Portable shade umbrella

Abstract

A shade umbrella includes a top structure, an umbrella stand structure and a pole. The pole enables the separation of umbrella top structure into two components and posit of each other for ease of carrying and storing, and the umbrella stand structure attached to lower end of an umbrella pole which provides stability by parting horizontal and vertical loads. Further, the shade umbrella is portable, detachable and collapsible.

Claims

1. An umbrella, comprising a umbrella top structure, an umbrella base, and an umbrella pole, where the umbrella base comprises a stand structure with at least three umbrella base support struts, a receptable for the umbrella pole, a guide cap and at least two pivot couplers, including a second pivot coupler and a third pivot coupler, where the umbrella top structure comprises an umbrella canopy, where the at least three umbrella base support struts of the umbrella base radiate outwardly from the second pivot coupler to which they are rotably connected, where the umbrella pole holds the umbrella canopy a set distance off the ground, where the umbrella top structure additionally comprises at least three umbrella top structure connection struts, a first pivot coupler, a pivot coupling, a top structure elastic closure pin, and where the at least three top structure connection struts are rotably attached to at least three top structure support struts and to the first pivot coupler, where the first pivot coupler additionally comprises a roughly circular opening through which the umbrella pole is capable of fitting, and where, upon opening the umbrella, the at least three top structure support struts are rotated outwardly from the umbrella pole, and the at least three top structure connection struts are rotated in an upward direction, whereby the first pivot coupler is also pulled in an upward direction, thereby supplying support to the umbrella pole, where the umbrella base additionally comprises an umbrella base elastic closure pin and the guide cap, where the guide cap moves the third pivot coupler up and down the umbrella pole, and the umbrella base elastic closure pin serves to temporarily lock the third pivot coupler at a certain height up the umbrella pole, where each of the at least three umbrella base support struts comprises an umbrella base support strut pin bracket, a pivot bracket, and an umbrella base support strut bar, where the umbrella base support strut pin bracket connects the umbrella base support strut to the second pivot coupler, the pivot bracket rotably connects the umbrella base support strut to the third pivot coupler, where the umbrella base support strut bar includes a moulded bracket, where the moulded bracket is located at an outermost end of the umbrella base support strut bar, where the umbrella base support strut bar comprises an umbrella base connection strut bar and two pin brackets, where the two pin brackets are located at opposite ends of the umbrella base connection strut bar.

2. The umbrella base of claim 1, where the umbrella base additionally comprises a skirt.

3. The umbrella base of claim 2, where the skirt comprises a piece of fabric, additionally comprising two or more elastic loops, where each of the two or more elastic loops is located at an edge of the skirt, and where each elastic loop can be removably secured to the base support strut.

4. The umbrella base of claim 3, where the number of umbrella base support struts is four, and the skirt is roughly square in shape, and where the skirt comprises four elastic loops, where there is one elastic loop at each corner of the skirt.

5. The umbrella base of claim 4, where a user of the invention can pile a stabilizing substance on the skirt to keep the umbrella canopy from falling over.

6. The umbrella base of claim 5, where the stabilizing substance is sand.

7. The umbrella of claim 1, where the umbrella top structure comprises the at least three umbrella top structure support struts, where the at least three umbrella top structure support struts radiate outwardly from the pivot coupling to which they are rotably connected, where the pivot coupler comprises the circular opening through which the umbrella pole is capable of fitting, where the umbrella pole holds the umbrella canopy a set distance off the ground, and, where each umbrella top structure support strut comprises an umbrella top structure support strut pin bracket, a pivot bracket, and an end cap, where each umbrella top structure support strut additionally comprises an umbrella top structure support strut bar, where the umbrella top structure support strut bar is a flat, linear member, where the pin bracket connects the umbrella top structure support strut to the first pivot coupler, the pivot bracket rotably connects the umbrella top structure support strut to the connection strut, where the umbrella top structure support strut bar connects to the pivot coupling and provides support for the umbrella canopy.

8. The umbrella of claim 7, where each umbrella top structure support strut additionally comprises means of securing the umbrella canopy of the umbrella top structure.

9. The umbrella of claim 8, where the umbrella top structure connection strut comprises an umbrella top structure connection strut bar and two pin brackets, where the two pin brackets are located at opposite ends of the umbrella top structure connection strut bar.

10. The umbrella structure of claim 9, where each umbrella top structure support strut additionally comprises means by which an edge of the canopy can be attached to an edge of one or more adjacent canopies.

11. The umbrella of claim 10, where the means of attaching one canopy to the edge of an adjacent canopy comprises male and female connectors, placed on alternate corners of the canopy.

12. The umbrella of claim 11, where the umbrella top structure additionally comprises one or more nets and pockets that are attached to an underside of the canopy.

13. The umbrella of claim 12, where the umbrella pole is hollow.

14. The umbrella of claim 12, where the umbrella pole is telescopic.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will be described with reference to the following drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. The various aspects of this umbrella are designed to be used together or independently of each other.

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable shade umbrella structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the portable shade umbrella structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective top view of the portable shade umbrella in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 4 is an exploded top view of the portable shade umbrella in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a stand of the portable shade umbrella in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a stand of the portable shade umbrella in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the umbrella top's molded strut bar in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(9) FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the umbrella top's molded strut bar in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a connecting strut bar in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(11) FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a connecting strut bar in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(12) FIG. 11 is a side view of over-molded elastic closure pin in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(13) FIG. 12 is a sectional view of over-molded elastic closure pin in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(14) FIG. 13 is a perspective view of over-molded elastic closure pin in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(15) FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an umbrella stand's molded strut bar in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(16) FIG. 15 is an exploded view of an umbrella stand's molded strut bar in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(17) FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an exemplary portable shade umbrella in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(18) FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing locking loop of a base skirt in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(19) FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing the invention with its upper skirt, or canopy, fully extended.

(20) FIG. 19 is a top and side view of the canopy.

(21) FIG. 20 is a top view of the canopy and a top view of the male and female connectors that allow one canopy to be connected to adjacent canopies.

(22) FIG. 21 is a top of view the male and female connectors that allow one canopy to be connected to adjacent canopies, and of the reinforcing stitching that is used to attach the male and female canopy connectors to adjacent canopies.

(23) FIG. 22 is a bottom, perspective view of the underside of the canopy showing the mesh bags.

(24) FIG. 23 is a side, perspective view of the mesh bag and its means of removable attachment.

(25) FIG. 24 is a close-up, perspective view of a corner of the canopy showing the means of attachment between the canopy and the support strut.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(26) Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with references made to the drawings below. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed upon clearly illustrating the components of the present invention. Moreover, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts through the several views in the drawings. Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention are not limited in their application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The embodiments of the invention are capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

(27) Reference Numbers Used: 10. Invention generally 12. umbrella top structure generally 14. pole bracket 16. umbrella pole 18. stand structure 20. grub screw 22. support struts 24. pivot coupling 26. connection struts 28. support pole 30. first pivot coupler 32. elastic closure pin 34. lever cam bolt 36. support struts 38. second pivot coupler 40. third pivot coupler 42. guide cap 44. support strut pin bracket 46. pivot bracket 48. support strut bar 50. end cap 52. connection strut bar 54. connection strut pin bracket 56. plastic ring structure 58. metal pin 60. support strut bar 62. moulded bracket 64. pivot bracket 66. pin bracket 102. upper skirt 104. bottom skirt 106. Elastic loop 107. Male Canopy Attachment 108. Female Canopy Attachment 110 Canopy Attachment Reinforcing Stitching. 111. Top Canopy layer 112. Middle Canopy layer 113. Lower Canopy layer 114. Side Canopy layer 115. Center pole Cap 116. Mesh bag 117. Reinforced corner

(28) Now referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in one embodiment, the present invention provides a portable shade umbrella structure 10 includes an umbrella top structure 12 which is portable, detachable and collapsible, a pole bracket 14 which enables the separation of umbrella top structure 12 and an umbrella pole 16 into two components and posit of each other for ease of carrying and storing, an umbrella stand structure 18 attached to lower end of an umbrella pole 16 which provides stability by parting horizontal and vertical loads and a grub screw 20 which limits the insertion of an umbrella pole 16 into the umbrella stand structure 18.

(29) Now referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, in one embodiment, the present invention provides an umbrella top structure 12 includes plurality of support struts 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d, a pivot coupling 24 mounted on the top of supporting pole 28 to which one end of support struts 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d are attached by means of but not limited to like pins, bolts, nuts, etc., a pivot coupler 30 having bearings inside is inserted over the supporting pole 28 to which one end of connection struts 26a, 26b, 26c and 26d are attached by means of but not limited to like pins, bolts, nuts, etc., other end of connection struts 26a, 26b, 26c and 26d is attached to the support struts 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d, a first pivot coupler 30 is provided with over-molded elastic closure pin 32 which fix its position over supporting pole 28, a pole bracket 14 is attached at the bottom end of supporting pole 28 by suitable means and lever cam bolt 34 is provided for tightening.

(30) Now referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, in one embodiment, the present invention provides an umbrella stand structure 18 includes plurality of support struts 36a, 36b, 36c and 36d, a second pivot coupler 38 is provided to which one end of support struts 36a, 36b, 36c and 36d are attached by means of but not limited to like pins, bolts, nuts, etc., another pivot coupler 40 is provided to which one end of connection struts 26a, 26b, 26c and 26d are attached by means of but not limited to like pins, bolts, nuts, etc., other end of connection struts 26a, 26b, 26c and 26d is attached to the support struts 36a, 36b, 36c and 36d, third pivot coupler 40 is provided with over-molded elastic closure pin 32 which fix its position over supporting pole 28, a guide cap 42 is provided to align the supporting pole 28.

(31) Now referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, in one embodiment, the present invention provides a support strut 22 provided with a support strut bar 48, a support strut pin bracket 44 is attached by means of nut and bolt at the top of support strut bar 48, a pivot bracket 46 is attached by means of screws over the of bar 48 and an end cap 50 is attached at the bottom of support strut bar 48.

(32) Now referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, in one embodiment, the present invention provides a connection strut 26 provided with a connection strut bar 52, a connection strut pin bracket 54a is attached the top of bar 52 and pin bracket 54b is attached at the bottom of connection strut bar 52.

(33) Now referring to FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, in one embodiment, the present invention provides an over-molded elastic closure pin 32, it comprises a metal pin 58 which is molded inside a plastic ring structure 56.

(34) Now referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, in one embodiment, the present invention provides a support strut 36 provided with a support strut bar 60, a molded bracket 62 is attached by means of nut and bolt at the top of support strut bar 60, a pivot bracket 64 is attached by means of screws over the of bar 48 and a pin bracket 66 is attached by means of nut and bolt at the bottom of bar 60.

(35) Now referring to FIG. 16, in one embodiment, the present invention provides portable shade umbrella 100, provided with an upper skirt 102 which provides shade to the user, an umbrella structure 10 and a bottom skirt 104 which helps in stabilizing the whole load.

(36) Now referring to FIG. 17, in one embodiment, the present invention provides an elastic loop 106 stitched with bottom skirt 104, this allow user to place sand around the bottom skirt 104 to provide better stability and distribution of load.

(37) Now referring to FIG. 18, the present embodiment provides is illustrated with a perspective view showing the invention with its upper skirt, or canopy, fully extended. In this figure, the bottom and top structures have both been set up, with a bottom skirt 104 extending over the stand structure (18 in other figures). Elastic loops 106 keep the bottom skirt 104 fully taught and extended over the stand structure. A user of the invention can pile sand, rocks, water bottles or any other heaving substance on the skirt to stabilize the invention. Umbrella pole 16 extends from the stand structure to the upper skirt 102 or canopy. The upper skirt 102 fits over center pole cap 115 and has three layers: a top canopy layer 111, a middle canopy layer 112 and a bottom canopy layer 113, which are layered over each other to provide a waterproof solution to circulation issues. The layered arrangement of the different canopy layers allows for wind to pick up the edge of each layer and raise it slightly, thereby allowing wing to enter the area under the canopy for enhanced air circulation. Allowing some air through the canopy also decreases the horizontal pressure on the canopy, thereby decreasing the likelihood that it would tip over or blow away.

(38) Attached to the lower edge of lower canopy layer 113 is side canopy layer 114 or side panel, which provides some side shade as well as hiding the frame of the canopy. At the corner of canopy 102 are male canopy attachments 107 and female canopy attachments 108. These mate with their counterparts on adjacent canopies such that an entire line, or colony, of canopies can be attached to each other to provide additional strength and ensure greater sun protection.

(39) FIG. 19 is a top and side view of the canopy. This illustration shows how upper canopy layer 111 overlaps slightly with middle canopy layer 112, which, in turn, overlaps slightly with lower canopy layer 113. It also shows how side canopy layer 114 hangs vertically from the bottom edge of lower canopy layer 113.

(40) FIG. 20 is a top view of the canopy and a top view of the male 107 and female connectors 108 that allow one canopy to be connected to adjacent canopies.

(41) FIG. 21 is a top of view the male and female connectors that allow one canopy to be connected to adjacent canopies, and of the reinforcing stitching 110 that is used to attach the male canopy connectors 107 and female canopy connectors 108 to adjacent canopies.

(42) FIG. 22 is a bottom, perspective view of the underside of the canopy showing the mesh bags 116. One or more mesh bags 116 are removably attached to the four connection struts 26, which support the support struts 22. This creates a hanging mesh bag suitable for storing items such as sunscreen, wallets, keys and the like.

(43) FIG. 23 is a side, perspective view of the mesh bag and its means of removable attachment. The mesh bag 116, optionally, has a hole at the bottom that is slightly larger in diameter than the umbrella pole 16, such that a user of the invention can slide the mesh bag 116 up over the umbrella pole, then removably secure the ends of the mesh bag to mating points of attachment on the connection struts.

(44) FIG. 24 is a close-up, perspective view of a corner of the canopy showing the means of attachment between the canopy and the support strut 22. A reinforced corner 117 provides coverage over the end of support strut 22 on both sides. The two layers of fabric are, optionally, stitched together to further strengthen the pocket in which the end of the support strut lays.

(45) It should be understood that while the preferred embodiments of the invention are described in some detail herein, the present disclosure is made by way of example only and that variations and changes thereto are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, and a reasonable equivalency thereof, which claims I regard as my invention.

(46) All of the material in this patent document is subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and other countries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in official governmental records but, otherwise, all other copyright rights whatsoever are reserved.