Abstract:
An umbrella canopy having one or more single-canopy panels and one or more double-canopy panels. An umbrella having a central shaft, a spindle slidably disposed on the shaft and movable between a first position and a second position, a first plurality of radially extending ribs hingedly attached at first ends thereof to the shaft and terminating at second ends, a second plurality of radially extending ribs secured at first ends thereof hingedly to the spindle and secured at second ends thereof to respective ones of the first plurality of ribs and an umbrella canopy supported by the first plurality of ribs, wherein the canopy includes one or more single-canopy umbrella panels, and one or more double-canopy umbrella panels.

Description:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
       [0001]    Double-canopy umbrellas present a significant improvement over traditional single-canopy umbrellas by allowing the flow of air from below the canopy to above (and vice versa), preventing inversion or collapse due to gusts of wind. However, double-canopy umbrellas may be structurally weaker, and further contain less surface area on which logos or other graphics may be printed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    An umbrella canopy having one or more single-canopy panels and one or more double-canopy panels. The double-canopy panels having a substantially air-intransmissible upper portion, an air-transmissible middle portion, and a substantially air-intransmissible lower portion. 
         [0003]    An umbrella having a central shaft adapted to be grasped by a user at a first end thereof and having a second end, a spindle slidably disposed on the shaft and movable between a first position adjacent to the first end of the shaft and a second position adjacent to the second end of the shaft, a first plurality of radially extending ribs hingedly attached at first ends thereof to the second end of the shaft and terminating at second ends, a second plurality of radially extending ribs secured at first ends thereof hingedly to the spindle and secured at second ends thereof to respective ones of the first plurality of ribs and an umbrella canopy supported by the first plurality of ribs, the canopy secured to the first ends of the first plurality of ribs adjacent to the second end of the central shaft and secured to the second ends of the second plurality of ribs at an outer perimeter of the canopy, wherein the canopy includes one or more single-canopy umbrella panels, and one or more double-canopy umbrella panels. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  show top and bottom views of a first exemplary umbrella canopy according to the present invention. 
           [0005]      FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  show top and bottom views of a second exemplary umbrella canopy according to the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  show top and bottom views of a third exemplary umbrella canopy according to the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  show top and bottom views of a fourth exemplary umbrella canopy according to the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  show top and bottom views of a fifth exemplary umbrella canopy according to the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  show top and bottom views of a sixth exemplary umbrella canopy according to the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  show top and bottom views of a seventh exemplary umbrella canopy according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  show top and bottom views of an eighth exemplary umbrella canopy according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b  show top and bottom views of a ninth exemplary umbrella canopy according to the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b  show top and bottom views of a tenth exemplary umbrella canopy according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b  show logos printed on single-canopy and double-canopy panels of substantially identically sized umbrella canopies. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    The exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an improved hybrid umbrella canopy that combines advantageous aspects of both single-canopy and double-canopy umbrellas. The present invention may be further understood with reference to the following description and the appended drawings, wherein like elements are referred to with the same reference numerals. 
         [0016]    An exemplary double-canopy umbrella is designed around a central shaft with a handle at a first end. A plurality of radially-extending ribs are hingedly attached at a second end of the shaft. The canopy is comprised of a flexible, foldable, waterproof covering (e.g., a waterproof cloth natural or synthetic covering, such as nylon) disposed over the plurality of ribs. The canopy comprises two separate canopy portions, a lower portion and an upper portion, which at least partially covers the lower portion. (In contrast, the canopy of a single-canopy umbrella includes only one canopy portion.) Each canopy portion comprises a plurality of substantially triangular panels (“gores”), which are sewn together along lines overlying the ribs to form the canopy portions. It should be noted that the words “gores” and “panels” will be used interchangeably throughout this disclosure. The gores are secured to the ribs at suitable points (in particular, at each end of the ribs). Additionally, the gores may be, and preferably are, secured to the ribs with suitable stitching or bar tacking at intermediary points along the ribs. 
         [0017]    The lower canopy portion comprising a plurality of gores comprises, when sewn together, a substantially air intransmissible annular perimeter portion, an air transmissible intermediate annular opening, and a central upper substantially air intransmissible portion. By “substantially air intransmissible,” it is meant that the material presents a barrier to wind gusts (i.e., does not allow wind gusts to pass through), even though the material may “breathe” somewhat, or allow some air to permeate through. Conversely, by “substantially air transmissible,” it is meant that wind gusts can pass through. The substantially air transmissible intermediate opening may be, for example, a flexible mesh material or an air intransmissible material with openings (in the shape of, e.g., holes, slits, or teardrops). The substantially air transmissible intermediate opening is sewn to the material of the perimeter portion along a joining line, and is sewn to the material of the central portion at a joining line. Accordingly, each gore comprises an upper triangular shaped member, an air transmissible member that is essentially formed in the shape of a truncated cone, and a lower portion that is also essentially formed in the shape of a truncated cone. When the plurality of gores is sewn together along their radial edges, the lower canopy portion is formed. 
         [0018]    The air transmissible portion provides an escape route for air gusts impinging on the concave lower surface of the umbrella when it is in a deployed state. The air transmissible portion also provides strength to the entire lower canopy portion, helping to keep the lower canopy portion taut. 
         [0019]    The upper canopy portion is disposed over the central portion of the lower canopy, the air transmissible portion of the lower canopy, and an overlapped segment of the outer portion of the lower canopy. The overlap prevents rainwater from falling through the air transmissible portion. The upper canopy is secured to the lower canopy and to the ribs at points along the outer perimeter of the upper canopy portion, and is further secured to the central shaft. The upper canopy, like the lower canopy, comprises a plurality of sewn together triangular shaped gores. 
         [0020]    The umbrella typically includes a spindle, mounted on the central shaft, to which a second set of radially extending erecting ribs are hingedly attached. The erecting ribs are attached to respective upper ribs by suitable hinges approximately at the mid-section of the upper ribs. The spindle is slidable on the central shaft, so that the umbrella may be moved to and from its deployed state. The spindle is moved upward from a position adjacent the handle to deploy the umbrella. When the spindle is moved upward, the erecting ribs move the upper ribs from an undeployed position to a deployed position, thereby erecting the umbrella canopy and giving the umbrella a convex upper surface and concave lower surface. A more complete description of an exemplary double canopy umbrella may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,536, entitled “Umbrella and Umbrella Canopy” and issued Apr. 6, 1999. 
         [0021]    Those skilled in the art will understand that the above is only one exemplary construction of a double canopy umbrella. Other types of double canopy umbrellas, including the manners of construction of such umbrellas, may exist. The present invention is not limited to any specific type of double or single canopy for an umbrella, but may be implemented using any type. 
         [0022]    The exemplary embodiments of the present invention combine one or more double-canopy gores and one or more single-canopy gores (or panels). Construction of each individual panel and attachment of the panels to one another and to the ribs may be substantially as discussed above, or may be accomplished by any other manner of constructing single or double canopy umbrellas.  FIG. 1   a  illustrates a top view of a first exemplary embodiment  110  of an umbrella canopy according to the present invention. The first exemplary embodiment  110  includes a single-canopy panel  120 , three contiguous double-canopy panels  130 ,  132  and  134 , a second single-canopy panel  140 , and a second set of three contiguous double-canopy panels  150 ,  152  and  154 .  FIG. 1   b  shows a bottom view of the same first exemplary embodiment  110 . 
         [0023]    The combined use of both single-canopy and double-canopy panels results in a hybrid umbrella canopy possessing many of the advantages of both single-canopy and double-canopy umbrellas. The single-double hybrid canopy possesses the main advantage of a double-canopy umbrella, providing ventilation so as to minimize the effect of gusts of wind on the umbrella. Additionally, by incorporating one or more single-canopy panels, a single-double hybrid canopy may provide greater structural strength than a standard double-canopy umbrella. Further, the use of single-canopy panels enables the printing of larger graphics (e.g., corporate logos, university affinity logos, etc.);  FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b  illustrate this feature.  FIG. 11   a  shows an umbrella canopy  1110  with a graphic  1112  printed on a single-canopy panel  1114 .  FIG. 11   b  shows comparably-sized umbrella canopy  1120  with a graphic  1122  printed on a double-canopy panel  1124 . As is apparent, the use of single-canopy panels allows the printing of larger graphics on a comparably-sized umbrella. 
         [0024]    Those of skill in the art will understand that the exemplary hybrid umbrella canopy described above may be implemented using any standard umbrella structure known in the art. The central shaft and ribs may be structured as described for the exemplary double-canopy umbrella above or in any other manner. The umbrella may be self-opening or may have a spindle that is adapted to be manually moved along the central shaft by the user. The double-canopy panels may comprise a central air-transmissible mesh portion, or alternatively may comprise a central portion comprising an air-intransmissible material (e.g., nylon) that has perforations to permit the flow of air through the canopy. In such an embodiment, the perforations may be of any shape and size suitable to permit the flow of air (e.g., linear slits, curvilinear slits, circular perforations, ovate perforations, teardrop-shaped perforations, etc.). 
         [0025]      FIG. 2   a  illustrates a top view of a second exemplary embodiment  210  of an umbrella canopy according to the present invention. The second exemplary embodiment  210  includes two contiguous single-canopy panels  220  and  222 , two contiguous double-canopy panels  230  and  232 , a second set of two contiguous single-canopy panels  240  and  242 , and a second set of two contiguous double-canopy panels  250  and  252 .  FIG. 2   b  shows a bottom view of the same second exemplary embodiment  210 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 3   a  illustrates a top view of a third exemplary embodiment  310  of an umbrella canopy according to the present invention. The third exemplary embodiment  310  includes a set of three contiguous single-canopy panels  320 ,  322  and  324 , a double-canopy panel  330 , another set of three contiguous single-canopy panels  340 ,  342 ,  344 , and a second double-canopy panel  350 .  FIG. 3   b  shows a bottom view of the same third exemplary embodiment  310 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 4   a  illustrates a top view of a fourth exemplary embodiment  410  of an umbrella canopy according to the present invention. The fourth exemplary embodiment  410  includes seven contiguous double-canopy panels  420  and one single-canopy panel  430 .  FIG. 4   b  shows a bottom view of the same fourth exemplary embodiment  410 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 5   a  illustrates a top view of a fifth exemplary embodiment  510  of an umbrella canopy according to the present invention. The fifth exemplary embodiment  510  includes six contiguous double-canopy panels  520  and two contiguous single-canopy panels  530 .  FIG. 5   b  shows a bottom view of the same fifth exemplary embodiment  510 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 6   a  illustrates a top view of a sixth exemplary embodiment  610  of an umbrella canopy according to the present invention. The sixth exemplary embodiment  610  includes five contiguous double-canopy panels  620  and three contiguous single-canopy panels  630 .  FIG. 6   b  shows a bottom view of the same sixth exemplary embodiment  610 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 7   a  illustrates a top view of a seventh exemplary embodiment  710  of an umbrella canopy according to the present invention. The seventh exemplary embodiment  710  includes four contiguous double-canopy panels  720  and four contiguous single-canopy panels  730 .  FIG. 7   b  shows a bottom view of the same seventh exemplary embodiment  710 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 8   a  illustrates a top view of an eighth exemplary embodiment  810  of an umbrella canopy according to the present invention. The eighth exemplary embodiment  810  includes three contiguous double-canopy panels  820  and five contiguous single-canopy panels  830 .  FIG. 8   b  shows a bottom view of the same eighth exemplary embodiment  810 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 9   a  illustrates a top view of a ninth exemplary embodiment  910  of an umbrella canopy according to the present invention. The ninth exemplary embodiment  910  includes two contiguous double-canopy panels  920  and six contiguous single-canopy panels  930 .  FIG. 9   b  shows a bottom view of the same ninth exemplary embodiment  910 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 10   a  illustrates a top view of a tenth exemplary embodiment  1010  of an umbrella canopy according to the present invention. The tenth exemplary embodiment  1010  includes one double-canopy panel  1020  and seven contiguous single-canopy panels  1030 .  FIG. 10   b  shows a bottom view of the same tenth exemplary embodiment  1010 . 
         [0034]    It should be apparent to those of skill in the art that the specific configurations of single-canopy and double-canopy panels in the embodiments discussed above and illustrated in  FIGS. 1   a  through  10   b  are only exemplary, and that other configurations incorporating both single-canopy and double-canopy panels are possible without departing from the broader spirit of the present invention. 
         [0035]    It should also be apparent that while the bottom views in  FIGS. 1   b  through  10   b  illustrate double-canopy panels reinforced with mesh, other means of reinforcing the double-canopy panels may be used without departing from the broader spirit of the present invention. 
         [0036]    In the preceding specification, the present invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereunto without departing from the broadest spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.