Wind -resistant umbrella

Abstract

An umbrella is disclosed which includes a frame having a shaft, a plurality of ribs pivotally mounted to the frame, a plurality of stretchers adapted to extend the ribs to angular positions with respect to the frame, and a combined cover, which is structured to provide wind vents in the regions between the ribs. The combined cover includes a first cover panel having a generally circular configuration and being positioned over the ribs. A second cover panel having a generally annular configuration is also positioned over the ribs at a location radially outward of the first cover panel, the first cover panel having a radially outermost dimension greater than the radially innermost dimension of the second cover panel such that the first cover panel overlaps at least a portion of the second cover panel to prevent water from passing thereby. The second cover panel is configured and dimensioned at the radially innermost marginal edge portion in the region of each rib to have a generally saw-tooth shaped portion which facilitates respective attachment with respect to each rib by folding the saw-tooth shaped portion over the rib, and attaching the folded portions together by stitch lines. The folded saw-tooth shaped portions maintain the first cover panel and the second cover panel in spaced relation between adjacent pairs of ribs by causing the innermost marginal portions of the second cover panel to assume a spaced position below the corresponding portions of the first cover panel, while the innermost marginal portions of the second cover panel are also maintained in a taut condition to maintain the space between the panels.

1 . An umbrella which includes a frame having a shaft, a plurality of ribs pivotally mounted to the frame, a plurality of stretchers adapted to extend the ribs to angular positions with respect to the frame, and a combined cover, which comprises: 
 a) a first cover panel having a generally circular configuration and being positioned over said ribs;    b) a second cover panel having a generally annular configuration and being positioned over said ribs at a location radially outward of said first cover panel, said first cover panel having a radially outermost dimension greater than the radially innermost dimension of said second cover panel such that said first cover panel overlaps at least a portion of said second cover panel, said second cover panel being configured and dimensioned at the radially innermost marginal edge portion in the region of each rib to facilitate respective attachment with respect to each rib in a manner to maintain said first cover panel and said second cover panel in spaced relation between adjacent pairs of ribs.    
     
     
         2 . The umbrella according to  claim 1 , wherein said first cover panel is attached to said ribs at preselected locations.  
     
     
         3 . The umbrella according to  claim 2 , wherein said second cover panel is attached to said ribs at preselected locations.  
     
     
         4 . The umbrella according to  claim 3 , wherein said radially innermost marginal edge portions of said second cover panel has a saw tooth-like configuration at least in the regions corresponding to each rib, whereby each said saw tooth shaped portion is folded upon itself and wrapped around the adjacent rib portion and maintained in face-to-face contacting relation so as to cause said radially innermost marginal edge portions of said second cover panel between correspondingly adjacent ribs to assume a position spaced below said corresponding overlapped radially outermost portions of said first cover panel to thereby create a wind escape vent between said first and second cover panels between said ribs.  
     
     
         5 . The umbrella according to  claim 4 , wherein said saw tooth shaped portions of said second cover panel are maintained in said folded configuration about said rib by stitches, adhesives, or the like.  
     
     
         6 . The umbrella according to  claim 5 , wherein said stitches extend along a line oriented at an angle with respect to each said rib.  
     
     
         7 . The umbrella according to  claim 6 , wherein said angle of each said stitch line is generally acute.  
     
     
         8 . The umbrella according to  claim 7 , wherein said second cover panel is attached to each rib at preselected locations.  
     
     
         9 . The umbrella according to  claim 8 , wherein said attachments of said first and second cover panels to said ribs are made by thread-like material respectively stitched through said first and second cover panels and tied about said respective ribs.  
     
     
         10 . The umbrella according to  claim 9 , wherein said marginal inner edge portions of said second cover panel between adjacent ribs is maintained in tension and said space between said first and second cover panels is substantially uniform at least over a major portion of the distance thereof between said ribs so as to provide a wind vent therebetween which does not permit water to pass thereby due to the overlapping relation of said first and second cover panels.  
     
     
         11 . An umbrella having wind escape vents comprising a collapsible frame structure supporting at least first and second cover panel sections, which comprises: 
 a) an elongated shaft having a handle adapted to be grasped by a user;    b) a plurality of ribs radially pivotally attached at their inner end portions to said shaft;    c) a plurality of stretchers, each stretcher radially pivotally attached to a respective rib at one end and arranged to selectively pivotally move said ribs between respective closed and open positions, said closed positions being relatively closer to said shaft, and said open positions being generally angular with respect to said shaft;    d) a cover attached to said ribs, said cover being comprised of at least two panels, a first panel having a generally circular shape, and a second panel having a generally annular shape and being positioned outwardly of said first panel, said first panel having a radially outermost dimension greater than the radially innermost dimension of said second panel, said second panel having a radially innermost marginal portion configured in the region of each rib to be folded and stitched in a manner to maintain a wind escape between said first and second panels when said ribs are extended to said open positions, said radially innermost marginal portions of said second panel further being maintained in tension between adjacent ribs.    
     
     
         12 . An umbrella which includes a frame having a shaft, a plurality of ribs pivotally attached to said shaft at an upper end portion thereof, a plurality of stretchers comprising generally radially extending elongated members respectively attached to said ribs and adapted to selectively extend the ribs to portions generally at an angle to said shaft to open positions, and a combined rain protective cover, which comprises: 
 a) a first cover panel attached to said ribs and extending generally from said shaft to a location between said shaft and the ends of said ribs;    b) a second cover panel having a generally annular configuration and being positioned over said ribs at a location generally radially outward of said first cover panel, said first cover panel having a radially outermost dimension greater than the radially innermost dimension of said second cover panel such that said first cover panel overlaps at least a portion of said second cover panel to prevent rain from passing thereby, said second cover panel being configured and dimensioned at the radially innermost marginal edge portion in the region of each rib to facilitate folding said portion downwardly about each rib whereby securement of said folded portions together in face-to-face relation causes the marginal inner edge portions of said second cover panel between adjacent ribs to be tensioned in dependence upon the extent of securement of said folded portions, said securement being such as to cause said marginal innermost portions of said second cover panel between said ribs to assume positions downwardly away from said first cover panel to retain said marginal inner edge portions of said second cover panel between said adjacent ribs in spaced relation with said overlapping portion of said first cover panel, said space being generally uniform at least over a major portion of the distance thereof between said adjacent ribs to provide a wind vent which prevents reversal of said ribs under substantial wind conditions, while maintaining the rain barrier of said combined cover due to the overlapping relation between said first and second cover panels.    
     
     
         13 . The umbrella according to  claim 12 , wherein said first and second cover panels are attached to said ribs by threads extending through said cover panels and tied around each rib.  
     
     
         14 . The umbrella according to  claim 13 , wherein said cover panels are made of water resistant fabric, or the like.  
     
     
         15 . The umbrella according to  claim 14 , wherein said second cover panel has a saw-tooth configuration at least in the region of each rib, each said saw-tooth shaped portion being folded about each respective rib and attached to each other by stitches in face-to-face relation to cause the marginal innermost portions of said second cover panel to be taut.  
     
     
         16 . The umbrella according to  claim 15 , wherein said stitches extend along stitch lines at an acute angle with respect to each respective rib.  
     
     
         17 . The umbrella according to  claim 16 , wherein said first and second cover panels are maintained in tension substantially over the entire area thereof when said ribs are moved by said to their open portions.  
     
     
         18 . The umbrella according to  claim 15 , wherein said stitches extend along stitch lines approximately 90 degrees with respect to each respective rib.