Umbrella handle

Claim 2

A handle for an umbrella, the umbrella including a cover adapted to be opened and closed between use and storage positions, respectively, and a center post having first and second ends, the cover being connected to the first end o the center post, said umbrella handle comprising: an outer shell defining a hollow interior and having a top end, said outer shell being sized and configured for gripping by a user's hand and further having an opening therein, the top end of said outer shell being adapted for connecting to the second end of the center post; a carrying strap being sized and configured for gripping by a user's hand; retraction means located within the hollow interior of said outer shell and being connected to one end of said carrying strap for moving said carrying strap from an extended position to a retracted position, said carrying strap being stored within the hollow interior of said outer shell when in the retracted position and being located exteriorly of said outer shell when in the extended position, said carrying strap being retractable into and extendable from the hollow interior through the opening in said outer shell to either the retracted position for storing said carrying strap or the extended position for carrying said handle via said carrying strap, respectively, irrespective of whether said handle is connected or disconnected to the center post and irrespective of whether the cover of the umbrella is in an opened or closed position when said handle is connected to the center post; and connector means for connecting said handle to the center post of the umbrella.

Claim 3

A handle as set forth in claim 1, said handle further comprising: a finger grip attached to said strap, said finger grip being manually accessible to an umbrella user when said strap is in said storage position so said strap can be manually moved from said storage position to said use position by the umbrella user.

Claim 4

A handle as set forth in claim 1, said handle further comprising; a finger grip attached to said strap, said finger grip being manually accessible to an umbrella user when said strap is in said storage position so said strap can be manually moved from said storage position to said use position by the umbrella user; a spring biased roller motor connected to said strap, said spring biased roller motor functioning to exert a retract force continuously on said strap even when said strap is in said use position, said strap automatically retracting into said storage position when it is released by the umbrella user from said use position; and a stop connected to said strap, said stop cooperating with said outer shell to locate said finger grip in its manually accessible position when said strap is in said storage position.

Claim 5

A handle as set forth in claim 3, said stop comprising: a plug fixed to said strap; and a seat defined in the outer end of said outer shell, said plug being receivable in said seat when said strap is in said storage position.

Claim 6

A handle as set forth in claim 1, said retraction means comprising: a spring biased roller connected to said strap, said spring biased roller functioning to exert a retract force continuously on said strap even when said strap is in said sue position, said strap automatically retracting into said storage position when it is released by the umbrella user from said use position.

Claim 7

A handle as set forth in claim 5, said strap being restrained manually in said use position.

Claim 8

A handle as st forth n claim 5, said spring biased roller comprising: a spring having first and second ends; and a wind-up drum, the first end of said spring being connected to said wind-up drum and the second end of said spring being connected to said strap.

Claim 9

A handle as set forth in claim 7, said wind-up drum being rotatably mounted within the hollow interior of said outer shell, said strap being at least partially wound on said drum in said storage position.

Claim 10

A handle as set forth in claim 8, said strap being in the form of a loop, and said wind-up drum comprising: at least one spiral track to guide said strap into and off it wind-up position on said drum so that said strap lays flat on said drum when in said storage position.

Claim 11

A handle as st forth in claim 8, said handle further comprising: a yoke on which said drum is rotatably mounted, said yoke being flexible to the center post; and said outer shell being mounted on said yoke, said outer shell presenting an exterior surface which can be gripped by the umbrella user, and said strap being retractable into and extendable from said outer shell.

Claim 12

A handle for an umbrella, the umbrella including a cover adapted to be opened and closed between use and storage positions, respectively, and a center post having first and second ends, the cover being connected to the fist end of the center post, said umbrella handle comprising: an outer shell defining a hollow interior and having a top end, said outer shell being sized and configured for gripping by a user's hand and further having an opening therein, the top end of said outer shell being adapted or connecting to the second end o the center post; a carrying strap being sized and configured for gripping by a user's hand; retraction means located within the hollow interior of said outer shell and being connected to one end of said carrying strap for moving said carrying strap from an extended position to a retracted position, said carrying strap being stored within the hollow interior of said outer shell when in the retracted position and being located exteriorly of said outer shell when in the extended position, said carrying strap being retractable into and extendable from the hollow interior through the opening in said outer shell together the retracted position for storing said carrying strap or the extended position or carrying said handle via said carrying strap, respectively, irrespective of whether said handle is connected or disconnected to the center post nd irrespective of whether the cover of the umbrella is in an opened or closed position when said handle is connected to the center post; storing means located within the hollow interior of said outer shell and being operatively associated with said retraction means for storing said carrying strap upon retraction thereof within the hollow interior of said outer shell of said handle; and connector means for connecting said handle to the center post of the umbrella.

Claim 13

A handle for an umbrella, the umbrella including a cover adapted to be opened and closed between use and storage positions, respectively, and a center post having first and second ends, the cover being connected to the fist end of the center post, said umbrella handle comprising: an outer shell defining a hollow interior and having a top end, said outer shell being sized and configured for gripping by a user's hand and further having an opening therein, the top end of said outer shell being adapted or connecting to the second end o the center post; a carrying strap being sized and configured for gripping by a user's hand; retraction means located within the hollow interior of said outer shell and being connected to one end of said carrying strap for moving said carrying strap from an extended position to a retracted position, said carrying strap being stored within the hollow interior of said outer shell when in the retracted position and being located exteriorly of said outer shell when in the extended position, said carrying strap being retractable into and extendable from the hollow interior through the opening in said outer shell together the retracted position for storing said carrying strap or the extended position or carrying said handle via said carrying strap, respectively, irrespective of whether said handle is connected or disconnected to the center post nd irrespective of whether the cover of the umbrella is in an opened or closed position when said handle is connected to the center post; storing means located within the hollow interior of said outer shell and being operatively associated with said retraction means for storing said carrying strap upon retraction thereof within the hollow interior of said outer shell of said handle; and connector means for connecting said handle to the center post of the umbrella.

Claim 14

A handle as set forth in claim 11, said handle further comprising: a finger grip attached to said strap, said finger drip being manually accessible to the umbrella user when said strap is in said storage position so said strap can be manually moved from said storage position to said use position by the umbrella user; a spring biased roller connected to said strap, said spring biased roller functioning to exert a retract force continuously on said strap even when said strap is in said use position, said strap automatically retracting into said storage position when it is released by the umbrella user from said use position; and a stop connected to said strap, said stop cooperating with said outer shell to locate said finer grip in its manually accessible position when said strap is in said storage position.

Claim 15

A handle as set forth in claim 12, said stop comprising: a plug fixed to said strap; and a seat defined in the outer end of said outer shell; said lug being received in said seat when said strap is in said storage position.

Claim 16

A handle as set forth in claim 11, said handle further comprising: a finger grip attached to said strap, said finger grip being manually accessible to the umbrella user when said strap is in said storage position so said strap can e manually moved from said storage position to said use position by the umbrella user.

Claim 17

A handle as set forth in claim 11, said retraction means comprising: a spring biased roller connected to said strap, said spring biased roller functioning to exert a retract force continuously on said strap even when said strap is in said use position, said strap automatically retracting into said storage position when it is released by the umbrella from said use position.

Claim 18

A handle as set forth in claim 15, said strap being restrained manually in said use position.

Claim 19

A handle as set forth in claim 15, said spring biased roller comprising: a spring having first and second ends; and a wind-up drum, the first end of said spring being connected to said wind-up drum and the second end of said spring being connected to said strap.

Claim 20

A handle as set forth in claim 17, said wind-up drum being rotatably mounted within the hollow interior of said outer shell, said strap being at least partially wound on said drum in said storage position.

Claim 21

A handle as set forth in claim 18, said strap being in the form of a loop and said wind-up drum comprising: at least one spiral rack to guide said strap into and off of its wind-u- position on said drum so that said strap lays flat on said drum when in said storage position.

Claim 22

A handle as set forth in claim 19, said handle further comprising: a yoke on which said drum is rotatably mounted, said yoke being fixable to said center post; and said outer shell mounted on said yoke, said outer shell presenting an exterior surface by which said outer shell is gripped by the umbrella user, said strap being retractable into and extendable from said outer shell.