GB2151134A - Umbrellas and a handle therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

The handle has three distinct portions, portions, namely two end portions 10, 11 and a central portion 12 and an internal recess 13 in the handle extends from one end along a substantial part of the handle and receives the shaft 14 of the umbrella therein. The handle is contoured externally such that the end portion at the shaft- receiving end has the greatest width, tapering towards the central portion while the other end is lesser width but also tapers towards the central portion. Thus, when the umbrella is in use the portion of greatest width is at the top of the handle and thus prevents any tendency for the handle to slip downwards in the users hand even when wet. The handle is preferably made of a rubber compound of the type used for golf-club handles and the central portion is preferably ribbed to provide a secure grip. At the free end of the handle a disc 15 is provided advertising material or the owner's name. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Umbrellas This invention relates to umbrellas and in particular to handles therefor.

There are basicallytwo types of handle for umbrellas, curved ones and straight ones and it is to the latter that this invention relates.

Straight handles are usually contoured to provide an attractive external appearance and to assist grip. In most designs the free end of the handle, i.e. the end remote from the frame has a greaterthickness than the other end, perhaps because it is thought more aesthetic to do so; in other cases the handle has a constant thickness along its length.

In spite ofthe various designs, handles, when in use to shelter the user from rain, have a tendency to slip down the user's hand, especially when the handle and/orthe hand is wet; this can often occurfor example with golf umbrellas. An object of this invention is to provide a handle for an umbrella which will not slip.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a handle for an umbrelia wherein the exterior is contoured to provide a portion of greater width atthe end of the handle into which fits the shaft of the umbrella.

Preferably, the central portion of the handle has the narrowestwidth and the end portion remote from the shaft-receiving end portion is of a width greater than the central portion but smallerthan the other end.

Preferably also the handle is made of a rubber compound.

Preferably also the handle has an internal recess extending along a substantial part of the length of the handle to receive the shaft of the umbrella.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an umbrella having a handle as defined in the fourth preceding paragraph.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows, in side elevation, a handle for an umbrella, according to the invention.

The handle has three distinct portions, namely two end portions 10,11 and a central portion 12.

An internal recess 13 in the handle extends from one end along a substantial part of the handle and receives the shaft 14 ofthe umbrella therein.

The handle is contoured externally such that the end portion atthe shaft-receiving end has the greatest width,tapering towards the central portion while the other end is of lesser width but also tapers towards the central portion.

Thus, in use, when the umbrella is sheltering the userfrom the rain, the portion of greatest width is at thetop of the handle and thus prevents anytendency forthe handle to slip downwards in the user's hand even when wet.

The handle is preferably madeofa rubber com- pound ofthetype usedforgolf-club handles, but may be of other materials such as wood or plastics.

The central portion is preferably ribbed to provide for a secure grip bythe user.

At the free end ofthe handle provision is made for location of a disc 15 which may bear advertising material. In the preferred embodiments the disc can be a snap fit into a recess 1 6formed in that end ofthe handle. For a wood or plastics handle it may be necessa ry to secu re the disc by adhesive.

The disc 15may be of metal or plastics and can be moulded, printed engraved, stamped or otherwise marked to advertise a product or personalize the umbrella with the name ofthe owner.

The shaft of the umbrella is preferably secured in the recess 13 by adhesive. In the preferred embodiments the recess extends along a substantial part of the handle length because of the flexible quality of the rubbercompound. For a wooden handle and firm plastics handle, the length ofthe recess can be reduced.

1. Ahandleforan umbrella wherein the exterior is contoured to provide a portion of greaterwidth at the end ofthe handle into which fits the shaft ofthe umbrella.

2. A handle as claimed in claim 1, in which the central portion of the handle exterior has the nar rowestwidthandtheend portion remote from the shaft-receiving end portion is of a width greater than the central portion but smaller than the other end.

3. A handle as claimed in claim 1 or2, in which the handle is made of a rubber compound.

4. A handle as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 3, in which an internal recess is provided extending along a substantial partofthe length ofthe handle to receive the shaft ofthe umbrella.

5. An umbrella having a handle as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims.

6. A handle for an umbrella substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

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

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Umbrellas This invention relates to umbrellas and in particular to handles therefor. There are basicallytwo types of handle for umbrellas, curved ones and straight ones and it is to the latter that this invention relates. Straight handles are usually contoured to provide an attractive external appearance and to assist grip. In most designs the free end of the handle, i.e. the end remote from the frame has a greaterthickness than the other end, perhaps because it is thought more aesthetic to do so; in other cases the handle has a constant thickness along its length. In spite ofthe various designs, handles, when in use to shelter the user from rain, have a tendency to slip down the user's hand, especially when the handle and/orthe hand is wet; this can often occurfor example with golf umbrellas. An object of this invention is to provide a handle for an umbrella which will not slip. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a handle for an umbrelia wherein the exterior is contoured to provide a portion of greater width atthe end of the handle into which fits the shaft of the umbrella. Preferably, the central portion of the handle has the narrowestwidth and the end portion remote from the shaft-receiving end portion is of a width greater than the central portion but smallerthan the other end. Preferably also the handle is made of a rubber compound. Preferably also the handle has an internal recess extending along a substantial part of the length of the handle to receive the shaft of the umbrella. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an umbrella having a handle as defined in the fourth preceding paragraph. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows, in side elevation, a handle for an umbrella, according to the invention. The handle has three distinct portions, namely two end portions 10,11 and a central portion 12. An internal recess 13 in the handle extends from one end along a substantial part of the handle and receives the shaft 14 ofthe umbrella therein. The handle is contoured externally such that the end portion atthe shaft-receiving end has the greatest width,tapering towards the central portion while the other end is of lesser width but also tapers towards the central portion. Thus, in use, when the umbrella is sheltering the userfrom the rain, the portion of greatest width is at thetop of the handle and thus prevents anytendency forthe handle to slip downwards in the user's hand even when wet. The handle is preferably madeofa rubber com- pound ofthetype usedforgolf-club handles, but may be of other materials such as wood or plastics. The central portion is preferably ribbed to provide for a secure grip bythe user. At the free end ofthe handle provision is made for location of a disc 15 which may bear advertising material. In the preferred embodiments the disc can be a snap fit into a recess 1 6formed in that end ofthe handle. For a wood or plastics handle it may be necessa ry to secu re the disc by adhesive. The disc 15may be of metal or plastics and can be moulded, printed engraved, stamped or otherwise marked to advertise a product or personalize the umbrella with the name ofthe owner. The shaft of the umbrella is preferably secured in the recess 13 by adhesive. In the preferred embodiments the recess extends along a substantial part of the handle length because of the flexible quality of the rubbercompound. For a wooden handle and firm plastics handle, the length ofthe recess can be reduced. CLAIMS

1. Ahandleforan umbrella wherein the exterior is contoured to provide a portion of greaterwidth at the end ofthe handle into which fits the shaft ofthe umbrella.

2. A handle as claimed in claim 1, in which the central portion of the handle exterior has the nar rowestwidthandtheend portion remote from the shaft-receiving end portion is of a width greater than the central portion but smaller than the other end.

3. A handle as claimed in claim 1 or2, in which the handle is made of a rubber compound.

4. A handle as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 3, in which an internal recess is provided extending along a substantial partofthe length ofthe handle to receive the shaft ofthe umbrella.

5. An umbrella having a handle as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims.

6. A handle for an umbrella substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.