Patent Publication Number: US-6910490-B1

Title: Umbrella apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to collapsible umbrellas and more particularly pertains to a new umbrella apparatus for protecting the head of one more people from the rain. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The use of collapsible umbrellas is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,450 describes a device for heating a terrace by deflecting heat off of an umbrella like structure. Another type of collapsible umbrella is U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,452 having an umbrella that is expanded to cover a greater area. U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,421 has an umbrella that can be shortened to reduce amount of coverage provided by the umbrella. 
   While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that has certain improved features allowing for the expansion of the canopy to shelter multiple people. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention meets the needs presented above by providing separating assemblies that separate from each other to expand the canopy member and provide a larger area of coverage. 
   Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new umbrella apparatus that allows a user the actuate the user to expand the canopy member and shelter multiple people. 
   To this end, the present invention generally comprises a shank member being designed for being gripped by a user. A support assembly is operationally coupled to the shank member. The support assembly is selectively actuated between a deployed position and an expanded position whereby the support assembly is designed for being actuated by the user. A canopy member is coupled to the support assembly. The canopy member opens when the support assembly is the deployed position whereby the canopy member provides a first coverage area designed for sheltering the user from the rain. The canopy member expands when the support assembly is in the expanded positioned whereby the canopy member provides a second coverage area greater than the first coverage area designed for sheltering a plurality of people from the rain. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a new umbrella apparatus according to the present invention showing the support assembly in the deployed position. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the present invention shown the canopy transitioning between being opened and being expanded. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the present invention showing the support assembly in the expanded position. 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the present invention shown with the rib assemblies in the stored position. 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged front view of the support assembly of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 5  thereof, a new umbrella apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. Certain aspects of the supporting structure of an umbrella are common, well known, and conventional, such as those aspects described in the patents mentioned above, including U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,421 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,452, and in the interest of brevity (and consistent with MPEP section 2164.01) will nor be repeated here. 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the umbrella apparatus  10  generally comprises a shank member  11  being designed for being gripped by a user. 
   A support assembly  12  is operationally coupled to the shank member  11 . The support assembly  12  is selectively actuated between a deployed position and an expanded position whereby the support assembly  12  is designed for being actuated by the user. 
   A canopy member  13  is coupled to the support assembly  12 . The canopy member  13  opens when the support assembly  12  is the deployed position whereby the canopy member  13  provides a first coverage area designed for sheltering the user from the rain. The canopy member  13  expands when the support assembly  12  is in the expanded positioned whereby the canopy member  13  provides a second coverage area greater than the first coverage area designed for sheltering a plurality of people from the rain. 
   The canopy member  13  comprises a pleat  14 . The pleat  14  extends along a diameter of the canopy member  13  whereby the pleat  14  permits portions of the canopy member  13  to be folded when the canopy member  13  is opened by the support assembly  12  in the deployed positioned. The pleat  14  allows the canopy member  13  to be fully unfolded to provide the second coverage area when the canopy member  13  is expanded by the support assembly  12  in the expanded position. 
   The canopy member  13  comprises a water repellant material. The water repellant material is designed for repelling rain striking the canopy member  13  whereby the canopy member  13  provides coverage for the user positioned under the canopy member  13 . 
   The support assembly  12  comprises a pair of separating assemblies  15  and a collar member  16 . The collar member  16  is slidably coupled to the shank member  11  whereby the collar member  16  is slidable along the length of the shank portion. Each of the separating assemblies  15  is operationally coupled to the collar member  16  whereby the separating assemblies  15  are selectively actuated between the deployed position and the expanded position. The separating assemblies  15  are coupled to the canopy member  13  whereby the separating assemblies  15  are for actuating the canopy between being opened and being expanded when the separating assemblies  15  are actuated by the user. 
   Each of the separating assemblies  15  comprises an arm member  17 . The arm member  17  is pivotally coupled to the collar member  16  whereby the arm member  17  of each of the separating assemblies  15  are pivoted away from each other when the separating assemblies  15  are positioned in the expanded position. The arm member  17  of each of the separating assemblies  15  is positioned parallel to the shank portion when the separating assemblies  15  are positioned in the deployed position. The arm member  17  of each of the separating assemblies  15  is designed for being actuated by the user when the user wishes to actuate the canopy member  13  between being opened and being expanded. 
   Each of the separating assemblies  15  comprises a plurality of rib assemblies  18 . Each of the rib assemblies  18  is pivotally coupled to the arm member  17  of the associated one of the separating assemblies  15  opposite the collar member  16 . Each of the rib assemblies  18  is selectively pivoted between a stored position and an extended position. The stored position is defined by the rib assemblies  18  being positioned substantially parallel to the arm member  17  of the associated one of the separating assemblies  15 . The extended position is defined by each of the rib assemblies  18  extending outwardly from the arm member  17  of the associated one of the separating assemblies  15 . Each of the rib assemblies  18  extends along a portion of a radius of the canopy member  13  whereby the rib assemblies  18  open the canopy member  13  when the rib assemblies  18  are positioned in the extended position. The rib assembly draws the canopy member  13  around the shank member  11  for facilitating storage when the rib assemblies  18  are positioned in the stored position. The rib assemblies  18  may be coupled to the arm member  17  of the associated one of the separating assemblies  15  (see  FIG. 5 ) by a variety of means, such as, but not limited to, the use of a rivet positioned in a hole in the rib assemblies  18  which would allow the rib assemblies  18  to pivot laterally with respect to the arm members  17  (see, e.g., the rivet at the top end of the arm members  17  shown in  FIG. 5 ). 
   A handle member  19  is coupled to the shank member  11 . The handle member  19  is positioned opposite the canopy member  13 . The handle member  19  is designed for being gripped by the user for facilitating positioning of the canopy member  13  over a head of the user to protect the head of the user from the rain. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  5 , at least one locking member  20  is operationally coupled to the shank member  11 . The locking member  20  is biased outwardly from the shank member  11  whereby the locking member  20  is forced into the shank member  11  when the collar member  16  slides along the shank member  19  towards the canopy member  13 . The locking member  20  extends outwardly from the shank member  11  and engages a bottom of the collar member  16  to inhibit inadvertent sliding of the collar member  16  along the shank member  11  away from the canopy member  13  to secure the canopy member  13  open. The locking member  20  is selectively depressed into the shank member  11  to disengage the locking member  20  from the collar member  16  and allow the collar member  16  to be slid along the shank member  11  away from the canopy member  13  to allow the canopy member  13  to be closed. It will be appreciated from the locking member  20  controls movement of the collar member  16 , which controls the expansion of the canopy member  13  from the retracted position (see  FIG. 1 ) to the expanded position (see  FIG. 3 ) while the canopy is deployed or raised out of the storage position see  FIG. 4 ). 
   In use, the user slides the collar member  16  along the shank member  11  towards the canopy member  13  to pivot the rib assemblies  18  into the extended position and open the canopy member  13 . The user can then pivot the arm member  17  of each of the separating assemblies  15  away from each other to unfold the pleat  14  of the canopy member  13  and increase the area of coverage of the canopy member  13 . The user then brings the arm member  17  of each of the separating assemblies  15  towards the shank member  11  and slides the collar member  16  towards the handle member  19  to pivot the rib assemblies  18  to the stored position and bring the canopy member  13  around the shank member  11  to facilitate storage. 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.