CN114929061A

CN114929061A - Inward-turning and outward-turning compact umbrella

Info

Publication number: CN114929061A
Application number: CN202180007961.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 杰楠·卡济姆
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-01-02
Filing date: 2021-01-08
Publication date: 2022-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 2041-01-08
Also published as: GB202000015D0; GB2593855B; WO2021136850A1; JP2023508700A; EP4084650A1; CN114929061B; GB2593855A; US20230049060A1

Abstract

Attempts have been made to make a folding umbrella such that, once folded, the wet side of the canopy folds over itself, thereby containing any residual water on the canopy, allowing the user to hold the dry side when the canopy is folded closed . This prevents residual water from the umbrella surface from dripping onto the floor or wetting the user. The design also facilitates folding the frame away from the user, allowing the frame to be closed through small spaces such as closed gaps in doorways. The present invention achieves the intended purpose, while maintaining the umbrella of comparable size and weight to conventional single-fold folding umbrellas.

Description

Inward-turning and outward-turning compact umbrella

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally, but not exclusively, to umbrellas. The umbrella frame is usually made up of main ribs supporting the canopy, which itself is supported by secondary ribs that make up the frame.

Background

If the main ribs are continuous and not made of parts folded against each other, they are generally called stick umbrellas. In this case, one end of the main rib is supported by a runner moving up and down along an axis, and the other end is supported by the outer edge of the canopy. The auxiliary ribs are supported by a runner that moves up and down along an axis at one end, and they support the main shaft at the other end through a pivot mechanism.

If the main ribs are made of more than one part, joined by a pivot-like mechanism, and therefore do not continue from the shaft runner to the edge of the canopy, they are called collapsible, pocket or folding umbrellas. The main purpose of this design is to make the umbrella shorter in the closed configuration.

The inside-out stick umbrella, which turns its frame completely inside out, has been invented by the european patent application Jenan Kazim, No. 13774769.7. In this case, the main ribs are made to be telescopically expandable like a continuous rib.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention of the same inventor is particularly applicable to folding umbrellas. However, in contrast to conventional pivot-like mechanisms between the main ribs and the secondary ribs, in the present invention, a sliding mechanism is used to allow the outermost segments of the main ribs to slide over or adjacent the secondary ribs. Thus, the closed length of the main ribs is much smaller in the closed configuration than in the open configuration. The length of the main ribs in the open configuration is the length of the arc from the runner on the shaft supporting the canopy to the edge of the canopy supported by the ends of the main ribs.

The advantage of this innovative mechanism is that it allows the wet side of the canopy to be closed within itself, allowing the outside of the canopy to be dry to the touch.

Since the main rib part is enclosed within or adjacent to the secondary ribs in the closed configuration, the frame is more easily kept closed and protected. In conventional umbrellas where the main rib sections are pivoted and suspended outside the secondary ribs, they may be easily damaged or poked into someone.

The innovations presented here also have much better in-wind performance than the traditional types. Reacts to the wind to change the shape of the canopy exposed to the wind because the main ribs are able to slide towards the shaft, allowing the canopy to change shape. The configuration presented by the present invention also facilitates automatic collapsing of the canopy fabric in its closed configuration about the frame and shaft.

Attempts have been made to create a folding umbrella such that once folded, the wet side of the canopy folds upon itself, containing any residual water on the canopy therein, to allow the user to hold the dry side when collapsing the canopy closed. This prevents residual water on the canopy from dripping onto the floor or wetting the user. The design also facilitates folding the frame away from the user, allowing the frame to close with a small space such as a doorway closing gap.

The present invention achieves the intended purpose while maintaining the size and weight of the umbrella comparable to a conventional single-fold folding umbrella. To open the inventive umbrella, the user presses the button to release the latch and push the slider in an axial direction until the umbrella is fully deployed open when the slider is locked, and to close it, the user presses the button and moves the slider towards the handle until the frame is rotated to the closed configuration. These operations are the same as the user opens and closes a conventional folding umbrella. This has been achieved by innovative coupling and uncoupling of the movement of the slides along the shaft to effect rotation of the main ribs and tensioning of the canopy as required. It also uniquely uses retractable spacers between the slides to achieve the required tension in the canopy in the open configuration and compact closure of the frame in the closed configuration. It is important to achieve as compact an enclosure of the canopy as possible to minimize the possibility of water spillage from the enclosed area.

Conventional umbrellas have the ends of the canopy near the bottom of the handle in a closed configuration, with the wet portion of the canopy outside. To open a conventional umbrella, the frame is unfolded, rotating the ends of the main ribs that support the edges of the canopy up off the shaft until the diagonal ends of the canopy, to which the main ribs are attached, are spaced from the canopy edge diameter. This limits movement of the canopy and further movement of the frame tensions the canopy.

This is clearly not possible with a reverse folding umbrella in which the canopy is turned inside out in the closed configuration. In this case, the ends of the main ribs that support the edges of the canopy are located at the upper end of the shaft remote from the handle. In this case, when opened from the closed configuration, the ends of the main ribs that support the edges of the canopy rotate away from the shaft from a remote position at the end of the shaft away from the handle until the ends of the main ribs are spaced from the canopy edge diameter. In this case, the canopy edges constrain the main ribs and they cannot rotate further, thereby constraining further opening of the frame. The canopy is then confined in an inverted cone configuration. This is a fundamental problem which requires the coupling and decoupling of the rotation of the main ribs with the tensioning of the canopy, at the appropriate locations of the ends of the main ribs attached to the canopy.

This feature is important to the operation of any reverse-folded umbrella that maintains the conventional look and size of a conventional umbrella. While there have been many attempts to create reverse folding umbrellas, none have achieved the objectives outlined in the present innovation, because it has not been recognized that controlling the tension in the canopy and controlling the canopy diameter during the opening and closing sequence is the basis. The present invention provides an object, highlighting the basic problems, providing a solution and providing a way of how to actually solve these problems of compact reverse folding umbrellas.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an in-turned out-folded umbrella comprising:

a. a shaft;

b. an umbrella cover;

c. a first or top slide, a second slide, and a third slide, each slide positioned along the shaft, each of the first or top slide, second slide, and third slide provided with a coupling and decoupling feature, wherein each of the first or top slide, second slide, and third slide is configured to control tension coupling

An engaging and disengaging mechanism;

d. a frame including a plurality of main ribs, a plurality of sub-ribs, a plurality of tension ribs and a plurality of

A top support rib;

e. each of the plurality of main ribs and the plurality of secondary ribs are configured to be connected together with a first sliding connection, wherein the plurality of main ribs are configured to support the canopy and the plurality of secondary ribs are configured to support corresponding main ribs, wherein the first sliding connection is configured to allow the main ribs to extend through the first sliding connection

A sliding connection;

f. a second sliding connector on the secondary rib, the second sliding connector being connected to a corresponding top support rib supported by the first or top slide on the shaft and connected to a linkage, wherein the linkage is configured to actuate movement of a corresponding tensioning rib, the corresponding tensioning rib structure

Causing control of the position of the corresponding main rib; and

g. an actuating mechanism configured to be actuated by rotation of the secondary ribs and the second slide connector on the secondary ribs relative to corresponding top support ribs supported at one end by the first or top slider on the shaft and connected at their other end to the second slide connector on the secondary ribs.

In one alternative, the shaft is telescopic.

In another alternative, the shaft is formed from a single piece.

Optionally, a fourth or bottom slide is provided, and wherein the fourth or bottom slide is configured to control the movement of the first or top slide. If the movement of the first or top slide is controlled by the fourth or bottom slide, only the fourth or bottom slide is required. Otherwise, only 3 slides are needed to control the tension coupling and decoupling mechanism.

Optionally, the inside-out folding umbrella further comprises a frame closing mechanism comprising a rotating member configured to rotate upward toward the axis to close the frame and canopy, thereby receiving and locking the frame in place.

Optionally, the in-turned out folded umbrella further comprises a canopy furling mechanism comprising a circumferential component attached to the rotating component, the circumferential component configured such that when the rotating component rotates and closes onto the shaft, the canopy furls around the frame and the shaft.

Optionally, the inside-out folding umbrella further comprises: a spring latch mechanism comprising a two-part resilient spacer and a spring, wherein a first part of the two-part resilient spacer is connected to the first or top slide on the shaft and supports one end of the spring, and a second part of the two-part resilient spacer contains a latch at one end and the other end supports the other end of the spring, wherein the spring latch mechanism is configured to generate a return spring force that allows the frame to move from its open configuration to minimize the wind force and return to its equilibrium position.

Drawings

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 shows one of the options for the configuration of the slide along the shaft. Although in these figures the shaft is shown as one piece, it may be telescopic.

Fig. 2 shows the same shaft and slide as in fig. 1, but also the main ribs, secondary ribs and links involved in the tensioning and tilting mechanism.

Fig. 3 shows in detail the linkage mechanism involved in the tensioning and tilting mechanism.

Figures 4 and 5 show the main rib, the auxiliary rib, the turning and tensioning mechanism in two stages of opening. Fig. 4 is an intermediate stage and fig. 5 shows the frame near the final stage of opening and tensioning.

Fig. 6 is the same as fig. 5 and is only shown for comparison on this page with fig. 7 and 8.

Fig. 7 and 8 show two further alternatives of the tensioning mechanism shown in fig. 5 and 6. These are some examples of tensioning mechanisms, but there are other tensioning mechanisms.

Fig. 9 and 10 illustrate one of the mechanisms that may be used to achieve substantial closure of the frame and rolling of the canopy in the closed configuration.

Fig. 11 and 12 illustrate alternative methods of achieving substantial closure of the frame and rolling of the canopy in the closed configuration.

FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary shape of the canopy during closing and a mechanism that substantially facilitates winding of the flaps of the canopy around the shaft.

FIG. 14 illustrates a spring mechanism that allows the main support runner to move along the shaft, thereby retracting the main ribs that support the canopy.

Fig. 15 shows a further alternative of the tensioning mechanism.

Fig. 16 shows another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 17 illustrates another embodiment of the present innovation.

FIG. 18 illustrates the arrangement of the canopy on the frame in an open configuration.

Detailed Description

The aspects and embodiments of the invention represent the best mode presently known to the applicant for carrying out the invention. However, these are not the only way to achieve this. They are illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings and will now be described by way of example only.

Fig. 1 and 2 should be viewed together. For clarity, the labels are made on both figures. Fig. 1 shows a slide movable along a shaft, designated 10, which may be telescopic or non-telescopic. In this example, the slide 14 and the slide 11 are connected with an outer shaft, indicated with 15. Such a connection may be required if the position of the top slide, marked 11, is not fixed. In this example, the

slides

13 and 14 have a coupling mechanism that allows them to be coupled and uncoupled according to their relative position along the shaft. To open the canopy,

sliders

13 and 14 are pushed up the shaft from their starting position until the slider, marked 11, reaches the end stop at the top of the shaft. Sliders, labeled 12 and 13, are also coupled or uncoupled for connection and disconnection to facilitate turning the canopy inside out, to facilitate tensioning the canopy and closing the collapsed frame and to facilitate collapsing the canopy about the frame and shaft. The secondary ribs 19 support the main ribs 18 by means of sliding pivot supports 23 which allow the main ribs 18 to slide through it. The secondary ribs 19 are also connected to the rest of the frame by sliding connectors 24, the sliding connectors 24 sliding freely along the ribs 19. This unique arrangement allows the frame to expand and tension the canopy and contract sliding main rib 18 along sub-rib 19, thereby closing the frame in a compact configuration, wherein the

pivots connecting ribs

20 and 18, which also support the canopy, contract to the bottom of rib 19 near runner 13. This facilitates an optimal way of compressing the frame, minimizing the size of its closed configuration, so that the frame can be pulled through a limited space, such as closing a vehicle door. The compactness of the frame keeps the canopy substantially firm, thereby minimizing the risk of water spilling from the canopy. The relative movement of slider 13 with slider 12 facilitates the rotation of

ribs

18 and 19, while the relative movement of 12 and 11 facilitates the tensioning or release of tension in the canopy. There are many different ways in which the internal frame structure can be arranged to move the ribs 20 that are pivotally connected to the main ribs 18, and the ribs 21 that are pivotally connected to the supporting ribs 18 by means of the sliding supports 24. These will be explained below with reference to the drawings.

Figure 2 shows the main ribs of the frame. The main ribs that support and tension the canopy are designated 18 and 20. The secondary ribs supporting the main ribs are designated 19. The ribs, referenced 21, facilitate the rotation of the secondary ribs 19 to the open and closed configurations. The ribs, referenced 22, rotate the ribs, referenced 21, to an open and closed configuration. Movement of

slides

11, 12 and 13 relative to each other facilitates turning the canopy inside out, opening the frame, tensioning the canopy, releasing the canopy tension, turning the canopy, which is the wet side of the canopy, inside out, so that the dry side of the canopy is on the outside in preparation for collapsing around the frame and shaft.

Fig. 3 and 4 and 5 should be viewed together. For clarity, the three figures are labeled. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the components shown in fig. 4 for clarity. A unique feature of the present invention is that the main rib 118 can slide through the connector 123 attached to the secondary rib 119. The link 123 can rotate in the plane of movement of the

ribs

118 and 119. The invention also uniquely has a sliding connector, indicated at 124, which is movable along the secondary rib 119. This sliding connector connects

ribs

119 and 121 and

ribs

119 and 127. When the frame is in the closed configuration, the slide 113 is locked to the shaft at a position proximate the handle. When the lock is released and the slide 113 is pushed along the shaft away from the handle, the slide 14 shown in fig. 1 is pulled because the

slides

14 and 113 are coupled together. Since 111 and 14 are attached to the link 15, the movement of 14 pushes the top slide 111 upward in the axial direction. When the slider 111 reaches a stop close to the top of the shaft, the coupling between 14 and 113 is released, 113 moving axially upwards towards the slider 112. This movement facilitates rotation of secondary rib 119 relative to rib 121, which also rotates main rib 118 so that the ends of the ribs approach or exceed the horizontal plane relative to the axis. The ends of the main ribs are attached to the circumference of the canopy, designated 125.

The relative rotation between

ribs

119 and 121 also pulls on link 127, which in turn pulls on link 128 between 121 and 120. In this example, the connector 126 allows the rib 120 to slide through it. Link 128 is attached to rib 121 such that it can rotate relative to rib 121 in the plane of the open frame. This rotation lifts the rib 120 away from 121, which also lifts the main rib 118. The lengths of 120 and 121 are selected to fully extend canopy 125 to the desired curvature.

At this stage, the movement of sliders 113, coupled with sliders 112, together push them towards sliders 111, thus tensioning the canopy in the open configuration. Spring 129 facilitates automatic rotation of rib 121 towards 122, thereby pulling sliding connector 124 along secondary rib 119 towards the shaft, facilitating the automatic closing mechanism. To close the frame, the

slides

112 and 113 are pulled down the shaft towards the handle. This motion actuates the frame's closing mechanism, pulling the main ribs inward in the axial direction so that the main ribs can flip through the frame's horizontal configuration, turning the canopy dry side out, also referred to as in-out. When the frame and canopy go beyond this stage, slides 112 and 113 are decoupled. Further movement of the slider 113 towards the slider 14, at which stage the slider is locked to the shaft. This movement causes the secondary rib 119 and the main rib 118 to rotate axially, closing the frame. Further movement of slider 113 couples slider 14 and disengages it from the shaft and moves it towards the closed configuration of the frame and canopy, which places the dry side of the canopy outside and the wet side enclosed inside.

There are several ways in which the linkage system may be implemented and further alternatives are shown by way of example in fig. 6, 7, 8 and 15.

Fig. 6 is identical to fig. 5 and is only shown for comparison with fig. 7 and 8, which fig. 7 and 8 show two other ways of organizing the linkage system. In fig. 7, rib 220 is divided into two portions 220 and 220 a. The two parts are connected such that they can rotate relative to each other following the plane of the frame. Connector 232 does not allow rib 220 to slide through it, but it allows link 128 to rotate relative to 220. At the other end, the link 128 is the same as explained in fig. 3. It is attached to rib 121 and it rotates relative to it, raising ribs 220 and 220a up and forward. In this option, the length of 220a expands as it rotates from the closed configuration to the open configuration, thereby further lifting and pushing the connection between 220 and 218. Another option is shown in fig. 8, which achieves the same configuration as in fig. 7 by holding rib 220 in one piece and having connector 231 of a sliding type allowing rib 121 to slide through it.

FIG. 9 illustrates a mechanism that helps to fully close the frame and helps to collapse the canopy about the frame and shaft. In this option, when the

slides

312 and 313 are disengaged, the slide 312 is restrained by an obstruction on the frame or shaft so that it cannot slide down towards the handle, the slide 313 being pulled by the user moving along the shaft. The closing and collapsing frame is completed by a rotating member 332 supported by a base 331 having a connector 333 that allows the rotating member 332 to slide through it. When slide 313 moves downward away from slide 312, rotating component 332 rotates upward, being pulled inward toward the axis by 331. Rotating component 332 may have an arcuate portion, which is shown as 538 in fig. 13. When 332 is rotated upward toward the shaft, the sub-ribs and main ribs, as well as all other linkages making up the umbrella frame, are enclosed within a range that is pushed toward the shaft. Hook 538 also facilitates the gathering of the canopy about the frame and shaft. Once the slide 313 is pulled as far as possible and locked onto the shaft, the closed configuration will remain.

Fig. 10 illustrates the closing and furling mechanism in a partially closed configuration. It also shows a spring 334 which may automate the process of closing the mechanism. This is achieved because the spring is energized when the slide 313 is pushed upwards towards a fixed slide 312 attached to the shaft in some way. When 313 and 312 are coupled together, the energized spring energy is locked in the coupled 312 and 313 slides until it is released again on the way down when the slides are disengaged. This is a novel process of closing the frame and gathering the canopy and holding it in the closed configuration, without the use of a hand held frame and gathering the canopy and the industry standard method of using a strap wrapped around the canopy to hold it in the closed configuration.

Fig. 11 and 12 show different options for achieving the same purpose as shown in fig. 9 and 10. In this case, the slider 412 extends through the slider

413 and is formed to extend outwardly as indicated at 436. A rotational member 432 having an arcuate portion, designated 435, is connected to the slider 413. When 413 and 412 are disengaged and 413 moves the handle downward, the rotating part 432 pushes a part 436 that is part of the slider 412. This causes 432 to rotate upwardly toward the shaft, thereby rotating and urging the secondary ribs 419, main ribs 418 and all other associated frame components toward their closed configuration. Rotation of member 432 and connecting portion 435, which may also have a circumferentially directed arc portion as shown at 538 in fig. 13, includes the frame in its closed configuration and arc 538 that gathers the canopy around the frame and shaft. In the closed configuration, the slider 413 is also locked to the shaft, which ensures that the frame remains closed and the canopy is collapsed.

Fig. 13 shows closed canopy and collapsed members 538 labeled 537.

Fig. 14 shows a spring latch mechanism. This is an innovation to lock slider 612 in the fully open configuration with the canopy taut. In this innovation, the latch is not connected to the shaft, but it is able to move down the shaft against a spring 639. When canopy and frame are pushed up by the wind, the frame pushes down slides 612 and 613 coupled at this stage. The downward movement of

slides

612 and 613 retracts the frame and canopy inward, thereby reducing the size of the canopy exposed to the wind, which in turn reduces the force of the wind. The shape of the umbrella cover is also changed, thereby reducing wind power. The slides move downwardly against the spring force which pulls the slides back to their equilibrium position, thereby pulling the canopy back to its open configuration. The spacer between 612 and 611 is two parts. Portion 640 contains latch 642 and is connected to one end of the spring, while portion 641 may be a portion of 611, which also supports the other end of the spring.

Fig. 15 is another alternative option in the frame mechanism. It shows the same frame as shown in fig. 5, but in this case link 726 does not allow rib 720 to slide through it. However, the link 726a of the

links

728 and 721 allows the 721 to slide through it. When 727 moves slider 726a, the link between 720 and 721 changes the position of 726, either raising it upward to an open configuration or lowering it to a closed configuration.

Fig. 16 is another alternative option in the framework. In this figure, another frame structure is shown which achieves the same objective with a simple frame arrangement. In this case, ribs 1822 rotate ribs 2821 to tension the canopy in its open configuration, and ribs 1821 are rotated toward the axis to close the frame, thereby sliding connection 1824 along ribs 1819 toward the axis. When the frame is in the closed configuration, the sliding support 1824 is located at the bottom end of the ribs 1819 and adjacent to the slider 1813. Umbrella rib 1822 is pivotally supported by umbrella rib 1821 and slider 1812, but uniquely extends beyond the pivot connection on 1821 to the pivot connection of connections 1822-1820. Rib 1822 extends beyond the portion pivotally connected to 1821, as indicated at 1822 a. This configuration actuates movement in umbrella rib 1820 in accordance with the angular movement of 1822 relative to 1821. Spacer 1827, which is pivotally attached to 1821 and 1820, ensures that ribs 1820 are in the correct orientation for tensioning and imparting the desired shape to the canopy. 1827 also ensures that ribs 1820 are pulled back towards 1821, which consequently pulls back main runner 1818, folding the frame into a closed configuration, with the inner ends of the main ribs attached to the canopy pulled into position adjacent runner 1813. In the closed configuration, all of the ribs of the frame are compressed adjacent the shaft. As slider 1813 is pushed toward 1812, secondary support ribs 1819 rotate away from the shaft, opening the frame, with the ends of the main ribs and the attached canopy edge rotating away from the shaft. The initial distance between 1813 and 1812 is important to ensure that the ends of the main ribs and the edge of the canopy have rotated more than 90 degrees from the axis as 1813 and 1812 are coupled and move together axially so that the edge of the canopy does not restrict further movement. As both

sliders

1813 and 1812 continue to move axially, 1822 rotates, moving the umbrella ribs 1820 of the extension umbrella, and slider 1824 is pushed upward toward 1823, thereby fully tensioning the umbrella. The

springs

1811a or 1819a or both prevent further upward movement.

Spacers

1813a and 1813b are telescopically connected to the slider 1813. As slider 1813 is pulled down the shaft to close the frame and canopy, slider 1812 also moves down, and the spacing between

sliders

1813 and 1812 when the frame is in the closed configuration is defined by the length of

telescoping spacers

1813a and 1813 b. The slider 1812 is designed to be movable along the spacer, but is restrained near the top end of the spacer by the spacer 1813b in the closed configuration. The stiffness of the

springs

1811a and 1819a when used in combination or 1811a or 1819a alone defines the stiffness of the frame to the lifting force in the open configuration. This feature can be used to minimize the likelihood that the main ribs and canopy will rotate inward and outward due to wind when the umbrella is used in an open configuration.

Fig. 17 is another alternative option in the frame mechanism. In this figure, a further frame structure is shown which achieves the same objective with a simple frame arrangement. This configuration is similar to the frame shown in fig. 16, with receiving rib 822 only pivotally connected between slider 812 and rib 821, and not extending beyond 821. Connector 827 also pivotally connects rib 820 and slide 824, which is slidable along rib 819. This arrangement creates a further link between main rib 818 and secondary rib 819. This arrangement changes the way the frame reacts to wind forces.

FIG. 18 shows canopy 1841 above the frame structure shown in FIG. 16, but it is also applicable to other frame arrangements shown.

Claims

1. An inside-out folding umbrella comprising:

a. a shaft (10, 110, 410, 610, 810, 1810);

b. umbrella surface (125, 1841);

c. a first or top slider (11, 111, 311, 411, 611, 811, 1811), a second slider (12, 112, 312, 412, 612, 812, 1812) and a third slider (13, 113, 313, 413, 613, 813, 1813), each slider lying along the shaft, each of the first or top slider, second slider and third slider being provided with coupling and decoupling features, wherein each of the first or top slider, second slider and third slider is configured to control a tension coupling and decoupling mechanism;

d. a frame comprising a plurality of main ribs (18, 118, 218, 718, 818, 1818), a plurality of auxiliary ribs (19, 119, 219, 419, 719, 819, 1819), a plurality of tensioning ribs (20, 120, 220, 720, 820, 1820), and a plurality of top supporting ribs (21, 121, 721, 821, 1821);

e. each of the plurality of main ribs and the plurality of secondary ribs being configured to be connected together with a first sliding connection (23, 123, 823, 1823), wherein the plurality of main ribs are configured to support the canopy and the plurality of secondary ribs are configured to support corresponding main ribs, wherein the first sliding connection is configured to allow the main ribs to extend through the first sliding connection;

f. a second sliding connector (24, 124, 724, 824, 1824) located on said secondary rib, said second sliding connector being connected to a corresponding top support rib (21, 121, 721, 821, 1821) supported by said first or top runner on said shaft and connected to a linkage, wherein said linkage is configured to actuate the movement of a corresponding tensioning rib (20, 120, 220, 720, 820, 1820) configured to control the position of a corresponding main rib; and

g. an actuating mechanism configured to be actuated by rotation of said secondary ribs and said second sliding connection (24, 124, 724, 824, 1824) on said secondary ribs relative to corresponding top support ribs (21, 121, 721, 821, 1821) supported at one end by said first or top slide on said shaft and connected at its other end to said second sliding connection (24, 124, 724, 824, 1824) on said secondary ribs.

2. The inside-out folding umbrella of claim 1 wherein the shaft is telescopic.

3. The inside-out folding umbrella of claim 1 wherein the shaft is formed from a single piece.

4. An in-turned out folded umbrella as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein a fourth or bottom slide is provided and wherein the fourth or bottom slide is configured to control the movement of the first or top slide.

5. The inside-out folding umbrella of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a frame closure mechanism including a rotational member (332, 432) configured to rotate upward toward the axis to close the frame and canopy to receive and lock the frame in place.

6. The inside-out folding umbrella of claim 5, further comprising: a canopy furling mechanism comprising a circumferential component attached to the rotating component, the circumferential component configured such that when the rotating component rotates and closes onto the shaft, the canopy furls around the frame and the shaft.

7. An inside-out folding umbrella as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising: a spring latch mechanism comprising a two-part resilient spacer and a spring, wherein a first part of the two-part resilient spacer is connected to the first or top slide on the shaft and supports one end of the spring, a second part of the two-part resilient spacer contains a latch at one end and the other end supports the other end of the spring, wherein the spring latch mechanism is configured to generate a return spring force that allows the frame to move from its open configuration to minimize the wind force and return to its equilibrium position.