GB2239794A

GB2239794A - Umbrella closure mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2239794A
Application number: GB9000911A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Su Tseng
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-01-16
Filing date: 1990-01-16
Publication date: 1991-07-17
Also published as: DE9000242U1; GB9000911D0

Abstract

An umbrella comprised a shaft 1, a runner 3 slidable along the shaft to open and close the umbrella, a stop 2 engageable by the runner when the umbrella is in an open condition, an operating member 13 slidable relative to the stop against the urging force of a spring for moving the runner away from the stop, a flexible elongate element 8 connected to the operating member and extending longitudinally of the shaft, and means 5, 64 remote from the operating member for applying tension to the flexible elongate member so that the operating member moves the runner away from the stop and the umbrella moves towards a closed condition. This umbrella can be closed easily and quickly without the need for a spring within the shaft. <IMAGE>

Description

AN UMBRELLA BACKGROUND OF TH INVENTION: The present invention relates Lo an improved umbrella, which can be closed easily and quickly without a spring provided inside the shaft.

In the prior art, there are two kinds of the umbrellas f)ne is a normal umbrella, which must be operated by user s both hands whenever in opening or closing manner This is obviously trouble for users. rhe other is a quick-open umbrella which can be opened by touching or pushing the button on the shaft. But this kind of the umbrella, ohen to be closed, is also needed the both hands of the user to operate. As everyone knows that it. is gently for user to open the umbrella to go outside.On the contrary, when the user walks in a rainy day to come inside, he is really disturbed for the reasons th:t much rain still leave on the umbrella, the width of the normal doors is smaller than the width of an opened umbrella, and/or the carried objects. if any, must be put on the wet round for closeing the umbrella. It is to be understood that ths real problem is in closing the umbrella instead of opening it, and the prior known designs are not utiliz'd.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: It iC: the purpose of this present invention theretore , to mitigate and/or obviate the above-mentioned drawbacks in the manner set forth in the description of the preferred embodiment.

4 primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improved assembly of a springless umbrella which can be closed easily and quickly.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus which is mainly suitable for providing on an umbrella having a wood shaft.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the umbrella in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sections1 view of the urnbi-olla in its opened manner according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the umbrella in its closed manner according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EtlBODItlEP Now please referring to the figures, it can be seen that this invention compl-ises ;1 wood shaft. (1), an upper ring (2), a runner (3), a stopper (4), a lower ring (5), and a handle (6). f longitudinal channel (11) is provided on one side of the shaft (1). The upper ring (2) is fixed on the shaft (1) by screwing the screw (21) into the hole (12) on the shaft. A rectangular channel (22) is provided on the upper ring (2j for receiving a L-piece (13) which has its horizontal portion extended outward and connects with a spring (14) thereon, wherein the upper end of the spring (14) is fixed on the shaft (1) by a screw (15).The runner (3), the stopper (4), and the lower ring (5) are provided around the shaft (1). The handle (6) engages with the lower end of tile shaft (1). The stopper (4) is fixed on the shaft (1) by a screw (41). A line (8) is provided along the channel (11) with its upper end connecting with the ].ower portion of the L-piece (13) and its lower end penetrating the inner of tl-e lower ring (5), the inclined end (51), and the hole (n < ) of the ring (5), after being coiled, then extendiny into the upper hole (61), side guilding hole (62), lower channel (63) of the handle (6), and fixed on the shaft (1) endly with a screw (66).

r-d button (64) has a snap locle (65) which can be elastically locked on the handle (6) and positioned in the concave (16) of the shaft (1). In use, man can open the umbrella br pushing the runner (3) upward and maintain the umbrella in the opened manner when the upper end of the runner (2) engages with the flange (23) of the upper ring (2) and the angle between the shaft (1) and the stretchers (9) i:, smaller than 90 degree. At this opened manner of the umbrella, the L-piece (13) is pushed to the highest position of the channel (22) by the runner (3). It is to be explained that the umbrella can be closed by two ways. One is to pull the lower ring (5) downward.Due to the line (8) is coiled beside the hole (52), it is to be pulled downward and pulls the L-piece (13) downward, which pulls the runner (3) moving downward a distance. The other way is to push the button (64). The side face of the snap lock (65) of the button (64) is to push the line (8) inward, which pulls the line (8) downward and has the same effect as pulling the ring (5) downward as shown in figure 2 to 3. When the runner (3) moves downward a distance, it looses the engagement between the runner (3) and the flange (23) of the upper ring (2), and changes the static angle between the shaft (1) and the stretchers (9). Due to the restored elastic force of the springs (7), the frames, and the covers, The umbrella can be closed quickly and automatically. This obtains the main purpose of the present invention to close the umbrella easily by only a single procedure, i.e. to pull the lower ring or to push the button with the user's either hand on the handle.

While the invention has been explained in relation to this preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that various modifications thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this specification. Thus, it will be most appreciated that the invention disclosed herein is intended to cover all such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An umbrella comprising a shaft, a runner slidable along the shaft to open and close the umbrella, a stop engageable by the runner when the umbrella is in an open condition, an operating member slidable relative to the stop against the urging force of spring means for moving the runner away from the stop, a flexible elongate element connected to the operating member and extending longitudinally of the shaft, and means remote from the operating member for applying tension to the flexible elongate member so that the operating member moves the runner away from the stop and the umbrella moves towards a closed condition.

2. An umbrella as claimed in Claim 1, wherein stretchers are pivotally connected at one end to the runner, and at an opposite end to frame members which support a canopy of the umbrella and the stretchers move beyond a position of maximum compression as the runner approaches the stop when the umbrella is opened and are moved back beyond said position of maximum compression as the runner is moved away from the stop by the operating member.

3. An umbrella as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the flexible elongate element extends for a large part along a channel provided in the shaft.

4. An umbrella as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the tension applying means comprises a sleeve slidable on the shaft at a position adjacent to a handle of the umbrella.

5. An umbrella as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tension applying means comprises a button depressible into a recess in the shaft.

6. An umbrella comprising a shaft, an upper ring, a runner, a stopper, a lower ring, and a handle; wherein a longitudinal channel is provided on the shaft and provides with a line inside, the upper ring fixed on the shaft having a rectangular channel for receiving therein a L-piece which connects with a spring fixed on the shaft thereon and with the said line at its lower portion; while the line having its lower end downward extendedly penetrating the stopper, the lower ring, the channel of the handle, and fixed on the shaft.

7. An umbrella as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the upper ring has a flange for engaging with the runner when it is opened.

8. An umbrella as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein a recess is provided in the lower portion of the shaft for receiving a button pushed inward and pulling the line downward.

9. An umbrella as claimed in Claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein the lower end of the lower ring has an inclined part and a hole where the line penetrating and coiled beside.

10. An umbrella as claimed in Claim 6, 7, 8 or 9, wherein an upper hole, a guiding hole, and a lower channel are provided inside the handle for preventing the pulled line from inclination or looseness.

11. An umbrella substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.