Abstract:
An adjustable, removable mesh canopy is adapted to fit umbrellas and parasols while providing a barrier to mosquitoes and other insects. A removable weight may be affixed to the bottom of the net to keep the net flush with the ground during movement and wind and to inhibit insect entry into the enclosed space. The top includes an adjustable drawstring opening which can be adjusted to fit umbrellas or parasols that vary in diameter. A closed seam runs down the side, and a resealable opening may be installed on the side of the net so that a user can temporarily extend a hand outside of the net through the opening.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a netting enclosure for an umbrella; in particular, to a netting enclosure comprised of a generally cylindrical length of mesh material having a top end configured to be removably mounted upon an umbrella or parasol canopy and a bottom end configured to removably receive a weighting unit so as to keep the enclosure at or near the ground during use. More particularly, the present invention relates to a netting enclosure for an umbrella that is lightweight, compact, portable and easily deployable to protect the user from winged insects such as flies, bees or mosquitos. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Netting enclosures designed to prevent ingress of flying insects, such as flies, bees or mosquitos are known in the art. For instance, netting enclosures are readily available for use with outdoor patio sets. Patio enclosures typically employ a frame unit defining the perimeter of the resultant enclosure with netting material then mounted to the frame unit to provide screened walls. The top of the frame may also include netting material or may include an opaque covering so as to provide shade or protection from the sun. The netting material constituting one wall may also include a separable seam thereby permitting entry into and/or egress from the enclosure interior. The bottom portion of the netting material forming each wall may also be fixed to the ground through a series of stakes or may include a fixed weight sewn into the netting material to prevent the walls from becoming dislocated by wind. While these enclosures may provide desired protection from flying insects, they are fixed structures requiring persons desiring such protection to remain within the stationary enclosure. 
     In an attempt to provide ambulatory protection, netting enclosures have also been developed for use with conventional personal umbrellas. Similar to patio enclosures described above, these umbrella enclosures are mounted onto an umbrella canopy such that netting material drapes to the ground. The netting material may include fixed weights along its bottom periphery to prevent unwanted displacement of the netting material during use. However, present umbrella-based netting disclosures suffer a number of drawbacks, such as being bulky, heavy and/or not easily deployable when needed and subject to failure of protection due to open seams within the draped netting. 
     As such, there is a need for a netting apparatus that is lightweight, compact, portable and easily deployable to protect the user from winged insects such as flies, bees or mosquitos. The present invention addresses these and other needs. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In general, one aspect the present invention is directed to a netting apparatus configured to create an enclosure when mounted upon an opened canopy of an umbrella. The netting apparatus comprises a length of netting having a top opening defined by a top edge and a bottom opening defined by a bottom edge. The length is sufficient to extend from a portion of the opened canopy to substantially near the ground. The top edge includes a drawstring to cinch the top edge thereby configuring the top opening to have a smaller diameter than the opened canopy. The bottom edge is configured to removably receive a weight unit when the netting apparatus is mounted upon the opened canopy so as to place the bottom edge substantially near the ground and thereby create the enclosure. The netting apparatus is also configured to have the weight unit removed from the netting apparatus when the netting apparatus is not mounted to the opened canopy of the umbrella. 
     A further aspect of the present invention is directed to a netting apparatus configured to create an enclosure when mounted upon an opened canopy of an umbrella. The netting apparatus comprises a length of netting having a top opening defined by a top edge and a bottom opening defined by a bottom edge. The length is sufficient to extend from a portion of the opened canopy to substantially near the ground. A portion of the netting includes a seam defining an opening releasably joined together by a fastener. The top edge includes a drawstring to cinch the top edge thereby configuring the top opening to have a smaller diameter than the opened canopy. The bottom edge is crenellated so as to form a series of alternating recesses and tabs of netting where each respective tab of netting is formable to create a pocket configured to removably receive a respective weight unit when the netting apparatus is mounted upon the opened canopy so as to place the bottom edge substantially near the ground and thereby create the enclosure. The netting apparatus is also configured to have the weight units removed from the netting apparatus when the netting apparatus is not mounted to the opened canopy of the umbrella. 
     In still another aspect of the present invention, a netting apparatus is configured to create an enclosure when mounted upon an opened canopy of an umbrella. The netting apparatus comprises a length of netting having a top opening defined by a top edge and a bottom opening defined by a bottom edge. The length is sufficient to extend from a portion of the opened canopy to substantially near the ground. A portion of the netting includes a seam defining an opening releasably joined together by a fastener. The top edge includes a drawstring to cinch the top edge thereby configuring the top opening to have a smaller diameter than the opened canopy. The bottom edge is folded back upon the netting to form an overlapped portion, the overlapped portion having a plurality of parallel, spaced apart seams normal to the bottom edge so as to define a plurality of pockets. Each respective pocket is configured to removably receive a respective weight unit when the netting apparatus is mounted upon the opened canopy so as to place the bottom edge substantially near the ground and thereby create the enclosure. The netting apparatus is also configured to have the weight units removed from the netting apparatus when the netting apparatus is not mounted to the opened canopy of the umbrella. 
     Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and will in part become apparent to those in the practice of the invention, when considered with the attached figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, wherein like reference numerals are employed to indicate like parts in the various views, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective side view of a netting apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the netting apparatus mounted upon the open canopy of a conventional umbrella; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial expanded top view of the netting apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  as mounted upon an umbrella canopy; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial expanded view of one embodiment of a bottom edge of the netting apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  sequentially showing removable affixation of a weight unit to the netting apparatus; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial expanded view of an alternative embodiment of a bottom edge of the netting apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial expanded view of a further alternative embodiment of a bottom edge of the netting apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a partial expanded view of an additional alternative embodiment of a bottom edge of the netting apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings in detail, and specifically to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment  10  of a netting apparatus and associated umbrella  32  is shown. Netting apparatus  10  may be generally comprised of a length of netting  12  having an opposing left edge  14  and right edge  16 . Left edge  14  and right edge  16  may be joined together at a fixed seam  18  so as to construct a generally cylindrical netting having a top opening  20  defined by top edge  22  and a bottom opening  24  defined by bottom edge  26 . Top edge  22  may be hemmed to include a drawstring  28  which is used to cinch top edge  22  and thereby adjust the diameter of top opening  20  (see also  FIG. 2 ). Drawstring  28  may be tied in a knot or bow or may also include a cord lock  29  to control cinching of top edge  22 . As a result, top edge  22  may be cinched such that it rests atop canopy  30  of a conventional umbrella  32  such that netting  12  drapes downwardly about a user  38  and bottom edge  26  rests substantially near the ground. As used herein, the phrase “substantially near the ground” shall mean just touching the ground or within about 1 inch of just touching the ground. In this manner, during use of netting apparatus  10  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ), flying insects will be significantly prohibited from entering enclosure  34  defined by umbrella  32  and netting  12  while also minimizing to potential for tripping or stepping upon netting  12 . While drawstring  28  permits some control over the vertical length of netting  12  with respect to where bottom edge  26  is located in reference to the ground, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the length of netting  12  may be any suitable length depending upon external variables, such as user height and canopy diameter. 
     As shown generally in  FIG. 1 , bottom edge  26  may be configured to removably receive a plurality of respective weight units  36  so as to aid netting  12  in remaining substantially near the ground during movement of user  38  and/or when netting  12  is exposed to wind. Bottom edge  26  will be described in more detail below with regard to  FIGS. 3-5 . As a result, user  38  may freely move about without compromising the protection from flying insects sought to be afforded by netting apparatus  10 . Seam  18  may also include a selectively openable portion  40  wherein a length  14   a  of left edge  14  and a corresponding length  16   a  of right edge  16  are adapted to include mating halves of releasable fastener  42 . By way of example and by no means limiting solely thereto, fastener  42  may be any suitable fastener, such as a button, a zipper, hook-and-loop material, magnets, snaps, clips, ties and the like. Selectively openable portion  40  may be located along seam  18  so that selectively openable portion  40  is not coterminous with either top edge  22  or bottom edge  26 . Moreover, selectively openable portion  40  may be vertically positioned so as to coincide with an outstretched arm  39  of user  38 . The length of selectively openable portion  40  may also be limited, such as to form an opening less than about 6 inches in length, such that incorporation of fastener  42  within the netting  12  does not unevenly weight the netting draped from canopy  30  which may cause user discomfort and fatigue. In this manner, user  38  may manipulate objects outside of enclosure  34  by passing only arm  39  through the opening formed by uncoupling fastener  42  on length  14   a  and length  16   a . This, in turn, minimizes user exposure to flying insects, such as fly, bees or mosquitos. Upon retracting the arm within enclosure  34 , fastener  42  may be refastened so as to reestablish integrity of netting  12 . It should be noted that, while shown and described as a generally rectangular length of webbing, any suitable geometry of webbing may be used so long as such length has a top opening including a drawstring and a bottom opening adapted to removably receive one or more weight units. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , an expanded view of an embodiment of a bottom edge  26   a  that may be used within netting apparatus  10  is shown. Bottom edge  26   a  may include a plurality of spaced parallel slits  44  cut normal to the plane created by bottom edge  26   a . Slits  44  create a number of downwardly extending tabs  46  having opposing left and right edges  48   a ,  48   b , respectively. A respective weight unit  36  may be placed within the portion of netting  12  defined by a respective tab  46 . It should be noted that not all tabs are required to receive a weight unit. Rather, the number and placement of individual weight units may be dictated solely by the user. With weight unit  36  placed on a tab  46 , bottom edge  26   a  may be folded upwardly as generally indicated by arrow  50 . Each of right edge  48   b  and left edge  48   a  may be folded inwardly, such as generally indicated by arrow  52 , to form pocket  54  within which resides weight unit  36 . It should be noted that edges  48   a  and  48   b  may be folded prior to folding bottom edge  26   a . A closure  56  may then be secured about the netting above weight unit  36  so as to maintain pocket  54  in a closed condition. In this manner, weight unit  36  is secured to netting  12  via pocket  54  so as to aid in preventing unwanted dislocation of netting apparatus  10  while the user is moving about or during heavy winds. 
     Weight unit  36  may be any suitable object, and preferably has a mass between approximately 2 grams and 10 grams, and more preferably a mass of about 5 grams. Non-exhaustive examples of possible objects suitable for use as a weight unit  36  include a coin  36   a , a small rock or pebble  36   b  or a marble  36   n . It should be understood by those skilled in the art that any object having the proper size and weight may be used as a weight unit. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, weight units  36  may be any suitable item readily at hand when user  38  deploys netting apparatus  10 . In this manner, user  38  does not need to carry the additional weight of fixed weight units but need only carry the reduced weight of the netting material without weight units. Eliminating fixed weights also promotes compact storage and transport of netting apparatus  10  when not deployed. As such netting apparatus  10  may be conveniently carried in a pocket or handbag when not in use. 
     Additionally, by way of example, and by no means limiting thereto, slits  44  may be about 4 inches long and spaced about 4 inches apart from a next successive slit. In this manner, two successive slits  44  create a tab  44  of approximately 4 inches by 4 inches square which may be sufficient to form pocket  54  having dimensions suitable for receiving a weight unit  36 , such as coin  36   a , small rock or pebble  36   b  or marble  36   n . Also, without limiting solely thereto, closure  56  may be a string tie, a twist tie, a rubber band, a cord lock, an adhesive tape, a hook-and-loop fastener band and the like. When use is no longer required, the releasable closures may be removed and the weight units may be discarded. Netting  12  may then be compactly folded and secured in its folded condition by the releasable closures. As a result, netting apparatus may be manufactured and shipped and without weights being affixed to the netting. This also enables users to carry an unused netting apparatus upon their person without having to bear the cumulative weight of numerous weights. 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 3 , in a further aspect of the invention, a portion  46   a  (shown in dotted line) of every second tab  46  may be removed so as to create a crenellated bottom edge of alternating recesses  58   a  having a bottom edge  58   b  and full tabs  46  having bottom edge  26   a . Portion  46   a  may be removed from tab  46  approximately half way along the length of respective adjacent slits  44 . Thus, continuing the above example, each respective bottom edge  58   b  may be about 2 inches higher than bottom edge  26   a . A weight unit  36  may be placed upon full tab  46 , with full tab  46  then being folded roughly in half as generally indicated by arrow  50 . Sides  48   a  and  48   b  are then folded inwardly to create pocket  54  and secure weight unit  36  within the pocket by closure  56  as described above. In this manner, pocket  54  may lie generally within the same plane P created by successive bottom edges  58   b  thereby creating a generally uniform bottom edge which may promote less tripping or stepping upon the netting material or weighted pockets. 
       FIG. 4  shows an expanded view of an alternative bottom edge  26   b  that may be used within netting apparatus  10 . Similar to bottom edge  26   a  described above, bottom edge  26   b  may include a plurality of spaced parallel slits  44   b  cut normal to the plane created by bottom edge  26   b  to thereby create a number of downwardly extending tabs  46   b  having opposing left and right edges  48   c ,  48   d , respectively. A respective weight unit  36  may be placed within the portion of netting  12  defined by a respective tab  46   b . With weight unit  36  placed on a tab  46   b , bottom edge  26   b  may be folded upwardly as generally indicated by arrow  50   b  to form pocket  54   b  within which resides weight unit  36 . Each tab  46   b  may include a resealable closure device  60  proximate bottom edge  26   b . To facilitate and maintain closure of pocket  54   b , netting  12  may include a corresponding resealable closure device  62  configured to mate with releasable closure device  60 . By way of example and by no means limiting solely thereto, resealable closure devices  60  and  62  may be any suitable device, such as a hook-and-loop material, a self-adhesive material, magnets, buttons, zippers, snaps, clips and the like. It should also be noted that resealable closure device  60  may also enable closure of pocket  54   b  without requiring resealable closure device  62 . Slits  44   b  may also be shorter than slits  44  described above as edges  48   c  and  48   d  of tabs  46   b  do not need to be folded inwardly and secured with a closure  56 . As a result, slits  44   b  may be about 2 inches long and spaced apart any suitable distance from a next successive slit  44   b.    
     Similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , a portion  46   c  (shown in dotted line) of every second tab  46   b  may be removed so as to create a crenellated bottom edge of alternating recesses  58   c  having a bottom edge  58   d  and full tabs  46   b  having bottom edge  26   b . Portion  46   c  may be removed from tab  46   b  at the terminus of slits  44   b . Thus, when a weight unit  36  is placed upon full tab  46   b , with full tab  46   b  folded upwardly as described above, the created pocket  54   b  (and weight unit  36  within) may lie generally within the same plane P′ created by successive bottom edges  58   c.    
     Turning now to  FIG. 5 , an expanded view of a further alternative bottom  64  that may be used within netting apparatus  10  is shown. Bottom  64  may be formed by folding bottom edge  26  back upon a portion  66  netting  12 . A plurality of spaced parallel seams  68  may be formed normal to the plane created by bottom  64  and along portion  66  so as to create a series of pockets  70  along the length of bottom  64 . Each pocket is configured to removably receive a respective weight unit  36 . By way of example, pockets  70  may be about 2 inches deep and any suitable dimension wide so as to accommodate weight unit  36 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , an expanded view of another alternative bottom  72  is shown. Bottom  72  generally comprises bottom edge  26  of netting  12  coupled with opposing hook material  74  and loop material  76 . Hook material  74  may be situated along one face  78  of netting  12  and may pass through holes contained within the netting material. Hook material  74  may be situated on the opposing face  80  of netting  12  and couple with and releasably engage with loop material  76  thereby securing bottom edge  26  of netting  12  therebetween. Hook-and loop material  74 ,  76  may be one to three inches wide and may encircle the entire perimeter of bottom edge  26  (see  FIG. 1 ). Alternatively, smaller swatches of hook-and loop material  74 ,  76  (such as, but not limited to, 3 inch by 3 inch squares) may be selectively positioned at various locations about bottom edge  26 . Hook-and-loop material  74 ,  76  may, itself, comprise a weight unit, or if needed, respective weight units  36  may also be selectively removably positioned between the opposing fabrics of the hook-and-loop material so as to provide additional weight to bottom edge  26 . Weight units  36  may be removably positioned between either material  74 ,  76  and its respective netting face  78 ,  80 . 
     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain aspects thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the aspects contained herein. 
     All features disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, and all the steps in any method or process disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, can be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.