WO1999044458A1

WO1999044458A1 - Umbrella

Info

Publication number: WO1999044458A1
Application number: PCT/AU1999/000132
Authority: WO
Inventors: Behtash Goudarzi
Original assignee: Bt Pacific Proprietary Limited
Priority date: 1998-03-05
Filing date: 1999-03-04
Publication date: 1999-09-10
Also published as: AU5736398A

Abstract

An umbrella (10) comprises an asymmetrical shape by forming at least two ribs (12) longer than the remaining ribs through extension portions (33) which are attached to pivot members (34) pivotally attached to eyelets (35) by means of pins (36). The pivot members (34) are also pivotally attached to links (37) by means of pins (38) with the links (37) being secured to springs (39) by pins (40). Movement of runner (29) towards the apex (13) of the shaft (11) forces the links (37) to extend the extension portion (33) making the covering (14) fully extended therefore providing more coverage to the rear of the shaft (11). When umbrella is folded the extension portions (33) pivot on eyelets (35) resting on beams (15) causing all the ribs to be of equal length for stowage.

Description

WO 99/44458 _-, . PCT/AU99/00132

UMBRELLA

Technical Field

The present invention relates to umbrellas.

Background of the Invention

5 Umbrellas conventionally consist of a shaft to one end of which there is attached ribs which are to extend radially from the shaft and support a cover sheet. The ribs are of the same length. In some instances the ribs comprise a single length of material while in other instances each rib may consist of two rib portions pivotally attached at adjacent ends. o Known umbrellas suffer from the disadvantage that they do not provide adequate protection from rain, particularly when the rain is being wind driven in a particular direction.

Object of the Invention

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate i s the above disadvantage.

Summary of the Invention

There is disclosed herein an umbrella having: a shaft; a plurality of ribs pivotally attached to the shaft adjacent an end thereof for 20 movement about axes extending generally transverse of the shaft, the ribs being angularly spaced about the shaft and movable from a folded configuration lodged adjacent the shaft to a shelter configuration extending generally radially from the shaft; a cover sheet supported by the ribs; and wherein at least two of the ribs include extension portions so that the cover sheet is 25 radially elongated when the ribs are in the shelter configuration.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an umbrella in its shelter 30 configuration;

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the umbrella of Figure 1 in a partly folded configuration;

Figure 3 is a further schematic perspective view of the umbrella of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic parts exploded perspective view of a portion of the 35 umbrella of Figure 1 ; and Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of the umbrella of Figure 1" in a partly folded configuration.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted an umbrella 10. The umbrella 10 includes a shaft 11 which supports a plurality of ribs 12. The ribs 12 are pivotally attached to the shaft 11 adjacent the upper end 13 thereof, so as to be pivotally movable between the shelter configuration of Figure 1 and a folded configuration with the ribs 12 located adjacent the shaft 11. Supported by the ribs 12 is a cover sheet 14.

The ribs 12 include an upper beam 15 provided at one end with an eyelet 16 which is used to secure the beam 15 to a slotted flange 17 at the end 13. Typically the end 18 of the beam 15 is inserted in one of the slots 19 of the flange 17, with a metal loop

42 then passing through the eyelet 16 and around the annular slot 20 formed in the flange

17. Accordingly, the beams 15 are pivotable about axes extending generally transverse of the shaft 11. Each beam 15 is associated with a brace 21. Each brace 21 has an eyelet 22 pivotally attached to an eyelet 23 by means of a pin 24 so that each beam 15 has an associated brace 21 pivotally attached to it. The radially inner end of each brace 21 is provided with an eyelet 25 which is received in a flange 26. The flange 26 is provided with slots 27, which receive the eyelets 25, as well as an annular slot 28 which receives a metal loop 43 which passes through the eyelets 25 so that the braces 21 are pivotally attached to the flange 26.

A runner 29 is slidable along the shaft 11 and is held in a position shown in Figure 4 by means of a catch (not illustrated). The runner 29 has pivotally attached to it links 30 which upon movement of the runner 29 cause the umbrella 10 to fold or unfold. The links 30 extend to a slotted flange 31 , with the links 30 being pivotally attached to the flange 31 in a similar manner described with reference to flanges 20 and 26. A spring 32 extends between the flanges 27 and 31 which urges the ribs 12 to their shelter configuration so as to maintain the cover sheet tight.

The umbrella 10 has one side elongated as best seen in Figures 1 and 4. More particularly, two of the ribs 12 are provided with extension portions 33 which are attached to pivot members 34 pivotally attached to eyelets 35 by means of pins 36. The pivot members 34 are also pivotally attached to links 37 by means of pins 38, with the links 37 being secured to springs 39 by pins 40. As can be seen in Figure 5, the link 37 is attached to the pivot member 35 at a location spaced from the pin. The springs 39 are also pivotally attached to the braces 21 by means of pins 41. The links 37 move the extension portions 33 to their shelter position, while the springs 39 inhibit the link 37 breaking from the eyelet 22 during opening and closing. It should be appreciated that the umbrella 10 may be manually operated or^" alternatively spring loaded so as to be urged by a spring from the folded configuration to the covered configuration, and automatically moved to the covered configuration upon release of an appropriate catch (as described above). By providing a radially elongated portion 44 the umbrella 10 acts in protecting the user from rain and in particular from rain that is wind driven.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. An umbrella having: a shaft; a plurality of ribs pivotally attached to the shaft adjacent an end thereof for 5 movement about axes extending generally transverse of the shaft, the ribs being angularly spaced about the shaft and movable from a folded configuration lodged adjacent the shaft to a shelter configuration extending generally radially from the shaft; a cover sheet supported by the ribs; and wherein at least two of the ribs include extension portions so that the cover sheet is o radially elongated when the ribs are in the shelter configuration.

2. The umbrella of claim 1 wherein the extension portions are pivotally attached to their associated ribs.

3. The umbrella of claim 2 further including: a runner slidably mounted on the stem for longitudinal movement thereof to 5 move the ribs between their folded configuration and shelter configuration; a plurality of braces, each brace having an end pivotally attached to an associated rib and a further end pivotally attached to the runner; and resilient means extending from said extension portion end and the brace of the associated rib to urge the extension portions to the shelter position. 0

4. The umbrella of claim 3 wherein said resilient means includes a link and a spring attached thereto, with the link and spring extending between the extension portion and the associated brace.

5. The umbrella of claim 4 further including a plurality of links, each link being pivotally attached to an associated brace and the runner. 5

6. The umbrella of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the umbrella is manually moved between said folded configuration and said shelter configuration.

7. The umbrella of any one of claims 1 to 4, further including resilient means which when released moves the umbrella from the folded configuration to the shelter configuration. 0 8. An umbrella substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.