Umbrella carrier

Abstract

An umbrella carrier comprising a sheath shaped for receiving an umbrella. The sheath is formed of flexible material. The sheath extends from an open proximal end to a distal end. A receiver is fixed at the distal end of the sheath. The receiver is formed of plastic material and is shaped to receive a distal tip of the umbrella. A seal is seated in the receiver and adapted to engage the distal tip of the umbrella to seal against the distal tip and prevent water from draining out of the carrier when the umbrella is in position in the carrier.

1 . An umbrella carrier for an umbrella having a distal tip, said umbrella carrier comprising:
 a sheath having an open proximal end for receiving the umbrella and extending from said open proximal end to a distal end, said sheath being formed of flexible material;   a carrying strap attached to said sheath for carrying said sheath on a shoulder of a user;   a receiver formed of plastic material attached to said distal end of said sheath and at least partially covered by said sheath, said receiver defining an opening and a throughbore wherein said receiver tapers radially inwardly between said opening and said throughbore to facilitate sliding of the distal tip of the umbrella through said opening and into said throughbore;   an annular seal seated in said receiver and having a sealing surface configured to engage and seal against the distal tip of the umbrella when the distal tip slides into said throughbore to prevent water leakage out of said receiver such that water is contained within said carrier until the user pulls the distal tip of the umbrella from said carrier thereby opening said throughbore and allowing the water to drain therethrough; and   a plurality of spaced apart eyelets mounted to said sheath between said open proximal end and said distal end to define aeration ports through said sheath, said aeration ports configured to facilitate drying of said sheath after the umbrella is removed from said sheath.   
     
     
         2 . An umbrella carrier as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a stiffening rod that extends along said sheath from said proximal end to said distal end. 
     
     
         3 . An umbrella carrier as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said stiffening rod extends at least 80 percent of a length of said sheath. 
     
     
         4 . An umbrella carrier as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said stiffening rod is elongate in shape and is formed of plastic material. 
     
     
         5 . An umbrella carrier as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said sheath is formed of a plurality of layers of material and said stiffening rod is positioned between two of said plurality of layers of material. 
     
     
         6 . An umbrella carrier as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said stiffening rod is mounted to said receiver. 
     
     
         7 . An umbrella carrier as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said receiver includes a body and a cap mounted to said body, said seal being captured between said body and said cap. 
     
     
         8 . An umbrella carrier as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said body has a first mating feature and said cap has a second mating feature for mating with said first mating feature to secure said cap to said body. 
     
     
         9 . An umbrella carrier as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said receiver is formed of a rigid plastic material. 
     
     
         10 . An umbrella carrier as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said sheath comprises an inner layer, an outer layer, and an intermediate layer disposed between said inner and outer layers. 
     
     
         11 . An umbrella carrier as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said outer layer is formed of polyurethane. 
     
     
         12 . An umbrella carrier as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said inner layer is formed of nylon. 
     
     
         13 . An umbrella carrier as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said intermediate layer is formed of a blended polymeric material. 
     
     
         14 . An umbrella carrier as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said sheath further includes a collar disposed about said open proximal end. 
     
     
         15 . An umbrella carrier as set forth in  claim 14  further including a ring reinforcing said collar. 
     
     
         16 . An umbrella carrier as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said receiver has an outer surface partially covered by said sheath and partially exposed beyond said distal end of said sheath. 
     
     
         17 . An umbrella carrier as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said seal has an inner diameter of from 0.2 inches to 0.8 inches. 
     
     
         18 . An umbrella carrier as set forth in  claim 1  wherein each of said aeration ports has a diameter of from 0.2 inches to 2.0 inches. 
     
     
         19 . An umbrella carrier for an umbrella having a distal tip, said umbrella carrier comprising:
 a sheath having an open proximal end for receiving the umbrella and tapering from said open proximal end to a distal end, said sheath being formed of flexible inner and outer layers and a middle layer disposed between said inner and outer layers;   a carrying strap attached to said sheath for carrying said sheath on a shoulder of a user;   a receiver attached to said distal end of said sheath and at least partially covered by said sheath, said receiver defining an opening and a throughbore wherein said receiver tapers radially inwardly between said opening and said throughbore to facilitate sliding of the distal tip of the umbrella through said opening and into said throughbore;   an annular seal seated in said receiver and having a sealing surface configured to engage and seal against the distal tip of the umbrella when the distal tip slides into said throughbore to prevent water leakage out of said receiver such that water is contained within said carrier until the user pulls the distal tip of the umbrella from said carrier thereby opening said throughbore and allowing the water to drain therethrough; and   a plurality of spaced apart eyelets mounted to said sheath between said open proximal end and said distal end to define aeration ports through said sheath.   
     
     
         20 . A system comprising:
 an umbrella having a distal tip;   a sheath having an open proximal end for receiving said umbrella and extending from said open proximal end to a distal end, said sheath being formed of flexible material;   a carrying strap attached to said sheath for carrying said sheath on a shoulder of a user;   a receiver formed of plastic material attached to said distal end of said sheath and at least partially covered by said sheath, said receiver defining an opening and a throughbore wherein said receiver tapers radially inwardly between said opening and said throughbore to facilitate sliding of said distal tip of said umbrella through said opening and into said throughbore;   an annular seal seated in said receiver and having a sealing surface configured to engage and seal against said distal tip of said umbrella when said distal tip slides into said throughbore to prevent water leakage out of said receiver such that water is contained within said carrier until the user pulls said distal tip of said umbrella from said carrier thereby opening said throughbore and allowing the water to drain therethrough; and   a plurality of spaced apart eyelets mounted to said sheath between said open proximal end and said distal end to define aeration ports through said sheath, said aeration ports configured to facilitate drying of said sheath after said umbrella is removed therefrom.