Beach umbrella with storage space

Abstract

A beach umbrella includes a storage space or compartment in the interior of the umbrella for the storage of valuables and sundries. The storage space is formed on the underside of the canopy of the umbrella by a piece of fabric secured at its outer edges to the juncture of the umbrella's canopy ribs and stretcher ribs and at its center to the operating runner that slides up and down on the umbrella center pole. A secure opening accommodates inserting sundry articles into and removing them from the space between the canopy and the fabric. The umbrella has the appearance of a standard umbrella and folds and expands in conventional manner, yet provides a convenient storage space for valuables and sundries.

1 . An umbrella having a center pole, a runner slideable on the center pole, a canopy connected adjacent its center to one end portion of the center pole and a canopy support system connected to the pole and the runner, and including
 a sheet of fabric having an inner edge connected to the runner and an outer edge connected to the canopy and/or the support system and forming a storage space between itself and the canopy.   
   
   
       2 . An umbrella as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said sheet of fabric extends wholly or partially about the center pole. 
   
   
       3 . An umbrella as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said sheet of fabric extends substantially concentrically and substantially circumferentially about the center pole. 
   
   
       4 . An umbrella as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said sheet is of a size and shape generally complementary to the size and shape of the canopy and extends generally concentrically and generally circumferentially around the center pole. 
   
   
       5 . An umbrella as set forth in  claim 1  having a support system including circumferentially spaced ribs, said sheet being connected at its outer edge to one or more of the ribs. 
   
   
       6 . An umbrella as set forth in  claim 1  having a support system including circumferentially spaced pairs of canopy ribs and stretcher ribs, said sheet extending to and being connected at its outer edge to the pivotal connection of one or more of the pairs of ribs. 
   
   
       7 . An umbrella as set forth in  claim 1  having a support system including circumferentially spaced pairs of pivotally connected canopy ribs and stretcher ribs, said sheet extending circumferentially about the center pole and being connected at its outer edge to the pivotal connections of the pairs of ribs. 
   
   
       8 . An umbrella as set forth in  claim 1  including an access opening into the storage space. 
   
   
       9 . An umbrella as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said sheet comprises a see-through material. 
   
   
       10 . An umbrella as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said sheet comprises a mesh or net material. 
   
   
       11 . A beach or sport umbrella comprising a center pole, a runner slideable on the center pole, a canopy connected adjacent its center to a top portion of the pole, a plurality of circumferentially spaced canopy ribs pivotally connected at one end adjacent the top portion of the pole and connected at the other end adjacent circumferentially spaced locations adjacent the periphery of the canopy, a plurality of circumferentially spaced stretcher ribs paired respectively with canopy ribs and pivotally connected adjacent one end to the respective canopy rib and adjacent the other end to the runner, and a sheet having an inner edge connected to the runner and an outer edge connected to one or more of said ribs and forming a storage space between itself and the canopy. 
   
   
       12 . An umbrella as set forth in  claim 11 , said sheet extending to and being connected at its outer edge to the pivotal connection between one or more of the pairs of ribs. 
   
   
       13 . An umbrella as set forth in  claim 11 , said sheet extending wholly or partially about said pole and having an outer edge secured to the pivotal connections of a plurality of the pairs of ribs. 
   
   
       14 . An umbrella as set forth in  claim 11 , said sheet being of a size and shape generally complementary to the size and shape of the canopy, extending concentrically and circumferentially about said pole and having a radial dimension equal substantially to the length of the stretcher ribs, said sheet being connected at its center to the runner and at its peripheral edge to the pivotal connections of said pairs of ribs. 
   
   
       15 . An umbrella as set forth in  claim 14 , said sheet comprising a mesh or net fabric. 
   
   
       16 . An umbrella as set forth in  claim 14  including a secure access opening in said sheet. 
   
   
       17 . In an umbrella having a center pole, a canopy, canopy ribs, stretcher ribs and a runner slideable on the center pole, a storage space on the underside of the canopy formed by a piece of fabric connected at its outer edge to the juncture of the canopy ribs and the stretcher ribs and at its center to the runner. 
   
   
       18 . In an umbrella as set forth in  claim 17 , said piece of fabric being of a size and shape complementary to that of the canopy and extending concentrically and circumferentially about the center pole. 
   
   
       19 . In an umbrella as set forth in  claim 17 , said piece of fabric being generally circular and having a radius substantially equal to the length of the stretcher ribs. 
   
   
       20 . In an umbrella as set forth in  claim 17 , a secure opening into said space.