Collapsible Flat Umbrella

Abstract

A collapsible umbrella, longitudinally collapsible from an erected condition to produce a generally rectangular, small, flat package when stowed and including an improved, two-position handle on the lower end of the umbrella stick; the handle in one attitude being positionable generally along the longitudinal axis of the umbrella stick, and in another attitude being positionable transversely of the stick; in the first-mentioned attitude a radially stable gripping knob being provided, and in the later attitude the handle provides a second-type transverse gripping knob being provided as well as a shorter folded or collapsed umbrella to facilitate production of a small and flat stowage or carrying package.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Field of Invention

The invention relates generally to umbrellas, particularly those which are longitudinally collapsible, and more particularly to an improved, hinged handle.

Collapsible umbrellas having telescopic or hinged dome ribs and which are longitudinally collapsible to a relatively short and compact carrying package are generally known. There has been a constant effort to produce a foldable and collapsible umbrella which can be folded into a relatively small and unobtrusive package to facilitate the carrying of the stowed umbrella in a handbag, briefcase, "glove compartment" etc.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Primary objects of the invention are:

To provide a novel handle assembly having a plurality of optional handgrip positions, and which promotes the formation of a carrying package which is relatively compact and is of a shape to facilitate carrying and storage;

To provide a novel handle in which the knob or handgrip can be oriented into longitudinal alignment with an umbrella stick or which can be disposed transversely of the stick and which can be so oriented in a simple manner permitting substantially all to use the umbrella, and which is sturdy and compact, economical to manufacture, and which requires a minimum of maintenance and repair;

To provide an improved handle of the character mentioned in which the handle is hingedly mounted in such a manner and includes a construction facilitating the orientation and stable positioning of the handle in various optional positions of adjustment and use.

GENERALLY

The improved handle although relatively simple in construction is extremely practical. It can be produced and installed using inexpensive and readily manufactured parts. Relatively little, if any, maintenance and repair is required once the handle is installed, and relatively unskilled individuals can readily use the umbrella incorporating the handle of the invention. The different knob attitudes, at the user's option, provide alternative knobs or handgrips depending upon different conditions of use, i.e. during high wind, for example.

Other objects and the more specific nature and other advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken with the drawing forming a part thereof, wherein:

IN THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing an umbrella incorporating the invention stowed in a carrying case;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the umbrella stick and handle assembly in substantially the same adjusted attitude of use as that shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view looking from left to right at FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view looking at the same parts as FIG. 3, but showing the handle in a different attitude of use; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an erected umbrella, on a relatively smaller scale, and showing the novel handle oriented in the same position as is shown in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawing in detail and first considering FIG. 7, a collapsible umbrella comprises a stick or staff 1 which includes telescopic sections 2, 3 and 4 retained in their extended position, for example, by spring-urged locks or detents 5 (not shown in detail). The sections 2, 3 and 4 are graduated in decreasing cross section from section 2 to 4 and section 4 is preferably a solid rod that telescopes into 3, and thereafter section 3 telescopes into section 2. Although the stick sections are shown to be circular, other cross sections are practical i.e. rectangular, oval, and/or other various polygonal shapes. The section 4 is relatively shorter than the other stick sections.

Secured to the upper end of stick section 2 is a substantially rectangular crown 6, the narrow ends 7 and 8 having hinged thereto opposed sets of four dome ribs 9 which are secured at their outer ends 9' in any suitable manner, to the spaced portions of a suitable dome or umbrella canopy U. The ribs, in this embodiment will comprise telescopic rib (see FIG. 1) however, the ribs could comprise intermediately hinged dome ribs; both types being generally conventional.

Slidably supported on stick 1 by a sleeve 14' is a primary runner 14 having a generally rectangular configuration in plan (similar to crown 6), and to which are hinged opposed sets of four stretcher ribs 10 at ends 12 and 13 of the runner 14; the outer ends of the stretcher ribs 10 are hinged to intermediate portions of dome ribs 9 at 11, for example. The runner 14 includes a suitable spring-urged lock device 15 for retaining the umbrella erected as in FIG. 7, and an auxiliary runner 16, similar to runner 14, is reciprocably supported on stick 1 between runner 14 and crown 6. Runner 16 has hingedly connected to narrow ends 18 and 19 opposed sets of four auxiliary stretcher ribs 17 which are intermediately hinged to the stretcher ribs 10 as shown.

When the umbrella is longitudinally collapsed, as shown in the stowed condition in FIG. 1, sections 3 and 4 will be telescoped into section 2. The dome ribs 9 will be telescoped to about the length of stretcher ribs 10 and all of the ribs will fold longitudinally down along the stick 1 and the two opposed sets of four ribs on each end of the crown and runners promotes the formation of a short and flat folded umbrella readily received in a square cross-sectional stowage or carrying case 29 as generally indicated in FIG. 1. The dome U will be wrapped around the collapsed umbrella ribs and stick.

The rod or stick section 4 has pivotally mounted thereon a handle assembly indicated generally at 20. The rod 4 has a transverse bore extending diametrically adjacent a lower end 4' of the stick section 4 and in which is received a transverse pivot-shaft element 21; this portion 4' comprises a longitudinally extending, thin tab or tongue portion which is preferably semicircular at its lower edge.

The handle assembly comprises a relatively solid elongated handle or knob element 22 produced from any suitable material i.e. metal, plastic, etc., and having extending into end 20" an elongated longitudinal slot 22' reciprocably receiving tab or tongue portion 4' therein, and opening into opposite sides of handle element 22 are elongated guide slots 23 which communicate with central slot 22'. The pin 21 is force fit or driven into the aperture of tab 4' with opposite ends of the pin 21 being reciprocably retained in guide slots 23. The slot 22' extends about one-half the length of handle element 22 and opens only into end 20" of the handle element. The inner end of slot 22' terminates in a radius portion 25 conforming to the adjacent side of the lower end of stick tab 40'. The tab 4' defines transverse shoulder portions 24 which engage the edge 22'" of the handle element and stabilize the element in the transverse position shown in FIGS. 3--5.

When the handle element 22 is moved in the direction x on FIG. 3, it cannot pivot because of shoulders 24, and upon reaching the terminal end of the handle element i.e. at the rightmost portion of guide slots 23 at 23', the semicircular end 20" of the handle element will permit the element 20 to be pivoted into longitudinal alignment with stick end 4'. The rounded end 20" of the handle element and slot end 23' are so dimensioned to permit the handle element to pivot beneath shoulders 24. Communicating with the longitudinal slot 22' at opposite sides thereof and opening into end 20" of the handle element 20 is a longitudinal recess 28 complimentary to stick portions 4" immediately above tab 4'. After the handle has been moved to the end of travel permitted by slots 23, and pivoted to the position illustrated in FIG. 6, the handle is then moved along the y axis shown in FIG. 3 i.e. up onto the stick portion 4" in direction z of FIG. 6, which results in stick portion 4" being received into complimentary socket 28 substantially as shown in FIG. 6; accordingly the handle 20 can only be displaced downwardly and is relatively stable in all radial directions.

The use of the handle 20 in the attitude shown in FIG. 6, is to provide an axial continuation or elongation of stick section 4, and when it is desired to reorient the handle to the position shown in FIGS. 3--5, the handle is pulled downwardly while in attitude of FIG. 6 (recess 28 can provide a relatively tight but manually separable fit), pivoted normal to the y axis of stick section 4, and then shifted to the right to reassume the attitude of FIGS. 3--5. In this position, the transverse knob is stable via edge 22'" engaging shoulders 24 and complimentary portion of slot 25 engaging the stick, and the floor 27 of the slot 22 all cooperate to stabilize the assembly. The transverse knob of FIG. 3, can be firmly grasped in one's fingers during excessive wind conditions, for example.

As previously mentioned, the handle 20 is disposed transversely in the attitude as shown in FIG. 3 when it is stowed in rectangular sheath 29. This of course provides a shorter assembly or collapsed umbrella than when the handle extends axially as in FIG. 6. The transverse handle attitude assists in insertion of the umbrella into the open end 30 of the sheath, and the crown 6, not seen in FIG. 1, aids to maintain and form the square shape at the closed end of the package (not shown). The handle will extend beneath the dome rib ends 9', and the narrow width 29' of the package is shaped by the handle and crown; the sides 29" of the sheath have suitably secured thereto a retaining strap 31 including a separable fastener assembly 32.

As previously mentioned, the dome and stretcher ribs are arranged in opposed sets of four ribs at each end of the crown and runners and this narrow arrangement of the ribs together with the shape of the sheath 29 will form the rectangular shape of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Claims

I claim:

1. In a generally foldable-flat umbrella for forming a packaged umbrella having a generally rectangular cross section when sheathed, said umbrella including a stick, collapsible dome, dome and stretcher ribs in combination with crown and runners, in which the latter have a generally rectangular appearance in plan to aid in producing the folded rectangular appearance; and a handle assembly hingedly connected to the lower end of said stick and cooperating with said crown and runners to further define the rectangular folded configuration, the improvement characterized in that said handle assembly includes a handle element having a longitudinal slot portion originating from an intermediate portion of said element and opening into one side end thereof and communicating with an axial end opening, guide means slidably connecting said stick in guided relation along said slot, said axial end opening being generally complimentary to the lower end of said stick to which said handle element is hingedly connected, said stick and handle including abuttingly engageable shoulder and edge portions for orienting the handle element transversely and generally normal to the stick, and alternatively permitting orientation of said handle element in longitudinally extending relation from said stick with the lower end thereof telescoped in said axial opening, said handle including a relieved end portion at the end into which said axial recess opens for permitting said handle to be rotated from axial alignment to said transverse position relative to said stick.

2. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said stick is longitudinally collapsible whereby a relatively short compact stowage package can be formed.

3. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said stick includes a longitudinal tab transversely apertured and having a pivot element extending therethrough, the longitudinal slot portion of said handle reciprocably receiving said stick tab therein, said handle guide means comprising elongated guide slots flanking and communicating with said slot portion and reciprocably receiving said pivot element.

4. The structure as claimed in claim 3 in which said axial end opening conforms to the shape of said stick above said apertured tab whereby the stick can be moved axially into said end opening and the handle is stabilized against radial movement.