U.S. patent application number 12/156054 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-03 for automatic umbrella.
Invention is credited to Demetrius Calvin Ham.
Application Number | 20090293924 12/156054 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41378263 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090293924 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ham; Demetrius Calvin |
December 3, 2009 |
Automatic umbrella
Abstract
An automatic umbrella has an electric motor, nose, and gear
assembly which rides up or down the interior of the handle/body of
the umbrella on threading/gearing on the interior of the umbrella
shaft. As the traveler assembly rises the ribs hingedly connected
to the traveler extend through notches or slots in the end of the
umbrella, until the nose extends out the end and the ribs actually
swing downwards. Motion of the ribs is controlled by a pin or guide
on the side of the notch which cooperates with the shaped sides of
the umbrella ribs. The nose acts to tension the canopy in the
deployed position. The traveler may move due to a rotating gear
engaging the threaded inside surface of a tubular body, or the
tubular body may be rotated (preferably within an outer housing)
and the traveler forced upward by the motion.
Inventors: |
Ham; Demetrius Calvin;
(Dingmans Ferry, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Demetrius C. Ham
10 Woodridge Ct
Newton
NJ
07860
US
|
Family ID: |
41378263 |
Appl. No.: |
12/156054 |
Filed: |
May 29, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/23 ;
135/16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 25/143 20130101;
A45B 19/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/23 ;
135/16 |
International
Class: |
A45B 25/16 20060101
A45B025/16 |
Claims
1. An umbrella comprising: an elongated handle having an elongated
interior space therein, the elongated handle being internally
threaded and having upper and lower ends; a traveler disposed
within the elongated interior space, the traveler having an
electric motor operatively connected to a gear, the gear being
disposed in operative engagement with the internal threading of the
elongated handle; a plurality of ribs secured to the traveler in a
hinged fashion, the plurality of ribs extending from the traveler
in the direction of the upper end of the elongated handle; and a
canopy attached to the plurality of ribs.
2. The umbrella of claim 1, further comprising: a battery in
operative electrical connection with the electric motor.
3. The umbrella of claim 1, where in the traveler further
comprises: a nose at the upper end of the traveler.
4. The umbrella of claim 3, wherein the nose further comprises: a
plurality of nose grooves aligned with the plurality of ribs and as
deep as the ribs.
5. The umbrella of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of
apertures at the upper end of the elongated handle, the apertures
aligned with the plurality of ribs, the ribs passing through
respective apertures.
6. The umbrella of claim 5, wherein the plurality of apertures
further comprise: a plurality of notches.
7. The umbrella of claim 5, wherein the plurality of apertures
further comprise: a plurality of guides disposed in the plurality
of apertures and operatively engaged to the respective ribs passing
therethrough.
8. The umbrella of claim 7, wherein the plurality of ribs further
comprise: shaped sides, the plurality of guides operatively engaged
to the respective ribs at the shaped sides.
9. The umbrella of claim 1, further comprising: a control having
three positions, a first position in which no electrical current is
supplied to the electrical motor, a second position in which a
first polarity electrical current is supplied to the electrical
motor, and a third position in which a reversed second polarity
electrical current is supplied to the electrical motor.
10. The umbrella of claim 3, wherein the nose of the traveler
projects from the upper end of the traveler and contacts and
tensions the canopy when the traveler is in a first position.
11. An umbrella comprising: an elongated handle having an elongated
interior space therein, the elongated handle having upper and lower
ends, the elongated handle having a plurality of apertures at the
upper end, each one of the plurality of apertures having one guide
portion; a traveler disposed within the elongated interior space; a
plurality of ribs secured to the traveler in a hinged fashion, the
plurality of ribs extending from the traveler in the direction of
the upper end of the elongated handle and passing through
respective ones of the plurality of apertures, the ribs having a
shaped side operatively engaged to the guide portion of the
respective aperture; and a canopy attached to the plurality of
ribs.
12. An umbrella comprising: a handle having an elongated outer
housing thereon, the elongated outer housing having a first
interior space; an inner sleeve disposed within the first interior
space of the outer housing, the inner sleeve having a second
interior space, the second interior space being internally
threaded/geared and having upper and lower ends; a traveler
disposed within the second interior space, a plurality of ribs
secured to the traveler in a hinged fashion, the plurality of ribs
extending from the traveler in the direction of the upper end of
the elongated handle; a canopy attached to the plurality of ribs;
and an electric motor connected to the inner sleeve.
13. The umbrella of claim 12, further comprising: a plurality of
apertures at the upper end of the elongated outer housing, the
apertures aligned with the plurality of ribs, the ribs passing
through respective apertures.
14. The umbrella of claim 13, wherein the plurality of apertures
further comprise: a plurality of notches.
15. The umbrella of claim 13, wherein the plurality of apertures
further comprise: a plurality of guides disposed in the plurality
of apertures and operatively engaged to the respective ribs passing
therethrough.
16. The umbrella of claim 15, wherein the plurality of ribs further
comprise: shaped sides, the plurality of guides operatively engaged
to the respective ribs at the shaped sides.
17. The umbrella of claim 12, further comprising: a battery in
operative electrical connection with the electric motor.
Description
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
[0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright
owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of
the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the
Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise
reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d).
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0002] N/A
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This invention relates generally to umbrellas devices, and
specifically to automatic umbrellas.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH
[0004] This invention was not made under contract with an agency of
the US Government, nor by any agency of the US Government.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Automatic umbrellas usually suffer from a number of defects.
One first defect is that the typical automatic umbrella either has
normal folding umbrella ribs to spread the canopy of the umbrella
(as frequently seen in hand umbrellas and parasols), or else the
simply folds the ribs down along the shaft of the umbrella (as
frequently seen in table umbrellas and the like). Folding the ribs
down the exterior leads to a larger exterior with a tendency to
catch on passing objects even when the umbrella is not deployed,
while using normal folding umbrella struts results in a device
which is virtually certain to break soon as the weak and complex
ribs eventually get bent or broken.
[0006] A second defect is the use of springs and elastic to operate
the umbrellas. Since the typical hand umbrella has folding ribs
which will soon break, the cost of using power mechanisms such as
electrical motors becomes prohibitive. However, springs and the
like provide an irregular action which may not fully deploy the
umbrella in use. Electrical actuation would be superior.
[0007] Searching in the relevant prior art collections of the US
Patent and Trademark Office reveals a number of motorized umbrellas
of dissimilar design.
[0008] Electric motors operating umbrellas may be found in U.S.
Pat. Nos. 7,188,633; 7,069,939; 4,572,226; 5,213,122; 5,449,012;
6,543,464; 5,141,010; 5,816,276; 3,129,715; 4,736,761; 6,182,917;
1,109,854; 4,523,607; and 5,291,908. While these devices teach
rotating rods to power umbrellas, external travelers on an
umbrellas stem, pulleys and various other mechanisms, none show
ribs or struts riding on guides and extending through notches of
the device. In addition, none show an internal traveler riding up
an umbrella handle/body/shaft having threading on the interior of
the shaft itself.
[0009] It would be preferable to provide an umbrella with notably
simpler mechanisms for electrically operating the opening and
closing of the umbrella as well as showing simple means by which
rib/strut construction and deployment can both be drastically
simplified to provide more reliable operation.
[0010] It would further be preferable to provide an umbrella which
has stronger single piece ribs which are internally stowed when the
umbrella canopy is not deployed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] General Summary
[0012] The present invention teaches an automatic umbrella which
has one or more tubular handles/bodies with elongated cavities
within.
[0013] A traveler assembly is located within a threaded cavity and
comprises an electric motor, nose, and gear assembly which rides up
or down the interior of the shaft/handle/body of the umbrella on
threading/gearing on the interior of the umbrella shaft or interior
of a rotating sleeve. In embodiments, the shape and resilience of
the gear may effect the motion without internal threading/gearing
of the shaft of the umbrella.
[0014] As the traveler assembly rises from the bottom of the
interior to the top, the ribs (which are hingedly connected to the
traveler at or near the nose) extend through notches or slots in
the end of the umbrella, until the nose extends out the end of the
umbrella or otherwise passes the notches and the continuing motion
of the traveler actually drives the ribs to swing downward rather
than extend further.
[0015] Motion of the single piece ribs is controlled by a pin or
other type of guide on the side of the notch which cooperates with
the shaped sides of the umbrella ribs, or a guide on the side of
the ribs may extend into a smaller side-notch on the rib notch,
thus using the same mechanism in mirror image.
[0016] Batteries and electric motor may be located in the traveler
or in the shaft of the umbrella. A three position switch, buttons
or other control may be used to provide the motor with either
forward or reverse drive current, so the device may close itself by
the opposite action as deployment, in which case the ribs will
retract wholly or partially into the hollow body shaft.
[0017] The nose acts to tension the canopy in the deployed
position.
[0018] Summary in Reference to Claims
[0019] It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and
embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed
previously, to provide an umbrella comprising: [0020] an elongated
handle having an elongated interior space therein, the elongated
handle being internally threaded and having upper and lower ends;
[0021] a traveler disposed within the elongated interior space, the
traveler having an electric motor operatively connected to a gear,
the gear being disposed in operative engagement with the internal
threading of the elongated handle; [0022] a plurality of ribs
secured to the traveler in a hinged fashion, the plurality of ribs
extending from the traveler in the direction of the upper end of
the elongated handle; and [0023] a canopy attached to the plurality
of ribs.
[0024] It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and
embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed
previously, to provide an umbrella, further comprising:
[0025] a battery in operative electrical connection with the
electric motor.
[0026] It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and
embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed
previously, to provide an umbrella, where in the traveler further
comprises:
[0027] a nose at the upper end of the traveler.
[0028] It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and
embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed
previously to provide an umbrella wherein the nose of the traveler
projects from the upper end of the traveler and contacts and
tensions the canopy when the traveler is in a first position.
[0029] It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and
embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed
previously, to provide an umbrella, wherein the nose further
comprises:
[0030] a plurality of nose grooves aligned with the plurality of
ribs and as deep as the ribs.
[0031] It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and
embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed
previously, to provide an umbrella, further comprising: [0032] a
plurality of apertures at the upper end of the elongated handle,
the apertures aligned with the plurality of ribs, the ribs passing
through respective apertures.
[0033] It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and
embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed
previously, to provide an umbrella, wherein the plurality of
apertures further comprise:
[0034] a plurality of notches.
[0035] It is therefore yet another aspect, advantage, objective and
embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed
previously, to provide an umbrella, wherein the plurality of
apertures further comprise: [0036] a plurality of guides disposed
in the plurality of apertures and operatively engaged to the
respective ribs passing therethrough.
[0037] It is therefore yet another aspect, advantage, objective and
embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed
previously, to provide an umbrella, wherein the plurality of ribs
further comprise: [0038] shaped sides, the plurality of guides
operatively engaged to the respective ribs at the shaped sides.
[0039] It is therefore yet another aspect, advantage, objective and
embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed
previously, to provide an umbrella, further comprising: [0040] a
control having three positions, a first position in which no
electrical current is supplied to the electrical motor, a second
position in which a first polarity electrical current is supplied
to the electrical motor, and a third position in which a reversed
second polarity electrical current is supplied to the electrical
motor.
[0041] It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and
embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed
previously, to provide an umbrella comprising: [0042] an elongated
handle having an elongated interior space therein, the elongated
handle having upper and lower ends, the elongated handle having a
plurality of apertures at the upper end, each one of the plurality
of apertures having one guide portion; [0043] a traveler disposed
within the elongated interior space; [0044] a plurality of ribs
secured to the traveler in a hinged fashion, the plurality of ribs
extending from the traveler in the direction of the upper end of
the elongated handle and passing through respective ones of the
plurality of apertures, the ribs having a shaped side operatively
engaged to the guide portion of the respective aperture; and [0045]
a canopy attached to the plurality of ribs.
[0046] It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and
embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed
previously, to provide an umbrella comprising: [0047] a handle
having an elongated outer housing thereon, the elongated outer
housing having a first interior space; [0048] an inner sleeve
disposed within the first interior space of the outer housing, the
inner sleeve having a second interior space, the second interior
space being internally threaded/geared and having upper and lower
ends; [0049] a traveler disposed within the second interior space,
a plurality of ribs secured to the traveler in a hinged fashion,
the plurality of ribs extending from the traveler in the direction
of the upper end of the elongated handle; [0050] a canopy attached
to the plurality of ribs; and [0051] an electric motor connected to
the inner sleeve.
[0052] It is therefore yet another aspect, advantage, objective and
embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed
previously, to provide an umbrella further comprising: [0053] a
plurality of apertures at the upper end of the elongated outer
housing, the apertures aligned with the plurality of ribs, the ribs
passing through respective apertures.
[0054] It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and
embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed
previously, to provide an umbrella wherein the plurality of
apertures further comprise:
[0055] a plurality of notches.
[0056] It is therefore yet another aspect, advantage, objective and
embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed
previously, to provide an umbrella wherein the plurality of
apertures further comprise: [0057] a plurality of guides disposed
in the plurality of apertures and operatively engaged to the
respective ribs passing therethrough.
[0058] It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and
embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed
previously, to provide an umbrella wherein the plurality of ribs
further comprise: [0059] shaped sides, the plurality of guides
operatively engaged to the respective ribs at the shaped sides.
[0060] It is therefore another aspect, advantage, objective and
embodiment of the invention, in addition to those discussed
previously, to provide an umbrella further comprising:
[0061] a battery in operative electrical connection with the
electric motor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0062] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a user holding the umbrella
of the invention just before use, while the umbrella is stowed.
[0063] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a user holding the umbrella
of the invention just after deploying it.
[0064] FIG. 3 is a partially cross-sectional view (or a view of the
device with one side of the body removed) showing the significant
internal structures of the device.
[0065] FIG. 4 is a side view of the umbrella in or near the
position of use, with the fabric of the canopy removed.
[0066] FIG. 5 is a partially transparent view of the upper end of
the umbrella with the ribs beginning to deploy, with the canopy
removed: this view aids understanding of the mechanism for
controlling the ribs.
[0067] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the upper end of the
umbrella with the canopy in place: this view corresponds to the
view of FIG. 5.
[0068] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the upper end of the
umbrella with the canopy removed: this view corresponds to the
views of FIGS. 5 and 6.
[0069] FIG. 8 is a partially cross-sectional view (or a view of the
device with one side of the body removed) showing the internal
structures of the device at a stage of deployment slightly more
advance from the views of FIGS. 5 through 7.
[0070] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the umbrella at the same
stage of deployment as shown in FIG. 8.
[0071] FIG. 10 is a partially cross-sectional view (or a view of
the device with one side of the body removed) showing the internal
structures of the device at a stage of deployment slightly less
advance from the views of FIGS. 8 and 9.
[0072] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the umbrella at the same
stage of deployment as shown in FIG. 10.
[0073] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the device with the
umbrella stowed in the body/handle portion.
[0074] FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the two parts of the
body/handle and the main canopy/rib/motor assembly.
[0075] FIGS. 14a, 14b and 14c are cross-sectional partial views of
one end of an embodiment having batteries in the handle or nose
cone.
[0076] FIG. 15 is an exploded view of an embodiment having a
rotating inner sleeve.
[0077] FIG. 16 is an assembled side view of the inner sleeve
embodiment.
INDEX TO REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0078] Handle/body 100 [0079] Canopy 102 [0080] Interior space 104
[0081] Rib 106 [0082] Interior wall 108 [0083] Lower cavity end 110
[0084] Upper cavity end 112 [0085] Gear 114 [0086] Electric motor
116 [0087] Nose/tensioner 118 [0088] Nose groove 120 [0089] Notch
122 [0090] Control 124 [0091] Guide/retainer 125 [0092] Rib groove
126 [0093] Upper rib 128 [0094] Lower rib 130 [0095] Threads 132
[0096] Batteries 1402, 1404, 1406 [0097] Handle 200 [0098] Interior
space 204 [0099] Rib 206 [0100] Interior wall (threaded/geared) 208
[0101] Gear 214 [0102] Electric motor 216 [0103] Nose/tensioner 218
[0104] Nose groove 220 [0105] Notch 222 [0106] Teeth/threads 232
[0107] Outer housing 240 [0108] Inner sleeve 242 [0109] Battery 244
[0110] Switch 246
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0111] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a user holding the umbrella
of the invention just before use, while the umbrella is stowed.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a user holding the umbrella of the
invention just after deploying it. It may be seen that
handle/body/shaft 100 need not extend when canopy 102 is deployed,
and that the user may easily deploy the umbrella one handed.
[0112] FIG. 3 is a partially cross-sectional view (or a view of the
device with one side of the body removed) showing the significant
internal structures of the device. Handle/body/shaft 100 has
interior space 104. Rib 106 may sit therein when the device is not
deployed and may extend in a semi-perpendicular fashion (as shown)
when the device is deployed. (Canopy 102 is omitted from FIG. 3 and
certain other figures for clarity.)
[0113] Interior wall 108 of the shaft 100 is threaded. The
internally threaded shaft 100 allows use of a traveler which
carries the ribs in and out of the interior cavity 104 (the
traveler may be seen at upper end 112 of the cavity 104 and shaft
100 in FIG. 3, and has electric motor 116, gear 114 and nose
118).
[0114] Lower cavity/handle end 110 may have batteries (not shown)
disposed therein or nearby in alternative embodiments, however in
the best mode now contemplated and preferred embodiments such as
FIG. 3, batteries are preferably located within the traveler nose
118, where they may be easily accessed when the umbrella is
deployed, but where the need for wiring is minimized. Such a
location for batteries 1406 may be seen in FIG. 14c.
[0115] Upper cavity/handle end 112 (at which the traveler is shown
disposed in FIG. 3) is the location at which the traveler sits when
the umbrella is fully in the open position or deployed position.
Upper cavity/handle end 112 may advantageously be open.
[0116] (FIGS. 14a and 14b are cross-sectional partial views of one
end of an embodiment having batteries in the handle. Batteries
1402, 1404 may be of a wide range of different types now known or
later developed. Batteries may be rechargeable or replaceable.)
[0117] Nose/tensioner 118 may protrude as shown from the open upper
end 112 when the canopy is fully deployed, which may result in the
nose 118 pushing against the canopy and thus holding the canopy
tight. The canopy may be attached to the nose as well as being
attached to the ribs. The nose cone may be omitted in alternative
embodiments.
[0118] Gear 114 may be operatively connected to electric motor 116
so that when electric motor 116 is actuated, gear 114 rotates. Gear
114 may be disposed in operative engagement with the threaded
interior wall 108, so that rotation of gear 114 causes the traveler
to move. Depending upon the polarity of current provided to the
electrical motor, the rotation and thus motion may be either of two
directions. Thus the device may advantageously have controls
providing at least first and second polarities (normal and
reversed) of current, as well as no current when the device is not
being deployed or retracted.
[0119] The threading 132 (FIG. 8) on the interior of the shaft may
take a number of forms, generally it may be a worm gear in the
preferred embodiment. It may be continuous or interrupted, or even
interrupted to the extent that the gearing becomes a rack and the
gear a pinion. The threading 132 may be a worm gear, constant force
thread, V-form, square, Acme, trapezoidal, power threads of all
types, symmetrical, asymmetrical, class 1B, 2B, 3B, UN, UNF, coated
or plated, or any other type of threading. The threads 132 may
project from the wall or may be set thereinto, for example, a rack
type threading may be a series of indentations or may be a series
of projections from the wall. At the present time, a projecting
power thread is preferred.
[0120] Nose groove 120 may be used in embodiments having large
noses which entirely fill the interior cavity form side to side:
nose groove 120 provides a space for the hinged ribs to enter when
they are pulled back into the device. In alternative embodiments,
the ribs may be hinged at a point higher up the nose, where it is
narrower, or the nose may be narrower.
[0121] FIG. 4 is a side view of the umbrella with the fabric of the
canopy removed. Notch 122 may be seen: the notches each have a
respective rib projecting therefrom, and the action of the notch
and rib is important, and will be discussed further in regard to
FIGS. 5 through 7.
[0122] Control 124 may be a switch, a series of buttons, impedance
detector, infrared and so on.
[0123] FIG. 5 is a partially transparent view of the upper end of
the umbrella with the ribs beginning to deploy, with the canopy
removed: this view aids understanding of the mechanism for
controlling the ribs.
[0124] Guide/retainer 125 may be a projection from the notch 122
side, or it may be an indentation thereinto. The rib 106 may have a
shaped side 126 which engages to the guide/retainer 125: rib groove
126 may be used if the guide is a projection and upper rib 128 and
lower rib 130 may prevent it from leaving retainer 125, or the
notch may be a type of aperture closed on all sides or narrowed at
the top to prevent egress of the rib, or the guide/retainer 125 may
be a relatively wider portion of the aperture 122 while the shaped
side of rib 106 projects to engage into the wider portion.
[0125] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the upper end of the
umbrella with the canopy in place: this view corresponds to the
view of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the upper end of
the umbrella with the canopy removed: this view corresponds to the
views of FIGS. 5 and 6. In FIG. 6, a transparent canopy may be
seen. It will be appreciated that the device actually works better
with an intermediate length of the ribs attached to the canopy, for
example, the outer ends of the ribs only, or the outer ends and
medial portions only with the internal rib ends free of the canopy
(and vice-versa) so that the canopy's center is free to be
tensioned by nose 118 and may fold more freely under use.
[0126] FIG. 8 is a partially cross-sectional view (or a view of the
device with one side of the body removed) showing the internal
structures of the device at a stage of deployment slightly more
advance from the views of FIGS. 5 through 7. FIG. 9 is a
perspective view of the umbrella at the same stage of deployment as
shown in FIG. 8.
[0127] Gear 114 may be seen to have a fairly aggressive angle of
advance, as the traveler will not need to exert great strength when
moving up and down the interior of the device on threads 132.
[0128] The traveler may be seen to have pulled the ribs partially
into the handle/shaft/body, and the ribs at this point continue to
move substantially axially, but are beginning to deploy
sideways.
[0129] FIG. 10 is a partially cross-sectional view (or a view of
the device with one side of the body removed) showing the internal
structures of the device at a stage of deployment slightly less
advance from the views of FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 11 is a perspective
view of the umbrella at the same stage of deployment as shown in
FIG. 10. The ribs are nearly entirely within the handle.
[0130] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the device with the
umbrella stowed in the body/handle portion. The tips of the ribs
are barely visible within the apertures.
[0131] FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the two parts of the
body/handle and the main canopy/rib/motor assembly. The body is
shown with two halves, but other forms of construction may be used.
The ribs may be seen tightly bunched inside the interior space.
[0132] Reverting to FIG. 5, it will be understood that traveler
actually pushes the rib internal ends up to the guides/retainers
125 of the apertures 122. This causes the hinged ribs 106 to
sweep/swing downwards, quickly spreading the canopy 102 and
tensioning it while bringing the canopy into a traditional
"umbrella" shape. However, it will be seen that the ribs may be
considerably stronger than conventional ribs, as the ribs at no
point fold and need have no joints. The ribs may be stiff or
flexible as desired for the shape and configuration of the
device.
[0133] FIG. 15 is an exploded view of an embodiment having a
rotating inner sleeve, while FIG. 16 is an assembled side view of
the inner sleeve embodiment. Handle 200 may have therein electric
motor 216 and battery 244 in operative electrical connection
thereto. When actuated, the motor will turn. However, in this
embodiment the electric motor 216 is connected to inner sleeve 242,
a separate tubular piece which sits within outer housing 240. Inner
sleeve 242 has threaded/geared interior wall 208, which is threaded
232 and in operative mechanical engagement to threading upon the
traveler, which is free to move up and down in interior space 204
on gear 214.
[0134] It may be seen that in operation, switch 246 actuates the
motor 216 whose turning will cause the inner sleeve 242 to rotate,
which will act upon the traveler having grooves 220 allowing the
ribs to fold tightly within the interior, which traveler will in
turn be forced to move upward on the threads on the threaded/geared
interior wall 208. Since rib 206 is engaged in notch 222, rotation
is constrained and the traveler will begin to rise up the interior
space 204, pushing rib 206 out through notch 222 and extending the
umbrella. Nose 218 will then tension the umbrella canopy.
[0135] This embodiment has an extra moving part but is believed to
be more reliable.
[0136] The disclosure is provided to render practicable the
invention by those skilled in the art without undue
experimentation, including the best mode presently contemplated and
the presently preferred embodiment. Nothing in this disclosure is
to be taken to limit the scope of the invention, which is
susceptible to numerous alterations, equivalents and substitutions
without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The
scope of the invention is to be understood from the appended
claims.
* * * * *