Umbrella anchoring device

Abstract

An umbrella system that provides stability to an umbrella to prevent it from inversion or damage in strong wind conditions. The umbrella includes guidelines that may be stored in the umbrella handle, and may include a spring stored in the handle for retracting a dispensed length of the guidelines. The guidelines may be secured to the canopy of the umbrella or to the ribs of the umbrella. When the umbrella is in an open position, the guidelines may be extended from the handle to the perimeter of the canopy. The guidelines provide a downward force to the umbrella canopy such that when there are strong winds, the umbrella does not invert due to the guidelines pulling down on the canopy. The guidelines may also be stored within the ribs of the umbrella. Clips may also be used to secure one end of the guidelines to the canopy.

1 . An umbrella comprising:
 a central rod;   a plurality of ribs pivotably attached to the central rod, said ribs each at an inner end extending to a perimetral end;   a flexible canopy mounted to the plurality of ribs;   a handle portion attached to a bottom end of the central rod, the handle portion having an internal cavity; and   one or more guidelines securable between at least one rib or the canopy and the central rod,   wherein the one or more guidelines are stored within the internal cavity of the handle portion.   
     
     
         2 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more guidelines are securable between the perimetral end of at least one of the ribs and the handle portion. 
     
     
         3 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , further comprising: at least one spring stored within the internal cavity of the handle portion for retracting a dispensed length of the one or more guidelines. 
     
     
         4 . The umbrella of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one spring is a constant force spring. 
     
     
         5 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the handle portion has one or more openings along a side surface for accessing the one or more guidelines. 
     
     
         6 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the handle portion has one or more openings on a top surface for accessing the one or more guidelines. 
     
     
         7 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the handle portion has one or more openings on a bottom surface for accessing the one or more guidelines. 
     
     
         8 . The umbrella of  claim 7 , wherein the handle portion has one or more recesses along the bottom handle edge for receiving and directing the one or more guidelines extended from the bottom of the handle portion. 
     
     
         9 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the handle portion has a flip open cap for accessing the one or more guidelines. 
     
     
         10 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more guidelines are secured at one end to the handle portion in the internal cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The umbrella of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more guidelines have a loop at a second end. 
     
     
         12 . The umbrella of  claim 11 , wherein the loop of the one or more guidelines is secured to the perimetral end of one of the plurality of ribs. 
     
     
         13 . The umbrella of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of ribs have a protrusion formed therein near the perimetral end, and wherein the loop of the one or more guidelines is secured to the protrusion. 
     
     
         14 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more guidelines apply a downward force to the canopy for preventing the canopy from inverting. 
     
     
         15 . The umbrella of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one spring is a coil spring. 
     
     
         16 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the central rod has one or more openings along a side surface for accessing the one or more guidelines. 
     
     
         17 . The umbrella of  claim 3 , comprising two or more springs, wherein the two or more springs are stacked on top of each other in the internal cavity of the handle portion. 
     
     
         18 . The umbrella of  claim 3 , wherein the internal cavity is located at the bottom of the handle portion, and wherein two or more springs are stored in the bottom of the handle portion. 
     
     
         19 . The umbrella of  claim 3 , comprising two or more springs, wherein the two or more springs are positioned at different heights in the internal cavity of the handle portion. 
     
     
         20 . A clip for use with an umbrella, the clip comprising:
 a generally flat bottom surface; and   a generally flat top surface having:
 a flexible middle section for folding a first half and a second half of the clip together; 
 one or more protrusions on the first half of the clip; 
 one or more openings on the second half of the clip for receiving the one or more protrusions; and 
 a raised surface for forming a recess on the bottom surface. 
   
     
     
         21 . The clip of  claim 20 , wherein the clip is attached to a canopy of the umbrella. 
     
     
         22 . The clip of  claim 20 , wherein the recess receives one end of a guideline for securing the guideline to the canopy of the umbrella. 
     
     
         23 . The clip of  claim 20 , wherein indicia is displayed on the top surface of the clip. 
     
     
         24 . The clip of  claim 20 , wherein the bottom surface is covered with an adhesive for bonding the clip to the canopy. 
     
     
         25 . An umbrella comprising:
 a central rod;   a plurality of ribs pivotably attached to the central rod, the plurality of ribs each at an inner end extending to a perimetral end and each rib having an internal cavity;   a flexible canopy mounted to the plurality of ribs; and   one or more guidelines securable between the perimetral end and the inner end of at least one rib,   wherein the one or more guidelines are stored within the internal cavity of the plurality of ribs.   
     
     
         26 . The umbrella of  claim 25 , wherein each of the plurality of ribs has an opening at an external end for accessing the one or more guidelines. 
     
     
         27 . The umbrella of  claim 25 , wherein the one or more guidelines have a loop at one end accessible from the opening of the plurality of ribs. 
     
     
         28 . The umbrella of  claim 27 , wherein the plurality of ribs have a protrusion formed near the inner end, and wherein the loop of the one or more guidelines is secured to the protrusion. 
     
     
         29 . The umbrella of  claim 28 , wherein the one or more guidelines apply a downward force to the canopy for preventing the canopy from inverting.