US2087537A - Garden umbrella - Google Patents

Description

July 20, 1937.

M. FINKEL 2,087,537

GARDEN UMBRELLA Filed May 1, 1936 Patented July 20, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to an umbrella designed primarily for use in gardens, outdoor restaurants and other places where it is desired to illuminate the area beneath and adjacent to the umbrella.

An object is to provide the frame of the umbrella with a reflecting portion while the stick or other support provided, carries illuminating means cooperating with the reflector to get the desired lighting effects.

Another object is to provide an umbrella of this type which can be folded when not in use, the reflector portion constituting a means for holding the umbrella ribs at points from which they can be moved to positions around the lamp portion so as to protect it.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawing Figure 1 is a View partly in elevation and partly in section showing the umbrella open.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the umbrella closed.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33, Figure 2.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, I designates the stick or supporting standard of the umbrella to the upper end of which is secured a disk-like head 2 having a reflecting portion 3 for diffusing light rays downwardly. To the marginal portion of this head are hingedly connected ribs 4 provided with the usual struts or stretchers 5 the lower end of which are hingedly attached to a sleeve 6 mounted to slide on the standard I as ordinarily, there being the usual catches I and 8 for holding the sleeve in either of two extreme positions.

The fabric or other material constituting the cover of the umbrella has been indicated at 9 and is secured to the ribs 4. This cover can extend over head 2, to which it can be attached by any suitable means such as a clamping disk I held in place by a screw l I engaging the standard I.

Mounted on the standard below but adjacent to the reflector 3 are outlets I 2 carrying electric lamps I3 and. adjustably mounted on the standard is a lamp housing [4 open at the top, if so desired, and having any suitable means for fastening it to the standard. For example a sleeve or collar I can be joined to or formed on the lower end of the housing and held to the standard by a set screw I6. This housing is located above sleeve 6 at a point where it will not interfere with the opening of the umbrella. The housing can be formed of metal, glass, or any other suitable material, either opaque, transparent or translucent.

The housing Hi can be of any shape desired but its maximum diameter should be less than the diameter of the head 2. An electric cord I1 is arranged within the standard and is connected at one end to the lamps l 3 while its other end, which extends beyond the standard, can be provided with a plug I 8 or the like for engagement with a service outlet.

It will be noted that when the umbrella is closed, as shown in Figure 2, the head 2 serves to keep the ribs 4 and stretchers 5 out of contact with the housing I4 which thus is properlyprotected from injury. When the umbrella is open, as in Figure 1, it can be set up on a table, or held in any other suitable manner in position for use. When the cord I! is plugged into a service outlet, the lamps I3 will be lighted and the rays therefrom will be dissipated downwardly from the reflector. If the housing I 4 is transparent or translucent, some of the rays will pass therethrough. This housing can be adjusted along the standard to give convenient access to the lamps when it is desired to make replacements.

It has been found that an umbrella such as herein described constitutes an attractive adjunct to outdoor restaurants and other places provided for outdoor entertainment.

What is claimed is:-

An umbrella including a tubular standard constituting an electrieconduit, a conducting wire therein and extending therefrom adjacent to the respective ends thereof, a lamp mounted on the standard near one end and joined to the conducting wire, an upwardly flared housing adjustably mounted on the standard and extending around the lamp, said housing being open at its upper end, a head overlying the open upper end of the housing and of a diameter equal to or greater than the diameter of the housing, said head having a reflecting surface exposed to the rays from the lamp in the housing, umbrella ribs hingedly connected to the marginal portion of the head, a cover secured thereto and extending over the head, a sleeve on the standard, struts connecting said sleeve to the respective ribs, the housing being interposed between the sleeve and the head, and said sleeve being shiftable along the housing to fold the ribs toward each other into position substantially parallel with the standard to conceal and protect the housing and reflecting portion.

MILTON FINKEL.

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