Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Umbrella
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-22
2001-05-08
Canfield, Robert (Department: 3635)
Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
Umbrella
C135S016000, C135S033200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227216
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an umbrella having ear-like projections as part of its main canopy. More particularly, it relates to an umbrella frame having extendable ear-like frame assemblies that are completely collapsible when not in operational use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Novelty umbrellas having various shapes that extend from the main canopy are well known in the prior art. These umbrellas have shapes in the form of hats, baseball caps, football helmets, as well as, umbrellas having extending structures (defining ears) that outwardly project from the main canopy or dome of the umbrella shape.
There remains a need for a novelty umbrella having ear-like projections wherein the extendable ear-like frame structure is a simpler, less complex frame structure that operates more easily and smoothly when the umbrella is moved to its fully opened state, or to its fully closed or collapsed state.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Umbrellas with extending structures having various designs, configurations, structures and materials of construction have been disclosed in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,023 to Lin discloses an umbrella which has a pair of animal ears extending from the dome-shaped canopy surface when in the open position. The animal ears are formed by a pair of loop-shaped frames. Each frame includes a brace, a pivotal joint connected to a stretcher member, a catcher member, a sleeve member and a connector coupling member being attached on the rib of the frame.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,102 to Lemcke discloses an umbrella having two collapsible protractable ear frame structures on a main canopy. Each ear structure includes a rib, struts, tubular sleeves that surrounds both struts, guide brackets, a swivel coupling, an attachment member and an ear canopy.
U.S. Design Pat. No. DES. 324,943 to Wu discloses an animal umbrella in the form of a cap having a rim, ear flaps and animal ears on the top of the canopy.
None of the prior art patents teach or disclose the design, configuration and structure for the extendable ear-like frame assemblies of the present invention of an umbrella having ears, wherein each frame assembly has a very simple and less complex ear-like projection structure than those shown in the prior art references, and operates more easily and smoothly.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novelty umbrella having ear-like projections that extend outwardly from the umbrella's main canopy or dome of the curved umbrella shape.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novelty umbrella having ears wherein each of the extendable ear-like frame assemblies have a simpler, less complex frame structure that defines each of the outwardly ear-like projections when the umbrella is in a fully opened state, or in a fully collapsed state.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an extendable ear-like frame structure having no movable component parts within the frame structure so it is easier to open and close each of the ear-like frame structures when the umbrella is opened and closed.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an umbrella having ears with improved extendable ear-like frame assemblies that can be mass produced in an automated and economical manner and is readily affordable by the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a collapsible umbrella is provided having ear-like projections as part of its main canopy, and includes an umbrella frame with a central shaft having a handle at one end and a crown member at the other end. The umbrella frame also includes a plurality of radially extending ribs being connected to the crown member and a plurality of strut members being connected to the plurality of ribs. The umbrella frame further includes a first ear-like frame assembly and a second ear-like frame assembly, with the main canopy including first and second ear-like covers that extend over the first and second ear-like frame assemblies, respectively. Each of the first and second ear-like frame assemblies include a first frame wire member attached to a strut and a second frame wire member attached to a rib. Each of the first and second ear-like frame assemblies further includes a swivel guide sub-assembly for slidably receiving and guiding one of the first frame wire members in order to open or close the first and second ear-like frame assemblies on the umbrella frame. The swivel guide sub-assemblies are fixedly attached to a pair of diametrically opposed ribs.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 324943 (1992-03-01), Wu
patent: D. 325296 (1992-04-01), Wu
patent: D. 441652 (1999-06-01), Tseng
patent: 4880023 (1989-11-01), Lin
patent: 5158102 (1992-10-01), Lemcke
patent: 5438779 (1995-08-01), Suarez
Berkshire Fashions Inc.
Canfield Robert
Sutton, Esq. Ezra
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