Abstract:
The invention as disclosed herein provides a ventilating umbrella that protects against sun. In particular, the umbrella contains a trunk with a multi-layered canopy. The canopy contains a plurality of leaf garlands made of synthetic leaves; and a plurality of splines, each of the splines having a distal end, a middle end, and a hinged end. The hinged end is attached to the trunk, and the distal end, middle end or both are attached to the leaf garland.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This improved invention relates to patio umbrellas for decorative purposes. It relates to umbrellas capable of protection against sun. Most preferably, this improved invention relates to a decorative patio umbrella designed to provide ventilation of air. 
         [0003]    2. Background Art 
         [0004]    Patio umbrellas are generally designed to protect against all weather conditions. They are often used outdoors, being supported by a patio table which has a center hole in the middle of the table. Over the years, this prior art has been approved upon, however most patio umbrellas are designed similarly, having a trunk, spline section and single canopy. This present, improved invention identifies a patio umbrella that provides protection against the sun, while allowing the user to feel a natural breeze because of the individual, multi-layered canopy system. 
         [0005]    This improved invention is designed not only to provide protection from the sun, Its designed to provide a natural breeze, and also used as a decorative accessory to a deck or backyard area. 
         [0006]    It is fade proof and durable, and also collapsible, therefore easy to use. The supporting ribs are individually wrapped with the various styles of leaf sections; creating the natural effect of tree branches in the wind. This improved invention also allows the user the option of attaching separate plastic fruit and/or flowers to simulate a live tree appearance. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    This improved invention can be used in fields or industries that manufacture, use or sell patio umbrellas. Those that may benefit from it include, the entertainment industry, and the outdoor cooking industry. 
         [0008]    This improved invention as described herein, provides a patio umbrella that is designed like most, however this patio umbrella allows the user not only to have protection against the sun, but to feel a natural breeze because of its individual rib sections that form a a multi-layered canopy. The multi-layered canopy has leaf designed garland that is wrapped around each rib section of the canopy. This improved invention has a decorative purpose as well. The canopy is designed to have the appearance of a live tree, with the option of separate, yet attachable fruit and flower accessories that will add flare to any backyard deck area. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    
         FIG. 1 
       
           [0010]    Depicts the perspective and plan views of this improved invention. 
           [0011]    
         FIG. 1 
         a  
       
           [0012]    Is an elevation of an umbrella according to this improved invention. 
           [0013]    
         FIG. 1 
         b  
       
           [0014]    Is a top plan view of an umbrella according to this improved invention. 
           [0015]    
         FIG. 1 
         c  
       
           [0016]    Is an upward perspective view of an umbrella according to this improved invention. 
           [0017]    
         FIG. 2 
       
           [0018]    Depicts perspective views of the trunk and canopy indicating different angles of the deployment of the canopy on the trunk. 
           [0019]    
         FIG. 2 
         a  
       
           [0020]    Is a perspective view of a rectangular trunk. 
           [0021]    
         FIG. 2 
         b  
       
           [0022]    Is a perspective view of the trunk and canopy including a spline. 
           [0023]    
         FIG. 2 
         c  
       
           [0024]    Is a perspective view of a trunk having three canopies, the first canopy is deployed at an angle of 130 degrees. The second canopy is deployed at an angle of 110 degrees and the third canopy is deployed at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the trunk. 
           [0025]    
         FIG. 3 
       
           [0026]    Is a partial elevation view of the trunk and the splines including the deployment and retraction mechanisms of the umbrella. 
           [0027]    
         FIG. 4 
       
           [0028]    Is a plan view of leaf designs for the garland. 
           [0029]    
         FIG. 4 
         a  
       
           [0030]    Depicts a palmate leaf design. 
           [0031]    
         FIG. 4 
         b  
       
           [0032]    Depicts a pinnate leaf design. 
           [0033]    
         FIG. 4 
         c  
       
           [0034]    Depicts the garland which is comprised of a single center wire that has leaf compartments  4   a ,  4   b  wrapped around it completely to form the garland. 
           [0035]    
         FIG. 5 
       
           [0036]    Depicts several examples of attachable fruit and flowers made of plastic, with an attachable hook at the top, mimicking an ornament similar to those in the art of hanging ornaments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0037]    This improved invention is designed similar to most patio umbrellas, with one difference, it has multiple layered canopy system with individual splines that are wrapped with leaf designed garland. Referring to  FIG. 1   a  an embodiment of the umbrella is shown that includes a trunk  10  and multiple canopies  20  circumferentially arranged around the trunk  10  and having splines  22 . This improved umbrella, having multiple canopies, can be deployed and retracted in unison. Referring to  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b , multiple canopies can provide an increase in the range of diameters achieved through deployment of canopies of different sizes, configurations and angles. In addition, multiple canopies can provide variety of shapes, greater umbrella stability during wind, and a thicker canopy for greater protection from the sun. The trunk  10  includes a proximal portion  16  and a distal portion  12  along a longitudinal axis L of the trunk. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the umbrella is shown that includes a trunk  10  and one or more canopies.  FIG. 1   a  depicts the trunk  10  that is generally tubular and can contain a central lumen that can be used for carrying any wires or connectors suitable for operation of the umbrella.  FIG. 2   a  depicts the infrastructure of a one canopy umbrella having splines  22  that forms an arc at an angle alpha  14  with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the trunk  10 . 
         [0038]    The angle alpha  14  can range from about 0 degrees in which a spline  22  is retracted and generally aligned with the longitudinal axis L of the trunk  10 , to about 150 degrees or more, in which a spline  22  is moving upwardly to form into a branch of a natural tree with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the trunk  10 . The hinged end  36  of a spline  22  is configured such that the distal end  38  of a spline  22  can assume a variety of positions along this are relative to the longitudinal axis L of a trunk  10 . The various positions that multiple circumferentially disposed splines  22  can assume during deployment provide a total cone-shaped or frustum-shaped canopy  20  that undergoes an increase in surface area as the canopy is deployed. The mechanism to deploy and retract the canopy  20  will depend on the configuration of the canopy and the trunk  10 .  FIG. 2   c  depicts the infrastructure of an umbrella with three canopies  20 A,  20 B, and  20 C. In the embodiment shown, the splines  22  in each canopy form an arc at a different angle alpha with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the trunk  10 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2C , the angle alpha is 130 degrees, 110 degrees and 90 degrees in canopies  20 A,  20 B,  20 C, respectively. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the canopy  20  is circumferentially arranged about the trunk  10 . The canopy  20  includes a plurality of circumferentially disposed radial splines  22  whose free ends can extend outward from the trunk  10 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the splines  22  are generally rod-like structures with a hinged end  36  attached directly to the trunk  10 . The distal free end  38  of splines  22  is free to swing through an arc at an angle alpha  14  with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the trunk  10 . 
         [0039]    The angle alpha  14  can range from about 0 degree, in which splines  22  are retracted and generally aligned with the longitudinal axis L of the trunk  10 , and about 90 degrees, in which splines  22  are fully deployed and lie in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the trunk  10 . The hinged end  36  of a spline  22  is configured such that the distal end  38  of a spline  22  can assume a variety of positions along this are relative to the longitudinal axis L of the trunk  10 . The trunk  10  and canopy  20  can be made from a variety of natural or synthetic materials having requisite strength and flexibility. The movement and position of the splines  22  with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the trunk  10  can be adjustably controlled by a variety of different means. The number and position of splines  22  as well as the manner in which hinged end  36  of splines is attached to a trunk can vary, and can be dependent at least in part on the mechanism by which the canopy  20  is deployed and retracted. The splines  22  can be attached to the trunk  10  by any number of methods. For example, in addition to the direct attachment mechanism shown in  FIG. 1   a , the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  demonstrates that the splines  22  can be attached to a central hub  28  that circumscribes the trunk  10 . A slideable deployment/retraction collar  24  that circumscribes the trunk  10  is shown in  FIG. 3 . In this embodiment, the umbrella contains a slideable collar  24  that circumscribes the splines  22  at their distal ends  38  at a retractable position. 
         [0040]    During deployment, the collar  24  can be adjustably moved toward the hinged end  36  of the splines  22 . Movement of the collar  24  toward the hinged end  36  of the splines  22  causes the distal ends  38  of the splines to move through the arc and form a retracted position to any desired angle alpha with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the trunk  10 . The collar  24  then engages the splines  22  during retraction and slides along the longitudinal axis L of the trunk  10  toward the distal ends  38  of the splines  22 . As in  FIG. 1   a , the movement and position of the splines  22  with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the trunk  10  can be precisely controlled by the slideable deployment/retraction collar  24 . Splines  22  can be made from a rigid material or a material that allows, for example, a bowed spline as shown in  FIG. 1  For example, splines  22  can be constructed using a variety of natural and/or synthetic materials known in the art. 
         [0041]    The length and splines  22  can vary and will depend on the configuration of the canopy, materials used to make the splines and the mechanism of deployment and retraction.  FIG. 4  mimics the shape and form of leaves in nature and can be customized according to the intended use and the user&#39;s specification.  FIG. 4   c  shows a continuous strand of leaf compartments that are made in the form of garland similar to any garland currently in the art. Various leaf shapes such as in  FIG. 4  can mimic leaves from trees like, but not limited to the Apple, Orange, Lemon, Magnolia, Peach, Cherry, Sycamore, or Yellowwood trees, among others.  FIGS. 5   a ,  5   b ,  5   c , and  5   d  are optional attachments for the umbrella of this improved invention, which are comprised of synthetic material. They come in a variety of forms not limited to lemons, apples, oranges, and magnolia flowers.