U.S. patent application number 10/706956 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-19 for multiple-fold umbrella as quickly opened and closed.
This patent application is currently assigned to Fu Tai Umbrella Works, Ltd.. Invention is credited to Chang, Jung-Jen, Lin, Chung-Kuang.
Application Number | 20050103369 10/706956 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34573415 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050103369 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin, Chung-Kuang ; et
al. |
May 19, 2005 |
Multiple-fold umbrella as quickly opened and closed
Abstract
A multiple-fold umbrella includes a rib assembly pivotally
secured to a central shaft, with the rib assembly including a
stretcher rib pivotally connected with a top rib and pivotally
secured to the central shaft, an intermediate pivotally connected
between he stretcher rib and a rear rib, and a resilient connecting
rib slidably coupled with the intermediate rib and resiliently
secured between the stretcher rib through a spring device and the
rear rib, whereby upon opening of the umbrella, the resilient
connecting rib will be arcuately bent in order for automatically
ejecting the rear rib outwardly for opening the umbrella quickly
without the aid of manual pulling by the user's hand; and upon
closing of the umbrella, the spring device, which is previously
tensioned to store its resilience when opening the umbrella, will
restore the rib assembly to resiliently retract the rib assembly
for accelerating the folding of the umbrella.
Inventors: |
Lin, Chung-Kuang; (Taipei
Hsien, TW) ; Chang, Jung-Jen; (Taipei Hsien,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TROXELL LAW OFFICE PLLC
SUITE 1404
5205 LEESBURG PIKE
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22041
US
|
Assignee: |
Fu Tai Umbrella Works, Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
34573415 |
Appl. No.: |
10/706956 |
Filed: |
November 14, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/25.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 19/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/025.3 |
International
Class: |
A45B 019/10 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A multiple-fold umbrella comprising: a central shaft; and a rib
assembly pivotally secured to said central shaft; said rib assembly
including: a top rib pivotally secured to an upper notch formed on
a top of said central shaft, a stretcher rib pivotally secured to
said top rib and a runner slidably held on said central shaft, an
intermediate rib respectively pivotally secured to said stretcher
rib and secured to said top rib through an inner connecting rib, a
resilient connecting rib slidably coupled to said intermediate rib,
and a rear rib respectively pivotally secured to said intermediate
rib and said resilient connecting rib through a joint; the
improvement which comprises: said stretcher rib having a spring
device resiliently held in said stretcher rib, said spring device
having an inner portion thereof protruding inwardly to said runner
to be secured in said stretcher rib or secured to said runner, and
having an outer portion of said spring device pivotally connected
with said resilient connecting rib; whereby upon opening of the
umbrella, the resilient connecting rib has its inner rib portion
resiliently cushioned by said spring device in said stretcher rib,
and said resilient connecting rib, as retained by said intermediate
rib, will be arcuately bent to store its spring energy which will
then restore to bias said joint and to eject said rear rib
outwardly to extend the rib assembly linearly for quickly opening
the umbrella.
2. A multiple-fold umbrella according to claim 1, wherein said
stretcher rib includes a wide groove formed in an inner or upper
portion of said stretcher rib, and a narrow groove portion in an
outer or lower portion of said stretcher rib communicated with said
wide groove.
3. A multiple-fold umbrella according to claim 1, wherein said
spring device includes: a spring having its inner spring end
secured in said stretcher rib adjacent to said runner, and a rod
secured to an outer spring end of said spring; said spring slidably
held in a wide groove formed in said stretcher rib, and said rod
slidably held in a narrow groove portion formed in said stretcher
rib and communicated with said wide groove.
4. A multiple-fold umbrella according to claim 3, wherein said rod
has its inner rod end connected with said spring and a free outer
rod end adjacent to an outer end of said stretcher rib pivotally
connected with the intermediate rib, said rod having a hook portion
protruding outwardly from an outer portion of the rod, through a
slot notched in said stretcher rib, to be pivotally connected with
an inner end of a resilient connecting rib.
5. A multiple-fold umbrella according to claim 1, wherein said
intermediate rib is formed by plastic molding process, and
including an inner retainer and an outer retainer respectively
formed on an inner portion and an outer portion of said
intermediate rib for limiting said resilient connecting rib within
a main groove recessed in said intermediate rib for slidably
coupling said resilient connecting rib to said intermediate
rib.
6. A multiple-fold umbrella according to claim 5, wherein said
intermediate rib includes said main groove recessed in an inner or
lower portion of said intermediate rib, and a shallow groove
recessed in an outer or upper portion of said stretcher rib, said
inner retainer formed in said main groove adjacent to a stretcher
rib and an inner connecting rib, and said outer retainer formed in
said main groove adjacent to a joint, with said joint pivotally
connecting a rear rib with said resilient connecting rib and said
intermediate rib.
7. A multiple-fold umbrella according to claim 1, wherein said
joint includes: a pivotal portion pivotally secured to an outer end
of said intermediate rib by a first pivot, and a biasing portion
having the rear rib secured therewith and pivotally secured to an
outer end of said resilient connecting rib by a second pivot.
8. A multiple-fold umbrella according to claim 7, wherein said
joint is formed as a P shape; and includes a flat edge portion
upwardly retained by a retainer plate formed on an upper outer
portion of said intermediate rib when opening the umbrella; and a
shallow recess formed in said flat edge portion for receiving the
outer end of said resilient connecting rib when closing the
umbrella.
9. A multiple-fold umbrella according to claim 8, wherein said
resilient connecting rib has its inner and outer rib portions
respectively limited by an inner and an outer retainer formed on
opposite end portions of said intermediate rib, said outer portion
of said resilient connecting rib operatively bent when opening the
umbrella to store a spring energy of the outer portion of said
resilient connecting rib in order for resiliently biasing said
joint to extend said rear rib outwardly for forming a linear rib
assembly for quickly opening the umbrella.
10. A multiple-fold umbrella according to claim 2, wherein said
stretcher rib has its wide groove operatively engaged with a top
rib and an inner connecting rib when closing the umbrella; and said
narrow groove portion of said stretcher rib operatively engaged
with a main groove as recessed in said intermediate rib.
11. A multiple-fold umbrella according to claim 7, wherein said
resilient connecting rib defines an axial line L.sub.1, which is
unaligned with a linking line L.sub.2 by linearly linking the first
pivot and the second pivot of said joint, whereby upon folding of
the rib assembly when closing the umbrella, the outer end of the
resilient connecting rib will thrust the biasing portion of the
joint counter-clockwise for retracting the rear rib and the rib
assembly for closing the umbrella.
12. A multiple-fold umbrella according to claim 1, wherein said
spring device is slidably held in a groove recessed in the
stretcher rib, and includes: a spring having its inner spring end
orienting inwardly towards the runner and secured in the stretcher
rib and an outer spring end secured to a slide member, with the
slide member slidably held in the groove in the stretcher rib and
having a hook portion protruding outwardly from said slide member
through a slot notched in the stretcher rib to be connected with an
inner end of the resilient connecting rib.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] A conventional multiple-fold umbrella comprises a rib
assembly having an umbrella cloth secured thereon, and including at
least a top rib, an intermediate rib and a rear rib pivotally
connected with one another and pivotally secured to a central
shaft. However, when opening or closing the conventional umbrella,
the rear rib should be further pulled or folded by the user's hand
in order to help open or close the umbrella cloth, thereby causing
inconvenience for the user.
[0002] It is lacking for a mechanism for automatically ejecting the
rear rib of the rib assembly outwardly when opening the umbrella;
or for automatically retracting the rear rib inwardly when closing
the umbrella.
[0003] The present inventor has found these drawbacks and invented
the present multiple-fold umbrella as quickly opened or closed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a
multiple-fold umbrella including a rib assembly pivotally secured
to a central shaft, with the rib assembly including a stretcher rib
pivotally connected with a top rib and pivotally secured to the
central shaft, an intermediate pivotally connected between he
stretcher rib and a rear rib, and a resilient connecting rib
slidably coupled with the intermediate rib and resiliently secured
between the stretcher rib through a spring device and the rear rib,
whereby upon opening of the umbrella, the resilient connecting rib
will be arcuately bent in order for automatically ejecting the rear
rib outwardly for quickly opening the umbrella without being pulled
by the user's hand; and upon closing of the umbrella, the spring
device, which is previously tensioned to store its resilience when
opening the umbrella, will restore the rib assembly to resiliently
retract the rib assembly for accelerating the folding of the
umbrella.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is an illustration showing a folded umbrella of the
present invention.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional drawing of the present invention
as viewed from 2-2 direction of FIG. 1.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional drawing as viewed from 3-3
direction of FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional drawing as viewed from 4-4
direction of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of the spring device of
the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 6 shows the present invention when approximating the
fully opening state.
[0011] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view from FIG. 6, showing the
relationship of the inner portion of the resilient connecting rib
with the other ribs of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 8 shows the relationship of the outer portion of the
resilient connecting rib with the other ribs of the present
invention, as enlarged from FIG. 6.
[0013] FIG. 9 shows the umbrella of the present invention when
fully opened, following FIG. 6.
[0014] FIG. 10 shows the relationship of the inner portion of the
resilient connecting rib with the other ribs, as enlarged from FIG.
9.
[0015] FIG. 11 shows the relationship of the outer portion of the
resilient connecting rib with the other ribs, as enlarged from FIG.
9.
[0016] FIG. 12 shows another preferred embodiment of the present
invention when opened.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1.about.11, the present invention
comprises: a central shaft 1, and a multiple-fold rib assembly 2
pivotally secured to the central shaft 1 and having an umbrella
cloth C secured on the rib assembly 2.
[0018] The rib assembly 2 includes: a top rib 21 pivotally secured
to an upper notch 20 formed on a top of the central shaft 1, a
stretcher rib 22 pivotally secured to a runner 20r slidably held on
the shaft 1, an intermediate rib 23 having its innermost end 231
pivotally secured to the top rib 21 through an inner connecting rib
25 and having an inner rib portion 232 (adjacent to the innermost
end 231) of the intermediate rib 23 pivotally secured to an outer
end of the stretcher rib 22, a resilient connecting rib 24 slidably
coupled to the intermediate rib 23, and a rear rib 26 respectively
pivotally secured to an outer end 233 of the intermediate rib 23
and to an outer end 242 of the resilient connecting rib 24 through
a joint 27.
[0019] The present invention as illustrated is a triple-fold
umbrella, but the number of folds are not limited in this
invention.
[0020] The stretcher rib 22 includes: a wide groove 22w formed in
an upper (or inner) portion of the rib 22, and a narrow groove
portion 22n in a lower (or outer) portion of the rib to be
communicated with the wide groove 22w.
[0021] A spring device 3 is slidably held in the stretcher rib 22,
and includes: a spring 31 having its inner spring end 311 secured
to the inner end portion of the stretcher rib 22 or secured to the
runner 20r, and a rod 32 secured to an outer spring end 312 of the
spring 31.
[0022] The spring 31 is slidably held in the wide groove 22w and
the rod 32 (or the major portion of the rod 32) is slidably held in
the narrow groove 22n.
[0023] The rod 32 has its inner rod end 321 connected with the
outer spring end 312 of the spring 31, having a free outer rod end
322 approximating an outer end of the stretcher rib 22 and
approximating the inner rib portion 232 of the intermediate rib 23,
and a hook portion 323 protruding outwardly from an outer rod
portion of the rod 32 through a slot 22s notched in a bottom of the
stretcher rib 22 to be connected with an inner end 241 of the
resilient connecting rib 24.
[0024] The intermediate rib 23 may be made of plastic material
(including reinforced plastics or composites) such as injection
molding process, having an inner retainer 23a and an outer retainer
23b disposed on an inner portion (adjacent the inner rib portion
232) and an outer portion (adjacent the outer end 233) of the
intermediate rib 23 for limiting the resilient connecting rib 24
within the main groove 23i formed in a bottom (or inner) portion of
the intermediate rib 23 for slidably coupling the resilient
connecting rib 24 with the intermediate rib 23.
[0025] The intermediate rib 23 has its main groove 23i formed in
the bottom or inner portion of the rib 23 adapted to be engaged
with the stretcher rib 22 (especially the narrow groove portion
22n) when folding the umbrella; and having a shallow groove 23t
recessed in an outer portion of the rib 23 adapted to be engaged
with the rear rib 26 when closing the umbrella.
[0026] The joint 27 as secured to an inner end 261 of the rear rib
26 includes: a pivotal portion 272 pivotally connected with a
bifurcated outer end 233 of the intermediate rib 23 by a first
pivot 272p; and a biasing portion 271 pivotally connected with an
outer end 242 of the resilient connecting rib 24 by a second pivot
271p.
[0027] The joint 27 may be formed by integral forming process to be
a P-shape structure. The joint 27 has a flat edge portion 270 to be
retained by a retainer plate 23p formed on an upper portion of the
intermediate rib 23 when opening the umbrella as shown in FIG. 11;
and having a shallow recess 270r formed in the flat edge portion
270 for receiving the outer end 242 of the resilient connecting rib
24 when closing the umbrella as shown in FIG. 1.
[0028] As shown in FIGS. 9, 11, the resilient connecting rib 24 is
not a straightly linear structure, defining an axial line L.sub.1,
which is unaligned with a linking line L.sub.2 by linearly linking
the first pivot 272p and the second pivot 271p, so that upon
folding of the rib assembly when closing the umbrella, the outer
end 242 of the resilient connecting rib 24 will thrust the biasing
portion 271 of the joint 27 counter-clockwise for retracting the
rear rib 26 and other ribs for closing the umbrella from FIGS. 9,
11, through FIGS. 6, 8, and finally to FIG. 1. Otherwise, if lines
L.sub.1 and L.sub.2 are linearly aligned, the ribs will not be
biased, folded and closed.
[0029] When opening the umbrella of the present invention from FIG.
1 to FIGS. 6, 9, the runner 20r is raised to extend the ribs of the
rib assembly 2 (especially to extend the parallelogram link set
consisting of ribs 21, 22, 23 and 25) to be a generally linear
configuration as shown in FIG. 6. At this time, the resilient
connecting rib 24 has its inner end 241 secured to the spring
device 3 and also resiliently cushioned by the spring device 3 held
in the stretcher rib 22 to obtain a resilient cushioning for
smoothening the operation for opening the umbrella and for
preventing from noise as possibly occurring among the ribs; and
having the resilient connecting rib 24 been arcuately bent (FIGS.
6.about.8) to store its resilience, of which the outer end 242 of
the resilient connecting rib 24 is simultaneously arcuately bent
(FIG. 8) to get its spring energy.
[0030] Gradually, the spring energy especially existing at the
outer end 242 of the connecting rib 24 will restore to
automatically quickly bias the joint 27 and the rear rib 26 to be
linearly positioned as shown in FIGS. 9.about.11 (especially from
FIG. 6 to FIG. 9) to fully open the umbrella. The umbrella cloth C
as secured on the rear rib 26 will be simultaneously extended
outwardly for automatically opening the umbrella. Therefore, there
is no need to manually pull (by the user's hand) the umbrella cloth
(especially on the rear rib 26) outwardly for fully opening the
umbrella, thereby being superior to the conventional multiple-fold
umbrella.
[0031] When the runner 20r is raised to the uppermost position to
fully open the umbrella, the spring 31 of the spring device 3 is
tensioned to store its resilience. Upon closing of the umbrella,
the resilience of the spring 31 will help retract the ribs of the
rib assembly for quickly closing the umbrella. The closing
operation sequence is a "reverse procedure" by reversing the steps
for opening the umbrella (i.e., from FIG. 9 through FIG. 6 to FIG.
1).
[0032] The inner retainer 23a and the outer retainer 23b as
disposed on opposite end portions of the intermediate rib 23,
besides their function for limiting the resilient connecting rib 24
within the groove of the intermediate rib 23, will serve as
reinforcing members for enhancing the strength of the intermediate
rib 23.
[0033] When folding the rib assembly 2 when closing the umbrella
(FIG. 1), the top rib 21 and the inner connecting rib 25 will be
received into (and engaged with) the wide groove 22w of the
stretcher rib 22, while the narrow groove portion 22n will be
received into (and engaged with) the main groove 23i of the
intermediate rib 23 for minimizing the folding volume. Therefore,
the ribs may be stably engaged with one another when closing the
umbrella as guided by the above-mentioned engagements of the
corresponding ribs, like a "ball-and-socket" mechanism; and the
ribs may thus be smoothly extended as initially guided by such
engagements (ribs 21, 25 in groove 22w; and rib 22 in rib 23)
without being twisted or deformed, being helpful for opening the
umbrella quickly.
[0034] Accordingly, the present invention can be operated for
opening or closing the umbrella quickly, smoothly and
conveniently.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 12, another preferred embodiment of the
present invention is disclosed by modifying the spring device 3 as
aforementioned.
[0036] The spring device 3 as slidably held in a groove 220 in the
stretcher includes: a spring 31a having its inner spring end 311a
orienting inwardly towards the runner 20r and secured in the
stretcher rib 22, and an outer spring end 312a secured to a slide
member 32a, with the slide member 32a slidably held in the groove
220 in the stretcher rib 22 and having a hook portion 323a
protruding outwardly through a slot 22s notched in the stretcher
rib 22 to be connected with an inner end 241 of the resilient
connecting rib 24. The aforementioned rod 32 of the spring device 3
has now been modified to be the slide member 32a slidably held in
the stretcher rib 22.
[0037] Besides the quick opening function of the present invention,
the spring device 3 when opening the umbrella will store its spring
energy, which will help restore to quickly fold the umbrella,
namely performing a reverse operation by reverting the
umbrella-opening procedure to be the umbrella-folding steps. The
umbrella cloth C will be simultaneously folded, without the aid of
the user's hand, to be a compact folded umbrella.
[0038] The present invention may be modified without departing from
the spirit and scope of the present invention.
* * * * *