Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6199571
-
Patent Number
6,199,571
-
Date Filed
Monday, March 1, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, March 13, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 135 24
- 135 22
- 135 251
- 135 203
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A lightening multiple-fold automatic umbrella comprises: a central shaft consisting of a plurality of tubes telescopically engageable with one another; a rib assembly having at least a top rib and a stretcher rib pivotally secured to an upper notch on the central shaft and a lower runner slidably held on the central shaft for securing an umbrella cloth on the rib assembly; an opening spring retained within the central shaft for opening the umbrella; a drag rope retained between the central shaft and the lower runner for pulling the lower runner as upwardly moved when opening the umbrella and extending the rib assembly; and a control module embedded in a grip of the central shaft normally locking the lower runner when closing the umbrella for folding the rib assembly; and operatively unlocking the lower runner when opening the umbrella for extending the rib assembly. By these mechanisms, a multiple-fold automatic umbrella will be produced for quick assembly and convenient operation or maintenance.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,359 granted to the same inventors of this application disclosed a multiple-fold automatic umbrella having lightening umbrella structure, which however requires an elongate control lever (
52
) to be pivotally mounted in the grip (
12
) by a pivot (
521
), thereby causing a complex and inconvenient assembly of the elements of the control means (
5
). Meanwhile, the link (
41
) of the drag means (
4
) should be secured in a link holder (
42
) by a pin (
422
) and the link holder (
42
) is further secured in a lower portion of the lower tube (
11
) of the central shaft (
1
), thereby causing inconvenience and complexity for assembling the elements of the umbrella.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,616 to Schultes disclosed an umbrella with a mechanism for locking and releasing a slider including a bolt (
18
) slidably carried in the handle (
1
) and a release button (
15
) secured to the bolt (
18
). As shown in
FIG. 7
of the Schultes patent (,616), the handle (
1
) should be separated into a bottom part and a top part, with the two detachable parts provided to define the slide channel (
1
a
″) and to mount the bolt (
18
) and the spring (
17
) therebetween to be easily accessible. However, such two parts when combined for assembling the complete handle (
1
) will form a “boundary line” at their connection edges, thereby influencing an esthetic decorative effect for the umbrella. The hook portion of the top part engageable and combinable with the groove of the bottom part of the handle should each be made by plastic material (dotted line shown in
FIG. 7
of Schultes patent), not suitably made by wooden material. It may therefore be difficult to make the handle (
1
) of the umbrella by wooden material and the handle as made of plastic material may decrease its commercial value and ornamental effect in consideration of the noble feeling as enabled by wooden material.
The present inventors have found the drawbacks of the conventional multiple-fold automatic umbrella, and invented the present lightening multiple-fold automatic umbrella.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a lightening multiple-fold automatic umbrella comprising: a central shaft consisting of a plurality of tubes telescopically engageable with one another; a rib assembly having at least a top rib and a stretcher rib pivotally secured to an upper notch on the central shaft and a lower runner slidably held on the central shaft for securing an umbrella cloth on the rib assembly; an opening spring retained within the central shaft for opening the umbrella; a drag rope retained between the central shaft and the lower runner for pulling the lower runner as upwardly moved when opening the umbrella and extending the rib assembly; and a control module embedded in a grip of the central shaft normally locking the lower runner when closing the umbrella for folding the rib assembly; and operatively unlocking the lower runner when opening the umbrella for extending the rib assembly, thereby providing a multiple-fold automatic umbrella for quick assembly and convenient operation or maintenance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is an illustration showing an opening umbrella of the present invention.
FIG. 2
is a sectional drawing of the present invention when closed.
FIG. 3
is an illustration showing an intermediate step for receiving the ball tips of the umbrella ribs within a top periphery of the grip.
FIG. 4
shows a folded umbrella following the step as shown in FIG.
3
.
FIG. 5
is a perspective exploded view of the control module and the grip of the present invention.
FIG. 6
is a sectional drawing when embedding the control module into the grip of the present invention following FIG.
5
.
FIG. 7
is a cross sectional drawing of the grip when viewed from
7
—
7
direction of FIG.
6
.
FIG. 8
is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the control module and the grip of the present invention.
FIG. 9
is a sectional drawing of the grip by assembling the control module of
FIG. 8
therein when closing the umbrella.
FIG. 10
is a sectional drawing following
FIG. 9
by receiving the ball tips within the grip.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As shown in FIGS.
1
˜
7
, the multiple-fold automatic umbrella of the present invention comprises: a central shaft
1
, a rib assembly
2
, an opening spring
3
, a drag means
4
, and a control module
5
.
The present invention is provided for triple-fold automatic umbrella as shown in the drawing figures as accompanied herewith. However, the number of folds of the umbrella are not limited in the present invention.
The central shaft
1
includes: a lower tube
11
having a grip
12
secured to a lower portion of the lower tube
11
, a middle tube
13
telescopically engageable with the lower tube
11
, an upper tube
14
telescopically engageable with the middle tube
13
, and an inner block
15
fixed in an upper portion of the upper tube
14
.
The shapes of the tubes
14
,
13
,
11
are not limited in this invention. Every two neighboring tubes may be formed with coupling or limiting mechanism between the two tubes to prevent “escape” or separation of one tube from the other. For lightening purpose, the tube may be made of aluminum alloy or other light materials having a cross section of concave hexagonal sides.
The rib assembly
2
includes: a top rib
21
pivotally secured to an upper notch
22
formed on an upper portion of the central shaft
1
, a stretcher rib
23
pivotally secured between the top rib
21
and a lower runner
24
slidably hold on central shaft
1
, an intermediate rib
25
pivotally connected to the top rib
21
and having an intermediate connecting rib
26
pivotally connected between the stretcher rib
23
and the intermediate rib
25
, a tail rib
27
pivotally connected to the intermediate rib
25
, and a spring rib
28
connected between the top rib
21
and the tail rib
27
. Each tail rib
27
has a ball tip
271
formed on an outermost end of the rib
27
.
The ribs of the rib assembly
2
may be modified to be other multiple-fold structures, not limited in the present invention.
The lower runner
24
includes a lower extension tube
240
protruding downwardly from the lower runner
24
, having a first engaging hole
241
formed in a lowermost end portion of the lower extension tube
240
, and a second engaging hole
242
formed in the lower extension tube
240
and positioned above the first engaging hole
241
, each engaging hole
241
,
242
engageable with a sliding latch
52
slidably held in the control module
5
.
The opening spring
3
has a lower spring end
31
retained on a rope holder
42
of the drag means
4
and retained in a lower portion of the lower tube
11
; and an upper spring end
32
retained on the inner block
15
secured in an upper portion of the upper tube
14
.
The drag means
4
includes: a rope
41
having a lower rope end
411
secured in a rope holder
42
fixed within a lower portion of the lower tube
11
, an upper roller
43
rotatably held in an upper portion of the upper tube
14
, a lower roller
44
rotatably mounted on the lower runner
24
, and an inner sleeve
45
disposed in the upper tube
14
and secured to an upper portion of the upper tube
14
for slidably disposing the opening spring
3
about the inner sleeve
45
. The rope
41
is directed upwardly from the lower rope end
411
through the inner sleeve
45
to be wound on the upper roller
43
, and then deflected downwardly to be wound on the lower runner
44
, and finally deflected upwardly to have an upper rope end
412
fixed in an upper end or in the inner block
15
of the upper tube
14
.
The rope holder
42
of the drag means
4
is secured in a bottom portion of the lower tube
11
by a fastening device
120
which may be a screw, a nail or a pin inserted transversely through the grip
12
for simultaneously fixing the lower tube
11
and a latch holder
53
of the control module
5
within the grip
12
; having a socket
421
formed in the rope holder
42
for passing the lower rope end
411
of the rope
41
through the rope holder
42
to be tied as a knot to be locked within the socket
421
in the rope holder
42
. Such a knot of the lower rope end
411
of the rope
41
may be quickly secured in the rope holder
42
for easily assembling the umbrella of the present invention.
The control module
5
includes: a push button
51
slidably held in a button hole
122
formed through the grip
12
adjacent to a first side A of the central shaft
1
, a sliding latch
52
slidably held in a latch holder
53
embedded in an interior
121
recessed in the grip
12
, and a restoring spring
54
resiliently retained between the sliding latch
52
and the latch holder
53
adjacent to a second side B of the shaft
1
for normally urging the sliding latch
52
and the push button
51
resiliently contacted with the sliding latch
52
to protrude the push button
51
outwardly towards the first side A from the button hole
122
of the grip
12
ready for a depression thereon when opening the umbrella.
The push button
51
has an extension disk
511
formed on an inner end of the button
51
to be resiliently contacted with the sliding latch
52
, with the extension disk
511
outwardly retarded on an inside wall around the button hole
122
of the grip
12
when resiliently urged towards the first side A of the shaft
1
by the sliding latch
52
as restored by the restoring spring
54
.
The sliding latch
52
is reciprocatively slidably engageable with a sliding hole
531
transversely formed in an upper portion of the latch holder
53
, having an oval-shaped hole
521
longitudinally formed through a central portion of the sliding latch
52
with the oval-shaped hole
521
slightly larger than an outside diameter of the lower extension tube
240
of the lower runner
24
, and a latch portion
522
formed on an edge portion of the oval-shaped hole
521
adjacent to the second side B of the shaft
1
and tapered downwardly towards the central portion of the latch
52
to be engageable with either engaging hole
241
,
242
in the lower runner
24
when closing the umbrella.
The latch holder
53
includes: a sliding hole
531
transversely formed in an upper end portion of a sleeve member
50
to be slidably engageable with the sliding latch
52
within the sliding hole
531
, a restoring spring
54
retained in an inside portion of the sliding hole
531
adjacent to the second side B of the shaft
1
to urge the latch
52
and push button
51
outwardly towards the first side A of the shaft
1
, a central hole
532
longitudinally formed in a central portion of the latch holder
53
, allowing a downward movement of the lower extension tube
240
of the lower runner
24
and the tubes
14
,
13
of the central shaft
1
for engaging each engaging hole
241
,
242
in the lower runner
24
with the latch portion
522
formed on the sliding latch
52
when closing the umbrella; with the sleeve member
50
embedded in the interior
121
in the grip
12
and disposed about a bottom portion of the lower tube
11
and fixed in the grip by a fastening device
120
which may be a screw, a nail or a pin.
When closing the opened umbrella as shown in
FIG. 1
, the lower runner
24
is pulled downwardly to retract the rib assembly
2
to engage the first engaging hole
241
in the lower runner
24
with the latch portion
522
of the sliding latch
52
as shown in
FIG. 2
, the ball tips
271
are still remained at outside of the top periphery
123
of the grip
12
. The ball tips
271
may be further retracted towards the shaft
1
and the grip
12
may also be further depressed towards the shaft in order to receive the ball tops
271
within the periphery
123
of the grip and the lower extension tube
240
of the runner
24
is simultaneously retracted into the interior
121
of the grip to engage the second engaging hole
242
on the runner
24
with the latch portion
522
as shown in
FIGS. 3
,
4
to finally fold the umbrella more stably. The total length of the folded umbrella of this invention can thus be further shortened (
FIG. 4
) for making a mini compact foldable umbrella.
Upon depression of push button
51
to disengage the second engaging hole
242
of the runner
24
from the latch portion
522
of the sliding latch
52
, the opening spring
3
will urge the tubes
14
,
13
of the central shaft
1
upwardly, and raise the runner
24
to extend the rib assembly
2
for opening the umbrella from
FIG. 4
to FIG.
1
. The ball tips
271
seem to be obstructed by the periphery
123
of the grip
12
as shown in FIG.
4
. Undoubtedly, the spring force of the opening spring
3
for extending the tubes
14
,
13
of the shaft
1
and the ribs of the rib assembly
2
will instantly “pull” the tips
271
outwardly to “escape” from the periphery
123
of the grip
12
, thereby causing no influence for a smooth opening of the umbrella of the present invention.
The control module
5
of the present invention is formed as a “module” easily inserted, embedded, assembled in the grip or easily dismantled from the grip, simplifying the production of a lightening multiple-fold automatic umbrella.
The rope holder
42
of the drag means
4
is directly inserted in an interior at a bottom portion of the lower tube within the grip
12
, thereby efficiently saving the volume for accommodating such a rope holder
42
in such a “tiny” grip adapted for miniaturizing a compact folding umbrella.
The simplified structure for making the control means to be a “module” as taught by this application will facilitate the production of a multiple-fold automatic umbrella and will help a well maintenance of the umbrella, thereby being superior to the prior arts.
The latch holder
53
of the control module
5
of the present invention may be further modified as shown in FIGS.
8
˜
10
for making a wooden grip
12
, which includes: a sliding hole
531
transversely formed in an upper end portion of a bushing
530
disposed about a bottom portion of the lower tube
11
in the grip
12
, a restoring spring
54
retained in the sliding hole
531
outwardly urging the sliding latch
52
and the push button
51
, a central hole
532
longitudinally formed in the latch holder for a downward moving of the lower extension tube
240
of the lower runner
24
when closing the umbrella, and a sleeve member
50
embedded in the interior in the grip
12
and lined between an inside wall of the grip
12
and the bushing
530
of the latch holder
53
; with the sleeve member
50
pre-embedded into the interior
121
in the grip
12
for a precise positioning in the grip which is then drilled with a button hole
122
in the grip
12
for slidably holding the push button
51
through the button hole
122
, whereby the bushing
530
of the latch holder
53
is then engaged with the sleeve member
50
to align the sliding latch
52
with the push button
51
in the grip
12
.
The sleeve member
50
is formed with a pair of lugs
501
on an upper flange of the sleeve member to be engaged with a pair of lug holes
533
diametrically formed in opposite ends of the upper portion of the bushing
530
, and a notch
502
recessed in a front portion of the upper flange of the sleeve member
50
to be projectively aligned with the push button for allowing a rearward depression of the push button
51
.
The grip
12
as embedded therein with the latch holder
53
and sleeve member
50
is especially recommended for making a wooden grip since all the elements of the control module
5
are made as module units by molding process for an easy embedding, assembly, or detachment in the wooden grip, thereby enhancing the commercial value and decorative effect of an umbrella having wooden grip rather than a plastic grip.
The present invention may be further modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims
- 1. A lightening multiple-fold automatic umbrella comprising:a central shaft including a lower tube, a middle tube and an upper tube telescopically engageable with one another, having a grip secured with the lower tube; a rib assembly having at least a top rib and a stretcher rib pivotally secured to an upper notch on the central shaft and a lower runner slidably held on the central shaft for securing an umbrella cloth on the rib assembly; an opening spring retained within the central shaft for opening the umbrella; a drag means retained between the central shaft and the lower runner for pulling the lower runner as upwardly moved when opening the umbrella and extending the rib assembly; and a control module embedded in said grip of the central shaft and normally locking the lower runner when closing the umbrella and folding the rib assembly; and said control module operatively unlocking the lower runner when opening the umbrella and extending the rib assembly; said drag means including: a rope having a lower rope end secured in a rope holder fixed within a lower portion of the lower tube, an upper roller rotatably held in an upper portion of the upper tube, a lower roller rotatably mounted on the lower runner, and an inner sleeve disposed in the upper tube; with said rope directed from said lower rope end through said inner sleeve to be respectively wound on said upper roller, and said lower roller and having an upper rope end secured to an upper portion of said upper tube; and said rope holder of the drag means secured in a bottom portion of the lower tube by a fastening device inserted transversely through the grip for simultaneously fixing the lower tube and a latch holder of the control module within the grip; having a socket formed in the rope holder for passing the lower rope end of the rope through the rope holder to be tied as a knot which is locked within the socket in the rope holder.
- 2. A multiple-fold automatic umbrella according to claim 1, wherein said control module includes: a push button slidably held in a button hole formed through the grip adjacent to a first side of the central shaft, a sliding latch engageable with at least an engaging hole formed in said lower runner and slidably held in a latch holder embedded in an interior recessed in the grip, and a restoring spring resiliently retained between the sliding latch and the latch holder adjacent to a second side of the shaft for normally urging the sliding latch and the push button resiliently contacted with the sliding latch to protrude the push button outwardly towards the first side of the shaft from the button hole of the grip in order for a depression on the push button when opening the umbrella; said latch holder including: a sliding hole transversely formed in an upper end portion of a bushing disposed about a bottom portion of the lower tube and in the grip, said restoring spring retained in the sliding hole and outwardly urging the sliding latch and the push button, a central hole longitudinally formed in the latch holder for a downward moving of the lower extension tube of the lower runner when closing the umbrella, and a sleeve member embedded in the interior in the grip and lined between an inside wall of the grip and the bushing of the latch holder; and said sleeve member formed with a pair of lugs on an upper flange of the sleeve member to be engaged with a pair of lug holes diametrically formed in opposite ends of an upper portion of the bushing, and a notch recessed in a front portion of the upper flange of the sleeve member to be projectively aligned with the push button for allowing inward depression of the push button.
US Referenced Citations (15)