Abstract:
An umbrella having a shaft assembly that includes a lower shaft, an upper shaft, an offset hinge assembly disposed between the lower and upper shafts, and a handle is provided. The umbrella also includes a canopy assembly with a plurality of extendable ribs operatively disposed between the distal end of the upper shaft and the runner. The canopy is operatively disposed over the ribs and affixed to a distal end of the upper shaft and the runner wherein the offset hinge assembly is adapted to be selectively positioned in a stowed position in which said canopy can be opened and closed, and in a deployed position in which said open canopy is offset from said handle.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/928,679, filed Jan. 17, 2014, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to an umbrella having a canopy in an off-centered position to provide enhanced rain protection for a user. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     No one will doubt the effectiveness of an umbrella for keeping one dry while walking in the rain. Their simple, but effective design has served mankind well over the years with minimal changes to its basic design. However, umbrellas suffer from one (1) common flaw in that the handle and shaft must be positioned away from the body when using. This position places the canopy of the umbrella off to one (1) side of the user, leaving the other side of the user&#39;s body at the very edge of the umbrella, or even beyond. This then subjects the user to rain, especially in blowing and driving rain conditions. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which umbrellas can provide complete and maximum coverage for all extents of the user&#39;s body, in order to eliminate the problems as described above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention in providing an umbrella having a shaft assembly that includes a lower shaft, an upper shaft, an offset hinge assembly disposed therebetween, and a handle. The umbrella also includes a canopy assembly with a plurality of extendable ribs operatively disposed between the distal end of the upper shaft and the runner. The canopy is operatively disposed over the ribs and affixed to a distal end of the upper shaft and the runner wherein the offset hinge assembly is adapted to be selectively positioned in a stowed position in which said canopy can be opened and closed, and in a deployed position in which said open canopy is offset from said handle. The use of the present invention provides an elegant solution for keeping umbrella users dryer, in a manner which is quick, easy, and effective. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a partial break-away perspective view of an umbrella with an off-centered canopy  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of an offset hinge assembly portion  20  of the umbrella with an off-centered canopy  10  depicting a horizontal deployed state, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3 a    is another front view of the offset hinge assembly portion  20  of the umbrella with an off-centered canopy  10  depicting a vertical state, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3 b    is a side view of the offset hinge assembly portion  20  also depicting a vertical state, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4 a    is a front view of an alternate locking hinge portion  120 , according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 4 b    is a side view of the alternate locking hinge portion  120 , according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  umbrella with an off-centered canopy 
               12  shaft assembly 
               20  offset hinge assembly 
               22  upper bar 
               24  lower bar 
               26   a  first upper bar pin 
               26   b  second upper bar pin 
               28   a  first lower bar pin 
               28   b  second lower bar pin 
               30  return spring 
               32   a  first spring fastener 
               32   b  second spring fastener 
               34  spring stop 
               35   a  first tab stop 
               35   b  second tab stop 
               36  gap 
               50  canopy assembly 
               52  canopy 
               53  umbrella tip 
               54  umbrella rib 
               56  runner 
               58  lower shaft section 
               59   a  first lower shaft slot 
               59   b  second lower shaft slot 
               60  upper shaft section 
               61  handle 
               62  runner spring lock 
               64   a  first upper shaft slot 
               64   b  second upper shaft slot 
               66  spring plunger assembly 
               68  plunger ball 
               70  spring plunger aperture 
               72  spring 
               74  retaining depression 
               120  alternate locking hinge 
               124   a  alternate lower bar 
               124   b  first arm 
               124   c  second arm 
               125  locking spring 
               126   a  first groove 
               126   b  second groove 
               128   b  alternate bar pin 
               129  locking spring fastener 
               160  alternate upper shaft section 
               164   a  first alternate slot 
               164   b  second alternate slot 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 3   b , and in terms of an alternate embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b   . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a device and method for an umbrella (herein described as the “apparatus”)  10 , which provides an umbrella with a canopy assembly  50  and a shaft assembly  12  and that includes an offset upper shaft section  60  to allow for better positioning of the umbrella canopy  52  over the user to aid in keeping the user dry. The apparatus  10  allows the user to position the umbrella handle  61  in the normal position in front of their torso, while centering the canopy  52  directly overhead. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a partial break-away perspective view of the apparatus  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  comprises a shaft assembly  12  that includes an offset hinge assembly  20  affixed between lower shaft section  58  and upper shaft section  60  portions, and a canopy assembly  50 . The canopy assembly  50  further provides a textile canopy  52  having sewn-in umbrella tips  53  providing attachment of outer end portions of respective umbrella canopy ribs  54 . The umbrella ribs  54  comprise flexible bow-like members having inward ends being pivotally connected to side surfaces of a vertically sliding runner  56 . Furthermore, the apparatus  10  is envisioned to provide various sizes of canopy assemblies  50  having a variety of attractive colors and patterns based upon a user&#39;s preference. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2, 3   a , and  3   b , various views of the offset hinge assembly portion  20  of the apparatus  10  depicting deployed and stowed states, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The offset hinge assembly  20  includes an upper bar  22  and a lower bar  24 , both being pivotally attached to the lower shaft  58  via a first upper bar pin  26   a  and a first lower bar pin  28   a  respectively. In like manner, the upper bar  22  and a lower bar  24  are pivotally attached to the upper shaft section  60  via a second upper bar pin  26   b  and a second lower bar pin  28   b  respectively. The pins  26   a ,  26   b ,  28   a ,  28   b  are arranged in such a manner so as to maintain the shaft sections  58 ,  60  in parallel to each other, as well as maintaining the bars  22 ,  24  in parallel to each other, thereby forming an inclusive parallelogram when the bars  22 ,  24  are in the deployed position as seen in  FIG. 2 . 
     The shaft sections  58 ,  60  and bars  22 ,  24  provide a continuous cylindrical shape when the apparatus  10  is in an upright and stowed position, which allows normal collapsing of the umbrella apparatus  10 . The shaft sections  58   60  are preferably of an identical circular cross-section being positioned above and below the offset hinge assembly  20 . Each bar portion  22 ,  24  of the offset hinge assembly  20  has a cross-sectional shape being a semi-circular segment which represents approximately thirty percent (30%) of a circle&#39;s area, thereby forming a gap  36  in between the bars  22 ,  24  as seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3   b . Each bar  22 ,  24  is abutted against opposing recessed slot portions  59   a ,  59   b , and  64   a ,  64   b , along the side surfaces of the respective shaft sections  58 ,  60 . The upper bar  22  and lower bar  24  portions are mounted to the lower shaft section  58  within respective recessed first lower shaft slot  29   a  and second lower shaft slot  29   b  portions via the aforementioned first upper  26   a  and first lower  28   a  bar pins. In like manner, opposite end portions of the upper bar  22  and lower bar  24  portions are mounted to the upper shaft section  60  within respective recessed first upper shaft slot  64   a  and second upper shaft slot  64   b  portions via the aforementioned second upper  26   b  and second lower  28   b  bar pins. When the offset hinge assembly  20  is in the stowed position, the outward-facing surfaces of the bars  22 ,  24  provide vertically aligned and corresponding circular outer shapes to the shaft sections  58 ,  60 . Then, in this position, the runner portion  56  of the canopy assembly  50  may be operatively slid up or down along the shaft sections  58  and  60  to deploy or collapse the umbrella ribs  54  and canopy  52  in a conventional manner. 
     The apparatus  10  provides mechanical features to retain the apparatus  10  in a stowed position by engagement of a spring plunger assembly  66  disposed within the upper shaft section  60 . The spring plunger assembly  66  includes a plunger ball  68  that is pressed into and captured in a spring plunger aperture  70 . A spring  72  disposed within the aperture  70  presses outward on the plunger ball  68  so that a portion of the ball  68  will rest in a retaining depression  74  formed on the inner surface of the upper bar  22 . In this manner, when the apparatus  10  is in the stowed position, and the upper bar  22  is in line with the upper and lower shafts  58  and  60 , the plunger ball  68  seats in the retaining depression  74  and that provides a spring loaded retention to hold the apparatus  10  in place. To close the umbrella in a normal manner, the user then presses upon a runner spring lock device  62  and slides the runner  56  downwardly to collapse the apparatus  10  when no longer needed for protection from rain. 
     Additionally, the apparatus  10  includes an internal return spring  30  which expands during deployment of the offset hinge assembly  20 . The return spring  30  provides motion dampening as the canopy assembly  50  descends to the offset position. The return spring  30  includes end portions which are affixed to inwardly-facing flat surfaces of the bars  22 ,  24  using respective first fastener  32   a  and second spring fastener  32   b  portions. The return spring  30  provides a tensile spring device and occupies a gap  36  formed between flat side portions of the bars  22 ,  24 . 
     Finally, the lower shaft section  58  includes a protruding spring-loaded spring stop  34  disposed along a side surface immediately below the first lower shaft slot  59   a  to prevent the upper and lower bars  22  and  24  from over extending. When moving to the deployed position, as best shown in  FIG. 2 , the spring stop  34  extends and first tab stop  35   a  in the upper bar  22  contacts the spring stop  34  to prevent further movement of the upper and lower bars  22 ,  24 . Conversely, when returning the apparatus  10  to the stowed position, as seen in  FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b   , a second spring tab stop  35   b  disposed at a corresponding position upon the lower bar  24  contacts and collapses the spring-loaded spring stop  34 , allowing subsequent downward sliding of the runner  56  portion of the canopy assembly  50  during normal collapsing and stowing of the canopy assembly  50 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b   , front and side views of an alternate locking hinge portion  120 , according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The alternate locking hinge  120  provides additional stability to the apparatus  10  being especially useful in windy or otherwise violent weather conditions. The alternate locking hinge  120  provides positional securement of the apparatus  10  equally well in either the stowed or when deployed via mechanical locking of the offset hinge assembly  20 . It is understood that the alternate locking hinge  120  may be utilized in addition to, or in lieu of the previously described spring plunger assembly  66  and spring stop  34  portions. The alternate locking hinge  120  is illustrated here for illustration sake, being utilized to secure a relative position of alternate lower bar  124   a  and alternate upper shaft  160  portions of the offset hinge assembly  20 ; however, it is understood that the alternate locking hinge  120  may be incorporated as an alternate into the other upper bar  22  hinge point at the pivoting joint utilizing pin  26   a  of the offset hinge assembly  20  with equal benefit. 
     The alternate locking hinge  120  provides an alternate lower bar portion  124   a  which further includes first arm  124   b  and second arm  124   c  portions. The arms  124   b ,  124   c  provide flat parallel protrusions which extend along side surfaces of the alternate upper shaft  160 . The alternate lower bar  124   a  is pivotally attached to the alternate upper shaft  160  via the alternate bar pin  128   b . The first arm  124   b  further comprises first spring groove  126   a  and second spring groove  126   b  features located along a perimeter edge and being spaced approximately ninety (90°) degrees apart. The alternate upper shaft  160  further includes a locking spring  125  being affixed thereto via a spring fastener  129 . The locking spring  125  is positioned so as to be in alignment with the spring groove portions  126   a  and  126   b  of the first arm  124   b  as the alternate lower bar  124   a  is rotated about the alternate bar pin  128   b . Rotation of the alternate lower bar  124   a  relative to the alternate upper shaft  160  provides selective engagement of the spring  125  within either the first  126   a  or second  126   b  spring groove, thereby securing the apparatus  10  in the offset state or vertical state, respectively. The locking spring  125  is envisioned to be an arcuate leaf-type spring being biased inwardly to engage the grooves  126   a ,  126   b  when released. The arcuate shape of the locking spring  125  allows a user to grasp and motion the locking spring  125  outwardly, rotate the alternate lower bar  124   a , and re-engage the locking spring  125  into a desired groove  126   a ,  126   b.    
     The arms  124   b ,  124   c  are positioned along opposing side surfaces of the alternate upper shaft section  160  in a recessed manner within parallel and recessed first alternate slot  164   a  and second alternate slot  164   b  features so as to maintain the combined cylindrical shape of the alternate lower bar  124   a  and the alternate upper shaft section  160  when configured in the stowed position. 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus  10 , it would be utilized as indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The method of utilizing the apparatus  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring a model of the apparatus  10  having a desired size and color based upon a user&#39;s preference; deploying the canopy assembly  50  from a stowed position by grasping the handle  61  or lower shaft section  58  of the apparatus  10 ; grasping and sliding the runner  56  upwardly over the offset hinge assembly  20  and onto the upper shaft section  60  until the runner  56  is secured above the runner spring lock  62 ; deploying the offset hinge assembly  20  to the offset position by grasping the lower  58  and upper  60  shaft sections and applying a sideways force to disengage the spring plunger assembly  66 ; motioning the upper shaft section  60  outwardly and downwardly until the upper bar  22  obtains a horizontal orientation and contacts the spring stop  34 ; holding the handle  61  and positioning one&#39;s self under the offset canopy portion  52  of the canopy assembly  50 ; and, benefiting from improved protection from rainfall afforded a user of the present invention  10 . 
     The method of utilizing a model of the apparatus  10  equipped with the alternate locking hinge  120  may be achieved by performing the following extra steps: deploying the canopy  52  and umbrella ribs  54  of the canopy assembly  50  as described above; reconfiguring the offset hinge assembly  20 , equipped with the locking hinge  120 , to the offset state by grasping and pulling the arcuate locking spring  125  outwardly from the second groove portion  126   b  of the first panel  124   b , thereby rotationally unlocking the alternate lower bar  124   a  from the alternate upper shaft section  130 ; rotating the alternate lower bar  124   a  downwardly to a horizontal position; aligning and releasing the locking spring  125  into the first groove  126   a  to secure the apparatus  10  in the offset state; and, utilizing the additional security provided by the alternate locking hinge  120  to provide additional protection in an event of violent inclement weather. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.