US2008163910A1PendingUtilityA1

Umbrella

56
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jan 10, 2005Filed: Jan 9, 2006Published: Jul 10, 2008
Est. expiryJan 10, 2025(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Steven J. Hollinger
A45B 25/02A45B 25/22
56
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

Umbrellas with improvements that make the umbrella easier to control. The improvements include an edge of the umbrella canopy that presents a convex surface to the flow of air across the canopy and that also may direct the flow of air away from the underside of the canopy and away from the user of the umbrella, gutters for directing the flow of water on the canopy, spoilers for modifying the flow of air across the canopy, windsocks that release air pressure under the canopy by inflating, and canopies with streamlined shapes, including shapes that may be modified by the user or modify themselves in response to the flow of air.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A canopy for an umbrella comprising:
 an upper surface and a lower surface,   the upper surface including
 a leading end and 
 a trailing end, 
   
     the upper surface having a shape which is substantially the shape of a portion of the surface of a teardrop, the portion's shape having a leading end and a trailing end and the portion's shape being bluffer in the leading end and more gradual in the trailing end, the leading end of the portion corresponding to the leading end of the upper surface and the trailing end of the portion corresponding to the trailing end of the upper surface. 
   
   
       22 . The canopy set forth in  claim 21  wherein:
 the canopy is attached to a pole; and   the pole is attached nearer the leading end of the canopy's shape than the trailing end thereof.   
   
   
       23 . The canopy set forth in  claim 22  wherein:
 the pole is not vertical when the canopy is substantially level.   
   
   
       24 . The canopy set forth in  claim 21  further comprising:
 a hub at the canopy's leading end; and   longerons attached to the hub which support the canopy, the longerons being attached such that the longerons are rotatable around the hub, whereby the canopy is made foldable.   
   
   
       25 . The canopy set forth in  claim 21  further comprising:
 a gutter on the canopy that causes water falling on the canopy to flow in a particular direction.   
   
   
       26 . The canopy set forth in  claim 25  wherein:
 the gutter causes the water to flow towards the trailing end of the canopy's shape.   
   
   
       27 . The canopy set forth in  claim 25  further comprising:
 a rainwater escape chute; and   the gutter causes the water to flow into the rainwater escape chute.   
   
   
       28 . The canopy set forth in  claim 25  wherein:
 the gutter provides a channel for the water.   
   
   
       29 . The canopy set forth in  claim 25  wherein:
 the gutter is a guide which causes the water to flow predominantly in the given direction.   
   
   
       30 . The canopy set forth in  claim 25  wherein:
 the gutter further functions as a spoiler that acts on an airflow across the canopy.   
   
   
       31 . The canopy set forth in  claim 21  further comprising:
 a spoiler on the canopy, the spoiler acting on an airflow across the canopy.   
   
   
       32 . The canopy set forth in  claim 31  wherein:
 the spoiler is on the leading end of the canopy.   
   
   
       33 . The canopy set forth in  claim 21  further comprising:
 an edge that presents a convex surface to an air flow that strikes the edge.   
   
   
       34 . The canopy set forth in  claim 21  further comprising:
 a rainwater escape chute at the trailing end of the canopy.   
   
   
       35 . A canopy for an umbrella comprising:
 an upper surface and   a lower surface, the upper surface including   a gutter on the canopy that causes water falling on the canopy to flow in a particular direction.   
   
   
       36 . The canopy set forth in  claim 35  wherein:
 the gutter causes the water to flow away from the canopy's front.   
   
   
       37 . The canopy set forth in  claim 35  wherein:
 the gutter provides a channel for the water.   
   
   
       38 . The canopy set forth in  claim 35  wherein:
 the gutter is a guide which causes the water to flow predominantly in the given direction.   
   
   
       39 . The canopy set forth in  claim 35  wherein:
 the gutter further functions as a spoiler with regard to a flow of air over the canopy.   
   
   
       40 . The canopy set forth in  claim 35  wherein:
 the canopy has a rounded head and a tapering tail.   
   
   
       41 . The canopy set forth in  claim 40  wherein:
 the gutter is on the rounded head and causes the water to flow away from the head's front.   
   
   
       42 . The canopy set forth in  claim 35  wherein:
 the canopy further includes a rainwater escape chute; and   the gutter causes the water to flow into the rainwater escape chute.   
   
   
       43 . A canopy for an umbrella comprising:
 an upper surface and   a lower surface,   
     the upper surface having a spoiler that acts on an airflow across the upper surface. 
   
   
       44 . The canopy set forth in  claim 43  wherein:
 the spoiler is a set of protuberances on the canopy which roughen the canopy with regard to the airflow.   
   
   
       45 . A canopy for an umbrella comprising:
 an upper surface,   a lower surface, and   a windsock having two ends, an end of the windsock being attached to the upper surface above a hole in the canopy and the windsock inflating when air pressure under the canopy is greater than air pressure above the canopy to release the air pressure under the canopy and otherwise collapsing.   
   
   
       46 . The canopy set forth in  claim 45  wherein:
 the windsock is additionally attached to the upper surface at a point other than above the hole in the canopy.   
   
   
       47 . A canopy for an umbrella comprising:
 a fabric cover;   and   one or more fabric pieces that are attached to the cover and act on the cover to prevent deformation of the canopy.   
   
   
       48 . A canopy for an umbrella comprising:
 a fabric cover; and   one or more ribs attached to the cover that support the cover when the cover is in use, the ribs being attached to the cover and having forms such that the canopy becomes substantially a disk when not in use.   
   
   
       49 . A canopy for an umbrella comprising:
 a non-deformable area; and   a deformable area which is capable of being deformed to give the canopy a shape that improves controllability of the canopy by a user of the umbrella with regard to airflow across the canopy.   
   
   
       50 . The umbrella canopy set forth in  claim 49  wherein:
 the deformable area is deformed such that the edge of the canopy which is the leading edge with regard to the airflow presents a convex surface to the airflow.   
   
   
       51 . The umbrella canopy set forth in  claim 49  wherein:
 the deformable area is deformed such that the canopy has a streamlined shape with regard to the airflow.   
   
   
       52 . The umbrella canopy set forth in  claim 49  wherein:
 the deformable area is deformed by a user of the umbrella.   
   
   
       53 . The umbrella canopy set forth in  claim 49  wherein:
 the deformable area deforms itself in response to the airflow.   
   
   
       54 . An umbrella comprising:
 a canopy;   a pole attached to the canopy; and   an edge of the canopy that presents a convex surface to an airflow that strikes the edge, the convex surface acting to substantially increase controllability of the umbrella by a user who is holding the umbrella by the pole.   
   
   
       55 . The umbrella set forth in  claim 54  wherein:
 the entire edge of the canopy presents the convex surface.   
   
   
       56 . The umbrella set forth in  claim 54  wherein:
 the convex surface deflects the airflow away from the canopy's under side.   
   
   
       57 . The umbrella set forth in  claim 56  wherein:
 the convex surface deflects the airflow away from the canopy's under side such that the canopy becomes a virtual double-surfaced airfoil.   
   
   
       58 . The umbrella set forth in  claim 54  wherein:
 a first portion of the canopy's edge presents the convex surface to the airflow; and a second portion of the canopy's edge which is opposite to the first portion does not present the convex surface to the air flow.   
   
   
       59 . The umbrella set forth in  claim 54  wherein:
 the convex surface deflects the airflow away from the user of the umbrella.   
   
   
       60 . An umbrella comprising:
 a canopy which is supported by at least one rib and by   a pole which continues the rib.   
   
   
       61 . The umbrella set forth in  claim 60  wherein:
 the rib and pole support the canopy from above.   
   
   
       62 . A foldable canopy for an umbrella, the foldable canopy comprising:
 an upper surface;   an area of the upper surface which becomes an end of the canopy when the canopy is folded; and   a tube attached to the area of the upper surface which is capable of serving as a cover to the folded canopy.   
   
   
       63 . The foldable canopy set forth in  claim 62  wherein:
 the tube is a windsock;   the windsock is attached around a hole in the area of the upper surface,   
     the windsock inflating when air pressure under the open canopy is greater than air pressure above the canopy to release the air pressure under the canopy and otherwise collapsing. 
   
   
       64 . A pole for an umbrella, the pole comprising:
 a shaft;   a handle on the shaft which permits the user to grip the shaft; and   an extension of the shaft which engages the user's forearm,   
     whereby the user may better resist an effect of a force applied to the umbrella's canopy on the pole. 
   
   
       65 . A canopy for an umbrella, the canopy having a surface and the canopy comprising:
 a hub; and   longerons attached to the hub which support the canopy's surface, the longerons being attached such that the longerons are rotatable around the hub, whereby the canopy is made foldable.   
   
   
       66 . The canopy set forth in  claim 65  wherein:
 the canopy's surface has a leading end and a trailing end; and   the hub is at the canopy's leading edge.   
   
   
       67 . The canopy set forth in  claim 66  further comprising:
 a hub at the canopy's trailing end to which the longerons are attached such that the longerons are rotatable around the hub at the canopy's trailing end.   
   
   
       68 . The canopy set forth in  claim 66  further comprising:
 a handle for the umbrella,   
     the handle being attached to the hub at the leading edge.

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