U.S. patent application number 10/197660 was filed with the patent office on 2003-01-30 for auto-opening umbrella frame.
Invention is credited to You, Ching-Chuan.
Application Number | 20030019512 10/197660 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21633605 |
Filed Date | 2003-01-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030019512 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
You, Ching-Chuan |
January 30, 2003 |
Auto-opening umbrella frame
Abstract
An enhanced frame of an auto-opening umbrella comprises hollow
cylindrical intermediate pivotal joints with spreaders passed
through and each including two spaced bottom lugs, a shaft
integrally formed with the lugs, and a recess between the lugs. A
plurality of links has hooked ends pivotably coupled to a lower
ring and the shaft. The outer hooked end of each link is
sufficiently smaller than the recess so that ribs are spaced apart
from the spreaders by a much smaller distance when the umbrella is
folded. This can achieve a smooth folding operation and a more
compact umbrella after folded.
Inventors: |
You, Ching-Chuan; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Ching-Chuan You
C/O Percy International Patent Corp.
P.O. Box 1-79
Taipei
100
TW
|
Family ID: |
21633605 |
Appl. No.: |
10/197660 |
Filed: |
July 18, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/22 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 25/02 20130101;
A45B 25/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/22 |
International
Class: |
A45B 025/14; A45B
025/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 26, 2001 |
TW |
087206352A03 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A frame of an auto-opening umbrella comprising: a shank
including a lower ring slidable on the shank, a intermediate ring
slidable on the shank, a stationary upper hub fixed on a top of the
shank, and elastic means biased between the intermediate and the
lower rings; a rib assembly including a plurality of ribs; a
spreader assembly including a plurality of spreaders being
pivotably coupled to both the ribs and the intermediate ring; and a
plurality of links each having an inner hooked end and an outer
hooked end wherein the inner hooked ends are pivotably coupled to
the lower ring; wherein a plurality of substantially hollow
cylindrical intermediate pivotal joints each comprises two
connected parallel tubes having central through hole in
communication with each other wherein each of the spreaders is
inserted therethrough and fastened therein, two spaced bottom lugs
vertically extending from the bottom of the intermediate pivotal
joints, a shaft integrally formed with the lugs and across the
lugs, and the outer hooked end of each link is pivotably coupled to
the shaft.
2. The frame of claim 1, wherein each of the intermediate pivotal
joints has a recess between the lugs and above the shaft, and the
recess having a length longer than that of a bottom portion of the
lugs.
3. The frame of claim 1, wherein the link is made of stainless
steel.
4. The frame of claim 1, wherein the outer hooked end of each link
is disposed around more than half of a circumference of the
shaft.
5. The frame of claim 4, wherein the outer hooked end of each link
is smaller than the recess so that the ribs are spaced apart from
the spreaders by a substantially little distance when the umbrella
is folded.
6. The frame of claim 1, wherein the rib assembly has a plurality
of single-rod ribs.
7. The frame of claim 1, wherein the spreader assembly has a
plurality of two parallel rod spreaders.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to umbrellas frame and more
particularly to an auto-opening umbrella in which the spreaders and
its pivotal joint are made more durable and the umbrella can be
used smoothly and stored more compactly.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] It is common for people to carry an umbrella while going
out. This is particularly true in countries having abundant rain
year round. In particular, a convenient auto-opening umbrella is
desirable for many people due to its quick opening operation.
However, auto-opening umbrella tends to malfunction. This is mainly
because spring provided therein as detailed by referring to FIG. 5.
As shown, frame of the umbrella supported by a center post 100
comprises a lower ring 101, an upper ring 103, a hub 104, a spring
102 biased between lower ring 101 and upper ring 103, a plurality
of ribs 105 extended from hub 104, a plurality of first connection
members 107 on ribs 105, a plurality of spreaders 106 coupled
between upper ring 103 and first connection members 107, and links
108 coupled between spreaders 106 and lower ring 101. As understood
that, the opening of auto-opening umbrella is effected by suddenly
expanding the spring 102. Hence, the expansion force is large.
Unfortunately, pin 109 for coupling link 108 to spreader 106 is
relatively small. It is also understood that spreaders 106 are
formed of U-shaped thin metal material by punching for reducing
weight. In view of above, it is understood that the securing of
pins 109 on spreaders 106 and links 108 may neutralize (because
pins 109 are deformed, detached or rusted) after a predetermined
long period of time (or even a short time) of use due to the large
expansion force of spring 102.
[0005] Thus, it is desirable to provide an improved auto-opening
umbrella in order to overcome the above drawbacks of prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
auto-opening umbrella having enhanced frame wherein a shaft of
pivot joint between link and spreader is formed integrally with
connection member put on spreader so as to possess sufficient
support strength, thereby prolonging a useful life.
[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
auto-opening umbrella having enhanced frame wherein a shaft of
pivot joint between stainless steel link and fiber re-enforced
plastic (FRP) spreader is formed integrally with plastic connection
member. This has the advantages of minimum noise generated at the
joint during operation, providing a rustproof pivot joint, no
riveting in assembly, convenient, fast, and lower cost.
[0008] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description taken with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred
embodiment of a portion of frame of auto-opening umbrella according
to the invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a side view of a portion of the umbrella frame of
FIG. 1 which is in an open state;
[0011] FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of FIG. 2 for
detailing a pivotal relationship between a link and the
intermediate pivotal joint which is sleeved on a spreader;
[0012] FIG. 4 is side view of the umbrella in a folded state;
and
[0013] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional
auto-opening umbrella.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, there is shown an auto-opening
umbrella frame constructed in accordance with the invention. The
frame comprises a shank 10, a plurality of links 19 formed of
stainless steel, a plurality of single-rod ribs 15, and a plurality
of twin-rod spreaders 17 both formed of FRP bar for keeping from
rust. Also, the number of links 19, ribs 15, and spreaders 17 are
equal. Shank 10 comprises a lower ring 11 slidable on the shank, a
intermediate ring 13 also slidable on the shank, a stationary upper
hub (not shown) fixed on the top of the shank, and a spring (e.g.,
coil spring) 12 biased between the intermediate and the lower rings
11 and 13. An equal number of latches 16 are sleeved on the ribs 15
and pivotably coupled to the spreaders 17. Note that such
connection is well known. Thus a detailed description thereof is
omitted herein for the sake of brevity.
[0015] For obtaining a lightweight frame and preventing pivot joint
between link 19 and spreader 17 from rusting, frame is formed of
FRP rods by plastic extrusion molding. Ribs 15 have a larger
diameter single rod while spreader 17 consist of two connected
parallel rods of smaller diameter. Also, latch 16 and intermediate
pivotal joint 18 are formed of strong nylon by plastic injection
molding. Link 19 is shaped to have two hooked ends 191 and 192
wherein the inner hooked end 191 is pivotably coupled to the lower
ring 11 in a well known manner. Thus a detailed description thereof
is omitted herein. Spreader 17 comprises an outer joint 172 having
pivotal hole 171 pivotably coupled to the rib 15 and an inner joint
173 having hole 175 pivotably coupled to the intermediate ring 13,
two apertures 174 formed on the twin hollow tube of joint 173 for
permitting an adhesive or any of other bonding materials to fill
into for securing the joint 173 to the twin bar spreader 17. Such
connection is also well known. Thus a detailed description thereof
is omitted herein. The characteristics of the invention are further
detailed below. A substantially hollow cylindrical intermediate
pivotal joint 18 comprises two connected parallel tubes 180 having
central through hole 181-181 in communication with each other
wherein two parallel rods 170-170 of spreader 17 are inserted
through, a plurality of apertures 184 formed on the twin hollow
tube for permitting an adhesive or any of other bonding materials
to fill into for securing the intermediate pivotal joint 18 to the
twin bar spreader 17, two spaced bottom lugs 185-185 extending
vertically from the bottom of the intermediate pivotal joint 18, a
shaft 186 which is across the lugs 185-185, and is integrally
formed with the lugs 185-185, the diameter of shaft 186 being large
enough to sustain the expansion force of spring 12 transmitted via
link 19 which has its upper hook end 192 pivotably secured around
the shaft 186 so as to possess a sufficient support strength,
thereby prolonging a useful life of the umbrella, and a recess 187
between the lugs 185-185 and above the shaft 186, the recess 187
having a length longer than that of the bottom portion of the lug
182.
[0016] Moreover, the outer hooked end 192 of link 19 is disposed
around more than half of the circumference of the shaft 186 (see
FIG. 4). This has an advantage of effecting a smooth operation of
the link 19 relative to the intermediate pivotal joint 18 when the
spring 12 is expanded for opening the umbrella. The smooth
operation is made possible because an allowance of the outer hooked
end 192 in the recess 187 is relatively large, i.e., the outer
hooked end 192 is sufficiently smaller than the recess 187. The
invention further includes a benefit of being more compact in a
storage state. This is best illustrated in FIGS. 4. Also, the
projected distance of each lug 185 is made as small as possible.
Further, as stated above, the ribs 15 are spaced apart from the
spreaders 17 by a distance much smaller than that of prior art in
an storage state of the umbrella. As such, the umbrella is
advantageous in consideration of storage, packing, and
transportation.
[0017] The benefits of this invention include: Minimum noise
generated from the engagement of shaft 186 and upper hooked end 192
during opening or closing operation of umbrella; the joint of shaft
186 and upper hooked end 192 is rustproof; and smooth opening or
closing operation of umbrella. Most importantly, such umbrella is
reliable and durable.
[0018] While the invention herein disclosed has been described by
means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and
variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art
without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set
forth in the claims.
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