GB2126889A

GB2126889A - Improvements in or relating to umbrellas and similar devices

Info

Publication number: GB2126889A
Application number: GB08226381A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alfred William John Elsey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-09-16
Filing date: 1982-09-16
Publication date: 1984-04-04

Abstract

An umbrella particularly for anglers has a central support rod 8 terminating at the lower edge of the umbrella where it is connected to two pivotally attached arms 11, 13 whereby the umbrella can be supported by an upright 15 located at the side of the umbrella. Canvas etc sheets may be hung on hooks or rings on the ends of the ribs 2. A bracket connected to a guyrope 21 may be secured to the top of the rod 8. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to umbrellas and similar devices This invention relates to umbrellas and like devices and in particular to umbrellas suitable for sportsmen, e.g. anglers, whereby they can protect themselves against the wind and rain.

The main object of the invention is to provide an umbrella which can be converted into a wind break or self supporting rain guard.

According to the invention an umbrella has a central support rod terminating at or near the level of the lower edge of the umbrella, and it is connected to one end of a first arm, the other end of which is or can be located adjacent to the outer edge of the open umbrella where it is connected by a pivotal joint to a second arm which can be moved into a vertical position or into a position at an angle to the vertical, and a tubular upright is provided which can slide over said second arm in its vertical position to serve as a support for the umbrella, said second arm when at an angle to the vertical serving to support the umbrella with its central support rod about a vertical to serve as a windbreak.

In a particularly desirable form of the invention the lower end of the central support is connected by a first pivotal joint to one end of the first arm whereby the first arm can be located in vertical alignment with said rod or can be located in a radial direction.

One or both pivotal joints preferably consists of a spherical or part spherical part at the end of one rod or arm and projecting therefrom and engaged by a cup on the end of the adjacent arm, screw means being provided whereby the cup can be tightly engaged with said part or released therefrom.

The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of one form of the invention; FIGURE 2 is a view of the same form of the invention provided with drop sheets; FIGURE 3 is an alternative form of the invention; and FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of a pivotal joint.

The umbrella may be of any normal construction as far as its cover 1, ribs 2, slider 3 and spring catch 4, are concerned. However, its central support rod 8 has its lower end at or near the level of the edge of the open umbrella where it is connected by a cup and ball joint 10 with one end of a first arm 1 The arm 11 can be moved into vertical alignment with the rod 8 or it can be moved into a radial or horizontal position whereby its outer end is adjacent to the lower edge of the umbrella.The outer end of the arm 11 is pivotally attached by a second cup and ball joint 1 2 to a second arm 1 3 whereby the latter can be moved to a vertical position or it can be moved into alignment with the arm 11 and stuck into the ground to serve as a windbreak. A tubular support 1 5 can be slid over the arm 1 3 and stuck into the ground so as to support the umbrella from one side so as to leave the space below the umbrella unencumbered. Also, when the arms 11, 1 3 are vertical the support 1 5 can be engaged over both arms 11, 13 and over both joints 10, 12 to serve as a normal umbrella stick.

As shown in Figure 2 the device can be provided with drop sheets. For this purpose I provide hooks or rings 1 7 on the ribs 2 spaced a short distance inwardly of the edge of the umbrella by tubular spacers 1 8 on the ribs. Canvas or like covering can be hung on the hooks or rings 1 9 by other rings or hooks on the covering.

A short arm of a bracket 20 can be fastened vertically to the top of the rod 8 and its other arm can serve for the attachment of a guyrope 21.

In the modification shown in Figure 3 the second arm 25 has one end screwed into the top end of the rod 8 and its other end is connected by a pivotal joint 26 to the arm 13 whereby the latter can be vertical to receive the support or can be in alignment with the arm 25 and stuck into the ground so that the umbrella serves as s windbreak.

Figure 4 shows the preferred pivotal joints consisting of a ball 30 in a frusto-spherical recess in a block 31 that is fixed to the end of the rod 8 or arm 11. The clearance between the ball and recess is shown enlarged only for clarity of drawing. The ball carries a projecting threaded rod 32 on to which is screwed a block 33 that is fixed on the end of the adjacent part 11 or 13. The block 33 has a frusto-spherical recess which can engage the ball 30 by screwing one part on to the other so as to fix the joint in adjusted positions of the two parts. The block 30 has a slot 35 to receive the rod 32 to permit 900 movement of one part in relation to the other.

1. An umbrella which has a central support rod terminating at or near the level of the lower edge of the umbrella, which rod is connected to one end of a first arm, the other end of which is or can be located adjacent to the outer edge of the open umbrella where it is connected by a pivotal joint to a second arm which can be moved into alignment with the first arm or into a position at an angle to the first arm, and a tubular upright is provided which can slidably engage said second arm in its vertical position to serve as a support for the umbrella, whereby the umbrella can be erected in normal position with the upright at the side of the umbrella and can be turned into a windbreak position.

2. An umbrella as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connection between the central support rod and the first arm is a spherical type joint with means for fixing the joint with the rod and arm in any relative angular disposition.

3. An umbrella as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the joint between the first and second arms is a spherical type joint with means for fixing the joint with the arms in any relative angular

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to umbrellas and similar devices This invention relates to umbrellas and like devices and in particular to umbrellas suitable for sportsmen, e.g. anglers, whereby they can protect themselves against the wind and rain. The main object of the invention is to provide an umbrella which can be converted into a wind break or self supporting rain guard. According to the invention an umbrella has a central support rod terminating at or near the level of the lower edge of the umbrella, and it is connected to one end of a first arm, the other end of which is or can be located adjacent to the outer edge of the open umbrella where it is connected by a pivotal joint to a second arm which can be moved into a vertical position or into a position at an angle to the vertical, and a tubular upright is provided which can slide over said second arm in its vertical position to serve as a support for the umbrella, said second arm when at an angle to the vertical serving to support the umbrella with its central support rod about a vertical to serve as a windbreak. In a particularly desirable form of the invention the lower end of the central support is connected by a first pivotal joint to one end of the first arm whereby the first arm can be located in vertical alignment with said rod or can be located in a radial direction. One or both pivotal joints preferably consists of a spherical or part spherical part at the end of one rod or arm and projecting therefrom and engaged by a cup on the end of the adjacent arm, screw means being provided whereby the cup can be tightly engaged with said part or released therefrom. The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of one form of the invention; FIGURE 2 is a view of the same form of the invention provided with drop sheets; FIGURE 3 is an alternative form of the invention; and FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of a pivotal joint. The umbrella may be of any normal construction as far as its cover 1, ribs 2, slider 3 and spring catch 4, are concerned. However, its central support rod 8 has its lower end at or near the level of the edge of the open umbrella where it is connected by a cup and ball joint 10 with one end of a first arm 1 The arm 11 can be moved into vertical alignment with the rod 8 or it can be moved into a radial or horizontal position whereby its outer end is adjacent to the lower edge of the umbrella.The outer end of the arm 11 is pivotally attached by a second cup and ball joint 1 2 to a second arm 1 3 whereby the latter can be moved to a vertical position or it can be moved into alignment with the arm 11 and stuck into the ground to serve as a windbreak. A tubular support 1 5 can be slid over the arm 1 3 and stuck into the ground so as to support the umbrella from one side so as to leave the space below the umbrella unencumbered. Also, when the arms 11, 1 3 are vertical the support 1 5 can be engaged over both arms 11, 13 and over both joints 10, 12 to serve as a normal umbrella stick. As shown in Figure 2 the device can be provided with drop sheets. For this purpose I provide hooks or rings 1 7 on the ribs 2 spaced a short distance inwardly of the edge of the umbrella by tubular spacers 1 8 on the ribs. Canvas or like covering can be hung on the hooks or rings 1 9 by other rings or hooks on the covering. A short arm of a bracket 20 can be fastened vertically to the top of the rod 8 and its other arm can serve for the attachment of a guyrope 21. In the modification shown in Figure 3 the second arm 25 has one end screwed into the top end of the rod 8 and its other end is connected by a pivotal joint 26 to the arm 13 whereby the latter can be vertical to receive the support or can be in alignment with the arm 25 and stuck into the ground so that the umbrella serves as s windbreak. Figure 4 shows the preferred pivotal joints consisting of a ball 30 in a frusto-spherical recess in a block 31 that is fixed to the end of the rod 8 or arm 11. The clearance between the ball and recess is shown enlarged only for clarity of drawing. The ball carries a projecting threaded rod 32 on to which is screwed a block 33 that is fixed on the end of the adjacent part 11 or 13. The block 33 has a frusto-spherical recess which can engage the ball 30 by screwing one part on to the other so as to fix the joint in adjusted positions of the two parts. The block 30 has a slot 35 to receive the rod 32 to permit 900 movement of one part in relation to the other. CLAIMS

3. An umbrella as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the joint between the first and second arms is a spherical type joint with means for fixing the joint with the arms in any relative angular disposition.

4. An umbrella as claimed in claim 1,2, or 3, wherein when the arms are vertical the upright can be slid over both joints to serve as a normal umbrella stick.

5. An umbrella as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein some of the ribs of the umbrella carry means on which a drop sheet can be hung.

6. An umbrella as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein a bracket can be fastened to the top of the central support rod for attachment of a guyrope.

7. An umbrella substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.