KR101289940B1 - Automatic foldable umbrella - Google Patents

Abstract

The automatic folding umbrella comprises a central shaft unit 30 having an upper shaft 32, a lower shaft 31, and a middle shaft 33, which are joined telescopically to some of which overlap one another. . Pull the upper shaft 32 to a stretched-out position relative to the middle shaft 33 when the middle shaft 33 moves to a position biased and extended by the central spring 40, and the rib assembly 70 The first force transmission unit 80 is arranged such that when the top shaft 32 collapses, the upper shaft 32 moves downward, which is the retracted position. As the second force transmission unit 90 is disposed to move the runner 60 toward the upper hub 50 when the upper shaft 32 moves to the extended position, the folding operation can be easily and easily performed.

Description

Automatic Folding Umbrella {AUTOMATIC FOLDABLE UMBRELLA}

The present invention relates to an automatic folding umbrella, and more particularly to an automatic folding umbrella that can be easily operated.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional automatic folding umbrella as disclosed in US Pat. No. 6,684,893 B2 includes a handle 1, an operating unit 2, a central shaft unit 3, a central spring 4, An upper hub 5, a runner 6, a rib-and-stretcher unit 7, and a cord unit 8. The drive unit 2 is movable to be fixed in a retaining hole 602 in the runner 6 to hold the center shaft unit 3 in the folded position while the center spring 4 is in a compressed state. a retained protrusion 202 disposed on a movable ring 201 and a pivot on the movable ring 201 to be changed to be released from or engaged with the fixed block 801 from the fixed block 801. It has a spring-biased actuator 203 that is possibly mounted and a push button 204 that is manually operable to move the movable ring 201. The central shaft unit 3 comprises a lower shaft 301, a middle shaft 302 and an upper shaft 303 which are joined so that some of them overlap and stretch. The cord unit 8 has a connected end fixed to the upper hub 5 and is mounted to the upper hub 5 to terminate at an anchoring end fixed to the fixed block 801. It is extended so as to be wound on the pulley 501 mounted on the pulley 501 and the runner 6. The fixed block 801 is fixed in the fixed area 301 ′ of the lower shaft 301 to hold the cord unit 8 in a tensioned state, as shown in FIG. When the central shaft unit 3 moves to the extended position by the biasing operation of 4), the rod unit 7 can be held in the unfolded position, and as shown in FIG. 3, by the operation of the button 204 The movement of the disclosed actuator 203 removes the central shaft unit 3 from the fixed area 301 'and releases the taut cord unit 8 to move the runner 6 and the rod unit 7 to the collapsed position. Can be.

However, because the central spring 4 must have sufficient biasing force to move the central shaft unit 3, runner 6, and rod unit 7 when the umbrella is unfolded, the central shaft unit 3 must be folded. In order to compress the central spring 4, a relatively large physical force is required. Therefore, the conventional automatic folding umbrella is inconvenient for a user, especially a woman and a child, and the user may be injured when the umbrella accidentally comes out of the user's hand during folding.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic folding umbrella that can reduce the risk of the umbrella slipping on the user's hand during folding by operating simply and easily.

The automatic folding umbrella according to the present invention includes a central shaft unit and an inner tube. The central shaft unit is coupled telescopically with some overlapping one another along the axis, the upper and lower shafts having upper and lower ends, respectively, inserted into and above the upper and lower shafts, respectively. One or more middle shafts having a sleeved upper and lower ends. The inner tube has an attachment end arranged to be moved by one of the upper shaft and the middle shaft, and extends downward to terminate at the pedestal end. The lower shaft has a fixed area. The central spring is disposed in the lower shaft to bias the middle shaft to move relative to the lower shaft from the folded position to the extended position. The upper hub is disposed on the top end of the upper shaft. The runner is movable relative to the upper shaft and sleeved therebetween between a relative position and a relative position relative to the upper hub. The rod assembly pivotally connects the upper hub and runner to each other so that when the runner is moved from a distant position to a close position, it moves from a collapsed position to a spread position. The first force transmission unit includes a first diverting member disposed on the upper shaft at a position remote from the upper end, a second diverting member disposed on the middle shaft adjacent to the upper end, and an upper end of the upper shaft. A first cord having a first connection end and a first cord segment moved tensely by the first cord segment from the first connection end in the upper shaft to wind on the first and second turning members; Extends into the inner tube, further down into the inner tube, and terminates at the anchoring end-a stationary member connected to the anchoring end and movable between a retained state and a released state-fixed The members are each secured by the securing area and removed from the securing area. When the middle shaft is biased to move from the folded position to the extended position and when the fixed member is held in a fixed state, the first turning member is pulled by the first cord segment and moved toward the second turning member. Move the upper shaft to the stretched-out position. When the stationary member is moved in the released state, the first turning member becomes free and allows the upper shaft to move down in a retracted position relative to the middle shaft, The assembly is moved to the collapsed position. The second force transmission unit has a third cord having a third turning member disposed on an upper shaft adjacent the upper end portion, a second cord having a second connecting end moved tautly by the middle shaft, and a winding on the third turning member. And a second cord segment extending up from the second connecting end and leading down to terminate at a third connecting end connected to the runner. The runner moves from the distant position to the near position when the upper shaft moves from the retracted position to the extended position.

Since the upper shaft can be moved downward relative to the middle shaft when the rod assembly collapses, the compressive force required when moving the central shaft unit to the folded position is significantly reduced. Therefore, the folding operation of the central shaft unit can be performed simply and easily.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional automatic folding umbrella in a folded state.
2 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional automatic folding umbrella in an unfolded state.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional automatic folding umbrella in a folded but extended state.
4 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of an automatic folding umbrella according to the present invention in a folded state;
5 is a sectional view of a first embodiment in an extended state;
6 is a sectional view of the first embodiment in the folded but extended state;
7 is a partially exploded view of the central shaft unit of the first embodiment.
8 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of an automatic folding umbrella according to the invention in a folded state;
9 is a sectional view of a second embodiment in an extended state;
10 is a sectional view of the second embodiment in the folded but extended state;

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Prior to describing the invention in more detail, the same reference numerals have been used throughout the specification to refer to like elements.

4 and 5, a first embodiment of an automatic foldable umbrella according to the present invention is shown. The automatic folding umbrella of the first embodiment comprises a driving unit 10, a central shaft unit 30, a central spring 40, a top hub 50, and a runner. 60), a rib-and-stretcher assembly 70, a first force transmitting unit 80 and a second force transmitting unit 90.

The drive unit 10 comprises a mounting shell 11, a spring-biased push button 12 which is manually actuated relative to the mounting shell 11 and has a retaining portion 121. ), With an engageable end 131 pivotally mounted on push button 12 and switchable between actuatable and non-actuatable positions. It has an actuator 13 and a torsion spring 14 installed to bias the actuator 13 in an operating position.

The central shaft unit 30 comprises an upper shaft 32, a lower shaft 31, at least one middle shaft 33 and an inner tube 34. The upper shaft 32 and the lower shaft 31 are coupled telescopically so that some of them overlap each other along the axis L, and are reduced in length, respectively, in the upper hub 50 and the mounting shell 11. It has a top end 320 mounted and a bottom end 310. The middle shaft 33 has an upper end 334 and a lower end 335 inserted into the upper shaft 32 and the lower shaft 31, respectively, and sleeved thereon. The inner tube 34 has an attachment end 343 fixed to the upper hub 50 and extends down to terminate at an abutment end 344 not exceeding the upper shaft 32. In particular, the fixing part 121 and the actuator 13 of the drive unit 10 are arranged to face each other with respect to the axis L. As shown in FIG. Further, the lower shaft 31 has a retaining region 311 adjacent to the lower surface end 310 and an abutment region 312 positioned over the fixed region 311.

Referring to FIG. 7, the upper shaft 32 has an outer passage 321 offset from the axis L. As shown in FIG. The middle shaft 33 is disposed at the upper end 334 and extends along the axis L-the through hole 333-the inner tube 34 is slidably fitting along the through hole 333. Has a plug 331. The inner tube 34 surrounds the axis L to define an inner passage 341, with the axial slot 342 allowing the outer passage 321 to communicate with the inner passage 341. It is composed.

The central spring 40 is a compression spring 40 and is disposed in the lower shaft 31 and plugs 331 which bias the middle shaft 33 to move up relative to the lower shaft 31 to a position extending from the folded position. ) And pedestal region 312.

The runner 60 is movable relative to the upper shaft 32 and sleeved thereon between a distal and proximate position relative to the upper hub 50. .

The rod assembly 70 moves the upper hub 50 and the runner 60 to move from the collapsed position to the spread position when the runner 60 is moved from the distant position to the close position. Connect to each other pivotally.

The first force transmission unit 80 is a first direction reversing member 83, middle shaft located at a position remote from the upper end 320 and disposed in the outer passage 321 of the upper shaft 32. A second direction reversing member 84 disposed on the plug 331 of 33, a first connected end fixed in an outer passage 321 adjacent to the top end 320; A first cord 81 having a 811, disposed in the outer passage 321, extending downward from the first connecting end 811 to be wound on the first and second turning members 83, 84; First cord segment 813 extending downward through axial slot 342 in inner passage 341 of inner tube 34 and terminating at anchoring end 812. ) And a fixing member 82 connected to the fixing end 812.

The second force transmission unit 90 includes a third direction reversing member 94 disposed on the upper shaft 32 adjacent the upper end 320, the plug 331 of the middle shaft 33. A third cord extending from the second connecting end 91 and connected to the runner 60 to be wound on the second cord 95 and the third turning member 94 having the second connecting end 91 fixed to the second cord 95; A second cord segment 93 which is led down to terminate at the connecting end 92.

In the present embodiment, the first, second and third turning members 83, 84, and 94 are the lower portion of the upper shaft 32, the upper end 334 and the upper shaft 32 of the middle shaft 33, respectively. A pulley pivotally mounted on the upper portion of the head.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the automatic folding umbrella according to the present embodiment is in a folded state, the runner 60 is located at a distant position by the engagement of the fixing part 121 in the retained hole 61. It is held to position the central spring 40 in the compressed state, while the retained member 82 is fixed to the fixed area 311 and is fixed. On the other hand, the actuator 13 is held by the lower end 335 of the middle shaft 33 in the non-operational position in which the engaging end 131 is separated from the fixed member 82.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the umbrella is to be opened, the push button 12 is manually pressed to remove the fixing portion 121 from the fixed hole 61 to release the runner 60. At this time, the middle shaft 33 is forced to move from the folded position to the extended position by the central spring (40). On the other hand, as a result of the fixed member 82 being held in a fixed state, the first turning member 83 is moved to the second direction turning member in order to move to the stretched-out position of the upper shaft 32. Pulled by first code segment 813 to move toward 84. On the other hand, the runner 60 is moved from the distant position to the close position, as a result, the rod assembly 70 is unfolded.

In this step, the actuator 13 is rotated to the working position by the torsion spring 14, and the engaging end 131 is engaged with the fixed member 82.

Referring to FIG. 6, when the umbrella is desired to be closed, moving the actuator 13 to remove the fixed member 82 from the fixed region 311 so that the fixed member 82 is positioned in a released state. Press the pushbutton (12) manually. When there is no reaction force exerted on the first cord segment 813 by the fixed member 82, the first turning member 83 is free and the upper shaft 32 is the middle shaft 33. Allow to descend to move down the retracted position relative to. Meanwhile, the rod assembly 70 is moved to the collapsed position. Further, the inner tube 34 is moved downward so that the pedestal end 344 can abut against the fixed member 82.

When a manually applied force is applied to move the upper hub 50 and the mounting shell 11 towards each other so that the middle shaft 33 moves to the folded position with respect to the lower shaft 31, the inner tube 34 The fixed member 82 is pressed down by the fixed member 82 to return to the fixed state. On the other hand, the middle shaft 33 is moved so that the actuator 13 is positioned in the non-operational position, and the runner 60 is moved and maintained at a distant position. As a result, the umbrella is locked in the folded state as shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 6, since the upper shaft 32 can be moved downward with respect to the middle shaft 33 when the rod assembly 70 is folded, the compressive force necessary to move the central shaft unit 30 to the folded position is obtained. It can be considerably reduced. Therefore, the folding operation of the central shaft unit 30 can be easily and easily performed, and the risk of accidentally slipping the umbrella when the user is holding it while being folded can be reduced. In addition, since the central spring 40 only needs less biasing force to move the middle shaft 33 to the extended position with respect to the lower shaft 31, the possibility of injury to the user can be avoided.

In addition, since the first cord segment 813 is guided by the axial slot 342 and extends through the axial slot 342, the first turning member 83 is the middle shaft 33, the upper shaft ( 32) and the center spring 40 can be smoothly pulled out without being disturbed.

8 to 10, a second embodiment of an automatic folding umbrella according to the present invention is shown similarly in configuration with the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the attachment end 343 'of the inner tube 34' is fixed to the plug 331 'of the middle shaft 33' and extends down within the middle shaft 33 ', thereby providing a pedestal end. 344 'does not exceed the lower end 335' of the middle shaft 33 '.

Although the present invention has been described as what appears to be the most practical and desirable, the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is construed to include various modifications within the broadest interpretation and equivalent range of the present invention.

10: operating unit
30: central shaft unit
40: central spring
50: top hub
60: runner
70: rib-and-stretcher assembly
80: first force transmitting unit
90: second force transmitting unit

Claims (8)

As an automatic folding umbrella,
Central shaft unit, central spring, top hub, runner, rib-and-stretcher assembly, first force transmitting unit And a second force transmitting unit,
The central shaft unit comprises an upper shaft, a lower shaft, at least one middle shaft and an inner tube, wherein the upper shaft and the lower shaft are partially along the axis. Are telescopically coupled so as to overlap one another, each having a top end and a bottom end, the middle shaft being inserted into the upper shaft and the lower shaft, respectively. An upper end and a lower end sleeved thereon, the inner tube having an attachment end disposed to be moved by one of the upper shaft and the lower shaft, and an abutment end. Extending down to terminate at, the lower shaft having a retaining region,
The central spring is disposed within the lower shaft to bias the middle shaft to move relative to the lower shaft from a folded position to an extended position,
The upper hub is disposed on the top end of the upper shaft,
The runner is movable relative to the upper shaft and sleeved thereon between a distant position and a proximate position with respect to the upper hub,
The rib assembly pivotally pivots the upper hub and the runner to move from the collapsed position to the spread position when the runner is moved from the distant position to the close position. Connect,
The first force transmission unit,
A first direction reversing member disposed on the upper shaft and located away from the upper end;
A second direction reversing member disposed on the middle shaft adjacent the upper end;
A first cord having a first corded end and a first corded end tensioned by the upper end of the upper shaft, the first cord segment being the first cord segment; And extending down from the first connecting end in the upper shaft to wind on a second turning member and further down into the inner tube, ending at an anchoring end;
Retained member connected to the anchoring end and capable of moving between a retained state and a released state, wherein the fixed members are each secured by the securing area and are separated from the securing area. By being removed, when the middle shaft is biased to move from the folded position to the extended position and when the fixed member is held in the fixed state, the first turning member extends the upper shaft ( stretched out by the first code segment to move toward the second turning member to move to the stretched-out position, and when the fixed member is moved to the released state, the first turning member Free and lowered so that the upper shaft can move down in a retracted position relative to the middle shaft. Permits to go, wherein the rod assembly is moved to the collapsed position;
The second force transmission unit,
A third direction reversing member disposed on the upper shaft adjacent the top end;
A second cord having a second connecting end and a second cord segment tautly moved by the middle shaft, the second cord segment extending upward from the second connecting end to wind on the third turning member, the And, when the upper shaft is moved from the retracted position to the extended position, the runner is led down to terminate at a third connecting end connected to the runner to move from the distant position to the close position. Folding umbrella. The method of claim 1,
Wherein the first, second and third turning members are pulleys pivotably mounted on the upper shaft, the middle shaft and the upper shaft adjacent the upper end, respectively, from the upper end. Folding umbrella. The method of claim 2,
The upper shaft has an outer passage offset from the axis to allow the first cord segment to extend from the first connecting end of the first cord to the first diverting member, And allow the first cord segment to wind on the first diverting member, the inner tube defining an inner passage surrounding the axis to receive the first cord segment, and the upper shaft defining the And an axial slot configured to allow the outer passage to communicate with the inner passage so that a first code segment passes therethrough. The method of claim 3,
The attachment end of the inner tube is fixed to the upper hub, the middle shaft has a plug, the plug is disposed at the upper end to allow the second diverting member to be mounted thereon and extend along the axis. And the inner tube is slidably fitting along the through hole by having a through hole. 5. The method of claim 4,
And the pedestal end of the inner tube is configured not to cross the upper shaft. The method of claim 3,
The middle shaft has a plug disposed in the upper end to allow the second turning member to be mounted thereon, and the attaching end of the inner tube is fixed to the plug and extends downward in the middle shaft. An auto-folding umbrella, wherein a pedestal end does not exceed said lower end of said middle shaft. The method of claim 1,
A mounting shell configured to mount the lower end of the lower shaft therein;
A retaining portion arranged to hold the runner in the distant position against a biasing action of the central spring, and being manually movable relative to the mounting shell to press the retaining portion to release the runner Push button,
Actuator pivotally mounted on the push button and having an engagement end, a non-actuatable position, wherein the engagement end is released from the fixed member and the engagement end is fixed. Can be turned between actuatable positions and actuable positions associated therewith such that the fixed member is driven to move from the fixed state to the released state in response to a manual pressing action on the push button. - Wow,
A torsion spring arranged to bias the actuator to the operating position
Further comprising a driving unit (operating unit) comprising a, automatic folding umbrella. The method of claim 7, wherein
And the fixing part and the actuator are disposed opposite each other with respect to the axis.

Images