Patent Application
20160255927
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic ring, and more particularly to a magnetic ring for folding and fastening the canopy of an umbrella.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional fastening assembly for an umbrella takes the form of a strap sewn onto the canopy, and two ends of the strap respectively have a hook fastener or a loop fastener. The strap can restrain the canopy by encircling around the canopy and pressing the hook fastener and the loop fastener together when the umbrella is collapsed.
However, the hook fastener and the loop fastener gradually lose their fastening capacity after repeated pressing and pulling apart. The fasteners can no longer be restrictive to the canopy. In this situation, users can hardly put the umbrella into an umbrella cover. The rainwater always drips and flows all over the floor and hence poses a high risk of slippage for passersby.
Another fastening assembly of an umbrella is also a strap that is sewn onto the canopy, but two ends of the strap respectively have a male snap fastener or a female snap fastener. The strap can restrain the canopy by encircling around the canopy and fastening the male snap fastener and the female snap fastener together when the umbrella is collapsed. If the snap fasteners are made of plastics, the snap fasteners are prone to damage by exposure to sunlight or by multiple times of fastening. If the snap fasteners are made of metal, the structural strength is stronger than plastic ones. However, the metal snap fasteners become rusty in the wet environment. After use for a long time, the rust stains the canopy, which is unpleasant both in appearance and hygiene.
In addition, the rainwater flows around the canopy on rainy days. Users feel cold when they operate the above-mentioned straps and contact the rainwater by hand. This cold feel is even more unbearable in the winter.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a magnetic ring as a fastening assembly for an umbrella; the magnetic ring can be used with long durability. In addition, users can operate the magnetic ring without contacting the rainwater. With the above advantages, users can easily use the present invention with ease and comfort.
To achieve the foregoing objective, the magnetic ring of an umbrella comprises a top, a bottom, an inner side part, and an outer side part.
The magnetic ring is a hollow ring. The top is opposite to the bottom, and an annular groove is formed in the bottom and forms at least a magnetic component in the annular groove of the bottom. Furthermore, the inner side part connects along inner edges of the top and the bottom. A first chamfer is formed between the top and the inner side part; a second chamfer is formed between the bottom and the inner side part.
The advantage of the present invention is that the magnetic ring can be encircled on the canopy after use of the umbrella. With the first and second chamfers, the magnetic ring cannot scratch or damage the surface of the canopy during the encircling and sliding. In addition, the magnetic ring can be attracted temporarily to the umbrella stem by magnetic components mounted in the annular groove of the bottom when the umbrella is unfolded. The present invention provides enhanced convenience for umbrella users and avoids losing the magnetic ring.
Particularly, the inner side part is a smooth surface. The curvature of the first chamfer is larger than the curvature of the second chamfer. The present invention enhances the smoothness for sliding the magnetic ring on the canopy surface. The present invention cannot scratch or damage the surface of the canopy in the encircling-and-sliding process due to the smooth surface of the inner side part and the chamfers.
Particularly, two magnetic components are mounted in the annular groove of the bottom. The two magnetic components are embedded at two opposite positions in the annular groove. Furthermore, multiple ribs are formed in the annular groove between the two magnetic components. The advantage of the present invention is that the magnetic ring can be attracted to the umbrella stem by the magnetic components when the umbrella is unfolded. Furthermore, the ribs can strengthen the structure of the magnetic ring, thereby avoiding breakage when the magnetic ring falls to the ground.
More particularly, the height of the inner side part is less than the height of the outer side part. Two notches are formed oppositely near the outer edge of the bottom and on the outer side part. The notches are corresponding in position to the magnetic components, and the height of each notch is equal to the height difference between the inner side part and the outer side part. The advantage of the present invention is that the umbrella stem can abut against the notches when the magnetic ring is attracted to the umbrella stem by the magnetic components. This design enhances the stability for mounting the magnetic ring on the umbrella stem.
With reference to
Multiple ribs 123 are formed between the two magnetic components 122 in the annular groove 121. The ribs 123 can strengthen the structure of the magnetic ring 10.
The inner side part 13 is a smooth surface. After using the umbrella, users can slide the magnetic ring 10 from the end cap of the umbrella toward the handle along the surface of the canopy and the umbrella stem without scratching or damaging the surface of the canopy. The inner side part 13 is connected along inner edges of the top 11 and the bottom 12, and a first chamfer 15 is formed between the top 11 and the inner side part 13. Furthermore, a second chamfer 16 is formed between the bottom 12 and the inner side part 13. The first chamfer 15 and the second chamfer 16 also can avoid scratch or damage by the sliding of the magnetic ring 10 on the canopy surface. In addition, the curvature of the first chamfer 15 is larger than the curvature of the second chamfer 16. This design also enhances the smoothness for sliding the magnetic ring 10 on the canopy surface.
Furthermore, the outer side part 14 is connected along outer edges of the top 11 and the bottom 12. The height of the inner side part H1 is less than the height of the outer side part H2. Two notches 141 are formed oppositely from the bottom 12 toward the top 11, near the outer edge of the bottom 12, and on the outer side part 14, and the notches 141 are corresponding in position to the magnetic components 122. The height of each notch H3 is equal to the height difference between the inner side part 13 and the outer side part 14 (H2−H1). The surface distal from the top 11 of each magnetic component 122 and the second chamfer 16 are in the same horizontal level. When the magnetic ring 10 is mounted on the umbrella stem by the magnetic components 122, the umbrella stem can abut against the notches 141. This design enhances the stability for mounting the magnetic ring 10 on the umbrella stem.
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In summary, the magnetic ring 10 facilitates firm and durable folding and fastening of an umbrella 20. The magnetic ring 10 does not scratch or damage the surface of the canopy in the encircling-and-sliding process due to the smooth surface of the inner side part 13, the first chamfer 15, and the second chamfer 16. In addition, the magnetic ring 10 can be attracted to the umbrella stem 22 after the umbrella 20 is unfolded. The magnetic ring 10 can be used with high durability. The present invention provides enhanced convenience for umbrella users.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
