Water misting umbrella

• US 6,886,759 B1
• Filed: 08/03/2002
• Issued: 05/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Okronick, Jeffrey Lewis
• Original Assignee: Andrew Okronick, Jeffrey Lewis
• Inventors: Lewis, Jeffrey, Okronick, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, CHRISTOPHER S
• Application Number:
  US10/064,657
• Time in Patent Office: 1,004 Days
• Field of Search: 239/16, 239/17, 239/373, 239/289
• US Class Current: 239/289
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1009 combined with other objects
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1045 with a misting device having at least one nozzle for spraying a fluid, e.g. water
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 3/00 Sticks combined with other objects

Abstract

A personal misting umbrella consists of a water distribution tubing network that exists within the umbrella canopy. Its placement within and attachment to the spreader and rib umbrella canopy support structure enables the canopy to be operated in an unhindered manner within its stored and unfurled configurations as required by the user. Upon connection of the water distribution tubing network to a source of pressurized water, such as a personalized container-air pump combination, the user can selectively fill the canopy with a fine water mist, cooling the shaded air beneath the canopy through evaporative cooling.

Claims

1. A portable misting umbrella comprising:

a portable umbrella having a reciprocating canopy with an inner and an outer surface, and a shank attached to said canopy at a central location on said inner surface thereof, said shank terminating in a handle and said canopy selectively reciprocating between a stored position adjacent said shank and an unfurled position;

a distribution tubing network attached to said inner surface or said canopy;

at least one spray nozzle attached to and in fluid communication with said distribution tubing network;

a fluid supply tubing in fluid communication with said distribution tubing network;

a plurality of ribs pivotally attached to said shank and extending therefrom, each of said ribs individually attached to said canopy at an extended location from said shank;

a ring slidably received by said shank; and

a plurality of spreaders, each of said plurality of spreaders attached to a separate one of said plurality of ribs and extending to a location of attachment on said ring, and wherein said distribution tubing network is attached to at least one of said plurality of spreaders.

2. The portable misting umbrella of claim 1, wherein said distribution tubing network is attached to multiple ones of said plurality of spreaders.

3. The portable misting umbrella of claim 2, wherein a plurality of spray nozzles are individually attached to and in fluid communication with said distribution tubing network.

4. The portable misting umbrella of claim 1, wherein said shank comprises a hardened tube that defines an interior aperture, said fluid supply tubing received within said interior aperture and extending therein a substantial length of said shank.

5. The portable misting umbrella of claim 4, wherein a length of said fluid supply tubing extends from said handle, and further comprising a quick connect valve attached to said extending length of said fluid supply tubing at a terminus thereof.

6. The portable misting umbrella of claim 5, and further comprising a supply of pressurized water releasably connected to said quick connect valve.

7. The portable misting umbrella of claim 6, wherein said supply of pressurized water comprises a water container and a manual air pump in fluid communication with said water container, said water container including means for adding water thereto.

8. A misting umbrella, which comprises:

a canopy;

a shank attached to said canopy and extending therefrom and terminating in a handle;

a water distribution tubing network supported by both said shank and said canopy, said water distribution tubing network terminating in a plurality of spray nozzles directed in a manner that is substantially co-planar with said canopy when said canopy is in an unfurled configuration;

a fine water mist filling said canopy upon a pressurized discharge of a quantity of water from each of said plurality of spray nozzles;

a plurality of ribs pivotally attached to said shank and extending therefrom, each of said ribs individually attached to said canopy at an extended location from said shank;

a ring slidably received by said shank; and

a plurality of spreaders, each of said plurality of spreaders attached to a separate one of said plurality of ribs and extending to a location of attachment on said rings, and wherein said water distribution tubing network is attached to at least one of said plurality of spreaders.

9. The portable misting umbrella of claim 8, wherein said water distribution tubing network is attached to multiple ones of said plurality of spreaders.

10. The portable misting umbrella of claim 8, wherein said shank comprises a hardened tube that defines an interior aperture, and further comprising a fluid supply tubing received within said interior aperture and extending therein a substantial length of said shank, said fluid supply tubing connected at a first end to said water distribution tubing network.

11. The portable misting umbrella of claim 10, wherein a length of said fluid supply tubing extends from said handle, terminating at a second end, and further comprising a quick connect valve attached to said fluid supply tubing at said second end.

12. The portable misting umbrella of claim 11, and further comprising a supply of pressurized water releasably connected to said quick connect valve.

13. The portable misting umbrella of claim 12, wherein said supply of pressurized water comprises a water container and a manual air pump in fluid communication with said water container, said water container including means for adding water thereto.