AU2790800A

AU2790800A - Stand-up umbrella with a spring-reinforced opening device

Info

Publication number: AU2790800A
Application number: AU27908/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Walter Steiner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-03-10
Filing date: 2000-03-03
Publication date: 2000-09-28
Also published as: DE29909968U1; CA2331843A1; WO2000053051A1; CH689752A5; EP1077621A1; JP2002537924A

Description

Stand-up shade with spring-reinforced opening device This invention relates to a stand-up shade for use as a sunshade, garden parasol, market shade, etc.. This shade has a central standing pole with a shade structure, as well as shade fabric functioning as a roof skin, which is stretched taut over the roof ribs when the shade is opened. Parasols, sunshades and market shades already exist in a variety of different embodiments. The simpler models have a stationary end crown which forms the tip of the shade, to which the roof ribs are attached, and a running crown which can be moved up and down the standing pole, to which are linked the shade ribs, which support the roof ribs. To open a shade of this type, one of the roof ribs is swung slightly away from the standing pole so that the user can access the running crown with his or her hand. The running crown is then pushed upwards, as a result of which the roof ribs are pushed apart together with the shade ribs, thereby opening the shade. A final effort is then required to push the running crown further upwards to pull the roof skin taut, and then to fix it in place on the standing pole by means of a catch. This kind of construction reaches its limits when used for particularly large shades of this type, i.e. with a stationary crown, or when the shade is supposed to be as easy as possible to operate. Where the shades are very large, the forces needed to operate them are too great. The demand for large shades is growing, however, but, quite apart from that, all shades, whether large or small, should be easy to operate, i.e. should require a minimum of force.

The task of this invention is therefore to provide a stand-up shade with a fixed end crown, which can be opened and closed with a minimum of force. This task is solved by a stand-up shade with a standing pole and a shade structure consisting of roof ribs which are linked to a stationary end crown, as well as support ribs which are attached by their top end to the roof ribs for the purpose of supporting them, and by their bottom end to a running crown which can be displaced along the standing pole, characterised in that pneumatic or steel draw springs are located either between the end crown itself or the top end portion of the roof ribs on the one hand, and the outer, i.e. top portion of the support ribs on the other hand, which perform a reinforcing function when the shade is opened, and a braking function when it is closed. The drawings show one embodiment of this stand-up shade by way of example. This stand-up shade and the way it operates will be described below with reference to these drawings, which show: Figure 1: The shade with the shade structure, but without the shade fabric, seen from the side when shut; Figure 2: The shade with the shade structure, but without the shade fabric, seen from the side when open; Figure 3: A knuckle-joint lever mechanism for stretching the shade fabric over the open shade, before the stretching operation; Figure 4: The knuckle-joint lever mechanism for stretching the shade fabric, after the stretching operation.

Figure 1 shows the shade seen from the side, with the shade structure shut. The construction consists of a standing pole 1 with a top, stationary crown 2, to which are linked the roof or shade ribs 3. Disposed vertically displaceably on standing pole 1 there is a running crown 4 to which the support ribs 5 are linked, and by which they are supported. These support ribs 5 are connected by their other top end to roof ribs 3, approximately mid-way along the latter. The most important elements are the draw springs 6, which, in this example, are each located between the top stationary end crown 2 on the one hand and the top portion of support ribs 5. To be absolutely precise, in this example the draw springs are not attached to the stationary end crown 2 itself, although they certainly could be, but to the underside of the roof ribs in the immediate vicinity of end crown 2. The other end of the springs 6 is attached to the top side of the outer portion of the support ribs. The precise points of attachment have to be determined by trial and error as a function of the size of the shade, the geometry of the shade structure and the given characteristics of the springs. In the example illustrated, the springs are steel draw springs 6, whose spring force is selected in line with the size of the shade and the geometry of the shade structure. Pneumatic draw springs can also be used in the same manner. To open the shade, all the operator has to do is release the retainer line 7, whose function is to secure at least one of the roof ribs 3 to the standing pole. After this, the operator uses one hand to swing a single roof rib slightly outwards. The resultant modified geometry causes springs 6 to pull more effectively, and running crown 4 is pulled upwards. The shade then opens virtually automatically, until the geometry, which changes constantly as a result of the opening operation, causes the spring force to decline again, and to finish by holding the shade in a nearly taut condition. The running crown is now very easy to access. The operator grips it with one hand and pushes it further upwards, thereby fully stretching the shade fabric, whereupon he secures the running crown in position on the standing pole by means of a catch. The shade is now fully opened and stretched, and also securely fixed in this position. A knuckle-joint lever mechanism can be provided in addition as an aid to stretching the shade fabric taut, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, and described below.

-V Figure 2 shows the shade in the open position. The draw springs 6 are far shorter here in comparison to their length in the starting position shown in Figure 1, and the spring force may already be reduced. If the running crown 4 were pushed even further up, springs 6 would be extended again, and become longer. Hence springs 6 are in a condition of minimum tension when the shade is open and taut. The running crown 4 can be secured in place on standing pole 1 in a variety of positions. In the example shown, standing pole 1 has several holes 8 disposed one above the other for this purpose. In this case, the catch is provided on running crown 4, and the catch bolt can engage in one of these holes 8 as required. Exactly the same shade-opening effect can be achieved by using pneumatic draw springs instead of steel springs. Another advantage of this construction with these springs 6 is that these means of aiding the shade opening and closing operations are discreetly located behind the shade structure so that they are hardly visible, leaving the space underneath support ribs 5 free, so that they neither get in the way, nor spoil the look of the shade. The operation to shut the shade is also facilitated by the built-in springs 6. The disadvantage of shades not equipped with these springs is that when running crown 4 is released, the shade collapses immediately. If the operator is not alert to this, and is unable to hold up the running crown with the necessary force, he will find that the folding shade traps him underneath the shade structure and shade fabric, so that he has to bend down to get out from under construction. Whatever the case, he must, when operating conventional constructions without springs, release and then guide the running crown downwards with sufficient counter-force to be able to shut the shade in a controlled manner. This requires strength, however, and the operator has to duck under the shade construction as it folds down. With springs 6, on the other hand, it is far easier to shut the shade. One simply needs to release running crown 4. The latter then moves just a few centimetres downwards into a position where it is held in place by springs 6. This brakes the shutting operation by preventing the shade from shutting immediately by itself. To shut the shade, the operator simply positions himself at its periphery and grips one or two roof ribs 3. He then presses the ends of these ribs 10 downwards against the braking force exerted by springs 6 and shuts the shade with very little force. As soon as the shade is completely shut, the retainer line is reattached to prevent the shade from opening of its own accord. A knuckle-joint lever mechanism of the type shown in Figures 3 and 4 can be used to actually stretch the roof fabric taut. As the shade opens, running crown 4 moves upwards, but to stretch the roof skin, i.e. the shade fabric, taut, this running crown 4 has to be moved upwards another few centimetres. In a special embodiment as shown in Figures 3 and 4, a lever 15, which is angled slightly outwards when seen from standing pole 1, is attached to running crown 4. Underneath this drawing, running crown 4 is depicted seen from above. At the end of lever 15 there is a spherical handle 16. Attached to the end of the straight lever portion 15 extending from running crown 4, there is a knuckle joint 17, which is spring-loaded by means of a spring 18, so that it is always held in the angled position as shown. At one end, this knuckle joint 17 has a cam 19, which fits into a plurality of holes 8, disposed in a vertical row along standing pole 1. In this drawing, however, only one such hole 8 is shown. When the shade is almost open thanks to the force of the mechanical or pneumatic draw springs, the operator grips this lever 15 and guides the cam 19 on knuckle joint 17 into an appropriate hole 8 and then presses lever 15 against standing pole 1, whereupon, thanks to the force of the lever action of knuckle joint 17, running crown 4 moves upwards above lever 15 which is attached to it, until the straight portion of lever 15 abuts against standing pole 1. In this position a splint can be inserted in the hole 21 in lever 15 and on through a corresponding hole 22 in the extension 23 of running crown 4. This secures lever 15 in this position, and also stretches the roof skin taut, as shown in Figure 4. If the operator wishes to stretch the fabric even tauter, the knuckle joint 17 on lever 15 can simply be engaged in a higher hole 20 on standing pole 1. For this purpose running crown 4 can have a separate catch (not shown here), with which it engages in toothing on standing pole 1 as it is pushed upwards, thereby forming a ratchet and securing running crown 4 in any taut position. To collapse the roof skin the catch is disengaged and the roof skin is relaxed by swinging the knuckle joint outwards.

Claims

1. A stand-up shade with a standing pole (1) and a shade structure consisting of roof ribs (3) which are linked to a stationary end crown (2), as well as support ribs (5) which are attached by their top end to the roof ribs (3) for the purpose of supporting them, and by their bottom end to a running crown (4) which can be displaced along standing pole (1), characterised in that pneumatic or steel draw springs (6) are located either between the end crown (2) itself or the top end portion of roof ribs (3) on the one hand, and the outer, i.e. top portion of support ribs (5) on the other hand, which perform a reinforcing function when the shade is opened, and a braking function when it is closed.

2. The stand-up shade of claim 1, characterised in that the draw springs are steel draw springs (6) which are each fixed to the underside of a roof rib (3) near end crown (2), and, in their outer zone, to the top side of the associated support rib (5).

3. The stand-up shade of claim 1, characterised in that the draw springs are steel draw springs (6) which are each fixed to end crown (2) itself, and, in their outer zone, to the top side of a support rib (5).

4. The stand-up shade of claim 1, characterised in that the draw springs are pneumatic springs which are each fixed to the underside of a roof rib (3) near end crown (2), and, in their outer zone, to the top side of the associated support rib (5).

5. The stand-up shade of claim 1, characterised in that the draw springs are pneumatic springs which are each fixed to end crown (2) itself, and, in their outer zone, to the top side of a support rib (5).

6. The stand-up shade of one of the preceding claims, characterised in that linked to running crown (4) there is a lever (15) which has a knuckle joint (17) which can be engaged by means of a cam (19) in one hole (8) of a vertical row of holes (8) on standing pole (1), after which lever (15) can be moved against standing pole (1) with the result that running crown (4) is pushed upwards, thereby stretching the shade fabric taut, and can be secured in its end position by pushing a securing splint through holes (21,23) in lever (15) and running crown (4).

7. The stand-up shade of claim 6, characterised in that running crown (4) has an additional catch with which it engages in toothing on standing pole (1) as it is pushed upwards, thereby forming a ratchet and securing running crown (4) in any taut position.