WO2005058089A1

WO2005058089A1 - Safety device for an umbrella

Info

Publication number: WO2005058089A1
Application number: PCT/GB2004/005344
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel Vardy; John Michael Earnshaw; Michael Harold Bly
Original assignee: Hoyland Fox Limited
Priority date: 2003-12-19
Filing date: 2004-12-20
Publication date: 2005-06-30
Also published as: GB0329514D0; EP1696761A1

Abstract

In an umbrella comprising a frame having an elongate pole (16) on which a runner (12) is slidably mounted, and a canopy frame consisting of ribs (20) extending from the top of the pole and stretchers (18) extending to the ribs from the runner, the runner (12) is attached to the canopy frame by the ribs so that the canopy can be unfurled by sliding the runner up the pole and when the canopy is completely unfurled the runner engages with retention means (54) on the pole. An actuator (24) is associated with the runner in such a way that it is movable under the influence of gravity with respect to the runner between an inactivated position, corresponding to an upright orientation of the umbrella, and an activated position, corresponding to an inverted orientation of the umbrella, such that when the actuator (24) adopts the activated position the runner disengages with the retention means (54) on the pole, allowing the canopy of the umbrella to collapse when the umbrella is inverted.

Description

SAFETY DEVICE FOR AN UMBRELLA

The present invention relates to a safety device for use on a runner of an umbrella, such as an umbrella for offering protection from the sun, rain or wind or the like. Some larger portable umbrellas, such as are used for fishing or on the beach, can be supported by being driven into the ground or in a special, e.g. water-filled base, and to this end typically have spikes on the lower portion of the frame. However, umbrellas of this type are susceptible to being knocked over and/or carried by the wind when in their unfurled position, as a result of the large surface area of the canopy. There is therefore a danger that the unprotected spike on the base, or the tips of the ribs, could cause injury to people if the umbrella is uprooted from the ground and conveyed by the wind in this way. One known umbrella includes a mechanism whereby the umbrella collapses when the top of the canopy hits the ground. Such umbrellas incorporate a pad or sensor on the top of the canopy. This pad is in communication with the pole supporting the umbrella. If any pressure is exerted on the pad the umbrella is arranged to collapse. However, a disadvantage of this arrangement is that the umbrella must fall upside down onto its crown or notch to collapse; the mechanism is not activated by the tipping of the umbrella as such. In practice, umbrellas will often roll along the ground with only the edge of the canopy in contact with the ground. In this case the prior art umbrella would not collapse, and may still pose a risk of injury. Furthermore, the known umbrella requires a wire to pass from the pad to the pole of the umbrella through the canopy. This may affect the integrity of the canopy, and may allow water to pass through, for example, and moreover it is difficult to manufacture. According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a runner for an umbrella, the umbrella comprising a frame having an elongate pole on which the runner is slidably mounted, and a canopy frame consistingof ribs extending from the top of the pole and stretchers extending .to the ribs from the runner, the runner being attached to the canopy frame by the ribs so that the canopy can be unfurled by sliding the runner up the pole and when the canopy is completely unfurled the runner engages with retention means on the pole to prevent the canopy from re- furling or closing; wherein an actuator is associated with the runner in such a way that it is movable under the influence of gravity with respect to the runner between an inactivated position, corresponding to an upright orientation of the umbrella, and an activated position, corresponding to an inverted or upset orientation of the umbrella; the mounting of the actuator being such that when the actuator adopts the activated position the runner disengages with the retention means on the pole, allowing the canopy of the umbrella to collapse when the umbrella is^' upset. Preferably the actuator is mounted on the runner itself, which simplifies connection to the catch on the runner that engages the retention means. Preferably the runner is of the button type, where a spring-loaded button mounted in the runner acts as a catch on a ledge on the umbrella frame. The actuator can then in effect depress this button when the umbrella is inverted. The actuator could act directly on a button of the conventional type, though this might in some circumstances interfere with normal operation. Preferably therefore the button is in two parts, one having the actual catch and the other acting as a bearing for the actuator, which can depress the catch, for instance by swinging under the influence of gravity when inverted. The button can be pressed in the usual way to release (i.e. collapse) the umbrella in its normal upright position. The actuator can be in the form of a pendulum swinging about a horizontal axis in the runner, lying against the shaft when upright, with a weighted end that swings out and releases the catch if the umbrella falls over into an inverted or tipped-over position. The invention also relates to an umbrella frame incorporating a runner that has an actuator for releasing the runner from its unfurled position -when the umbrella tips over, and is particularly applicable to the "Head- Tilt" type of umbrella described in EP 0368539 by the same applicant, in which a tilt or pivot joint is provided above the runner. The lower half of the joint can be moulded to include a ledge or lip that acts as the retention means.

For a better understanding of the present invention embodiments of it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows an umbrella in normal use fitted with a safety device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows an exploded view of the safety device and runner; Fig. 3 shows the safety device in section, attached to a shaft; Fig. 4 shows the operation of the safety device as a button for unfurling the umbrella; Fig. 5 shows the operation of the safety device as the umbrella is inverted; Figs. 6a and 6b show the operation of the safety device in the runner in the upright and inverted positions respectively; and Fig. 7 shows an umbrella in an inverted position in which it is desirable that the umbrella collapse. Turning to Fig. 1, this shows generally at 10 an umbrella frame in an upright position adopted in normal use (i.e. with the pole of the frame substantially vertical), having a runner 12 fitted with a safety device 14 according to an embodiment of the invention. The runner slides on a shaft 16, supporting the canopy, and is attached to stretchers 18, which extend radially from the runner and are, in turn, attached to ribs 20 part way along their length. In use a cover or canopy would usually be fitted over these ribs to form a barrier to the rain, or sun, for example. The umbrella frame is shown in its unfurled position, where the runner is in its uppermost position on the shaft, and the stretchers are under compression. The lowermost part of the shaft of the umbrella frame may incorporate a spike 22, so that the shaft of the umbrella may be driven into the ground or other support easily. The umbrella frame shown in this drawing is of the type where the inside of the runner engages, by way of a spring-loaded button, with a lip (not shown) on the outside of the umbrella shaft. As discussed above, the head of such an umbrella may also be adapted to tilt around a joint above the runner. However, it is envisaged that^" the safety device could be applied to other types of umbrellas, for instance those in which a sprung restraint is housed in the shaft of the umbrella, and prevents the runner from sliding down the shaft when the umbrella is unfurled. From the expanded view of Fig. 1 it can be seen that the runner is fitted with a safety device 14 that includes a pendulum weight 24 and an ^'adapted button 26. The runner is held on a lip (not shown) on the umbrella shaft, thereby keeping the stretchers under compression, and the umbrella canopy taut. In normal use the umbrella can be furled by pressing the button, so that the runner is able to pass over the lip and slide down the shaft. Fig. 2 shows the components of the runner, button and safety device according to the embodiment of the invention discussed above. The runner has a hollow portion which houses the button. The button comprises two portions, a button latch 28 and a button body 30 both having button surfaces which combine to present a button 26 on the runner to a user. The runner and button can be of a design generally similar to those shown in the applicant's own UK registered design no. 2095427. The button body includes resilient spring members 32 to bias the button outwardly from the runner 12. The button latch and the button body both have annular portions through which the shaft of the umbrella passes. These annular portions form upper and lower ring members 34, 36 on the umbrella shaft respectively, when the button body 30 and the button latch 28 are fitted together. The pendulum weight 24 is pivotall mounted on the button body via a pivot pin 40 at its top end, held in a notch 42 on the button body 30. The pendulum weight is further provided with a drive pin 44, parallel to and ^■ located outwardly from the pivot pin when the pendulum is in its inactive position. When the button 26 is assembled the drive pin 44 of the pendulum weight 24 engages the button latch 28,, being held captive in a -guide 46 in the form of a vertical channel, formed by a downwardly facing fork 48 on the button latch. The upper and lower ring members are slidably fixed together by corresponding lugs 50 and slots 52 on the lower and upper ring members 34, 36 respectively. The slots 52 are longer than the lugs 50 so that the button latch can slide with respect to the button body, radially with respect to the axis of the umbrella shaft. When assembled, the runner 12 houses the upper and lower ring- embers 34, 36 and part of the pendulum weight 24. The button body 30 and the button latch 28 co-operate to form a button 26, which protrudes from the runner 12 and can be pressed by a user in the conventional way. Fig. 3 shows a partial section through the shaft of the umbrella (for clarity the runner is not shown) . In this Figure the umbrella is in an upright unfurled position, and the upper ring member 34 of the button latch is being held captive on the lip 54 of the shaft. The button body 30, with its lower ring member 36, sits below and radially outward of the lip. Thus the umbrella is held in its unfurled position. Fig. 3 also shows the ball joint 60 of the frame, which is of the "head-tilt" type (see the applicant's earlier EP 368539). Fig. 4 shows the assembly of Fig. 3 when the button 26 is depressed. In this Figure the button latch and the button body have been displaced by the user pushing the button. As a result the upper and lower ring members 34, 36 have moved further inside the runner (not shown) . This movement takes the upper ring member 34 off the lip 54 so that the umbrella can be furled. In normal use of the umbrella, the runner is slid up the umbrella shaft, until the upper ring member 34 housed in the runner rides over the lip (not shown) , the upper ring member springs back over the lip, holding the runner captive on the lip, and therefore holding the head of the umbrella in an unfurled position. When it is desired that the umbrella be furled, the button 26 and therefore the upper ring member 34 is pressed, and passes over the lip, thereby releasing the runner from the lip and allowing it to be slid down the umbrella shaft. Operation of the safety device will now be described. Fig. 5 shows the assembly of Fig. 3 when the umbrella has been blown over, by the wind for example, or otherwise upset, causing the pendulum weight 24, which constitutes a safety actuator, to swing out relative to the frame under gravity or through its own inertia. The actuator is movable with respect to the umbrella frame between two positions corresponding to an inactivated configuration and an activated configuration of the actuator and frame, under the influence of gravity, or other acceleration. The relative configuration of actuator and frame in the activated state is brought about at least partly by the inertia of the actuator. When the actuator adopts the activated position the runner disengages with the retention means on the pole, allowing the canopy of the umbrella to collapse when the umbrella is inverted. The motion of the pendulum weight begins as the umbrella starts to tip over, and the pendulum weight continues to move as the umbrella inverts further, until the catch is released. This may involve a travel of only 1 mm or so in the radial plane. As the pendulum weight 24 moves under gravity it swings about its pivot point, i.e. the pivot pin 40 that is held in the button body attached to the lower ring member (not shown in this Figure) . This causes the drive pin 44 that is held captive in the fork on the button latch to move in an arc (since there is some offset between the pivot point and the drive pin) . This causes the drive pin 44 to ride up in the fork 48 on the button latch 28, and to push the button latch towards the shaft of the umbrella. This motion in turn causes the upper ring member 34 of the button latch 28 to slide relative to the button body 30, so that the upper ring member moves and slides off the lip 54 on the umbrella shaft. This last action is the same as normal actuation by pressing the button, but here the button body 30 stays where it is. Once the catch is released, since the stretchers to which the runner is attached are under compression, the runner will be pushed down the shaft of the umbrella.

Accordingly, when the umbrella is in an inverted position with respect to normal use (i.e. the shaft of the umbrella is orientated below the horizontal, with the canopy of the umbrella below the shaft, for example) , the head of the umbrella collapses. This means that the umbrella cannot roll on its canopy, since as soon as it is blown over it will collapse and fall to the ground; it will therefore soon come to a stop, and will not be able injure anyone in the manner described above. Although in theory the pendulum will not swing out if it lies over the runner, in practice a loose umbrella will always spin about its axis so that a point soon comes when the catch is released. Figs. 6a and 6b are cross-sectional views showing in somewhat more detail the action of the safety device in the runner 12 (in these Figures the shaft of the umbrella is not shown) . Fig. 6a shows the runner in the normal upright operating position. Fig. 6b shows the runner in an inverted position. In these Figures the cross-sections of the upper and lower annular members 34, 36 can clearly be seen; the inner profile of the lower annular portion 36 matches the outer profile of the lip of the shaft (not shown in Figs 6a or 6b) . The movement of the upper annular member (as discussed in relation to Fig. 5 above) can be seen from a comparison between Fig. 6a and Fig. 6b; the shaded portion on the left of the annular member 34 denoting the part of the annular member that is engaged on the ' lip is displaced in Fig. 6b so that it can ride over the lip on the shaft (not shown) . From these Figures the offset of the axis about which the pendulum member pivots and the axis of the drive pin 44 can clearly be seen. This offset causes the drive pin to push the button latch 28, and therefore the upper annular member 34, in the radial plane, into the position adopted in Fig. 6b, when the pendulum member 24 pivots with respect to ^"the button body 30. Although the examples given include a pivotally mounted pendulum member 24 the invention may also be realised by using a slidable member, which can be arranged to slide along the shaft towards the button on the runner, or cause an actuator to contact the button, when the shaft is inverted (i.e. not in its normal unfurled operating position) . The invention is not limited to buttons as described or shown; the term button should be taken to include pips or lugs or the like that protrude from the umbrella shaft, for example. Fig. 7 shows the umbrella frame of Fig. 1 in an inverted position which the frame may typically adopt when it has been carried by the wind from its operating position, or has otherwise fallen over, for example. In this position there is a danger that the ribs 20 on the perimeter of the umbrella canopy, or the spike 22, will cause injury to a person, or damage to an object. This problem is further exacerbated by the fact that typically the umbrella will roll along the edge of its canopy for some distance when it is being carried by the wind, so that the pointed ribs and the sharp spike on the base of shaft are exposed and moving and therefore potentially hazardous. The swinging out of the pendulum 24 releases the tension in the canopy, so the umbrella will no longer be blown by the wind and the picnic can continue.

Claims

1. A runner for an umbrella comprising a frame (10) having an elongate pole (16) on which the runner (12) is slidably mounted, and a canopy frame consisting of ribs (20) extending from the top of the pole and stretchers (18) extending to the ribs from the runner, the runner being attached to the canopy frame by the ribs so that the canopy can be unfurled by sliding the runner (12) up the pole and when the canopy is completely unfurled the runner engages with retention means (54) on the pole to prevent the canopy from re- furling or closing; wherein an actuator (24) is associated with the runner in such a way that it is movable under the influence of gravity with respect to the runner between an inactivated position, corresponding to an upright orientation of the umbrella, and an activated position, corresponding to an upset orientation of the umbrella; the mounting of the actuator (24) being such that when the actuator adopts the activated position the runner (12) disengages with the retention means (54) on the pole, allowing the canopy of the umbrella to collapse when the umbrella is upset.

2. A runner according^' to claim 1, in which the actuator (24) is mounted on the runner.

3. A runner according to claim 1 or 2 and being of the button type, where a spring-loaded button mounted in the runner acts as a catch on a ledge (54) on the umbrella frame .

4. A runner according to claim 3, in which the button is in two parts, one (28) having the actual catch and the other (30) acting as a bearing for the actuator, which can depress the catch, for instance by swinging under the influence of gravity when inverted.

5. A runner according to any preceding claim, in which the actuator^' (24) is in the form of a pendulum swinging about a horizontal axis (40) in the runner, lying against the shaft when upright, with a weighted end that swings out and releases the catch if the umbrella falls over into an inverted position.

6. An umbrella frame including a runner according to any preceding claim.

7. An umbrella frame according to claim 6, further including a joint (60) in the shaft between the runner and the notch.