US3848838A

US3848838A - Umbrella mounting bracket

Info

Publication number: US3848838A
Application number: US00413844A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Thomas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-11-08
Filing date: 1973-11-08
Publication date: 1974-11-19
Anticipated expiration: 1991-11-19

Abstract

A bracket adapted for the mounting of the standard of an umbrella on the top portion of a back rest of a chair or the like in a manner permitting tilting adjustment of the umbrella to compensate for positions of the sun to provide shade to an individual sitting in the chair with which the umbrella is associated, the bracket including a base detachably attached to the chair and an umbrella standard supporting member which is adjustably connected to the base by a ball and socket type of connection permitting for the tilting of the support relative to the base.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Thomas UMBRELLA MOUNTING BRACKET [76] Inventor: Robert Lee Thomas, 402 W. 12th,

Irving, Tex. 75060 3,602,466 8/1971 Drowns 248/42 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 303,854 2/1955 Switzerland 248/43 [451 Nov. 19, 1974 216,100 7/1908 Germany 248/40 11,1 10 9/1908 Great Britain 248/43 125,931 4/1947 Sweden 248/226 C Primary Examiner-William I-I. Schultz [57] ABSTRACT A bracket adapted for the mounting of the standard of an umbrella on the top portion of a backrest of a chair or the like in a manner permitting tilting adjustment of the umbrella to compensate for positions of the sun to provide shade to an individual sitting in the chair with which the umbrella is associated, the bracket including a base detachably attached to the chair and an umbrella standard supporting member which is adjustably connected to the base by a ball and socket type of connection permitting for the tilting of the support relative to the base,

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures UMBRELLA MOUNTING BRACKET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to holding devices and more particularly to a bracket adapted to mount an umbrella on a lawn chair or the like to shade an individual sitting in the chair from the sun with the umbrella being adjustably tiltable relative to the bracket to compensate for varying positions of the chair relative to the position of the sun at any particular time.

2. Description of the Prior Art A problem normally encountered by individuals sitting in lawn chairs and the like to enjoy the outdoors is that if such chairs are not positioned under a tree or other shade device of some type, the sun strikes the individual with full force resulting in discomfort and inconvenience to the individual sitting in the chair.

While shade devices of one type and another are known to provide shade to an individual, such devices are normally not readily transportable for easy set-up at the desired positions so that an individual is normally limited in choice of seating positions to those chairs having shade devices located nearby in a manner to shade the chairs, the individual having to continually change the location of the chair about the shade device to compensate for the varying position of the sun during different times of the day.

It would thus be desirable to provide a device for mounting a shade device in a readily transportable manner relative to an individuals chair such that the chair and shade device may be readily and conveniently transported between positions of storage and use or between one position of use to another position of use with a minimum of effort and time on the part of the individual.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention recognizes the plight of an individual wishing to enjoy the outdoors and sit in a chair while yet being shaded from the direct rays of the sun, and provides a novel solution thereto which overcomes the deficiencies and disadvantages of presently available shade devices by providing a novel bracket detachably mounted on the chair and adapted to support an umbrella or the like in a position above and out of the way of an individual sitting in the chair in a manner to shade the individual from the suns rays, the bracket being tiltable for adjusting the position of the umbrella in order to compensate for differing positions of the sun along with different positions of the chair relative to the position of the sun.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide an umbrella mounting bracket which is readily attached to and detached from a lawn chair, such as a chair of the folding aluminum frame type, and which is adapted to receive and support an umbrella therein for providing shade to an individual sitting in the chair.

A further feature of the present invention provides a bracket adapted for mounting an umbrella on the back of a lawn chair or the like and permitting for the ready ple in its construction and which therefore may be readily manufactured at a relatively low cost and by simple manufacturing methods.

The provision of an umbrella mounting bracket for lawn chairs and the like, such as briefly outlined above, and possessing the stated advantages, constitutes the principal features of the present invention. The provision of an umbrella mounting bracket which is sturdy and durable in construction and which therefore may be guaranteed by the manufacturer to withstand many years of intended usage; one which is aesthetically pleasing and refined in appearance; one which provides a secure mounting for the standard of an umbrella therein; one which is adapted to be mounted at varying positions on different types and styles of lawn chairs; and one which, otherwise, is well adapted to perform the services required of it, are further desirable features which have been borne in mind in the production and development of the present invention.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG; 1 is a perspective view of a lawn chair having an umbrella mounted thereon by way of an umbrella mounting bracket constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the mounting bracket as connected to a frame member of the lawn chair;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but with the bracket in the open position adapted for attachment or removal from the lawn chair;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the bracket with the supporting member shown in some different pivoted positions relative to the lawn chair; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the mounting bracket.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail there is illustrated a preferred umbrella mounting bracket constructed in accordance with the present invention and which is designated in its entirety by the reference numeral l0 and which is comprised of a clamp 11 and a supporting member 12. The mounting bracket may be manufactured out of metal, wood, hard rubber, high density plastic, or any other suitable satisfactory material providing 'an aesthetically pleasing and refined appearance with the required strength and rigidity, with the preferred embodiment being manufactured of aluminum as having the required characteristics of strength and rigidity while being able to withstand continued exposure to the weather elements without adverse affects thereto.

The mounting bracket 10 is preferably intended for use with lawn chairs of the aluminum frame type, such as designated by reference numeral 14 and which include a back rest having a top tubular frame member 15, the back rest being formed of interwoven mesh strips 16 with the chair having a seat 17 similarly formed, the chair 14 being readily collapsible to a compact position for carrying and storage purposes in the manner as conventionally known.

The clamp 11 consists of a top member 21 and a bottom member 22, each of the members being longitudinally concave curved such that their respective

interior surfaces

23 and 24 are disposed inconfronting relationship with one end 25 of member 21 being pivotally attached tothe adjacent end 26 of member 22 by cylindrical pivot connection 27 which extends transversely of the members and passes through transverse aligned slots disposed in each of the

member ends

25 and 26, such slots being designated by

numerals

28 and 29 res'pectiveiy. Each of the

members

21 and 22 are provided in their

ends

31 and 32 which are disposed in general alignment with

ends

25 and 26 and spaced longitudinally therefrom, with axially aligned threaded openings 33 and 34 respectively adapted to receive therein the threaded shank 35 of fastener 36 having an enlarged substantially flattened head portion 37 extending normal to the axis of the shank and adapted to be grasped between the-thumb and forefinger of an individuals head to effect the rotation thereof into and out of the aligned openings 33 and 34.

Disposed

intermediate ends

25 and 31 of the exterior surface 38 of top member 21 is an elongated cylindrical socket element 41 having a top surface 42 with an inwardly axially directed hemi-spherical shaped recess 43 opening out of the top surface.

The supporting member includes an elongated open ended hollow cylindrical member 51 having a top end 52 and a bottom end 53 with an elongated cylindrical bore 54 axially extending therethrough. Associated with the bottom end 53 is a spherical ball member 56 having a cylindrical shaft 57 projecting radially out of one end thereof and fixedly mounted in the end of the bore 54 adjacent bottom end 53 such that the ball 56 is disposed in axial alignment with the cylindrical member 51 and spaced a slight distance outwardly from the bottom end 53. The ball 56 is of a diameter complementary to the diameter of the recess 43 and is received in the recess in a captured manner permitting relative movement of the ball in the recess but not permitting the ball to be withdrawn from the recess. A threaded opening 61 extends radially through the side wall of the member 51 to communicate with the bore 54 and is adapted to receive therein the threaded shank 62 of a thumb screw type fastener 63 having an enlarged flattened head portion 64 extending in a plane normal to the axis of the shank 62 and adapted to be readily grasped between the thumb and forefinger of an individuals hand in a manner to effect the rotation'of the fastener in opposite directions about its axis.

in operation, the clamp 11 is opened, such as seen in FIG. 4, and is placed about the top tubular frame of lawn chair 14 after which the

ends

31 and 32 are fastened together by fastener 36 in a manner to tightly engage the clamp about the tubular member 15 with the

interior surfaces

23 and 24 of clamp top member and

bottom member

21 and 22 in tight frictional engagement with the tubular member to prevent any inadvertent moving of the clamp relative thereto after once secured in position thereon. A standard 71 of an umbrella 72 then has its end portion inserted axially into bore 54 through support member top end 52 with the standard extending into the bore a sufficient distance to pass by the opening 61, after which the fastener 63 is operated to engage the innermost end of the shank 62 with the umbrella standard 71 to frictionally retain the same in the support member 12. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, the support member 12 is moveable about the ball 56 and socket 41 connection to various positions such as shown by phantom configurations designated generally by references numerals 81 and 82.

The mounting bracket 10 provides an inconspicuous attachment to the lawn chair 14 and may be readily attached to or removed from the lawn chair, such as should it be desirable to use the bracket on a different lawn chair or the like, with the position of the support member 12 relative to the clamp 11 being infinitely adjustable by the action of ball 56 in recess 43 to provide infinite tilting adjustability to the position of the umbrella 72 relative to the chair 14 to compensate for changes in the position of the chair, changes in the position of the sun, or the like. Further, the chair is readily portable from position to position with the umbrella being collapsible in a conventional manner so as to be transported with the chair or readily separated by operation of fastener 63 from the chair for transportation in a compact and convenient manner separate therefrom.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that this invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction as to shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of the novel concepts thereof, or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. A mounting bracket intended for the mounting of an umbrella on a lawn chair and the like to protect an individual sitting in the chair from the direct rays of the sun, the mounting bracket comprising a clamp member including a top member and a bottom member each formed of an elongated rectangular strip of material curvingly bent intermediate its opposed opposite first and second end portions to define a longitudinally extending concave interior curved surface, the top and bottom members being placed with their interior surface in confronting relationship with each other, the first ends of the top and bottom members having a transversely extending slot in each of the ends and in general alignment with each other such that the slot in the top member end overlies the slot in the bottom member end, an elongated hollow cylindrical member extending in alignment with the axis of the slots normal to the longitudinal axis of the clamp, a side wall of the cylindrical member passing through the aligned slots to pivotally interconnect the top and bottom members together and permit swinging movement thereof about the axis of the cylindrical member toward and away from each other, fastening means associated with the second ends of each member for detachably attaching and detaching the ends together in a releasable manner, a cylindricalsocket member disposed centrally on the exterior surface of the top member and projecting outwardly therefrom and terminating in an outermost top surface, a hemi-spherical recess disposed concentrically in the socket member and opening out of the 'top surface thereof, a spherical ball member of a size and configuration complementary to the diameter of the hemi-spherical recess and disposed therein and captured thereby for relative movement relative thereto, a portion of the spherical ball member projecting outwardly of the top surface of the socket member, a shaft connected to the projecting portion of the ball and extending radially outwardly therefrom, a support member having a top end and a bottom end, a bore disposed axially in the support member bottom end and extending thereinto of a diameter to receive the projecting end of the shaft from the ball member to mount the shaft therein with the ball member spaced a slight distance outwardly from the bottom end of the support member, an elongated cylindrical bore extending axially through the top portion of the support member and opening out of the top end thereof and adapted to receive the base end of an umbrella standard in a supporting manner therein, a threaded aperture extending through the side wall of the support member normal to the axis of the support member and communicating with the bore at one end and with the exterior surface of the side wall with the other end, a bolt like fastener including an elongated threaded shank having one end threadedly received in the threaded aperture, an enlarged head portion formed integrally with the opposite end of the bolt fastener in the form of a flattened head portion of a generally elongated rectangular shape extending normal to the axis of the shank and adapted to be readily grasped between the fingers of an individuals hand to effect the rotation of the shank in opposite directions about its axis to move the innermost shank fastener end thereof into and out of engagement with an umbrella standard inserted into the cylindrical bore.

2. The bracket as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cylindrical socket is disposed on the top member of the clamp with the axis of the socket extending normal to the axis of the clamp when the clamp is in the closed position.

3. The bracket as set forth in claim 2 wherein the top and bottom members are identically formed as to size, shape and configuration, the confronting interior concave surfaces of the top and bottom members defining therebetween an elliptical surface adapted to engage a member of a lawn chair or the like therebetween for the mounting of the bracket thereon.

4. The bracket as set forth in claim 3 wherein the second ends of each of the top and bottom members are each formed with an axially aligned threaded opening therein, the fastener means for securing said second ends together including an elongated cylindrical threaded shank adapted to be threadedly engaged in the aligned threaded openings for securing said second ends together, the shank having formed at the end opposite the end engaging with the clamp an enlarged flattened head portion extending normal to the axis of the shank and adapted to be readily grasped between the fingers of an individual s hand to effect the rotation of the fastener in opposite directions about the axis of the shank.

Claims

1. A mounting bracket intended for the mounting of an umbrella on a lawn chair and the like to protect an individual sitting in the chair from the direct rays of the sun, the mounting bracket comprising a clamp member including a top member and a bottom member each formed of an elongated rectangular strip of material curvingly bent intermediate its opposed opposite first and second end portions to define a longitudinally extending concave interior curved surface, the top and bottom members being placed with their interior surface in confronting relationship with each other, the first ends of the top and bottom members having a transversely extending slot in each of the ends and in general alignment with each other such that the slot in the top member end overlies the slot in the bottom member end, an elongated hollow cylindrical member extending in alignment with the axis of the slots normal to the longitudinal axis of the clamp, a side wall of the cylindrical member passing through the aligned slots to pivotally interconnect the top and bottom members together and permit swinging movement thereof about the axis of the cylindrical member toward and away from each other, fastening means associated with the second ends of each member for detachably attaching and detaching the ends together in a releasable manner, a cylindrical socket member disposed centrally on the exterior surface of the top member and projecting outwardly therefrom and terminating in an outermost top surface, a hemi-shperical recess disposed concentrically in the socket member and opening out of the top surface thereof, a spherical ball member of a size and configuration complementary to the diameter of the hemi-spherical recess and disposed therein and captured thereby for relative movement relative thereto, a portion of the spherical ball member projecting outwardly of the top surface of the socket member, a shaft connected to the projecting portion of the ball and extending radially outwardly therefrom, a support member having a top end and a bottom end, a bore disposed axially in the support member bottom end and extending thereinto of a diameter to receive the projecting end of the shaft from the ball member to mount the shaft therein with the ball member spaced a slight distance outwardly from the bottom end of the support member, an elongated cylindrical bore extending axially through the top portion of the support member and opening out of the top end thereof and adapted to receive the base end of an umbrella standard in a supporting manner therein, a threaded aperture extending through the side wall of the support member normal to the axis of the support member and communicating with the bore at one end and with the exterior surface of the side wall with the other end, a bolt like fastener including an elongated threaded shank having one end threadedly received in the threaded aperture, an enlarged head portion formed integrally with the opposite end of the bolt fastener in the form of a flattened head portion of a generally elongated rectangular shape extending normal to the axis of the shank and adapted to be readily grasped between the fingers of an individual''s hand to effect the rotaTion of the shank in opposite directions about its axis to move the innermost shank fastener end thereof into and out of engagement with an umbrella standard inserted into the cylindrical bore.

4. The bracket as set forth in claim 3 wherein the second ends of each of the top and bottom members are each formed with an axially aligned threaded opening therein, the fastener means for securing said second ends together including an elongated cylindrical threaded shank adapted to be threadedly engaged in the aligned threaded openings for securing said second ends together, the shank having formed at the end opposite the end engaging with the clamp an enlarged flattened head portion extending normal to the axis of the shank and adapted to be readily grasped between the fingers of an individual''s hand to effect the rotation of the fastener in opposite directions about the axis of the shank.