U.S. patent application number 10/086453 was filed with the patent office on 2003-09-04 for rib assembly having function of closing spring for helping closing of multiple-fold umbrella.
This patent application is currently assigned to Fu Tai Umbrella Works, Ltd.. Invention is credited to Chang, Jung-Jen, Lin, Chung-Kuang.
Application Number | 20030164184 10/086453 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27803798 |
Filed Date | 2003-09-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030164184 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin, Chung-Kuang ; et
al. |
September 4, 2003 |
Rib assembly having function of closing spring for helping closing
of multiple-fold umbrella
Abstract
A rib assembly for multiple-fold umbrella includes: a top rib
pivotally secured to an upper notch on a top of a central shaft, a
stretcher rib pivotally secured between the top rib and a lower
runner slidably held on the central shaft, an intermediate rib
pivotally securable to the top rib or the stretcher rib, and a tail
(or outer) rib pivotally connected to the intermediate rib; wherein
either the top rib or the stretcher rib is formed as a lotus-shape
rib when opening the umbrella; and upon opening of the umbrella,
the lotus-shape ribs will be arcuately bent to store their
resilience; and upon closing of the umbrella, the lotus-shape ribs
will restore to release their resilience energy to automatically
close the rib assembly. The rib assembly plays double duties both
for supporting the umbrella cloth on the ribs and also for serving
as "closing springs" for automatically closing the umbrella by
eliminating the installation of closing springs on the rib
assembly.
Inventors: |
Lin, Chung-Kuang; (Taipei
Hsien, TW) ; Chang, Jung-Jen; (Taipei Hsien,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Bruce H. Troxell
ONE SKYLINE PLACE
SUITE 1404
5205 LEESBURG PIKE
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22041-3401
US
|
Assignee: |
Fu Tai Umbrella Works, Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
27803798 |
Appl. No.: |
10/086453 |
Filed: |
March 4, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/25.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 2019/001 20130101;
A45B 19/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/25.3 |
International
Class: |
A45B 019/10 |
Claims
1. A rib assembly for multiple-fold umbrella comprising: a top rib
pivotally secured to an upper notch formed on a top of a central
shaft; a stretcher rib pivotally connected between the top rib and
a lower runner slidably held on said central shaft; an intermediate
rib pivotally connected to said top rib and pivotally connected to
said stretcher rib through a connecting rib; and a tail rib
pivotally connected to said intermediate rib and pivotally
connected to said top rib through a spring rib slidably coupled to
said intermediate rib; the improvement which comprises: said rib
assembly including a lotus-shape rib selected from the group
consisting of said top rib and said stretcher rib, a plurality of
said lotus-shape ribs disposed around said central shaft and
operatively bent to form a lotus shape arrangement to store
resilience as resiliently urged by a spring means in said shaft
when opening the umbrella; and upon closing of the umbrella by
releasing the spring means, the lotus-shape ribs will restore to
release the resilience thereof to retract the rib assembly for
automatically closing the umbrella.
2. A rib assembly according to claim 1, wherein each said top rib
includes: a pair of elastic plates bifurcated inwardly towards the
central shaft from a middle portion of the top rib, having an inner
end of each said elastic plate fixed in a sleeve member pivotally
secured on the upper notch on the shaft and having an outer end of
each said elastic plate inserted in a middle portion of the top
rib; having the middle portion of the top rib pivotally connected
to the stretcher rib and having an outer end portion of the top rib
pivotally connected with the intermediate rib; whereby upon opening
of the umbrella, the elastic plates of the top ribs will form a
lotus shape arrangement by arcuately bending the elastic plates to
store resilience of the elastic plates as urged by a spring means
of the umbrella; and upon closing of the umbrella by releasing the
tension of the spring means, the elastic plates of lotus shape will
restore to flatten the plates to release the resilience to retract
the rib assembly for automatically closing the umbrella.
3. A rib assembly according to claim 1, wherein each said stretcher
rib includes: a sleeve member pivotally secured to the lower runner
slidably held on the central shaft; a pair of elastic plates having
their inner ends fixed in the sleeve member and bifurcated
outwardly from the central shaft to have two outer ends of two
elastic plates to be pivotally connected with a middle portion of
each said top rib, whereby upon opening of the umbrella, the
elastic plates of the stretcher ribs will be arcuately bent to form
a lotus shape arrangement as urged by a spring in the shaft to
store elasticity of the elastic plates and upon closing of the
umbrella by releasing the tension of the spring, the elastic plates
of lotus shape will restore to flatten the elastic plates to
release the elastic energy to retract the rib assembly for
automatically closing the umbrella.
4. A rib assembly according to claim 1, wherein each said stretcher
rib is made of plastic, reinforced plastic and composite materials,
and including: a solid inner end portion pivotally secured to the
lower runner; a solid outer end portion pivotally connected to a
middle portion of the top rib; an outer portion pivotally connected
to an inner end portion of the connecting rib; a longitudinal
groove longitudinally recessed in the stretcher rib for receiving
the connecting rib into the groove when closing the umbrella and
folding the rib assembly; and a pair of reinforcing extensions
longitudinally formed on opposite side portions of the stretcher
rib for reinforcing the mechanical strength of the rib.
5. A rib assembly for multiple-fold umbrella comprising: a top rib
pivotally secured to an upper notch formed on a top of a central
shaft; a stretcher rib pivotally connected between the top rib and
a lower runner slidably held on said central shaft; an intermediate
rib pivotally connected to said stretcher rib and pivotally
connected to said top rib through a connecting rib; and a tail rib
pivotally connected to said intermediate rib; the improvement which
comprises: said rib assembly including a lotus-shape rib selected
from the group consisting of said top rib and said stretcher rib, a
plurality of said lotus-shape ribs disposed around said central
shaft and operatively bent to form a lotus shape arrangement to
store resilience as resiliently tensioned by an umbrella cloth
secured on said rib assembly and locked by a catch resiliently held
on said central shaft; and upon depression of said catch for
unlocking the rib assembly when closing the umbrella, the
lotus-shape ribs will restore to release the resilience thereof to
retract the rib assembly for automatically closing the
umbrella.
6. A rib assembly according to claim 5, wherein each said top rib
includes: a pair of elastic plates bifurcated inwardly towards the
central shaft from a middle portion of the stretcher rib, having an
inner end of each said elastic plate fixed in a sleeve member
pivotally secured on the upper notch on the shaft and having an
outer end of each said elastic plate received in a middle portion
of the stretcher rib; having the middle portion of the stretcher
rib pivotally connected with the outer ends of the elastic plates
of the top rib; whereby upon opening of the umbrella, the elastic
plates of the top ribs will form a lotus shape arrangement by
arcuately bending the elastic plates to store resilience of the
elastic plates as tensioned by the umbrella cloth and the rib
assembly of the umbrella as locked by the catch on the shaft; and
upon closing of the umbrella by depressing the catch to unlock the
rib assembly, the elastic plates of lotus shape will restore to
flatten the plates to release the resilience to retract the rib
assembly for automatically closing the umbrella.
7. A rib assembly according to claim 5, wherein each said stretcher
rib includes: a sleeve member pivotally secured to the lower runner
slidably held on the central shaft; a pair of elastic plates having
their inner ends fixed in the sleeve member and bifurcated
outwardly from the central shaft to have two outer ends of two said
elastic plates fixed in a middle portion of each said stretcher
rib, whereby upon opening of the umbrella, the elastic plates of
the stretcher ribs will be arcuately bent to form a lotus shape
arrangement as tensioned by the umbrella cloth and the rib assembly
to store elasticity of the elastic plates as locked by said catch
on said shaft; and upon closing of the umbrella by depressing the
catch on the shaft, the elastic plates of lotus shape will restore
to flatten the elastic plates to release the elastic energy to
retract the rib assembly for automatically closing the umbrella.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] A conventional multiple-fold automatic umbrella as shown in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,065 includes: a central shaft (1), a rib
assembly (2) for securing umbrella cloth thereon, an opening spring
(3) for opening the umbrella, a plurality of closing springs (4)
respectively secured on the rib assembly (2) for closing the
umbrella, and a control device (5) for controlling the opening or
closing of the umbrella.
[0002] Since each closing spring (4) should be respectively mounted
on the corresponding ribs of the rib assembly (2), it will require
much labor work for assembling the springs (4) on the rib assembly
to thereby increase the production complexity and cost.
[0003] The present inventor has found the drawbacks of the
conventional umbrella and invented the present rib assembly playing
double duties for ribs and also for closing springs for resiliently
or automatically closing the umbrella.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a rib
assembly for multiple-fold umbrella including: a top rib pivotally
secured to an upper notch on a top of a central shaft, a stretcher
rib pivotally secured between the top rib and a lower runner
slidably held on the central shaft, an intermediate rib pivotally
securable to the top rib or the stretcher rib, and a tail (or
outer) rib pivotally connected to the intermediate rib; wherein
either the top rib or the stretcher rib is formed as a lotus-shape
rib when opening the umbrella; and upon opening of the umbrella,
the lotus-shape ribs will be arcuately bent to store their
resilience; and upon closing of the umbrella, the lotus-shape ribs
will restore to release their resilience energy to automatically
close the rib assembly, thereby playing double duties both for
supporting the umbrella cloth on the ribs and also for serving as
"closing springs" for automatically closing the umbrella by
eliminating the installation of closing springs on the rib
assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is an illustration showing an opened umbrella of the
present invention.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a partial sectional drawing of the present
invention when opened.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing partial top ribs of the
present invention.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the stretcher rib
when viewed from 4-4 direction of FIG. 2.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional drawing of FIG. 4.
[0010] FIG. 6 shows an opened umbrella of another preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the top ribs and the
stretcher ribs of the umbrella of FIG. 6.
[0012] FIG. 8 shows an opened umbrella of still another preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 9 is a front view of the umbrella as shown in FIG.
8.
[0014] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the top rib and the
stretcher rib of the umbrella of FIG. 9.
[0015] FIG. 11 shows further preferred embodiment of an opened
umbrella of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the top ribs and the
stretcher ribs of FIG. 11.
[0017] FIG. 13 shows a folded umbrella when turning the upside
down.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the rib assembly 2 of the present
invention will be provided in an automatic umbrella automatically
opening or closing the umbrella, including: a central shaft 1, a
rib assembly 2, an opening spring 3 installed in the central shaft
1 for opening the umbrella, an umbrella cloth 4 secured on the rib
assembly 2, and a control device 5 for controlling the opening or
closing of the umbrella. The umbrella may be triple folds or any
other multiple folds, not limited in this invention.
[0019] The central shaft 1 includes: a lower tube 11 having a grip
12 secured to the lower tube 11 for mounting major parts of the
control device 5 in the grip 12, a middle tube 13, and an upper
tube 14 telescopically engageable with one another. The control
device 5 is a conventional mechanism for operatively opening or
closing the umbrella and thus not described in detail in this
application. The rib assembly 2 includes: a top rib 21 pivotally
secured to an upper notch 15 formed on a top of the central shaft
1, a stretcher rib 22 pivotally secured between the top rib 21 and
a lower runner 23 slidably held on the central shaft 1, an
intermediate rib 24 pivotally secured to the top rib 21 and
pivotally secured to the stretcher rib 22 by a connecting rib 25,
and a tail (or outer) rib 26 pivotally connected to the
intermediate rib 24 through a joint 28 and also pivotally connected
to a spring rib 27 which is slidably coupled to the intermediate
rib 24 by a coupling ring 240 and with the spring rib 27 pivotally
secured to the top rib 21.
[0020] Each top rib 21 includes: a pair of elastic plates (or rods)
212 bifurcated inwardly towards the central shaft 1 from a middle
portion 211 of the top rib 21, having an inner end 212i of each
elastic plate 212 inserted or fixed in a sleeve member 213
pivotally secured on the upper notch 15 on the shaft 1 and having
an outer end 212t of each elastic plate 212 inserted or fixed in a
socket 211a of the middle portion 211 of the top rib 21; having the
middle portion 211 of the top rib 21 pivotally connected to the
stretcher rib 22 and having an outer end portion 214 of the top rib
21 pivotally connected with the intermediate rib 24; whereby upon
opening of the umbrella, the elastic plates 212 of the top ribs 21
will form a lotus shape arrangement by arcuately bending the
elastic plates 212 to store resilience of the elastic plates 212 as
urged by the opening spring 3 of the umbrella; and upon closing of
the umbrella by releasing the tension of the opening spring 3, the
elastic plates 212 of lotus shape will restore to flatten the
plates 212 to release their resilience to retract the rib assembly
2 for automatically closing the umbrella. By the way, the
conventional "closing springs" as provided in U.S. Pat. No.
5,441,065 are now eliminated. And each lotus-shape rib (the top rib
21 having elastic plates 212) will play double duties both for
supporting umbrella cloth 4 and also for serving as "closing
spring" for automatically closing the umbrella from its opening
state. Once closing the umbrella, the resilience from the
lotus-shape rib will tension the lower runner 23 towards the
central shaft 1 for stably folding the ribs without being easily
unfolded.
[0021] The intermediate rib 24 has its inner end portion 241
pivotally secured to the top rib 21 and having an outer end portion
243 of the intermediate rib 24 pivotally secured to the joint 28
secured with the tail rib 26.
[0022] The spring rib 27 has its inner end 271 pivotally connected
with an outer portion 215 of the top rib 21 adjacent to an
outermost end portion 214 of the top rib 21, and having an outer
end 272 of the spring rib 27 pivotally connected with the joint 28
of the tail rib 26.
[0023] The connecting rib 25 has its inner end potion 251 formed as
a ring pivotally secured to an outer portion 223 of the stretcher
rib 22, and having an outer end portion 252 also formed as a ring
pivotally connected with an innermost end portion 242 of the
intermediate rib 24. The connecting rib 25 may be formed as a
spring rod.
[0024] The stretcher rib 22, which may be made of plastic,
reinforced plastic or composite materials, and including: a solid
inner end portion 221 pivotally secured to the lower runner 23; a
solid outer end portion 222 pivotally connected to the middle
portion 211 of the top rib 21; an outer portion 223 pivotally
connected to the inner end portion 251 of the connecting rib 25
(FIGS. 2, 4); a longitudinal groove 224 longitudinally recessed in
the stretcher rib 22 for receiving the connecting rib 24 into the
groove 224 when closing the umbrella and folding the rib assembly
2; and a pair of reinforcing extensions 225 longitudinally formed
on opposite side portions of the stretcher rib 22 for reinforcing
the mechanical strength of the rib 22.
[0025] For saving material, a recess 226 may be formed in the
stretcher rib 22 opposite to the longitudinal groove 224 as shown
in dotted line of FIG. 5.
[0026] Naturally, the materials for making the ribs of the rib
assembly 2 are not limited in this invention. The aluminum alloy is
light in weight; while the plastic rib may provide good mechanical
strength; either of them being optionally chosen in this
invention.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, every pair of elastic plates 212 of the
top rib 21 when opening the umbrella simulatively forms a petal of
a lotus flower having two inner ends 212i of two neighboring
elastic plates 212 diverging outwardly from the upper notch 15 of
the central shaft 1 and then having two outer ends 212t of two
neighboring elastic plates 212 converging in the middle portion 211
of each top rib 21, thereby forming a lotus shape when opening the
umbrella for storing elastic energy for the ribs 21 adapted to be
used for next closing or folding operation.
[0028] Each "petal" (pair of elastic plates 212) has a length
generally equal to one sixth of a radius of the rib assembly 2 or
umbrella cloth 4 when opening the umbrella. Even the elastic plates
212 may be made of steel plates, they will not cause or increase
much weight of the rib assembly since the length of each elastic
plate 212 of each top rib 21 merely equals to one-sixth length of
the radius of the umbrella as opened.
[0029] However, it is not necessary to further install so many
"closing springs" on the rib assembly as required by a conventional
automatic opening or closing umbrella, thereby decreasing the
production cost.
[0030] As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, the lotus-shape ribs of the rib
assembly have been modified from the top ribs to the stretcher ribs
22.
[0031] Each stretcher rib 22 includes: a sleeve member 221a
pivotally secured to the lower runner 23 slidably held on the
central shaft 1; a pair of elastic plates (or rods) 220 having
their inner ends 221 inserted or fixed in the sleeve member 221a
and bifurcated outwardly from the central shaft 1 to have two outer
ends 222 of two elastic plates 220 to be pivotally connected with a
middle portion 211 of each top rib 21 of which the middle portion
211 may be a socket or a recess for receiving and pivotally
connecting each outer end 222 of each elastic plate 220 of the
stretcher rib 22, whereby upon opening of the umbrella, the elastic
plates 220 of the stretcher ribs 22 will be arcuately bent to form
a lotus shape arrangement as urged by the opening spring 3 in the
shaft 1 to store elasticity of the elastic plates 220; and upon
closing of the umbrella by releasing the tension of the opening
spring 3, the elastic plates 220 of lotus shape will restore to
flatten the plates to release their elastic energy to retract the
rib assembly for automatically closing the umbrella.
[0032] Each stretcher rib 22 has its outermost end portion 222
pivotally connected to the middle portion 211 of the top rib 21, an
outer portion 223 of the stretcher rib 22 pivotally connected with
an inner end portion 251 of the connecting rib 25.
[0033] The sleeve member 221a may be made of light-weight plastic
materials. The length of each stretcher rib 22 is generally equal
to one sixth of a radius of the rib assembly 2 or umbrella cloth 4
when opened. The stretcher rib 22 has its length generally equal to
one half of the length of each top rib 21 (FIG. 6).
[0034] Each elastic plate 220 (or 212) may be made of steel or
elastomers including elastic plastics. The sleeve member 221a (or
213) may also be eliminated by directly pivotally connecting an
inner end portion of each stretcher rib (or top rib) to the ferrule
(runner 23 or notch 15) formed on the central shaft 1.
[0035] As shown in FIGS. 8-10, the rib assembly 2 of another
preferred embodiment of the present invention may be used in a
topless umbrella as manually operated or an automatically closing
umbrella, which includes: a central shaft 1, and a rib assembly 2
for securing an umbrella cloth 4 thereon. The umbrella may be
triple-fold or multiple folds.
[0036] The central shaft includes: a lower tube 11 having a grip 12
secured thereto, a middle tube 13, an upper tube 14 telescopically
engageable with one another, and a catch 16 resiliently held on the
shaft 1 for locking the lower runner 23 of the rib assembly 2 on
its opening state when opening the umbrella.
[0037] The rib assembly 2 includes: a top rib 21 pivotally secured
to an upper notch 15 formed on a top of the central shaft 1, a
stretcher rib 22 pivotally connected between the top rib 21 and a
lower runner 23 slidably held on the shaft 1, an intermediate rib
24 pivotally secured to the stretcher rib 22 and pivotally
connected to the top rib 21 by a connecting rib 25, and a tail (or
outer) rib 26 pivotally secured to the intermediate rib 24.
[0038] Each top rib 21 includes: a pair of elastic plates (or rods)
212 bifurcated inwardly towards the central shaft 1 from a middle
portion 224 of the stretcher rib 22, having an inner end 212i of
each elastic plate 212 inserted or fixed in a sleeve member 213
pivotally secured on the upper notch 15 on the shaft 1 and having
an outer end 212t of each elastic plate 212 inserted in a socket
(or groove) of the middle portion 224 of the stretcher rib 22;
having the middle portion 224 of the stretcher rib 22 pivotally
connected with the outer ends 212t of the elastic plates 212 of the
top rib 21; whereby upon opening of the umbrella, the elastic
plates 212 of the top ribs 21 will form a lotus shape arrangement
by arcuately bending the elastic plates 212 to store resilience of
the elastic plates 212 as tensioned by the umbrella cloth and the
rib assembly 2 of the umbrella as locked by the catch 16 on the
shaft 1; and upon closing of the umbrella by depressing the catch
16 to unlock the runner 23, the elastic plates 212 of lotus shape
will restore to flatten the plates to release their resilience to
retract the rib assembly 2 for automatically closing the
umbrella.
[0039] The connecting rib 25 has its inner end portion 251
pivotally connected to an outer portion 215 of the top rib 21 and
an outer end portion 252 of the rib 25 connected to the
intermediate rib 24. The sleeve member 213 may be made of
light-weight plastic materials. The length of each top rib 21 may
be one half of the length of the stretcher rib 22.
[0040] As shown in FIGS. 11, 12, the lotus-shape rib has been
modified from the top rib 21 to the stretcher rib 22. The top rib
21 has its inner end portion 213a pivotally secured to the upper
notch 15 on the shaft 1 and having an outermost end portion 214a
pivotally connected to a middle portion 224 of the stretcher rib
22, and having an outer portion 215 of the top rib 21 pivotally
connected with an inner end portion 251 of the connecting rib 25.
The stretcher rib 22 has its outer end portion 222 pivotally
connected with the intermediate rib 24. Each stretcher rib 22
includes: a sleeve member 221a pivotally secured to the lower
runner 23 slidably held on the central shaft 1; a pair of elastic
plates (or rods) 220 having their inner ends 221 inserted or fixed
in the sleeve member 221a and bifurcated outwardly from the central
shaft 1 to have two outer ends 220t of two elastic plates 220 to be
inserted or fixed in a socket (or recess) 224a of a middle portion
224 of each stretcher rib 22, of which the middle portion 224 of
the stretcher rib may be a recess for receiving and pivotally
connecting each outermost end portion 214a of each top rib 21,
whereby upon opening of the umbrella, the elastic plates 220 of the
stretcher ribs 22 will be arcuately bent to form a lotus shape
arrangement as tensioned by the umbrella cloth and the rib assembly
to store elasticity of the elastic plates 220p and upon closing of
the umbrella by depressing the catch 16 on the shaft, the elastic
plates 220 of lotus shape will restore to flatten the plates to
release their elastic energy to retract the rib assembly for
automatically closing the umbrella.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 13, when the umbrella is folded and turned
the upside down, the lotus-shape rib of the rib assembly 2 will
tension the lower runner 23 towards the central shaft 1 to prevent
its gravitational descending and to prevent from "loosening"
(opening) of the rib assembly 2 already folded, thereby maintaining
a stable folding state when closing the umbrella as effected by
each lotus-shape rib which serves as a "closing spring" for helping
closing of the umbrella.
[0042] The prevent invention may be modified without departing from
the spirit and scope of the present invention.
* * * * *