AU730701B3

AU730701B3 - An improvement in the structure of an intermedlate joint assembly for a large parasol

Info

Publication number: AU730701B3
Application number: AU72142/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Chuen Tsai Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-12-11
Filing date: 2000-12-11
Publication date: 2001-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 2006-12-11

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PETTY PATENT Invention Title: "AN IMPROVED IN THE STRUCTURE OF AN INTERMEDIATE JOINT ASSEMBLY FOR A LARGE

PARASOL"

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: TITLE: AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE STRUCTURE OF AN INTERMEDIATE JOINT ASSEMBLY FOR A LARGE

PARASOL

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention is related to an'improvement in the structure of an intermediate joint assembly for a large parasol.

2. Description of the Prior Art Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional large parasol Al has an intermediate joint A2 which is made of a metal sheet punched and bent into the desired shape. However, it is obvious that the structure of such an intermediate joint A2 is insufficient to withstand strong wind. In addition, the lugs A22 of the intermediate joint A2 are directly pivotally connected with an end of a rib A3 so that the connection therebetween will be easily damaged.

As shown in FIG. 2, the intermediate joint A2 is connected with a rib A4 by bending the shoulders A21 on the rib A4 and has a pair of lugs A22 directly pivotally connected with an end of a rib A3.

However, such an intermediate joint A2 suffers from the following drawbacks: 1. The structure of the intermediate joint A2 is insufficient to withstand strong wind, and in addition, the lugs A22 of the intermediate joint A2 are directly pivotally connected with an end of a rib A3 so that the connection therebetween will be easily damaged. Furthermore, the rib 3 will vibrate at large amplitude as shown by the arrows in FIG. 2 in case of strong wind thereby seriously influencing the whole skeleton structure of the parasol.

2. Once the intermediate joint A2 is loosened, it will move along the rib A4 thereby influencing the opening and closing of the parasol and applying unequal forces on different parts of the parasol and therefore reducing service life of the parasol.

3. A hole must be directly drilled on the rib A3 in order to connect with the lugs A22 of the intermediate joint A2 thereby impairing the outlook and making it difficult to manufacture.

4. As the rib 4 is long and heavy, its weight will fall primary on the lugs A22 of the intermediate joint A2, so that it must be very careful in opening or closing the parasol, otherwise the lugs A22 of the intermediate joint A2 will be distorted thereby damaging the parasol.

The intermediate joint A2 is difficult to be replaced thus making it difficult to maintain the parasol.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an 3 improvement in the structure of an intermediate joint for a parasol which can obviate and mitigate the above-mentioned drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is related to an improvement in the structure of an intermediate joint assembly for a large parasol.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improvement in the structure of an intermediate joint assembly for a large parasol which includes an intermediate joint formed with a first through hole adapted to receive a rod, the intermediate joint being fixedly mounted on the rod by two screws extending through the intermediate joint to bear against the rod, a pair of lugs extending from one side of the intermediate joint and each having a countersunk hole at an outer side thereof, and a projection being formed on an end of the intermediate joint, a head having a first and second ends, the first end having an engaging portion formed with a second through hole, the second end having a passage for receiving a supporting rib, the head being fixedly mounted on the supporting rib by a screw extending through the head to bear against the supporting rib, the engaging portion being fitted between the two lugs of the intermediate joint, the head having a shoulder at an intermediate portion thereof shaped to be engageable with the projection of the intermediate joint, and a pin inserted into the lugs and having a top even with an outer surface of the lugs.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvement in the structure of an intermediate joint assembly for a large parasol which can withstand strong wind.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improvement in the structure of an intermediate joint assembly for a large parasol which can be easily manufactured.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improvement in the structure of an intermediate joint assembly for a large parasol which is durable in use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improvement in the structure of an intermediate joint assembly for a large parasol which can preventing the supporting rib from being distorted when the parasol is closed.

The foregoing objects 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. 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 6 sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTON OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art intermediate joint mounted on a large parasol; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the prior art intermediate joint; FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an intermediate joint assembly according to the present invention; FIG. 4A is a longitudinal sectional view of the present invention; FIG. 4B is an end view of the present invention; FIG. 5 is another end view of the present invention; FIG. 6A is an end view of the head of the supporting rib; FIG. 6B is a partial longitudinal view of the head of the supporting rib; and FIG. 7 illustrates a working view of the present invention.

8 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings. Specific language will be used to describe same. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4A, 4B and 5, the intermediate joint 1 according to the present invention is formed with a longitudinal through hole 11 adapted to receive a rod B. The intermediate joint 1 is fixedly mounted on the rod B by two screws 10 extending through the intermediate joint 1 to bear against the rodB.

A pair of lugs 12 extend from one side of the intermediate joint 1 and each have a countersunk hole 121 at the outer side thereof, so that when a pin 13 is inserted into the lugs 12, the outer end of the pin 13 will be even with the outer surface of the lug 12. The lower portion of the intermediate joint 1 is formed with a projection 14 configured to engage with the shoulder 23 of the head 2 of the supporting rib C.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 6A and 6B, the front end of the head 2 has an engaging portion 21 formed with a through hole 20, while the rear end of the head 2 has a passage 22 for receiving the supporting rib C. The head 2 is fixedly mounted on the supporting rib C by a screw 10 extending through the head 2 to bear against the supporting rib C. The engaging portion 21 of the head 2 is fitted between the two lugs 12 of the intermediate joint 1 and pivotally connected thereto by the pin 13, thereby enabling the supporting rib C to move with respect to the intermediate joint 1 (see FIG. 7).

The shoulder 23 is formed at the middle portion of the head 2 and configured to be engageable with the projection 14 of the intermediate joint 1, so that when the parasol is closed, the shoulder 23 will be engaged with the projection 14 thereby keeping the supporting rib C in place and preventing the supporting rib C from being distorted (see FIGS. 6A, 6B and 7).

However, it should be noted that the hole 11 of the intermediate joint 2 and the hole 22 of the head 2 may be of other shapes which are adapted to engage with the shapes of the rod B and the supporting rib C.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.

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.

Claims

1. An intermediate joint assembly for a large parasol comprising: an intermediate joint formed with a first through hole adapted to receive a rod, said intermediate joint being fixedly mounted on said rod by two screws extending through said intermediate joint to bear against said rod, a pair of lugs extending from one side of said intermediate joint and each having a countersunk hole at an outer side thereof, and a projection being formed on an end of said intermediate joint; a head having a first and second ends, said first end having an engaging portion formed with a second through hole, said second end having a passage for receiving a supporting rib, said head being fixedly mounted on said supporting rib by a screw extending through said head to bear against said supporting rib, said engaging portion being fitted between said two lugs of said intermediate joint, said head having a shoulder at an intermediate portion thereof shaped to be engageable with said projection of said intermediate joint; and a pin inserted into said lugs and having a top even with an outer surface of said lugs.