Umbrella handle with a snow globe mounted on its end

Abstract

An umbrella having a handle for opening and closing the umbrella. The umbrella includes a central shaft; and the central shaft has a first end and a second end. The second end is connected to a main umbrella frame having an umbrella canopy which is movable between an open and closed configuration. The central shaft also includes a handle section adjacent to the first end. The handle section includes a snow globe mounted on the first end of the central shaft. The snow globe includes an exterior wall and an interior chamber therein. The snow globe has disposed therein a caricature-type three-dimensional unit and movable artificial snowflakes for simulating falling snow within the interior chamber of the snow globe; and the caricature-type three-dimensional unit is visible from the exterior of the snow globe.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An umbrella having a handle for opening and closing the umbrella, comprising: 
 a) an umbrella having a central shaft;    b) said central shaft including a first end and a second end;    c) said second end being connected to a main umbrella frame having an umbrella canopy which is movable between an open and closed configuration;    d) said central shaft including a handle section adjacent to said first end;    e) said handle section including a snow globe mounted on said first end of said central shaft;    f) said snow globe having an exterior wall and an interior chamber therein;    g) said snow globe having disposed in said interior chamber a caricature-type three-dimensional unit and movable artificial snowflakes for simulating falling snow within said interior chamber of said snow globe; and    h) said caricature-type three-dimensional unit being visible from the exterior of said snow globe.    
     
     
         2 . An umbrella handle in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said interior chamber of said snow globe further includes a platform member for mounting said caricature-type three-dimensional unit thereon.  
     
     
         3 . An umbrella handle in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said exterior wall is made of shatter-resistant plastic.  
     
     
         4 . An umbrella handle in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said exterior wall is made of shatter-resistant glass.  
     
     
         5 . An umbrella handle in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said interior chamber includes a liquid media for dispensing said artificial snowflakes therein.  
     
     
         6 . An umbrella handle in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein said liquid media is water, glycol or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         7 . An umbrella handle in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said caricature-type three-dimensional unit is in the form of a cartoon character, a humanoid-type body, a doll-like body, an animal-type body or an entertainer/celebrity-type body.  
     
     
         8 . An umbrella handle in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said snow globe further includes a collar member for attaching to said handle section.  
     
     
         9 . An umbrella handle in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said first end of said central shaft is permanently attached to an upper wall section of said snow globe.  
     
     
         10 . An umbrella handle in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said first end of said central shaft is detachably mounted to an upper wall section of said snow globe.  
     
     
         11 . An umbrella handle in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein said cartoon character of said caricature-type three-dimensional unit is selected from a group consisting of the Peanuts™ character, the Superman™ character, the Spiderman™ character and the Hulk™ character.  
     
     
         12 . An umbrella handle in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein said humanoid-type body of said caricature-type three-dimensional unit is selected from a group consisting of soldiers, sailors, cowboys, Indians, firemen, policemen, action figures and other sport related figures.  
     
     
         13 . An umbrella handle in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein said doll-like body of said caricature-type three-dimensional unit is selected from a group consisting of Ken and Barbie doll figurines, Raggedy Ann and Andy doll figurines and other dolls.  
     
     
         14 . An umbrella handle in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein said animal-type body of said caricature-type three-dimensional three-dimensional unit is selected from a group consisting of a frog, a pig, a cow, a lamb, a monkey, a pony, a donkey, a duck, a hawk, a mouse, a lion cub, a bear cub, a puppy, a kitten, a purple dinosaur and other animals.  
     
     
         15 . An umbrella handle in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein said entertainer/celebrity-type body of said caricature-type three-dimensional unit is selected from a group consisting of Elvis, Madonna, Celine, Back Street Boys, Tom Cruise, Mel Gibson and other actors/actresses.