WEATHER SHIELDS

Abstract: A weather shield comprises a circular umbrella cover (1) having a ring shaped cylinder (2) around the periphery, cylinder (2) being inflatable via a nozzle (6) to extend cover (1); an inflatable stem (3); and a plurality of ribs (4) for connecting ring cylinder (2) with the lower end of stem (3). Preferred embodiments include straps (7, 8) whereby the shield may be secured as a hat, or the shield may be held by stem (3) for use as an umbrella.

Description: WEATHER SHIELDS Technical Field of the Invention This invention relates to a weather shields suitable for use in adverse weather conditions such as rain or excessive sunshine and to a method of manufacture thereof. Background of the Invention The conventional umbrella has long been used to protect people from rain, but it suffers from the disadvantage that when not in use it is not easily nor safely carried. Endeavours to overcome this problem led to the development of collapsible umbrellas in which the supporting ribs can be folded and the stem telescoped so that the length of the umbrella when folded is reduced to a half of the original length of the umbrella. It is an object of this invention to provide an improved weather shield for use in adverse weather, which when when not in use may be rolled, furled or folded into a small light-weight package to facilitate storing and re-use, and which can be readily inflated into an umbrella form to provide the user with adequate protection from rain or sunshine. The inflatable umbrella of the invention can also be put on the head as a rain cap or sunshade. In this case, the user can simply insert his head between two adjacent ribs in front of the stem, and then tie two slim ribbons attached to the umbrella under the chin. Such a cap can be firmly put on the head since there is a suitable space between the stem and the supporting ribs. In addition, the weather shield can be printed with patterns or advertisements for propaganda purposes. Therefore, the present invention possesses utilization value in many respects. Disclosure of the Invention According to one aspect the invention consists in weather shield or toy weather shield made of plastic or plastic-coated material, comprising: a substantially circular umbrella cover; an inflatable, ring-shaped cylinder around the. periphery of said cover, with an inflating nozzle through which the cylinder can ϋe inflated to expand the cover? an inflatable stem having an inflating nozzle for inflating the stem to become a handle of the umbrella for supporting the umbrella cover, the stem being short; and a plurality of supporting ribs for connecting the umbrella cover and/or the ring-shaped cylinder to the stem, the ribs being attached to the stem at or adjacent the lower end thereof. OM <5 According to a second aspect the invention consists in a weather shield or toy weather shield according to the first aspect wherein the umbrella cover and supporting ribs are attached to the peripheral cylinder at or very near the innermost circumference of the ring. Brief Description of the Drawings Other features of the invention will become more apparent from the description which follows. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an inflatable umbrella of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front perspective view of the mtlatable umbrella; and Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the inflatable umbrella. Best Mode for carrying out the Invention The embodiment described is a weather shield in the form of an inflatable umbrella made of PVC plastic material with a thickness of about 0.18-0.25mm. The umbrella cover is in a circular shape, with an outer diameter of about 500-850mm. The height of the umbrella is about 272mm.; and its weight, depending on the size, is about 160-280 grams. The umbrella is simple in construction, consisting of an umbrella cover 1, an inflatable stem 3 and a plurality, for example from six to eight, ribs 4. Around the periphery of said cover 1, there is provided an inflatable ring-shaped cylinder 2 OMPI having a ring inflating nozzle 6. To prepare the umbrella for use, the cylinder can be inflated through said nozzle 6, and thus the cover is expanded to form a shield. After completion of inflation, a plug is inserted into the nozzle to prevent air from leaking out and to maintain cylinder 2 in the inflated condition. On the stem 3, there is also provided a stem inflating nozzle 5. By the same inflating procedure, the stem 3 can be set up for supporting the cover and to be used as a handle. Similarly, it is necessary to insert a plug into said nozzle 5 to keep the stem 3 in the inflated condition. It takes about 15 to 30 seconds to inflate the umbrella for use, depending on the volume of ring-shaped cylinder 2. Furthermore two slim ribbons (7 & 8) are attached to two separate supporting ribs 4 respectively. When the inflatable umbrella is used as a cap, the user can insert his head between two adjacent ribs, and then tie the two ribbons under the chin. Since the stem 3 is just positioned at the rear of the head and the lower end of the stem 3 is against the neck, the cap can be firmly put on the head because of the support of the stem 3 and the aid of the ribbons. In the manufacture of the inflatable umbrella, it is desirable to make a sample of paper board in the size of the umbrella, and then cast a metal mold according to the sample. The PVC material with printed advertisements is then cut to fit the size and placed into a high-frequency machine equipped with the mold for compressing into semi-products. Finally, the semi-products are welded in the high-frequency machine to become end products. A feature of the preferred embodiment described is that the cover is attached to ring cylinder 2 at or near the innermost circumference of the ring that is to say at or near the horizontal midplane of the ring. Ribs 4 are likewise attached at the innermost circumference of the ring. It has been found that this both improves the mechanical stability and rigidity of the umbrella when inflated and greatly simplifies construction. Another feature of the preferred embodiment is that the lower end of stem 3 adjacent nozzle 5 is rounded or conical and extends from a small diameter at the stem nozzle 5 end to an increased diameter at a distance from the end. This enables struts 4 to be cut from a sheet provided with a central annular opening 9 of which the orifice is adapted to receive stem 3 and to be welded thereto. A conical or rounded end of stem 3 facilitates attachment of the struts e.g. by welding while allowing a tolerance in the stem diameter. The construction is also suitable for use as a toy weather shield. While the above description is merely for one embodiment of the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made therein without departing from the scope and ambit of this invention as defined in the claim.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A weather shield or toy weather shield made of plastic or plastic-coated material, comprising: a substantially circular umbrella cover; an inflatable ring-shaped cylinder around the periphery of said cover, with an inflating nozzle through which the cylinder can be inflated to expand the cover; an inflatable stem having an inflating nozzle for inflating the stem to become a handle of the -umbrella for supporting the umbrella cover, the stem being short; and a plurality of supporting ribs for connecting the umbrella cover and/or the ring-shaped cylinder to the stem, the ribs being attached to the stem at or adjacent the lower end thereof. 2. A weather shield according to claim 1 wherein the umbrella cover and supporting ribs are attached to the peripheral cylinder at or very near the innermost circumference of the ring. 3. A weather shield according to claim 1 or claim 2 including attachment means to secure said weather shield to a person. 4. A weather shield according to claim 3 wherein said attachment means comprises two ribbons attached to two separate ribs.

Inventors: HENRY PHILIP ROLAND, HENRY, PHILIP, ROLAND
Applicants: HENRY PHILIP ROLAND, HENRY, PHILIP, ROLAND
Application year: 1984
Main classification: A45B19
IPC codes: A45B11, A45B19