초록 ▼

A beach umbrella provides an elongated support shaft having a pointed distal end inserted into a soft surface, and a proximal folding canopy positioned below an upper terminal end of the support shaft. The folding canopy provides a fabric panel stretched over a plurality of ribs engaged with the sup

A beach umbrella provides an elongated support shaft having a pointed distal end inserted into a soft surface, and a proximal folding canopy positioned below an upper terminal end of the support shaft. The folding canopy provides a fabric panel stretched over a plurality of ribs engaged with the support shaft and extending radially from it to form a downwardly convex external surface. A flexible strap is attached over the upper terminal end of the support shaft and an opposing eyelet engaged with the tip of one of the ribs of the umbrella. A securing line is fixed at a distal end to a stake driven into the surface so the line forms a downwardly divergent angle with the support shaft. The flexible strap lies in contact with the external surface of the fabric panel and is joined at its upper end with the strap. Strap and line are arranged to point upwind to counter wind forces so that the umbrella cannot be blown over.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A shading apparatus comprising in combination: a folding umbrella providing an elongated structural supporting shaft having a lower end thereof adapted for securement relative to a supporting surface for holding the umbrella in an upright attitude, an upper end thereof supporting a canopy; the ca

1. A shading apparatus comprising in combination: a folding umbrella providing an elongated structural supporting shaft having a lower end thereof adapted for securement relative to a supporting surface for holding the umbrella in an upright attitude, an upper end thereof supporting a canopy; the canopy providing a fabric panel stretched over a plurality of folding ribs hingably engaged with the support shaft, each of the ribs movable between a position adjacent to the supporting shaft and a position extending radially therefrom, the ribs each terminating with a rib tip, the canopy forming a convex upfacing surface with the ribs in the radially extending position; and a means for securing the umbrella including an elongate flexible strap having, at one end thereof, an adjustable loop fitted over, and thereby secured on, the upper end of the supporting shaft, and at the other end an eyelet engaged with one of the rib tips, the flexible strap further providing a means for length adjustment for tensioning the flexible strap between the upper end of the supporting shaft and the one of the rib tips; the securing means further comprising a securing line removably fixed at a proximal end thereof to the flexible strap and at a distal end thereof to the supporting surface.2. The combination of claim 1 further comprising a ground stake fixing the distal end of the securing line to the supporting surface.3. The combination of claim 1 further comprising a ring engaged with the other end of the flexible strap, the ring receiving the proximal end of the securing line.4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the supporting shaft is pointed at the lower end thereof for piercing the supporting surface.5. An apparatus in combination with a beach umbrella, the apparatus comprising: an elongate flexible strap having, at one end thereof, a loop for fitting over, and thereby being secured on, an upper end of the beach umbrella, and at an other end of the flexible strap, an eyelet of a size for tightly engaging a rib tip of the beach umbrella when a canopy of the beach umbrella is in the open state; the flexible strap further providing a means for length adjustment sufficient for tensioning the flexible strap between the upper end of the beach umbrella and the rib tip and thereby capturing the other end of strap on the umbrella; the flexible strap further providing a terminally engaged ring; the apparatus further comprising a securing line removably engaged with the terminally engaged right of the flexible strap at a proximal end and at a distal end of the securing line, to a surface used for supporting the beach umbrella; the securing line forming a downwardly divergent angle with respect to a support shaft of the umbrella.6. The combination of claim 5 further comprising a ground stake fixing the securing line to the supporting surface.7. A method for securing a beach umbrella comprising the steps of: providing a folding umbrella having an elongated structural supporting shaft; securing a lower end of the shaft relative to a supporting surface for holding the umbrella in an upright attitude; supporting a canopy at an upper end of the shaft; the canopy providing a fabric panel stretched over a plurality of folding ribs hingably engaged with the support shaft, each of the ribs movable between a position adjacent to the supporting shaft and a position extending radially therefrom; terminating each of the ribs with a rib tip; tightening an adjustable loop of a flexible strap over the upper end of the supporting shaft; securing an eyelet of the flexible strap over one of the rib tips; adjusting the flexible strap to provide tension between the rib tip and the upper end of the supporting shaft; and fastening a securing line between the flexible strap and the supporting surface.8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of securing the securing line to the supporting surface with a stake.9. The combination of claim 7 further comprising the step of providing a ring engaged with the flexible strap and engaging the securing line with the ring.