Umbrella with an improved handle

An umbrella is described which has a handle (1) which is secured to an upper end part (3) of the umbrella stock (2) via a joint (4) in such a way that it can be pivoted between a position at least approximately aligned with the direction of the stock axis and a position at an angle of approximately 50.degree. to 90.degree. to the stock axis. The end part preferably has the same diameter as the adjacent grip region of the handle and serves as an extension of the grip region. In the grip region of the end part can be secured a snap-on shell which enables the umbrella to be grasped comfortably and securely.

The invention relates to an umbrella with a handle arranged at variance to 
the direction of the axis of the stock or shaft of the umbrella. 
Conventional umbrellas normally have a handle arranged at variance to the 
stock axis, the handle being bent for example in a semi-circular shape. 
Umbrellas are also known in which the handle is aligned with the stock 
axis and in which the upper end of the handle for example is ball-shaped. 
Umbrellas with a bent or angled handle have the advantage of better 
positioning in the hand and are more comfortable to grasp. However, this 
type of umbrella has the drawback of being relatively bulky during storage 
and transport, which can be of significance especially when shipping 
individual umbrellas or when shipping very large numbers, especially with 
regard to the cost of shipping umbrellas which are mass-produced and, 
because of their low price tags, one does not wish to make more expensive 
through additional costs of this type. 
It is an object of the invention to improve conventional umbrellas in such 
a way that on the one hand they are most practical in handling and on the 
other hand present the lowest possible volume for shipping. According to 
the invention, this object is achieved through the subject of claim 1. 
Preferred further developments of the invention are the subject of the 
sub-claims. 
A particular advantage of such a construction can be seen when for example 
an umbrella according to the invention can be held more comfortably when 
the handle is in the horizontal position. To a certain extent this 
compensates for different body heights of the users. This applies not only 
to longer umbrellas which are used as walking sticks, but also when used 
in the opened state where, for example, a child can hold more comfortably 
and securely the upper end of the umbrella stock which has approximately 
the same diameter as the handle. This also applies to the grasping of 
relatively short stock lengths, i.e. when the umbrella is insufficiently 
long for it to be used like a walking stick. A further advantage consists 
in that many users of utility articles get pleasure from being able to 
make different adjustments and thus surprise their friends that for 
apparently inexplicable reasons the handle no longer aligns with the stock 
axis. From a cost point of view the low shipping volume is particularly 
important, as the shipping costs form a substantial part in the 
calculation of the retail price for relatively bulky, mass-produced goods. 
The invention is described by way of example in more detail with the aid of 
the drawings, in which:

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 shows the upper end of the umbrella or 
parasol, as the lower end of the umbrella can be constructed in the 
conventional manner. 
The umbrella shown in the Figs. has a handle 1 and an umbrella stock 2 
whose upper end part 3 is constructed in such a way that on the one hand 
the umbrella stock can be inserted into the lower end of the end part 3, 
as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4, whilst on the other hand the upper 
end of the end part 3 is connected via a joint 4 with the lower end of the 
handle 1. The joint 4 can be a standard or similar ball joint, so that the 
handle can be pivoted from the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 into a 
position shown in FIG. 3 in which the handle at least approximately aligns 
with the direction of the stock axis. Instead of the 90.degree. offset 
position shown in FIG. 3, the preferred position, the handle 1 can also be 
adjusted from the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to any desirable angular 
position e.g. between a few degrees and 90 degrees or more, preferably 
between approximately 50.degree. and 90.degree.. 
In the adjusted positions shown in FIG. 1 and 2 or FIG. 3 and if necessary 
intermediate positions it is possible to lock the handle by means of a 
fixing element 5. 
The upper end part 3 of the umbrella stock allows for aesthetic shaping of 
the top end of the umbrella. The end part 3, which like the handle 1 is 
made for example of plastics, can be used as the grip region and a snap-on 
shell 10 can be attached by snapping-in to a recess 12 (FIG. 4) of the end 
part 3. A second snap-on shell 11, opposite the first snap-on shell 10, 
may also be inserted in a corresponding recess of the end part 3. The 
snap-on shells consist of transparent plastics material, but may also be 
made from nontransparent plastics. Different snap-on shells can be 
supplied with the umbrella in accordance with the buyers' wishes and these 
can be snapped in place by the users themselves. A transparent snap-on 
shell 10 is preferably used beneath which the user can place a tag with 
his name and address. Since the snap-on shell can be constructed in such a 
way that it cannot be easily removed or at least not without destroying 
it, the possibility for personalised inscriptions has obvious advantages 
for the owner of the umbrella. On the other hand the surface beneath the 
snap-on shells can otherwise be used in any desirable manner for the 
purpose of advertising or simply for affixing decorations, club badges 
etc. 
The upper end part 3 of the umbrella stock 2 is preferably constructed in 
such a way that it has approximately the same diameter as the adjacent 
grip region of the handle piece 1 and can therefore serve as an extension 
of the grip region. This further improves the handling of the umbrella 
because a comfortable gripping surface is provided not only on the handle 
itself, but also along the length of the end part 3 of the umbrella stock. 
By attaching the snap-on shells 10, 11 in the grip region of the end piece 
3 it is additionally possible to achieve a comfortable or improved feel 
when grasping the umbrella, for example when snap-on shells are used which 
have linear or grid-like projections on their surfaces. Small children 
especially would then also be able to grip the end region of the end part 
3 which they can reach better than the actual handle 1. Embodiments of 
different developments of the surfaces for the snap-on shells 10 or 11 are 
shown in FIGS. 5a, b and c. 
The drawing in FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a development of the joint 4. 
The joint can be of any conventional type such as for example a ball joint 
which is constructed in such a way that through this the handle 1 can be 
secured to the upper end 3 of the umbrella stock 2 and the handle 1 can be 
pivoted into a position at least approximately aligned with the direction 
of the stock axis. Advantageously the handle 1 has a fixing element 5 in 
the form of a fixing slider through which the handle can be locked in the 
selected pivot position. The fixing element 5 arranged in a recess 13 of 
the handle 1 is prestressed in the locked position by a spring 6. 
The snap-on shells 10 or 11 for example are half shells with a circular arc 
length having a central angle of approximately 180.degree. or less and 
enable the snapping-in in a holding groove 15 which runs on both sides 
along the recess 12 for inserting the relevant snap-on shell 10 which 
advantageously in each case has a snap-in projection 16 along its two side 
edges. 
The ball-shaped handle 1 preferably provided at the upper end of the handle 
1, like the handle 1 can be constructed solidly in one piece, or may 
consist of a hollow body with a detachable cap 14 or 9. When using a 
detachable cap there is also the advantage that by using different 
coloured plastics for the elements of the handle and the end part with the 
snap-on shell the looks of the umbrella can be improved by selecting a 
suitable colour contrast. Whilst the arrangement of a snap-on shell 10 in 
the grip region of the end part 3 is preferred, suitable construction of 
the handle 1 can also result in the snap-on shell 10 being arranged in the 
grip region of the handle 1. 
In the FIGS. 6 and 7 is shown a detailed embodiment in a pivot position 
according to FIG. 3. The sectional view in FIG. 6a shows the lower half of 
the handle 1 and the end part 3, whilst the sectional view in FIG. 7a 
shows the corresponding upper half of the handle 1 and the end part 3. 
Instead of the umbrella stock 2 shown in FIG. 3, there may be provided an 
umbrella stock 2a with larger diameter or an umbrella stock 2b with 
smaller diameter. 
As shown in FIG. 6a, the joint 4 has joint elements 8 and the fixing device 
with the fixing element 5 is provided with a locking element 7. On the end 
of the handle 1 is secured a ball-shaped cap 9. Special sectional views 
are shown in FIG. 6b and 7b. In FIG. 7b beneath the snap-on shell 10 is 
arranged an insert 16 which can be written or typed on.