Umbrella auxiliary screen

Abstract

An umbrella ( 10 ) having an expandable auxiliary screen ( 30 ) supported from the ribs ( 12 ), struts ( 6 ) or canopy of the umbrella is expandable from a collapsed configuration by rotation of a spool ( 20 ) in a first direction to spool out line to descend a distal end of the auxiliary screen relative to the proximal end of the auxiliary screen. The auxiliary screen may comprise a plurality of panels, comprising a generally water-resistant material, coupled along seams to adjacent panels of the auxiliary screen. Alternately, the auxiliary screen may comprise a pliable and generally water-resistant material that generally corrugates to a collapsed configuration and generally flattens to an expanded configuration.

1 . An umbrella comprising:
 a plurality of ribs;   a plurality of struts;   a canopy;   a support rod; and   an auxiliary screen supportable from at least one of the ribs, struts and canopy and collapsible from an expanded configuration to a collapsed configuration;   wherein the auxiliary screen, in the expanded configuration, shields a user holding the support rod from precipitation bypassing the canopy.   
     
     
         2 . The umbrella of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a spool coupled to the support rod and to rotate relative to the support rod; 
 a line having a first portion coupled to the spool and a second portion coupled to the auxiliary screen; and 
 a plurality of line guides coupled to at least one of the ribs, the struts and the canopy; 
 wherein the spool rotates in a first direction to accumulate the line on the spool to reposition at least a portion of the auxiliary screen. 
 
     
     
         3 . The umbrella of  claim 2  wherein a proximal portion of the auxiliary screen is coupled to at least one of the ribs, struts and canopy, and a distal portion of the auxiliary screen is coupled to the second portion of the line. 
     
     
         4 . The umbrella of  claim 1  wherein at least one screen support tether is coupled at a proximal end to at least one of the ribs, struts and canopy and a distal portion of the at least one screen tether is coupled to a proximal portion of the auxiliary screen. 
     
     
         5 . The umbrella of  claim 1  wherein a proximal portion of the auxiliary screen is directly coupled to at least one of the ribs, struts and canopy to support the auxiliary screen in the expanded configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The umbrella of  claim 1  further comprising at least one fastener coupled to at least one of the ribs, struts and canopy to secure the auxiliary screen in the collapsed configuration in a stored position. 
     
     
         7 . The umbrella of  claim 6  wherein the at least one fastener comprises at least one of a tie, Velcro®, snaps, a hook and loop, and a magnet. 
     
     
         8 . An umbrella comprising:
 a support rod;   a plurality of ribs coupled at a first end to the support rod;   a collapsible fabric canopy coupled to the plurality of ribs;   a plurality of struts coupled at a first end to the ribs and at a second end to a ring that is movable along the support rod between a closed position, to collapse the fabric canopy, and an open position, to expand the fabric canopy;   a plurality of line guides coupled to at least some of the ribs;   an auxiliary screen supportable from at least one of the ribs, the struts and the fabric canopy in the expanded mode; and   a spool coupled to a the support rod and rotatable in a first direction to reel in, and rotatable in a second direction to spool out, a first portion of at least one line that is coupled at a second portion to a portion of the auxiliary screen and that engages at least one of the plurality of line guides intermediate the first portion and the second portion of the line;   wherein at least a portion of the auxiliary screen is positionable by rotation of the spool when the auxiliary screen is supported from at least one of the ribs, the struts and the fabric canopy.   
     
     
         9 . The umbrella of  claim 8  wherein the auxiliary screen is supportable by at least one tether having a first end coupled to at least one rib and a second end coupled to an upper portion of the auxiliary screen. 
     
     
         10 . The umbrella of  claim 9  further comprising a second line having a first portion coupled to the spool and a second portion coupled to the portion of the auxiliary screen and engaging at least one of the plurality of line guides intermediate the first portion and the second portion. 
     
     
         11 . The umbrella of  claim 9  wherein a lower portion of the auxiliary screen is positionable by rotation of the spool. 
     
     
         12 . The umbrella of  claim 11  wherein the whole of the auxiliary screen is positionable by rotation of the spool. 
     
     
         13 . A kit for adding an auxiliary screen to an umbrella having a plurality of ribs coupled at a first end to a support rod, a plurality of struts coupled at a second end to the plurality of ribs and at a first end to a ring slidable along a portion of the support rod between a closed position and an open position, and a fabric canopy coupled to the ribs, comprising:
 a plurality of line guides securable to the plurality of ribs;   a spool connectable to the support rod and rotatable in a first direction to reel in a first portion of a line and in a second direction to spool out the first portion of the line;
 at least one line having a first portion