Umbrella with removable radio handle

• US 4,867,187 A
• Filed: 03/22/1988
• Issued: 09/19/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rainsinger Enterprises Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Rainsinger Enterprises Incorporated
• Inventors: Divine, Joseph E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Anthony W.
• Application Number:
  US07/171,660
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 135/16, 135/66, 135/76, 135/DIG. 10
• US Class Current: 135/16
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 3/00 Sticks combined with other objects
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 9/02 Handles or heads
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0566 Tubular, rod-shaped articles, e.g. batons
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/02 Fastening articles to the garment

Abstract

An umbrella includes a removable, longitudinally elongated handle which connects to the lower end of the shaft of the umbrella. The handle includes a battery powered radio receiver. A clip is provided for engaging the garment of the user enabling the handle to be independently worn and operated as a radio apart from the umbrella. A directional lamp is provided in one of the faces of the handle enabling the handle to function as a flashlight.

Claims

1. An umbrella comprising:

a longitudinally elongated umbrella shaft,

a radially expandable canopy operably connected adjacent a first end of the shaft to shield a user of the umbrella from falling precipitation; and

a handle comprising;

a longitudinally elongated body;

receptacle means at one end of the body for removably receiving the second end of the umbrella shaft;

releasable locking means in the receptacle means for selectively engaging the umbrella shaft to lock the handle and shaft relative to one another;

battery powered radio receiving means within the body for receiving broadcast electric impulses by way of electric waves without a connecting wire and reconverting such impulses into sound audible to a user;

a clip extending from an exterior portion of the body for engagement with a portion of a garment worn by a user to enable the handle with radio receiving means to be worn by a user apart from the umbrella; and

a finger grip portion adjacent the one end of the body, the finger grip portion comprising separate troughs to retain the fingers of a user'"'"'s hand.

2. The umbrella of claim 1 wherein the releasable locking means comprises a set screw on the handle body which engages against the umbrella shaft within the handle receptacle means.

3. The umbrella of claim 1 wherein,

the umbrella shaft includes a laterally oriented opening in its outer surface adjacent its second end;

and

the releasable locking means comprises;

a laterally oriented threaded opening formed in the handle and in communication with the receptacle means; and

a screw threadably received by the handle threaded opening and sized for engagement with the umbrella shaft opening.

4. The umbrella of claim 1 further comprising:

a battery powered illumination lamp positioned at an exterior portion of the handle, the lamp enabling the umbrella to function as a flashlight.

5. A handle for an umbrella comprising:

a longitudinally elongated body;

battery powered radio receiving means within the body for receiving broadcast electric impulses by way of electric waves without a connecting wire and reconverting such impulses into sound audible to a user;

receptacle means formed in one end of the body for removably receiving an end of an umbrella shaft;

releasable locking means in the receptacle means for selectively engaging an umbrella shaft while received within the receptacle means to enable the handle and shaft to be locked relative to one another;

a clip extending from an exterior portion of the body for engagement with a portion of a garment worn by a user to enable the handle with radio receiving means to be worn by a user apart from an umbrella; and

a finger grip portion adjacent the one end of the body, the finger grip portion comprising separate troughs to retain the fingers of a user'"'"'s hand.

6. The umbrella handle of claim 5 further comprising:

a battery powered illumination lamp positioned at the exterior of the body, the lamp enabling the handle to function as a flashlight.

7. The umbrella handle of claim 5 wherein the body is comprised of two interconnected halves that together form a top opening which communicates with the receptacle means for slidably and removably receiving the lower end of an umbrella shaft.

8. The umbrella handle of claim 5 wherein the body is comprised of two interconnected halves;

and

a removable plug complementary to the opening for insertion into the opening to protect the receptacle means from the elements.

9. The umbrella handle of claim 5 wherein the body is comprised of two interconnected halves that together form a top opening which communicates with the receptacle means for slidably and removably receiving the lower end of an umbrella shaft;

each body half including inwardly projecting ribs adapted to engage an umbrella shaft for providing positive support to it.

10. The umbrella handle of claim 5 wherein the body is comprised of two interconnected halves,

an upper approximate one half of the body comprising the finger grip portion along a front handle face and further comprising a rear handle face rounded to comfortably accommodate the palm of a user'"'"'s hand when the user'"'"'s fingers are received by the troughs on the front handle face.

11. The umbrella handle of claim 5 wherein the body is comprised of two interconnected halves,

an upper approximate one half of the body comprising the finger grip portion along a front handle face and further comprising a rear handle face rounded to comfortably accommodate the palm of a user'"'"'s hand when the user'"'"'s fingers are received by the troughs on the front handle face;

the lower approximate one-half of the body being substantially rectangular in shape and housing the majority of the components of the radio receiving means.

12. The umbrella handle of claim 5 wherein the body is comprised of two interconnected halves,

an upper approximate one half of the body comprising the finger grip portion along a front handle face and further comprising a rear handle face rounded to comfortably accommodate the palm of a user'"'"'s hand when the user'"'"'s fingers are received by the troughs on the front handle face;

the lower approximate one-half of the body being substantially rectangular in shape and housing the majority of the components of the radio receiving means;

the width of the body between its front and rear handle faces being greater across its lower one half than across its upper one half.

13. The umbrella handle of claim 5 wherein the body is comprised of two interconnected halves,

an upper approximate one half of the body comprising the finger grip portion along a front handle face and further comprising a rear handle face rounded to comfortably accommodate the palm of a user'"'"'s hand when the user'"'"'s fingers are received by the troughs on the front handle face;

the lower approximate one-half of the body being substantially rectangular in shape and housing the majority of the components of the radio receiving means;

the width of the body between its front and rear handle faces being greater across its lower one half than across its upper one half;

the exterior thickness of the upper and lower one halves across the front and rear handle faces being constant.