GB2038620A - Skirted umbrella - Google Patents

Abstract

An umbrella comprising, in combination, a conventional folding-rib umbrella-frame, modified in that all the radially outwardly extending terminal portions of the ribs 18 thereof, protruding beyond the covering sheet attached to said ribs, are bent downwardly and then radially inwardly to form hooks 17 with upwardly facing open mouths when said frame is in an erected format, and a skirt (5), fig. 1 (not shown) depending from at least part of the periphery of said frame via a plurality of temporary fastening means 15 disposed fixedly along the upper margin of said skirt, said hooks being each engaged by a respective one of said fastening means 15 which is positioned in registration therewith. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Skirted umbrella This invention relates to umbrellas, and more particularlyto auxiliary means for improving the usefulness of existing umbrellas.

It is known that portable umbrellas, even of large size (i.e. of the order of one metre in diameter when erected) are insufficient to protect a user from driving rain urged laterally by wind. Similarly, large "beach" type umbrellas, of the order of two metres in diameter, are often lacking in their capacity to provide protection from sun and wind, and do not give a user much privacy from external observation from more than one direction, for example, when tilted to bring the periphery into contract with a beach surface.

Furthermore, it is well known that the customary protruding ends of the ribs, extending somewhat beyond the boundary of the covering cloth, are a menace to the eyes of users or passers-by, and have been the cause of severe injuries or accidents.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above and other disadvantages.

According to the invention therefore in one of its aspects, an umbrella comprises, in combination, a conventional folding-rib umbrella-frame modified in that all the radially outwardly extending terminal portions of the ribs thereof, protruding beyond the covering sheet attached to said ribs, are bent downwardly and then radially inwardly to form hooks with upwardly facing open mouths when said frame is in an erected format, and a skirt depending from at least part of the periphery of said frame via a plurality of temporary fastening means disposed fixedly along the upper margin of said skirt, said hooks being each gravitationally engaged by any respective one of said fastening means which is positioned in registration therewith.

Certain particular embodiments of the invention defined in the preceding paragraph will now be described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar references indicate corresponding parts, and in which: Figure 1 shows, in perspective view, a conventional umbrella (a six rib one for clarity) with a pen dant transparent skirt surrounding three panels thereof, Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a detail of Figure 1, showing one hooked rib end and also a fringe around the umbrella edge, Figure 3 shows a beach umbrella with anon- transparent skirt about all six panels, the flap being left open, and Figure 4 shows how the skirt of Figure 3 may be tent-pegged into the ground.

Upon referring to the drawings it will be seen that in the case of a portable umbrella shown in Figure 1 a transparent plastic skirt 5 may take the form of a protective screen which depends through a depth of approximately half a metre, and which extends around approximately half the circumference of the circle which circumscribes the periphery of the umbrella. Thus an ambulatory user may proceed through street crowds or traffic with reasonable safety, whilst gaining the protection of the skirt 5 against rain driving from a particular direction, such as that indicated by the arrow 6, simply by turning the supporting pole 7 in an appropriate sense.Preferably, forth is purpose, a fringe 8 as shown in Figure 2, disposed around the edge 13 of the cover sheet 9, should overhang the skirt 5 sufficiently to prevent water run-off from falling down inside said skirt onto a user who grasps the handle 10.

In a modification of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4, applied to a beach umbrella, an opaque skirt 11 reaches to ground level when the pole 12 of the umbrella is located substantially upright with respect to the ground or beach, and may extend for the full circle around the edge 13, or may even overlap somewhat to form the flap 14 here shown partly withdrawn. The arrangement thus provides a very economical tent which is easily converted for use as such from a conventional umbrella, simply by the provision of the skirt 11 and its suspension means.

The flap 14 serves to improve the privacy of said "tent", which does not require any closure means other than that provided by the flap itself,.

In either embodiment of the invention saisus- pension means may for example comprise simple rings 15 as best shown in Figure 2, such as curtain rings, sewn or otherwise fastened around the upper margin 16 of either the skirt 5 or 11, and equal in number to the hooks such as 17 formed by turning inwardly the ribs such as 18.

If desired, in a further modification of the invention, the skirt 11 may be formed, at least in part, from perforated cloth or mesh so as to constitute an insect screen, or it may be formed from transparent plastic sheet material so as to protect the user from wind or wind-driven sand, whilst permitting a view through said skirt which thereby serves as a panoramic window.

If desired, in a still further modification ofthe invention, a series of eyes such as 19 may be located along the base edge 20 of the skirt 11 to permit said edge to be pegged down in known manner, for example, by the peg 21, as is customary with conventional tents.

It will be seen that the invention provides simple means for extending the range of usefulness of an umbrella, and consists entirely of simple elements which may be readily folded and stowed away with the remainder of the umbrella in an unobtrusive manner.

It will be appreciated also that, owing to the provi sions of the inwardly and upwardly turned hooks 17, the outermost edge of the umbrella in its erected format is relatively smooth, thus eliminating the above-mentioned eye hazard.

1. An umbrella comprising, in combination, a conventional folding-rib umbrella-frame, modified in that all the radially outwardly extending terminal portions of the ribs thereof, protruding beyond the covering sheet attached to said ribs, are bent downwardly and then radially inwardly to form hooks with upwardly facing open mouths when said frame is in an erected format, and a skirt depending from at

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Skirted umbrella This invention relates to umbrellas, and more particularlyto auxiliary means for improving the usefulness of existing umbrellas. It is known that portable umbrellas, even of large size (i.e. of the order of one metre in diameter when erected) are insufficient to protect a user from driving rain urged laterally by wind. Similarly, large "beach" type umbrellas, of the order of two metres in diameter, are often lacking in their capacity to provide protection from sun and wind, and do not give a user much privacy from external observation from more than one direction, for example, when tilted to bring the periphery into contract with a beach surface. Furthermore, it is well known that the customary protruding ends of the ribs, extending somewhat beyond the boundary of the covering cloth, are a menace to the eyes of users or passers-by, and have been the cause of severe injuries or accidents. It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above and other disadvantages. According to the invention therefore in one of its aspects, an umbrella comprises, in combination, a conventional folding-rib umbrella-frame modified in that all the radially outwardly extending terminal portions of the ribs thereof, protruding beyond the covering sheet attached to said ribs, are bent downwardly and then radially inwardly to form hooks with upwardly facing open mouths when said frame is in an erected format, and a skirt depending from at least part of the periphery of said frame via a plurality of temporary fastening means disposed fixedly along the upper margin of said skirt, said hooks being each gravitationally engaged by any respective one of said fastening means which is positioned in registration therewith. Certain particular embodiments of the invention defined in the preceding paragraph will now be described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar references indicate corresponding parts, and in which: Figure 1 shows, in perspective view, a conventional umbrella (a six rib one for clarity) with a pen dant transparent skirt surrounding three panels thereof, Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a detail of Figure 1, showing one hooked rib end and also a fringe around the umbrella edge, Figure 3 shows a beach umbrella with anon- transparent skirt about all six panels, the flap being left open, and Figure 4 shows how the skirt of Figure 3 may be tent-pegged into the ground. Upon referring to the drawings it will be seen that in the case of a portable umbrella shown in Figure 1 a transparent plastic skirt 5 may take the form of a protective screen which depends through a depth of approximately half a metre, and which extends around approximately half the circumference of the circle which circumscribes the periphery of the umbrella. Thus an ambulatory user may proceed through street crowds or traffic with reasonable safety, whilst gaining the protection of the skirt 5 against rain driving from a particular direction, such as that indicated by the arrow 6, simply by turning the supporting pole 7 in an appropriate sense.Preferably, forth is purpose, a fringe 8 as shown in Figure 2, disposed around the edge 13 of the cover sheet 9, should overhang the skirt 5 sufficiently to prevent water run-off from falling down inside said skirt onto a user who grasps the handle 10. In a modification of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4, applied to a beach umbrella, an opaque skirt 11 reaches to ground level when the pole 12 of the umbrella is located substantially upright with respect to the ground or beach, and may extend for the full circle around the edge 13, or may even overlap somewhat to form the flap 14 here shown partly withdrawn. The arrangement thus provides a very economical tent which is easily converted for use as such from a conventional umbrella, simply by the provision of the skirt 11 and its suspension means. The flap 14 serves to improve the privacy of said "tent", which does not require any closure means other than that provided by the flap itself,. In either embodiment of the invention saisus- pension means may for example comprise simple rings 15 as best shown in Figure 2, such as curtain rings, sewn or otherwise fastened around the upper margin 16 of either the skirt 5 or 11, and equal in number to the hooks such as 17 formed by turning inwardly the ribs such as 18. If desired, in a further modification of the invention, the skirt 11 may be formed, at least in part, from perforated cloth or mesh so as to constitute an insect screen, or it may be formed from transparent plastic sheet material so as to protect the user from wind or wind-driven sand, whilst permitting a view through said skirt which thereby serves as a panoramic window. If desired, in a still further modification ofthe invention, a series of eyes such as 19 may be located along the base edge 20 of the skirt 11 to permit said edge to be pegged down in known manner, for example, by the peg 21, as is customary with conventional tents. It will be seen that the invention provides simple means for extending the range of usefulness of an umbrella, and consists entirely of simple elements which may be readily folded and stowed away with the remainder of the umbrella in an unobtrusive manner. It will be appreciated also that, owing to the provi sions of the inwardly and upwardly turned hooks 17, the outermost edge of the umbrella in its erected format is relatively smooth, thus eliminating the above-mentioned eye hazard. CLAIMS

1. An umbrella comprising, in combination, a conventional folding-rib umbrella-frame, modified in that all the radially outwardly extending terminal portions of the ribs thereof, protruding beyond the covering sheet attached to said ribs, are bent downwardly and then radially inwardly to form hooks with upwardly facing open mouths when said frame is in an erected format, and a skirt depending from at least part of the periphery of said frame via-a plurality of temporary fastening means disposed fixedly along the upper margin of said skirt, said hooks being each gravitationally engaged by any respec tiveoneofsaidfastening means which is positioned in registration therewith.

2. An umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fastening means comprise rings adapted to be threaded upon said hooks.

3. An umbrella as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a fringe is disposed about said periphery of said frame and is adapted to encourage run-off of water from the upper surface of said covering sheet towards the exterior surface of said skirt.

4. An umbrella as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said skirt is substantially transparent and depends to a depth of approximately one half metre

5. An umbrella as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said skirt is opaque and extends at least around the full periphery of said frame and depends to ground level, thereby constituting a tent.

6. An umbrella as claimed in claim 5, wherein a series of eyes is located along the base edge of said skirt, and each said eye is adapted to be pegged to the ground by a respective tent-peg.

7. An umbrella as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein said skirt is formed, at least in part, from perforated mesh material adapted to discourage the passage of insects therethrough.

8. An umbrella substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.