Reusable self-inflating umbrella

Abstract

A reusable, self-inflating umbrella comprising an inflatable envelope ( 11 ) made of a flexible material and an inflation mechanism ( 12 ). The interior of the envelope ( 11 ) can be connected to the inflation mechanism ( 12 ), in which a gaseous substance with which the interior of the envelope ( 11 ) is inflated can be generated by a chemical reaction. The chemical reaction may consist in dissolving a sodium (bi)carbonate granulate in citric acid. The citric acid may be accommodated in a container which is made to rupture by pressure being applied externally to the inflation mechanism ( 12 ) by a user, thus triggering the chemical reaction.

1 . A self-inflating umbrella comprising an inflatable envelope ( 11 ) made of flexible material and an inflation mechanism ( 12 ) which can be connected detachably and gas-tight to the inflatable envelope ( 11 ), wherein two or more chemical substances are disposed spatially separate from each other inside the inflation mechanism ( 12 ) which trigger a chemical reaction when they come into contact with each other, thus generating a gaseous substance for inflating the inflatable envelope ( 11 ), and wherein at least one of the two chemical substances is accommodated in a container ( 12 . 2 ) having a flexible outer skin which can be opened by the effect of pressure. 
     
     
         2 . A self-inflating umbrella according to  claim 1 , wherein the inflation mechanism ( 12 ) can be connected to the inflatable envelope ( 11 ) via a valve and removed again after inflation without any of the gaseous substance escaping from the inflated envelope. 
     
     
         3 . A self-inflating umbrella according to  claim 1 , wherein the inflation mechanism ( 12 ) can be connected to the inflatable envelope ( 11 ) without a valve therebetween and remains connected to the envelope after inflation until the gaseous substance is to escape again from the inflated envelope. 
     
     
         4 . A self-inflating object according to  claim 1 , wherein a first chemical substance of the inflation mechanism contains or consists of a solid, and a second chemical substance contains or consists of a liquid, and the solid is dissolved by the liquid, wherein the gaseous substance is one of the resultant reaction products. 
     
     
         5 . A self-inflating object according to  claim 1 , wherein the first chemical substance is sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate and the second chemical substance contains an acid, such that the reaction product resulting from the chemical reaction is gaseous CO 2 . 
     
     
         6 . A self-inflating umbrella according to  claim 1 , wherein the second chemical substance contains or consists of citric acid. 
     
     
         7 . A self-inflating umbrella according to  claim 1 , wherein the second chemical substance contains or consists of lemon juice. 
     
     
         8 . A self-inflating object according to  claim 1 , wherein the container ( 12 . 2 ) is disposed at a defined position inside the inflation mechanism, and a marking is applied at a location on the outer wall of the inflation mechanism which is closest to said position. 
     
     
         9 . A self-inflating umbrella according to  claim 1 , wherein the inflation mechanism can be mounted centrally on the top side of the inflatable envelope. 
     
     
         10 . A self-inflating umbrella according to  claim 1 , wherein the inflation mechanism can be mounted centrally on the underside of the inflatable envelope. 
     
     
         11 . A self-inflating umbrella according to  claim 1 , wherein the inflation mechanism can be mounted on the lateral edge of the inflatable envelope. 
     
     
         12 . A self-inflating object according to  claim 1 , wherein a handle member ( 13 ) in the form of a flexible loop is attached at a position on the outer wall of the envelope ( 11 ). 
     
     
         13 . An inflation mechanism for inflating an inflatable object, wherein said inflation mechanism can be connected detachably and gas-tight to an inflatable envelope ( 11 ) of the inflatable object,
 wherein two or more chemical substances are disposed spatially separate from each other inside the inflation mechanism ( 12 ) which trigger a chemical reaction when they come into contact with each other, thus generating a gaseous substance for inflating the inflatable envelope ( 11 ), and   wherein at least one of the two chemical substances is accommodated in a container ( 12 . 2 ) which has a flexible outer skin and which can be opened by the effect of pressure.   
     
     
         14 . A self-inflating object according to  claim 13 , wherein the inflatable object is an umbrella. 
     
     
         15 . The use of an inflation mechanism according to  claim 13  when inflating an inflatable object.