Patent Description:
Cases for transporting and housing beach umbrellas have been known and widely used for a long time. Such cases, which are in practice sun umbrella holder cases, generally have a flexible tubular body, for example made of synthetic or natural fabric. A housing seat is defined inside the flexible tubular body, in which a beach umbrella can be inserted accompanied by the related stick, obviously when the sun umbrella is closed. The flexible tubular body of the case extends between a first end portion which is closed and a second end portion which is open. Through this open end portion, the sun umbrella is inserted into the housing seat of the case and the sun umbrella is extracted from the housing seat of the case. The open end portion generally comprises a strap, or similar or equivalent means, adapted to reversibly narrow the open end portion to avoid the sun umbrella from undesirably slipping out of the housing seat. In order to facilitate the transport of the case and the related sun umbrella, the case generally comprises a strap for allowing a user to transport the case on his/her shoulder, e.g., a shoulder strap. <CIT> discloses a carrying case for carrying a collapsible folding chair and a plurality of tubular elements, such as fishing rods, sand spikes, beach umbrellas, shotguns, and the like. The carrying case includes a tubular shaped body having an outer surface, an open end, and a closed end. <CIT> discloses a water retaining case for umbrella, wherein the water retaining case can be split in two housing parts.

As known, in order to ensure people's safety, avoid damage to property, and finally avoid loss or damage to the sun umbrella, it is necessary to plant a sun umbrella firmly and accurately in the ground, for example in the sand. In fact, it is necessary to avoid the sun umbrella from flying or tipping over due to the wind once it has been planted. It is often necessary to anchor the sun umbrella using makeshift means such as ropes, stones, rocks, etc. Some improvised solutions include the possibility to use the case itself to tie the umbrella to heavier objects, such as beach chairs or deck chairs. These solutions are however awkward and not very practical, and in some cases, however, they are not particularly effective.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a sun umbrella holder case which, in addition to transporting the umbrella, is such as to offer a solution usable in a particularly convenient and effective manner for anchoring the umbrella when using it.

This and other objects are achieved by a sun umbrella holder case as defined in claim <NUM> in the most general form thereof, and in the dependent claims for some particular embodiments thereof.

The invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, given by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

Equal or similar elements will be indicated by the same reference numerals in the accompanying drawings.

An exemplary, non-limiting embodiment of a sun umbrella holder case <NUM> is shown in the accompanying drawings. In <FIG>, the sun umbrella holder case <NUM> is shown in a transport operating configuration, in which the case <NUM> is essentially shaped like a tubular sheath having a first open end portion <NUM> and a second closed end portion <NUM> which is opposite to the first open end portion <NUM>. In this operating configuration, the sun umbrella holder case <NUM> can receive a sun umbrella <NUM> and the related support stick <NUM> therein, when the umbrella <NUM> is in the closing configuration.

In <FIG>, the sun umbrella holder case <NUM> is in an anchoring configuration and is shown operatively associated with a sun umbrella <NUM>. In a manner known per se, the sun umbrella <NUM> comprises a support stick <NUM>, preferably having two parts being removably fastenable to each other, and a screen <NUM> which, due to a movable spoke assembly comprising a plurality of spokes <NUM>, can be moved between an opening configuration, shown in <FIG>, and a closing configuration, not shown in the figures. The screen <NUM> can be a hat-shaped screen, a dome-shaped screen, a pyramidal screen, etc. In a manner known per se, the screen <NUM> comprises a screen sheet, for example made of synthetic or natural fabric.

Referring now to <FIG>, the sun umbrella holder case <NUM> comprises a main body <NUM>,<NUM> in which a housing seat <NUM> is defined (<FIG>), adapted and configured to reversibly receive a sun umbrella <NUM>, when the sun umbrella is in the closing configuration. The main body <NUM>, <NUM> of the case <NUM> along an axis Z-Z of main longitudinal extension of the main body <NUM>, <NUM> extends between the first end portion <NUM> and the second end portion <NUM> opposite to the first end portion <NUM>. At least one of said first and second end portions <NUM>, <NUM> is an open end portion crossable by the sun umbrella <NUM>. In the example, the first end portion <NUM> is open and crossable by the sun umbrella <NUM>. Preferably, the open end portion <NUM> can be reversibly widened and narrowed, for example by means of a lace <NUM>.

The main body <NUM>, <NUM> of the case <NUM> is made of synthetic or natural fabric, for example, and is thus flexible. The main body <NUM>,<NUM> could also be made of plastic. Along the axis of main longitudinal extension Z-Z, the main body <NUM>, <NUM> preferably has a length between <NUM> and <NUM>, e.g., equal to <NUM>. Transversely, when in the sun umbrella <NUM> is housed in the housing seat <NUM>, the main body <NUM>, <NUM> has a section having a diameter between <NUM> and <NUM>, e.g., equal to <NUM>.

The main body <NUM>,<NUM> of the sun umbrella case <NUM> comprises a first housing portion <NUM> and a second housing portion <NUM> which are removably couplable to each other. In <FIG>, the first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM> are shown uncoupled from each other. Along the longitudinal axis Z-Z, the first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM> preferably have the same length or substantially the same length, more preferably a length between <NUM> and <NUM>, e.g., a length equal to <NUM>.

The main body <NUM>,<NUM> is adapted and configured to selectively take a transport operating configuration, in which the first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM> are coupled to each other and aligned, or substantially aligned, along said longitudinal axis Z-Z to define the housing seat <NUM>, and an anchoring operating configuration, in which the first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM> are uncoupled from each other and movable independently or substantially independently from each other to divide the housing seat <NUM> into two parts.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the sun umbrella holder case <NUM> further comprises coupling means <NUM> to reversibly fix the first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM> to each other. Advantageously, the coupling means <NUM> comprise tear-off fixing means, for example comprising two conjugated strips of Velcro arranged between the first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM> and arranged on an end portion of the first housing portion <NUM> and an adjacent end portion of the second housing portion <NUM>, respectively. In an alternative embodiment, the coupling means <NUM> could comprise a zipper, distributed as described above between the first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM>. In a further embodiment, the coupling means <NUM> could comprise an array of snap fasteners. All the embodiments described above have the advantage of allowing a convenient and quick change in configuration of the main body <NUM>, <NUM> of the sun umbrella holder case <NUM>, between the transport configuration and the anchoring configuration and vice versa.

In the sun umbrella holder case <NUM>, at least one of the first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM> comprises at least one side pocket <NUM>, <NUM> which is arranged, with respect to the longitudinal axis Z-Z, transversely to the housing seat <NUM>. The side pocket <NUM>, <NUM> is adapted and configured to receive and contain at least one ballast material or object for anchoring the sun umbrella <NUM>. In the anchoring configuration, as shown in <FIG>, for example, the first housing portion <NUM> and/or the second housing portion <NUM> can thus act as stabilizing ballasts of the sun umbrella <NUM> when, for example, the screen <NUM> is open and the support stick <NUM> is planted in the ground, e.g., in the sand, or on a support.

In accordance with an advantageous embodiment, the side pocket <NUM>, <NUM> (or the side pockets <NUM>,<NUM>) has a smaller longitudinal extension than the respective housing portion <NUM>,<NUM> and has an opening edge <NUM>, <NUM> arranged at a lower level as compared to the upper end of the respective housing portion <NUM>, <NUM>. This expedient has the advantage of avoiding the housing seat <NUM> from getting dirty with the ballast materials or objects inserted into the pocket <NUM>, <NUM> in the anchoring configuration.

Note that both the housing portions <NUM>,<NUM> are provided with pockets <NUM>, <NUM> because, in order to perform the ballast function, only one side pocket <NUM>, <NUM> provided on one of the two housing portions <NUM>, <NUM> is sufficient.

Clearly, the more side pockets <NUM>, <NUM>, the more effectively and stably the umbrella <NUM> can be anchored. For this reason, it is advantageous that both the first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM> comprise at least one respective side pocket <NUM>,<NUM>. It is also advantageous that the first housing portion <NUM> and/or the second housing portion <NUM> each comprise a pair of side pockets <NUM>, <NUM> which are arranged opposed to each other with respect to the housing seat <NUM>.

In accordance with an advantageous embodiment, the at least one side pocket <NUM>, <NUM> is delimited by at least one expandable wall portion, e.g., an elastic and/or bellows-shaped wall.

With reference to <FIG>, in order to create a side pocket <NUM>, <NUM> it is sufficient to fasten, for example sew, a panel of fabric, e.g., quadrangular in shape, to a central core <NUM> of the first housing portion <NUM> or the second housing portion <NUM>, i.e., to the walls that delimit the housing seat <NUM> of the sun umbrella holder case <NUM>. For example, in the case of a quadrangular panel, the fastening takes place on three sides, so that the side pocket <NUM>, <NUM> has at least one opening edge <NUM>, <NUM> through which the pocket <NUM>, <NUM> can be accessible to insert objects or ballast materials therein. Note that a diagrammatic cross-section of the second housing portion <NUM> has been shown in <FIG>, but the same diagram can also be used to describe the cross-section of the first housing portion <NUM>.

In accordance with an advantageous embodiment, the sun umbrella holder case <NUM> further comprises at least one strap <NUM> having a first end portion 5a fastened or fastenable to the first housing portion <NUM> and a second end portion 5b fastened or fastenable to the second housing portion <NUM>. Preferably, the strap <NUM> has a length between <NUM> and <NUM>, e.g., equal to <NUM>.

In accordance with an embodiment, the strap <NUM> is a variable length strap. Note that two straps <NUM> can be arranged parallel to each other in an embodiment, for conveniently transporting the case <NUM> on the shoulder like a backpack.

Note that the strap <NUM> can keep the first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM> constrained to each other in the anchoring configuration, but in this case the two housing portions <NUM>, <NUM> can however be moved independently from each other, within certain limits, so as to establish a convenient and/or ideal positioning of the two housing portions <NUM>, <NUM>.

The sun umbrella holder case <NUM> further comprises at least one anchoring belt or rope <NUM>, <NUM> having a first end portion fastened to the first housing portion <NUM> and/or to the second housing portion <NUM>. Said anchoring belt or rope <NUM>, <NUM> preferably has an adjustable length.

Conveniently, the anchoring belt or rope <NUM>, <NUM> carries at least one anchoring element <NUM>, <NUM> to constrain the anchoring belt or rope <NUM>, <NUM> to the sun umbrella <NUM>. For example, said anchoring element <NUM>, <NUM> is or comprises a hook or a buckle or a spring clip.

If both the first housing portion <NUM> and the second housing portion <NUM> each comprise at least one respective side pocket <NUM>, <NUM>, it is particularly advantageous that the sun umbrella holder case <NUM> comprises two anchoring belts or ropes <NUM>, <NUM>, where one of which is fastened to the first housing portion <NUM> and the other is fastened to the second housing portion <NUM>. In the particular embodiment shown in the figures, in which each of the two housing portions <NUM>,<NUM> has two opposing pockets <NUM>, <NUM>, a respective belt or rope <NUM>, <NUM> is fastened to each of the two housing portions <NUM>,<NUM>. Each belt or rope <NUM>, <NUM> has a first end portion fastened into a respective pocket <NUM>, <NUM> and thus forms a ring. Each belt or rope <NUM>, <NUM> has an anchoring element <NUM>, <NUM> such as a spring clip or a buckle or a snap hook, for example, which allows opening the ring by dividing the belt or rope <NUM>, <NUM> into two parts. It is thus advantageously possible to house the belt or rope <NUM>, <NUM> in the respective pocket <NUM>, <NUM> when the sun umbrella holder case <NUM> is in the transport configuration. The above description also applies, with the appropriate modifications, when each of the two housing portions <NUM>, <NUM> comprises only one pocket <NUM>, <NUM> or when only one of the two housing portions <NUM>, <NUM> includes one or two pockets. In the case of a single pocket, it is advantageous that both end portions of the belt or rope <NUM>, <NUM> are fastened into said pocket.

Based on the above, it is thus possible to understand how a sun umbrella holder case <NUM> of the type described above allows fully achieving the objects mentioned above with reference to the prior art.

In fact, the sun umbrella holder case <NUM> described above allows not only a sun umbrella <NUM> to be transported but also to anchor it effectively and stably during its use. The sun umbrella holder case <NUM> is thus a multifunctional case. Note that the provision of one or more side pockets <NUM>, <NUM> with respect to the housing seat <NUM> allows filling such pockets <NUM>, <NUM> with ballast materials or objects without dirtying the housing seat <NUM>. It is thus possible to keep the sun umbrella <NUM> clean, and in the anchoring configuration, the housing seat <NUM> can also be used to contain or hide other objects or items, e.g., garments, table cloths, keys, wallets, etc..

Claim 1:
A sun umbrella holder case (<NUM>) comprising a main body (<NUM>,<NUM>) inside which a housing seat (<NUM>) is defined adapted and configured to reversibly receive a sun umbrella (<NUM>), wherein the main body (<NUM>,<NUM>) along a longitudinal axis (Z-Z) of prevalent extension of the main body (<NUM>,<NUM>) extends between a first end portion (<NUM>) and a second end portion (<NUM>) opposite the first end portion (<NUM>), wherein at least one of said first and second end portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) is an open end portion crossable by the sun umbrella (<NUM>);
wherein:
- the main body (<NUM>,<NUM>) comprises a first housing portion (<NUM>) and a second housing portion (<NUM>) removably coupled to each other;
- the main body (<NUM>,<NUM>) is adapted and configured to selectively assume a transport operating configuration in which the first housing portion (<NUM>) and the second housing portion (<NUM>) are coupled to each other and aligned, or substantially aligned, along said longitudinal axis (Z-Z) for defining the housing seat (<NUM>) and an anchoring operating configuration in which the first housing portion (<NUM>) and the second housing portion (<NUM>) are uncoupled from each other and movable independently or substantially independently from each other in order to divide the housing seat (<NUM>) into two parts;
- at least one from between the first housing portion (<NUM>) and the second housing portion (<NUM>) comprises at least one side pocket (<NUM>,<NUM>) which with respect to the longitudinal axis (Z-Z) is arranged transversely with respect to the housing seat (<NUM>) and wherein said side pocket (<NUM>,<NUM>) is adapted and configured to receive and contain at least one ballast material or object for anchoring the sun umbrella (<NUM>);
- the sun umbrella holder case (<NUM>) comprises at least one anchoring belt or rope (<NUM>,<NUM>) having a first end portion fixed to the first housing portion (<NUM>) and/or to the second housing portion (<NUM>).