Windproof umbrella

#This invention relates generally to umbrellas, and more particularly, is directed to an umbrella that is resistant to inversion from the wind.

#Quite frequently, a wind will catch an umbrella user unaware and exert a force against the inner surface of the canopy which will cause the canopy to invert from its normal operable position to an upwardly convex or bowed position.

#Accordingly, specially designed umbrellas for rainy, windy weather, have been proposed, as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,032,047 to Wendorf. This patent discloses a storm umbrella with a canopy draped over the ribs and secured thereto and in which the canopy has a plurality of holes circumferentially arranged near the center thereof. A circular piece of fabric is disposed over the holes and is secured at spaced points to the ribs by stitching or the like. Accordingly, free passages for air exist underneath the unattached portions of the circular piece of fabric and through the holes in the fabric cover. However, this umbrella provides little resistance to inversion due to high winds. This is because the openings are provided at a radially inward position which is extremely close to the hub and therefore have a very small diameter. Furthermore, because the circular piece of fabric is stitched to the ribs, there is little flexibility thereof. Accordingly, the space between the canopy and the circular piece of fabric is very small and therefore provides a high resistance to wind exiting through the holes in the canopy. Still further, in extremely adverse weather conditions, a heavy rain may enter the space between the canopy and the circular piece of fabric and fall through the holes in the canopy onto the user. This is particularly the case where only a small circular piece of fabric is used to cover the canopy, as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,032,047. An umbrella which is similar in construction and therefore suffers from the same disadvantages is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,031,974 to Thomas.

#FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a windproof umbrella according to one embodiment of the present invention, in an open condition;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the umbrella of FIG. 1, in an assembled, open condition;

#FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the umbrella of FIG. 1, taken along line 3--3 thereof;

#Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIGS. 1-6 thereof, a windproof umbrella 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a center post 14 having a handle 12 secured to the lower end thereof, handle 12 being adapted to be grasped by a user to carry umbrella 10 in its stored position (FIG. 4) and to hold umbrella 10 in its raised, opened position (FIG. 2). A stationary hub 30 is secured at the upper end of center post 14 approximately three inches from the tip thereof so as to provide an upper extension 32 which can be pointed as is conventional and depending on the style of the umbrella.

#A plurality of ribs 18 are pivotally connected to hub 30 so as to be equiangularly spaced thereabout and extend outwardly in a radial direction therefrom. In addition, a sleeve 15 is slidably mounted on center post 14 between handle 12 and stationary hub 30 and can be locked in an intermediate position shown in FIG. 3 by a spring biased locking tab 17, as is conventional. A plurality of reinforcing struts 16, equal in number to ribs 18, are provided such that each reinforcing strut 16 is pivotally secured at one end to sleeve 15 and at its opposite end to a respective rib 18 at a position substantially midway therealong. There are preferably eight reinforcing struts 16 and ribs 18, although this number may vary.

#A lower canopy 20 is secured in covering relation on ribs 8, as is also conventional. Lower canopy 20 is made from a water-resistant material (such as nylon cloth) and is preferably constructed from substantially triangular cloth sectors 22 which are cut and sewn together to conform to the spaces between ribs 18. In this manner, when canopy 20 is in its untensioned state, it has an octagonal configuration. Canopy 20 is provided with a central opening 21 which fits tightly over hub 30, with canopy 20 preferably being secured to hub 30. In order to secure canopy 20 to ribs 18, the free end or tip 28 of each rib 18 is provided with an eyelet 24 for receiving a thread which is sewn to a corner 26 of canopy 20. In this manner, the peripheral edge of canopy 20 is secured to free ends 28 of ribs 18. Specifically, corners 26 of canopy 20 correspond to the seam lines between sectors 22. Further, the seam between sectors 22 is preferably stitched to each rib 18 at six to eight inch intervals along its length. The above described arrangement is conventional. Generally, because of the dimensions of canopy 20 and ribs 18 and in view of the connection of reinforcing struts 16, ribs 18 and canopy 20 assume a bowed configuration when umbrella 10 is in its fully opened position, as shown in FIG. 1.