EP2305059A1

EP2305059A1 - Stand-alone umbrella

Info

Publication number: EP2305059A1
Application number: EP09793980A
Authority: EP
Inventors: José Ramón Arenas Garcia
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-07-11
Filing date: 2009-04-30
Publication date: 2011-04-06
Also published as: ES2351246B1; WO2010004072A1; US20110088734A1; EP2305059A4; ES2351246A1; CN102149298A

Abstract

Stand-alone umbrella formed by a cover (1) which houses internal tubes (3) mounted inside the cover (1) on guides (2), being joined at its top end to an oscillating arm (4), the latter being in turn joined to a body (5) which has three sliders (19, 20 and 21) to which the rods (27, 28 and 29) are joined, the rear top slider (20) and the bottom slider (21) being joined to a cable (15) which is arranged along the length of the body (5) and the oscillating arm (4), and the ends of the cable (15) being joined to an arm slider (16) which is in turn joined to the middle plate (9) by means of tie-rods (17), the body (5) having at one of its ends rear rods (30) joined to a rotating element and at the other end a pulling device (8).

Description

Object of the invention

The present invention relates to a folding umbrella which can be carried for the user hold on the back.

Field of the invention

This invention is applicable within the industry dedicated to the manufacture of umbrellas and parasols, specifically in the auxiliary industry of umbrellas with folding handles.

Background of the invention

It is common that umbrellas, with or without folding handle, have certain inconveniences to users, as having to be carried with one hand, make impossible the use of both hands at once. It must be taken into account that people in wheelchairs, crutches or people who push strollers need two hands free for the handling, and in case of rain, this gives rise a problematic situation for these people.
It's known in this sector of the industry some models which not contribute to the state of the art the novel features proposed by the present invention. Thus, the document ES281276Y describes an umbrella, which parabola has and elliptical shape, with a greater horizontal width, with the possibility of use by two people at the same time with certain comfort. The elliptical parabola-type umbrellas present the disadvantage of occupying a large space, causing embarrassing situation. The document U0217628 proposes an umbrella with non-automatic folding handle with cumbersome use. The umbrellas with non-automatic folding handle require time enough for its opening, being wet thus the user in the rain. The document ES216848 informs about an umbrella of extensible handle which, although smaller when folded, must be carried manually. Also, the document U0124048 describes the opening and closing of an automatic-shape umbrella but manual handling. The document U0184756 describes an umbrella with articulated rods, which can be opened in different ways and at different angles, but its use is complicated and present the disadvantage that its opening is too long, time enough for the user receives the effect of the rain. Analogously, the document ES 2223398 T3 relates to the joint of the rods and a peculiar form for its extension. The document ES 1039207 U describes a design of ovoid-shape umbrella, of questionable advantage over standard umbrellas, and furthermore presents a large occupation of space.
Further, all these documented systems of umbrellas presents against the proposed invention the disadvantage of the need of being carried by the user using the hands, giving rise various inconveniencies, e.g. situations of neglect and above all, have always one hand occupied.
There are documents that describe umbrellas which are transported attached to backpacks, but they are still umbrellas with conventional opening, and they present the problem that in order to open them, it must be get ride of the backpack. Furthermore, the central axis of the umbrella is not the same of the user and, thereby, does not accomplish correctly its protective function.

Description of the invention

The invention described in this specification provides answers to the above issues and consisting of an umbrella with a mechanical system for opening whose utility can be many varied, having the advantage that both the opening and the closing of the umbrella is made with one hand. The entire set is housed in a cover to which can be joined a harness or can be adapted to be carried in a backpack. The umbrella can be opened o closed without the need of removing said harness of backpack, only with a simple arm movement. In case of rain, the umbrella is carried open, hold to the back and without using the hands.
The invention is formed by a structure of tubes and guides, and by actuating and movement elements, which deploy and fold the rods of the umbrella.
The structure consist of a pair of parallel tubes, which are referred to as internal tubes, which are linked in parallel and severally at the bottom of a bottom plate and at its centre by a middle plate. The cover has attached inside a pair of parallel grooved tubes, which are referred to as guides, to which are adjusted the internal tubes and by which can slide. The sliding of the internal tubes out of the cover is limited by a stop or stop element placed inside the cover. Said internal tubes are connected by joints to another pair of tubes, which are referred to as oscillating arm. The oscillating arm can carry a long piece, which is referred to as arm guide. The oscillating arm is connected by a joint to a body formed by a pair of guides, one upper and other lower, and also by a mechanical-type connection for deployment of rods that, preferably, will be gear teeth. Some will be fixed on the oscillating arm, and others will be in the body and rotate freely. The upper guide of the body and the lower guide of the body are separated by a certain distance. The end of the body opposite to the union with the oscillating arm has a pulling device, which will be the element that is held with the hand in order to open and close the umbrella. The part of the body which has the pulling device, it will be considered as front of the body and the part that is joined to the oscillating arm, as rear part of the body.
When the structure is deployed, this is out of the cover and is fasten thereto by the part of the internal tubes which is inside the cover when these have been reached their top. In this situation, the oscillating arm will be in aligned position with the internal tubes, and the body will form an approximate angle of 90° regarding to the oscillating arm. When the structure is deployed, the set is inside the cover, the oscillating arm is folded over the internal tubes and the body is folded over the oscillating arm.
The actuating and movement elements are arranged to deploy the rods of the umbrella at the moment in which the structure is get out of the cover. A group of rods is joined to the body by a fixed rotary union, and three sliders which slip along the body by rotary union. Two sliders are located in the upper guide of the body, and a third, in the lower guide. The movement of these rods will be both rotation and translational. The displacement of two of the sliders, one located in the upper guide of the body and the other located in the lower guide, is achieved by a cable to which the sliders are joined. The cable forms a closed circuit and is placed along the body and the oscillating arm, preferably along the arm guide. The slider located in the front part of the upper guide is moved due to the displacement of the other slider located in the upper guide. At the end of the oscillating arm, which is joined to the internal tubes, and at each end of the body there is a series of pulleys which help to the displacement of the cable. The ends of said cable are joined to a movable part, referred to as arm slider. The oscillating arm can have an arm guide along which would be moved the arm slider. Tie-rods connect the arm slider with the middle plate. Another pair of rods is joined to a rotating element in the rear part of the body, preferably to the gear teeth of the body.
When the structure is deployed, the arm slider makes that the cable pulls the sliders of the body, causing that the sliders located in the upper guide of the body are displaced toward the front part of the body, and that the slider located in the lower guide is displaced toward the rear part of the body. This causes that the rods of the umbrella attached to sliders, are opened and spread. The rotating movement of the body when is deployed, makes that the rods attached in its rear part turn approximately 200° and then they are deploy. The rotating movement of these rods is transmitted preferably by means of gear teeth. When the umbrella is open, said rods turn in a near vertical plane to the floor, and the rods attached to the sliders turn and are deployed, in a horizontal plane to the body. When the structure is folded, the sliders are moved in opposite direction to the earlier, which causes that the rods attached to that are closed and gathered. The rods attached to the rear part of the body are gathered turning in opposite direction to the opening.
In order to ease the opening of the umbrella, the body carries the pulling device in the front of the body. When the umbrella is closed, and therefore is inside the cover, the pulling device stick up slightly in order to can hold it with comfort. Once the umbrella is placed on the back, when the pulling device is powered up, the deployment of the structure is generated, whose final movement is completed when the rods are completely deployed, leaving the umbrella open. When close the umbrella is desired, the pulling device is pushed back and the structure is deployed, being closed the umbrella and being leaving housed inside the cover. In order to ease the fold and keeping of position of the structure when it is deployed, in the part of union between the internal tubes and the oscillating arm are placed springs misaligned regarding to the vertical.
Once the umbrella is opened, the design of the structure makes that the umbrella is positioned so as protect completely to the user.
Also the invention has the possibility of can be coupled to backrests for wheelchairs or strollers, it can be used not only as umbrella but also as parasol.
The features and advantages of the invention will become clearly apparent from the detailed description that follows in a preferred form of embodiment, given only by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying figures.

Description of the drawings

In order to complete the present description, and with the object to help to a better comprehension of the characteristics of the invention, it is accompanied to the present specification a series of figures with illustrative and non limitative character.

Figures 1, 2, and 3 represent schematically three positions of the structure in the opening and closing process of the umbrella.
Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the structure.
Figure 5 shows a side view of the body.
Figure 6 shows a side view of the oscillating arm and the springs.
Figure 7 shows, in side view, the cable run.
Figures 8, 9, and 10 show the deployment of rods attached to the sliders, seen from the top.
Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14 show the deployment of the rods attached to the rear part of the body.
Figure 15 shows the umbrella open.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

The detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention is going to be carried out hereinafter with the help of the accompanying drawings, through of which are used the same numerical references for designate the equal o similar parts, and takes into account the explanation exposed of the invention.
In the figure 1, it can be seen a schematic lateral view of the cover (1) and its content. The umbrella is folded inside, sticking up the pulling device (8) in the upper opening of the cover (1). The guides (2), internal tubes (3), oscillating arm (4) and body (5) are observed. The internal tubes (3) are joined to the oscillating arm (4) by joint with pins (6) and, in turn, the oscillating arm (4) is joined to the body (5) by joint with the pin (7).
In the figure 2, it can be seen the development of the position of the structure in a middle step of the opening or closing process of umbrella. The internal tubes (3) has been displaced vertically being slide along the guides (2), and both the oscillating arm (4) and the body (5) are in a deployment position in case of opening of the umbrella, or folded in case of closing of the umbrella.
In the figure 3, it shows the position that keeps the structure completely deployed.
In the figure 4, it can be seen a schematic perspective view of the structure and the mechanism in deployed position. The internal tubes (3) have been displaced along the guides (2) until de stop (10) and they are attached severally by the bottom plate (9) and the middle plate (11). The stop (10) delimits the advance of the internal tubes (3) when makes contact with the bottom plate (9). The internal tubes (3) are joined to the oscillating arm (4) by pins (6). The oscillating arm (4) is joined to the body (5) by the pin (7). In the front part of the body (5), the pulling device (8) is observed. The movement among the oscillating arm (4) and the body (5) transmits movement to the teeth of the mobile gear (13) through a fixed gear (12). The upper guide of the body (5) carries two top sliders (19, and 20) and the lower guide carries a bottom slider (21). The sliders (19, 20 and 21) are moved along the body (5), and said movement is provided by a cable (15) to which are connected the top slider (20) and the bottom slider (21). The ends of the cable (15) are connected by an arm slider (16). The cable (15) is placed along the body (5) and an arm guide (14) which forms part of the oscillating arm (4). The arm slider (16) is displaced along the arm guide (14). Tie-rods (17) connect the arm slider (16) with the middle plate (11). The end of the arm guide (14) of the oscillating arm (4) holds a pulley (18).
In the figure 5 the body (5) is observed in more detail. The union among the oscillating arm (4) and the body (5) is carried out with the pin (7). The fixed gear (12) which is located in the oscillating arm (4), makes that the mobile gear (13) located in the body (5) is moved both in the folded and in the deployed. The upper guide of the body (5) has two top sliders (19, and 20) which are moved along the body, and the lower guide a bottom slider (21) which is also moved along the body (5). The top sliders (19 and 20) are also slide along a stop-guide (22) which helps to the coordination of its movements and is fixed to the body (5) at its ends. When the umbrella is opened, the cable (15) causes that the rear top slider (20) is displaced in direction of the pulling device (8), and the bottom slider (21) in the opposite direction. When the umbrella is closed, the cable (15) makes that the rear top slider (20) be displaced in the opposite direction to the pulling device (8), and the bottom slider (21), in the direction of the pulling device (8). The right coordination of these movements is fundamental for the deployment and folded of the umbrella.
In the figure 6, it can be seen the spring (23), which helps to keep the right position of the oscillating arm (4) regarding to the internal tubes (3). When the umbrella is opened, the spring helps to maintain the position. When the umbrella is being closed, the spring helps to the fold. The spring (23) is misaligned regarding to the rotation axis.
In the figure 7, it can be seen the run that makes the cable (15). The set of pulleys (18, 24, 25, and 26), both at the end of the arm guide (14) and in each end of the body (5), helps to avoid the friction en the cable (15). The front top slider (19) is not connected to the cable.
In the following figures 8, 9, and 10, the deployment of the rods of the sliders (19, 20, and 21) is showed. Both in the fold and in the deployment, all rods are moved synchronously.
In the figure 8, it is show the relation among the displacement of the rear top slider (20) along the body (5) and the opening or closing of the rods (27), and how that displacement transmits movement to the rods (27), which are attached to the rear top slider (20) through a rotating point, and to the body (5) through a fixed rotating point. In the deployment, the rear top slider (20) moves toward to the pulling device (8) and the rods (27) are deployed. In the fold, the rear top slider (20) moves back in opposite direction to the pulling device (8) and the rods (27) are folded.
In the figure 9, it is shown the relation among the displacement of the bottom slider (21) along the body (5) and the opening or closing of the rods (28), and how that displacement transmits movement to the rods (28), which are attached to the bottom slider (21) through a rotating point, and to the body (5) through a fixed rotating point. In the deployment, the bottom slider (21) moves in opposite direction to the pulling device (8) and the rods (28) are deployed. In the fold, the bottom slider (21) moves back in opposite direction to the pulling device (8) and the rods (28) are folded.
In the figure 10 it is shown the relation among the displacement of the top sliders (19, and 20) along the body (5) and the opening or closing of the rods (29), and how that displacement transmits movement to the rods (29), which are attached to the top sliders (19, and 20) through rotating points. In the deployment, both top sliders (19, and 20) moves in direction to the pulling device (8). The front top slider (19) moves until a final stop of run. The rear top slider (20) continues with the advance and the rods (29) are deployed. In the fold, the top sliders (19, and 20) moves back in opposite direction to the pulling device (8). The front top slider (19) moves back until a final stop of run and the rear top slider (20) continues with the backward movement, making that the rods (29) are folded.
The figures 11, 12, 13, and 14 show the movement of the rear rods (30), which is carried out preferably by means of a teeth of a mobile gear (13).
The figure 11 shows, in a top view, the rear rods (30) in folded position hold to the teeth of the mobile gear (13), located in the rear part of the body (5).
The figure 12 shows, in a top view, the rear rods (30) in deployed position due to the rotation of the teeth of the mobile gear (13), located in the body (5). The opening angle is produced due the tension of the cloth of the umbrella.
The figure 13 shows a side view of the oscillating arm (4) and the body (5) in folded-position. The fixed gear teeth (12) of the oscillating arm (4) are in contact with the teeth of the mobile gear (13) of the body (5). The rear rods (30) are mounted on the body (5) and are held to the mobile gear (13).
The figure 14 shows a side view of the oscillating arm (4) and the body (5) in deployed position. The rear rods (30) have rotated about 200° in opposite direction to the position of the handle (8) by means of the movement between the fixed gear (12) and the mobile gear (13)
Figure 15 is a perspective view of the unfolded umbrella.
It is to be understood that the invention has been described according to a preferred embodiment thereof, and therefore it can be susceptible of modifications, provided that not involve any alteration of the invention, affecting such modifications to the shape, size or manufacturing materials.

Claims

Stand-alone umbrella, characterized in that is formed by a cover (1) which houses a structure with internal tubes (3) mounted on guides (2) inside the cover (1) and joined severally in its top end by a bottom plate (9) and in its middle part by a middle plate (11), being said internal tubes (3) joined at its top to an oscillating arm (4) by pins (6) and being joined the oscillating arm (4) by pin (7) to a body (5) formed by two guides, one upper and other lower, and also the umbrella is formed by a series of elements which transmit movement, consisting of two top sliders (19, and 20) located in the upper guide of the body (5) and a bottom slider (21) located in the lower guide of the body (5) and that have attached the rods (27, 28, and 29), being the rear top slider (20) and the bottom slider (21) connected to a cable (15) which is placed along the body (5) and of the oscillating arm (4) around of a series of pulleys (18, 24, 25, and 26) located at a end of the oscillating arm (4), preferably in an arm guide (14) and at each end of the body (5) and being joined the ends of the cable (15) to an arm slider (16) which in turn is joined to the middle plate (11) by means of tie-rods (17), the body (5) having at the union end with the oscillating arm (4) the rear rods (30) joined to a rotating element, preferably teeth of the mobile gear (13) located in the rear part of the body (5) and which connect preferably to the teeth of the fixed gear (12) located in the oscillating arm (4), having also the body (5) a pulling device (8) in the front area.
Stand-alone umbrella according to the first claim, characterized in that the rods (27) are joined to the rear top slider (20) through rotating points and to the body (5) through fixed rotating points, the rods (28) are joined to the bottom slider (21) through rotation points and to the body (5) through fixed rotating points and the rods (29) are joined to the top sliders (19, and 20) through rotating points.
Stand-alone umbrella according to the first claim, characterized in that between the oscillating arm (4) and the internal tubes (3) are placed misaligned springs (23) regarding to the rotation axis.
Stand-alone umbrella according to the first and second claims, characterized in that the top sliders (19 and 20) are slipped over a stop-guide (22) fixed to the body (5) at its ends.