Deformable Shaft Umbrella

Abstract

A folding umbrella having a shorter rigid upper segment and a longer flexible or deformable lower segment, such that with at least an upper portion of the flexible or deformable lower segment manipulated so as to be relatively straight, the hub member of the umbrella is slidable onto the flexible or deformable lower segment. The umbrella further has a mounting mechanism adapted to temporarily secure the umbrella to an object during use, wherein the mounting mechanism may be a clip or a deformable handle member, either as a deformable member connected to the lower end of the shaft or the lowermost portion of the shaft itself.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A folding umbrella comprising:
 a canopy mounted onto rib members, said canopy and rib members connected to a shaft;   stretcher members connecting said rib members to a sliding hub member mounted onto said shaft, whereby movement of said hub member up said shaft to an open stop position opens said canopy and movement of said hub member down said shaft to a closed stop position closes said canopy;   said shaft comprising a rigid upper segment and a flexible lower segment, said flexible lower segment being longer than said rigid upper segment;   wherein said open stop position is located on said rigid upper segment of said shaft and said closed stop position is located on said flexible lower segment.   
     
     
         2 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical mounting mechanism connected to said flexible lower segment of said shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The umbrella of  claim 2 , wherein said mechanical mounting mechanism comprises a clip. 
     
     
         4 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , further comprising a deformable handle connected to said flexible lower segment of said shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible lower segment is characterized such that said flexible lower segment may be repeatedly manipulated into straight or various curved configurations and then back, said flexible lower segment being configuration-retaining such that said flexible lower segment remains in the manipulated configuration after any biasing forces are removed, and further wherein said flexible lower segment is not configuration-retaining when flexed or bent greater than 180 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The umbrella of  claim 4 , wherein said deformable handle is characterized such that said deformable handle may be repeatedly manipulated into linear or various non-linear configurations and then back, said deformable handle being configuration-retaining such that said deformable handle remains in the flexed or bent configuration after any biasing forces are removed, and further wherein said deformable handle is configuration-retaining when flexed or bent greater than 180 degrees and may be flexed up to and beyond 360 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The umbrella of  claim 4 , wherein said deformable handle comprises a metal rod or bar. 
     
     
         8 . A folding umbrella comprising:
 a canopy mounted onto rib members, said canopy and rib members connected to a shaft;   stretcher members connecting said rib members to a sliding hub member mounted onto said shaft, whereby movement of said hub member up said shaft to an open stop position opens said canopy and movement of said hub member down said shaft to a closed stop position closes said canopy;   said shaft comprising a rigid upper segment and a deformable lower segment, said deformable lower segment being longer than said rigid upper segment;   wherein said open stop position is located on said rigid upper segment of said shaft and said closed stop position is located on said deformable lower segment.   
     
     
         9 . The umbrella of  claim 8 , wherein a portion of said deformable lower segment comprises a deformable handle. 
     
     
         10 . The umbrella of  claim 8 , wherein said deformable lower segment is characterized such that said deformable lower segment may be repeatedly manipulated into linear or various non-linear configurations and then back, said deformable lower segment being configuration-retaining such that said deformable lower segment remains in the flexed or bent configuration after any biasing forces are removed, and further wherein said deformable lower segment is configuration-retaining when flexed or bent greater than 180 degrees and may be flexed up to and beyond 360 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The umbrella of  claim 9 , wherein said deformable handle is characterized such that said deformable handle may be repeatedly manipulated into linear or various non-linear configurations and then back, said deformable handle being configuration-retaining such that said deformable handle remains in the flexed or bent configuration after any biasing forces are removed, and further wherein said deformable handle is configuration-retaining when flexed or bent greater than 180 degrees and may be flexed up to and beyond 360 degrees.