An Umbrella Assembly

Field

This invention relates to umbrella or parasols and in particular umbrellas and parasols that can be attached to a second article such as the frame of a pushchair, buggy, pram or the like.

Background of the Invention

Clamp assemblies for securing a parasol or umbrella to a pushchair frame are well known. GB-A-2265 410 discloses a clamp having jaws that clamp around a frame member of the pushchair and which includes one part of a connector, the parasol has a second part of the connector moulded onto the foot of the supporting shaft and the parasol may be mounted to the frame by coupling the two connector parts.

Another example, showing means for mounting an umbrella to a pushchair is shown in FR-Aτ261_79L9 which discloses connected to one end of deformable arm which at its other end has an elastic sleeve which can receive the handle of an umbrella. The deformable arm allows the umbrella to be orientated to convenient and/or useful positions. A disadvantage is that the umbrella handle may fall out of the elastic sleeve if subject to excess side loads.

Yet a further Example is an umbrella shown in WO-A03/101804 in which the umbrella shaft having a female part connector at its foot which engages in use with a male part connector incorporated into a clamp fixed to the pushchair.

The prior art parasols and attachment devices of GB-A-2265 410 and WO -A- 03/101804 have the disadvantage that the parasol or umbrella is not readily useable after detachment from the pushchair. Furthermore , where the parasol shaft has a defbrmable section to facilitate re-orientation, this could also render the parasol inconvenient to uses away from the pushchair

The. present invention provides an umbrella or parasol which ameliorates some or all of the above problems

Statements of Invention

According, to a first aspect of the present Invention there is provided a parasol or umbrella having a shaft with a substantially cylindrical hollow handle at its free end with a female, part of a connector formed by the handle, the female part connector cooperating in use with a male part connector and the handle being adapted on its outer surface for gripping by a user

The shaft, is preferably a telescopically collapsible shaft comprising a plurality of telescopic lengths, preferably upto four lengths. The larger section length may be adjacent the canopy and the smallest section length adjacent the handle, or vice versa as is required.

The handle and male part of the connector may be held together by friction or alternatively the handle may includes a detent for engagement with co-operating clip means on the male part of the connector. Preferably the substantially cylindrical handle is provided with indentations on the outer surface forming finger grips for a user.

A second aspect of the present Invention provides for an umbrella or parasol assembly comprising an umbrella or parasol according to the first aspect and further comprising a clamp for attachment to a frame of a pushchair or the like, a deformable arm attached to the clamp and having a male part secured to the other end of the arm, the male part connector being engagable with the female part connector in the handle.

PreferahLy, the male part connector comprises resilient clip means engagable with the detent formed on the female part of the connector. The male part connector may also comprises a substantially cylindrical hollow body which is telescopically slidable into hollow body of the female part. Conveniently, the male part of the connector has guide surfaces thereon that engage complementary guide surfaces within the female part of the connector to align the clip means with the detent.

The clip means may comprise a pair of opposing raised bosses which are biased resiliency outwards to engage co-operating apertures forming the detent in the body of the female part, and preferably the bosses are mounted on leaf springs formed integrally with the male body and are biased outwardly to engage the apertures in the female part.

Yet another aspect of the Invention provides for a method of attachment of a parasol or umbrella to a pushchair frame or the like, wherein the umbrella or parasol has a shaft i provided on the free end thereof with a substantially cylindrical hollow handle 'having a female part of a connector provided within the handle and the outer surface of handle being adapted for gripping by a user, the female part connector being coupled to a co-

operating male part of the connector attached to one end of a deformable arm having a clamp at its other end whereby the arm is secured to a pushchair or the like.

The arm may be left clamped to the push chair and the shaft is disconnected from the push chair by uncoupling the connector, and is refitted by the reverse operation.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

The invention will be described by way of Example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of an umbrella assembly according to the present invention ,

Fig. IA show the umbrella shaft in an extended condition.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the connector when assembled

Fig. 3 is I an enlarged side view of the connector normal to that in Fig. 2 and when separated,

Fig. 4 is a side view of the male part of the connector from the same side as Fig.2.

Fig 5 is a section on the line V-V

Fig.6 is an end view of the male part from the direction of arrow A, and Fig.7 is a section through the handle also showing a gripping hand

Detailed Description of the Invention

With reference to Fig.1 and Fig. I A of the drawings there is shown an umbrella or parasoLassemhly having a canopy 12 mounted at one end of a shaft 13 with the usual sliding collar 15 and struts 14 forming a collapsible assembly as is well known. The

shaft 13 is a collapsible telescopic shaft comprising a plurality of lengths 101-104, preferably four lengths, and in this example, with the larger cross-section length 101 adjacent the canopy 12 and the smallest cross-section length 104 adjacent the handle 16. The lengths when fully extended lock into position using resiliently a mounted ball mechanism . This allows the umbrella 1 1 to collapse from a maximum length shaft typically in. the range of 22-24 inches (250-300mm) to a length convenient for storage in a hand bag. The larger section length 101 being adjacent the canopy provides an improved stahilily for the canopy opening mechanism.

The free end portion of the shaft 13 is attached to one end of a connector 16 which forma a handle for the umbrella as will be detailed below. The other end of the connector 16 is secured to a deformable support arm 17 . The other end of the arm 17 is mounted tα a. clamp 18 which in use may be secured to a frame element 19 of a push chair or the like.

Withxeference to Figs 2 to 7, the connector 16 comprises a female part 21 which is formed from a suitable plastics material and may be attached to the shaft by any suitable means, for example screw thread or being moulded directly to the shaft 13, preferably by moulding directly onto the shaft, and a male part 22 similarly fixed to one end of the arm L7. The female part 21 of the connector has a hollow body 23 which is substantially cylindrical and forms a hollow handle for the umbrella if it is desired to cany the umbrella ( 11,12, 13, 14,15,16) by hand (see Fig.7) . The body 23 is substantially oval in cross-section having inner and outer flat sides 27 and an elongate ovaLcaλdty 26. The outer surface of the female part 21 is adapted for gripping and is

provided on its curved sides with indentations 24,25 forming grips for fingers and palm of a user.

The male part 22 is a moulded plastics part and again has a substantially hollow body 31 which may have internal strengthening webs 32. The body comprises an end cap 33 shaped to blend with the outer surface of the female part 21 and a smaller section elongate nose 34 with a shoulder 35 therebetween. The nose 34 has a matching external shape to the inside of the female part 21 so that the nose 34 is telescopically slidable into hollow body 23 of the female part. The male part 22 may be held in place in the female part by friction in that the elonongate nose may be an interference ifit within the cavity 26.

Alternatively, detents 28 in the form of shaped apertures may be provided in the flat sides of the handle for engaging co-operating clip means 38 on the male part 22. Matching flat sides 37 on the nose 34 form guide surfaces thereon that engage complementary flat sides 27 within the female part 21 of the connector to align the clip means 38 with the detent 28.

The detent 2& is. provided by a pair of opposed raised bosses 38 which are resiliently biased outwardly of the two opposed sides 37. The bosses 28 are mounted on leaf springs 39 which are preferably integrally formed with the sides 37 of the 23 male part.

The two parts 21,22 of the connector 16 are coupled together by sliding the nose 34 into the hollow body 23 . The side 37 on the nose and the side 27 on the body co-

operate to align the bosses 38 with the co-operating apertures 28 and guide the relative movement of the two parts. The nose 34 moves into the body 23 until the shoulder 35 abuts the end of the female part and the bosses 38 engage in the apertures 28. Decoupling the connector 16 is simply achieved by depressing the bosses 38 and withdrawing the male part 22.

The umbrella may be attached as a complete assembly to a pushchair frame 19 or the like by means of the clamp 18 . When attached to or adjacent the push handle(s) and fully extended the umbrella provides shelter for the person pushing the push chair. Tf it is desired to remove the umbrella alone, the connector 16 is merely separated allowing the umbrella to be used on its own.

On the other hand the flexible arm 17 may be secured by the clamp to the pushchair and the two parts 21,22 of the connector 16 then coupled together.

The coupling, mechanism could be reversed with the clip means formed on the female part and a detent formed on the male part. The clamp and flexible support arm 17 allow for the adjustment in the position of the umbrella relative to the pushchair.

The umbrella assembly may be used in combination with supports other than pushchairs to which it may be clamped, when it is desired to have hands free for other purposes