U.S. patent application number 09/727576 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-06 for double-story umbrella.
Invention is credited to Chang, Jung-Jen, Lin, Chung-Kuang.
Application Number | 20020066476 09/727576 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24923197 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020066476 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin, Chung-Kuang ; et
al. |
June 6, 2002 |
DOUBLE-STORY UMBRELLA
Abstract
A double-story umbrella includes an upper umbrella, and a lower
umbrella detachably coupled with the upper umbrella and operatively
opened to be a beach umbrella or a big umbrella having large
shielding area; whereby upon uncoupling of the upper and lower
umbrellas, each umbrella can be folded to have a short folding
length for a convenient handling and storage when the umbrella is
folded.
Inventors: |
Lin, Chung-Kuang; (Taipei
Hsien, TW) ; Chang, Jung-Jen; (Taipei Hsien,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Dougherty & Troxell
ONE SKYLINE PLACE
SUITE 1404
5205 LEESBURG PIKE
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22041-3401
US
|
Family ID: |
24923197 |
Appl. No.: |
09/727576 |
Filed: |
December 4, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/25.1 ;
135/20.3; 135/74 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 25/18 20130101;
A45B 19/08 20130101; A45B 25/08 20130101; A45B 23/00 20130101; A45B
17/00 20130101; A45B 2025/186 20130101; A45B 25/24 20130101; A45B
19/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/25.1 ;
135/20.3; 135/74 |
International
Class: |
A45B 001/00; A45B
019/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A double-story umbrella comprising: an upper umbrella including
an upper shaft and an upper rib assembly pivotally secured to said
upper shaft having an upper umbrella cloth secured on said upper
rib assembly; and a lower umbrella detachably coupled with said
upper umbrella, and includes a lower shaft and a lower rib assembly
pivotally secured to said lower shaft having a lower umbrella cloth
secured on said lower rib assembly, with said lower shaft connected
to and positioned under said upper shaft upon coupling of said
upper umbrella on said lower umbrella; whereby upon opening of said
upper and lower umbrellas, a double-story umbrella is formed; and
upon detachment of said upper umbrella from said lower umbrella,
said upper and lower umbrellas are each folded for convenient
handling and storage.
2. A double-story umbrella according to claim 1, wherein each said
rib assembly includes a single-fold rib assembly and a
multiple-fold rib assembly.
3. A double-story umbrella according to claim 1, wherein each said
shaft includes a single tube and a plurality of tubes
telescopically engageable with one another.
4. A double-story umbrella according to claim 1, wherein said upper
umbrella includes at least a top rib pivotally secured to an upper
notch on said upper shaft, and a stretcher rib pivotally secured
between said top rib and a runner slidably held on said upper
shaft.
5. A double-story umbrella according to claim 4, wherein said upper
umbrella includes an upper spring catch resiliently formed on said
runner to be engaged with a catch slot formed in said upper shaft
for locking said runner when opening the upper umbrella.
6. A double-story umbrella according to claim 4, wherein said upper
umbrella includes an upper spring catch resiliently secured in said
upper shaft for locking said runner when opening the upper
umbrella.
7. A double-story umbrella according to claim 4, wherein said upper
umbrella further includes a tail rib pivotally secured to said
stretcher rib and pivotally secured to said top rib by an auxiliary
rib.
8. A double-story umbrella according to claim 1, wherein said lower
umbrella includes at least an inner rib pivotally secured to a
notch on said lower shaft, and a lower stretcher rib pivotally
secured between said inner rib and a lower runner slidably held on
said lower shaft.
9. A double-story umbrella according to claim 8, wherein said lower
umbrella includes a lower spring catch resiliently formed on said
lower runner to be engaged with a catch slot formed in said lower
shaft for locking said lower runner when opening the lower
umbrella.
10. A double-story umbrella according to claim 8, wherein said
lower umbrella includes a lower spring catch resiliently secured in
said lower shaft for locking said lower runner when opening the
lower umbrella.
11. A double-story umbrella according to claim 8, wherein said
lower umbrella further includes a lower tail rib pivotally secured
to said lower stretcher rib and pivotally secured to said inner rib
by a lower auxiliary rib.
12. A double-story umbrella according to claim 1, wherein said
upper umbrella is detachably coupled on said lower umbrella by a
coupling selected from a latch, a pin, a screw, a lock, a fastener
and a coupling device for mounting said upper shaft on said lower
shaft.
13. A double-story umbrella according to claim 12, wherein said
coupling is formed on said lower shaft for fastening said upper
shaft with said lower shaft.
14. A double-story umbrella according to claim 12, wherein said
coupling is formed on said upper shaft for fastening said lower
shaft with said upper shaft.
15. A double-story umbrella according to claim 1, wherein said
upper shaft is coupled on said lower shaft by male and female
threads respectively formed on the corresponding portions of said
upper and lower shafts.
16. A double-story umbrella according to claim 1, wherein said
lower shaft further includes an angle-adjusting means having an
upper member secured to a bottom portion of said lower shaft of
said lower umbrella, a lower member pivotally secured to said upper
member and secured to a base, a protrusion formed on a bottom of
the upper member, and a positioning pad formed on said lower member
having a plurality of recesses recessed in said positioning pad
each said recess selectively engaging with said protrusion for
adjustably angularly erecting said lower shaft above said base and
for vertically erecting said lower shaft on said base.
17. A double-story umbrella according to claim 1, wherein said
upper and said lower umbrellas form a double-story beach
umbrella.
18. A double-story umbrella according to claim 1, wherein said
upper umbrella includes a runner operatively secured to said upper
shaft by a rope fastener formed on said runner, said runner secured
with said upper umbrella having means coupled to said lower shaft
for coupling said upper umbrella on said lower umbrella.
19. A double-story umbrella according to claim 18, wherein said
runner includes a male-threaded portion formed on a lower portion
of said runner and engaged with a female-threaded portion formed in
said lower shaft.
20. A double-story umbrella according to claim 18, wherein said
rope fastener includes: a rope having an upper end fixed on the
plug of the upper shaft, a button resiliently held by a restoring
spring in a casing formed on the runner having a rope hole formed
through the button, with the rope passing through a pair of side
holes formed in opposite side walls of the casing and passing
through the rope hole in the button and outwardly terminated at an
outer end of said rope, whereby upon depression of the button to
coincide the rope hole with the two side holes and pulling of the
rope outwardly when grasping the outer end of the rope, the runner
is raised upwardly to approximate the plug of the upper shaft until
engaging with the plug, and the button is then released to allow
the restoring spring to urge the button upwardly to unalign the
rope hole from the two side holes and the rope will be frictionally
dogged in between the button and two side walls of the casing for
braking and locking the rope and firmly fastening the runner at the
bottom of the upper shaft for extending and opening the upper
umbrella.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] A conventional beach umbrella includes a large-diameter
umbrella cloth secured on a rib assembly having large diameter for
shielding sunlight. However, the umbrella cloth having large
diameter up to 1.5 meters will occupy a large space after being
folded, which is inconvenient for handling and storage especially
when stored in a small car.
[0002] The present inventor has found the drawbacks of the
conventional beach umbrella and invented the present double-story
umbrella.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a
double-story umbrella including an upper umbrella, and a lower
umbrella detachably coupled with the upper umbrella and operatively
opened to be a beach umbrella or a big umbrella having large
shielding area; whereby upon uncoupling of the upper and lower
umbrellas, each umbrella can be folded to have a short folding
length for a convenient handling and storage when the umbrella is
folded.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a folded upper umbrella of the
double-story umbrella of the present invention.
[0005] FIG. 2 a folded lower umbrella of the double-story umbrella
of the present invention.
[0006] FIG. 3 shows an opened double-story umbrella of the present
invention when coupling the upper and lower umbrellas.
[0007] FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged illustration of the runner of
the upper umbrella and the notch of the lower umbrella.
[0008] FIG. 5 shows a coupling for coupling the upper umbrella with
the lower umbrella adjacent to the lower runner of the lower
umbrella.
[0009] FIG. 6 shows the double-story umbrella of the present
invention when tilted.
[0010] FIG. 7 shows an angle-adjusting means of the present
invention when vertically erecting the shaft of the umbrella.
[0011] FIG. 8 shows the angle-adjusting means when tilting the
shaft of the umbrella.
[0012] FIG. 9 shows another preferred example of the
angle-adjusting means when vertically erecting the umbrella
shaft.
[0013] FIG. 10 shows the angle-adjusting means when rightwardly
tilting the shaft.
[0014] FIG. 11 shows the angle-adjusting means when leftwardly
tilting the shaft.
[0015] FIG. 12 shows a folded upper umbrella of another preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 13 shows a folded lower umbrella of another preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 14 shows an opened double-story umbrella of the present
invention when coupling the upper and lower umbrellas as shown in
FIGS. 12, 13.
[0018] FIG. 15 shows the runner of the upper umbrella with the
notch of the lower umbrella of FIG. 14.
[0019] FIG. 16 shows the coupling for coupling the upper umbrella
on the lower umbrella of FIG. 14.
[0020] FIG. 17 shows a folded upper umbrella of still another
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 18 shows a folded lower umbrella of the still another
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 19 shows an open umbrella when coupling the upper and
lower umbrellas as shown in FIGS. 17, 18.
[0023] FIG. 20 shows the runner of the upper umbrella and the notch
of the lower umbrella of FIG. 19.
[0024] FIG. 21 shows the coupling for coupling the upper and lower
umbrellas as shown in FIG. 19.
[0025] FIG. 22 shows a folded upper umbrella of further preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 23 shows a folded lower umbrella corresponding to the
upper umbrella of FIG. 22,
[0027] FIG. 24 shows an opened double-story umbrella when coupling
the upper and lower umbrellas as shown in FIGS. 22, 23.
[0028] FIG. 25 shows a folded upper umbrella of still further
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 26 shows a fastener for fastening the runner of the
upper umbrella.
[0030] FIG. 27 shows a folded lower umbrella corresponding to the
upper umbrella of FIG. 25.
[0031] FIG. 28 shows an opened double-story umbrella of the present
invention when coupling the upper and lower umbrellas of FIGS. 25,
27.
[0032] FIG. 29 shows the coupling of the upper and lower umbrellas
as enlarged view from FIG. 28.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0033] As shown in FIGS. 1.about.8, the double-story umbrella of
the present invention comprises: an upper umbrella 1u and a lower
umbrella 1d detachably coupled with the upper umbrella 1u to form a
double-story umbrella (as shown in FIG. 3) such as a double-story
(or two-storied) beach umbrella or umbrella with large diameter for
increasing a larger shielding area.
[0034] The upper umbrella 1u includes: an upper shaft 1, an upper
rib assembly 2 pivotally secured to the upper shaft 1, an upper
umbrella cloth 3 secured on the upper rib assembly 2, and an upper
spring catch 4 resiliently lockable on the upper shaft 1 for
locking the upper rib assembly 2 at its opening state (FIG. 3).
[0035] The upper shaft 1 includes: an upper tube 11, a lower tube
12 telescopically engageable with the upper tube 11, and a tension
spring 13 resiliently held in between the upper tube 11 and the
lower tube 12 for normally extending the upper and lower tubes 11,
12 adapted for the sliding movement of a runner 23 on the upper
shaft 1.
[0036] Naturally, the upper shaft 1 may be a single tube or a
multiple-fold shaft including a plurality of tubes telescopically
engageable with one another, not limited in the present
invention.
[0037] The upper rib assembly 2 includes: a top rib 21 pivotally
secured to an upper notch 20 formed on a top of the upper shaft 1,
and a stretcher rib 22 pivotally secured between the top rib 21 and
a runner 23 slidably held on the upper shaft 1.
[0038] The upper spring catch 4 is resiliently lockable on the
upper shaft 1 as engaged with a catch slot 14 formed in an upper
portion of the upper shaft 1 for locking the runner 23 of the upper
rib assembly 2 at its extending (or opening) state as shown in
FIGS. 3, 4; and further includes a push button 41 for disengaging
the upper spring catch 4 from the catch slot 14 in the upper shaft
1 for closing or folding the umbrella (from FIG. 3 to FIG. 1 or
2).
[0039] The lower umbrella 1d includes: a lower shaft 1', a lower
rib assembly 2' pivotally secured to the lower shaft 1', a lower
umbrella cloth 3' secured on the lower rib assembly 2', and a lower
spring catch 4' resiliently lockable or formed on the lower shaft
1' for locking the lower rib assembly 2' at its opening state (FIG.
3).
[0040] A coupling 5 is provided on the lower shaft 1' for coupling
the upper shaft 1 on the lower shaft 1' for mounting the upper
umbrella 1u on the lower umbrella 1d when opening the two-story
umbrella as shown in FIGS. 3, 5.
[0041] The coupling 5 may be a latch, a pin, a screw, a lock, a
fastener or any other coupling device provided for connecting the
upper shaft 1 above the lower shaft 1', not limited in the present
invention.
[0042] The lower shaft 1' may be formed as a single tube or as a
multiple-fold shaft having a plurality of tubes telescopically
engageable with one another. The lower rib assembly 2' includes: an
inner rib 21' pivotally secured to a notch 20' formed on a top of
the lower shaft 1', a lower stretcher rib 22' having its inner end
pivotally secured to a lower runner 23' slidably held on the lower
shaft 1' and having a middle portion of the lower stretcher rib 22'
pivotally connected with the inner rib 21', and a lower tail rib
24' pivotally secured to an outer end of the lower stretcher rib
22' and having an innermost end of the lower tail rib 24' pivotally
secured to an outer portion of the inner rib 21' by a lower
auxiliary rib 25'.
[0043] The lower shaft 1' has a hollow interior 10' for inserting
the upper shaft 1 into the hollow interior 10' for mounting the
upper shaft 1 on the lower shaft 1', with a bottom end of the upper
shaft 1 limited or retained at a retainer 50 which may be a pin or
other stopping device fixed in the lower shaft 1' as shown in FIGS.
3, 5.
[0044] When erecting the two-story umbrella of the present
invention for shielding sunlight, for instance, the upper umbrella
1u will be first opened by engaging the upper spring catch 4 at a
catch slot (or slots) 14 formed in the tubes of the upper shaft 1
and the upper shaft 1 is then inserted into the interior 10' in the
lower shaft 1' and the coupling 5 is operated to allow a latch, for
instance, of the coupling 5 to engage the latch holes 15', 15
respectively formed in the tubes of the lower shaft 1' and the
upper shaft 1 for stably locking the upper shaft 1 with the lower
shaft 1' for coupling the upper umbrella 1u on the lower umbrella
1d. The lower umbrella 1d is finally opened by retaining the lower
runner 23' on the lower spring catch 4' as engaged with the catch
slot 16 formed in the lower shaft 1' as shown in FIGS. 3, 5 to be a
two-story umbrella such as a beach umbrella.
[0045] After folding or closing the upper and lower umbrellas 1u,
1d, the upper and lower umbrella 1u, 1d may be detached or broken
down as two pieces to shorten the folding length either of the two
umbrellas. So, the folding length Lu as folded from a conventional
umbrella cloth U as shown in phantom line of FIG. 3 can be greatly
minimized since either the folding length L1 of the upper umbrella
1u (FIG. 1) or the folding length L2 of the lower umbrella 1d (FIG.
2) after being uncoupled and broken down is much less than the
folding length Lu of the conventional umbrella cloth U (FIG. 3,
phantom line) which is not formed as two stories including an upper
umbrella and a lower umbrella as disclosed in the present
invention.
[0046] The shortened folding length (L1 or L2) of the two umbrellas
1u, 1d of the present invention will enhance a more convenient
handling and storage of a folded umbrella, for instance, for a
convenient storage into a tiny space within a car.
[0047] The present invention including two-story umbrella
consisting of an upper umbrella and a lower umbrella which may be
assembled or detached conveniently to be superior to a conventional
beach umbrella or an umbrella with large diameter.
[0048] As shown in FIGS. 6.about.8, the present invention further
comprises an angle-adjusting means 6 for tilting the umbrella shaft
at an optimum angle in order to obtain a better shielding
effect.
[0049] The angle-adjusting means 6 may be integrally formed with
the shaft of the present invention or may be an additional unit
(like a spare part) securable with the shaft of the present
invention.
[0050] The angle-adjusting means 6 includes: an upper member 61
secured to (or formed on) a bottom portion of the lower shaft 1' of
the lower umbrella 1d; a lower member 62 secured to (or formed on)
a base (or base stand) 1s and pivotally secured to the upper member
61 by a pivot 60; a protrusion 63 formed on a bottom (such as a
bottom right portion in FIG. 7) of the upper member 61; and a
positioning pad 64 formed on an upper end of the lower member 62
having a first recess 641 recessed in a first position (such as a
right portion) on the positioning pad 64 for engaging the
protrusion 63 of the upper member 61 (secured to the umbrella shaft
1', 1) with the first recess 641 for erecting the umbrella shaft at
a first angle (such as a vertical angle as shown in FIG. 7), and
having a second recess 642 recessed in a second position (such as a
left portion) on the positioning pad 64 for engaging the protrusion
63 with the second recess 642 for erecting the umbrella shaft at a
second angle (such as a rightward tilting angle as shown in FIG.
8).
[0051] As shown in FIGS. 9.about.11, the protrusion 63 is formed on
a central bottom portion of the upper member 61, while the
positioning pad 64 is formed with a middle recess 64a, a left
recess 64b and a right recess 64c respectively recessed in a
central, left and right portion of the positioning pad 64 for
selectively engaging the protrusion 63 with the middle recess 64a
for vertically erecting the upper member 61 and the umbrella shaft
1' as shown in FIG. 9; or for engaging the protrusion 63 with the
left recess 64b for rightwardly tilting the upper member 61 and the
umbrella shaft 1' as shown in FIG. 10; or for engaging the
protrusion 63 with the right recess 64c for leftwardly tilting the
upper member 61 and the umbrella shaft 1' as shown in FIG. 11.
[0052] As shown in FIGS. 12.about.16, the upper umbrella 1u
includes an upper rib assembly 2 of two folds pivotally secured to
the upper shaft 1 as modified from the first embodiment as shown in
FIGS. 1.about.5; and the lower umbrella 1d having the lower spring
catch 4' resiliently formed on the lower runner 23' as modified
from the foregoing embodiment for engaging the lower spring catch
4' with the catch slot 16 formed in the lower shaft 1' as shown in
FIG. 16 when opening the lower umbrella 1d.
[0053] The upper rib assembly 2 of the upper umbrella 1u includes:
a top rib 21 pivotally secured to an upper notch 20 on a top of the
upper shaft 1, a stretcher rib 22 having its inner end pivotally
secured to the runner 23 slidably held on the upper shaft 1 and
having a middle portion of the stretcher rib 22 pivotally secured
to the top rib 21, a tail rib 24 pivotally secured to an outer end
of the stretcher rib 22 and having an innermost end of the tail rib
24 pivotally secured to the top rib 21 through an auxiliary rib
25.
[0054] The coupling 5 is formed on the upper shaft 1 and includes a
coupling latch 51 resiliently urged by a spring 52 to be engaged
with a latch hole 15' formed in the lower shaft 1' for coupling the
upper shaft 1 on the lower shaft 1' as shown in FIG. 16 when
assembling the upper umbrella 1u on the lower umbrella 1d, whereby
upon opening of the upper and lower umbrellas 1u, 1d, a
double-story umbrella is formed as shown in FIG. 14.
[0055] As shown in FIGS. 17.about.21, the upper rib assembly 2 is
modified from that as shown in FIGS. 12, 14 to be a single fold
rather than two folds (FIG. 12); and includes a top rib 21
pivotally secured to the upper notch 20 and a stretcher rib 22
pivotally secured between the top rib 21 and the runner 23 held on
the shaft 1.
[0056] As shown in FIGS. 22.about.24, the coupling 5 is modified to
be a bolt or pin fixed on the lower shaft 1' for engaging a hole
formed in the upper shaft 1 for coupling the upper shaft 1 on the
lower shaft 1' as shown in FIG. 24.
[0057] As shown in FIGS. 25.about.29, the upper umbrella 1u is
modified to have the runner 23a securable to the upper shaft 1 by a
rope fastener 26 formed on the runner 23a.
[0058] The runner 23a has also been modified to have a hollow
portion 231 formed in an upper portion of the runner 23a to be
engaged with a plug 10 formed on a bottom of the upper shaft 1 when
raising the runner 23a upon actuating the rope fastener 26 to
extend and open the upper rib assembly 2 pivotally secured to the
runner 23a and the upper notch 20, and a male-threaded portion 232
on a lower portion of the runner 23a to be engaged with a
female-threaded portion 10'a formed in a top end of the lower shaft
1' of the lower umbrella 1d for mounting the upper umbrella 1u on
the lower umbrella 1d as shown in FIGS. 28, 29.
[0059] The rope fastener 26 includes: a rope 261 having an upper
end 262 fixed on the plug 10 of the upper shaft 1, a button 263
resiliently held by a restoring spring 265 in a casing 260 formed
on the runner 23a having a rope hole 264 formed through the button
263, with the rope 261 passing through a pair of side holes 260a
formed in opposite side walls of the casing 260 and passing through
the rope hole 264 in the button 263 and outwardly terminated at an
outer end 266, whereby upon depression of the button 263 to
coincide the rope hole 264 with the two side holes 260a and pulling
of the rope 261 outwardly when grasping the outer end 266 of the
rope 261, the runner 23a is raised upwardly to approximate the plug
10 of the upper shaft 1 until engaging with the plug 10, and the
button 263 is then released to allow the restoring spring 265 to
urge the button 263 upwardly to unalign the rope hole 264 from the
two side holes 260a and the rope will be frictionally dogged in
between the button 263 and two side walls of the casing 260 for
braking and locking the rope 261 and also firmly fastening the
runner 23a at the bottom of the upper shaft 1 for extending and
opening the upper umbrella 1u as shown in FIGS. 28, 29.
[0060] The upper rib assembly 2 may be single fold or two folds,
while the lower rib assembly 2' is preferably made as two folds as
illustrated.
[0061] The lower spring catch 4' for locking the lower runner 23'
when opening the lower umbrella 1d may have plural design choices
as shown in FIGS. 2, 13, 27, not limited in this invention.
Similarly, the upper spring catch 4 may also have plural design
choices.
[0062] The present invention may be modified without departing from
the spirit and scope of the present invention.
* * * * *