EP0417264A1

EP0417264A1 - Umbrella of simplified structure and low manufacturing cost

Info

Publication number: EP0417264A1
Application number: EP90906253A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hugues Thierion De Monclin; Patrice Lalonde
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-03-31
Filing date: 1990-03-30
Publication date: 1991-03-20
Also published as: CA2029880A1; FR2644992A1; DD300352A5; HUT55207A; BG51437A3; FR2644992B1; WO1990011702A1; KR920700007A; KR920006957B1; JPH03505056A; HU903445D0; HU206253B; PT93586A

Abstract

Le parapluie selon l'invention comprend un mât (1) dont une extrémité sert de poignée (2), tandis que l'autre extrémité (4) constitue un embout sur lequel sont articulées des baleines radiales (3) mobiles dans des plans axiaux entre une position déployée et une position repliée contre le mât (1), et une toile de parapluie (6) fixée sur lesdites baleines. Il comprend en outre un coulisseau monté coulissant sur le mât (1) entre une position d'ouverture dans laquelle il vient en butée sur lesdites baleines (3) en les maintenant en position déployée et une position de fermeture dans laquelle les baleines peuvent se replier contre le mât (1). Des moyens de blocage déconnectables sont prévus pour assurer un maintien temporaire du coulisseau (7) en position d'ouverture. Ce parapluie peut être réalisé en trois pièces réalisées en matière plastique moulée.The umbrella according to the invention comprises a mast (1), one end of which serves as a handle (2), while the other end (4) constitutes a tip on which are articulated radial ribs (3) movable in axial planes between a deployed position and a folded position against the mast (1), and an umbrella canvas (6) fixed on said ribs. It further comprises a slide mounted to slide on the mast (1) between an open position in which it abuts on said ribs (3) keeping them in the deployed position and a closed position in which the ribs can be folded up. against the mast (1). Disconnectable locking means are provided to ensure temporary retention of the slide (7) in the open position. This umbrella can be made in three parts made of molded plastic.

Description

UMBRELLA WITH SIMPLIFIED STRUCTURE AND AT LOW COST COSTS.

The present invention relates to an umbrella with a simplified structure and at low cost price.

In general, it is known that an umbrella of the conventional type is formed of a pole, one end of which is extended by a handle, while the other end forms an end piece on which a plurality of radial ribs is articulated. movable in axial planes and on which is fixed, usually by sewing, the umbrella fabric. Along the mast is slidably mounted a socket connected to each of the whales by a respective flying bow, one end of which is articulated on said socket, while the other end is articulated in the central region of said whale . Latching means are also provided on the mast and on the socket so as to maintain the umbrella in the open position or in the closed position. The equipment of the umbrella is also frequently supplemented by a wrist strap, and a sheath used to keep the whales folded against the mast in the closed position of the umbrella while ensuring protection of the canvas.

It is therefore found that an umbrella of the conventional type involves a multiplicity of components which require relatively large labor for their assembly. Of this fact, its cost is relatively high and can hardly be reduced.

The object of the invention is therefore more particularly to eliminate these drawbacks. It therefore offers an umbrella whose extremely simple design allows industrial manufacturing at high production rates, with a minimum of labor and at very low cost.

More specifically, this umbrella comprises a mast, one end of which serves as a handle, while the other end constitutes a nozzle on which are articulated radial whales movable in axial planes between a deployed position and a position folded against the mast. , and an umbrella cloth fixed on said whales. According to the invention, this umbrella is more particularly characterized in that it comprises a slide, mounted axially sliding on the mast between an open position in which it abuts on said whales while maintaining them in the deployed position, and a closed position in which the whales can be disposed in the folded position against the mast, detachable blocking means, making said slider and said whales cooperate, being further provided for ensuring a temporary holding of the slider in the position of opening.

Advantageously, these disconnectable blocking means pour¬ ront consist of means for snap-fastening the slide on the whales and / or on the mast. Furthermore, this slide can be shaped so as to keep the balei¬ nes in the folded position, when it is in the closed position.

Similarly, the whales can form with the mast a single piece made for example of molded plastic. In this case, the whales may be connected to the end of the mast by thinned portions forming a hinge. The umbrella fabric may itself consist of a sheet of plastic material, suitably cut, fixed by gluing or by welding on the whales.

An embodiment of the invention will be described below, by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic axial sectional view of an umbrella according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an axial section on a larger scale, illustrating the principle of a sliding block locking mode, in the open position;

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a slider of the type shown in Figure 2;

Figures 4 and 5 are views partially in axial sections, on a larger scale, of the upper part of an umbrella produced according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention; these figures showing the umbrella in the folded position (Figure 4) and in the deployed position (Figure 5);

Figure 6 is a cross section of a mast réali¬ sand plastic extruded or injected;

Figure 7 shows an umbrella of the type shown in Figures 4 and 5 in the folded position.

It should first of all be noted that in these drawings, the dimensions and the proportions of the umbrella and of its constituent elements have not been respected, in order to facilitate understanding. As shown in FIG. 1, the umbrella is produced in three parts, namely:

- A first part made of molded plastic, which comprises a tubular element forming the mast 1 of the umbrella, a handle 2 which extends the mast at one of its ends and a multiplicity of whales 3 connected at the other end 4 of the mast 1 by curved portions 5 forming hinges,

an umbrella fabric 6, which may consist of a plastic sheet, possibly transparent, directly glued to the whales 3, and

- A slide 7 of molded plastic, mounted axially on the mast 1.

In this example, the slide 7 is formed of two tubular sections connected end to end, namely: a first section 8 whose inside diameter is substantially equal to the outside diameter of the mast 1 and a second section 9 whose inside diameter is larger and which therefore delimits with the mast 1 an intermediate volume 10, of annular shape, open in the direction of the end 4 of the mast 1 carrying the ribs 3.

This slide 7, guided along the mast by the section 8, can be moved axially between two extreme positions, namely:

- A closed position located at a distance from the ex¬ end 4 of the mast 1, sufficient to allow the whales 3 to be folded against the mast 1, this closed position being preferably provided in a location of the mast close to handle 2, and - An open position obtained by sliding the slide towards the end 4, thus causing the opening of the ribs 3 until the upper edge 11 of the section 9 comes to engage in recesses 12 produced in the ribs 3, near the hinges 5 (position shown in solid lines in FIG. 1).

It is clear that in the open position, thanks to the elasticity of the hinges 5, the recesses 12 exert on the edge 11 of the slide 7 of the radial forces ensuring its axial locking, the unlocking can only be carried out by ensuring a traction on the slide 7 in the direction of the handle 2.

The axial blocking of the slide 7 in the open position can also be supplemented by a locking obtained by providing, as in the examples shown in FIGS. 2 and 3:

- radial notches 13 formed in the ribs and emerging at the level of the recesses 12, and

- latches 14 radially projecting from the edge 11 of the section 9.

In this case, the locking in the closed position is effected by causing the slider 7 to rotate so that the catches 14 engage in the notches 13. Of course, the unlocking is then obtained by performing a rotation in opposite direction of slide 7.

Another advantage of the slide 7 previously described, consists in that it ensures locking of the whales 3 against the mast 1, in the folded position of the rain umbrella.

Indeed, from its closed position, the coulis¬ bucket 7 can be moved towards the end 4, the ends whales 3 which then engage in the inter¬ calary volume 10 until a blocking of the assembly appears by jamming (position shown in broken lines in FIG. 1).

This locking of the whales 3 in the folded position makes it possible in particular to avoid the use of a sheath, the use of which is inconvenient and which is easily lost.

It is important to emphasize that these advantages are obtained despite the fact that the umbrella only comprises three parts which can be produced and assembled industrially at very low cost price.

In the example shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper end of the mast 1 is extended by a cylindrical piece which successively comprises:

- A first cylindrical portion 20 of diameter smaller than that of the mast 1;

- A circular flange 21, the upper radial face 22, of coronal shape, constitutes a first face for fixing the ribs 3;

- A second cylindrical portion 23 having successively a circular shoulder 24 which defines with the flange 21 an annular space and which has, in its upper part, a conical shape then, above this shoulder 24, a part having cutouts axial 25 delimiting tongues 26 radially and elastically deformable ending in a conical part 27 whose base, of larger diameter than that of the portion 23, forms a steep recess 28.

The whales 3, made in a single piece of molded plastic, are connected to a central element 29 via a portion of reduced thickness forming an elastic hinge 30. These ribs 3 include, at least in their part adjoining these hinges 30, a reinforcement 31 of substantially triangular shape, the short side of which, located on the side of the hinge 30, has a concave shape. comprising a rectilinear bottom 32, either bordered downwards by a projecting rim 33, or inclined so that it projects and towards the hinge by an oblique portion 34, the bottom 32 being arranged so as to extend substantially parallel to mast 1 in open position 0 of the umbrella.

The central element 29 has a central bore of diameter substantially equal to that of the cylindrical portion 23, by means of which it comes to forcibly engage and therefore be fixed by 5 snap-fastening in the annular space between the steep flank 22 and the shoulder 24.

The fixing of the element 29 and, consequently, of the ribs 3, can be completed by a cap 35 of cylindrical-frustoconical shape which snaps onto the cylindrical portion 23.

This cap 35 has a cylindrical part 36 of internal diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the base of the conical part 5 and a flared part 37 of frustoconical shape whose lower edge 38, which constitutes the large base, has a diameter slightly higher than that of the element 29.

30 Furthermore, the cylindrical part is extended, inside the frustoconical part 37 by a cylindrical part 39 of internal diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the cylindrical part 23 and which has, at its end, an internal profile suitable to come snap on the shoulder

35 24.

This cylindrical part 39 is intended to be fitted telescopically onto the cylindrical part 23 while deforming elastically the tongues 26 which, at the end of the race, return to their initial position while ensuring an axial blocking of the cap 36 thanks to the fact that the abrupt recess

28 engages with the bore of the bore 40 situated at the connection of the cylindrical part 36 with the cylindrical part 39.

In this position, the edge 38 of the frusto-conical part 37 serves to ensure angular end-of-travel locking of the ribs 3, to avoid any possibility of the umbrella overturning, for example under the effect of wind.

The upper end of the cylindrical part 36 of the cap 35 is closed by a closure plug 41, for example made of plastic.

In this example, the slide 7 has a lower portion 42 of cylindrical shape whose inner diameter corresponds substantially to the outer diameter of the mast 1, and a flared portion 43 of frustoconical shape whose upper edge 44, which constitutes the large base, has a shape substantially complementary to the concave shape of the reinforcements 31 of the whales 3, that is to say a shape of substantially trapezoidal section.

In the folded position of the umbrella (Figures 4 and 6), the ribs 3, the ends of which engage in the frustoconical part 43 of the slide 7, extend substantially parallel to the mast 1.

From this position, the umbrella can then be opened by moving the slide 7 in the opposite direction to that of the hat 35, so as to release the ribs 3.

Thanks to the fact that in the folded position the reinforcements 31 come into abutment on the cylindrical portion 20, with a slight bending of the whales 3, when the latter are released following the displacement of the slide 7, they will spontaneously arrange themselves in the semi-deployed position.

The slide 7 can then be moved in the direction of the hat 35 so as to bring the umbrella into the deployed position, thanks to the action of the edge 44 on the whales 3.

At the end of the race, the edge 44 will snap into the concave shape of the reinforcements 31, thereby ensuring both the locking of the ribs 3 in the deployed position and the axial locking of the slide 7 in the high position on the mast 1.

This locking will be maintained by itself, in particular thanks to the efforts resulting from the elasticity of the hinges 30, possibly that of the umbrella canvas, as well as the weight of the canvas / whales assembly, which tend to fold the whales 3 thereby reinforcing the cooperation of the concave shape of the reinforcements 31 and the complementary convex shape of the upper edge 44 of the slide 7.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments previously described.

Thus, for example, the handle 2 can be attached to the mast and have a curved shape of the type of that shown in FIG. 7.

Likewise, the mast 1 does not necessarily have a tubular shape. On the contrary, this mast 1, made of plastic material which is extruded or injected, could advantageously have an S-shaped section, as shown in FIG. 6.

Such a solution makes it possible to obtain, by extrusion or by injection, masts having good rigidity, with a minimum of material.

Claims

claims

1. Umbrella with a simplified structure and at low cost price, this umbrella comprising a mast (1), one end of which serves as a handle (2), while the other end (4) constitutes a nozzle on which are articulated radial ribs (3), movable in axial planes between a deployed position and a folded position against the mast (1), and an umbrella cloth (6) fixed on said ribs (3), this umbrella also making use of a slide (7) mounted axially sliding on the mast (1) between an open position in which it abuts on the whales (3) while holding them in the deployed position, and a closed position in which the whales (3) can be disposed, in the folded position, against the mast (1), disconnectable locking means being furthermore provided to ensure temporary maintenance of the slide (7) in the open position, characterized in that the said decon blocking means nectables include a conformation of the slide (7) arranged so as to cooperate with a conformation of the ribs (3) to ensure, in the deployed position of the rain umbrella, both a locking of the ribs (3) in the deployed position and a temporary locking, in axial position, of the slide (7).

2. Umbrella according to claim 1, characterized in that the above disconnectable blocking means consist of means for blocking the slide (7) by self-pinching between the above ribs (3).

3. Umbrella according to claim 1, characterized in that the ribs comprise at least in their part adjoining the hinges (30) a reinforcement (31) one side of which, located on the side of the hinge, has a concave shape which cooperates with a convex shape of the above slide to ensure the above disconnectable blocking.

4. Umbrella according to claim 1, characterized in that the above-mentioned detachable blocking means involve recesses formed on the ribs (3) against which the upper edge (11) of the section (9) engages, in position opening the slide (7).

5. Umbrella according to claim 1, characterized in that the whales (3) and the mast (1) form a single piece made of soft plastic material.

6. Umbrella according to claim 1, characterized in that the ribs (3) are made in a single piece of molded plastic material connected to a central element, by means of portions of reduced thickness forming elastic hinges, said central element being fixed to the upper end of the mast (1).

7. Umbrella according to claim 6, characterized in that the aforesaid element is shaped so as to snap onto the upper end of the above mast (1).

8. Umbrella according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a hat coming to be fixed at the upper end of the mast, this hat presen¬ as a flange located so as to ensure an angu¬ blocking end of stroke whales, to avoid any possibility of the umbrella overturning.

9. Umbrella according to claim 8, characterized in that the mast is extended by a cylindrical piece (23) passing through the aforesaid central element carrying the ribs, this cylindrical piece having, at its end, axial cutouts delimiting tongues ( 26) radially and elastically deformable, terminated in a point by a conical part, the base forms an abrupt recess (28), and in that the cap comprises a cylindrical part which is fitted on the cylindrical part (23) and snaps onto it thanks to the engagement of abrupt recesses (28) with a bore recess (40) of the cylindrical part (23).

10. Umbrella according to claim 1, characterized in that the axial blocking of the slide (7) in the open position is completed by locking means involving:

- radial notches (13) formed in the ribs (3) and emerging at the level of the recesses (12), and

- Cleats (14) radially projecting from the upper edge of the slide, the locking being obtained by a rotation of the slide causing the engagement of the stops (14) in the notches (13).