JP6740148B2 - Folding umbrella - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a folding umbrella.

Known umbrellas typically include an elongated center rod, a handle provided at the lower end of the center rod, a top wheel provided at the top of the center pole, and a plurality of ribs extending radially from the top wheel. A lower lathe that is slidably provided on the center rod along the axial direction thereof, and a plurality of ribs that are housed in the lower ladle and have the other end connected to each of the plurality of ribs. A tension cloth covering the plurality of ribs.

The folding umbrella is configured such that the center rod is expandable and contractable, and the ribs and upholstery fabric are also foldable. Specifically, the center rod of the folding umbrella has a large hollow tube and a small tube that can be accommodated in the large tube, and when the folding umbrella is closed, the small tube is housed in the large tube. By folding the rib, the stretcher, and the upholstery, the folding umbrella is folded small. On the other hand, at the time of opening the umbrella, the small tube is pulled out from the large tube, and the rib, stretcher, and upholstery cloth are unfolded, so that the folding umbrella is opened.

Conventional folding umbrellas are disclosed in, for example, JP-A-2015-109942, JP-A-10-179223, JP-A-05-220008, JP-A-04-242603, and registered utility model 3021249. Has been done.

JP, 2005-109942, A JP, 10-179223, A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-220008 JP 04-242603A Registered utility model No. 3021249

The center rod of a conventional folding umbrella is often made of an aluminum material or a titanium material from the viewpoint of lightness and robustness. The inventor of the present application is considering forming a center rod of a folding umbrella from a prepreg material containing continuous fibers for further weight reduction.

The inventor of the present application has discovered that forming a folding rod center rod from a continuous fiber-containing prepreg material causes a problem that does not occur with an aluminum or titanium center rod. For example, in a large rod of a middle rod formed from a continuous fiber-containing prepreg material, it has been discovered that the continuous fiber is likely to roll up from the prepreg material at the tip thereof due to contact with the ribs and the bones. When the continuous fiber is rolled up, the end of the continuous fiber is exposed from the tip of the large tube. The exposed continuous fibers may interfere with the upholstery and cause damage to the upholstery. Further, the exposed continuous fibers may come into contact with the user's hand during use, which may give the user discomfort.

The mechanism by which continuous fibers roll up from the center rod is as follows. When folding the folding umbrella, after folding the ribs and ribs, slide the large tube of the middle rod to the tip side while keeping the ribs and ribs pressed inward to move the small tube into the large tube. Since it is housed, the ribs and skeletons are easily attached to the tip of the large canal. At this time, when the large tube of the central rod is formed of the continuous fiber-containing prepreg material, the continuous fiber contained in the large tube becomes the prepreg due to the contact of the tip of the central rod with the rib or the bone. Easy to roll up from the material.

In the center rod formed from the continuous fiber-containing prepreg sheet, it is desired that the continuous fiber does not curl up from the center rod.

An object of the present invention is to alleviate or eliminate the problems caused by using a continuous fiber-containing prepreg material for the center rod. One of the specific objects of the present invention is to prevent a continuous fiber from curling up from the center rod due to the contact between the center rod and the ribs or ribs in the tubular body formed from the continuous fiber-containing prepreg sheet. Is. Other objects of the invention will be apparent with reference to the entire specification.

A folding umbrella according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a center rod, a movable wheel provided on the center rod so as to be slidable in the axial direction thereof, and a skeleton whose one end is pivotally supported by the wheel. It comprises a main bone connected to the skeleton and a ring formed of a material containing no continuous fiber. The center rod includes a first tube body and a second tube body provided inside the first tube body so as to be accommodated from the tip side thereof. The first tubular body is formed from a prepreg sheet containing continuous fibers that are stretched in parallel to the axial direction of the first tubular body. The ring is provided at the tip of the outer peripheral surface of the first tubular body. In one embodiment of the present invention, the ring is made of a short fiber reinforced resin material in which short fibers are dispersed in a matrix resin material, a metal material, or a hard resin material.

According to the embodiment, when the second tubular body is housed in the first tubular body, the ribs and the bones come into contact with the ring provided at the tip of the outer peripheral surface of the first tubular body, It becomes difficult for the ribs and the ribs to come into contact with the first tubular body. Therefore, when accommodating the second tubular body in the first tubular body, it is possible to prevent the continuous fiber contained in the first tubular body from curling up.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the ring is formed so as to project radially outward from an outer peripheral surface of the second tubular body.

According to this embodiment, when the second tubular body is housed in the first tubular body, it is possible to more reliably prevent contact between the rib and the bone of the first tubular body.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, in a tubular body formed of a prepreg sheet containing continuous fibers, it is possible to prevent the continuous fibers from rolling up from the center rod due to contact with the ribs or ribs.

1 is a front view schematically showing a folding umbrella according to an embodiment of the present invention. The folding umbrella shown in FIG. 1 is in an open state. 1 is a front view schematically showing a folding umbrella according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the folding umbrella shown in FIG. 2, the ribs and the ribs are partially folded. 1 is a front view schematically showing a folding umbrella according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the folding umbrella shown in FIG. 3, the ribs and ribs are folded. 1 is a front view schematically showing a folding umbrella according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the folding umbrella shown in FIG. 4, the small tube of the middle rod is housed in the large tube. It is a figure which expands and shows the vicinity of the front-end|tip of the large pipe of the folding umbrella by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows a part of manufacturing process of the tube body of the center rod of a folding umbrella which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a front view schematically showing a folding umbrella according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the folding umbrella shown in FIG. 7, the small rod of the middle rod is partially accommodated in the large pipe. It is a figure which expands and shows the vicinity of the front-end|tip of the large pipe of the folding umbrella by other embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to common components in each drawing. It should be noted that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale for convenience of explanation.

A folding umbrella 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. 1 to 4 are schematic front views of a folding umbrella 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The folding umbrella 1 is in an open state in FIG. 1, the ribs and ribs are partially folded in FIG. 2, the ribs and ribs are further folded in FIG. 3, and in FIG. The small pipe of the middle rod is housed in the large pipe and is closed.

The folding umbrella 1 in FIG. 1 is a hook-type folding umbrella. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be applied not only to a hook-type folding umbrella but also to a topless-type folding umbrella or any other type of folding umbrella.

As shown, a folding umbrella 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a center rod 2, an upper wheel 3, a lower wheel 4, a plurality of ribs 5, a plurality of ribs 6, a handle 7, and a lower wheel 7. Mainly includes a repellant 8 and an upper repellant 9. The lower flip 8 may be omitted. When the folding umbrella 1 is a topless folding umbrella, the folding umbrella 1 may further include auxiliary bones. The auxiliary bone is provided, for example, so as to connect the upper wheel and the bone.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the center rod 2 includes a first tubular body 2a and a second tubular body 2b. Both the first tubular body 2a and the second tubular body 2b are formed in a hollow elongated tubular shape. The second tubular body 2b is formed so that its outer shape is smaller than the inner diameter of the first tubular body 2a. As a result, the second tube body 2b is housed inside the first rod body 2a from its tip side. The center rod 2 may include three or more tubular bodies. Since the diameter of the first pipe body 2a is larger than that of the second pipe body 2b, the size of the diameter of the first pipe body 2a will be focused on, and in the present specification, the first pipe body 2a will be described. The body 2a may be called a large tube, and the second tube body 2b may be called a small tube.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the upper wheel 3 is provided at the tip of the center rod 2, and the handle 7 is provided at the base end of the center rod 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper wheel 3 is provided at the tip of the second tube body 2 b on the tip side of the center rod 2, and the handle 7 is the first tube body on the root side of the center rod 2. It is provided at the base end of 2a.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the lower wheel 4 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape. The lower wheel 4 is provided on the center rod 2 so as to be slidable along its axial direction. The lower wheel 4 is formed such that its inner diameter is larger than both the outer diameter of the first tube body 2a and the outer diameter of the second tube body 2b.

In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of ribs 5 includes an original rib 5a extending radially from the upper wheel cross 3, a leading rib 5b pivotally supported at a tip of the original rib 5a, and a bone receiving bone. It has a dowel 5c to which 6 is connected, and a dew point 5d provided at the tip of the front rib 5b. The main rib 5a is pivotally supported on the upper wheel 3 so as to be tiltable with respect to the axial direction of the center rod 2. Although not shown, a tension cloth is attached to the plurality of ribs 5.

In one embodiment of the present invention, one end of each of the plurality of ribs 6 is housed in the lower lathe 4 and the other end is connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of ribs 5.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the main ribs 5a, the front ribs 5b, and the ribs 6 are made of aluminum, titanium, or a metal material other than these, or a composite material that is a combination of these metal materials and other materials. It is formed.

A thin through hole (not shown) extending in the axial direction is formed at the proximal end of the second tubular body 2b. A lower repellant 8 is provided in this through hole. The lower repellant 8 is made of a metal plate material. The lower repellant 8 is constantly urged against the second tubular body 2b so as to project outward from the through hole.

In the second pipe body 2b, another through hole (not shown) is formed at a position closer to the tip than the lower cissing. This through hole also has an elongated shape extending in the axial direction. An upper repellant 9 is provided in this through hole. The upper repellant 8 is made of a metal plate material. The upper repellant 9 is constantly urged against the second tube body 2b so as to project outward from the through hole.

The lower wheel 4 is provided with a slit (not shown) with which the upper repellent 9 is engaged. When the lower wheel 4 is slid to the position of the upper wheel 9 when the folding umbrella 1 is opened, the upper wheel 9 engages with the slit of the lower wheel 4. In this way, the folding umbrella 1 is held in the open state (open state) by the engagement of the slit and the upper repellant 9 in this manner.

When the folding umbrella 1 is folded from the posture shown in FIG. 1 (opened state), the lower throwing wheel 4 is slid toward the hand side to release the engagement between the upper flip 9 and the lower pulling wheel 4. By moving the lower wheel 4 to the hand side, the ribs 5 and the ribs 6 are folded as shown in FIG. That is, by moving the lower wheel 4 downward (toward the root side), the skeleton 6 connected to the lower wheel 4 and the original rib 5a connected to the skeleton 6 are inclined in the axial direction of the center rod 2. Thus, by moving the lower wheel 4 toward the root side, the angle between the original ribs 5a and the ribs 6 and the axial direction of the center rod 2 becomes smaller, and the front ribs 5b move upward in FIG. Can be folded. Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the lower wheel 4 is further slid toward the hand side to the position where the lower repellent 8 is engaged. As a result, the original ribs 5a, the ribs 5b, and the ribs 6 are folded to a posture in which they are substantially parallel to the second tubular body 2b of the center rod 2. Next, as shown in FIG. 3, by gripping the handle 7 and the folded original ribs 5a, the ribs 5b, and the ribs 6, and sliding the first tubular body 2a in the distal direction, As shown in, the first tubular body 2a moves to a position where the second tubular body 2b is housed inside. As a result, the folding umbrella 1 is closed. In the folding umbrella 1 in the closed umbrella state, the second tubular body 2b is housed in the first tubular body 2a, and the original ribs 5a, the leading ribs 5b, and the ribs 6 are folded.

On the other hand, when the folding umbrella 1 is opened from the posture (closed umbrella-like body) of FIG. 4, the first pipe body 2a is pulled out from the second pipe body 2b as shown in FIG. The lower wheel 4 is slid along the center rod 2 towards its tip as shown in FIG. 2, and then the lower wheel 4 is engaged with the upper repellant 9 as shown in FIG. Slide to the position. By moving the lower wheel 4 upward, the original ribs 5a, the leading ribs 5b, and the ribs 6 are expanded. That is, by moving the lower wheel 4 upward (toward the tip side), the angle between the ribs 5 and the ribs 6 and the axial direction of the center rod 2 increases. When the ribs 5 are expanded, the upholstery cloth attached to the ribs 5 is also expanded. As described above, when the lower wheel 4 is slid to the position of the upper wheel 9, the upper wheel 9 engages with the slit of the lower wheel 4. As a result, the folding umbrella 1 is held in the open state.

Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the folding umbrella 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be further described. FIG. 5: is a figure which expands and shows the vicinity of the front-end|tip of the 1st tube 2a of the folding umbrella 1 typically. As illustrated, the first tube body 2 a has a tubular body 20. A groove 21 extending around the central axis of the center rod 2 is formed at the tip of the outer peripheral surface of the main body 20. The groove 21 is defined by the bottom surface 21a and the wall surface 21b.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the main body 20 is formed from a prepreg sheet in which continuous fibers are impregnated in a matrix resin (herein, sometimes referred to as “continuous fiber-containing prepreg sheet”). The prepreg sheet including continuous fibers has a sheet shape. In the present specification, the continuous fiber means a fiber continuously connected from one end to the other end of the sheet, similarly to the general usage in the technical field of the prepreg sheet. Continuous fibers are sometimes called long fibers. The continuous fiber-containing prepreg sheet applicable to the present invention may have, in addition to continuous fibers, fibers shorter than the distance between one end and the other end of the prepreg sheet.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the main body 20 is pulled in a direction parallel to the central axis A of the first tubular body 2a (also coincides with the central axis of the first tubular body 2b and the central axis of the center rod 2). Has aligned continuous fibers. The middle rod 2 is required to have high bending rigidity. Since the main body 20 has the continuous fibers aligned in the direction parallel to the central axis A, the first tubular body 2a having high bending rigidity can be obtained.

A method of creating the first rod body 2a will be described with reference to FIG. First, a mandrel 100 having a diameter gradually reduced toward the tip and a prepreg sheet 102 are prepared. The mandrel 100 may be configured to have the same diameter over its entire length. The prepreg sheet 102 is a prepreg sheet obtained by impregnating continuous fibers oriented in a predetermined direction with a matrix resin. As the continuous fiber, for example, various reinforcing fibers such as carbon fiber, glass fiber, and aramid fiber can be used. As the matrix resin, for example, a thermosetting resin such as epoxy, pismaleimide, polyimide and phenol can be used.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the continuous fibers of the prepreg sheet 102 are oriented in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the mandrel. In this case, the prepreg sheet 102a has continuous fibers continuously connected from one end 102a to the other end 102b.

The prepreg sheet 102 is wound around the mandrel 100. Next, the prepreg sheet 102 wound around the mandrel 100 is fired. After this firing, the mandrel 100 is decoreed to obtain a tubular fired body. Next, a groove 21 is formed in one end portion (for example, an end portion corresponding to the end portion 102b of the sheet) of this tubular fired body using a known cutting tool. The first tubular body 2a is obtained by appropriately performing a polishing treatment or a coating treatment on the fired body in which the groove 21 is formed.

The second tubular body 2b may also be formed of a prepreg sheet containing continuous fibers, similarly to the first tubular body 2a.

Since the upper wheel 3, the lower wheel 4, the rib 5, the bone 6, the handle 7, the lower repellent 8, and the upper repellent 9 can be formed by a known method, the description of the manufacturing method thereof will be omitted.

The ring 10 attached to the groove 21 will be described with reference to FIG. 5 again. In one embodiment of the present invention, the ring 10 is formed such that its inner diameter is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the portion of the first tubular body 2a where the groove 21 is formed (outer diameter of the bottom surface 21a). It As a result, the ring 10 is fitted into the groove 21. The ring 21 is arranged so that its rear end face abuts the wall surface 21b of the groove 21. The ring 10 is bonded to the groove 21 with an adhesive, for example.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the ring 10 is formed such that its outer diameter H1 is larger than the outer diameter H2 of the main body 20. In one embodiment of the present invention, the ring 10 is formed such that its thickness T1 is larger than the height H3 of the wall surface 21b. In this way, when the ring 10 is attached to the groove 21, the outer peripheral surface of the ring 10 projects further outward than the outer peripheral surface of the main body 20 in the radial direction of the first rod body 2a.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the ring 10 is formed so that its tip surface 10 a is flush with the tip surface 20 a of the main body 20.

The ring 10 according to one embodiment of the invention is formed from a material that does not include continuous fibers. As the material of the ring 10, a resin material or a metal material containing no continuous fiber can be used.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the resin material containing no continuous fibers used as the material of the ring 10 is a short fiber reinforced resin obtained by dispersing short fibers in a matrix resin. As the short fibers, PAN-based or pitch-based carbon fibers or glass fibers can be used. As the short fibers, those having an average fiber diameter of 3 μm to 15 μm and an average fiber length of 0.5 mm to 10 mm can be used.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the continuous fiber-free resin material is ABS, nylon, polyacetal (POM), polycarbonate (PC), or any other known hard resin other than these.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the metal material used as the material of the ring 10 is, for example, aluminum, titanium, SUS or brass.

FIG. 7 shows the folding umbrella 1 in which the second tubular body 2b of the center rod 2 is partially accommodated in the first tubular body 2a. As described above, when the center rod 2 is contracted in the process of folding the folding umbrella 1, the first rod body 2a is moved toward the tip with the original ribs 5a, the leading ribs 5b, or the ribs 6 being held. Slide it. In this way, since the force is applied to the inner ribs 5a, the leading ribs 5b, or the ribs 6 toward the inner side, the original ribs 5a and the leading ribs 5b are located on the trajectory along which the first rod body 2a moves. , Or the skeleton 6 is likely to interfere. When the folding umbrella 1 is a topless folding umbrella, the auxiliary ribs are also likely to interfere with the trajectory of the first rod body 2a.

In the folding umbrella 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the ring 10 is provided at the tip of the outer peripheral surface of the first rod body 2a, the first rod body 2a is moved in the tip direction in the process of folding the folding umbrella 1. The ring 10 abuts the former rib 5a, the former rib 5b, or the rib 6 when sliding. Since the ring 10 is provided at the tip of the outer peripheral surface of the first rod body 2a, the original ribs 5a, the ribs 5b, and the ribs 6 (and auxiliary bones) are to be applied to the ring 10. On the other hand, it is hard to hit the first rod body 2a.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the outer peripheral surface of the ring 10 has an outer diameter that projects more radially outward than the outer peripheral surface of the first rod body 2a. It is more difficult for (and the auxiliary bone) to hit the first rod body 2a.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, since the original ribs 5a, the ribs 5b, and the ribs 6 (and the auxiliary bones) are less likely to hit the first tubular body 2a, the folding umbrella 1 is folded in the process. When the first rod body 2a is slid in the tip direction, it is possible to prevent the continuous fibers contained in the first tube body 2a from rolling up.

Next, a folding umbrella according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is an enlarged schematic view showing the vicinity of the tip of the large tube of the folding umbrella according to another embodiment of the present invention. The folding umbrella of FIG. 8 is different from the folding umbrella 1 described above in that the folding umbrella includes a ring 110 instead of the ring 10.

The ring 110 has a ring-shaped main body 110a and a flange 110b provided at the tip of the main body 110a. The flange 110b is formed so as to cover at least a part of the front end surface 20a of the main body 20. The flange 110b can protect the tip surface 20a of the main body 20.

The dimensions, materials, and arrangements of the components described herein are not limited to those explicitly described in the embodiments, and the components may be included in the scope of the present invention. Can be modified to have different dimensions, materials, and configurations. In addition, components that are not explicitly described in this specification may be added to the described embodiments, or some of the components described in each embodiment may be omitted.

1 Folding Umbrella 2 Middle Rod 2a First Tubular Body 2b Second Tubular Body 3 Upper Wheel 4 Lower Wheel 5 Ribbon 6 Reincarnation 8 Lower Repelling 9 Upper Repelling 10,110 Ring

Claims (8)

A first tubular body formed from a prepreg sheet containing continuous fibers extending parallel to the axial direction, and a second tubular body provided inside the first tubular body so as to be accommodated from the tip side thereof, A middle rod having
A movable wheel provided on the center rod so as to be slidable in its axial direction,
A bone with one end pivotally supported by the wheel,
A rib connected to the bone,
A ring provided at the tip of the outer peripheral surface of the first tubular body, the ring being formed from a material containing no continuous fiber;
Folding umbrella with. The folding umbrella according to claim 1, wherein the ring is formed so as to project radially outward from an outer peripheral surface of the first tubular body. The folding umbrella according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ring is provided such that its tip end surface is flush with the tip end surface of the first tubular body. The ring according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ring is made of a short fiber reinforced resin material in which short fibers are dispersed in a matrix resin material. The ring according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ring is made of a metallic material. The ring according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ring is made of a hard resin material. The ring according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the ribs are made of a metal material. The ring according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the ribs are made of a metallic material.

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