Umbrella holder and umbrella with complementary handle

Abstract

An umbrella and umbrella holder combination is provided comprising an umbrella having a canopy, a shaft connected to the canopy, and a handle connected to the shaft, the handle having a first connector portion; and an umbrella holder having a container adapted to receiving the handle, a second connector portion adapted to cooperate with the first connector portion when the handle is received in the container to prevent rotation of the handle relative to the container, and a clamp assembly adapted to connecting the umbrella holder to a frame member on a golf cart. The combination provides a directional locking fit between the umbrella handle and the umbrella holder so that the umbrella canopy cannot rotate relative to the golf cart, and this is advantageous especially when using an asymmetrical umbrella since the combination allows the umbrella canopy to being maintained in a desired orientation.

1 . An umbrella and umbrella holder combination comprising:
 an umbrella comprising: a canopy, a shaft connected to the canopy; and a handle connected to the shaft, the handle having a first connector portion;   an umbrella holder comprising: a container adapted to receiving the handle; a second connector portion adapted to cooperate with the first connector portion when the handle is received in the container to prevent rotation of the handle relative to the container; and a clamp assembly adapted to connecting the umbrella holder to a frame member on a golf cart.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first connector portion includes a lower portion that defines a first shape, and the second connector portion includes an upper portion that defines a second shape that is complementary to the first shape such that the upper portion of the second connector portion is able to receive the lower portion of the first connector portion when the handle is received in the container to cooperate with the first connector portion to prevent rotation of the handle relative to the container. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the container defines an opening and the second connector portion is adjacent the opening. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the upper portion of the second connector portion defines a slot, and the lower portion of the first connector portion defines a tab adapted for a close fit within the slot. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the slot includes sloped vertical walls that converge towards the bottom of the slot for guiding the tab into the slot as the handle of the umbrella is inserted into the container of the umbrella holder. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the canopy is an asymmetric canopy defining a longitudinal axis, and the first connector portion and the second connector portion are adapted to cooperate in manner that maintains the longitudinal axis in a generally parallel orientation to the direction of travel of a golf cart on which the umbrella holder is mounted. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the umbrella holder further includes a restrainable swivel connector between the clamp assembly and the container for enabling the umbrella holder to being collapsed for reducing its lateral profile and thereby reduce the lateral space taken up by the golf cart without having to remove the umbrella holder from the golf cart. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the container includes an opening at each end adapted for receiving the handle, and each of the openings includes a second connector portion thereon to enable the umbrella holder to being mounted on either side of the golf cart by orienting the container such that the opening which is oriented to face upward for receiving the handle of the umbrella therein is the opening that allows for the clamp assembly to be connected to the desired side of the golf cart. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the first connector portion includes a lower portion that defines a first shape, and each second connector portion includes an end portion that defines a second shape that is complementary to the first shape such that the end portion of one or the other of the second connector portion is able to receive the lower portion of the first connector portion when the handle is received in the container to cooperate with the first connector portion to prevent rotation of the handle relative to the container. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the end portion of each second connector portion defines a slot, and the lower portion of the first connector portion defines a tab adapted for a close fit within the slot. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein each slot includes sloped vertical walls that converge towards the bottom of the slot for guiding the tab into the slot as the handle of the umbrella is inserted into the corresponding opening of the container. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the umbrella holder further includes a restrainable swivel connector between the clamp assembly and the container for enabling the umbrella holder to being collapsed for reducing its lateral profile and thereby reduce the lateral space taken up by the golf cart without having to remove the umbrella holder from the golf cart.