Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45B—WALKING STICKS; UMBRELLAS; LADIES' OR LIKE FANS
  • A45B9/00—Details
  • A45B9/02—Handles or heads
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45B—WALKING STICKS; UMBRELLAS; LADIES' OR LIKE FANS
  • A45B25/00—Details of umbrellas
  • A45B25/02—Umbrella frames

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an umbrella having a construction capable of allowing its canopy- securing part or its shaft along with the canopy- securing frame to rotate .
• an umbrella includes a central umbrella shaft, a canopy-securing frame comprised of a plurality of ribs extending radially around the umbrella shaft, and a handle coupled to a lower end of the umbrella shaft.
• the canopy-securing frame and handle are fixed to upper and lower ends of the umbrella shaft, respectively, in either a construction with a single fold or a construction with multiple folds.
• a canopy is secured to the radially-extending ribs of the canopy-securing frame.
• the canopy-securing frame and the canopy secured thereto form a canopy-securing part of the umbrella.
• the ribs are hingably coupled to a fixed member mounted to the upper end of the umbrella shaft while being uniformly spaced from one another.
• a plurality of uniformly spaced rib support members are also provided to support the ribs, respectively.
• Each rib support member is hingably coupled at one thereof to an intermediate portion of an associated one of the ribs and at the other end thereof to a slider slidably fitted around the umbrella shaft.
• the slider can slide upwardly and downwardly along the umbrella shaft. Since the canopy is typically opaque, the user cannot see well the surroundings of perhaps, a crowded street. For this reason, the user may collide with someone walking along the street .
• the user's umbrella may inevitably come into contact with another's umbrella because those umbrellas serve as fixed objects in that the handle and the canopy-securing part are fixedly mounted to the lower and upper ends of the umbrella shaft, respectively, in such a fashion that they are integral with the umbrella shaft.
• the canopy of the user's umbrella may be torn by another's umbrella.
• the user may be injured. In the case of being in heavy wind, the above mentioned occurrences may frequently arise.
• the present invention has been made to overcome the above-described problems involved in the prior art.
• the present invention has been made, based on the fact that an external force transferred to a user's grip on an umbrella after being applied to the canopy- securing part of the umbrella can be reduced by rotating the canopy-securing part or the canopy in such a fashion that the application direction of the external force is varied, immediately after the application of the external force.
• an umbrella comprising a central umbrella shaft, a canopy-securing frame comprised of a plurality of ribs extending radially around the umbrella shaft, a canopy secured to the canopy-securing frame, and a handle coupled to a lower end of the umbrella shaft, further comprising: rotating means adapted to rotate the canopy-securing frame to which the canopy is secured.
• the rotating means is adapted to rotate the canopy-securing frame with respect to the umbrella shaft.
• the rotating means comprises a cylindrical fixed member rotatably mounted to an upper end of the umbrella shaft around the umbrella shaft, the cylindrical fixed member supporting the ribs of the canopy-securing frame, and a bearing interposed between an outer surface of the umbrella shaft and an inner surface of the fixed member and adapted to allow the fixed member to rotate smoothly with respect to the umbrella shaft .
• the rotating means is adapted to rotate both the canopy-securing frame and the umbrella shaft with respect to the handle.
• the rotating means comprises a cylindrical body fitted around a lower end of the umbrella shaft while being radially spaced from an outer surface of the umbrella shaft to define a space, the cylindrical body also serving as the handle and including three parts, namely, an intermediate cylindrical member, and a pair of end members coupled to upper and lower ends of the intermediate cylindrical member respectively, the upper and lower end members being held in position with respect to the umbrella shaft while being allowed to rotate freely with respect to the umbrella shaft, and bearings fitted around the umbrella shaft within the space and adapted to allow the cylindrical body to rotate smoothly around the umbrella shaft .
• the umbrella shaft comprises upper umbrella shaft having an upper end, to which the canopy-securing frame is fixedly mounted, and a lower umbrella shaft having a lower end, to which the handle is fixedly mounted.
• the rotating means is adapted to rotate the upper umbrella shaft with respect to the lower umbrella shaft.
• This rotating means comprises a central shaft extending axially though the upper and lower umbrella shafts, the central shaft being fixedly mounted at an upper end thereof to the upper umbrella shaft and rotatably supported, at a lower end thereof, by bearings fitted between an inner surface of the lower umbrella shaft and an outer surface of the central shaft, a pair of fixing caps coupled to a lower end of the upper umbrella shaft and an upper end of the lower umbrella shaft, respectively, and a bush interposed between the fixing caps.
• the umbrella may further comprises locking means adapted to selectively lock the rotation of the canopy- securing frame carried out by the rotating means.
• the umbrella may also further comprises a plurality of radial blades protruded from an upper surface of the canopy.
• FIG. 1 is a view of an umbrella according to an embodiment of the present invention
• Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion in a circle A of Fig.l;
• Fig. 3 is a view of an umbrella according to another embodiment of the present invention
• Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion in a circle B of Fig. 3;
• Fig. 5 is a view of an umbrella according to further another embodiment of the present invention
• Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion in a circle C of Fig. 5 ;
• Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a modified example of the umbrella shown in Figs. 3 and 4 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 8 is a side view of the handle of Fig. 7 ;
• Fig. 9 is a view illustrating an example in which the present invention is applied to a parasol in accordance with a modified embodiment from that of Figs. 1 and 2 ;
• Fig. 10 is a top view of the parasol of Fig. 9.
• Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate an umbrella according to an embodiment of the present invention in which its canopy or its canopy-securing part including the canopy is adapted to rotate by means of a rotating unit.
• the rotating unit which is denoted by the reference numeral 7, is interposed between a canopy- securing frame 1 and an umbrella shaft 3.
• the rotating unit 7 includes a cylindrical fixed member 10 rotatably mounted to the upper end of the umbrella shaft 3 around the umbrella shaft 3.
• a plurality of uniformly spaced ribs 12 included in the canopy-securing frame 1 are fixed to and around the fixed member 10.
• a bearing 70 is interposed between the outer surface of the umbrella shaft 3 and the inner surface of the fixed member 10 so as to allow the fixed member 10 to rotate smoothly with respect to the umbrella shaft 3.
• a canopy is secured to the canopy- securing frame 1, thereby forming a canopy-securing part of the umbrella.
• a protective member 16 may be fitted around the upper end of the umbrella shaft 3 in such a fashion that it partially covers the outer surface of the canopy, thereby preventing rain water from being introduced into the inside of the umbrella around the upper end of the umbrella shaft 3.
• a cap 18 is threadedly coupled to the upper end of the umbrella shaft 3 to support the protective member 16.
• the protective member 16 may be integrally formed at the lower end of the cap 18. Of course, they may be formed separately from each other.
• a slider 20 is fitted around the umbrella shaft 3 so that it moves slidably along the umbrella shaft 3.
• the canopy-securing frame 1 is operatively connected to the slider 20 by means of a plurality of rib support members 22 in such a fashion that it moves between its folded position and its unfolded position as the slider 20 slides vertically between its upper position and its lower position.
• Each rib support member 22 is hingably connected at one end thereof to an associated one of the ribs 12 and at the other end thereof to the slider 20.
• a retractable stopper 24 is mounted to a desired portion of the umbrella shaft 3 in such a fashion that it is radially protruded from the outer surface of the umbrella shaft 3.
• the canopy- securing frame 1 can rotate along with the slider 20.
• the stopper 24 may interfere with the rotation of the slider 20, and thus, the rotation of the canopy- securing part, because it is in frictional contact with the lower surface of the slider 20.
• a bush 26 is preferably interposed between the slider 20 and stopper 24. If the bush 26 is separate from the slider 20, then the user should move it independently of the sliding movement of the slider along the umbrella shaft 3 because the bush 26 cannot move integrally with the slide 20. This results in inconvenience in use.
• the slider 10 has a fitting portion at its lower end, and the bush 26 has a fitting portion at its upper end.
• the fitting portions of the slider 10 and bush 26 are coupled together to allow the slider 10 and bush 26 to move in an integral fashion while allowing them to rotate with respect to each other.
• any configurations other than the above mentioned configuration may be used in so far as they can prevent the canopy-securing frame 1 from being separated from the umbrella shaft 3 while allowing the canopy-securing frame 1 to rotate around the upper end of the umbrella shaft 3.
• FIG. 3 an umbrella according to another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, respectively.
• the rotating unit 7 is interposed between the umbrella shaft 3 and the handle 5.
• the rotating unit 7 includes a cylindrical body fitted around the lower end of the umbrella shaft 3 while being radially spaced from the outer surface of the umbrella shaft 3 to define a space 50.
• the cylindrical body also serves as the handle 5.
• the cylindrical body of the rotating unit 7 has three parts, namely, an intermediate cylindrical member 52, and a pair of end members 54 and 56 threadedly coupled to the upper and lower ends of the intermediate cylindrical member 52 respectively.
• the upper and lower end members 52 and 54 are held in position with respect to the umbrella shaft 3 while being allowed to rotate freely with respect to the umbrella shaft 3, by means of a snap ring 36 and a fixing cap 38, respectively.
• a pair of bushes 58 and 60 are interposed between the snap ring 36 and the upper end of the upper end member 52 and between the lower end of the lower end member 56 and the fixing cap 38, respectively.
• a pair of bearings 72 and 74 are fitted around the umbrella shaft 3 within the space 50.
• the bearing 72 is held in position inside the upper end member 52 by means of a snap ring 32 whereas the bearing 74 is held in position inside the lower end member 56 by means of a snap ring 34.
• the canopy-securing part of the umbrella is fixed to the umbrella shaft 3.
• the handle 5 is held in position with respect to the umbrella shaft 3 while allowing the umbrella shaft 3 and canopy- securing part to rotate freely with respect to the handle 5.
• any configurations other than the above mentioned configuration may be used in so far as the handle 5 is held in position with respect to the umbrella shaft 3 without being separated from the umbrella shaft 3 while allowing the umbrella shaft 3 and canopy-securing part to rotate freely with respect to the handle 5.
• FIG. 5 an umbrella according to another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, respectively.
• the rotating unit 7 is arranged inside the umbrella shaft 3.
• the umbrella shaft 3 is divided into an upper umbrella shaft 40 and a lower umbrella shaft 42.
• the rotating unit 7 is arranged between the upper and lower umbrella shafts 40 and 42.
• the handle 5 is fixedly mounted to the lower end of the lower umbrella shaft 42.
• the canopy-securing part of the umbrella is fixedly mounted to the upper end of the upper umbrella shaft 40.
• the upper umbrella shaft 40 is coupled at its lower end to the upper end of the lower umbrella shaft 42 in such a fashion that it rotates freely with respect to the lower umbrella shaft 42 by means of the rotating unit 7.
• the rotating unit includes a central shaft 44 extending axially though the upper and lower umbrella shafts 40 and 42.
• the central shaft 44 is fixedly mounted at an upper end thereof to the upper umbrella shaft 40 by means of fixing pins 46.
• the central shaft 44 is also rotatably supported, at a lower end thereof, by bearings 76 and 78 fitted between the inner surface of the lower umbrella shaft 42 and the outer surface of the central shaft 44.
• the bearings 76 and 78 are held in position with respect to the central shaft 44 by means of snap rings 31 and 33 along with fixing pins 49, respectively.
• a pair of fixing caps 41 and 43 are coupled to the lower end of the upper umbrella shaft 40 and the upper end of the lower umbrella shaft 42, respectively.
• a bush 45 is interposed between the fixing caps 41 and 43.
• the central shaft 44 is not prevented from being axially separated from the lower umbrella shaft 42 while being allowed to rotate with respect to the lower umbrella shaft 42.
• Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a modified embodiment of the umbrella shown in Figs. 3 and 4, respectively.
• a locking mechanism 8 is assembled in the handle 5 to selectively lock the rotation of the canopy- securing frame 1 by the rotating unit 7 where the umbrella shaft 3 rotates with respect to the handle 5.
• the locking mechanism 8 locks the umbrella shaft 3 to the handle 5, the umbrella shaft 3 cannot rotate with respect to the handle 5.
• the umbrella can be used in the same fashion as conventional umbrellas.
• the locking mechanism 8 releases the locked state of the umbrella shaft 3, this umbrella shaft 3 is separated from the handle 5, so that it can rotate with respect to the handle 5.
• the lower end of the umbrella shaft 3 extends downwardly beyond the lower end of the handle 5.
• An end member 62 which has the same cross section as the handle 5, is mounted to the protruded lower end of the umbrella shaft 3.
• a slider receiving groove is also provided.
• the slider receiving groove has a pair of slider receiving groove portions 80 and 82 vertically aligned with each other and formed at the outer surfaces of the handle 5 and end member 62, respectively.
• a slider 84 is received in the slider receiving groove in such a fashion that it slides between a lower position where it is received in both the slider receiving groove portions 80 and 82, thereby locking the end member 62 with respect to the handle 5 and an upper position where it is received only in the slider receiving groove portion 80, thereby releasing the locked state of the end member 62.
• the umbrella shaft 3 cannot rotate with respect to the handle 5.
• the end member 62 is released from its locked state, the umbrella shaft 3 can rotate with respect to the handle 5.
• the slider 84 is provided at its outer surface with a knob.
• elastic protrusions 86 are provided at opposite side surfaces of the slider 84, respectively.
• the slider receiving groove portion 80 is also provided at its side surfaces with grooves 88 adapted to engage with the elastic protrusions 86 when the slider 84 is positioned at its upper position, respectively.
• the locking mechanism 8 has been described as being applied to the configuration in which the umbrella shaft 3 rotates with respect to the handle 5, it may also be applied to the configuration of Figs. 1 and 2 or Figs. 5 and 6 in which the rotating unit 7 is interposed between the umbrella shaft 3 and the canopy- securing frame 1 or arranged inside the umbrella shaft 3.
• Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate an example in which the present invention is applied to a parasol in accordance with a modified embodiment from that of Figs. 1 and 2.
• the parasol shown in Figs. 9 and 10 has the same configuration as that of Figs. 1 and 2, except that a plurality of radial blades 9 are upwardly protruded from the upper surface of a canopy 14.
• a plurality of radial blades 9 are upwardly protruded from the upper surface of a canopy 14.
• the parasol is installed in a fixed state on the beach or rest area at which there is heavy wind, its canopy- securing part rotate when wind force is applied thereto.
• the radial blades 9 the rotation of the canopy- securing part can be more effectively carried out. Accordingly, the parasol can effectively serve as an attractive advertising device by virtue of the effective rotation of its canopy-securing part.
• the rotating unit 7 has been described as being installed between the canopy-securing frame 1 and the umbrella shaft 3, between the separated umbrella shaft portions, or between the umbrella shaft 3 and the handle 5 in the above mentioned embodiments of the present invention, it may be installed at other positions in so far as the canopy 14 or the canopy- securing part including the canopy 14 can rotate with respect to the rotating unit 7.
• the canopy- securing part of the umbrella rotates upon receiving an external force, thereby attenuating the external force applied thereto. Accordingly, the attenuated external force is transferred to the umbrella shaft 3 or handle 5.
• the present invention provides an umbrella having a configuration capable of allowing its canopy or its canopy- securing part including the canopy to rotate and move naturally in an application direction of an external force applied to the canopy- securing part, whereby, even though the umbrella is bumped against another's umbrella during its use, impact transferred to them can be effectively attenuated, thereby reducing a possibility of injury and achieving a safety in use. Since the canopy or the canopy- securing part including the canopy is allowed to rotate and move naturally in an application direction of an external force applied to the canopy- securing part, even though there is heavy wind and rain, the force of the wind and rain directly transferred to the user can be effectively reduced, thereby achieving easy in use. Where the umbrella of the present invention is installed on the beach or rest area where there is heavy wind, it can effectively serve as an attractive advertising device by virtue of an effective rotation of its canopy or its canopy- securing part, without being easily damaged.

Landscapes

• Holders For Apparel And Elements Relating To Apparel (AREA)
• Walking Sticks, Umbrellas, And Fans (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=19554562

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (7)

Citations (2)

• 1998
  • 1998-10-20 KR KR1019980043749A patent/KR100285661B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1999
  • 1999-10-11 WO PCT/KR1999/000608 patent/WO2000022951A1/en active Application Filing
  • 1999-10-11 AU AU61253/99A patent/AU6125399A/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (2)

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