WO2002026073A1

WO2002026073A1 - A couple umbrella

Info

Publication number: WO2002026073A1
Application number: PCT/KR2001/001594
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kwang Seon Yu
Original assignee: Kwang Seon Yu
Priority date: 2000-09-26
Filing date: 2001-09-24
Publication date: 2002-04-04
Also published as: KR200217242Y1

Abstract

The couple umbrellas according to the present invention includes a hook and loop fastener (3, 3') which makes it possible to combine and separate mutually on one side of waterproof fabric of the two hand or automatic umbrellas and a connecting fabric (5) having on both sides a hook and loop fastener (4, 4') attached to the opposite hook and loop fastener (3, 3'). When the individual umbrellas are overlapped, one rib (6, 6') of the umbrella is expandable such that the overlapped portion becomes larger than the radius of the umbrella. In the middle of the opposite umbrellas (1, 1'), a mutually removable male and female connectors (8, 8') are attached, and as well as a connecting fabric (5) with a narrow intermediate portion and wide sides, thereby allowing angle variation in both horizontal and vertical directions.

Description

A COUPLE UMBRELLAS

Technical Field

This present invention relates to a couple umbrella that two people can use independently and, when meeting each other, combine into an integrated umbrella. Walking under the integrated couple umbrella can make it possible for a couple or two friends to conveniently converse with each other, and still maintain their own respective shelters when they part by dividing the umbrella.

Background Art

The conventional arts related to the present invention are disclosed, for example, in "Twin Umbrella" of Korean Utility Model Laid-open Publication No. 98-60853(1998.11.05) and "Oval Umbrella of Bellows Type" of Korean Utility Model Laid-open Publication No. 93-00150.

When the twin umbrella is opened it is spread speciously in a manner to bring into contact two side-by-side automatic umbrellas. When closed, it is folded to approximately the same size as a common automatic umbrella. It is created by fixing a pair of top locks corresponding to the upper end of the common automatic umbrella pipe and pivoting the downward end of the pipe to a bottom lock extending to the upward portion of the handle, thereby getting the pipe to form a V-shape or fold in parallel. The twin umbrella, therefore, while being suitable for use of two persons, has been ineffective in that the two components do not divide into two separate individual umbrellas. When parting, one of the two users is exposed to rain or in need of another umbrella.

The oval umbrella, on the other hand, is not so much an umbrella as it is a parasol, Even though the latter is manufactured and used as an umbrella, it has similar problems as the twin umbrella.

Disclosure of the Invention The objective of the present invention is to provide a couple umbrellas which can be used independently as well as forming an integrated umbrella when combined, allowing two individuals to walk under the same and exchange intimate conversation without inconvenience. It was created with the problems in the prior art mind, and eradicates the previous inconveniences by allowing the integrated umbrella to divide into two separate units at parting.

In order to accomplish the above objective, the present invention of a couple umbrella requires two umbrellas. One side of the waterproof fabric of each umbrella has hook and loop fastener such as jeepers, snaps or Velcro tapes for the connection to the second umbrella. One can connect to or separate from the second umbrella via a connecting fabric attached to both sides of the two umbrellas.

The hand or automatic umbrella, as well as same-shape parasols, are all viable to create the present invention. The umbrella of the present invention may further include umbrella ribs of expandable structure such that an overlapped portion becomes larger than the radius of the umbrella when the umbrellas connect, making it is possible for the ribs to extend into the length of other ribs when the umbrellas are used independently, and to shorten when one umbrella is connected to another.

The present invention may also further include male and female connectors, which are mutually removable to maintain the state of rigid connection between the opposite umbrellas. Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic top-view of the combined state of a couple umbrella according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic plan-view of the combined state of a couple umbrella according to the present invention; and

Fig. 3 is a base-view of the separated state, depicting the combining stage of a couple umbrella according to the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention The present invention will now be described in detail, in connection with preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in Figs. 1 through 3, a couple umbrella embodied according to the present invention is made by attaching a Velcro hook and loop fastener 3, 3¹ to the lower part of one side of the waterproof fabric 2, 2¹ of the two hand or automatic umbrellas 1 , 1 ', thereby connecting and separating the pair 1 , 1 ' by having a connecting fabric 5 attaching to a Velcro hook and loop fastener 4, 4' on both sides of the umbrella in order to connect the pair umbrellas 1 , 1 '. Furthermore, the umbrellas 1 , V in this embodiment is made having a larger radius on the overlapping portion, so that one of umbrella ribs 6, 6' belonging to the overlapped portion is expandable in structure, shortening when umbrellas are connected to each other and stretching to the length of other ribs when umbrella is used independently. The above umbrella ribs 6, 6' are adjustable in length via the expansion controller 7, 7'. This expansion structure is employed in the same manner as length controllers of supports of fishing poles or tripods for cameras. Further explanation about concrete structure and function thereof will therefore not be further discussed. Furthermore, a male and female of connector 8, 8, which is mutually removable, is attached to the middle of connecting portion of the pair umbrellas 1 , 1 ' in order to strongly maintain combined state of the umbrellas 1 , 1'. The connecting fabric 5 may also be attached by sewing to the one side 1 or 1 ' of the umbrellas.

The connecting fabric 5 in this embodiment is made into a shape whose intermediate portion is narrow and whose both sides are wide, carried out freely in angle variation of horizontal or vertical direction on the combined condition of the opposite umbrellas, as shown with a dashed line in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3.

The umbrella that has been described above is to be sold as a set of two umbrellas formed from the same design or pattern, or having one design that is completed when the umbrellas are connected with each other. Couples, friends and husbands and wives can therefore use the couple umbrella together and separately, talking affectionately and taking advantage of an intimate atmosphere by integrating two umbrellas to form a single one when together and retaining independent umbrellas by dividing the combined umbrella when they part. The method for using the integrated umbrella by connecting two umbrellas each other is further described below.

First, for the individual umbrellas to be used independently, the umbrella ribs 6, 6' is expanded by using expansion controller 7, to make it the same length as the other ribs. Each umbrella can be then used the same as a common umbrella.

Next, for the individual umbrellas to be connected when meeting each other, as shown in Fig. 3, the hook and loop fastener 4, 4' of both sides of connecting fabric 5 is attached to hook and loop fastener 3, 3' of the lower part of the waterproof fabric 2, 2' of the opposite umbrellas 1 , 1' after first shortening the length of the expansion ribs 6, 6' of the opposite umbrellas 1 , 1', and after connector 8, 8' of the upper part of the waterproof fabric 2, 2¹ is connected. The two umbrellas can then be finally integrated into one couple umbrella. The connecting fabric 5 of the present invention is made of narrow intermediate portion and wide sides. Angle variations toward horizontal and vertical direction in the combining state of the opposite umbrellas can be accomplished freely within a confined range. As a result, two persons can use the umbrella without inconvenience, each gripping a handle and moving any way they wish.

The above embodiment explained that the ordinary hand or automatic umbrella may be used for this invention, as well as parasols with the same shape as an umbrella. The parasol applied to this invention can cover a larger space by combining small-sized common parasols, such as those for use at the seaside or for outdoor cafes.

Industrial Applicability

The umbrella according to the present invention can be used separately and independently. By combining umbrella pairs when meeting, two persons such as lovers or friends can talk intimately, walking under the umbrella without inconvenience, and by dividing the combined umbrella when parting, two persons can retain individual umbrellas. As a result, the couple umbrella is as practical as using a set of umbrellas, but without the inconveniences.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A couple umbrellas comprising of a hook and loop fastener 3, 3' on one side of waterproof fabric of two hand or automatic umbrellas, a connecting fabric 5 having on both sides a hook and loop fastener 4, 4' attached to said hook and loop fastener 3, 3.

2. The umbrella according to claim 1 , wherein said hook and loop fastener 3, 3' and 4, 4' are made of Velcro tape.

3. The umbrella according to claim 1 , wherein the umbrella 1 , 1 ' includes umbrella ribs 6, 6' belonging to an overlapped portion, made of an expandable structure such that the overlapped portion becomes larger than the radius of the umbrella when said umbrellas 1 , 1' are overlapped.

4. The umbrella according to claim 1 , with a mutually removable male and female of connector 8, 8, attached to the middle of connecting portion of the opposite umbrellas 1 ,1.

5. The umbrella according to claim 1 , said connecting fabric 5 having an narrow intermediate portion and wide sides.