Patent Publication Number: US-2006011226-A1

Title: Disposition introduced in beach umbrella with inverted structural formation

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to an inverted beach umbrella, in particular to one with a concavity turned upwards  
      2. Description of the Prior Art  
      The sun radiation has great importance to life and ecosystem, since it contributes to the photosynthesis of vegetables, essential to animal food, and to keeping the ideal temperature for the development of living beings.  
      In daily life, it is common for people to expose themselves to sun radiation, during their normal activities as well as during sports activities and walks. The beaches, for example, are highly frequented in summer and offer leisure activities to their users allowing for several sports activities and the suntan of the users during the sun “bathing”.  
      However, owing to the fact that the sun radiation has ultra-violet rays, the excess to sun exposure produces some inconveniences to human beings, such as sun burns and skin cancer. In order to minimize the solar radiation effects, health and relevant issues, technicians have developed products and accessories such as: creams and sun protectors, beach umbrellas, caps and dark glasses to be used to protect their users against harmful effects of excessive solar radiation. In the usual way, such accessories contribute to protect people from the exposure to solar rays during sports activities, leisure and relaxation, minimizing their harmful effects of the solar rays.  
      Regarding the use of protecting roofs, the user employs tents and huts and beach umbrellas, consisting of concave-circular fixtures provided with protecting films being supported by a long stem able to fit on a support buried in the sand. Such beach umbrellas are largely adopted on the beaches and kiosks on the sea shore. However, there are inconveniences, such as these beach umbrellas can be easily dragged by winds and breezes and retain excessive heat when exposed to sun for long periods, causing discomfort to users who are below them.  
      The retention of harmful sun rays is usually carried out by the beach umbrella revetment fabric, that is, for a higher protection a thicker film or fabric is used, however, this fact adds weight and high cost to the beach umbrella.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Thinking about this inconvenience, after several researches and studies, the inventor, created and developed the object of the inventive umbrella, built in its preferred form from a fixture with a concavity turned upwards, being provided downwardly with a film and upwardly with another film in the central and convex region of the fixture, forming an empty space between the two films which contributes to the formation of an ancillary thermo insulation, at the same time it protects the fixture&#39;s structural part against aggressive action from the surrounding environment.  
      In addition to that, the present invention also has an opening disposed on the lower film which allows for the insertion and keeping of objects in the empty space between the films during the staying of users on the beach, fields, etc.  
      The inventive umbrella is better able to resist wind gusts without becoming disarranged and without being blown from its fixture in the sand.  
      Thus, this new design of a beach umbrella shows that not only mechanical and functional qualities have been considered in its construction project, but also the shape, the disposition and the location of its parts and components which, correctly positioned, have brought an increase of efficiency without causing any further cost.  
      In the present patent application is presented a practical and innovating description of inverted beach umbrella with all aesthetic and functional qualities designed and developed according to the most modern techniques, enabling in this way its most varied uses, from the use on beaches up to the use in camping, kiosks, squares and backyards of residences or in front of bars and restaurants.  
      Its innovating format allows the obtaining of an excellent performance level, offering a model of beach umbrella, which has long durability, being created, mainly to bear the environmental weather conditions and assure a better sun protection for the user.  
      The referred utensil is extremely simple in its functional configuration, being, therefore of easy feasibility; however, excellent practical and functional results are obtained offering an innovating design over the prior art.  
      Idealized with innovating design, it results in a harmonic set of very peculiar aspect and, above all, characteristic, being that, in addition to the design aspect, the model is remarkable for its versatility and commodity of use.  
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Following, for a better understanding and comprehension of the invention, the illustrative drawings are presented which read:  
       FIG. 1 —Shows a side view of the inverted breach umbrella according to the present patent application;  
       FIG. 2 —Shows a top view of the inverted beach umbrella;  
       FIG. 3 —Shows a perspective view of the inverted beach umbrella, illustrating a second film disposed on the central convex fixture;  
       FIG. 4 —Shows another lateral perspective view of the inverted beach umbrella;  
       FIG. 5 —Shows a schematic view of the inverted beach umbrella, illustrating the receptacle formed between the first and the second film supporting and protecting personal objects;  
       FIG. 6 —Shows a close-up perspective view of the inverted beach umbrella, illustrating the existence of opening in the lower film;  
       FIG. 7 —Shows the same perspective view as shown in  FIG. 6 , illustrating the lower film opening;  
       FIG. 8 —Shows a schematic view of a traditional beach umbrella according to the prior art, illustrating the inconvenience of enduring adverse wind pressure and being urged away from the fixing local toward the resulting vector; and  
       FIG. 9 —Shows a schematic view of an inverted beach umbrella, illustrating the elimination of the inconvenience of enduring adverse pressure from wind and being urged away from the fixing place, owing to the smooth flow caused by the convex surface.  
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      In compliance with the figures above listed the foregoing objects of the present patent application are characterized essentially by the provision of a beach umbrella ( 1 ), provided with an articulated concave-circular fixture and with a concavity turned upwards, the fixture being downwardly lined by a protecting film or textile sheet ( 2 ) provided with a downwardly central opening ( 3 ) disposed on the long supporting stem or rod ( 4 ).  
      In the fixture&#39;s upper-central part on the arched locking elements, another film or textile sheet ( 5 ) of less diameter is disposed forming lens-shape interstice ( 6 ), from which extends a thermo insulating layer and provides the formation of a receptacle for the user&#39;s placement of personal objects ( 7 ) introduced into the space through the opening ( 3 ).  
      By means of this construction, the user underneath the fixture remains more protected from the solar radiation, at the same time in which he or she receives the direct heating of his or her body by the thermo radiation of the beach umbrella, and yet enables the beach umbrella to best resist the wind gusts without either disarranging or being blown off its fixture in the sand.  
      In addition to that, the existence of an interstice between the protecting films provides the formation of a more efficient thermo and luminous protection, allowing one to keep personal objects ( 7 ), in case the user has to be absent for a short period of time to dive in or otherwise enjoy the sea.  
      Still referring to the drawings, umbrella ( 1 ) is supported by conventional wire supports ( 8 ) or the like. Stem ( 4 ) is a rigid column for being embedded in an appropriate fixture or directly in the ground to hold umbrella ( 1 ) upright. The stem ( 4 ) can have a telescoping joint, a snap apart joint or a fold-over joint ( 9 ) in case the length of stem ( 4 ) should be reduced for storage. An important feature of umbrella ( 1 ) can be seen in  FIG. 9 . First referring to  FIG. 8 , a prior art umbrella ( 10 ) is convex, so wind pressure shown by arrows A exerts a lifting force and torque on umbrella ( 10 ), urging umbrella ( 10 ) out of its fixed position by virtue of the pressure force shown by arrows B, and by the torque exerted on stem ( 4 ) fixed on the ground. However, wind pressure A on umbrella ( 1 ) shown in  FIG. 9  does not tend to lift umbrella ( 1 ) since the wind flows smoothly over film ( 2 ). Moreover, air pressure exerts a force C on umbrella ( 1 ) and urges umbrella ( 1 ) into the ground, rendering it safe from lifting and falling down or collapsing.  
      The present invention is characterized as a utensil of great use presenting as evidenced by analysis and by the shown figures, a number of differences on the conventional umbrellas existing in the consumer market, in addition to constructive and functional characteristics completely different from those related to prior art.  
      The invention has been described in detail with particular emphasis being made on the preferred embodiment, but variations and modifications may occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.