EP0230494A1

EP0230494A1 - Improved folding umbrella frame

Info

Publication number: EP0230494A1
Application number: EP86100947A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Shuo Shih Huang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-01-27
Filing date: 1986-01-24
Publication date: 1987-08-05
Also published as: ZA86593B

Abstract

This invention relates to an improved umbrella frame 100 and in particular to one comprising a telescopic stick 1, a runner 12 mounted so that it can slide upon the telescopic stick 1, a crown 11 fixed at the upper end of the telescopic stick 1, stretcher members 4 connected so that they pivot with the crown 11, struts 7 hinged to the runner 12, links 6 hinged to the struts 7, control ribs 3 connected with the links 6, auxiliary links 5 connected at one end with the stretcher members 4, sleeves 33 each enclosing respective auxiliary link 5 and control ribs 3, and outer dome ribs 2.

Description

This invention relates to an improved folding umbrella frame.
Folding umbrella frames are well known in the art and disclosed, for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,007,752, 3,921,655, 3,901,257, 3,853,136, 3,467,115, 2,215,738, 1,249,007 and 580,159.
As to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,007,752, it discloses a telescopic umbrella comprising a telescoping stick with a runner slidable thereon from which stretchers are pivoted. The stretchers are connected at the outer ends with dome ribs above each of which is disposed on auxiliary link. The auxiliary link is hinged to a dome rib at one end and to a strut at the other end. A control link is hinged to the strut at a point between two ends thereof. The outer end of the control link is used to control the folding motion of the outer dome rib in dependence on the movement of the umbrella runner.
However, according to this patent, the outer dome rib part is folded upwards so that it is very inconvenient to put the covering cloth attached thereon in order. Furthermore, the hinge points in the fitting easily break off.
Regarding U.S. Patent Nos. 3,921,655, 3,901,257, 3,853,136, 3,467,115, 3,901,257, 3,853,136, 3,467,115, 2,215,738, 1,249,007 and 580,159, the applicant wishes to point out that these references neither suggests or describes the structure of the subject invention nor is possessed of the advantages thereof.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved folding umbrella frame which may obviate and mitigate the above-mentioned drawbacks.
This invention is directed to an improved folding umbrella frame.
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved folding umbrella frame the outer dome rib part of which is folded downwards.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved folding umbrella frame which may facilitate the covering cloth attached thereon to put in order.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved folding umbrella frame in which the enlarged portion of the first joint is fitted into the stretcher member when the umbrella is open thereby stiffening the structure of the frame.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved folding umbrella frame which is equipped with means for facilitating the opening and folding of the umbrella.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will be obtained by those having ordinary skill in the art when the following detailed description has been read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals refer to like or similar parts and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the improved umbrella frame according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the improved umbrella frame; and
Fig. 3 is a side elevational view showing the fully collapsed state of the improved umbrella.

For purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in drawings. Specific language will be used to describe the same. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alternatives 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.
With reference now to Fig. 1, there is shown a side elevational view of an improved umbrella frame according to the present invention. The improved umbrella frame 100 is shown comprising a telescopic stick 1, outer dome ribs 2, control ribs 3, stretcher members 4, auxiliary links 5, links 6 and struts 7. The telescopic stick 1 is provided at the top head portion 321 of a first fitting 31. The head portion 321 is located at an enlarged portion 32 of the first fitting 31. The auxiliary link 5 passes through a loop 42 on the stretcher member 4 and ends at the sleeve 33 of control ribs 3. The other end of the auxiliary link (5) also ends at control ribs 3 after passing through the aperture 211 of second fitting 21. The control ribs 3 are connected to pivotal joint 212 of a second fitting 21. The control ribs 3 and the auxiliary link 5 are enclosed by a movable sleeve 33. A canopy (not shown) may be stitched on the outer dome ribs 2 to form a complete umbrella.
As the runner 12 is moved downwards along the telescopic stick 1, the outer dome ribs 2, the control ribs 3, the stretcher members 4, the auxiliary links 5, the links 6 and the struts 7 will collapse to the telescopic stick 1 (see Fig. 2). When the runner 12 is pushed upwards along the telescopic stick 1, the outer dome ribs 2, the control ribs 3, the stretcher members 4, the auxiliary links 5, the links 6 and the struts 7 with a crown 11 to which is connected the stretcher members 4. The telescopic stick 1 is further provided with a runner 12 which may slide therealong. The strut 7 is connected to the runner 12 at one end and to a pivotal joint 41 on the stretcher member 4 at the other end. The link 6 is pivoted at one end to a proper point of the strut 7. The other end of the stretcher member 4 and the link 6 are respectively connected to pivotal joint 311 and will expand outwards. In the meantime, the enlarged portion 32 of the first fitting 31 on the control rib 3 is embedded into the stretcher member 4 thereby strengthening the first fitting 31 and the link 6 and therefore, preventing them from breaking off even subjected to strong wind. Furthermore, it is easy to move down the runner 12 to collapse the umbrella. Moreover, since the ends and body of auxiliary link 5 are tied to the first rib 3 by a sleeve 33, the resilient force thereof will facilitate the opening and folding of the umbrella.
Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure is made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detail of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. An improved umbrella frame 100 comprising: a telescopic stick 1;
a crown 11 fixed at upper end of said telescopic stick 1;
a runner 12 slidably mounted on said telescopic stick 1;
a plurality of strecher members 4 pivotally connected at one end with said crown 11;
a plurality of struts 7 hinged to said runner 12 at one end each strut 7 being connected at the other end with respective stretcher member 4 at a hinge point between two ends of said stretcher member 4;
a plurality of links 6 each hinged at one end to respective strut 7 at a hinge point between two ends of said strut 7, and at the other end to a first fitting 31 pivotally connected with the other end of said stretcher member 4;
a plurality of control ribs 3 each connected at one end with said links 6 and at the other end with a second fitting 21; and ends of the axuiliary links 5 pass through loops on the stretcher members 4 at a point intermediate on the two ends of said stretcher members 4 and at the other end with said second fitting 21; and
a plurality of sleeves 33 each enclosing respective ends of auxiliary link 5 and control rib 3; and outer dome ribs 2 fixedly connected with said second hinge member;
said first fitting 31 having an enlarged portion capable of fitting into said stretcher member 4 thereby stiffening said frame 100.