GB2053674A

GB2053674A - Canopy gatherer for an umbrella

Info

Publication number: GB2053674A
Application number: GB8020028A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-06-21
Filing date: 1980-06-19
Publication date: 1981-02-11
Also published as: FR2459018A1; IT8022866A0; IT8022071V0; ES244074Y; ES244074U

Abstract

A canopy gatherer for an umbrella comprises a ring 1 slidable along the furled canopy of an umbrella, and an apex cap 4 fastened on the umbrella at the apex end of the umbrella shaft. The ring 1 has an integral hook 3 for enabling the umbrella to be suspended from a support when its canopy is furled. The arrangement is such that the ring 1 can be slidably moved along the furled canopy from the handle end to the apex end and stowed on the apex cap when the canopy is to be unfurled and erected. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Canopy gatherer for an umbrella The present invention relates to a canopy gatherer to hold the canopy of an umbrella furled when the umbrella is collapsed.

Conventionally, the canopy of an umbrella is held furled by a strip sewn at one end to the cloth of the umbrella canopy and having at its other end a metal loop which when the umbrella is folded up and the cloth is gathered, hoqks onto another hook on the first mentioned end of the strip.

Other variations have been used over the years employing clamps or clips, usually in a helicoidal form, which are placed by gathering the canopy cloth and putting the tip or narrow part of the umbrella into the clip. These gatherers are provided with means to fix them in place on the furled canopy.

This last mentioned form of known gatherer is somewhat better than the first mentioned which requires a certain amount of dexterity to fold the umbrella frame, furl the canopy, tightly gather it and then hook the strap. However, the second mentioned device does have a disadvantage in that when the canopy is unfurled and erected the clamp is removed and thus it is very easy to lose.

It is an object of this invention that the umbrella itself should retain the gatherer and keep it in such a way that in both its operative and stowed positions, it is held in place without any risk of being lost or snapping off the body of the umbrella.

According to the present invention we provide a canopy gatherer for an umbrella comprising: a first reciprocable element which is annular and is adapted to fit over the furled canopy of an umbrella for gathering the furled canopy as the said first element slides therealong; and a second element engageable on the apex end of an umbrella shaft for preventing the said first element from passing off the apex end of the furled umbrella.

The invention also provides such a gatherer when held captive on the canopy of an umbrella such that the said second element is engaged on an umbrella at the apex end of the furled canopy and the said first element is slidable along the furled canopy of the umbrella between, on the one hand, the handle end of the canopy and, on the other hand, the said second element at the apex end of the furled canopy.

The annular first element has a certain tolerance enabling it to fit on the second element and has an interior diameter which is enough to gather the umbrella cloth to its folded position.

The canopy gatherer is advantageously provided with a means for anchoring it in place, for example: a lateral leg projected from its own side and oriented towards the ground so that it can be hooked or hung, even from one's clothing. Alternatively it may have other means such as hooks, studs, musketoons or other devices which make it possible to fix it into any suitable place.

In order that the invention may more readily be understood the following description is given, merely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: FIGURE lisa top plan view of the gatherer; FIGURE 2 is a vertical section of the gatherer shown in Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view showing the apex cap incorporated on an umbrella with a tip; FIGURE 4 is a further view of the apex cap shown in Figure 3, but adapted to a so-called telescopic umbrella (without a tip); FIGURE 5 is an example of the use of the gatherer in its operative position; and FIGURE 6 is a view showing the gatherer in its stowed position.

Referring to these drawings, it will be seen that the gatherer is made up of two parts, of which one is an annular element 1 and a second element in the form of an apex cap 4. The annular element 1 is circular in shape, having a shallowly tapering conical interior 2 of downwardly divergent configuration. The gatherer further includes a hook 3 serving as means for hooking or anchoring the gatherer and an umbrella on which it is fitted, to fix them to any suitable support.

The operation of the gatherer is shown in Figures 5 and 6. The conical interior 2 makes it gather and smooth the cloth canopy of the umbrella P by merely sliding over the canopy from the apex cap 4 until the gatherer reaches the largest diameter part or handle end of the furled canopy as shown in Figure 5.

When the umbrella is unfurled, as shown in Figure 6, the gatherer 1 is lowered to, and abuts against, the apex cap 4 engaged on the umbrella at the apex end R of the shaft of the umbrella P. For this purpose, the apex cap 4 has a conical profile of downwardly divergent configuration to ensure that the gatherer ring 1 does not come off the umbrella Pto be lost.

In the case of an umbrella with a tip X at the apex end, this apex cap 4 is inserted into it and is pressed against the end R of the umbrella canopy as shown in Figure 3.

For the so-called telescopic type of umbrella which does not have a tip X (Figure 4) there is usually a threaded socket to receive a screw-on end plug which is removable to allow replacement of the canopy on the end plug. This socket allows the replaceable end plug to provide the dual function of end plug and gatherer retainer, as shown in Figure 4.

As shown in the drawings, when the gatherer element 1 and the apex cap are in position on the umbrella P, the conical interior of the annular element 1 and the conical exterior of the apex cap 4 are both divergent in a direction towards the apex end of the umbrella P.

The arrangement of the apex cap 4 on the umbrella P is such that with the annular gatherer element 1 seated on the exterior of the apex cap 4, i.e. in its stowed position, the umbrella P can have its canopy erected as shown in Figure 6.

1. A canopy gatherer for an umbrella comprising: a first reciprocable element which is annular and is adapted to fit over the furled canopy of an umbrella for gathering the furled canopy as the said first element slides therealong; and a second element engageable on the apex end of an umbrella shaft for preventing the said first element from pas

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Canopy gatherer for an umbrella The present invention relates to a canopy gatherer to hold the canopy of an umbrella furled when the umbrella is collapsed. Conventionally, the canopy of an umbrella is held furled by a strip sewn at one end to the cloth of the umbrella canopy and having at its other end a metal loop which when the umbrella is folded up and the cloth is gathered, hoqks onto another hook on the first mentioned end of the strip. Other variations have been used over the years employing clamps or clips, usually in a helicoidal form, which are placed by gathering the canopy cloth and putting the tip or narrow part of the umbrella into the clip. These gatherers are provided with means to fix them in place on the furled canopy. This last mentioned form of known gatherer is somewhat better than the first mentioned which requires a certain amount of dexterity to fold the umbrella frame, furl the canopy, tightly gather it and then hook the strap. However, the second mentioned device does have a disadvantage in that when the canopy is unfurled and erected the clamp is removed and thus it is very easy to lose. It is an object of this invention that the umbrella itself should retain the gatherer and keep it in such a way that in both its operative and stowed positions, it is held in place without any risk of being lost or snapping off the body of the umbrella. According to the present invention we provide a canopy gatherer for an umbrella comprising: a first reciprocable element which is annular and is adapted to fit over the furled canopy of an umbrella for gathering the furled canopy as the said first element slides therealong; and a second element engageable on the apex end of an umbrella shaft for preventing the said first element from passing off the apex end of the furled umbrella. The invention also provides such a gatherer when held captive on the canopy of an umbrella such that the said second element is engaged on an umbrella at the apex end of the furled canopy and the said first element is slidable along the furled canopy of the umbrella between, on the one hand, the handle end of the canopy and, on the other hand, the said second element at the apex end of the furled canopy. The annular first element has a certain tolerance enabling it to fit on the second element and has an interior diameter which is enough to gather the umbrella cloth to its folded position. The canopy gatherer is advantageously provided with a means for anchoring it in place, for example: a lateral leg projected from its own side and oriented towards the ground so that it can be hooked or hung, even from one's clothing. Alternatively it may have other means such as hooks, studs, musketoons or other devices which make it possible to fix it into any suitable place. In order that the invention may more readily be understood the following description is given, merely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: FIGURE lisa top plan view of the gatherer; FIGURE 2 is a vertical section of the gatherer shown in Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view showing the apex cap incorporated on an umbrella with a tip; FIGURE 4 is a further view of the apex cap shown in Figure 3, but adapted to a so-called telescopic umbrella (without a tip); FIGURE 5 is an example of the use of the gatherer in its operative position; and FIGURE 6 is a view showing the gatherer in its stowed position. Referring to these drawings, it will be seen that the gatherer is made up of two parts, of which one is an annular element 1 and a second element in the form of an apex cap 4. The annular element 1 is circular in shape, having a shallowly tapering conical interior 2 of downwardly divergent configuration. The gatherer further includes a hook 3 serving as means for hooking or anchoring the gatherer and an umbrella on which it is fitted, to fix them to any suitable support. The operation of the gatherer is shown in Figures 5 and 6. The conical interior 2 makes it gather and smooth the cloth canopy of the umbrella P by merely sliding over the canopy from the apex cap 4 until the gatherer reaches the largest diameter part or handle end of the furled canopy as shown in Figure 5. When the umbrella is unfurled, as shown in Figure 6, the gatherer 1 is lowered to, and abuts against, the apex cap 4 engaged on the umbrella at the apex end R of the shaft of the umbrella P. For this purpose, the apex cap 4 has a conical profile of downwardly divergent configuration to ensure that the gatherer ring 1 does not come off the umbrella Pto be lost. In the case of an umbrella with a tip X at the apex end, this apex cap 4 is inserted into it and is pressed against the end R of the umbrella canopy as shown in Figure 3. For the so-called telescopic type of umbrella which does not have a tip X (Figure 4) there is usually a threaded socket to receive a screw-on end plug which is removable to allow replacement of the canopy on the end plug. This socket allows the replaceable end plug to provide the dual function of end plug and gatherer retainer, as shown in Figure 4. As shown in the drawings, when the gatherer element 1 and the apex cap are in position on the umbrella P, the conical interior of the annular element 1 and the conical exterior of the apex cap 4 are both divergent in a direction towards the apex end of the umbrella P. The arrangement of the apex cap 4 on the umbrella P is such that with the annular gatherer element 1 seated on the exterior of the apex cap 4, i.e. in its stowed position, the umbrella P can have its canopy erected as shown in Figure 6. CLAIMS

1. A canopy gatherer for an umbrella comprising: a first reciprocable element which is annular and is adapted to fit over the furled canopy of an umbrella for gathering the furled canopy as the said first element slides therealong; and a second element engageable on the apex end of an umbrella shaft for preventing the said first element from pas sing off the apex end of the furled umbrella.

2. A canopy gatherer according to claim 1, wherein said second element is annular to fit over the tip of an umbrella.

3. A canopy gatherer according to claim 1, wherein said second element includes means for screwing it into the end of a tipless umbrella.

4. A canopy gatherer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the said second element is engaged on an umbrella at the apex end of the furled canopy and the said first element is slidable along the furled canopy of the umbrella between, on the one hand, the handle end of the canopy and, on the other hand, the said second element at the apex end of the furled canopy.

5. A canopy gatherer according to claims 3 and 4 taken together, wherein said second element is screwed into a socket at the apex end ofthe umbrella shaft and serves as a canopy-retaining end plug of the umbrella.

6. A canopy gatherer according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein said first element is circular with its interior aperture dimensioned to be smaller than the diameter of said furled umbrella canopy at the handle end thereof.

7. A canopy gatherer according to claim 6, wherein said first element has a conical interior which is divergent in a direction towards the apex end of said furled canopy, and said second element has a conforming, similarly conical exterior to receive said first element thereon when the umbrella capony is unfurled and erected.

8. A canopy gatherer according to any one ofthe preceding claims, wherein said first element includes means for attaching it to a support for suspending the or an umbrella thereby.

9. A canopy gatherer according to claim 8, wherein said attaching means comprise a hook integrally formed with said first element.

10. Acanopygathererforan umbrella, constructed and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in,the accompanying drawing.