Michael Sean Flanagan

US Patent:

D2815451, Dec 3, 1985

Filed:

Jun 1, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/499839

Inventors:

Michael L. Flanagan - Orlando FL

US Classification:

D 3 40

US Patent:

50692372, Dec 3, 1991

Filed:

Mar 29, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/677311

Inventors:

Michael L. Flanagan - Orlando FL

International Classification:

A45B 1300

US Classification:

135 195

Abstract:

A disposable umbrella apparatus is made of thermoplastic and inexpensive materials and has a central staff made of a length of plastic pipe. Three short plastic dowels are mounted perpendicular through the staff and a plastic cap mounts to the top of the pipe to act as a stop for a fixed upper collar supporting the fixed struts of the umbrella and as a latch for a slidable collar carrying the collapsing umbrella struts. The slidable collar has an opening therethrough and slides along the staff pipe and the latching for the umbrella uses a pair of grooves along the inside of the opening the slidable collar so that the collar can slide over one of the plastic dowels protruding from the staff and abut against a second dowel protruding from the staff and then rotated between the two dowels to latch the collars and struts in position to hold the umbrella in an open position. The collar is thus rotated to misalign the grooves with respect to the dowel on either side thereof to prevent movement past the dowels in either direction. The waterproof covering for the umbrella may be thermoplastic sheet heat sealed in place on the struts.