Dual umbrella

Abstract

An umbrella in accordance with an embodiment of the present application includes a canopy that is extendable into an extra wide configuration to cover two users. In accordance with one embodiment the umbrella opens to a first open position to provide coverage for one person and expands to a second open position to provide coverage for a second person.

1 . An umbrella comprising:
 a first vertical shaft;   a plurality of spars pivotably mounted on the first vertical shaft; and   a canopy connected to the spars;   wherein the spars are movable from a closed position to a first open position to provide a first area of protection under the canopy; and   wherein at least one spar of the plurality of spars is movable to a second open position from the first open position to provide a second area of protection, larger than the first area of protection.   
     
     
         2 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first movable member slidable along the first vertical shaft; and   a plurality of risers connected between the first movable member and the plurality of spars, wherein each riser of the plurality of risers is pivotally connected to the first movable member on a bottom end thereof and pivotally connected to a single spar of the plurality of spars at a top end thereof such that each riser rotates outward with respect to the first vertical shaft as the first movable member slides up the first vertical shaft to raise the spars into the first open position and provide the first area of protection under the canopy.   
     
     
         3 . The umbrella of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a second movable member mounted on the first vertical shaft below the first movable member; and   a second vertical shaft connected at a bottom end thereof to the second movable member and extending substantially parallel to the first vertical shaft when the umbrella is in the closed position and the first open position.   
     
     
         4 . The umbrella of  claim 3 , wherein the first movable member further comprises:
 a first element mounted on the first vertical shaft and removably connected to the second vertical shaft; and   a second element, removably attached to the first element and mounted on the second vertical shaft, the second element positioned above the pivot point in the first open position and including a pivot point formed therein a distance from the second movable member.   
     
     
         5 . The umbrella of  claim 4 , wherein the second vertical shaft further comprises a middle section pivotally connected to the second movable member on a bottom end thereof and to the pivot point on a top end thereof, the pivot point positioned below the first element of the first movable member. 
     
     
         6 . The umbrella of  claim 5 , wherein the second vertical shaft further comprises a top portion extending above the pivot point substantially parallel to the first vertical shaft, at least one spar of the plurality of spars pivotally connected to the top portion of the second vertical shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The umbrella of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a first bracket mounted on the first vertical shaft above the first element of the first movable member when the spars are in the first open position, the first bracket configured to slide on the first vertical shaft;   a second bracket mounted on the top portion of the second vertical shaft, the second bracket configured to slide on the top portion of the second vertical bracket; and   a scissors structure connected on a first end to the top of the first vertical shaft and the first bracket and on a second end, laterally opposite the first end, connected to the top portion of the second vertical shaft and to the second bracket, the scissors structure configured to expand in a lateral direction to separate the top portion of the second vertical shaft from the first vertical shaft.   
     
     
         8 . The umbrella of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second brackets slide up the first vertical shaft and the top portion of the second vertical shaft, respectively, as the scissors structure expands. 
     
     
         9 . The umbrella of  claim 7 , wherein the second movable member slides up the first vertical shaft to expand the scissors structure to position the at least one spar in the second open position. 
     
     
         10 . The umbrella of  claim 9 , further comprising a first stop positioned on the first vertical shaft to hold the second movable member in place when the at least one spar reaches the second open position. 
     
     
         11 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , further comprising a second stop positioned on the first vertical shaft configured to hold the first movable member substantially in place when the umbrella is in the first open position. 
     
     
         12 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle positioned at a bottom end of the first vertical shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second movable members are movable members slidable up and down the first vertical shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality the spars are pivotally mounted on a top end of the first vertical shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The umbrella of  claim 1 , wherein at least a second spar of the plurality of spars is movable to a third open position to provide a third area of protection larger than the first area of protection and the second area of protection. 
     
     
         16 . A method of operating an umbrella comprising the steps of:
 providing a first vertical shaft;   mounting a canopy on the first vertical shaft,   raising the canopy from a closed position to a first open position with a first protected area under the canopy; and   moving at least a portion of the canopy from the first open position to a second open position with a second protected area under the canopy, the second protected area larger than the first protected area.   
     
     
         17 . The method of operating an umbrella according to  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:
 returning the canopy to the first open position; and   lowering the canopy to the closed position.   
     
     
         18 . The method of operating an umbrella according to  claim 16 , wherein the step of mounting the canopy further comprises the steps of:
 connecting a plurality of spars to a top end of the first vertical shaft, each spar of the plurality of spars pivotable outward away from the first vertical shaft; and   attaching the canopy to the plurality of spars.   
     
     
         19 . The method of operating an umbrella according to  claim 18 , wherein the raising step further comprises the steps of:
 providing a first movable member on the first vertical shaft;   providing a plurality of risers;   connecting a bottom end of each riser of the plurality of risers to the first movable member and a top end of each riser of the plurality to one of the plurality of spars; and   moving the first movable member up the first vertical shaft to raise the spars up and away from the first vertical shaft into the first open position.   
     
     
         20 . The method of operating an umbrella according to  claim 19 , wherein the step of moving at least a portion of the canopy further comprises the steps of:
 mounting a second movable member on the first vertical shaft below the first movable member;   providing a second vertical shaft with a pivot point; and   connecting a bottom end of the second vertical shaft to the second movable member such that the second vertical shaft extends substantially parallel to the first vertical shaft when the umbrella is in the closed position and the first open position and is pivotable away from the umbrella between the pivot point and the second movable member to move at least a portion of the canopy away from the first vertical shaft to the second open position.   
     
     
         21 . The method of operating an umbrella according to  claim 20 , wherein the step of moving at least a portion of the canopy further comprises the steps of:
 providing a first element of the first movable member mounted on the first vertical shaft and removably connected to the second vertical shaft;   providing a second element of the first movable member removably attached to the first element and mounted on the second vertical shaft, the second element positioned above the pivot point in the first open position; and   moving the second movable member up the first vertical shaft to separate the second element of the first movable member from the first element of the first movable member and move at least a portion of the canopy to the second open position.   
     
     
         22 . The method of operating an umbrella of  claim 16 , further comprising a step of moving at least a second portion of the canopy to a third open position with a third protected area under the canopy, the third protected area larger than the first protected area and the second protected area. 
     
     
         23 . An umbrella comprising:
 a first vertical shaft;   a second vertical shaft;   a plurality of spars pivotably mounted on the first vertical shaft;   at least one spar pivotally mounted on the second vertical shaft;   a canopy connected to the spars;   a first movable member mounted on the first vertical shaft and configured to move on the first vertical shaft to raise the spars from a closed position to a first open position to provide a first area of protection under the canopy; and   a second movable member mounted on the first vertical shaft and configured to move on the first vertical shaft to move the at least one spar of the plurality of spars to a second open position from the first open position to provide a second area of protection, larger than the first area of protection.