U.S. patent application number 10/833400 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-28 for inverse umbrella.
Invention is credited to Goh, Hock Poh.
Application Number | 20040211451 10/833400 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33297630 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040211451 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Goh, Hock Poh |
October 28, 2004 |
Inverse umbrella
Abstract
An inverse umbrella having a double canopy structure and an
inverse opening system is disclosed. The double canopy structure
comprises an outer canopy and an inner canopy. The inverse opening
system comprises a network of ribs and mechanism for moving the
ribs so that the inner canopy is on the outside when the umbrella
is in the collapsed position. When the inverse umbrella is closed
after exposure to rain, the dry inner canopy is on the outside,
thereby preventing undesirable dripping. The inverse umbrella also
includes a unique sleeve and water collection system that encloses
the rain dampened umbrella so that water adhering to the canopy can
be properly collected in a unidirectional water-retaining device
without making the surroundings wet when the user carries around
the rain dampened umbrella. The water collection system comprises a
one-way flow check valve that directs water droplets from the wet
outer canopy toward a water reservoir while preventing the
collected water from flowing out of the reservoir.
Inventors: |
Goh, Hock Poh; (Singapore,
SG) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Raymond Y. Chan
Suite 128
108 N. Ynez Ave.
Monterey Park
CA
91754
US
|
Family ID: |
33297630 |
Appl. No.: |
10/833400 |
Filed: |
April 27, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/31 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 2023/0018 20130101;
A45B 25/20 20130101; A45B 2019/008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/031 |
International
Class: |
A45B 025/00; A45B
025/20; A47B 003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 28, 2003 |
SG |
200302494-0 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An inverse umbrella, comprising: a shaft having an upper end
portion and a lower end portion, and comprising a handle provided
at said lower end portion; a sleeve cap assembly slidably mounted
at said shaft between said upper and lower end portions; a
plurality of upper ribs radially extended from said shaft, wherein
each of said upper ribs is pivotally mounted at said upper end
portion of said shaft; a plurality of upper inverse ribs pivotally
connected to distal ends of said upper ribs respectively such that
said upper inverse ribs are radially extended from said shaft; a
plurality of lower inverse ribs radially extended from said shaft,
wherein each of said lower inverse ribs has an inner end pivotally
mounted at said sleeve cap assembly and an outer end coupled with
said respective upper inverse rib; and a double canopy structure
comprising an outer canopy supported by said upper ribs and said
upper inverse ribs, and an inner canopy supported by said lower
inverse ribs such that said inverse umbrella is adapted to fold
between an unfolded position and a folded position; wherein at said
unfolded position, said sleeve cap assembly is slid towards said
upper end portion of said shaft to radially extend said lower
inverse ribs with respect to said shaft such that said upper ribs
and said upper inverse ribs are driven to form a plurality of
continuous ribs to radially extend from said shaft so as to fully
extend said outer canopy in an arched shape manner to shelter said
inner canopy therebelow; wherein at said folded position, said
sleeve cap assembly is slid towards said lower end portion of said
shaft to pivotally fold said lower inverse ribs to said shaft such
that said upper inverse ribs are pivotally folded towards said
upper ribs respectively while said outer canopy is overlapped
folded up to be sheltered within said inner canopy.
2. The inverse umbrella, as recited in claim 1, further comprising
a plurality of inner ribs radially extended from said sleeve cap
assembly to said upper ribs respectively in a pivotally movable
manner and a plurality of push up ribs pivotally extended from said
sleeve cap assembly to said inner ribs respectively such that when
said sleeve cap assembly is slid towards said upper end portion of
said shaft, said push up ribs are driven to push said inner ribs to
radially extended from said shaft so as to force said upper ribs
and said upper inverse ribs to form said continuous ribs
respectively to support said outer canopy in a fully extending
manner.
3. The inverse umbrella, as recited in claim 2, wherein said sleeve
cap assembly comprises upper and lower annular connectors coaxially
mounted on said shaft in a slidably movable manner and a push-up
compression spring assembly coaxially mounted on said shaft between
said upper and lower annular connectors, wherein said lower inverse
ribs are pivotally connected to said lower annular connector while
said inner ribs are pivotally connected to said upper annular
connector, such that when said lower annular connector is slid
upwardly along said shaft, said upper annular connector is pushed
by said push-up compression spring assembly to drive said inner
ribs to radially extend from said shaft.
4. The inverse umbrella, as recited in claim 1, further comprising
a plurality of snap-up springs each having an end coupled with said
respective upper rib and an opposed end slidably coupled with said
respective upper inverse rib, wherein said snap-up springs are
substantially biased against said lower inverse ribs respectively
in such a manner that when said lower inverse ribs are driven to
radially extend from said shaft, said snap-up springs push said
upper inverse ribs to pivotally extend from said upper ribs to form
said continuous ribs respectively.
5. The inverse umbrella, as recited in claim 3, further comprising
a plurality of snap-up springs each having an end coupled with said
respective upper rib and an opposed end slidably coupled with said
respective upper inverse rib, wherein said snap-up springs are
substantially biased against said lower inverse ribs respectively
in such a manner that when said lower inverse ribs are driven to
radially extend from said shaft, said snap-up springs push said
upper inverse ribs to pivotally extend from said upper ribs to form
said continuous ribs respectively.
6. The inverse umbrella, as recited in claim 4, further comprising
a plurality of snap-up spring holders provided on said lower
inverse ribs respectively to hold said snap-up springs in position
that said snap-up springs are normally biased against said lower
inverse ribs respectively.
7. The inverse umbrella, as recited in claim 5, further comprising
a plurality of snap-up spring holders provided on said lower
inverse ribs respectively to hold said snap-up springs in position
that said snap-up springs are normally biased against said lower
inverse ribs respectively.
8. The inverse umbrella, as recited in claim 4, wherein each of
said lower inverse ribs has a channel formed therealong to slidably
receive a biasing portion of said respective snap-up spring in said
channel so as to hold said snap-up springs in position.
9. The inverse umbrella, as recited in claim 5, wherein each of
said lower inverse ribs has a channel formed therealong to slidably
receive a biasing portion of said respective snap-up spring in said
channel so as to hold said snap-up springs in position.
10. The inverse umbrella, as recited in claim 1, further comprising
an open limit stopper mounted at said upper end portion of said
shaft to block a further sliding movement of said sleeve cap
assembly at said unfolded position, and a catch mounted at said
lower end portion of said shaft to lock up said sleeve cap assembly
at said unfolded position.
11. The inverse umbrella, as recited in claim 3, further comprising
an open limit stopper mounted at said upper end portion of said
shaft to block a further sliding movement of said sleeve cap
assembly at said unfolded position, and a catch mounted at said
lower end portion of said shaft to lock up said sleeve cap assembly
at said unfolded position.
12. The inverse umbrella, as recited in claim 5, further comprising
an open limit stopper mounted at said upper end portion of said
shaft to block a further sliding movement of said sleeve cap
assembly at said unfolded position, and a catch mounted at said
lower end portion of said shaft to lock up said sleeve cap assembly
at said unfolded position.
13. The inverse umbrella, as recited in claim 1, further comprising
a water-retaining device which comprises a one-way flow check valve
coupled at an upper end of said shaft and a water reservoir mounted
to said one-way flow check valve for collecting water dripping from
said outer canopy through said one-way flow check valve at said
folded position.
14. The inverse umbrella, as recited in claim 3, further comprising
a water-retaining device which comprises a one-way flow check valve
coupled at an upper end of said shaft and a water reservoir mounted
to said one-way flow check valve for collecting water dripping from
said outer canopy through said one-way flow check valve at said
folded position.
15. The inverse umbrella, as recited in claim 5, further comprising
a water-retaining device which comprises a one-way flow check valve
coupled at an upper end of said shaft and a water reservoir mounted
to said one-way flow check valve for collecting water dripping from
said outer canopy through said one-way flow check valve at said
folded position.
16. The inverse umbrella, as recited in claim 12, further
comprising a water-retaining device which comprises a one-way flow
check valve coupled at an upper end of said shaft and a water
reservoir mounted to said one-way flow check valve for collecting
water dripping from said outer canopy through said one-way flow
check valve at said folded position.
17. The inverse umbrella, as recited in claim 1, further comprising
means for enclosing said inner canopy at said folded position.
18. The inverse umbrella, as recited in claim 4, further comprising
means for enclosing said inner canopy at said folded position.
19. The inverse umbrella, as recited in claim 12, further
comprising means for enclosing said inner canopy at said folded
position.
20. The inverse umbrella, as recited in claim 16, further
comprising means for enclosing said inner canopy at said folded
position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an umbrella, and more
particularly to an inverse umbrella that shelters the user from the
rain.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Arts
[0004] The umbrella is a common device used to shelter the user
from rainwater and is made available in various designs and
features. Many of the conventional umbrellas have wide opening arc
that hinders the closing and opening of the umbrella within a
limited space such as the door opening of an automobile or the
doorway of a building. In addition, upon closing an unsheathed wet
conventional umbrella, water droplets will start falling off the
canopy onto the floor or get transferred to the surface where the
umbrella is resting on.
[0005] Reversible umbrellas have been proposed by U.S. Pat. No.
5,909,746 issued to Doster and Japan Patent No. 11-16471 issued to
Makato. Doster discloses an umbrella with a cover, preferably
square or rectangular, supported on a telescopic shaft by
articulated ribs that extend from the shaft beneath the cover. The
articulated ribs are controlled by guides and stabilizers extending
radially from a reciprocable transfer sleeve on the telescopic
shaft to fold the cover inside out as the shaft is shortened and
the umbrella is closed. The rib and shaft assembly of Doster's
umbrella requires uncommon and expensive mechanical parts. Dosier's
umbrella is also provided with a water collection cup at the handle
but it is still possible for the water adhered to the cover to
trickle out when the umbrella is being held with the handle
pointing upwards. Dosier's umbrella is not sufficient in concealing
the wet umbrella and to collect the water dripping from the wet
cover.
[0006] Makato discloses an umbrella capable of being closed in a
reversed mode so that the wet surface of the umbrella is on the
inside. This umbrella is difficult to operate because the user has
to manually push the rib pedestal up the shaft to open the
umbrella. In addition, Makato's reversible umbrella does not have
an effective means for collecting the water droplets from the wet
canopy when the umbrella is closed.
[0007] In both of the above reversible umbrellas, the ribs and the
threads for securing the ribs to the cover are exposed to wear and
tear from regular use when the cover is folded inside out and are
also unsightly.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0008] The present invention provides an inverse umbrella that is
easy to manipulate and can be economically produced.
[0009] The inverse umbrella has a double canopy structure and an
inverse opening system. The double canopy structure comprises an
outer canopy and an inner canopy. The inverse opening system
comprises a network of ribs and mechanism for moving the ribs so
that the inner canopy is on the outside when the umbrella is in the
collapsed position.
[0010] This inverse opening system requires minimal opening and
closing space, thereby reducing the exposure of the user and his
surrounding to raindrops prior to the full extension or closure of
the canopy when getting into and out of the rain from a sheltered
area; e.g. the doorway of an automobile. When the inverse umbrella
is closed after exposure to rain, the dry inner canopy is on the
outside, thereby preventing undesirable dripping.
[0011] The umbrella of the present invention also includes a unique
sleeve and water collection system that encloses the rain dampened
umbrella so that water adhering to the canopy can be properly
collected in a unidirectional water-retaining device without making
the surroundings wet when the user carries around the rain dampened
umbrella. The water collection system comprises a one-way flow
check valve that directs water droplets from the wet outer canopy
toward a water reservoir while preventing the collected water from
flowing out of the reservoir.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional perspective view, with
sectional cutouts, of the inverse umbrella in accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 shows the cross-sectional side view of the umbrella
of the present invention in its fully opened position.
[0014] FIG. 3 shows the cross-sectional side view of the umbrella
at a transitional stage between the fully opened position and the
collapsed position.
[0015] FIG. 4 shows the exploded view of the area labeled as X in
FIG. 2.
[0016] FIG. 5 shows the side view of the umbrella in the collapsed
position and being enclosed by a sleeve.
[0017] FIG. 6 shows the cross-sectional side view of the
unidirectional water-retaining chamber.
[0018] FIGS. 7 and 7A-7C illustrate the opening instruction in
operating the inverse umbrella.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, the umbrella of the present invention
includes a handle 18, a main shaft 19, an outer canopy 20, and an
inner canopy 21, a unidirectional water-retaining device 1. The
canopies are folded in a reversible manner as shown in FIG. 2 by
the movement of lower inverse ribs 11, upper inverse ribs 12, upper
ribs 13 and inner ribs 14. A plurality of lower inverse ribs 11 are
attached to the inner canopy 21, and a plurality of upper inverse
ribs 11, upper ribs 13 are attached to the outer canopy 20. The
lower inverse ribs 11, upper ribs 13 and inner ribs 14 radially
extend from the main shaft 19. Each upper inverse rib 12 is
connected to the distal end of a corresponding upper rib 13 so that
they form a continuous rib when the outer canopy is fully extended.
One end of each rib 14 is connected to an upper annular connector
22 while the other end is connected to a corresponding upper rib 13
at joint 3. A plurality of push up ribs 15 are arranged between the
lower inverse ribs 11 and the inner ribs 14. Each push up rib 15 is
connected at one end to a lower annular connector 23 and radially
extends from the shaft to the inner rib 14. A plurality of inner
rib guides 24 are provided for guiding lower inverse ribs 11. Each
inner rib guide 24 extends from the lower inverse rib 11 to the
joint between upper inverse rib 12 and upper rib 13. The inverse
umbrella preferably has either 6 or 8 sets of these ribs.
[0020] Located on the main shaft 19 near the handle 18 are catch 16
and catch release knob 17. A sleeve cap assembly 7 is slidably
mounted to the main shaft 19 so that it can slide up and down the
shaft 19 between the lower connector 23 and catch 16. A catch
holder 10 is slidably mounted to the main shaft 19 and connected to
the sleeve cap assembly 7 so that it is movable with sleeve cap
assembly 7. The catch holder 10 is adapted to engage the catch 16
when the umbrella is in its closed position.
[0021] A push-up compression spring assembly 8 is slidably mounted
to the shaft 19 between the upper annular connector 22 and the
lower annular connector 23. A limit stopper 2 is mounted to the
shaft between the upper ribs 13 and inner ribs 14. When the
umbrella is fully opened as shown in FIG. 3, the limit stopper 2
separates the upper ribs 13 from the inner ribs 14 by a desirable
distance. A snap-up spring 4 is provided at the joint between the
upper rib 13 and the upper inverse rib 12. A lower rib stopper 9 is
provided on upper inverse rib 12 for halting the movement of the
lower inverse rib 11 when the umbrella is fully opened as shown in
FIG. 3.
[0022] FIG. 4 shows the exploded view of area X where the snap-up
spring 4 is located. The snap-up spring 4 is secured to upper rib
13 at one end 4a while the other end 4b is free to glide along
upper rib 12. The lower inverse rib 11 has a C-channel and a
snap-up spring holder 6 is provided in the C-channel to prevent the
lateral movements of the snap-up spring 4. The snap-up spring
holder 6 is a coiled wire that has a large enough hole for snap-up
spring 4 to thread through it. The free gliding end 4b of snap-up
spring 4 is threaded through the snap-up spring holder 6 as shown
in FIG. 4.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 5, the collapsed inverse umbrella is
enclosed in a sleeve covering 27. The sleeve covering 27 is part of
the sleeve cap assembly 7. The sleeve cap assembly 7 further
includes an outer sleeve collar 25 and an inner sleeve collar 26.
The sleeve covering 27 is attached to the outer sleeve collar 25 at
one end and to the inner sleeve collar 26 at the other end. It is
preferred that the sleeve covering is made of a thin fabric. While
the outer sleeve collar 25 is free to move, inner sleeve collar 26
is secured to bottom of push-up compression spring assembly 8. The
outer sleeve collar 25 is connectable to the unidirectional
water-retaining chamber 1 by twist-locking the former into the
latter as shown in FIG. 6.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 6, the unidirectional water-retaining
device 1 is composed of a water reservoir 28, a one-way flow check
valve 29, and a drain cap 32. The unidirectional water-retaining
chamber 1 is assembled onto one end of the shaft 19 by inserting
the tip of the main shaft 19 into the orifice 30 in the one-way
flow check valve 29. The one-way flow check valve 29 has a
cylindrical extension 31 into which the outer sleeve collar 25 can
be inserted in a locking position as shown in FIG. 6. A drain-cap
32 is screwed onto the discharging opening 33 of the water
reservoir 28. The one-way flow check valve 29 has a funnel-shape
portion with an orifice 30 at the center through which the tip of
the shaft 19 can be inserted from one end. The tip of shaft 19 is
hollow and has an opening 34 through which water can drip from the
wet canopy into the reservoir 28. When the umbrella is held with
the handle pointing upwards, water droplets adhering to surface of
the wet canopy will trickle downward due to gravity. These water
droplets will be directed to and collected in the water reservoir
28, but are prevented from flowing out of the reservoir 28 because
of the funnel shape of the one-way check valve 29. It is preferred
that the water reservoir 28 is made of a material that is
substantially translucent or transparent, and is provided with a
marking to indicate overflow level so that the user can see when it
is required to drain out the collected water. The collected water
can be discharged when the drain-cap 32 is unscrewed for
drainage.
[0025] Opening and Closing the Inverse Umbrella.
[0026] FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate the beginning stages of opening up
the inverse umbrella. Upon activation by pressing catch release
knob 17, catch 16 will be liberated from catch holder 10, where
push-up compression spring assembly 8 will set in motion the
opening of the umbrella. Each set of ribs 11, 12, 13 and 14 will
slide freely upwards along main shaft 19. As the ribs continue
their journey, snap-up spring 4 will be set in action and this aids
the opening up of upper inverse rib 12 and upper rib 13. This free
gliding of the lower inverse rib 11 is halted by the lower rib
stopper 9. This restriction acts in tandem with the leveling of
inner rib 14 as the ribs continue to move upwards and hence create
the arched shape of the fully extended outer canopy 20. The above
explained upwards motion of the ribs and separation of the two
canopies will continue until push-up compression spring assembly 8
reaches the open limit stopper 2, upon which time the full opening
of the inverse umbrella is accomplished.
[0027] Retracting the ribs for closing is accomplished by pulling
push-up compression spring assembly 8 downwards until catch 16
hooks onto catch holder 10. At this stage, the rain dampened upper
canopy 20 will be inside while the dry inner canopy 21 will be
outside. Upon full collapsing of the canopies, tag 28 is used to
tie up the canopies as.
[0028] After the collapsed canopies are tied up by tie 35, the
outer sleeve collar 25 moves up along the length of the umbrella.
This will gradually unfold sleeve covering 27. It is preferred that
the sleeve covering is made of a fabric. When outer sleeve collar
25 reaches unidirectional water-retaining chamber 1, it can be
twist-locked to the latter. Once this accomplished, the umbrella
will be enclosed within sleeve covering 27 and thus preventing any
water trapped inside it from wetting the surrounding.
[0029] It should be understood that many modifications and
variations of the described embodiment are possible without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed
hereafter.
* * * * *