Patent Application
20190021460
The invention relates to automatic umbrellas and more particularly to an automatic non-collapsible umbrella and method of opening or closing same by providing a first spring for opening the umbrella and a second spring for closing the umbrella respectively.
Umbrellas are primarily hand-held portable devices sized for personal use. Umbrellas can be divided into two categories: fully collapsible umbrellas, in which the metal pole supporting the canopy retracts, and non-collapsible umbrellas, in which the support pole cannot retract and only the canopy can be collapsed. Another distinction can be made between manually operated umbrellas and spring loaded automatic umbrellas is that the latter can be open at the press of a button.
For an automatic umbrella, its spring is taken as drive means for opening or closing the umbrella. The elastic force grows as the length of the pole increases. Thus, difficulties increase in the manufacturing process of an automatic umbrella as the length of the pole increases. Further, an upper elastic limit member, a lower elastic limit member, and an intermediate spring-loaded ball detent are required components. However, they are prone to malfunction due to elastic fatigue after a period of time of use. Furthermore, the spring is greatly enhanced to facilitate its opening or closing. This, however, can hurt a user if sufficient care is not taken in use.
Thus, the need for improvement still exists.
For achieving above and other objects, an automatic non-collapsible umbrella comprising a center post, a runner assembly mounted on the center post and including a lower sleeve seat, a slotted intermediate ring, and a top grommet and a skeleton mounted on the runner assembly, wherein the center post includes a support tube with a control mechanism mounted thereon, the control mechanism including a cylindrical main seat and a cylindrical control seat, the support tube further with a detent mechanism mounted thereon, the detent mechanism including a rod member and a first biasing member; the runner assembly further includes a second biasing member biased between the lower sleeve seat and the slotted intermediate ring; the control seat includes an opening on a circumferential surface, and a window disposed on the circumferential surface with a mount member disposed thereon; the cylindrical main seat includes an opening on a circumferential surface and corresponding to the opening, a first button in the opening for opening the automatic non-collapsible umbrella, and a second button in the opening for closing the automatic non-collapsible umbrella; the mount member includes a recess on an inner surface, and a receptacle in the recess with a biasing member mounted therein wherein a second closed member is disposed in the control seat to push the biasing member rearward to urge against the receptacle, and the second button is disposed on the second closed member, the center post further includes a rod in the support tube; the rod member passes through the enhancement tube to fasten at a top end of the enhancement tube; a bottom end of the rod member passes through the second closed member to dispose in the rod; the first biasing member has a top urging against a bottom of the enhancement tube and a bottom urging against a top of the rod so that the first biasing member is biased between the enhancement tube and the rod; and in an open state of the automatic non-collapsible umbrella in response to pressing the second button to push the second closed member inward to cause the second closed member to unblock the rod member, the stored elastic force of the first biasing member is released to urge its top against and push up the enhancement tube, and the top grommet moves upward, thereby closing the skeleton.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the support tube includes an opening, the rod includes a top hole and an opening aligned with the opening and communicating with the top hole, the second closed member includes a protrusion on an inner surface urging the biasing member, and the protrusion passes through the opening of the support tube and the opening of the rod to secure the second closed member, the support tube, the rod, and the rod member together.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the rod member includes a bottom enlargement disposed in the top hole of the rod, and a top of the bottom enlargement is stopped by the protrusion.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the enhancement tube includes a lower enlargement urging against the first biasing member.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the center post further includes an inner tube laced on the enhancement tube, the enhancement tube includes a lower enlargement with the inner tube positioned thereon, and the rod member includes an inverted U-shaped hook on a top fastened at tops of both the inner tube and the enhancement tube.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the lower enlargement has a multiple-sided section.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the runner assembly further includes an intermediate ring and a hollow extension atop of the enhancement tube and placed on the top grommet; the skeleton includes a plurality of ribs, a plurality of primary stretchers, and a plurality of secondary stretchers; the rib has one end pivotably attached to the top grommet; the primary stretcher has one end pivotably attached to the intermediate ring; and in response to moving the lower sleeve seat downward, both the ribs and the primary stretchers pivotably move toward the center post.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the rib includes an intermediate connecting member, a plurality of adjustment rods each having one pivotably attached to a joining portion of the primary stretcher and the secondary stretcher, and a plurality of auxiliary biasing members each having one end attached to a lower end of the connecting member and the other end attached to the other end of the adjustment rod, the auxiliary biasing member being configured to exert an elastic force on the rib; and wherein in response to moving the lower sleeve seat downward, both the ribs and the primary stretchers pivotably move toward the center post with the intermediate ring moving downward and the auxiliary biasing members being compressed.
In a second aspect of the invention there is provided an automatic non-collapsible umbrella comprising a center post, a runner assembly mounted on the center post and including a lower sleeve seat, a slotted intermediate ring, and a top grommet, and a skeleton mounted on the runner assembly, wherein the center post includes a support tube with a control mechanism mounted thereon, the control mechanism including a cylindrical main seat and a cylindrical control seat; the runner assembly further includes a second biasing member biased between the lower sleeve seat and the slotted intermediate ring; the control seat includes an opening on a circumferential surface, and a window disposed on the circumferential surface with a mount member disposed thereon; the cylindrical main seat includes an opening on a circumferential surface and corresponding to the opening, a first button in the opening for opening the automatic non-collapsible umbrella; the control seat further includes an opening on a circumferential surface, a biasing element having one end anchored in a receptacle on the inner surface of the control seat, and the other end urging against a first closed member; the lower sleeve seat includes an annular flange on a bottom, the annular flange being stopped by the first closed member; and the first button is secured to the first closed member, in a closed state of the automatic non-collapsible umbrella in response to pressing the first button to push the first closed member inward to cause the first closed member to unblock the annular flange, the stored elastic force of the second biasing member is released to push the top grommet and the slotted intermediate ring further apart, thereby opening the skeleton.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, further comprising two first limit tubes between the top grommet and the slotted intermediate ring, and an annular flange provided on a top of a support tube for supporting the first limiting tubes from below.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the skeleton includes a plurality of ribs, a plurality of primary stretchers, and a plurality of secondary stretchers; the rib has one end pivotably attached to the top grommet; the primary stretcher has one end pivotably attached to the intermediate ring; and in response to moving the lower sleeve seat upward, both the ribs and the primary stretchers pivotably move away from the center post.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, further comprising two sets of first and second limit tubes between the top grommet and the slotted intermediate ring.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the rib includes an intermediate connecting member, a plurality of adjustment rods each having one pivotably attached to a joining portion of the primary stretcher and the secondary stretcher, and a plurality of auxiliary biasing members each having one end attached to a lower end of the connecting member and the other end attached to the other end of the adjustment rod, the auxiliary biasing member being configured to exert an elastic force on the rib; and wherein in response to pivotably moving the ribs away from the center post the auxiliary biasing members are expanded.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the main seat includes a longitudinal groove on a circumferential surface of the main seat, the control seat includes a longitudinal projection on the circumferential surface of the control seat, and the longitudinal projection is fitted in the longitudinal groove to fasten the control seat and the main seat together.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the main seat includes a cylindrical bottom extension having a decreased diameter, and a pin; the control seat includes a cylindrical bottom extension having a decrease diameter; the support tube has a lower portion inserted into the control seat which is disposed in the main seat; and the pin is inserted through the main seat, the control seat, the support tube, and the rod to fasten them together in a handle.
In a third aspect of the invention there is provided an automatic non-collapsible umbrella comprising a center post, a runner assembly mounted on the center post and including a lower sleeve seat, a slotted intermediate ring, and a top grommet, and a skeleton mounted on the runner assembly, wherein the center post includes a support tube with a control mechanism mounted thereon, the control mechanism including a cylindrical main seat, a cylindrical control seat, a first button for opening the automatic non-collapsible umbrella, a second button closing the automatic non-collapsible umbrella, a first closed member secured to the first button, and a second closed member secured to the second button; the support tube is further provided with a detent mechanism mounted thereon; the detent mechanism includes a rod member and a first biasing member, the rod member disposed through the support tube and the first biasing member and further through the second closed member with the first biasing member biased in the support tuber; the runner assembly further includes a second biasing member biased between the lower sleeve seat and the slotted intermediate ring, and an annular flange on a bottom, the annular flange being fastened in the first closed member, in a closed state of the automatic non-collapsible umbrella in response to pressing the first button to push the first closed member inward to unblock the lower sleeve seat, the stored elastic force of the second biasing member is released to push the lower sleeve seat further away from the slotted intermediate ring, thereby opening the skeleton; and in an open state of the automatic non-collapsible umbrella in response to pressing the second button to push the second closed member inward to cause the second closed member to unblock the rod member, the stored elastic force of the first biasing member is released to urge its top against and pushes up the enhancement tube, and the top grommet moves upward, thereby closing the skeleton.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the second biasing member is put on the support tube, the first biasing member is disposed in the support tube, and the second biasing member and the first biasing member operate independently so that required force to open or close the automatic non-collapsible umbrella is decreased to a minimum.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein an outer diameter of the first biasing member is substantially matched to an inner diameter of the support tube.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the runner assembly further includes an intermediate ring and a hollow extension atop of the enhancement tube and placed on the top grommet; the skeleton includes a plurality of ribs, a plurality of primary stretchers, and a plurality of secondary stretchers; the rib has one end pivotably attached to the top grommet; the primary stretcher has one end pivotably attached to the intermediate ring; the rib includes an intermediate connecting member, a plurality of adjustment rods each having one pivotably attached to a joining portion of the primary stretcher and the secondary stretcher, and a plurality of auxiliary biasing members each having one end attached to a lower end of the connecting member and the other end attached to the other end of the adjustment rod, the auxiliary biasing member being configured to exert an elastic force on the rib; and in response to moving the lower sleeve seat downward, both the ribs and the primary stretchers pivotably move toward the center post with the intermediate ring moving downward and the auxiliary biasing members being compressed.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
A top of the handle 10 is provided with the control mechanism 20 which has a top with the center post 30 extending therefrom.
The control mechanism 20 includes a cylindrical main seat 21, a cylindrical control seat 22, a first button 23 for opening the umbrella, and a second button 24 for closing the umbrella. The main seat 21 includes a cylindrical bottom extension 211 having a decreased diameter, an aperture 212 on a circumferential surface of the bottom extension 211, a space 214 defined by the main seat 21 and communicating with the bottom extension 211, an opening 215 on a circumferential surface of the main seat 21, and a longitudinal groove 216 on the circumferential surface of the main seat 21 and opposing the opening 215. The control seat 22 includes a cylindrical bottom extension 221 having a decrease diameter, an aperture 222 on a circumferential surface of the bottom extension 221, a space 223 defined by the control seat 22 and communicating with the bottom extension 221, an opening 224 on a circumferential surface of the control seat 22, a window 225 disposed on a recess of the circumferential surface of the control seat 22 and opposing the opening 224, and a longitudinal projection 226 on the circumferential surface of the control seat 22 and above the window 225.
The control mechanism 20 further comprises a mount member 25 disposed onto the window 225. The mount member 25 includes a recess 251 on an inner surface, and a receptacle 252 in the recess 251. The control mechanism 20 further comprises a biasing member 29 having one end anchored in the receptacle 252. A first closed member 26 is disposed above the window 225. A torsion spring 28 has one end anchored in a receptacle 281 on the inner surface of the control seat 22, and the other end urging against the first closed member 26. A second closed member 27 is disposed in the window 225 and includes a protrusion 271 on an inner surface. The other end of the biasing member 29 urges against the second closed member 27 and is spaced from the protrusion 271.
The control mechanism 20 further comprises a first button 23 including a groove 231 on an inner surface and mounted on an upper portion of the opening 215, and a second button 24 including a groove 241 on an inner surface and mounted on a lower portion of the opening 215. A portion of the first closed member 26 urges against the groove 231 and a portion of the second closed member 26 urges against the groove 241. The control seat 22 is disposed in the space 214 and the bottom extension 221 is disposed in the bottom extension 211. The longitudinal projection 226 is complimentarily disposed in the longitudinal groove 216.
The center post 30 includes a support tube 31, an inner tube 32 having a diameter less than that of the support tube 31, an enhancement tube 33 having a diameter less than that of both the support tube 31 and the inner tube 32, and a rod 34. The support tube 31 includes an opening 311 on a circumferential surface, an aperture 312 below the opening 311 and aligned with the apertures 212 and 222, a first upper aperture 313, and a second upper aperture 314 below the first upper aperture 313. The rod 34 is fastened in a lower portion of the support tube 31 and includes a top hole 341, an opening 342 aligned with the opening 311 and communicating with the top hole 341, and an aperture 343 below the opening 342 and aligned with the apertures 212, 222 and 312. The enhancement tube 33 is disposed in an intermediate portion of the support tube 31 and includes an upper aperture 331 and a lower enlargement 332 having a multiple-sided section. The inner tube 32 is put on the enhancement tube 33 and has its bottom supported by the enlargement 332. The inner tube 32 includes an upper aperture 321 aligned with the upper aperture 331.
The detent mechanism 40 includes a metal rod member 41 having an inverted U-shaped hook 411 on a top and a bottom enlargement 412; and a first helical spring 42. The hook 411 passes through the inner tube 32 and the enhancement tube 33 to fasten at tops of both the inner tube 32 and the enhancement tube 33. The bottom enlargement 412 is disposed in the top hole 341 of the rod 34. The protrusion 271 passes through the opening 311 of the support tube 31 and the opening 342 of the rod 34 to rest on a joining portion of the bottom enlargement 412 and the rod member 411 to secure the protrusion 271 (i.e., the second closed member 27), the support tube 31, the rod 34, and the rod member 41 together. The first helical spring 42 has an outer diameter substantially matched to an inner diameter of the support tube 31 so as to dispose in the support tube 31. The first helical spring 42 has a top urging against a bottom of the bottom enlargement 332 and a bottom urging against a top of the rod 34.
The runner assembly 50 includes a lower sleeve seat 51, a slotted intermediate ring 52, a top grommet 53, a hollow, cylindrical extension 54, a second helical spring 55 and a sleeve 56. The sleeve seat 51 is slidably put on the support tube 31 and includes a slotted ring 511 on a top, an axial channel 512, a lower reduced section 513, and an annular flange 514 on a bottom, the flange 514 disposed in the space 223 to be fastened in the first closed member 26. The slotted intermediate ring 52 is slidably put on the support tube 31 and has a top urging against the sleeve 56 and a bottom urging against the second helical spring 55. The slotted grommet 53 includes two opposite apertures 531 aligned with the apertures 321, 331. The extension 54 includes an aperture 541 aligned with the apertures 321, 331 and 531 and a longitudinal groove 543 for anchoring the hook 411. A pin 542 is inserted through the apertures 541, 531, 321, and 331 to fasten the extension 54, the grommet 53, the inner tube 32, and the enhancement tube 33 together. The second helical spring 55 is put on the support tube 31 and has a top urging against a bottom of the intermediate ring 52 and a bottom urging against a bottom of the space 512. Thus, the intermediate ring 52 and the sleeve seat 51 are spring-activated. The sleeve 56 is put on an upper portion of the support tube 31.
The runner assembly 50 further comprises two first limit tubes 57 including internal threads 571, and two second limit tubes 58 including an externally threaded section 581, two opposite protuberances 582 on an inner surface of the externally threaded section 581, and two opposite slits 583. The externally threaded section 581 and the internal threads 571 are secured together of either pair of the first limit tube 57 and the second limit tube 58. Thus, the protuberances 582 of one pair of the first limit tube 57 and the second limit tube 58 are disposed in the first upper aperture 313 and the protuberances 582 of the other pair of the first limit tube 57 and the second limit tube 58 are disposed in the second upper aperture 314. The first limit tube 57, the second limit tube 58, and the support tube 31 are fastened together. The lower pair of the first limit tube 57 and the second limit tube 58 is rested upon a top of the sleeve 56. A pin 213 is inserted through the apertures 212, 222, 312, and 343 to fasten the bottom extension 211 of the main seat 21, the bottom extension 221 of the control seat 22, the support tube 31 and the rod 34 together.
The skeleton 60 includes a plurality of ribs 61, a plurality of primary stretchers 62 and a plurality of secondary stretchers 63. The rib 61 has one end pivotably attached to the grommet 53 and includes an intermediate connecting member 611. The primary stretcher 62 has one end pivotably attached to the intermediate ring 52 and the other end pivotably attached to the connecting member 611. Thus, the ribs 61 and the primary stretchers 62 are pivotably secured together. The secondary stretcher 63 has one pivotably attached to the slotted ring 511 and the other end pivotably attached to a portion of the primary stretcher 62 proximate the intermediate ring 52. A plurality of adjustment rods 613 each have one pivotably attached to a joining portion of the primary stretcher 62 and the secondary stretcher 63. A plurality of auxiliary springs 612 each have one end attached to a lower end of the connecting member 611 and the other end attached to the other end of the adjustment rod 613. The auxiliary spring 612 can exert an elastic force on the rib 61. The elastic force can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the length of the adjustment rod 613. A canopy (not shown) is provided onto the ribs 61.
As shown in
As shown in
The first helical spring 42 has an elastic force greater than that of the second helical spring 55. Alternatively, the sum of the elastic force of the first helical spring 42 and the elastic force of the auxiliary springs 612 is greater than that of the second helical spring 55. Both designs are for the purpose of facilitating closing or opening of the umbrella.
Referring to
Referring to
The invention has the following characteristics and advantages:
The second helical spring 55 is put on the support tube 31 or 31B, the first helical spring 42 is provided in the support 31 or 31B, and the first helical spring 42 and the second helical spring 55 are independent so that the elastic force of each of the first helical spring 42 and the second helical spring 55 can be decreased to a minimum without compromising the characteristics of the invention.
Further, the first helical spring 42 has an outer diameter generally matched to an inner diameter of the support tube 31 or 31B so as to dispose in the support tube 31 or 31B. This ensures that the first helical spring 42 can operate normally for a long period of time without being oblique. It facilitates the opening or closing operation of the umbrella. In addition, the first button 23 for opening the umbrella and the second button 24 for closing the umbrella are operated independently. Thus, the probability of malfunction is decreased to a minimum.
In addition to the first helical spring 42, the auxiliary springs 612 are provided to increase elastic force required for closing the umbrella. Therefore, the closing or opening of the umbrella can be made easy and safer.
While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
