EP0784441B1 - Collapsible and portable device providing protection from the elements - Google Patents

Abstract

A collapsible and portable device for protecting persons from the elements. The device includes a handle (3) for grasping the device, and a protective canopy joined to the handle (3) via a fastening ring (6) and a set of ribs (11). The ribs (11) are slidable along the handle (3) via a slide ring and the protective canopy is stretched over the ribs (11). The protective device is remarkable in that at least one additional secondary canopy (2) is provided beneath the above-mentioned protective canopy (1) and may be extended by means of a corresponding set of ribs (12).

Description

The present invention relates to a folding object and protective laptop, especially for people, against exposure to climatic elements, such as umbrella or parasol.

To protect against solar radiation or against rain, snow or hail, it is known to use umbrellas or umbrellas respectively. The known type of folding object includes a handle topped a canvas or protective fabric, which can be deployed and stretched by sliding on the handle of a ring, called sliding, actuating a beam of whales.

One drawback of the classic umbrella or parasol is in the fact that the canvas can turn over under the effect gale or gust. Besides the fact that this is very annoying for the user, a reversal brutal canvas can even significantly damage the umbrella or parasol, going so far as to cause put out of use thereof, in particular because of a tearing of the canvas or of a folding, or even breakage, of a whale.

In addition, in the event of heavy rain or persistent rain, the canvas ends up getting completely wet and can see thus its effectiveness as regards reduced sealing.

French patent FR-A-392568 discloses a hygienic double canvas umbrella, each supported by a respective carcass. Thanks to the secondary fabric additional, better sealing is ensured for the user, because it forms a screen additional.

The umbrella which is described aims in particular to allow a improved ventilation while maintaining good protection from the elements, such as rays while offering only a frame of whales traditional with its support frame for each canvas. Primary and secondary carcasses are coupled together by a socket carrying their two nuts and sliding on the common handle of the umbrella. In addition, this frame includes a socket in the form of cylinder having at each of its two ends a connecting ring with each time a beam of respective mutually independent whales requiring for each beam a beam of opening ribs, which greatly increases the total number of whales. The total weight of the umbrella is found strongly increased and we are in the presence of a double-decker whale harness system thus constituting a rather complex structure.

The umbrella or umbrella described in the American document US-A-3,557,809 includes a frame or frame with a conventional general structure while presenting a series of notches receiving the inner ends elongated elements to allow movement at limited pivoting of these around the axes of the shaft of the handle. The chassis described in this document therefore offers the possibility of a mutual limited pivoting movement of the two fabrics resting on a relatively arrangement complex.

The object according to the present invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks, in particular by providing a solid construction protection object. The protective object includes a handle for grasping the object, a primary protective canvas, and a canvas additional secondary downstream of the aforementioned primary protection. Each canvas has a clean bundle of whales intended to support and tender the corresponding canvas. The bundle of whales primary also has a bundle of whales which are attached to each primary whale and arranged to slide, by the action of a means of sliding along the handle between a position of closing of said object and an open position for said protection. Said primary beams and secondary are arranged to cooperate with each other by means of cooperation. In order to remedy aforementioned drawbacks, the object proposed according to the invention is remarkable by the fact that the means of cooperation above are formed by a bundle of pairs of connecting whales joining each whale to one bundles of aforementioned whales secondary to each adjacent whale belonging to the other bundle of primary whales through said whale respective opening hours. In addition, each canvas is attached to the handle via a fixing ring arranged at the end upstream of the handle and the aforementioned sliding means is formed by a sliding ring.

The double frame consisting of the first and second bundles of whales cooperating with each other by means of connecting whales through a beam single opening whales allows to form a solid framework for the object of protection and to increase the resistance of the assembly. It ensures, in in addition, better resistance to winds coming in in the cavity formed by each deployed fabric. This gives the object of protection good stability in order to significantly reduce the risk of rollover the Web. In addition, the risk of dislocation or deformation by folding of whales is strongly decreases. This advantage is even more decisive in the case of large objects, such as parasols.

In addition, good coordination between the beams primary and secondary whale watching is provided by connecting whales thus allowing a joining of the two beams while limiting the number of whales thanks to the presence of a unique bundle of whales opening for the entire double frame beam. So while limiting the total weight of the object of protection within acceptable limits, a umbrella dysfunction is avoided.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, each canvas is arranged to extend symmetrically with respect to the handle, and more in particular, the secondary fabric has a opening which extends substantially centrally around the handle. This reduces the weight and the size of the object, which facilitates the closing. In addition, access to the different beams of whales is made more convenient.

Advantageously, a certain gap is provided between the edge of the central opening of the secondary fabric and the canvas adjacent to it and even a certain gap is provided between the outer edge of said fabric secondary and the primary canvas. In a way particularly advantageous, between each of said interstices is provided a respective passage. Thanks to the presence of the passages, the winds rushing into the cavity formed by the opening of the object are evacuated to the less in part by the different passages, which breaks the force of the winds, hunting on the inner surface paintings. Thus is significantly reduced the canvassing of the fabrics.

This results in the remarkable advantage that the risk of flipping the umbrella or umbrella is practically no. This is further reinforced by the fact that, by the presence of whales, the aforementioned passages constitute each of the drainage channels whose width corresponds apart between mutually adjacent whales. Therefore, the air mass entering the force is subdivided into several exhaust air streams, lower mass since shared. This therefore generates better wind evacuation, the formation of whirlpools being further countered and the stress canvases considerably better distributed.

Furthermore, this forced air circulation generates also a permanent drying process of the fabrics.

Additional features of the object according to the invention are defined in the other subclaims 6 to 22. Other advantages and peculiarities of the invention will emerge from the description of exemplary embodiments given below using the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates a bottom view of an object according to the invention in the open position.

Figure 2 illustrates a view of the frame of the object in intermediate semi-open position.

Figure 3 shows a schematic plan view of the armature of the object in the fully open position.

Figure 4 shows a view similar to Figure 3 from a certain angle.

Figure 5 shows a view similar to Figure 4 to enlarged scale.

Figures 6 to 8 schematically illustrate different intermediate whale positions.

Figure 9 illustrates a partial elevation view of a variant of the object according to FIG. 1.

In general, the invention relates to an object folding and portable umbrella and / or parasol type. The object is more particularly intended to provide a protection from exposure to the elements climatic conditions, such as rain and sun.

Figure 1 shows an open umbrella on the ground. The umbrella includes a handle 3 to which is attached a handle 34 and a first fabric 1 arranged so as to protect the user of the umbrella. By canvas, you must hear any piece of cloth generally used to the objects described here.

The first fabric 1 is stretched conventionally over a first bundle of whales 11 extending from a fixing ring 6 located at the point 5 of the umbrella, some distance from the end of this one. A sliding ring 7 is also arranged on the handle 3, downstream of the fixing ring 6. A bundle of opening whales 10 is still arranged so as to connect each whale 11 of the first beam to the sliding ring 7 each time in an extending plane radially from the handle in the traditional way.

According to the invention a second fabric 2 is provided downstream of the first 1 which is also supported by a second bundle of whales 12 corresponding. This one also extends from the fixing ring 6 to the outer edge of the second fabric 2. Each whales 12 of the second beam is connected to the sliding ring 7 via a second bundle of opening ribs 21, 22 also forming connecting whales between the first beam 11 of a part and the second beam 12 on the other hand.

Thus, the umbrella can be deployed and brought into the open position A by sliding according to direction of arrow G indicated in figure 2 of the ring sliding 7 from its rest position into a open position located between said position of rest and the fixing ring 6, at a certain distance of it. The sliding ring 7 is locked in said open position in a known manner, for example by a retractable pawl 46 in the handle 3 forming stop.

When the sliding ring 7 is caused to slide the along the handle 9 towards the point 5 thereof, the opening whales 10; 21, 22 attached to the ring 7 are trained to follow, at one of their ends, the axial sliding movement G. The sliding of said end of the opening ribs 10; 21.22 drives the first and second canvas whales 11, 12 of the respective primary and secondary beams to which they are connected by a link articulation 41; 42 at their opposite ends respective, in a pivoting movement following the direction indicated by arrow H, figure 2, in a radial plane around the point of connection of each whale of fabric 11, 12 to the fixing ring 6. This movement of coordinated pivoting of each of the canvas whales 11, 12 towards point 5 brings the first and second fabrics 1, 2 to be stretched on a double frame 47 consisting of the first and second beams of whales 11, 12 cooperating with one another by means of whales opening 10 and connecting 21, 22 intermediate. This double frame 47 forms a solid frame for the umbrella and gives it good stability in order to significantly reduce the risk of rollover the Web. In addition, the risk of dislocation or deformation by folding of whales is strongly decreased, which is also the case for a damage to one of the fabrics 1, 2 due to a dislocation or deformation of whale.

The addition of at least a second fabric 2 increases in in addition to sealing, by compensating for any loss sealing of the first upstream fabric caused by complete water saturation thereof. So the umbrella is made more efficient and the comfort of user 50 is thereby improved.

In the case of the parasol, the addition of at least one second canvas 2 forms an additional sunscreen. When night falls, it constitutes a additional protection against falling humidity. In in addition, the reinforced frame 47 with double beam such as described above constitutes a strong framework robust and thus particularly advantageous in the case of large parasols.

As shown in Figure 1, it is advantageously provided in the secondary fabric 2 an opening 4, which is arranged substantially centrally around the handle 3. Thus, the weight of the second canvas can be significantly reduced, depending on the size of the opening 4. In addition, this prevents the accumulation of canvas material at point 5, which reduces the size of the canvas at this location in the state of closing the umbrella. It follows that the operation of closing of the umbrella with multiple canvas is made more convenient. In addition, Figure 1 clearly illustrates that opening 5 allows easy access to double frame 47 of the umbrella with multiple canvas, for the verification and / or maintenance thereof 47.

Figure 1 also shows the arrangement of a gap 8 between the inner edge 28 of the second canvas 2 and the inner surface 31 of the first canvas 1. Preferably, a gap 9 is also provided between the outer edge 29 of the secondary fabric 2 and the primary fabric 1, so that a passage 89 is formed between said interstices 8 and 9 when the umbrella is in the open state A. This constitutes a quite remarkable advantage of the canvas umbrella multiple because thus, any risk of overturning the umbrella is practically eliminated. Indeed, even a strong wind rushing into the cavity of the umbrella in the direction of the arrow designated by reference E finds a natural exit route through the aforementioned passage. This is preferably made up of several divergent channels 32, 31, each delimited by a pair of adjacent secondary whales 12.

As a result, the incoming air flow E, which can represent a large mass, is broken down into a multitude of outgoing air flows represented by arrows S1, S2, S4, each of significantly lower mass, which has a regularizing and stabilizing effect on the umbrella. This stabilizing effect is further reinforced by the fact that the speed of the incoming air is, as for it, also broken down into several speeds of sizes and especially of different orientations of a channel to another, as shown in Figure 1. Thus, the air currents S1, S2, S4 attenuate mutually which has a reducing effect on the forces in the presence. Therefore, a balance is struck and the stability of the umbrella is reinforced with, in in addition, a decrease in the solicitation thereof due in the wind. We will usefully refer to the differences in respective plots between the arrows E on the one hand and the arrows designated by S1, S2, S4 on the other hand.

An additional advantage of the layout of the passage mentioned above, preferably subdivided into channels, resides in the drying process of each fabric 1, 2 that it generates at the height of the canvas surfaces which are in contact with the outgoing air flows S1, S2, S4, ...

Yet another advantage resulting from the passage, which is considerably reinforced by the channeling of flows of air, consists in the very clear decrease in swirls under the umbrella, which also has a stabilizing effect on the balance thereof.

For the parasol, there is in parallel the advantage that the circulation of small air currents in the channels can form an insulating mattress, which reinforces the sunshade insulation and protection function solar radiation. By conferring a profile diverge according to the direction of the arrows S1, S2, S4, ..., between fabrics 1 and 2, we can obtain the aforementioned effect air circulation in the channels even in the absence of wind, which can give a slight sensation of freshness to people under the umbrella. The divergent profile mentioned above can be obtained for example by combining first and second fabrics 1, 2 of different curvature, especially by choosing for the downstream web 2 a more pronounced curvature than for the upstream canvas 1.

Air circulation is favored by the presence 8 small internal gaps that ensure good air draft with the pressure gradient in each channel thus generated.

According to a profile variant, the aforementioned passage could, if necessary, also be carried out with a converging appearance.

In order to ensure good coordination between the first and second bundles of whales 11, 12 it is advantageous to provide a bundle of connecting whales 21, 22 connecting each whale 12 of the second beam to each adjacent whale 11 belonging to the first beam. By thus joining the two beams of whales 11, 12, we prevent a malfunction of the umbrella. The connection is preferably made in one first connection zone 35 at the level of the ring sliding and in a second opposite connecting zone 42, at the opposite end.

In order to reinforce the solidity of the connection device 10; 21, 22 between the two bundles of whales 11, 12, each connecting whale 21, 22 is brought into contact with the corresponding opening whale over a distance predetermined link area 35 as well as is clear from Figure 3 and Figures 6 to 8.

The arrangement of the connecting whales 10; 21, 22 describes above provides an overall configuration as shown in Figure 3. This is a configuration of connecting ribs in rosette 100. This configuration is particularly harmonious with the symmetrical rotation offset arrangement around the handle of the two bundles of canvas whales 11, 12 between them, especially halfway between whales adjacent to the same beam. This arrangement allows besides significantly increasing the useful area of cover provided by the umbrella. Umbrellas traditional appear hollow areas 91 between the outer ends 37 of their whales 11 offering no cover to the user. Thanks to the aforementioned rotationally offset arrangement of different fabrics 1, 2, said hollow zones 91 are largely occupied by prominent areas 92 beyond the outline of base fabric 1, which increases the protected area for the sheltering user under the umbrella as it is clear from the figure 3.

The visual effect is shown in Figure 3. The lines on the one hand represent the contours 19, 29 of canvases 1 and 2 respectively outside and on the other hand fold lines preferential 28 of the secondary fabric 2 when it these are interior features as visible on the figure 3. If necessary, the lines 28 could represent each of the link whales similar to those 21, 22 mentioned above. Each of these additional link whales 28 would link the outer end 38 of a secondary whale 12 to the outer end 41 of an opening whale 10 adjacent. This doubly reinforced frame 47, 28 would be ideal for very large parasols size thanks to the imposing frame it would constitute so. The visual effect seen from below is illustrated in Figure 3 and reveals a very special double rosette structure 100, 200.

In order to make the arrangement of the connecting whales 21, 22 more convenient, they have a lamellar appearance so that they can be better wedged against the whale corresponding opening 10 in their contact area mutual 35 and thus make their mutual contact easier.

A leaf spring effect represented schematically by the arrow designated by F is thus obtained thanks to the particular structure, which gives a certain elasticity to the whale system and provides some flexibility when opening and / or closing the umbrella, which is represented schematically by the arrows P and F in Figures 6 to 8 which illustrate this special feature of whale flexibility connecting 21, 22 and opening 10 between them, in the positions of maximum deviation B, intermediate C and of closure D. This is particularly advantageous for heavier umbrellas and / or parasols, thus compensating for a greater weight. The commodity usage is improved.

Figures 4 and 5 each represent double armature 47 in open position A, the last in enlarged.

Figure 9 shows the top of an umbrella, the canvas 1 ending in a point surmounted 39. Thanks to the arrangement of an elastic means, for example a spring, on the tip 5 of the umbrella at the height of the fixing ring 6 downstream of this, a point extension 39 of the primary fabric 1 towards the point 5 of the object.

To this end, the fixing ring 6 may have a upstream part not shown releasable sliding limited on point 5 towards the end thereof from the remaining part of the ring which is fixed. Said releasable part cooperates with the spring.

Thus the ribs 11, 12 remain fixed on the ring of fixing 6 and the releasable ring part can be released and passed to the point leading with it the canvas top peeling off locally in relation to whales at tip height to allow rise of the top of canvas overhanging 39 providing thus a surprising effect.

It should also be noted that whales can be made of a metallic elastic material or also resistant and low density synthetic way to get an umbrella, parasol or parasol strongly reduced. So the weight of a next umbrella can the invention be made barely heavier than a traditional umbrella with a deviation not exceeding 10% for example, or even barely 5% by weight.

It is understood that the protection conferred by this patent application is by no means limited to the modes of exemplary achievement cited above and that it extends to the scope of the claims below.

Thus, the present invention also encompasses objects of protection with multiple asymmetrical fabrics of form variable.

Claims (22)

1. Foldable and portable device for the protection, more particularly of persons, from the exposition to climatic elements comprising :

   a handle (3) for holding the device

   a primary protecting canopy (1), and a secondary additional canopy (2) located beneath aforesaid primary protecting canopy (1),

   each cover (1, 2) being associated with its own bundle of ribs (11, 12) for supporting and stretching the corresponding cover,

   the bundle of primary ribs (11) presenting furthermore a bundle of rods for the opening (10) which are joined to each of the primary ribs (11) and which can slide along the handle between a close position (D) of said device and an open position (A) , to allow said protection

   said primary and secondary bundle (11,12) being arranged in order to mutually cooperate via cooperation means,

      characterised in that the aforesaid cooperation means result from a bundle of pairs of linking rods (21, 22), joining each rib of one of the aforementioned secondary rib bundle (12) to each adjacent rib (11) being part of the other primary rib bundle by the intermediacy of said corresponding respective rod (10) for opening, in that each canopy (1, 2) is joined to the handle (3) via a fastening ring (6) provided at the upper extremity of the handle (3), and in that the aforesaid sliding means is in the form of a slide ring.
2. Device providing climatic protection according to claim 1, characterised in that each canopy (1, 2) is provided such as to extend symmetrically in relation to the handle (3) and in that the secondary canopy (2) exhibits a gap (4) extending in a substantially centralised manner around the handle.
3. Device providing climatic protection according to claim 2, characterised in that there is provided a certain space between the edge (28) of the central gap (4) of the secondary canopy (2) and the canopy (1) adjacent to this secondary canopy.
4. Device providing climatic protection according to one of the claims 2 or 3, characterised in that a certain space (9) is provided between the external edge (29) of said secondary canopy (2) and the canopy (1) adjacent to said secondary canopy.
5. Device providing climatic protection according to claims 3 and 4, characterised in that between each said spaces (8) and (9) is provided a respective passageway (89).
6. Device providing climatic protection according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that said canopies (1, 2) exhibit mutually differing curvatures when the device is open (A).
7. Device providing climatic protection according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the primary canopy (1) exhibit a curvature which is more pronounced that the curvature of the secondary canopy (2) when the device is open (A).
8. Device providing climatic protection according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that said means (21, 22) for cooperation between primary and secondary sets (11, respectively 12) maintains together the opening rods (10) of primary ribs (11) with the secondary ribs (12) in a first linking zone (35) extending from the slide ring (7) and in a second linking zone (42).
9. Device providing climatic protection according to claim 2, characterised in that said gap (4) is circular with a diameter corresponding to said second linking zone in such a way to make apparent the linking rods (21, 22).
10. Device providing climatic protection according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the diameter of said opening (4) is comprised between 1/4 and 3/4, preferably between 1/3 and 2/3 of the total diameter of said secondary canopy (2).
11. Device providing climatic protection according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the aforementioned linking ribs (21, 22) are mutually arranged to form a rose (100), if necessary , respectively a double rose (200).
12. Device providing climatic protection according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that the each linking ribs (21, 22) exhibit a rectangular transverse section in order to present a lamellar aspect extending in a plane substantially radial in aforesaid each linking zone (35,42).
13. Device providing climatic protection according to anyone of the claims 8 to 12, characterised in that in the first aforementioned linking zone (35), each linking rib (21,22) is contacting the corresponding opening 10 on a predetermined length in order to for a leaf spring (P) on said length.
14. Device providing climatic protection according to the preceding claim, characterised in that each linking rod (21, 22) has a length varying between 1/4 and 3/4, preferably between 1/3 and 2/3 of the length of the ribs (12) of the secondary bundle.
15. Device providing climatic protection according to anyone of the claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the bundles of primary and secondary ribs (11, 12) are mutually offset in relation to rotational symmetry about the handle (3).
16. Device providing climatic protection according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the magnitude of said offset between the adjacent bundles (11, 12) is half the distance between adjacent ribs belonging to the same bundle.
17. Device providing climatic protection according to anyone of the preceding claim, characterised in that the external tips (37, 38) of the ribs (11,12) belonging to mutually adjacent bundles are located substantially along a circle of identical radius in the open state (A) of the device.
18. Device providing climatic protection according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that there is provided a resilient means on the tip (5) of the device at the level of the fastening ring (6), beneath said ring, in order to allow the presence of a sharp extension (39) of the primary canopy (1) towards the tip (5) of the device.
19. Device providing climatic protection according to claim 18, characterised in that the resilient means is a spring, said fastening ring exhibiting a lower movable part able to slide on the tip (5) and cooperating with the aforementioned ring.
20. Device providing climatic protection according to anyone of the preceding claims characterised in that the device is a umbrella, a parasol, or a sunshade.
21. Device providing climatic protection according to anyone of the preceding claims characterised in that each piece of primary canopy (1), defined by an adjacent pair of ribs (12) and supported in an essentially median way by a primary rib (11), exhibit the general pattern of a tree leaf of a quadrilateral contour.
22. Frame comprising several mutually cooperating bundles of ribs , for use in the device according to anyone of the claims 1 to 21.

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