US20040099296A1

US20040099296A1 - Inflatable umbrella

Info

Publication number: US20040099296A1
Application number: US10/305,907
Authority: US
Inventors: Yuan-Fu Chang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-11-27
Filing date: 2002-11-27
Publication date: 2004-05-27

Abstract

An inflatable umbrella includes a panel and a plurality of inflatable ribs made of soft material connected to an underside of the panel. An inflatable handle made of soft material is connected to the underside of the panel. The inflatable handle is connected with the inflatable ribs. One of the inflatable ribs has an inlet. The umbrella can be folded into a thin layer when not in use. In addition, a circular rib formed under the panel is flexible and its diameter is changeable, so the umbrella can be mounted to different user's heads with similar sizes.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an umbrella, and in particularly to an inflatable umbrella which includes a panel with a plurality of inflatable ribs and an inflatable handle connected thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional umbrella generally includes a panel with a plurality of ribs connected to an underside thereof and a shaft is connected to a center of the panel. A runner that is movably mounted to the shaft and a plurality of stretchers are pivotably connected between the runner and the ribs so that when pushing the runner toward the center of the panel, the panel is expanded by the ribs. Although some umbrellas have a retractable shaft so that the umbrella can be folded into a compact size, most of the users do not take the umbrella with them because the folded umbrellas still occupy a certain amount space and is not easy to carry. In addition, the conventional umbrella only can be expanded by with one hand holding the handle and another hand pushing the runner, accordingly it is inconvenient for users when carrying goods in hand. For manufacturers, the assembly for the umbrellas is complicated and costs too much. In this case, there are some other conventional umbrellas with a circular rib under panel to mount the umbrella on the user's head, but it only can fit a fixed size head because the circular rib is not flexible, furthermore, the user will feel uncomfortable after long time of being pressed by the circular rib.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional umbrella.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inflatable umbrella which comprises a panel with a plurality of inflatable ribs connected to an underside of the panel. An inflatable handle is connected to the underside of the panel and one of the inflatable ribs has an inlet.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a light and foldable inflatable umbrella which is convenient to be carried and occupies only a small space.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inflatable umbrella with a flexible circular inflatable rib, which can be mounted to different heads with similar size.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which shown, for purposes of illustration only, eight preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention. [0007]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view to show the first preferred embodiment of the inflatable umbrella of the present invention. [0008]
FIG. 2 is a bottom view to show the first preferred embodiment of the inflatable umbrella of the present invention. [0009]
FIG. 3 shows the handle of the umbrella is held by a user. [0010]
FIG. 4 shows the umbrella is folded into a thin layer. [0011]
FIG. 5 is a side cross sectional view to show the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0012]
FIG. 6 is a side cross sectional view of the umbrella of the present invention for the third preferred embodiment FIG. 7 is a side cross sectional view to show the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0013]
FIG. 8 is an elevational view, partly in section, to show the fifth preferred embodiment of the umbrella of the present invention. [0014]
FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the umbrella of the present invention to show the umbrella is mounted to a user's head. [0015]
FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the umbrella of the present invention to show the umbrella is mounted to a user's head. [0016]
FIG. 11 is a side cross sectional view to show the seventh preferred embodiment of the umbrella of the present invention. [0017]
FIG. 12 is an elevational view, partly in section, to show the eighth preferred embodiment of the umbrella in accordance with the present invention.[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. [0019] 1 to 3, the inflatable umbrella of the present invention comprises a panel 1 made of water proof material, a plurality of inflatable ribs 2 made of soft material are connected to an underside of the panel 1 and an inflatable handle 3 made of soft material is connected to the underside of the panel 1. The after-expanded size of the panel 1 is large enough to cover the shoulders of a user, and the panel 1 can be folded into a very thin layer. Each inflatable ribs 2 and the inflatable handle 3 connect with one another. One of the inflatable ribs 2 has an inlet 21 so that air may be introduced into the inflatable ribs 2 and the inflatable handle 3. The inlet 21 of the inflatable rib 2 allows air to enter into an inside of the inflatable ribs 2 and not to release. When air is introduced into the inflatable ribs 2 and the inflatable handle 3, the panel 1 is expanded and the user can hold the handle 3.
Referring to FIG. 4, when the umbrella is not in use, the air is expelled out from the [0020] inlet 21 by compressing the inlet 21 and the inflatable ribs 2 and the inflatable handle 3 can be folded with the panel 1 into a thin layer which is easily to be carried and occupies a very small space.
FIG. 5 is the second embodiment of the present invention. [0021] Branch pipes 31 are connected between the inflatable ribs 2 and the inflatable handle 3 with their first ends to connect to the inflatable ribs 2 and with theirs second ends to connect to the inflatable handle 3, so that the umbrella is strengthened.
FIG. 6 is the third embodiment of the present invention. A circular [0022] inflatable rib 4 is formed around the periphery of the panel 1 so as to increase a tension of the panel 1
FIG. 7 is the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Three circular [0023] inflatable ribs 4 are formed underside and around the panel 1 so as to increase the tension of the panel 1.
FIGS. 8 and 9 are the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The [0024] inflatable handle 3 comprises two supporting pipes 32 and a circular inflatable rib 33. A first end of the supporting pipe 32 is connected to the inflatable ribs 2, and the circular inflatable rib 33 is connected to the second end of the supporting pipe 32. The circular inflatable rib 33 is flexible, so it can be mounted to different user's heads with similar sizes.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, A [0025] ribbon 34 passes through the circular inflatable rib 33 to prevent the umbrella is over mounted to users' head.
Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the [0026] inflatable handle 3 and each inflatable ribs 2 are isolated from one another by heating or sewing, each of the inflatable handle 3 and the inflatable ribs 2 has an inlet 22, 35 so that the umbrella still can be used even if when one or two of the ribs is broken.
While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. [0027]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An inflatable umbrella comprising:

a panel made of water proof material;

a plurality of inflatable ribs made of soft material and connected to an underside of the panel, the inflatable ribs connected with one another and one of the inflatable ribs having an inlet; and

an inflatable handle made of soft material and connected to the underside of the panel, the inflatable handle connected with the inflatable ribs and being able to be held or mounted to head.

2. The inflatable umbrella as claimed in 1, wherein branch pipes are connected between the inflatable ribs and the inflatable handle with their first ends to connect to the inflatable ribs and with theirs second ends to connect to the inflatable handle.

3. The inflatable umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein a circular inflatable rib is formed around the periphery of the panel and connects with each of the inflatable ribs.

4. The inflatable umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of circular inflatable ribs are formed underside and around the panel and connects with each of the inflatable ribs.

5. The inflatable umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inflatable handle comprises two supporting pipes and a circular inflatable rib, a first end of the supporting pipe is connected to the inflatable ribs, and the circular inflatable rib is connected to the second end of the supporting pipe, the circular inflatable rib is flexible.

6. The inflatable umbrella as claimed in claim 5, wherein the periphery of the circular inflatable rib has a ribbon formed thereon.

7. The inflatable umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein each inflatable rib is isolated from the inflatable handle by heating, each of the inflatable ribs and the inflatable handle has an inlet.

8. The inflatable umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein each inflatable rib is isolated from the inflatable handle by sewing, each of the inflatable ribs and the inflatable handle has an inlet.

9. The inflatable umbrella as claimed in claim 5, wherein each inflatable rib is isolated from the inflatable handle by heating, each of the inflatable ribs and the inflatable handle has an inlet.

10. The inflatable umbrella as claimed in claim 5, wherein each inflatable rib is isolated from the inflatable handle by sewing, each of the inflatable ribs and the inflatable handle has an inlet.