US1736177A

US1736177A - Umbrella construction

Info

Publication number: US1736177A
Application number: US135813A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clarence G Snook
Original assignee: Troy Sunshade Co
Current assignee: Troy Sunshade Co
Priority date: 1926-09-16
Filing date: 1926-09-16
Publication date: 1929-11-19
Anticipated expiration: 1946-11-19

Description

Nov. 19, 1929.

c. G. sNooK 1,736,177

UMBRELLA CONSTRUCTI ON Filed Sept. 16, 1926 www 919k @Mommy Patented Nov. 19, 1929 .UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICE CLARENCE G. SNOOK, OF TROY, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE TROY SUNSHDE COMIPANY, OF TROY, OHIO, .A CORPORATION F OHIO UMBRELLA CONSTRUCTION vApplication tiled September 16, 1926. Serial No. 185,813.

This invention relates. toumbrella constructions, and in particular to the so-called garden umbrella constructions. 1 t i One of the principal obJects of thls mven- 5 tion is to rovide an umbrella construction which is simple, sturdy to withstand wind pressure, and readil adapted for diierent uses, such as for gar en or terrace use, or for display purposes.

Other objects and advantages of the 1nven tion will be apparent from the following delecription when taken in connection wlth the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing in which like characters 16 of reference designate like parts throughout the several views thereof,

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of an umbrella construction completely assembled; Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical elevation of 20 a ground screw construction with an umbrella positioned therein, certain parts being 1n section to illustrate the construction thereof; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 of a modification; and Fig. 4 is an elevation illustrating the mounting of the umbrellaof Fig. 3 for display purposes such as in a store wlndow.v

u In umbrellas of this type as heretofore constructed, it has been the usual practice to su 80 port the lower end of the umbrella handle y suitable means and in such a manner that the lower end of the handle was 'sup orted considerably below ground level.' This was usually accomplished by an earth engaging member or ground screw having a long bore therein adapted to receive aportion of the umbrella handle, the lower end of the handle being thus supported about six inches to a foot or more below ground level. Con- 40 sequently it was necessary to make the umbrella handle very long so that when in'this position the umbrella or sunshade would be disposed at the proper height above the ground. ,When it was desired to arrange such umbrella constructions for display purposes such as in store windows, or to use same as terrace umbrellas, where the lower end of the umbrella handle customarily rested upon the floor, the handle was then too lon and the 0 umbrella was disposed at a height a ove that at which it would normally be dis sed in actual use. This of course was un esirable, as the most attractive display is secured by pos1t1on1ng the umbrella at the height of actual use. In order to overcome this objection, 1t has been necessary heretofore for manufacturers to provide two types of handles for each such umbrella construction, one handle bemg the usual long handle for actual garden use, and the other handle being a shorter handle adapted for display purposes.

Th1s invention overcomes the objection noted above by providing an umbrella construction in which one handle may be used for-both display purposes or for actual use, and in which the umbrella in either case is ,'dis osed at the proper height.

s illustratin a preferred embodiment of the invention, t ere is shown in Fig. 1 an umbrella construction completely l assembled. This umbrella construction comprises an umbrella handle 10 carrying an umbrella or sunshade 11, the sunshade 11 being supported from the handle 10 b a tilting Hevice (not shown) which may lie of usual and wellknown construction to aiford a plurality of tilting angles for the sunshade 11. The umbrella is associated with a table indicated generally at 12,A the handle 10 of the umbrella passing'through a receiving hole in the table top113 and through a second hole in the table shelf 14, these two holes being properly aligned to support the handle in a substantially vertical position. The lower end of the handle is supported by an earth engaging or round screw construction indicated genera y at 16. This earth engaging construction is adapted to be positioned within the ground 17 tori'gidly and securely support the lower end of the umbrella handle 10, thus forming a sturdy umbrella construction adapted to withstand considerable wind pressure so that the umbrella construction can be used out of doors, such as for garden use.

The ground screw construction 16 is illustrated in detail in Fig. 2. As shown this comprises a hollow elongated earth engagin member or screw member 19 having a pointe end 20 provided with spiral threads 21 to facilitateinsertion into the ground. Associ- 100 `length of the bore ated with this screw member 19 is a plate or flange member 23 having a large surface area adapted torest upon the ground to prevent `the umbrella construction from tipping or -ond bore 32 of lesser diameter is formed in the lower part of the screw member 19 to thus lighten and cheapen the constructlon, the bores30 and 32 being connected by a surface 33 which thus forms a shoulder adapted to engage the lower end 34 of the umbrella handle 10. As shown the bore 30 1s made somewhat larger than the diameterof the handle 10, the upper end of the screw member 19 being provided with an inwardly extending flange 36 having an opening therethrough of a size adapted to somewhat snugly recelve the handle 10 to thereby prevent wobbling of the umbrella handle w en supported within the bore 30.

As thus shown, the screw member 19 is adapted when in position to have a portion thereof protruding above the ground. The 30 is Such as to support the lower end of the handle 10 substantially at round level. Thus the handle 1() of the umrella is also adapted for display purposes, as when this handle rests upon the floor of a display window, the umbrella is then in substantially the same position as it occupies when in actual use, and is thus in its most attractive position. And this handle also adapts the umbrella for use as a terrace umbrella wherein the umbrella handle may extend through suitable openings in the top and the shelf o a.

terrace table with its lower end resting directl on the ground, the terrace table being usually of such weight as to prevent upsetting of the table and umbrella due to wind pressure upon the umbrella.

In Fig. 3 there is shown a slight modification of the ground screw construction. Thisl construction is substantially the same as that shown in Fi .2 with the exception that the shoulder 133 etween the bores 13() and 132 is raised somewhat the lower end 34 of the handle 10 bein thus supported slightly above ground leve Of course the construction can be made such that the lower end of the handle is supported at exactly ground level. This obviously is not essential, as a slight discrepancy of the order of an inch or two either below or above the ground level such as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 respectively'is not suflicient to alter the appearance or effect of the umbrella construction when on display or in use. It is only necessary that the lower end of the umbrella handle be disposed at substantially ground level, and the expression substantially ound level as used herein means suffcient y close to ground level so that the difference in appearance or eiect when the umbrella is on display and when the same is in actual use is not appreciable or noticeable.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary illustration of the mountin of the umbrella of Fig. 3 on display suc as in a store window. The umbrella handle 10 could be positioned with its end 34 directly upon the floor 40 of the store window, and the discrepancy between the position of the sunshade on display and its position in actual use would not be noticeable and would be insuiiicient to aiect its attractive appearance. However, if desired a small block 41 conforming in shape to the shape of the handle could be positioned between the lower end 34 of thevhandle 10 and the floor 40 to thereby support the han- While the invention disclosed herein is Y particularly described in connection with umbrella constructions of theso-called garden type, it is to be understood that the invention is I also applicable to umbrella constructions of the so-called terrace or terrace table type, in which heretofore the lower end of the handle has customarily been supported in a groove or notch formed in a shelf of the terrace table. The ground screw construction illustrated herein can be provided to support the lower end of the terrace umbrella handle at substantially ground leveltothereby replace the supporting means ormedvin the table shelf or the umbrella handle may rest directly upon the ground or hard floor. In this manner umbrellas may b e provided with handles of a single length suitable for either gsitrden or so-called terrace use, or for disp ay.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An earth engaging construction for supporting the handle of an umbrella comprising an earth-engaging member, a platfadapted to rest upon the ground having a1 opening therethrough for receiving said earth-engaging member, said plate and said member having cooperating engaging surfaces thereon adapted to limit the downward movement of said earth-engaging member, said member having a bore therein adapted to receive a portion of said handle, a constriction in said bore adapted to contact with the lower end of said handle, said engaging surfaces of said plate and said member lying in a plane adjacent the plane of the constriction in said bore, whereby the lower end of said handle is adapted to be supported at substantially ground level.

2. A ground screw construction for supporting the handle of an umbrella comprising a hollow earth-engaging member having a pointed screw-threaded end to facilitate positioning in the ground, said member having a bore therein at its upper end adapted to receive a portion of said handle to support the same, a second bore therein of reduced diameter below said first-named bore, the surface connecting said bores forming a shoulder adapted to engage the lower end of said handle, and means for limiting the downward movement of said earth-engaging member into the ground, said parts being so constructed that when said member is in position in the ground said shoulder is at substantially ground level to thereby support the lower end of said handle at substantially ground level.

3. For use with an umbrella of the character described adapted to be supported at a predetermined distance above the ground, a supporting member adapted to be inserted within thel ground and having provisions for receiving the lower end of the handle of the umbrella in supporting relation, and means for limiting the depth of insertion of said supporting member within the ground to thereby support the lower end of said handle at substantially ground level.

4. For use with an umbrella of the character described adapted to be supported at a predetermined distanceabove the ground, an earth-engaging member adapted to be inserted Within the ground and having a bore therein for receiving the lower end of the handle of said umbrella in supporting relation, means for limiting the depth of insertion of said handle Within said earth-engaging member, and means for limiting the depth of insertion of said earth-engaging member within the ground,whereby when said handle and said earth-engaging member are inserted to their respective limiting means, the lower end of said handle is supported at substantially ground level.

In testimony whereof I hereto aix my signature.

CLARENCE G. SNOOK.