2-in-1 Parent & Child Umbrella

The problem

Families going out in uncertain weather face a familiar choice: carry two umbrellas, or share one and have the child stand in the drip line. Kids’ umbrellas are also the ones most often forgotten at home.

Meanwhile, most umbrellas are plain, single-canopy products. Special designs - double canopies, odd shapes - usually just add printed graphics and do little to make the umbrella fun or useful in a new way.

The solution

This design builds a second, smaller umbrella into a full-size umbrella:

1. The main umbrella has a hollow shaft, its own top, runner, ribs and canopy.
2. A smaller umbrella - with its own top, runner, ribs and canopy - has a slimmer shaft that slides inside the main shaft, so the small canopy sits above the main canopy.
3. The small umbrella can rotate a full 360° around the main shaft and move up and down; a spring catch locks it in position.
4. The shared handle is threaded. Unscrew it, pull the small umbrella out, screw the handle onto the small shaft - and it is a complete separate umbrella.
5. In the patent, the main canopy carries a flat printed pattern and the top canopy is a three-dimensional shape with animal or cartoon designs.

Who it is for

• Umbrella and rainwear brands looking for a headline product that is easy to show in a photo or video.
• Kids’ and family brands, theme parks, zoos and museums - the top canopy is a natural place for characters and mascots.
• Promotional and licensed products - sports teams, events and brands can put a 3D logo shape on top.

How it works

The main parts

Locking, rotating and lifting

1. Nested. The small shaft (20) runs through the main shaft (10). Its bottom thread (35) is screwed into the handle thread (36).
2. Position. A spring catch (33) fixed to the small shaft, backed by a spring (34), clicks into catch points on the main shaft. Pushing the handle presses the push button (37) and spring, letting the small umbrella move up or down and lock in a new position.
3. Rotate. The small umbrella can turn 360° around the main shaft, so the top layer can be turned to show its design.

Becoming two umbrellas

1. Unscrew the handle from the small-shaft thread.
2. Pull the small umbrella out of the main shaft.
3. Screw the handle onto the small shaft - the small umbrella is now a complete umbrella of its own.
4. After use, slide it back into the main shaft and reassemble.

In the second version (claim 1 of the patent), the main shaft ends in a fitting with an outside thread and the small shaft in a fitting with an inside thread, and the handle itself is split into an upper and a lower handle that screw together - so each umbrella has a handle when they are separated.

Applications

Family outings and school runs

One umbrella in the car or bag covers parent and child. When it rains, the child gets their own umbrella in seconds; on the way home, it goes back in.

Theme parks, zoos, aquariums and museums

Gift shops sell umbrellas on rainy days. A top canopy shaped like the park’s mascot or an animal is a souvenir and a rain umbrella in one.

Licensed characters and kids’ brands

The 3D top layer is ideal for cartoon, movie and toy characters - a product that photographs well for online listings and social media.

Sports teams, schools and events

Team colors on the main canopy and a 3D mascot, ball or helmet shape on top make a standout fan or school item.

Corporate promotions

Brands can put a logo shape on the top canopy - a giveaway that people actually keep and use.

Where it is less suitable

• Very windy conditions - a layered canopy catches more wind; a wind-vented design is recommended for exposed areas.
• Compact travel umbrellas - the nested design suits straight (stick) umbrellas better than multi-fold pocket umbrellas.