped cross-section.The clamp may be then engaged with the tubular shaft 8 supporting the handle 9 of a golf trundler or buggy by engaging the clamp 1 over the tubular shaft so that the shaft nests in the V-notch 2 and tightening the clamping screw 3 until the end of the threaded portion 4 engages the side of the tubular shaft 8 opposite the V-notch 2 and firmly clamps the tubular shaft between the V-notch and the end of the clamping screw.

The side of the clamps opposite to the opening in the C-shaped cross-section is provided with a raised circular surface 10 provided with a plurality of radial serrations 11 extending outwardly from a hole 12 through the centre of the raised portion. A mounting block 1 3 is provided which may also be cast or molded from a suitable metal or plastics materials and which has a matching mating face 14 having radial serrations corresponding to the radial serrations 1 A hole 1 5 is formed through the mounting block in the centre of the radial serrations.A threaded bolt 1 6 is provided which is passed through the hole 12 and then through the hole 1 5 and secured by a wing nut 1 7 spaced from the face 1 8 of the mounting block by a compression spring 1 9. The wing nut is tightened to hold the two mating faces 11 and 14 into engagement with the radial serrations of one mating with the radial serrations of the other.It will be appreciated that the wing nut 1 7 may be tightened to such a degree that any pivotal movement of the mounting block 1 8 about the bolt 1 6 is extremely difficult or that the wing nut may be loosened to a point where the mounting block may be held firmly at a desired inclination about the bolt by the engagement of the radial serrations but so that the mounting block may be rotated about the bolt causing one set of serrations to ride up over the other set until a desired relative inclination is achieved between the mounting block 13 and the clamp 1.

The mounting block is provided with an aperture 20 arranged to form a sliding fit with a pole or shaft 21 which may for example be a length of aluminium tubing. The shaft 21 is held in place in the mounting block in a desired axial position by way of a clamping bolt 22 having a threaded end, 23 which engages with a female thread in a bush 24 extending through the mounting block to radially enter the hole 20.

Support means in the form of a support clamp 25 is provided at the upper end of the shaft 21 and may for example comprise a similar clamp to the clamp 1. The support clamp has a V-notch 26 and a clamping bolt 27 which engage and support the shaft 28 of an umbrella handle. The support clamp may also be formed by casting or molding from a suitable metal or plastics material.

In use the clamp 1 is engaged with the handle of a buggy or trundler as previously described and the inclination of the mounting block 13 is adjusted so that the shaft 21 is held at a desired inclination which may for example be vertical. The handle 28 of an umbrella is clamped in the support clamp 25 and the height of the shaft 21 is adjusted using the clamping bolt 22 so that the umbrella is positioned in the desired location above the golf trundler and/or the operator. The umbrella may be supported in this position while the trundler is stationary for example while the player is selecting his clubs or waiting to make his shot.When the golfer wishes to move his trundler the shaft 21 may simply be tilted against the engaging action of the mating serrations 11 and 14 so that the mating faces part slightly against the action of the spring 1 9 and the teeth of one set of serrations ride over the teeth of the other until the shaft and therefore the umbrella has been tilted into a desired position for protecting the golfer while the trundler or buggy is being moved. Once the location for playing the next shot has been reached the umbrella may be tilted once more to the previous position as required.

When the golfer wishes to play his shot he needs to merely step out from beneath the umbrella, play the shot and immediateiy step back into shelter beneath the umbrella. At all times the trundler, golf bag and golf clubs remain sheltered from the rain and it is unnecessary for the golfer to erect or fold the umbrella and to place it down while playing his shot.

Although the invention has been described for the support of a golf umbrella on a trundler it will be apparent that the umbrella support may be used in other locations where it is desired to support an umbrella which may be conveniently clamped onto a tubular framework.

Claims

Claims Various aspects of the present invention to which particular attention is directed are listed in the following paragraphs, viz:- A. An umbrella support comprising a clamp adapted to engage a tubular member, support means adapted to support the handle of an umbrella and adjustable connecting means between said support means and said clamp arranged to allow the inclination of said support means to be varied relative to said tubular member. B. An umbrella support as described in paragraph A, wherein said adjustable connecting means incorporates a pivot adapted to be used with the axis of the pivot in a substantially horizontal plane. C. An umbrella support as described in paragraph B, wherein holding means are provided in conjunction with said pivot, arranged to hold said support means at a desired inclination to said clamp. D. An umbrella support as described in paragraph C, wherein a mounting block is provided pivotally mounted on said clamp by way of said pivot, and wherein said holding means comprise mating faces on said clamp and on said mounting block held in contact with one another by tension means. E. An umbrella support as described in paragraph D, wherein said mating faces are provided with complementary radial serrations radiating outwardly from the axis of said pivot. F. An umbrella support as described in paragraph D or paragraph E, wherein said pivot comprises a threaded shaft and said tension means comprise a nut threadedly engaged on said shaft and adjustable to alter the contact pressure between said mating faces. G. An umbrella support as described in paragraph F, wherein said tension means includes a compression spring axially mounted on said shaft and compressible by said nut. H. An umbrella support as described in paragraph E, paragraph F or paragraph G, wherein said support means include a support clamp adapted to engage an umbrella, said support clamp being mounted on a shaft slidably mounted in said mounting block. I. An umbrella support when constructed arranged and operable substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. J. Golf umbrella support means comprising mount means adapted to hold a golf umbrella in an open position above a golf buggy or trundler. K. An umbrella support as described in paragraph J, wherein the mounting means is as described in any of paragraphs A to I above. New Claims filed on 1 1-1-80 Superseded claims A-K inc. New Claims:- 1-11 inc. Claims

1. An umbrella support comprising a clamp adapted to engage a tubular member, support means adapted to support the handle of an umbrella and adjustable connecting means between said support means and said clamp arranged to allow the inclination of said support means to be varied relative to said tubular member.

2. An umbrella support as claimed in claim 1 wherein said adjustable connecting means incorporates a pivot adapted to be used with the axis of the pivot in a substantially horizontal plane.

3. An umbrella support as claimed in claim 2 wherein holding means are provided in conjunction with said pivot, arranged to hold said support means at a desired inclination to said clamp.

4. An umbrella support as claimed in claim 3 wherein a mounting block is provided pivotally mounted on said clamp by way of said pivot, and wherein said holding means comprise mating faces on said clamp and on said mounting block held in contact with one another by tension means.

5. An umbrella support as claimed in claim 4 wherein said mating faces are provided with mating radial serrations radiating outwardly from the axis of said pivot.

6. An umbrella support as claimed in either claim 4 or claim 5 wherein said pivot comprises a threaded shaft and said tension means comprise a nut threadedly engaged on said shaft and adjustable to alter the contact pressure between said mating faces.

7. An umbrella support as claimed in claim 6 wherein said tension means includes a compression spring axially mounted on said shaft and compressibie by said nut.

8. An umbrella support as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein said support means include a support clamp adapted to engage an umbrella, said support clamp being mounted on a shaft slidably mounted in said mounting block.

9. An umbrella support when constructed arranged and operable substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. Golf umbrella support means comprising mounting means adapted to hold a golf umbrella in an open position above a golf buggy or trundler.

11. Golf umbrella support means as claimed in claim 10 wherein said mounting means comprise an umbrella support as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.