Abstract:
Combination animal leash and umbrella includes a center post with a closeable umbrella cover that fits convexly over the leash attached to the inside of the umbrella. In a preferred embodiment, the extending support post of the umbrella is articulatable.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATE APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This is a utility patent application based upon, claiming priority to and incorporating by reference the following provisional applications: “Umbrella and Leash For Pets”, Serial No. 60/453,639, filed Mar. 11, 2003; “Animal Leash and Umbrella”, Serial No. 60/432,460 filed Dec. 11, 2002; and “Animal Leash and Umbrella”, Serial No. 60/430,391, filed Dec. 3, 2002.  
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a combination leash and umbrella for pets. Pet owners, especially city dweller pet owners, often find it appropriate, if not necessary, to walk their pets, particularly canine pets, at periodic times throughout a day. Attending to a pet under such circumstances typically requires that the pet be retained on a leash, especially in urban areas. When walking a pet in an urban area, especially if the weather is inclement, typically requires the pet walker to provide some protection or cover for the pet, as well as for the individual that is walking the pet. Individuals, thus, often use an umbrella to protect themselves from the elements, particularly rain and/or snow. However, the size of the umbrella may be inadequate to provide coverage to the pet and the individual tending to the pet. Thus, the pet is often exposed to the elements whereas the individual walking the pet may be covered and protected from the elements.  
           [0003]    One solution to this dilemma is to provide an oversized umbrella. This solution is not always entirely satisfactory inasmuch as an oversized umbrella is cumbersome and difficult to handle in certain circumstances and may be affected by sudden gusts of wind and may interfere with other pedestrian traffic. Another type of protection for pets comprises pet coats. These are wraps, which are designed on a customized basis depending upon the size of the pet, to be worn by the pet much as a raincoat would be worn by an individual. Such protective wraps, however, are often difficult to place on the pet and may not provide an appropriate degree of protection in many instances. Consequently, there has remained a need for providing a means to protect a pet, and in particular canine pets, when they are being walked, especially on a leash.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    Briefly, the present invention comprises a combination animal leash and umbrella which enables an individual to walk their pet while providing, at the same time, a modicum of protection for the pet from the elements and simultaneously avoiding interference with other pedestrian traffic, particularly in an urban setting. The combination umbrella and leash includes a handle which is attached to a generally convex shaped umbrella which may be suspended over the pet in the manner of a hood. The support handle may include an articulating joint or hinge to allow adjustment of the hood over the pet. The interior of the umbrella within the hood includes a leash attached thereto which may be affixed to a collar of the pet. The handle for the umbrella may include various handle holding elements to facilitate the utilization of the leash and umbrella hood combination. The fabric which forms the hood, shade or cover of the umbrella may be translucent, transparent, or a combination thereof to facilitate monitoring the activities of the pet.  
           [0005]    Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved method and device for protecting and catering to a pet on a leash, in particular, canine pets.  
           [0006]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a combination animal leash and umbrella for a pet which is easily adjusted, utilized easily for pets of various size, and which provides significant protection for the pets from the elements while on a leash.  
           [0007]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide a combination animal leash and pet which is economical, rugged, easy to use and practical.  
           [0008]    These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0009]    In the detailed description which follows reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a third embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a fourth embodiment of the invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0014]    A first embodiment of a combination animal leash and umbrella is depicted in FIG. 1. The umbrella comprises a fabric cover  10  attached to foldable support ribs  22  mounted on a center pole  12 . The center pole  12  includes an outer end handle  14  and an inner end post  16  at the opposite end from the handle  14 . The umbrella hood or cover  10  includes a tubular member or fitting  18  with a center opening. The fitting  18  thus may move slidably along the elongate pole  12  between an open position, as shown in FIG. 1, and a closed position wherein the ribs  22  and cover  10  are folded against the pole  12 . A fitting latch or lock member  20  is provided to hold the umbrella cover  10  in the open position. When in the open position, the umbrella cover or hood extends over and covers the end post  16  and has a generally convex or inverted saucer shape. The umbrella cover  10  and rib  22  mechanism is a typical mechanism comprised of various ribs  22  and fabric  24 , and may be moved between an open and closed position, the open position covering the end post  16 .  
         [0015]    The post  16  includes a buckle mechanism  26  attached to a ring  27 . A leash  28  is attached to the buckle mechanism  26 . The leash  28  is a flexible strap. The free or distal end of the leash or strap  28  includes a second buckle mechanism  30 . The second buckle mechanism  30  may be attached to a collar (not shown) for an animal.  
         [0016]    When walking a pet, such as a dog, for example, the strap or leash  28  may be attached to the collar of the animal and the umbrella cover  10  maintained in the open position, as depicted in FIG. 1. In this manner, the animal may be walked and protected from the elements.  
         [0017]    It should be noted that the configuration of the umbrella  10  in the figure is a typical convex or spherical shape. However, multiple shapes may be utilized. Also importantly, the fabric  24  comprising the cover may include a slot  32  extending partially through the cover from an edge  34  upwardly toward the pole  12  in a radial direction. This will permit the strap  28  to fit through the slot  32  enabling the animal to take a lead position while remaining generally covered by the umbrella, but without having the strap  28  interfere with the umbrella.  
         [0018]    The aforesaid description relates in general to the structure depicted in FIG. 1. The structures of FIGS. 2 and 3 is somewhat different as described hereinafter. Referring therefore particularly to FIG. 2, there is disclosed an umbrella having a transparent radial panel  40  in lieu of a slit through the umbrella. Thus, the umbrella may be tilted for observation of the pet or animal attached to the strap or leash  28 . Further, the handle  42  for the umbrella of FIG. 2 is arcuate or as shown in FIG. 3 is curved to provide an ergonomic feature for the umbrella making it easier to use, particularly when it is appropriate and necessary to hold the post of the umbrella at an angle with respect to the animal and the ground. FIG. 2 thus depicts a handle  42  which enables holding the umbrella at an angle in a more efficient and ergonomic manner. Similarly, the embodiment of FIG. 3 includes a transparent panel  40  and an ergonomic curved handle  44 .  
         [0019]    Referring to the alternative embodiment of FIG. 4, the combination leash and umbrella includes an elongate center main shaft  70  in the form of a narrow diameter tube. The main shaft  70  is connected to an extension shaft  72  by a flexible, articulating joint  74 . Extension shaft  72  includes a handle  76  at its outer end.  
         [0020]    The main shaft  70  includes an annular sliding ring  78  having a plurality of radiating ribs or splines  80  pivotally attached thereto. The ring  78  slides axially on shaft  70  carrying with it the inner end of splines or umbrella ribs  80 . The ring  78  may be retained in the position by a spring latch  82  to thereby hold the umbrella in the open position as depicted in FIG. 4. Release of latch  82  enables folding of the umbrella upwardly to a closed position. Each rib or spline  80  is attached by a brace member  84  to a fixed ring  86  in a manner which enables pivoting of the splines  80  between the open and closed position.  
         [0021]    The umbrella fabric or cover  90  is comprised of a transparent center section  92  and a perimeter  94  which is translucent or opaque. The cover  90  has a generally rectangular configuration or profile when in the open position to facilitate use of the umbrella with a pet and to enable the pet walker to walk beside the pet with the umbrella open. The embodiment of the invention thus enables covering a pet while at the same time walking at the side of the pet.  
         [0022]    A leash  100  is attached to a buckle  102  at the distal end of shaft  70 . Leash  100  is flexible and includes a clasp  104  at the end of leash  100  to affix to the collar of a pet.  
         [0023]    It is to be noted that the buckle  102  is detachable from the leash of a pet. Further, it is to be noted that the leash  100  is attached to a buckle  102  at the distal end of the shaft, but may be removed by disengaging the buckle  102 . Thus, the leash  100  may be detached and affixed to a leash without the umbrella so that the leash  100  may be incorporated as part of a collar for the animal or it may be separate yet utilized for attachment to a separate leash. The clasp  104  at the end of the leash  100  used to affix the leash  100  to the collar of a pet also enables the leash  100  to be used in a manner which will permit utilization of the combination leash and umbrella with any animal having a collar. The leash  100  is depicted as being preferably flexible. Additionally, the leash  100  may include or comprise an elastic member or a member which will enable extension of the leash for certain distance. That is, the umbrella can be placed in the folded condition and a leash  100  may include a feature enabling the leash to expand lengthwise. As a consequence, there are many alternative embodiments of the invention. The invention is therefore to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.