US2049380A - Inflatable umbrella - Google Patents

Description

July 28, 1936. c. HUBER INFLATABLE UMBRELLA Filed March 2, 1956 ATTORNEY.

- ?atented July 28, 1936 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

One object of this invention is the provision of a collapsible inflatable rubber umbrella or para-' sol, so constructed that it may be reduced to a small compact mass when not in use, and may be readily extended and inflated when about to be used.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a net-like interior bracing for the umbrella, which may be used as a carryall bag when the umbrella is collapsed.

, A further object of the invention is the provision of a collapsible and detachable post or handle for the umbrella. The above and other objects will become apparent in the description below, in which characters of reference refer to like-named parts in the accompanying drawing.

.Rei'erring briefly to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the inflated umbrella.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure '1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged central cross-sectional view through the umbrella post and a portion of 2.3 the inflatable central portion.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the extended net showing the collapsed umbrella at the center thereof.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the collapsed 30 umbrella carried at the bottom and outside of the net, the latter being gathered in the manner of a bag.

Figure 6 is an inverted view similar to Figure 5 with the collapsed umbrella inside the net.

Figure 7 is a view illustrating a small container in which the entire collapsed umbrella may be carried.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral l0 indicates the umbrella post which is formed 40 of a plurality of telescopic sections H, the lowermost of which is provided with a handle l2. Screws or the like 13 are provided on the telescopic handle sections II and are adapted to register in recesses It so that these sections may 5 be locked in either extended or retracted position.

A hollow drum i5 is provided with a plurality of peripheral openings l6 whose outer extremities lie in a peripheral groove I 1 formed by upper 50 and lower peripheral flanges or lips I 8. A plurality of rounded complementary rubber bag-like sections l9, downwardly arcuate in cross section, each having the outline in plan view when inflated, of a sector of a circular area, have their 55 tip ends 20 lying within the groove ll between the lips it. One or more openings 2| are provided in the tip end 20 of each section IS in alignment with one or more of the openings I6 in the groove l1, and these tip ends 20 are locked between the lips l8 in any desirable manner, as, 5 for instance, by vulcanizing.

At diametrically opposite points in the periphery of the assembled sections is telescopic extensible or retractable ribs 22 are provided. The inner ends of these ribs are secured to the outer l0 edge of the section IS in any desirable manner such, for instance, as locking the overlapping edges 23 of the sections is against the inner sections of the ribs 22. Friction springs 220. are provided to prevent sliding together of the ex- 15 tended ribs 22. A web 24 formed of a single sheet of rubber, is provided, as an extension from the outer edges of the sections l9, and this web encircles the ribs 22, the outer ends of the latter projecting through openings 21 in the web 24. 20

A net 25 is formed by providing a plurality of radial cords 26 attached to and extending from the bottom of the drum IS. The cords 26 are joined at spaced-apart intervals by a plurality of concentric cords 28. The ends of the cords 25 26 are provided with loops 29 through which a rope 30 is threaded. A plurality of hooks 36 are provided around the inner periphery of the sections 19 on which the loops 29 of the cords 23 are hooked when the umbrella sections l9 have 30 been inflated. The rope 30 is provided with two ends 3| which may be drawn together and tied into a knot to tighten the rope 30 when the umbrella is in extended and inflated position. The net 25 thus serves as a prop to resist the force of the wind, or any other eflort to turn the umbrella inside out, and to maintain the convex form of the umbrella.

The innermost post section I la is provided with an internally threaded end which screws on the screw 32 in the base of the drum IS. The top of the drum I5 is provided with an opening 34 adapted to be closed by a threaded cap 35. The sections I! are inflated upon removing the cap 35 by placing the lips around the top of the drum I5 and blowing into the same through the opening 34. A membrane valve 31 of standard construction, is provided within the drum l5 to prevent exhaust or the air from the sections IS, the type of valve being that which will permit exhaust 01 the air upon depression of the membrane through the hole 34 in the same manner as is usual in toy balloons. When the umbrella is not in use, the deflated sections l9 will collapse into a small mass, and the rib members 22 are retracted.

The post sections I I are retracted and then detached by unscrewing the section I la from the screw 32.

After the sections it have been collapsed, they will shrink to the size shown in Figure 4. Then the periphery oi the net 26 is gathered together and formed into a bag, as shown in either Figure or Figure 6. This bag may then be folded together into a small mass and placed, together with the collapsed post it, in a small container similar to that shown at 33.

Obviously, modifications in form and structure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

i. A collapsible umbrella comprising a hollow drum having a peripheral groove, a plurality of complementary convex inflatable bag-like sections of elastic material having reduced ends, said reduced ends being secured in said groove, said drum being provided with openings in said groove, said reduced ends having openings aligned with said groove openings, the outline of said sections in plan view being similar to sectors of a circle, the outer ends oi said sections forming a circular periphery, a removable cap on said drum, a post i'ormed of telescopic section secured to said drum, and means for tightening the periphery of said sections to retain said sections in umbrella-shaped form when in inflated condition.

'2. A collapsible umbrella. comprising :a hollow drum having a peripheral groove, .a plurality of complementary convex inflatable bag-like sections of elastic. material having reduced ends, said reduced ends being secured in said groove, said drum being provided with openings in said groove,

said reduced ends having openings aligned with aosasso said groove openings. the outline of said sections in plan view being similar to sectors of a circle, the outer edge oi said sections forming a circular periphery; a removable cap on said drum, means for tightening the periphery of said sections to re- 6 tain said sections in umbrella-shaped iorm when in inflated condition, a web secured to the periphery oi said sections, and a plurality of retractable ribs secured to the periphery of said sections supporting said web in extended position. 10 3. A collapsible umbrella comprising a hollow drum having a peripheral groove, a plurality of complementary convex inflatable bag-like sections of elastic material having reduced ends, said reduced ends being secured in said groove, said drum being provided with openings in said groove, said reduced ends having openings aligned with said groove openings, the outline of said sections in plan view being similar to sectors oi a circle, the outer edge of said sections forming a circular periphery, a removable cap on said drum, a post formed of telescopic sections secured to said drum, and means for tightening the periphery oi said sections to retain said sections in umbrella-shaped. form when in inflated condition, said means comprising a circular net having its center secured to the bottom oisaid drum, hooks arranged along'the inner surface of said sections and having said net secured thereto, a rope loosely secured in-the periphery of said net and adapted to be tightened to tauten the periphery oi said net to retain said sections in turned down -posi tion,said sections when deflated collapsing to a small mass at the center of said net, the periphery 01- said net being adapted to be gathered together to form a carryall bag.

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