U.S. patent application number 13/009388 was filed with the patent office on 2012-07-19 for umbrella frame.
This patent application is currently assigned to Guangtai Corp. Pte. Ltd.. Invention is credited to Remigio M. Pineda.
Application Number | 20120180834 13/009388 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46489829 |
Filed Date | 2012-07-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120180834 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pineda; Remigio M. |
July 19, 2012 |
UMBRELLA FRAME
Abstract
An umbrella frame includes a runner movably sleeved on a central
shaft and a rib-and-stretcher assembly coupling the runner with a
top end of the central shaft for spreading and collapsing a canopy.
A plurality of petal-like members extend radially and axially from
each of the top end of the central shaft and the runner, and define
a plurality of accommodating slots for pivotally receiving a
plurality of modular connector shells. Each of the rib unit and the
stretcher unit has a plug-like connecting end configured to be
fitted in a socket-like connected end of the corresponding
connector shell and detachably fastened by a fastener. The
rib-and-stretcher assembly can be conveniently and easily connected
to and detached from the central shaft for replacement.
Inventors: |
Pineda; Remigio M.;
(Singapore, SG) |
Assignee: |
Guangtai Corp. Pte. Ltd.
Singapore
SG
|
Family ID: |
46489829 |
Appl. No.: |
13/009388 |
Filed: |
January 19, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/25.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 25/10 20130101;
A45B 25/06 20130101; A45B 25/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/25.1 |
International
Class: |
A45B 19/00 20060101
A45B019/00 |
Claims
1. An umbrella frame comprising: a central shaft which extends
along an axis and which has a top end; a runner which is sleeved on
and movable relative to said central shaft between proximate and
distal positions relative to said top end; a rib-and-stretcher
assembly which has a rib unit and a stretcher unit associated with
each other, and which is disposed to couple said runner with said
top end of said central shaft to be displaceable between collapsed
and spread positions that correspond to the distal and proximate
positions, respectively, said rib unit having a plurality of first
connecting ends for coupling with said top end, said stretcher unit
having a plurality of second connecting ends for coupling with said
runner; a plurality of petal-like members which extend radially and
axially from one of said top end of said central shaft and said
runner, and which are angularly apart from one another about the
axis so as to define a plurality of accommodating slots that are
alternately disposed with said petal-like members; and a plurality
of modular connector shells which are respectively fit in said
accommodating slots, and which are pivotally mounted about a
pivoting axis that extends to bridge two adjacent ones of said
petal-like members, each of said modular connector shells having a
connected end which is configured to permit a corresponding one of
said first and second connecting ends to be fitted thereto, and
which is turnable about the pivoting axis so as to permit
displacement of said rib-and-stretcher assembly between the
collapsed and spread positions.
2. The umbrella frame according to claim 1, wherein said connected
end of each of said modular connector shells is in form of a socket
end, and each of said first and second connecting ends is in form
of a plug end which is configured to be fitted in said socket
end.
3. The umbrella frame according to claim 2, wherein said socket end
and said plug end respectively have connected and connecting holes
which are registered with each other when said plug end is fitted
in said socket end; said umbrella frame further comprising a
plurality of fasteners, each including a pin extending through one
of said connected and connecting holes to engage the other one of
said connected and connecting holes so as to detachably fasten said
plug end in said socket end.
4. The umbrella frame according to claim 3, wherein said connecting
hole includes a smaller-diameter region and a larger-diameter
region extending to terminate at a hole bottom and to define a
shoulder therebetween, said pin having an enlarged head which is
disposed in said larger-diameter region, and a bolt which extends
through said smaller-diameter region to engage said connected hole;
each of said fasteners further including a biasing spring disposed
between said hole bottom and said enlarged head to bias said pin
into said connected hole.
5. The umbrella frame according to claim 3, wherein each of said
fasteners further includes an internally threaded portion formed in
said connecting hole, and an externally threaded portion formed on
said pin and threadedly engaged with said internally threaded
portion to detachably fasten said plug end in said socket end.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to an umbrella frame, more
particularly to an umbrella frame having a rib-and-stretcher
assembly detachably mounted on an upper hub and a runner of a
central shaft.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Conventionally, an umbrella frame includes a central shaft,
a hub that is affixed on a top end of the central shaft, and that
has a plurality of angularly displaced slots formed around a
periphery thereof for receiving a plurality of ribs. A steel hoop
is disposed to encircle the hub and to bind the ribs while allowing
the ribs to turn relative to the central shaft for spreading and
collapsing a canopy of the umbrella. Two ends of the hoop are
intertwined to hold tightly the ribs. The intertwined juncture is
rigid and pointed and is prone to cause injury to the user and rip
to the canopy.
[0005] As shown in FIG. 1, an umbrella frame disclosed in Taiwanese
Utility Model Publication No. 350242 includes an endless hoop 100
which is disposed to bind ends of a plurality of ribs 200 disposed
on a periphery of an upper hub 300 and which is self-entwined at a
segment between two adjacent ribs 200 to form an entwined knot 101
for holding tightly the ribs 200. As the entwined knot can be
configured to have a rounded end, the problem of causing injury as
mentioned above can be desirably avoided. However, when replacing a
broken rib 200, it is required to untwist and remove the hoop 100
from the upper hub 300 to permit removal of the broken rib 200,
which renders replacement of ribs 200 quite difficult and
inconvenient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide an umbrella
frame in which a rib-and-stretcher assembly can be conveniently and
easily connected to and detached from a central shaft for
replacement.
[0007] According to this invention, the umbrella frame includes a
central shaft extending along an axis, a runner sleeved on and
movable relative to the central shaft, and a rib-and-stretcher
assembly including a rib unit which has a plurality of first
connecting ends for coupling with a top end of the central shaft,
and a stretcher unit which has a plurality of second connecting
ends for coupling with the runner. A plurality of petal-like
members extend radially and axially from at least one of the top
end of the central shaft and the runner, and are angularly apart
from one another about the axis so as to define a plurality of
accommodating slots that are alternately disposed with the
petal-like members. A plurality of modular connector shells are
respectively fit in the accommodating slots, and are pivotally
mounted about a pivoting axis that extends to bridge two adjacent
ones of the petal-like members. Each of the modular connector
shells has a connected end configured to permit a corresponding one
of the first and second connecting ends to be fitted thereto, and
turnable about the pivoting axis so as to permit displacement of
the rib-and-stretcher assembly between collapsed and spread
positions.
[0008] Preferably, the connected end of each of the modular
connector shells is in form of a socket end, and each of the first
and second connecting ends is in form of a plug end configured to
be fitted in the socket end.
[0009] Preferably, the socket end and the plug end respectively
have connected and connecting holes which are registered with each
other when the plug end is fitted in the socket end. The umbrella
frame further includes a plurality of fasteners, each including a
pin extending through one of the connected and connecting holes to
engage the other one of the connected and connecting holes so as to
detachably fasten the plug end in the socket end.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional umbrella
frame;
[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the first
preferred embodiment of an umbrella frame according to this
invention;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the
first preferred embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a
modular connector shell and a connecting end of a rib-and-stretcher
assembly in a fastened state;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the
modular connector shell and the connecting end in a released
state;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the
connecting end is removed from the modular connector shell;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the second
preferred embodiment of an umbrella frame according to this
invention, illustrating a modular connector shell and a connecting
end of a rib-and-stretcher assembly in a fastened state;
[0018] FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the
modular connector shell and the connecting end of the second
preferred embodiment in a released state; and
[0019] FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the
connecting end is removed from the modular connector shell of the
second preferred embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] Before the present invention is described in greater detail,
it should be noted that same reference numerals have been used to
denote like elements throughout the specification.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 2, the first preferred embodiment of an
umbrella frame according to the present invention is shown to
comprise a central shaft 2, a runner 3, and a rib-and-stretcher
assembly 4.
[0022] The central shaft 2 extends along an axis and has a top end
21. The runner 3 is sleeved on and is movable relative to the
central shaft 2 between proximate and distal positions relative to
the top end 21. The rib-and-stretcher assembly 4 has a rib unit 41
and a stretcher unit 43 associated with each other, and is disposed
to couple the runner 3 with the top end 21 of the central shaft 2
to be displaceable between collapsed and spread positions that
correspond to the distal and proximate positions, respectively. The
rib unit 41 has a plurality of first connecting ends 45 for
coupling with the top end 21. The stretcher unit 43 has a plurality
of second connecting ends 47 for coupling with the runner 3. In
this embodiment, each of the first and second connecting ends 45,
47 is in the form of a plug end 45, 47 and has a connecting hole
42, 44.
[0023] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of petal-like
members 22, 32 are integrally formed on, and extend radially and
axially from the each of the top end 21 of the central shaft 2 and
the runner 3. The petal-like members 22, 32 are angularly apart
from one another about the axis so as to define a plurality of
accommodating slots 23, 33 that are alternately disposed with the
petal-like members 22, 32.
[0024] A plurality of modular connector shells 6, 7 are
respectively fit in the accommodating slots 23, 33, and are
pivotally mounted about a pivoting axis that extends to bridge two
adjacent ones of the petal-like members 22, 32 by a steel ring 9 or
the like. In this embodiment, each of the modular connector shells
6, 7 has a connected end 61, 71 which is in the form of a socket
end 61, 71 to permit a corresponding one of the plug-like first and
second connecting ends 45, 47 to be fitted therein and which is
turnable about the pivoting axis so as to permit displacement of
the rib-and-stretcher assembly 4 between the collapsed and spread
positions. The socket end 61, 71 has a connected hole 62, 72
registered with the connecting hole 42, 44 in the corresponding
plug end 45, 47 when the plug end 45, 47 is fitted in the socket
end 61, 71.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, in this embodiment, the
connecting hole 42, 44 in each plug end 41, 43 includes a
smaller-diameter region and a larger-diameter region extending to
terminate at a hole bottom and to define a shoulder 46
therebetween. A fastener 5 includes a pin 51 having an enlarged
head 511 which is disposed in the larger-diameter region of the
connecting hole 42, 44, and a bolt 512 which extends through the
smaller-diameter region to engage the corresponding connected hole
62, 72, and a biasing spring 52 disposed between the hole bottom
and the enlarged head 511 to bias the pin 51 into the connected
hole 62, 72. The shoulder 46 can prevent removal of the pin 51 from
the connecting hole 42, 44. As illustrated, when it is desired to
detach any one of the plug ends 45, 47 from the corresponding
socket end 61, 71, the pin 51 is pressed in the direction as
indicated by arrow (I) in FIG. 5 to retract into the connecting
hole 42, 44 against the biasing action of the biasing spring 52.
Hence, the plug end 45, 47 is permitted to be removed from the
socket end 61, 71 in the direction as indicated by arrow (II) in
FIG. 6.
[0026] Accordingly, by virtue of the fasteners 5, and by the
arrangement of the plug and socket ends 45, 47 and 61, 71, the
rib-and-stretcher assembly 4 can be easily connected to and
detached from the central shaft 2 and the runner 3 without the need
for using a tool, thereby rendering the replacement of the rib unit
41 and the stretcher unit 43 convenient. Moreover, the risk of
hurting the user can be minimized.
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 7 to 9, the second preferred embodiment
of the umbrella frame according to this invention is shown to be
similar to the previous embodiment. In this embodiment, each of the
fasteners 5 includes an internally threaded portion 53 formed in
the connecting hole 42, 44, and an externally threaded portion 54
formed on the pin 51 to form as a screw bolt and threadedly engaged
with the internally threaded portion 53 to detachably fasten the
plug end 45, 47 in the socket end 61, 71.
[0028] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what are considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretations and equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *