Abstract:
A mount for supporting an open umbrella from an object has a bracket adapted to be secured to a portion of the object and a holder for supporting the umbrella. The holder has a receptacle adapted to receive and support the downwardly inserted handle of the umbrella and a yoke oriented to receive the shaft of the umbrella. A spring biased pin permits rapid insertion and removal of the shaft into and from the yoke. Preferably, the receptacle is slidably engaged relative to the yoke so that the umbrella canopy can be lowered to closely shield the object. A hinge connecting the holder to the bracket permits the umbrella to be positioned at any desired angle in relation to the object.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to umbrella holders and more particularly concerns a mount for supporting an open umbrella from an object such as a golf bag, a barbecue grill or a piece of lawn furniture, for example.  
           [0002]    A variety of holders for golf umbrellas have already been designed. Many use one or more arms to cantilever the umbrella holder outwardly and upwardly from a golf bag. Since the arms are relatively long, it is difficult to position the canopy of the umbrella in close enough relationship to the golf bag to adequately protect the bag and the clubs. Furthermore, the projecting arms of the holder make the golf bag difficult to handle, transport or store. Another unfortunate consequence of the cantilevered relationship is that the torque applied to the mount and to the golf bag by wind forces on the umbrella canopy can render the entire combination unstable and can also result in damage to the mount and the bag or other object to which the umbrella is attached.  
           [0003]    Many of the mounts are designed to accommodate only one specific umbrella. Those which are more universal in nature generally employ clamping or gripping mechanisms which squeeze the umbrella handle or shaft, resulting in wear and damage to the umbrella at the clamping point. The specific application umbrella mounts are typically permanently attached to the umbrella. The universal mounts require inconvenient manipulation of clamp screws and the like in order to release and lock the umbrella from or to the mount. This inconvenience can be especially problematic, for example, in the course of a round of golf. The golfer normally carries the umbrella between shots, protecting both the golfer and the equipment as the golfer moves about the course, but mounts the umbrella during shots so as to protect the equipment while the golfer swings the club. Repetitive delays between shots to mount and dismount the umbrella cause unnecessary pressure and strain on the golfer and playing partners.  
           [0004]    Most umbrella holders are not adjustable to vary the height of the umbrella canopy above the object to be protected. Those that are adjustable generally do not permit the umbrella handle to be lowered below the mount. Most are not adjustable to vary the angular relationship of the umbrella to the object. Those that are generally cantilever the umbrella in an awkward position relative to the object. Consequently, it is difficult to locate the canopy sufficiently close to adequately protect the object.  
           [0005]    Finally, many of the mounts are specifically designed for use with particular objects, frequently golf bags, and are not universally usable with or easily transferrable to and from different objects.  
           [0006]    It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an umbrella holder which is usable to support and umbrella form a variety of objects. Another object of this invention is to provide an umbrella holder which is usable to support a variety of umbrellas. A further object of this invention is to provide an umbrella holder which is easily detachable from one object for attachment to another object. Yet another object of this invention is to provide an umbrella holder which facilitates rapid mounting and dismounting of the umbrella to and from the mount. It is also an object of this invention to provide an umbrella holder which does not apply pressure to or a clamping grip on the umbrella. Still another object of this invention is to provide an umbrella holder which does not extend significantly upwardly or outwardly from the object. An additional object of this invention is to provide an umbrella holder which does not make transportation or storage of the object more difficult. A further object of this invention is to provide an umbrella holder which minimizes the torque applied to the mount and the object resulting from wind forces on the umbrella canopy. Yet another object of this invention is to provide an umbrella holder which supports the umbrella handle below the top of the handle so as to bring the canopy closer to the object. It is also an object of this invention to provide an umbrella holder which is easily adjustable to raise and lower the umbrella handle to bring the canopy into closer proximity to the protected object. Still another object of this invention is to provide an umbrella holder which is easily adjustable to change the angular relationship of the umbrella to the protected object.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    In accordance with the invention, a mount is provided for supporting an open umbrella from an object such as, for example, a golf bag, a barbecue grill or a piece of lawn furniture. The mount has a bracket adapted to be secured to a portion of the object, and a holder for supporting the umbrella. The holder has a receptacle at its lower end adapted to receive and support a downwardly inserted handle of the umbrella and a yoke at its upper end oriented to receive a laterally inserted shaft of the umbrella. A closure is disposed on the yoke for preventing the inserted shaft from inadvertently slipping laterally out of the yoke. The preferred closure is a pin spring biased to extend across the open end of the yoke and withdrawable against the bias to permit insertion and removal of the shaft into and from the yoke. A hinge pivotally connects the upper end of the holder to the bracket to permit the umbrella to be positioned at any desired angle in relation to the object. The preferred hinge utilizes a clevis on the upper end of the holder with a portion of the bracket disposed in the clevis. A pivot pin extends through apertures aligned in the clevis and the bracket portion. A first locking mechanism cooperable with the hinge maintains the bracket and the holder in the selected angular relationship. The preferred first locking mechanism utilizes a head on one end of the pin and a nut threadedly engaged on the other end of the pin to clamp the bracket within the clevis.  
           [0008]    Preferably, the holder has a first member with the receptacle at its lower end and a second member with the yoke at its upper end. The first and second members are slidably engaged to permit adjustment of the distance between the receptacle and the yoke so that the canopy of the umbrella can be lowered to closely shield the object. A second locking mechanism is cooperable with the first and second members to bind the members to each other at the desired spacing of the receptacle and yoke. The preferred second locking mechanism utilizes an elongated slot and an aperture in the members which are aligned to remain in registration during sliding displacement of the members. A bolt extending through the aperture and the slot and a nut are used to clamp the members together. It is preferred that the first and second members have cooperable tracks and channels for guiding the sliding displacement of the receptacle and the yoke.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective assembly view of a preferred embodiment of the umbrella mount;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the umbrella handle receiving receptacle of the mount shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  3 - 3  of FIG. 2;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  4 - 4  of FIG. 2;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the umbrella shaft receiving yoke of the mount shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  6 - 6  of FIG. 5;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the yoke of FIG. 5;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the yoke of FIG. 5;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the umbrella mount of FIG. 1 with the umbrella handle receiving receptacle fully lowered;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the umbrella mount of FIG. 1 with the umbrella handle receiving receptacle fully raised;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of the umbrella mount of FIG. 1 illustrating multiple angular positions of the umbrella holder relative to its bracket; and  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the umbrella mount of FIG. 1 supporting an open umbrella from the rim of a golf bag. 
     
    
       [0022]    While the invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0023]    Turning first to FIGS. 1 and 12, a preferred embodiment of the mount M for supporting an open umbrella U from a golf bag B is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 1, the mount M includes a bracket  10  adapted to be secured to a portion of the object such as the golf bag B and a holder  30  adapted to support the umbrella U. The holder  30  is hinged to the bracket  10  to permit adjustment of the angular relationship of the umbrella U relative to the golf bag B. As shown, the holder  30  consists of first and second members  31  and  51  which are slidably engaged to permit variation in the elevation of the umbrella U in relation to the golf bag B.  
         [0024]    The bracket  10  preferably consists of an n-shaped body  11  having a bore  13  through its upper portion with bearings  15  and  17  disposed in each end of the bore  13 . A screw  19  is threadedly engaged in one of two apertures  21  or  23  provided in one leg of the n-shaped body  11  and a removable cap  25  is engaged on the end of the screw  19  within the cavity  27  between the legs of the body  11 . As can best be seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, the rim of the bag B on which the mount is attached is received in the cavity  27  and the screw  19  tightened to firmly secure the rim of the bag B between the cap  25  and the leg of the body  11 . The cavity  27  is adapted to receive not only the rim of the golf bag B but is also suitable to receive portions of many other objects such as the wall or shelf of a barbeque grill, a table top, an arm or back of a chair or lounge, a portion of a fence or the like.  
         [0025]    Turning to FIGS.  2 - 4 , a preferred embodiment of the first member  31  of the holder  30  is illustrated. The member  31  includes a receptacle  33  with a closed end  35  at its bottom. As shown, the receptacle  33  is a vertically aligned cylindrical cavity with an approximately hemispherical bottom. This configuration is preferred because the same receptacle  33  can receive the handle H of any straight handled umbrella U and the hemispherical contour of the bottom will permit the bottom end of the umbrella handle H to be seated firmly against the receptacle lower end  35 . However, the receptacle  33  could have other geometric shapes and the lower end  35  tapered other than hemispherically, provided the sidewalls of the receptacle  33  prevent lateral release of the umbrella handle H from the receptacle  33  and the closed end  35  supports the bottom end of the umbrella handle H. A drain hole  37  is provided in the bottom of the closed end  35 . As seen in FIG. 3, an upward extension  39  from the top of the receptacle  33  has an aperture  41  near its upper end. The upward extension  39  extends from approximately the rear ¼ of the upper perimeter of the receptacle  33 . As is best seen in FIG. 4, a pair of parallel grooves  43  and  45  spaced on either side of the aperture  41  extend along the outer wall of the extension  39  and the receptacle  33 . Also, as best seen in FIG. 4, the inner wall of the receptacle  33  and the extension  39  is provided with a flat face  47 , increasing the thickness of the grooved portion of the first member  31  to provide added strength.  
         [0026]    Turning to FIGS.  5 - 8 , the second member  51  of the holder  30  is illustrated. The second member  51  has a yoke  53  is horizontally aligned on its upper end so as to be able to laterally receive objects within its opening  55 . The rear portion of the yoke  53  has an extension  57  with a downwardly depending clevis  59 . Apertures  61  and  63  are aligned through the arms of the clevis  59 . As is best seen in FIGS. 1 and 11, the clevis  59  is adapted to receive the upper portion of the bracket body  11  between its arms with the bore  13  of the body  11  aligned with the apertures  61  and  63  in the clevis  59 . A pivot pin  65  with a head  67  inserted through the apertures  61  and  63  and the bearings  15  and  17  in the body aperture  13  hinges the second member  51  of the holder  30  to the bracket  10 . As shown, a flat washer  69 , a lock washer  71  and a wing nut  73  at the threaded end of the pivot pin  65  permit the user to lock the holder  30  in any desired angular relationship to the bracket  11 . The second member  51  also includes an extension  75  extending downwardly from the rear portion of the yoke  53  in front of the clevis  59 . The downward extension  75  has a vertical slot  77  extending from near its upper to near its lower end between a pair of parallel tracks  79  and  81  extending along the front face of the second member  51 . Comparing FIGS. 4 and 6, it can be seen that the front face of the second member  51  is contoured to compliment the rear face of the first member  31  with the tracks  79  and  81  of the second member slidably engaged in the grooves  43  and  45  of the first member. The slot  77  in the second member  51  maintains registration with the aperture  41  in the first member  31  as the first and second members  31  and  51  slide in relation to each other. As best seen in FIG. 1, a screw  83  extends through the aperture  41  in the first member  31  and the slot  77  in the second member  51 . The head  85  of screw  83  abuts the flat face  47  of the first member  31 . A guide block  87  is adapted to slide between a second pair of tracks  89  and  91  on the back face of the second member  51 , as can best be seen in FIG. 6. A flat washer  93 , lock washer  95  and nut  97  on the threaded end of the screw  83  permit the first and second members  31  and  51  to be locked in any desired relationship of extension of the receptacle  33  below the yoke  53 . FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate the umbrella mount M in fully extended and fully retracted states, respectively.  
         [0027]    Looking again at FIGS. 1, 7 and  8 , the yoke  53  is provided with apertures  99  and  101  which receive a spring loaded pin  103  with a pull ring  105 . In its normal condition, the pin  103  extends across the opening  55  of the yoke  53  so as to prevent objects from being inadvertently released laterally from the yoke  53 . When the pull ring  105  is pulled against bias, the pin  103  is withdrawn from its position across the opening  55  so that objects can be easily laterally inserted and/or removed from the yoke  53 .  
         [0028]    To attach the mount M to the golf bag B, the bracket screw  19  is withdrawn to permit the rim of the golf bag B to be inserted between the cap  25  on the threaded end of the screw  19  and its opposed leg of the bracket body  11 . With the bracket  11  seated firmly on the bag B, the screw  19  is tightened to firmly grip the rim of the bag B between the cap  25  and the opposite leg of the bracket  11 . With the hinge or clevis pin  65  in a loosened condition, the holder  30  is adjusted in the bracket  10  to its desired angular position. The wing nut  73  is then tightened to secure the clevis  59  against the bracket  11  and lock the holder  30  in the selected angular position. The holder screw  83  is loosened and the first member  31  of the holder  30  slid in relation to the second member  51  of the holder  30  until the receptacle  33  and the yoke  53  are spaced to accommodate the umbrella U to be supported by the mount M and to establish the height of the umbrella canopy C over the bag B on which the umbrella U is supported. When the desired spacing between the receptacle  33  and yoke  53  is achieved, the holder nut  97  is tightened to lock the first and second members  31  and  51  in relation to each other. With the bracket  10  thus attached to the bag B and the holder  30  adjusted to the desired elevation and angle, the user pulls the ring  105  to withdraw the pin  103  from the yoke opening  55 , lowers the bottom of the umbrella handle H into the receptacle  33  until it is seated at the bottom end  35  of the receptacle  33  inserts the shaft S of the umbrella U laterally into the opening  55  in the yoke  53  and releases the pull ring  105  to close the opening  55  in the yoke  53 . Thus, the umbrella U is restrained against lateral movement at its bottom end by the receptacle  33  and at its shaft S by the yoke  53  and pin  103 . The umbrella U is maintained at its desired elevation by the bottom or lower end of the receptacle  33 . This is accomplished without applying any force or pressure to the components of the umbrella.  
         [0029]    To remove the umbrella U from the mount M, the user simply pulls the pull ring  105  to withdraw the pin  103  from the opening  55  in the yoke  53 , removes the umbrella shaft S laterally from the yoke  53  vertically raises the umbrella handle H from the receptacle  33  and releases the pull ring  105 . Thus the umbrella U can be rapidly placed on or removed from the mount M. Furthermore, the mount M can be easily removed from one object and installed on another object using the procedure above outlined.  
         [0030]    Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the invention, an umbrella mount that fully satisfies the objects, aims and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art and in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit of the appended claims.