US3361145A - Compact umbrella - Google Patents

Description

M. A JONES COMPACT UMBRELLA Jan. 2, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 22, 1965 INVENTOR.

Marl A. Jones v l'll'Ill Jan. 2, 1968 M. A JONES 3,361,145

COMPACT UMBRELLA Filed Oct. 22, 19 65 2 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

MURL A. I JozvEs United States Patent M 3,361,145 COMPACT UMBRELLA Murl A. Jones, Rte. 1, Box 894, Land Drive, Columbus, Ga. 31904 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 500,843 1 Claim. (Cl. 135-20) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A compact umbrella of simplified construction wherein two panels are sealed together to form a substantially circular area divided into wedge-shaped inflatable segments. When deflated this umbrella, including a detachable telescopic handle, is small enough to be inserted in a plastic envelope and carried in a pocket or handbag.

This invention relates to protective coverings, and more particularly to a compact inflatable umbrella.

It is therefore the main purpose of this invention to provide a compact umbrella which will be made .of soft, durable plastic which will be inflatable and will be constructed to form an arcuate hood which, when inflated, will provide suflficient coverage for a person.

Another object of this invention is to provide a compact umbrella which will be full cantilever in construction, and will have no support ribs such as is known in the prior art.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a compact umbrella which will have a removable and telescopic handle, and the entire device will be lightweight and will fold in such a manner as to be received in a small envelope which may be carried upon ones person.

This invention will be easy to inflate, requiring very little exertion and can be carried in a ladys purse without crowding.

This invention will also be particularly useful to students, because it folds flat so that they can carry it with their books or in their coat pockets. School band students will also find this compact umbrella suitable to their needs since it may be placed into a uniform pocket without causing an unsightly bulge in the uniform.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of this invention shown fully inflated;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 22 of FIGURE 1 and viewed in direction indicated by arrows;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical view of the handle member of the invention shown removed from the assembly and shown partly broken away;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the plastic envelope for receiving the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary top plan view showing a modified form of the invention; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged top plan view of the form of the invention shown in FIGURE 5.

According to this invention, a compact umbrella 10 is provided with a pair of circular panels 12 made of soft, plastic material having radial spaced-apart sleevelike compartments 14 which are inflatable with air and providing rigid and arcuate form to panls 12 which form Patented Jan. 2, 1968 a protective covering against rain. An air valve 16 extends externally of one of the sleeve compartment 14 and provides a means for the introduction of air into umbrella 10. An annular hollow compartment 18 is intersected by radial sleeve compartments 14 and provides a means in conjunction with sleeve compartment 14 to impart a firm umbrella shape to the invention. An annular member 19 is secure-d by suitable means to the outer edges of panel 12 and closes compartments 14 in order to prevent the escape of air from within. A pair of circular plates 20 made of aluminum or other suitable material are secured on either side of panels 12 in the center and are provided with an opening 22 which receives the end 24 or rod 26 which is part of handle 22. End 24 of rod 26 is externally threaded and is threadingly received within said opening 22 of plate 20. Rod 26 is telescopingly received within hollow sleeves 28 and 30 and provides handle extension means for umbrella 10. Lower extremity of sleeve 30 is knurled on its outer periphery to provide easy hand grip means for rotating sleeve 30 and is provided with a shoulder to prevent sleeve 30 from slipping from the hand of the user. Umbrella 10, when deflated and disassembled, is compactly received within envelope 34, which is made of plastic, rubber, or similar material.

A swivel joint 36 near the upper extremity of rod 26 provides a means for frictionally urging plates 20 to side of the central axis of the device when desired.

To lengthen handle portion of umbrella 10, rod 26 is grasped in one hand and sleeve 30 in the other and thus the assembly may be extended. To inflate umbrella 10, air is introduced into valve 16 in a well known manner, whereupon it enters the annular compartment 18 and commences to fill all of the sleeve compartments 14 to form a concave umbrella structure. As will become apparent, the inflatable structure of umbrella 10 may be made of various colors and the exterior of plate 20 may be inscribed with a design to enhance the appear ance of umbrella 10.

Looking now at FIGURE 5 of the drawing, one will see a preferred form of compact umbrella 38 which is shown to include a pair of circular plastic panels 40 which are sealed along their outer edges by means of a seam 42. Panels 40 are provided with regularly spaced-apart seams 44 which extend partially to seam 42 at one end and partially toward the center at the other end and thus define substantially wedge-shaped inflatable compartments 46 which are inflated by means of a conventional air valve 48. A pair of circular center plates 50 provides a means for threadingly receiving handle 32.

Umbrella 38 is inflated in the same manner as heretofore described.

It will be noted that the sealed edges 42 of umbrella 38 does prevent the escape of air from around the outer edges of inflatable compartments 46.

What I claim is:

1. A compact inflatable umbrella comprising a pair of circular panels, said panels being formed of flexible impermeable plastic material, a pair of circular plates, said circular plates being positioned at the center of said panels, one of said plates being provided with a plurality of apertures and positioned above the other with the center portion of said panels being gripped therebetween, said plates being provided at their centers with threaded openings, a telescopic handle having threads at one end thereof releasably secured to said circular plates, said panels being joined together at their outer edges by a seam, a plurality of radially extending seams bonding said circular panels together and extending from points spaced outwardly from said circular plates to points spaced inwardly from the outer sealed edges of the panels to define a plurality of interconnected inflatable areas,

panels.

4 o and an air valve extending externally from one of said 2,679,256 5/1954 Bocchino et a1 13520.1 2,753,878 7/1956 Halberstarn 135-20.1 References Cited 3,120,238 2/1964 Glatz 135-21 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primal Examiner.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Examiner.

P. M. CAUN, Assistant Examiner.

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