U.S. patent application number 12/358265 was filed with the patent office on 2010-07-29 for automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella.
Invention is credited to LU-TSAI HUANG.
Application Number | 20100186788 12/358265 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42353162 |
Filed Date | 2010-07-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100186788 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HUANG; LU-TSAI |
July 29, 2010 |
AUTOMATICALLY-COLLAPSIBLE MULTI-FOLDED UMBRELLA
Abstract
An umbrella includes a central post consisting of multiple
tubular segments telescopically connected to each other. A crown
set at an upper end and carrying an upper pulley and a runner
slidably fit over the central post and carrying a lower pulley. A
pulley cable has an upper section extending around the pulleys and
fixed to the crown and a lower rigid section carrying a fixer that
is movably receive in a handle and forms locking slots engageable
by a switch control device. A spring is arranged between the crown
and the fixer to apply a spring force to maintain the umbrella in
an open condition. Each tubular segment of the central post has a
lower end to which a protection sheath is mounted for finger
protection.
Inventors: |
HUANG; LU-TSAI; (Changhua
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEONG C LEI
PMB # 1008, 1867 YGNACIO VALLEY ROAD
WALNUT CREEK
CA
94598
US
|
Family ID: |
42353162 |
Appl. No.: |
12/358265 |
Filed: |
January 23, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/24 ;
135/25.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 25/143 20130101;
A45B 19/10 20130101; A45B 19/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/24 ;
135/25.4 |
International
Class: |
A45B 25/16 20060101
A45B025/16; A45B 19/08 20060101 A45B019/08 |
Claims
1. An automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella comprising a
multi-segment central post, a plurality of umbrella-collapsing
springs, a plurality of rib units coupled to the
umbrella-collapsing springs and supporting a canopy, a handle to
which the central post is inserted and fixed, an
umbrella-collapsing button, wherein the central post comprises a
tension spring functioning to telescope the central post and a pull
cable received therein, the tension spring being fixed to upper and
lower ends of the central post, the pull cable extending through
the tension spring and having an upper end extending around an
upper pulley pivotally mounted to a pulley seat of the central post
and projecting outward to extend around a lower pulley fixed to a
runner and further extending back into and fixed to a crown, the
pull cable having a lower section forming a rigid wire section
connected to a fixer, a switch control device arranged inside the
handle to cooperate with actuation of the umbrella-collapsing
button to selectively locking/releasing the fixer, whereby when the
runner is driven upward to force the rib units to open the canopy,
the segments of the central post are sequentially expanded upward
and tension the tension spring, the fixer that is provided at a
lower end of the pull cable engages and is thus locked by the
switch control device, an upper end of the pull cable extending
around the upper pulley and tightly hold and thus fix the runner,
preventing the runner from sliding down and thus maintaining an
expanded condition of the umbrella; and when the
umbrella-collapsing button is actuated to operate the switch
control device to release the fixer, the pull cable is freed from
being tensioned to allow the runner to slide down and the rib units
are collapsed as being acted upon by the umbrella-collapsing
springs, making the segments of the central post sequentially
telescoped to complete automatic collapsing of the umbrella.
2. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to
claim 1, wherein the switch control device comprises a
longitudinally-arranged block-like control element that has a
middle section pivotally fixed inside the handle, a lower end
extending inward to form a locking segment, and an upper end
extending to form a depression segment engageable with the
umbrella-collapsing button, a return spring being arranged and thus
providing a biasing force between the locking segment and an inside
wall of the handle, the fixer forming a locking slot corresponding
to and engageable with the locking segment.
3. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to
claim 2, wherein the fixer forms a plurality of locking slots
corresponding to and selectively engageable with the locking
segment.
4. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to
claim 1, wherein an inner plug that forms a side opening is fit to
the lower end of the central post located inside the handle in such
a way to allow the fixer to which the rigid wire section of the
pull cable connected to the fixer to be received and movable up and
down therein.
5. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to
claim 2, wherein an inner plug that forms a side opening is fit to
the lower end of the central post located inside the handle in such
a way to allow the fixer to which the rigid wire section of the
pull cable connected to the fixer to be received and movable up and
down therein.
6. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to
claim 3, wherein an inner plug that forms a side opening is fit to
the lower end of the central post located inside the handle in such
a way to allow the fixer to which the rigid wire section of the
pull cable connected to the fixer to be received and movable up and
down therein.
7. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to
claim 1, wherein the runner has a lower section having an outer
circumference around which a layer of soft material is formed for
hand jamming protection.
8. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to
claim 2, wherein the runner has a lower section having an outer
circumference around which a layer of soft material is formed for
hand jamming protection.
9. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to
claim 3, wherein the runner has a lower section having an outer
circumference around which a layer of soft material is formed for
hand jamming protection.
10. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according
to claim 1, wherein each rib unit comprises, in sequence from
inside, an inner rib pivotally connected to the crown, at least one
intermediate rib, an outer rib, a stretcher connected to a middle
section of the inner rib and having an inner end pivoted to the
runner, a link bar connected between the intermediate rib and the
stretcher, a flexible bar coupled to the intermediate rib and
having opposite ends respectively and pivotally connected to an
inner end of the outer rib and an outer end of the inner rib, and a
respective one of the umbrella-collapsing springs connected between
the inner rib and the link bar.
11. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according
to claim 2, wherein each rib unit comprises, in sequence from
inside, an inner rib pivotally connected to the crown, at least one
intermediate rib, an outer rib, a stretcher connected to a middle
section of the inner rib and having an inner end pivoted to the
runner, a link bar connected between the intermediate rib and the
stretcher, a flexible bar coupled to the intermediate rib and
having opposite ends respectively and pivotally connected to an
inner end of the outer rib and an outer end of the inner rib, and a
respective one of the umbrella-collapsing springs connected between
the inner rib and the link bar.
12. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according
to claim 3, wherein each rib unit comprises, in sequence from
inside, an inner rib pivotally connected to the crown, at least one
intermediate rib, an outer rib, a stretcher connected to a middle
section of the inner rib and having an inner end pivoted to the
runner, a link bar connected between the intermediate rib and the
stretcher, a flexible bar coupled to the intermediate rib and
having opposite ends respectively and pivotally connected to an
inner end of the outer rib and an outer end of the inner rib, and a
respective one of the umbrella-collapsing springs connected between
the inner rib and the link bar.
13. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according
to claim 1, wherein an outer segment of two adjacent telescopically
connected segments of the central post has a lower end to which a
protection sheath is mounted for hand jamming protection.
14. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according
to claim 2, wherein an outer segment of two adjacent telescopically
connected segments of the central post has a lower end to which a
protection sheath is mounted for hand jamming protection.
15. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according
to claim 3, wherein an outer segment of two adjacent telescopically
connected segments of the central post has a lower end to which a
protection sheath is mounted for hand jamming protection.
16. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according
to claim 1, wherein an inner segment of two adjacent telescopically
connected segments of the central post has an upper end to which a
positioning plug is mounted, the positioning plug forming a
recessed chamber receiving and fixing therein a resilient assembly
that comprises a positioner block biased by a spring to engage a
positioning hole defined in an outer segment of the two
telescopically connected segments to secure the segments in an
expanded condition of the central post, the positioning plug being
recessed at a portion opposite to the chamber to form a passage for
the pull cable and the tension spring.
17. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according
to claim 16, wherein the resilient assembly comprises a W-shaped
leaf spring comprising two V-shaped branches abutting against an
inside wall of the positioning plug and a connection section
between the V-shaped branches biasing the positioner block.
18. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according
to claim 2, wherein an inner segment of two adjacent telescopically
connected segments of the central post has an upper end to which a
positioning plug is mounted, the positioning plug forming a
recessed chamber receiving and fixing therein a resilient assembly
that comprises a positioner block biased by a spring to engage a
positioning hole defined in an outer segment of the two
telescopically connected segments to secure the segments in an
expanded condition of the central post, the positioning plug being
recessed at a portion opposite to the chamber to form a passage for
the pull cable and the tension spring.
19. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according
to claim 18, wherein the resilient assembly comprises a W-shaped
leaf spring comprising two V-shaped branches abutting against an
inside wall of the positioning plug and a connection section
between the V-shaped branches biasing the positioner block.
20. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according
to claim 3, wherein an inner segment of two adjacent telescopically
connected segments of the central post has an upper end to which a
positioning plug is mounted, the positioning plug forming a
recessed chamber receiving and fixing therein a resilient assembly
that comprises a positioner block biased by a spring to engage a
positioning hole defined in an outer segment of the two
telescopically connected segments to secure the segments in an
expanded condition of the central post, the positioning plug being
recessed at a portion opposite to the chamber to form a passage for
the pull cable and the tension spring.
21. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according
to claim 20, wherein the resilient assembly comprises a W-shaped
leaf spring comprising two V-shaped branches abutting against an
inside wall of the positioning plug and a connection section
between the V-shaped branches biasing the positioner block.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to an
automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella that is not easy to
damage and is durable and of long lifespan.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] Known techniques, such as Chinese Utility Model Application
No. 200420059757.x filed on May 21, 2004, entitled "Automatic
Collapsing Structure for Umbrella", realize simultaneously
collapsing of a canopy and a central post through manual
depression. However, a primary spring and a connection rope are
exposed outside and both set an upper end of the central post,
leading to easy damage when the umbrella frame is forced to flare
outward by strong winds or gales, thereby making the umbrella
unusable. Further, no protection structure is provided between
tubular segments of the central post, leading to easily jamming and
damaging a user's finger.
[0003] Thus, the present invention aims to provide a structure to
overcome the problems of being easily damaged and jamming user's
finger of the conventional umbrella.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] An objective of the present invention is to provide an
automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella that uses a simple
mechanism that is arranged in a uniformly distributed manner inside
an umbrella central post, forming a concealed structure that
prevents damage occurring in the operation thereof due to exposure
and concentrated arrangement of parts thereof at an upper end
portion, to thereby make the umbrella durable and long
lifespan.
[0005] Another objective of the present invention is to provide an
automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella that enhances
operation safety to prevent tubular segments of an umbrella central
post from jamming and thus damaging a user's fingers.
[0006] The foregoing objective 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.
[0007] 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
[0008] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the present
invention in an umbrella opened condition.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the present
invention in an umbrella closed condition.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a rib unit of the
present invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a switch
control device arranged inside a handle in the umbrella opened
condition of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a central post
positioning structure of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another central post
positioning structure of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating said another
central post positioning structure associated with FIG. 6.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another
embodiment of a fixer of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] 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.
[0017] With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1
and 3, the present invention comprises a central post 10, an
umbrella collapsing device 20, a plurality of umbrella-collapsing
springs 36 and rib units 30 that support a canopy, a handle 40, an
umbrella-collapsing button 43, and a switch control device 50.
[0018] The central post 10 is comprised of a plurality of tubular
segments sequentially and telescopically fit to each other. An
outer tubular segment 11' that is fit into and fixed to a crown 12
has an upper end inside which a pulley seat 22 is mounted. An upper
pulley 221 is pivotally mounted inside the pulley seat 22. A runner
13 that is slidably fit over the tubular segment has a lower end to
which a layer 132 of soft plastic/rubber material is mounted and an
opposite upper end to which a lower pulley 131 is mounted. An inner
tuber segment 11 of every two adjacent telescopically connected
tubular segments has an upper end to which a positioning plug 14 is
mounted, as shown in FIG. 5. The positioning plug 14 is recessed to
form a chamber 141 that receives and fixes therein a resilient
assembly 15. The resilient assembly 15 comprises a positioner block
152 that is resiliently biased by a spring 151 for projecting
outward or being depressed inward the central post 10 through a
positioning hole 111 defined in the corresponding tubular segment
11'. The positioning plug 14 forms in an opposite portion a passage
142 for the extension of a pull cable 24 and a tension spring 21.
An innermost tubular segment 11 has an end fit to an inner plug 23
inserted into and fixed to the handle 40. The inner plug 23 forms a
side opening 231 corresponding to the inner tubular segment 11. The
outer tubular segment 11' of two adjacent tubular segments has a
lower end to which a protection sheath 16 is mounted for hand
jamming protection, having a lower flange 161 fit over and abutting
against a lower end face of the outer tubular segment 11'.
[0019] The umbrella collapsing device 20 comprises the pull cable
24 that is coupled inside the central post 10 and the tension
spring 21 for telescoping the central post 10. The tension spring
21 has an upper end fixed to a bottom of the pulley seat 22 and a
lower end fixed to a top of the inner plug 23. The pull cable 24
extends through the tension spring 21 and has an upper end
extending around the upper pulley 221 and further extending through
the lower pulley 131 of the runner 13 and further extending back
into and fixed to the crown 12. The pull cable 24 has a lower
section forming a rigid wire section 241 connected to a fixer 25
that is fit into and movable inside the inner plug 23. The fixer 25
has a lower section that is recessed to form a plurality of locking
slots 251 engageable with and selectively retaining the switch
control device 50. Or alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8, the fixer
25' forms in an end thereof a locking slot 251'. The rigid wire
section 241 has a length that corresponds to the distance between
the bottom of the pulley seat 22 and the fixer 25 in a collapsed
condition of the umbrella.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 3, each rib unit 30 comprises, in sequence
from inside, an inner rib 31 pivotally connected to the crown 12,
at least one intermediate rib 32, an outer rib 33, a stretcher 34
connected to a middle section of the inner rib 31 and having an
inner end pivoted to the runner 13, a link bar 35 connected between
the intermediate rib 32 and the stretcher 34, a flexible bar 37
coupled to the intermediate rib 32 and having opposite ends
respectively and pivotally connected to an inner end of the outer
rib 33 and an outer end of the inner rib 31, and a respective one
of the umbrella-collapsing springs 36 that is connected between the
inner rib 31 and the link bar 35.
[0021] The handle 40 comprises a hollow tubular body having an
opening in which a fixing base 42 is mounted for the lower end of
the central post 10 to which the inner plug 23 is fit to insert
therein and fixed thereto. The handle 40 has a side wall to which
the umbrella-collapsing button 43 is mounted.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 4, the switch control device 50 comprises a
longitudinally-arranged block-like control element 51 that has a
middle section pivotally fixed inside the handle 40, a lower end
extending to form a locking segment 511 that extends through the
side opening 231 of the inner plug 23 into engagement with and thus
selectively retaining the locking slots 251 of the fixer 25, and an
upper end extending to form a depression segment 512 corresponding
to and engageable with the umbrella-collapsing button 43, and a
return spring 52 arranged between the locking segment 511 and an
inside wall of the handle 40 for resiliently biasing the locking
segment 511. In a normal condition, the fixer 25 is retained and
secured in a locked position by the locking segment 511 of the
switch control device 50. When the umbrella-collapsing button 43 is
depressed to push the depression segment 512 to have the locking
segment 511 disengaging from the locking slots 251 of the fixer 25,
the fixer 25 is released and allowed to move up and down with the
pull cable.
[0023] In an umbrella opening operation, when the runner 13 is
driven upward to open the umbrella, the fixer 25 at the lower end
of the pull cable 24 is retained and thus kept immobile by the
locking segment 511 engaging the lowest one of the locking slots
251 whereby when the runner 13 moves upward, the rib units 30 are
expanded to open the canopy. The umbrella-collapsing springs 36
coupled to the rib units 30 are stretched and elongated; the pull
cable 24 that is originally located outside the central post 10 is
gradually drawn into the central post 10; and the tubular segments
of the central post 10 are sequentially expanded upward, tensioning
the tension spring 21 inside the central post 10 to set the pull
cable 24 between the crown 12 and the fixer 25 in a tensioned
condition and make the runner 13 tightly held and immobile, thereby
preventing the runner from sliding down and thus maintaining an
expanded condition of the umbrella as shown in FIG. 1.
[0024] In an umbrella closing operation, when the
umbrella-collapsing button 43 is depressed to push the depression
segment 512 of the control element 51 for releasing the locking
segment 511 from engagement with the highest one of the locking
slots 251 of the fixer 25, the fixer 25 is released and the pull
cable 24 is freed from being tensioned to allow the runner 13 to
slide down. The umbrella-collapsing springs 36 drive the runner 13
downward to collapse the rib units 30 (see FIG. 3), making the
tubular segments of the central post 10 sequentially telescoped
downward and the bottom of the pulley seat 22 inside the crown 12
eventually positioned against the rigid wire section 241 to
downward drive the fixer 25 to have the lowest one of the locking
slots 251 once against engaging with and thus secured by the
locking segment 511 thereby completing automatic collapsing of the
umbrella. With the locking configuration provided by the plurality
of recessed locking slots 251 of the fixer 25, loosening of the
fixer 25 inside the interior space of the inner plug 23 can be
minimized, as shown in FIG. 2.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, alternatively, a W-shaped leaf
spring 17 is set inside the inner tubular segment 11 of two
adjacent telescopically connected tubular segments and the W-shaped
leaf spring 17 comprises two V-shaped branches 171 abutting against
an inside wall of the positioning plug 14' and a connection section
172 between the two V-shaped branches 171 biasing a positioner
block 152 to project outward or to be depressed inward the central
post 10 through the positioning hole 111 defined in the tubular
segment 11'.
[0026] The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella in
accordance with the present invention uses a simple mechanism that
is arranged in a uniformly distributed manner inside the central
post, forming a concealed structure that prevents damage occurring
in the operation thereof to thereby make the umbrella durable and
long lifespan.
[0027] 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.
* * * * *