Patent ID: 6910490
Filing Date: 2005-06-28
Classification: A45B

Abstract:
1. An umbrella apparatus for providing protection from rain for one or more people, the umbrella apparatus comprising: a shank member being adapted for being gripped by a user; a support assembly being operationally coupled to said shank member, said support assembly being selectively actuated between a deployed position and an expanded position such that said support assembly is adapted for being actuated by the user; a canopy member being coupled to said support assembly, said canopy member opening when said support assembly is in said deployed position such that said canopy member provides a first coverage area adapted for sheltering the user from the rain, said canopy member expanding when said support assembly is in the expanded position such that said canopy member provides a second coverage area greater than the first coverage area adapted for sheltering a plurality of people from the rain; said canopy member comprising a pleat, said pleat extending along at least a radius of said canopy member such that said pleat permits portions of said canopy member to remain folded when said canopy member is opened by said support assembly in said deployed position, said pleat allowing said canopy member to be fully unfolded to provide said second coverage area when said canopy member is expanded by said support assembly in said expanded position; said canopy member comprising a water repellant material, said water repellant material being adapted for repelling rain striking said canopy member such that said canopy member provides coverage for the user positioned under said canopy member; said support assembly comprising a pair of separating assemblies and a collar member, said collar member being slidably coupled to said shank member such that said collar member is slidable along the length of said shank member, each of said separating assemblies being operationally coupled to said collar member such that said separating assemblies are selectively actuated between said deployed position and said expanded position, said separating assemblies being coupled to said canopy member such that said separating assemblies are for actuating said canopy between being opened and being expanded when said separating assemblies are actuated by the user, said collar member being positioned proximate said canopy member such that said collar member and said separating assemblies are positioned to allow the maximum amount of coverage for people positioned under said canopy member; each of said separating assemblies comprising an arm member, said arm member being pivotally coupled to said collar member such that said arm member of each of said separating assemblies are pivoted away from each other when said separating assemblies are positioned in said expanded position, said arm member of each of said separating assemblies being positioned parallel to said shank member when said separating assemblies are positioned in said deployed position, said arm member of each of said separating assemblies being adapted for being actuated by the user when the user wishes to actuate said canopy member between being opened and being expanded; each of said separating assemblies comprising a plurality of rib assemblies, each of said rib assemblies being pivotally coupled to said arm member of the associated one of said separating assemblies opposite said collar member, each of said rib assemblies being selectively pivoted between a stored position and an extended position, said stored position being defined by said rib assemblies being positioned substantially parallel to said arm member of the associated one of said separating assemblies, said extended position being defined by each of said rib assemblies extending outwardly from said arm member of the associated one of said separating assemblies, each of said rib assemblies extending along a portion of a radius of said canopy member such that said rib assemblies open said canopy member when said rib assemblies are positioned in said extended position, said rib assembly drawing said canopy member around said shank member for facilitating storage when said rib assemblies are positioned in said stored position; and a handle member being coupled to said shank member, said handle member being positioned opposite said canopy member, said handle member being adapted for being gripped by the user for facilitating positioning of said canopy member over a head of the user to protect the head of the user from the rain.