U.S. patent application number 11/913340 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-19 for strutless type umbrella.
This patent application is currently assigned to LASIES INVESTMENTS AND ENTERPRISES LTD.. Invention is credited to Chaim Simcha Amsel.
Application Number | 20090071518 11/913340 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37906567 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090071518 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Amsel; Chaim Simcha |
March 19, 2009 |
STRUTLESS TYPE UMBRELLA
Abstract
Umbrella rib assembly is presented for use in strutless umbrella
having a pin and slide canopy conducting mechanism. The rib
assembly comprises a longitudinal rib body having a pivot member at
its end, and a rib lever extending from the rib body, and being
characterized in that the pivot member and the rib body together
with the rib lever present a single piece of material, and the
pivot member is located in a corner formed between the rib body and
the rib lever.
Inventors: |
Amsel; Chaim Simcha;
(Jerusalem, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LOWE HAUPTMAN HAM & BERNER, LLP
1700 DIAGONAL ROAD, SUITE 300
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
LASIES INVESTMENTS AND ENTERPRISES
LTD.
Jerusalem
IL
|
Family ID: |
37906567 |
Appl. No.: |
11/913340 |
Filed: |
December 1, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
December 1, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IL2005/001296 |
371 Date: |
October 21, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60722438 |
Oct 3, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
135/29 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 25/10 20130101;
A45B 25/22 20130101; A45B 25/143 20130101; A45B 25/165 20130101;
A45B 25/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/29 |
International
Class: |
A45B 23/00 20060101
A45B023/00; A45B 25/02 20060101 A45B025/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 1, 2005 |
IL |
PCT/IL05/00450 |
Claims
1. Umbrella rib assembly for use in strutless umbrella having a pin
and slide canopy conducting mechanism, the rib assembly comprising
a longitudinal rib body having a pivot member at its end, and a rib
lever extending from the rib body, and being characterized in that
the pivot member is located in a corner formed between the rib body
and the rib lever.
2. The rib assembly of claim 1, wherein the rib lever extends from
the rib body in an angle of between 110-160 degrees.
3. The rib assembly of claim 1, wherein the rib lever has a goggles
shaped profile.
4. The rib assembly of claim 1, wherein the rib lever of the rib
body has rounded upper and lower sliding surfaces, the height of
the rib body being similar to a maximal distance between said
rounded surfaces.
5. The rib assembly of claim 1, wherein a maximal thickness of the
rib lever is smaller comparing to a maximal distance between
rounded upper and lower sliding surfaces of the rib lever.
6. The rib assembly of claim 1, wherein rounded upper and lower
sliding surfaces of the rib lever are substantially planner in a
direction parallel to a pivoting axis of the rib assembly.
7. The rib assembly of claim 1, wherein the pivot member is formed
as a pair of lateral protrusions protruding from a pivot point to
form a pivoting axis from the same piece of material.
8. The rib assembly of claim 1, wherein a distance between the
pivot member and the free end of the rib lever does not exceed
about 200% of the maximal distance between round upper and lower
sliding surfaces of the rib lever.
9. The rib assembly of claim 1, wherein a free end portion of the
rib lever has a coin shape tapering towards the free end of the rib
lever.
10. The rib assembly of claim 1, wherein a free end portion of the
rib lever has a coin shape truncated at the free end of the rib
lever.
11. The rib assembly of claim 1, wherein the pivot member has a
diameter greater than about 20% of the rib lever's length.
12. The rib assembly of claim 1, wherein, formed from a polymeric
material.
13. A strutless umbrella comprising a plurality of the rib
assemblies according to claim 1.
14. The umbrella of claim 13, wherein each of said rib assemblies
is pivotally mounted in a housing having a base part connected on
top of the umbrella's stick and a cap part secured on top of the
base part, pairs of recesses being formed between the base part and
the upper part each accommodating a pivot axis of one of the rib
assemblies.
15. The umbrella of claim 14, wherein the free ends of the rib
levers are located between upper and lower restricting members
forming a slide in which rounded upper and lower surface of the rib
levers can slide when the rib assemblies are forced to pivot upon a
linear movement of the slide in line with the longitudinal axis of
the umbrella, the upper and lower restricting members being secured
to each other and to the upper edge of a rod passing through the
stick, by means of a screw.
16. The umbrella of claim 14, wherein the free ends of the rib
levers are located between upper and lower restricting members
forming a slide in which rounded upper and lower surfaces of the
rib levers can slide when the ribs are forced to pivot upon a
linear movement of the slide in line with the longitudinal axis of
the umbrella, a distance between the round surfaces of the rib
lever being greater than a distance between slides which serve
mirroring ribs.
17. The umbrella of claim 13, wherein the rib assemblies have
gradually reduced thickness towards their distal ends resulting in
flexibility of the ends of the rib assemblies useful for obtaining
mushroom shaped canopy.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention is generally in the field of umbrellas, and
relates to s strutless-type umbrella.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Up to date most if not all umbrellas in the market make use
of struts extending between the umbrella stick and the canopy for
supporting the canopy ribs at some mid portion thereof. Strutless
umbrellas (i.e. having a canopy without stretchers extending
between the umbrella post and the ribs) are known in the patent
literature, and are described for example in the following
patents:
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,234 discloses a strutless umbrella which
includes a central post, either an inner plunger or tube, a canopy
assembly including ribs pivotally mounted on the upper end of the
central post. Links connect the ribs to the inner plunger or tube.
Movement of one of the ribs moves the plunger or tube which moves
the remaining ribs. A latch pin holds the umbrella in the open
position.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,846 discloses an umbrella having a
simplified construction which dispenses with the stretcher members
(struts) of conventional umbrellas and has one end hinged to the
central portion of each rib. Said umbrella includes a runner
axially slidable along the umbrella pole between a folded position
in which the ribs can be folded against the pole, and an unfurled
position in which the runner engages the ribs and holds them in the
extended position. For this purpose, the runner comprises an upper
frusto-conical portion engageable with the ends of the reinforcing
portions of the ribs. It can be appreciated that according to U.S.
Pat. No. 5,638,846, the ribs are to be folded by gravity acting on
their own weight, since there is no user activated mechanism for
folding them.
[0005] AT 231634 discloses strutless umbrella aimed at protecting
from radioactive rain following nuclear disaster. The umbrella ribs
extend into the umbrella crown into which being incorporated a
guiding device placed inside the stick tube and operable from the
umbrella's handle. The guiding device comprises an actuation rod
passing upwardly through the stick tube, and a grooved plate
mounted on the rod. The center ends of the canopy ribs formed in
the shape of spheres enter the grooved plate. Above the plate, a
pressure spring is mounted on the actuation rod and supported on
its next end in the stick head which is mounted on the umbrella
crown.
[0006] Other strutless umbrellas, developed by the inventor of the
present application, utilize a canopy conducting mechanism, which
may be useful for electrical umbrellas. The canopy conducting
mechanism has short movement between open and closed states of the
umbrella and is based on pin and slide joints between the umbrella
ribs and between a canopy conducting member.
[0007] Needless to say that the appearance of strutless umbrellas
is neater and more elegant when compared to that of umbrellas
having struts. Furthermore, strutless umbrella enables a user to
bring the canopy very close above his head, which may improve the
protection the umbrella provides, especially in hard and windy
weather conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] There is a need in the art to improve a canopy conducting
mechanism of strutless umbrellas. This is associated with the
following:
[0009] One problem that should be addressed when designing a
strutless umbrella is the dimensions of the umbrella in its folded
state, which should preferably not significantly exceed those of
the conventional umbrellas (with struts). It will thus be
advantageous to have a canopy deployment and closing mechanism
providing for substantially regular diameter (that of the
conventional umbrella) of the folded strutless umbrella. It appears
that it is not simple to comply with this requirement.
[0010] Reduction in the weight of umbrellas, whether or not they
are strutless, will also be welcomed by users. The motivation of
umbrella designers to reduce the number and weight of umbrella
components is therefore acknowledged. Moreover, this should be done
without significantly affecting umbrella's strength, durability,
and fitness to comply with intense winds.
[0011] As mentioned above, strutless umbrellas have no struts to
help in lifting and lowering the ribs between deployed and closed
states of the umbrella. Considering for example the above-mentioned
patents, the following should be noted:
[0012] The umbrella of U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,846, having no struts,
leaves the control on folding the canopy to the gravity force
acting on it.
[0013] According to AT 231634 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,234, the
mechanisms for pivoting the ribs for lifting or lowering them are
based on pushing and puling them through an extension of the rib
body made between their pivot axis and the area above the top of
the stick. Therefore, in these mechanisms the length of the
extension of the ribs together with the dimensions of other parts
of the mechanisms located above the top of the stick define a
minimum to the possible diameter of the folded umbrella. Since said
extension of the rib acts as a lever arm, it can be appreciated
that the forces acting on both the extension and the pivotal
connection of the rib are in an inverse relation to the length of
the extension. The longer the extension is, the lower the acting
forces are, and vice versa. Therefore, in order to reduce the
acting forces, the lever arms should be extended respectively,
resulting in enlargement in the diameter of the folded
umbrella.
[0014] Referring to AT 231634, it is to be noted that the minimum
diameter of the folded umbrella is the distance measured between
the bent corners of two opposite ribs. This minimal diameter would
be about 130% of the crown's diameter. Also, the diameter of the
actuation rod together with twice the wall thickness of the grooved
plate adds to the lengths of two opposite rib extensions from pivot
pin to sphere in defining a minimum possible diameter of the crown.
It is further to be noted that the contact area between the plate
and the ends of the ribs is pointed, since it is the area between a
flat surface of the plate tangential to the sphere. As the acting
forces are high, pressure between the surfaces becomes extremely
high, which may result in accelerated wearing of both the surface
of the plate and the spheres. The diameter of the pivot pin is
about only 5% of the lever arm (i.e. the distance from the pivot
pin to the sphere). Accordingly, the contact area between the pin
and the apertures in which it pivots is very small, and thus the
pressure between the contacting surfaces of the pin and the
apertures will be high, causing accelerated wearing of the pivot
connection.
[0015] The present invention solves the above problems by providing
a novel configuration of a rib assembly for strutless umbrella
(having a pin and slide canopy conducting mechanism), enabling
reduction of the umbrella diameter when in its folded state. This
is achieved by providing at least one of the following
configurations of the rib assembly comprised of a longitudinal rib
body having a pivot member at its end, and a rib lever extending
from the rib body: (i) the pivot member is located in a corner
formed between the rib body and the rib lever; (ii) the rib lever
extends from the rib body in an angle of between 110-160 degrees;
(iii) the rib lever has a goggles shaped profile; (iv) the height
of the rib body is similar to the max distance between the round
surfaces of the rib lever; (v) the max thickness of the rib lever
is certainly smaller comparing to the max distance between the
rounded surfaces of the rib lever; (vi) the round sliding surfaces
of the rib lever are substantially planner in a direction parallel
to a pivoting axis of the rib; (vii) the pivot member is formed as
a pair of lateral protrusions protruding from the pivot point to
form a pivoting axis from the same piece of material of the rib;
(viii) the distance between the pivot member and the free end of
the rib lever does not exceed about 200% of the max distance
between the round surfaces of the rib lever; (ix) the free end of
the rib lever has a coin shape tapering towards the free end; (x)
the free end of the rib lever has a coin shape truncated at the
free end; (xi) the pivot member has a diameter greater than about
20% of the rib lever's length.
[0016] According to one broad aspect of the invention, there is
provided an umbrella rib assembly for use in strutless umbrella
having a pin and slide canopy conducting mechanism, the rib
assembly comprising a longitudinal rib body having a pivot member
at its end, and a rib lever extending from the rib body, and being
characterized in that the pivot member and the rib body together
with the rib lever present a single piece of material, and the
pivot member is located in a corner formed between the rib body and
the rib lever.
[0017] The material of the pivot member and the rib body may be a
polymeric material.
[0018] Preferably, the rib lever extends from the rib body in an
angle of between 110-160 degrees. The rib lever may have a goggles
shaped profile. The rib lever preferably has rounded upper and
lower sliding surfaces, with the height of the rib body being
similar to a maximal distance between said rounded surfaces. The
maximal thickness of the rib lever is preferably smaller as
compared to a maximal distance between the rounded upper and lower
sliding surfaces of the rib lever. The rounded surfaces are
preferably substantially planner in a direction parallel to a
pivoting axis of the rib assembly.
[0019] Preferably, the pivot member is formed as a pair of lateral
protrusions protruding from a pivot point to form a pivoting axis
from the same piece of material. A distance between the pivot
member and the free end of the rib lever preferably does not exceed
about 200% of the maximal distance between round upper and lower
sliding surfaces of the rib lever.
[0020] Preferably, the configuration is such that the free end
portion of the rib lever has a coin shape tapering towards the free
end of the rib lever, or a coin shape truncated at the free end of
the rib lever. The diameter of the pivot member is greater than
about 20% of the rib lever's length.
[0021] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a strutless umbrella comprising a plurality of the rib
assemblies, each configured as described above.
[0022] Each of the rib assemblies is preferably pivotally mounted
in a housing having a base part connected on top of the umbrella's
stick and a cap part secured on top of the base part. A
corresponding number of pairs of recesses is provided between the
base part and the upper part, each pair of recesses accommodating a
pivot axis of one of the rib assemblies.
[0023] Preferably, the free ends of the rib levers are located
between upper and lower restricting members forming a slide in
which rounded upper and lower surface of the rib levers can slide
when the rib assemblies are forced to pivot upon a linear movement
of the slide in line with the longitudinal axis of the umbrella.
The upper and lower restricting members are secured to each other
and to the upper edge of a rod passing through the stick, by means
of a screw. Preferably, a distance between the round surfaces of
the rib lever is greater than a distance between slides which serve
mirroring ribs. The rib assemblies preferably have gradually
reduced thickness towards their distal ends resulting in
flexibility of the ends of the rib assemblies useful for obtaining
mushroom shaped canopy.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] In order to understand the invention and to see how it may
be carried out in practice, preferred embodiments will now be
described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to
the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0025] FIGS. 1A to 1C illustrate, in partial vertical cross section
view, three states during the operation of a canopy conducting
mechanism of the present invention based on pin and slide
joint;
[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates a partial lateral cross section view of
the canopy conducting mechanism in its state of FIG. 1B;
[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of an umbrella rib according
to the embodiment of FIGS. 1A to 2, made of one piece of
material;
[0028] FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the canopy rib of FIG.
3;
[0029] FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of an umbrella rib
according to the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 6 illustrates the rib of FIG. 5 with the free end of
its rib lever situated in a canopy conducting member;
[0031] FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of a rib according to
the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of the ribs and the base part
of the housing in the embodiment of FIG. 7;
[0033] FIG. 9 illustrates an isometric view of a cap of a rib
housing, to be mounted on a base part;
[0034] FIG. 10 illustrates an isometric view of the base part of
the embodiment of FIG. 8; and
[0035] FIG. 11 illustrates in isometric another embodiment of a
two-part housing connected on top of an umbrella stick.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 1A-1C and 2, there is illustrated an
example of a canopy conducting mechanism of the present invention,
which in the present example is based on a pin-and-slide joint. The
latter is of the type defining an elongated contact region between
a pin (i.e., a cylindrically-like element with circular or other
rounded base surfaces) and a slide plane, the contact region thus
being a line along the cylinder-like generator. FIGS. 1A-1C show,
in partial vertical cross section view (taken at A-A of FIG. 2),
three operational states, respectively, of the mechanism, and FIG.
2 shows a partial lateral cross section view (taken at B-B of FIG.
1B) of the canopy conducting mechanism in its state of FIG. 1B.
[0037] In the illustrated embodiment, a pin 300 of the
pin-and-slide joint is actually the end portion of a rib lever 303
of an umbrella rib body 301. Pin 300 is also referred to in the
context of the present invention as "the free end of the rib
lever". In this example, pin 300 has a coin-like shape, i.e. a
cylinder of a relatively small height, namely having a diameter
significantly larger than its thickness (measured perpendicular to
the figure plane), and is tapered toward the free end of the pin.
This feature can be seen clearly in FIG. 2. The pin 300 is mounted
for sliding movement along a hollow cell 311 (will be referred to
also as "slide 311") made in a canopy conducting member 310, which
actually is a hub comprising a plurality of such hollow cells 311
arranged in a spaced-apart radial array about a common center.
[0038] In FIG. 1A, the canopy conducting member 310 is shown in its
uppermost position above the umbrella stick (not illustrated), with
the pin 300 forcing the rib lever 303 upwards, thus keeping the rib
body 301 downwards, which corresponds to a closed canopy state.
When the canopy conducting member 310 moves down to the position
illustrated by FIG. 1B, it forces the free end of the rib lever
downwardly and furthermore to slide inwardly inside the hollow cell
311, thus forcing the rib body 301 to rotate upwardly about the
pivot member 302, to a mid position which corresponds to a
partially open state of the canopy. By further lowering the canopy
conducting member 310 to the lowermost position, as illustrated by
FIG. 1C, the free end of the rib lever is forced downwards and
laterally outwards from the hollow cell 311, thus forcing the rib
body 301 to further pivot about the pivot member 302, to the
position which corresponds to the open state of the umbrella. As
can be appreciated, the pin-and-slide joint formed by the free end
("pin") 300 and slide 311 allows to convert the up-down vertical
movement of the conducting member 310 into a pivoting movement of
the lever 303 and the rib body 301 about the pivot member 302. It
is appreciated that the rib lever 303 may be designed shorter than
illustrated, and actually the free end (pin) 300 itself may
function as a rib lever.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 2, in the state illustrated by FIG. 1B, the
ribs 301 are in a mid location with the canopy partially opened and
with the free end 300 of each rib lever 303 being maximally slid
along the slide 311 in the direction of the central axis of the
conducting member 310. This is in contrast to what is shown in
FIGS. 1A and 1C in which the free end 300 of the rib lever reaches
its maximal opposite slid along the slide 311, i.e. its max
distance from the center of the conducting member 310. The up-down
movement of the conducting member can be achieved by a hub
extension 312 (shown in FIGS. 1A-1C) extended into the stick of the
umbrella.
[0040] Reference is made to FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrating side and top
views, respectively, of an umbrella rib assembly according to the
above-described embodiment of FIGS. 1A to 2, and made of one piece
of material. The rib assembly can be produced from plastic casting,
as one (integral) unit comprising rib lever 303 and its free end
300, pivot members 302 from both rib's sides, and rib body 301. The
rib body 301 itself may have recesses 304 from both its sides, thus
reducing its weight with negligible lose of strength. The opposite
end portion 305 of the rib body 301 can be made gradually tapered,
such that its thickness at the end of the rib body 301 is
sufficiently reduced as to make it flexible. As a result, when the
canopy is fully opened the rib body 301 is forced to the arched
shape illustrated by doted line 306, due to a stress exerted by the
canopy fabric (not illustrated) which is dimensioned and designed
in a mushroom shape, forcing the flexible ends of the rib bodies to
bent downwardly. The stress exerted by the canopy fabric
significantly increases the forces acting on the rib lever 303, on
the pivot member 302, and significantly increases the pressure in
the tangential contact between the round surfaces of the coin
shaped free end 300 and the surfaces of the slide 311. However, the
above-described umbrella rib construction includes several features
which allow it to comply with extreme acting forces: the rib
assembly has a pivoting axis defined by the pivot member 302 having
a diameter greater than about 15% of a distance between it and the
central axis of the coin shaped "pin" 300, and is furthermore
integral (made from the same piece of material) to the rib body.
The tangential contact between the round surfaces of the coin
shaped "pin" 300 and the surfaces of the slide 311 is linear and
not pointed, The rib assembly has a massive lever structure 303
having a height (measured in the figure plane perpendicularly to
the longitudinal axis of the lever arm) averagely greater than half
its length and twice its width. As shown in FIG. 4, the rib
assembly has flat end 305 which is flexible in the direction
perpendicular to the illustration plane, due to reduced thickness
of the end of the rib body.
[0041] Accordingly, the present invention provides an umbrella
having a canopy conducting mechanism described above, wherein the
rib bodies are made of a rigid material and have gradually reduced
thickness at their distal ends resulting in flexibility thereof
useful for obtaining mushroom shaped canopy.
[0042] Referring to FIG. 5, there is illustrated another embodiment
of an umbrella rib 1 according to the present invention. The figure
focuses on the area of a rib lever 3 and its meeting area with a
rib body 5. The rib lever extends from the rib body in an angle A.
This angle is in the range of between 110-160 degrees, and is
preferably about 135 degrees. A pivot member 2 is located in a
corner 4 formed between the rib body 5 and the rib lever 3. The rib
lever 3 has a goggles shaped profile. This is identifiable by a
valley 6 formed between two hills 6a and 6b. The hill 6a forms an
upper round surface to be in tangential contact with a surface of
an upper slide member aimed at preventing free pivoting of the
lever upwardly. An upside-down hill 6c forms a lower round surface,
mirroring said upper round surface 6a, to be in tangential contact
with a surface of a lower slide member (not shown) aimed at
preventing free pivoting of the lever downwardly. The height of the
rib body 5 (the height being measured between the upper and lower
surfaces 7 and 8 of the rib body 5 near its meeting area with the
rib lever 3) is similar to the max distance between the round
surfaces 6a and 6c of the rib lever 3. The depth of the valley 6 is
preferably of the minimal value which still permits sufficient
rotation of the canopy rib for approaching its fully deployed
position. A mirroring valley 9 fulfills a similar function in the
opposite rotation direction of the rib, i.e. permits sufficient
rotation of the rib for approaching its fully closed position. As
can be appreciated the max thickness of the rib lever 3 (measured
e.g. along line 10 between the opposite flat walls of the lever) is
certainly smaller comparing to the max distance between the round
surfaces 6a and 6c of the rib lever. The round sliding surfaces 6a
and 6c of the rib lever are substantially planner in a direction
parallel to the pivoting axis 11 of the rib. The pivot member 2 is
formed as a pair of lateral protrusions from the lateral flat walls
of the rib (only one is seen in this Figure) to form the pivoting
axis from the same piece of material of the rib.
[0043] It can be appreciated that a distance between the pivot
member 2 and the free end of the rib lever 3 does not exceed about
200% of the max distance between the round surfaces 6a and 6c of
the rib lever. The pivoting member 2 has a diameter greater than
about 20% of the rib lever's length. Thus, the forces acting on the
pivot members will be dispersed over a greater contact are between
the pivot axis and the apertures in which it is situated, exerting
reduced pressures. The free end of the rib lever has a coin shape
tapering towards the free end thus allowing to crowd together rib
levers of a plurality of umbrella ribs closest to the umbrella's
centerline axis.
[0044] FIG. 6 illustrates the rib 1 of FIG. 5 with the free end of
its rib lever 3 situated in a slide 20 formed in a canopy
conducting member 19 constituted by upper and lower restricting
members 21 and 22. In such canopy conducting member 19, the round
surfaces 6a and 6c of the rib levers can slide when the ribs are
forced to pivot upon a linear movement of the conducting member in
line with the longitudinal axis of the umbrella (i.e. as indicated
by an arrow W).
[0045] As can be appreciated, the max distance between the rounded
surfaces 6a and 6c is grater than the distance (measured as the
diameter of a tubular portion 23 of the restricting members 21 and
22) between slide's portions which serve mirroring ribs. This is to
emphasize how close to the longitudinal centerline of the umbrella
the rib levers may approach. It is appreciated that the tapering of
the rib levers towards the free ends of the levers allows to crowd
together the plurality of free ends of the rib levers in the very
center of the umbrella, from above the stick.
[0046] According to the illustrated embodiment, the upper and lower
restricting members 21 and 22 are two exemplars of the same part
formed from plastic material and arranged to face one another to
form the slide 20 in between. The parts are to be connected
together by screw or bolt inserted through a hole 24 and passing
through inside the tubular portion 23 to secure the conducting
member to the top edge of an actuation rod (not seen) passing
through the stick.
[0047] FIG. 7 illustrates yet another embodiment of a rib according
to the present invention. A rib 31 has a rib body 35 and a rib
lever 33. The free end of the rib lever 33 has a coin shape
truncated at the free end. It is to be noted that when the rib 31
is in a mid position between fully deployed and fully closed states
of the umbrella, the free ends of the rib lever 33 reach their
closest distance to the umbrella's centerline axis. Therefore, by
having the coin shaped free end truncated, it becomes possible to
locate the ribs 31 closer to the centerline. The truncation does
not affect the functionality of round surfaces 36a and 36c of the
lever 33. Two mirroring ribs 31 are depicted, the left one
demonstrates the rib orientation in deployed state of the umbrella
while the right one demonstrates the rib orientation in closed
state of the umbrella. It should be understood that the
configuration of FIG. 7 (i.e., different orientations of the ribs)
does not exist in a fully assembled umbrella, since they are all
correlated by the canopy conducting member which govern their
orientation and movements.
[0048] FIG. 7 also illustrates, in a vertical cross section view, a
base part 40 of a housing in which the ribs are pivotally
connected. The base part 40 has a truncated conical profile,
comprising a circular groove 41 allowing connecting the housing on
top of an umbrella stick, and a plurality of vertically oriented
gaps 44 allowing the ribs to fold closer to the stick. As can be
appreciated, due to the location of the rib pivot axis near a
corner 39 between the rib body 35 and the rib lever 33, the
diameter of the umbrella in its folded state will not significantly
exceed a diameter D of the housing measured at its widest
region.
[0049] FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of the ribs and the base part
of the housing illustrated by FIG. 7. Reference is made also to
FIG. 10 illustrating the base part in isometric view from above.
The ribs 31 are pivotally connected to the umbrella's stick (not
shown) through a rib housing whose base part 40 is connected to the
upper end of the stick. The pivot connection is by pairs of
protrusions 32 made from both rib sides near the end of the rib
body 35 to form a pivot axis 32. The pairs of protrusions 32 are
situated in respective pairs of recesses 42 made in the rib holders
46 which in this example are formed as elevated members of the base
part 40. Each rib holder 46 contains two recesses 42 each for
receiving a respective protrusion 32 of an adjacent umbrella rib
body 35.
[0050] A hexagonal tunnel 49 is formed in the bottom of the base
part 40, through which an actuation rod (not shown) can emerge from
the stick to join a canopy conducting member e.g. of the type 310
of FIG. 1, or 19 of FIG. 6, to be accommodated within the
housing.
[0051] For the purpose of description only, two of a total of eight
umbrella ribs 31 are illustrated in this Figure, while spaces in
the base part 40 for receiving the six remaining ribs are
illustrated empty. Each rib receiving space in the base part 40
contains a gap 44 formed between two rib holders 46 which are base
part members elevating from the housing collar 58. The gaps 44
extend downwards the base part in order to allow the ribs
approaching near the stick when pivoting towards a closed state of
the umbrella.
[0052] The base part 40 further has bores 58 made in the top
surface of the rib holders 46, for receiving corresponding
protrusions made in the bottom of the cap 62 (illustrated by FIG.
9). The connection between the bores 58 and the corresponding
protrusions may be reinforced by screws each passing through a
respective pair of protrusion and bore.
[0053] After the protrusions 32 of all the eight ribs are situated
in the respective recesses with the free ends of the rib levers
seating in the slides of the canopy conducting member, the housing
cap 62 may be connected to the base part as to secure the ribs by
closing the recesses 42 from above thus preventing escape of the
protrusions 32 from the recesses 42.
[0054] FIG. 9 illustrates an isometric view of a cap 62, showing
its bottom, which matches the top of the base part 40. The cap has
pairs of recesses 42a, made in closures 46a, each closure 46a
cooperates with a corresponding rib holder 46 such that when the
base part is closed by the cap, the recesses 42 made in the rib
holders 42 and the recesses 42a made in closures 46a form pairs of
cylindrical spaces accommodating respective pairs of protrusions 32
of the umbrella ribs 31. It is to be noted that it is possible also
to have recesses only in the rib holders 46 of the base part
provided that they are sufficiently deep so as to accommodate the
protrusions 32. In such a case the bottom of the closures 46a may
be flat and yet keep the umbrella ribs closed between the cap 62
and the base member 42. Protrusions 58a are also being formed in
the bottom of the closures 46a, and are matching the bores 58 made
in the rib holders 46 of the base part 40, so as to facilitate
connecting the cap on top of the base part. A gap 44a is formed
between each pair of neighboring closures 46a, forming extension to
a corresponding gap 44 located between respective pair of
neighboring rib holders 46, thus allowing the umbrella ribs to
pivot between a fully deployed state and a fully closed state.
[0055] FIG. 10 illustrates an isometric view of the base part 40
illustrated by FIG. 8.
[0056] FIG. 11 illustrates in isometric another embodiment of a two
part housing 150 connected on top of umbrella stick 139. Cap 162 of
the housing 140 is secured to base part 140, and eight umbrella
ribs 131 are pivotally connected between the cap and the base part.
Due to gaps 144 formed between pairs of neighboring rib holders
146, the umbrella ribs may be folded to lay juxtaposed the stick
139 when the umbrella is closed. Thus, the diameter of the closed
umbrella is determined by the diameter of the housing at its widest
portion 180. The ribs 131 do not significantly influence the
diameter of the closed umbrella, since they are accommodated within
the gaps. In this embodiment the cap 162 has integral threaded bolt
protruding upwardly, useful for mounting a ferrule.
[0057] Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that
various modifications and changes can be applied to the embodiment
of the invention as herein described without departing from its
scope defined in and by the appended claims.
* * * * *