Abstract:
An umbrella mount adapted to hold an umbrella shaft and to be detachably mounted to a support shaft such as a rear leg of a folding chair, lawn chair, or beach chair. The umbrella mount comprises a tube, a top binder, a bottom binder, a support member, and a securing member. The top binder detachably attaches the tube near its top end to the support shaft, whereas the bottom binder detachably attaches the tube near its bottom end to the support shaft. The binders are preferably hook and loop straps with non-slip collars. The bottom of the umbrella shaft is deposited into the tube. The support member prevents the umbrella shaft from slipping out the bottom end of the tube. The securing member adjusts to secure the umbrella shaft within the tube.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/482,124, filed Jun. 23, 2003. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates to devices for holding umbrellas, and in particular, to a portable device which can be mounted to a support shaft, e.g., a chair leg, and is adapted for receiving and supporting an umbrella.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     It is often desirable to have an umbrella close at hand for relief from rain as well as from direct sunlight. This is especially true when watching an outdoor sporting event, e.g., a soccer or baseball game, or a motorcar race. At such times, it also is desirable to be able to mount or plant such an umbrella in an upright, unfolded position to or in a suitably stable object such that a user of the umbrella need not fatigue his or her arms and hands by holding and maintaining the umbrella in the desired position. To that end, a conventional beach umbrella or sun shade umbrella typically has a pointed pole that can be driven into the sand at a beach to immobilize the umbrella However, in locations where the ground is not as soft, e.g., dirt fields or pavement, it is usually impractical or impossible to attempt to anchor the umbrella in the ground. In these locations, an alternative mounting option is desirable. Thus, there is a need for a portable, light-weight umbrella mounting device that can be easily and quickly installed and removed from a support shaft, e.g., a portable chair leg.  
         [0006]     Various devices are disclosed in the literature for mounting an umbrella to a free-standing structure, thereby eliminating the need for anchoring the umbrella to the ground. However, the prior art devices are often cumbersome, heavy, or large, or require time and/or tools to install and remove such a prior art umbrella mounting device. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,097 issued on Nov. 5, 2002, to Treppedi et al. shows a mobile cooler having a cylindrical umbrella shaft retainer with a retaining knob that holds an umbrella either in a raised position above the ground during transport or in place when the umbrella shaft is embedded in the ground. However, Treppedi et al. does not show an umbrella mounting device that is detachably mounted to a support shaft, that can be re-positioned along a support shaft, or that maintains the umbrella shaft above the ground surface at all times.  
         [0007]     Turning now specifically to umbrella mounting devices used in conjunction with chairs, U.S. Pat. No. 3,637,046 issued on Jan. 25, 1972, to Emmons discloses the use of a U-bolt clamp to secure an umbrella shaft to a chair. The Emmons device requires a hole to be bored in the chair seat to maintain the umbrella in an upright position, as well as holes and/or a permanently attached U-bolt clamp on the seat to anchor the umbrella shaft.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,904,161 issued on Sep. 9, 1965, to Scott discloses a clamp for attaching an umbrella to a lawn chair. The Scott device must be attached to a horizontal portion of the chair frame, preferably the uppermost horizontal portion of the chair back, and its jaws clamp a relatively small portion of the handle of an umbrella with no further stabilization of the umbrella shaft at any other point along the umbrella shaft.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,141 issued on Oct. 3, 1989, to Chen discloses an adjustable umbrella support that clamps on the side of a chair. An umbrella shaft is simply deposited into a hole bored through most of the length of the device. No further means of more securely attaching the umbrella shaft to the device are shown.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,198 issued on Mar. 31, 1992, to Baltzell discloses a seat cooler apparatus that has a support cylinder mounted upon a rear portion of the cooler located under the seat. As in the above-mentioned Chen device, an umbrella shaft is simply deposited into the cylinder and no further means of more securely attaching the umbrella shaft to the device are shown. This device also is not described as being detachable and/or adjustable.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,954 issued on Oct. 26,1993, to Rogers discloses a sun shade umbrella mount for a chair back. An umbrella shaft is supported by a sleeve secured to a frame that hooks to a mounting plate. The mounting plate must be permanently attached to the chair back using bolts, screws, or the like.  
         [0012]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,041 issued on Dec. 26, 1995, to Mayne, as well as U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,327 issued on Nov. 17, 1998, to Davis, disclose clamping and holding devices suitable for mounting umbrellas to chairs. On both devices, a first clamping arm and a second opposing clamping arm provide a single area of attachment where the device clamps the chair, rather than providing two or more areas of attachment for added stability.  
         [0013]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,218 issued on May 21, 1996, to Leonard discloses an umbrella-holding tube that can be bound to a chair using bungee cords. An umbrella is bound to the device using a bungee cord as well, and no rigid or non-stretchable fastening means are used for such bindings.  
         [0014]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,197 issued on June 24,1997, to Springmann discloses a collapsible sports chair that includes a permanently attached umbrella support mechanism having five apertures with bushings that hold an umbrella at a single area of contact with a fixed diameter.  
         [0015]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,659 issued on Aug. 27, 2002, to Neubauer, Jr. discloses an collapsible portable chair having an opening in a vertical portion of the chair frame such that an umbrella shaft may be deposited therein. The umbrella holder is an integral part of the chair and is thus not removable or repositionable.  
         [0016]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,733 issued on March 25, 2003 to Sharp discloses a cooler having a permanently fixed and integrated umbrella stand attached to one side. The umbrella stand is simply two rings secured to the cooler such that an umbrella shaft slides through both rings and holds the umbrella in an upright position.  
         [0017]     European Pat. Application Publication No. EP 0 860 113 A1 discloses a folding chair having an attached tube for holding an umbrella The device is designed to be attached to and used only with the folding chair described, as opposed to being usable with any chair.  
         [0018]     Therefore, each of the prior art umbrella mounting devices is either too cumbersome, requires extended time to install and remove the device, or is incapable of working with an existing folding chair and a conventional umbrella such that the device securely holds the umbrella over the folding chair. There is a need for a portable, light-weight umbrella mounting device that can be easily and quickly installed and removed from a support shaft, e.g., a portable chair leg, wherein the umbrella mounting device securely holds a conventional umbrella in a desired position over a user.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     The present invention is an accessory device that allows for the ready attachment and detachment of an umbrella, preferably a portable beach umbrella, to a conventional foldable outdoor chair as is used at the beach, when camping, or at picnics. As such, the present invention provides a convenient, portable, and inexpensive mounting option for an individual using an umbrella. The present invention therefore enables a user to temporarily immobilize an umbrella for convenient, hands-free use, even in areas having hard surfaces, such as patios or decks.  
         [0020]     The present invention is an umbrella mount having a tube with a top end and a bottom end, a top binder, a bottom binder, a support member, and a securing member. The top binder attaches the tube near its top end to a support shaft, e.g., a leg of a portable, folding chair, whereas the bottom binder attaches the tube near its bottom end to the support shaft. The binders are preferably Velcro-type hook and loop straps that detachably bind the tube to the support shaft. Also, a non-slip collar is positioned on the tube under each binder such that both the top binder and the bottom bind pass over a collar. The collar provides the means for preventing slippage of the straps and preventing slippage of the tube against the support shaft. The support member prevents the umbrella shaft from slipping out the bottom end of the tube. The securing member adjusts the diameter of the cylindrical cavity of the tube to secure the umbrella shaft within the tube.  
         [0021]     There are several advantages of the umbrella mount over conventional devices. First, the umbrella mount is easily and quickly installed on and removed from any support shaft. Second, the use of a support member that does not close off the bottom end of the tube allows water and dirt to pass through the tube and not collect within the cylindrical cavity. Third, the umbrella mount is extremely light weight and portable. Fourth, the umbrella mount can be used with any existing foldable chair or support shaft so long as the top and bottom binders are long enough to encompass the support shaft and tube. The present invention does not require any modification to a support shaft nor the use of extra tools in the installation and removal of the umbrella mount.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0022]     The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-most digit of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.  
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an umbrella mount of the present invention bound to a chair and holding an umbrella;  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the umbrella mount of the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a planar side view of a preferred embodiment of the umbrella mount of the present invention bound to a chair and holding an umbrella;  
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the device of  FIG. 3  at line  4 - 4 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the device of  FIG. 3  at line  5 - 5 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is a top end view of a tube and top collar of the present invention; and  
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a bottom end of a tube of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0030]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the umbrella mount  100  of the present invention is adapted to detachably mount on a support shaft, such as a back leg  104  of a folding chair  102 , and to securely hold in place an umbrella shaft  106  of an umbrella  108 . However, the depiction of the umbrella mount  100  used in conjunction with the back leg  104  of a folding chair  102  is for convenience purposes only. The umbrella mount  100  works equally as well mounted on any chair leg, table leg, post, or other generally vertical shaft (collectively, “support shaft”), so long as the length of the support shaft  104  is at least about as long as the umbrella mount  100  and the umbrella shaft  106  rises above the support shaft  104 .  
         [0031]     As shown in  FIGS. 2-6 , a preferred embodiment of the umbrella mount  100  comprises a tube  202 , a top cinch strap  204 , a bottom cinch strap  206 , a machine screw or roll pin  208 , and a thumb screw  210 . The tube  202  comprises atop end  212 , an outer surface  214 , an inner surface  216 , and a bottom end  218 . The tube  202  is defined by a length running from the top end  212  to the bottom end  218 , as well as by an inner diameter and an outer diameter, such that the tube defines a cylindrical cavity  220 . The tube  202  is preferably made of a plastic or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tube or pipe, but other materials having comparably similar strength and durability characteristics may alternatively be used, such as metal, wood, rubber, or a composite material. The tube  202  preferably has a length of between about twelve inches and thirteen inches, with an inner diameter of about one inch. PVC pipe is readily commercially available and is well-know to those skilled in the art. The cylindrical cavity  220  of the tube  202  acts as a receptacle into which the umbrella shaft  106  is deposited. The length and size of the tube  202  is described in these terms for convenience only. It would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art to use a different length and diameter tube  202  depending on the size of the umbrella shaft  106  intended to be used with the umbrella mount  100 .  
         [0032]     Attached in proximity to or near the top end  212  of the tube  202  is the top cinch strap  204 , and attached in proximity to or near bottom end  218  of the tube  202  is the bottom cinch strap  206 . Top cinch strap  204  and bottom cinch strap  206  detachably bind umbrella mount  100  to the support shaft  104 . Top cinch strap  204  and bottom cinch strap  206  are both preferably conventional Velcro-type straps having hook and loop fasteners about one inch wide and having a length that enables the straps to encompass both the support shaft  104  and the tube  202 . Optionally, the top cinch strap  204  and bottom cinch strap  206  have a buckle on one end (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) such that the other end of each strap is inserted through its buckle and folded over the length of the strap, thereby securing the strap in place. Comparable means of binding the umbrella mount  100  to the support shaft  104  may alternatively be used such as bungee cords, straps, snaps, hooks, clamps, clips, fasteners, clasps, securing means, adhesives, pins, pegs, or any combination thereof (collectively, “top binder” and “bottom binder”). Such means of binding should preferably bind at least the top end  212  as well as the bottom end  218  of the tube  202  to the support shaft  104  such that any torsional forces, such as excessive wind, applied to the umbrella  108  do not wrench the umbrella mount  100  away from the support shaft  104 . Any number of additional means of binding the umbrella mount  100  to the support shaft  104 , as a supplement or supplements at any point or points along the tube  202  between the top binder and the bottom binder may also be used.  
         [0033]     Top binder and bottom binder each also preferably operate in conjunction with a non-slip covering, such as a circular collar  222 ,  224  made of foam, sponge or rubber. The use of a collar  222 ,  224  is preferred because they can be easily put onto a tube  102  by sliding an end of the tube  102  through each collar  222 ,  224 . See  FIG. 6 . Each non-slip covering or collar  222 ,  224  is located on the outer surface  214  of tube  202  near the top end  216  and bottom end  218 , respectively, and is preferably, at least in part, between the outer surface  214  of the tube  202  and the top cinch strap  204  and the bottom cinch strap  206 , respectively, and between the outer surface  214  of the tube  102  and the support shaft  104 . Each non-slip covering or collar  222 ,  224  absorbs some of the pressure from top cinch strap  204  and bottom cinch strap  206  when they are tightened against a support shaft  104 , and also provides additional friction to prevent slippage between the tube  202  and the support shaft  104 . Each non-slip covering or collar  222 ,  224  may be removable from the tube  202 , or may be permanently affixed to the outer surface  214  of the tube  202  with an adhesive, glue, two-sided tape, one or more fasteners, or other comparable means of attachment. The collars  222 ,  224  are preferably wider than the top and bottom cinch straps  204 ,  206 , e.g., are about one and one-half inches wide. Also, the top cinch strap  204  and bottom cinch strap  206  are preferably riveted, or otherwise permanently affixed, to the collars  222 ,  224 , respectively, to prevent them from moving out of position off of the collars  222 ,  224  and to prevent them from being separated from the tube  202 . However, the collars  222 ,  224  may have alternative sizes and may be connected to the top cinch strap  204  and bottom cinch strap  206 , respectively, using alternative attachment means.  
         [0034]     In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the use of collars  222 ,  224  is optional so long as slippage between the tube  202  and the support shaft  104  is prevented in some manner. For example, in an alternative embodiment, the top cinch strap  204  and the bottom cinch strap  206 , and/or the outer surface  214  of the top end  216  and the bottom end  218  of tube  202  may have a non-slip or textured surface, or may be coated or wrapped with a non-slip or sticky material or surface, e.g., a coating containing grit, sand, or a sticky substance.  
         [0035]     Also in the preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a machine screw or roll pin  208  is threaded through a hole  226  preferably near the bottom end  218  of the tube  202 . However, the machine screw/roll pin  208  and associated hole  226  may alternatively be placed at another point along the length of the tube  202 . The machine screw/roll pin  208  substantially traverses the inner diameter of the tube  202  such that the cylindrical cavity  220  is obstructed to a sufficient extent to retain the umbrella shaft  106  within the tube  202  without slipping out the bottom end  218  of the tube  202 . That is, the machine screw/roll pin  208  may protrude through the opposite side of the tube  202  (such that the hole  226  extends through both sides of the tube  202 ), may extend the length of the entire cylindrical cavity  220 , or may extend a portion of the length of the cylindrical cavity  220 . The machine screw/roll pin  208  acts as a support member for the umbrella shaft  106 . In addition, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the machine screw/roll pin  208  may be secured to the inner surface  216  of the tube  202  by conventional means, thereby eliminating the need for a hole  226 .  
         [0036]     As noted above, the machine screw/roll pin  208  may be located at another point along the length of the tube  202 . Thus, the machine screw/roll pin  208  would work equally as well (that is, be of such a distance from the bottom end  218  of the tube  202  as to provide the needed support to prevent the umbrella shaft  106  from flipping out of the tube  202 ) if located within the bottom one-fourth length of the tube  202 .  
         [0037]     The use of a machine screw/roll pin  208  is for convenience, and any alternative support members or means for supporting the umbrella shaft  106  within the tube  202  would work equally as well. For example, as shown in  FIG. 7 , one or more flanges or protrusions  704  within the cylindrical cavity  220  of the tube  202  may be used as support members. Alternatively, a cap  702  may be placed on the bottom end  218  of the tube  202  to act as a support member. The cap  702  may be pressure fit onto the bottom end  218  of the tube  202  or may be secured in place by an adhesive, fastener, or the like. Although a cap  702  would work for the intended purpose, it is important to note that the preferred embodiment employs a machine screw/roll pin  208  or similar means for supporting the umbrella shaft  106  that does not fully enclose the bottom end  218  of the tube  202  in order to allow water, dirt, grass, and other debris to pass freely through the tube  202 .  
         [0038]     Also in the preferred embodiment, a thumb screw  210  is threaded through a hole  228  preferably near the top binder or top cinch strap  204 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the thumb screw  210  adjustably obstructs the cylindrical cavity  220  in order to hold the umbrella shaft  106  in place within the tube  202 . Specifically, the thumb screw  210  can be loosened such that the umbrella shaft  106  may easily be placed within the tube  202 . Then the thumb screw  210  can be tightened such that the end of the thumb screw  210  contacts and presses against the umbrella shaft  106 , thereby forcing the umbrella shaft  106  against the opposing inner surface  216  of the tube  202 . The umbrella shaft  106  is thus held securely in place within the tube  202 .  
         [0039]     The use of the thumb screw  210  provides the means for the umbrella mount  100  to accommodate an umbrella shaft  106  of any diameter, so long as the umbrella shaft  106  has a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the tube  202 . The thumb screw  210  and associated hole  228  may alternatively be located at another point along the length of tube  202 , so long as the thumb screw  210  is closer to the top end  216  of the tube  202  than is the machine screw/roll pin  208 . In general, however, the thumb screw  210  is preferably located closer to the top end  216  as opposed to the bottom end  218 . The use of thumb screw  210  is for convenience, and any alternative securing member or means for securing the umbrella shaft  106  within the tube  202  would work equally as well. For example, one or more clamps, adjustable pegs, or other adjustable obstructive members or projections may be used as securing members.  
         [0040]     In operation, the umbrella mount  100  is bound to a support shaft  104  by first placing the umbrella mount  100  against the support shaft  104  in the desired location such that the tube  202  is aligned with the support shaft  104 . The top cinch strap  204  or top binder as well as the bottom cinch strap  206  or bottom binder are then strapped or bound to the support shaft  104 . The umbrella shaft  106  is then deposited into the top end  216  of the tube  202  such that the umbrella shaft  106  slides down into the tube  202  and comes to a rest on top of the machine screw/roll pin  208  or support member. The thumb screw  210  or securing member is then adjusted or tightened such that the umbrella shaft  106  is held securely in place within the tube  202 . The umbrella  108  may be opened either before depositing the umbrella shaft  106  within the tube  202  or after the securing member is tightened.  
         [0041]     The umbrella mount  100  may subsequently be removed from the support shaft  104  by first loosening the thumb screw  210  or securing member, then removing the umbrella shaft  106  from the tube  202  by pulling it upward. The top cinch strap  204  or top binder as well as the bottom cinch strap  206  or bottom binder are then unstrapped or unbound from the support shaft  104 , and the umbrella mount  100  at that point is no longer attached to the support shaft  104 .  
         [0042]     One important advantage of the present invention is that the tube  202  may be rotated in relation to the support shaft  104  to which it is mounted. Thus, a user may rotate the tube  202  prior to securing it to the support shaft  202  in order to make the thumb screw  210  easily accessible or to facilitate the positioning of the umbrella  108  over the chair  102 .  
         [0043]     The umbrella mount  100  is described in these terms, these dimensions, and using these components for convenience purpose only. It would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art to manufacture and use a comparable umbrella mount using different dimensions, and/or comparable components.  
       CONCLUSION  
       [0044]     While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.