FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of hand held umbrellas.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Umbrellas that can be opened automatically by triggering a compressed spring, are well known in the market. Those spring loaded umbrellas has the advantage of easy opening, however they have also disadvantages accompanying their spring mechanism. Firstly, their opening is uncontrolled after triggering, that is once the spring has triggered on by pressing and releasing its stopper tooth, it cannot be stopped. For example, one who wants to exit a car cannot open the canopy partially so it could be passed through the door and simultaneously protect from rain and snow during exiting. Secondly, the opening is aggressive, with a risk that the edges of the opened canopy will hurt people in its close proximity. Furthermore, when the umbrella is to be folded, excessive hand power should be exerted in order to close the canopy while retracting the spring for a future opening. It is not only the force that should be exerted, the operation itself is uncomfortable since it requires both hand of the user, one for holding the umbrella and the other for pulling the canopy retraction handle, wherein the motion of the retracted canopy threats to hurt the user in case the umbrella is held too close to the body. The folding procedure ends only after returning the stopper tooth to the initial position, which is not very easy accomplish while the umbrella spring is tensely drawn in full. Failing to return the stopper tooth properly, will cause a sudden aggressive and unintentional opening of the umbrella. The operation of commonly available spring loaded umbrellas, is therefore considered not very comfortable to adults, and very uncomfortable to children, to elders, and to disabled ones.
In non automated umbrellas both—opening and closing operations requires both hands of the user to operate, one for holding the umbrella and the other for pushing the canopy open or for pulling it close. In both, the umbrella should be held distantly in order to eliminate possible hurting by the moving canopy. Furthermore, when a wet umbrella is being closed, the user is normally careful not to fold it close to his body in order to eliminate rain water fall onto his dry clothes. As can be appreciated, both spring loaded or non automated umbrellas are required to be closed remotely from user's body, while using both hands.
It is therefore a need for an umbrella that could be opened and closed automatically, by one hand activation, wherein the operation can be paused, stopped or canceled at any given moment, allowing for partial opening e.g. in order to allow passing through a narrow passageway.
Several patents were issued, disclosing automated mechanisms for hand-held umbrellas, based on electrical motor drive. U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,226; U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,122; U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,010; U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,122 and EP0760609 are examples for the efforts made in the last decades for developing hand-held umbrellas having electrical motor drive. In spite of the efforts made, there is no evidence to a commercial success to any type of electrical umbrellas, and for several decades the only automated umbrellas available in the worldwide markets are half automated umbrellas, of the type having spring for opening, wherein the closing is made manually. According to a survey especially ordered by the inventor of the present invention, there is no electrical umbrella available in the market. As will be further discussed in the following chapters of this specification, is believed that the basic concepts adopted by the inventors of said inventions are certainly prevent a success in developing marketable electrical umbrellas.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,332 discloses umbrellas especially suited for patio and recreational use. Although this patent does not relate to electrical umbrellas and is of limited relevance to hand held umbrellas as a whole, it is considered to be elevant prior art, as will be discussed in detail in the following chapters of this specification.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a motor driven mechanism for hand-held umbrellas that will overcome the preventions that cause the fail of the prior art mechanisms to comply with the long felt need for a reliable and comfortably operated umbrella.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The inventor of the present invention had a basic assumption when starting to develop a successfully marketable electrical umbrella: the umbrella mechanism should be designed so as to allow short movement range of the element which is driven by the motor for conducting the canopy between open and closed states. The element which is driven by the motor for conducting the canopy between open and closed states is called in other patents “rider”, “collar”, “guiding member”, and is located inside the umbrella post and is moveable along the post. In the present invention this element will be referred to as “canopy conducting element”, and it is located and moveable outside of the post, from above. In the context of the present invention ‘short movement range’ relates to a movement distance not greater than 20% of the length of the post, preferably not greater than 14% of it, and most preferably lesser than 7% of it. For example, in a first operating model that was built, the post length is 80 centimeters and the step of the element which conducts the canopy between open and closed states (i.e. the “conducting element”) is of 4 centimeters length, that is about 5% respective to total post length. In order to achieve full canopy deployment through such a short movement range, it is required that the canopy ribs will be driven by a short lever arm which shall be located near the close end of each of the ribs (i.e. the rib end that is close to the post). A new innovative short movement conducting mechanism for operating this short lever arm was developed by the inventor of the present invention in order to comply with the requirement of short movement range of the conducting element.
Accordingly the present invention relates to a short movement less components canopy conducting mechanism for umbrellas, especially useful for hand held umbrellas, and essentially recommended for motor driven hand held umbrellas, comprising (a) a hollow pole of a small diameter (i.e. of a diameter similar and in any event not very much larger than the diameter of poles of conventional hand held umbrellas, that is much lesser than the diameter of posts of stationary umbrellas) having a top end and a bottom end; (b) a canopy conducting member comprising a plurality of a first part (i.e. a pin, or a slide) of a pin and slide joint, spaced angularly and rigidly connected about a common central point; (c) a plurality of angularly spaced canopy ribs each having a short lever arm comprising a second part (a mate of the first part) of the pin and slide joint, the lever is capable of pivoting the rib about a pivot point located between the short lever arm and the rib, the lever arm forms an angle of between 120 degrees and 165 degrees, and preferably of about 135 degrees, with the rib, about the pivot point, the rib is pivotably connected at the pivot point to a spacer keeping the pivot point distantly from the hollow pole; (d) means for moving the canopy conducting member for a short movement between two vertically spaced positions above the top end of the pole, a most lower position wherein the first of the pin an slide joints are close to the top end of the pole and wherein the canopy is open, and a most upper position wherein the first of the pin an slide joints are distant from the top end of the pole and wherein the canopy is closed.
Reference is herewith made to the U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,332 which discloses in FIGS. 2 and 3 a patio umbrella in its opened and closed states, respectively. The umbrella is driven open and closed by the movement of a plunger (14) along the post (12). The plunger (14) is connected to the plurality of ribs (34) of the umbrella through a plurality of link connections (20) connected to the ribs (34) by first link connections (22) and to the plunger (14) by second link connections (24). In order to open the umbrella (as shown in FIG. 2) the plunger (14) should be moved downwardly inside the post (12) thus pulling the link connections (20) inside the post, which in turn pull the ribs (34) to pivot about the rib connections (40) to the open state. In order to close the umbrella, the plunger (14) is moved upwards, pushing the link connections (20) out of the post to the position shown by FIG. 3. The mechanism of the umbrella of this U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,332 is inappropriate for use in hand held umbrellas, from several reasons. First, although the post of patio umbrellas is of a diameter sufficient to allow link connections to move inside the post (as in FIG. 2) or can easily be so designed, hand held umbrellas has posts of relatively small diameters (any 100% enlargement of post diameter increases post weight by 314% assuming the same raw material is used) which does not allow for insertion of link connections inside the post. Furthermore, each link has two pivoting connections (22) and (24) thus in total consists of 3 parts (i.e. one link member plus its two connections) that should be assembled during manufacturing of the umbrella, thereafter withstand repeated operation cycles, and last for the life term of the umbrella. In stationary patio umbrellas this maybe not very problematic connection type, since the link connections could be made of stiff massive material, and since the umbrella is normally not being opened and closed more than once or twice a day. In hand held umbrellas however, the demand for a small post diameter and for compact umbrella dimensions on one hand, do not allow for using massive materials for the links and for their connections to the plunger (which diameter of the plunger is smaller then the post, and should allow at least five or six pivoting link connections spaced angularly around its circumference) while on the other hand, hand held umbrellas are normally being opened and closed several times a day, namely much more times comparing to patio umbrellas.
Another disadvantage of the mechanism disclosed by the U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,332 patent is that there is a linkage between the length of the link (20), the distance of the rib connection (40) from the post (12), and the length of movement of the plunger inside the post. For example, in the illustrated umbrella the distance between the rib connection (40) and the post (12) substantially equals to the diameter of the post. In case the distance of the rib connection (40) will be designed as twice much as it is now, the length of the link will have to be enlarged accordingly, and the step of the plunger between open state and closed state of the umbrella will also be increased accordingly. Furthermore, the arc shape of the enlarged links shall need an enlarged diameter of the post so it could be accommodated and be freely moved inside the post.
Contrarily to the U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,332, the mechanism according to the present invention is (a) free of link type connections which move and change orientation inside the post, thus the mechanism according to the present invention allows to minimize the pole diameter to any required measure; (b) free of double pivoting joint, which in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,332 connect the links from their one side to a conducting element moving inside the post and from their next side to the ribs, the mechanism of the present invention has less components, and less moving components, wherein there is only one moving connection which is comprised of a massive pin and slide joint that can easily be assembled and maintained, and which dimensions are not restricted by the diameter of the pole since it is not moving inside the pole; (c) free of linkage between measure of umbrella parts, the pin and slide joint of the present invention allows for designing the distance between the rib pivot joint and the pole without changing the movement range of the conducting member and without changing the pole diameter.
The short movement less components canopy conducting mechanism for of the present invention is especially useful for the production of motor driven electrical umbrella. Due to the short movement of the canopy conducting member—
A) less rounds of the electrical motor of the umbrella are required for opening and closing the umbrella;
B) the umbrella can be built from less parts thus having the benefit of reduced weight and improved durability (e.g. comparing to other electrical umbrella designs having struts and strut joints for supporting the canopy ribs, which struts are driven by a collar for opening or closing the umbrella);
C) due to its strutless construction the canopy can be lowered adjacent the user's head for a maximal protection from rain, snow, and storm winds.
D) a new facile override mechanism can be used (as will be further discussed in detail);
E) an auxiliary hand grip could be added on the umbrella pole near the canopy in order to allow both user hands efficiently gripping the umbrella when complying with storm winds; and
F) more innovative and attractive design could be achieved (i.e. without struts), which may assist in keeping the product competitive despite of its naturally increased price deriving from its increased manufacturing costs respective to non fully automated umbrellas.
G) mass production of single size conducting mechanism can be utilized for different sizes of umbrellas (e.g. an umbrella collection for children and for adults may use the same conducting mechanism). This is in contradiction to strut based umbrella constructions which have a linkage between the canopy size, the pole length, the strut length, and the movement extent of the rider.
According to said paragraph G, the present invention relates not only to a conducting mechanism supplied with the ribs assembled therein, but also to a canopy conducting mechanism for hand held umbrellas (that can be designed for mass production for use with various types and sizes of canopy ribs), comprising; (a) canopy conducting member having a plurality of a first part of pin and slide joint rigidly connected and angularly spaced about a common central hub; (b) a spacer having a central lower end adapted for being connected to a pole of an umbrella, and a plurality of pivot connection points remotely and angularly spaced about the central lower end; wherein said mechanism may receive various types of ribs which may differ in their shape, length, and length of the flexible part located at their distal end (see FIG. 10), the ribs of the desired type can then be connected to the pivot connection points of the spacer.
The present invention further relates to electrical motor driven hand-held umbrella having a canopy that can be conducted at any desired position between an open state and a closed state by means of a conducting element movable between two points from above the pole of the umbrella, the umbrella comprises a shortened extent screw thread for driving the conducting element between the open and closed states. Preferably, in the various embodiments of the present invention, the motion extent of the conducting element is of effective length of between 20% and 100% comparing to the maximal diameter of the umbrella in its closed state. Most preferably, and according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the motion extent of the conducting element is of effective length of between 50% and 95% of the max diameter of the umbrella in its closed state. The term ‘conducting element’ refers to an element or a combination of elements having back and forth motion along a predetermined extent from above a central pole of the umbrella, wherein said motion conducts the canopy respectively between a close state and an open state. The term ‘effective length’ refers to the actual extent of motion of the conducting element between its two extreme positions from above the pole (respective to close and open states of the canopy), regardless of what is the length of the threading through which motion of the element is achieved (however, preferably the length of the threading is not longer than required, and the threading portion is connected to the electrical motor through plain planner parts having reduced weight comparing to a screw, in order to decrease the total umbrella weight).
As will become more apparent from the following description, and as mentioned above regarding the short movement less components canopy conducting mechanism for hand held umbrellas according to the present invention, the reduction in the movement extent of the canopy conducting element allows for reducing the number of elements from which the umbrella is constructed, allows to increase the durability of some of those elements, allows to maintain a reasonable weight of the complete umbrella, and allows for directing a collection of safe small sized and easily operated electrical umbrellas for children, even small ones. Said and other advantages of the electrical umbrella of the present invention are essential in possessing a significant rank in the global markets, which is essential for maintaining a commercial presence, and making realistic the dream of electrical umbrella, contrarily to all other inventions which were failed in successful development and/or commercialization of electrical umbrellas.
In order to allow for the shortened extent movement of the conducting element, the umbrella of the present invention is designed to be conducted open through the near end of its ribs, and so the canopy could be fully deployed by a levering center concentrated near the top end of the umbrella. The levering center of the umbrella has a diameter similar to the max diameter of the umbrella in its closed state, such that according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, in an open state of the umbrella no struts extend between the canopy ribs and the pole of the umbrella beyond said levering center. This is contrarily to prior art motor operated umbrellas in which the levering center of the umbrella includes struts (stretchers) which protrude from a runner of the umbrella and are of significant length as required to allow a smooth motion of the runner along the post of the umbrella and for essential support of the canopy. Negating the need in struts in the canopy conducting mechanism allows to reduce the number of elements from which the umbrella is constructed, simplifies its manufacturing process, assemblage and maintenance, and allows for enforcing the canopy ribs by thickening, thus having more massive and durable umbrella construction, without significantly increasing the weight of the complete umbrella. The absence of struts allows to provide (according to various embodiments of the present invention) the umbrella with an internal hand grip located near the top end of the umbrella post, which help in stable gripping of the umbrella during storm winds, and enable lowering of the umbrella close to the user's head. This is contrarily to prior art umbrellas which have struts occupying the space around the top portion of the post. It should be however clarified that the present invention does not restrict its scope to a strutless construction, and if one so wishes he may add struts for passive reinforcement, wherein the umbrella will still defer from prior art umbrellas by having the short movement canopy conducting element using for canopy deployment without active help of struts (struts are used for passive support or stabilization purpose only)
Another advantage of the absence of struts visible between the canopy ribs and the post is a more pleasant and attractive design. This allows also to cover the ribs from both sides of the canopy (i.e. by having a double sheet canopy, or by having cloth sleeves extending non interruptedly along the ribs for covering, such that the ribs may be hidden according to various embodiments of the present invention).
As mentioned above, the strutless construction of the umbrella allows for having shortened extent screw thread of the conducting mechanism, useful for erecting the canopy open by a reduced number of motor rounds which allows for faster opening and closing operations, and which reduces motor hours (which is equivalent to reduction in motor wearing).
Accordingly, the present invention further relates to a short movement less components conducting mechanism for hand held umbrellas, especially useful for motor driven hand held umbrellas, comprising (a) a hollow pole of a small diameter (i.e. of a diameter similar and in any event not very much larger than the diameter of poles of conventional hand held umbrellas, that is much lesser than the diameter of posts of stationary umbrellas) having a top end and a bottom end; (b) a canopy conducting member comprising a plurality of a first part (i.e. a pin, or a slide) of a pin and slide joint, spaced angularly and rigidly connected about a common central point; (c) a plurality of angularly spaced canopy ribs each having a short lever arm comprising a second part (a mate of the first part) of the pin and slide joint, the lever is capable of pivoting the rib about a pivot point located between the short lever arm and the rib, the lever arm forms an angle of between 120 degrees and 165 degrees, and preferably of about 135 degrees, with the rib, about the pivot point, the rib is pivotably connected at the pivot point to a spacer keeping the pivot point distantly from the hollow pole; (d) electrical motor geared for moving the canopy conducting member for a short movement between two vertically spaced positions above the top end of the pole, a most lower position wherein the first of the pin and slide joints are close to the top end of the pole and wherein the canopy is open, and a most upper position wherein the first of the pin an slide joints are distant from the top end of the pole and wherein the canopy is closed; (e) battery housing electrically connected for energizing the motor; (f) at least one manual switch allowing a user to control the canopy between open and closed states.
According to various preferred embodiments of the present invention the electrical umbrella is further comprising load recognition circuit which stops the motor (by disconnecting the battery power) upon recognition of increase in the motor current beyond a predetermined threshold. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention the load recognition circuit is used not only to protect the motor but also to automatically stop the motor once the canopy reaches its fully opened state or once the canopy reaches its fully closed state, wherein in both states the motor is physically being blocked from continuing its revolve which in turn causes an increase in the motor current, thus activates the load recognition circuit which in turn disconnects the power from the motor. According to various embodiments, the electrical circuit of the umbrella is designed such that each activation of the load recognizing circuit (that in normal circumstances is equivalent to the termination of a fully opening or of a fully closing operations of the umbrella) inverts the polarity of the power connection to the motor, such that in the next user activation the motor will revolve in an opposite direction respective to its last operation. By means of this arrangement the umbrella may be provided with only one switch for both opening and closing operations, which automatically switches its role after each operation.
It should be appreciated that although the preferred embodiments of the present invention relate to a pin and slide joint connection between the conducting element and each of the ribs, the use of similar or equivalent arrangements such as a telescopic connection wherein a short lever arm of a rib moves in telescopic manner respective to a corresponding arm of the conducting element should be considered within the scope of the present invention, and as will be further claimed.
The present invention further relates to a system of rechargeable electrical umbrella comprised of (a) an electrical umbrella powered by a rechargeable battery/ies and having battery charge circuit ending with terminal contacts and of (b) a stand having a connection to an AC power network, an AC to DC converter, and at least one terminal having contacts matching the terminal contacts of the electrical umbrella; or of (c) a stand having a connection to a vehicle battery and at least one terminal having contacts matching the terminal contacts of the electrical umbrella
According to various preferred embodiments of the present invention, the electrical umbrella is provided with electronic circuit for the detection and alarming of low battery power. The alarm of low battery power is preferably through turning on a LED light.
According to various embodiments the electrical umbrella of the present invention has a back-up battery (or batteries). The back-up battery could be provided in a housing for manually replacement with the main battery upon recognition of decreasing in the power of the main battery (or batteries) wherein the replacement is either by physical replacement or by activating an electrical switch which switches between the electrical circuits, or could be switched automatically by means of switching circuit governed by the circuit for detection of low battery power, wherein in such a case there is an alarming LED showing that the backup battery is in use. The back-up battery can be either of rechargeable or of non-rechargeable type. In case that the main battery is of rechargeable type and having recharging circuit inherent to the umbrella (i.e. the batteries are recharged in their housing inside the umbrella), and the back-up battery is also of rechargeable type, then there is preferably provided a separate recharging circuit for the backup battery capable of recognizing the presence of external power and connecting the backup battery for simultaneous recharging with the main battery, wherein after disconnection of the external power, the backup battery is disconnected and maintained in full power until low power of the main battery is detected. In case that the main battery is of rechargeable type and having recharging circuit inherent to the umbrella (i.e. the batteries are recharged in their housing inside the umbrella), and the back-up battery is of non rechargeable type, then there is provided a switch which prevents mistaken charging of the non-rechargeable battery (the same switch which replaces between the main battery and the backup one).
According to various embodiments of the present invention the electrical umbrella is further comprising location recognizer means allowing for fast locating of the umbrella. The location recognizer means is comprised of a first and a second electronic circuits, the first one is attached to or located inside the umbrella, and the second one is held by the user, wherein an alarm or a beep sound is generated (a) upon the lost of communication between the two circuits (in such a case the alarm will occur at the circuit held by the user), or (b) upon an activation command generated by the user in order to locate the umbrella (in such a case the alarm will occur at the circuit attached to the umbrella). Preferably, each umbrella will have its unique identification code such that one can locate and recognize his own umbrella from a plurality of similar umbrellas. The location recognizer circuit is preferably powered by an inherent battery, i.e. separately from the main umbrella battery, in order to enable locating the umbrella even in cases where the main battery is empty. Accordingly, the location recognizer circuit can be placed in the top portion of the umbrella, near the lifting center and distantly from the handle of the umbrella where the main battery is located.
The present invention further relates to canopy conducting mechanism for multifold canopies. This embodiment differs from the embodiments for plain folding canopies by further comprising a plurality of pivot joints remotely and angularly spaced about the central lower end each is adapted for receiving a rib stretcher to be associated with a rib receivable by a corresponding pivot connection point.
The present invention relates also to a situation wherein the canopy conducting mechanism is further comprising the canopy mechanism. The canopy mechanism for multifold canopies includes: (i) multifold ribs pivotally connected to the pivot connections and further form a plurality of pin and slide joints with the conducting member; and (ii) a plurality of rib stretchers, pivotally connected to respected pivot joints and to respective multifold ribs.
Furthermore the present invention relates to electrical umbrella comprising a canopy conducting mechanism according to the embodiment of multifold canopy. According to this embodiment the canopy conducting mechanism of the multifold canopy is connected at its lower end to the top of a telescopic pole, the telescopic pole is connected at its lower end to a main handgrip of the umbrella, wherein the canopy conducting member is driven along a short path between an uppermost position and a lowermost position from above the pole, corresponding to a closed state and an open state of the umbrella, respectively, upon rotation of an electrical motor located near or inside the main handgrip, powered by batteries located nearby, and transmitting its rotation to a screw or to a helical shaft adapted to convert the rotation into vertical movement of the conducting member and into a telescopic movement of at least two telescopic sections of the pole.
According to various embodiments the umbrella is provided with decorative illumination e.g. through LEDs. Such light may be distributed over the canopy through optic fibers.
According to various preferred embodiments the umbrella of the present invention is provided with a battery recharger having integral power plug concealed inside the handgrip and may be pulled up, opened or unfolded for connecting to a wall outlet.
According to various preferred embodiments the umbrella of the present invention is cooperative with a remote controller through wireless communication means situated at a concealed compartment, preferably from above the upper connection hub.
The umbrella may further have voice or sonic alarm indicative of various abnormal states that may occur during its use, and that are recognizable by its sensors and its electronic utility circuits.
According to various preferred embodiments the handgrip is cushioned or having a padding protection against downfall damages.
According to various embodiments the umbrella of the present invention is further comprising folding or pull out foots accommodated in the handgrip and useful for positioning of the umbrella uprightly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, a preferred embodiment will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a first preferred embodiment of a short movement canopy conducting mechanism according to the present invention (in a closed umbrella state).
FIG. 1A illustrates a partial view of the short movement canopy conducting mechanism of FIG. 1 (in an opened umbrella state).
FIG. 2 illustrates a short movement canopy conducting mechanism according to the present invention especially adapted for use of electrical umbrellas, and illustrating parts of the electrical umbrella.
FIG. 2A illustrates a bottom view of a flange of the conducting mechanism.
FIG. 2B illustrates a top view of an embodiment of umbrella pole illustrated by FIG. 2.
FIGS. 3 to 5 illustrate various positions describing the operation of the conducting mechanism and of the override arrangement illustrated by FIG. 2.
FIGS. 6, 6A and 6B illustrate partial views of another preferred embodiment of an electrical umbrella according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 illustrates a concealed compartment located at the covering of the conducting mechanism, useful for placement of utility electronic circuits.
FIG. 8 illustrates a partial isometric cross sectional view of the lower end of the electrical umbrella according to the present invention, with the main handgrip and the electrical components located inside.
FIG. 8A illustrates the overload detector which stops the motor upon recognition of load exceeding a predetermined threshold.
FIG. 8B illustrates the ‘low battery’ detection and alarm circuit.
FIG. 9 illustrates a general view on an electrical umbrella according to the resent invention (without the canopy cloth).
FIG. 10 illustrates the distal end of a rib according to the best mode of the resent invention.
FIG. 11 and 12 illustrate two different designs of the relation between the canopy cloth and its conducting mechanism.
FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of a canopy having aeration channels.
FIG. 14 illustrates short movement canopy conducting mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention, adapted for multifold canopies having telescopic umbrella pole, in a closed state of the umbrella.
FIG. 14 A illustrates a top view of the canopy conducting member of the embodiment of FIG. 14 as it is situated in its guide.
FIG. 15 illustrates the same embodiment illustrated by FIG. 14, in an open state of the umbrella.
FIG. 16A to 16C illustrates in partial vertical cross section view three states during the operation of a canopy conducting mechanism according to another preferred embodiment pin and slide joint.
FIG. 17 illustrates a partial lateral cross section view of the canopy conducting mechanism of the embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 16A to 16C in the state illustrated by FIG. 16B.
FIG. 18 illustrates a side view of a canopy rib according to the embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 16A to 17, made of one piece of material.
FIG. 19 illustrates a top view of the canopy rib of FIG. 18.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be further explained in detail by FIGS. 1-13.
These Figures are solely intend to illustrate several preferred embodiments of the present invention and in no manner intended to limit its scope as defined by the claims.
FIG. 1 illustrates a short movement canopy conducting mechanism for umbrellas, especially hand held umbrellas, and utmost essential for motor driven hand held umbrellas, according to the present invention. The conducting mechanism is comprised of; (a) a base member (1) (in the context of the present invention referred to also as “spacer”) having a plurality of pivot connections (1a) spaced angularly around its outer circumference (1b) for the connection of corresponding canopy ribs (2), each of which can thus be pivoting about its pivot connection (1a) between a closed state (the illustrated state) and an open state (the state illustrated by FIG. 1A) of the umbrella. The ribs are conducted between the open and the closed states by means of a lever arm (2a) being the close end portion of the rib (the distal end of the rib can be seen in FIG. 10, and is made of a flexible material in order to allow stretching the canopy in a mushroom shape (i.e. with lowered circumference end). At the end of the lever arm (2a) there is a pin (2b) slidably located inside a slide (4c) formed in a slide bar (4b), altogether forming a pin and slide joint. A plurality of the slide bar (4b), one per each canopy rib, are rigidly connected, and angularly spaced from one another, about a central hub (4a). The sliding bars (4b) and the hub (4a) form together the canopy conducting member (4), which is moveable along the path illustrated by arrow A, between an uppermost position (the illustrated position) wherein the hub is in an extreme distant position from above the top end of a pole (3) of the umbrella, and between a lowermost position (the position illustrated in FIG. 1A) wherein the hub is located in an extreme close position near and above the top end of the pole (3). The movement of the conducting member (4) between said two extreme positions along the path A, conducts the plurality of ribs (2) simultaneously, between a closed canopy state (the illustrated state) corresponding to the uppermost position of the hub (4a) and between an open canopy state (the state illustrated by FIG. 1A) corresponding to the lowermost position of the hub (4). The base member (1) has a lower flange (1c) adapted for joining to the top end of a pole (3) of an umbrella.
As can be appreciated, the short movement canopy conducting mechanism which is comprised of the conducting member (4), the base member (1), and the ribs (2), can be manufactured in a mass production and be supplied to umbrella producers, which can then connect it to a post, and cover it with a canopy, according to their own design, wherein the hub (4a) can be connected (either by welding, by having an inner threading for receiving screw connection, or by having a hole open on both ends for receiving a rode reinforced by pressure rings, or through any other acceptable connective means) to a top end of a rod which passes through the hollow middle of the pole (3) and is connected on its next rod end to appropriate driving mechanism selected and designed by each specific producer according to his own product requirements and needs. Different canopy sizes can be produced using the same base member and the same canopy conducting member with different sizes of ribs. This could be performed by means of ribs produced in different sizes or, alternatively, by using ribs of adjustable size.
FIG. 1A illustrates a partial view of the canopy conducting mechanism of FIG. 1, in an open state of the umbrella. In this state, the hub (4a) is in its lowermost position from above the top end of the pole (3), i.e. near the lower flange (1c) at the bottom of the base member. During shortened extent movement of the conducting element from the uppermost position illustrated by FIG. 1 to the lowermost position illustrated by FIG. 1A, the sliding bars (4b) are forcing the pins (2b) downwards such that each pin (2b) slides along its slide (4c) during the downward motion of the conducting member, thus lowering the short lever arm (2a) and lifting the rib (2) in a pivoting motion about the pivot connection (1a).
FIG. 2 illustrates a short movement canopy conducting mechanism according to the present invention especially adapted for use in electrical umbrellas. Accordingly, the figure contains parts of an electrical umbrella, as they are combined with the short movement canopy conducting mechanism. The hub (4a) of canopy conducting member according to the present embodiment has a helical thread inside, matching a helical shaft (5). Upon rotation of the helical shaft, and depending in the rotation direction, the conducting member is moved between its uppermost and lowermost positions from above the hollow pole (13). The rotation of the helical shaft (5) is through a rotation transmission rod (5b) passing inside the pole and connected at its lower end (not illustrated in this figure) to an electrical motor (the connection is through appropriate gear adapting the motor torque to the expected resisting force of the canopy upon deployment). As can be appreciated, the inner diameter of the pole through which passes the transmission rod can be reduced to a minimal dimension, having the only restriction it should accommodate the rotating transmission rod, wherein the diameter of the transmission rod itself can be reduced as much as it can withstand the resisting forces which may develop during motor operation, without winding. The embodiment illustrated by FIG. 2 further disclose an override mechanism which allows to open and close the umbrella manually, as may be required in case of malfunction in the motorized system, and in case the batteries becoming empty. The advantage in this specific override arrangement is that it does not deal with the motorized system, which remains connected and ready to use regardless of user activities, while freeing the user from the responsibility to the accurate connection and disconnection of sensitive technical systems and to their proper operation. This simple and user friendly override system is one of the beneficial results deriving from the development of the unique canopy conducting mechanism according to the present invention. The override arrangement is comprised of an extended flange (11c) of the base member (11), which allow a telescopic motion of the pole (13) with respect to the flange (11c). Accordingly, and differently than the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment the canopy conducting mechanism is not being permanently fixed to the upper end of the pole, and the flange (11c) of the present embodiment differs from the flange (1c) of the embodiment illustrated by FIG. 1, in that it has a greater length, i.e. a length that may allow a telescopic motion of the flange with respect to the pole, to an extent sufficient for elevating the bottom of the base member (11) until it reaches the conducting member (4). The greater length of the flange (11c) comparing to that of (1c) of FIG. 1, can be achieved either by producing it in a greater length, or by connecting to the flange (1c) an extension for having a length similar to that of (11c).
As an alternative to the permanent connection between the flange (1c) and the pole (3) of the embodiment illustrated by FIG. 1, the flange (11c) of the present embodiment is releaseably fixed to the pole (11) of the electrical umbrella, by means of screw-in handgrip (6) which tightens the lower end (11e) of the flange to the pole (13), and by means of a catch (11d) and groove (13a) connection which helps in positioning of the flange (11c) in an appropriate predetermined location with respect to the pole (13) before tightening them together by rotating the handgrip. When a need rises (e.g. batteries are empty), the screw-in handgrip can be rotated in the appropriate direction (let say counterclockwise) a few rotations for releasing the flange from tightly embracing the pole, then by pressing the catch lever (11d1) for retracting the catch (11d) from the groove (13a) the flange (11c) can be freely moved up and down in a telescopic motion about the pole (13) by holding the hand grip and moving it in the desired direction, wherein pulling it down will pull the flange and the base member (11) away from the conducting member (4) thus closing the canopy (in case it was fully or partially opened), and wherein pushing it (i.e. the handgrip) up will push the flange and the base member (11) towards the conducting member (4) thus opening the canopy (in case it was fully or partially closed). After the canopy is brought to the desired position, the handgrip (6) should be rotated clockwise for re-tightening the end portion (11e) of the flange to the pole in the direction of arrows B. The rotation of the handgrip (6) clockwise is designed so as to decrease the diameter of the end portion (11e) of the flange, due to vertical grooves (11f) made in that end portion and allow for a slight change in the diameter of the end portion of the flange upon rotation of the handgrip (6), which change is sufficient to tighten the flange to the pole or to release it from the pole, according to the relative overlapping between the threading of the handgrip and the corresponding threading of the end portion of the flange.
According to the preferred embodiments of the present invention the override screw-in handgrip (6) can be located very close to the canopy since there are no stretchers of struts disturbing between the pole and the canopy. Therefore, the handgrip (6) is not only essential for the override operation, but also very helpful for gripping the umbrella by both hands, i.e. one hand is gripping the conventional handgrip located at the bottom end of the pole while the other is gripping the handgrip (6) near the canopy, which is very essential when complying with storm winds. Furthermore it could be appreciated that the umbrella according to the present invention has the advantage that it could be lowered and held with the canopy adjacent the user's head, which is very essential for protecting the user from wind driven rain or snow, and which can not be achieved with prior art umbrellas.
FIG. 2A illustrates a view of the bottom end (11e) of the flange, from below. In this figures it is seen how this end is divided by the vertical grooves (11f) into three sections located between the grooves, which can become closer to one another by means of a pressure exerted in the direction of arrows B by clockwise rotation of the hand grip (6) of FIG. 2. When said sections become closer and tightly embrace the umbrella pole, the flange becomes fixed to the pole and a telescopic motion between them is prevented, thus canopy is maintained
FIG. 2B illustrates a top view of the pole (13), according to one optional variation, wherein the pole is made of hollow thin material (e.g. Aluminum) made by extrusion process and having a plurality of reinforcing ribs (14) forming grooves (15) in between. This grooves can be utilized for placing electrical wires that may be required according to various possible embodiments for connecting between a battery located at the bottom side of the pole and an electronic circuit or light located above the top of the pole.
As can be appreciated, the motorized system of the umbrella which includes the motor unit (not illustrated in this figure), the rotation transmission rod (5b), and the helical shaft (5) (including the location of the hub (4a) about the helical shaft), remains unchanged and is not involved with the operation of the override mechanism. This separation between the two systems (i.e. override and motorized) assures a simple reliable and user friendly device.
FIG. 3 Illustrates the override arrangement illustrated by FIG. 2 as it is utilized to open the closed umbrella of FIG. 2. As can be seen the relative position between the pole (13), the rotation transmission rod (5b), the helical shaft (5) and the conducting member (4) have not been changed between FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, that is to say the motorized system maintained its state between the two illustrated situations, and no motor rotation occurred between them two (in case a motor rotation have been occurred, the hub (4a) of the conducting member would have been changing its position along the helical shaft, which is not the case). Although nothing has changed in the motorized system, the canopy ribs that were in closed position as illustrated by FIG. 2, have reached an open position in FIG. 3. This change has been achieved by freeing the flange (11c) from the pole (13) as explained in the text of FIG. 2, then pushing the handgrip (6) causing a telescopic motion of the flange (11c) about the pole (13) towards the conducting member (4), thus forcing the base member (11) to becoming closer to the conducting member (4), while lifting the ribs (2).
FIG. 4 illustrates the same mechanism illustrated by FIG. 2, after the activation of the motorized system for lifting the canopy ribs to open state. As can be observed, the rotation of the helical shaft conducted the hub (4a) (and the conducting member (4)) to reach their lowermost position above the top of the pole (13), while simultaneously pivoting the conducting the short lever arms (2a) downwards and lifting the ribs (2) about the pivot points, accordingly. The next Fig. illustrates how the override arrangement could be utilized for closing the canopy in case of ‘low battery’.
FIG. 5 illustrates the mechanism illustrated by FIG. 4, wherein the canopy ribs that were in open state, have reached a closed state by means of the override arrangement. As can be seen the relative position between the pole (13), the rotation transmission rod (5b), the helical shaft (5) and the conducting member (4) have not been changed between FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, that is to say the motorized system maintained its state between the two illustrated situations, and no motor rotation occurred between them two (in case a motor rotation have been occurred, the hub of the conducting member would have been changing its position along the helical shaft, which is not the case). Although nothing has changed in the motorized system, the canopy ribs that were in open position as illustrated by FIG. 4, have reached a closed position in FIG. 5. This change has been achieved by freeing the flange (11c) from the pole (13) as explained in the text of FIG. 2, then pushing the handgrip (6) causing a telescopic motion of the flange (11c) downwardly about the pole (13), thus forcing the base member (11) away from the conducting member, while lowering the ribs.
FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate how the override mechanism can manage between two extreme positions of the ribs when the ribs were originally in closed state, while FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate how the override mechanism can manage between two extreme positions of the ribs when the ribs were originally in open state. It could therefore be clearly appreciated how the override arrangement according to the present invention could manage the ribs from any initial position that may occasionally exist, to any alternative position preferred by the user.
FIG. 6 illustrates a partial isometric cross sectional view of another embodiment of the short movement canopy conducting mechanism according to the present invention. This embodiment differs from the one illustrated by FIGS. 2 to 5 in several details as will be listed below.
First, the hub (4a) of the conducting member (4) is driven between its uppermost position and its lowermost position by means of hub extension member (4aa) ending with a hollow tube (64) having an inner threading matching an outer threading of a screw rod (65) being the upper end of a rotation transmission rod (not illustrated in this Fig., see FIG. 6A). When the screw rod is rotated inside the hollow tube (64) threading, the rotation is converted to a vertical motion and the hub extension member (4aa) is shifted upwardly or downwardly depending on the rotation direction of the screw rod (65) thus shifting the conducting member (4), accordingly, between a lowermost position and between the illustrated uppermost position, which corresponds to an open state and to the illustrated closed state of the umbrella, respectively. It should be appreciated that a system having the hub extension member ending with an outer threading matching an inner threading of a rod being the upper end of a rotation transmission rod, is equivalent to the system described hereinbefore, therefore included in the scope of the present invention. This remark should be noticed in general view, thus any role switching between matching parts of the present invention should be considered within the inventions scope.
Second, the flange (1c) is extended from below by means of a pipe segment (1cc), which ends with a handgrip (66) fixed to and overlapping its lower end. This handgrip is not a rotating one, and it can be used for pulling or for pushing the flange extension pipe segment (1cc) in a telescopic motion with respect to the pole (63), upon releasing of a rotating tightening nut (66a) of FIG. 6A which forms the bottom end of the handgrip 66), and after pressing the catch lever (61d1) for retracting the catch (61d). In this embodiment the catch is located on the handgrip (66) (see FIG. 6B), wherein as mentioned above, the handgrip in this embodiment overlaps a certain extent of the extended portion of the flange (1c). When the tightening nut (66a) is released and the catch is retracted, the override arrangement can be operated in the same manner of that of FIGS. 2 to 5, wherein moving the handgrip upwards results in pushing the ribs (2) open, and moving the handgrip downwards results in pulling the ribs close (in case they were partially or fully opened, which is not the illustrated case).
The short movement conducting mechanism according to the present invention is preferably protected, isolated, and covered, by means of the base member (1) from below, and by means of a conical covering (70) from above.
FIG. 7 illustrates a concealed department (72) that can be designed at the top portion of the covering (71) for placing miniature electronic circuits (73) useful for various utilities, such as location identifier which activates alarm when losing RF connection (according to other embodiments ultrasonic connection) with a corresponding circuit held by the user (useful also as anti theft alarm); or such as umbrella identifier which turns on a blinking LED light (according to other embodiments a bip sound, or a combination of sound and light) when called by a remote controller held by the user in order to locate the umbrella and/or identify it between other similar umbrellas; or such as emergency light that can be activated by a remote controller held by the user; or such as safety blinking light useful for notating the user when walking in the dark. Such utility electronic circuits can be powered by an inherent miniature batteries, or through wires passing along the hollow pole of the umbrella, i.e. through one of the grooves of the pole type illustrated by FIG. 2B. In case the umbrella parts are of conductive material all along the path between the battery compartment and the electronic circuit, they can be used instead of one of the wires required for conducting the battery power to the utility electronic circuits and/or the lights, located at the covering.
FIG. 8 illustrates a partial isometric cross sectional view of the lower end of the electrical umbrella according to the present invention, consisting of a main handgrip (80) having a battery compartment (81) inside, rechargeable batteries (81a) (81b), a jack (81c) for receiving a connector of a recharging power source, an electrical motor (82), a switching circuit (83) having a press button (83o) for opening the umbrella, a press button (83c) for closing the umbrella, a ‘low battery’ indication light (83c), an electronic circuit for overload detection (see FIG. 8A) and an electronic circuit for ‘low battery’ indication light (see FIG. 8B), and a gear unit (84) for gearing between the motor (82) and between the rotation transmission rod (65b) which transfers the rotation to the short movement canopy conducting mechanism. According to another preferred embodiment there may be provided additional electronic circuit for measuring and displaying of the surrounding temperature, and/or comprising an electronic watch.
According to various preferred embodiments of the present invention the battery compartment is made withdrawable, thus can be instantly replaced by fresh recharged batteries located inside a similar spare battery compartment, and put for recharging separately (i.e. out of the umbrella, which can now be used by the replacement battery set until becoming empty, and recurrently).
FIG. 8A illustrates a circuit for overload detection, which disconnects the motor from the battery power upon detection of increase in the motor current beyond a predetermined threshold. This circuit is not only directed to protect the motor in unexpected emergency situations, but is also very useful during conventional operation, for indicating the end of the opening and the closing operations of the umbrella, wherein in the end of the closing operation, when the hub (4a) (see FIGS. 2 to 5) of the conducting member reaches the top end (5a) of the helical shaft (5), or in the end of the opening operation, when the hub reaches the bottom end of the helical shaft, the motor operation is dramatically resisted thus the motor current which passes via resistor (81) dramatically increases and an overload condition is immediately detected, and the automatic switch (80) (a FET gate) disconnects the battery power from the motor. When the user identifies that the motor has stopped he naturally releases the press button, and the umbrella remains in its current position until an opposite operation will be activated by the user, by pressing the press button which governs the opposite operation.
FIG. 8B illustrates an electronic circuit for ‘low battery’ detection, which lights a red LED light alarm upon detection of insufficient battery voltage.
FIG. 9 illustrates an isometric view of a complete electrical umbrella according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, without the canopy. The canopy conducting mechanism is located behind the conical covering (70), and is capable of conducting the ribs (2) between the illustrated open position and between a closed position wherein the ribs become substantially parallel to the pole (63), the umbrella could be griped by one hand holding the main handgrip (80), and when a need rises, by the other hand holding the upper handgrip (66). As can be appreciated from this figure, the space below the canopy is completely free (except of the pole), thus the canopy could be lowered by a user adjacent his head.
The handgrip (66) uses also for activating an override arrangement, and when released by rotating the nut (66a) and by pressing a catch lever (see 61d1 of FIG. 6B), it can be used for closing the canopy by moving it down and for opening the canopy by moving it up. When an appropriate canopy state is achieved, the nut (66a) can be rotated and tightened back for maintaining the state.
FIG. 10 illustrates the distal end of a rib (2) according to various preferred embodiments of the present invention. The rib body (21) is made of a rigid metal, and the rib distal end (22) is made of a flexible metal bar (e.g. flexible steel). The two parts can be connected together in any acceptable way such as miniature screws, pins, pegs (23), welding or combinations thereof. The connection can be reinforced by inserting the flexible bar into a groove prepared in the end of the rib body. The flexible part is essential for receiving a mushroom shape of the canopy in its open state wherein the flexible ends of the ribs are forced to bent downwards in an arc shape (e.g. to the position illustrated by the doted line), by means of the canopy cloth which is sewn in a mushroom shape. When the canopy is closed the flexible portion of the ribs returns to a straight orientation which is required for having the umbrella folded in a straight compact shape.
According to various preferred embodiments illustrated by FIG. 11, the canopy (120) is sewn from above the covering of the conducting mechanism 70), and has another covering (77), from above. According to other preferred embodiments, illustrated by FIG. 12, the central portion (121a) of the canopy 121) is inserted and held in the inner space between the base member (1) and the covering (70) of the conducting mechanism.
According to various preferred embodiments illustrated by FIG. 13, the umbrella of the present invention is provided with aeration channels (as marked by arrows) useful for decreasing wind forces which tend to flinging the umbrella or to deform its construction. Wind arriving from the bottom side of the canopy is (at least partially) released through the aeration channels illustrated by the arrows. The aeration channels can be created by leaving parts of the proximal (i.e. central) end (122a) of the canopy un tightened, and by providing additional cloth sheet (123) for covering above the central portion of the canopy. The additional cloth sheet can be used also for decoration purpose, thus can be provided in a color or pattern other than that of the canopy (122). The top of the umbrella (to its various embodiments) can be designed as that of conventional umbrellas having a sharpened tip (124) that can be connected to the covering (70) by means of threading (or by any other desired connected method).
Another option is to make the aeration channels formed not between the canopy cloth and the conducting mechanism base and covering, rather formed as hollow pipes made in the rigid material of the base member and of the covering.
FIG. 14 illustrates short movement canopy conducting mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention, adapted for multifold canopies having telescopic umbrella pole, in a closed state of the umbrella. As can be observed, the ribs (only one is illustrated) are formed of three folding sections (202) (212) and (216). The rib section (202) has a rib lever portion (202a) having a pin (202b) movable along a slide (4c) of the slide bar (4b). A plurality of slide bars (4b) are angularly spaced about a hub (204a) which is moveable vertically between a plurality of vertical guide members (240) arranged in a circle around the hub (204a), each in the space between a pair of respective slide bars (4a). In this figure the hub (204a) is situated in its uppermost location between the guide members, which is corresponding to a closed state of the umbrella. Accordingly, the three section rib is folded and having its three rib sections (202) (21) and (216) lying substantially parallel to each other. As can be appreciated, and similarly to the canopy conducting mechanism of the above described embodiments, movement of the hub (204a) downwards, will result in sliding of the pins (202b) along the slides (4c) and thus in rotating the rib section (202) by the work of rib lever (202a), about the pivot connection (201a). As can be appreciated, the pivoting of the rib section (202) upwardly will result in a correlated pivoting of rib stretcher (217) about its pivot joint (217a), and in turn in a linear movement of its pin (217b) in the direction indicated by arrow R, along a corresponding slide (202h) made in the rib section (202). As a result of the linear movement of the stretcher (217) in the indicated direction, the rib section (212) will rotate about hinge (232) due to the pulling of its lever member (212a) by the pulling member (217b) linked to the lever member (212a) by pivot joint (231). Simultaneously, the still wire (218) will pull the rib lever (215) to pivot about the hinge (235) and thus to lift the elastic rib section (216). The result of said movements is depicted in FIG. 15, showing the open state of the umbrella.
The guide members (240), the extension tube (222) and the base member (201) can all be made of the same piece of material. Alternatively, it is possible to manufacture them as separate parts and to connect them afterwards in any acceptable way.
As can be further observed in this FIG. 14, the pole of the umbrella is telescopic and is comprised of an upper telescopic section (220) connected on its top to the bottom of the canopy conducting mechanism, and of a lower telescopic section (221) connected at its bottom to a handgrip (277) of the umbrella which is also a housing of the motor (279). A helical drive shaft (226) is operatively coupled to the motor (229), and can be rotated by the motor clockwise or counterclockwise, in order to open and close both the canopy and the telescopic pole. In this Fig. the telescopic pole is closed, wherein the lower telescopic section (221) is fully inside the upper telescopic section (220). Upon rotation of the motor in a direction to open the umbrella, the lower telescopic section will be pulled out of the upper telescopic section due to advancing of the tube nut (227) along the threading of the helical drive shaft (226), since the tube nut (227) is connected through an extension tube (222) to the top of the upper telescopic section (220). After a while during the rotation of the drive shaft, the drive shaft shoulder (226a) which is of a larger diameter than that of the drive shaft (226) itself, will engage the top of a hollow ring (225), and will start pulling it toward the tube nut (227). The hollow ring (225) is connected to the hub (204a) through wires (223) and (224) located from two opposite direction of the drive shaft (226) and anchored to both the hollow ring (225) and the hub (204a) of the conducting member (204). As a result of this pull, the conducting member (204) will move downwards, driving the multifold canopy open by opening the multifold ribs in the mechanism described hereinbefore. When the hollow ring (225) will reach a close proximity of the tube nut (227) the conducting member (204) will reach its lowermost position along its vertical guides (240), with the multifold canopy open and with the telescopic pole in its max length.
As can be appreciated, upon rotation of the motor (279) in an opposite direction, i.e. in a direction to close the umbrella, the rotation of the drive shaft (226) inside the tube nut (227) will close the telescopic pole by pushing the lower telescopic section (221) inside the upper telescopic section (220), and when the top of the drive shaft shoulder (226a) will engage the bottom of the downward extension (204d) of the hub, it will start pushing the conducting member (204) upwards, to the initial close position as depicted in this FIG. 14. The hollow ring (225) has a free passage with respect to the threading of the drive shaft (226) and thus it is not affecting the closing mechanism. From the same reason it is also does not affect the first part of the opening mechanism, i.e. prior the engagement of the drive shaft shoulder (226a) with the top of the hollow ring as described above.
FIG. 14A illustrates a top view of the canopy conducting member (204) of the embodiment of FIG. 14 as it is situated in its guide members (224). As shown in this figure, the hub (204a) is encompassed by a plurality of guide members (240) marked in black, each of which is situated between a pair of corresponding slide bars (4a) with a gap between the guide members (240) and the slide bars (4a), allowing for a vertical movement of the hub (204a) and the plurality of slide bars (4a) connected to it, up and down between the guide members (240). The top of the two wires (223) and (224) are shown anchored inside the hub from both opposite directions of its downward extension (204d). These wires connect the conducting member (204) to the hollow ring (225) shown in FIG. 14, which by its pulling down the conducting member (204) moves down to open the multifold canopy.
FIG. 15 illustrates the same embodiment illustrated by FIG. 14, in an open state of the umbrella. The lower telescopic section (221) is drawn out of the upper telescopic section (220), the drive shaft shoulder (226a) holds the hollow ring (225) adjacent the tube nut (227) and thus the conducting member (204) is held by the wires (223) and (224) in its lowermost position along the guide members (240) corresponding the open state of the multifold canopy, with the multifold rib sections (202) (212) and (216) in an open state.
Upon rotation of the motor (279) in a direction to close the umbrella, the low telescopic section (221) will move into the upper telescopic section (220) due to the advancing of the threading of the drive shaft (226) through the tube nut (227). When the top of the drive shaft shoulder (226a) will reach the bottom of the downward extension (204d) of the hub (204a) the conducting member (204) will be forced upwards while folding the multifold canopy in a process opposite to the opening process described by FIG. 14. The folding of the canopy will be completed when the conducting member returns to the initial closed position illustrated by FIG. 14, with the telescopic pole in a closed state.
FIG. 16A to 16C illustrates in partial vertical cross section view (taken at A-A of FIG. 17) three states during the operation of a canopy conducting mechanism according to another preferred embodiment pin and slide joint. In the illustrated embodiment the pin (300) of the pin and slide joint is actually the end portion of the short lever (303) of a canopy rib (301), and it is wider than the rib. Although the pin diameter is significantly greater then its length (which is perpendicularly to the figure plane) it is still called a pin in the context of the present invention, since actually it fulfills the same function as e.g. pin 2b of FIG. 1. The slide of the pin (300) is a hollow cell (311) (will be referred to also as “slide (311)”) made in a canopy conducting member (310), which actually is a hub comprising a plurality of such hollow cells (311) angularly spaced about a common center, each of which accommodating a pin (300). In FIG. 16A the canopy conducting member (310) is shown in its uppermost position above the umbrella pole (not illustrated), with the pin (300) forcing the short lever (303) upwards thus keeping the rib (301) downwards, which is a closed canopy state. When the canopy conducting member (310) moves down to the position illustrated by FIG. 16B, it forces the pin (300) downwardly and furthermore to slide inwardly inside the hollow cell (311), thus forcing the rib (301) to rotate upwardly about the hinge (302). To a mid position which corresponds to a partially open state of the canopy. By further lowering the canopy conducting member (310) to the lowermost position as illustrated by FIG. 16C, the pin (300) is forced downwards and laterally outwards from the hollow cell (311), thus forcing the rib (301) to further pivot about the hinge (302), to the position illustrated by FIG. 16C which corresponds to open state of the umbrella. As can be appreciated the pin and slide joint formed by pin (300) and slide (311) allows to convert the up-down vertical movement of the conducting member (310) into a pivoting movement of the short lever (303) and the rib (311) about the hinge (302). It is appreciated that the short lever (303) may be designed shorter then illustrated, and actually the pin itself may function as a lever. The length of the short lever (303) is a matter of design and depends inter allia in the torque of the electrical motor to be used (the short lever can be design shorter as long as the motor torque is sufficient to lift the rib and stretch the canopy fabric).
FIG. 17 illustrates a partial lateral cross section view (taken at B-B of FIG. 16B) of the canopy conducting mechanism of the embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 16A to 16C in the state illustrated by FIG. 16 B, wherein the ribs (301) are in a mid location with the canopy partially opened and with the pin (300) of each rib maximally slid along the slide (311) in the direction of the central axis of the conducting member (310). As can be observed in FIGS. 16A and 16C, the pin (300) reaches its maximal opposite slid along the slide (311), i.e. its max distance from the center of the conducting member (310). The up-down movement of the conducting member can be achieved by a hub extension (312) (shown in FIGS. 16A-16C) extended into the pole of the umbrella similarly to the hub extension member (4aa) of FIG. 6, or by an inner threading represented by the double dotted circular line (314), similarly to the inner threading in hub (4a) of FIG. 1.
FIG. 18 illustrates a side view of a canopy rib according to the embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 16A to 17, made of one piece of material. The rib can be produced from plastic casting, as one unit comprising the pin (300), the short lever (303), hinges (302) from both its sides, and the rib (301). The rib (301) itself may have recesses (304) from both its sides useful for reducing its weight with negligible lose of strength. The end (305) of the rib can be made gradually tapered, such that its thickness near the rib end is sufficiently reduced as to make it flexible, such that when the canopy is fully opened the rib being forced to the arched shape illustrated by doted line (306), due to a stress exerted by the canopy fabric (not illustrated) which is dimensioned and designed in a mushroom shape forcing the flexible ends of the ribs to bent downwardly.
FIG. 19 illustrates a top view of the canopy rib of FIG. 18. The rib has a flat end (305) which is flexible in the direction perpendicular to the illustration plane, due to reduced thickness of the end of the rib. Accordingly the present invention relates to an umbrella comprised of a canopy conducting mechanism as described above, wherein the ribs are made of a rigid material and having gradually reduced thickness at their distal ends resulting in flexibility of the ends of the ribs useful for obtaining mushroom shaped canopy. The invention relates also to umbrella rib having gradually reduced thickness near its distal end especially useful for obtaining mushroom shaped canopy in strutless umbrellas.
Patent Application
20080190469
