Golf cart umbrella

Abstract

An umbrella for use as a temporary shield on a golf cart is provided. The umbrella comprises a shaft, a handle, and a canopy assembly. The canopy assembly has an annular hub encircling the shaft, a plurality of ribs extending radially outwardly from the annular hub, and a transparent canopy draped over and secured to the plurality of ribs. Fasteners disposed on selected ones of the plurality of ribs secure the umbrella to the golf cart such that the umbrella performs as the temporary shield for the golf cart. As such, the umbrella shields and protects the golf cart user from one or more of the rain, the wind, and the sun.

1 . An umbrella for use as a temporary shield on a golf cart, the umbrella comprising: 
 a shaft having a first shaft end and a second shaft end;    a handle secured to the shaft proximate the first shaft end; and    a canopy assembly secured to the shaft proximate the second shaft end, the canopy assembly having: 
 an annular hub encircling the shaft proximate the second shaft end;  
 a plurality of ribs extending radially outwardly from the annular hub;  
 a transparent canopy draped over and secured to the plurality of ribs; and  
 fasteners disposed on selected ones of the plurality of ribs, the fasteners securable to the golf cart such that the umbrella performs as the temporary shield for the golf cart.  
   
   
   
       2 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the fasteners comprise engageable hooks and loops.  
   
   
       3 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the fasteners are straps having snap-hooks.  
   
   
       4 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein each of the fasteners includes a strap that is adjustable for length.  
   
   
       5 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent canopy is constructed of plastic.  
   
   
       6 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent canopy forms a square.  
   
   
       7 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein transparent canopy forms a square with beveled corners.  
   
   
       8 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ribs includes one of four ribs and eight ribs.  
   
   
       9 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein shaft comprises telescoping members and the canopy and the plurality of ribs are collapsible.  
   
   
       10 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the fasteners are securable to the golf cart such that the umbrella extends at least up to two support members on the golf cart.  
   
   
       11 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the fasteners are securable to the golf cart such that the umbrella extends at least up to two support members on the golf cart and at least up to an overhead canopy and a hood portion of the golf cart.  
   
   
       12 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the umbrella is securable to at least one of a front portion, a back portion, a driver side portion, and a passenger side portion of the golf cart.  
   
   
       13 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent canopy provides protection from ultraviolet light.  
   
   
       14 . An umbrella for use as a temporary shield on a golf cart, the umbrella comprising: 
 a telescoping shaft having a first shaft end and a second shaft end;    a handle secured to the shaft proximate the first shaft end; and    a canopy assembly secured to the shaft proximate the second shaft end, the canopy assembly having: 
 an annular hub encircling the shaft proximate the second shaft end;  
 a plurality of resilient ribs extending radially outwardly from the annular hub, each of the resilient ribs having a rib tip portion;  
 a transparent canopy draped over the plurality of ribs, the transparent canopy secured to the plurality of resilient ribs proximate the annular hub and the rib tip portions; and  
 fasteners disposed on selected ones of the plurality of ribs, the fasteners adjustable for length and securable to the golf cart such that the umbrella performs as the temporary shield for the golf cart.  
   
   
   
       15 . The umbrella of  claim 14 , wherein the fasteners are securable to at least one support member on the golf cart.  
   
   
       16 . The umbrella of  claim 14 , wherein the fasteners comprise at least one of engageable hooks and loops and snap hooks.  
   
   
       17 . The umbrella of  claim 14 , wherein the canopy and the resilient ribs are collapsible toward at least one of the shaft and the annular hub.  
   
   
       18 . The umbrella of  claim 14 , wherein the umbrella is securable to at least one of a front portion, a back portion, a driver side portion, and a passenger side portion of the golf cart.  
   
   
       19 . A system for shielding a golf cart user from at least one of rain, wind, and sun, the system comprising: 
 a golf cart having an overhead canopy and support members, the support members securing the overhead canopy above the golf cart; and    an umbrella comprising: 
 a shaft having a first shaft end and a second shaft end;  
 a handle secured to the shaft proximate the first shaft end; and  
 a canopy assembly secured to the shaft proximate the second shaft end, the canopy assembly having: 
 an annular hub encircling the shaft proximate the second shaft end;  
 a plurality of ribs extending radially outwardly from the annular hub;  
 a transparent canopy draped over and secured to one or more of the plurality of ribs; and  
 fasteners disposed on selected ones of the plurality of ribs;  
 wherein the fasteners are securable to the support members on the golf cart such that the umbrella extends at least up to the support members and shields the golf cart user from one or more of the rain, the wind, and the sun.  
 
   
   
   
       20 . The umbrella of  claim 19 , wherein the fasteners are securable to one or more of the overhead canopy and the golf cart.