EP0760609B1

EP0760609B1 - Simplified powered umbrella

Info

Publication number: EP0760609B1
Application number: EP95920440A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Clyde C. Ii Grady
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-05-23
Filing date: 1995-05-22
Publication date: 2003-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 2015-05-22
Also published as: JPH10500594A; WO1995031913A1; DE69529521D1; EP0760609A4; EP0760609A1

Description

It is known in the art to construct umbrellas which open automatically with the manual release of a catch wherein the compression of a spring causes a hollow member, to which the ribs of the umbrella are attached, to move along a shaft extending through the hollow member. It is also known in the art to provide means for the biasing closed of the umbrella by spring However, the umbrellas of the art in general require the movement of the hand from one position to another in order to effect closing or even worse require the use of two hands. alternatively, or coincidentally, the user of such umbrellas which use springs to automatically open and close must remember to compress the spring each time before using the umbrella. Without this prior spring compression such existing umbrellas cannot even be opened, let alone closed.
Further, umbrellas previously disclosed in the art which opened and closed by means of electric motors powered by batteries had the disadvantage of being composed of many parts to allow for manual operation of the umbrella should the battery be discharged This large number of parts increased the cost of the umbrella. These umbrellas were also difficult to convert from the automatic to the manual mode because of their complexity.
From US 5 213 122 an umbrella is known which automatically opens and closes. The automatic opening and closing of the umbrella is accomplished by means of the rotation of a threaded rod which travels up and down the threaded rod. According to US 5 213 122 it was necessary, to reposition the pin exactly in the threaded nut.
It was the object of the present invention to provide an automatic umbrella wherein the need to reposition the pin exactly is eliminated.
This object is solved by the umbrella claimed in claim 1.
Figure 1 contains a sectional view of the umbrella mechanism in the prior art, which is provided with specific means for conserving battery power, wherein the umbrella ribs are shown in the open or extended position.
Figure 2 contains a sectional view of the umbrella mechanism in the prior art of Figure1 wherein the ribs 7 of embodiment 1 are in a closed position.
Figure 3 presents in sectional view Detail A of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a sectional view through a simplified embodiment of the powered umbrella 1 comprising the present invention wherein elements of the embodiment depicted in Figures 1, 2 and 3 including threaded nut 26, thumb shaft 25, collar 18, thumb spring 21, arm 22, pin 23 and thumbpiece 24, are replaced with a simplified collar 62, which houses a simplified thumb shafts 67A and 67B, which directly engage improved threaded rod 63 by extension through shaft slot 31.
Be it known that for clarity of presentation, in Figures herein in which the cloth 8 and the ribs 7 are depicted, that the multiplicity of ribs 7, and struts 2 are represented by only two such ribs7 and struts 2, while the cloth 8, is represented in sectional view only by two parallel lines.
In Figure 1 can be seen umbrella ribs 7, held in an open position by umbrella struts 2, wherein umbrella ribs, 7, are pivotally attached to end piece 3, wherein end piece 3, is affixed to hollow shaft 5. Strut 2, is pivotally attached to rib 7, at one end and strut 2, is pivotally attached at its opposite end to collar 18. Ribs 7 are covered by and attached to water repellent fabric 8.
Figure 1 depicts umbrella 1, of the prior art in which the opening and closing of the umbrella 1, is accomplished by the upward and downward movement of a threaded nut 26 which has been attached to collar 18 by means of thumb shaft 25 extending through shaft slot 31, in one piece shaft 5, such that when threaded rod 30, is threadably inserted and rotated the threaded nut 26, and consequently the collar 18, move upward and downward.
The location and extent of shaft slot 31, is shown in Figure 1 and in the sectional views of the Figures that follow by the absence of crosshatching in the cross-sectional view of hollow shaft 5.
As shown in Figure 1, the rotating shaft 29, of the bidirectional motor contained in motor housing 27, is attached to threaded rod 29. The motor housing 27, is attached by means of motor support 14, to the handle, 15. By means of electric circuitry commonly known in the art of electronics the potential energy stored in battery 28, can be used to make, with the movement of position switch 17, to one of its available positions, the drive shaft, 29, to rotate in a given direction causing the upward or downward motion of threaded nut 26. Movement of the position switch 17, to yet another position can be made to effect the rotation in the opposite direction of the drive shaft 29. This, of course, causes movement of threaded nut 26, and consequently of collar 18, in a direction opposite to that previously induced. In this manner the umbrella can be made to open and close automatically, where the open position of the umbrella is shown in Figure 1 and the closed position is shown in Figure 2.
Figure 1 further shows the threaded rod 30, to have an area of upper area of reduced diameter, 19, which has been formed on the rod 30, on its upper most end, wherein this area of reduced diameter is devoid of threads so that even though rod 30 is rotated the threaded nut 26, will not be urged further upward beyond the area 19. The function of this uppermost area of reduced diameter is to allow "unloading" of the electric motor in motor housing 27, when the threaded nut 26, reaches its uppermost position upon opening of the umbrella. It has been found that this improvement does not prematurely discharge the battery 28, and allows the use of a lower torque rating on the motor electric in motor housing 27, and at the same time extends the life of the electric motor in motor housing 27. However, this improvement still allows the threaded nut 26, to progress downward on the threaded rod 30, to the lowermost end of threaded rod 30 and thereby close the umbrella when the direction of rotation of the motor in motor housing 27, is reversed by reversing the direction of rotation of threaded rod 30, from the direction of rotation of the rod 30 used to open the umbrella.
There may be additionally provided at the lowermost end of the rod 30, a lowermost area of reduced diameter 11 of the rod 30, wherein this lowermost area of reduced diameter 11, is likewise not provided with threads but smooth in circumference. This lowermost area of reduced diameter 11, serves a function similar to those provided by the uppermost area of reduced diameter 19 with similar benefits.
The spring 12, shown in Figures 1 and 2 as attached at its lowermost end to a stationary positioner 13, which in turn fixed in its relative axial position on the rod 30 has been shown to aid in the restarting of the threaded nut 26, on the threaded portion of rod 30, when the threaded nut 26, is starting from the lowermost area of reduced diameter 11. Spring 12 can also be directly attached to the threaded rod 30 or simply allowed to attain the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 by mere gravity. The spring 12 is situated so that it is compressed upon movement of the threaded nut 26 onto the lowermost area of reduced diameter 11, and is of sufficient force to keep threaded nut 26 urged upward toward the threaded portion of rod 30 and hence allows smooth restarting of the threaded nut 26 on the threaded rod 30 when the electric motor in motor housing, 27, is actuated in the direction required to open the umbrella.
Further, in Figures 1 and 2, the threaded rod 30, is shown attached to the one piece shaft 5, by upper bearing 10 and stationary positioner 13 which respectively are fixed in upper support strut 9 and lower support strut 16, affixed to one piece shaft 5, wherein stationary positioner 13 also acts as a lower most bearing.
The threaded rod 30 turns freely by virtue of the upper most bearing 10 and lower stationary positioner 13. Drive shaft 29, transfers motive power from the motor contained in motor housing 27, to threaded rod 30, while reinforced motor support 14 insures adequate support of motor housing 27 and attaches it to handle 15.
Figure 3 shows in detail how an apparatus consisting of thumb shaft 25, thumbpiece 24, arm 22, pin 23 and thumb spring 21 can be used to attach collar 18 to threaded nut 26. Since thumb shaft 25, threadably inserts into cavity 6 by spring 21, when the battery, 28, expires, thumb shaft 25 can be detached from the threaded nut 26, and the collar 18 actuated manually to open and close the umbrella. Shaft 25 once so detached from threaded nut 26, can be inserted in properly placed holes (not shown) in one piece shaft 5, to manually secure the umbrella in either the open or the closed position. Thus, the umbrella can still be used in the manual mode even if the battery power is expended while it is raining.
Finally, it has been found more or less advantageous to the smooth operation of the umbrella embodiments 1, 1A, & 1B that the threaded rod, 30, be fabricated such that there at least two separate parallel threads which run along its length. The threaded nut, 26, must likewise be fitted with matching parallel threads, of course. These parallel threads are sometimes referred to as multiple leads. The use of multiple leads serves to, by some mechanism, keep the threaded nut, 26, from binding and becoming "cross-threaded" when trying to restart its travel on the threaded rod, 30, from the areas of reduced diameter, 19, and 11, at the uppermost and lowermost ends, respectively, of the threaded rod, 30.
According to the prior art shown in Figures 1 and 2 as well as the other embodiments 1A and 1B of the invention disclosed that motor housing, 27, may contain not only the electric motor itself, but also gearing which increases or decreases the revolutions per minute available from the motor itself in application to motor drive shaft, 29. Said motor housing, 27, may also contain any of various torque limiting devices as known in the art.
Figure 4 of the present invention discloses a simplified collar 62 encircled at one end by primary assembly ring 65 and secondary assembly ring 64 and at the alternate end encircled by tertiary assembly ring 66. Simplified collar 62, in a manner analogous to that of collar 18 of Figures 1, 2 and 3 encircles one piece shaft 5 and slides up and down thereon - thereby moving struts 2 which are attached to simplified collar 62, which in turn opens and closes the ribs 7 and canopy 8 attached to struts 2 but not shown in Figure 27.
Also illustrated in Figure 4, is the fact that simplified collar 62, houses 60A and 60B which hold pins 67A and 67B against improved threaded rod 63, by extension through shaft slot 31 in one piece shaft 5. Improved threaded rod 63 is attached to drive shaft 29, in a manner analogous to that previously explained for threaded rod 30 in connection with the previous explanation for Figures 1, 2 and 3. The motor housing 27, is attached by means of motor support 14, to the handle, 15. By means of electric circuitry commonly known in the art of electronics the potential energy stored in battery 28, can be used to make, with the movement of position switch 17, to one of its available positions, the motor drive shaft, 29, to rotate in a given direction causing the upward or downward motion of simplified collar 62. Movement of the switch 17, to yet another position can be made to effect the rotation in the opposite direction of the drive shaft, 29. This, of course, causes movement of simplified collar 62, in a direction opposite to that previously induced. In this manner the umbrella can be made to open and close automatically, where the open position of the umbrella is shown in Figure 1 and the closed position is shown in Figure 2.
Further, in connection with the embodiments shown in Figure 4: thumb levers 61A and 61B rotate about lever pins 69A and 69B, respectively, wherein said lever pins 69A and 69B thereby attach thumb levers 61A and 61B to improved collar 62. As also shown in Figure 4, thumb levers 61A and 61B protrude through openings 68A and 68B, respectively, in improved collar 62, to contact pins 67A and 67B respectively in such a manner that movement of thumb levers 61A and 61B in the proper direction depresses springs 60A and 60B to move pins 67A and 67B out of contact with improved threaded rod 63 thereby allowing the manual movement of improved collar 62 up and hollow umbrella shaft 5, to manually secure the umbrella in either the open or the closed position.
It has been found by experimentation also that although improved threaded rod 63 may take various configurations, the strength and size of springs 60A and 60B are minimized and operation facilitated by improved threaded rod 63 being configured to have at least the double lead configuration shown in Figure 4, wherein the threads of improved rod are manufactured to have a flank angle of zero degrees to formulate what is known to those in the art of making threaded rods as a square-edged thread flight.

Claims

An umbrella having a frame of interconnected ribs,7, covered by cloth, 8, and a means for the automatic opening and closing of the aforesaid ribs, 7, and cloth, 8, comprising:
a hollow shaft, 5, attached to the aforesaid ribs, 7, and cloth, 8, wherein said hollow shaft, 5, is provided with at least one slot, 31, extending therethru along a portion of its length;

a threaded rod, 63, extending through said hollow shaft, 5;

a collar, 62, which slides along the exterior surface of the aforesaid hollow shaft, 5,
wherein said collar, 62, is connected to the aforesaid ribs, 7 by means of struts 2 ;
at least one pin, 67A, attached to said collar, extending through at least one slot, 31, provided in the aforesaid hollow shaft, 5,
an electric motor contained in a motor housing, 27, wherein the motor housing, 27, is fixed relative to the aforesaid hollow shaft, 5, wherein the drive shaft 29, of said electric motor in motor housing, 27, is connected to the aforesaid threaded rod, 63;
a battery, 28, which provides electromotive energy for the aforesaid electric motor, in motor housing 27;
wherein, further, there is a provided a switch, 17, which in a first position regulates flow of electricity from the aforesaid battery, 28, such that the aforesaid drive shaft, 29, turns in a first direction which, in turn, rotates the aforesaid threaded rod, 63, thereby moving the aforesaid pin, 67A, and attached collar, 62, in a direction which forces the aforesaid cloth, 8, and ribs, 7, from the closed position to an open position.
wherein, placement of the said switch, 17, in a second position regulates the flow electricity from the aforesaid battery, 28, such the drive shaft, 29, turns in a second direction opposite to the said first direction, which, in turn, rotates the aforesaid threaded rod, 63, thereby moving the aforesaid pin, 67A, and attached collar, 62, in a direction which returns the said cloth, 8, and ribs, 7, to the closed position
characterized in that the threaded rod, 63, extending through said hollow shaft, 5 is fashioned with square edged flights;
said pin, 67A, is directly engageable with the threads with square edged flights on the aforesaid threaded rod, 63, without detachment from said collar, 62;
wherein, upon disengagement of the aforesaid pin, 67A, from said threaded shaft having threads with square edged flights, 63, said collar, 62, may be manually slid up and down the length of said hollow shaft, 5, to manually open and close said cloth, 8, and ribs, 7.