US20080121255A1

US20080121255A1 - Umbrella having canopy as neatly opened or folded

Info

Publication number: US20080121255A1
Application number: US11/514,355
Authority: US
Inventors: Chung-Kuang Lin; Jung-Jen Chang
Original assignee: Fu Tai Umbrella Works Ltd
Current assignee: Fu Tai Umbrella Works Ltd
Priority date: 2006-09-01
Filing date: 2006-09-01
Publication date: 2008-05-29
Also published as: EP1894485B1; ATE454835T1; EP1894485A1; DE502007002598D1

Abstract

An umbrella includes a covering member secured on a connecting strap which is attached to a grip of the umbrella, whereby upon folding of an umbrella, the covering member may be provided for neatly wrapping the umbrella canopy as folded; and upon opening of the umbrella, the cover member may then be adapted for wrapping the grip, thereby rendering an umbrella having the canopy neatly opened without obstructing a user's field of vision.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,304 disclosed an umbrella having a tie strap attached to one of the gores of the umbrella cover adapted for wrapping the umbrella cover and rib linkages when folded.
However, such a prior art has the following drawbacks:

1. The tie strap (28) as attached to the umbrella cover (24), when opened, may be pendent downwardly to obstruct the user's field of vision.
2. The tie strap (28) as pendent from the cover may splash rain or water drops, especially when vibrated or blown by wind as used in a rainy day, to wet the user.
3. Such a wide tie strap may affect the ornamental effect of an umbrella when opened.

The present inventor has found the drawbacks of the prior art and invented the present umbrella having its canopy neatly opened or folded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide an umbrella including a covering member secured on a connecting strap which is attached to a grip of the umbrella, whereby upon folding of an umbrella, the covering member may be provided for neatly wrapping the umbrella canopy as folded; and upon opening of the umbrella, the cover member may then be adapted for wrapping the grip, thereby rendering an umbrella having the canopy neatly opened without obstructing a user's field of vision.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration showing the present invention when folded, adapted to be wrapped by the covering member.

FIG. 2 shows the umbrella being unfolded in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an opened umbrella of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention, adapted to the wrapped by the covering member.

FIG. 5 shows still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, adapted to be wrapped.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of FIG. 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the wrapping means of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 8 shows a further preferred embodiment of the present invention as modified from FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 shows still further preferred embodiment of the present invention when wrapped.

FIG. 10 shows the present invention having the covering member taken off from the umbrella canopy.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIGS. 1˜3, the present invention comprises: a central shaft 1 which may be formed with a plurality of tubes telescopically engaged with one another; a rib assembly 2 pivotally secured on the central shaft 1 for securing an umbrella canopy (or cloth) 3 on the rib assembly 2; a grip 4 secured on a lower portion of the central shaft 1; and a wrapping means 5 attached to the grip 4 and adapted for wrapping the canopy 3 as folded when closing the umbrella.
The present invention may be a multiple-fold umbrella having the rib assembly 2 and the central shaft 1 made as multiple folds, but the number of folds being not limited in the present invention.
The wrapping means 5 includes: a connecting strap 51 attached to the grip 4, and a covering member 52 secured to the connecting strap 51 and adapted for wrapping the canopy (or cloth) 3 when folded when the umbrella is closed.
The covering member 52 has a length adapted for snugly wrapping the folded canopy 3 and having a width (W) of the covering member 52 ranging from 25% through 150% of the length (L) of the folded canopy 3, namely, W=L×(25%˜150%).
However, the width (W) of the covering member 52 of the present invention is not limited.
The covering member 52 includes a first end portion 52 a secured to a distal end 512 of the connecting strap 51, of which a proximal end 511 of the connecting strap 51 is attached to the grip 4; a female connector 53 fixed on the first end portion 52 a; and a male connector 54 fixed on the second end portion 52 b; whereby upon winding of the covering member 52 around the folded canopy 3 and rib assembly 2 as shown in FIG. 1, the male connector 54 on the second end portion 52 b of the covering member 52 is engaged with the female connector 53 on the first end portion 52 a for neatly wrapping the folded canopy 3 and rib assembly 2 as shown in dotted line in FIG. 1.
When opening the umbrella of the present invention from FIG. 1, through FIG. 2 to FIG. 3, the covering member 52 is then “transferred” to be wrapped around the grip 4 as shown in FIG. 3.
By the way, the wrapping means 5 is now changed to be wrapped around the grip 4. The canopy 3 is fully opened (FIG. 3) without being “tangled” by a conventional tie strap which is directly attached on the gore of the conventional umbrella canopy (or cover). Therefore, the canopy, as free of “tie strap” downwardly pendent from the canopy, will not obstruct the user's field of vision and will also not splash any rainy drops since the conventional “tie strap” no longer exists on the umbrella canopy (or cover).
Accordingly, the wrapping means 5 may be provided for wrapping a folded umbrella canopy, or provided for wrapping a grip when opening the umbrella. The covering member 52 of the wrapping means 5 may be always well wrapped on the parts (canopy or grip or any other elements) of the umbrella, not being freely pendent. It provides an umbrella which can be opened or folded very neatly and may not influence the ornamental effect.
The covering member 52 may have its middle portion 52 m secured on the connecting strap 51 as shown in FIG. 4, while the first end portion 52 a and the second end portion 52 b are then symmetrically disposed on opposite ends of the connecting strap 51.
Upon engagement or coupling of the male connector 54 and the female connector 53 (as dotted line shown in FIG. 4), the covering member 52 will then be wrapped around the folded canopy 3.
The male connector 54 may be tiny hooked threads of a fastening tape having trademark of Velcro tape; while the female connector 53 may be the coarse surface of the Velcro tape.
Other connecting mechanisms or coupling means may be further modified in accordance with the present invention.
The covering member 52 of the wrapping means 5 as shown in FIGS. 1˜4 is formed as a “wrapping cover” for wrapping the folded canopy when the umbrella is closed.
The covering member 52 may be made of cloth, fibrous strap, plastic sheet, elastic strap, or any other suitable materials.
The connecting strap 51 is formed with cloth, fibrous, plastic or elastic materials.
The proximal end 511 of the connecting strap 51 may be fixed on the grip 4, or may be pivotally attached to the grip 4; or the strap 51 may be telescopically or stretchably secured to the grip 4, not limited in the present invention.
As shown in FIGS. 5˜7, the covering member 52 of the wrapping means 5 is modified to include: a cap member 52 c, a first flap formed on a first end portion 52 a of the cap member 52 c, a second flap formed on a second end portion 52 b of the cap member 52 c, a female connector 53 formed on the first flap, and a male connector 54 formed on the second flap; whereby upon engagement of the male connector 54 with the female connector 53, the first flap and the second flap will be closed for closing a front opening 52 f for wrapping the folded canopy 3 within the cap member 52 c of the covering member 52 (dotted line shown in FIG. 6).
The cap member 52 c has a bottom opening 52 d as shown in FIG. 7, allowing the “wearing” of the cap member 52 c on the folded canopy 3 when closing the umbrella.
As shown in FIG. 8, the connecting strap 51 may be secured to the first end portion 52 a to become another modification as derived from FIG. 7.
So, the connecting strap 51 may be optically secured to any portion or location on the covering member 52 or the cap member 52 c, not limited in the present invention.
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the covering member 52 is modified to be a sac member, which may be formed as a sac, or a bellows, adapted to be jacketed or worn on the folded canopy 3 as shown in FIG. 9. The sac or bellows of the covering member 52 may be retracted to minimize its volume as shown in FIG. 10 when not provided for wrapping the folded canopy.
The connecting strap 51 is formed as an elastic strap to be secured to the grip 4. Such a sac member of the covering member 52 may also be worn on the grip 4 when opening the umbrella.
The present invention may be further modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
For instance, the connectors 53, 54 may be modified as zipper fastener or other connecting means, not limited.

Claims

1. An umbrella comprising:

a central shaft;

a rib assembly pivotally secured on the central shaft for securing an umbrella canopy on the rib assembly;

a grip secured on a lower portion of the central shaft; and

a wrapping means attached to the grip and adapted for wrapping the canopy as folded when closing the umbrella.

2. An umbrella according to claim 1, wherein said wrapping means includes: a connecting strap attached to the grip, and a covering member secured to the connecting strap and adapted for wrapping the canopy when folded when the umbrella is closed.

3. An umbrella according to claim 2, wherein said covering member has a length adapted for wrapping the folded canopy and having a width of the covering member ranging from 25% through 150% of the length of the folded canopy.

4. An umbrella according to claim 2, wherein said covering member includes a first end portion and a second end portion formed on opposite ends of the covering member, with said covering member secured to a distal end of the connecting strap, of which a proximal end of the connecting strap is attached to the grip; a female connector fixed on the first end portion; and a male connector fixed on the second end portion of the covering member; whereby upon winding of the covering member around the folded canopy and rib assembly, the male connector on the second end portion of the covering member is engaged with the female connector on the first end portion for neatly wrapping the folded canopy and rib assembly.

5. An umbrella according to claim 4, wherein said covering member has its middle portion secured on the connecting strap, with said first end portion and said second end portion of the covering member symmetrically disposed on opposite ends of the connecting strap, whereby upon coupling of said first end portion with said second end portion, said covering member will be wrapped around the folded canopy.

6. An umbrella according to claim 4, wherein said male connector is formed with tiny hooked threads of a fastening tape; and the female connector is formed with course surface of the fastening tape.

7. An umbrella according to claim 2, wherein said covering member is made of cloth, fibrous strap, plastic sheet and elastic strap.

8. An umbrella according to claim 2, wherein said connecting strap is formed with cloth, fibrous, plastic and elastic materials.

9. An umbrella according to claim 2, wherein said covering member includes: a cap member, a first flap formed on a first end portion of the cap member, a second flap formed on a second end portion of the cap member, a female connector formed on the first flap, and a male connector formed on the second flap;

whereby upon engagement of the male connector with the female connector, the first flap and the second flap will be closed for closing a front opening of the cap member for wrapping the folded canopy within the cap member of the covering member.

10. An umbrella according to claim 9, wherein said cap member has a bottom opening for wearing the cap member on the folded canopy when closing the umbrella.

11. An umbrella according to claim 2, wherein said covering member is formed as a sac member, including a bellows, adapted to be jacketed or worn on the folded canopy.

12. An umbrella according to claim 10, wherein said covering member is secured to a connecting strap which is formed as an elastic strap to be secured to the grip.