US20080047995A1

US20080047995A1 - Combination umbrella holder animal garment

Info

Publication number: US20080047995A1
Application number: US11/841,326
Authority: US
Inventors: Constantino Psilogenis
Original assignee: UNITED PETS Srl
Current assignee: UNITED PETS Srl
Priority date: 2006-08-22
Filing date: 2007-08-20
Publication date: 2008-02-28

Abstract

A combination umbrella holder and animal garment comprises a sheath and sheet. The sheath receives and houses a foldable umbrella and comprises an inner portion and an outer portion. The sheet is attached to the sheath and foldable into and out of the inner portion thereof. The sheet comprises a greater width dimension than a width dimension of the sheath, such that the sheet is sized to cover a portion of a body of an animal.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a multi-purpose umbrella holder and more particularly to an umbrella holder that converts into an animal garment. This utility patent application claims domestic priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/823,161 filed Aug. 22, 2006.

BACKGROUND

Pet care, especially the care of dogs, dictates that pet owners walk their pets at various times throughout the day. In the case of inclement weather, pet owners often use an umbrella to protect themselves and their pets from the elements, particularly rain and/or snow. The size of the umbrella, however, may be inadequate to provide coverage to the pet. Additionally, the pet often walks ahead of the owner, out of the protective range of the umbrella. Thus, the pet is exposed to the elements.
There is a need for a device that not only protects pet owners from inclement weather, but also provides at least some cover for the animals in their care.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved umbrella holder comprising an animal garment adapted to help protect pets from inclement weather.
In one embodiment, the umbrella holder and animal garment device of the present invention comprises a sheath for receiving and housing a foldable umbrella, the sheath comprising an inner portion and an outer portion and a sheet attached to the sheath, the sheet foldable into the inner portion and out of the inner portion. The sheet of this embodiment comprises a greater width dimension than a width dimension of the sheath, such that the sheet is sized to cover a portion of a body of an animal. The sheet is typically sized to cover substantially all of a top portion of a torso of the animal and may comprise nylon.
In another embodiment, the umbrella holder and animal garment device comprises a sheath comprising a base portion and opposing sidewalls defining a channel therebetween for receiving a foldable umbrella, the sheath further comprising a seam positioned between the base portion and the opposing sidewalls, the opposing sidewalls being foldable about the seam and a sheet foldable into the channel. An outer portion of the sheath is typically foldable about the seam. The sheet of this embodiment is connected to the seam and comprises a width dimension greater than a width dimension of the channel such that the sheet is sized to cover a portion of a body of an animal when the sheet is removed from the channel.
The foregoing embodiments may be modified in various ways. The sheath may further comprise a fastening member of at least one of hook and loop arrangement, a zipper, buttons and combinations thereof. Such an arrangement is used to secure the sheath around the umbrella. The sheet optionally comprises a hood for covering at least a portion of a head of an animal. The hood may be tightened around the head of the animal with a drawstring. The sheet may further comprise a securement member to releasably secure the sheet to the body of the animal. The securement member may take the form of at least two straps releasably securable to both hind legs of the animal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain embodiments of the presently claimed invention are illustrated by the accompanying figures. It should be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that details that are not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may be omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the combination umbrella holder animal garment of the present invention carrying a foldable umbrella;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1, with the fastener member in an open state and the foldable umbrella positioned adjacent thereto;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of FIG. 1, with the sheet folded out of the sheath;
FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the FIG. 3, with the sheet positioned on a torso of a dog.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The combination umbrella holder/animal garment of the present invention may be used to receive and carry a foldable umbrella and alternatively as a garment for an animal, such as a dog. The device enables pet owners to conveniently protect themselves and their pets from inclement weather. Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, combination device 10 comprises sheath 12, fastening member 14, sheet 16 and securement members 18. The term sheath, as used herein, means an enveloping tubular structure for receiving and holding a foldable umbrella.
Sheath 12 comprises inner portion 20 and outer portion 22. Sheath 12 may further comprise base portion 24, opposing sidewalls 26, seam 28 and loop 30. Base portion 24 and opposing sidewalls 26 define channel 27 therebetween. Seam 28 is typically positioned between base portion 24 and opposing sidewalls 26, with opposing sidewalls 26 being foldable about seam 28. Seam 28 may be continuous and encircle sheath 12. Loop 30 may be utilized to hang device 10 from a hook or other apparatus. Depending on user needs, the dimensions of sheath 12, may of course, vary. Sheath 12 may, for example, comprise a length dimension greater than about 10.0 inches and more particularly between 10.0 inches and 40.0 inches.
Sheath 12 may further comprise fastening member 14 for securing opposing sidewalls 26 about a foldable umbrella. Fastening member 14 is at least one of a hook and loop arrangement, a zipper and buttons and combinations thereof. Other fastening members known to those of skill in the art may also be employed.
Sheet 16 is attached to sheath 12 and foldable into and out of inner portion 20. Sheet 16 comprises top portion 34 and bottom portion 36. Sheet 16 may also comprise a greater width dimension than a width dimension of sheath 12, such that sheet 16 is sized to cover a portion of a body of an animal. As shown in FIG. 5, sheet 16 may be sized to cover substantially all of a top portion of a torso of the animal as well as at least a portion of the sides of the torso of the animal. Sheet 16 may further comprise hood 38 for covering at least a portion of a head of an animal. Drawstring 40 may be provided in connection with hood 38 for tightening hood 38 around the head of the animal.
Sheet 16 may further comprise securement member 18, which may be integrally formed therewith. Securement member 18 is adapted to releasably secure sheet 16 to the body of the animal. In one embodiment, securement member 18 comprises at least two straps releasably securable to both hind legs of the animal. Securement member 18 may also comprise a drawstring securable about the torso of the animal or a band comprising a complementary hook and loop arrangement securable in a similar manner.
Device 10, including sheath 12 and sheet 16, may be constructed of waterproof nylon. Device is typically stitched together by methods known to those of skill in the art.
In operation, device 10 may be utilized to serve dual purposes—(1) umbrella holder and (2) animal garment.
To utilize device 10 as an umbrella holder, a foldable umbrella is positioned within sheath 12. Fastening member 14 may then be used to secure opposing sidewalls 26 about the foldable umbrella. This arrangement is shown in FIG. 1.
When inclement weather arises, pet owners may remove the foldable umbrella housed within device 10, and use sheath 12 to cover the torso of their pets. To utilize device 10 as an animal garment, fastening member 14 is opened and foldable umbrella removed, as shown in FIG. 2. Thereafter, sheet 16 is folded out of inner portion 20, over opposing sidewalls 26 and placed into a fully open position, as shown in FIG. 3. At this point, outer portion 22 of sheath 12 is positioned on bottom surface 36 of sheet 16. In this configuration, sheet 16 may be releasably secured over the torso of an animal. FIG. 5 illustrates securement members 18 positioned over the hind legs of the animal and drawstring 40 tightened about the neck of the animal.
After use of device 10 as an animal garment is complete, it may be removed and once again used as an umbrella holder. To remove the embodiment of device 10 shown in FIG. 5, the hind legs of the animal are lifted out of securement members 18 and drawstring 40 is loosened so that drawstring may slide over the head of the animal. Once device has been removed from the animal, opposing sidewalls 26 may be rotated about seam 28 and over sheet 16. The user may then readily fold sheet 16 entirely into inner portion 20 of sheath 12.
Variations, modifications and other implementations of what is described herein will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is in no way limited by the preceding illustrative description.

Claims

1. An umbrella holder and animal garment comprising in combination:

a sheath for receiving and housing a foldable umbrella, the sheath comprising an inner portion and an outer portion; and

a sheet attached to the sheath, the sheet foldable into the inner portion and out of the inner portion, the sheet comprising a greater width dimension than a width dimension of the sheath, such that the sheet is sized to cover a portion of a body of an animal.

2. The combination of claim 1, further comprising a securement member attached to the sheet and adapted to releasably secure the sheet to the body of the animal.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the securement member comprises at least two straps releasably securable to both hind legs of the animal.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein the sheath further comprises a fastening member of at least one of a hook and loop arrangement, a zipper, buttons and combinations thereof.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein the sheet is sized to cover substantially all of a top portion of a torso of the animal.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein the sheet comprises a hood for covering at least a portion of a head of an animal.

7. The combination of claim 5, further comprising a drawstring for tightening the hood around the head of the animal.

8. The combination of claim 1, where in at least a portion of the sheet is constructed of nylon.

9. The combination of claim 1, wherein the sheet comprises a top surface and a bottom surface and the outer portion of the sheath is positioned on the bottom surface when the sheet is positioned on the body of the animal.

10. The combination of claim 1, further comprising a seam encircling the sheath and wherein the outer portion of the sheath is foldable about the seam.

11. An umbrella holder and animal garment comprising in combination:

a sheath comprising a base portion and opposing sidewalls defining a channel therebetween for receiving a foldable umbrella, the sheath further comprising a seam positioned between the base portion and the opposing sidewalls, the opposing sidewalls being foldable about the seam; and

a sheet foldable into the channel, the sheet connected to the seam and comprising a width dimension greater than a width dimension of the channel such that the sheet is sized to cover a portion of a body of an animal when the sheet is removed from the channel.

12. The combination of claim 11, further comprising a fastening member for securing the opposing sidewalls about the foldable umbrella, wherein the fastening member is at least one of a hook and loop arrangement, a zipper, buttons and combinations thereof.

13. The combination of claim 11, wherein the sheet is sized to cover substantially all of a top portion of a torso of the animal.

14. The combination of claim 11, wherein the sheet comprises a hood for covering at least a portion of a head of an animal.

15. The combination of claim 14, further comprising a drawstring for tightening the hood around the head of the animal.

16. The combination of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the sheet is constructed of nylon.

17. The combination of claim 11, wherein the sheet comprises a top surface and a bottom surface and the opposing sidewalls are positioned on the bottom surface when the sheet is positioned on the body of the animal.

18. The combination of claim 11, further comprising a securement member attached to the sheet and adapted to releasable secure the sheet to the body of the animal.

19. The combination of claim 18, wherein the securement member comprises at least two straps releasably securable to both hind legs of the animal.