GB2403904A

GB2403904A - Umbrella cover with luggage attachment means

Info

Publication number: GB2403904A
Application number: GB0316896A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerard Mcguigan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-07-18
Filing date: 2003-07-18
Publication date: 2005-01-19
Also published as: DE602004008473T2; WO2005013755A1; US20060174926A1; ES2293292T3; JP4481307B2; EP1648260B1; ATE370675T1; JP2006528014A; DE602004008473D1; PL1648260T3; GB0316896D0; CN1826067A; CN100525672C; EP1648260A1; HK1096268A1

Abstract

A removable umbrella carrier comprises a substantially cylindrical holster 1 adapted to receive a folded umbrella and provided with attachment means 5,6 for removable securing it to an article of luggage 7,8. The holster comprises a frame 2 that is generally substantially rigid and is preferably provided with openings 4,10 and a covering for the frame 2 in the form of a water repellant porous liner 3. The attachment means may also take the form of resilient clips or hooks 12,13, that engage the handle portions 8 of the luggage piece 7, or individual loops 17-19 (FIG.3) that engage around the handle or strap of the luggage. An alternative embodiment (FIG 4) shows a flexible frame 2 that is split open along its length in order to accomodate umbrellas of different sizes.

Description

UMBRELLA COVER

This invention relates to an umbrella cover which can be attached to luggage, for example briefcases, handbags, laptop bags and rucksacks.

Umbrella carriers attached to, for example, briefcases and handbags are known and are usually provided in the form of a sleeve of the same kind of material as that used in the construction of the bag itself. The intention is that the sleeve can carry a rolled collapsible-type umbrella and hold it in position. A disadvantage of this type of carrier is that the umbrella tends to retain its wet condition within the carrier and, when the carrier is not being used, that is to carry an umbrella, it is an unattractive item on the bag.

me present invention is intended to provide an umbrella carrier which not only improves the drying process for the umbrella but also allows the carrier to be removed from the bag when not required and can be transferable to another item of baggage.

According to the present invention, a removable umbrella carrier for attachment to luggage comprises a substantially cylindrical holster adapted to receive a folded umbrella and is provided with attachment means for removable securing it to an article of luggage.

In a preferred form the holster includes a substantially rigid frame, at least part of which is lined by a water repellent porous fabric. Thus, when a wet folded umbrella is placed in the holster it can dry out through the openings which are closed by the water repellent porous fabric.

Preferably the substantially rigid frame can be provided by a cylindrical tube formed with openings in its side which are closed by the water repellent porous fabric.

The lining which can be in the form of a sleeve of water repellent fabric inside the cylindrical holster reduces the likelihood of the umbrella snagging or sticking on its way into or out of the cylinder and, in addition, the sleeve is given protection by the cylindrical holster and is less likely to be tom or damaged.

The sleeve also draws moisture off the umbrella and allows it to evaporate through the openings. This consbruebon also reduces the likelihood of the luggage getting wet.

The frame can be made from any convenient material but is preferably formed from a synthetic plastics material.

The attachment means can be adapted to engage a carrying handle or strap on the article of luggage with which it is to be used.

The invention can be performed in various ways and some embodiments will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic isometric view of a removable umbrella carrier according to the present invention attached to the handle of a briefcase; Figure 2 is a similar view of an alternative construction; Figure 3 is another diagrammatic isometric view of an alternative construction with means for attachment to the handles of, for example, a handbag.; and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of another embodiment.

As shown in Figure 1 a removable umbrella carrier 1 for attachment to luggage comprises a substantially cylindrical tube 2 made, for example, from a light metallic material such as aluminium or a synthetic plastics material. me tube 2 has an inner lining in the form of a sleeve 3 made from a water repellent porous fabric.

Four openings 4 are provided in the tube but are closed by the outer sleeve 3.

me tube 2 and its inner lining 3 together provide a cylindrical holster for a collapsible umbrella.

The holster is provided with attachment means 5 which comprise a loop of flexible material, for example, a synthetic plastics material or leather and which is attached to the holster where indicated by reference numeral 6.

In Figure 1 the holster is shown in use on a briefcase indicated by broken lines 7 and which has a handle 8. me loop 5 is dimensioned so that it can be placed over the handle 8 and will hang on the upper side of the briefcase 7.

mus it will be seen that the holster can be easily attached and removed from the briefcase 7 merely by slipping it over the handle 8 and due to the opening 4 being closed by the water repellent porous fabric 3 a wet umbrella placed in the holster can dry out. Moreover, the holster will protect the greater part of the wet umbrella from the user and the luggage.

The arrangement is such that the holster can easily be removed and reattached on different pieces of luggage merely by placing it over the handle thereof or, in the case of a rucksack, placing it over the shoulder straps. If required the attachment point 6 can be provided with clips (not shown) for easy attachment and removal of the loop 5 or by use of a loop and hook type fabric (Veloro) on each of the parts. This arrangement is particularly useful when employing the holster on, for example, a rucksack to enable it to be easily attached to the shoulder straps of the rucksack if they are not easily releasable.

In an alternative construction, shown in Figure 2, the same reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts but in this arrangement the cylinder 2 is formed with a larger number of openings 10 in its sides so that it is, in effect, an open frame. It is again closed by a water repellent porous fabric sleeve 3.

This construction shows how the holster can be attached to a briefcase 7 by an alternative attachment means which comprises a pair of resilient wire or plastics material hooks. Each hook is secured to the holster by a rivet or other means 11 and is shaped to provide a hook end 12 which is shaped and adapted to engage the lower end of the handle 8 of the briefcase. The hooks 12 are carried on arms 13 which are sufficiently resilient to allow the hooks to be sprung inwardly to detach them from the briefcase and which will spring out again to the position shown in Figure 2 to secure the holster to the briefcase.

In an alternative construction (not shown) the construction can be similar but the tube 2 can be formed by wire or plastics material to produce a basket which is lined by a sleeve of water repellent porous fabric.

Figure 3 shows a holster according to the invention which can be constructed as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2 but which is adapted for connection to a handle 15 of a handbag 16. The handbag has two handles and the holster can be attached to either both of them or only one, as shown in Figure 3. In this construction the attachment means comprises a pair of loops of fabric 17 the ends 18 of which are provided with a loop and hook material (Veloro) so that they can be pressed together.

The ends 19 of the loop 17 are secured to the holster by stitching, riveting or any other convenient means. Thus, once again, the holster can be easily removed from the handbag and transferred to some other article of luggage if required.

In Figure 3 a collapsible umbrella 20 is shown in broken lines in position in the holster.

-A

In the constructions described above the general construction of the cylindrical tube 2 has been circular but the tube could be constructed so that it is flexible and the cross-section could be oval or some other slightly restrictive shape so that it will hold the umbrella in place once it has been inserted.

In another alternative construction, as shown in Figure 4, the cylindrical tube 2 is made in any of the ways described above but is split along its length to provide an opening 21. A clip or flexible attachment strip 22 is provided so that the diameter of the tube can be altered to accommodate umbrellas of different sizes. The tube 2 is again lined with a sleeve of water repellent porous fabric which is not shown in Figure 4. The attachment means (not shown) can be as set forth in any of the preceding embodiments.

Claims

Claims 1. A removable umbrella carrier for attachment to luggage comprises

a substantially cylindrical holster adapted to receive a folded umbrella and provided with attachment means for removable securing it to an article of luggage.
2. A removable umbrella carrier as claimed in claim 1 in which said holster includes a substantially rigid frame, at least part of which is covered by a water repellent porous fabric
3. A removable umbrella carrier as claimed in claim 2 in which the substantially rigid frame is provided by a substantially cylindrical tube formed with openings in its side which are covered by the water repellent porous fabric.
4. A removable umbrella carrier as claimed in claims 1 to 3 in which said water repellent porous fabric is provided as a lining within the cylindrical holster.
5. A removable umbrella carrier as claimed in claim 2, claim 3 or claim 4 in which said frame is made from a synthetic plastics material.
6. A removable umbrella carrier as claimed in claims 2 to 4 in which said frame is made from metal.
7. A removable umbrella carrier as claimed in claims 1 to 6 in which the attachment means is adapted to engage a carrying handle or strap on the article of luggage with which it is to be used.
8. A removable umbrella carrier as claimed in claims 1 to 6 in which said attachment means include attachable clips.
9. A removable umbrella carrier as claimed in claims 1 to 6 in which said attachment means include a pair of hooks which can be resiliently adjusted to engage the luggage.
10. A removable umbrella carrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 2 to 8 in which the rigid frame is provided as an open basket.
11. A removable umbrella carrier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the frame is flexible and is split along its length to provide an opening, and including means for adjusting the diameter thereof to accommodate umbrellas of different sizes.
12. A removable umbrella carrier as claimed in any one of preceding claims 1 to 11 in which the holster is flexible and its general cross-section is restrictive in relation to the cross-section of the umbrella with which it is to be used so that the holster deforms slightly when the umbrella is inserted and acts to retain it in place.
13. A removable umbrella carrier as claimed in claim 12 in which the cross- section of the holster is slightly oval.
14. A removable umbrella carrier substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.