US20110226295A1 - Safety central shaft extension and contraction control structure of self-opening/closing umbrella - Google Patents
Safety central shaft extension and contraction control structure of self-opening/closing umbrella Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20110226295A1 US20110226295A1 US12/726,339 US72633910A US2011226295A1 US 20110226295 A1 US20110226295 A1 US 20110226295A1 US 72633910 A US72633910 A US 72633910A US 2011226295 A1 US2011226295 A1 US 2011226295A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- umbrella
- central shaft
- opening
- safety
- reversal prevention
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 230000008602 contraction Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 12
- 230000002265 prevention Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 34
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 claims description 10
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 abstract description 4
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 abstract description 4
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000000470 constituent Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000000994 depressogenic effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006467 substitution reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45B—WALKING STICKS; UMBRELLAS; LADIES' OR LIKE FANS
- A45B25/00—Details of umbrellas
- A45B25/16—Automatic openers, e.g. frames with spring mechanisms
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45B—WALKING STICKS; UMBRELLAS; LADIES' OR LIKE FANS
- A45B25/00—Details of umbrellas
- A45B25/14—Devices for opening and for closing umbrellas
Definitions
- the present invention generally relates to a self-opening/closing umbrella, and more particularly to a centrals shaft control structure of a self-opening/closing umbrella.
- FIGS. 1-3 A conventional self-opening/closing umbrella is shown in FIGS. 1-3 .
- the known umbrella comprises a handle 1 inside which an operation unit 2 is provided, a central shaft unit 3 inside which an umbrella opening spring 6 is received, and a runner 4 coupled to ribs 7 and comprising a pull rope 51 wrapping therearound and having an end fixed to a crown 41 and an opposite end fixed to a bullet-head member 5 .
- the operation unit 2 comprises a hollow body inside which components including a control ring 201 , a control bar 202 , and a pushbutton 203 are received.
- the control bar 202 is pivoted to a lower portion of one side of the bottom of the control ring 201 .
- the pushbutton 203 is received in an opening formed in a side wall of the handle 1 and is exposed for controlling the extension and contraction of the central shaft unit 3 .
- the control ring 201 comprises a small spring 2011 externally set at one side thereof.
- the control ring 201 forms therein a projection bar 2012 at a location corresponding to the small spring 2011 to engage and retain the runner 4 for keeping the umbrella in a collapsed condition.
- the control bar 202 is coupled by a pivot pin 2021 to the bottom of the control ring 201 at a location close to the pushbutton and comprises a torsion spring 2022 that normally maintains the control bar 202 in a horizontal condition.
- the runner 4 When the umbrella is in a compressed and ready-to-use condition, the runner 4 is retained in position by the projection bar 2012 of the control ring 201 and the control bar 202 is pushed downward by a second central shaft segment 32 of the central shaft unit 3 to become inclined.
- the bullet-head member 5 is pushed by an inner tube 34 received in a third central shaft segment 33 and biased by a spring plate 311 to engage a retention hole defined in a first central shaft segment 31 of the central shaft unit 3 . As shown in FIG.
- the pushbutton 203 is pressed down again, and the control bar 202 pushes and causes the bullet-head member 5 to disengage from the first central shaft segment 31 , allowing the runner 4 to be movable.
- the umbrella closing springs 71 provided on the ribs 7 the ribs 7 and the umbrella canopy are collapsed and the runner 4 is moved downward (see FIG. 3 ).
- the top end of the umbrella can be forcibly pushed to compress the central shaft unit 3 toward the handle 1 , thereby completing the closing of the umbrella as shown in FIG. 1 .
- the present invention provides a safety control structure for controlling extension and contraction of a central shaft of a collapsible umbrella in a safe manner and the control structure according the present invention is generally designated at 2 as shown in FIG. 4 .
- the control structure 2 of the present invention comprises the following constituent components including a main body 20 , a collar 21 , an operation plate 22 , a pawl plate 23 , and a reversal prevention wheel 24 .
- a lining tube 35 that forms an opening 351 in a side thereof is received and fixed in a lower end of a first shaft segment 31 of a central shaft unit 3 of the umbrella, which will be further described and is received and fixed inside the main body 20 .
- the first shaft segment 31 also forms a hole 311 in a side thereof close to the lower end and also forms an elongate groove 312 , in which an opening 313 is formed at an upper end thereof, in an adjacent side of the first shaft segment 31 .
- the collar 21 receives therein a spring 28 that is fit over the first shaft segment 31 .
- the operation plate 22 and the pawl plate 23 are set in engagement with each other and are mounted to the main body 20 to be located below one side of the collar 21 .
- the pawl plate 23 is biased at one side thereof by a spring 29 .
- the reversal prevention wheel 24 is mounted to the main body 20 and located below the pawl plate 23 and has one side forming a toothed surface 241 that forms thereon a plurality of ratchet teeth that are inclined in the same direction.
- the reversal prevention wheel 24 receives therein a coil spring 242 .
- a safety rope 25 is wrapped around the reversal prevention wheel 24 and has an end fixed to the reversal prevention wheel 24 and an opposite end extending along the elongate groove 312 of the first shaft segment 31 and extending through the opening 313 into the interior space of the central shaft unit 3 to attach upward to a crown 41 of the umbrella.
- FIGS. 1-3 are schematic views illustrating structural arrangement and operation of a conventional self-opening/closing umbrella.
- FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a safety central shaft extension and contraction control structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIGS. 5-7 are schematic views illustrating structural arrangement and operation of the safety central shaft extension and contraction control structure according to the present invention.
- FIGS. 8 and 9 are schematic views showing a modification of the safety central shaft extension and contraction control structure according to another embodiment of the present invention.
- the present invention provides a safety control structure for controlling extension and contraction of a central shaft of a collapsible umbrella in a safe manner and the control structure according the present invention is generally designated at 2 as shown in FIG. 4 .
- the control structure 2 of the present invention comprises the following constituent components including a main body 20 , a collar 21 , an operation plate 22 , a pawl plate 23 , and a reversal prevention wheel 24 .
- a lining tube 35 that forms an opening 351 in a side thereof is received and fixed in a lower end of a first shaft segment 31 of a central shaft unit 3 of the umbrella, which will be further described and is received and fixed inside the main body 20 .
- the first shaft segment 31 also forms a hole 311 in a side thereof close to the lower end and also forms an elongate groove 312 , in which an opening 313 is formed at an upper end thereof, in an adjacent side of the first shaft segment 31 .
- the collar 21 receives therein a spring 28 that is fit over the first shaft segment 31 .
- the operation plate 22 and the pawl plate 23 are set in engagement with each other and are mounted to the main body 20 to be located below one side of the collar 21 .
- the pawl plate 23 is biased at one side thereof by a spring 29 .
- the reversal prevention wheel 24 is mounted to the main body 20 and located below the pawl plate 23 and has one side forming a toothed surface 241 that forms thereon a plurality of ratchet teeth that are inclined in the same direction.
- the reversal prevention wheel 24 receives therein a coil spring 242 .
- a safety rope 25 is wrapped around the reversal prevention wheel 24 and has an end fixed to the reversal prevention wheel 24 and an opposite end extending along the elongate groove 312 of the first shaft segment 31 and extending through the opening 313 into the interior space of the central shaft unit 3 to attach upward to a crown 41 of the umbrella.
- the present invention provides a safety central shaft extension and contraction control structure of a self-opening/closing umbrella, which will be explained with reference to an example of a three-fold umbrella, generally comprising the following constituent components including a handle 1 , a central shaft unit 3 , a runner 4 , a bullet-head member 5 , an umbrella opening spring 6 , and ribs 7 .
- the handle 1 is provided with a pushbutton 11 , which comprises a control ring 26 and a control bar 27 .
- the central shaft unit 30 is composed of a first shaft segment 31 , a second shaft segment 32 , and a third shaft segment 33 , which are telescopically fit to each other.
- the third shaft segment 33 has an upper end to which a crown 41 is fixed and a lower end, which forms a retention hole 331 in a side thereof.
- the crown 41 has a lower end to which an inner tube 34 is fixed.
- the umbrella opening spring 60 is arranged between the first shaft segment 31 and the inner tube 34 .
- the bullet-head member 50 is set below the inner tube 34 and has an upper end to which a pull rope 51 is attached so that the pull rope 51 extends upward through the inner tube 34 and wraps around a pulley set inside the crown 41 and further projects outwards to wrap around a pulley set inside the runner 4 to have a distal end thereof attached to the crown 41 .
- the control structure according to the present invention broadly designated at 2 , is received in the handle 1 and is fixed to a lower end of the first shaft segment 31 .
- FIG. 5 shows the structural arrangement of the self-opening/closing umbrella according to the present invention in a compressed and closed condition, in which the retention hole 331 of third shaft segment 33 and a projection block 261 formed on the control ring 26 engage each other so as to retain the central shaft unit 3 in position.
- the control bar 27 is pushed downward by the third shaft segment 33 and becomes inclined.
- the bullet-head member 50 which is coupled to the runner 4 with the pull rope 51 , is pushed downward by the inner tube 34 and is biased by a spring plate 36 arranged inside a lining tube 35 , which is received in the first shaft segment 31 and constitutes a part of the control structure of the present invention, to engage and thus be retained by the opening 351 of the lining tube 35 .
- the second shaft segment 32 pushes the collar 21 downward to have a top flange of the collar 21 contacting an upper end of the operation plate 22 and causing rotation of the operation plate 22 to move the upper end thereof rightwards as shown in the drawing.
- the operation plate 22 in turn has a lower end thereof, which is in engagement with an upper end of the pawl plate 23 , contacts and rotates the pawl plate 23 so as to move the upper end of the pawl plate 23 leftwards, by which a lower end of the pawl plate 23 is moved rightward and thus disengaging from the toothed surface 241 of the reversal prevention wheel 24 .
- the coil spring 242 received in the reversal prevention wheel 24 is in a completely released condition and the safety rope 25 is wound around the reversal prevention wheel 24 .
- the pushbutton 11 is depressed to move the control ring 26 inward thereby disengaging the projection block 261 from the retention hole 331 of the third shaft segment 33 .
- the central shaft unit 3 is fully extended and the runner 4 that moves upward with the central shaft unit 3 forcibly expands all the ribs 7 to complete the operation of opening umbrella.
- the control bar 27 returns to the horizontal condition and is in contact with the bullet-head member 5 .
- the safety rope 25 of which the upper end is attached to the crown 41 is extended upward with the upward movement of the crown 41 and causes counterclockwise rotation of the reversal prevention wheel 24 , making the coil spring 242 to wind up inside the reversal prevention wheel 24 .
- the pushbutton 11 is depressed again and by doing so, the control bar 27 pushes the bullet-head member 5 in such a way to disengage the bullet-head member 5 from the opening 351 of the lining tube 35 .
- the rib 7 Due to the action of an umbrella closing spring 71 provided in each rib 7 , the rib 7 is collapsed and drives the runner 4 downward.
- the pull rope 51 moves the bullet-head member 5 upward to the lower end of the inner tube 34 . Under this condition, the collar 21 is no longer held in position by the second shaft segment 32 and is biased upward by the spring 28 to return to the original position.
- the spring 29 arranged at one side of the pawl plate 23 drives the upper end of the pawl plate 23 to rotate rightward, causing the lower end thereof to rotate leftward and resume in engagement with the toothed surface 241 of the reversal prevention wheel 24 .
- the final step of closing umbrella is to compress the central shaft unit 3 of the umbrella.
- the safety rope 25 follows the inward contraction of the central shaft unit 3 to get released.
- the reversal prevention wheel 24 is acted by the returning spring force of the coil spring 242 to rotate in the clockwise direction.
- the reversal prevention wheel 24 is held in position by the pawl plate 23 and directly holds the central shaft unit 3 in position to prevent the central shaft unit 3 from being acted upon by the compressed umbrella opening spring 6 to induce instantaneous spring back or undesired extension, whereby operation safety of the self-opening/closing umbrella can be ensured.
- FIGS. 8 and 9 show a modification of the present invention, wherein two pushbuttons 11 are provided on an umbrella handle 1 respectively for umbrella opening and umbrella closing. Further, two control rings 26 are arranged inside the handle 1 to correspond to and cooperate with the two pushbuttons 11 for carrying the respective operations. This arrangement provides the same result as that of the single pushbutton arrangement.
Abstract
A safety central shaft extension and contraction control structure is mounted in a handle of a self-opening/closing umbrella and includes a main body mounted to a first shaft segment of the central shaft. Mounted to a lower portion of the main body are an operation plate and a pawl plate, which are in engagement with each other, and a reversal prevention wheel having a toothed surface. A safety rope is wrapped around the reversal prevention wheel and has an end attached to a crown of the umbrella. When errors occur in the course of compression of the central shaft in closing the umbrella, the central shaft that is being compressed can be held in position, so that instantaneous spring back of the central shaft caused by an umbrella opening spring that is in a compressed condition can be prevented to ensure safety of operation and control of the self-opening/closing umbrella.
Description
- The present invention generally relates to a self-opening/closing umbrella, and more particularly to a centrals shaft control structure of a self-opening/closing umbrella.
- A conventional self-opening/closing umbrella is shown in
FIGS. 1-3 . The known umbrella comprises ahandle 1 inside which anoperation unit 2 is provided, acentral shaft unit 3 inside which an umbrella openingspring 6 is received, and arunner 4 coupled to ribs 7 and comprising apull rope 51 wrapping therearound and having an end fixed to acrown 41 and an opposite end fixed to a bullet-head member 5. Theoperation unit 2 comprises a hollow body inside which components including acontrol ring 201, acontrol bar 202, and apushbutton 203 are received. Thecontrol bar 202 is pivoted to a lower portion of one side of the bottom of thecontrol ring 201. Thepushbutton 203 is received in an opening formed in a side wall of thehandle 1 and is exposed for controlling the extension and contraction of thecentral shaft unit 3. - As shown in
FIG. 1 , thecontrol ring 201 comprises asmall spring 2011 externally set at one side thereof. Thecontrol ring 201 forms therein aprojection bar 2012 at a location corresponding to thesmall spring 2011 to engage and retain therunner 4 for keeping the umbrella in a collapsed condition. Further, thecontrol bar 202 is coupled by apivot pin 2021 to the bottom of thecontrol ring 201 at a location close to the pushbutton and comprises atorsion spring 2022 that normally maintains thecontrol bar 202 in a horizontal condition. When the umbrella is in a compressed and ready-to-use condition, therunner 4 is retained in position by theprojection bar 2012 of thecontrol ring 201 and thecontrol bar 202 is pushed downward by a secondcentral shaft segment 32 of thecentral shaft unit 3 to become inclined. The bullet-head member 5 is pushed by aninner tube 34 received in a thirdcentral shaft segment 33 and biased by aspring plate 311 to engage a retention hole defined in a firstcentral shaft segment 31 of thecentral shaft unit 3. As shown inFIG. 2 , when thepushbutton 203 is depressed for the first time, thecontrol ring 201 is pushed inward to have theprojection bar 2012 disengaging from therunner 4 and under the action of theumbrella opening spring 6 received inside thecentral shaft unit 3, opening operation of the umbrella is automatically carried out and under this condition, thecontrol bar 202 returns to the normal horizontal condition and contacts the bullet-head member 5. - To close the umbrella, the
pushbutton 203 is pressed down again, and thecontrol bar 202 pushes and causes the bullet-head member 5 to disengage from the firstcentral shaft segment 31, allowing therunner 4 to be movable. Under the action of theumbrella closing springs 71 provided on the ribs 7, the ribs 7 and the umbrella canopy are collapsed and therunner 4 is moved downward (seeFIG. 3 ). Afterward, the top end of the umbrella can be forcibly pushed to compress thecentral shaft unit 3 toward thehandle 1, thereby completing the closing of the umbrella as shown inFIG. 1 . - However, a problem of the above mentioned self-opening/closing umbrella occurs in the course of compressing and closing of the umbrella. To close the umbrella requires compression of the
umbrella opening spring 6 received inside thecentral shaft unit 3. Since theumbrella opening spring 6 is of quite a strength and spring force, a user must apply a great force with his or her hand to compress the umbrella. If the application of force is in error, the compressedumbrella opening spring 6 will spring thecentral shaft unit 3 back with a great force. This often hurts the hands or other portions of the body of the user. Thus, the closing operation of the known self-opening/closing umbrella is dangerous and improvement in this respect is needed. - The present invention provides a safety control structure for controlling extension and contraction of a central shaft of a collapsible umbrella in a safe manner and the control structure according the present invention is generally designated at 2 as shown in
FIG. 4 . Thecontrol structure 2 of the present invention comprises the following constituent components including amain body 20, acollar 21, anoperation plate 22, apawl plate 23, and areversal prevention wheel 24. Alining tube 35 that forms anopening 351 in a side thereof is received and fixed in a lower end of afirst shaft segment 31 of acentral shaft unit 3 of the umbrella, which will be further described and is received and fixed inside themain body 20. Thefirst shaft segment 31 also forms ahole 311 in a side thereof close to the lower end and also forms an elongate groove 312, in which anopening 313 is formed at an upper end thereof, in an adjacent side of thefirst shaft segment 31. Thecollar 21 receives therein aspring 28 that is fit over thefirst shaft segment 31. Theoperation plate 22 and thepawl plate 23 are set in engagement with each other and are mounted to themain body 20 to be located below one side of thecollar 21. Thepawl plate 23 is biased at one side thereof by aspring 29. Thereversal prevention wheel 24 is mounted to themain body 20 and located below thepawl plate 23 and has one side forming atoothed surface 241 that forms thereon a plurality of ratchet teeth that are inclined in the same direction. Thereversal prevention wheel 24 receives therein acoil spring 242. Asafety rope 25 is wrapped around thereversal prevention wheel 24 and has an end fixed to thereversal prevention wheel 24 and an opposite end extending along the elongate groove 312 of thefirst shaft segment 31 and extending through theopening 313 into the interior space of thecentral shaft unit 3 to attach upward to acrown 41 of the umbrella. During the closing of the umbrella, when the operation of compressing the central shaft of the umbrella is in error, with the engagement that is instantaneously formed between thepawl plate 23 and thereversal prevention wheel 24 and the pulling action provided by thesafety rope 25, thecentral shaft unit 3 that is in the process of being compressed is kept in position thereby preventing abrupt extension of thecentral shaft unit 3 caused by the action of an umbrella openingspring 6. By using this kind of arrangement of safety that directly works on the central shaft of an umbrella, absolute safety for the use and control of umbrella opening can be ensured. - The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
- Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.
-
FIGS. 1-3 are schematic views illustrating structural arrangement and operation of a conventional self-opening/closing umbrella. -
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a safety central shaft extension and contraction control structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIGS. 5-7 are schematic views illustrating structural arrangement and operation of the safety central shaft extension and contraction control structure according to the present invention. -
FIGS. 8 and 9 are schematic views showing a modification of the safety central shaft extension and contraction control structure according to another embodiment of the present invention. - The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
- The present invention provides a safety control structure for controlling extension and contraction of a central shaft of a collapsible umbrella in a safe manner and the control structure according the present invention is generally designated at 2 as shown in
FIG. 4 . Thecontrol structure 2 of the present invention comprises the following constituent components including amain body 20, acollar 21, anoperation plate 22, apawl plate 23, and areversal prevention wheel 24. Alining tube 35 that forms anopening 351 in a side thereof is received and fixed in a lower end of afirst shaft segment 31 of acentral shaft unit 3 of the umbrella, which will be further described and is received and fixed inside themain body 20. Thefirst shaft segment 31 also forms ahole 311 in a side thereof close to the lower end and also forms an elongate groove 312, in which anopening 313 is formed at an upper end thereof, in an adjacent side of thefirst shaft segment 31. Thecollar 21 receives therein aspring 28 that is fit over thefirst shaft segment 31. Theoperation plate 22 and thepawl plate 23 are set in engagement with each other and are mounted to themain body 20 to be located below one side of thecollar 21. Thepawl plate 23 is biased at one side thereof by aspring 29. Thereversal prevention wheel 24 is mounted to themain body 20 and located below thepawl plate 23 and has one side forming atoothed surface 241 that forms thereon a plurality of ratchet teeth that are inclined in the same direction. Thereversal prevention wheel 24 receives therein acoil spring 242. Asafety rope 25 is wrapped around thereversal prevention wheel 24 and has an end fixed to thereversal prevention wheel 24 and an opposite end extending along the elongate groove 312 of thefirst shaft segment 31 and extending through theopening 313 into the interior space of thecentral shaft unit 3 to attach upward to acrown 41 of the umbrella. During the closing of the umbrella, when the operation of compressing the central shaft of the umbrella is in error, with the engagement that is instantaneously formed between thepawl plate 23 and thereversal prevention wheel 24 and the pulling action provided by thesafety rope 25, thecentral shaft unit 3 that is in the process of being compressed is kept in position thereby preventing abrupt extension of thecentral shaft unit 3 caused by the action of an umbrella opening spring 6 (which will be further described hereinafter). By using this kind of arrangement of safety that directly works on the central shaft of an umbrella, absolute safety for the use and control of umbrella opening can be ensured. - Referring to
FIG. 5 , the present invention provides a safety central shaft extension and contraction control structure of a self-opening/closing umbrella, which will be explained with reference to an example of a three-fold umbrella, generally comprising the following constituent components including ahandle 1, acentral shaft unit 3, arunner 4, a bullet-head member 5, an umbrella openingspring 6, and ribs 7. Thehandle 1 is provided with apushbutton 11, which comprises acontrol ring 26 and acontrol bar 27. The central shaft unit 30 is composed of afirst shaft segment 31, asecond shaft segment 32, and athird shaft segment 33, which are telescopically fit to each other. Thethird shaft segment 33 has an upper end to which acrown 41 is fixed and a lower end, which forms aretention hole 331 in a side thereof. Thecrown 41 has a lower end to which aninner tube 34 is fixed. The umbrella opening spring 60 is arranged between thefirst shaft segment 31 and theinner tube 34. The bullet-head member 50 is set below theinner tube 34 and has an upper end to which apull rope 51 is attached so that thepull rope 51 extends upward through theinner tube 34 and wraps around a pulley set inside thecrown 41 and further projects outwards to wrap around a pulley set inside therunner 4 to have a distal end thereof attached to thecrown 41. The control structure according to the present invention, broadly designated at 2, is received in thehandle 1 and is fixed to a lower end of thefirst shaft segment 31. -
FIG. 5 shows the structural arrangement of the self-opening/closing umbrella according to the present invention in a compressed and closed condition, in which theretention hole 331 ofthird shaft segment 33 and aprojection block 261 formed on thecontrol ring 26 engage each other so as to retain thecentral shaft unit 3 in position. At the same time, thecontrol bar 27 is pushed downward by thethird shaft segment 33 and becomes inclined. The bullet-head member 50, which is coupled to therunner 4 with thepull rope 51, is pushed downward by theinner tube 34 and is biased by aspring plate 36 arranged inside a liningtube 35, which is received in thefirst shaft segment 31 and constitutes a part of the control structure of the present invention, to engage and thus be retained by theopening 351 of the liningtube 35. Meanwhile, thesecond shaft segment 32 pushes thecollar 21 downward to have a top flange of thecollar 21 contacting an upper end of theoperation plate 22 and causing rotation of theoperation plate 22 to move the upper end thereof rightwards as shown in the drawing. Theoperation plate 22 in turn has a lower end thereof, which is in engagement with an upper end of thepawl plate 23, contacts and rotates thepawl plate 23 so as to move the upper end of thepawl plate 23 leftwards, by which a lower end of thepawl plate 23 is moved rightward and thus disengaging from thetoothed surface 241 of thereversal prevention wheel 24. Under this condition, thecoil spring 242 received in thereversal prevention wheel 24 is in a completely released condition and thesafety rope 25 is wound around thereversal prevention wheel 24. - Referring to
FIG. 6 , to open the umbrella, thepushbutton 11 is depressed to move thecontrol ring 26 inward thereby disengaging the projection block 261 from theretention hole 331 of thethird shaft segment 33. Under the action of theumbrella opening spring 6 arranged inside thecentral shaft unit 3, thecentral shaft unit 3 is fully extended and therunner 4 that moves upward with thecentral shaft unit 3 forcibly expands all the ribs 7 to complete the operation of opening umbrella. Under this condition, thecontrol bar 27 returns to the horizontal condition and is in contact with the bullet-head member 5. Thesafety rope 25 of which the upper end is attached to thecrown 41 is extended upward with the upward movement of thecrown 41 and causes counterclockwise rotation of thereversal prevention wheel 24, making thecoil spring 242 to wind up inside thereversal prevention wheel 24. - Referring to
FIG. 7 , to close the umbrella, thepushbutton 11 is depressed again and by doing so, thecontrol bar 27 pushes the bullet-head member 5 in such a way to disengage the bullet-head member 5 from theopening 351 of the liningtube 35. Due to the action of anumbrella closing spring 71 provided in each rib 7, the rib 7 is collapsed and drives therunner 4 downward. Thepull rope 51 moves the bullet-head member 5 upward to the lower end of theinner tube 34. Under this condition, thecollar 21 is no longer held in position by thesecond shaft segment 32 and is biased upward by thespring 28 to return to the original position. Thespring 29 arranged at one side of thepawl plate 23 drives the upper end of thepawl plate 23 to rotate rightward, causing the lower end thereof to rotate leftward and resume in engagement with thetoothed surface 241 of thereversal prevention wheel 24. - Referring to
FIGS. 5 and 7 , the final step of closing umbrella is to compress thecentral shaft unit 3 of the umbrella. When thecentral shaft unit 3 is acted upon and thus compressed by an external force, thesafety rope 25 follows the inward contraction of thecentral shaft unit 3 to get released. Under this condition, thereversal prevention wheel 24 is acted by the returning spring force of thecoil spring 242 to rotate in the clockwise direction. Due to the ratchet teeth of thetoothed surface 241 of thereversal prevention wheel 24 being of a single side inclined configuration, when thereversal prevention wheel 24 rotates clockwise, thetoothed surface 241 is not constrained by thepawl plate 23, but when the compression force is removed, the spring force induced by theumbrella opening spring 6 inside thecentral shaft unit 3 tends to extend thecentral shaft unit 3, but since thesafety rope 25 mounted to thereversal prevention wheel 24 has an end fixed to thecrown 41, the extension force is transmitted through thesafety rope 25, attempting to cause counterclockwise rotation of thereversal prevention wheel 24; this makes thepawl plate 23 engaging and retaining the single-side-inclined ratchet teeth of thetoothed surface 241 of thereversal prevention wheel 24 to prevent thereversal prevention wheel 23 from counterclockwise rotation and directly holding thethird shaft segment 33 in position to immediately stop undesired and abrupt extension of thecentral shaft unit 3. Thus, when the umbrella compression operation is mistakenly in error and slips up, thereversal prevention wheel 24 is held in position by thepawl plate 23 and directly holds thecentral shaft unit 3 in position to prevent thecentral shaft unit 3 from being acted upon by the compressedumbrella opening spring 6 to induce instantaneous spring back or undesired extension, whereby operation safety of the self-opening/closing umbrella can be ensured. -
FIGS. 8 and 9 show a modification of the present invention, wherein twopushbuttons 11 are provided on anumbrella handle 1 respectively for umbrella opening and umbrella closing. Further, two control rings 26 are arranged inside thehandle 1 to correspond to and cooperate with the twopushbuttons 11 for carrying the respective operations. This arrangement provides the same result as that of the single pushbutton arrangement. - While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
Claims (2)
1. A safety central shaft extension and contraction control structure for use in a self-opening/closing umbrella, the safety control structure comprising a main body, a collar, an operation plate, a pawl plate, and a reversal prevention wheel, the safety control structure being adapted to be received in a handle of the umbrella, the central shaft of the umbrella comprising a first shaft segment having a lower end that receives and fixes a lining tube that forms an opening in a side thereof and is received and fixed inside the main body, the collar receiving therein a spring that is fit over the first shaft segment, the operation plate and the pawl plate being set in engagement with each other and mounted to the main body to be located below one side of the collar, the pawl plate being is biased at one side thereof by a spring, the reversal prevention wheel being mounted to the main body and located below the pawl plate and having one side forming a toothed surface that forms thereon a plurality of ratchet teeth that are inclined in the same direction, the reversal prevention wheel receiving and holding therein a coil spring, a safety rope being wrapped around the reversal prevention wheel and having an end fixed to the reversal prevention wheel and an opposite end attached to a crown of the umbrella, whereby when an operation of compressing the central shaft of the umbrella is in error in closing the umbrella, with the pawl plate and the reversal prevention wheel instantaneously forming engagement therebetween and a pulling action realized by the safety rope, the central shaft that is in the process of being compressed is kept in position thereby preventing abrupt extension of the central shaft caused by the action of an umbrella opening spring of the umbrella.
2. The safety central shaft extension and contraction control structure according to claim 1 , wherein the first shaft segment forms a hole in a side thereof close to the lower end and also forms an elongate groove, in which an opening is formed at an upper end thereof, in an adjacent side of the first shaft segment and wherein the safety rope extends along the elongate groove of the first shaft segment and extends through the opening into interior space of the central shaft to attach upward to the crown of the umbrella.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/726,339 US20110226295A1 (en) | 2010-03-17 | 2010-03-17 | Safety central shaft extension and contraction control structure of self-opening/closing umbrella |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/726,339 US20110226295A1 (en) | 2010-03-17 | 2010-03-17 | Safety central shaft extension and contraction control structure of self-opening/closing umbrella |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20110226295A1 true US20110226295A1 (en) | 2011-09-22 |
Family
ID=44646232
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/726,339 Abandoned US20110226295A1 (en) | 2010-03-17 | 2010-03-17 | Safety central shaft extension and contraction control structure of self-opening/closing umbrella |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20110226295A1 (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20090133729A1 (en) * | 2007-11-23 | 2009-05-28 | Chong J J | Protective mechanism for automatic umbrella |
US20100275706A1 (en) * | 2009-05-04 | 2010-11-04 | Tien-Cheng Chen | Control device adapted for collapsible umbrella |
US20110114142A1 (en) * | 2009-06-22 | 2011-05-19 | Rong Tuan Cai | Automatic opening and shutting umbrella |
US20110308558A1 (en) * | 2010-06-16 | 2011-12-22 | Ping-Tung Su | Stepless collapsing mechanism for umbrellas |
US8215324B1 (en) * | 2011-01-18 | 2012-07-10 | Shih-Shin Kuo | Control structure for automatically folding and unfolding umbrella |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5823215A (en) * | 1996-02-08 | 1998-10-20 | Chou; Lung-Chiao | Automatic closing and opening umbrella with fixed type of plural sections of middle rod in variable dynamic process and ratio |
US6196243B1 (en) * | 1999-10-15 | 2001-03-06 | Ming Ho Umbrella Industry Co., Ltd. | Automatic umbrella control mechanism |
US20090133729A1 (en) * | 2007-11-23 | 2009-05-28 | Chong J J | Protective mechanism for automatic umbrella |
US7798160B2 (en) * | 2008-11-10 | 2010-09-21 | Hsia-Hui Chen | Safely operable handle device for an automatic foldable umbrella |
US20100319739A1 (en) * | 2009-06-22 | 2010-12-23 | Chong J J | Retrieving structure adapted for a protective device in a collapsible umbrella |
US20110192435A1 (en) * | 2010-02-05 | 2011-08-11 | Ko Chin-Sung | Central shaft control structure of self-opening/closing umbrella |
-
2010
- 2010-03-17 US US12/726,339 patent/US20110226295A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5823215A (en) * | 1996-02-08 | 1998-10-20 | Chou; Lung-Chiao | Automatic closing and opening umbrella with fixed type of plural sections of middle rod in variable dynamic process and ratio |
US6196243B1 (en) * | 1999-10-15 | 2001-03-06 | Ming Ho Umbrella Industry Co., Ltd. | Automatic umbrella control mechanism |
US20090133729A1 (en) * | 2007-11-23 | 2009-05-28 | Chong J J | Protective mechanism for automatic umbrella |
US7798160B2 (en) * | 2008-11-10 | 2010-09-21 | Hsia-Hui Chen | Safely operable handle device for an automatic foldable umbrella |
US20100319739A1 (en) * | 2009-06-22 | 2010-12-23 | Chong J J | Retrieving structure adapted for a protective device in a collapsible umbrella |
US20110192435A1 (en) * | 2010-02-05 | 2011-08-11 | Ko Chin-Sung | Central shaft control structure of self-opening/closing umbrella |
Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20090133729A1 (en) * | 2007-11-23 | 2009-05-28 | Chong J J | Protective mechanism for automatic umbrella |
US8151811B2 (en) * | 2007-11-23 | 2012-04-10 | Xiamen Futai Umbrella Industries Ltd. | Protective mechanism for automatic umbrella |
US20120125387A1 (en) * | 2007-11-23 | 2012-05-24 | Jung Jen Chong | Protective mechanism for automatic umbrella |
US8286650B2 (en) * | 2007-11-23 | 2012-10-16 | Xiamen Futai Umbrella Industries Ltd. | Protective mechanism for automatic umbrella |
US20100275706A1 (en) * | 2009-05-04 | 2010-11-04 | Tien-Cheng Chen | Control device adapted for collapsible umbrella |
US8261760B2 (en) * | 2009-05-04 | 2012-09-11 | Xiamen Mingho Brothers Mfg Co., Ltd. | Control device adapted for collapsible umbrella |
US20110114142A1 (en) * | 2009-06-22 | 2011-05-19 | Rong Tuan Cai | Automatic opening and shutting umbrella |
US8127781B2 (en) * | 2009-06-22 | 2012-03-06 | Cai rong-tuan | Automatic opening and shutting umbrella |
US20110308558A1 (en) * | 2010-06-16 | 2011-12-22 | Ping-Tung Su | Stepless collapsing mechanism for umbrellas |
US8191563B2 (en) * | 2010-06-16 | 2012-06-05 | Ping-Tung Su | Stepless collapsing mechanism for umbrellas |
US8215324B1 (en) * | 2011-01-18 | 2012-07-10 | Shih-Shin Kuo | Control structure for automatically folding and unfolding umbrella |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
RU2401026C1 (en) | Safe mechanism of automatic collapsible umbrella handle | |
US8286650B2 (en) | Protective mechanism for automatic umbrella | |
US20110226295A1 (en) | Safety central shaft extension and contraction control structure of self-opening/closing umbrella | |
US11751634B2 (en) | Fastening device and lace assembling method | |
US8161988B2 (en) | Central shaft control structure of self-opening/closing umbrella | |
JP2019526514A (en) | Fastening device and its string attaching method | |
US7971595B1 (en) | Central shaft control structure of self-opening/closing umbrella | |
JP2019523042A (en) | Fastening device | |
US8205658B1 (en) | Operating device for rotating a winding roller of a window blind | |
US8522805B2 (en) | Structure of self-opening/closing umbrella | |
US8161989B2 (en) | Control structure of self-opening/closing umbrella | |
KR20180090065A (en) | Strap fastening apparatus | |
US20110048479A1 (en) | Control structure for automatically opened and closed umbrella | |
KR200462709Y1 (en) | Safe flexible control structure of the central bar for the automatic umbrella | |
US8365746B2 (en) | Safely operable handle device for an automatic foldable umbrella | |
EP2572602B1 (en) | Shaft structure of automatic umbrella | |
US8215324B1 (en) | Control structure for automatically folding and unfolding umbrella | |
RU98677U1 (en) | SAFE DESIGN FOR CONTROL OF EXTRACTION AND EXTRACTION OF THE CENTRAL ROD OF AUTOMATICALLY OPENING / CLOSING UMBRELLA | |
JPH0511966B2 (en) | ||
JPH0690810A (en) | Automatic opening and closing umbrella | |
JP2011212371A (en) | Structure for safely controlling telescopic motion of inner shaft of automatically opening/closing umbrella | |
JP5830560B2 (en) | Handle structure for travel case pull bar | |
US20120055522A1 (en) | Automatic Safety Device for an Umbrella | |
JPH054734Y2 (en) | ||
WO2012037712A1 (en) | Automatic opening and closing umbrella having rebound preventing device in closing |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |