U.S. patent application number 10/915898 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-16 for automated-open-close umbrella.
Invention is credited to Lung-Chiao Chou.
Application Number | 20060032523 10/915898 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35798848 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060032523 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chou; Lung-Chiao |
February 16, 2006 |
AUTOMATED-OPEN-CLOSE UMBRELLA
Abstract
The present invention provides a simplified structure and
manufacturing process handle control mechanism of an
automated-open-close umbrella, which is comprised of an open
mechanism, a central handle assembly, wherein said open mechanism
is consisted of a main holder, a controller, a button component, a
switcher and a spring; wherein, the main holder includes a cavity
upward on the axis, and a radial hole at one side for containing a
button; the controller is a cylinder retained in the cavity of said
main holder, there is a sliding slot built upon one side of said
cylinder axially, opposite the sliding slot a cramp leaf is
embedded in the inside wall; the button component includes a button
ring and a restoring spring, therein said button ring is located on
the topside of said controller, and fit into the radial hole of
said main holder, and a part of the back side of pushing portion of
it may extend into the inside of said sliding slot of the
controller, on the other side, a lug with a slope matching to the
main stick assembly is built upon the inside of the button ring,
and a restoring spring is located on the back side of the lug on
the outside of the button ring diametrically; the switcher is an
elastic J-shape cramp located on the sliding slot freely, and the
long side faces to the outside and slides along the sliding slot;
the spring is placed on the bottom side of the controller and
pushes up the switcher.
Inventors: |
Chou; Lung-Chiao; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES E. BAXLEY, ESQ.
90 JOHN STREET
THIRD FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
35798848 |
Appl. No.: |
10/915898 |
Filed: |
August 10, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/24 ;
135/22 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 19/04 20130101;
A45B 9/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/024 ;
135/022 |
International
Class: |
A45B 25/16 20060101
A45B025/16 |
Claims
1. A handle control mechanism of an automated-open-close umbrella,
comprised of an open mechanism, a central handle assembly, wherein
said open mechanism is consisted of a main holder, a controller, a
button component, a switcher and a spring; wherein, the main holder
includes a cavity upward on the axis, and a radial hole at one side
for containing a button; the controller is a cylinder retained in
the cavity of said main holder, there is a sliding slot built upon
one side of said cylinder axially, opposite the sliding slot a
cramp leaf is embedded in the inside wall; the button component
includes a button ring and a restoring spring, therein said button
ring is located on the topside of said controller, and fit into the
radial hole of said main holder, and a part of the back side of
pushing portion of it may extend into the inside of said sliding
slot of the controller, on the other side, a lug with a slope
matching to the main stick assembly is built upon the inside of the
button ring, and a restoring spring is located on the back side of
the lug on the outside of the button ring diametrically; the
switcher is an elastic J-shape cramp located on the sliding slot
freely, and the long side faces to the outside and slides along the
sliding slot; the spring is placed on the bottom side of the
controller and pushes up the switcher.
2. A handle control mechanism of an automated-open-close umbrella
as claimed in claim 1, wherein the back side of the pushing portion
of said button ring is built upon a lug inward extending into the
sliding slot of the controller.
3. A handle control mechanism of an automated-open-close umbrella
as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the sliding slot of the controller
is a T-shaped slot; the size of the upper slot is coordinated to
the size of the lug of the but- ton ring, the width of lower slot
is matched to the switcher.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention is relative to an automated-open-close
umbrella in the umbrella field, and especially to an
automated-open-close control apparatus in the handle of stick or
multi-fold umbrella.
[0003] 2. Description of Prior Art
[0004] In accordance with the conventional earlier umbrellas, as
trying to open, the user has to push the low rib neat sliding up
along the stick until get into a proper position, the umbrella is
opened, but if running into a passing heavy shower or just only one
hand free, the umbrella has been not opened, the user has been
drenched. So someone designed an umbrella, in which a button is set
upon the handle, as it is pressed down the umbrella is opened
automatically, but, without automated-closing function, so that
when getting on a vehicle two hands are employed simultaneously for
closing the umbrella, even if it will take a short, the user maybe
be still drenched by rain, so it is lose its convenient function.
Therefore the automated-open-close umbrella was come out, just as
the inventor designed and applied patents-an automatic multi-folded
or stiff umbrella. By pressing down a button set upon the handle
repeatedly, and cooperating with an opening mechanism, a main stick
assembly and a ratio mechanism, carry out automated-open umbrella
function. Because the handle takes on open and close two functions,
so the design of control device in the handle becomes more
important.
[0005] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, they are showing an
automatic multi-folded umbrella, which includes a main holder 1', a
button component 2' and a shell 3', wherein said main holder 1'
includes a cavity 11' upward on the axis for passing through the
main stick assembly C', and a flange 12' on the up portion, a
radial container 13' below said flange 12' for holding a button
21', therein a baffle 14' and a locking lever 15' are pivoted on
the both opens of said container 13' with two pins X' respectively,
said baffle 14' is backed by a spring 141' at inside, next it
downward a slot 17' is built upon for casing a snap frame 16' that
is pressed and located with a spring 18' and a block 19'
sequentially on the main holder 1', meanwhile the opposite side of
said snap frame 16' touches against the bottom side of said locking
lever 15'; said button component 2' is consisted of a button 21'
and a switcher 22' for opening and closing the umbrella, therein
they are pivoted together with a pin X', meanwhile a spring 23' is
sandwiched between said button 21' and said switcher 22'; said
switcher 22' is a frame so that the main stick assembly C' and the
low rib nest B2' of the open mechanism B' pass through the hollow
portion surrounded by the frame, said button 21' is to cover on the
upper portion of said baffle 14', meanwhile the switcher 22' is
extended into the radial container 13' of said main holder 1'; said
low rib nest B2' of the opening mechanism B' has a catching slot
B21' coordinating to said switcher 22'; said switcher 22' has a
snatch lug with a slope at upside coordinating to the catching slot
B21'; the shell 3' is a shield fitting over the main holder 1', and
pre-set upon an open slot 31' for placing the button.
[0006] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, they are showing an
automated-open-close handle control device of a walking-stick
umbrella, in the same way, it includes a main holder 1'', a button
component 2'' and a shell 3'', wherein said main holder 1''
includes a cavity 11'' upward on the axis for passing through the
main stick assembly C'', and a flange 12'' on the up portion, a
radial container 13'' below said flange 12'' for holding a button
21'', therein a baffle 14'' and a locking lever 15'' are pivoted on
the both opens of said container 13'' with two pins X''
respectively, said baffle 14'' is backed by a spring 141'' at
inside, next it downward a slot 17'' is built upon for casing a
snap frame 16'' that is pressed and located with a spring 18'' and
a block 19'' sequentially on the main holder 1'', meanwhile the
opposite side of said snap frame 16'' touches against the bottom
side of said locking lever 15''; said button component 2'' is
consisted of a button 21'' and a switcher 22'' for opening and
closing the umbrella, therein they are pivoted together with a pin
X'', meanwhile a spring 23'' is sandwiched between said button 21''
and said switcher 22''; said switcher 22'' is a frame so that said
main stick assembly C'' passes through the hollow portion
surrounded by the frame, the shield C2'' of said main stick
assembly C'' has a catching slot C21'' at the bottom side; said
switcher 22'' has a snatch lug 221'' with a slope at upside
coordinating to the catching slot C21''; said button 21'' is to
cover on the upper portion of said baffle 14'', meanwhile the
switcher 22'' is extended into the radial container 13'' of said
main holder 1''; the shell 3'' is a shield fitting over the main
holder 1'', and pre-set upon an open slot 31'' for placing the
button.
[0007] In accordance with above two prior arts, we can find they
are essentially same; the only difference between them just is the
former is to control the low rib nest, but the later is to control
the shield of the main stick assembly. But both of them have common
shortcomings: too much pieces of parts in the control device, too
complicated structure, therefore the installation process is too
complexes, the production cost is too high, and on the other hand,
due to too much and complexes parts, the volume of the handle is
become bigger, especially applying to the stick umbrella, the
bigger handle will affect its artistic.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The key object of the present invention is to provide a
simpler and smaller umbrella handle with an automated-open-close
mechanism.
[0009] For archiving above-mentioned object, the present invention
provides an umbrella handle with an automated-open-close mechanism
comprised of a main holder, a controller, a button component, a
switcher and a spring; wherein, the main holder in- cludes a cavity
upward on the axis, and a radial hole at one side for containing a
button; the controller is a cylinder retained in the cavity of said
main holder, there is a sliding slot built upon one side of said
cylinder axially, opposite the sliding slot a cramp leaf is
embedded in the inside wall; the button component includes a button
ring and a restoring spring, therein said button ring is located on
the topside of said controller, and fit into the radial hole of
said main holder, and a part of the back side of pushing portion of
it may extend into the inside of said sliding slot of the
controller, on the other side, a lug with a slope matching to the
main stick assembly is built upon the inside of the button ring,
and a restoring spring is located on the back side of the lug on
the outside of the button ring diametrically; the switcher is an
elastic J-shape cramp located on the sliding slot freely, and the
long side faces to the outside and slides along the sliding slot;
the spring is placed on the bottom side of the controller and
pushes up the switcher.
[0010] The back side of the pushing portion of said button ring is
built upon a lug inward extending into the sliding slot of the
controller.
[0011] The sliding slot of the controller is a T-shaped slot; the
size of the upper slot is coordinated to the size of the lug of the
button ring, the width of lower slot is matched to the
switcher.
[0012] Applying above-described structure, due to employing a new
control mechanism in the handle, so reduce some parts in the prior
art, such as pins, restoring springs, locking lever, snap frame and
block and so on, and the structure of the main holder is
simplified, therefore, the less parts are employed, the processing
technique is simplified in process, and the production cost is
decreased; and on the other hand, due to reducing the number of the
parts, the volume of the handle is reduced too.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing the first design of the
prior art.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a cross-section view showing the combination state
of the first design of the prior art.
[0015] FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the second design of the
prior art.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a cross-section view showing the combination state
of the second de- sign of the prior art.
[0017] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a cross-section view showing the appearance of
closing state of the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the open action of the
first embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing close action of the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing the appearance of closing
state of the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 10 is a cross-section view showing open action of the
second embodiment of the present invention (1).
[0023] FIG. 11 is a cross-section view showing open action of the
second embodiment of the present invention (2).
[0024] FIG. 12 is a cross-section view showing close action of the
second embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] Referring to FIG. 5 cooperating to FIG. 6 to FIG. 11, the
present invention is comprised of an umbrella handle with an
automated-open-close mechanism cooperating to the open mechanism,
the main sick assembly, and the ratio mechanism of the umbrella to
carry out automatic opening and closing umbrella functions;
[0026] The handle control device typically includes a main holder
1, a button component 2, a controller 3, a switcher 4 and a spring
5;
[0027] Wherein said main holder 1 has a cavity 11 upward on the
axis, and a radial hole 12 at one side for containing a button;
[0028] The controller 3 is looked like a cylinder retained in the
cavity 11 of said main holder 1, there is a sliding slot 31 built
upon one side of said cylinder axially, said sliding slot 31 of is
a T-shaped slot; the size of the upper slot 311 is coordinated to
the size of the below lug 211 of the button ring 21, the width of
lower slot 312 is matched to the switcher 4, opposite the sliding
slot 31 a cramp leaf 32 is embedded in the inside wall;
[0029] The button component 2 includes a button ring 21 and a
restoring spring 22, therein said button ring 21 is located on the
topside of said controller 3, and fit into the radial hole 12 of
said main holder 1, and a lug 211 at the back side of pushing
portion of it extends into the inside of said sliding slot 311 of
the controller 3, on the other side, a lug 212 with a slope
matching to the main stick assembly C is built upon the inside of
the button ring 21, and a restoring spring 22 is located on the
back side of the lug 212 on the outside of the button ring 21
diametrically;
[0030] The switcher 4 is an elastic J-shape cramp located on the
sliding slot 31 of the controller 3 freely, the short side 41 is
placed to the inside and the long side 42 faces to the outside and
slides along the sliding slot 31;
[0031] The spring 5 is placed on the bottom side of the controller
3 and pushes up the bottom of the switcher 4.
[0032] When the present invention is used for a multi-fold
automated-open-close umbrella, referring to FIG. 6, the open
mechanism is comprised of an upper rib nest, a low rib nest B2 and
ribs (not shown in drawings); first, sequentially place the
restoring spring 22 and the button ring 21 into the radial hole 12
of the main holder 1, and the main stick set C2 of the main stick
assembly C is fastened into the cavity 11 of the main holder 1; the
spring 5 is placed into the controller 3, and the switcher 4 is fit
into the sliding slot 31 of the controller 3, meanwhile the bottom
of the switcher 4 is touched against the top end of the spring 5,
then as making the upper slot 311 of the controller 3 face to the
pressing portion 211 of the button ring 21, the controller 3 is
fastened into the main stick set C2 of the main stick assembly, the
inner tube C21 of the main stick set C2 has a slot C211 built upon
coordinating to the upper slot 311 for facilitating to the switcher
4 sliding reciprocally along the upper slot 311, meanwhile the
lower rib nest B2 is withdrew into the cavity 11 of the main holder
1 and retained by locking in the catching slot B21 of the low rib
nest B2 with the lug 212 of the button ring 21; additionally, the
catching head D1 of the ratio mechanism is locked on the controller
3 by the cramp leaf 32. Because the extension spring C1 is in
compression state, under the restoring force, said low rib nest B2
is exerted a pulling force upward, meanwhile the switcher 4 in the
controller 3 is pressing down the spring 5 and keeping it in
compression state too.
[0033] As opening the umbrella, referring to FIG. 7, press down the
button ring 21 to push the restoring spring 22 move to the left
simultaneously, the lug 212 releases the low rib nest B2, under the
action of the extension spring C1, the main stick set C2 is
unfolded, the low rib nest B2 is pulled upward sliding along the
unfolded telescopic tubes until the umbrella is fully opened. At
this time, the compressed restoring spring 22 of the button ring 21
is pushing the button ring 21 rightward to original position as
removing the finger from the pressing portion 211.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 7 again, at this time, the button ring 21
is in the original state, but, under the action of the spring 5,
the switcher 4 is lift up until catching into the upper slot 311 of
the controller 3, during this term, the long side 41 of the
switcher 4 is pushed upward until to getting the upper slot 311, at
this time, the long 41 side of the switcher 4 and the catching head
D1 and the lug 212 of the button ring 21 are aligned in one line;
as closing the umbrella, referring to FIG. 8, press down the button
ring 21 simultaneously to push the long side 41 of the switcher 4
move to the left, so as to push the catching head D1 leftward until
it slide off the upper slot 311 of the controller 3, the catching
head D1 is released easily to withdraw the cable of the ratio
mechanism so that the restoring springs located in the ribs of the
open mechanism B are drew back in closing state, and by means of
the extra force of hands, the catching slot B21 of the low rib nest
B2 is locked on the lug 212 of the button ring 21, in this case the
catching head D1 of the ratio mechanism is locked on the sliding
slot 31 of the controller 3 by the cramp leaf 32, simultaneously
the low rib nest B2 pushes down the switcher 4 to press the spring
5 in the energized state for the next open, so the umbrella is in
fully close state, as shown in FIG. 6.
[0035] As the handle control mechanism of the present invention is
used in a stick umbrella, as shown in FIG. 9, the open mechanism is
consisted of ribs (not shown in the drawings), the main stick
assembly C includes a extension spring C1, an outer tube C2 and an
inner tube C3, the controller 3 is located on the inside of the
inner tube C3; coordinating to the sliding slot 31, the inner tube
C3 is opened a slot C31 for overlapping the sliding slot 31 in
register so that the switcher 4 can reciprocate on it freely as in
the sliding slot 31, simultaneously the outer tube C2 is locked by
the lug 211 of the button ring 21 catching in the catching slot
C21; additionally, the catching head D1 of the ratio mechanism is
locked on the sliding slot under the press of the cramp leaf 32.
After combination, the extension spring C1 is in compression state
so that the outer tuber C2 is always exerted a pulling force under
the restoring force of the extension spring C1, simultaneously the
switcher 4 in the controller 3 is pressed down to press the spring
5 down in energized state by the outer tube C2.
[0036] When opening the umbrella, referring to FIG. 10, press down
the button ring 21 simultaneously to press the restoring spring 22
leftward, the lug 211 releases the outer tube C2, under the action
of the extension spring C1 the outer tube C2 is drew up along the
inner tube C3 relatively to push the ribs to open the umbrella. As
removing the finger from the button ring 21, the compressed
restoring spring 22 pushes the button ring 21 rightward until
getting the original position.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 11, at this time the button ring 21 is
restored the original state, but, due to the released spring 5, the
switcher 4 is pushed up to touch against the top rim of the upper
slot 311 of the controller 3, in this case the top end of the long
side 42 of the switcher 4 and the catching head D1, and the lug 211
are aligned on a line; as trying to close the umbrella, as shown in
FIG. 12, press down the button ring 21 simultaneously to push the
long side 42 of the switcher 4 leftward so as to press the catching
head D1 moving to the left until it slides off from the upper slot
311 to get free state, simultaneously and easily to withdraw the
cable of the ratio mechanism D so that the restoring springs
located in the ribs of the open mechanism B are drew back in
closing state, and by means of the extra force of hands, the
catching slot C21 of the outer tube C2 of the main stick assembly C
is locked on the lug 212 of the button ring 21, in this case the
catching head D1 of the ratio mechanism is locked on the sliding
slot 31 of the controller 3 by the cramp leaf 32, simultaneously
the outer tube C2 pushes down the switcher 4 to press the spring 5
in the energized state for the next open, so the umbrella is in
fully close state, as shown in FIG. 9.
[0038] Certainly, the controller 3 provided by the present
invention can be used in a multi-fold or a stick umbrella as a part
of the main stick assembly or of the inner tube for carrying out
automated-open-close function.
[0039] Therefore, relative to the prior art, the handle control
mechanism of the present invention has lesser number of parts,
simplified structure and manufacturing processes, and lower
production cost feathers; on the other hand, due to employing
lesser parts, the volume of the handle is reduced, meanwhile
providing bigger space for changing the appearance of the
handle.
* * * * *