JP3927220 | Bogie |
WO/2015/113117 | AN ANTI-THEFT DEVICE |
WO/2006/001688 | TROLLEY |
SOTTILE SEBASTIANO (IT)
WO2013014642A1 | 2013-01-31 |
US20130061891A1 | 2013-03-14 | |||
US20070029745A1 | 2007-02-08 | |||
US6131925A | 2000-10-17 |
CLAI M S 1. A movable storage device (1 ) for environments used for the sale of items of various kinds comprising: - a trolley (2) defining at least one container (20) for collecting said items, which can be removably constrained to at least one other of said trolleys (2) of the same type, - an umbrella stand (3) constrained to said trolley (2) and defining at least one casing (30), adapted to accommodate at least one umbrella (5), and comprising a collecting portion (30b) suitable to collect and contain water coming from said at least one umbrella (5) and said movable storage device (1 ) being characterized in that - said casing (30) comprises at least one valve (31 ) arranged in said collecting portion (30b), which is adapted to allow the expulsion of the water contained in said collecting portion (30b), and control means (35) suitable to allow the opening and closing of said valve (31 ). 2. The device (1 ) according to claim 1 , comprising sensor means (21 ) able to detect a constraint condition in which said trolley (2) is constrained to at least one of said other trolleys (2) and a condition of use in which said trolley (2) is released, and wherein said control means (35) are operatively connected to said sensor means (21 ). 3. The device (1 ) according to claim 2, wherein said valve (31 ) is closed in the condition of use and is open if said sensor means (21 ) detect the transition from said condition of use to said constraint condition. 4. The device (1 ) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein said casing (30) comprises separation means (32) which divide said casing (30) into a first portion (30a) and said collecting portion (30b), which are in reciprocal fluidic through connection, said collecting portion (30b) being adjacent to said valve (31 ) and said separation means (32) being adapted to obstruct the passage of said at least one umbrella (5) so as to prevent said umbrellas (5) from entering said collecting portion (30b). 5. The device (1 ) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein said trolleys (2) comprise a gripping area (23) to allow a user to drive said trolleys (2), are available in rows (7) that are arranged so that said respective containers (20) interpenetrate compatibly along a straight line thereby providing said constraint configuration, said containers (20) each comprising at least one movable wall (22) in the proximity of said gripping area (23) adapted to rotate with respect to a direction of rotation that is perpendicular to said straight line and parallel to the ground when said container (20) of another of said trolleys (2) pushes said movable wall (22) along said straight line, and wherein said valve (31 ) is a check valve comprising at least one hole (31 a) and a slider (31 b) adapted to free or obstruct said hole (31 a) and said sensor means (21 ) comprise a hook (21 a) removably constrained to a fixed point (24) of said trolley (2) and to said slider (31 b) so as to drag said slider (31 b) away from said hole (31 a) when said movable wall (22) is rotated thereby defining said constraint condition and interferes with said hook (21 a) dragging it away from said fixed point (24). 6. The device (1 ) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein said hook (21 a) drags said slider (31 b) in opposition to opposing means (6) adapted to push said slider (31 b) towards said hole (31 a) when said condition of use is restored. 7. The device (1 ) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein said valve (31 ) opens only for a determined time corresponding to the time interval in which said trolley (2) is in the constraint condition. 8. The device (1 ) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein said umbrella stand (3) is arranged at a sideboard (25) of said trolley (2), said fixed point (24) is arranged at an edge of said sideboard (25), and said hook (21 a) is adapted to be moved at least partially by interference integrally with said movable wall (22) when said trolley (2) is arranged within a row (7), said hook (21 a) being at least partially arranged within said casing (30). 9. The device (1 ) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein said trolleys (2) each comprise a coupling device (4), and said coupling device (4) comprises an insertion portion (40) and a receiving portion (41 ) counter-shaped to said insertion portion (40), said trolley (2) being in a constraint condition when said insertion portion (40) thereof is inserted within another of said receiving portions (41 ) of another of said trolleys (2) and when said receiving portion (41 ) houses another of said insertion portions (40) of another of said trolleys (2), and said sensor means (21 ) are electronically connected to said insertion portion (40) so as to detect when said insertion portion (40) is coupled to said other receiving portion (41 ). 10. The device (1 ) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein said valve (31 ) is a solenoid valve electronically connected to said sensor means (21 ) adapted to allow or obstruct the passage of said fluid substance when said sensor means (21 ) detect a condition change between said constraint condition and said condition of use. |
A MOVABLE STORAGE DEVICE
The present invention relates to a movable storage device of the type as recited in the preamble of Claim 1 .
In particular, the object of the present invention is a trolley of the type used in hypermarkets and suitable to allow the storage of various kinds of objects.
Similar devices are disclosed in the patent documents US-A-2013/061891 , US-A-2007/029745 and WO-A-2013/014642.
As is known, the hypermarket, as well as the supermarket or the like, is an environment for the sale of items intended for a plurality of people who move within that environment mostly equipped with a trolley on wheels.
This trolley has the purpose of containing a plurality of objects or items that customers intend to buy during the entire path from the entrance to the exit so as to allow customers to have their hands free and to easily carry the items taken from the shelves.
The floor of hypermarkets and supermarkets must therefore be suitable to allow users to move along the lanes of this environment without problems.
Therefore, surfaces with a sufficient friction coefficient are used in such a way as to allow both easy walking and easy handling of the trolley.
However, it may happen that the weather conditions outside the hypermarket are not favourable and, for example, that rainfalls occur. In this case, customers often reach these areas using objects, such as umbrellas, that allow sheltering from the rain.
Umbrellas shelter from the rain, but they also accumulate water on their surface and therefore, when the user enters the supermarket and starts its path with the trolley, said water is spread along the floor generating a number of problems.
First of all, the safety of users who enter this environment and move around is considerably reduced. In particular, old people or people with reduced mobility may fall, which may have very serious consequences for their health.
In addition, the handling of trolleys may also be less easy depending on the type of wheels used.
Besides, the umbrella occupies a space and must be housed in a suitable space. The shape of the handle of a common umbrella or the laces on portable umbrellas allow to attach the umbrella to the trolley in an external position with the aforementioned consequences, as well as with the high risk to wet one's clothes, if the umbrella is arranged near the handle of the trolley, or someone else's clothes. The umbrella can alternatively be arranged inside the trolley. However, even in this case, the water flowing on the floor is not reduced and also the risk of moistening the products or items in the trolley increases.
To solve these problems, however, some devices have been designed that can be attached to the trolley.
These devices are umbrella stands with different features.
For example, rigid containers comprising polymeric materials in which the umbrella can be placed are known. Or the containers themselves can be made of flexible highly deformable material, plastic or fabric, so as to form an umbrella bag.
In the case of plastic materials, their non-permeability is guaranteed and, therefore, they act as collecting wells for rainwater, while in the case of fabric bags, water can still flow through the weft of the fabric, even if with a reduced flow rate.
Among these devices there are also fixed structures or structures with a telescopic frame suitable to extend and occupy space only when in use. Other types of devices, on the other hand, include baskets or containers arranged inside the trolley.
The prior art described above has a few major drawbacks.
In particular, when these devices are arranged inside the trolley, they occupy useful space for storing items or products that the customer wants to buy.
Furthermore, depending on the configuration and materials used, the devices mentioned have different drawbacks.
Non-permeable containers have the drawback of accumulating rainwater and, as a consequence, keeping the umbrella always wet and accumulating fluid up to the end, which can be subsequently emptied by disassembly.
Permeable containers, for example made of fabric, have the drawback that they do not significantly limit the water or fluid flowing on the floor of the store with the serious consequences described above.
In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to devise a trolley with an umbrella stand, capable of substantially obviating at least some of the above-mentioned drawbacks.
In the context of this technical task, it is an important aim of the invention to obtain a movable storage device that, in the first instance, allows to prevent the water to flow on the floor of environments such as supermarkets or hypermarkets in which a multitude of people move.
Another important aim of the invention is to create a movable storage device that does not accumulate fluid substances inside it and does not require continuous maintenance.
A further purpose is to create a device suitable to facilitate the drying of an umbrella, if present, arranged on the same. In conclusion, a technical task of the invention is to increase the safety of the environments in which such device is used.
The technical task and specified purposes are achieved with a movable storage device as claimed in the appended Claim 1 .
Preferred technical solutions are set forth in the dependent claims.
The features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an umbrella stand installed on a movable storage device according to the invention;
Fig. 2a is a diagram of a movable storage device during the transition between the condition of use and the constraint condition;
Fig. 2b is a diagram of a movable device in the constraint condition;
Fig. 3 is a side view of a movable storage device according to the invention;
Fig. 4 is a front view of the complete movable storage device according to the invention;
Fig. 5 shows a row comprising a plurality of movable storage devices in a constraint condition.
Herein, the measures, values, shapes and geometric references (such as perpendicularity and parallelism), when used with words like "about" or other similar terms such as "approximately" or "substantially", are to be understood as except for measurement errors or inaccuracies due to production and/or manufacturing errors and, above all, except for a slight divergence from the value, measure, shape or geometric reference which it is associated with. For example, these terms, if associated with a value, preferably indicate a divergence of not more than 10% from said value.
Furthermore, when used, terms such as "first", "second", "higher", "lower", "main" and "secondary" do not necessarily identify an order, a priority relationship or a relative position, but can simply be used to distinguish more clearly the different components from each other.
Unless otherwise indicated, the measurements and data provided in this document are to be considered using International Standard Atmosphere ICAO (ISO 2533). With reference to the Figures, reference numeral 1 globally denotes the movable storage device according to the invention.
The device 1 is preferably designed for environments used for the sale of various types of items. Such environments may be hypermarkets or supermarkets or other shops or department stores that require the use of trolleys or other means of transport within said environment.
Usually, such environments comprise stations where all trolleys or means of transport are accumulated in such a way as to make them available to a plurality of customers at a fixed point in the environment.
These stations may be inside or outside, covered by shelters or staying uncovered. The considered items or products depend on the type of environment that is taken into account. For example, they can be sports equipment, or kitchen or household items in general or others.
The device 1 therefore preferably comprises a trolley 2 and an umbrella stand 3. The trolley 2 can be a conventional trolley with, for example, a metal mesh frame and a polygonal shape.
It preferably comprises a container 20 and a gripping area 23.
The container 20 is basically a box-shaped structure or a basket in which articles or objects can be arranged, e.g. collected from the supermarket shelf in which the device 1 is comprised.
Therefore, the container 20 is suitable for the collection of the above mentioned items.
The gripping area 23 is preferably the area comprising one or more grips suitable to allow a user to drive the trolley 2.
This grip can be, as is usually the case, arranged in a raised position above the ground so that a user can comfortably push the trolley 2 and, therefore, the casing 20 along one side of it.
Comfortably means a configuration that allows the average user to maintain an upright posture. The gripping area 23 is therefore preferably at the hip zone of an average height user.
In addition, the trolley 2 can be removably constrained to at least one other trolley 2 of the same type. More appropriately, the trolley 2 can be removably constrained to a number of trolleys and, for example, two.
In fact, the trolley 2 is preferably, but not necessarily, suitable to be positioned in the above mentioned positions in such a way as to always be available to users when not in use.
The trolley 2, in fact, can be arranged in a row 7 comprising other trolleys.
The row 7 can be a common row of trolleys that can be found in common hypermarkets.
In general, it comprises a plurality of trolleys 2 ordered in such a way that the respective containers 20 interpenetrate compatibly along a straight line in such a way as to create a constraint configuration.
In particular, the trolleys 2 may be in a constraint configuration, i.e. a configuration in which they are constrained to at least one other trolley and are therefore in a resting condition, or a configuration of use in which the trolley 2 is essentially released from any trolley 2 and a user moves in the environment with said released trolley 2.
When the trolleys 2 are available in row 7, preferably, the container 20 comprises a movable wall 22 and at least two sideboards 25.
The sideboards 25 are preferably the portions of the container 20 suitable to delimit the volume included in the same and arranged adjacent to the gripping area 23. The movable wall 22 is suitable to realize the above mentioned constraint configuration. It is arranged in the vicinity of the gripping zone 23 and is suitable to rotate with respect to a direction of rotation perpendicular to the straight line defined in row 7 and parallel to the ground.
This rotation takes place preferably when the container 20 of another trolley 2 pushes the movable wall 22 along the straight line.
In addition, or alternatively, the constraint condition can be defined and implemented by means of a coupling device 4.
In this case, the trolley 2 comprises the coupling device 4. It can be any apparatus suitable to allow constraining and releasing operations with one or more trolleys 2 and can be similar or equal to the common coin-lock devices currently used in supermarket trolleys.
In general, preferably, the coupling device 4 comprises an insertion portion 40 and a receiving portion 41.
The receiving portion 41 is preferably counter-shaped to the insertion portion 40 in order to create a possible male-female interlocking configuration.
Therefore, the trolley 2 is preferably in a constraint condition when the insertion portion 40 of trolley 2 is inserted into the receiving portion 41 of another trolley 2.
In addition, the trolley 2 is in a constraint condition even when the receiving portion 41 of trolley 2 is inserted into the insertion portion 40 of another trolley 2.
As already mentioned, the constraint conditions can be defined by the movable wall 22 or by the coupling device 4.
In particular, the trolleys 2 available in rows 7 may not comprise coupling devices 4 and define the constraint configuration and the condition of use only by means of the movable wall 22. Otherwise, the trolleys 2 can be available in rows 7 and comprise the coupling device 4 and define the constraint configuration with any of the two devices or with both devices.
Finally, the trolleys 2 may have a different shape from the conventional one and may comprise only coupling devices 4. Therefore, they may also not be available in rows 7 and be available in stations in a different order with the container 20 which may not comprise the movable wall 22. In this case, the constraint configuration is only defined by the coupling device 4.
In any case, the trolley 2, and each trolley 2, comprises sensor means 21.
The sensor means 21 are suitable to detect the constraint condition or the condition of use.
The sensor means 21 are therefore suitable to detect when the trolley 2 is constrained to at least one other trolley 2 and when it is released from each trolley 2.
The sensor means 21 can therefore be operationally connected to one or more parts of the trolley 2 depending on the configuration of the trolley 2.
For example, the sensor means 21 can be operationally constrained to the trolley 2 in the gripping zone 23 in order to detect any movement of the movable wall 22 with respect to the fixed gripping zone 23 of the trolley 2. In addition, the sensors means 21 can be suitably consisting of the same movable wall 22 which, by moving, signals the transition from one configuration to another.
Or, they can be operationally connected to the coupling device 4. In this case, the sensor means 21 can be electronically connected to the insertion portion 40 so as to detect when the insertion portion 40 is coupled to the receiving portion 41.
This connection can be easily made by means of known technologies such as, for example, a portion of deformable piezoelectric material on the insertion portion 40 to send an impulse to a computer when the insertion portion 40 is inserted in the receiving portion 41.
The umbrella stand 3 is preferably constrained to the trolley 2 and defines a casing
30
In detail, the umbrella stand 3 is preferably constrained to the trolley 2 outside the container 20 in such a way as not to interfere with it when collecting objects or items. The casing 30 is preferably suitable for the collection of at least one umbrella 5. The umbrella 5 can be a conventional umbrella, i.e. consisting of an elongated portion, usually of 8 dm, which can be opened and a fixed U-shaped handle.
Or it can be a small portable umbrella 5 comprising an extensible telescopic stem and smaller than the previous one, or an umbrella 5 for children and therefore with shapes similar to the previous ones and small in size.
In addition, the casing 30 can be configured to comprise a plurality of umbrellas 5. For example, the casing 30 may comprise two conventional umbrellas 5 for adults and a smaller umbrella 5 for children.
The casing 30 should preferably comprise a collecting portion 30b, to collect and contain at least part of the water from umbrellas 5 contained in the casing 30. The collecting portion 30b therefore preferably defines a closed container with continuous walls.
The casing 30 preferably comprises a valve 31.
The valve 31 is preferably arranged in the collecting portion 30b, suitably at the area of the collecting portion 30b being closest to the ground at least when the trolley 2 is in one of the configurations between the constraint configuration or configuration of use. The valve 31 is therefore suitable, when closed, for holding the water inside the collecting portion 30b and, when open, for allowing the water contained inside the collecting portion 30b to be drained.
The valve 31 is preferably normally closed. The valve 31 is preferably closed when in the condition of use.
The umbrella stand 3 therefore comprises control means 35 for the valve 31 , which can open and close the same. They can be manual or automatic or electric or electronic. They can be remotely controlled, for example.
The control means 35 are preferably operationally connected to the sensor means 21 and open the valve 31 , preferably for a specified period of time, at least when the sensor means 21 detect the transition from the condition of use to the constraint condition.
In other words, the valve 31 is suitable to open for a specified time at least if, and preferably also when, the trolley 2 is placed, for example, in a collection station and, in particular, at the top of a row 7.
However, the valve 31 may also open for a specified time when the sensor means detect the transition from the constraint condition to the condition of use, i.e. when the trolley 2 is used again by a user.
Alternatively, the valve 31 may open after a specified period of time following a configuration step.
The valve opening times are determined by sensor means 21 as described in the exemplary configurations described below.
In addition, the casing 30 preferably also comprises separation means 32.
The separation means 32 preferably divide a first portion 30a of the casing 30 from the collecting portion 30b.
Therefore, the separation means 32 are preferably arranged inside the casing 30 itself in such a way as to essentially organize the internal volume of the casing 30 in compartments.
The first portion 30a and the collecting portion 30b are preferably in fluidic through connection. However, the collecting portion 30b is a bottom portion of the casing 30, while the first portion 30a is an upper portion of the casing 30.
In addition, the separation means 32 are preferably used to block the passage of the umbrella 5, or the plurality of umbrellas 5, inside the casing 30, to prevent them from entering the collecting portion 30b and interfering with the valve 31 .
The separation means 32 can therefore comprise a grid or a membrane or other objects suitable to allow only the passage of a fluid substance and dusty solids, i.e. of extremely small dimensions.
The separation means 32 may also comprise counter-shaped portions at the tips of common umbrellas 5 in such a way as to limit the movement of the same within the casing 30 during the use of the trolley 2.
Preferably, the valve 31 comprises at least one hole 31a and one slider 31 b.
The hole 31 a is preferably located in the collecting portion 30b so that the collecting portion 30b is connected with a fluidic through connection to the outside.
The slider 31 b is preferably suitable to release or block the hole 31 a on command. In particular, the slider 31 b can be operationally connected to the sensor means 21 consisting of electronic or mechanical connections or other. In this case, the control means 35 act automatically and are basically inseparable from the sensor means 21 .
In the event that the sensor means 21 are electronically connected to the insertion portion 40, they are also electronically connected to the slider 31 b.
In this case, the valve 31 can be a solenoid valve, whose control means 35 are electronically connected to sensor means 21 and capable of allowing or blocking the passage of the fluid when the sensor means 21 detect a change in condition between the constraint condition and the condition of use.
In general, the slider 31 is preferably suitable to be at least partially housed or moved away from the hole 31 a in such a way as to interrupt the fluidic through passage on command.
Preferably, the slider 31 b comprises a gasket to ensure tightness when the slider 31 b obstructs the hole 31 a.
In a preferred configuration, the sensor means 21 comprise a hook 21a.
The hook 21 a is preferably attached to a portion of the gripping area 23 and to the slider 31 b in such a way as to drag the slider 31 b away from the hole 31 a when the movable wall 22 is rotated, thus defining a constraint condition.
Such a hook 21 a may, for example, comprise a U-shaped portion that is suitable of being removably constrained to a fixed point 24 of the trolley.
Preferably, the fixed point 24 is comprised in the edge of a sideboard 25 of the trolley 2, but it could also be a position comprised in the surface defined by the sideboard 25 of the trolley 2.
In addition, the hook 21 a comprises a cable or a rod to connect the U-shaped portion to the slider 31 b.
With such a configuration, when the movable wall 22 is rotated, it interferes with the hook 21 a releasing it and moving it away from the fixed point 24 and dragging the slider 31 b away from the hole 31 a.
The rod is preferably inside the casing 30 and arranged along a plane parallel to the sideboard 25. In addition, the casing 30 is preferably arranged along the sideboard 25 and appropriately in the area without interference and placed adjacent to the gripping area 23 of the sideboard 25 when the trolley 2 is arranged within a row 7. The casing 30 can be attached to the sideboard 25 by means of hooks and can therefore be removably attached to it, since preferably the sideboard 25 is basically a grid, or can be constrained in a non-removable or removable way only by means of tools suitable to release the constraints.
Other mechanical mechanisms could also be devised, provided that they are suitable to produce sensor means 21 .
Preferably, the hook 21 a drags the slider 31 b against opposition means 6 which are suitable to push the slider 31 b towards the hole 31 a when the condition of use is restored.
These opposition means 6 can comprise a spring connected to any fixed point of the casing 30 and suitable to oppose the translation of the hook 21 a with respect to the umbrella stand 3 and therefore to the translation of the slider 31 b.
Preferably, the spring is designed to restore the obstruction of hole 31 a by the slider 31 b when the trolley 2 is in use and the movable wall 22 is returned to its initial position by gravity.
In this case, therefore, the given period of time in which the valve 31 is open corresponds to the time in which the trolley 2 is in a constraint condition. The umbrella stand 3, as already mentioned, is preferably arranged at the sideboard 25 of the trolley 2 and the hook 21 a is moved at least partially integral with the movable wall 22 when the trolley 2 is arranged within a row 7.
In this configuration, preferably, the hook 21 a is arranged inside the casing 30.
In addition to the above, the umbrella stand 3 can comprise a cover 33.
The cover 33 is preferably a portion that is removably constrained to the casing 30 so that it can be removed.
This cover 33 can also be labily constrained to the casing 30 so as to allow full access to the casing 30 by moving the cover 33.
In addition, preferably the cover 33 comprises at least one housing 33a.
The housing 33a is preferably a through-hole on the cover 33, compatible with the common umbrellas 5 and designed to allow the umbrellas 5 to be inserted in a guided manner inside the casing 30.
In other words, they are guides for inserting the umbrellas 5 into the casing 30. Finally, the casing 30 can also be counter-shaped to the umbrellas 5 in order to minimize the size of the umbrella stand 3.
The functioning of the movable storage device 1 described above in structural terms is as follows.
In a first alternative, the user uses the trolleys 2 as usual, using the umbrella stand 3 for umbrellas 5. The valve 31 is closed when in use and the umbrellas drip into the collecting portion 30b without wetting the soil. At a later stage, when users consider it appropriate and/or conditions are more favourable, the valves can be opened and the water expelled from the collecting portions 30b.
In a second example, the user can pick up a trolley 2 from one station and release it from the other trolleys 2 if the trolley 2 is constrained. The user can release the trolley 2, for example, by inserting a coin into the coupling device 4 or by simply extracting the trolley 2 from a row 7 or both.
When the trolley 2 passes from the constraint condition to the condition of use, the valve 31 closes.
Alternatively, the valve 31 opens and then closes quickly.
The user can then place one or more umbrellas 5 inside the umbrella stand 3.
The umbrellas 5 drip inside the casing 30 during the use of the trolley 2 so that the water flows into the collecting portion 30b.
The collecting portion 30b, preferably hermetically sealed by slider 31 b, collects the fluid and holds it, so that the umbrellas 5 do not pour wet substances on the floor, for example, of hypermarkets or similar environments.
Once finished, the user can bring the trolley 2 in the vicinity of the station or of other trolleys 2, remove the umbrellas 5 and constrain the trolley 2.
When the trolley 2 passes from the condition of use to the constraint condition, by means of the movable wall 22 or the coupling device 4 or both, the valve 31 opens and releases the liquid into the collecting portion 30b.
The valve 31 can remain open for the entire duration of the constraint configuration, or it can open and close quickly.
The movable storage device 1 according to the invention achieves some important advantages.
In fact, the device 1 prevents the accumulation of wet substances, such as water, on the floor of environments such as supermarkets or hypermarkets in which a multitude of people move.
Therefore, a consequent advantage is to limit the risk of injury due to slipping by increasing the safety of the environments in which the device 1 is in use. In addition, the device makes it possible to increase the easy handling of trolleys 2 that do not slip and are hindered by drying means usually used in commercial environments such as sawdust or the like.
The device 1 also avoids the accumulation of water inside the umbrella stand 3 because the casing 30 is constantly emptied every time the trolley 2 passes at least from the condition of use to the constraint condition.
Therefore, the device 1 limits the maintenance needed to maintain the functions of said device.
In conclusion, the device 1 allows the umbrellas 5 to dry properly because the synergistic effect of the separation means and the valve allows the water to accumulate within the collecting portion 30b only, preventing the umbrella 5 from remaining at least partially immersed in its own water during dripping inside the casing 30.
The invention is subject to variations without departing from the scope of the inventive concept as defined in the claims.
For example, the casing 30 may comprise second opposing means preferably, but not necessarily, consisting of a spring arranged in particular between the slider 31 b and the hole 31 a, or between a fixed point of the collecting portion 30b and the slider 31 b in such a way as to enhance the effects of opposing means 6.
In this context, all details are replaceable by equivalent elements, and the materials, shapes and dimensions may be any materials, shapes and dimensions.
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