GB2256133A

GB2256133A - Umbrella cushioning member

Info

Publication number: GB2256133A
Application number: GB9111423A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Toshio Okuda
Original assignee: Totes Inc
Current assignee: Totes Inc
Priority date: 1990-06-01
Filing date: 1991-05-28
Publication date: 1992-12-02
Also published as: DE4117412A1; GB9111423D0

Description

, 2-, 61 -5,5 I- -I- UMBRELLA CUSHION This invention relates to umbrellas.

More particularly, this relates to cushions of the type particularly used with automatic or self opening umbrellas.

It is known to the prior art to use a cushion between an umbrella's runner and crown, and/or between upper and lower runners, particularly in connection with spring loaded, self-opening umbrellas. The objecive is to cushion opening forces created in response to the spring loaded upward movement of the runner(s) when the self-opening unbrella, is opened. This prior art cushion is are in the form of a coil compression spring located between the crown and the runner, and/or between upper and lower runners as shown in Fig. 13. The u.mbrella industry is a laborin tensive industry, and it is desirable to reduce the 'labor and parts costs when possible. The cushioning coil compression springs mentioned above constitute relatively expensive parts, and are relatively difficult to handle in a5sembly, compared to the cushion of this invention.

Therefore, the primary objective of this Invention Is to provide a cushion for an umbrella and. particularly, a self-opening umbrella, which includes a tubular sleeve carried on the umbrella's centerpost between the umbrellals crown and runner. there being a cushioning section formed in the sleeve which is of a lesser thickness relative to the thickness of the rest of the sleeve, that cushion section being adapted to flex as the runner pushes the sleeve against the crown, the tubular sleeve with cushioning section thereby functioning as a cushion when the umbrella in opened.

Another objective of this invention has beAn to provide a cushion for an umbrella as mentioned. in the above paragraph whare the lesser thickness cushioning section is comprised of at least one of slots, spiral grooves, and holes formed in the cushion's tubular sleeve.

It has been a further objeptive of this invention to provide a cushion for an umbrella where the cushion is integrally nolded with one of the umbrella's crown and runner to facilitate manufacture and assembly of the unbrella.

In accord with these objectives, the umbralla cushion of this invention is in the form of a tubular sleeve carried on an Umbrella's centerpost between the umbrella's runner and crotin which acts as a cushion when the umbrella Is opened. The sleeve is 1 1 1 1 1 i 1 t 1 1 1 1 1 is struotured to include a.cushioning section pref9rably with ports cut out in the form of holes, spiral grooves, or slots. The s2eave X&Y be a one piece molded plastic part that, it desired, can be formed integral with the crown or runner.

Other objectives and advantages of this invention can be better understood from the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a partial plan view showing a collapsible selt-opening umbrella having a cushion in accord with the principles of this invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the cushion illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspcctlve view showing a cushion according to a sQcond embodiment of this invention; Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a cushion according to a third embodiment of this invention; Fig. 5 is a partial plan view showing a collapsible umbrella having a cushion according to a fourth embodiment of this invention; Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the I cushion illustrated in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a cushion according to a fifth embodiment of this inventon; Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a cushion according to a sixth embodiment of this inventioni Fig. 9 Is a partial plan view showing a collapsible umbrella having a cushion according to a seventh embodiment of this invention; Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing a cushion illustrated in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a cushion according to an eighth embodiment of this inventionr Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing a cushion according to a ninth embodiment of this invention; and Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a collapsible umbralla with a prior art cushion, that prior art cushion being in the form of a coMPression coil spring also illustrated separately in that figure.

A cushion for a self-opening umbrella according to this invention can be used in self opening umbrellas with various rib linkage structures# and with collapsible or non-collapsible centerpost umbrellas. The cushion, which preferably is molded from a thermoplastic material, can be formed integral with the umbrella's runner to extend upwardly there from, as shown in Figs. 1-4, or can be molded Integral with the umbrella's crown to extend downwardly there from a shown in Figs. 5-8, to produce a cushioning effect when the automatic umbrella is opened, The cushion can also be formed as a separate coinponent part, as shown in Figs. 9-12. In each case, however, the cushion is comprised of a tubular sleeve with a cushioning section where that cushioning section is of a lesser thickness relative to the rest of the sleeve, the tubular sleeve being carried in longitudinal axial alignment- on the unbrellavs centerpost when assembled with that centerpost.

A first embodiment of a cushion 30 is shown in Fig. I. The cushion 30 is carried on the center- post of an uinbrella that includes a fixed crown 10 and a slidable runner 20. As shown in Fig. 2, the cushion is integratedly formed with the runner 20 and extends upwardly therefrom when installed on the centerpost. The cushion 30 includes a tubular sleeve 31 and cushioning section formed in that sleeve, the sleeve being positioned around the centerpost of the unbrella. A tip end 32 of the sleeve 31 has a forked shap, and hole 33 is provided in each fork end of the cushioning section. Therefore, when the runner 20 is pushed upwardly (as the umbrella is opened), the fork ends with holes 33 contact the crown 10 and produce a desired cushioning effect.

In the second and third embodiments illustrated in Figs. 3 and 41 spiral grooves 34 or slots is 35, respectively, are provided in fork tip ends 32 of the cylinder 31 to achieve the cushioning effect. In these embodiments, note also the sleeves 31 are molded integral with the runners 20, The cushion 30 cannot OnlY extend upwardly from a runner 20 (as shown in Figs. 1-4), but also can extend downwardly from a Crown 10 (as shown in Figs. 5-8). A f ourth QrLbodiment rhown in Figs. 5 and 6 illustrates a cushion 30 nolded integral with and extending downwardly from the crown 10. The cushion 30 is formed by a tubular sleeve 31. having a forked shape at its tip and 32, and each fork end has a hole 33. When the runner 20 is pushed upwardly (as the umbrella in opened), the cushion 30 with the holes 33 produces the desired cushioning effect.

in the fifth and sixth embodiments illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, spiral grooves 34 or slots 35, respectively, are provided in fork tip ends 32 of the cushion 30 to achieve the cushioning effect. in these embodinents, note the sleeves 31 are molded integral with the runners 20, too.

A seventh embodiment is illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. The cushion is in the form of a separate tubular sleeve 36 installed on the centerpost between a crown 10 and a runner 20. The separate sleeve 36 includes a cushioning section having holes 37 to produce the cushioning.Cffect. A15o, eiglth and ninth embodiments of the cushion are shown in Figs. 11 and 12f respectively. In these embodinents, spiral grooves 38 and slots 39, respectively, produce the desired cushioning effect. In each seventh. eight and ninth 'enbodimants, the cushioning section 'is illustrated at the top of the sleeve 36. However, it should be understood that the cushioning section also may be provided at the bottom, or any midway position along the length, of the sleeve 36 without departing from the scope of the Invention.

It will of course be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and that modifications in detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

is

Claims

An umbrella having a centerpost, a runner slidably carried on said centerpost, and a crown fixed to the. top end of said centerpost, said umbrella comprising a tubular sleeve carried an said centerpost between said crown and said runner, and a cushioning section formed in said sleeve. said cushioning section constituting a section of lesser thickness relative to the thickness of the rest of said sleeve, said cushioning section being adapted to flex it said runner pushes said sleeve against said crown, said tubular sleeve with cushioning section thereby being able to function as a cushion when said unbrella is opened.

(2) An umbrella as set forth in Claim 1, said cushioning section comprising at least one port cut out of said sleeve.

(3) An umbrella as set forth in Claim. 2, said cushioning section comprising at least two ports symmetrically located on said sleeve relative to a plane that includes the longitudinal-axis of said sleeve.

(4) An umbrella as set forth in Claim 3, said ports comprising one of holes, slotsi and spiral grooves.

-g- An umbrella as set forth in Claim 10 said tubular sleeve being formed as a one piece therzoplastic part.

(6) An umbrella as set forth in Claim 5, said tubular sleeve being molded integral with one of said crown and said runner.

(7) An umbrella having a centerpost, a runner slidably carried an said centerpost, and a crown fixed to the top end of said centerpost, saidumbrella comprising a tubular sleeve carried on said centerpost batween said crown and said runner, and a cushioning section formed in said sleeve, said sleeve and said cushioning section being inolded integral with one of said crown and said runner.

(8) An umbrella substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, Figures 5 and 6, Figure 7, Figure 8, Figures 9 and 10, Figure 11 or Figure 12 of the accompanying drawings.