US20050183757A1

US20050183757A1 - Water ejectable umbrella

Info

Publication number: US20050183757A1
Application number: US10/787,564
Authority: US
Inventors: Max Wang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-02-24
Filing date: 2004-02-24
Publication date: 2005-08-25

Abstract

A water ejectable umbrella includes a water conduit which is disposed in a tubular stem and which has axially extending water drawing and expelling ducts that are communicated with each other by a transit chamber formed in a handle end portion of the stem. A plunger has a plunger head which is disposed in and which is movable relative to the transit chamber to perform a drawing stroke, during which a reduced pressure is created in the chamber for drawing water through the water drawing duct into the chamber, and an expelling stroke, during which the water in the chamber is pressurized to rush through the water ejecting duct so as to be ejected out of a spout proximate to an upper end of the stem.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an umbrella, more particularly to a water ejectable umbrella which can eject a stream of water from a top of a stem thereof to serve as a toy for children.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional umbrella generally includes a stem on which a runner is slidably mounted for spreading and collapsing a canopy and rib assembly. Umbrellas generally provide protection against the weather. However, it would be desirable to have an umbrella that can also serve as a playing for children.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a water ejectable umbrella which can eject a stream of water from a top of a stem thereof to serve as a toy water gun for children.
According to this invention, the water ejectable umbrella includes a tubular stem elongated along an axis, and including a canopy mounting end portion, a handle end portion opposite to the canopy mounting end portion along the axis, and a middle runner sliding portion disposed between the handle end portion and the canopy mounting end portion. The canopy mounting end portion confines a passage which extends along the axis to the middle runner sliding portion and which terminates at upper and lower ports that are respectively formed in the canopy mounting end portion and the middle runner sliding portion. The handle end portion confines therein a transit chamber which extends along the axis and which is communicated with the lower port for receiving water therein. A runner is slidably sleeved on the middle runner sliding portion of the stem, and is movable between upper and lower positions, which are respectively proximate to the canopy mounting end portion and the handle end portion. A canopy and rib assembly is mounted pivotally on the canopy mounting end portion, and is coupled to and is moved with the runner between spread-out and collapsed positions that correspond to the upper and lower positions, respectively. A water conduit includes a water drawing duct which extends parallel to the axis and which is disposed upstream of the transit chamber so as to permit passage of water drawn from a reservoir into the transit chamber, and a water ejecting duct which is disposed in the passage and downstream of the transit chamber and which extends along the axis to terminate at a spout that is proximate to the upper port. A plunger has a plunger head which is disposed in the transit chamber, and which is movable within the transit chamber relative to the handle end portion to perform a drawing stroke, during which a reduced pressure is created in the transit chamber, thereby drawing water from the reservoir through the water drawing duct into the transit chamber, and to perform an expelling stroke, during which the water in the transit chamber is pressurized to rush through the water ejecting duct so as to be ejected out of the spout, and an actuated shank which extends from the plunger head outwardly of the handle end portion for moving the plunger head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a first preferred embodiment of a water ejectable umbrella according to this invention when collapsed;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a plunger of the first preferred embodiment in an expelling stroke;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the plunger of the first preferred embodiment in a drawing stroke; and
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of a water ejectable umbrella according to this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that same reference numerals have been used to denote like elements throughout the specification.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first preferred embodiment of a water ejectable umbrella according to the present invention is shown to comprise a tubular stem 10, a runner 40, a canopy and rib assembly 30, a water conduit 17, and a plunger 20.
The tubular stem 10 is elongated along an axis (L), and includes a canopy mounting end portion 12, a handle end portion 19 opposite to the canopy mounting end portion 12 along the axis (L), and a middle runner sliding portion 11 disposed between the handle end portion 19 and the canopy mounting end portion 12. The canopy mounting end portion 12 confines therein a passage 14 which extends along the axis (L) to the middle runner sliding portion 11 and which terminates at upper and lower ports 141, 142 that are respectively formed in the canopy mounting end portion 12 and the middle runner sliding portion 11. A handgrip 18 is sleeved on the handle end portion 19, and extends downwardly along the axis (L) to define therein a transit chamber 13 which is communicated with the lower port 142 of the passage 14 for receiving water therein. The runner 40 is slidably sleeved on the middle runner sliding portion 11 of the stem 10, and is movable between upper and lower positions, which are respectively proximate to the canopy mounting end portion 12 and the handle end portion 19. The canopy and rib assembly 30 is mounted pivotally on the canopy mounting end portion 12, and is coupled to and moved with the runner 40 between spread-out and collapsed positions, which correspond to the upper and lower positions, respectively. Since the construction of the runner 40 and the canopy and rib assembly 30 is hitherto known, a description thereof is dispensed with herein for the sake of brevity.
The water conduit 17 is in the form of a flexible hose, and is received in the passage 14 along the axis (L). The water conduit 17 has upper and lower ends 171, 172 extending upwardly and downwardly of the upper and lower ports 141, 142, respectively. A water-tight seal plate 131 is secured in the lower port 142, and is disposed to retain the lower end 172 of the water conduit 17 such that the passage 14 is fluidly communicated with the transit chamber 13 through the water conduit 17.
The water conduit 17 includes a water drawing duct which is disposed upstream of the transit chamber 13 so as to permit passage of water drawn from a reservoir (not shown) into the transit chamber 13, and a water ejecting duct which is disposed downstream of the transit chamber 13 and which extends along the axis (L) to terminate at a spout that is proximate to the upper port 141. In this embodiment, the water drawing duct and the water ejecting duct are integrally formed in the water conduit 17 such that the upper end 171 can serve as the spout and permit water to be drawn into the transit chamber 13 therethrough.
The plunger 20 includes a plunger head 22 which is disposed in the transit chamber 13, and which is movable within the transit chamber 13 along the axis (L) relative to the handle end portion 19, and an actuated shank 21 which has an engaging end portion 212 that is formed with a retaining head 213 secured in a groove 221 in the plunger head 22, and an operation end portion 214 that extends from the engaging end portion 212 downwardly and outwardly of the handgrip 18 and that is provided with an operating knob 211 which is conveniently operable to move the plunger head 22.
In use, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the plunger head 22 is moved along the axis (L) away from the passage 14 to increase the volume of the transit chamber 13 so as to perform a drawing stroke (see FIG. 3), during which a reduced pressure is created in the transit chamber 13, thereby drawing water from the reservoir (not shown) through the upper end 171 (see FIG. 1) of the water conduit 17 (i.e. the water drawing duct) into the transit chamber 13. The plunger head 22 is also movable along the axis (L) close to the passage 14 to decrease the volume of the transit chamber 13 so as to perform an expelling stroke (see FIG. 2), during which the water in the transit chamber 13 is pressurized to rush through the water conduit 17 (i.e. the water ejecting duct) so as to be ejected out of the upper end 171 (i.e. the spout). Preferably, the water conduit 17 has an inner diameter which is smaller than that of the transit chamber 13 such that the water is ejected in a stream.
As illustrated, the umbrella according to this invention can be used as a toy water gun for children while providing protection against the weather.
Referring to FIG. 4, the second preferred embodiment of a water ejectable umbrella according to this invention is shown to be similar to the previous embodiment in construction. The differences reside in that the handgrip 18 defines a water storage space 15 therein, and has an opening 181 for introducing water into the water storage space 15. The opening 181 is closable by a plug 16. A tubular seat 25 is secured in the water storage space 15, and defines the transit chamber 13 therein. The water conduit 17 has upper and lower segments 173, 174 coupled with two opposite ends of the tubular seat 21 along the axis (L) to be communicated with the transit chamber 13 so as to serve as the water expelling duct and the water drawing duct, respectively. Thus, the lower segment 174 is disposed in the water storage space 15 to communicate the water storage space 15 with the transit chamber 13. Moreover, a first check valve 51 is disposed between the lower segment 174 and the transit chamber 13 so as to permit water to flow only from the water storage space 15 into the transit chamber 13. A second check valve 52 is disposed between the upper segment 173 and the transit chamber 13 so as to permit water to flow only from the transit chamber 13 into the upper segment 173.
Besides, the plunger 20 extends in a radial direction relative to the axis (L) such that the plunger head 22 is movable in the radial direction in the transit chamber 13. A biasing member 23 is disposed between the plunger head 22 and an inner wall of the tubular seat 25 so as to bias the plunger head 22 away from the axis (L). In use, the plunger head 22 is moved by pressing the operating lever 211 toward the axis (L) against the biasing action of the biasing member 23 in an expelling stroke to decrease the volume of the transit chamber 13 so as to pressurize the water therein, thereby expelling the water out of the upper segment 173 of the water conduit 17. When the operating lever 211 is released, in a drawing stroke, the plunger head 22 is moved away from the axis (L) by the biasing action of the biasing member 23 to increase the volume of the transit chamber 13 so as to create a reduced pressure in the transit chamber 17, thereby drawing the water from the water storage space 15 into the transit chamber 13. As such, water streams can be ejected continuously from the upper end 171 of the upper segment 173 to enhance the fun of playing with the umbrella of this invention.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A water ejectable umbrella comprising:

a tubular stem elongated along an axis, and including a canopy mounting end portion, a handle end portion opposite to said canopy mounting end portion along the axis, and a middle runner sliding portion disposed between said handle end portion and said canopy mounting end portion, said canopy mounting end portion confining a passage which extends along the axis to said middle runner sliding portion and which terminates at upper and lower ports that are respectively formed in said canopy mounting end portion and said middle runner sliding portion, said handle end portion confining therein a transit chamber which extends along the axis and which is communicated with said lower port for receiving water therein;

a runner slidably sleeved on said middle runner sliding portion of said stem, and movable between upper and lower positions, which are respectively proximate to said canopy mounting end portion and said handle end portion;

a canopy and rib assembly mounted pivotally on said canopy mounting end portion, and coupled to and moved with said runner between spread-out and collapsed positions, which correspond to the upper and lower positions, respectively;

a water conduit including a water drawing duct which extends parallel to the axis and which is disposed upstream of said transit chamber so as to draw water from a reservoir into said transit chamber, and a water ejecting duct which is disposed in said passage and downstream of said transit chamber and which extends along the axis to terminate at a spout that is proximate to said upper port; and

a plunger having a plunger head which is disposed in said transit chamber, and which is movable within said transit chamber relative to said handle end portion to perform a drawing stroke, during which a reduced pressure is created in said transit chamber, thereby drawing water from the reservoir through said water drawing duct into said transit chamber, and to perform an expelling stroke, during which the water in said transit chamber is pressurized to rush through said water ejecting duct so as to be ejected out of said spout, and an actuated shank which extends from said plunger head outwardly of said handle end portion and which is operable to move said plunger head.

2. The water ejectable umbrella of claim 1, wherein said water drawing duct is disposed in said passage, and is formed integrally with said water expelling duct, said spout being configured to permit passage of water drawn through said spout into said transit chamber.

3. The water ejectable umbrella of claim 2, wherein said plunger extends along the axis such that said plunger head is movable along the axis away from said passage to increase volume of said transit chamber so as to create the reduced pressure in said transit chamber during the drawing stroke, and is movable along the axis close to said passage to decrease the volume of said transit chamber so as to pressurize the water therein during the expelling stroke.

4. The water ejectable umbrella of claim 3, wherein said water conduit has an inner diameter which is smaller than that of said transit chamber.

5. The water ejectable umbrella of claim 1, wherein said water conduit has upper and lower segments disposed at two opposite ends of said transit chamber along the axis to serve as said water expelling duct and said water drawing duct, respectively.

6. The water ejectable umbrella of claim 5, wherein said handle end portion defines a water storage space therein, and has an opening for introducing water into said water storage space,

said lower segment of said conduit being disposed in said water storage space to communicate said water storage space with said transit chamber,

said umbrella further comprising:

a first check valve disposed between said lower segment of said conduit and said transit chamber so as to permit water to flow only from said water storage space into said transit chamber during the drawing stroke,

a second check valve disposed between said transit chamber and said upper segment of said conduit so as to permit water to flow only from said transit chamber into said upper segment during the expelling stroke.

7. The water ejectable umbrella of claim 6, wherein said plunger extends in a radial direction relative to the axis such that said plunger head is movable in the radial direction away from the axis to increase volume of said transit chamber so as to create the reduced pressure with in said transit chamber during the drawing stroke, and close to the axis to decrease the volume of said transit chamber so as to pressurize the water therein during the expelling stroke.

8. The water ejectable umbrella of claim 7, further comprising a biasing member disposed to bias said plunger head away from the axis.