Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6176246
-
Patent Number
6,176,246
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, March 31, 199926 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, January 23, 200124 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 135 22
- 135 23
- 135 24
- 135 251
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A multiple-fold automatic umbrella includes: a central shaft consisting of plural tubes telescopically engageable with one another; a rib assembly including at least a top rib pivotally secured to an upper notch of the central shaft, a stretcher rib pivotally secured between the top rib and a lower runner slidably held on the central shaft, and other ribs pivotally connected with one another and pivotally secured to the top rib and the stretcher rib; an opening spring resiliently retained in the central shaft for opening the umbrella; a plurality of closing springs for closing the umbrella; and a control device including a drawer shaped push button slidably held in a grip of the central shaft having an upper latch integrally formed on the push button operatively disengaging the lower runner for opening the umbrella, and a lower latch for closing the umbrella when opened and perpendicularly secured under the lower latch with a safety spring member resiliently held in a front chamber formed in a front portion of the grip, not in a bottom portion of the grip, in order for shortening the length of the grip for miniaturizing the multiple-fold automatic umbrella.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,161 issued to the same inventors of this application disclosed an automatic umbrella having triple folds for folding the umbrella ribs and the tubes of the central shaft. While the U.S. patent application of Ser. No. 09/071,439 filed on May 1, 1998 by the same inventors of this application disclosed an automatic umbrella with quadruple folds. Both the two prior arts as above-mentioned disclosed an anti-false operation safety means
57
having an elongated cylinder (
571
) which is operatively lowered by the tubes of the central shaft (
1
) after closing the umbrella to lower the latch (
54
) integrally formed on the cylinder (
571
) to prevent a false depression of the push button (
51
) against the latch (
54
) of the closing controller (
53
) when opening the umbrella.
Since the elongate cylinder (
571
) of the anti-false operation safety means (
57
) should be provided in a lower portion of the grip (
12
) and the lower tube (
11
) of the central shaft (
1
), it will require an appreciable length of the grip and the shaft, thereby influencing a total length of the umbrella when folded and limiting the miniaturization of the multiple-fold automatic umbrella.
The present inventor has found the drawbacks of the conventional automatic umbrella and invented the present automatic umbrella with simplified structure and also with shortened length.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a multiple-fold automatic umbrella including: a central shaft consisting of plural tubes telescopically engageable with one another; a rib assembly including at least a top rib pivotally secured to an upper notch of the central shaft, a stretcher rib pivotally secured between the top rib and a lower runner slidably held on the central shaft, and other ribs pivotally connected with one another and pivotally secured to the top rib and the stretcher rib; an opening spring resiliently retained in the central shaft for opening the umbrella; a plurality of closing springs for closing the umbrella; and a control device including a drawer shaped push button slidably held in a grip of the central shaft having an upper latch integrally formed on the push button operatively disengaging the lower runner for opening the umbrella, and a lower latch for closing the umbrella when opened and perpendicularly secured thereunder with a safety spring member resiliently held in a front chamber formed in a front portion of the grip, not in a bottom portion of the grip, in order for shortening the length of the grip for miniaturizing the multiple-fold automatic umbrella.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE BRIEF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
illustration showing an opened umbrella of the present invention.
FIG. 2
shows an umbrella when closed from FIG.
1
.
FIG. 3
a sectional drawing of the grip portion of the present invention as partially enlarged from FIG.
1
.
FIG. 4
is a sectional drawing when depressing the push button from FIG.
3
.
FIG. 5
is a sectional drawing when restored from FIG.
4
.
FIG. 6
is a sectional drawing when compressing the opening spring in
FIG. 2
for resetting the present invention as folded.
FIG. 7
is a perspective view showing the lowering of the lower runner to depress the closing controller of this invention.
FIG. 8
is an exploded view showing the elements of the grip, the control means and the lower runner of the present invention.
FIG. 9
shows an installation relationship of an upper rope end with the lower runner of the present invention.
FIG. 10
shows a modification from FIG.
9
.
FIG. 11
shows a further modification of FIG.
9
.
FIG. 12
shows a relationship of the locking head means and the relevant elements of this invention.
FIG. 13
is an exploded view of the elements of FIG.
12
.
FIG. 14
shows another modification of FIG.
12
.
FIG. 15
is a perspective view of two uppermost guiding rollers and their engaging holder.
FIG. 16
is a sectional drawing showing another modification of the uppermost guiding roller.
FIG. 17
is a perspective view of the large uppermost guiding roller as shown in FIG.
16
.
FIG. 18
is an exploded view of the control means of another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 19
is a partial sectional drawing of a closed umbrella by using the elements of FIG.
18
.
FIG. 20
is a partial sectional drawing of the present invention when opened from FIG.
19
.
FIG. 21
shows a depression of the push button for closing the umbrella from FIG.
20
.
FIG. 22
shows a collar retained on a tube end of the central shaft for smoothly guiding the opening spring within the tube walls of the central shaft.
FIG. 23
shows another collar as modified from FIG.
22
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As shown in FIGS.
1
-
17
, the present invention comprises: a central shaft
1
, a rib assembly
2
, an opening spring
3
, a plurality of closing springs
4
, and a control means
5
. The central shaft
1
includes: a lower tube
11
, a grip
12
secured to a lower tube portion
111
of the lower tube
11
, a first middle tube
13
slidably held on an outer and upper side of the lower tube
11
, a second middle tube
13
a
slidably held on an outer and upper side of the first middle tube
13
, an upper tube
14
slidably held on an outer and upper side of the second middle tube
13
a,
an upper notch
15
secured on a top portion of the upper tube
14
, and a central sleeve
17
secured to an inner block
15
fixed in the top portion of the upper tube
14
.
Collars C, C′ (
FIGS. 22
,
23
) are each retained on an upper tube end of the middle tubes
13
,
13
a
for smoothly guiding the opening spring
3
to be slidably held in the tubes of the central shaft
1
for a smooth and silent opening or closing operation of the umbrella.
The rib assembly
2
includes: a top rib
21
having an inner portion of the top rib
21
pivotally secured to the upper notch
15
of the central shaft
1
, a stretcher rib
22
having a middle rib portion connected with an outermost end of the top rib
21
and having an inner portion of the stretcher rib
22
pivotally secured to a lower runner
23
which is slidably held on the upper tube
14
and having an outermost rib end of the stretcher rib
22
pivotally connected with an inner portion of a middle rib
24
, the middle rib
24
having an innermost end of the middle rib
24
pivotally connected with an outer end of an inner connecting rib
25
, having an inner end of the inner connecting rib
25
connected with an outer portion of the top rib
21
, a tail rib
26
having an innermost end of the tail rib
26
pivotally connected with an outer end of an outer spring rib
27
with the outer spring rib
27
having an inner end thereof pivotally connected with an outer portion of the middle rib
24
, an inner spring rib
27
a
juxtapositionally held to the middle rib
24
and connected between an innermost end of an outer connecting rib
28
and an outer portion of the stretcher rib
22
, the outer connecting rib
28
juxtapositionally coupled with the outer spring rib
27
by a coupling
29
, having an inner portion of the outer connecting rib
28
pivotally connected with an outermost end of the middle rib
24
and having an outer end of the outer connecting rib
28
pivotally connected to an inner portion of the tail rib
26
.
Other mechanisms of the ribs can be modified. The lower runner
23
has a lower extension tube
230
protruding downwardly from the runner
23
having an engaging hole
231
cut in a rear side of the extension tube
230
, and having a depression portion
232
recessed in a bottom portion on the front side of the extension tube
230
.
The cross sectional shapes of the tubes of the central shaft
1
are not limited in the present invention.
Every two neighboring tubes may be formed with a coupling or limiting means therebetween for preventing separation or escape of the tubes when opening the umbrella and extending the tubes of the central shaft
1
. The number of folds of the present invention is not limited, which can be triple or quadruple folds or the like.
The opening spring
3
for opening an umbrella of this invention has a lower spring end
31
retained on a lower portion of the lower tube
11
, and an upper spring end
32
retained on a bottom portion of the inner block
151
inserted in an upper portion of the upper tube
14
, the opening spring
3
slidably disposed about the central sleeve
17
.
Each closing spring
4
of the plurality of the closing springs
4
has an inner spring end
41
of the closing spring
4
secured to an inner portion of the inner connecting rib
25
, and an outer spring end
42
of the closing spring
4
secured to an outer portion of the stretcher rib
22
. The closing spring
4
is provided for closing the umbrella from its opened state by an elastic energy stored when opening the umbrella. The closing spring
4
may also be installed on the other locations of the rib assembly
2
.
The control means
5
includes: a drawer-shaped push button
51
integrally formed with a ring portion
511
slidably held in a button hole
121
formed in the grip
12
having an upper latch
52
integrally formed on a rear portion of the ring portion
511
with the ring portion defining a central hole
511
a
for passing the extension tube
230
of the lower runner
23
when closing the umbrella and with the upper latch
52
tapered downwardly centripetally towards a center of the central hole
511
a
from a rear side B of the central shaft
1
towards a front side A of the shaft
1
, with the upper latch
52
resiliently urged, by a restoring spring
50
retained in the grip at the rear side B of the shaft
1
, towards the front side A of the shaft
1
for engaging the engaging hole
231
formed in the extension tube
230
of the runner when closing the umbrella, and upon depression of the push button to simultaneously retract the upper latch
52
to disengage the runner for opening the umbrella; a closing controller
53
having a lower latch
54
perpendicularly secured with a safety spring member
57
under the lower latch
54
, with the safety spring member
57
resiliently held in a front chamber
121
a
formed in a lower front portion of the grip
12
and the lower latch
54
resiliently urged upwardly between the push button
51
and the locking head
551
to be operatively depressed by the push button
51
for inwardly pushing the locking head
551
of a locking head means
55
, which is secured with a drag rope
56
repeatedly linked among an upper portion of the upper tube
14
, a plurality of guiding rollers and the lower runner
23
, for disengaging the locking head
551
from a detent protrusion
111
a
formed in a lower portion
111
of the lower tube
11
, thereby allowing each said closing spring
4
to be restored to release its pre-stored elastic energy for closing an opened umbrella; with the lower latch
54
and the safety spring member
57
operatively lowered by the lower extension tube
230
of runner
23
, after closing the umbrella and compressing the opening spring
3
, to be positioned under the button
51
to prevent a false depression of the closing controller
53
by the push button when opening the umbrella as shown in FIG.
6
. The push button
51
has a width larger than a diameter of the lower extension tube
230
of the runner
23
for an ergonomic depression of the button.
The detent protrusion
111
a
is directly punched inwardly from a lower portion of the lower tube
11
for engaging the locking head
551
when closing the umbrella and compressing the spring
3
as being sidewardly biased towards the first side A of the shaft
1
by a convex spring plate
58
formed in the grip
12
at the second side B of shaft
1
(FIG.
6
).
As shown in FIGS.
3
-
6
,
7
and
8
, the grip
12
is longitudinally formed with a central hole
12
therein having a button hole
121
transversely formed in the grip
12
for slidably holding the push button
51
in the button hole
121
; and a base
12
a
having a bottom sleeve
59
protruding upwardly from a central portion of the base
12
a
to be engaged with a lower tube portion of the lower tube
11
, with the base
12
a
embedded and engaged with a bottom portion of the grip
12
, whereby upon an insertion of a screw
122
through the grip
12
, the base
12
a
and the lower tube
11
, a combination thereof will be formed. The “front chamber” (
121
a
) is defined in a front portion of the base
12
a
and the grip
12
(before the lower portion of the lower tube
11
) for storing the safety spring member
57
within the front chamber
121
a.
The lower latch
54
includes an outer depressing end
541
contacted with the push button
51
when the umbrella is opened and an inner thrusting end
542
facing the locking head
551
engaged on the detent protrusion
111
a
of the lower tube
11
; having the safety spring member
57
perpendicularly secured to a central bottom portion of the lower latch
54
, and resiliently urged upwardly by a tension spring
572
retained in the front chamber
121
a
in the grip
12
to normally position the lower latch
54
between the push button
51
and the locking head
551
as shown in
FIGS. 1
,
3
, whereby upon a depression of the push button
51
to inwardly depress the lower latch
54
and the locking head
551
, the locking head
551
will be disengaged from the protrusion
11
a
to close the umbrella from
FIG. 1
to FIG.
2
. While upon a lowering of the lower runner
23
, when compressing the opening spring
3
for resetting the closed umbrella as shown in
FIG. 6
, the lower extension tube
230
of the runner
23
will depress the lower latch
54
downwardly to leave from the button
51
and locking head
551
. The depression portion
232
recessed in a bottom of the extension tube
230
will depress the lower latch
54
and will be engaged with a side wall of the front chamber
121
a
(
FIG. 7
) for preventing a rightward or leftward vibration of the runner
23
and for stabilizing of the runner
23
when closing the umbrella.
The safety spring member
57
is slidably engageable in a guiding sleeve
571
erected in the front chamber
121
a
in the grip
12
, having an elongate slot
570
longitudinally formed through the spring member
57
and slidably engageable with a stopper or stopping pin
573
fixed on the guiding sleeve
571
and the tension spring
572
disposed around the safety spring member
57
and the guiding sleeve
571
to allow an upper spring end of the tension spring
572
to urge the lower latch
57
secured to an upper end of the safety spring member
57
to be positioned in between the push button
51
and the locking head
551
, with the spring member
57
upwardly limited by the stopper
573
(
FIGS. 3
,
5
), ready for a depression by the push button
51
to disengage the locking head
551
when closing the umbrella; and upon releasing of the button
51
after closing the umbrella, the safety spring member
57
will be automatically restored as shown from
FIG. 4
to FIG.
5
.
As shown in FIGS.
18
-
21
, the closing controller
53
may be further modified, in which the safety spring member
57
, as perpendicularly secured to the lower latch
54
, includes a guiding plunger
571
a
formed on a lower portion of the safety spring member
57
, having a cavity recessed in a bottom of the plunger
571
a
for retaining the tension spring
572
in the cavity of the plunger
571
a
, with the tension spring
572
held in the front chamber
121
a
defined in a front portion of the grip before (not “under”) the lower portion of the lower tube
11
to normally urge the spring member
57
and lower latch
54
upwardly, whereby upon depression of the push button
51
to inwardly depress the lower latch
54
as urged by the spring member
57
(
FIG. 20
) and the locking head
551
through a lower hole in the lower tube
11
, the locking head
551
will be disengaged from the protrusion
111
a
for closing the umbrella (
FIG. 20
to FIG.
21
), with the plunger
571
a
upwardly limited by the stopper or diaphragm stopper
573
formed on an upper portion of the front chamber
121
a
in the grip
12
.
After releasing the depression of the push button
51
, the safety spring member
57
will be automatically restored to be vertically straightened. The guiding punger
571
a
is slidably engageable in the front chamber
121
a
in the grip
12
for a stable upward or downward movement within the chamber
121
a
like a piston or plunger sliding in a piston cylinder, thereby stabilizing the sliding movement of the plunger
571
a
and the safety spring member
57
in the front chamber
121
a
. Upon lowering of the lower runner
23
when closing the umbrella (FIG.
19
), the depression portion
232
as recessed in a bottom of the runner
23
will depress the lower latch
54
secured on the safety spring member
57
downwardly and the depression portion
232
will be engaged with the diaphragm
573
(
FIG. 18
) on an upper portion of the front chamber
121
a
for preventing a twisting of the lower runner
23
when the umbrella is closed.
The locking head means
55
as shown in
FIGS. 12
,
13
includes: the locking head
551
formed on a lower end of a hollow stem
550
of the locking head means
55
for storing a lower rope end
561
of the rope
56
which is tied to be a knot in the locking head
551
, a spherical or arcuate cover
551
a
capped on a bottom end of the locking head
551
, an upper spherical portion
552
formed on an upper end of the hollow stem
550
, and a spherical or arcuate bottom plug
553
embedded in a bottom end of the central sleeve
17
to be universally engageable with the upper spherical portion
552
of the hollow stem
550
when closing the umbrella by engaging the locking head
551
on the protrusion
111
a
of the lower tube
11
(FIG.
6
). As shown in
FIG. 14
, the cover
551
a
of
FIG. 13
is omitted, and the locking head
551
should still be formed with a spherical bottom portion on the bottom of the head
551
.
The drag rope
56
includes: a lower rope end
561
secured to the locking head
551
of the locking head means
55
, an upper rope end
562
fixed to the lower runner
23
, an upper guiding roller
563
rotatably mounted by an upper pivot
16
in the inner block
151
secured in an upper portion of the upper tube
14
for slidably guiding the drag rope
56
from inside the upper tube
14
and the central sleeve
17
for winding the rope on the upper guiding roller
563
with the rope then directed downwardly towards the lower runner
23
to be wound on a lower guiding roller
564
rotatably mounted on the lower runner
23
by a lower pivot
564
a
, an uppermost guiding roller means rotatably mounted on a top portion of the upper tube
14
and positioned above the upper roller
563
for further winding the rope
56
on the uppermost guiding roller means from the lower guiding roller
564
, with the upper rope end
562
downwardly directed to be fixed to the lower runner
23
opposite to the lower guiding roller
564
. So, the rope
56
is first wound on the upper roller
563
from the inside of the shaft
1
and guided to the lower roller
564
on the runner
23
by winding the rope on the lower guiding roller
564
and then defectively extended upwardly to be wound on the uppermost roller means and finally deflected downwardly to be fixed to the lower runner
23
, thereby providing an enough stroke for the rope for quadruple or multiple folds of an automatic umbrella.
The uppermost guiding roller means as shown in
FIGS. 6
,
15
,
16
includes: a pair of uppermost guiding rollers
565
,
565
′ respectively rotatably mounted in opposite portions of an upper portion of the inner block
151
by two uppermost pivots
161
above the upper guiding roller
563
for winding the rope
56
on the two uppermost guiding rollers
565
,
565
′ for disposing the rope
56
on opposite outer surfaces of the upper tube
14
for dynamically balancing the rope stroke when operating the umbrella.
The uppermost guiding roller means may be modified to be an uppermost guiding wheel
565
a
as shown in
FIGS. 16
,
17
in which the uppermost guiding wheel
565
a
has a diameter generally equal to a diameter of the upper tube
14
and rotatably mounted on the top of the upper tube
14
by an uppermost pivot
161
transversely secured on the top of the upper tube
14
and generally perpendicularly intersecting a longitudinal axis
10
of the shaft
1
for symmetrically disposing an outer rope section of the rope
56
on opposite sides of the pivot
161
and disposed on opposite outer surfaces of the upper tube
14
for dynamic balancing of the rope stroke when folding and unfolding the umbrella.
As shown in
FIG. 15
, the two uppermost guiding rollers
565
,
565
′ are respectively rotatably mounted on a U-shaped roller holder
565
h
embedded in a top portion of the upper tube
14
.
As show in FIGS.
9
-
11
, the upper rope end
562
of the drag rope
56
is secured in a rope holder
562
h
which is formed as T shape or D shape and embedded in a cavity
233
recessed in a ferrule of the lower runner
23
.
When opening the umbrella of the present invention from
FIG. 6
to
FIG. 1
, the push button
51
is depressed to retract the upper latch
52
to disengage the latch
52
from the hole
231
of the lower runner
23
, the opening spring
3
will urge the lower runner
23
and the tubes of the central shaft
1
upwardly and extend the ribs of the rib assembly
2
for opening the umbrella.
When closing the umbrella, the push button
51
is depressed to inwardly thrust the lower latch
54
and the locking head
551
to disengage the head
551
from the protrusion
111
a
on the tube
11
, the closing springs
4
will retract the ribs, lower the runner
23
and fold the tubes of the central shaft
1
from
FIG. 1
to
FIG. 2
for closing the umbrella. Then, the opening spring
3
is compressed for resetting the closed umbrella as shown in
FIG. 6
for storing the elastic energy of the spring
3
for next opening use.
When closing the umbrella as shown in
FIG. 6
, the lower latch
54
and the safety spring member
57
are depressed and lowered downwardly without contacting with the push button
51
and the locking head
551
in order for preventing a depression of the push button for unlocking the head
551
from the protrusion
111
a
since the latch
54
has been lowered to be under the button
51
, thereby preventing a false operation for actuation of the closing controller
53
when opening the umbrella.
The present invention is superior to the conventional multiple-fold automatic umbrella with the following advantages:
1. The safety spring member
57
is resiliently held in a front chamber
121
a
in the front portion of the grip
12
before (not “under”) the lower tube portion of the lower tube
11
, thereby shortening the length of the umbrella for a better miniaturization of a foldable umbrella.
2. The lower latch
54
has an outer contacting end
541
normally contacting the push button
51
, and an inner thrusting end
542
facing or corresponding to the locking head
551
, thereby gravitationally balanced on and disposed on opposite sides of the safety spring member
57
for a stable positioning and smooth operation of the latch
54
and the safety spring member
57
.
3. The push button
51
is integrally formed with the upper latch
52
and is formed as a “drawer” smoothly slidable in the grip
12
for a convenient opening operation of the umbrella.
4. The elements of the grip
12
and control means
5
are made to be module units for an easier assembly, operation and maintenance. For instance, the base
12
a
is embedded in a bottom of the grip
12
for quicker assembly of the relevant elements within the grip.
5. The structure of the umbrella has been greatly simplified for decreasing the production cost and the length has also been shortened for a convenient handling and storage.
The present invention may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims
- 1. A multiple-fold automatic umbrella comprising:a central shaft including: a lower tube having a grip secured therewith, at least a middle tube slidably held on said lower tube, and an upper tube slidably held on the middle tube having an upper notch fixed on a top of the upper tube; a rib assembly including at least a top rib pivotally secured to the upper notch, a stretcher rib pivotally connected to the top rib and a lower runner slidably held on the upper tube, a middle rib pivotally connectable to said stretcher rib and said top rib, and a tail rib pivotally connected to the middle rib; with the lower runner having a lower extension tube protruding downwardly from said runner; an opening spring resiliently retained in said central shaft for opening the umbrella; a plurality of closing springs resiliently retained on said rib assembly for closing the umbrella; and a control means including a push button formed as a drawer shape slidably held in said grip and integrally formed with a ring portion having an upper latch integrally formed on a rear portion of the ring portion tapered downwardly and centripetally towards a enter of the ring portion defining a central hole in the ring portion for passing the lower extension tube of the lower runner when closing the umbrella to engage the upper latch with an engaging hole formed in the lower extension tube of said runner, whereby upon depression of said push button to disengage said upper latch from said lower runner, the umbrella will be opened; a closing controller including a lower latch having a safety spring member perpendicularly secured to said lower latch and resiliently held in a front chamber defined in a front portion of said grip before a lower tube portion of the lower tube of the central shaft; a locking head means secured with a drag rope continuously defectively wound on a plurality of guiding rollers respectively rotatably mounted on the shaft and on said runner; with said lower latch resiliently urged to be positioned between said push button and a locking head of said locking head means when opening the umbrella, whereby upon depression of the push button to thrust the lower latch to disengage the locking head from a detent protrusion on said lower tube, the umbrella will be closed from an opened state; and upon compression of said opening spring and folding the tubes of the central shaft when closing the umbrella, the lower latch will be downwardly depressed by the lower runner to be positioned under the push button for preventing a false operation of said lower latch.
- 2. An automatic umbrella according to claim 1, wherein said grip is transversely formed with a button hole in the grip for slidably holding said push button in said button hole; and formed with a central hole longitudinally through the grip for combinably embedding a base in a bottom portion of the central hole of the grip having a bottom sleeve protruding upwardly from said base to engage a lower tube portion of the lower tube of the central shaft; said front chamber defined in a front portion of said base and said grip for storing said safety spring member in said front chamber; either a width of said push button or an inside diameter of said central hole in said ring portion of said button being larger than a diameter of said lower extension tube.
- 3. An automatic umbrella according to claim 1, wherein said lower latch includes an outer depressing end contacting with said push button and an inner thrusting end facing said locking head engaged on said protrusion formed on said lower tube; said lower latch having a central bottom portion thereof perpendicularly secured to an upper end of said safety spring member; whereby upon an inward depression of said push button and said lower latch, said locking head will be thrusted to disengage from the protrusion for closing an opened umbrella.
- 4. An automatic umbrella according to claim 3, wherein said safety spring member is slidably held in a guiding sleeve formed in saidfront chamber in said grip, having a tension spring disposed around said guiding sleeve and said safety spring member for resiliently urging said lower latch upwardly to be positioned between said push button and said locking head ready for a depression of said push button for closing an opened umbrella; said safety spring member having an elongate slot longitudinally formed through said safety spring member and slidably engageable with a stopper or limiting pin fixed on said guiding sleeve, with said stopper limiting an upward movement of said safety spring member.
- 5. An automatic umbrella according to claim 3, wherein said safety spring member has a guiding plunger formed on a lower end of said safety spring member, said guiding plunger slidably engageable with said front chamber in said grip having a tension spring retained in said front chamber and retained into a cavity recessed in a bottom of said guiding plunger for resiliently urging said safety spring member and said lower latch upwardly to be depressible by the push button when the umbrella is opened; with said guiding plunger upwardly limited by a stopper or diaphragm formed on an upper portion of said front chamber; and upon closing of the umbrella for lowering said lower extension tube of said runner, a depression portion recessed in a bottom of said lower extension tube of said runner will depress the lower latch downwardly and will be operatively engageable with said diaphragm of said front chamber for preventing twisting of said runner when closing the umbrella.
- 6. An automatic umbrella according to claim 1, wherein said locking head means includes a hollow stem having its lower end formed with said locking head for storing a lower rope end of said drag rope therein, said locking head having a bottom portion selected from a spherical bottom portion and a bottom portion capped with a spherical bottom cover on said bottom portion of said locking head; said hollow stem having its upper end formed as a spherical portion to be universally engageable with a spherical plug inserted in a bottom portion of a central sleeve secured in said upper tube of said central shaft; and said drag rope upwardly extendible from said locking head for passing through said hollow stem and said central sleeve.
- 7. An automatic umbrella according to claim 1, wherein said drag rope includes: a lower rope end secured to the locking head means, an upper rope end fixed to the lower runner, an upper guiding roller rotatably mounted in an upper portion of the upper tube for slidably guiding the drag rope from inside the upper tube and a central sleeve for winding the rope on the upper guiding roller, a lower guiding roller rotatably mounted on the lower runner for winding the rope as guided from said upper guiding roller, an uppermost guiding roller means rotatably mounted on a top portion of the upper tube and positioned above the upper roller for further winding the rope on the uppermost guiding roller means from the lower guiding roller, with the upper rope end downwardly directed to be fixed to the lower runner opposite to said lower guiding roller.
- 8. An automatic umbrella according to claim 7, wherein said uppermost guiding means includes a pair of uppermost guiding rollers respectively rotatably mounted in opposite portions of an inner block by two uppermost pivots and positioned above the upper guiding roller for winding the rope on the two uppermost guiding rollers for disposing the rope on opposite outer surfaces of the central shaft for dynamically balancing the rope when operating the umbrella.
- 9. An automatic umbrella according to claim 7, wherein said uppermost guiding means is an uppermost guiding wheel having a diameter generally equal to a diameter of the central shaft and rotatably mounted on a top of the shaft by an uppermost pivot transversely secured on the top of the shaft means and generally perpendicularly intersecting a longitudinal axis of the shaft for symmetrically disposing an outer rope section of the drag rope on opposite sides of the uppermost guiding wheel and disposed on opposite outer surfaces of the shaft for dynamic balancing of a rope when folding and unfolding the umbrella.
- 10. An automatic umbrella according to claim 8, wherein said two uppermost guiding rollers are rotatably mounted in a roller holder embedded in a top of said upper tube.
- 11. An automatic umbrella according to claim 7, wherein said upper rope end of said drag rope is fixed in a rope holder embedded in a cavity recessed in a ferrule of said lower runner.
- 12. An automatic umbrella according to claim 1, wherein said middle tube includes a collar retained on an upper tube end for smoothly guiding said opening spring within said central shaft.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
5868151 |
Kuo |
Feb 1999 |
|
5992433 |
Chung-Kuang et al. |
Feb 1999 |
|
6016822 |
Lin et al. |
Jan 2000 |
|