US20020157693A1

US20020157693A1 - Umbrella with quick connect and rotatable coupling

Info

Publication number: US20020157693A1
Application number: US09/844,588
Authority: US
Inventors: Darrell Whitmer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-04-27
Filing date: 2001-04-27
Publication date: 2002-10-31

Abstract

An umbrella with quick connect and rotatable coupling including an umbrella portion having a handle portion. The handle portion has a lower end with an opening formed therein. A main body is coupled with respect to a handle bar. The main body has a generally cylindrical configuration defined by an upper end, a lower end, and an intermediate extent therebetween. The upper end has a connector pin extending outwardly therefrom. The connector pin is receivable within the opening formed in the lower end of the handle portion of the umbrella portion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an umbrella with quick connect and rotatable coupling and more particularly pertains to allowing easy coupling with a handle bar for hands-free use.

The use of weather protection devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, weather protection devices heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of protecting people from inclement weather are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art that have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,761 to Bryant discloses a wheelchair with an attached umbrella device. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,301,975 to Rivera and 5,921,258 to Francois disclose additional overhead protection devices for a wheelchair.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe an umbrella with quick connect and rotatable coupling for allowing easy coupling with a handle bar for hands-free use.

In this respect, the umbrella with quick connect and rotatable coupling according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing easy coupling with a handle bar for hands-free use.

Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved umbrella with quick connect and rotatable coupling that can be used for allowing easy coupling with a handle bar for hands-free use. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of weather protection devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved umbrella with quick connect and rotatable coupling. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved umbrella with quick connect and rotatable coupling that has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises an umbrella portion having a handle portion. The handle portion has a lower end with an opening formed therein. A main body is coupled with respect to a handle bar. The main body has a generally cylindrical configuration defined by an upper end, a lower end, and an intermediate extent therebetween. The upper end has a connector pin extending outwardly therefrom. The connector pin is receivable within the opening formed in the lower end of the handle portion of the umbrella portion. The intermediate extent has an opening therethrough for receiving the handle bar therethrough. A securing knob extends within the intermediate extent of the main body and is in communication with the opening in the intermediate extent for engaging the handle bar when positioned within the opening.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved umbrella with quick connect and rotatable coupling that has all the advantages of the prior art weather protection devices and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved umbrella with quick connect and rotatable coupling that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved umbrella with quick connect and rotatable coupling that is of durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved umbrella with quick connect and rotatable coupling that is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such an umbrella with quick connect and rotatable coupling economically available to the buying public.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved umbrella with quick connect and rotatable coupling for allowing easy coupling with a handle bar for hands-free use.

Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved umbrella with quick connect and rotatable coupling including an umbrella portion having a handle portion. The handle portion has a lower end with an opening formed therein. A main body is coupled with respect to a handle bar. The main body has a generally cylindrical configuration defined by an upper end, a lower end, and an intermediate extent therebetween. The upper end has a connector pin extending outwardly therefrom. The connector pin is receivable within the opening formed in the lower end of the handle portion of the umbrella portion.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: [0019]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the umbrella with quick connect and rotatable coupling constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. [0020]
FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention illustrated in a lower orientation. [0021]
The same reference numerals refer to the same parts through the various figures. [0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular, to figures one through two thereof, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved umbrella with quick connect and rotatable coupling embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the [0023] reference number 10 will be described.
Specifically, it will be noted in the various figures that the device relates to an umbrella with quick connect and rotatable coupling for allowing easy coupling with a handle bar for hands-free use. In its broadest context, the device consists of an umbrella portion, a main body, and a securing knob. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective. [0024]
The [0025] umbrella portion 12 has a handle portion 14. The handle portion 14 has a lower end 16 with an opening 18 formed therein.
The [0026] main body 20 is coupled with respect to a handle bar 22. Figures one and two illustrate the main body coupled with the handle bar 22 of a wheelchair. It should be noted that the use of the present invention is not limited to a wheelchair, but use can be included on other items that have handle bars, such as bicycles, walkers and canes. The main body 20 has a generally cylindrical configuration defined by an upper end 24, a lower end 26, and an intermediate extent therebetween. The upper end 24 has a connector pin 28 extending outwardly therefrom. The connector pin 28 is receivable within the opening 18 formed in the lower end 16 of the handle portion 14 of the umbrella portion 12. The intermediate extent has an opening therethrough for receiving the handle bar 22 therethrough.
The [0027] securing knob 30 extends within the intermediate extent of the main body 20 and is in communication with the opening in the intermediate extent for engaging the handle bar 22 when positioned within the opening.
In use, the [0028] umbrella portion 12 can be extended and positioned on the connector pin 28. While the umbrella portion 12 is extended, the main body 20 should be oriented in an upright orientation with the securing knob 30 tightened to prevent movement of the umbrella portion 12. Note FIG. 1. When the umbrella portion 12 is collapsed, the securing knob 30 can be loosened, and the main body can be oriented in a lower orientation so that the umbrella portion 12 is lowered, and out of the way. Note FIG. 2.
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. [0029]
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and the manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. [0030]
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. [0031]

Claims

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. An umbrella with quick connect and rotatable coupling for allowing easy coupling with a handle bar for hands-free use comprising, in combination:

an umbrella portion having a handle portion, the handle portion having a lower end with an opening formed therein;

a main body coupled with respect to a handle bar, the main body having a generally cylindrical configuration defined by an upper end, a lower end, and an intermediate extent therebetween, the upper end having a connector pin extending outwardly therefrom, the connector pin being receivable within the opening formed in the lower end of the handle portion of the umbrella portion, the intermediate extent having an opening therethrough for receiving the handle bar therethrough; and

a securing knob extending within the intermediate extent of the main body and in communication with the opening in the intermediate extent for engaging the handle bar, when positioned within the opening.

2. An umbrella with quick connect and rotatable coupling for allowing easy coupling with a handle bar for hands-free use comprising, in combination:

an umbrella portion having a handle portion, the handle portion having a lower end with an opening formed therein; and

a main body coupled with respect to a handle bar, the main body having a generally cylindrical configuration defined by an upper end, a lower end, and an intermediate extent therebetween, the upper end having a connector pin extending outwardly therefrom, the connector pin being receivable within the opening formed in the lower end of the handle portion of the umbrella portion.