Abstract:
An umbrella has an integral stem portion and a water repellant canopy portion. The stem portion has an integral handle, a central shaft, a spring for closing the umbrella and extensions supporting the canopy. The handle is thermally insulating, wound with wrapped flexible heating tape or strip, and connected through an on-off switch to a plurality of batteries present in a hollow cavity of the central shaft. Optionally, a thermally insulating foam tape is inserted between the heating element and the thermally insulating handle. An infrared reflector may be placed below the heating element to direct heat to the user&#39;s hand. The heating element raises the temperature of the umbrella handle, radiating heat to the hand of the user, thereby providing a comfortable grip during deployment of the umbrella in wintry weather.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an umbrella having a heated handle; and more particularly, to an umbrella wherein a stem portion includes a power means for heating the umbrella handle, and a water repellant canopy portion reduces the chances that the umbrella handle will become wet. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    The handle of an umbrella is the first element that a user&#39;s hand contacts. Oftentimes, and particularly during the winter months, the umbrella handle becomes cold, wet and uncomfortable to touch. Many patents address issues related to warming handles of various devices, such as ski poles, motorcycle handles, and the like. These patents do not address warming the handle of an umbrella using self-contained electrical power through a user-operated switch. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 744,789 to Fliess discloses a heated fishing rod. The heated fishing rod has a handle that is heated by electrical wires powered by an external battery. The polished porcelain surface of the fishing rod handle is not a metal, and does not reflect infrared radiation. Power is supplied from batteries, which are not contained within the fishing rod or its handle. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 1,683,270 to Taylor et al. discloses a radiation receiving conductor. An umbrella having a wound coil receives electromagnetic radio waves. The umbrella does not have a heated handle. The emergency umbrella has a small number of parts and a water repellant canopy. The handle portion of the umbrella is not heated. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,496,501 to Staunton et al. discloses an umbrella. The cover of the umbrella has a novel folding structure and is said to be manufactured inexpensively. The handle of the umbrella is not heated. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,757,679 to Rivkin et al. discloses an emergency umbrella. The emergency umbrella has a small number of parts and a water repellant canopy. The handle portion of the umbrella is not heated. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,164,921 to Mavrakis discloses a heated fishing rod. The fishing line guides are heated by battery power to prevent ice freezing over the fishing line, which becomes stiff and difficult to handle. A plurality of rods through which the fishing line is passed are heated by battery power. Such heat prevents the accumulation of ice on the fishing line which, if present, would make the fishing lines stiff and hard to handle. Though the heated rods pass through the handle, the thick insulation of the handle prevents any of the heat from reaching the hand of the user. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,739,792 to Holland discloses an umbrella with heat generating means. Electric heating elements are located in the ribs of the umbrella framework. The heating elements heat the volume of air present under the umbrella canopy. Electrical heaters in the vertical column are powered by a plurality of batteries contained within the vertical column or carried elsewhere in a pocket or briefcase. The heating elements in the vertical column heat the surrounding air, which rises upwards. The heaters do not therefore warm the handle of the umbrella at the local where the user&#39;s hands make contact therewith. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,073 to Weiss discloses a portable environmental chamber. This environmental chamber is in the form of a dome that covers food and has an internal electrical heater that keeps the food warm. The &#39;073 patent does not disclose or suggest an umbrella that has a heated handle. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,598,192 to Garrett discloses an electrically heated handle for fishing rods. This heated fishing rod handle is secured to a fishing rod and has a conductive aluminum shell contacting the hand of the fisherman. An insulating Steatite body is inserted within the aluminum thermally conductive shell. A heating coil, powered by an external battery, is wound in a pair of passages on the outer surface of the insulating Steatite body. The coil first heats the insulating Steatite body, which is a poor conductor. Heat and thermal contact between the aluminum shell and the insulating Steatite body raises the temperature of the aluminum shell handle. Due to the insulating character of the Steatite body, the handle stays warm for a long time even the heating coil is switched off. Since the heating coil is in very close proximity with the aluminum shell, the coil has a tendency to become short circuited thereby. Due to the poor heat conduction character of the Steatite body, the heating coil may overheat and burn out. At any rate, the heating of the insulating body is very slow, with the result that heat delivery to the hand is not robust. The &#39;192 patent discloses a handle for a fishing rod, not a handle for an umbrella. The battery for heating the heating coil is external and is not contained within the handle. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,110 to Lin et al. discloses a fire protection umbrella. This umbrella has an asbestos cloth covered with a flame retardant paint, and with ceramic tiles or hollow tubes. The umbrella cover is connected to strong umbrella ribs fashioned to function as a parachute. The handle of the fire retardant umbrella is not heated. 
         [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,786 to Peissig discloses a heated fishing rod. This fishing rod consists of a foam handle, plastic cylinder, plastic coated heat tape, rechargeable battery pack, on/off toggle button, electronic regulator, reel holder, metal housed ceramic eyes, and tapered rod shaft. Within the foam handle is a plastic cylinder that houses the battery pack and fixtures for electrical contacts. The rechargeable batteries in the handle heat the fishing rod at the handle and at the ceramic eyelets, providing heat to the hand and to the ceramic eyelets for easy movement of the fishing line, when turned on by a switch. The heat is provided by a plastic coated heating tape that is wrapped in the required locations. The process by which the electrical circuit heats the wrapped tape is unclear. The device disclosed by the &#39;786 patent is a heated fishing rod, not a heated umbrella handle. 
         [0015]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,960 to Fujita discloses unit for removing rainwater from umbrellas. This unit comprises an umbrella insertion portion into which an umbrella that is wet with rain is inserted. The unit removes rain water from the folded canopy of the umbrella by a plurality of brushes and forced air circulation. The &#39;960 disclosure does not contemplate an umbrella having a heated handle. 
         [0016]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,212 to Allen discloses a stadium umbrella. This stadium umbrella design has a cover composed of a transparent, as opposed to an opaque, material. Coverage is provided for the torso of the user. The umbrella comprises a transparent cover through which the user can see a sports event. A motor driving a wiper for the umbrella is powered by batteries contained in the umbrella&#39;s handle or shaft. The handle of the umbrella is not heated. Batteries in the umbrella shaft drive the wiper motor; but do not supply power to a handle heater. 
         [0017]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,834,734 to Ogata discloses a handgrip with built-in heater. A cylindrical rubber handgrip body is connected to a handle bar pipe of, for example, a motor cycle. The rubber handgrip is slid over the handlebar of the motorcycle. A heating element is embedded in the rubber handgrip and is powered by an external battery, which is the battery in the motorcycle. The handgrip with the built in heater is not integral to the motorcycle handle; but is instead slid on over the handlebar. The &#39;734 patented device does not heat the handle of an umbrella. Other similar motorcycle slip-on handle heaters are disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,735,037, 5,626,780 and 5,613,407. 
         [0018]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,998,576 to Marquis discloses an electrically heated hand grip that is suited for handles of sports apparatus such as a golf club. An electrically heated hand grip, primarily for golf clubs, is slipped over the golf club so that the inner sleeve member bonds and is attached to the golf club by an adhesive. This requires the inner sleeve member to be straight and the golf club to have a straight cylindrical character. Such a device is not useful for handles of umbrellas, which generally have a curved configuration. The heated hand grip is a separate device that is slipped onto a golf club by being inserted over a golf club handle and bonded thereto by adhesive. The heated hand grip disclosed by the &#39;576 patent is not a heated integral umbrella handle. 
         [0019]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,003,217 to Bachinski et al. discloses an infrared heating system for patio umbrellas. A plurality of infrared heaters are mounted on the cross support members, and additionally on the support stand, provide infrared heat to the users under the umbrella. The umbrella is a patio umbrella, not a rain umbrella. The handle of the umbrella is not heated. 
         [0020]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,119,304 to Meyers discloses a heated handgrip. This rechargeable, reusable heated hand grip is designed for use on a ski pole, shovel or other cold weather hand-held tool or object. This heated hand grip constitutes a separate assembly with batteries, a switch and a heating element that surrounds a central core and is placed within an outer casing. The heated handgrip is attached to a ski pole by use of a bushing that is attached to the top of the ski pole by setscrews. The heated hand grip is slid on the bushing, securing it to the ski pole. This sliding action requires that the ski pole, or other device to which the heated handgrip is attached, be straight; not curved. The handle of an umbrella is generally not straight; but is, instead, curved. Consequently, a hand grip heater of the type disclosed by the &#39;304 patent, cannot be slid on and secured to an umbrella handle. The heated hand grip disclosed by the &#39;304 patent is a removable, separate device; and is therefore not an integral part of an umbrella. 
         [0021]    Foreign Patent Publication No EP1504689 to Bowyer et al. discloses an umbrella adapted to incorporate a heater. This umbrella incorporates a number of heaters. It has a canopy and support means. The heaters are supported below the canopy in the region of a periphery of the canopy. The umbrella has a heater attached to the ribs of the umbrella and heats the users within the canopy of the umbrella. The handle of the umbrella disclosed by the &#39;689 patent is not provided with a heater. 
         [0022]    Foreign Patent Publication No JP4067802 to Naonori discloses an umbrella handle containing a heating element. The heating element is a product that releases heat during oxidation. An airtight bag contains the product subject to oxidation and an air hole is opened to allow oxidation to occur and thus cause heat production. This bag, containing an oxidizable product, forms a separate element and is therefore not integral with the umbrella. The handle of the umbrella is not heated by electrical wires or strip. 
         [0023]    Foreign Patent Publication No JP6203947 to Tsumoru discloses a ceramic heater. This ceramic heater is a carbon based heater wherein conductive carbon powder is perfectly or partially covered over an insulating ceramic inner part. Such a structure forms a general purpose ceramic heater. The &#39;947 patent does not disclose a heater in the handle of an umbrella. 
         [0024]    There remains a need in the art for an umbrella having a heated handle that can be switched on by the user, preventing hand contact with a cold umbrella handle. Also needed is an umbrella handle that remains dry, so that heat generation efficiently warms the umbrella handle and is not wasted on evaporation of water therefrom. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    The present invention provides an umbrella having a heated handle and a water repellant canopy fabric that includes a stem portion, a canopy portion and a power means for heating the handle. The stem portion includes a handle, a central shaft, a spring member, and a plurality of extension rods. The canopy is constructed of a fabric having an exterior surface that is provided with a water repellant coating such as a wax coating or Teflon (polytetrafluroethylene) or silicone coating. The handle of the stem portion is constructed of an insulating material such as a ceramic, wood or a polymeric material. A wrapped heater warms the handle. The central shaft of the stem portion includes a plurality of batteries, which are preferably rechargeable and provide electrical power to the wrapped heater on the handle. Preferably, the output of series connected batteries is 12 volts, which is ideally suited for connection to a cigarette lighter of a car or SUV for charging purposes. While the umbrella with the heated handle is in a car or SUV, the heater may be operated directly from the 12 volt power of the cigarette lighter, bypassing the rechargeable battery power. As a result the umbrella provides a heated handle that is warm to the touch even during use at low temperatures extant within a car or SUV, or outside when walking in wintry weather. 
         [0026]    Generally stated, the invention involves an umbrella having a heated handle portion and a water repellant canopy fabric. Broadly stated, the Umbrella with Heated Handle and Water Repellant Canopy Fabric comprises: (i) a stem portion, said stem further comprising a handle, a central shaft, a spring member, and extension rods; (ii) a canopy, said canopy further comprising branches; (iii) said canopy being constructed of a fabric having an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein said exterior surface of said canopy is provided with a water repellant coating for quick dripping of rain droplets; (iv) said central shaft of said stem portion being constructed to retain a plurality of batteries, preferably rechargeable batteries; (v) the handle portion being constructed from an insulating polymeric, wood or ceramic material that is wrapped with heating elements (vi) the heating elements being connected to battery power through a switch; and (v) power means for supplying power to said rechargeable batteries within said central shaft of said stem portion, said batteries preferably having the same voltage as a that of a car battery so that the battery can be charged and operated in parallel with a cigarette lighter of a car or SUV. Optionally a foamed insulating sheet having a plurality of air cells may be incorporated between the heating element and the insulating polymeric, wood or ceramic material, thereby further reducing heat transfer from the heater wire to the interior of the handle. Optionally a thermally reflective membrane may be inserted to reflect the heat from the heater to the hand of the user. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0027]    The invention will be more fully understood and further advantages will become apparent when reference is had to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0028]      FIG. 1  is a schematic side view a side view of the Umbrella with Heated Handle and Water Repellant Canopy Fabric; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  illustrates the details of the heater arrangement in the handle of the umbrella; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2.1  illustrates the details of an insulating ceramic, wood or polymeric material of a handle wrapped with heating elements; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2.2  illustrates placement of an insulating foam material between the insulating handle and the wrapped heating elements; 
           [0032]      FIG. 2.3  illustrates placement of an infrared reflective foil or membrane between the heating element and the insulating foam material; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 2.4  illustrates an on-off switch with selectable heat delivery control. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0034]    This invention relates to an Umbrella having a Heated Handle and a Water Repellant Canopy Fabric (hereinafter the “Heated Umbrella Handle”). Briefly stated, the umbrella has a fabric for the canopy treated with a generally non-wetting wax coating on the external surfaces, which facilitates repellency of rain droplets. Thus the handle of the umbrella does not accumulate water droplets when the umbrella is folded. However, in the absence of the present invention, the handle temperature of an umbrella tends to reach the ambient temperature, and becomes uncomfortable to grasp, especially in cold environments. In accordance with the present invention, the handle of an umbrella having a water repellant canopy fabric is provided with a heating element that raises the temperature of the handle surface to substantially the temperature of the hand, allowing the user to grip the handle with minimal discomfort. Due to the absence of a water film on the handle, the handle heats to hand temperature without wasting battery power. 
         [0035]    Typically, the umbrella handle is made from an insulating body such as a ceramic, wood or polymeric molded material. Due to the insulating character of the umbrella handle, its heating rate and cooling rate are very small. That is to say, the handle takes a long time to heat or cool. In a preferred embodiment, the handle of the umbrella is first wrapped with an insulating polymeric foam material, which is highly flexible and provides a soft cushiony feel to the handle. The plastic material in itself is highly insulating and the presence of closed cells of entrapped air provides additional insulation. This flexible foam is wrapped with a heating tape. The heating tape comprises a plurality of 25 micrometer diameter wires wound or laid in a zig zag pattern, and entrapped in a polymeric adhesive sheet. Such heating tapes are available from MIMCO, and are described in detail at http://www.minco.com/uploadedFiles/Products/Thermofoil_Heaters/aa30-transparent_htrs.pdf. Alternatively, the heating tape may be a thin sheet of Grafoil, which has a resistivity, typically in the range of 1 to 8×10-4 ohm-inches that is approximately 5 to 25 times as that of a metal. Such Grafoil heating tapes are marketed by Q-foil, and are described in detail at http://www.egc-ent.com/html/gfoil.html. These thin flexible graphite foils are embedded in a plastic layer that may be adhesively coated. This thin polymeric coating on thermofoil heaters or Q-foil heaters protects the internal components of the handle while, at the same time, facilitating delivery of generated heat to the hand of the user. Owing to the insulating character of the handle and the use of insulating flexible polymeric foam, the heat generated is not lost or dissipated within the mass of the handle. The insulating foam cushions the handle, providing a comfortable grip without subjecting the wrapped heating elements to a sharp curvature. A sharp curvature typically has a small curvature radius and can potentially fracture a 25 micrometer heating wire or crack thin sheets of graphite foil. In the case of thermofoil heaters, which use 25 micrometer wires, a reflective metallic sheet or membrane may be inserted between the thermofoil element and the flexible polymeric foam to direct the infrared radiation from the heater to the hand of the user. The membrane may be a sheet of metal or a metallized polymeric sheet. 
         [0036]    The heating element is connected through a user operated switch to a set of batteries connected in series. The batteries are contained in the stem of the umbrella. Preferably, the batteries are rechargeable and deliver a combined voltage of 12 volts. With this voltage, the batteries can be easily charged using a charger connected to a house voltage outlet or directly charged by the cigarette lighter of a car or a van. In a preferred embodiment, the user operated switch may have two positions. One of the switch positions can be used to drain the rechargeable battery that supplies power to the heating elements, or to use the cigarette lighter connection. In an alternate embodiment, the switch may include multiple positions delivering 50% or 100% of the heating current to the heating elements. 
         [0037]      FIG. 1  illustrates generally at  10  a side view of the Umbrella with Heated Handle and Water Repellant Canopy Fabric. The umbrella  10  includes a stem portion  20  and a canopy portion  11 . Stem portion  20  further includes a handle  23 , a central shaft  24 , a spring member  25 , and extension rods  22 . Canopy  11  has branches  14  extending therethrough. Branches  14  are attached to extension rods  22  so that the branches  14  expand when the extension rods  22  are extended to form an open state of the umbrella  10 . Conversely, when extension rods  22  are contracted or folded, branches  14  retract to form a closed state of the umbrella  10 , such as when it is being stored away after or between uses. Canopy  11  is constructed of a fabric having an exterior surface  16  and an interior surface  17 . Exterior surface  16  of canopy  11  is water repellant, having a wax, Teflon or silicone coating, a portion of which is shown herein at  15 . An on/off switch is shown at  28 . Power means  30  comprises a plurality of batteries incorporated in the central shaft  24 . A spring is shown at  25 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 2  illustrates at  40  the details of the heater arrangement in the handle  23  of the umbrella. The handle has a central core made from an insulating ceramic, wood or polymeric material  41 . In the first embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 2.1 , the heating element  42  is wrapped on the ceramic or polymeric insulating core. The heating element comprises a set of metallic fine wires or Grafoil heaters  43  present in the encapsulated polymer of the heater. The second embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 2.2  wherein a flexible foam of polymeric material  44  which has air cells providing insulation is inserted between the ceramic or polymeric core  41  and the wrapped heating element  42 . In the third embodiment of the invention, an infrared reflective metallic element  45  is inserted between the heating element  42  and the flexible foam of polymeric material  44 . This infrared reflective metallic element  45  reflects the heat emitted by the heater  42  towards the hand of the user and reduces its leakage into the ceramic or polymeric core  41 . While the placement of the infrared reflective element shown in  FIG. 2.3  is between the heating element and the flexible insulating foam material, it should be understood that the infrared reflective element may alternatively be placed between the heating element and the insulating handle without the use of flexible insulating foam. The stem portion of the umbrella houses the power source which is shown to be series connected eight 1.5 volt cell adapted to produce a voltage of 12 volts. The series connected batteries power the heating elements through an on/off switch  28 , the details of which are shown in  FIG. 2.4 . The switch, in addition to on and off positions, has a low heat intensity level at  50 % value, as shown. A socket  46  is provided for connecting to the cigarette lighter connection in a car or SUV, enabling charging of rechargeable batteries  30  or the use of cigarette lighter power to drive the heating elements  42 . 
         [0039]    A variety of handles can be utilized, such as “J” curved handles (as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ), a straight handle, a finger-grooved handle, and the like. As a result of using an umbrella with a handle heater and a water repellant canopy, the user can transition from a rainy environment to a dry environment without accumulation of water droplets on the umbrella handle. The repellency feature of the canopy prevents saturation thereof with water droplets, and drives water in a direction away from the umbrella handle. A heightened handle temperature radiates heat into the hands of the user, providing relief to those suffering from arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. 
         [0040]    The Umbrella with Heated Handle and Water Repellant Canopy Fabric of the present invention comprises, in combination, the following salient features: 
         [0041]    i) an integral stem portion and a canopy portion; 
         [0042]    ii) the canopy portion having a plurality of branches; 
         [0043]    iii) the canopy having an external surface and an internal surface; 
         [0044]    iv) the external surface of the canopy being water repellent and thereby resisting saturation and shedding or facilitating repellency of rain drops; 
         [0045]    v) the integral stem portion comprising a handle, a central shaft, a spring member and extension rods; 
         [0046]    vi) the central shaft retaining a plurality of batteries, preferably rechargeable batteries; 
         [0047]    vii) the handle portion being constructed from an insulating polymeric, wood or ceramic material that is wrapped with integral heating elements; 
         [0048]    viii) the heating elements comprising flexible tape or flexible strip; 
         [0049]    ix) optionally a foam of flexible tape being disposed between said insulating polymeric, wood or ceramic material and said heating elements, limiting heat transmission to said insulating polymeric, wood or ceramic material; 
         [0050]    x) optionally an infrared reflective metallic strip being placed under the heating element to direct infrared heat from heating elements to the hand of the user; 
         [0051]    xi) the batteries being connected in series and powering said heating element through an on-off switch that is optionally provided with a heating intensity control; 
         [0052]    xii) optionally the batteries providing 12 volts, thereby matching voltage available in a cigarette lighter terminal of a car or SUV that is appointed for charging the rechargeable batteries; 
         [0053]    whereby the water repellent canopy prevents accumulation of water on the handle portion and the heating element and the handle is warmed efficiently, to thereby raise the handle temperature to a level that provides a comfortable grip in wintry weather. 
         [0054]    While the integrated heated handle is disclosed with respect to an umbrella handle, the same heater configuration may be used for heating integral handles of other appliances, and tools, such as baby carriages, canes, strollers and the like. 
         [0055]    Having thus described the invention in rather full detail, it will be understood that such detail need not be strictly adhered to, but that additional changes and modifications may suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, all falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the subjoined claims.