Umbrella backpack and deployment mechanism

Abstract

An umbrella deployment mechanism includes: a housing contained within a backpack; a frame associated with the housing and deployable between a first position in which the frame is located within the backpack and a second position in which the frame is elevated above the first position; and a canopy associated with the frame and deployable between a first position in which the canopy is located within the backpack and a second position in which the canopy is elevated above the frame.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An umbrella deployment mechanism comprising:
 a housing contained within a backpack;   a frame associated with the housing and deployable between a first position in which the frame is located within the backpack and a second position in which the frame is elevated above the first position; and   a canopy associated with the frame and deployable between a first position in which the canopy is located within the backpack and a second position in which the canopy is elevated above the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The umbrella deployment mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the deployment of the frame and the canopy is triggered by a release mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The umbrella deployment mechanism of  claim 2  wherein the release mechanism is a pull cord. 
     
     
         4 . The umbrella deployment mechanism of  claim 2  wherein the release mechanism is a push button. 
     
     
         5 . The umbrella deployment mechanism of  claim 2  wherein the release mechanism includes an inflation mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The umbrella deployment mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the frame includes one or more support poles supporting the canopy. 
     
     
         7 . The umbrella deployment mechanism of  claim 6  wherein the frame includes two extendable support poles adapted to deploy the canopy in response to a release mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The umbrella deployment mechanism of  claim 6  wherein the frame includes one or more inflatable support poles adapted to deploy the canopy in response to a release mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . The umbrella deployment mechanism of  claim 1  wherein one or more springs control the deployment of the frame. 
     
     
         10 . The umbrella deployment mechanism of  claim 1  wherein one or more springs control the deployment of the canopy. 
     
     
         11 . The umbrella deployment mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the canopy includes a plurality of ribs supporting the shape of the canopy. 
     
     
         12 . The umbrella deployment mechanism of  claim 11  wherein the canopy includes ribs of varying length to support an irregular shaped canopy. 
     
     
         13 . The umbrella deployment mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the housing is contained within an interior section of the backpack. 
     
     
         14 . The umbrella deployment mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the housing is contained within an external section of the backpack. 
     
     
         15 . The umbrella deployment mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the backpack is associated with a second backpack such that the backpack is adapted to be worn between a user's back and the second backpack.