U.S. patent application number 13/668357 was filed with the patent office on 2013-06-20 for umbrella structure having at least one mushroom-shaped hub for enabling rapid assembly of main rod and supporting members.
The applicant listed for this patent is Kuo-Hsiung CHOU. Invention is credited to Kuo-Hsiung CHOU.
Application Number | 20130152984 13/668357 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46550529 |
Filed Date | 2013-06-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130152984 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHOU; Kuo-Hsiung |
June 20, 2013 |
UMBRELLA STRUCTURE HAVING AT LEAST ONE MUSHROOM-SHAPED HUB FOR
ENABLING RAPID ASSEMBLY OF MAIN ROD AND SUPPORTING MEMBERS
Abstract
The present invention is to provide an umbrella structure
including at least one mushroom-shaped hub, a plurality of
supporting members, and a main rod. Each mushroom-shaped hub has a
hollow tubular body, two openings at two opposite ends
respectively, and a cap portion located near a first opening and
formed with a plurality of evenly distributed grooves which extend
in the radial direction of the first opening. The supporting member
has one end whose diameter is less than the diameter of the first
opening but greater than the width of each groove and which
therefore can pass through the first opening and be received in the
cap portion. Thus, when the main rod penetrates the two openings,
the end of each supporting member can be limited in position in the
cap portion, and the remaining portion thereof can extend out of
the cap portion and move along the groove accordingly.
Inventors: |
CHOU; Kuo-Hsiung; (New
Taipei City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CHOU; Kuo-Hsiung |
New Taipei City |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
46550529 |
Appl. No.: |
13/668357 |
Filed: |
November 5, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/15.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 25/02 20130101;
A45B 25/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/15.1 |
International
Class: |
A45B 25/02 20060101
A45B025/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 14, 2011 |
TW |
100223529 |
Claims
1. An umbrella structure having at least one mushroom-shaped hub
for enabling rapid assembly of a main rod and supporting members,
comprising: at least one mushroom-shaped hub having a hollow
tubular body, wherein each said mushroom-shaped hub has two ends
respectively formed with a first opening and a second opening, the
first and second openings of each said mushroom-shaped hub are in
communication with each other, and each said mushroom-shaped hub
has a cap portion which is adjacent to the first opening thereof,
bulges in a radial direction of the tubular body thereof, and is
formed with a plurality of evenly distributed grooves extending in
a radial direction of the first opening thereof; a plurality of
supporting members each having an end whose diameter is less than a
diameter of the first opening of a corresponding said
mushroom-shaped hub but is greater than a width of each said groove
of the corresponding mushroom-shaped hub, such that the end of each
said supporting member can pass through the first opening of a
corresponding mushroom-shaped hub and be received in the cap
portion of the corresponding mushroom-shaped hub while a remaining
portion of the each said supporting member passes through a
corresponding said groove of the corresponding mushroom-shaped hub
and extends out of the cap portion of the corresponding
mushroom-shaped hub; and a main rod extending through the first and
second openings of each said mushroom-shaped hub such that not only
the end of each said supporting member is limited in position in
the cap portion of a corresponding said mushroom-shaped hub, but
also a portion of each said supporting member that is adjacent to
the end thereof is movable only in a corresponding said groove of a
corresponding said mushroom-shaped hub.
2. The umbrella structure of claim 1, wherein the end of each said
supporting member is spherical.
3. The umbrella structure of claim 2, comprising three said
mushroom-shaped hubs, wherein one of the mushroom-shaped hubs is
mounted around and fixed to a tip of the main rod, and the other
two mushroom-shaped hubs are movably mounted around the main
rod.
4. The umbrella structure of claim 3, further comprising a spring
movably mounted around the main rod and located between the two
movable mushroom-shaped hubs.
5. The umbrella structure of claim 4, further comprising a plastic
sleeve mounted around the main rod and located between the fixed
mushroom-shaped hub and an adjacent one of the movably mounted
mushroom-shaped hubs.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an umbrella structure, more
particularly to hubs 1A, 2A, 3A of a conventional umbrella (as
shown in FIG. 1) for connecting supporting members 5A, 6A, 7A to
main rod 9A of the conventional umbrella respectively. As referring
to FIG. 2, the present invention utilizes a brand-new
mushroom-shaped hub 1, 2, 3 to replace the conventional hub 1A, 2A,
3A. Each mushroom-shaped hub 1, 2, 3 is configured to accommodate
and limit one end of a supporting member 5, 6, 7 therein and allow
the remaining portion of the supporting member 5, 6, 7 to extend
out of the mushroom-shaped hub 1, 2, 3 when a main rod 9 penetrates
two opposite openings of the mushroom-shaped hub 1, 2, 3, so as to
rapidly assemble the umbrella and effectively reduce the production
cost of the umbrella.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional umbrella has hubs 1A,
2A, 3A for connecting the supporting members 5A, 6A, 7A to the main
rod 9A respectively. Each of the hubs 1A, 2A, 3A is connected to
the corresponding supporting members by passing a metal wire
through one of the through holes on the hub and the through hole at
one end of each of the corresponding supporting members and then
tying the ends of each metal wire, which is both labor-intensive
and time-consuming. Moreover, once the umbrella has been opened and
closed for a good number of times, the metal wires or the through
hole at one end of each supporting member 5A, 6A, 7A is very likely
to break or be damaged, thus preventing normal operation of the
umbrella or causing great inconvenience in use.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In view of the labor-intensive and time-consuming assembly
process of the conventional umbrellas and their vulnerability to
damage, the inventor of the present invention conducted extensive
research, made constant improvements, and finally succeeded in
developing an umbrella structure with at least one mushroom-shaped
hub to enable rapid assembly of the main rod and the supporting
members of the umbrella structure. It is hoped that the novel
structural design disclosed herein can solve the aforementioned
problems effectively.
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
umbrella structure as shown in FIG. 2. The umbrella structure
includes at least one mushroom-shaped hub 1, 2, 3; a plurality of
supporting members 5, 6, 7; and a main rod 9. Each mushroom-shaped
hub 1, 2, 3 has a hollow tubular body and has a first opening and a
second opening at two opposite ends respectively, wherein the first
and the second openings communicate with each other. Each
mushroom-shaped hub 1, 2, 3 has a cap portion located near the
first opening and bulging in the radial direction of the tubular
body. The cap portion of each mushroom-shaped hub 1, 2, 3 is formed
with a plurality of evenly distributed grooves which extend in the
radial direction of the first opening. Each of the supporting
members 5, 6, 7 has one end whose diameter is less than the
diameter of the first opening of the corresponding mushroom-shaped
hub 1, 2, 3 but greater than the width of each groove of the
corresponding mushroom-shaped hub 1, 2, 3 and which therefore can
pass through the first opening of the corresponding mushroom-shaped
hub 1, 2, 3 and be received in the cap portion of the corresponding
mushroom-shaped hub 1, 2, 3. The remaining portion of each
supporting member 5, 6, 7, on the other hand, can pass through the
corresponding groove of the corresponding mushroom-shaped hub 1, 2,
3 and extend out of the cap portion of the corresponding
mushroom-shaped hub 1, 2, 3. The main rod 9 penetrates the first
and the second openings of each mushroom-shaped hub 1, 2, 3 such
that not only is the aforesaid end of each supporting member 5, 6,
7 limited in position in the cap portion of the corresponding
mushroom-shaped hub 1, 2, 3, but also the portion of each
supporting member 5, 6, 7 that is adjacent to the aforesaid end can
move only in the corresponding groove of the corresponding
mushroom-shaped hub 1, 2, 3.
[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide the
foregoing umbrella structure, wherein the aforesaid end of each
supporting member 5, 6, 7 is spherical.
[0006] The joint-type connection, and the way of movement, between
each supporting member 5, 6, 7 and the corresponding
mushroom-shaped hub 1, 2, 3 enable rapid assembly and help reduce
the production cost of the umbrella effectively. In addition, the
novel umbrella structure disclosed herein is sturdy, durable, and
capable of smooth joint movements. Thus, the drawbacks of the
conventional umbrellas, i.e., the labor-intensive and
time-consuming assembly process of passing a metal wire through
each supporting member 5A, 6A, 7A and the corresponding hub 1A, 2A,
3A and tying the ends of each metal wire and the vulnerability of
breakage of the metal wires, are effectively overcome.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The structure as well as a preferred mode of use, further
objects, and advantages of the present invention will be best
understood by referring to the following detailed description of an
illustrative embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional umbrella;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the present invention;
[0010] FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are respectively a top view and a
sectional view of the mushroom-shaped hub 2 in the present
invention;
[0011] FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are respectively a top view and a
sectional view of each of the supporting members 5, 6 in the
present invention;
[0012] FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are respectively a top view and a
sectional view of the mushroom-shaped hub 1 in the present
invention;
[0013] FIGS. 6(a), 6(b), 7(a), and 7(b) are respectively a top view
and a sectional view of the spring 8 and of the plastic sleeve 10
in the present invention;
[0014] FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) are respectively a top view and a
sectional view of the mushroom-shaped hub 3 in the present
invention; and
[0015] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Referring to FIG. 2, the present invention provides an
umbrella structure having mushroom-shaped hubs 1, 2, 3 to enable
rapid assembly of the main rod 9 and the supporting members 5, 6,
7. The umbrella structure includes at least one mushroom-shaped hub
1, 2, 3; a plurality of supporting members 5, 6, 7; and a main rod
9. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown in
FIG. 2, there are three mushroom-shaped hubs 1, 2, 3. In practice,
however, the number of the at least one mushroom-shaped hub is not
limited to three.
[0017] Please refer to FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) for a top view and a
sectional view of the mushroom-shaped hub 2 respectively. The
mushroom-shaped hub 2 has a hollow tubular body and has a first
opening 21 and a second opening 22 at two opposite ends
respectively, wherein the two openings 21, 22 are in communication
with each other. The mushroom-shaped hub 2 has a cap portion 23
located adjacent to the first opening 21 and bulging in the radial
direction of the tubular body. Also, the cap portion 23 is formed
with a plurality of grooves 24 which are evenly distributed and
extend along the radial direction of the first opening 21.
[0018] FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) show a top view and a sectional view of
two supporting members 5, 6 respectively. Regardless of the methods
by which they are made, the supporting members 5, 6 each have an
end shaped like a sphere 51, 61. Take the supporting members 6 for
example. The connection between the supporting members 6 and the
mushroom-shaped hub 2 is detailed below with reference to FIG. 2.
The diameter of the sphere 61 is less than the diameter of the
first opening 21 but greater than the width of each groove 24. As
such, the sphere 61 at one end of each supporting member 6 can pass
through the first opening 21 and be received in the cap portion 23.
Meanwhile, the remaining portion of each supporting member 6 can
pass through the corresponding groove 24 and extend out of the cap
portion 23. With the main rod 9 passing through the first and the
second openings 21, 22, the sphere 61 at one end of each supporting
member 6 is limited in position in the cap portion 23, and the
portion of each supporting member 6 that is adjacent to the sphere
61 is movable only in the corresponding groove 24. However,
implementation of the present invention is by no means limited to
the foregoing. The aforesaid end of each supporting member is not
necessarily formed as a sphere, provided that the aforesaid end of
each supporting member has a diameter not only less than the
diameter of the first opening of the corresponding mushroom-shaped
hub, but also greater than the width of each groove of the
corresponding mushroom-shaped hub, so as for the aforesaid end of
each supporting member to pass through the corresponding first
opening, be received in the corresponding cap portion, and, once
the main rod 9 passes through the first and the second openings of
the corresponding mushroom-shaped hub, be limited in position in
the corresponding cap portion.
[0019] The mushroom-shaped hubs 1, 3 are shown in FIGS. 5(a), 5(b),
8(a), and 8(b) in top views and sectional views respectively. As
the mushroom-shaped hubs 1, 3 have the same basic structure as
shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), a detailed description of the
structures of the mushroom-shaped hubs 1, 3 is omitted herein for
the sake of brevity.
[0020] Reference is now made to FIGS. 6 and 7, wherein FIGS. 6(a)
and 6(b) are a top view and a sectional view of a spring 8
respectively, and FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) are a top view and a
sectional view of a plastic sleeve 10 respectively.
[0021] To assemble the umbrella structure of the present invention,
referring to FIGS. 2 to 9, the sphere 51, 61, 71 at one end of each
supporting member 5, 6, 7 is put into the corresponding cap portion
13, 23, 33 via the first opening 11, 21, 31, wherein the diameter
of each sphere 51, 61, 71 is slightly greater than the diameter of
the corresponding supporting member 5, 6, 7. The remaining portion
of each supporting member 5, 6, 7 is allowed to pass through the
corresponding groove 14, 24, 34 and extend out of the corresponding
cap portion 13, 23, 33. Then, the main rod 9 is inserted into the
central hole of each mushroom-shaped hub 1, 2, 3 in such a way that
the plastic sleeve 10 and a steel sleeve 4 are mounted around the
main rod 9 and positioned between the mushroom-shaped hubs 1, 2, 3
and the spring 8 is mounted around the main rod 9 and positioned
between the two mushroom-shaped hubs 2, 3. Following that, the
mushroom-shaped hub 1 is adjusted in position along the main rod 9
until the mushroom-shaped hub 1 is adjacent to the tip of the main
rod 9. The mushroom-shaped hub 1 is then fixed to the main rod 9 by
punching, such that the other two mushroom-shaped hubs 2, 3 are
movably positioned on the main rod 9. Thus, assembly of the
supporting members 5, 6, 7 and the main rod 9 is completed. The
joint-type connection, and the way of movement, between the
supporting members 5, 6, 7 and the corresponding mushroom-shaped
hubs 1, 2, 3 not only enable rapid assembly to effectively lower
the production cost and produce a novel, sturdy, and durable
umbrella structure, but also allow smooth joint movements. Thus,
the various problems resulting from passing a metal wire through
each supporting member 5A, 6A, 7A and the corresponding hub 1A, 2A,
3A of the conventional umbrella and tying the ends of each metal
wire are effectively solved, and the goal to facilitate assembly,
reduce costs, and provide a strong umbrella structure is
achieved.
[0022] While the invention herein disclosed has been described by
means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and
variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art
without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the
claims.
* * * * *