Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Umbrella – Cover or lining feature
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-17
2002-06-11
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
Umbrella
Cover or lining feature
C135S015100, C135S031000, C135S094000, C135S098000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06401737
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to umbrellas, and more particularly to the canopy and vent tops of market umbrellas.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Market umbrellas with canopies, such as those for patio furniture or pool side furniture, are well known in the art.
FIG. 1A
illustrates a conventional umbrella with a canopy and a vent top. The umbrella
100
comprises a frame
102
with eight spokes
104
, evenly spaced apart and extending radially from a center pole
106
.
FIG. 1B
illustrates in more detail the frame of the conventional umbrella. The diagram on the left illustrates the frame
102
when the umbrella is closed, and the diagram on the right illustrates the frame
102
when the umbrella is open. The inner end of each spoke
104
is attached to the top of the center pole
106
, either directly or via a ring
116
which is attached to the center pole
106
. The spokes
104
are raised when the umbrella
100
is opened. Some frames also comprise holes
120
on the pole
106
. A pin (not shown) inserts themselves into one of the holes
120
to hold the umbrella is an open position. Multiple holes
120
may be provided to allow for different degrees of openness. Alternatively, the frame may use a crank method to open the umbrella, as is well known in the art. The frame
102
also comprises a knob
118
which attach to the top of the center pole
106
. The knob
118
also assist in holding the vent top
110
(
FIG. 1A
) in place.
Returning to
FIG. 1A
, laying on top of the frame
102
and attached to the outer ends of the spokes
104
is a canopy
108
, usually composed of a material such as canvas. The canopy
108
is typically composed of wedge-shaped panels
112
of material, sewn together. Most conventional umbrellas have eight panels, with the canopy
108
forming an octagonal shape when laid flat. The canopy
108
is attached to the outer end of each spoke
104
at the seams between the panels
112
.
At the top of the frame
102
, and attached to the canopy
108
, is a vent top
110
. The vent top
110
is attached to the canopy intermittently at certain locations, typically at the seams between the panels
112
, so that openings
114
are provided between the canopy
108
and the vent top
110
. The vent top
110
is also typically composed of wedge-shaped panels (not shown), with the vent top
110
forming an octagonal shape when laid flat. With this shape, each vertex of the vent top's octagon is attached to a seam between the panels
112
. The knob
118
helps to hold the vent top
110
in place on the frame
102
.
However, the canopy
108
of the conventional umbrella
100
is fixedly attached to the frame
102
, and the vent top
110
is fixedly attached to the canopy
108
. Thus, when the frame
102
, the canopy
108
, and/or the vent top
110
become damaged or overly worn, an entirely new umbrella must be purchased, even though the other parts of the umbrella
100
are still functional. Also, if the consumer wishes to have an umbrella with a canopy and/or vent top of a different color, an entirely new umbrella must be purchased. This is costly to the consumer.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an umbrella with a detachable canopy or vent top. The present invention addresses such a need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an umbrella with a detachable canopy or vent top. The umbrella includes: a canopy, where the canopy may be detachably coupled to a frame; and a vent top, wherein the vent top may be detachably coupled to the canopy. In the preferred embodiment, the canopy may be comprised of eight, sixteen, or twenty-four panels. The vent top may be comprised of multiple panels as well. Each of the individual panels of the canopy may have a different color, so that canopies with various patterns are provided. The individual panels of the vent top may be provided in the same manner. In the preferred embodiment, both the canopy and the vent top also comprise a border, which may also be provided with a different color. Thus, by varying the color combinations of the panels of the canopy, the panels of the vent top, and the borders around the canopy and vent top, umbrellas with different patterns are possible. In this manner, the consumer need not purchase an entirely new umbrella to replace damaged or overly worn part(s) of the umbrella, or to have a different patterned canopy and/or vent top.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4865063 (1989-09-01), Williams
patent: 5488966 (1996-02-01), Baldwin et al.
patent: 5601103 (1997-02-01), Dubinsky
patent: 5890506 (1999-04-01), Kuperman
patent: 6170499 (2001-01-01), Lin
patent: 6173724 (2001-01-01), You
patent: 6237616 (2001-05-01), You
Friedman Carl D.
Horton Yvonne M.
Under Color LLC
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