Removably mountable umbrella

Abstract

An apparatus including a shaft, an umbrella canopy, a handle, an upper suction cup, and a lower suction cup is described. The umbrella canopy and the handle are attached to the shaft. The handle includes a body, an upper projection, and a lower projection. The upper projection and the lower projection project from the body in the same direction and are in spaced relation to one another. The upper suction cup is attached to the upper projection, while the lower suction cup is attached to the lower projection. The apparatus may serve as a removably mountable umbrella.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a shaft;   an umbrella canopy attached to the shaft;   a handle attached to the shaft and comprising:
 a body; 
 an upper projection projecting from the body; and 
 a lower projection projecting from the body in a same direction as the upper projection and in spaced relation to the upper projection; 
   an upper suction cup attached to the upper projection; and   a lower suction cup attached to the lower projection.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the body defines a body receiving hole; and   the shaft is inserted into the body receiving hole.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the body, the upper projection, and the lower projection form one integral element that cannot be separated without cutting or breaking the handle. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the upper projection defines an upper threaded receiving hole; and   the upper suction cup defines an upper threaded shaft threadably engaged in the upper threaded receiving hole.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the lower suction cup defines a lower receiving hole; and   the lower projection defines a lower shaft inserted into the lower receiving hole.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a release strip spanning between the upper suction cup and the lower suction cup. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the upper suction cup defines an upper loop; and   the release strip is inserted into the upper loop.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the lower suction cup defines a lower loop; and   the release strip is inserted into the lower loop.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the release strip is curved. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein, with the upper suction cup and the lower suction cup adhered to a flat surface via suction, actuation of the release strip acts to release the suction of the upper suction cup and the lower suction cup. 
     
     
         11 . A method for supporting an umbrella on a flat surface, the method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining an apparatus comprising:
 a shaft; 
 an umbrella canopy attached to the shaft; and 
 a handle attached to the shaft and comprising:
 a body; 
 an upper projection projecting from the body; and 
 a lower projection projecting from the body in a same direction as the upper projection and in spaced relation to the upper projection; 
 
 an upper suction cup attached to the upper projection; and 
 a lower suction cup attached to the lower projection; and 
   adhering the upper suction cup and the lower suction cup to the flat surface via suction.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the body defines a body receiving hole; and   the shaft is inserted into the body receiving hole.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the body, the upper projection, and the lower projection form one integral element that cannot be separated without cutting or breaking the handle. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the upper projection defines an upper threaded receiving hole; and   the upper suction cup defines an upper threaded shaft threadably engaged in the upper threaded receiving hole.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the lower suction cup defines a lower receiving hole; and   the lower projection defines a lower shaft inserted into the lower receiving hole.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising a release strip spanning between the upper suction cup and the lower suction cup. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the upper suction cup defines an upper loop; and   the release strip is inserted into the upper loop.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the lower suction cup defines a lower loop; and   the release strip is inserted into the lower loop.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the release strip is curved. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein, with the upper suction cup and the lower suction cup adhered to the flat surface via suction, actuation of the release strip acts to release the suction of the upper suction cup and the lower suction cup.