GB2260488A

GB2260488A - Umbrella centerpost latch system

Info

Publication number: GB2260488A
Application number: GB9202251A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fu-Tien Liou; Toshio Okuda
Original assignee: Totes Inc
Current assignee: Totes Inc
Priority date: 1991-10-17
Filing date: 1992-02-03
Publication date: 1993-04-21
Also published as: CA2060713A1; DE4203636A1; GB9202251D0

Abstract

An umbrella centerpost latch system for a collapsible centerpost type umbrella comprises a movable latch finger (11) that floats free on a compression spring (12) in a closed end guide seat (14) of a plug (13) received in an inner telescoping tubular section of a centerpost, the latch finger emerging through a latch slot in the side wall of the plug. The latch finger can move in one or both directions (15) transverse to, and a direction (17) parallel to, the longitudinal axis of the centerpost, to engage a corresponding latch slot in the wall of the next outer section of the centerpost. <IMAGE>

Description

) n 1 t) ', - 1. ' 3 -1UMBRELLA CENTERPOST LATCH SYSTEM This invention

relates to umbrellas. More particularly, this invention relates to a centerpost latch system for a collapsible umbrella.

There are two basic types of umbrellas in use today, to wit: the stick umbrella, and the collapsible umbrella. The collapsible umbrella has a centerpost that is collapsible or shortenable when use of the umbrella is not desired, so the collapsible umbrella can be easily stored in, e.g., a briefcase or a handbag or a car's glove compartment. The centerpost of the stick umbrella cannot be collapsed or shortened, on the other hand, so the stick umbrella cannot be stored as easily as the collapsible umbrella.

is In a centerpost collapsible umbrella, the centerpost is comprised of two or more tubular sections that telescope one within the other. When use of the umbrella is desired, i.e., when the centerpost is extended, the umbrella's centerpost latch system must be effective to hold those tubular -2sections in the extended or use position. In one commercially used prior art centerpost latch system (described in detail below), it is known to pin a latch finger to a plug inserted in one of the centerpost's tubular sections so the latch finger can pivot between latch and unlatch positions when those tubular sections are extended and retracted. But this prior art system is relatively difficult and time consuming to manufacture, and therefore materially increases the cost of manufacture for the centerpost collapsible type of manufacture.

Therefore, the primary objective of this invention is to provide an improved centerpost latch system for a collapsible umbrella in which the structure, and the assembly procedures therefor, are simplified relative to the prior art. In accord with this objective, the centerpost latch system of this invention includes a latch finger that floats free in a closed end guide seat of a plug received in an inner telescoping tubular section of a centerpost, the guide seat being accessible only through a side wall of the plug so that the latch finger can move in one or both of a. direction transverse to and a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the centerpost. A-pin for fixing the latch finger at one end of the guide seat, therefor, is not needed in the umbrella centerpost latch system according to the present invention.

Other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reviewing the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying figures, in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view showing a centerpost latch system for a collapsible umbrella according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the assembled centerpost latch system of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an exploded view showing a prior art centerpost latch system for a collapsible umbrella; and

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the assembled centerpost latch system of Fig.

A centerpost latch system 10 for a collapsible umbrella is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The centerpost latch system 10 connects upper centerpost tubular section 10a and lower centerpost tubular section lob that telescope one with the other. Each tubular section loa, lob includes a latch slot 10al, lob' adapted to overlie one another when those tubular sections are extended into the centerpost use position, see Fig. 2.

7 -- 1 1 The centerpost latch system 10 includes a movable latch finger 11 with head section lla, a compression spring 12 applying a spring force to the latch finger 11 to allow movement of the latch finger upon extension and retraction of the tubular sections loa, lob, and a plug 13. The plug 13 is provided with a guide seat 14 for receiving the latch finger 11, see Fig. 1. The middle portion of the guide seat 14 is wider than both end portions thereof so as to receive and position the spring 12. Note the guide seat 14 according to the present invention is a closed groove which is closed at the ends thereof by end walls 14a, 14b, at the sides by side walls 14c, 14d, and at the bottom by floor 14e. Hence, the latch f inger 11 is adapted to float free in the guide seat 14, and is not fixedly connected to the plug 13.

In use, and as shown in Fig. 4, the latch finger 11 is depressed by the umbrella's runner (not shown) when the cover (not shown) of the umbrella is collapsed, and thus it is moved into the guide seat 14 so that the centerpost 10a, lob also can collapse. In this regard, the guide seat 14 and the latch finger 11 are sized so that the latch finger can move to a limited extent in one or both of a direction 15 transverse to, and a direction 16 parallel to, the longitudinal axis 17 of the centerpost sections 10a, lob. Note also the latch finger 11 includes a nose lib at one end that cooperates with the guide seat's floor 14e and one guide seat end wall 14a to allow the latch finger to pivot between its extended (see Fig. 2) and retracted (not shown) positions. Note also the latch f inger 11 includes a toe llc at the other end with the spring 12 being engaged with the latch finger closer to the toe than the nose lib so as to promote the pivot movement.

A prior art centerpost latch system 20 over which this invention constitutes an improvement is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The prior art latch system 20 for a collapsible umbrella centerpost 21a, 21b com prises a movable latch finger member 1, a spring 2, a plug 3 provided with a groove 4, and a pin 5. The middle portion of the groove 4 is wider than both end portions thereof so as to receive and hold the spring 2. The groove 4 is closed at only one end 4a, and is open at the other end 4b, so as to form a U shape in cross section. Holes 6, 6 to receive pin 5 are formed through the two side walls of the U-shaped groove 4.

A hole 7 is also formed at the top portion of the latch finger 1. The pin 5 is inserted into the holes 6, 6 and the hole 7 to pivotably fix the latch finger 1 to the plug 3.

In use, the prior art latch finger 1 is pivoted on pin 5 as the umbrella's runner (not shown) passes over it on the centerpost 21 as the umbrella is opened and closed. However, such a latch system 20 is complicated and hard to manufacture relative to the latch system 10 of this invention. Since the prior art latch finger 1 is fixed at the top portion thereof by the pin 5, it can only pivot about that pin 5. If the latch finger 1 must be short to meet certain spatial requirements due to the size of the umbrella, then its swing distance is small, and thus the opening and closing of the umbrella may not be smooth.

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

1

Claims

An umbrella centerpost latch system com- prising first and second tubular centerpost sections, said first section being telescopable relative to said second section between an extended centerpost use position and a collapsed centerpost storage position, each of said first and second sections defining a latch slot at one end thereof, said latch slots being adapted to overlie one another whensaid first and second sections are extended into said centerpost use position, a plug located in that end of said f irst section that defines its latch slot, said plug defining a guide seat that underlies said first section latch slot, said guide seat being defined by opposed end walls, opposed side walls and a floor so that said guide seat is accessible only through a side wall of said plug, a latch finger with head section received in said guide seat, said latch finger being of a length greater than the length of said first section latch slot, said latch finger floating free in said guide seat and not being fixedly connected to said plug, said latch finger being extendable within said guide" seat so that said head can extend through both said first section latch slot and said second section latch slot when said first and second sections are extended into said centerpost use position for holding said first and second sections in a latched centerpost use position, and said latch finger being retractable within said guide seat so that said head section can retract through said second latch slot to allow said first and second sections to collapse into said centerpost storage position, said latch finger and said guide seat being sized so that said latch finger can move to a limited extent in one or both of a direction transverse to and a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said centerpost sections as said head section extends and retracts through said second section latch slot, and a spring located in said guide seat, said spring continually biasing said latchfinger toward said latched position.

4 A 2. An umbrella centerpost latch system as set forth in Claim 1, said latch finger comprising a nose at one end thereof, said nose cooperating with one or both of said guide seat floor and one guide seat end wall to allow said latch finger to pivot between its extended and retracted positions.

3. An umbrella centerpost latch system as set forth in Claim 2, said latch finger comprising a toe on that end opposite to said nose, said spring being engaged with said latch finger closer to said toe than to said nose.

4. An umbrella centerpost latch system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.