Umbrella assembly

This is concerned with an umbrella assembly and specifically with one that has a flashlight assembly in the handle thereof socketed so that operation of the flashlight is assured. The flashlight is a self-contained unit so that it may be replaced from time to time when the battery or batteries are worn out. The flashlight projects through the end of the handle and is useful in finding keyholes in the dark, aiding a woman in rummaging through her purse and the like. The flashlight can also be operated when the umbrella canopy is fully extended to project a light downwardly so a person walking in the dark can see steps, obstacles, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention is concerned with an umbrella assembly and specifically with 
an umbrella that has a flashlight in the handle. 
A primary object of the invention is a combination umbrella and flashlight 
to enable the user, for example, to find a keyhole in the dark. 
Another object is an umbrella assembly of the above type which assists in 
finding items in a purse in the dark, such as loose change, keys, etc., 
and also assist in getting in and out of a car. 
Another object is an umbrella assembly of the above type which contains a 
self-contained flashlight in the handle so that when the batteries are 
exhausted, the entire flashlight can be replaced. 
Another object is an alignment structure in the handle of an umbrella of 
the above type which ensures proper mounting of a self-contained 
flashlight. 
Another object is an inexpensive handle assembly for an umbrella which 
contains a flashlight. 
Other objects will appear from time to time in the ensuing specification 
and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The umbrella assembly is indicated generally at 10 and includes a shaft 12 
with a conventional umbrella canopy mounted at one end 14, shown in FIG. 1 
as enclosed by a cover 16, and a handle assembly 18 at the other end. 
The handle assembly includes an outer housing 20 which is more or less in 
the form of a tube closed at its upper end by a fitting 22 and at its 
lower end by a closure 24 to thereby provide a cavity or chamber 26 in the 
handle. 
A self-contained flashlight assembly 28 is disposed or positioned in the 
cavity in the handle and, in the form shown, may be of the type that is 
commonly referred to as a penlight flashlight, meaning a self-contained 
disposable unit intended to be thrown away when the batteries are 
exhausted. This is not to say that other types of flashlights could not be 
used however. 
The fitting 22 closing the upper end of the housing is shown separately in 
FIG. 4 and includes, as shown in FIG. 3 a threaded socket 30 at its upper 
end into which the umbrella shaft screws. The socket is in the form of a 
blind hole so that the shaft may bottom therein and be tightly mounted 
without any extra connectors, such as screws, bands or what have you. The 
particular mounting, however, of the umbrella shaft to the handle may take 
other forms and the particular arrangement shown is convenient, reliable 
and inexpensive. 
The adapter or fitting 22 may be tapered as at 32 on its upper end and has 
an outstanding flange or enlargement 34 on its lower end which fits into 
the open tubular end of the housing 20. It will be noted in FIG. 3 that 
the enlargement 34 of the adapter bottoms against a shoulder 36 provided 
by different diameters inside the housing with the shoulder being a given 
distance from the open end 38 of the housing to provide an annular 
countersink or recess 40 into which the ends or tips of the umbrella 
canopy support ribs may extend as a unit when the umbrella is fully 
collaped and compressed to its minimum length which is the position shown 
in FIG. 1. 
The bottom closure 24 on the handle is shown as a separate piece which is 
socketed at 42 into the end of the housing and may have a snap ring and 
groove interfit 44 to hold it tightly and rigidly in place. The end 
closure 24 may have an enlargement or flange 46 at the end to provide a 
connection 48 for a lanyard or loop 50 shown in FIG. 1. 
The fitting 22 at the upper end has a socket 52 into which the flashlight 
fits as does the end closure 24, as at 54. The dimensioning is such that 
with the flashlight in place and all of the parts fully assembled, the 
flashlight is socketed at each end and is held rigidly and securely in the 
handle. 
The side of the housing or handle is provided with an elongated slot 56 in 
which a depressible element 58 is mounted. The depressible element is 
elongated so that it complements or fits in the slot and is attached at 
one end 60 by gluing or heat sealing the periphery thereof in the slot for 
a certain distance as at 62. The other end of the depressible element may 
have an enlargement or raised portion 64 and an inner protruberance 66 to 
operate the flashlight. The depressible element in a sense is cantilevered 
about one end with the depressible portion at the other end being within 
the hand of the user handling the umbrella. The extent 62 of the connected 
portion should be such that a balance is struck between the depressible 
portion being too hard to operate on the one hand and too easy, on the 
other, which would cause the flashlight to be energized inadvertently. 
The flashlight assembly 28 may have an activator clip 68 as an integral 
part thereof. The fitting 22 may have a slot 70 formed therein so that 
when the flashlight assembly 28 is inserted into the open end of the 
handle, the activator clip 68 must be aligned with the slot 70 to obtain 
proper mounting of the flashlight. The slot 70 is also aligned with the 
depressible element 58 so that the end of the activator clip 68 is aligned 
with the depressible element when the unit is fully assembled, as shown in 
FIG. 3. It will be understood that the flashlight is of the type in which 
depression of the activator clip causes the flashlight to operate although 
it might be otherwise. The light 72 of the flashlight assembly is on the 
end thereof and is opposite a suitably shaped opening 74 in the removable 
end closure 24. 
If desired, a mounting band 76 may be forced or swedged into the end of the 
housing as shown in FIG. 3 to serve as a backup for mounting the 
depressible element 58. This is to say that in addition to connecting the 
depressible element to the housing about its periphery in the distant 62, 
the inner surface of the depressible element may also be glued or 
otherwise connected to the band 76 if desired. 
The use, operation and function of the invention are as follows: 
The invention is concerned with an umbrella assembly which may be viewed as 
a combination umbrella and flashlight. The flashlight is positioned in the 
handle so that it may be easily and conveniently activated whether or not 
the umbrella canopy is up or down. It is anticipated that the main use or 
utility of the flashlight will be when the umbrella is down and the user 
is in the dark, for example to aid in finding the keyhole in a door or 
when looking for loose change, etc. in a purse or briefcase. It may be 
also quite useful to aid in getting in and out of a car in the dark. 
It is also anticipated that the flashlight will be useful when the umbrella 
is raised, for example to illuminate the ground for obstacles such as 
steps, etc. in the dark when it is raining. It will be noted that the 
umbrella could be held in a normal upright position by one hand and the 
flashlight energized without any extra manipulation other than squeezing 
the handle. 
The specific arrangement shown has the advantage that a separate totally 
contained flashlight can be mounted in the handle and thrown away and 
replaced when the batteries are exhausted. The mounting also has the 
advantage that the flashlight assembly is rigidly socketed at each end and 
that the exterior depressible element is automatically aligned with the 
activator clip when the unit is assembled. 
While the preferred form and several variations of the invention have been 
shown and suggested, it should be understood that suitable additional 
modifications, changes, substitutions and alterations may be made without 
departing from the invention's fundamental theme. It is therefore wished 
that the invention be unrestricted except as by the appended claims.