Weather forecasting umbrella

Abstract

A weather forecasting umbrella includes a display device in the umbrella's handle that provides a visual indication of the day's weather, such as the probability of precipitation. The display device may take the form of one or more lamps that emit a color, or flash at a varying rate, to indicate forecast weather conditions. The weather forecast that is displayed is preferably obtained using a wireless receiver built into the umbrella that receives data via a wireless paging or cell broadcast network. A display screen may be used to display forecasted information in more detail, including the likelihood of precipitation and/or the forecast high and low temperature for the day.

1 . An umbrella combined with a display device forming a part of said umbrella for presenting information on weather conditions to the user of said umbrella.  
   
   
       2 . The umbrella as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said display device is an integral part of the handle of said umbrella.  
   
   
       3 . The umbrella as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said display device includes a display screen for displaying images indicative of said information on weather conditions.  
   
   
       4 . The umbrella as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said display screen displays an icon that graphically portrays at least some of said information on weather conditions.  
   
   
       5 . The umbrella as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said display screen further displays an indication of one or more forecasted temperatures.  
   
   
       6 . The umbrella as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said display screen displays an icon that graphically indicates the forecasted probability of precipitation.  
   
   
       7 . The umbrella as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said display screen displays an indication of one or more forecasted temperatures.  
   
   
       8 . The umbrella as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said one or more forecasted temperatures include the high and low temperature forecast for a given day.  
   
   
       9 . The umbrella as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said display device includes one or more visible lamps for presenting illumination that represents at least some of said information on said weather conditions.  
   
   
       10 . The umbrella as set forth in  claim 9  wherein at least some of said lamps emit light of different colors and wherein the particular color emitted is indicative of at least some of said information on said weather conditions.  
   
   
       11 . The umbrella as set forth in  claim 9  wherein at least one of said lamps emits light periodically to represent at least some of said information on said weather conditions.  
   
   
       12 . The umbrella as set forth in  claim 9  wherein at least one of said lamps emits light periodically at a repetition rate that is indicative of the forecasted probability of precipitation.  
   
   
       13 . The umbrella as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said display device includes a wireless receiver for acquiring said information from a wireless transmission network and further includes means for rendering at least selected portions of the information acquired by said receiver in perceptible form to said user.  
   
   
       14 . The umbrella as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said display device includes a wireless receiver for acquiring said information from a wireless transmission network.  
   
   
       15 . The umbrella as set forth in  claim 14  wherein said wireless network is a wireless paging network.  
   
   
       16 . The umbrella as set forth in  claim 14  wherein said wireless network employs a cellular phone network to transmit said information.  
   
   
       17 . The umbrella as set forth in  claim 16  wherein said information is transmitted using a cell broadcast protocol.  
   
   
       18 . The umbrella as set forth in  claim 14  wherein said information transmitted by said wireless transmission network to said wireless receiver is dependent upon the geographic location of said wireless receiver.  
   
   
       19 . The umbrella as set forth in  claim 18  wherein said information transmitted by said wireless transmission network to said wireless receiver includes weather forecast information for a geographic region that includes said location of said wireless receiver.  
   
   
       20 . The umbrella as set forth in  claim 13  further including a manually operated selector for selecting a particular day and means responsive to said selector for presenting information on weather conditions forecast for that particular day.  
   
   
       21 . The umbrella as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said weather information is acquired by one or more sensors which are carried with said umbrella.  
   
   
       22 . The umbrella set forth in  claim 19  wherein said one or more sensors includes a barometer.  
   
   
       23 . The umbrella set forth in  claim 20  further including means for storing previous readings from said barometer and for producing a precipitation prediction based on changes in said readings over time.  
   
   
       24 . The umbrella set forth in  claim 20  wherein one of said sensors is a thermometer.