U.S. patent application number 11/998657 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-26 for umbrella having uneven cover or canopy.
Invention is credited to Lu Tsai Huang.
Application Number | 20080149152 11/998657 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38825721 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080149152 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huang; Lu Tsai |
June 26, 2008 |
Umbrella having uneven cover or canopy
Abstract
An umbrella includes a central stick, a crown disposed on top of
the stick, a slider slidably attached onto the central stick, an
uneven canopy having a front portion shorter than two side portions
of the canopy, and a rear portion longer than the side portions of
the canopy, and a whale bone device for coupling the canopy to the
central stick and for supporting the canopy on the central stick.
The whale bone device includes one or more front strut assemblies
for supporting the shorter front portion of the canopy, one or more
side strut assemblies for supporting the side portions of the
canopy, and one or more rear strut assemblies for supporting the
longer rear portion of the canopy.
Inventors: |
Huang; Lu Tsai; (Changhua,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES E. BAXLEY, ESQ.
90 JOHN STREET, THIRD FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
38825721 |
Appl. No.: |
11/998657 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/20.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 23/00 20130101;
A45B 19/10 20130101; A45B 25/02 20130101; A45B 2011/005
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/20.1 |
International
Class: |
A45B 11/00 20060101
A45B011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 21, 2006 |
CN |
200620016730.1 |
Claims
1. An umbrella comprising: a central stick, a crown disposed on top
of said stick, a slider slidably attached onto said central stick
and movable up and down along said central stick, an uneven canopy
including two side portions, a front portion shorter than said side
portions of said canopy, and a rear portion longer than said side
portions of said canopy, and a whale bone means for coupling said
canopy to said central stick and for supporting said canopy on said
central stick.
2. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said whale
bone means includes at least one front strut assembly for coupling
and supporting said shorter front portion of said canopy, at least
one side strut assembly for coupling and supporting said side
portions of said canopy, and at least one rear strut assembly for
coupling and supporting said longer rear portion of said
canopy.
3. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said at least
one front strut assembly and said at least one side strut assembly
each include an upper stave pivotally coupled to said crown, a
lower stave pivotally coupled to said slider and pivotally coupled
to a middle portion of said upper stave, a main stave pivotally
coupled to said upper stave, and an outer stave pivotally coupled
to said main stave.
4. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said main
stave is pivotally coupled to said lower stave with a lever.
5. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said outer
stave is pivotally coupled to said upper stave with a flexible
member.
6. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said upper
stave of said at least one front strut assembly is shorter than
said upper stave of said at least one side strut assembly.
7. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said lower
stave of said at least one front strut assembly is shorter than
said lower stave of said at least one side strut assembly.
8. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said main
stave of said at least one front strut assembly is shorter than
said main stave of said at least one side strut assembly.
9. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said outer
stave of said at least one front strut assembly is shorter than
said outer stave of said at least one side strut assembly.
10. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said at least
one rear strut assembly includes an upper stave pivotally coupled
to said crown, a lower stave pivotally coupled to said slider and
having a middle portion pivotally coupled to said upper stave, a
main stave pivotally coupled to said lower stave, and an outer
stave pivotally coupled to said main stave.
11. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein said main
stave is pivotally coupled to said upper stave with a lever.
12. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein said outer
stave is pivotally coupled to said lower stave with a flexible
member.
13. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein said at
least one rear strut assembly includes an additional stave
pivotally coupled to said outer stave.
14. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein said
additional stave is pivotally coupled to said main stave with a
flexible member.
15. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein said at
least one rear strut assembly includes a stretcher coupled between
said main stave and said crown for supporting said canopy.
16. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein said
stretcher includes a knot engaged into a cavity of said crown.
17. The strut assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stick
includes at least two telescoping stick sections retractably
coupled together.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an umbrella, and more
particularly to an umbrella having an uneven canopy or cover or
umbrella cloth supported by an uneven wheel bone means or device
for suitably and effectively operating to shield the user in the
rain and for preventing the user from wetting.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Typical umbrella devices comprise a runner slidably attached
onto a central telescoping post, and a number of whale bones or
strut assemblies attached or coupled to the central telescoping
post and the runner for stretching or supporting the canopy or
cover or umbrella cloth.
[0005] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,856,031 to Weber, U.S. Pat. No.
4,848,385 to Pennella, U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,969 to Chou et al., U.S.
Pat. No. 5,323,798 to Yang, U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,132 to Lin et al.,
and U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,169 to Lin et al. disclose six of the
typical umbrella devices each comprising a number of whale bones or
strut assemblies attached or coupled to the central telescoping
post and the runner for stretching or supporting the canopy, and
the strut assemblies each include a number of struts pivotally
coupled together and the struts are normally made of metal
materials.
[0006] However, normally, the whale bones or strut assemblies
include the same length, and the canopy or cover or umbrella cloth
includes an even or uniform structure such that the front portion
of the user will be shielded or obstructed by the canopy or cover
or umbrella cloth, and the rear portion of the user will be easily
wetted by the rain.
[0007] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional strut
assemblies for umbrellas.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
an umbrella including an uneven canopy or cover or umbrella cloth
supported by an uneven wheel bone means or device for suitably and
effectively operating to shield the user in the rain and for
preventing the user from wetting.
[0009] The other objective of the present invention is to provide
an umbrella including a shortened front portion for preventing the
front portion of the user from being shielded or obstructed by the
canopy or cover or umbrella cloth.
[0010] The further objective of the present invention is to provide
an umbrella including a lengthened rear portion for suitably and
effectively shielding the rear portion of the user in the rain and
for preventing the rear portion of the user from wetting.
[0011] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided an umbrella comprising a central stick, a crown disposed
on top of the stick, a slider slidably attached onto the central
stick and movable up and down along the central stick, an uneven
canopy including two side portions, a front portion shorter than
the side portions of the canopy, and a rear portion longer than the
side portions of the canopy, and a whale bone device for coupling
the canopy to the central stick and for supporting the canopy on
the central stick.
[0012] The whale bone device includes at least one front strut
assembly for coupling and supporting the shorter front portion of
the canopy, at least one side strut assembly for coupling and
supporting the side portions of the canopy, and at least one rear
strut assembly for coupling and supporting the longer rear portion
of the canopy.
[0013] The front strut assembly and the side strut assembly each
include an upper stave pivotally coupled to the crown, a lower
stave pivotally attached or coupled to the slider and pivotally
coupled to a middle portion of the upper stave, a main stave
pivotally coupled to the upper stave, and an outer stave pivotally
coupled to the main stave.
[0014] The main stave is pivotally coupled to the lower stave with
a lever. The outer stave is pivotally coupled to the upper stave
with a flexible member. The upper stave of the front strut assembly
is preferably, but not necessarily shorter than the upper stave of
the side strut assembly. The lower stave of the front strut
assembly is preferably shorter than the lower stave of the side
strut assembly. The main stave of the front strut assembly is
preferably shorter than the main stave of the side strut assembly.
The outer stave of the front strut assembly is preferably shorter
than the outer stave of the side strut assembly.
[0015] The rear strut assembly also includes an upper stave
pivotally coupled to the crown, a lower stave pivotally coupled to
the slider and having a middle portion pivotally coupled to the
upper stave, a main stave pivotally coupled to the lower stave, and
an outer stave pivotally coupled to the main stave. The main stave
may further be pivotally coupled to the upper stave with a lever.
The outer stave may further be pivotally coupled to the lower stave
with a flexible member.
[0016] The rear strut assembly includes an additional stave
pivotally coupled to the outer stave for increasing the length of
the rear strut assembly. The additional stave may further be
pivotally coupled to the main stave with a flexible member. The
rear strut assembly may further include a stretcher coupled between
the main stave and the crown for coupling and supporting the
canopy. The stretcher includes a knot engaged into a cavity of the
crown. The stick may further include at least two telescoping stick
sections retractably coupled together.
[0017] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed
description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of an umbrella in
accordance with the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a top plan schematic view of the umbrella;
[0020] FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial plan schematic view
illustrating the side rib of the umbrella;
[0021] FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial plan schematic view
illustrating the rear rib of the umbrella; and
[0022] FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view illustrating
the crown portion of the strut assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2,
an umbrella in accordance with the present invention comprises a
central telescoping post or stick 10 including one or more
telescoping stick sections 11 stretchably and retractably coupled
together, and including a handle (not shown) attached to the bottom
portion of the stick 10 for being held or grasped by the users, and
including a crown 12 attached or disposed on top of the stick 10,
and including a slider 13 slidably provided and attached onto the
central telescoping stick 10 and slidable or movable or adjustable
up and down along the central telescoping stick 10, and an uneven
whale bone means or device 3 attached or coupled to the stick 10
for openably supporting an uneven umbrella cloth or cover or canopy
80.
[0024] For example, as also shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the canopy 80
includes a shorter or shortened front portion 81 for preventing the
front portion of the user from being shielded or obstructed by the
canopy 80, and includes an increased or longer or lengthened rear
portion 82 for suitably and effectively shielding the rear portion
of the user in the rain and for preventing the rear portion of the
user from being wetted by the rain, and includes two side portions
83 having a width or dimension or length greater than the width or
dimension or length of the front portion 81 of the canopy 80, but
smaller or shorter than the width or dimension or length of the
rear portion 82 of the canopy 80. It is to be noted that the
shorter or shortened front portion 81 may decrease the area
confronting the wind and may prevent the umbrella apparatuses from
being easily folded or distorted by the wind.
[0025] The whale bone means or device 3 includes one or more (such
as two) shorter or shortened front strut assemblies 30 for coupling
and supporting the shorter or shortened front portion 81 of the
canopy 80, one or more (such as two) side strut assemblies 40 for
coupling and supporting the medium side portions 83 of the canopy
80, and one or more (such as two) increased or longer or lengthened
rear strut assemblies 50 for coupling and supporting the increased
or longer or lengthened rear portion 82 of the canopy 80 and for
allowing the canopy 80 to be opened or stretched out to an open and
working position (FIGS. 1, 2), and to be folded or retracted to a
compact folding structure.
[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the strut assemblies 30, 40 each
include an upper stave 31, 41 having an inner end portion pivotally
attached or coupled to the crown 12, a lower stave 32, 42 having an
inner end portion pivotally attached or coupled to the slider 13
and having an outer end portion pivotally attached or coupled to
the middle portion 33, 43 of the upper stave 31, 41 respectively, a
main stave 34, 44 having an inner end portion pivotally attached or
coupled to the outer end portion 35, 45 of the upper stave 31, 41
and also pivotally attached or coupled to the lower stave 32, 42
with a lever 36, 46 respectively, and an outer stave 37, 47
pivotally attached or coupled to the outer end portion of the main
stave 34, 44 and also pivotally attached or coupled to the outer
end portion 35, 45 of the upper stave 31, 41 with a spring member
or flexible member 48.
[0027] The strut assemblies 30, 40 include the same structure
having the upper stave 31, 41, the lower stave 32, 42, the main
stave 34, 44, the lever 36, 46, and the outer stave 37, 47,
however, the side strut assemblies 40 are longer than or include a
length greater than the front strut assemblies 30, for example, the
upper staves 41 of the side strut assemblies 40 are longer than the
upper staves 31 of the front strut assemblies 30, and/or the lower
staves 42 of the side strut assemblies 40 are longer than the lower
staves 32 of the front strut assemblies 30, and/or the main staves
44 of the side strut assemblies 40 are longer than the main staves
34 of the front strut assemblies 30, and/or the outer staves 47 of
the side strut assemblies 40 are longer than the outer staves 37 of
the front strut assemblies 30 respectively for allowing the side
strut assemblies 40 to be longer than the front strut assemblies
30.
[0028] As shown in FIGS. 1-2 and 4, the rear strut assemblies 50
each also include an upper stave 51 having an inner end portion
pivotally attached or coupled to the crown 12, a lower stave 52
having an inner end portion pivotally attached or coupled to the
slider 13 and having a middle portion 53 pivotally attached or
coupled to the outer end portion of the upper stave 51, a main
stave 54 having an inner end portion pivotally attached or coupled
to the outer end portion 55 of the lower stave 52 and also
pivotally attached or coupled to the upper stave 51 with a lever 56
respectively, an outer stave 57 pivotally attached or coupled to
the outer end portion of the main stave 54 and also pivotally
attached or coupled to the outer end portion 55 of the lower stave
52 with a spring member or flexible member 58.
[0029] The rear strut assemblies 50 each further include an
additional stave 59 pivotally attached or coupled to the outer end
portion of the outer stave 57 and also pivotally attached or
coupled to the outer end portion of the main stave 54 with a spring
member or flexible member 60 for allowing the rear strut assemblies
50 to be longer than the side strut assemblies 40. It is
preferable, but not necessarily that the upper staves 51 of the
rear strut assemblies 50 are equals to the length of the lower
staves 42 of the side strut assemblies 40 or have the same length
as that of the lower staves 42 of the side strut assemblies 40, the
lower staves 52 of the rear strut assemblies 50 have the same
length as that of the upper staves 41 of the side strut assemblies
40, and the main staves 44, 54 and the outer staves 47, 57 have the
length equals to each other. The rear strut assemblies 50 each
include an additional stave 59, and the side strut assemblies 40
have no additional staves such that the rear strut assemblies 50
may be longer than the side strut assemblies 40.
[0030] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, due to the coupling of the upper
staves 51 to the middle portion 53 of the lower staves 52 of the
rear strut assemblies 50, a recess or depression 62 (FIG. 4) will
be formed between the upper stave 51 and the main stave 54 and/or
the lever 56. One or more (such as two) stretchers 70 may thus be
further provided and coupled between the main stave 54 and the
crown 12 for supporting the canopy 80 and for preventing the canopy
80 from being recessed into the recess or depression 62 of the rear
strut assemblies 50. For example, one end of the stretchers 70 may
be twisted or secured together to form a knot 71 (FIG. 5) for
engaging into a cavity 14 that is formed or provided in the crown
12.
[0031] Again, it is to be noted that the canopy 80 includes a
shorter or shortened front portion 81 for preventing the front
portion of the user from being shielded or obstructed by the canopy
80, and includes an increased or longer or lengthened rear portion
82 for suitably and effectively shielding the rear portion of the
user in the rain and for preventing the rear portion of the user
from being wetted by the rain, and the shorter or shortened front
portion 81 may decrease the area confronting the wind and may
prevent the umbrella apparatuses from being easily folded or
distorted by the wind.
[0032] Accordingly, the umbrella in accordance with the present
invention includes uneven cover or umbrella cloth supported by an
uneven wheel bone means or device for suitably and effectively
operating to shield the user in the rain and for preventing the
user from wetting, and includes a shortened front portion for
preventing the front portion of the user from being shielded or
obstructed by the cover or umbrella cloth, and includes a
lengthened rear portion for suitably and effectively shielding the
rear portion of the user in the rain and for preventing the rear
portion of the user from wetting.
[0033] Although this invention has been described with a certain
degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present
disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous
changes in the detailed construction and the combination and
arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *