Disposable umbrella

Abstract

A disposable umbrella includes a staff having an upper end and a lower end suitable for gripping by a user. A fixed collar is mounted on the upper end of the staff. A plurality of main struts are pivotably attached to the fixed collar and extend radially from the fixed collar. The main struts are movable from collapsed positions, wherein the main struts extend generally parallel to the staff, to open positions, wherein the main struts extend outwardly from the staff. A water-resistant or waterproof film forming a canopy is fixed to the main struts, such as by adhesive, and extends generally from the staff to the extended ends of the main struts. A slidable collar has a bore therethrough and is slidably mounted for movement along the staff. A plurality of actuating struts are provided, the actuating struts having inner ends pivotably attached to the slidable collar and outers end pivotably attached to associated main struts so that movement of the collar along the staff towards the upper end of the staff causes the main struts to move out to their open positions. A latch is provided for selectively holding the slidable collar in a predetermined position on the staff to thereby hold the main struts in the open position, or releasing the slidable collar to allow movement of the slidable collar towards the lower end. The staff, collars, struts, and latch are all formed of biodegradable materials. The canopy is preferably transparent and made of a biodegradable material. In this way the umbrella may be disposed of while minimizing or totally eliminating the harm to the environment.

1 . A disposable umbrella comprising:
 a staff having an upper end and a lower end suitable for gripping by a user;   a fixed collar mounted to said upper end of said staff;   a plurality of main struts pivably attached to said fixed collar and extending radially from said fixed collar, said plurality of main struts being movable from collapsed positions wherein said main struts extend generally parallel to said staff to open positions wherein said main struts extend outwardly from said staff;   a water-resistant film fixed to said plurality of main struts and extending generally from said staff to the extended ends of said main struts;   a slidable collar having a bore therethrough and being slidably mounted on said staff;   a plurality of actuating struts, said actuating struts having an inner end pivotably attached to said slidable collar and an outer end pivotably attached to associated main struts so that movement of said collar along said staff towards said upper end of said staff causes said main struts to move out to said open positions; and   latching means for selectively holding said slidable collar in a predetermined position on said staff to thereby hold main struts in said open positions, or releasing said slidable collar to allow movement of said slidable collar towards said lower end, at least said staff, collars, struts, and latching means all being formed of bio-degradable materials, whereby the umbrella may be disposed of while minimizing the adverse impact on the environment.   
   
   
       2 . (canceled) 
   
   
       3 . A disposable umbrella as in  claim 1 , wherein said waterproof film is a transparent sheet of plastic material. 
   
   
       4 . A disposable umbrella as in  claim 1 , wherein said main struts are made of wood. 
   
   
       5 . A disposable umbrella as in  claim 1 , wherein said actuating struts are made of wood. 
   
   
       6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . A disposable umbrella as in  claim 1 , wherein said collars are made of wood. 
   
   
       8 . A disposable umbrella as in  claim 1 , wherein said struts are pivotably attached to said collars by means of bio-degradable string. 
   
   
       9 . A disposable umbrella as in  claim 8 , wherein said string is made of cotton. 
   
   
       10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . A disposable umbrella as in  claim 1 , wherein said latching means if formed of wood. 
   
   
       12 . A disposable umbrella as in  claim 1 , wherein said staff is formed of a hollow bamboo stem having a generally cylindrical wall, and said latching means comprises at least one portion of said wall radially outwardly offset and movable between a normal radially outwardly extended position to engage and retain said slidable collar in a position to retain said struts in said open positions and being movable upon application of radially inward pressure on said at least one portion to clear said slidable collar and allow said struts to move to said collapsed conditions. 
   
   
       13 . A disposable umbrella as in  claim 1 , wherein said staff is formed of a hollow bamboo stem having a generally cylindrical wall, and said latching means comprises a bio-degradable member including a first portion positionable within a hollow channel of said stem and a second portion movable relative between a first position extending radially outwardly through an opening beyond said wall to engage and retain said slidable collar in a position to retain said struts in said open positions and being movable upon application of radially inward pressure on said second portion to clear said slidable collar and allow said struts to move to said collapsed conditions. 
   
   
       14 . A disposable umbrella as in  claim 13 , wherein said bio-degradable member is formed of wood. 
   
   
       15 . A disposable umbrella as in  claim 1 , wherein said waterproof film is secured to said main struts by means of bio-degradable adhesive. 
   
   
       16 . A disposable umbrella as in  claim 1 , wherein said waterproof film is secured to said main struts by means of a heat seal. 
   
   
       17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . A disposable umbrella as in  claim 21 , wherein said periphery is reinforced with a continuous cord placed between said plies. 
   
   
       19 . A disposable umbrella as in  claim 18 , wherein said cord is bio-degradable cotton. 
   
   
       20 . A disposable umbrella as in  claim 18 , wherein said continuous cord wraps about the radial outer ends of said main struts. 
   
   
       21 . A disposable umbrella comprising:
 a staff having an upper end and a lower end suitable for gripping by a user;   a fixed collar mounted to said upper end of said staff;   a plurality of main struts pivably attached to said fixed collar and extending radially from said fixed collar, said plurality of main struts being movable from collapsed positions wherein said main struts extend generally parallel to said staff to open positions wherein said main struts extend outwardly from said staff;   a water-resistant film fixed to said plurality of main struts and extending generally from said staff to the extended ends of said main struts;   a slidable collar having a bore therethrough and being slidably mounted on said staff;   a plurality of actuating struts, said actuating struts having an inner end pivotably attached to said slidable collar and an outer end pivotably attached to associated main struts so that movement of said collar along said staff towards said upper end of said staff causes said main struts to move out to said open positions; and   latching means for selectively holding said slidable collar in a predetermined position on said staff to thereby hold main struts in said open positions, or releasing said slidable collar to allow movement of said slidable collar towards said lower end, at least said staff, collars, struts and latching means all being formed of bio-degradable materials, said waterproof film defining an outer periphery formed as a folded-over portion to provide a double ply film to strengthen said waterproof film against damage due to wind forces, whereby the umbrella may be disposed of while minimizing the adverse impact on the environment.   
   
   
       22 . A disposable umbrella comprising:
 a staff having an upper end and a lower end suitable for gripping by a user;   a fixed collar mounted to said upper end of said staff;   a plurality of main struts pivably attached to said fixed collar and extending radially from said fixed collar, said plurality of main struts being movable from collapsed positions wherein said main struts extend generally parallel to said staff to open positions wherein said main struts extend outwardly from said staff;   a water-resistant film fixed to said plurality of main struts and extending generally from said staff to the extended ends of said main struts, said film being a waterproof film formed of PVC and an additive that substantially retains the physical properties of the PVC but renders the PVC film bio-degradable when placed in a landfill active microbial environment;   a slidable collar having a bore therethrough and being slidably mounted on said staff;   a plurality of actuating struts, said actuating struts having an inner end pivotably attached to said slidable collar and an outer end pivotably attached to associated main struts so that movement of said collar along said staff towards said upper end of said staff causes said main struts to move out to said open positions; and   latching means for selectively holding said slidable collar in a predetermined position on said staff to thereby hold main struts in said open positions, or releasing said slidable collar to allow movement of said slidable collar towards said lower end, said staff, collars, struts and latching means all also being formed of bio-degradable materials, whereby the entire umbrella may be disposed of while minimizing the adverse impact on the environment.   
   
   
       23 . A disposable umbrella as in  claim 22 , wherein said additive comprises “Bio-Batch”™ additive. 
   
   
       24 . A method of biodegrading a disposable umbrella comprising the steps of forming an umbrella comprising:
 a staff having an upper end and a lower end suitable for gripping by a user;   a fixed collar mounted to said upper end of said staff;   a plurality of main struts pivably attached to said fixed collar and extending radially from said fixed collar, said plurality of main struts being movable from collapsed positions wherein said main struts extend generally parallel to said staff to open positions wherein said main struts extend outwardly from said staff;   a water-resistant film fixed to said plurality of main struts and extending generally from said staff to the extended ends of said main struts, said film being a waterproof film formed of PVC and an additive that substantially retains the physical properties of the PVC but renders the PVC film bio-degradable when placed in a landfill active microbial environment;   a slidable collar having a bore therethrough and being slidably mounted on said staff;   a plurality of actuating struts, said actuating struts having an inner end pivotably attached to said slidable collar and an outer end pivotably attached to associated main struts so that movement of said collar along said staff towards said upper end of said staff causes said main struts to move out to said open positions; and   latching means for selectively holding said slidable collar in a predetermined position on said staff to thereby hold main struts in said open positions, or releasing said slidable collar to allow movement of said slidable collar towards said lower end, at least said staff, collars, struts and latching means all also being formed of bio-degradable materials, whereby the entire umbrella may be disposed of while minimizing the adverse impact on the environment; and   biodegrading the umbrella, when it is to be discarded, in a landfill environment.