Extendable Umbrella

Abstract

An extendable umbrella is described herein which has a shaft, where the outside of the shaft serves as a guide for an umbrella runner which allows for the opening and closing of a canopy and the inside of the shaft contains multiple lockable adjustable height telescoping tubes that can be extended from the shaft and all the way to the ground if desired to provide support to the umbrella while it is being held by a person in a standing position.

Claims

1. An extendable umbrella comprising: a canopy; a shaft; a runner, wherein the shaft has an outside that serves as a guide for the runner allowing an opening and a closing of the canopy; a handle, wherein the handle is attached to one end of the shaft and the canopy is secured to an opposite end of the shaft; a plurality of telescoping tubes including a first telescoping tube and a second telescoping tube, wherein the first telescoping tube is at least partially located inside the shaft while in a non-extended position and while in an extended position protrudes at least partially out from the one end of the shaft, wherein the extended position can be a fully extended position or a partially extended position; a plurality of locking mechanisms including a first locking mechanism attached to the first telescoping tube and a second locking mechanism attached to the second telescoping tube, wherein the first locking mechanism is configured to enable the first telescoping tube to move from the non-extended position to the extended position and vice versa and is further configured to lock the first telescoping tube in either the non-extended position or the extended position; and a foot attached to the second telescoping tube and having an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the first telescoping tube and having a bottom surface that is flat and perpendicular to the second telescoping tube.

2. The extendable umbrella of claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of the first locking mechanism and the outer diameter of the second locking mechanism are substantially the same as an outer diameter of the handle.

3. The extendable umbrella of claim 1, wherein the second locking mechanism can be abutted up against another locking mechanism of said plurality of locking mechanisms.

4. The extendable umbrella of claim 1, wherein the boot is a rubber boot.

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. The extendable umbrella of claim 1, wherein the plurality of locking mechanisms comprises a plurality of compression rings.

9. The extendable umbrella of claim 1, wherein when the plurality of telescoping tubes are collapsed the plurality of locking mechanisms resemble the handle.

10. The extendable umbrella of claim 1, wherein the handle has a plurality of grooves spaced apart to resemble a shape of the plurality of locking mechanisms when the plurality of telescoping tubes are collapsed.

11. The extendable umbrella of claim 1G, wherein the handle has multiple finger grip indentions, the first locking mechanism has a finger grip indention, and the second locking mechanism has a finger grip indention.

12. The extendable umbrella of claim 11, wherein the multiple finger grip indentions are at an angle relative to the finger grip indentions of the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism.

13. The extendable umbrella of claim 1, wherein the plurality of locking mechanisms comprises a plurality of flip lever clamps.

14. An extendable umbrella comprising: a canopy; a shaft; a runner, wherein the shaft has an outside that serves as a guide for the runner allowing an opening and a closing of the canopy; a handle, wherein the handle is attached to one end of the shaft and the canopy is secured to an opposite end of the shaft; a plurality of telescoping tubes including a first telescoping tube and a second telescoping tube that are arranged to telescope into and out of an inside of the one end of the shaft; a plurality of locking mechanisms including a first locking mechanism attached to the first telescoping tube and a second locking mechanism attached to the second telescoping tube, wherein the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism are each configured to enable one of the telescoping tube to move from the inside of the one end of the shaft to an outside of the one end of the shaft and vice versa and further configured to lock the one of the telescoping tubes in the inside of the one end of the shaft or the outside of the one end of the shaft, and wherein while the plurality of telescoping tubes are located in the inside of the one end of the shaft then the plurality of locking mechanisms resemble the handle; and a foot attached to the second telescoping tube and having a diameter greater than the diameter of the first telescoping tube and having a bottom surface that is flat and perpendicular to the second telescoping tube.

15. The extendable umbrella of claim 14, wherein each locking mechanism of the plurality of locking mechanisms has an outer diameter that is substantially the same as an outer diameter of the handle.

16. The extendable umbrella of claim 14, wherein the handle has multiple finger grip indentions and each locking mechanism of the plurality of locking mechanisms has a finger grip indention.

17. The extendable umbrella of claim 16, wherein the multiple finger grip indentions are at an angle relative to the finger grip indentions of the plurality of locking mechanisms.

18. The extendable umbrella of claim 14, wherein the plurality of locking mechanisms is a plurality of compression rings or a plurality of flip lever clamps.

19. A method of using an extendable umbrella, wherein the extendable umbrella comprising: a canopy; a shaft; a runner, wherein the shaft has an outside that serves as a guide for the runner allowing an opening and a closing of the canopy; a handle, wherein the handle is attached to one end of the shaft and the canopy is secured to an opposite end of the shaft; a plurality of telescoping tubes including a first telescoping tube and a second telescoping tube arranged to telescope into and out of an inside of the one end of the shaft; a plurality of locking mechanisms including a first locking mechanism attached to the first telescoping tube and a second locking mechanism attached to the second telescoping tube, wherein while the plurality of telescoping tubes is located the inside of the one end of the shaft then the plurality of locking mechanisms resembles; and a foot attached to the second telescoping tube and having a diameter greater than the diameter of the first telescoping tube and having a bottom surface that is flat and perpendicular to the second telescoping tube, and wherein the method comprises the steps of: operating the plurality of locking mechanisms to move the plurality of telescoping tubes from the inside of the one end of the shaft to an outside of the one end of the shaft and vice versa; and operating the plurality of locking mechanisms to lock the plurality of telescoping tubes in the inside of the one end of the shaft or the outside of the one end of the shaft.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein each locking mechanism of the plurality of locking mechanisms has an outer diameter that is substantially the same as an outer diameter of the handle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] A more complete understanding of the present disclosure may be obtained by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

[0019] FIG. 1 (PRIORT ART) depicts a cross-sectional view of an exemplary prior art umbrella;

[0020] FIG. 2A (PRIORT ART) depicts an exemplary prior art extendable adjustable height pole which is fully extended;

[0021] FIG. 2B (PRIORT ART) depicts the exemplary prior art extendable adjustable height pole which is fully collapsed;

[0022] FIG. 2C (PRIORT ART) depicts an enlarged image of the exemplary prior art extendable adjustable height pole;

[0023] FIG. 2D (PRIORT ART) depicts another exemplary prior art extendable adjustable height pole;

[0024] FIG. 3A (PRIORT ART) depicts a telescoping inner shaft section of a prior art combined golfing umbrella and golf ball retriever;

[0025] FIG. 3B (PRIORT ART) depicts another telescoping inner shaft section of the prior art combined golfing umbrella and golf ball retriever;

[0026] FIG. 4 (PRIORT ART) depicts a prior art golf bag umbrella;

[0027] FIG. 5A (PRIORT ART) depicts a full view of a prior art portable and compact umbrella;

[0028] FIG. 5B (PRIORT ART) depicts a partial cross-sectional view of the prior art portable and compact umbrella;

[0029] FIG. 6A depicts an exemplary extendable umbrella in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG. 6B depicts the exemplary extendable umbrella without depicting the telescoping tubes which are in their non-extended position;

[0031] FIG. 6C depicts the exemplary extendable umbrella with the telescoping tubes in their extended position;

[0032] FIG. 6D depicts a cross section of a portion of the exemplary extendable umbrella near the top spring;

[0033] FIG. 6E depicts a cross section of a bottom portion of the exemplary extendable umbrella;

[0034] FIG. 6F depicts a handle of the exemplary extendable umbrella;

[0035] FIG. 6G depicts four compression rings of the exemplary extendable umbrella;

[0036] FIG. 6H depicts four compression rings of the exemplary extendable umbrella;

[0037] FIG. 6I depicts a handle and the four compression rings of the exemplary extendable umbrella;

[0038] FIG. 6J depicts finger grip indentions in the handle and four compression rings of the exemplary extendable umbrella;

[0039] FIG. 6K depicts the four compression rings having been turned such that the finger grip indentions of the four compression rings are 180 relative to the finger grip indentions in the handle of the exemplary extendable umbrella; and

[0040] FIG. 6L depicts use of exemplary four flip-lever clamps in place of the four compression rings on the exemplary extendable umbrella.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0041] The present invention will now be described more fully in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention should not, however, be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, they are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

[0042] FIG. 6A depicts an exemplary extendable umbrella 600 in accordance with the invention that is in an open position. The top portion of the umbrella is not shown in FIG. 6A but may be the same as the top portion of the umbrella depicted in FIG. 1 (PRIOR ART) and generally may be the same as a typical non-collapsible umbrella such as a golf umbrella. Referring to FIG. 6A, the extendable umbrella 600 has a shaft 102, a top spring 104, runner 108, stretchers 120a and 120b, telescoping tubes 208a, 208b, 208c, 208d, handle 204, compression rings 210a, 210b, 210c, 210d and rubber foot 212, where the telescoping tubes 208a, 208b, 208c, 208d, which are inside the shaft 102, are represented by dotted lines.

[0043] FIG. 6B depicts the extendable umbrella 600 without depicting the telescoping tubes 208a, 208b, 208c, 208d, which are in their non-extended position and FIG. 6C depicts the extendable umbrella 600 with the telescoping tubes 208a, 208b, 208c, 208d in their extended position.

[0044] FIG. 6D depicts a cross section of a portion of the extendable umbrella 600 near the top spring 104. Referring to FIG. 6D, the shaft 102 of the extendable umbrella 600 includes four telescoping tubes 208a, 208b, 208c, 208d (more or less can be used as desired), where the first telescoping tube 208a is inside the shaft 102, the second telescoping tube 208b is inside the first telescoping tube 208a, the third telescoping tube 208c is inside the second telescoping tube 208b, and the fourth telescoping tube 208d is inside the third telescoping tube 208c. The fourth telescoping tube 208d is attached to the rubber boot 112.

[0045] FIG. 6E depicts a cross section of the bottom portion of the extendable umbrella 600. Referring to FIG. 6E, the handle 204 is a single piece of material, for example rubber or plastic, shown having three grooves spaced consistent with the shapes of the four compression rings 210a, 210b, 210c, 210d such that when the extendable portion (i.e., the telescoping tubes 208a, 208b, 208c, 208d) of the extendable umbrella 600 is in its non-extended position, the handle 204 resembles the combined compression rings 210a, 210b, 210c, 210d and vice versa such that the four compression rings 210a, 210b, 210c, 210d can also serve as a handle (e.g., for holding the umbrella 600 with two-hands). The four compression rings 210a, 210b, 210c, 210d may be made out of the same type of material as the handle 204 or may be made of different material.

[0046] FIG. 6F depicts the handle 204 that has an outer diameter and has three grooves that have a width and a diameter.

[0047] FIGS. 6G and 6H depict the four compression rings 210a, 210b, 210c, 210d that each have a bottom portion having the same outer diameter as the outer diameter of the handle 204 and an inner diameter indicated by the dotted lines that is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the respective tube 208a, 208b, 208c, 208d that the respective compression ring 210a, 210b, 210c, 210d is configured to compress by turning the respective compression ring 210a, 210b, 210c, 210d. The four compression rings 210a, 210b, 210c, 210d each have a top portion having substantially the same width and diameter as do the three grooves of the handle 204. FIG. 6G shows the four compression rings 210a, 210b, 210c, 210d having spacing between them and FIG. 6H shows the four compression rings 210a, 210b, 210c, 210d abutted up against each other such that the combination resembles the handle 204 of FIG. 6F.

[0048] FIG. 6I depicts the handle 204 of FIG. 6F and the four compression rings 210a, 210b, 210c, 210d of FIG. 6H abutted up against each other such that their combination resembles and can function as a double length handle.

[0049] FIG. 6J depicts the handle 204 and four compression rings 210a, 210b, 210c, 210d having finger grip indentions 602a-602h.

[0050] FIG. 6K depicts the four compression rings 210a, 210b, 210c, 210d having been turned such that the finger grip indentions 602e, 602f, 602g, 602h of the four compression rings 210a, 210b, 210c, 210d are 180 relative to the finger grip indentions 602a, 602b, 602c, 602d of the handle 204, which can be accomplished by loosening the uppermost compression ring 210a and rotating the compression rings 210a, 210b, 210c, 210d relative to the shaft 102, where the finger grip indentions 602e, 602f, 602g, 602h can be configured at any desired angle relative to the finger grip indentions 602a, 602b, 602c, 602d of the handle 204.

[0051] FIG. 6L depicts use of exemplary four flip-lever clamps 216a, 216b, 216c, 216d in place of the four compression rings 210a, 210b, 210c, 210d. The four flip-lever clamps 216a, 216b, 216c, 216d can be made of the same material as the handle 204 or can be made of a different material.

[0052] Although the exemplary extendable umbrella 600 describe above used four telescoping tubes 208a, 208b, 208c, 208d and four locking mechanisms (i.e., four compression rings 210a, 210b, 210c, 210d or four flip-level clamps 216a, 216b, 216c, 216d), a number of telescoping tubes and locking mechanisms less than or greater than four could instead be used in accordance with the invention.

[0053] The disclosure as provided above was described in relation to a non-collapsible umbrella as shown in FIG. 1 (PRIOR ART). However, one skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with any umbrella design including a fully collapsible umbrella.

[0054] While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be understood, however, that the invention is not limited thereto, since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. It is, therefore, contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications that incorporate those features or those improvements which embody the spirit and scope of the present invention.