Umbrella and mount assembly for wheelchair

Abstract

An umbrella, shaft, and mounting assembly for an umbrella suitable for use with a wheelchair. The assembly is designed to permit a wheelchair bound person to install, deploy, and retract the umbrella. It is also adapted to permit unobstructed viewing to the front, hands free operation, and a working area to be left to the patron when the umbrella is deployed. It is also designed to permit navigation through portals adapted for wheelchair access. It may also be adapted to facilitate stability in wind and rain.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An umbrella and mounting apparatus for use with a wheelchair, said umbrella further comprising: 
 umbrella shaft means, said umbrella shaft being adapted with umbrella support means to support an elliptical umbrella cover and being further adapted with umbrella shaft mounting means to be received by an angled and protruding wheelchair accessory mount shaft;    said umbrella support means further comprising an upper rib support ring and a lower rib support ring;    said upper rib support ring being fixed to the top of the umbrella shaft and further comprising pivotal connections with a series of primary umbrella support ribs, each said primary umbrella support ribs being further adapted to pivot from said upper support ring from a position which is, when retracted, parallel and proximate to said umbrella shaft and, when opened, extending radially out from said upper support ring;    said lower support ring being adapted to slide along said umbrella shaft from an upper point to a lower point, said lower ring further being adapted with pivotal connections with a series of rib brace members so that each said rib brace member may pivot from a retracted position in which each said rib brace member is proximate and parallel to said umbrella shaft at its lower point to an opened position in which each said rib brace member may, when pivotally joined to a corresponding primary umbrella support rib at a point near an outward end of said primary support rib, will support said primary support rib in a position in which said primary support rib extends radically out from said upper ring;    a series of secondary umbrella support ribs, each said secondary umbrella support rib being pivotally joined to a corresponding primary support rib, each said secondary support rib being further adapted to pivot from a closed position in which said secondary umbrella support rib is parallel and proximate to said umbrella shaft to an opened position in which said secondary umbrella support rib extends out from its corresponding primary umbrella support rib, each said secondary umbrella support rib being of length to permit an umbrella cover to be supported over a wheelchair which is to one side of said umbrella shaft;    said umbrella cover being made of a flexible material which is resistant to water and is adapted to be, along its outer edge securely fastened to the outward end of each said secondary umbrella support rib and to the umbrella shaft so that said umbrella cover, when spread out will cover the area above a wheelchair and, when closed, will fold into a position which is parallel and proximate to said umbrella shaft;    said umbrella shaft being further adapted with umbrella shaft mounting means, said umbrella shaft mounting means being further adapted to, at a shaft end, securely receive the lower end of said umbrella shaft and, at a mounting end, securely receive a mounting stub from a wheelchair accessory mount.    
     
     
         2 . Umbrella apparatus for providing umbrella coverage over a wheelchair patron seated in a wheelchair, the apparatus comprising; 
 umbrella means, said umbrella means further comprising an umbrella cover adapted to cover the seated area of a wheelchair, and to be opened and closed about a shaft to a side of said wheelchair; and    umbrella mounting means, said umbrella mounting means further comprising a mounting member adapted to be rigidly secured upon a wheelchair accessory means which is fixed upon said wheelchair.    
     
     
         3 . The wheelchair umbrella and mounting apparatus described in  claim 2  in which said umbrella mounting mans comprises; 
 an elongated umbrella shaft of sufficient length to elevate an umbrella above a wheelchair seat at a sufficient level to permit a wheelchair patron to comfortably move within the wheelchair;  
 said elongated umbrella shaft further comprising wheelchair accessory mount receiving means which is angled and adapted to receive an angled wheelchair accessory mounting member so that the corresponding angles of said wheelchair accessory mounting member and said umbrella shaft wheelchair accessory mount receiving means permit said umbrella shaft to extend substantially up and to one side of said wheelchair seat.  
 
     
     
         4 . The wheelchair umbrella and mounting apparatus for providing umbrella coverage over a wheelchair patron seated in a wheelchair described in  claim 3  in which said umbrella shaft wheelchair accessory mount receiving means further comprises one or more holes through the diameter of a cavity within a portion of said umbrella shaft wheelchair accessory mount receiving means which is further adapted to snugly receive said wheelchair accessory mount member; 
 said wheelchair accessory mount member being further adapted with one or more holes through its diameter so as to permit one said hole in said umbrella shaft wheelchair accessory mount receiving means to be aligned with one said hole in said Wheelchair accessory mount member and to further permit a cotter pin to be passed through said wheelchair accessory mount member hole and said umbrella shaft wheelchair accessory mount receiving means hole and hold said umbrella shaft wheelchair accessory mount receiving means and wheelchair accessory mount member in rigid position so that said umbrella shaft may be held in a position which is substantially up from one side of said wheelchair seat.  
 
     
     
         5 . The wheelchair umbrella and mounting apparatus described in  claim 1  which is further enhanced for stabilization by means of a strap which may be used to secure said umbrella shaft to the armrests of said wheelchair.  
     
     
         6 . The wheelchair umbrella and mounting apparatus described in  claim 2  which is further enhanced for stabilization by means of a strap which may be used to secure said umbrella shaft to the armrests of said wheelchair.  
     
     
         7 . The wheelchair umbrella and mounting apparatus described in  claim 3  which is further enhanced for stabilization by means of a strap which may be used to secure said umbrella shaft to the armrests of said wheelchair.  
     
     
         8 . The wheelchair umbrella and mounting apparatus described in  claim 4  which is further enhanced for stabilization by means of a strap which may be used to secure said umbrella shaft to the armrests of said wheelchair.  
     
     
         9 . The wheelchair umbrella and mounting apparatus described in  claim 1  in which said umbrella cover is made in two portions, said portions further comprising; 
 a crest cover portion, said crest portion covering the area above said umbrella shaft and further overlapping a main umbrella cover portion;  
 said main cover portion being of a shape to be fit upon said umbrella ribs and afford coverage as desired, said crest portion and said main cover portion further defining a channel through which air pressure may be passed.  
 
     
     
         10 . The wheelchair umbrella and mounting apparatus described in  claim 2  in which said umbrella cover is made in two portions, said portions further comprising; 
 a crest cover portion, said crest portion covering the area above said umbrella shaft and further overlapping a main umbrella cover portion;  
 said main cover portion being of a shape to be fit upon said umbrella ribs and afford coverage as desired, said crest portion and said main cover portion further defining a channel through which air pressure may be passed.  
 
     
     
         11 . The wheelchair umbrella and mounting apparatus described in  claim 3  in which said umbrella cover is made in two portions, said portions further comprising; 
 a crest cover portion, said crest portion covering the area above said umbrella shaft and further overlapping a main umbrella cover portion;  
 said main cover portion being of a shape to be fit upon said umbrella ribs and afford coverage as desired, said crest portion and said main cover portion further defining a channel through which air pressure may be passed.  
 
     
     
         12 . The wheelchair umbrella and mounting apparatus described in  claim 4  in which said umbrella cover is made in two portions, said portions further comprising; 
 a crest cover portion, said crest portion covering the area above said umbrella shaft and further overlapping a main umbrella cover portion;  
 said main cover portion being of a shape to be fit upon said umbrella ribs and afford coverage as desired, said crest portion and said main cover portion further defining a channel through which air pressure may be passed.  
 
     
     
         13 . The wheelchair umbrella and mounting apparatus described in  claim 5  in which said umbrella cover is made in two portions, said portions further comprising; 
 a crest cover portion, said crest portion covering the area above said umbrella shaft and further overlapping a main umbrella cover portion;  
 said main cover portion being of a shape to be fit upon said umbrella ribs and afford coverage as desired, said crest portion and said main cover portion further defining a channel through which air pressure may be passed.  
 
     
     
         14 . The wheelchair umbrella and mounting apparatus described in  claim 6  in which said umbrella cover is made in two portions, said portions further comprising; 
 a crest cover portion, said crest portion covering the area above said umbrella shaft and further overlapping a main umbrella cover portion;  
 said main cover portion being of a shape to be fit upon said umbrella ribs and afford coverage as desired, said crest portion and said main cover portion further defining a channel through which air pressure may be passed.  
 
     
     
         15 . The wheelchair umbrella and mounting apparatus described in  claim 6  in which said umbrella cover is made in two portions, said portions further comprising; 
 a crest cover portion, said crest portion covering the area above said umbrella shaft and further overlapping a main umbrella cover portion;  
 said main cover portion being of a shape to be fit upon said umbrella ribs and afford coverage as desired, said crest portion and said main cover portion further defining a channel through which air pressure may be passed.  
 
     
     
         16 . The wheelchair umbrella and mounting apparatus described in  claim 8  in which said umbrella cover is made in two portions, said portions further comprising; 
 a crest cover portion, said crest portion covering the area above said umbrella shaft and further overlapping a main umbrella cover portion;  
 said main cover portion being of a shape to be fit upon said umbrella ribs and afford coverage as desired, said crest portion and said main cover portion further defining a channel through which air pressure may be passed.  
 
     
     
         17 . An umbrella and mounting apparatus for use with a wheelchair, said umbrella further comprising: 
 umbrella shaft means, said umbrella shaft being adapted with umbrella support means to support an elliptical umbrella cover and being further adapted with umbrella shaft mounting means to be received by an angled and protruding wheelchair accessory mount shaft;    said umbrella support means further comprising an upper rib support ring and a lower rib support ring;    said upper rib support ring being fixed to the top of the umbrella shaft and further comprising pivotal connections with a series of one or more umbrella support ribs, each said umbrella support ribs being further adapted to pivot from said upper support ring from a position which is, when retracted, parallel and proximate to said umbrella shaft and, when opened, extending radially out from said upper support ring;    said lower support ring being adapted to slide along said umbrella shaft from an upper point to a lower point, said lower ring further being adapted with pivotal connections with a series of rib brace members so that each said rib brace member may pivot from a retracted position in which each said rib brace member is proximate and parallel to said umbrella shaft at its lower point to an opened position in which each said rib brace member may, when pivotally joined to a corresponding primary umbrella support rib at a point near an outward end of said primary support rib, will support said primary support rib in a position in which said umbrella support rib extends radically out from said upper ring;    one or more secondary umbrella support ribs, each said secondary umbrella support rib being pivotally joined to a corresponding primary support rib, each said secondary support rib being further adapted to pivot from a closed position in which said secondary umbrella support rib is parallel and proximate to said umbrella shaft to an opened position in which said secondary umbrella support rib extends out from its corresponding primary umbrella support rib, each said secondary umbrella support rib being of length to permit an umbrella cover to be supported over a wheelchair which is to one side of said umbrella shaft;    said umbrella cover being made of a flexible material which is resistant to water and is adapted to be, along its outer edge securely fastened to the outward end of each said secondary umbrella support rib and to the umbrella shaft so that said umbrella cover, when spread out will cover the area above a wheelchair and, when closed, will fold into a position which is parallel and proximate to said umbrella shaft;    said umbrella shaft being further adapted with umbrella shaft mounting means, said umbrella shaft mounting means being further adapted to, at a shaft end, securely receive the lower end of said umbrella shaft and, at a mounting end, securely receive a mounting stub from a wheelchair accessory mount.    
     
     
         18 . The wheelchair umbrella and mounting apparatus described in  claim 17  which is further enhanced for stabilization by means of a strap which may be used to secure said umbrella shaft to the armrests of said wheelchair.  
     
     
         19 . The wheelchair umbrella and mounting apparatus described in  claim 17  in which said umbrella cover is made in two portions, said portions further comprising; 
 a crest cover portion, said crest portion covering the area above said umbrella shaft and further overlapping a main umbrella cover portion;  
 said main cover portion being of a shape to be fit upon said umbrella ribs and afford coverage as desired, said crest portion and said main cover portion further defining a channel through which air pressure may be passed.  
 
     
     
         20 . The wheelchair umbrella and mounting apparatus described in  claim 17  in which said umbrella mounting mans comprises; 
 an elongated umbrella shaft of sufficient length to elevate an umbrella above a wheelchair seat at a sufficient level to permit a wheelchair patron to comfortably move within the wheelchair;  
 said elongated umbrella shaft further comprising wheelchair accessory mount receiving means which is angled and adapted to receive an angled wheelchair accessory mounting member so that the corresponding angles of said wheelchair accessory mounting member and said umbrella shaft wheelchair accessory mount receiving means permit said umbrella shaft to extend substantially up and to one side of said wheelchair seat.