Hands-Free Umbrella Holder

Abstract

An umbrella holder apparatus has a first body panel having a vertically oriented mounting tube attached centrally for an umbrella handle, a second body panel hinged by a lateral edge to the first body panel, a third body panel hinged to the first body panel, a first waist strap attached at a first end to the second body panel and at a second end to a first portion of a snap-in buckle, and a second waist strap attached at a first end to the third body panel and at a second end to a second portion of the snap-in buckle. The holder is characterized in that a user is enabled to wear the umbrella holder apparatus around the user's torso, fastening the snap-in buckle on the waist straps, to place an umbrella by a handle in the mounting tube, protecting the user from precipitation while leaving the hands free.

1 . An umbrella holder apparatus comprising:
 a curved, molded first body panel having a first and a second lateral edge and a vertically oriented mounting tube attached centrally, the mounting tube having a retainer mechanism for holding a handle of an umbrella;   a curved, molded second body panel hinged by a third lateral edge to the first lateral edge of the first body panel;   a curved, molded third body panel hinged by a fourth lateral edge to the second lateral edge of the first body panel;   a first waist strap attached at a first end to a fifth lateral edge opposite the third lateral edge of the second body panel and at a second end to a first portion of a snap-in buckle; and   a second waist strap attached at a first end to a sixth lateral edge opposite the fourth lateral edge of the third body panel and at a second end to a second portion of a snap-in buckle, configured to engage the first portion of the snap-in buckle;   characterized in that a user is enabled to wear the umbrella holder apparatus around the user's torso, fastening the snap-in buckle on the waist straps, to place an umbrella by a handle in the mounting tube, protecting the user from precipitation while leaving the hands free.   
     
     
         2 . The umbrella holder apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an adjustment buckle engaged with one of the waist straps, enabling the user to adjust the overall length of the waist straps. 
     
     
         3 . The umbrella holder apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising a hook strap having a first end anchored at a point along an upper edge of the second body panel and an open hook attached at a second end of the hook strap, enabling the user with the umbrella holder, with the waist straps joined, to place the hook strap over the user's shoulder and to engage the hook to the handle of the umbrella held in the mounting tube, holding the umbrella to the user's back. 
     
     
         4 . The umbrella holder apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising a first portion of a snap-in buckle attached to the hook strap at about a mid-point and a joining strap having a first end anchored at a point on the second waist strap proximate the third body panel, and a second end having a second portion of the snap-in buckle at a second end, enabling the user, with the waist straps joined and the hook strap engaged to the umbrella handle, to engage the joining strap across the user's torso, completing a triangulated strap arrangement. 
     
     
         5 . The umbrella holder apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising one or more adjustment buckles engaged with the hook strap and the joining strap enabling the user to adjust the overall length of the hook strap and the joining strap. 
     
     
         6 . The umbrella holder apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising rubberlike cushioning material implemented along edges of the body panels. 
     
     
         7 . The umbrella holder apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising cushioning fabric implemented on the inside area of the body panels. 
     
     
         8 . The umbrella holder apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the mounting tube is fastened to a rectangular plate that is in turn mounted to an outside area of the first body panel by conventional fasteners. 
     
     
         9 . The umbrella holder apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising a first attachment unit having a plate with two parallel raised female linear structures, each having an internal channel, the plate mounted to the outside area of the first body panel with the parallel raised linear structures substantially horizontal, and a second attachment unit having a plate with two parallel raised male linear structures of a shape compatible to engage the two parallel raised female linear structures by skidding the male structures into the female structures, the second attachment unit joined to a side of the plate holding the mounting tube opposite the mounting tube, wherein the plate with the mounting tube is joined to the first body panel by engaging the male linear structures with the female linear structures. 
     
     
         10 . The umbrella holder apparatus of  claim 9  comprising two first attachment units, one above the other, joined to the outside area of the first attachment unit, and two second attachment units joined one above the other to the plate with the mounting tube opposite the mounting tube. 
     
     
         11 . The umbrella holder apparatus of  claim 1  comprising a first attachment unit having a plate with two parallel raised female linear structures, each having an internal channel, the plate mounted to the outside area of the second body panel with the parallel raised linear structures substantially horizontal, and a second attachment unit having a plate with two parallel raised male linear structures of a shape compatible to engage the two parallel raised female linear structures by skidding the male structures into the female structures, the second attachment unit joined to a side of a plate having holding apparatus mounted to carry a tool or loose material, wherein the plate with the apparatus is joined to the second body panel by engaging the male linear structures with the female linear structures. 
     
     
         12 . The umbrella holder apparatus of  claim 1  comprising a first attachment unit having a plate with two parallel raised female linear structures, each having an internal channel, the plate mounted to the outside area of the third body panel with the parallel raised linear structures substantially horizontal, and a second attachment unit having a plate with two parallel raised male linear structures of a shape compatible to engage the two parallel raised female linear structures by skidding the male structures into the female structures, the second attachment unit joined to a side of a plate having holding apparatus mounted to carry a tool or loose material wherein the plate with the holding apparatus is joined to the third body panel by engaging the male linear structures with the female linear structures. 
     
     
         13 . A twin rail attachment system comprising a first plate with two parallel raised female linear structures, each having an internal channel parallel with a surface of the plate, and a second plate with two parallel raised male linear rail structures, each raised male linear rail structure compatible in shape to engage the internal channels of the female linear structures, wherein the male linear rail structures are enabled to be fully engaged linearly with the channels of the female linear structures, joining the first and the second plates side by side. 
     
     
         14 . The twin rail attachment system of  claim 13  further comprising a latching mechanism by which the male and the female linear structures are retained once fully engaged.