Abstract:
A device for encasing an umbrella to prevent water damage to the surrounding area. The device holds a wet umbrella such that water does not leak out, even when tipped over. In further embodiments of the device, the device can hold an open umbrella for hands-free use.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present disclosure is for a device that can hold an umbrella. The device serves to both protect the umbrella from damage as well as hold excess water from a wet umbrella.  
         [0003]     2. Background  
         [0004]     When rainy weather strikes, umbrellas protect people from getting soaked while venturing outside. When going inside, however, be it into a building or a vehicle, the wet umbrella can be a cumbersome nuisance. A person must find an appropriate place to safely store it where it will not make the surroundings all wet.  
         [0005]     Most establishments, such as restaurants or stores, place an umbrella receptacle at the door. Although this provides a convenient place to leave the umbrella while the owner is inside, the owner runs the risk of losing the umbrella. Many umbrellas look alike, so it is not unusual for another person to mistakenly take the wrong umbrella on the way out. Unscrupulous people may invite themselves to “borrow” an umbrella if they are caught without one with the rain. And if the umbrella is distinctive, it may become a target for theft.  
         [0006]     Rather than risk losing an umbrella, some people wish to take it along with them. To do this, however, the umbrella must be sheathed to prevent a wet umbrella from spreading water around. One recent solution to this problem, shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,805,144 issued to Usui, et. al., on Oct. 19, 2004, entitled “Protective Cover for Umbrellas and Umbrella with Protective Cover Fixed Hereto,” involves a set of telescoping concentric sections connected to the tip of the umbrella. The user collapses the wet umbrella and then slides the sections over it to encase it. This keeps the umbrella protected and the surrounding area dry.  
         [0007]     Although this design is convenient because the sheath is compactly integrated into the umbrella, it presents some drawbacks. First, if the umbrella tips over, the excess water collected in the sheath can spill out. This can create an unsafe puddle of water on the floor or cause damage to surfaces, such as car or furniture upholstery. Further, this design does not include a receptacle to conveniently collect the water that drains off of the umbrella as it stands up. Therefore, excess water either leaks out of the sheath or remains trapped in the sheath, with no convenient way to remove it.  
         [0008]     What is needed is a device for sheathing an umbrella that will collect and hold excess rain water, as well as allow for easy drainage and disposal of the water. This would permit people to keep their wet umbrellas with them wherever they go, without worrying about water leakage in the process.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present device.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  depicts a cutaway side view showing the interior of the device.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2   a  depicts a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 2 , showing an arrangement of drainage channels.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  depicts a cutaway side view showing the interior of the device while the device is in use.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the device.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a cutaway side view showing the interior of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 5   a  is a cutaway side view of the. embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  in collapsed configuration.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  depicts another embodiment of the device with two straps in use by a user.  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  shows another embodiment of the device, with collapsible legs for use as an umbrella stand.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  depicts an embodiment of the instant device. A substantially cylindrical outer shell  100  retains parallel sides at its distal end and angles inward toward the central axis at its proximal end to create a lip  102 . The lip  102  is constructed to receive a closed umbrella which would be inserted into the device through an opening  105  in the lip. A removable end cap  104  affixes to the distal end by a friction fit, screw-on, or any other convenient and/or known means. A carrying strap  106  connects to the outer surface of the outer cylindrical shell  100  for convenient carrying of the device by a user. The outer cylindrical shell  100  and removable cap  104  can be made of a rigid or semi-rigid material that holds its shape and is impermeable to water.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  depicts a cutaway side view of this embodiment showing the inner cylindrical member  200 , which continues from the lip  102  at the proximal end of the outer cylinder  100 . The inner cylindrical member  200  tapers toward and then flares outward at its distal end to form, or is integral with, a water reservoir  202  within the lip  102 . Water collected in the cylindrical member  200  can flow into the water reservoir  201  when the device is oriented in a generally horizontal manner (i.e., tipped over).  
         [0020]     The opening  105  at the proximate end of the device opens into a cavity  205  that allows a closed umbrella to expand, and narrows into a small portal  206  that squeezes the umbrella to form a water-tight seal with the dry inner side of the umbrella. The small portal  206  can be constructed of, or lined with rubber or similar material to form the water-tight seal.  
         [0021]     The removable cap  104  can include a concentric central region  202  to accept an umbrella tip and hold it in place. The cap  104  may also house a piece of absorbent material  204  to collect excess water that drips down into the distal end.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2   a  shows a cross-section of the distal region of the inner cylindrical member  200 . A set of optional longitudinal channels  203  can be circumferentially arranged in the wall of the inner cylinder  200 . These channels  206  allow water to drain into the distal end of the device.  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  shows a cross section of the device in use. A closed umbrella  301  slides into the proximal end of the device through the opening  105  in the lip. The ends of the closed umbrella is allowed to expand in the cavity  205 , and the lip  102  at the proximal end of the outer cylindrical shell  100 , along with the small portal  206 , hold the umbrella securely in the device. The lip  102  and small portal  206  form seal(s) with the dry underside of the wet umbrella  301  a and prevents water from leaking out of the device when the device is tipped over with a wet umbrella inside. While the device is in a substantially upright position, water drains into the distal end of the device through the drainage channels  203 . When the device is tipped over, i.e., placed in a generally horizontal manner, water collected in the cylindrical member  200  can flow into the water reservoir  201 .  
         [0024]     In general, the device can accommodate umbrellas that are shorter than, or substantially the same length as the device, as long as the lip  102  can form a seal with the dry underside of the umbrella used. In embodiments of the device with a concentric central region  202 , an umbrella tip  301  b can set into the concentric central region to be held in place. Additionally, when an absorbent material  204  is included within the end cap  104 , excess water can be absorbed to assist in preventing spillage. When the absorbent material  204  becomes saturated, the user may remove the end cap  104  to remove excess water from the absorbent material  204  and allow it to dry out.  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the present device in which the outer cylindrical shell is divided into two or more shorter concentric members  400  and  402 . In the embodiment shown here, with two such members, the proximal member  400  contains the same lip and inner cylinder configuration as that of the outer cylinder  100  in the previous embodiment. The distal member  402  includes the same removable end cap  104  configuration as that at the distal end of the outer cylinder  100  in the previous embodiment. This distal member  402  has an outer diameter slightly less than that of the proximal member  400  so that the distal member  402  slides into the proximal member to collapse the device into a more compact size.  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  depicts a side view the embodiment of  FIG. 4  with a cutaway view showing the two concentric members  400  and  402  in a partially collapsed position.  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  shows another embodiment of the device with two (2) backpack-style straps  602  as it is in use. In this embodiment, the user wears the device in an upright position on his or her back. For use with umbrellas with straight handles, an umbrella can be inserted handle-first and held securely by the device. This allows the user to open the umbrella for hands-free use while the user sits, stands or walks around.  
         [0028]      FIG. 7  shows another embodiment of the device, with collapsible legs  702   a ,  702   b  shown extended. With the legs extended, the device can function as an umbrella stand. The umbrella handle is again inserted handle-first, such that the device acts as a free-standing tripod to support the umbrella. The user may then sit under the umbrella for protection from both rain and sun.  
         [0029]     The device can be manufactured to numerous price ranges to fit the needs of the consumer. By way of example, it can be manufactured with expensive materials such as a leather cover for the outer shell, and/or being decorated with ornamental designs such as a company&#39;s logo. Alternatively, it can be made of cheap materials, such as cardboard, that allows for a single use and can be discarded afterwards.  
         [0030]     Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention as described and hereinafter claimed is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.