GB2324465A - Umbrella with towel carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

A ring 18 bearing hooks 19 is fixed to an umbrella shaft 16 between the slider 17 and crown 15. A triangular towel 22 having a shape similar to that of a panel of the umbrella cover is suspended between the ring and the ribs. The towel has an eyelet (23, Fig 2) fitting over one hook 19 and two press studs (24, Fig 2) which attach to complementary press studs on elastic strips 25, each of which has an eyelet at the other end fitting over the end of a rib.

Description

An Umbrella Field This invention relates to umbrellas, and in particular but not exclusively, to sports umbrellas of the type used by golfers or anglers.

Backqround Golfers and anglers often partake of their particular sports in inclement weather and need to be able to dry their hands in order for example, to be able to swing a golf club or to be able to tie a hook or lure on to a line. It is therefore usual for golfers to carry a towel attached to their bag, with an extra towel in the bag in inclement weather. Anglers have to carry their towels in a separate bag.

Statement of Invention The present invention provides a facility for deploying and storing towels in an umbrella in such away that the umbrella can be opened and collapsed in the normal manner.

Statements of Invention According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an umbrella having a collapsible frame mounted at one end portion of a shaft, the frame being connected to a collar slidable along the shaft from a first position where the frame is collapsed to a second position where the frame is fully opened, wherein the umbrella further includes a ring fixed to the shaft between the second position and said end portion, and which has at least one outward projection thereon to which a towel can be attached.

The ring preferably has a plurality of projections thereon, e.g hook-like projections, on to which a towel may be hung.

A typical umbrella generally comprises eight triangular portions of fabric stitched together and stretched over the collapsible frame which generally comprises radial ribs connected to the slidable collar by articulated struts. The collar is arranged so that the projections are located midway between pairs of adjacent struts.

The hand towel has a substantially triangular shape having an eyelet located in one corner for engagement with a respective hook, and two other connection means, preferably pressstuds,in the other two corners. The two other corners are connected to outer portions of the frame by elasticated means comprising an elastic strap having a complementary press-stud at one end for cooperating with the studs on the towel, and an eyelet at the other end for attachment to the outer end portions of a rib of the frame. The towel has the same general shape as the umbrella panel under which it is suspended.

Also according to the invention there is provided a method of storing one or more hand towels in an umbrella, the hand towels being triangular with one corner secured to the umbrella shaft and the other two corners attached to the outer portion of the frame, preferably by means of elasticated straps.

Preferably, when required for use, the outer portions of the towel can be detached from the frame and left hanging from the projections on the ring secured on the umbrella shaft.

For storage the towels are suspended under the umbrella with the elasticated straps being connected to the end portions of the umbrella ribs by eyelets.

When wet or dirty each towel can be completely removed for drying and/or cleaning.

Description of Drawings The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig 1 is a sectional view of an umbrella according to the present invention, Fig 2 is a plan view of a hand towel for use in the present invention, Fig.3 is side view of a support ring for the towels, and Fig.4 is a plan view of an elasticated strap.

Detailed Description of Invention With reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings there is shown an umbrella 11 having a fabric cover 12 stretched over a frame 10 comprising radial ribs 13 and struts 14. The ribs 13 are each pivotally mounted at their inner ends to a head 15 attached to one end of a shaft 16. The ribs are also each pivotally connected at a mid length location by a strut 14 pivoted to a collar 17. The collar 17 is slidable along the shaft from a first location when the frame is collapsed to a second location when the frame is fully open, and vice versa, to open and close the umbrella frame as is well known.

A typical umbrella comprises eight ribs, or pairs of ribs, 13 with eight fabric panels each of which is stretched between a pair of adjacent ribs.

A hook ring 18 is attached to the shaft 16 at a location between the head 15 and the collar 17 when in said second position. The hook ring is preferably located between 2-4 cms above the collar. The ring 18, see Fig. 3, comprises a tubular body 20 with upto eight, and preferably four, hooklike projections 19 extending radially therefrom at equiangularly spaced locations. The body 20 may be built in to an umbrella, or may be split for attachment to an existing umbrella.

The hook ring 18 supports the inner end portion of a hand towel 22. The hand towel 22 is shown in Fig 2 and is substantially triangular in shape, preferably an isosceles triangle, having a eyelet 23 at its inner corner (this being inner when in use) and press-studs 24 at the other two outer corners. The eyelet 23 is put over a projection 19 and the outer corners of the towel 22 are secured to the outer periphery of the frame 10 by elasticated straps 25.

An elasticated strap 25 is shown in Fig. 4 and comprises elastic 26 having an eyelet 27 secured to one end thereof and a press-stud 28 at the other end thereof. The press-stud 28 cooperates with the press-stud 24 on the towel to form an easily attachable/detachable coupling and the eyelet 27 can be slipped over the outer end portion of a rib 13.

Each towel 22 is stretched between the hook ring 18 and the ends of a pair of adjacent ribs 13 under tension exerted by two straps 25. This allows the towels to be stored in the umbrella when open and in use, and for the umbrella to be folded with the towels 22 in situ.

In use the umbrella may be mounted on a golf trolley or other suitable support when the user requires the use of both hands.

If it is desired to use a towel the two outer corners are simply released by removing the eyelets from the ribs, and the towel then hangs down from the shaft for use. If desired the towels can be easily removed from the hook ring 18. When damp the towels can be removed before closing the umbrella.

The lower end of the shaft can be equipped with a mitt 31 to keep the exposed carrying hand warm and dry.

Claims (12)

Claims

1. An umbrella having a collapsible frame mounted at one end portion of a shaft, the frame being connected to a collar slidable along the shaft from a first position where the frame is collapsed to a second position where the frame is fully opened, wherein the umbrella further includes a ring fixed to the shaft between the second position and said end portion, and which has at least one outward projection thereon to which a towel can be attached.

2. An umbrella as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the ring has a plurality of projections thereon, preferably four projections.

3. An umbrella as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the umbrella further includes at least one substantially triangular hand towel having one corner secured to one of said projections and the other two corners secured to outer portions of the frame.

4. An umbrella as Claimed in claim 3 wherein the towel has an eyelet in said corner for attachment to a projection.

5. An umbrella as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the towel has press studs in said other corners for attachment to the outer portions of the frame.

6. An umbrella as claimed in claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 5 wherein said other corners of the towel are attached to said outer portions of the frame by elastomeric means.

7. An umbrella as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the elastomeric means comprise elastic straps having an eyelet at one end thereof for attachment to the outer end portion of a rib of said frame.

8. A method of storing a hand towel in an umbrella, the hand towel being triangular with one corner secured to the umbrella shaft and the other two corners attached to the outer portion of the frame.

9. A method as claimed in Claim 8 wherein there are at least four hand towels stored within the umbrella.

10. A method as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9 wherein the towel can be detached from said outer portions of the frame and then left hanging from the shaft.

11. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 8 to 10, wherein the or each towel is held in tension by elasticated means connecting the other corners of the towel to the outer portions of the frame allowing the umbrella to be collapsed.

12. A hand towel of a substantially triangular shape having an eyelet located in one corner and two other connection means in the other two corners, and which is for use with an umbrella as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, and in a method as claimed in any one of Claims 8 to 11.