U.S. patent application number 11/523527 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-20 for multi-folded umbrella having a reduced closed volume.
Invention is credited to Hsia Hui Chen.
Application Number | 20080066792 11/523527 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39187301 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080066792 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Hsia Hui |
March 20, 2008 |
Multi-folded umbrella having a reduced closed volume
Abstract
The invention relates to an improved multi-folded umbrella
having a reduced closed volume, which includes a shaft with a crown
secured to its upper end, a slider slidably provided on the shaft,
and rib sections pivoted to the crown and the slider consisting of
struts, tensions ribs, and spokes. The rib sections of the frame
are positioned in side-by-side relationship, either clockwise or
anti-clockwise, when the umbrella is closed, wherein the umbrella
can be two-folded, three-folded, four folded, five-folded, or more,
and between the rib sections, various connecting assemblies are
provided. Hence, the present umbrella can be used more conveniently
and effectively.
Inventors: |
Chen; Hsia Hui; (Hsinchu
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
ELLICOTT CITY
MD
21043
US
|
Family ID: |
39187301 |
Appl. No.: |
11/523527 |
Filed: |
September 20, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/25.3 ;
135/31 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 19/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/25.3 ;
135/31 |
International
Class: |
A45B 19/10 20060101
A45B019/10 |
Claims
1. A multi-folded umbrella having a reduced closed volume including
a shaft with a crown secured to its upper end, a slider slidably
provided on the shaft, and rib sections pivoted to the crown and
the slider consisting of struts, tensions ribs, and spokes; the
characteristic is the rib sections being positioned in side-by-side
relationship when the umbrella is closed, wherein the umbrella can
be two-folded, three-folded, four folded, five-folded, or more, and
between the rib sections, various connecting assemblies are
provided.
2. A multi-folded umbrella having a reduced closed volume as
claimed in claim 1, when the umbrella is a two-folded umbrella,
which includes a first connecting assembly and a second connecting
assembly counted from the shaft, wherein the first connecting
assembly includes a strut rib, a branch rib, and a tension rib, in
which the tension rib has its inner end linked to the branch rib,
and the branch rib has its outer end pivoted to the strut rib and a
U-shaped holder, and the second connecting assembly includes the
strut rib, a spoke, and the tension rib, in which the tension rib
has its outer end linked to the inner end of the spoke while the
strut rib has its outer end linked to the spoke, and both of which
are pivoted to a U-shaped cover having an opening above.
3. A multi-folded umbrella having a reduced closed volume as
claimed in claim 1, when the umbrella is a three-folded umbrella,
which includes a third connecting assembly, a fourth connecting
assembly, and a second connecting assembly counted from the shaft,
wherein the third connecting assembly includes a strut, a branch,
and a tension rib, in which the tension rib has its inner linked to
the branch rib, and the branch rib has its outer end pivoted to the
strut and a cover; the fourth connecting assembly includes a first
strut, a second strut, a first tension rib and a second tension
rib, in which the first tension rib has its outer end linked to the
inner ends of the second strut rib and a holder, the second tension
rib has its inner end linked to the first strut rib, and the first
strut rib has its outer end pivoted to the second strut rib and the
holder; the second connecting assembly includes the strut rib, a
spoke, and the tension rib, in which the tension rib has its outer
end linked to the inner end of the spoke while the strut rib has
its outer end linked to the spoke, and both of which are pivoted to
a U-shaped cover having an opening above.
4. A multi-folded umbrella having a reduced closed volume as
claimed in claim 1, when the umbrella is a four-folded umbrella,
which includes a first connecting assembly, a fifth connecting
assembly, a fourth connecting assembly, and a second connecting
assembly counted from the shaft, wherein the first connecting
assembly includes a strut rib, a branch rib, and a tension rib, in
which the tension rib has its inner end linked to the branch rib,
and the branch rib has its outer end pivoted to the strut rib and a
U-shaped holder; the fifth connecting assembly includes a first
strut, a second strut, a first tension rib and a second tension
rib, in which the first tension rib has its outer end linked to the
outer ends of the second strut rib and a cover, the second tension
rib has its inner end linked to the first strut rib, and the first
strut rib has its outer end pivoted to the second strut rib and the
cover; the fourth connecting assembly includes a first strut, a
second strut, a first tension rib and a second tension rib, in
which the first tension rib has its outer end linked to the inner
ends of the second strut rib and a holder, the second tension rib
has its inner end linked to the first strut rib, and the first
strut rib has its outer end pivoted to the second strut rib and the
holder; the second connecting assembly includes the strut rib, a
spoke, and the tension rib, in which the tension rib has its outer
end linked to the inner end of the spoke while the strut rib has
its outer end linked to the spoke, and both of which are pivoted to
a U-shaped cover having an opening above.
5. A multi-folded umbrella having a reduced closed volume as
claimed in claim 1, when the umbrella is a fifth-folded umbrella,
which includes a third connecting assembly, a fourth connecting
assembly, a fifth connecting assembly, a fourth connecting
assembly, and a second connecting assembly counted from the shaft,
wherein the third connecting assembly includes a strut, a branch,
and a tension rib, in which the tension rib has its inner linked to
the branch rib, and the branch rib has its outer end pivoted to the
strut and a cover; the fourth connecting assembly includes a first
strut, a second strut, a first tension rib and a second tension
rib, in which the first tension rib has its outer end linked to the
inner ends of the second strut rib and a holder, the second tension
rib has its inner end linked to the first strut rib, and the first
strut rib has its outer end pivoted to the second strut rib and the
holder; the fifth connecting assembly includes a first strut, a
second strut, a first tension rib and a second tension rib, in
which the first tension rib has its outer end linked to the outer
ends of the second strut rib and a cover, the second tension rib
has its inner end linked to the first strut rib, and the first
strut rib has its outer end pivoted to the second strut rib and the
cover; the second connecting assembly includes the strut rib, a
spoke, and the tension rib, in which the tension rib has its outer
end linked to the inner end of the spoke while the strut rib has
its outer end linked to the spoke, and both of which are pivoted to
a U-shaped cover having an opening above.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] A conventional folded umbrella includes at least two rib
sections being pivoted in general linear alignment. When the
umbrella is closed, the rib section will contact each other at the
pivot joining them, such as shown in FIG. 1. Hence, the umbrella
remains slightly extended in the closed state, thereby having a
large volume. Though the umbrella can be forced into a compact
closed state, it will elastically expand to the structure as it is
released. Because of the collision between the rib sections, when
being folded, the closed umbrella cannot be effectively reduced in
volume, such as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,902,514, 6,244,284, 5,435,331,
5,553,634, 6,257,257, 1,486,772, 4,007,752, 6,170,498, and
5,337,770.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved rib structure to overcome the drawback of prior art, which
includes several kinds of pivoted structure to connect the rib
sections in side-by-side relationship, as shown in FIG. 2, or
anti-clockwise relationship in FIG. 2-1. By this arrangement, the
closed volume of the folded umbrella will be effectively reduced.
Now, accompanying the following drawings, the character of the
present invention will be described hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing a traditional folded
umbrella and its rib sections in closed state.
[0004] FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing a folded umbrella and its
rib sections in closed state according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0005] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a two-folded umbrella in
opened state with encircled portions A and B according to the
present invention.
[0006] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a three-folded umbrella in
opened state with encircled portions B, C, and D.
[0007] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a four-folded umbrella in
opened state with encircled portions A, B, D, and E.
[0008] FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a five-folded umbrella in
opened state with encircled portions B, C, D, and E.
[0009] FIG. 7 is an enlarged assembled perspective view of the
encircled portion A with its exploded view.
[0010] FIG. 8 is an enlarged assembled perspective view of the
encircled portion B with its exploded view.
[0011] FIG. 9 is a modified embodiment of FIG. 8.
[0012] FIG. 10 is an enlarged assembled perspective view of the
encircled portion C with its exploded view.
[0013] FIG. 11 is an enlarged assembled perspective view of the
encircled portion D with its exploded view.
[0014] FIG. 12 is an enlarged assembled perspective view of the
encircled portion E with its exploded view.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] Referring to FIG. 3 to 6, the umbrella according to the
present invention includes in the known way a shaft with a crown
secured to its upper end and a slider slidably provided on the
shaft, wherein FIG. 3 shows a two-folded umbrella, FIG. 4 shows a
three-folded umbrella, FIG. 5 shows a four-folded umbrella, and
FIG. 6 shows a five-folded umbrella. The character of the present
invention relates to connecting structures between the rib sections
for reducing the closed volume of the umbrella. In these figures,
there are five connecting assemblies shown in the encircled
portions A, B, C, D, and E, some sets of which are respectively
used in a related folded umbrella. For example, the two-folded
umbrella in FIG. 3 includes the encircled portions A and B, which
explain connecting structure of the rib sections therebetween.
[0016] As seen in FIG. 7, the encircled portion A shows a first
connecting assembly as in FIGS. 3 and 5, which includes a strut rib
(a1), a branch rib (a11), and a tension rib (a12). The tension rib
(a12) has its inner end linked to the branch rib (a11) at point P1.
The branch rib (a11) has its outer end pivoted to the strut rib
(a1) and a U-shaped holder (a13) at point P2.
[0017] As seen in FIG. 8, the encircled portion B shows a second
connecting assembly as in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6. As an example, FIG.
3 includes the strut rib (b1), a spoke (b2), and the tension rib
(b12). The tension rib (b12) has its outer end linked to the inner
end of the spoke (b2) while the strut rib (b1) has its outer end
linked to the spoke (b2) at point P3, both of which are pivoted to
a U-shaped cover (b14) having an opening (b141) above point P3. A
modification can be made related to FIG. 8. Such as in FIG. 9, the
strut rib (b1) is pivoted directly to the U-shaped cover (b14) and
the spoke (b2) has an inner curved portion (b21) being placed above
the strut (b1) and extended outward the opening (b141).
[0018] Referring to FIG. 10, a third connecting assembly shown in
the encircled portion C as in FIGS. 4 and 6, which includes a strut
(c1), a branch (c11), and a tension rib (c12). The tension rib
(c12) has its inner linked to the branch rib (c11) at point P4. The
branch rib (c11) has its outer end pivoted to the strut (c1) and a
cover (c13) at point P5.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 11, a fourth connecting assembly shown in
the encircled portion D as in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, which includes a
first strut (d1), a second strut (d2), a first tension rib (d11)
and a second tension rib (d21). The first tension rib (d11) has its
outer linked to the inner ends of the second strut rib (d2) and a
holder (d15). The second tension rib (d21) has its inner end linked
to the first strut rib (d1) at point P6. The first strut rib (d1)
has its outer end pivoted to the second strut rib (d2) and the
holder (d15) at point P7.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 12, a fifth connecting assembly shown in
the encircled portion E as in FIGS. 5, and 6, which includes a
first strut (e1), a second strut (e2), a first tension rib (e11)
and a second tension rib (e21). The first tension rib (e11) has its
outer linked to the outer ends of the second strut rib (e2) and a
cover (e16). The second tension rib (e21) has its inner end linked
to the first strut rib (e1) at point P8. The first strut rib (d1)
has its outer end pivoted to the second strut rib (e2) and the
cover (e16) at point P9.
[0021] Under these arrangements, when the folded umbrella is
closed, every rib section can be effectively closed to the shaft of
the umbrella. Hence, the umbrella of the present invention can
reduce the closed volume of the umbrella whatever the umbrella is
two-folded or more. Hence, the present invention obtains improved
utilization and should be allowed for a patent.
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