AUXILIARY CURTAIN FOR USE WITH AN UMBRELLA

• US 20090283120A1
• Filed: 05/16/2008
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alexander L. Varga, Linda Moravec Varga
• Original Assignee: Alexander L. Varga, Linda Moravec Varga
• Inventors: Varga, Alexander L., Varga, Linda Moravec
• Granted Patent: US 8,042,561 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 135/16
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 15/00 Umbrellas with detachable covers
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/18 Covers detachable A45B15/00; Means for fastening same
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/20 Windows in covers
• CPC Class Codes: A47H 2201/02 Hook-and-loop fasteners

Abstract

A curtain suitable for attachment to the perimeter of an umbrella has a flexible sheet with an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge and a second side edge. The flexible sheet also has a front surface and a rear surface, each surface defining an area between about 8 square feet and about 120 square feet. Still further, the flexible sheet has one or more upper edge fastener portions disposed proximate to the upper edge for attaching the upper edge to a foreign surface, and has reversible retaining means for retaining the lower edge at a plurality of locations on the flexible sheet above the lower edge. The reversible retaining means are adapted such that, when the upper edge is attached to an umbrella, the vertical distance between the upper edge and the lowermost portion of the flexible sheet is adjustable by the user without the use of tools.

Claims

1. A curtain suitable for attachment to the perimeter of an umbrella, the curtain comprising:

(a) a flexible sheet having an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, the flexible sheet having a front surface and a rear surface, each surface defining an area between about 8 square feet and about 120 square feet;

(b) one or more upper edge fastener portions disposed proximate to the upper edge for attaching the upper edge to a foreign surface; and

(c) reversible retaining means for retaining the lower edge at a plurality of locations on the flexible sheet above the lower edge, such that, when the upper edge is attached to a foreign surface, the vertical distance between the upper edge and a lowermost portion of the flexible sheet is adjustable by the user of the curtain without the use of tools.

2. The curtain of claim 1 wherein the flexible sheet is generally rectangular and has a width between about 2 feet and about 12 feet and a length between about 4 feet and about 10 feet.

3. The curtain of claim 1 wherein the one or more upper edge fastener portions comprise moieties of hook and loop fasteners.

4. The curtain of claim 1 wherein the reversible retaining means comprise (i) at least one pair of reversible first side edge fastener portions comprising a lower first side fastener portion disposed proximate to the lower edge and an upper first side fastener portion disposed between the lower edge and about 40 inches above the lower edge, the at least one pair of reversible first side edge fastener portions being capable of alternatively attaching to one another and detaching from one another without the use of tools, and (ii) at least one pair of reversible second side edge fastener portions comprising a lower second side edge fastener portion disposed proximate to the lower edge and an upper second side fastener portion disposed between the lower edge and about 40 inches above the lower edge, the at least one pair of reversible second side edge fastener portions being capable of alternatively attaching to one another and detaching from one another without the use of tools.

5. The curtain of claim 4 further comprising at least one pair of reversible central fastener portions comprising a first central fastener portion disposed proximate to the lower edge and an upper central fastener portion disposed between the lower edge and about 40 inches above the lower edge, the at least one pair of reversible central edge fastener portions being capable of alternatively attaching to one another and detaching from one another without the use of tools.

6. The curtain of claim 1 wherein the reversible retaining means comprise hook and loop fastener portions.

7. The curtain of claim 6 wherein the reversible retaining means further comprises at least one hook and loop fastener portion strip having a length of at least about 12 inches.

8. The curtain of claim 1 further comprising one or more vent flaps.

9. The curtain of claim 1 wherein the one or more upper edge fastener portions comprise a first hook and loop fastener portion, and wherein the curtain further comprises a second hook and loop portion with a layer of contact cement on its reverse side and with a cover layer disposed over the layer of contact cement.

10. The curtain of claim 1 further comprising a securing strap attached at a first end to the upper edge of the flexible sheet or to the lower edge of the flexible sheet, the securing strap having a first side with a first hook and loop moiety and an opposed second side with a second hook and loop moiety, the first hook and loop moiety being readily attachable and detachable from the second hook and loop moiety.

11. A combination comprising:

(a) an umbrella having an upper surface, a lower surface and one or more umbrella surface fastener portions disposed upon either the upper surface or the lower surface; and

(b) a curtain attached to either the upper surface or the lower surface of the umbrella, the curtain comprising;

(i) a flexible sheet having a front surface and a rear surface, each surface defining an area between about 8 square feet and about 120 square feet;

(ii) one or more upper edge fastener portions disposed proximate to the upper edge for attaching the upper edge to the one or more umbrella surface fastener portions on the umbrella; and

(iii) reversible retaining means for retaining the lower edge at a plurality of locations on the flexible sheet above the lower edge, such that, when the upper edge is attached to the umbrella, the vertical distance between the upper edge and a lowermost portion of the flexible sheet is adjustable by the user without the use of tools.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein the lower edge of the flexible sheet is folded proximate to and parallel to the lower edge, such that the lower edge is attached to the flexible sheet to form a pocket, and wherein non-attached ballast, having a weight between about 6 ounces and about 10 pounds, is disposed within the pocket.

13. The combination of claim 11 wherein the flexible sheet is generally rectangular and has a width between about 2 feet and about 12 feet and a length between about 4 feet and about 10 feet.

14. The combination of claim 11 wherein the one or more upper edge fastener portions comprise moieties of hook and loop fasteners.

15. The combination of claim 11 wherein the reversible retaining means comprise (i) at least one pair of reversible first side edge fastener portions comprising a lower first side fastener portion disposed proximate to the lower edge and an upper first side fastener portion disposed between the lower edge and about 40 inches above the lower edge, the at least one pair of reversible first side edge fastener portions being capable of alternatively attaching to one another and detaching from one another without the use of tools, and (ii) at least one pair of reversible second side edge fastener portions comprising a lower second side edge fastener portion disposed proximate to the lower edge and an upper second side fastener portion disposed between the lower edge and about 40 inches above the lower edge, the at least one pair of reversible second side edge fastener portions being capable of alternatively attaching to one another and detaching from one another without the use of tools.

16. The combination of claim 15 further comprising at least one pair of reversible central fastener portions comprising a first central fastener portion disposed proximate to the lower edge and an upper central fastener portion disposed between the lower edge and about 40 inches above the lower edge, the at least one pair of reversible central edge fastener portions being capable of alternatively attaching to one another and detaching from one another without the use of tools.

17. The combination of claim 11 wherein the reversible retaining means comprise hook and loop fastener portions.

18. The combination of claim 17 wherein the reversible retaining means further comprises at least one hook and loop fastener portion strip having a length of at least about 4 inches.

19. The combination of claim 11 wherein the umbrella surface fastener portions comprise a hook and loop fastener portion which includes a first side having hooks or loops and a reverse side having a layer of contact cement.

20. The combination of claim 11 further comprising a securing strap attached at a first end to the upper edge of the flexible sheet or to the lower edge of the flexible sheet, the securing strap having a first side with a first hook and loop moiety and an opposed second side with a second hook and loop moiety, the first hook and loop moiety being readily attachable and detachable from the second hook and loop moiety.