US2740417A - Umbrella latching and unlatching mechanism - Google Patents

Description

April 3, 1956 H. KLEIN UMBRELLA LATCHING AND UNLATCHING MECHANISM Filed April 19, 1955 |NvEN-roR #Meer iE/N ESE IIIlnvll/llrlllllllfllllilllll Illini! ATTORNEY United States Patent UMBRELLA LATCHING AND UNLATCHING MECHANISM Harry Klein, Forest Hills, N. Y. Application April 19, 1955, Serial No. 502,373 6 Claims. (Cl. 13S- 41) The present invention relates generally to improve ments in umbrellas, and in particular it relates to an improved umbrella runner latching and unlatching mechanism to facilitate the opening and closing of the urnbrella.

The conventional umbrella generally includes an elongated shank having a plurality of ribs pivoted adjacent to the upper end of the shank, a tubular runner slidable along the shank between upper and lower positions and a plurality of brace members pivotally connected by one end thereof to the runner and by the other end thereof to the respective ribs. The ribs are raised and spread and the umbrella is open when the runner is in a raised position, and the umbrella is closed and the ribs and brace members collapsed against the shank when the runner is in its lower or retracted position.

ln order to maintain the umbrella in selected open or closed position, there is provided on the umbrella shank outwardly sprung upper and lower latch members. When the umbrella is in open position, the latch member engages the underedge of the runner, and when the umbrella is in closed position it registers with a slot in the runner. When it is desired to open or close the umbrella, it is normally necessary to unlatch the runner by manually depressingT the corresponding normally outwardly sprung latch element to permit the passage thereover of the runner. This is an awkward, diilicult and usually hazardous manipulation, often resulting in injury to the operator. There have been many mechanisms proposed for overcoming this difficulty, but these mechanisms have generally proven to be unsatisfactory for one reason or another.

lt is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved umbrella.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved umbrella frame.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an umbrella having an improved mechanism for unlatching the runner to facilitate the opening and closing of the umbrella.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved umbrella unlatching mechanism which permits the facile opening and closing of an umbrella without direct manual contact with the latching elements.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved umbrella unlatching mechanism characterized by its ruggedness, simplicity and ease of operation.

Other and further objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein Figure l is a front elevational view of one form of umbrella frame constructed according to and embodying the present invention, the umbrella being illustrated in closed latched position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed, longitudinal, sectional 'I rice view partially broken away, illustrating the latching mechanism in 'its lower latched position;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, illustrating the runner and unlatching mechanism in a partially raised unlatched position; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line f-lin Figure 1, partially broken away for convenience of illustration, showing the umbrella frame latched in fully open position. i

The present invention contemplates the provision of an umbrella comprising a shank, a plurality of ribs having their inner ends pivoted to the upper portion of said shank, a runner slidably engaging said shank and movable between an upper (advanced) and lower (retracted) position, bracing members between the ribs and the runner, a radially projecting latch element carried by said shank below the advanced position of said runner, said latch element having an upwardly directed substantially horizontal latching surface and an inwardly, downwardly inclined cam surface and being radially movable between an extended and retracted position, spring means normally urging said latch element radially outwardly to its extended position, the lower edge of the runner, when in advanced position, resting upon the latching surface of said latch element, a latch opening cam member slidably mounted on said runner and having a downwardly, radially outwardly inclined cam surface adapted to engage said latch element to urge said latch element inwardly when slid downwardly along said runner to permit the downward movement of said runner, said latch opening cam member having a bottom opening formed therein adapted to clear said latch element.

In the drawing annexed hereto and forming a part hereof, the reference numeral 10 generally designates an elongated shank of substantially conventional construction, as metal, wood or the like, having a suitable handle l2 at its lower end and being capped at its upper end i3. Permanently secured to the shank 10 a short distance below its upper end, is a collar 14 provided with a peripherally grooved annular llange 1.6 having radial slots formed therein, a wire ring nesting in the flange' groove and engaging the pierced ends of the conventional umbrella ribs 18, a number of which are provided, all in the usual manner. Ribs 1S carry at points between `the ends thereof brackets Ztl, which are pinned to the upper ends of brace members 22, the lower ends of whichbraces are engaged, likewise in conventional fashion, by a wire ring nesting in an annular groove formed in a peripheral flange 2d which is located on the upper part of a tubular sleeve 26 defining a runner along shank lll. The lower ends of the braces 22 register with radial slots formed in the flange 24.

Runner 26 slidably engages the umbrella shank 10 and is movable between an upper or advanced position wherein the umbrella is open as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawing, and a lower or retracted position wherein the umbrella is closed and the ribs 18 and brace members 22 collapsed as illustrated in Figure l of the drawing. The runner 26 has formed therein a longitudinal slot 28 directly below its upper end and is tapered slightly outwardly at its lower end as at 30 to dene a circumferential stop.

A slot 32 is formed in the lower portion of the tubular shank 10 above the handle l2 and has registering therewith a lower latch element 34 which is carried at the free end of a leaf' spring 36, the other end of the leaf spring 36 being secured to the inner face of the tubular umbrella shank lll whereby to urge the latch element 34 to an extended or radially outwardly projecting position through the slot 32. The lower latching element 34 is provided with a substantially horizontal, radially extending lower or latching surface 38 and an upper cam suramont? face 40 hinnlined 'downwardly and radially outwardly from the 'leaf spring 316, 'the upper 'cam surface 40 and the lower latching surface 38 being connected by an outwardlypupwardly inclined second cam surface 42 of ar'c'u'ate outline. TheA latch element 34 1is movable against tireur-ging ofthe leaf spring 36 into the interior of the tubular shank 10.

A second or upper latching element 44 is located in the upper portion, ofthe tubular shank directly below the lower ,edge 30 of the runner 26 when the umbrella is in its fully lopened position. The latching element 44 is spring supported in a manner similar to that of the lower latch element 34, is oppositely longitudinally di ected and is circumferentially 'spaced approximately 90 relative to the lower 'latc'hing element 34. Furthermore, the` upper latchingzelernent 44 is provided with an upper radially extending 'latching Vsurface 46 substantially horiz'on'tal,` a downwardly, xinwardly inclined cam surface 48 and a secondA arcuate cam surface Si) extending between the latching 'surface 46 and the cam surface 43.

.Runner 26 longitudinally slidably carries an unlatching member 5,2 which includes an intermediate sleeve portion 54 slidably engaging runner 26, an upper, upwardly directed cup or bell-shaped portion 56 and a lower and downwardly directed cup-shaped portion 58 terminating in a beaded lower edge 6i). The upper cup-shaped portion 56 includes a vertical cylindrical wall 64 merging at its lower edge with a downwardly, inwardly inclined curved wall 66 into the upper edge of the collar portion S4. The spacing between cylindrical wall 64 and the confronting wall of runner 26 is greater than the projecting distance of lower latch member 44 when the latter is in its fully extended position. Similarly, the lower bell-shaped member SS is provided with a vertical cylindrical wall 68 merging at its upper edge with an upwardly, inwardly inclined arcuate wall lil into the lower edge of the sleeve portion 54. The spacing between the confronting faces of cylindrical wall 63 and tubular shank 10 is greater than the radially projecting distance of the upper latch element 44- when the latter is in fully extended position.

It should be noted that the lower movement ot' unlatching memberSZ relative to runner 26 is limited by the outwardly dared lower edge 30 of the runner 26 engaging the corresponding surface 70 of the lower bellshaped member 58, while the upper movement of the unlatching member 52 is limited by the upper edge of cylindrical wall 64 abutting the underface of peripheral ange 24.

A helical compression spring 72 registers with the upper portion of the shank 10 and is entrapped between the underface of the collar 14 and the upper latch 44. When the umbrella is in its fully opened position, the upper face of the iiange 24 engages the lower end of the spring 72 .to compress the latter. The purpose of the spring 72 is to retard the untoward upsetting or reversal of the umbrella frame.

Considering now the operation of the improved umbrella. In closed position of the umbrella, the runner 26 and the lower latching element 34 assume the positions illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing, the latching element 34 beingin extended Iposition and registering with slot 28 formed in the runner 26. in order to open the umbrella, the unlatching member 52 is merely shifted upwardly along runner 26, the inclined cam surface 66 of the upper cup-shaped member 56 bearing against the cam surface 42 of the latch element 34 thereby urging latch element 34 into a partially retracted position within shank 10 as'the unlatching member is raised. Upon the unlatching member reaching the top of its normal stroke wherein the upper edge` of wall 64 abuts the underface of flange 24, runner 26 is raised and the lower edge ofrunner slot r2t; 'abuts and bears against cam surface 42 further to depress latch element 34 thus permitting the `runner Y26 tonpass over and clear latch element 34 and allowing the full opening of the umbrella. As runner 26 "approaches its advanced position, the upper edge thereof bears against the lwer inclined surface 48 of upper latch element 44 urging said latch element to its retracted position and permitting the passage of the runner 26 over the now retracted latch element. Following the passage of the runner 26 over and past the latch element 44, the latter is spring urged outwardly to its advanced position, and upon release of the latch opening member 52 the lower edge 30 of the runner 26 bears against the upper horizontal latching surface 46 of latch member 44 to lock the umbrella in its fully opened position, as illustrated in Figure 4.

When it is desired to close the umbrella, the unlatching member 52 is pulled downwardly along the runner 26, the cam surface 70 first engaging the intermediate cam surface 50 of the latch element 44 urging latch element 44 partially inwardly, the lower edge of the runner 26 thereafter engaging the intermediate cam surface S0 to further move the latcliing element A44 into a fully retracted position thereby permitting the free downward movement of runner 26 which is pulled by means of the unlatching member 52 to its fully closed position, where vit is locked by the lower latch element 34 in the manner previously described.

if the umbrella be turned inside out, that is, if the ribs and covering be wind-blown to a point where ribs 18 and the shank top denne an acute angle, in which position spring 72 is under increased compression, the provision ofthe easily manipulatable latch releasing member 52 'will permit easy restoration of the ribs and umbrella covering to proper position. Formerly, this operation was difcult and awkward, since the upper latch had to be depressed, the runner pulled down past it, all While the shank was being firmly held vfor proper support. With the unlatching member of the present invention, such difficulties are obviated. `While there lhas been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterations and omissions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. lt should be noted, as a special feature of the present invention, that the unlatching member can be used on or applied ito any standard frames without modication of the latter, or of the standard runner.

l claim:

l. An umbrella comprising a shank, a plurality of ribs having their inner ends pivoted tothe upper portion of said shank, a runner slidably engaging said shank and movable between and beyond an upper normally open umbrella position and a lower retracted position, brace members extending from said runner to said ribs, a radially projecting latch velement carried by said shank below the advanced position of'said runner, said latch element having anpwardly directed substantially horizontal latching siirface and a downwardly directed in- -wardly, downwardly inclined cam surface and being radially movable between an extended and retracted position, lspring means urging said latch element radially outwardly to its extended position, the lower edge 'of said runner, when in normally open umbrella position, resting -pon the latching surface of said latch element to maintain the braces and ribs in extended position, a latch opening cam vmember .slidably mounted on said runner and having a downwardly, radially, outwardly Y inclined cam surface adapted to engage said latch element Yto urge -said latch element inwardly when slid downwardly'along said runner to permit the downward movement of said ruimer and consequent collapsing of the braces and ribs against the shank, said latch opening cam member having a bottom opening formed therein sufficiently large to clear said latch element when thc latter is in extended position.

2. An umbrella in accordance with claim l, wherein :said vlatch `element is provided withv an intermediate outwardly, downwardly inclined cam surface extending between said latch element latching surface and said inwardly, downwardly inclined cam surface.

3. An umbrella in accordance with claim 2, wherein said intermediate cam surface is of curved configuration.

4. An umbrella in accordance with claim 1, wherein said runner is defined by a sleeve slidably engaging said shank and said latch opening cam member is in the form of a downwardly directed cup-shaped member having an inwardly, upwardly directed upper wall defining said opening cam and terminating in an opening registering with said runner.

5. An umbrella in accordance with claim l, including a second lower radially projecting latch element carried by said shank adjacent the closed umbrella poa sition of said runner, said runner having a slot formed therein registering with said second latch element when said runner is in retracted position, said second latch element having a downwardly directed substantially horizontal latching surface and an upwardly inclined cam surface, and being radially movable between an extended and retracted position, spring means normally urging said second latch element radially outwardly to its extended position and a second latch opening cam member slidably mounted on said runner and having an upwardly outwardly inclined cam surface.

6. An umbrella in accordance with claim 5, wherein said latch opening cam members include a sleeve slidably engaging said runner, a rst upwardly directed cupshaped member carried by the upper portion of said sleeve and having an opening registering with said sleeve, said cup-shaped member having an upwardly, outwardly inclined bottom wall, and a second cup-shaped member carried by the lower portion of said sleeve and having an opening registering therewith, said second cup-shaped member having a downwardly, outwardly inclined top wall, the upper opening of said top cup-shaped member and the bottom opening of said lower cup-shaped member being of greater radii than the distance of the outer edge of said latch elements from the longitudinal axis of said shank.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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