US3204650A - Umbrella - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 7, 1965 R. E. SHINEW 3,204,650

UMBRELLA Filed Oct. 15, 1962 /QMW A 773/9415 KS United States Patent 3,204,650 UMBRELLA Richard E. Shinew, 416 W. Oak St., Fremont, Mich. Filed Oct. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 230,462 1 (Claims. (in. 135-16) This invention relates to umbrellas. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved protective rain shield device which can be carried by the user, either stored or in opened position, leaving both hands of the user free.

Various types of conventional umbrellas are old and well-known. However, these umbrellas must be held and supported by the user as he stands or moves in the rain, thus imposing a serious obstacle to any activity in which the user might be engaged. Further, these umbrellas have various cords or handles for carrying and are thus rather clumsy for the user to transport when not in use.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a protective rain shield device which can be easily carried in collapsed position by its user in a manner such that it remains practically unnoticed by the user and in no way interferes with the users hands. The protective rain shield device of this invention is further adapted to be opened and supported above the user, again remaining practically unnoticed and leaving both hands free to carry on whatever activity in which the user might be engaged. This protective rain shield device is especially useful to sportsmen, for example hunters and fishermen. As further exemplified, this invention is especially useful to workers such as mail carriers, policemen, gas station attendants and outdoor workers of all kinds. In short, this invention is especially useful to anyone engaged in outdoor activity of any kind.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a protective rain shield device which is simple in construction and light in weight.

Another object of this invention is the provision of such a protective rain shield device which is especially compact in storage, yet completely covering its user in opened position.

These and other objects of this invention will become obvious to those skilled in the relevant arts upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the protective rain shield device of this invention, the umbrella being collapsed and in stored position, the device mounted on a prospective user;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device shown in FIG. 1, the umbrella being opened and supported in protective position; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the collapsible handle means of the umbrella, showing the manner in which it is rigidified and mounted in its holder.

Briefly, this invention relates to a protective rain shield device, comprising in combination an elongated holder having a strap means associated with the holder for securing it to a users back and an umbrella including a handle means. The handle means terminates with a stop element and a stop receiving means is associated with generally the top of the holder. Thus, in collapsed position the umbrella is stored in inverted position in the holder and in open position the umbrella is supported above and covers the user, the stop element resting in the holder and in the stop receiving means.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates an embodiment of the protective rain shield device comprising this invention. In the embodiment shown, the device 1 includes a holder 2, a strap means associated with the holder 2, an umbrella 20,

Patented Sept. 7, 19%5 and a handle means 30 associated with the umbrella 26 (FIG. 2).

In the embodiment shown, the holder 2 is preferably fabricated of a lightweight metal or plastic and is of.

tubular cross section. A slot 3 is formed adjacent the top end of the holder 2 (FIG. 3), the purpose of which will be fully explained hereinafter. The strap means It) 1ncludes a waist strap 11 and a pair of shoulder straps 12 and 13 secured thereto (FIG. 1). The shoulder straps are secured to a brace 14 adjacent the top of the tube 2 and the waist strap is secured to the brace 15 adjacent the lower end of the holder 2. The waist strap 11 includes an attachment means 16. Thus, it will be seen that the holder 2 may be secured to the user of the device by slipping the shoulder straps I2 and 113 in position over the shoulders, positioning the waist strap 11 about the waist and aiiixing the attachment means 16. It will thus be seen that the holder 2 is quickly and simply mountable on its user, completely out of the users way and leaving both of his hands and arms completely free.

The umbrella 20 is of conventional construction, including the cloth covering 21, supporting ribs 22, connecting links 23 associated with the supporting ribs, a collar 24 associated with the connecting links and a spring mechanism 25 (FIGS. 2 and 3). It will be seen that movement of the collar 24 toward the cloth covering 21 compresses the spring mechanism 25 and expands the connecting links 23 to position the supporting ribs 22 to hold the umbrella open as a cover. This structure is already known and understood.

The handle means 30 includes three rodlike sections designated by the reference numerals 31, 32 and 33, each pivotally secured together end to end (FIG. 3). To the free end of the section 33 of the handle means 36 a tubular element 34 is secured. The tubular element 3d is of a cross section such that it may be slidably received by the tubular holder 2. A finger 35 extends from the element 34, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter. A brace 36 is pivotally secured adjacent the end of section 31 of the handle means 30 which is secured to the cover 211 of the umbrella 20. Slots 37 and 38 are provided in the sections 32 and 33 respectively, positioned as shown in FIG. 3. A threaded opening 39 is provided in the slot 38. A screw til is threaded in the free end of the brace 36. It will now be seen that the handle means 30 is collapsible upon disengagement of the screw as from the threaded opening 39. Upon sliding the collar 24 toward the cloth covering 21 until it envelops section 31 of the handle means 30, the umbrella is held in open position by positioning the sections 31 and 32 at an angle one with respect to the other. Then, by positioning the brace 36 in the slots 37 and 38, and affixing the screw MB in the threaded opening 39, the handle means Ed is rigidified and the umbrella N is offset with respect to the tubular element 34.

In operation, the device embodying the principles of this invention functions as follows. With the strap means It), the user secures the holder 2 on his back as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The tube 2 being elongated and hollow, the umbrella 2t and the handle means 30 are collapsed and placed inside the tube in an inverted position, the tubular element 34 resting in the top of the holder 2, the finger 35 positioned in the slot 3. In this position of non-use, the device is compact and held such that the user is unaware of its presence, both hands of the user being entirely free. The umbrella 20 is held securely within the holder 2. When rain threatens, the user reaches up and grasps the finger 35, pulling the handle means 30 and the umbrella 26 from the holder 2. The collar 24 is forced up the handle means 3i} against the spring mechanism 25, extending the connecting links 23 and supporting ribs 22 to open and spread the cloth covering 21. When the collar 24 is positioned on the section 31 of handle means 30, sections 32 and 33 thereof are positioned as shown in FIG. 3. The brace 36 is lowered to position within the slots 37 and 38, the screw 48 being aflixed in the threaded opening 39. Then, the tubular element 34 is positioned within the top of the holder 2, the finger 35 being positioned within the slot 3. The finger, slot and strap means are positioned such that the umbrella 20 is held over the users head as shown in FIG. 2. It Will be seen that the unique positioning of the handle means 30 facilitates the exact positioning of the umbrella over the user, the umbrella actually being offset from the holder 2. Thus, the device now shields the user from rain, the umbrella being entirely supported by the holder and thus being practically unnoticed to its user. Further, the users hands are entirely free to engage in any activity whatsoever. When the rain ceases, the tubular element 34 is withdrawn from the holder 2, the umbrella 20 and the handle means 30 collapsed and repositioned in the holder 2 as described hereinbefore.

It will now be seen that this invention has provided a protective rain shield device which may be easily carried by its user at all times. Both in a position of storage and in a position of use, the users hands are completely free to carry on activity, whether the user be a sportsman or a worker. Further, the structure is compact and lightweight and easy to operate.

While only one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it may be possible to practice the invention through the utilization of certain other embodirnents without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Such other embodiments are included as part of this i invention unless the following claims specifically state otherwise.

I claim:

A protective rain shield device, comprising in combination: an elongated hollow holder; strap means associated with said holder for securing said holder to a users back; a slot formed in said holder at its top; a collapsible umbrella including a handle means; said handle means at its lower end having a portion with a cross-sectional area slightly less than that of said hollow holder permitting slidable insertion of said handle means into said holder; a finger extending generally perpendicularly from said portion of said handle means; and said slot in said holder of a size slidably receiving said finger of said handle means and supporting said umbrella either within said holder in collapsed position or above said holder in open position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 191,782 6/77 Smith 224-5,1 498,224 5/93 Baskerville 19 602,760 4/98 Lines 135- 7 679,181 7/01 Morrison 135-25 725,069 4/03 Gill.

892,813 7/08 Dolles 135-25 1,704,407 3/29 Rice 2245.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 206,914 2/09 Germany.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

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