GB2418852A

GB2418852A - Multiple folding umbrella rib assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2418852A
Application number: GB0400566A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chung-Kuang Lin; Jung-Jen Chang
Original assignee: Grant Barnett & Co Ltd; Fu Tai Umbrella Works Ltd
Current assignee: Grant Barnett & Co Ltd; Fu Tai Umbrella Works Ltd
Priority date: 2004-01-12
Filing date: 2004-01-12
Publication date: 2006-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 2024-01-12
Also published as: GB0400566D0; CN2759262Y; GB2418852B

Abstract

A rib assembly for a multiple folding umbrella comprises a top rib 21 pivotally secured at one end to an upper notch 11 of a central shaft and pivotally secured, at its other end, to an intermediate rib 23 which is in turn pivotally secured to a tail rib 25 at its distal end. A stretcher rib 22 is further provide between the top rib and runner 12 slidable on the shaft. An inner connecting rib 24 and an intermediate connecting rib 26 provide additional strength and support between the main ribs. The intermediate rib 23 has a twin-lobed cross section and is moulded from plastic material unitarily with inner and outer connectors 231,232. A coupling member 27 is affixed to the intermediate rib and is provided with a rib hole 273 to allow slidable movement of the intermediate connecting rib 26. Stretcher rib 22 may be formed of a titanium alloy.

Description

MULTIPLE-FOLD RIB ASSEMBLY WITH ENHANCED

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

The present invention relates to a rib assembly having enhanced mechanical properties for multiple-fold umbrella.

U.K. Patent GB 2349567 B disclosed an umbrella stretcher system including a first main stretcher (1), a second main stretcher (7), a rear rib (3), a support stretcher (4), a secondary stretcher (5) and a flexible rib (6) interconnected with each other; in which the second main stretcher (7) is formed by integrating an aluminum alloy portion (segment) with a carbon fiber rod in order to provide improved strength for resisting strong wind.

Even a partial portion of the aluminum umbrella stretcher (or rib) is replaced by carbon fiber rod, this prior art however has the following drawbacks: 1. For integrating the aluminum alloy portion with the carbon fiber rod, the opposite edge portions of the aluminum alloy stretcher should be processed to be crimped and disposed around the carbon fiber rod, increasing the processing step and production cost.

2. When subj ected to a strong wind, the stretchers may be inverted upwardly. Even the carbon fiber rod may have a strong strength for resisting the strong wind, the aluminum alloy portion however has poor strength for resisting the wind force. Therefore, after repeated uses of the umbrella stretchers, the aluminum alloy portion may be easily deformed, bent or twisted to possibly damage the compl ete set of umbrella.

3. The stretcher (7) has only a partial portion formed with carbon fiber rod, not a complete lengthwise carbon-fiber rod, thereby limiting its resilience and restoring effect whenever restoring the umbrella stretchers from their inverted condition to be a norm 1' 1y opening umbrella upon releasing of the wind force.

The present inventor has found these drawbacks and invented the present rib assembly with improved mechanical properties.

According to the present invention, there is provided a rib assembly for multiple-fold umbrella including: a top rib pivotally secured to an upper notch of a central shaft, a stretcher rib pivotally connected between the top rib and a runner slidably held on the central shaft, a plastic intermediate rib pivotally secured to the top rib and secured to the stretcher rib through an inner connecting rib, and a tail rib pivotally secured to the plastic intermediate rib and secured to the top rib through an intermediate connecting rib slidably coupled to the plastic intermediate rib; with the plastic intermediate rib integrally formed by reinforced plastics to be inwardly connected with the top rib and stretcher rib and outwardly connected with the tail rib to increase the mechanical strength and resilience of the intermediate rib and to decrease the production cost thereof.

The present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an illustration of the present invention when folded; Fig. 2 shows an opening umbrella of the present invention; Fig. 3 shows a plastic intermediate rib of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a cross sectional drawing as viewed from 4-4 direction of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional drawing as viewed from 55 direction of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 shows a cross section of the stretcher rib (from 6-6 direction of Fig. 2); Fig. 7 shows the opened umbrella when inverted by a wind force; Fig. 8 shows the umbrella when downwardly depressed by an external force; and Fig. 9 shows the umbrella as further bent downwardly from Fig. 8.

As shown in the drawing figures, the rib assembly for multiple-fold umbrella of the present invention comprises: a top rib 21 pivotally secured to an upper notch 11 of a central shaft 1, a stretcher rib 22 pivotally connected between the top rib 21 and a runner 12 slidably held on the central shaft 1, a plastic intermediate rib 23 pivotally secured to the top rib 21 and pivotally secured to the stretcher rib 22 through an inner connecting rib 24, and a tail rib 25 pivotally secured to the plastic intermediate rib 23 and pivotally secured to the top rib 21 through an intermediate connecting rib 26; with the intermediate connecting rib 26 slidably coupled to the plastic intermediate rib 23 by a coupling member 27.

The plastic intermediate rib 23 is made of reinforced plastics and integrally formed by plastic molding process to form two longitudinal lobe portions 23c juxtapositionally along the rib 23 lengthwise to have a cross section of two-lobe shape as shown in Fig. 4, including an upper groove 23u longitudinally recessed in an upper portion of the plastic intermediate rib 23 when opening the umbrella, and a bottom groove 23b longitudinally recessed in a bottom portion of the plastic intermediate rib 23, an inner connector 231 integrally formed on an inner end portion of the plastic intermediate rib 23 for respectively pivotally connecting an outer adapter 213 of the top rib 21 and pivotally connecting an outer end portion 242 of the inner connecting rib 24, and an outer connector 232 integrally formed on an outer end portion of the intermediate rib 23 to be pivotally connected with a joint member 251 formed on an inner end portion of the tail rib 25.

The coupling member 27 has its two clamping ends 271 crimped on the two lobe portions 23c of the intermediate rib 23 and combinably engaged with the bottom groove 23b of the intermediate rib 23; and having a collar portion 272 formed on an upper portion of the coupling member 27 to define a rib hole 273 within the upper collar portion 272 and the upper groove 23u of the intermediate rib 23 for slidably engaging the intermediate connecting rib 26 with the rib hole 273 for slidably coupling the intermediate connecting rib 26 with the plastic intermediate rib 23.

The intermediate connecting rib 26 is made of steel (or stainless steel) rod or wire for enhancing its strength, having an inner end portion 261 pivotally connected with the outer adapter 213 of the top rib 21, and an outer end portion 262 pivotally connected with the joint member 251 of the tail rib 25.

The inner connecting rib 24 is also made of steel (or stainless steel) rod or wire for enhancing its strength, having an inner end portion 241 of the rib 24 pivotally connected to an outer portion 223 of the stretcher rib 22 and an outer end portion 242 of the rib 24 pivotally connected to the inner connector 231 of the intermediate rib 23.

The plastic intermediate rib 23 may be made of reinforced plastics including carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics, glass-fiber-reinforced plastics, engineering plastics or composites having strong mechanical strength and resilience.

The inner and outer connectors 231, 232 are integrally formed on opposite ends of the intermediate rib 23 to save the assembly cost by respectively fixing the two connectors on the opposite ends of the rib 23. Meanwhile, the rib 23 and its two connectors 231, 232 are integrally formed to be a lengthwise plastic rib structure, which may serve as a "restoring spring" for resiliently restoring the rib assembly 2 from its upwardly inverted (W) condition as shown in Fig. 7 to its normal opening situation as shown in Fig. 2 or for restoring the rib assembly 2 from its downwardly depressed (D) state (Fig. 8) to the normal opening state (Fig. 2).

The inner and outer connectors 231,232 as integrally formed with the intermediate rib 23 may also prolong the service life of the rib 23 and the umbrella since either connector 231 or 232 is firmly integrally formed on the end of the rib 23, being difficult to be deformed or broken from the intermediate rib 23.

The two lobe portions 23c of the intermediate rib 23 provides an upper groove 23u for slidably engaging the intermediate connecting rib 26, and a bottom groove 23b for combinably engaging the two clamping ends 271 of the coupling member 27 for firmly securing the coupling member 27 on the plastic intermediate rib 23, while still maintaining a slidable coupling of the rib 26 within the rib 23. The contour of the two-lobe cross section of the intermediate rib 23 may also provide a smooth touch feeling when contacted with the rib 23.

The top rib 21 may also be formed to have a cross section of two-lobe shape as shown in Fig. 5 to be firmly secured with the inner adapter 211 of the top rib 21 as pivotally secured to the upper notch 11 of the shaft 1. Also, the two-lobe cross section of the top rib 21 may also be firmly secured to the outer adapter 213 of the top rib 21. The middle (or intermediate) adapter 212 of the top rib 21 is pivotally connected with an outermost end portion 222 of the stretcher rib 22.

The top rib 21 and the intermediate rib 23 each formed to have a cross section of two-lobe shape may also enhance the strength to prevent from being twisted or deformed during the operation of the umbrella.

The top rib 21 and the tail rib 25 may be integrally formed and made of reinforced plastics including glass-fiber-reinforced plastics and carbonfiber-reinforced plastics.

The stretcher rib 22 has its inner end portion 221 pivotally secured to the runner 12, having a tubular rib section as shown in Fig. 6 by winding the rib 22 made of titanium alloy to have a cross section of circular shape to prevent forming of any acute edge and prevent injury to the umbrella user. The titanium-alloy rib 22 may provide a bending strength (21 kg/cm 2) which is better than the bending strength of an aluminumalloy rib 22 (17 kg/c 2), Accordingly, the stretcher rib 22 is preferably made of titanium alloy to have a better strength than that of aluminum alloy.

Although the description and drawing figures as illustrated in this invention disclose a triple-fold umbrella. However, the present invention may be modified to be any other multiple folds, not limited in the present invention.

The present invention provides several elements for enhancing the properties including a plastic intermediate rib 23 which is integrally formed with the inner connector 231 and the outer connector 232 to have the following advantages to be superior to the prior art: 1. The inner and outer connectors 231, 232 are integrally formed with the intermediate rib 23 for saving the assembly cost of the parts for decreasing the production cost of the umbrella.

2. The inner and outer connectors as integrally formed with the intermediate rib 23 will not be easily deformed or broken, thereby prolonging the service life of the rib assembly and the umbrella.

3. The intermediate rib 23 together with its integrally formed inner and outer connectors 231, 232 will act like a "restoring spring" which will quickly help restore the upwardly inverted or downwardly bent rib assembly 2 to be normally linearly opened.

4. The connecting ribs 24, 26 arc made with steel (or stainless steel) rod or wire to enhance the strength. Also, the stretcher rib 22 as made of stronger titanium alloy will enhance the bending strength.

Therefore, the rib assembly may resist any strong external force such as a great bending moment (B) acting upon the present invention especially as shown in Fig. 9.

The two-lobe cross section of each rib 23 or 21 may also better reinforce the strength to resist the external force acting upon the rib assembly.

6. The two-lobe cross section of the intermediate rib 23 may provide a smooth slidable coupling of the connecting rib 26 to the intermediate rib 23 especially by the aid of the coupling member 27 as stably secured on the intermediate rib 23.

The present invention may be further modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A rib assembly for multiple-fold umbrella comprising: a top rib

(21) pivotally secured to an upper notch (11) of a central shaft (1); a stretcher rib (22) pivotally secured between said top rib (21) and a runner (12) slidably held on the central shaft (l); a plastic intermediate rib (23) having an inner connector (231) of said intermediate rib (23) respectively pivotally secured to said top rib (21) and pivotally secured to said stretcher rib (22) through an inner connecting rib (24); and a tail rib (25) respectively pivotally secured to an outer connector (232) of said plastic intermediate rib (23) and pivotally secured to said top rib (21) through an intermediate connecting rib (26); said intermediate connecting rib (26) slidably coupled to said plastic intermediate rib (23) by a coupling member (27); characterized in that: said plastic intermediate rib (23) having said inner connector (231) and said outer connector (232) integrally formed on opposite end portions of the plastic intermediate rib (23); and said plastic intermediate rib (23) having a cross section of two-lobe shape, including an upper groove (23u) longitudinally recessed in an upper portion of the plastic intermediate rib (23) for slidably engaging said intermediate connecting rib (26) in said upper groove (23u) as coupled by said coupling member (27), and a bottom groove (23b) longitudinally recessed in a bottom portion of said plastic intermediate rib (23) for combinably engaging two clamping ends (271) of said coupling member (27) in said bottom groove (23b) by crimping two clamping ends (271) on the plastic intermediate rib (23).
2. A rib assembly according to Claim l, wherein said plastic intermediate rib (23) as integrally formed is made of reinforced plastics including carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics, glass-fiber-reinforced plastics; engineering plastics; and composites.
3. A rib assembly according to Claim 1, wherein said coupling member (27) includes an upper collar portion (272) formed on an upper portion of the coupling member (27) and defining a rib hole (273) in the upper collar portion (272) and in the upper groove (23u) of the plastic intermediate rib (23) for slidably engaging said intermediate connecting rib (26) within said rib hole (273).
4. A rib assembly according to Claim 1, wherein said inner connecting rib (24) and said intermediate connecting rib (26) are respectively made of steel rod or wire.
5. A rib assembly according to Claim 1, wherein said stretcher rib (22) is made of titanium alloy, having a tubular section formed with a cross section of circular shape.

6 A rib assembly, substantially as described and shown herein with reference to the drawings.

5. A rib assembly according to Claim I, wherein said top rib (21) is formed with a cross section of two-lobe shape and made of reinforced plastics.

6. A rib assembly according to Claim 1, wherein said stretcher rib (22) is made of titanium alloy, having a tubular section formed with a cross section of circular shape.

7. A rib assembly, substantially as described and shown herein with reference to the drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows C LAIM S: 1. A rib assembly for multiple-fold umbrella comprising: a top rib (21) pivotally secured to an upper notch (11) of a central shaft (1); a stretcher rib (22) pivotally secured between said top rib (21) and a runner (12) sldably held on the central shaft (1); a plastic intermediate rib (23) having an inner connector (231) of said intermediate rib (23) respectively pivotally secured to said top rib (21) and pivotally secured to said stretcher rib (22) through an inner connecting rib (24); and a tall rib (25) respectively pivotally secured to an outer connector (232) of said plastic Intermediate rib (23) and pivotally secured to said top rib (21) through an Intermediate connecting rib (26); said intermediate connecting rib (26) slidably coupled to said plastic intermediate rib (23) by a coupling member (27); characterized in that: said plastic intermediate rib (23) having said inner connector (231) and said outer connector (232) integrally formed on opposite end portions of the plastic intermediate rib (23); said plastic intermediate rib (23) having a cross section of two-lobe shape, including an upper groove (23u) longitudinally recessed in an upper portion of the plastic intermediate rib (23) for slidably engaging said intermediate connecting rib (26) in said lit upper groove (23u) as coupled by said coupling member (27), and a bottom groove (23b) longitudinally recessed In a bottom portion of said plastic intermediate rib (23) for combinably engaging two clamping ends (271) of said coupling member (27) in said bottom groove (23b) by crimping two clamping ends (271) on the plastic intermediate rib (23); and said coupling member (27) including an upper collar portion (272) formed on an upper portion of the coupling member (27) and defining a rib hole (273) in the upper collar portion (272) and in the upper groove (23u) of the plastic intermediate rib (23) for slidably engaging said intermediate connecting rib (26) within said rib hole (273).

2. A rib assembly according to Claim 1, wherein said plastic intermediate rib (23) as integrally formed is made of reinforced plastics including carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics, glass-fiber-reinforced plastics; engineering plastics; and composites.

3. A rib assembly according to Claim 1, wherein said inner connecting rib (24) and said intermediate connecting rib (26) are respectively made of steel rod or wire.

4. A rib assembly according to Claim I, wherein said top rib (21) is formed with a cross section of two-lobe shape and made of reinforced plastics.