Combination cooler/carrier and umbrella

[0002] This invention relates to a novel combination umbrella and picnic cooler or carrier vessel.

[0003] Telescopically collapsible umbrellas have been in use before in this art. In the ordinary umbrella, such as is well known in the art, the usual light folding flexible frame of spring steel ribs is disposed in “spoke-like” arrangement to form a supporting frame which is usually covered with a rain and sun resisting fabric or other flexible material suitably fastened thereto. A slotted ferrule slides up and down the mast and carries ribs which are pivotally connected to the fabric supporting ribs, as well as to the ferrule. Spring latch means protrude, and are urged outwardly, from the mast at suitable places. One latch is located near the upper end of the mast, over which the ferrule passes, and engages the under side of the ferrule to maintain the umbrella in open or raised position. Another spring latch is located toward the lower end of the mast, adapted to protrude through the slot of the ferrule and maintain the umbrella in closed or collapsed position.

[0004] In the present invention, a novel means is provided to maintain the light flexible umbrella frame and fabric cover in juxtaposed stand-off and uniformly spaced apart position with relation to the main mast of the umbrella. This most important feature is required to permit the umbrella frame and cover to enfold and surround the vessel gracefully and compactly.

[0005] The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel cooler or carrier vessel which is combined in one unit with an umbrella of novel design, the supporting mast of the umbrella being adapted to telescope within the vessel when the umbrella is closed in a manner whereby the fabric of the umbrella surrounds and envelops a portion of the vessel.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a unitary combination umbrella and cooler or carrier vessel which is easy to open and close, and presents an attractive appearance in either open or closed position.

[0007] A further object is to provide, in a combined umbrella and vessel, a novel arrangement of operating elements which is of low cost to manufacture, has a minimum of working parts and which is easy to assemble, durable and requires little maintenance in use.

[0008] A still further object is to provide a novel combined unitary umbrella and vessel which is semi-automatic in opening and closing action.

[0009] Still another object is to provide, in a dual purpose umbrella and picnic cooler, novel means to maintain the ribs of the light flexible frame and covering fabric in an even juxtaposed stand-off position with relation to the central telescopic supporting mast of the umbrella when it is collapsed so that it may envelop and surround the vessel in an attractive manner and which provides a shorter mast and more compact structure over all.

[0010] Another object is to provide spring actuated, easily operated, manually releasable, snap locking means in a combination telescoping umbrella and vessel, which maintains the umbrella in both positive open raised position above the vessel, or in positive collapsed position, with the frame and fabric evenly surrounding the vessel.

[0011] Another object is to provide a modified form of combined umbrella and vessel comprising a novel and useful arrangement of parts, whereby the entire umbrella, including its supporting frame and cover fabric, may be telescoped and collapsed when lowered and closed and folded completely within a central container disposed within the vessel, in a compact manner providing a large remaining space within the vessel for receiving objects to be carried

[0012] Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment, shown schematically in the accompanying drawings.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of the combined umbrella and vessel of this invention shown with the umbrella in open position;

[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the combined umbrella and vessel shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the umbrella in closed position;

[0015] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the umbrella in the deployed, open position. An extra stake is shown inside the vessel;

[0016] FIG. 4 is view as in FIG. 2 showing the alternative strap arrangement, with the strap shown again separately above the vessel-strap combination;

[0017] FIG. 5 is a side detail fragmentary view, partially in cross-section, of the umbrella and vessel combination, illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fabric of the umbrella being omitted to disclose the arrangement of some of the operating elements when the umbrella is in open position, particularly the stand-off means.

[0018] FIG. 6 is a side detail fragmentary view, similar to FIG. 5, partially in cross section, illustrating the arrangement of some of the operating elements when the umbrella is in partially closed intermediate position, before telescoping of the shaft.

[0019] FIG. 7 is a side detail fragmentary view, similar to FIGS. 5 and 6, partially in cross-section, illustrating the arrangement of the operating elements when the umbrella is in completely closed position.

[0020] FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail bottom view of the central stay-supporting disc, taken on the line 6—6 of FIG. 5 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

[0021] FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary detail cross-section side view of a spring urged snap lock device and the telescoping shafts shown in position for holding the umbrella open;

[0022] FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary detail cross-sectional view of the spring urged snap lock device, and the telescoping shafts, illustrated in FIG. 9, shown in position for holding the umbrella closed;

[0023] FIG. 11 is a fragmentary schematic side view, partially in section of a modified form of this invention, shown with a folding umbrella in partially open position, the fabric of the umbrella being omitted for purposes of illustration of the operating elements including the container for receiving the folded umbrella; and

[0024] FIG. 12 schematically shows a pouch in the first embodiment.

[0025] Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

[0026] Referring now to the drawings in detail in which like parts are designated by like numerals throughout the several views, the umbrella portion of this invention, which consists of a light folded frame, covered with fabric or other suitable material which acts to protect against rain or sun, is indicated in general by the numeral 15, and the cooler or carrier vessel portion, collectively hereinafter “vessel”, is indicated generally by the numeral 16. See FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular.

[0027] A hollow tubular main supporting mast is designated by the numeral 20, and supports the umbrella 15 when in open position. This main mast 20, which passes through and is operatively associated with the vessel 16, as will be hereinafter described, connects the vessel 16 and umbrella 15, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0028] The mast 20 comprises the two parts, one an upper shaft or hollow tube, hereinafter upper section, 21 which is telescopically assembled within a lower hollow tubular outer supporting shaft hereinafter lower section, 22, and slidable therein for the purpose and in a manner to be described hereinafter.

[0029] The novel stand-off means comprises a pair of stand-off discs, the upper one being number 30 in the drawings and the lower one numbered 40. See FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8. These discs may be of plastic, metal or other rigid material.

[0030] The upper disc 30 has a central hole 31 which receives the upper end of the upper shaft 21 and is immovably fixed thereto by a pin or screw 32 of plastic such as polyethylene or any other suitable fastening means not shown in the drawings. The diameter of the stand-off discs 30 and 40 is variable, depending on the diameter of the vessel 16, but can be 4 to 8 inches in practice.

[0031] The vessel/umbrella can stand on the disc 30. There may be a flat plug at the center of the disc (not shown) to keep water out. Ribs 33 are pivotally mounted at their inner ends on the disc 30 in any desired manner as at 34, on a peripheral wire ring 35 which is located in a groove 36 surrounding the stand-off disc 30, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings. The ribs 33 extend radially outwardly from the stand-off disc and may be six, eight or more in number. The ribs 33 are preferably of spring steel, flexible and light in weight and of a length required to reach the outer periphery of the fabric cover. This is determined by the diameter of cover desired, and the cover is fixed to the outer end of each rib, in a manner which is well known in the art.

[0032] The lower stand-off disc 40 is the same as its counterpart, upper disc 30 hereinabove described, having a peripheral groove 46, which seats a wire ring 45, fixed thereto. Short ribs 43 are pivotally mounted at their inner ends on the disc 40, in any desired manner, such as on the wire ring 45 at 44. The outer ends of the short ribs 43 are pivotally connected to 47 to the cover supporting ribs 33, one short rib 43 for each cover supporting rib 33 whether there be six, eight or any other desired number.

[0033] The lower stand-off disc 40 has a central hole 41 which receives the upper shaft 21 and is slidable thereon and serves as a runner. Disc 40 is fixed to a ferrule 48 which is also slidable on the inner shaft 21, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings.

[0034] Raising and lowering the lower disc 40 and the ferrule 48 on which it is mounted by sliding it up and down upper shaft 21 will obviously raise and lower the umbrella 15. A conventional outwardly urged spring pressed latch 49 is adapted to support the bottom edge of ferrule 48, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8 of the drawings in the conventional manner common to known umbrellas.

[0035] A coil compression spring 58 is mounted on the shaft 21 in a manner to be compressed between the fixed upper stand-off disc 30 and the slidable lower stand-off disc 40 when the umbrella 15 is locked in open position, as shown in FIG. 5. This spring 58 expands when latch 49 is manually compressed to permit the ferrule 48, which is fixed to stand-off disc 40, to slide downwardly on shaft 21, and the action of spring 58 assists and boosts the separation of stand-off discs 30 and 40 and the lowering or collapsing of the umbrella.

[0036] This arrangement, particularly the stand-off discs 30 and 40, permit the long ribs 33 of the light spring metal frame and its covering fabric which form the umbrella 15 to be closed about the outside of the vessel 16. This important feature aligns the long ribs 33 parallel, or approximately parallel, to the mast 20 but in even spaced apart relation thereto, as shown in the drawings.

[0037] The pair of stand-off members 30 and 40 may be other than disc form if desired. They may be square, rectangular, triangular or any other shape and perform the same novel function. A spider or spoke shaped member may be substituted for discs 30 and 40 or for one of them, as desired, and perform the function of this invention. They may be made of any material.

[0038] The vessel 16 may similarly be of any desired shape or size. The one shown is cylindrical only for purposes of illustration. The shape, design and size of the vessel 16, in combination with the design and size of the stand-off members 30 and 40, determines the plane of alignment of the long ribs 33 in relation to the mast 20; that is, they may be parallel or otherwise.

[0039] The vessel 16, illustrated, comprises a top 50, which consists of hinged lids 51 of any desired construction and tubular side walls 56. Vessel 16 also includes a bottom wall 60 which consists of opposing hinged lids 54. Hinges 52 permit the top lids 51 and bottom lids 54 to be opened or closed providing access to the vessel 16 when the umbrella portion 15 is in raised position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. A suitable fastener of any type, such as a turnbuckle or spring clip 53, is provided to maintain the lids 51 of top 50 of the vessel 16 in closed position when the umbrella portion is lowered and carried in the reverse position, as shown in FIG. 2. A suitable carrying strap 55 is fixed by any desired means to side walls 56 of the vessel to facilitate carrying by hand or over the user's arm. It is preferred that strap 55 include at one end flexible fabric sleeve or cup 55afor fitting snugly and engagingly over the vessel upper end (See FIG. 4). An externally threaded nut 55bis rotatably mounted within a port at the other end of strap 55 to screw into the internal threads of lower section 22. Where the vessel 16 is a cooler, side walls 56 and bottom wall 60 are formed of two parallel panels preferably with in insulating air space between them, and bottom wall 60 includes a drain 59 and drain plug 59a(See FIG. 2). In this instance, strap 55 is secured to upper and lower ends of shaft 22

[0040] Where the vessel 16 is a picnic item carrier, a bottom 60 having a hinged bottom lid 61 of any desired construction is provided. This bottom 60 and lid 61 provide access to the picnic items when the umbrella is closed or collapsed about the vessel 16 and reversed in position, as shown in FIG. 2. A hinge 62 and fastener 63 are provided which are similar to the hinge 52 and fastener 53 of the top lid 51.

[0041] The lower section 22 of the mast 20, in the form shown in the drawings, is fixedly mounted within the center of vessel 16 by a ring 65 which may be welded or fixed by adhesive to the bottom 60 of the vessel. Rivets 64 may be used or any conventional means of fixing the lower section 22 immovably to the vessel 16. If desired, as an alternative, the vessel 16 may be slidably mounted to permit limited slidable travel on the mast 20 to accommodate a variety of means for securing ribs 33 in close contact surrounding the vessel. This contemplates use of a closure ring (not shown) surrounding the bottom 60 of the vessel. When the umbrella is in closed position, as in FIG. 2, this closure ring will surround and contain the outer ends of the ribs. When in this position, the bottom 60 becomes the top of the vessel, as previously described.

[0042] The lower section 22 is a hollow tube having a slightly larger internal diameter than the external diameter of the upper section 21 of mast 20 to receive and permit easy telescoping of the upper section 21 within the lower section 22 after the umbrella has been collapsed. Thus, the umbrella frame and cover will surround and envelop the vessel, and the mast 20 will be shortened, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, disappearing nearly entirely within the vessel portion of the device.

[0043] A locking button 66 protrudes through a hole 67 in the upper section 21 of the mast 20, spring 68 being suitably arranged within the tubular section 21 to press the locking button outwardly. The spring is shown in changed position.

[0044] When the mast 20 is fully extended upwardly and the umbrella 15 is raised, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the locking button 66 protrudes through hole 69 located in that portion of the lower section 22 which extends above the top 50 of the vessel 16, as clearly shown in FIG. 9. This snap action locking means maintains upper section 21 of the umbrella in raised position.

[0045] When the two sections 21 and 22 of the mast 20 are fully telescoped together, in completely closed position, the spring pressed locking button 66 is caused to protrude outwardly through hole 70 located in the stake or handle portion 71 of the lower section 22 which extends below the bottom 60 of the vessel 16, as well as through hole 67 in section 21. This is clearly shown in FIG. 10.

[0046] Stake 71 is preferably an externally threaded tube with a lower, closed end which is conically shaped to form a stake point. This threaded tube screws into internal threads within lower section 22 and is unscrewed and stored within vessel 16 during transport. See FIG. 3. The central opening in bottom wall 60 is optionally also internally threaded, so that bottom wall 60 and thus vessel 16, screws onto lower section 22.

[0047] It is thus apparent that the upper section 21 and lower section 22 of mast 20 are held in positive snap locked extended or contracted position in their telescopic relationship, as desired by the user.

[0048] It is to be understood that this invention contemplates the use of any other desirable means of maintaining the telescopic mast 20 in extended or contracted position.

[0049] The operation of this novel combination vessel 16 and umbrella 15 is easy for the user, and positive in action.

[0050] The device may be in completely closed position, inverted as shown in FIG. 2 for carrying on the arm or in the hand of the user by means of strap 55. When a user desires to raise and open the umbrella 15, the user simply reverses the position of the device end for end from that shown in FIG. 2, and while grasping handle portion or stake 71 presses locking button 66 inwardly to release it from its engagement with lower hole 70 of the handle 71 and moves the upper section 21 of mast 20 upwardly until the locking button 66 engages upper hole 69 of that portion of section 22 of the mast, which is disposed above the top 50 of the vessel. This extends the telescoped mast 20 to fully extended position and locks it in said position. See FIGS. 1, 5, 9 and 10. That completes the first step in the raising and opening operation.

[0051] The next step is performed by grasping the ferrule 48 which is fixed to the underside of the set-off disc 40 and pushing it upwardly on section 21 of the mast, compressing spring 58 which separates discs 30 and 40, until the spring pressed element 49 is overridden by ferrule 48 and disc 40. When the bottom edge of ferrule 48 passes the spring element 49, said element snaps outwardly and supports and locks lower set-off discs 40 in raised position, as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.

[0052] An alternative form of this invention is schematically illustrated in FIG. 11. In this form, a conventional, well known type of folding umbrella is used. The long ribs 75 being reversely pivoted at approximately their center 76, as shown. The frame of this type folds back upon itself, making a resulting compact pack which may be drawn completely into the vessel 77 and into a centrally located cylindrical container 78, which is suitably mounted within the vessel.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 12, in the first embodiment, the inner part of the vessel has a continuous pouch 82 with a zipper 84 running all the way around it and another zipper on the inside of it running all the way around. The pouch will be attached one-half the way down the vessel allowing the pouch to turn up or down. A cover 86 is provided for covering the umbrella pin ends. A gathering strap 88 preferably wraps around umbrella portion 15 beside cover 86 and has gathering strap ends 89 which include hook and loop fasteners to releasably join together.

[0054] It should be noted that the umbrella coverings are interchangeable so that covering of different colors and patterns may be used.