BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view illustrating a stick umbrella structure for retracting rib units in a reverse direction in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention when situated in a spread state; and
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view illustrating the stick umbrella structure for retracting rib units in the reverse direction in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention when situated in a retracted state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to FIG. 1, a side elevational view of a stick umbrella structure for retracting rib units in a reverse direction in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated and situated in a spread state. In the preferred embodiment, the stick umbrella structure includes a main shank designated numeral 1, a plurality of rib units designated numeral 2 and a canopy designated numeral 3.
Still referring to FIG. 1, construction of the main shank 1 shall be described in detail. In this preferred embodiment, the main shank 1 includes a fixed hub 11, an umbrella handle 12, a movable slider 13, an elastic member 14, a first engaging tooth 15 and a second engaging tooth 16. The fixed hub 11 is mounted on a top end of the main shank 1 while the umbrella handle 12 is mounted on a bottom end of the main shank 1. Preferably, the fixed hub 11 provides a series of pivot points (unlabeled) on an outer circumference thereof. Disposed between the fixed hub 11 and the umbrella handle 12 is the movable slider 13 which can be slid along the main shank 1. In a preferred embodiment, the movable slider 13 provides a series of pivot points 131 arranged on an outer circumference thereof, and an engaging hole 132 formed on an annular wall thereof. The elastic member 14 is located on a position of the main shank 1 proximal the fixed hub 11. In the preferred embodiment, the first engaging tooth 15 and second engaging tooth 16 are arranged at two different predetermined positions of the main shank 1. The first engaging tooth 15 may be located at a position proximal the fixed hub 11 or a top portion of the main shank 1 while the second engaging tooth 16 may be located at a position proximal the umbrella handle 12 or a bottom portion of the main shank 1. In operation, one of the first engaging tooth 15 and second engaging tooth 16 engages with the engaging hole 132 of the movable slider 13 such that the movable slider 13 is capable of positioning at two different positions of the main shank 1. Preferably, each of the first engaging tooth 15 and second engaging tooth 16 provides a spring mechanism (not shown) which continuously exerts a bias force on each of the first engaging tooth 15 and second engaging tooth 16. Consequently, the first engaging tooth 15 and second engaging tooth 16 can be pressed and elastically engaged with or disengaged from the engaging hole 132 of the movable slider 13.
With continued reference to FIG. 1, construction of the rib unit 2 shall be described in detail. Each of the rib units 2 pivot-connects with the pivot points of the fixed hub 11, and radially extends from the outer circumference thereof. In the preferred embodiment, the rib unit 2 consists of a main rib 21 and a spreader rib 22, and all of which constitute a series of the main ribs 21 and a series of the spreader ribs 22. The main rib 21 has a pivot point 211, an inner end to pivot-connect with the pivot point 131 of the movable slider 13, and an outer end to mount the canopy 3. Preferably, the spreader rib 22 has a first end to pivot-connect with the pivot point 211 of the main rib 21 to constitute the rib unit 2. More preferably, the spreader rib 22 further has a second end to pivot-connect with the pivot point of the fixed hub 11. In a preferred embodiment, the spreader rib 22 has a length significantly greater than a distance between the pivot point 131 of the movable slider 13 and the pivot point 211 of the main rib 21.
Still referring to FIG. 1, construction of the canopy 3 shall be described in detail. To provide an umbrella cloth, there is provided the canopy 3 spread on the rib units 2. In the preferred embodiment, the canopy 3 is constructed from a multi-piece or one-piece design. A center of the canopy 3 is fixed to the fixed hub 11 while an outer periphery of the canopy 3 is fixed to the outer ends of the main ribs 21. Preferably, the canopy 3 radially extends through the spreader ribs 22 and the main ribs 21 in succession from the fixed hub 11 to the outer ends of the main ribs 21. In a preferred embodiment, the canopy 3 includes a plurality of assembling tips 31 for securely mounting the periphery of the canopy 3 to the outer ends of the main ribs 21. In another preferred embodiment, the canopy 3 is further mounted to the spreader ribs 22 in addition to the main ribs 21.
Still referring to FIG. 1, when the umbrella is unfolded, the movable slider 13 is pushed upwardly in a longitudinal direction of the main shank 1, and moved toward the fixed hub 11. In spreading operation, the movable slider 13 may press the first engaging tooth 15 so as to retract it into the main shank 1. Once retracted, the movable slider 13 can pass through the first engaging tooth 15. Preferably, the elastic member 14 exerts a bias force on the movable slider 13 for the positioning purpose. If the first engaging tooth 15 and the engaging hole 132 of the movable slider 13 are in perfect alignment each other, the first engaging tooth 15 can be engaged with the engaging hole 132 of the movable slider 13 in the event. In this circumstance, the rib units 2 are fully expanded. In a preferred embodiment, the pivot point 131 of the movable slider 13 is located at a position higher than that of the pivot point 211 of the main rib 21 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the main shank 1. Accordingly, each of the main ribs 21 has an inclination for facilitating raindrops fallen from the canopy 3. In use, the top portion of the main shank 1 and the outer ends of the main ribs 21 can be extended beyond a limited space so that the outer ends of the main ribs 21 may be gradually expanded for opening the umbrella. Alternatively, the outer ends of the main ribs 21 may be initially expanded for spreading the rib units 2 in a certain extent of degree if the user stays in the limited space.
Turning now to FIG. 2, a side elevational view of the stick umbrella structure for retracting rib units in a reverse direction in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated and situated in a retracted state. In retracting operation, the first engaging tooth 15 pressed and disengaged from the engaging hole 132 of the movable slider 13 that permit the movable slider 13 to move downwardly. Once disengaged, the bias force of the elastic member 14 can automatically return the movable slider 13 in the longitudinal direction to a position proximal the umbrella handle 12 such that the rib units 2 can be retracted and the canopy 3 can be folded in a reverse direction. Consequently, an outer surface (i.e. rain-receiving surface) of the canopy 3 is folded in an inner space formed in it. If the outer surface of the canopy 3 is wet and the umbrella is closed, there is a little chance of a fall of the raindrops from the wet surface of the canopy 3 on a user.
In addition, if the second engaging tooth 16 and the engaging hole 132 of the movable slider 13 are in perfect alignment each other, the second engaging tooth 16 can be engaged with the engaging hole 132 of the movable slider 13 in the event. In this circumstance, the rib units 2 are fully extracted in the reverse direction.
As has been discussed above, the conventional stick umbrella structure cannot be retracted in a reverse direction of the main shank. Furthermore, the conventional stick umbrella structure cannot gradually expand its rib unit from the top portion of the main shank. Conversely, the stick umbrella structure in accordance with the present invention includes a series of the main ribs 21 pivot-connecting with the movable slider 13, and a series of the spreader ribs 22 pivot-connecting with the fixed hub 11. Each of the spreader ribs 22 correspondingly pivot-connects with the main rib 21 such that the main ribs 21 can be retracted in the reverse direction of the main shank 1. Consequently, it would be advantage that the outer ends of the main rib 21 can be extended and gradually expanded from the top portion of the main shank 1 even if the user stays in a limited space. In addition to this, it would be advantage that the canopy 3 can be folded in the reverse direction such that the outer surface of the canopy 3 is wrapped in the inner space formed in it.
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to its presently preferred embodiment, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.
Patent Application
20080006313
