CONTAINER FOR UMBRELLAS

The present invention relates to the field of furniture and its accessories, in particular concerns a container for umbrellas.

More in detail, the solution according to the invention relates to a container for umbrellas suitable for saving space which allows to insert its own wet umbrella without touching it, even when the container already contains other umbrellas.

As known, the normal containers for umbrellas are constituted by substantially cylindrical hollow structures, such as vases or similar, in which are inserted more umbrellas.

It often happens that in such known containers some wet umbrellas are arranged together, obvoisuly with the handle upwards and the structure closed, but with the fabric opened, in order to allow it to dry itself better.

In this case, the structure of the umbrella tends to broaden its radial arms by gravity; the closing end part of the umbrella, however, defines the only fulcrum on which the arms levarage. Inserting an umbrella from upper inlet mouth of a substantially cylindrical container, sliding it from the closing end part of the umbrella itself, the arms lie on the walls of the container, adapting to the free volume inside it.

A new user, who wants to enter a further umbrella in an umbrella container that is in the above mentioned situation, will be forced to move with the hands the arms of the other existing umbrellas, bathing inevitably himself.

In other cases, for example using an umbrella with telescopic and foldable arms, the above described trend of the structure of the umbrella to broaden its arms is much more evident.

The bent arm, indeed, tends to expand to its full extent, relying on multiple fulcrums, or points of bending of the arms.

Inserting an umbrella of this type in a substantially cylindrical container from the upper inlet mouth, by sliding it from the end of closure of the umbrella, the portions of the arms - that fold towards this end - tend to move away from it, and impede the advancement of the umbrella towards the interior of the container.

For this reason, it is necessary to compacting with the hands, these portions of the arms, so that the umbrella itself can be inserted in the space that results available.

It is obvious the feeling of discomfort generated to the user at the time of contact with the wet surface of the umbrella.

Furtehermore, the frequent loss and/or confusion among umbrella of different users due to the fact that - when placed inside the container - the only visible part of the umbrellas is just the handle, not always sufficiently distinctive than the ones of the other umbrellas.

The present invention intends to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art.

In detail, object of the present invention is to provide a container for umbrellas, allowing a user to insert an umbrella without being forced to compact it with hands.

In addition, a task of the invention is to minimize the risk of loss or confusion among several umbrellas placed inside a container for umbrellas.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a container for umbrellas that it is simple and intuitive to use for anyone.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a container for umbrellas which does not involve neither complex assembly operations nor the use of special instruments for its proper maintenance.

The foregoing aims are achieved by a container for umbrellas according to claim 1 attached hereto, which reference is made for brevity exhibition.

Further technical features of detail of the container for umbrellas of the invention are given in the corresponding dependent claims.

Another advantage of the present invention is given by the ease of maintenance operations of the container for umbrellas of the invention.

In addition, the users advantageously do not run the risk of losing their umbrella, or to take home the wrong umbrella and to find themselves in a rough environment without the suitable tools. The aims and advantages described above, as well as others which will emerge below, will appear more evident from the description which follows, relating to a container for umbrellas according to the invention, described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which in particular:

- Figure 1 shows a first preferred embodiment of the container according to the invention with a first umbrella inserted,

- Figure 2 shows the container of Figure 1 with a second umbrella inserted,

- Figure 3 shows the container of Figure 1 with a third umbrella inserted,

- Figure 4 shows a longitudinal section of the container of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 5 shows a cross-section of the container of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 6 shows a cross-section of a second preferred embodiment of the container according to the invention;

- Figure 7 shows a front view of the container of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the container of Figure 1 , from a first point of view;

- Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the container of Figure 1 , from a second point of view;

- Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of the container according to the invention;

- Figure 11 shows a perspective view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the container according to the invention;

- Figure 12 shows a top view of the container of Figure 11 ;

- Figure 13 shows the container of Figure 11 with two umbrellas inserted.

With reference to Figures 1-4, the container of the invention, generically indicated with 1 , comprises a base 2, a first vertical bottom wall 3, a second vertical front wall 4 and a third vertical side wall 5.

The base 2 has an elongated rectangular shape, with two long sides 6 and 6 'and two short sides 7 and T. The first and the second vertical wall 3 and 4 are arranged perpendicularly to the base 2, each of them fitting with a respective long side 6 and 6' of the base 2 itself, whereas the third vertical wall 5 is disposed perpendicular to the base 2, with a side fitting together with the short side 7.

The short side 7 has a size corresponding to the diameter of a retractable compacted umbrella.

Then the container 1 has an upper inlet mouth 8, of dimensions corresponding to the base 2, and a through slot 9, which extends along the short side 7' of the base 2 opposite to the third vertical wall 5 and partially along the long side 6' of the base 2.

In particular, the first vertical wall 3 extends along the entire long side 6 of the base 2.

The second vertical wall 4, opposite to the first vertical wall 3, extending from the third vertical wall 5 along the long side 6' of the base 2, up to an intermediate point 10.

The first vertical wall 3 is arranged to be fixed to a support, for example a wall or a railing, and has a height greater than the height of the second and third vertical wall 4 and 5.

In an alternative embodiment, not shown in the figures, the container of the invention has a base of free form, along the perimeter of which is present a continuous vertical wall, having a vertical opening or through slit, corresponding in size to the diameter of a retractable compacted umbrella and communicating with the upper opening.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the base 2 has, proximate to the third vertical wall 5, a through hole 11 through which it is allowed the communication between the inside of the container 1 and its exterior, and a removable cap 12 for closing/opening of the through hole 11.

As shown in Figure 5, the base 2 may present a concave shape facing upwards, to collect any water falling from wet umbrellas 13 and stowed in the container 1.

Alternatively, as shown in Figure 6, the base 2 can have a planar shape, but inclined, for the same reason previously indicated.

In any case, it is preferable that the through hole 1 is positioned at the lowest point of the base 2, in order to allow the exit of the water. In particular, it is preferable that the lowest point of the base 2 is positioned in the opposite position with respect to the through slot 9. In this preferred embodiment, it is possible to avoid accidental spillage of water when such conditions are not required.

On the other hand, the through hole 11 can also be located close to the through slot 9, in the case in which the latter does not coincide exactly with the base 2, but it is just slightly spaced.

Also in this preferred embodiment it is possible to collect the water present on the surface of the umbrellas up to the moment in which it is desired to empty the container.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 8 and

9, the second vertical wall 4 has a transparent portion 14, adapted to show the fabric of each umbrella 3 placed in the container .

In this preferred embodiment, the transparent portion 14 has a rectangular shape, covering almost the entire second vertical wall 4 itself.

In another preferred embodiment, shown in Figure 10, the transparent portion 14 has the form of two horizontal trasparent portions 15, which have the same function.

In a further preferred embodiment, shown in Figures 11-13, the base 2 and the second vertical wall 4 are shaped so as to form seats 16 for the positioning of the umbrellas 13 inside the container 1.

In particular, the shape of each seat 16 is defined by a semicircle profile, which facilitates, during insertion, the identification of a place to store the umbrella 13.

Advantageously, by placing an umbrella 13 in a seat 16, it does not need to be supported by the side walls, or by other umbrellas, but it remains in a vertical position only leaning against the wall of the seat 16 (Figure 13).

Each seat 16 has a transparent portion 14, in particular having the form of a vertical strip.

A user, who wants to put in the container 1 his own retractable umbrella 13, after turning it over, without the need to come into contact with the wet fabric, places it at the through slot 9 and makes it sliding between the two vertical walls 3 and 4, until it meets the third vertical wall 5 or in any case until a desired position is reached (figure 1).

The side-insertion of the umbrella 13 inside the container 1 is not hindered by the structure of the umbrella itself, then the movement is fluid and easy to be accomplished.

The water falling from the wet fabric of the umbrella 13 is collected from the base 2, close to the thourgh hole 11.

Subsequently, additional users can store their umbrellas 13 inside the container, according to the same manner as described above (Figures 2 and 3).

When one of the users wants to pick up its umbrella, he/she will advantageously able to recognize it by its tissue through the transparent portion 14, he/she may grasp it by its handle, which is accessible from the upper inlet mouth 8 and remove it from the container 1 with an upward movement, according to the direction of the arrow F (Figure 3).

When a user wishes to remove the water collected, it will be sufficient to remove the removable cap 12 from the through hole 11 , letting out the water, for example by pouring it into a collection tank (not shown).

According to the foregoing, it is understood, therefore, that the container for umbrellas object of the invention achieves the aims described and realizes the advantages already cited.

Upon implementation, changes may be made to the container object of the invention, for instance structuring with different forms the base 2, the second vertical wall 4 and/or of the transparent portions 14 of the support housing.

Moreover, other constructive solutions of the container claimed herein may be realized and they could consist of different constructive conception from the one obtainable according to the enclosed figures, consisting, for example, of a different form or different dimensions of the vertical seats 16, which do not affect the benefit received by the present invention.

It's clear, finally, that numerous other variations may be made to the container in exam, without departing from the principles of novelty inherent in the inventive idea, just as it is clear that, in the practical embodiment of the invention, the materials, the shapes and the dimensions of the illustrated details can be any, depending on requirements, and may be replaced with other technically equivalent.

Where the constructional characteristics and techniques, mentioned in the subsequent claims, are followed by reference numbers or signs, those reference signs have been introduced with the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims themselves and, consequently, they do not present any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified, purely by way of example, by such reference signs.