US20110030745A1

US20110030745A1 - Foldable umbrella with one-piece umbrella cloth

Info

Publication number: US20110030745A1
Application number: US12/461,271
Authority: US
Inventors: Feng-To Yu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-08-06
Filing date: 2009-08-06
Publication date: 2011-02-10

Abstract

A foldable umbrella with one-piece umbrella cloth includes a frame, a one-piece umbrella cloth, and a plurality of connecting pieces. The frame has a shaft, a runner, a plurality of stretchers, and a plurality of ribs. The runner is slidably disposed on the shaft. One end of each of the ribs is radially connected to the distal end of the shaft. A first rod of the rib has at least one penetrating hole. One end of each of the stretchers is together connected to the runner, and the other end of each of the stretchers is connected to the first rods respectively. The one-piece umbrella cloth is integrally formed without seams, disposed on the ribs, and connected thereto via the connecting pieces through the inside of the one-piece umbrella cloth and the penetrating hole of the first rod; therefore it can protect against the penetration of rain reliably.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an umbrella, and in particular to a foldable umbrella with one-piece umbrella cloth for sheltering from sun and rain.
2. Description of Related Art
Umbrella has become a necessity for our daily life. However, with the advancement of time, the umbrella is required to have improvements and aesthetic designs.
The conventional umbrella is constituted of a frame and an umbrella cloth. The frame comprises a plurality of radial foldable ribs. The umbrella cloth is cut into pieces of gores to be laid between the ribs. These pieces of gores are stitched together so as to cover the whole ribs of the frame. Via the above arrangement, an umbrella is obtained, whereby a user can shelter from sun and rain.
However, the umbrella cloth of the conventional umbrella is made by means of stitching pieces of gores to the ribs. Such a stitching connection has some drawbacks as follow
(I) The stitching seams on the multi-piece umbrella cloth may be penetrated by water, so that the umbrella cannot provide an optimal effect of sheltering from rain.
(II) Since the umbrella cloth is made by stitching pieces of gores, the manufacturer cannot print continuous patterns on the umbrella cloth and thus the aesthetic feeling thereof is deteriorated.
Consequently, because of the above limitation resulting from the technical design of prior art, the inventor strives via real world experience and academic research to develop the present invention, which can effectively improve the limitations described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide an umbrella with one-piece umbrella cloth, whereby the penetration of rain can be prevented reliably. Furthermore, it allows the manufacture to print continuous patterns on the umbrella cloth without generating discontinuous patterns.
In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a foldable umbrella with one-piece umbrella cloth, which comprises: a frame having a shaft, a runner, a plurality of stretchers and a plurality of ribs, the runner being slidably disposed on the shaft, the ribs each having a first rod, a second rod, and a third rod. Therein, the first rod having a penetrating hole, one end of the first rod being connected to the distal end of the shaft, one end of the second rod being pivotally connected to the other end of the first rod, the other end of the second rod being pivotally connected to one end of the third rod, one end of each of the stretchers being together connected to the runner, and the other ends of the stretchers being connected to the first rods respectively. Further more there is a one-piece umbrella cloth integrally formed and laid on the ribs; and a plurality of connecting pieces, both ends of each connecting piece being connected to the inside of the one-piece umbrella cloth and the penetrating hole of the first rod respectively.
The present invention has advantageous features as follows. The one-piece umbrella cloth is disposed on the ribs and connected thereto by means of the connecting pieces. Since the one-piece umbrella cloth is integrally formed without any seams, it can protect against the penetration of rain reliably. Furthermore, the manufacturer can print arbitrary patterns on the external surface of the one-piece umbrella cloth, and the problem occurred in a multi-piece umbrella cloth that the patterns are not continuous due to the seams can be overcome.
When the foldable umbrella is opened or folded, the connecting pieces are connected to the one-piece umbrella cloth firmly, so that the one-piece umbrella cloth can be unfolded or folded together with the ribs reliably. The umbrella cloth does not collapse loosely or become disordered. Thus, it is convenient for a user to use or fold.
In order to further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present invention, a detailed description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only, but not used to limit the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing the connecting piece of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a side cross-sectional view showing the folded state of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the connecting piece of the second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the connecting piece of the third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 4. The present invention provides an umbrella with one-piece umbrella cloth, which comprises a frame 1, a one-piece umbrella cloth 2, and a plurality of connecting pieces 3.
Please refer to FIGS. 1, 2, and 2A, which show the first embodiment of the present invention. The frame 1 comprises a shaft 11, a runner 12, a plurality of stretchers 13, a plurality of ribs 14, and a handle 15.
The shaft 11, the stretchers 13, and the ribs 14 are made of light metal material. One end of each of the ribs 14 is together connected to one end of the shaft 11. Via this arrangement, the ribs 14 are radially connected to the shaft 11. The ribs 14 each comprise a first rod 141, a second rod 142, and a third rod 143. The first rid 141 has a penetrating hole 1411. The penetrating hole 1411 is formed for the penetration of the first rod 141. One end of the first rod 141 is connected to the distal end of the shaft 11. One end of the second rod 142 is pivotally connected to the other end of the first rod 141. The other end of the second rod 142 is pivotally connected to one end of the third rod 143. The runner 12 is slidably disposed on the shaft 11. One end of each of the stretchers 13 is together connected to the outer peripheral surface of the runner 12. The other end of each of the stretchers 13 is connected to the first rods 141 of the ribs 14 respectively.
The handle 15 is provided on the other end of the shaft 11, so that a user can grip the handle 15. Since the handle is well-known, the description thereof is omitted herein.
The one-piece umbrella cloth 2 is integrally made from water-proof polymeric materials, cottons, or TC (fabric with cotton and cotton and polyester mixture). The one-piece umbrella cloth 2 can be laid on the ribs directly without any cutting. The one-piece umbrella cloth 2 has a plurality of fixing portions 32 that are provided inside the one-piece umbrella cloth 2 to correspond to the penetrating holes 1411 respectively. Each of the fixing portions 21 is a small piece of cloth connected to the inside of the one-piece umbrella cloth 2 by means of adhesive so as to correspond to the penetrating hole 1411.
In the first embodiment, the connecting piece 3 is a thread penetrating the penetrating hole 1411 of the first rod 141 to be connected to the fixing portion 21. In this way, the one-piece umbrella cloth 2 can be laid on the ribs 14 firmly. When the runner 12 slides on the shaft 11, it will drive the stretchers 13 and the ribs 14 to move, so that the one-piece umbrella cloth 2 can be unfolded or folded.
Please refer to FIG. 3, which shows the second embodiment of the present invention. The inside of the one-piece umbrella cloth 2 is not provided with the fixing portions 21. The connecting piece 3 is an adhesive thread. The adhesive thread is a plastic thread, both ends of which have an adhesive portion 31 and a transverse rod 32. The adhesive portion 31 is adhered to the inside of the one-piece umbrella cloth 2 via adhesive or a hot melting process. The transverse rod 32 penetrates the penetrating hole 1411 to be transversely engaged with the first rod 141. In this way, the second embodiment can achieve the same effect as that of the first embodiment.
Please refer to FIG. 4, which is the third embodiment of the present invention. Like the first embodiment, the inside of the one-piece umbrella cloth 2 is similarly provided with a plurality of fixing portions 21. The connecting piece 3 is a binder for penetrating the fixing portion 21 and the penetrating hole 1411 to bind them together. In this way, the third embodiment can achieve the same effect as that of the previous two embodiments.
It should be noted that the above three embodiments are merely preferred modes for carrying out the present invention. Any embodiment in which a one-piece umbrella cloth 2 is provided on the foldable umbrella and the one-piece umbrella cloth 2 is connected to the first rods 141 of the ribs 14 via the connecting pieces 3 can be considered as a modification equivalent to the present invention.
The present invention has advantageous features as follows.
The one-piece umbrella cloth 2 is disposed on the ribs 14 and connected thereto by means of the connecting pieces 3. Since the one-piece umbrella cloth 2 is integrally formed without any seams, it can protect against the penetration of rain reliably.
Further, the manufacturer can print arbitrary patterns on the external surface of the one-piece umbrella cloth 2, so that the problem occurred in a multi-piece umbrella cloth that the patterns are not continuous due to the seams can be overcome.
When the foldable umbrella is opened or folded, the connecting pieces 3 are connected to the one-piece umbrella cloth 2 firmly, so that the one-piece umbrella cloth 2 can be unfolded or folded together with the ribs 14 reliably. The umbrella cloth does not collapse loosely or become disordered. Thus, it is convenient for a user to use or fold.
While the present invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the present invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.

Claims

1. A foldable umbrella with one-piece umbrella cloth, comprising:

a frame having a shaft, a runner, a plurality of stretchers, and a plurality of ribs, the runner being slidably disposed on the shaft, the ribs each having a first rod, a second rod, and a third rod, the first rod having a penetrating hole, one end of the first rod being connected to the distal end of the shaft, one end of the second rod being pivotally connected to the other end of the first rod, the other end of the second rod being pivotally connected to one end of the third rod, one end of each of the stretchers being together connected to the runner, the other end of each of the stretchers being connected to the first rods respectively;

a one-piece umbrella cloth integrally formed and laid on the ribs; and

a plurality of connecting pieces, both ends of each connecting piece being connected to the inside of the one-piece umbrella cloth and the penetrating hole of the first rod respectively.

2. The foldable umbrella with one-piece umbrella cloth according to claim 1, wherein the inside surface of the one-piece umbrella cloth has a plurality of fixing portions that are arranged to correspond to the penetrating holes of the ribs, the connecting pieces are connected to the penetrating holes and the fixing portions respectively.

3. The foldable umbrella with one-piece umbrella cloth according to claim 2, wherein the fixing portion is a piece of cloth.

4. The foldable umbrella with one-piece umbrella cloth according to claim 3, wherein the connecting piece is a thread that penetrates the penetrating hole to be connected to the fixing portion.

5. The foldable umbrella with one-piece umbrella cloth according to claim 1, wherein the connecting piece is an adhesive thread, both ends of the adhesive thread have an adhesive portion and a transverse rod, the adhesive portion is adhered to the inside of the one-piece umbrella cloth directly, the transverse rod penetrates the penetrating hole to be engaged with the rib transversely.

6. The foldable umbrella with one-piece umbrella cloth according to claim 3, wherein the connecting piece is a binder for penetrating the penetrating hole and the fixing portion so as to bind them together.

7. The foldable umbrella with one-piece umbrella cloth according to claim 1, wherein the other end of the shaft has a handle.