GB2329123A - An umbrella with a sleeve used either as a handle or for storing the umbrella - Google Patents

Abstract

A collapsible umbrella 1 has a cylindrical sleeve (7, fig.1) detachably secured at the lower end of the telescopic shank (2, fig.1) which is arranged to store the folded umbrella or used as a handle for the open umbrella. The sleeve has a double wall tube construction which allows telescopic movement in a longitudinal direction. The cylinder walls 8, 9 of the sleeve can expand and contract in a radial direction, as the tubes have either a bellows construction or comprise a pair of elastically connected half-split members.

Description

UMBRELLA WITH A SLEEVE AND A SLEEVE FOR STORING AN UMBRELLA The present invention relates to an umbrella having a sleeve and a sleeve for an umbrella, in particular to a foldable telescopic umbrella and a sleeve therefor.

Umbrellas for use in the rain, which are portable and/or telescopic and can be carried in a handbag or brief case by folding when not in use are well known. An umbrella of this type generally has an extendable shank and bendable thin rib units that extend radially from an upper end of the shank.

When not in use, the shank can be shortened, and the thin rib units can be bent outwards about the middle thereof to be folded up. The entire length of the umbrella can be shortened to less than half of the length at the time of use. Moreover, an umbrella of this type is commonly associated with a baglike cover made from a synthetic fiber and the like. The cover that contains the folded umbrella is generally carried by the user when the umbrella is up in the unfolded condition.

However, conventional sleeves are not generally part of the umbrella but are provided separately from the umbrella. The user can easily forget about the sleeve after removing the umbrella. For this reason, umbrellas have been designed wherein the sleeve is attached to the shank of the umbrella when the umbrella is being used. However, this arrangement spoils the appearance of the umbrella and the user remains apprehensive that the sleeve may tend to fall off while the umbrella is in use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sleeve for storing an umbrella that replaces the conventional sleeve and to provide an umbrella with such a sleeve as an integral unit.

The present invention provides an umbrella with a sleeve, which umbrella comprises a telescopic shank and which sleeve is cylindrical and is arranged to store said umbrella, wherein a lower end of said shank extends into the inside of said sleeve through one end thereof, said shank being detachably secured of the other end of said sleeve, said sleeve being arranged to store said umbrella when said umbrella is in a folded condition and said shank is retracted, and said sleeve being arranged to provide a grip for said umbrella when said umbrella is in an extended condition by enclosing the lower part of said shank.

The sleeve may comprise a double wall tube which tube is arranged to allow telescopic movement of the walls relative to each other, such that the tube can be extended and shortened in the same direction.

The sleeve may have an extendable member extending along its axial direction whereby said sleeve is capable of expanding and contracting in the peripheral direction by means of extending and shortening the extendable member.

The extendable member may have a bellows type of configuration, i.e. the extendable member may comprise concertina folds.

The present invention further provides an umbrella with a sleeve, said umbrella comprising an extendable shank and being foldable, and said sleeve being a cylindrical sleeve that stores the umbrella when said umbrella is in a folded condition, a lower end of said shank extending into the inside of said sleeve from one end of said sleeve, said shank being connected to the other end of said sleeve by means of an attachment, said sleeve being constructed in such a way that both an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder of said sleeve are slidably movable relative to one another in the axial directions so that the sleeve is extendable, and each of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder comprising a pair of half-split members connected together to form a tube by means of an elastic member such that the pair of half-spfit members pull against each other along their peripheral directions.

The present invention yet further provides an umbrella with a sleeve, said umbrella comprising an extendable shank and being foldable, said sleeve having a cylindrical shape and being arranged to store said umbrella in a folded condition, wherein a lower end of said shank has an attachment mounted thereof, which attachment is connected to the lower part of the inside of said sleeve, said sleeve comprising an outer cylinder, to which said attachment is connected, and an inner cylinder that is slidably moveable within said outer cylinder, said inner cylinder and said outer cylinder being extendable in the axial direction and both the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder comprising a pair of half-split members that are connected by means of an elastic member to form a tube, which pairs of half-split members pull against each other along their peripheral direction.

The present invention further provides a sleeve for storing a foldable umbrella of a type having an extendable shank, said sleeve being arranged to store said umbrella in a folded condition, wherein said sleeve comprises an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder, which inner and outer cylinders are arranged such that they are slidably moveable relative to one another in their axial direction, both the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder comprising a pair of half-split members which are connected by means of an elastic member to form a tube, which pairs of half-split members pull against each other along the peripheral direction, said shank of said umbrella extending into said sleeve through one end of both the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and said lower end of said shank being connected to the other end of either of said inner cylinder or said outer cylinder.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a schematic drawing showing an umbrella with a sleeve in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, in an open condition; Figure 2 is a schematic drawing showing the umbrella of Figure 1 in a partially folded condition; Figure 3 shows a cross-section of the umbrella of Figures 1 and 2 in a folded condition and stored in the sleeve; Figure 4 is a perspective drawing showing an upper part of an inner cylinder of the sleeve of Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 is a plan of the upper end of the sleeve of Figures 1 to 4 in a closed position; Figure 6 shows a cross section of the sleeve of Figures 1 to 5 in a retracted condition; Figure 7 shows a cross section taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the inner cylinder of the sleeve of Figures 1 to 6; Figure 8 shows a cross section taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the outer cylinder of the sleeve of Figures 1 to 6; Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a half-split member of the outer cylinder of the sleeve of Figures 1 to 8; Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a lower part of a peripheral wall member of a half-split member of the inner cylinder of the sleeve of Figures 1 to 8; Figure 11 shows a perspective view of a guide plate of the inner cylinder of a sleeve in accordance with Figures 1 to 10; Figure 12 shows a partial cross section of an attachment for connecting a shank of the umbrella and the sleeve of Figures 1 to 11; Figure 13 shows a cross section of the second embodiment of the present invention, wherein (A) shows the umbrella in an open condition and (B) shows the umbrella in a closed position; Figure 14 shows a perspective view of the upper part of the sleeve of Figure 13; Figure 15 shows a perspective view of the umbrella and the sleeve as separated elements of the third embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 16 shows a partial cross section of a sleeve in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an umbrella with a sleeve according to the invention. In Figure 1, reference numeral 1 generally designates a foldable umbrella, and this umbrella 1 comprises, as is well known, an extendable shank 2 that is formed by sequentially telescopically fitting together a plurality of pipes 2A to 2D, and a thin rib unit 3 that opens and closes with the shank 2 at its centre. The shank 2 is provided with a slidable rib support ring 4, which rib support ring 4 is slidable along the axial direction of the shank 2, and a stationary rib support ring 5, which is mounted at the upper end of the shank 2.

The thin rib unit 3 comprises a spreader thin rib 3A one end of which is connected to the slidable rib support ring 4; a master thin rib 3B connected to the rib 3A; a tip thin rib 3C connected to the master thin rib 3B; a branch thin rib 3D whose one end is connected to the stationary rib support ring 5 and supports the middle of the spreader thin rib 3A; and an auxiliary thin rib 3E for connecting the branch thin rib 3D and the master thin rib 3B to control the motion of the master thin rib 3B. Movement of the thin rib unit 3 at the positions of each connection P1-P5 is dependent upon the motion of the support ring 4 along the shank 2. As shown in Figure 1, as the support ring 4 is shifted to the upper part of the shank 2, towards the stationary rib support 5, the thin rib unit 3 and a sheet 6 provided on the upper surface of the thin rib unit 3 are arranged to unfold radially with the shank 2 being at its center.

Furthermore, in Figure 1, numeral 7 denotes a cylindrical sleeve, and this sleeve 7 forms a grip at the lower end of the shank 2 as shown in the drawing when the umbrella 1 is in the unfolded or open condition. The umbrella 1 can be stored upon folding inside the sleeve 7.

Figure 2 shows a condition where the umbrella is in a partially folded condition. As shown in the drawing, the thin rib unit 3 is closed by lowering the slidable rib support ring 4. In the first place this causes the umbrella to fold and moreover, the tip rib 3C is caused to fold about pivot P3, situated between the tip rib 3C and the master thin rib 3B, to the outside. The sheet 6 is arranged to form pleats as the umbrella 1 is folded and thereafter, the thin rib unit 3 is held in the folded position by means of a band (not shown) which band is connected to the sheet 6. Then, the shank 2 is shortened in this condition whereby the umbrella 1 is totally stored or housed inside the sleeve, which sleeve 7 is connected to the lower end of the shank 2.

Figure 3 shows the umbrella 1 stored in the sleeve 7. The sleeve 7 consists of an inner cylinder 8 and an outer cylinder 9. The inner cylinder 8 and the outer cylinder 9 are arranged such that they are slidably moveable in their axial directions relative to one another, and according to this embodiment of the invention, the sleeve 7 can be extended and shortened in the axial direction by-a sliding manipulation of the inner cylinder 8 and the outer cylinder 9. The sleeve 7 is designed to be able to store the full length of the umbrella 1 in the folded condition. For example, the inner cylinder 8 and the outer cylinder 9 may be arranged to be of a length about half of the length of the umbrella 1 in the folded condition having at least a length as shown in Figure 3. The folded umbrella 1 is stored inside both the cylinders 8 and 9.

To remove the umbrella 1 from the sleeve 7, the inner cylinder 8 is drawn into the inside of the outer cylinder 9 to allow the tip of the umbrella 1 to be pulled out. Moreover, during the use of the umbrella 1, the sleeve 7 can be arranged to be at its shortest length whereby the sleeve may form a handle for gripping by the user.

The umbrella 1 is arranged such that the shank 2 extends from one end of the sleeve 7, and is connected to the other end of the sleeve. In particular, Figure 3 shows the sleeve 7 in an extended condition, with the shank 2 extending from one end of the inner cylinder 8, and the lower end of the shank 2 being connected to the inside of the other end of the outer cylinder 9. Numeral 10 denotes an attachment for connecting the lower end of the shank 2 to the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 9. Attachment 10 is capable of preventing separation of the umbrella 1 from the sleeve 7 as the lower end of the shank 2 is connected to the outer cylinder 9.

Furthermore, as can be seen from Figure 3, a pair of upper lids 11 is provided at the end of the inner cylinder 8 remote the attachment 10 and a pair of lower lids 12 is provided at the end of the outer cylinder 9 in the region of the attachment 10.

For reference, the upper lids 11 are openably mounted on the end of the inner cylinder 8 by means of a bracket 13, so that they are mutually superimposed when in the closed position and so that when the umbrella 1 is removed from the sleeve, it can be released easily and smoothly.

Figure 4 shows the upper lids 11 being released. As can be seen in the drawing, the upper lids 11 are of disc configuration and are mounted face to face on the upper end of the inner cylinder 8. Particularly on the upper lids 11, a U-shape notch or groove 14 is provided, such that when the upper lids 11 are closed a circular hole 15, as shown in Figure 5, is formed by the notch or groove 14. When the umbrella 1 is in use, the shank 2 may pass through the circular hole 15 whilst the upper lids 11 are closed.

Figure 6 shows a cross section of the sleeve in reduced scale, and Figures 7 and 8 show an axial cross section of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder respectively.

As can be clearly understood from Figures 6 and 7, the inner cylinder 8 is constructed by connecting a pair of half-split members 8A and 8A by means of an elastic member 16. The half-split members 8A are made of steel sheet, for example, and are constructed of two peripheral wall members 17 and 18.

The radius of curvature of the peripheral wall members 17, 18 is different and the wall members 17, 18 have a generally semicircular cross section. The two peripheral wall members 17, 18 are superimposed and both upper and lower ends of the wall members 17, 18 are connected by means of a spacer 19. The resulting pairs of the half-split members 8 are formed into a cylindrical shape, by connecting the half-split members 8A, 8A so as to be resiliently biased towards each other by means of the elastic member 16 installed between the peripheral wall members 17, 18. The elastic member 16 may comprise a rubber tube or ring. Alternatively, the elastic member 16, may be formed of spring steel as a ring-like spring that contracts or shrinks towards the inner periphery. At this stage, in order to assemble the inner cylinder 8, the peripheral wall member 17 of the inner peripheral side is shaped like a sleeve, and an elastic member 16 is mounted on the outer periphery of both ends thereof, and then, the peripheral wall member 18 is attached to the outer peripheral side of the peripheral wall member 17, by means of the spacer 19.

As can be clearly understood from Figures 6 and 8, the outer cylinder 9 may be constructed by connecting a pair of the half-split members 9A, 9A in a sleeve shape by means of an elastic member 20. The half-split member 9A may be constructed by producing an inner peripheral wall member 21 made of, for example, steel sheet and being curved in a semi-circufar shape, and an outer peripheral wall member 22 made of synthetic resin, for example, and being curved in a semi-circular shape. The two peripheral wall members 21, 22 are superimposed and connected to provide a predetermined gap between them. The resulting pair of the half-split members 9A are arranged to provide a sleeve, and the outer cylinder 9 is constructed by connecting the half-split members 9A, 9A by means of the elastic member 20, such that the members 9A, 9A are resiliently biased towards one another. The elastic member 20 is situated between the inner and outer peripheral wall members 21 and 22 respectively. The elastic member 20 may be provided as a ring-like rubber material. Alternatively, the elastic member 20, may be formed of spring steel and the like which is shaped as a ring-like spring that shrinks toward the inner peripheral wall 21. In order to assemble the outer cylinder 9, the peripheral wall member 21 of each half-split member is first shaped into a sleeve form and then the elastic member 20 is mounted on the outer periphery of both wall members, and thereafter, the peripheral wall member 22 is attached to the outer peripheral side of the inner peripheral wall members 21. Each inner peripheral wall member 21 may be fixed to the corresponding outer peripheral member 22 by means of a screw, for example, at a position of a projecting strip formed on the outer peripheral wall member 22.

The inner cylinder and the outer cylinder constructed as described in the foregoing constitute the extendable sleeve 7 when the cylinders are fitted together. The half-split members 9A constituting the outer cylinder 9 as shown in Figure 6 comprise a guide groove 26 (see Figure 9) which groove 26 extends from the lower end toward the upper end of the outer cylinder 9 (formed on the inner peripheral wall member 21). Furthermore, a hook 25 is provided at the lower end of the half-split member 8 that forms the inner cylinder 8 (as shown in Figure 10). This hook 25 is engaged with the guide groove 24 of the outer cylinder 9, and for this reason, the inner cylinder 8 can smoothly slide along the guide groove 24.

Furthermore, a sleeve 7 having the foregoing construction can easily accommodate the umbrella 1 by widening the diameter of both the inner cylinder 8 and the outer cylinder 9 by pushing against the elastic force of the elastic members 16, 20. The sleeve 7 firmly holds the housed umbrella 1 as the sleeve will contract until a complete sleeve is formed as a result of the elastic force of the elastic members 16, 20. Thus the sleeve is easy to grasp because of its slim dimensions. Moreover the external appearance looks acceptable to the user.

Figure 7 shows a flexible guide plate 26, made of thin plastic interposed between the peripheral wall members 17 and 18 at the connecting portion of the half-split member 8A of the inner cylinder 8. Furthermore, Figures 8 and 9 show a flexible guide plate 27 made of thin plastic interposed between the peripheral wall members 21 and 22 at the connecting portion of the half-split member 9A of the outer cylinder 9.

Accordingly, in case both the inner cylinder 8 and the outer cylinder 9 are caused to change diameter, a sleeve shape can be always maintained even if the elastic members 16, 20 are made of soft rubber material because of the movement of the half-split members 8A, 9A along the guide plates 26, 27 respectively.

Figure 11 shows, a projecting portion 28 is formed on upper and lower portions of both side edges of the guide plate 26, and this projecting portion engages both end portions of the spacer 19 in the half-split member 8A of the inner cylinder 8 so that the guide plate 26 does not fall from the inner cylinder 8 when the umbrella 1 is made to move into or out of the sleeve. A similar projecting portion (not shown) is provided on the guide plate 27 of the outer cylinder 9 and the projecting portion is caused to engage both ends of the projecting portion 23 of the half-split member 9A.

Furthermore, since both the inner cylinder 8 and the outer cylinder 9 are arranged to widen the diameter, each upper lid 11 is individually fixed to a pair of half-split members 8A that constitutes the inner cylinder 8, and each lower lid 12 is individually mounted on a pair of the half-split members 9A that constitutes the outer cylinder 9, as shown in Figure 6.

As shown in Figure 12, the attachment 10 is arranged to maintain the shank 2 of the umbrella connected to the sleeve. As shown in the drawing, the attachment 10 consists of a base 29 having an axial portion 28 and a slidable element 30 that runs through this base 29. The base 29 comprises a disc having an inner diameter that is smaller than that of the sleeve 7, and is fixed by pressing the axial portion 28 that projects from its center into the lower end of the shank 2. The element 30 comprises a hollow sleeve, having a spring 31 installed inside. Particularly, both sides of the element 30 are separated from each other, in the axial direction by means of a contacting surface 32 that has a wave form and a pair of division members 33 is interlocked by means of the spring 31 so that they pull against each other. A hook 34 is formed at each end of a division member 33, and each hook 34 is arranged to be engaged with the guide groove 24 of the opposed half-split members 9A. The hook 34 is engaged with the guide groove 24 at the lower side of the projecting portion 23 of the outer cylinder 9, and for this reason, the upward shifting motion is controlled by the projecting portion 23, and the lower shifting motion is controlled by the lower lid 12. Accordingly, the connection of the shank 2 of the umbrella and the sleeve 7 is always maintained.

As described in the foregoing, embodiments of the present invention have been described, but in this invention, the umbrella 1 is not always equipped with this construction, and the telescopic umbrella in the market can be connected to the sleeve 7 by means of the attachment 10. Furthermore, a variety of connecting modes can be employed in lieu of the foregoing attachment 10. Moreover, according to the foregoing embodiment, the shank 2 of the umbrella is connected to one end of the outer cylinder 9, but it is feasible to connect the shank 2 to one end of the inner cylinder 8 and employ a system of sliding manipulation of the outer cylinder 9 to cause the umbrella to move into or out of the sleeve 7.

Figures 13 and 14 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In Figure 13, reference number 41 designates a handle of conventional type fixed to the lower part of the shank 2, and a pair of projecting portions 42 that project out from the circumferential surface of the handle 41. These projecting portions 42 are arranged to be pushed out by means of, for example, a spring. In this stage, the umbrella is so formed that its shank 2 extends from one end (upper end) of the cylindrical sleeve 43 and the lower end of the shank 2 is connected to the other end (lower end) of the sleeve 43 by means of the projecting portion 42.

The sleeve 43 denotes a tube or cylindrical piece, and has a hollow portion 44 capable of storing the folded umbrella, and a guide groove 45 formed on its inner circumferential surface extending longitudinally from the lower end towards the upper end (axial direction) of the sleeve 43. The projecting portion 42 is engaged with the guide groove 45 and the umbrella 1 can thereby be slid to the upper end of the sleeve 43 along the guide groove 45.

Both the upper and lower ends of the guide groove 45 are closed to prevent the umbrella from falling off the sleeve 43. To engage the projecting portion 42 in the guide groove 45 the resilient force of the spring (not shown) must be overcome. The projecting portion 42 is then housed in the handle 41 within the guide groove 45.

Furthermore, a pair of openable upper lids 46 are mounted on the upper end of the sleeve 43 which lids 46 face against each other. The upper lids 46 are attached to the aperture of the upper end of the sleeve 43 by means of a hinge 47, and when closed, they are mutually superimposed, and a circular hole 48 that allows the shank 2 to pass through the center thereof is provided.

In order to take out the umbrella stored in the sleeve 43, the handle 41 is pushed in from the lower end of the sleeve 43, and while the projecting portion 42 slides along the guide groove 45 of the sleeve 43, the tip of the umbrella 1 forces the upper lids 46 to open and thereby allow the umbrella to eject from the upper end of the sleeve 43. In this stage, the tip of the umbrella 1 is pulled to extend the shank 2, and then, the umbrella 1 is ready for use when the thin rib unit, and the sheet are caused to operate. When the umbrella 1 is used, the upper lid 46 is closed and thus, the shank 2 can be retained by means of the upper lid 46 as shown in Figure 13 (A), and moreover, the sleeve 43 can be utilized as the grip while the umbrella 1 is in use.

On the other hand, when the umbrella 1 is to be stored in the sleeve 46, the umbrella 1 is folded, and the shank 2 is shortened while the upper lid 46 is open such that the folded umbrella 1 is stored inside the sleeve 46, and then the upper lid 46 is closed finally.

Figure 15 shows the third embodiment of the present invention. A sleeve 51 is provided with an extendable member in the form of bellows 52 the folds of which extend along the longitudinal direction of the sleeve 51. The bellows 52 are provided at two opposed locations on the circumference of the sleeve 51 as shown in the drawing. In other words, the sleeve of this embodiment is constructed by connecting a pair of half-split members 51A, 51A by means of the bellows 52. By expanding and compressing the bellows 52, the sleeve 51 is extended or shortened in the circumferential direction whereby the diameter of the sleeve is freely adjustable.

In this embodiment, since the diameter of the sleeve 51 is arranged to be variable, an attachment 54 having a structure similar to that of the attachment 10 of the first embodiment is mounted on the lower end of the shank of the umbrella 1 in lieu of the handle 41 as shown in Figure 13. The projecting portion 55 of the attachment 54 changes its amount of projection according to the amount of motion of the half-split members 51A, 51A, and thus, the connecting between the shank and the sleeve 51 is maintained.

Numeral 56 denotes a guide groove of a dovetail type that engages the projecting portion 55, and this guide groove 56 is formed in the central portion on the inner peripheral surface of a pair of half-split members 51A, 51A and extends longitudinally from the lower end towards the upper end of the sleeve 51. Furthermore, at the upper end of the sleeve 51, an upper lid (not shown) which is similar to those of the foregoing embodiments is mounted on the half-split members 51A, 51A. This guide groove 56 is also closed at both the upper and the lower ends thereof in order to prevent the umbrella 1 from slipping through.

Figure 16 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, like the sleeve 7, a sleeve 61 that is extendable in its circumferential direction is provided. This sleeve 61 is constructed such that an inner cylinder 62 and an outer cylinder 63 are slidably fitted together such that the sleeve 61 is extendable in the axial direction. The inner cylinder 62 and the outer cylinder 63 are provided with bellows 64, 65, respectively, along the longitudinal direction like the sleeve 51. A pair of half-split members 62A, 62A and half-split members 63A, 63A are disposed to be connected like a tube by means of the bellows 64 and 65 respectively, and each bellows 64, 65 is arranged to overlap each other when fitted together.

A projecting portion 66 is provided on the pair of the half-split members 62A, 62A that constitutes the inner cylinder at the central portion of the lower end, and a guide groove 67 engaged with the projecting portion 66 extends along the longitudinal direction of the pair of the half-split members 63A, 63A that constitutes the outer cylinder 63. Accordingly, the projecting portion 66 slides smoothly while it is supported by the guide groove 67, and the sleeve 61 is made to lengthen and shorten by its sliding motion.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, as a method of connecting the lower end of the shank 2 of the umbrella to the sleeve 61, a handle 68 provided at the lower end of the shank 2 is fixed to one end of the inside of the outer cylinder 63 by means of the projecting portion 69, which projects from the outer circumference of the handle 68. A hole capable of receiviiig the projecting portion 69 is provided on the lower side of the outer cylinder 63.

Alternatively, the projecting portion 69 may be formed of a screw which screw may be threaded through the hole into the handle 68 from the outside of the outer cylinder 63.

When the sleeve 61 is extended, the folded umbrella may be stored inside the sleeve 7. When the umbrella is taken out, the inner cylinder 62 is lowered to expose the shank 2. When the umbrella is used, the inner cylinder 62 is stored inside the outer cylinder 63, and the sleeve may form a gripping means for the user.

As it becomes apparent from the foregoing description, according to the present invention, a construction is provided wherein a sleeve capable of storing a folded umbrella is integrally formed at the lower end of the shank of an umbrella, and therefore, there is no apprehension of losing the sleeve when the umbrella is being used and there is need to worry about where to keep the sleeve. Furthermore, this sleeve can be conveniently utilized as a grip, and moreover, when the rain is stopped, the umbrella can be folded and immediately stored in the sleeve.

Moreover, since the sleeve is of a construction wherein the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder are extendable, the sleeve can be extended to completely house the umbrella, and when the umbrella is used, the sleeve can be used as a grip of an acceptable design to the user.

Moreover, the diameter of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder may be variable. When the diameter of the sleeve is held in the reduced size by means of the elastic member a stable grip can be provided when the umbrella is in use. When the umbrella is stored and the diameter of both the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder is enlarged by overcoming the resilient force of the elastic member, the looseness of the stored umbrella in the sleeve and/or an accidental protrusion of the umbrella when st otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s).

The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims (9)

1. An umbrella with a sleeve, which umbrella comprises a telescopic shank and which sleeve is cylindrical and is arranged to store said umbrella, wherein a lower end of said shank extends into the inside of said sleeve through one end thereof, said shank being detachably secured to the other end of said sleeve, said sleeve being arranged to store said umbrella when said umbrella is in a folded condition and said shank is retracted; and said sleeve being arranged to provide a grip for said umbrella when said umbrella is in an extended condition by enclosing the lower part of said shank.

2. An umbrella with a sleeve according to Claim 1, wherein said sleeve comprises a double wall tube which tube is arranged to allow telescopic movement of the walls relative to each other.

3. An umbrella with a sleeve according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said sleeve has an extendable member along its axial direction, said sleeve being capable of expanding and contracting in the peripheral direction by means of said extendable member.

4. An umbrella with a sleeve according to Claim 3, wherein said extendable member has a bellows type configuration.

5. An umbrella with a sleeve, said umbrella comprising an extendable shank and being foldable, and said sleeve being a cylindrical sleeve that stores the umbrella when said umbrella is in a folded condition, a lower end of said shank extending into the inside of said sleeve from one end of said sleeve, said shank being connected to the other end of said sleeve by means of an attachment, said sleeve being constructed in such a way that both an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder of said sleeve are slidably moveable relative to one another in the axial direction, so that the sleeve is extendable, each of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder comprising a pair of half-split members connected together to form a tube by means of an elastic member such that the pair of half-split members pull against each other along their peripheral directions.

6. An umbrella with a sleeve, said umbrella comprising an extendable shank and being foldable, said sleeve having a cylindrical shape and being arranged to store the umbrella in a folded condition, wherein a lower end of said shank has an attachment mounted thereon, which attachment is connected to the lower part of the inside of said sleeve, said sleeve comprising an outer cylinder, to which said attachment is connected, and an inner cylinder that is slidably moveable within said outer cylinder, said inner cylinder and said outer cylinder being extendable in the axial direction and both the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder comprising a pair of half-split members that are connected by means of an elastic member to form a tube, which pair of half-split members pull against each other along their peripheral direction.

7. A sleeve for storing a foldable umbrella of a type having an extendable shank, said sleeve being arranged to store said umbrella in a folded condition, wherein said sleeve comprises an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder, which inner and outer cylinders are arranged such that they are slidably moveable relative to one another in their axial direction, both the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder comprising a pair of half split members which are connected by means of an elastic member so that each pair of half-split members form a tube which pair of half-split members pull against each other along the peripheral direction and said shank of said umbrella extending into said sleeve through one end of both the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and said lower end of said shank being connected to the other end of either of said inner cylinder or said outer cylinder.

8. An umbrella constructed and arranged substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A storage sleeve constructed and arranged substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.