Umbrella tear prevention and repair device

The present invention relates to a device for securing umbrella material to an umbrella rib end. The device includes a cap member having an external wall and an internal wall, the internal wall defining an internal bore having an opening at a distal of the internal wall; a pair of cooperating jaw members pivotally attached to one another, the jaw members have opposing gripping portions, the jaw members movable between an open position in which the gripping portions are spaced from one another and a closed position in which the gripping portions are approximated; and a flexible cord slidably secured through the cap member, the cap member connected at one end to one of the jaw members and at the other end to the other jaw member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates generally to devices for repairing umbrellas, 
and for preventing the tearing of umbrellas. More particularly, the 
present invention relates to a device for securing the umbrella material 
to the end of the umbrella ribs. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Due to the structural designs of umbrellas, an inherent weak spot is the 
point in which the lining material of the umbrella is secured to the rib 
ends of the umbrella. Inevitably, through use in high winds and other foul 
weather, the material located at or near the in ends tears away from the 
rib and rib ends from which they are attached. As any umbrella user can 
attest to, once the umbrella lining develops a tear, the use of the 
umbrella becomes increasing difficult and downright annoying as the tear 
spreads, the umbrella rib ends become exposed hazards, not to mention the 
unsightly nature of a ragged umbrella. As a result of these common 
problems with umbrellas, many devices have been created in an attempt to 
prevent the tearing of umbrellas, and to repair an already damaged 
umbrella. 
Some of the early patents which disclose repair devices are U.S. Pat. Nos. 
1,007,320, 1,060,712, and 1,336,218. Unfortunately, the devices disclosed 
in these patents require special devices or tools to secure the umbrella 
lining material to the rib ends. 
A more recent device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,416 to Sims 
wherein an umbrella repair kit can be used to repair torn umbrella 
material. The kit includes a short section of plastic tube, and a conical 
cap having a threaded bore. The plastic tube is designed to be expanded 
over the tip end of the umbrella rib, then a section of the umbrella 
material is placed over and around the tube, and finally the conical cap 
is manually screwed over the tube to hold the material in place on the end 
of the umbrella tip. This device has two inherent weaknesses, the first 
being that two pieces, namely the tube and the cap, must be used two to 
repair the umbrella. Inevitably, one piece will be lost, misplaced or 
damaged rendering the remaining piece useless. Secondly, and of greatest 
concern, this device can only be employed if torn material can be draped 
over the rib end of the umbrella. Unfortunately, most of the time it is 
the material that is in closest proximity to the rib end which has torn 
away or is in the worst condition. When the material surrounding the rib 
end is missing or in poor condition, it cannot be effectively draped over 
the rib end to secured the remaining material to the rib ends to repair 
the umbrella. 
Further development of umbrella repair devices can be seen as described in 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,844 to Morrone. Morrone 844' discloses a device for 
preventing and repairing tears in the umbrella material adjacent the rib 
ends. The Morrone device is preferably made of plastic and which can be 
fitted or clamped over the ribs of the umbrella to additionally secure the 
ribs to the umbrella material. Although this device is one piece in 
construction, it suffers from the same deficiency as the Sims device 
described above in that it requires the provision that material of 
reasonably quality be available adjacent to the rib and rib ends of the 
umbrella. As mentioned above, it is generally this material which has been 
torn away or otherwise severely damaged making rendering this device 
ineffective in repairing an umbrella. This device, to its credit, can be 
applied to a new or undamaged umbrella as an effective means of preventing 
tears. However, human nature makes it unlikely that a consumer will take 
the time out to place such a device on an undamaged umbrella, but rather 
will desperately search for a quick an easy device to repair the umbrella 
at the time the umbrella tears. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an umbrella 
repair device which is one piece in construction. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device which 
does not require the use of any tools or instruments to be used. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an umbrella repair 
device which can be used on umbrellas where the umbrella material adjacent 
to the rib ends is missing or severely damaged. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an umbrella 
repair device which can be quickly an easily attached to an umbrella. 
Numerous innovations for umbrella repair devices have been provided in the 
prior art. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific 
individual purposes to which they address, they differ from the present 
invention as hereinafter contrasted. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention includes a device for repairing or preventing tears 
in umbrellas. The device generally includes a plastic cap member having an 
external wall and an internal wall. The internal wall defines an internal 
bore having an opening at a distal end of the internal bore. The internal 
bore is dimensioned and adapted to receive a portion of a rib end of an 
umbrella snugly therein. At least one flexible cord is provided, each cord 
extends through transverse holes in the cap and is attached at both ends 
to a jaw assembly. Each jaw assembly has a pair of cooperating jaw members 
having a gripping portion which is adapted to grip umbrella material. The 
jaw members are pivotally attached to one another and are movable between 
an open position in which the gripping portions of the jaw members are 
spaced from one another and a closed position wherein the gripping 
portions are approximated. The jaw members are configured to be manually 
moved between the open and closed position to be releasably attached to 
torn umbrella material. The flexible cord can be stretched to extend the 
jaw members to material not immediately adjacent to the umbrella ribs or 
rib ends. 
The novel features which are considered characteristic for the umbrella 
repair device are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, 
however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together 
with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood 
from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and 
understood in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
BRIEF LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING 
FIRST EMBODIMENT 
10--umbrella repair device 
12--cap 
14--cord 
16--jaw assembly 
18--bore 
20--opening 
22--ridges 
24--transverse holes 
26--jaw members 
28--fastener 
30--proximal end 
32--pivot pin 
34--gripping portion 
90--umbrella 
92--material 
94--rib 
96--rib ends 
98--torn portion 
SECOND EMBODIMENT 
110--umbrella repair device 
112--cap 
114A--proximal cord 
114B--distal cord 
116A--proximal jaw assembly 
116B--distal jaw assembly 
194--rib 
198--torn material

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Firstly, referring to FIG. 1, umbrella repair device 10 is shown and 
includes three main structural elements, namely cap 12, cord 14 and jaw 
assemblies 16. 
With continued reference to FIG. 1, cap 12 is preferably constructed of a 
polymeric material such as transparent plastic shown. However, it is 
contemplated that the cap be nontransparent, as well as colored to reflect 
and match the umbrella lining material. Cap 12 defines an internal bore 18 
having an opening 20. Opening 20 is dimensioned to receive a portion of an 
umbrella rib end therethrough. Ridges 22 extend from the exterior surface 
of the cap 12 and are adapted to provide a surface which a user can hold 
to manipulate the device 10. Transverse holes 24 extend through the cap 12 
and are dimensioned to permit cord 14 to slide therethrough. 
Referring once again to FIG. 1, each jaw assembly 16 has a pair of jaw 
member 26. Fastener 28 is disposed through the proximal end 30 of one of 
the jaw members 26 to secure the jaw member 26 to the end of the cord 14. 
The jaw members 26 are pivotally attached to one another by pivot pin 32. 
Each jaw member 34 forms a gripping portion 34 adapted to secure umbrella 
material therebetween when approximated. 
Referring now to FIG. 2 in conjunction with FIG. 1, umbrella 90 is shown. 
Umbrella 90 represents a conventional umbrella and includes a fabric 
material 92 attached to a plurality of spaced apart ribs 94. Each of the 
ribs 94 terminates at a pointed rib end 96. As shown in FIG. 2, umbrella 
90 has a torn portion 98 in material 92 as commonly experienced in 
umbrellas in general. Umbrella repair device 10 is shown in proximity of 
the torn portion 98 to illustrate that cap 12 is configured to be placed 
on the rib end 96 and that the jaw assemblies 16 are configured to be 
secured to the torn portion 98. 
Referring now to FIG. 3 in conjunction to FIGS. 1 and 2, the operation of 
the umbrella repair device 10 will now be described. Rib end 96 disposed 
between torn portions 98 in material 92 is inserted into the bore 18 in 
cap 12 through opening 20. Rib end 96 fictionally secured within cap 12 by 
the internal walls (not shown) of cap 12. Jaw assemblies 26 are then moved 
by the user toward the torn portions 98 by stretching the cord 14. Once 
positioned by the user, the jaw assembly is moved into an open position by 
approximating the proximal ends 30 of the jaw members 29. As the proximal 
ends 30 are approximated, the gripping portions 34 of the jaw members are 
increasingly spaced from one another. The user then inserts a portion of 
the torn portion 98 between the spaced gripping portions 34 of the jaw 
members 26. The user then releases the tension of the proximal ends 30 of 
the jaw members 26 allowing the the jaw assembly to return to its resting 
position with the gripping portions 34 of the jaw members 16 firmly 
approximated with a portion of the torn portion 98 secured therebetween. 
The user then repeats this process for the other jaw assembly 16 on 
another portion of the torn portion 98 of the material 92. After both jaw 
assemblies 16 have been secured to the torn portion 98 of the material 92, 
the user releases the device 10. The elasticity of the cord 14 applying a 
force on the torn portion 98 toward the cap 12 and repairing the umbrella 
90. 
Referring to FIG. 4, an umbrella repair device 110 constructed in 
accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. 
Device 110 is similar to construction and use as device 10 and includes an 
elongated cap 112. Secured to cap 112 is proximal cord 114A and a distal 
cord 114B. Attached in the same manner as described above with respect to 
device 10, are jaw assemblies 116A and 116B respectively attached to cords 
114A and 114B. The operation of the device 110 is similar to that of 
device 10 with the jaw assemblies 116A and 116B being moved to different 
portions of the torn portion 198 by stretching cords 114A and 114B. The 
jaw assemblies 116A and 116B are then attached to the torn material 198 to 
resecure the torn portion 198 to the ribs 194 and repair the umbrella 90. 
While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in an 
umbrella repair device, it is not intended to be limited to the particular 
structure disclosed herein, since it will be understood that various 
omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and 
details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by 
those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of 
the present invention. For example, it is envisioned that the device can 
be secured to an umbrella prior to damage to the umbrella to prevent 
tearing in the material.