CN108378499B

CN108378499B - Folding umbrella

Info

Publication number: CN108378499B
Application number: CN201810107996.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 及川胜弘; 铃江浩康
Original assignee: Globeride Inc
Current assignee: Globeride Inc
Priority date: 2017-02-03
Filing date: 2018-02-02
Publication date: 2020-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 2038-02-02
Also published as: JP6740148B2; JP2018122048A; CN108378499A

Abstract

The invention provides a folding umbrella, which prevents continuous fibers from rolling up from a central rod due to contact with a main rib and a supporting rib. A folding umbrella according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a middle rod; a movable nest slidably provided to the middle rod in an axial direction of the middle rod; a supporting frame, one end of which is supported on the nest by a pin; a main bone connected to the support bone; and a ring formed from a raw material that does not contain continuous fibers. The middle rod is provided with: a 1 st pipe body; and a 2 nd tube body which is provided so as to be receivable in the 1 st tube body from the tip end side thereof. The 1 st tube is formed from a prepreg containing continuous fibers extending parallel to the axial direction thereof. The ring is arranged at the top end of the peripheral surface of the 1 st pipe body.

Description

Folding umbrella

Technical Field

The invention relates to a folding umbrella.

Background

Typically, known umbrellas are provided with: an elongated central rod; a handle arranged at the lower end of the middle rod; an upper nest arranged on the upper part of the middle rod; a plurality of main bones extending in a radial direction from the upper nest; the lower nest is slidably arranged on the middle rod along the axial direction of the middle rod; a plurality of supporting ribs, one end of which is accommodated in the lower nest and the other end of which is respectively connected with the main ribs; and a tension cloth covering the plurality of main ribs.

The folding umbrella is composed of a telescopic middle rod, and a main rib and tensioning cloth can be folded. Specifically, the middle rod of the folding umbrella has a hollow large tube and a small tube provided to be accommodated in the large tube, and when the folding umbrella is folded, the small tube is accommodated in the large tube, and the reinforcing rib, the branch rib, and the tension cloth are folded, thereby folding the folding umbrella to be small. On the other hand, when the umbrella is opened, the small tube is pulled out from the large tube, and the reinforcing ribs, the branch ribs and the tension cloth are unfolded, so that the folding umbrella is in an opened state.

Conventional folding umbrellas are disclosed in, for example, Japanese patent application laid-open Nos. 2015-109942, 10-179223, 05-220008, 04-242603 and 3021249.

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2015-109942

Patent document 2: japanese unexamined patent publication Hei 10-179223

Patent document 3: japanese unexamined patent publication Hei 05-220008

Patent document 4: japanese unexamined patent publication Hei 04-242603

Patent document 5: japanese registered utility model No. 3021249

Disclosure of Invention

In the conventional foldable umbrella, the central rod is often made of aluminum or titanium in view of light weight and rigidity. In order to achieve further reduction in weight, the present inventors have studied a technique for forming a stick for a folding umbrella from a prepreg material containing continuous fibers.

The present inventors have found that if the center bar of a folding umbrella is formed of a prepreg containing continuous fibers, problems do not occur in the center bar made of aluminum or titanium. For example, in a large tube in which a middle rod is formed using a prepreg material containing continuous fibers, a problem has been found that the continuous fibers are easily wound up from the prepreg material at the tip thereof due to contact with a main bone and a supporting bone. If the continuous fiber is rolled up, the end of the continuous fiber is exposed from the tip of the large tube. The exposed continuous fibers may interfere with the tension cloth and may cause damage to the tension cloth. In addition, the exposed continuous fibers may contact the user's hands during use, thereby giving the user an unpleasant feeling.

The mechanism of winding up the continuous fibers from the middle rod is as follows. When the foldable umbrella is folded, the main rib and the support rib are folded, and then the large tube of the middle rod is slid toward the distal end side in a state where the main rib and the support rib are pressed inward, so that the small tube is accommodated in the large tube. At this time, if a large tube of a middle rod is formed using a prepreg material containing continuous fibers, the tip of the middle rod contacts the main bone or the supporting bone, and thus the continuous fibers contained in the large tube are easily wound up from the prepreg material.

In the center rod formed of a prepreg sheet containing continuous fibers, it is preferable that the continuous fibers do not curl up from the center rod.

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a folding umbrella which alleviates or eliminates the problems caused by making a central rod of a prepreg material containing continuous fibers. It is a specific object of the present invention to prevent a tube body formed of a prepreg containing continuous fibers from being wound with the continuous fibers from a central rod due to contact between the central rod and a main bone or a supporting bone. Objects other than the above-described object of the present invention will be apparent by reference to the entire specification.

A folding umbrella according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: the disclosed device is provided with: a middle rod having a 1 st tube formed of a prepreg containing continuous fibers extending in parallel with an axial direction, and a 2 nd tube disposed so as to be receivable in the 1 st tube from a tip end side thereof; a movable nest slidably provided to the middle rod in an axial direction of the middle rod; a supporting frame, one end of which is supported on the nest by a pin; and a main rib connected to the support rib, the main rib and the support rib being folded by moving the movable nest to a handle side, a ring being provided at a distal end of an outer circumferential surface of the 1 st tube, the ring being formed of a material not containing continuous fibers, the ring being in contact with the main rib and the support rib in a process of folding the main rib and the support rib.

According to this embodiment, when the 2 nd pipe body is housed in the 1 st pipe body, the main rib and the support rib abut against the ring provided at the tip end of the outer peripheral surface of the 1 st pipe body, and therefore the main rib and the support rib are less likely to contact the 1 st pipe body. Therefore, when the 2 nd pipe is accommodated in the 1 st pipe, the continuous fibers contained in the 1 st pipe can be prevented from being wound up.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the ring shape is formed to protrude radially outward from an outer peripheral surface of the 2 nd pipe body.

According to this embodiment, when the 2 nd pipe body is housed in the 1 st pipe body, the contact of the main rib and the supporting rib with the 1 st pipe body can be more reliably prevented.

In the pipe body formed of the prepreg containing the continuous fibers according to the embodiment of the present invention, the continuous fibers can be prevented from being wound up from the middle rod due to contact with the main bone and the supporting bone.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of a folding umbrella according to an embodiment of the present invention. The folding umbrella shown in fig. 1 is in an open state.

Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of a folding umbrella according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the folding umbrella shown in fig. 2, the main ribs and the support ribs are in the state of being folded.

Fig. 3 is a schematic front view of a folding umbrella according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the folding umbrella shown in fig. 3, the main ribs and the supporting ribs have been folded.

Fig. 4 is a schematic front view of a folding umbrella according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the folding umbrella shown in fig. 4, the small tube of the middle rod is housed in the large tube.

Fig. 5 is a schematic enlarged view showing the vicinity of the tip of a large tube of a folding umbrella according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing a part of a process for producing a tube body of a middle rod of a foldable umbrella according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a schematic front view of a folding umbrella according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the folding umbrella shown in fig. 7, the small tube of the middle stick is in a state of being accommodated in the middle of the large tube.

Fig. 8 is a schematic enlarged view showing the vicinity of the tip of a large tube of a folding umbrella according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the symbols

1-folding umbrella; 2-medium bar; 2 a-1 st tube; 2 b-2 nd tube; 3, nesting; 4-nest descending; 5-main bone; 6-supporting the bone; 8-lower spring plate; 9-upper spring plate; 10. 110-ring.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the common components. It is to be noted that the drawings are not limited to a certain reduction scale for the sake of convenience of description.

A folding umbrella 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 4. Fig. 1 to 4 are schematic front views of a folding umbrella 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The folding umbrella 1 is in an open state in fig. 1, the main rib and the support rib are folded halfway in fig. 2, the main rib and the support rib are further folded in fig. 3, and a small tube of the middle rod is housed in a large tube in fig. 4.

The folding umbrella 1 of fig. 1 is a hook-and-loop type folding umbrella. The present invention can be applied not only to a hook-and-loop type folding umbrella but also to any type of folding umbrella of a topless (topless) type or the like.

As shown in the drawings, a folding umbrella 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention mainly includes a middle bar 2, an upper nest 3, a lower nest 4, a plurality of main ribs 5, a plurality of support ribs 6, a handle 7, a lower elastic sheet 8, and an upper elastic sheet 9. The lower spring 8 may also be omitted. When the foldable umbrella 1 is a non-top type foldable umbrella, the foldable umbrella 1 may further include an auxiliary rib. The auxiliary bone is provided, for example, in a manner of connecting the upper nest and the supporting bone.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the middle rod 2 includes the 1 st tube 2a and the 2 nd tube 2 b. The 1 st tube 2a and the 2 nd tube 2b are both formed in a hollow elongated shape. The 2 nd tube 2b is formed to have an outer shape smaller than the inner diameter of the 1 st tube 2 a. Thereby, the 2 nd pipe body 2b is accommodated inside the 1 st pipe body 2a from the tip end side thereof. The middle rod 2 may further include 3 or more pipe bodies. Since the 1 st pipe body 2a is configured to have a larger diameter than the 2 nd pipe body 2b, the 1 st pipe body 2a may be referred to as a large pipe and the 2 nd pipe body 2b may be referred to as a small pipe in the present specification in view of the size relationship of the diameters.

In one embodiment of the invention, the upper nest 3 is disposed at the top end of the middle rod 2, and the handle 7 is disposed at the root-side end of the middle rod 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper nest 3 is provided at the tip end of the 2 nd tube 2b on the tip end side of the middle rod 2, and the handle 7 is provided at the root end of the 1 st tube 2a on the root end side of the middle rod 2.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the lower nest 4 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape. The lower nest 4 is provided slidably in the axial direction of the middle rod 2. The lower nest 4 is formed to have an inner diameter larger than either of the outer diameter of the 1 st tube 2a and the outer diameter of the 2 nd tube 2 b.

In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of main bones 5 has: a main rib 5a extending radially from the upper nest 3; a top main rib 5b pin-supported on the top end of the main rib 5 a; a pin 5c connected to the supporting bone 6; and a bead tail 5d arranged at the top end of the top main bone 5 b. The main frame 5a is supported by the upper nest 3 so as to be movable in an axially tiltable manner with respect to the middle rod 2. Although not shown, a tension cloth is attached to the plurality of main frames 5.

In one embodiment of the present invention, one end of each of the plurality of support ribs 6 is received in the lower nest 4, while the other end is connected to a corresponding main rib 5 of the plurality of main ribs 5.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the main bone 5a, the distal main bone 5b, and the support bone 6 are formed of aluminum, titanium, or other metal material, or a composite material combining these metal materials and other materials.

A narrow through hole (not shown) extending in the axial direction is formed at the handle-side end of the 2 nd pipe body 2 b. A lower elastic sheet 8 is arranged in the through hole. The lower spring 8 is made of a metal plate. The lower clip 8 always receives a force so as to protrude outward from the through hole with respect to the 2 nd pipe body 2 b.

The 2 nd pipe body 2b has another through hole (not shown) formed at a position closer to the tip end than the lower clip. The through hole also has an elongated shape extending in the axial direction. An upper spring plate 9 is arranged in the through hole. The upper spring 9 is made of a metal plate. The upper spring 9 is always subjected to a force so as to protrude outward from the through hole with respect to the 2 nd pipe body 2 b.

The lower nest 4 is provided with a slit (not shown) for the upper spring plate 9 to be engaged with. When the folding umbrella 1 is opened, if the lower nest 4 is slid to the position of the upper elastic sheet 9, the upper elastic sheet 9 is fitted to the slit of the lower nest 4. By engaging the slit with the upper elastic piece 9 in this way, the folding umbrella 1 is held in the opened state (opened state).

When the folding umbrella 1 is folded from the posture (opened state) of fig. 1, the lower nest 4 is slid toward the handle side, and the engagement between the upper elastic piece 9 and the lower nest 4 is released. The main frame 5 and the supporting frame 6 are folded as shown in fig. 2 by sliding the lower nest 4 toward the handle side. That is, by moving the lower nest 4 downward (toward the root end side), the support frame 6 connected to the lower nest 4 and the main frame 5a connected to the support frame 6 are inclined in the axial direction of the middle rod 2. By moving the lower nest 4 to the handle side in this way, the angle between the main rib 5a, the support rib 6, and the middle rod 2 in the axial direction is reduced, and the distal end main rib 5b is bent upward in fig. 1. Next, as shown in fig. 3, the lower nest 4 is further slid toward the handle side until the position where the lower spring 8 is engaged. Thereby, the main body 5a, the distal end main body 5b, and the support body 6 are folded into a posture substantially parallel to the 2 nd tubular body 2b of the middle rod 2. Next, as shown in fig. 3, the 1 st tube 2a is slid in the distal direction by grasping the handle 7 and the folded main body 5a, distal end main bone 5b, and support bone 6, and the 1 st tube 2a is moved to a position where the 2 nd tube 2b is accommodated therein, as shown in fig. 4. Thereby, the folding umbrella 1 is in the collapsed state. In the folded umbrella 1 in the collapsed state, the 2 nd tube body 2b is housed in the 1 st tube body 2a, and the main frame 5a, the tip end frame 5b, and the support frame 6 are folded.

On the other hand, when the foldable umbrella 1 is opened from the posture (stowed state) of fig. 4, the 1 st tube 2a is pulled out from the 2 nd tube 2b as shown in fig. 3, the lower nest 4 is then slid in the tip end direction along the middle rod 2 as shown in fig. 2, and the lower nest 4 is then slid to a position where it engages with the upper elastic piece 9 as shown in fig. 1. The main frame 5a, the distal frame 5b, and the support frame 6 are expanded by moving the lower nest 4 upward. That is, the angle between the main rib 5, the support rib 6, and the middle rod 2 in the axial direction is increased by moving the lower nest 4 upward (toward the top end side). When the main frame 5 is unfolded, the tension cloth attached to the main frame 5 is also unfolded. As described above, if the lower nest 4 is slid to the position of the upper spring 9, the upper spring 9 is fitted to the slit of the lower nest 4. Thereby, the folding umbrella 1 is held in the open state.

Next, a foldable umbrella 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be further described with reference to fig. 5. Fig. 5 is an enlarged schematic view showing the vicinity of the tip of the first pipe 2a of the foldable umbrella 1. As shown, the 1 st tube body 2a has a tubular body 20. A groove 21 extending around the central axis of the center rod 2 is formed at the tip of the outer peripheral surface of the main body 20. The groove 21 is defined by a bottom surface 21a and a wall surface 21 b.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the body 20 is formed of a prepreg in which continuous fibers are impregnated with a matrix resin (in this specification, sometimes referred to as "continuous fiber-containing prepreg"). Prepregs containing continuous fibers are in sheet form. In this specification, continuous fibers refer to fibers that are continuously connected from one end of the sheet to the other end, as is commonly used in the art with respect to prepregs. Continuous fibers are sometimes also referred to as long fibers. The prepreg containing continuous fibers applicable to the present invention may also have fibers shorter than the interval between one end and the other end of the prepreg, on the basis of the continuous fibers.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the body 20 has continuous fibers aligned in a direction parallel to the central axis a of the 1 st tube 2a (also coinciding with the central axis of the 1 st tube 2b and the central axis of the mid-rod 2). The middle rod 2 is required to have high bending rigidity. Since the body 20 has continuous fibers aligned in a direction parallel to the central axis a, the 1 st tube body 2a having high bending rigidity can be obtained.

A method for producing the 1 st tube 2a will be described with reference to fig. 6. First, a mandrel 100 and a prepreg sheet 102, which have a gradually decreasing diameter toward the tip, are prepared. The mandrel 100 may also be constructed to be the same diameter over its entire span. The prepreg 102 is a prepreg in which continuous fibers arranged in a predetermined direction are impregnated with a matrix resin. As the continuous fibers, various reinforcing fibers such as carbon fibers, glass fibers, and aramid fibers can be used. Examples of the matrix resin include thermosetting resins such as epoxy, bismaleimide, polyimide, and benzaldehyde.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the reinforcing fibers of the prepreg sheet 102 are arranged in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the mandrel. At this time, the prepreg 102a has continuous fibers continuously connected from one end 102a to the other end 102 b.

The prepreg sheet 102 is wound around the mandrel 100. Next, the prepreg sheet 102 wound around the mandrel 100 is fired. After the firing, the mandrel 100 is cored out to obtain a tubular fired body. Next, a groove 21 is formed in one end portion (for example, an end portion corresponding to the end portion 102b of the piece) of the tubular sintered body using a known cutting tool. The fired body formed with the grooves 21 is subjected to polishing and coating as appropriate to obtain the 1 st tubular body 2 a.

Similarly to the 1 st tube 2a, the 2 nd tube 2b may be formed of a prepreg containing continuous fibers.

The upper nest 3, the lower nest 4, the main frame 5, the support frame 6, the handle 7, the lower spring 8, and the upper spring 9 can be formed by a known method, and therefore, the description of the manufacturing method is omitted.

The ring 10 attached to the groove 21 will be described with reference to fig. 5 again. In one embodiment of the present invention, the ring 10 is formed to have an inner diameter substantially the same as an outer diameter of a portion of the 1 st pipe body 2a where the groove 21 is formed (outer diameter of the bottom surface 21 a). Thereby, the ring 10 is fitted into the groove 21. The ring 21 is disposed with its rear end surface abutting against the wall surface 21b of the groove 21. The ring 10 is bonded to the groove 21, for example, by an adhesive.

In one embodiment of the present invention, ring 10 is formed to have an outer diameter H1 that is larger than outer diameter H2 of body 20. In one embodiment of the present invention, the ring 10 is formed to have a thickness T1 greater than the height H3 of the wall surface 21 b. Thus, when the ring 10 is attached to the groove 21, the outer peripheral surface thereof protrudes radially outward of the 1 st pipe body 2a than the outer peripheral surface of the main body 20.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the ring 10 is formed such that the tip end surface 10a thereof is located on the same plane as the tip end surface 20a of the body 20.

The ring 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is formed of a material containing no continuous fibers. As the material of the ring 10, a resin material or a metal material containing no continuous fiber may be used.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the resin material used as the material of the ring 10 and not containing continuous fibers is a short fiber reinforced resin obtained by dispersing short fibers in a matrix resin. As the short fibers, PAN-based or pitch-based carbon fibers or glass fibers can be used. As the short fibers, fibers having an average fiber diameter of 3 to 15 μm and an average fiber length of 0.5 to 10mm can be used.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the resin material containing no continuous fibers is ABS, nylon, Polyoxymethylene (POM), Polycarbonate (PC), or any other known hard resin.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the metal material used as the material of the ring 10 is, for example, aluminum, titanium, SUS, or brass.

Fig. 7 shows the folding umbrella 1 in which the 2 nd pipe body 2b of the middle rod 2 is accommodated in the middle of the 1 st pipe body 2 a. As described above, when the middle rod 2 is retracted during folding of the foldable umbrella 1, the first tubular body 2a is slid toward the tip end in a state where the main rib 5a, the tip end main rib 5b, or the support rib 6 is gripped. Thus, since the main rib 5a, the distal end rib 5b, or the support rib 6 is inwardly urged, the main rib 5a, the distal end rib 5b, or the support rib 6 easily interferes with the trajectory along which the first pipe 2a moves. When the foldable umbrella 1 is a non-top type foldable umbrella, the auxiliary rib is likely to interfere with the track on which the 1 st tube 2a moves.

In the folding umbrella 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the ring 10 is provided at the tip end of the outer peripheral surface of the 1 st tube body 2a, when the 1 st tube body 2a is slid in the tip end direction in the process of folding the folding umbrella 1, the ring 10 abuts against the main rib 5a, the tip main rib 5b, or the support rib 6. Since the ring 10 is provided on the tip of the outer peripheral surface of the 1 st tube 2a, the main body 5a, the tip main body 5b, and the support body 6 (and the auxiliary body) are pressed against the ring 10, and it is difficult to contact the 1 st tube 2 a.

In one embodiment of the present invention, since the outer diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the ring 10 protrudes further outward in the radial direction than the outer peripheral surface of the 1 st tube 2a, the main body 5a, the distal end main body 5b, and the support body 6 (and the auxiliary body) further become hard to contact the 1 st tube 2 a.

As described above, according to the above embodiment, since the main rib 5a, the distal end main rib 5b, and the support rib 6 (and the auxiliary ribs) are less likely to contact the 1 st tube body 2a, when the 1 st tube body 2a is slid in the distal end direction during folding of the foldable umbrella 1, the continuous fibers contained in the 1 st tube body 2a can be prevented from being curled up.

Next, a foldable umbrella according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a schematic enlarged view showing the vicinity of the tip of a large tube of a folding umbrella according to another embodiment of the present invention. The folding umbrella of fig. 8 has a ring 110 instead of the ring 10, and differs from the folding umbrella 1 in this point.

The ring 110 has: a body 110a formed in a circular ring shape; and a flange 110b provided at the top end of the body 110 a. The flange 110b is formed to cover at least a part of the tip end surface 20a of the body 20. The flange 110b can protect the distal end surface 20a of the body 20.

The dimensions, materials, and arrangements of the constituent elements described in the present specification are not limited to those explicitly described in the embodiments, and the constituent elements may be changed to have any dimensions, materials, and arrangements included in the scope of the present invention. In addition, components not explicitly described in the present specification may be added to the embodiments described above, and a part of the components described in each embodiment may be omitted.

Claims

1. A folding umbrella is characterized in that,

the disclosed device is provided with: a middle rod having a 1 st tube formed of a prepreg containing continuous fibers extending in parallel with an axial direction, and a 2 nd tube disposed so as to be receivable in the 1 st tube from a tip end side thereof;

a movable nest slidably provided to the middle rod in an axial direction of the middle rod;

a supporting frame, one end of which is supported on the nest by a pin; and

a main bone connected to the support bone,

by moving the movable nest to the handle side, the main bone and the support bone are folded,

a ring is provided on the tip of the outer peripheral surface of the 1 st tube body, the ring being formed of a raw material containing no continuous fibers,

the ring abuts the main bone and the support bone during folding of the main bone and the support bone.

2. The folding umbrella of claim 1, wherein the ring shape is formed to protrude radially outward beyond an outer peripheral surface of the 2 nd pipe body.

3. A folding umbrella of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the ring is arranged so that its top end face is on the same face as the top end face of the 2 nd tube.

4. A folding umbrella according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the ring is formed of a short fiber-reinforced resin material in which short fibers are dispersed in a matrix resin material.

5. A folding umbrella of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the ring is constructed of a metallic material.

6. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, said ring being constructed of a hard resin material.

7. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, said main ribs being constructed of a metallic material.

8. The folding umbrella of claim 1 or claim 2, the support ribs being constructed of a metallic material.