Abstract:
The invention provides an umbrella for attachment to a stroller that is large enough to protect the caregiver wheeling the stroller, carriage, or wheelchair from rain, wind and precipitation. The umbrella is wind proof, and attaches to the stroller by clamping its central shaft to the stroller. A counterweight is attached to the handle end of the central shaft. The umbrella has a double layered canopy that allows wind to pass through without inverting the umbrella, and may have a telescoping shaft to permit it to be stored compactly.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to improved umbrellas, and more particularly to an improved umbrella that attaches to a baby stroller, baby carriage, or wheelchair to protect a caregiver wheeling the same from rain and precipitation, without requiring use of a hand to hold the umbrella.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Baby strollers often come equipped with canopies and rain covers that protect the child quite well from precipitation, wind, and cold. The caregiver, however, often must hold an umbrella separately, in addition to pushing the stroller. Many strollers require two hands to steer properly, so a rainstorm, particularly one accompanied by strong winds, can provide a frustrating experience to the parent or other adult caregiver wheeling the stroller through inclement weather.  
         [0003]     Other patents have discussed mechanisms for attaching an umbrella or parasol to a baby carriage or stroller. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,379 (Goetz) relates a clamping fixture for attaching umbrellas, parasols, sunscreens and the like to baby carriages or strollers. U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,888 (Garguilo) depicts a device for attaching an object to a support, which may include fixing an umbrella to a baby carriage. These devices do not address the problem of keeping the caregiver dry in a rainstorm, or the awkwardness of trying to push a stroller on a windy and rainy day, while holding an umbrella. Each of the foregoing references are incorporated by reference herein.  
         [0004]     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an umbrella that attaches easily to a stroller, baby carriage, or wheelchair to free the hands of the caregiver to push the same. It is a further object of the invention to provide an umbrella suitable for attachment to a stroller, baby carriage, or wheelchair that adequately protects the caregiver in hard rain, yet does not destabilize the stroller when the wind blows.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The objects of the invention are achieved and the disadvantages of prior devices are overcome by providing an umbrella for attachment to a stroller, comprising a wind resistant umbrella having a plurality of flexible ribs, a fabric cover attached thereto, a central shaft to which the ribs are attached at one end. The shaft has a counterweight attached to the other end, and a sliding locking mechanism for opening and closing the umbrella. A pair of straps wrap around and are clamped down to hold the central shaft against an upright or crosspiece on the stroller frame. The counterweight attached to the end of the central shaft counterbalances the weight of the umbrella as well as force exerted by wind on the umbrella when it is in an open position.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of the invention in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the stroller umbrella of the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a side view of another embodiment of the stroller umbrella of the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a side sectional view of the telescoping central shaft for use in the stroller umbrella of the present invention; and  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a front view of a strap and buckle for use in affixing the umbrella to the stroller frame.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0011]     Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  depicts the stroller umbrella of the present invention, generally designated with the reference numeral  10 , attached to a conventional folding or collapsible stroller  12 . The stroller  12  seats a young child (not shown) who may be protected from rain, wind and cold by a conventional vinyl rain shield  11 , commonly available from stroller manufacturers and retail stores carrying strollers and accessories. The umbrella  10 , which may also attach to a pram, baby carriage, or wheelchair, includes a cover  14 , a telescoping shaft  16  the bottom section  18  of which has an attached counterweight  26 . A pair of straps  22 ,  24  wrap around the outer shaft that contains the umbrella  10  and fasten it to a portion of the stroller  12  frame, such as an upright. Of course, it may be adapted to attach to other portions of the stroller such as a cross-piece. One or more guy lines  28  help anchor the front of the umbrella  10  to the stroller  12 . A rear flap or canopy  30  protects the caregiver from precipitation or runoff on their back.  
         [0012]     The cover  14  includes a lightweight waterproof or water resistant material  32 , such as nylon, vinyl, canvas or other similar water resistant or waterproof material  32  used in umbrella manufacture, which is sized and cut to provide a selected diameter for the particular umbrella. The umbrella  12  diameter should be selected to provide rain, wind and precipitation protection for an adult standing underneath. The material  32  is sewn or otherwise attached to a plurality of ribs  34 , which form the frame  36  of the cover  14  of the umbrella  10 . The ribs  34  can be flexible aluminum or steel, or other metal alloy, or a graphite reinforced composite, or any other strong material from which a sturdy, wind-resistant umbrella frame  36  is made. The ribs  34  extend axially from a central pivot or attachment point  38 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The umbrella  10  includes a plurality of extenders  40  to open the umbrella  10 . The extenders  40  are attached to an opener  42 , which slides on the shaft  16 , and help to push the extenders  40  and the ribs  34  outward. The opener  42  includes a button  44  which engages a slot or other opening  46  toward the bottom of the shaft  16  when the umbrella  10  is closed and a second slot or opening  48  adjacent the top of the shaft  16 , when the umbrella  10  is open. The umbrella  10  may also be provided with a push button automatic opening mechanism. In such an embodiment, the user presses a button, such as button  44 , and opener  42  slides up the shaft  16  toward pivot  38  forcing the extenders  40  upward, thereby opening the umbrella automatically, and holding it in an open or locked position. Such a feature provides an added measure of convenience, if desired.  
         [0013]     The shaft  16  is preferably segmented and telescopes, meaning that a number of segments slide along on another from a closed point to an open point to elongate the shaft  16  when extended, and to collapse the shaft  16  when not. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the shaft  16  includes a number of telescoping segments  50 ,  52 , and  54 . The first segment  50  has a counterweight  26  at one end and a diameter at the other chosen to capture the wide end of the segment  52 . Segment  52  has a diameter at one end sized to be held within the end opening of the first segment  50  and an opening at the other end sized to capture an end of the third segment  54 . This telescoping type of hollow shaft extension is well known in the art, and can be adapted for use with this umbrella. The umbrella also can have a push button automatic extension system for the shaft, the canopy or both. It may be accomplished using a first button to extend the shaft automatically, and a second button to extend the canopy, or a single button to extend both, using a conventional spring-loaded opening and closing mechanism for umbrellas.  
         [0014]     In addition, the umbrella shaft should include a joint  47  (see  FIG. 2 ) to articulate the shaft  16  so that the angle of the umbrella  10  can be adjusted to tilt as the user wishes, much as beach umbrellas articulate using a ratcheted or toothed joint in the umbrella pole.  
         [0015]     The shaft  16  may preferably be made from a carbon or graphite composite, similar to that used to make shafts for golf clubs, in order to impart flexibility to the shaft  16  during windy rainstorms, but it may also be made of fiberglass, or titanium, steel, or aluminum alloys, or other material that has sufficient stiffness to act as an umbrella shaft  16 , while providing sufficient flexibility to avoid wind damage, even in strong winds. A rubber grounding strap can be attached to the umbrella shaft to ground the umbrella in the event of a lightening storm.  
         [0016]     The umbrella  10  should preferably be designed so that the frame  36  and cover  32  will not invert, even in a stiff wind. Umbrellas designed for golf or patio use often include this “wind proof” feature, and it may be accomplished in a number of ways well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. One way frequently used is exemplified by the Nike Windproof 52 inch Golf Umbrella, available from Nike Sports, Beaverton, Oreg., or the Gustbuster 62 inch Style 5 Golf Umbrella, available from Innovention Enterprises, Farmingdale, N.Y. 11735. The umbrella  10  has a double canopy, shown in  FIG. 2 , with the uppermost portion  50  of the canopy overlapping the lower or outer portion  52  of the canopy, and providing a passageway  54  therebetween to allow wind to pass through the umbrella  10  without causing the umbrella to invert, and without allowing rain to drip on the user through the passageway  54 . Details of the construction of the Gustbuster umbrella may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,979,534, 5,065,779, 5,368,055, and 5,487,401, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. The present invention, of course, is by no means limited to the foregoing umbrella design or configuration, as that is merely one example of how to provide an umbrella that resists wind inversion. Other types of umbrellas known to those of skill in the art could work equally well.  
         [0017]     As mentioned above, the umbrella cover  14  may be made from a wide variety of materials that resist penetration by rain and other forms of precipitation. These include treated or untreated nylon, treated or untreated cotton canvas, thin flexible vinyl, parachute material, Gore-Tex material or Gore-Tex backed material, or other natural or artificial fabric, material, or composite woven material that sheds water, and does not absorb water. Available water proofing materials other than Gore-tex may also be used. Preferably, treated or untreated lightweight, tightly woven nylon fabric should be used because it is relatively inexpensive, durable, strong, waterproof, and wind resistant. It can easily be cut to the proper size and sewn or otherwise securely attached to the umbrella ribs  34 .  
         [0018]     The umbrella  10  may have an optional rear flap  30  attached to the umbrella cover  14  using metal or plastic snaps  40 , Velcro, buttons, a zipper or similar commonly available fabric attachment means. The rear flap  30  keeps rain and other forms of precipitation off the caregiver. Its size in length and width is a matter of design choice. It can also be omitted altogether, or provided as shown in  FIG. 1 , for easy removal by the owner or user. It may be made of the same or of a different material as the umbrella  10  itself, or it can be made of a transparent material, such as clear vinyl, if desired. The rear flap  30  may have a pair of straps  30   a  at the bottom to attach the rear flap  30  to the legs of the user or to the sides of the stroller  12 , to prevent it from being blown around in a strong wind.  
         [0019]     The umbrella  10  is anchored to the front of the stroller  12  with a guy line or a pair of guy lines  28 . The guy lines  28  may be, for example, two relatively thin straps or cords of nylon or other similar material that fasten or tie to the stroller  12 , for example, underneath the foot rest  13  of the stroller  12 . Each guy line  28  may also tie to one of the structural tubes on each side of the stroller  12 , or they may tie or join together underneath the foot rest of the stroller, using snaps, Velcro, or another strong closure system, well known in the art. The guy lines  28  serve to hold the umbrella  10  in place over the stroller  12 , in an upright position so that it covers and protects the caregiver, even when the wind is blowing, and would otherwise tend to tip the umbrella  10 . There can also be a single guy line  28  also made from a nylon strap or made from a rubberized or elastic rope-like material that stretches to wrap around the foot rest of the stroller. An optional front flap of clear plastic, such as a clear sheet vinyl material (not shown) may be attached to the front of the umbrella, to protect the caregiver from driving rain, or the umbrella can have a deep mushroom shape to maximize its ability to shelter the caregiver from the rain.  
         [0020]     The central shaft  16  is affixed to the frame of the stroller preferably using a nylon mesh belt and buckle or other fastener, similar to that used to strap a golf bag to a cart. This means for affixing the umbrella tightly or rigidly to the frame holds the lowermost segment of the central shaft  16  of the umbrella rigidly to the frame of the stroller  12  or carriage. Preferably, the strap  22  wraps around the frame member of the stroller and the shaft  16 . The strap  22  fits into a buckle  23  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The buckle  23  may be metal or may be plastic, such as available from Design Research and Development Corporation, King of Prussia, Pa., as the Load Lock Fastener, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,295,700 and 5,842,676, which are incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, a pair of clamps  27  can be used to affix the shaft  16  to the stroller  12 . One clamping portion grips the stroller frame while the other grips the shaft  16  of the umbrella  12 . The clamps  27  are tightened to hold the umbrella  12  and the stroller frame tightly.  
         [0021]     A counterweight  26 , such as a plastic or rubber covered lead or other heavy metallic weight, attaches near the bottom of the tube  18  to counterbalance the weight of the umbrella  10 , and to prevent the stroller  12  from being lifted or toppled by the wind. The exact size and weight of the counterweight  26  depends on the size of the umbrella  14 , the stroller  12 , the weight range of the child (not shown), and the degree of wind resistance desired. For example, some golf umbrellas are 52 to 62 inches or more in diameter, and are tested to withstand wind gusts of 50 miles per hour or more. The counterwieght should be sized to counterbalance an umbrella of that size and weight, assuming that the umbrella is attached to a stroller weighing between about 10 and 20 pounds with a 10 to 50 pound child in the stroller. A person of ordinary skill can make such a determination, and calculate the required size and weight of the counterweight.  
         [0022]     Whatever its size, the counterweight  26  can be permanently affixed to the end of the shaft  16  by a bolt through the counterweight  26  and the shaft  12 , for example, or it can be attached to the umbrella shaft  16  by threading the counterweight  26  onto complimentary threading on the edge of the shaft  16 , or with a bayonet-type or other mounting means that realeasably fastens the counterweight  26  to the shaft  16 . For safety&#39;s sake, the umbrella-stroller combination should be tested in a wind tunnel or in actual wind conditions to demonstrate that the stroller with the umbrella attached there to have adequate stability to keep the child and the caregiver safe. The ability of the umbrella  10  to allow even strong winds to pass through, and of the pole or shaft  16  to flex in a strong wind minimizes the size of the counterweight  26  that must be added to counterbalance the umbrella.  
         [0023]     The umbrella  10  may be provided as a kit that includes a bag or other cover (not shown) to hold the various parts, including the collapsed umbrella frame, shaft and cover, the counterweight, the attachment tube and clamps, and rear flap or canopy.  
         [0024]     The installation and use of the stroller umbrella  10  of the present invention should now be readily apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. The user firsts sets up the stroller, preferably without the child and indoors where there is no wind. The user clamps the telescoping shaft  16  to the stroller frame. He or she then attaches the counterweight  26  to the shaft  16  by screwing one onto the other, or using the bayonet lock provided to keep the umbrella  10  from being lifted from the tube  18 , unless the counterweight  26  is permanently affixed to the shaft  16 . Next, the caregiver opens the umbrella  10 , and attaches the back flap  30 , if desired, and then closes the umbrella  10 . The child sits in the stroller seat, is belted in position, and then is wheeled outdoors, where the umbrella can be opened. The rear flap  30  is unfurled, and adjusted. The caregiver is then free to push the stroller  10  and pay attention to the child therein, and the street or obstacles ahead, without being distracted by the necessity of balancing a cumbersome and large umbrella while trying to wheel the stroller, watch the child, avoid the rain, and look out for traffic, road hazards, other pedestrians, and the like. The clamps  22 ,  24  may be left on the frame of the stroller, if desired, so that only the umbrella  14  and counterweight  26  have to be attached during inclement weather. The clamps  22 ,  24  are sized and positioned so that they do not interfere with opening, closing, folding or normal operation of the stroller  10 . For those strollers that have an integral or attached platform over or adjacent the rear wheels to accommodate another child as a rider, the umbrella of the present invention will keep precipitation off the second child in addition to the caregiver.  
         [0025]     It should be appreciated that an umbrella that attaches to a stroller to provide protection for the caregiver has been described, with reference to preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but that other modifications may be made to this preferred embodiment. It will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications maybe made thereto by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, which is defined in the following claims.