Umbrella

Abstract

An umbrella includes a shank, a plurality of main ribs connected pivotally to the shank, a plurality of auxiliary ribs connected pivotally to the shank, a plurality of elastic members connected to the main ribs and the auxiliary ribs, a slide unit connected slidably to the shank, a plurality of spreaders connected pivotally to the main ribs and the slide unit, a first canopy connected to the main ribs and having a top edge cooperating with the main ribs to define a plurality of openings, and a second canopy connected to the auxiliary ribs and covering removably the openings.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 100201613, filed on Jan. 25, 2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an umbrella, more particularly to an umbrella that can maintain its shape against a strong wind.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional umbrella includes a straight tube, a ferrule disposed on the top of the tube, a runner connected slidably to the tube, a plurality of angularly spaced-apart ribs connected pivotally to the tube, a plurality of angularly spaced-apart stretchers connected pivotally to the runner and the ribs, a fixing member disposed on the tube for releasably fixing the runner on the tube, and a canopy disposed on the ribs. In use, the runner is pushed upward along the tube for driving the stretchers and the ribs to spread the canopy, so that the umbrella can provide protection against sunlight and rain.

However, despite its strong tube, the conventional umbrella has relatively weak ribs and stretchers that are required to spread and hold the canopy, and bear the force of wind. Therefore, once the conventional umbrella is turned inside out by a sudden gust of wind, the ribs and the stretchers are inevitably bent or broken, and the pivot joints of the ribs and the stretchers may even be dislocated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an umbrella that can maintain its shape against a strong wind.

Accordingly, an umbrella of the present invention comprises a shank, a plurality of angularly spaced-apart main ribs, a plurality of angularly spaced-apart auxiliary ribs, a plurality of elastic members, a slide unit connected slidably to the shank, a plurality of angularly spaced-apart spreaders, and a canopy unit.

Each of the main ribs has a first pivot end that is connected pivotally to an upper portion of the shank. Each of the auxiliary ribs has a second pivot end that is connected pivotally to the upper portion of the shank. Each of the elastic members has opposite first and second ends that are connected respectively to a respective one of the ma in ribs and a respective one of the auxiliary ribs. Each of the spreaders has an end connected pivotally to a respective one of the main ribs, and an opposite end connected pivotally to the slide unit, so that the main ribs and the auxiliary ribs are driven to pivot relative to the shank through the spreaders when the slide unit slides along the shank. The canopy unit includes a first canopy that is connected to the main ribs and that has a top edge cooperating with the main ribs to define a plurality of openings, and a second canopy that is connected to the auxiliary ribs and that covers removably the openings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side view of a first preferred embodiment of an umbrella according to the invention at a folded state;

FIG. 2 is another fragmentary side view of the first preferred embodiment at a spread state;

FIG. 3 is still another fragmentary side view of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating that an auxiliary rib is pivoted away from a main rib;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view of a second preferred embodiment of the umbrella at a spread state according to the invention; and

FIG. 5 is another fragmentary side view of the second preferred embodiment, illustrating that an auxiliary rib is pivoted away from a main rib.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a first preferred embodiment of an umbrella according to the present invention comprises a shank 1, a plurality of angularly spaced-apart main ribs 2, a plurality of angularly spaced-apart auxiliary ribs 3, a plurality of elastic members 4, a slide unit 5, a plurality of angularly spaced-apart spreaders 6, a canopy unit 7, a plurality of limit members 8, and a plurality of angularly spaced-apart support rods 9. While the invention involves multiple ones of the same element, only one is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the canopy unit 7 is illustrated using broken lines so that the rest of the abovementioned elements can be clearly shown.

In the first preferred embodiment, the shank 1 is configured as an upright rod with a handle (not shown) connected to a bottom end thereof. The configuration of the shank 1 is not limited to the abovementioned disclosure. For example, the shank 1 may be retractable while maintaining the same connection and interaction with other elements of this invention.

Each main rib 2 has a first pivot end 21 that is connected pivotally to an upper portion of the shank 1, so that each main rib 2 is vertically pivotable relatively to the shank 1.

Each auxiliary rib 3 has a second pivot end 31 that is connected pivotally to the upper portion of the shank 1, so that each auxiliary rib 3 is vertically pivotable relatively to the shank 1. The second pivot ends 31 of the auxiliary ribs 3 are located higher than the first pivot ends 21 of the main ribs 2.

Each elastic member 4 is configured as an elongated spring, and has opposite first and second ends that are connected respectively to a respective one of the main ribs 2 and a respective one of the auxiliary ribs 3. When the auxiliary ribs 3 pivot relative to the main ribs 2, the elastic members 4 are driven to lengthen or shorten.

The slide unit 5 includes a slide sleeve 51 mounted slidably on the shank 1, a connecting ring 53 surrounding the shank 1 and disposed over the slide sleeve 51, and a resilient member 52 sleeved on the shank 1 and interconnecting the slide sleeve 51 and the connecting ring 53.

Each spreader 6 is connected pivotally to a respective one of the main ribs 2. In this embodiment, each spreader 6 has an end connected pivotally to a joint of the respective one of the main ribs 2 and a corresponding one of the elastic members 4, and an opposite end connected pivotally to the connecting ring 53 of the slide unit 5.

Each support rod 9 has opposite ends connected respectively and pivotally to the slide sleeve 51 and a respective one of the spreaders 6.

As further shown in FIG. 3, the canopy unit 7 includes a first canopy 71 that is connected to the main ribs 2 and that has a top edge cooperating with the main ribs 2 to define a plurality of openings 73, and a second canopy 72 that is connected to the auxiliary ribs 3 and that covers removably the openings 73.

Each limit member 8 is connected between a respective one of the main ribs 2 and the corresponding one of the auxiliary ribs 3 for limiting pivoting movement of the corresponding one of the auxiliary ribs 3 relative to the respective one of the main ribs 2. In this embodiment, each limit member 8 is configured as a rope ring, but the configuration of the limit member 8 should not be limited thereto. For example, each limit member 8 may also be configured as a metal ring.

During use of the umbrella of this invention, when the umbrella is at a folded state and the slide sleeve 51 is locked on the shank 1, a spring latch (not shown) can be pressed to release the slide sleeve 51, such that the resilient member 52 drives the connecting ring 53 to move upward and away from the slide sleeve 51, thereby driving the pivot movements of the spreaders 6 relative to the connecting ring 53. The main ribs 2 and the auxiliary ribs 3 are consequently driven to pivot relative to the shank 1 through the spreaders 6 to spread the canopy unit 7, thus turning the umbrella to a spread state (see FIG. 2).

Referring once again to FIG. 3, when wind blows in a direction as indicated by the arrow, the corresponding auxiliary ribs 3 pivot upward together with the second canopy 72 relative to the corresponding main ribs 2 to uncover the corresponding openings 73, so that the wind could pass through the corresponding openings 73 instead of being completely blocked by the canopy unit 7. Thus, damage to the umbrella of this invention caused by a sudden gust of wind can be prevented and the service life of the umbrella can be lengthened. Moreover, the corresponding elastic members 4 are stretched during the pivot action of the corresponding auxiliary ribs 3. When the wind no longer blows, the corresponding auxiliary ribs 3 are automatically drawn to their original positions by the restoring force of the corresponding elastic members 4.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the second preferred embodiment of the umbrella according to the present invention has a structure similar to that of the first embodiment. The main difference between this embodiment and the previous embodiment resides in the following. The resilient member 52, the connecting ring 53, and the support rods 9 illustrated in the previous embodiment are omitted in this embodiment. Each spreader 6 has opposite ends connected pivotally and respectively to a respective one of the main ribs 2 and the slide sleeve 51. By moving the slide sleeve 51 upward along the shank 1, the main ribs 2, the auxiliary ribs 3, and the canopy unit 7 can be spread via the spreaders 6. The second preferred embodiment has the same advantages as those of the first preferred embodiment.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. An umbrella comprising: a shank;a plurality of angularly spaced-apart ma in ribs, each having a first pivot end that is connected pivotally to an upper portion of said shank;a plurality of angularly spaced-apart auxiliary ribs, each having a second pivot end that is connected pivotally to said upper portion of said shank;a plurality of elastic members, each having opposite first and second ends that are connected respectively to a respective one of said main ribs and a respective one of said auxiliary ribs;a slide unit connected slidably to said shank;a plurality of angularly spaced-apart spreaders, each having an end connected pivotally to a respective one of said main ribs, and an opposite end connected pivotally to said slide unit, so that said main ribs and said auxiliary ribs are driven to pivot relative to said shank through said spreaders when said slide unit slides along said shank; anda canopy unit including a first canopy that is connected to said main ribs, and that has a top edge cooperating with said main ribs to define a plurality of openings, anda second canopy that is connected to s aid auxiliary ribs, and that covers removably said openings.

2. The umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second pivot ends of said auxiliary ribs are located higher than said first pivot ends of said main ribs.

3. The umbrella as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a plurality of limit members, each connected between a respective one of said main ribs and the corresponding one of said auxiliary ribs for limiting pivoting movement of the corresponding one of said auxiliary ribs relative to the respective one of said main ribs.

4. The umbrella as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said slide unit includes a slide sleeve mounted slidably on said shank, a connecting ring surrounding said shank and disposed over said slide sleeve, and a resilient member sleeved on said shank and interconnecting said slide sleeve and said connecting ring; andsaid umbrella further comprising a plurality of angularly spaced-apart support rods, each having opposite ends connected respectively and pivotally to said slide sleeve and a respective one of said spreaders.