Abstract:
A device allowing its user to securely attach a large beach umbrella to the frame of a portable chair or chairs. The device has two mounting plates, which may be easily attached and removed from the frames of either one or two chairs. The umbrella pole will be inserted through a pair of compression fitting mechanisms, which are secured to the mounting plates. When not in use, the device may be easily dismantled, stored and carried in the same bag as the chair.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
   Not Applicable 
   REFERENCE TO APPENDIX 
   Not Applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   When participating in outdoor activities such as camping or the beach, portable chairs are often used when shade from the sun is desired. Often, a separate stand is required to allow the umbrella to remain upright. It would be desirable to have an umbrella, which could be temporarily secured to a portable chair or a pair of chairs and used outside. 
   A. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to securing a portable shade umbrella to a camping chair or a pair of camping chairs. 
   B. Prior Art 
   Prior art exists that relates to securing an umbrella to a portable chair. The Mungia U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,200 claims a clamp means secured to the rear surface of a chair. The present invention improves on this prior art patent because it allows the user to secure the umbrella to the legs of a chair. The Rogers U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,954 claims the use of an endless rod structure to secure an umbrella to a chair. The present invention uses a bracket system instead of an endless rod. The Booth U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,221 claims a combination chair and umbrella. 
   The present invention is a removable device that allows a user to secure an umbrella to the legs of a chair, if desired and differs substantially for the features found in the prior art. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a removable bracket system by which an umbrella could be secured to the legs of a camping chair or pair of chairs. The present invention may be easily removed from the frame of the chair when not in use. No modifications are made to the chair as the system is mounted directly to the structure of the chair. 
   The present device would allow the camper or person in the outdoors to mount an umbrella to the back of the portable chair or chairs without concern for the type of terrain or the condition of the terrain. 
   Because of its exposure to the elements the device should be made from durable, non-corrosive material. Plastic is probably a suitable material. 
   It is an object of this device to allow an individual to mount an umbrella to the back of one chair or between two chairs. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the device in use with a single camping chair. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the device in use with a pair of camping chairs. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the device installed on a single camping chair. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the device as taken along line  4 — 4  On  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of the device in use with a pair of camping chairs. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                  5 
                 Device 
               
               
                   
                 10 
                 Compression Fitting 
               
               
                   
                 12 
                 Chair peg 
               
               
                   
                 15 
                 Patio umbrella 
               
               
                   
                 17 
                 Umbrella pole 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 Back of chair 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 Back leg of chair 
               
               
                   
                 25 
                 Back leg of chair when second chair is used 
               
               
                   
                 26F 
                 Flat washer 
               
               
                   
                 26L 
                 Lock washer 
               
               
                   
                 27 
                 Wing nut 
               
               
                   
                 28 
                 “U” bolt 
               
               
                   
                 30 
                 “U” bolt, nut and washer assembly 
               
               
                   
                 32 
                 “U” bolt, nut, washer, and clamp assembly 
               
               
                   
                 33 
                 Clamp 
               
               
                   
                 34F 
                 Flat washer 
               
               
                   
                 34L 
                 Lock washer 
               
               
                   
                 35B 
                 Mounting plate (bottom) 
               
               
                   
                 35T 
                 Mounting plate (top) 
               
               
                   
                 36 
                 Wing nut 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention is a device  5  which allows its user to attach a beach or patio umbrella  15  to the back of a folding camping chair  20 , which has tubular frame elements. The user must first unfold the chair  20 . The user may or may not secure the bottom ends of the legs of the chair  20  to the ground through the use of chair pegs  12 . FIGS.  1 , 2   
   First Embodiment 
   In the first embodiment the user secures the top mounting plate  35 T and the bottom mounting plate  35 B to a desired location on the back leg of the chair  22 . FIGS.  1 , 3  Because the plates must be able to support the weight of an umbrella  15  it should be made of sturdy material. The mounting plates are planar and of predetermined thickness and should be sturdy enough to support the weight of an umbrella. 
   Each mounting plate is identical in shape and has a plurality, preferably six, of holes  35 H drilled through the mounting plates at desired locations.  FIG. 3 ,  4  The six holes  35 H are drilled in three pairs. One pair is drilled on one end, one pair is drilled in the center, and one pair is drilled on the opposite end. The position of the two outside sets of holes is determined by the specific location of the frame members of the chair. The middle set of holes is contemplated to be in the center of the respective mounting plates,  35 B and  35 T.  FIGS. 1 ,  3   
   The bottom mounting plate  35 B is aligned with the chair legs  22  below the seat of the chair. Once the desired location is determined, a “U” bolt  28  is inserted around the chair leg  22  and through the holes  35 H on either end of the bottom mounting plate  35 B.  FIG. 3 ,  4  The portions of the “U” bolt which protrude through the holes are equipped with threaded ends. A flat washer  26 F and a lock washer  26 L are inserted over each threaded end and a wing nut  27  is screwed loosely at first to ensure alignment onto each threaded end. Although wing nuts are discussed to secure the device, other means of attachment may be used and may include lock nuts or bolts. The “U” bolts may be either round or square. 
   A third “U” bolt  30  is placed around the rear junction or crossed pieces of the rear center of the chair and is inserted through the center pair of holes in the bottom mounting plate  35 B. A compression fitting  10  is inserted vertically between the protruding ends of the “U” bolt  30 .  FIG. 3 ,  4  A clamp  33  is inserted around the protruding ends in order to firmly secure the compression fitting  10  to the bottom mounting plate  35 B. In order to secure the clamp  33 , flat washers  34 F and lock washers  34 L are slipped over the protruding ends and wing nuts  36  are screwed tightly onto the threaded protruding ends of the “U” bolt  30 .  FIG. 4  Once tightened, the center assembly  32  provides stability to the user of the device  5  in the center of the device  5 . 
   Once the mounting plates are secured to the frame of the chair and the means of securement is tightened and after the compression fittings  10  and the umbrella pole  17  is inserted through both compression fittings  10 , the entire assembly  30  provides stability for the user of the device  5 . 
   The next step is to secure the top mounting plate  35 T to the chair; the top mounting plate  35 T is aligned with the chair legs  22  above the sitting portion of the chair. Once the desired location is determined, a “U” bolt  28  is inserted around the chair leg  22  and through the holes on the ends of the mounting plate  35 T. The portions of the “U” bolt which protrude through the holes are equipped with threaded ends. A flat washer  26 F and a lock washer  26 A are inserted over each threaded end and a wing nut  27  or other means of securement is screwed tightly onto each threaded end.  FIG. 4   
   A third “U” bolt  30  is inserted through the center pair of holes in the top mounting plate  35 T. A compression fitting  10  is inserted vertically between the protruding ends of the “U” bolt  30 . A clamp  33  is inserted over the protruding ends in order to firmly secure the compression fitting  10  to the top mounting plate  35 T. In order to secure the clamp  33 , washers  34 F and  34 L are slipped over the protruding ends and wing nuts  36  are screwed tightly onto the threaded protruding ends of the “U” bolt  30 . FIGS.  1 , 4   
   With the chair  20  unfolded and tent pegs  12  securing the feet of the chair legs  22  to the ground, the umbrella pole  17  may be inserted through the compression fitting  10  on the top mounting plate  35 T and through the compression fitting  10  on the bottom mounting plate  35 B and the device secured in place. 
   Second Embodiment 
   The second embodiment contemplates the use of this device with two camping chairs. If using a pair of chairs, the user secures one side of the mounting plates to one chair leg  22  and the other end to the other chair leg  25 .  FIG. 2  The top mounting plate  35 T and the bottom mounting plate  35 B are secured to the leg  22  of one chair and the leg  25  of another chair. The device  5  is attached using the same method as described above with the same hardware.