Patent Application
20080236640
The invention relates to a telescopic umbrella, in particular a sunshade with a lower upright stand pipe and a moveable and lockable telescopic pipe arranged in it with an umbrella canopy attached to the telescopic pipe, where the umbrella canopy can be opened and closed by means of a sheathed cable or Bowden control arranged within the pipe and with a control device for the sheathed cable or Bowden control.
Telescopic umbrellas of the type in hand are known from prior practice. The control device for the sheathed cable or Bowden control of these umbrellas generally consists of a crank handle provided in the lower region of upright stand pipe or on the support base which is connected to the upright stand pipe.
To be able to use the known telescopic umbrella, it first needs to be telescoped to the desired length by pulling out or inserting the telescopic pipe into the upright stand pipe. Then the telescopic pipe is locked by means of a suitable locking device with respect to the upright stand pipe. The umbrella canopy can then be opened by means of the control device, which is usually a crank handle.
However, telescopic umbrellas known from prior art have several disadvantages. Firstly, the position of the telescopic pipe with respect to the upright pipe after opening the umbrella canopy can no longer be changed without first closing the umbrella canopy again. This is due to the fact that the sheathed cable or Bowden control in the known telescopic umbrella extends from the control device arranged in the upright stand pipe or the support base to the umbrella canopy. When the umbrella canopy is opened, the sheathed cable/Bowden control is tensioned. If you wish to lower the position of the telescopic pipe, i.e., by inserting it into the upright stand pipe, the umbrella canopy automatically folds because the tension of the sheathed cable/Bowden control is lost.
In the known telescopic umbrella, the extension of the telescopic pipe with respect to the upright stand pipe is not possible at all when the umbrella canopy is open, because the tension of the sheathed cable/Bowden control resists the extension movement.
In addition, the fact that the sheathed cable/Bowden control can gradually be worn through as a result of the sharp-edged transition between the telescopic pipe and the upright stand pipe by fraying and ultimately tearing is problematic with respect to the known telescopic umbrella.
Another disadvantage is that the sheathed cable/Bowden control in the known telescopic umbrella can interfere with the locking mechanism for the telescopic pipe, resulting in identical adverse consequences in terms of the durability of the sheathed cable/Bowden control.
Finally, another disadvantage is that the control device for the sheathed cable/Bowden control arranged in the upright stand pipe hinders the movement of the telescopic pipe within the upright stand pipe; as a result, it may be possible that the telescopic pipe can only be inserted into the upright stand pipe at a fraction of its length. Consequently, the variability of the length of the known telescopic umbrella is limited, requiring more storage space when if the telescopic pipe is inserted as far as possible.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to design and further develop a telescopic umbrella of the type mentioned above in such a way as to achieve the uncoupling of the opening/closing movement of the umbrella canopy from the length of the umbrella and to improve the durability of the umbrella.
Based on the invention, the objective mentioned above and others are achieved by providing a telescopic umbrella, such as a sunshade, that comprises a lower upright stand pipe and a moveable and lockable telescopic pipe arranged in it, an umbrella canopy joined to the telescopic pipe, the umbrella canopy being configured to be opened or closed by means of a sheathed cable or Bowden control located inside the pipes, and a control device for the sheathed cable or Bowden control, wherein the control device is attached to the telescopic pipe. Accordingly, a telescopic umbrella of the type mentioned above is characterized in that the control device is attached to the telescopic pipe.
Based on the invention, it was recognized that the opening/closing movement of the umbrella canopy can be uncoupled from the telescopic mechanism of the umbrella if the control device for the sheathed cable/Bowden control is attached directly to the telescopic pipe. This way the distance between the control device and umbrella canopy always remains constant. Consequently, it is irrelevant for the opening/closing movement of the umbrella canopy how far the telescopic pipe is inserted into the upright stand pipe or how far it is pulled out of the upright stand pipe. This is a particularly advantageous way to achieve that the length of the umbrella can be changed arbitrarily even when the umbrella canopy is open, without interfering with the opening mechanism of the umbrella canopy.
In addition, it was determined that the telescopic pipe can now be inserted much farther into the upright stand pipe than before because of the omission of the control device on the upright stand pipe. As a result, the length of the telescopic umbrella according to the invention is more flexible and requires less storage space in the inserted state.
Finally, it was determined that fraying, damage or tearing of the sheathed cable/Bowden control due to interference with the sharp-edged transition between the telescopic and upright stand pipe or the locking device of the telescopic pie can be prevented, because the sheathed cable/Bowden control now runs completely inside the telescopic pie.
Consequently, a telescopic umbrella is described in which the uncoupling of the opening/closing movement of the umbrella canopy from the length of the umbrella and improved durability of the umbrella are achieved.
In order to enable the user to operate the control device allocated to the telescopic pipe and to prevent it from colliding with the upright stand pipe when the telescopic pipe is inserted and extended, a suitable recess is provided in the upright stand pipe in which the control device allocated to the telescopic pipe can be moved in an axial direction.
Generally, an embodiment of the invention is preferred in which the control device is allocated at the lower end of the telescopic pipe. This way, the control device is particularly well accessible to the user. In addition, no boreholes/openings in the telescopic pipe are required for this design because the control device can be connected directly to the lower end of the telescopic pipe.
A connecting piece is arranged between the telescopic pipe and the control device in one of the further developments of the invention. As a result, the control device is located away from the telescopic pipe itself and is operable more comfortably as a result. Compared to the actual control device, the connecting piece can be designed smaller, whereby the size of the recess provided in the upright stand pipe can be reduced as well.
Moreover, the connecting piece (connected to the lower end of the telescopic pipe) and/or the telescopic pipe itself can be arranged in the upright stand pipe with a rolling bearing. This achieves the particularly easy extension and insertion of the telescopic pipe from and into the upright stand pipe. Alternatively, several rolling bearings can be provided across the length of the telescopic pipe. In addition, it is possible to mount a rolling bearing on the connecting piece and to distribute one or more rolling bearings across the length of the telescopic pipe which is closed upwards.
In a further development of the invention, the connecting piece is designed in an L-shape. This provides a particularly preferable connection between the telescopic pipe extending axially with the control device attached in radial direction.
Moreover, it is possible that the connecting piece comprises a reversing unit for the sheathed cable/Bowden control. This reversing unit reverses the sheathed cable/Bowden control radially extending from the control device to the telescopic pipe into an axial direction (along the longitudinal axis of the telescopic pipe). The reversing unit can consist, for example, of a ball-bearing roll or a synthetic or metal pin which reduces the friction with the sheathed cable/Bowden control as much as possible.
As mentioned above, a recess in the upright stand pipe should be provided to realize the invention, in which the control device or the connecting piece including the moveable telescopic pipe extending along the outside of the upright stand pipe can be moved in an axial direction. In a particularly preferred embodiment, an axially extending slit is provided in the upright stand pipe for this purpose. The width of the slit should be as small as possible to prevent the negative impact on the upright stand pipe or the umbrella.
Conventionally, the control device may comprise a crank shaft. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the control device may also comprise an electrically driven reeling/unreeling device for the sheathed cable/Bowden control. For this purpose, other solutions are also possible, provided the reeling/unreeling of the sheathed cable/Bowden control at the user's preference can be achieved.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the upright stand pipe and the telescopic pipe comprise a curvature, where the curvature of both pipes is approximately the same. The curvature can be designed in such a way that a vertical course of the pipes is realized in the base area of the umbrella, while the telescopic pipe in extended status comprises a horizontal tangent in the area of the umbrella canopy. This allows the design of the umbrella as a so-called “suspended umbrella,” where the umbrella canopy is suspended from the telescopic pipe like a gallows. The arch-shaped design of the telescopic and upright stand pipe creates the required space to unfold the umbrella canopy. In addition, a particularly preferable advantage of this embodiment is that the locked umbrella canopy with respect to the telescopic pipe can be tilted in a particularly easy way if the telescopic pipe is inserted into or extended out of the upright stand pipe while the umbrella canopy is open. This option is not available in the umbrellas known from prior art, because the telescopic mechanism collides with the opening movement of the umbrella canopy.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the umbrella canopy is joined at the upper end of the telescopic pipe. Utmost flexibility of the length of the umbrella is herewith achieved. In addition—with the design of the umbrella as a suspended umbrella with circular upright stand and telescopic pipe—the largest possible distance of the umbrella canopy from the telescopic/upright stand pipe is achieved. As a result, the umbrella canopy can be designed with a maximum size.
In a preferred embodiment, the umbrella canopy is jointed to the telescopic pipe with its top side. The suspended or traffic light pole umbrella mentioned above is realized this way. However, in an alternative embodiment it is also possible that the underside of the umbrella canopy is joined to the telescopic pipe.
In a further development of the invention, the tilt of the umbrella canopy can be adjusted and locked in the area of the joint between the umbrella canopy and the telescopic pipe. For example, the umbrella canopy can be connected to the telescopic pipe with a lockable joint. This possibility to adjust the tilt of the umbrella canopy can be realized alternatively or additionally to the option described above with the insertion or extension of the telescopic pipe.
In an additional embodiment of the invention the telescopic pipe can be locked with respect to the upright stand pipe by means of an engaging element.
This engaging element can comprise, e.g., a pin.
In a preferred embodiment, the engaging element is provided on the upright stand pipe in axial direction and can be engaged with the telescopic pipe though an opening in the upright stand pipe. For this purpose, the telescopic pipe may be equipped, e.g., with boreholes at certain intervals which the engaging element can engage with. The provision of the engaging element in the axial direction of the upright stand pipe establishes a connection between the telescopic and upright stand pipe when the telescopic pipe is engaged.
In another embodiment, the engaging element can be engaged with or disengaged from the telescopic pipe via a handle by means of a screwing movement and/or with the application of radial pull/pressure with respect to the upright stand pipe, against the force of a spring, if applicable. For example, it is possible that the engaging element/the pin are connected to a nut with the approximate size of the palm of a hand, e.g., made of plastic. This user-friendly nut extends to an exterior thread with a smaller diameter which engages with an interior thread within the borehole in the upright stand pipe. The engaging element or the pin is connected to the exterior thread in the direction of the inside of the pipe. As a result, the engaging element can be engaged with the telescopic pipe by means of unscrewing and screwing on of the user-friendly nut. In addition, it is possible that a spring is provided in addition to the thread, where an elastic force needs to be overcome after unscrewing the nut to be able to pull the engaging element out of the telescopic pipe. Accordingly, the nut not only needs to be unscrewed, but the user is required to pull on the nut to unlock the telescopic pipe. This further development achieves a particularly safe use of the umbrella according to the invention.
In an additional embodiment, the telescopic pipe not only comprises boreholes arranged at certain intervals, but it is equipped with gear cutting, in particular a saw-toothed pattern on the side facing the engaging element. The engaging element can engage the saw teeth as described above and lock the telescopic pipe. By selecting a corresponding distribution of the gear cutting, it is possible to adjust the length of the umbrella in a particularly fine-tuned manner.
The inventive device will be described in more detail hereinbelow with the aid of an exemplary embodiment of the inventive apparatus, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
The umbrella canopy 3 can be opened and closed by means of a sheathed cable/Bowden control 4. For this purpose, the sheathed cable/Bowden control 4 is connected to a control device and can be operated with it. In the embodiment shown, the control device 5 is designed as a crank shaft 6.
Based on the invention, the control device 5 is allocated to the telescopic pipe 2. In this embodiment, the control device 5 is attached to the lower end of the telescopic pipe 2, where an L-shaped connecting piece 7 is arranged between the control device 5 and the telescopic pipe 2. This connecting piece 7 establishes a connection between the open lower end of the telescopic pipe 2 and the control device 5 located outside the pipe.
The long leg of the connecting piece 7 extending into the telescopic pipe 2 is additionally equipped with a rolling bearing 8, thus achieving a particularly easy insertion and extension of the telescopic pipe 2 into and out of the upright stand pipe 1.
In addition, the L-shaped connecting piece 7 comprises a reversing unit 9 for the sheathed cable/Bowden control 4. This way, the sheathed cable/Bowden control 4 can be reversed from the control device 5 with a radial distance to the axial direction of the pipe, namely by keeping the friction losses as small as possible. For this purpose, the reversing unit 9 can comprise, e.g., a (ball-bearing) roll or a metal or synthetic pin with small superficial friction.
The enlarged detail view in the center of the figure shows the mechanics for locking the telescopic pipe 2 in the upright stand pipe 1 in addition to the control device 5 and the connecting piece 7. For this purpose, an engaging element 10 is provided which can engage one or more teeth 12 through an opening 11 in the upright stand pipe 1. The teeth 12 are located on the side of the telescopic pipe 2 facing the engaging element 10. In the embodiment shown, the teeth 12 comprise a saw-toothed pattern.
At the discretion of the user, the engaging element 10 can be engaged or disengaged from the teeth 12 by means of a handle 13. For this purpose, the handle 13 needs to be pulled away from the upright stand pipe 1 in an axial direction against the force of a spring 14. Thus, the engaging element 10 is removed from the teeth 12 and the telescopic pipe 2 can be moved within the upright stand pipe 1.
In addition, it is possible that the opening 11 in the upright stand pipe 1 comprises a thread and the handle 13 needs to be unscrewed with a screwing motion, whereupon in can be pulled out after overcoming an elastic force. This further development makes the locking function even safer.
In this illustration, it can be seen particularly well how the control device 5 and the connecting piece 7 are moveable and displaceable in a suitably designed recess 15 provided in the upright stand pipe 1. In the illustrated embodiment, this recess 15 has the shape of a long, axial slit. The slit must be at least as wide as the connecting piece 7 in order to enable the control unit 5 including the connecting piece 7 to move up and down in an axial direction in the slit.
In addition, it is possible that the connection between the umbrella canopy 3 and the telescopic pipe 2 is designed as a lockable joint, thus providing additional possible adjustments.
Finally, we would like to point out that the exemplary embodiment described above only serves the discussion of the claimed teachings without limiting them to the exemplary embodiment.
The present application is a Continuation of International Application No. PCT/DE2006/000915, filed May 26, 2006, and which designates the U.S. The disclosure of the referenced application is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/DE2006/000915 | May 2006 | US |
| Child | 12057459 | US |
