Wind-stable umbrella

Abstract

A wind-stable umbrella includes structurally enhanced connectors for connecting ribs to an upper hub and pull cords extended between a middle hub and near-outer ends of the ribs. Each of the connectors includes a forward extended lug portion that is connected to the upper hub, and two shoulder portions extended from two lateral sides of an upper outer end of the lug portion. The shoulder portions increase a structural strength of the lug portions and press against an outer surface of the upper hub when the umbrella is stretched, so that the ribs are more stably connected to the upper hub via the connectors. The pull cords pull outer portions of the ribs inward when the umbrella is stretched, preventing the ribs from turning outward under a strong wind. The wind-stable umbrella therefore has solid overall structure to avoid twist and deformation due to the strong wind.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a wind-stable umbrella, and more particularly to a wind-stable umbrella having solid connecting structure to protect the umbrella against twist and deformation under a strong wind.

[0002] FIG. 1 is a bottom view showing the connection of inner ends 11 of ribs 1 of a general umbrella to an upper hub 2 via a plurality of connectors 3′. As can be clearly seen from FIG. 2, each of the connectors 3′ includes a main body 31′, an outer part of which defining a central hole 32′ into which the inner end 11 of one rib 1 is inserted; and a lug portion 33′ forward extended from a central area of an inner part of the main body for locating in one of many hub holes 21 formed on the upper hub 2. The lug portion 33′ also has a through hole 34′ provided near an inner end thereof. A steel wire (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) is threaded through the holes 34′ of all lug portions 33′ to bind the connectors 3′ to the upper hub 2, so as to connect the ribs 1 to the upper hub 2 via the connectors 3′.

[0003] Since the lug portion 33′ of the connector 3′ is to be located in the hub hole 21 that is very narrow, the lug portion 33′ must have a width significantly smaller than that of the main body 31′. Moreover, the lug portion 33′ extends straightly forward from the central area of the inner part of the main body 31′ to have a uniform and reduced width for an entire length of the lug portion 33′ starting from a joint of the lug portion 33′ and the main body 31′. Such straight and uniform narrow configuration of the lug portion 33′ largely reduces an overall structural strength thereof, subjecting the connector 3′ to twist and deformation at the lug portion 33′ due to a strong windblown against the umbrella.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a wind-stable umbrella that has structurally enhanced connectors for connecting ribs to the upper hub and pull cords extended between a middle hub and near-outer ends of the ribs to eliminate the problem of twisted and deformed ribs existing in the conventional umbrella.

[0005] To achieve the above and other objects, each of the connectors for the umbrella of the present invention includes a forward extended lug portion that is connected to the upper hub, and two shoulder portions extended from two lateral sides of an upper outer end of the lug portion. The shoulder portions increase a structural strength of the lug portions and press against an outer surface of the upper hub when the umbrella is stretched, so that the ribs are more stably connected to the upper hub via the connectors. The pull cords pull outer ends of the ribs inward when the umbrella is stretched, preventing the ribs from turning outward under a strong wind. The umbrella of the present invention therefore has solid overall structure to avoid twist and deformation due to a strong wind.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] 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

[0007] FIG. 1 is a fragmentary bottom view of a conventional umbrella showing ribs of the umbrella are connected at inner ends to an upper hub via connectors;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the connectors shown in FIG. 1;

[0009] FIG. 3 shows a wind-stable umbrella of the present invention in a fully stretched state;

[0010] FIG. 4 shows the wind-stable umbrella of FIG. 3 in a collapsed state;

[0011] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary bottom view of the wind-stable umbrella of the present invention showing ribs of the umbrella are connected at inner ends to an upper hub via connectors;

[0012] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the connectors shown in FIG. 5;

[0013] FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side view showing the manner in which the ribs of the wind-stable umbrella of the present invention are connected to the upper hub;

[0014] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a structural relation among a middle hub, a pull cord, and a cord holder included in the wind-stable umbrella of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the cord holder shown in FIG. 8 viewed from an inner end thereof;

[0016] FIG. 10 is a partially sectioned perspective view showing the manner in which the pull cord is held at an inner end to the middle hub;

[0017] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the pull cord connected to the middle hub of the wind-stable umbrella of the present invention is protected by a hoop against separation from the middle hub when the pull cord is downward pulled; and

[0018] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the pull cord connected to the middle hub of the wind-stable umbrella of the present invention is protected by the hoop against separation from the middle hub when the pull cord is upward pulled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Please refer to FIG. 3 that shows a wind-stable umbrella of the present invention in a fully stretched state. The wind-stable umbrella of the present invention mainly includes a shaft 4, an upper hub 2 fixedly mounted to a top of the shaft 4, a lower hub 5 slidably mounted around the shaft 4, a middle hub 6 movably mounted around the shaft 4 between the upper and the lower hubs 2, 5, and a plurality of sets of rib members A. Each set of the rib members A includes a rib 1 having an inner end 11 connected to the upper hub 2 via a connector 3, a stretcher 7 having inner and outer ends pivotally connected to the lower hub 5 and a near-middle point of the rib 1, respectively, and a pull cord 8 having inner and outer ends connected to the middle hub 6 and a cord holder 9 attached to a near-outer point of the rib 1, respectively.

[0020] When the lower hub 5 is upward pushed, the stretchers 7 and the ribs 1 are sequentially stretched outward to open the wind-stable umbrella of the present invention. When the ribs 1 are stretched outward, the pull cords 8 connected at outer ends to the ribs 1 are pulled outward and therefore downward pull the middle hub 6 connected to inner ends of the pull cords 8. There is a stop ring 41 provided on the shaft 4 below the middle hub 6, and a spring 42 located between the stop ring 41 and the middle hub 6. The middle hub 6 being downward pulled by the pull cords 8 compresses the spring 42 and finally presses a lower edge against the stop ring 41 and is stopped from moving downward any further. At this point, the pull cords 8 are in a fully tensioned state. That is, outer portions of the ribs 1 are kept in an inward pulled state by the pull cords 8 and the middle hub 6, protecting the ribs 1 from being turned outward, twisted and deformed under a gust of windblown upward against an inner side of the umbrella.

[0021] FIG. 4 shows the wind-stable umbrella of the present invention in a collapsed state. When the lower hub 5 is pulled downward along the shaft 4, the stretchers 7 and the ribs 1 are sequentially pulled inward to a collapsed position. When the ribs 1 are pulled inward, a distance between each rib 1 and the shaft 4 is shortened, and the pull cord 8 connected to each rib 1 is no longer in the tensioned state. That is, the pull cords 8 are now loosely extended between the middle hub 6 and the ribs 1. At this point, a restoring force of the compressed spring 42 pushes the middle hub 6 upward to straighten the loose pull cords 8, enabling the umbrella to collapse smoothly without being interfered by the pull cords 8. The wind-stable umbrella of the present invention is so designed that the pull cords 8 keep in the straightened state after the umbrella is fully collapsed.

[0022] Please refer to FIG. 5 that is a bottom view showing each of the ribs 1 is connected at an inner end to the upper hub 2 via a connector 3. Also please refer to FIG. 6 that is a perspective view of the connector 3. Each of the connectors 3 includes a main body 31, an outer part of which defines a central hole 32 for receiving the inner end 11 of the rib 1 therein, a lug portion 33 forward extended from a central area of an inner end of the main body 31 and having a through hole 34 provided near an inner end thereof, and two shoulder portions 35 extended from two lateral sides of an upper outer end of the lug portion 33. Please also refer to FIG. 7 that is a side view showing connection of the ribs 1 to the upper hub 2 of the wind-stable umbrella of the present invention. The lug portion 33 of each connector 3 connected to the inner end of the rib 1 is located in one of many hub holes 21 provided along a circumferential surface of the upper hub 2. A steel wire 22 is threaded through the through holes 34 of all lug portions 33 to pivotally connect the lug portions 33 to the upper hub 2. In stretching the umbrella, every rib 1 is pivotally turned about the through holes 34 on the lug portions 33 of the connectors 3 from the collapsed position into the fully stretched position. At this point, the two shoulder portions 35 on every connector 3 are moved into positions radially inward pressing against an outer wall surface of the upper hub 2, forming a solid structure. Therefore, the shoulder portions 35 not only structurally strengthen the lug portions 33, but also enable firm and stable connection of the connectors 3 to the upper hub 2. With the shoulder portions 35, the risk of twisted and deformed connectors 3 at the lug portions 33 due to a gust of wind blowing upward against the inner side of the umbrella could be eliminated.

[0023] It is to be noted that the shoulder portions 35 on each connector 3 are provided at two lateral sides of the upper outer end of the lug portion 33 and there are sufficient spaces 36 left below the shoulder portions 35, so that the rib 1 is allowed to smoothly move between the stretched and the collapsed positions.

[0024] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a structural relation among the middle hub 6, the pull cords 8, and the cord holders 9. For the purpose of simplicity, only one pull cord 8 and one cord holder 9 are shown in the drawing.

[0025] Each of the pull cords 8 includes a cord body 81, two ends of which are tied to form an outer knot 82 and an inner knot 83.

[0026] The middle hub 6 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially arranged and axially extended first knot-coupling holes 61. Each of the first knot-coupling holes 61 includes an expanded hole 611 located at a radially inner side of the first knot-coupling hole 61, and a narrowed cord slot 613 located at a radially outer side of the first knot-coupling hole 61 to communicate with an outer circumferential surface of the middle hub 6. A joint of the expanded hole 611 and the narrowed cord slot 613 forms a stopper 612. The inner knot 83 of each pull cord 8 is received in one of the expanded holes 611 and stopped by the stopper 612 from moving outward. The cord body 81 of the pull cord 8 is guided through the narrowed cord slot 613 to extend from the first knot-coupling hole 61. An upper part of the outer circumferential surface of the middle hub 6 tapers toward a top of the middle hub to form a tapered surface 62. An annular groove 63 is formed around the middle hub 6 below the tapered surface 62 to intersect with every first knot-coupling hole 61. A hoop 64 is pushed down through the tapered surface 62 of the middle hub 6 into the annular groove 63 to tightly bind around the middle hub 6 and restrict the inner knots 83 of the pull cords 8 within the first knot-coupling holes 61.

[0027] Each of the cord holders 9 is provided at one side with a rib-coupling hole 91 for holding the rib 1 extended therethrough, and at another side with a second knot-coupling hole 92. The second knot-coupling hole 92 is structurally similar to the first knot-coupling hole 61 and includes an expanded hole 921 started from an outer end of the cord holder 9 and ended at a stopper 922 in the second knot-coupling hole 92, and a narrowed cord slot 923 extended from the stopper 922 to an inner end of the cord holder 9. The outer knot 82 of the pull cord 8 is received in the expanded hole 921 and is stopped by the stopper 922 from moving toward the inner end of the cord holder 9. The cord body 81 behind the outer knot 82 is guided through the narrowed cord slot 923 to extend from the inner end of the cord holder 9.

[0028] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the cord holder 9 viewed from an inner end thereof to clearly show the cord slot 923 of the second knot-coupling hole 92 is extended to the inner end of the cord holder 9.

[0029] FIG. 10 is a partially sectioned perspective view showing the manner in which the inner knot 83 of the pull cord 8 is held to the first knot-coupling hole 61 of the middle hub 6. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the pull cord 8 connected to the middle hub 6 of the wind-stable umbrella of the present invention is protected by the hoop 64 against separation from the middle hub 6 when the pull cord 8 is downward pulled. FIG. 12 is similar to FIG. 11 but shows the pull cord 8 connected to the middle hub 6 is protected by the hoop 64 against separation from the middle hub 6 when the pull cord 8 is upward pulled.

[0030] According to FIGS. 8 to 12, each pull cord 8 is firmly and stably provided between the pull holder 9 and the middle hub 6 and effectively pulls the outer portion of each rib 1 inward when the umbrella is stretched, protecting the rib 1 from turning outward and upward and becoming deformed under a strong wind.

Claims

1. A wind-stable umbrella, comprising: a shaft being provided at a predetermined position with a stop ring; an upper hub being fixedly mounted to a top of said shaft and being provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced hub holes; a lower hub being slidably mounted around said shaft to move up and down along said shaft; a middle hub being movably mounted around said shaft between said upper hub and said stop ring with a spring set between said middle hub and said stop ring; said middle hub being provided with a plurality of circumferentially arranged and axially extended first knot-coupling holes, each of which including an expanded hole located at a radially inner side of said first knot-coupling hole, a narrowed cord slot located at a radially outer side of said first knot-coupling hole, and a stopper formed at a joint of said expanded hole and said narrowed cord slot; an upper part of an outer circumferential surface of said middle hub forming a tapered surface, an annular groove being formed around said middle hub below said tapered surface to intersect with every one of said first knot-coupling holes, and a hoop being tightened around said annular groove; and a plurality of sets of rib members, each set of said rib members comprising: a rib; a connector being connected at an outer end to an inner end of said rib and at an inner end to one of said hub holes provided on said upper hub; a stretcher being pivotally connected at an inner and an outer end to said lower hub and a near-middle point on said rib, respectively; a cord holder being provided at one side with a rib-coupling hole for said rib to extend therethrough, so that said cord holder is fixedly mounted to a near-outer end of said rib; and at another side with a second cord-coupling hole; said second cord-coupling hole including an expanded hole located at an outer end of said cord holder, a stopper provided in said second cord-coupling hole behind said expanded hole, and a narrowed cord slot extended from said stopper to an inner end of said cord holder; and a pull cord having two ends tied into an inner knot and an outer knot that are received in said first cord-coupling hole on said middle hub and said second cord-coupling hole on said cord holder, respectively.

2. The wind-stable umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said connectors includes a main body, an outer part of which defining a central hole into which said inner end of said rib is inserted to firmly connect to said connector; a lug portion forward extended from a central area of an inner end of said main body and having a through hole provided near an inner end thereof; and two shoulder portions extended from two lateral sides of an upper outer end of said lug portion; said lug portions being separately located in said hub holes provided on said upper hub, and being pivotally connected to said upper hub with a steel wire sequentially threaded through said through holes on said lug portions.