WO2005096868A1

WO2005096868A1 - Unbrella-holding device

Info

Publication number: WO2005096868A1
Application number: PCT/IT2004/000175
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roberto Pollato; Ivano Rovere
Original assignee: Roberto Pollato; Ivano Rovere
Priority date: 2004-04-05
Filing date: 2004-04-05
Publication date: 2005-10-20

Abstract

An umbrella-holding device (1) apt to hold the stick (F) of an umbrella in an erect position with no need of the user using hands, comprising: a first and a second half shell (2, 3) defining a seat (7) apt to receive such an umbrella stick; a reversible connection device (17) of the first and second half shell (2, 3), apt to allow the opening and the closing of the seat (7) so that when the seat is open it is possible to insert and release the umbrella stick into/from the inside thereof, and when the seat is closed the stick is locked thereinside; and a plate (10) for fastening the device to a user’s body.

Description

UMBRELLA-HOLDING DEVICE Description

The present invention relates to an umbrella-holding device, and in particular to a device apt to hold the stick of an umbrella in an erect position, so that the umbrella itself protects a user with no need of the latter using hands.

On rainy days, often there is the annoying problem of having to carry and keep in an erect position an umbrella while carrying other items, like e.g. a bag, a briefcase, shopping bags, packets, etc. In fact, above all with the frenzied pace of modern life, the umbrella tends to create several difficulties of motion.

Moreover, this problem is emphasized in case of outdoor working or recreational activities, e.g. maintenance or building works, gardening, mobile phone calls, or even a mere leafing through a book or magazine while waiting.

Of course, the abovementioned problems are enhanced in the case of persons with a temporary or permanent limited motor ability.

Hence, the technical problem set and solved by the present invention is to provide an umbrella-holding device overcoming the abovementioned drawbacks.

This problem is solved by a device according to claim 1.

According to the same inventive concept, the present invention further provides an umbrella according to claim 26 and a kit according to claim 25.

The innovative unitary concept underlying the invention is to provide a technical system allowing the carrying of the umbrella in an erect position with no need of an individual using hands to hold the stick of the umbrella itself.

Preferred features of the present invention are present in the dependent claims thereof. The present invention provides several relevant advantages. The main advantage lies in that the individual can be protected from rain by the umbrella with no need to manually hold the latter, thereby keeping hands free to carry other items or to carry out working or recreational activities.

Other advantages, features and modes of employ of the present invention will be made apparent in the following detailed description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of a non-limiting example. Reference will be made to the figures of the annexed drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the device of the present invention, wherein the device itself lies in an open configuration; Figure 1 A shows a sectional view of the device of Figure 1 taken along line A-A of the latter figure; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the device of Figure 1 with the stick of an umbrella inserted therein, wherein the device itself lies in a closed configuration; Figure 2A shows a sectional view of the device of Figure 2 taken along line B-B of the latter figure; Figures 3A and 3B show each a perspective view of the device of Figure 1 in a respective application mode; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the device of the present invention; and Figure 5 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of umbrella according to the present invention.

With initial reference to Figures 1-1 A and 2-2A, an umbrella-holding device according to a first embodiment of the invention is generally indicated by 1. As it will be made apparent from the description hereinafter, the device 1 allows a user to carry an umbrella in an erect position with no need to hold the stick of the umbrella itself with the hands.

In particular, Figures 1 and 1A show the device 1 in a first configuration that will be referred to as open, whereas Figures 2 and 2A show a second configuration thereof that will be referred to as closed and in which it holds the stick F of an umbrella.

In the present embodiment, the device 1 is piece-formed by moulding, preferably of a plastic material.

Always in the present embodiment, the main body of the device 1 is made of a first and a second shaped body, indicated by 2 and 3, respectively, pivotally connected by a crease 4 located at respective side ends of the two bodies 2 and 3 themselves.

The first 2 and the second 3 body have respective portions, substantially half-shell shaped, indicated by 5 and 6, respectively, cooperating to define an inner seat 7 apt to receive the stick F of an umbrella. In particular, each shaped portion 5 and 6 has an elongate development with a substantially semicylindrical contour, just so that the resulting seat 7 has a substantially cylindrical development along a longitudinal axis of the device 1 indicated by A in Figure 2.

The first shaped portion 5 has an upper face 51 facing outwardly of the seat 7 which is substantially plane. Onto the first shaped portion 5, and in particular at a central portion of the upper face 51, there are obtained two through holes, 81 and 82 respectively, substantially longitudinally aligned along the direction defined by said axis A. These holes 81 and 82 are apt to receive each a respective projecting element 25 of a means 24 or 241 apt to reduce the inner size of the seat 7, which means 24, 241 will be described hereinafter.

Moreover, always at the shaped portion 5 of the first body 2, the device 1 has two pairs of side flaps, indicated by 91 and 92 for the first pair and by 93 and 94 for the second pair, respectively, said pairs being arranged each in correspondence of or near to a respective longitudinal end of the seat 7. The flaps of each pair 91-92 and 93-94 are aligned transversally with respect to the respective half-seat defined by the portion 5 and are arranged at opposite sides thereof. As it will be made apparent later on, the flap pairs 91-92 and 93-94 act to stabilize the mutual engagement of the shaped portions 5 and 6 and to improve the holding of the stick F in the seat 7. Variant embodiments of the invention may provide different means for stabilizing and/or for improving the holding of the stick. Moreover, the second body 3 comprises, oppositely to the seat 7, a substantially plane shaped plate 10 apt to be rested onto a user's body or onto a means fixed thereto. From the plate 10 there centrally stands the second half-shell shaped portion 6, of which the plate 10 itself forms the bottom.

The plate 10 has two side flanges 11 and 12, arranged at opposite sides of the half-shell shaped portion 6. Each of the flanges 11 and 12 has a respective slit, or slot, 13 or 14 apt to receive a belt or an equivalent means for fastening the device 1 to a user's body.

The face of the plate 10 opposite to the seat 7 is shown in Figure 1A, and it is indicated by 15. As mentioned above, this face 15 implements a surface for coupling the device itself to an external means. In particular, it is apt to be rested onto the user's body or onto another surface of an external means integral to the user's body. In order to improve the grip and avoid sliding, the surface 15 has a knurl 16.

Turning to consider also Figures 1 and 2-2A, the device 1 further comprises reversible engagement means 17, apt to lock the first 2 and the second 3 body the one against the other, thereby defining said seat 7. In particular, the means 17 allows the opening and the closing of the seat, so that when the seat is open, as in Figure 1 , it is possible to insert and release the umbrella stick F into/from the inside thereof, whereas when the seat 7 is closed, as in Figure 2, the stick F is locked thereinside.

In the present embodiment, the means 17 is made in form of a reversible connection between the bodies 2 and 3, and in particular in form of a snap-lock device. This device comprises, onto the second body 3, a coupling detent 18 integral to a knurled actuating tab 19 partially pivotable about a creasing 20 obtained onto the plate 10. The snap-lock device further comprises, onto the first body 2, a flap 21 bearing a projection 22 apt to cooperate with the detent 18 in order to mutually and reversibly lock the first and the second body 2 and 3. The flap 21 is made as an extension of the plane upper surface 51 of the first body 5 and it is partially pivotable with respect thereto about a crease 23.

The device 1 has several surfaces in sight, and in particular the plane surface 51 of the first body 5 and the upper face of the plate 10, it also substantially plane, apt to bear ads or the like.

In Figure 1 there are shown also the two aforementioned means 24 and 241, each apt to restrict the inner transversal size of the seat 7, i.e. in the present embodiment the diameter of the latter, so as to allow the locking thereinside of umbrella sticks having different transversal sizes.

With initial reference to the means 24, it is apt to be received into the first half-shell 5 and accordingly it has an elongate portion 242 of a shape corresponding to that of said half-shell, i.e. a hollow semicylindrical shape. Moreover, the means 24 bears the aforementioned pair of projecting elements, or pins, 25 facing outwardly and apt to engage the respective through holes 81 and 82 of the half-shell 5.

Preferably, at least the portion 242 is made of an elastically deformable material, so as to easily adjust to the shape of the seat 7, as well as to that of the umbrella stick F received therein.

Moreover, the means 241 is in all analogous to the means 24, yet has a different thickness S of the semicylindrical portion thereof so as to correspondingly restrict the diameter of the seat 7 and allow the use of the device 1 with thinner umbrella sticks.

Hence, the device 1 may be provided also in form of kit comprising one or more of said means for restricting the inner size of the seat 7.

The modes of employ of the device 1, which should by now be apparent, are briefly illustrated hereinafter with reference to Figures 2 and 3A, 3B.

As it is shown in Figure 3A, the device 1 may be fastened, by a belt C passing through the slots 13 and 14, to a user's body, so that the seat 7 be arranged with its own axis A substantially vertical. The belt C may be a dedicated belt or even the shoulder belt of a bag, backpack or the like.

When required, the seat 7 is opened by the snap-lock device 17, the stick F of an umbrella is rested in the half seat defined by the half-shell 6 and the other half-shell 5 is closed again onto the stick itself, always by the device 17. Thus, the stick F is housed in the seat 7 and locked therein by virtue of the static friction with the walls of the seat itself and/or of the slight deformation of the latter walls and/or of the stick caused by the closing of the snap-lock device 17.

As it is shown in Figure 3A, in this configuration the umbrella can be opened, and it protects the user with no need of being manually held thereby.

In the application shown in Figure 3B, the device 1 is fastened, by the plate 10 and at the bottom face 15 thereof, on a garment, backpack or the like. Such a fastening may take place, e.g., by strings passing through the slots 13 and 14, or by gluing of the face 15.

It will be understood that although Figures 3A and 3B show the device as housed at the user's chest, this device may also be arranged at the user's back.

The present invention is susceptible of several embodiments and variants alternative to the hereto-described ones, some of which will briefly be illustrated hereinafter with reference to the sole aspects differentiating them from the embodiments considered hereto. First of all, the first and the second body described with reference to the first embodiment may be slidably rather than pivotally connected to each other.

Another embodiment of the device of the invention is illustrated in Figure 4. As it is shown in this latter figure, the umbrella-holding device, in this case indicated by 100, comprises a bottom plate analogous to that of the first embodiment and indicated here as well by 10. In addition, on such a plate 10 there is fastened an elastic element 101 having a tubular development and a substantially cylindrical contour. The tubular element 101 defines thereinside a seat 70 of a size that can be modified by virtue of the elastic deformability of the element 101 itself. Therefore, the seat 70 is apt to receive thereinside the stick F of an umbrella, locking it by virtue of the elastic reaction force of the element 101, and to allow, always by virtue of said elastic deformability, the insertion and the release of the stick, as well as the housing and the locking of sticks having a different transversal size.

Moreover, Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of the invention, in which an umbrella- holding device, in this case indicated by 200, is directly and permanently fastened to the stick 201 of an umbrella, preferably at a portion proximal to the handle thereof. The device 200 has a coupling plate, also here indicated by 10, fastened just to said stick 201 and analogous to the one described hereto with reference to the other embodiments.

The present invention was hereto described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof. It is understood that there may be other embodiments, afferent to the same inventive concept, all falling within the protective scope of the claims hereinafter.

Claims

1. An umbrella-holding device (1; 100) apt to hold the stick of an umbrella in an erect position with no need for the user to use hands, comprising:

- a main body (2, 3; 101) having a stick seat (7; 70) apt to receive the umbrella stick (F); and

- a coupling element (10) apt to allow the connection of the device (1 ; 100) to a user's body or to another means, wherein said stick seat (7; 70) is apt to assume a first insertion configuration, wherein it allows the insertion and the release of the stick thereinside, and a second holding configuration, wherein it locks the stick in an erect position so that the umbrella protects the user.

2. The device (1; 100) according to claim 1, wherein said stick seat (7; 70) has an elongate development.

3. The device (1; 100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said stick seat (7; 70) has a substantially cylindrical shape.

4. The device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising:

- a first (2) and a second (3) body, having respective shaped portions (5, 6) cooperating to define said stick seat (7); and

- means (17) for the reversible engagement of said shaped portions (5, 6), apt to allow the opening and the closing of said stick seat (7) to allow the latter to assume said first and second configuration, respectively.

5. The device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein each of said shaped portions (5, 6) is substantially half-shell shaped.

6. The device (1) according to claim 4 or 5, comprising, at said stick seat (7), means (91-94) for stabilizing the coupling of said shaped portions (5, 6) in said holding configuration of said seat (7).

7. The device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said means for stabilizing comprises at least one pair of side flaps (91-92, 93-94) arranged in correspondence of at least one of said shaped portions (5, 6).

8. The device (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein said first (2) and second (3) body are pivotally connected to each other.

9. The device (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein said first (2) and second (3) body are slidably connected to each other.

10. The device (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein said means (17) for the reversible engagement comprises means (18-23) for the reversible connection of said shaped portions (5, 6).

11. The device (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 10, wherein said means (17) for the reversible engagement comprises a snap-lock device (18-23).

12. The device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said main body comprises an elastically deformable element (101) defining said stick seat (70).

13. The device (1; 100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said coupling element (10) comprises a coupling surface (15) apt to be rested onto a user's body or onto another means.

14. The device (1; 100) according to the preceding claim, wherein said coupling surface (15) is substantially plane.

15. The device (1; 100) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said coupling surface (15) has a knurl (16).

16. The device (1) according to any one of claims 13 to 15 when dependent from any one of claims 4 to 11, wherein said coupling surface (15) is fixed with one of said shaped portions

(5, 6).

17. The device (1; 100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said coupling element (10) comprises at least one slot (13, 14) apt to receive a belt (C).

18. The device (1; 100) according to the preceding claim and according to any one of the claims 13 to 16, wherein said slot (13, 14) is obtained on said coupling surface (10).

19. The device (1; 100) according to the preceding claim, wherein said coupling element comprises a pair of slots (13, 14) obtained at substantially opposite sides (11, 12) of said coupling surface (10).

20. The device (1; 100) according to any one of the preceding claims, which is piece-formed.

21. The device (1; 100) according to the preceding claim, which is made by moulding.

22. The device (1; 100) according to any one of the preceding claims, having at least one surface (10, 51) apt to bear ads.

23. The device (1; 100) according to any one of the preceding claims, having, at the sidewalls of said stick seat (7), at least one element (81, 82) for connection to means (24, 241) for reducing the inner size of the seat itself.

24. The device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said at least one element for connecting comprises one or more through holes (81, 82) each apt to receive a respective pin (25).

25. A kit for allowing a user to carry an umbrella (O) in an erect position with no need to use hands, comprising a device (1; 100) according to claim 23 or 24 and at least one element (24, 241) apt to reduce the inner size of said stick seat (7; 70).

26. An umbrella (202) comprising an umbrella-holding device (200) apt to hold the stick (201) of the umbrella itself in an erect position with no need for the user to use hands, said device (200) being fixed to said stick (201) and comprising at least one coupling element (10) apt to allow the connection of the device (200) itself to a user's body or to another means.

27. The umbrella (202) according to claim 26, wherein said device (200) is secured at a portion of the stick (201) proximal to a handle.

28. The umbrella (202) according to claim 26 or 27, wherein said coupling element (10) comprises a coupling surface (15) apt to be rested onto a user's body or onto another means.

29. The umbrella (202) according to the preceding claim, wherein said coupling surface (15) is substantially plane.

30. The umbrella (202) according to claim 28 or 29, wherein said coupling surface (15) has a knurl (16).

31. The umbrella (202) according to any one of claims 26 to 30, wherein said coupling element (10) comprises at least one slot (13, 14) apt to receive a belt (C).

32. The umbrella (202) according to the preceding claim and according to any one of claims 28 to 30, wherein said at least one slot (13, 14) is obtained on said coupling surface (10).

33. The umbrella (202) according to the preceding claim, wherein said coupling element comprises a pair of slots (13, 14) obtained at substantially opposite sides (11, 12) of said coupling surface (10).

34. The umbrella (202) according to any one of claims 26 to 33, wherein said device (200) has at least one surface (10, 51) apt to bear ads.