U.S. patent application number 11/769742 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-01 for umbrella structure.
Invention is credited to Ming-Kung LI.
Application Number | 20090000650 11/769742 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40158956 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090000650 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LI; Ming-Kung |
January 1, 2009 |
UMBRELLA STRUCTURE
Abstract
The umbrella structure contains a tubular member, a central
shaft whose bottom section is sleeved in the tubular member, an
upper next fixedly configured at a top end of the central shaft, a
lower nest slidably configured along the central shaft in the other
section without the tubular member, a number of collapsible ribs
radially arranged around and pinned joined to the upper nest, and a
number of stretchers connecting the ribs to the lower nest.
Inventors: |
LI; Ming-Kung; (Taipei City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEONG C LEI
PMB # 1008, 1867 YGNACIO VALLEY ROAD
WALNUT CREEK
CA
94598
US
|
Family ID: |
40158956 |
Appl. No.: |
11/769742 |
Filed: |
June 28, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/25.31 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 19/10 20130101;
A45B 9/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/25.31 |
International
Class: |
A45B 19/00 20060101
A45B019/00 |
Claims
1. An umbrella structure comprising: a tubular member having a
handle at a bottom end; a central shaft whose bottom section is
sleeved in said tubular member, said central shaft being made of a
plastic material; an upper nest fixedly configured at a top end of
said central shaft; a lower nest slidably configured along said
central shaft in the other section without said tubular member; a
plurality of ribs radially arranged around and pinned joined to
said upper nest; and a plurality of stretchers, each with the two
ends connected to a rib and said lower nest, respectively.
2. The umbrella structure according to claim 1, wherein said ribs
are collapsible.
3. The umbrella structure according to claim 1, wherein said ribs
are not collapsible.
4. The umbrella structure according to claim 1, further comprising
a gore whose one side is attached to said ribs wherein said tubular
member has a color matching that of said gore.
5. The umbrella structure according to claim 1, further comprising
a cap member configured on top of said upper nest.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to umbrellas and
more particularly to an umbrella structure whose components are all
made of plastic materials.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] Some disadvantages of a conventional umbrella can be
summarized as follows. First, the rib structure is usually made of
some metallic material for better strength. However, metallic ribs
also mean heavier weight and inferior convenience. In addition,
pointed metallic ribs present a potential safety hazard to the
user.
[0003] Secondly, other than the ribs, quite a few other components
such as the central shaft, the bolts joining the rib sections, and
the connecting wires, etc., are also made of metallic materials.
These metallic components inevitably would have rust problems. The
rusted components not only affect the appearance of the umbrella
but also hinder the operation of the umbrella.
[0004] Thirdly, these metallic components are difficult to recycle.
Even though some umbrellas combine recyclable plastic parts with
the umbrella structure to avoid some of the foregoing problems, the
plastic parts actually add additional difficulty in classifying the
umbrella for recycle.
[0005] Furthermore, the design flexibility of conventional umbrella
is usually limited to the gore of the umbrella. The central shaft
of the umbrella most of the time is not matched with the gore
design, which makes the umbrella less appealing to the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, a novel umbrella structure is provided herein.
The umbrella structure contains a tubular member, a central shaft
whose bottom section is sleeved in the tubular member, an upper
nest fixedly configured at a top end of the central shaft, a lower
nest slidably configured along the central shaft in the other
section without the tubular member, a number of collapsible ribs
radially arranged around and pinned joined to the upper nest, and a
number of stretchers connecting the ribs to the lower nest.
[0007] The foregoing components are all made of some plastic
materials and the umbrella is therefore handy, light-weighted, and
robust to rusting. All plastic components also significantly
enhance the operation safety of the umbrella. In addition, the
tubular member can be configured to have a matched color to the
gore, a superior touch and texture, and a more appealing
appearance. At last, the all-plastic umbrella structure is highly
recyclable and therefore is much friendlier to environment
protection.
[0008] The foregoing object and summary provide only a brief
introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these
and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention
itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the
art, the following detailed description of the invention and the
claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical
reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
[0009] Many other advantages and features of the present invention
will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making
reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets
of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment
incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by
way of illustrative example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a collapsible umbrella
according to an embodiment of the present invention in a collapsed
manner.
[0011] FIG. 2 is perspective view showing how the central shaft is
sleeved in the tubular member of the umbrella structure of FIG.
1.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a non-collapsible
umbrella according to another embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only,
and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or
configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following
description provides a convenient illustration for implementing
exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the
described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement
of the elements described without departing from the scope of the
invention as set forth in the appended claims.
[0014] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a collapsible umbrella structure
according to an embodiment of the present invention contains a
central shaft 10, an upper nest 20 fixedly configured at a top end
of the central shaft 10, a lower nest 21 slidably configured along
the central shaft 10, and about 8 to 10 collapsible ribs 30
radially arranged around and pinned joined to the upper nest 20.
Please also see FIG. 2, which also depicts the collapsible umbrella
structure of FIG. 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each rib 30
contains a first section 31, a second section 32, and an end
section 34 series connected in this order from the upper nest 20
outwards. A number of stretcher 33 are provided, each with its two
ends connected to the lower nest 21 and a first section 31 of a rib
30, respectively. When the upper lower nest 21 is slid upward
towards the upper nest 20, the stretchers 33 raise the first
sections 31 of the ribs 30, which in turn stick out their
respective second and end sections 32 and 34. In reverse, when the
lower nest 21 is slid downward, the ribs 30 are pulled inward by
the stretches 33 and thereby collapsed. For an ordinary,
non-collapsible umbrella structure according to another embodiment
of the present invention shown in FIG. 3, the ribs are directly
raised or retracted by sliding the lower nest 21. The operation of
these embodiments is pretty much identical to that of the prior
arts and its details are therefore omitted here.
[0015] The major characteristics of the present invention lie in
the following. The central shaft 10 and all the foregoing
components are made of some plastic materials and therefore the
umbrella structure is handy, light-weighted, and robust to rusting.
Them, the bottom section of the central shaft 10 is sleeved in a
tubular member 40 which can have a handle 50 configured at a bottom
end of the tubular member 40. The purpose of having the tubular
member 40 is mainly for ornamentation. The tubular member 40 can
have a matching color to the gore of the umbrella. The tubular
member 40 can also be configured to enhance the appearance, touch,
and texture of the umbrella, which is difficult to achieve by the
conventional central shaft 10 alone.
[0016] Additionally, a cap member 60 can be provided on top of the
upper nest 20. For collapsible umbrella, the cap member 60 usually
has a short cylindrical shape. For non-collapsible umbrella, the
cap member 60 usually has an elongated and pointed shape.
[0017] While certain novel features of this invention have been
shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is
not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be
understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and
changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in
its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without
departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
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