BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a folding umbrella, especially to a special-shaped folding umbrella easy to be folded and closed.
Generally, umbrellas available now are divided into an umbrella for a single user with a smaller canopy and an umbrella for two users with a larger canopy. Inner ends of ribs are connected to a central shaft of the umbrella while outer ends of the ribs are extended radially from the central shaft of the umbrella. A fabric with certain area is fitted over the ribs to form the canopy. The canopy of the umbrella is circular in shape and sometimes unable to cover the user's body completely. For example, the user's shoulder or backpack is exposed and the umbrella is unable to protect the user from getting wet. Thus users have bad experiences with the umbrella. In order to solve the above problem, a special-shaped folding umbrella is available on the market such as those revealed in JP 2020192097 A, US 2009/0126769 A1, US D618,899 S, US D677,046 S, and US D599,103 S.
However, a tip on an outer (distal) end of respective 3-fold ribs to which a canopy is attached and a tip on an outer (distal) end of respective 4-fold ribs to which a canopy is attached are not at the same level while the folding umbrella being folded (closed), as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 of JP 2020192097 A. Thereby the folding and closing of the umbrella are not convenient for users. As to a canopy device revealed in US 2009/0126769 A1, it's different from a folding umbrella while in use. Refer to US D618,899 S, a parasol revealed is not a folding umbrella and the state of the ribs during the closing is not disclosed. Refer to US D599,103 S, the state of the ribs during the closing is not disclosed. Moreover, most of the special-shaped folding umbrellas available now have problems of a more complicated structure and higher manufacturing cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a special-shaped folding umbrella which is not only easy to be folded and closed but also having lower manufacturing cost due to simple structure.
In order to achieve the above object, a special-shaped folding umbrella according to the present invention includes a shaft, a cap, a runner, a notch, a plurality of 3-fold ribs, and a plurality of 4-fold ribs. While the umbrella is in a folded and closed state, a first connecting point of the respective 3-fold ribs and a first connecting point of the respective 4-fold ribs are at quite similar level (almost the same level). A height of a six connecting point of the respective 3-fold ribs and a height of a seventh connecting point of the respective 4-fold ribs are similar to each other and so are a height of a third connecting point of the respective 3-fold ribs and a height of a fourth connecting point of the respective 4-fold ribs. A level of a fourth connecting point of the respective 3-fold ribs and a level of a fifth connecting point of the respective 4-fold ribs are also similar During the folded and closed state, a tip of each of the 3-fold ribs and a tip of each of the 4-fold ribs are maintained at quite similar (nearly the same) level. Thereby the problems of the special-shaped umbrella available now such as difficulty in folding and closing and high manufacturing cost can be solved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing showing a side view of an embodiment of a special-shaped folding umbrella (without a special-shaped canopy) in a folded and closed state according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing showing a side view of an embodiment of a special-shaped folding umbrella in an open state according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a 3-fold rib of an embodiment according to the present invention;
FIG. 3a is a partial exploded view of a left half of the embodiment in FIG. 3 according to the present invention;
FIG. 3b is a partial exploded view of a right half of the embodiment in FIG. 3 according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a 4-fold rib of an embodiment according to the present invention;
FIG. 4a is a partial exploded view of a left half of the embodiment in FIG. 4 according to the present invention;
FIG. 4b is a partial exploded view of a right half of the embodiment in FIG. 4 according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing a second middle connecting rib connected with a connecting piece of an embodiment according to the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing showing a ratio of a length of a 3-fold rib to a length of a 4-fold rib of the embodiment in FIG. 2 according to the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing showing a ratio of a length of a 3-fold rib to a length of a 4-fold rib of the embodiment in FIG. 1 according to the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a top view of an embodiment provided with five 3-fold ribs and three 4-fold ribs according to the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a top view of another embodiment provided with two 3-fold ribs and six 4-fold ribs according to the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a top view of a further embodiment provided with six 3-fold ribs and two 4-fold ribs according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A folded and closed state mentioned hereafter means users pull a folding umbrella originally in an opened state (as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6) down and then close a strap or place the folded umbrella into an umbrella pocket so that the folding umbrella is maintained at the folded and closed state for easy storage (not shown in figure).
Refer to FIG. 2, a special-shaped folding umbrella 1 according to the present invention includes a shaft 10, a plurality of 3-fold ribs 20, a plurality of 4-fold ribs 30, a runner 40, a notch 50, and a cap 60.
Refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the shaft 10 is located close to a center of the special-shaped folding umbrella 1 and a head 14 is formed on a bottom of the shaft 10. The shaft 10 which can be, but not limited to be retractable consists of an inner tube 11, a middle tube 12, and an outer tube 13, as shown in FIG. 2. The inner tube 11 is able to be mounted into the middle tube 12 which is able to be mounted into the outer tube 13 so that the present device is applied to the field of the folding umbrella which is much easier to be folded and stored than handheld non-folding special-shaped umbrellas available now such as those revealed in US 2009/0126769 A1 and US D677,046 S. Opposite to the head 14, the cap 60 is located on a top of the shaft 10. The notch 50 is also disposed on the top of the shaft 10 and arranged under the cap 60. Both the notch 50 and the cap 60 are but not limited to: fixed on a top of the outer tube 13, but not limited. The runner 40 is moveably arranged between the head 14 and able to be (but not limited) moved along the outer tube 13.
Refer to FIG. 1-3b, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7, the respective 3-fold ribs 20 are disposed between the runner 40 and the notch 50 and able to be opened (as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6) or closed (as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 7). The respective 3-fold ribs 20 are moved along with the runner 40 and having an inner side close to the shaft 10 and an outer (distal) side provided with a tip 24. The 3-fold rib 20 is composed of a first inner main rib 21 having one end moveably connected to the notch 50, a first middle main rib 22 having one end moveably connected to the other end of the first inner main rib 21 by a rivet, a first outer cylindrical rib 23 having one end moveably connected to the other end of the first middle main rib 22 by a rivet, and the tip 24 connected to the other end of the first outer cylindrical rib 23, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. The 3-fold rib 20 further includes a first branched rib 25 having one end moveably connected to the runner 40 and the other end moveably connected to a middle part of the first inner main rib 21 by a rivet, a first inner connecting rib 26 having one end moveably connected to the first branched rib 25 and the other end moveably connected to the first middle main rib 22, and a first middle connecting rib 27 connected to an outer side of the first inner main rib 21 by a hook. The first middle connecting rib 27 is inserted into the first middle main rib 22 at the position close to an inner side of the first middle main rib 22, passed through a part of the first middle main rib 22, and then penetrated out of the first middle main rib 22 at the position close to an outer side of the first middle main rib 22 to be moveably connected to the first outer cylindrical rib 23. The hook on the first inner main rib 21 is provided with and connected to one end of a first spring 28 while the other end of the first spring 28 is connected to the first inner connecting rib 26 by a lock ![custom character]()
on one side of the first inner connecting rib 26. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, where the first inner main rib 21 is connected to the notch 50 is a first connecting point 20a, where the first inner main rib 21 and the first middle main rib 22 are connected is a second connecting point 20b, and where the first middle main rib 22 and the first outer cylindrical rib 23 are connected is a third connecting point 20c. Where the first outer cylindrical rib 23 and the tip 24 are connected is a fourth connecting point 20d, where the first branched rib 25 and the middle part of the first inner main rib 21 are connected is a fifth connecting point 20e, and where the first branched rib 25 is connected to the runner 40 is a sixth connecting point 20f, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6. When the respective 3-fold ribs 20 are opened, each of the 3-fold ribs 20 is composed of a first segment 20g, a second segment 20h, and a third segment 20i arranged from the inner side to the outer side of the 3-fold rib 20, as shown in FIG. 6. A length of the first segment 20g, a length of the second segment 20h, and a length of the third segment 20i are respectively a distance between the first connecting point 20a and the second connecting point 20b, a distance between the second connecting point 20b and the third connecting point 20c, and a distance between the third connecting point 20c and the fourth connecting point 20d, as shown in FIG. 6. The length of the first segment 20g, the length of the second segment 20h, and the length of the third segment 20i are quite similar to (approximately equal to) one another. While the respective 3-fold ribs 20 are folded and closed, each of the 3-fold ribs 20 further includes a fourth segment 20j and a fifth segment 20k from the inner side to the outer side thereof, as shown in FIG. 7. A length of the fourth segment 20j and a length of the fifth segment 20k are respectively a distance between the first connecting point 20a and the fifth connecting point 20e and a distance between the fifth connecting point 20e and the six connecting point 20f, as shown in FIG. 7. The first middle connecting rib 27 can be, but not limited to, an elastic deformable cylinder.
Refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 4-4b, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7, the respective 4-fold ribs 30 are arranged between the runner 40 and the notch 50 and able to be opened (as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6) or closed (as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 7). The respective 4-fold ribs 30 are moved along with the runner 40 and having an inner side close to the shaft 10 and an outer (distal) side provided with a tip 341, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4. The 4-fold rib 30 consists of a second inner main rib 31 having one end moveably connected to the runner 40, a second middle main rib 32 having one end moveably connected to the other end of the second inner main rib 31 by a rivet, an outer main rib 33 having one end moveably connected to the other end of the second middle main rib 32 by a rivet, and a second outer cylindrical rib 34 moveably connected to the other end of the outer main rib 33 by a rivet, and the tip 341 arranged at the other end of the second outer cylindrical rib 34. The 4-fold rib 30 further includes a second branched rib 35 having one end moveably connected to the notch 50 and the other end moveably connected to a middle part of the second inner main rib 31 by a rivet, a second inner connecting rib 36 having one end moveably connected to an upper side of the second branched rib 35 by a rivet and the other end fixed and connected to the second middle main rib 32 by a rivet, and a second middle connecting rib 37 having one end connected to a lower side of the second inner main rib 31 by a hook and the other end fixed on one side of the outer main rib 33 close to the second middle main rib 32. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 4b, a middle part of the second middle main rib 32 is provided with a limit pin which limits the second middle connecting rib 37 in the second middle main rib 32 while an outer side of the e second middle main rib 32 is connected to one end of an outer connecting rib 38 by a hook and the other end of the outer connecting rib 38 is moveably connected to one side of the second outer cylindrical rib 34 close to the outer main rib 33 by a rivet. A middle part of the outer main rib 33 is provided with a limit pin which limits the outer connecting rib 38 in the outer main rib 33. One end of the second inner connecting rib 36 close to the second branched rib 35 is provided with a second spring 39 which is fixed on the hook of the second middle connecting rib 37. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, where the second branched rib 35 is connected to the notch 50 is a first connecting point 30a, where the second inner main rib 31 and the second middle main rib 32 are connected is a second connecting point 30b, and where the second middle main rib 32 and the outer main rib 33 are connected is a third connecting point 30c. Where the outer main rib 33 and the second outer cylindrical rib 34 are connected is a fourth connecting point 30d, where the second outer cylindrical rib 34 and the tip 341 are connected is a fifth connecting point 30e, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6. Where the second branched rib 35 and a middle part of the second inner main rib 31 are connected is a sixth connecting point 30f and where the second inner main rib 31 is connected to the runner 40 is a seventh connecting point 30g, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6. When the respective 4-fold ribs 30 are opened, each of the respective 4-fold ribs 30 includes a first segment 30h, a second segment 30i, a third segment 30j, and a fourth segment 30k disposed from an inside to an outer side thereof, as shown in FIG. 6. A length of the first segment 30h, a length of the second segment 30i, a length of the third segment 30j, and a length of the fourth segment 30k are respectively a distance between the first connecting point 30a and the second connecting point 30b, a distance between the second connecting point 30b and the third connecting point 30c, a distance between the third connecting point 30c and the fourth connecting point 30d, and a distance between the fourth connecting point 30d and the fifth connecting point 30e as shown in FIG. 6. The length of the first segment 30h, the length of the second segment 30i, the length of the third segment 30j, and the length of the fourth segment 30k are quite similar to (approximately equal to) one another. While the respective 4-fold ribs 30 are folded and closed, each of the 4-fold ribs 30 includes a fifth segment 30l and a sixth segment 30m from the inner side to the outer side thereof, as shown in FIG. 7. A length of the fifth segment 30l and a length of the sixth segment 30m are respectively a distance between the first connecting point 30a and the six connecting point 30f and a distance between the six connecting point 30f and the seventh connecting point 30g, as shown in FIG. 7.
The second middle connecting rib 37 and the outer middle connecting rib 38 can be, but not limited, an elastic deformable cylinder. As shown in FIG. 4, a connecting piece 371 is arranged at a connection area between the second middle connecting rib 37 and the outer main rib 33. Refer to FIG. 5, the connecting piece 371 is fixed on the second middle connecting rib 37 by a rivet. The connecting piece 371 is provided with a through hole so that the connecting piece 371 is moveably connected to the outer main rib 33 by connection of a rivet with the through hole, as shown in FIG. 4b.
The present special-shaped folding umbrella is provided with the first spring 28, the second middle connecting rib 37, and the second spring 39 for providing connection and linkage between various types of ribs. Thus the present special-shaped folding umbrella 1 can be applied to the field of automatic folding umbrella. Yet the first spring 28, the second middle connecting rib 37, and the second spring 39 are not necessary for the present special-shaped folding umbrella 1. Without these parts, the present special-shaped folding umbrella 1 can still be applied to the field of manual-folding umbrella. That means the present special-shaped folding umbrella 1 is always in the field of folding umbrella and varieties of designs of the special-shaped folding umbrella 1 enhances the competitiveness in the market.
As shown in FIG. 6, the length of the first segment 20g of the 3-fold rib 20 and the length of the first segment 30h of the 4-fold rib 30 are quite similar (nearly the same). The length of the second segment 20h and the length of the third segment 20i of the 3-fold rib 20 are respectively quite similar to (almost the same) the length of the third segment 30j and the length of the fourth segment 30k of the 4-fold rib 30.
A total length of the fourth segment 20j and the fifth segment 20k of the 3-fold rib 20 is quite similar (approximately equal) to a total length of the fifth segment 30l and the sixth segment 30m of the 4-fold rib 30, as shown in FIG. 7.
Through the adjustment of the ratio of the length of the respective 3-fold ribs 20 to the length of the respective 4-fold ribs 30, the present special-shaped folding umbrella 1 can be folded quickly and conveniently by the user. Compared with the present device, the umbrellas available now (such as those revealed in CN 202664494 U, CN 201668060 U, CN 201602246 U, and CN 103284424 B) have more complicated cost which causes higher manufacturing cost.
The respective 3-fold ribs 20 and the respective 4-fold ribs 30 are equidistantly arranged around the notch 50, as shown in FIG. 8-10. Refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7, the respective 3-fold ribs 20 and the respective 4-fold ribs 30 are raised to be opened or folded to be closed for storage synchronously. When the runner 40 is moved and positioned at the position close to the head 14 to hold still, the respective 3-fold ribs 20 and the respective 4-fold ribs 30 are folded to be in a closed state, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 7.
In the folded and closed state, a height of the first connecting point 20a of the 3-fold rib 20 and that of the first connecting point 30a of the 4-fold rib 30 are quite similar (almost the same), as shown in FIG. 7. A height of the six connecting point 20f of the 3-fold rib 20 and that of the seventh connecting point 30g of the 4-fold rib 30 are also similar to each other (nearly the same) and so are a height of the third connecting point 20c of the 3-fold rib 20 and a height of the fourth connecting point 30d of the 4-fold rib 30. Still refer to FIG. 7, the fourth connecting point 20d of the 3-fold rib 20 and the fifth connecting point 30e of the 4-fold rib 30 have quite similar height (almost the same). Thereby the present special-shaped folding umbrella 1 can be folded up quickly and easily by the user.
Moreover, while in the folded and closed state, the tip 24 of each of the 3-fold ribs 20 and the tip 341 of each of the 4-fold ribs 30 are maintained at the same or quite similar (nearly the same) level, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 7, and such design also helps users to fold up the special-shaped folding umbrella 1 quickly and easily.
The present special-shaped umbrella 1 features on that users can fold up the special-shaped folding umbrella 1 quickly and easily, without using their hands to adjust the positions of the respective ribs or tips. As to the special-shaped folding umbrellas available now (such as one revealed in JP 2020192097 A), the tips of each of the 3-fold ribs and the tips of the each of the 4-fold ribs have different heights. Thus users need to adjust the positions of the respective ribs or the respective tips with their hands for folding up the umbrella.
When the runner 40 is moved upwards and positioned at the position close to the notch 50, the respective 3-fold ribs 20 and the respective 4-fold ribs 30 are in an opened state, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6. While the respective ribs 20, 30 are in the opened state, a special-shaped canopy 70 of the special-shaped folding umbrella 1 is extended to form a special-shaped surface which is different from a circular surface of typical folding umbrellas, as shown in FIG. 8-10.
According to the numbers of the 3-fold ribs 20 and the 4-fold ribs 30 used and the shape of the special-shaped canopy 70 used in combination with the ribs 20, 30, the special-shaped folding umbrella 1 can be designed into various shapes to meet various users' requirements, as shown in the following embodiments.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the number of the 3-fold ribs 20 and that of the 4-fold ribs 30 in the special-shaped folding umbrella 1 are respectively five and three. A shaded area of a part of the special-shaped canopy 70 is larger than that of the rest part of the special-shaped canopy 70.
As to the embodiment in FIG. 9, the special-shaped folding umbrella 1 includes two 3-fold ribs 20 and six the 4-fold ribs 30. In the special-shaped canopy 70, there are two areas with larger shaded area than rest areas.
Refer to FIG. 10, the number of the 3-fold ribs 20 and that of the 4-fold ribs 30 in this embodiment of the special-shaped folding umbrella 1 are respectively six and two. Only a part of the special-shaped canopy 70 is having a larger shading area than the rest part of the special-shaped canopy 70.
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, and representative devices shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalent.
Patent Grant
11857041
