Umbrella with connectors

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6244283
  • Patent Number
    6,244,283
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, July 20, 1999
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, June 12, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Gibson, Jr.; Robert W.
    Agents
    • Rosenberg, Klein & Lee
Abstract
An umbrella comprising a shank, a handle, a rib, multiple tip beads, a canopy, and a ferrule is characterized by a series of connectors which are installed at least between the handle and the shank, between the tip beads and the rib, between the canopy and the rib, and between the ferrule and the shank. Users can change various shapes and colors of canopies, tip beads, handles, and ferrules to assemble new umbrellas through simple lock and insertion operation.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to an umbrella, more particularly, to an umbrella which can change the canopy, the tip beads, the handle, and the ferrule through simple operations.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The object of present invention is to provide an umbrella which can change the canopy, the tip beads, the handle, and the ferrule through simple operations. The present invention comprising a shank, a handle, a rib, tip beads, a canopy, and a ferrule is characterized by a series of connectors which are installed between the handle and the shank, between the tip beads and the rib, between the canopy and the rib, and between the ferrule and the shank. Users can change various shapes and colors of canopies, tip beads, handles, and ferrules to assemble new umbrellas through simple lock and insertion operation.











The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which:




BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING





FIG. 1



a


is the front view of the connector between the canopy and the rib according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 1



b


is profile diagram of the connector between the canopy and the rib according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 2

is the diagram showing the connection between the canopy and the rib according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 3



a


is the profile diagram of the connector between the tip bead and the rib according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 3



b


is the profile diagram of the tip bead according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 4

is the diagram showing the connection between the tip bead and the rib according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 5



a


is the front view of the connector between the handle and the shank of a collapsible umbrella according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 5



b


is the profile diagram of the connector between the handle and the shank of a collapsible umbrella according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 5



c


is the profile diagram of the handle of an collapsible umbrella according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 6

is the diagram showing the connection between the shank and the handle of a collapsible umbrella according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 7



a


is a side profile diagram of the connector between the handle and the shank of a stick umbrella according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 7



b


is another side profile diagram of the connector between the handle and the shank of a stick umbrella according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 8

is the diagram showing the connection between the shank and the handle of a stick umbrella according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 9



a


is the front view of the connector structure I between the ferrule and the shank according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 9



b


is the side profile diagram of the connector structure I between the ferrule and the shank according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 9



c


is the profile diagram of the ferrule I according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 10

is the diagram showing the connection of the connector structure I between the ferrule and the shank according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 11



a


is the front view of the connector structure II between the ferrule and the shank according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 11



b


is the side profile diagram of the connector structure II between the ferrule and the shank according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 11



c


is the profile diagram of the ferrule II according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 12

is the diagram showing the connection of the connector structure II between the ferrule and the shank according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 13

is the assembly diagram of all components of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




As shown in

FIGS. 1



a


,


1




b


, and


2


, the present invention provides an umbrella of which a connector


1


between a canopy and a rib


2


is an elastic plate. The connector


1


is sewed on the canopy through a hole


11


or is fixed on the canopy by other means. The connector


1


has a bump


12


and a hole


13


. One end of the connector


1


connects to the other end with the bump


12


engaging the hole


13


so that the connector


1


circumscribes the rib


2


. The canopy and the rib can thus be positioned accurately.




As shown in

FIGS. 3



a


,


3




b


, and


4


, the present invention provides an umbrella of which a connector


3


between a tip bead


4


and the rib is a short bar. The connector


3


is sewed on the canopy through a hole


34


or is fixed on the canopy by other means. The connector


3


has a hole


31


on one end to insert the rib and a bump


32


of semi-sphere shape on the other end. The tip bead


4


has a hole


41


on one end to buckle up the bump


32


. With the bump


32


of the connector


3


buckling up the hole


41


of the tip bead


4


, the tip bead


4


is fixed on the rib. The tip bead, the rib, and the canopy can thus be positioned accurately.




As shown in

FIGS. 5



a


,


5




b


,


5




c


, and


6


, the present invention provides an umbrella of which a connector


5


between a handle


6


of a collapsible umbrella and a shank is a hollow bar with a lock side


54


on one end. The connector


5


has an outer thread


52


. The handle


6


of a collapsible umbrella is a bar with an open


62


on one end and a mount groove


63


on the inner bottom. The mount groove


63


has an inner thread


521


. The outer thread


52


of the connector


5


is screwed with the inner thread


521


and the lock side


54


stops against the mount groove


63


. The handle


6


of a collapsible umbrella, the connector


5


, and the shank can thus be positioned accurately.




As shown in

FIGS. 7



a


,


7




b


, and


8


, the present invention provides an umbrella of which a connector


51


between a handle


61


of a stick umbrella and a shank has a hole


511


on one end to insert the shank for fixing it and a stair-like lock side


541


on the other end. The connector


51


has a hole


53


or a screw hole on one side of the bottom. There is another hole or another screw hole on the handle


61


of a stick umbrella to align with the hole


53


of the connector


51


. The connector


51


is inserted into a mount groove


64


of the handle


61


and the lock side


541


sticks the mount groove


64


. A bolt


55


or a screw is then inserted or screwed in. The handle


61


of a stick umbrella, the connector


51


, and the shank can thus be positioned accurately.




As shown in

FIGS. 9



a


,


9




b


,


9




c


, and


10


, the present invention provides an umbrella of which a ferrule


7


has an inner thread


72


on the inner wall. The connector


8


between the ferrule


7


and the tail end of a shank forms a bump


84


. The bump


84


has an outer thread on the circumference. The ferrule


7


is screwed in or locked with the connector


8


. The ferrule


7


, the connector


8


, and the shank can thus be positioned accurately.




As shown in

FIGS. 11



a


,


11




b


,


11




c


, and


12


, the present invention provides an umbrella of which a bar


74


installed on the bottom of a ferrule


71


has an outer thread


73


. The connector


81


between the ferrule


71


and the tail end of a shank has an open


85


. The open


85


has an inner thread on the inner wall. The bar


74


of the ferrule


71


is screwed in or locked with the connector


81


. The ferrule


71


, the connector


81


, and the shank can thus be positioned accurately.




As shown in

FIG. 13

, the present invention provides the user to change various shapes and colors of canopies, tip beads, handles, and ferrules to assemble new umbrellas through simple lock, insertion, or screw operation.




To sum up, the advantages of the present invention summarize:




1. The user can select various shapes and colors of handles, tip beads, ferrules, and canopies.




2. The assembly operation is simple.




3. Bad components can be replaced without need of buying a new umbrella.




Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have suggested in the foregoing description, and other will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. An umbrella comprising:a longitudinally extended shank; a first connector coupled to a first longitudinal end of said shank; a handle releasably coupled to said first connector; a second connector coupled to a second longitudinal end of said shank, said second connector having a threaded projection extending longitudinally therefrom; a plurality of ribs disposed in angularly spaced relationship around said shank, each of said ribs having a first end coupled to said second connector; a canopy overlaying said plurality of ribs; a ferrule having a threaded opening formed in one end thereof for releasable coupling with said threaded projection of said second connector; a plurality of third connectors disposed in angularly spaced relationship about a perimeter portion of said canopy, each of said third connectors having (a) an axially directed opening formed in a first end thereof into which a second end of a respective one of said plurality of ribs is received, (b) a hole extending therethrough in a direction transverse said axial direction for use in coupling said third connector to said canopy, and (c) a projection extending axially from a second end of said third connector; a plurality of tip beads respectively releasably engaged to said projections of said plurality of third connectors; and, a plurality of fourth connectors coupled to said canopy in correspondence with said plurality of ribs, each of said fourth connectors being adapted to releasably engage a respective rib, whereby said handle, said canopy, said ferrule and said plurality of tip beads are replaceable.
  • 2. An umbrella comprising:a longitudinally extended shank; a first connector coupled to a first longitudinal end of said shank; a handle releasably coupled to said first connector; a second connector coupled to a second longitudinal end of said shank, said second connector having a threaded longitudinally directed opening formed therein; a plurality of ribs disposed in angularly spaced relationship around said shank, each of said ribs having a first end coupled to said second connector; a canopy overlaying said plurality of ribs; a ferrule having a threaded projection extending from one end thereof for releasable coupling with said threaded opening of said second connector; a plurality of third connectors disposed in angularly spaced relationship about a perimeter portion of said canopy, each of said third connectors having (a) an axially directed opening formed in a first end thereof into which a second end of a respective one of said plurality of ribs is received, (b) a hole extending therethrough in a direction transverse said axial direction for use in coupling said third connector to said canopy, and (c) a projection extending axially from a second end of said third connector; a plurality of tip beads respectively releasably engaged to said projections of said plurality of third connectors; and, a plurality of fourth connectors coupled to said canopy in correspondence with said plurality of ribs, each of said fourth connectors being adapted to releasably engage a respective rib, whereby said handle, said canopy, said ferrule and said plurality of tip beads are replaceable.
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Number Name Date Kind
588773 Mitchell Aug 1897
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940346 Morton Nov 1909
975203 Birdsall Nov 1910
1145768 Hartfiel Jul 1915
2230640 Feller Feb 1941
3429320 Edelkind Feb 1969
3873821 Larson Mar 1975
4061154 Cox et al. Dec 1977
4979535 Sadowski et al. Dec 1990
5068955 Gonet Dec 1991
5085239 Chin-Hung et al. Feb 1992