GB2346556A - Umbrella which stores inside the handle - Google Patents

Abstract

A folding umbrella is stored, when folded, inside an open ended cylindrical handle 03 with the umbrella crown located adjacent the closed base of the handle, which may be telescopic. The canopy support may comprise a plurality of arms, each formed as a series of pivotally linked struts (08-12 Fig 9) extending radially from the crown. The open canopy is tensioned by pneumatic pressure inside central shaft 06, generated by an arrangement of plunger(s) 01 and bellows-like tube(s) 02, which suck in air though a one-way valve in central guide 05 to drive the shaft upwards. Alternatively a series of wires (31, Fig 19) and springs (30) along the struts, or a spring loaded ratchet arrangement (57, Figs 20-24) in the struts may supply the tension. The crown of the umbrella may be telescopic (46-49, Fig 20).

Description

IMPROVED FOLDAWAY UMBRELLA Field of the invention The present invention relates to umbrellas. It is particularly applicable, but in no way limite, to pocket umbrellas in which the umbrella canopy folds inside out and into the umbrella handle during storage to keep the wet side of the canopy away from the user.

Background to the Invention There have been many years of development in designing compact umbrellas, typically following the same principle of utilising a taut wire to stiffen the spokes that support the canopy. The spokes are normally in 3 or 4 hinged segments which are foldable with the canopy fabric being gathered around them. Normally a pouch is also provided for storing the folded umbrella. There are a number of disadvantages of the conventionally designed compact umbrellas as listed below : 'The supporting spokes are folded such that the canopy fabric is gathered around them with at least part of the wet side of the fabric-on the outside.

The folding process requires handling of the wet fabric and even when fully folded it does not prevent water dripping from it.

A separate pouch is required to store the folded umbrella.

* The arrangement of the spokes, fabric and the folding process limits the minimum size and the weight of the umbrella.

'The wire supported hinged spokes have no inherent stiffness to right themselves if the umbrella is blown inside out in the wind.

Various attempts have been made to improve on the conventional umbrella design but, for various reasons, none have met with any significant commercial success.

For example, GB2329123 (Harasawa) describes an umbrella having a cylindrical sleeve used either as a handle or for storing the umbrella. However, although collapsible, the umbrella in this invention still folds up with the wet side outermost. An umbrella which folds up reversibly is known from JP08056725 (Okumura). However, this is not of the collapsible type. Furthermore, any water trapped within the canopy fabric is simply free to drain out if the furled umbrella falls over or is inverted.

EP0596180 (Vincenzi) describes an umbrella which collapses into a handle.

Once again, this is not of the collapsible type and, from the geometry of the struts and ribs, it is doubtful if this could ever be erected.

These documents represent the closer prior art known to the applicant.

The object of the present invention is to overcome or minimise some or all of these deficiencies by having an umbrella that can be folded dry side out in such a way to provide a total non-drip seal without a separate pouch and without the need to handle the wet side of the fabric. Advantageously, umbrellas according to the present invention should also have inherent stiffness to right themselves after being blown inside out in the wind. The specially developed folding process is also better suited for more compact packing of the fabric minimising its size and weight.

Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a foldaway umbrella moveable between an open configuration and a closed or stored configuration, said umbrella comprising: (i) a handle, said handle comprising a base at a first end of the handle, a substantially cylindrical body, being open at a second end of the handle and, optionally a cap to cover the second end of the handle ; (ii) a collapsible canopy framework extending from a crown of the umbrella ; (iii) a canopy cover; characterised in that in the stored configuration the crown of the umbrella is withdrawn substantially to the base of the handle.

This arrangement has the advantage that the umbrella folds up inside out as well as folding completely within the handle body. By then closing off the open end of the handle in some waterproof manner the dampness associated with a used umbrella is fully contained within the handle.

Preferably, the body of the handle is telescopic. By making the handle telescopic the handle can also function as the shaft of the umbrella.

Preferably, the canopy framework comprises a plurality of support arms extending radially from the crown. Each support arm comprising a series of pivotally linked struts in substantially linear end to end alignment.

Preferably, the umbrella is kept taught when in the open configuration by a series of flexible wires extending along the support arms.

In an alternative embodiment the umbrella is kept taught by pneumatic pressure or a combination of pneumatic pressure and flexible wires.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an umbrella according to a first embodiment in its closed position; Figure 2 shows the canopy and the supporting structure pulled out of the handle housing ready to be deployed. The plunger marked 01 remains latched onto the handle.

The initial movement of the canopy and supports may also be facilitated by using spring marked 04 which is energised when the canopy and its supports are packed into the handle ; Figure 3 and 4 are the same as Figures 1 and 2 but showing multiple plungers 01 and tubes 02; Figures 5,6 and 7 show the air compression facility in sequence. These are shown for a multiple plunger case but the principles apply to single plunger assembly also ; Figures 8,9,10 and 11 show the canopy at different stages of deployment.

These Figures apply regardless of how the air compression is achieved; Figures 12 to 18 show an alternative way of achieving a compression facility ; Figure 19 illustrates an embodiment which utilises a flexible wire to keep the canopy cover taut; Figures 20 to 24 inclusive illustrate a further embodiment relying on a mechanical method to keep the canopy cover taut.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments The present aspects and embodiments represent currently the best ways known to the applicant of putting the invention into practice. But they are not the only ways in which this could be achieved. They are illustrated, and they will now be described, by way of example only.

This invention relates to an umbrella which folds inside out so that the dry side of the canopy is on the outside and wherein the dry side folds over and completely seals off the wet side. Once folded the canopy fabric compacts within its support frame and the whole assembly is then retracted into the umbrella handle in a simple operation.

This ensures that when the canopy is folded any water dripping is prevented and only the dry side of the canopy is handled at any time and a separate pouch is not required for storage. In one aspect of this invention compressed air is utilise to either fully or partially provide stiffness to the canopy rather than a spring wire system utilised by conventional umbrellas. The spring wire system loses its stiffness completely once forced backwards in the wind beyond a certain angle. Whereas in this aspect of the present invention the umbrella has an inherent tendency to right itself even if the wind blows the umbrella inside out.

This embodiment relies on compressed air to provide a facility to support the canopy of an umbrella. The supporting structure is so arranged that when retrieved it compacts the umbrella so that the surfaces handled are dry and the compacted umbrella is drip proof. It also has an inherent stiffness to right itself when blown inside out.

Referring now to Figure 1, this shows the umbrella in its closed position. In this position the umbrella is fully leak and drip proof. It is totally dry on the outside. The handle marked 03 is telescopic being made of a number of segments. In its closed position the segments slide over each other typically running in grooves. When closed the handle houses the canopy fabric marked 20. All the canopy supports are supported off a segment marked 05 which creates an air compression compartment within the handle. It also acts as a guide and support for the central pillar marked 06. The central pillar is also telescopic which can be extended by way of a spring, compressed air or a combination of both. The middle of pillar is hollow allowing compressed air to push upwards extending the pillar. There are a number of air outlets on the head of the pillar feeding compressed air into air tubes that help support the canopy. The spring marked 04 may be used to eject the compacted canopy either fully or partly out of its housing.

Altematively or in addition, the canopy can be manually pulled out of its housing. The compression facility is comprised of one or more plungers marked 01 and one or more extendable air tubes marked 02. The air tube 02 is only necessary to provide an airtight seal. If this can be provided between the plunger and the housing then it may be possible to omit it.

The intention of this aspect of the invention is to provide a compressed air facility by way of the action of opening or closing of the handle segments or by combination of the two actions.

Referring still to Figure 1, it will be appreciated that in this embodiment of the invention the umbrella consists of a telescopic handle 03, compression facility typically housed within the handle including plunger 01 and air tube 02, canopy supporting mechanism or canopy framework and the canopy fabric or cover 20. The optional cap 07 is also shown. The canopy supporting mechanism is supported on the crown at the upper end of a central pillar 06 which may be telescopic and central guide 05 which may be spring 04 loaded to help for initial deployment. The central guide and pillar also provides an airtight seal with the compression facility. As a result, the compressed air is forced up through an opening in the central pillar thus forcing the telescopic pillar to extend to the required height.

Referring to Figure 2, to deploy the umbrella, first the canopy and supports are pulled out of the handle housing, this action may be aided with the spring 04. This action fills the space between the plunger and central guide with air at atmospheric pressure. The air tube 02 may be needed to seal the air within the space. The air is sucked through a one way valve located in the central guide 05 or plunger 01. There are holes in the handle (not shown) to allow free flow of air into the handle. In this case the compression facility is provided by having the plunger connected to the lower part of the handle. When the handle is pulled open the plunger will move down within the handle, expanding and filling the air tube 02 with air at atmospheric pressure. This action activates a bellow type spring action, so when the plunger is released the stretched elasticity of the bellow will tend to close the air tube providing a source of compressed air.

Referring to Figure 3, this shows an alternative form of the compression facility and in this case a number of plungers and tubes are used. Top plunger is connected to the top of the first segment of the handle by a string. The second plunger is connected to the second segment and so on. Although, in this case three plungers are shown, there can be as many plungers as required to achieve the required pressure and volume of compressed air.

Figure 4 shows the crown of the umbrella with its associated canopy pulled out of the handle housing. This action will fill the air tube 02 with air at atmospheric pressure. When the handle is being pulled open the movement of the first segment will pull the first plunger upwards (see Figure 5). This action will also open the second air tube because the second plunger is attached to the bottom part of the sliding handle segment. In the same way as described previously the second tube fills with air.

Movement of the second segment closes the second tube as shown in Figure 6. The top of the second and subsequent tubes are closed marked 19 and therefore the compressed air is channelled through conduit 18 to the top of the first segment and into the central pillar. This action is repeated with the subsequent plungers as shown in Figure 7.

Figures 8,9,10 and 11 show the canopy and its supporting mechanism in various stages of deployment. When compressed air is forced into central pillar 06, the pillar extends upwards guided by the central guide 05. This forces the spoke 09, which is hinged onto the spoke 08, to come up as shown in Figure 8. The air tubes on the canopy mechanism, 13,14 or any combination of the two are connected to the head of the central pillar, being the crown of the umbrella. This connection is airtight and allows air to move from the head to the air tube or vice versa through holes 15 in the pillar head. As the air tubes expand being filled with compressed air, the canopy unfolds as shown sequentially in Figures 9 to 11. Although only one supporting arm of the canopy framework is shown, obviously there are a number of similar supporting arms around the canopy. It will be appreciated that these supporting arms extend radially from the crown in the centre of the umbrella. Although not essential, the supporting arms are usually equally spaced around the circumference of the crown. Both the air tubes on the canopy support frame and the canopy fabric may be elasticised to facilitate a more compact folded umbrella.

To fold the umbrella into its stored configuration, the compressed air inside the central pillar and the air tubes 13,14 is allowed to escape by activating a one way valve which may be located on the central guides 05. As the compressed air is being released, the canopy folds in reverse order to how it was unfolded. The strut 12 folds upwards on top of strut 11 thereby folding the wet side of the canopy cover to the wet side but with a dry region on the outside. Strut 11 then folds downwards underneath strut 10 and the whole thing then folds over strut 09. The central pillar will also be collapsing downwards pulling strut 09 upwards together with the remaining canopy frame. The fabric is automatically folded wet face to wet face with the dry side outermost. In effect, the wet surface of the canopy cover is trapped inside the folded umbrella and is surrounded by dry fabric. The canopy frame and fabric is then pushed into the handle and the telescopic handle closed. If a cap is used this is placed over the open end of the handle and the umbrella is ready to be put away.

In this context the term strut has a broad meaning. It is intended to encompass any form of support arm, jointed or otherwise, which forms part of the umbrella canopy framework.

Figures 12 to 18 show another alternative method of providing a compressed air facility. Referring to Figure 12, this shows a number of plungers 01 compacted inside the handle. In this case three plungers are shown but this can in principe be any number. The air compression tube also may not be required as all the plungers are housed within one segment of the handle and if an adequate seal can be provided between the plungers and the housing and the central guide and the housing, then the air compression tubes are not necessary. If not, each plunger will have an associated air compression tube. In this figure the connecting strings are also highlighted marked 17. These strings may also be elasticised for more compact storage. Each of the plungers may be temporarily connected to the inside of the handle. The one way valves at the centre of the plunger are also shown. The string from the top plunger connects to the top of the first sliding segment of the handle. The string from the second plunger connects to the top of the second and so on. When the canopy is pulled out of its housing, as shown in Figure 13, this action fills the space with volume of air at atmospheric pressure. When the segment of the handle is pulled, the pulling action pulls the string connected to the top plunger downwards, thereby pulling the plunger upwards. Whilst the first plunger is being pulled up the space between the first and second plunger creates a suction, sucking air into the space between the first and second plunger. Pulling down the second segment pulls the second plunger upwards and the process repeats itself. This forces the compressed air through the central pillar to the canopy support air tubes, 13 and 14 thereby deploying the umbrella.

In this case the compression facility is housed within the first segment of the handle. Therefore, the other segments need not be open-ended as long as holes are provided to allow free airflow in and out of the handle. It is possible to provide springs between each segment. When the handle is closed the springs are compressed.

Releasing the spring via some latch mechanism would help expand the handle.

This aspect of the present invention can typically be broken into 4 general components: 1. Handle 2. Air compression facility 3. Canopy supporting structure 4. Canopy fabric The handle in this example has 3 functions: It provides a vertical support for the canopy so that it can be held at the required height.

') It typically acts as the storage medium for the rest of the umbrella.

') It is telescopic in that it can be extended by pulling individual segments which slide inside each other. This pulling action provides for the medium where the air compression is achieved.

The air compression facility compresses the air to the required pressure and volume. The canopy support structure is arranged so that it can stretch the canopy to the required shape and provide the required stiffness. The support structure in the present invention is arranged to fold so that the dry side of the canopy fabric folds over the wet providing a complete seal. The support mechanism is arranged so that it is partially self-deployable and partially self-retrievable. The folding and storing process do not require any handling on the wet side of the canopy. Canopy fabric may be of stretchy materials for more compact storage.

The embodiments described above rely upon compressed air and thus pneumatic pressure to tension the canopy framework. A further example of this pneumatic method will be described below in relation to Figure 19. However, it should be appreciated that the more conventional wire tensioners, as found in known foldaway umbrellas, can be used to keep the canopy framework taught.

The key features of one aspect of this invention are therefore independent of the type of system used to keep the umbrella erect. These key features are : (a) A handle which is adapted to accommodate the umbrella canopy framework and the canopy cover.

(b) A crown of the umbrella which is moveable with respect to the handle such that in the stored configuration the crown of the umbrella is withdrawn substantially to the base or bottom of the handle.

(c) The canopy framework comprises a series of support arms which extend radially from the crown. These support arms are made up of a series of struts, pivotally linked one to another.

(d) There may be an even or odd number of struts on each support arm, if one excludes any supporting stays such as 08 in Figures 8 to 11 inclusive. However, by providing an even number of struts, and pivoting them as shown in the figures, it is possible to always fold wet side against wet side of the canopy with a dry face of the canopy on the outside of the bundle.

Interestingly, the present design allows for both odd and even numbers of struts whilst still allowing the wet side of the canopy to fold against the wet side of the canopy.

Starting from the end of the support arm furthest from the crown, the first strut generally folds upwards to create two dry extemal facing regions. The next fold may be either up or down depending on the number of struts left to accommodate in the bundle. Thus 2, 3,4 or even 5 strut designs are possible.

Preferably the handle is watertight and includes a watertight cap (not shown except in Figures 1 and 3) which seals the open end of the handle when the umbrella is stored away.

Figure 19 illustrates a wire-tensioned version in which resilient means 30 are located at the pivot points of the struts. A wire 31 is pulled taught during the opening process and this wire acts through the resilient means 30 to force the pivots open. This force would tend to cause the pivots to open completely and align the struts in a straight line. However, the canopy fabric prevents the straight-line arrangement.

An example of a suitable resilient means is a bellows arrangement. Once the tension in the wire 31 is released the bellows can collapse on themselves, allowing the struts to fold closely against each other.

As explained above, conventional wire or lever-tensioned versions are also possible. That is to say, conventional umbrella canopy framework tensioning technology can be applied to this inventive concept. The main differences are twofold. Firstly, the crown of the umbrella descends toward the base of the handle and secondly the struts 8 fold up vertically to assist this movement.

One example of this type of technology is described in GB2245489 and is applicable to this application. The entire text of GB2245489 is hereby incorporated by reference and is intended to form an integral part of this disclosure and this inventive concept.

It is clearly advantageous if the handle is of a telescopic type since this facilitates in allowing the crown of the umbrella to move towards the base of the handle. Clearly, the crown cannot travel completely to the base since there will always be some length of shaft to accommodate between the crown 15 and the segment 05. Once again, it is preferable that this length of shaft is telescopic in its construction as illustrated in Figure 1.

Figures 20 to 24 inclusive illustrate a further embodiment relying on a mechanical method to keep the canopy cover taut. It will be appreciated that there are a wide range of mechanical arrangements possible which achieve the objectives of this invention.

One of these will now be described in more detail.

Figure 20 illustrates a foldaway umbrella 40 comprising a telescopic handle 41, 42. The handle contains a spring 43 which is under tension when the umbrella is in its opened configuration, being that shown in Figure 20. The spring can take the form of any suitable resilient means such as a coil spring, one or more elastic bands or the like.

The canopy framework, described in more detail below, is formed from a series of struts, support arms and springs. The canopy framework is supported off a crown 45 which is also telescopic, four telescopic sections being shown 46,47,48 and 49. The canopy fabric 50 is attached at its centre to the crown 45 and around the periphery to a series of distal struts 51. These struts are referred to as distal because they are furthest from the crown 45. A proximal strut 52 links the crown to an intermediate strut 55. The intermediate strut 55 extends between the base of the crown 45 and the innermost end of strut 51, where the two struts are pivotally linked.

The link between strut 52 and the intermediate strut 55 is of special design. The distal end of strut 52 must be free to pass along strut 55 when the umbrella is collapsing but must be held firmly in place when the umbrella is open. This is achieved by a ratchet and spring arrangement shown most clearly in Figure 20. This ratchet is shown generally at 59. The uppermost in use surface of strut 55 in that region and the distal end of strut 52 are shaped in a ratchet arrangement and with the struts as shown in Figure 20 the ratchet is firmly engaged. The strut 52 is held under some tension by string 58. A loop 60 around strut 55 retains the distal end of strut 52 in the proximity of strut 55. It will be appreciated that once the umbrella starts to collapse, for example as shown in Figure 22, then the ratchet end of strut 52 will no longer engage with the complementary ratchet arrangement on the top of strut 55 and the two struts may then pass over each other.

In order to retain the appropriate tension, struts 51 and 55 are linked by struts 53, 54,56 and spring 57. Spring 57 in this example is conveniently a coil spring which will try to assume a linear configuration at all times. Strut 56 can pass through or alongside strut 52 where they intersect.

Once the mechanism is released then the spring 57 will tend to straighten and thus raise the strut 51 as shown in Figure 21. The canopy fabric 50 will cease to be taut and will simply fold up between struts 51 and 52 with the wet face innermost. This movement was initiated by the telescopic crown 45 collapsing on itself. As the crown collapses further the arrangement as shown in Figures 22 and 23 are progressively adopted. Ultimately all the struts of the umbrella and the fabric form into a substantially cylindrical bundle ready to descend into the handle. This arrangement is shown in Figure 24.

It will be appreciated that this is just one of many mechanical arrangements that can be used to support the canopy framework in an umbrella according to the present invention.

Claims (10)

1. Claims : 1. A fold-away umbrella moveable between an open configuration and a closed or stored configuration, said umbrella comprising: (i) a handle, said handle comprising a base at a first end of the handle, a substantially cylindrical body, being open at a second end of the handle and, optionally a cap to cover the second end of the handle ; (ii) a collapsible canopy framework extending from a crown of the umbrella ; (iii) a canopy cover; characterised in that in the stored configuration the crown of the umbrella is withdrawn substantially to the base of the handle.
2. 2. An umbrella as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the body of the handle is telescopic.
3. 3. An umbrella as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the crown of the umbrella is also telescopic.
4. 4. An umbrella as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the canopy comprises a plurality of support arms extending radially from the crown, each support arm comprising a series of pivotally linked struts.
5. 5. An umbrella according to any preceding claim wherein the umbrella is kept taught when in the open configuration by a plurality of flexible wires extending partially or substantially wholly along the support arms.
6. 6. An umbrella according to any of Claims 1 to 4 inclusive wherein the umbrella is kept taught when in the open configuration by pneumatic pressure.
7. 7. An umbrella as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4 inclusive wherein a strut extending from an upper part of the umbrella crown engages a strut from a lower part of the umbrella crown by means of a ratchet arrangement.
8. 8. An umbrella as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 7 wherein at least one of the struts incorporates a flexibly resilient region, said region being biased to come into alignment with the longitudinal axis of the strut.
9. 9. An umbrella as claimed in Claim 4, Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein one strut passes through the body of another strut in the region where the two struts intersect.
10. 10. An umbrella substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any combination of the accompanying drawings.