WO2019212340A2

WO2019212340A2 - Nut for a parasol foot and assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2019212340A2
Application number: PCT/NL2019/050252
Authority: WO
Inventors: Allard FROON
Original assignee: Helcosol B.V.
Priority date: 2018-05-01
Filing date: 2019-05-01
Publication date: 2019-11-07
Also published as: WO2019212340A3; NL2020853B1

Abstract

A nut for a parasol foot, comprising a base provided with thread which is configured to cooperate with thread of a tube of a parasol foot, wherein the base is substantially annular with a central opening and is provided with at least two fingers which extend in the opening and are configured for receiving therebetween a pole of a parasol, wherein the at least two fingers are each provided with a finger end, wherein the finger end comprises a friction enhancing surface element which during use abuts against the pole of the parasol.

Description

Title: Nut for a parasol foot and assembly

The invention relates to a nut for a parasol foot and an assembly of a parasol, a parasol foot and a nut.

A nut for a parasol foot usually comprises an annular base which is configured to cooperate with a tube of a parasol foot. The base is often intended to be arranged, during use, on an end of a tube of a parasol foot. The base is often provided with thread which is configured to cooperate with thread of the tube of the parasol foot. The base is usually provided with fingers for, during use, receiving between the fingers a pole of a parasol within the tube of a parasol foot.

The fingers of the base are usually configured to be supported on an inner wall of the tube of a parasol foot. The nut is often intended to be adjusted to a tightened position, in which the fingers through cooperation with the inner wall of the tube are biased towards each other and thus, during use, enhance an engagement with the pole of a parasol, received between the fingers. Furthermore, the engagement between the pole and the fingers is usually enhanced as the nut is being tightened and the fingers are biased towards each other more, and vice versa as the nut is being loosened. The engagement between the pole and the fingers is usually limited, because the fingers have to be slightly flexible to allow their being biased towards each other.

The parasol foot is usually provided with ballast to enable an assembly of a parasol received in a parasol foot to be placed relatively stably on a ground and to prevent the assembly falling over. The ballast is often massive, for example in the form of concrete, but may also be implemented, for example, in the form of a refillable ballast tank and/or ballast reservoir. In the case of a refillable ballast tank and/or ballast reservoir, the ballast can be hquid, for example water, or be solid, for example sand. While such a nut, in particular when arranged on an assembly of a parasol received in a parasol foot, offers many advantages, a drawback of the known nut is that the engagement is not entirely satisfactory. With a nut arranged on the tube of a parasol foot and having been tightened to effect engagement with the pole of a parasol, it may occur that the parasol pole disengages and the parasol and/or the assembly falls over. Due to the pole sliding out, the center of gravity of the assembly can shift, as a result of which the parasol and/or the assembly tend(s) to tilt and/or fall over. In particular, this may occur in case of wind and/or a gust of wind. In case of fatigue by use, or in case of wear, or in case of unexpected damage due to an external force on the nut, the engagement between the fingers of the nut and the pole of the parasol cannot be guaranteed. This can be problematic, because the parasol and/or the assembly then disengage and/or fall over more easily. Moreover, it requires much force to tighten the nut on the parasol foot to the extent where a maximum available clamping force is obtained to retain the parasol. This is especially problematic with relatively large parasols which are particularly wind sensitive, and in case of high wind or gusts of wind.

With an asymmetrical parasol and/or a partly tiltable parasol, it may happen the parasol seeks to rotate about its axis and thereby deviates from the position in which the parasol has been set up by a user. This is especially problematic with relatively large parasols which are particularly wind sensitive, and in case of high wind or gusts of wind.

The invention contemplates a nut for a parasol foot with which, while maintaining the advantages mentioned, the disadvantages mentioned can be counteracted.

To this end, the invention provides a nut for a parasol foot, comprising a base. The base is provided with thread which is configured to cooperate with thread of a tube of a parasol foot. The base is substantially annular with a central opening. The base is provided with at least two fingers which extend in the opening and are configured for receiving between them a pole of a parasol. The at least two fingers are each provided with a finger end, to be pushed against the pole of a parasol. The finger end comprises at least one friction enhancing surface element which during use abuts against the pole of the parasol.

By providing a friction enhancing surface element, it can be achieved that, during use, the frictional force that is exerted on the parasol pole received between the fingers is enhanced when a same pressure force is exerted on the pole by the finger end, so that the engagement between the fingers and the pole of the parasol is improved and hence the stability of the parasol is augmented. Further, it can be achieved that with a friction enhancing surface element, less force is required to exert a same or higher frictional force on the pole of the parasol during use. In other words, a nut according to the invention needs to be tightened up less firmly than a comparable prior art nut to obtain a same clamping force, or if the nut is tightened up equally firmly, a higher clamping force is obtained. What can be more easily counteracted in this way is, for example, the parasol rotating relative to and/or getting detached from the parasol foot. With this, the present invention contemplates making it possible to guarantee a higher safety standard compared with current parasol nuts. What can be

counteracted is, for example, parasols being pulled out of the parasol foot by the wind or gusts of wind and blowing away. In other words, the safety for bystanders and the surroundings can be guaranteed better.

Within the context of this patent application, the term 'friction enhancing surface element' must be taken to mean a surface element that has relatively good friction properties, in particular has a higher coefficient of friction, with respect to an adjacent and/or abutting surface of the fingers, and/or is softer than an adjacent surface. Such an adjacent and/or abutting surface may, in particular, have a surface finish that is smooth, in

particular has a lower coefficient of friction, with respect to the friction enhancing surface element. Such an adjacent and/or abutting surface may then, within the context of this application, be regarded in particular as a non friction enhancing surface. Such a smooth surface may, as a reference indication, for instance be as smooth as the surface of a typical injection moulded polypropylene material, or a polyethylene material or a polyvinyl chloride material or other such material of standard types of plastic for parasol foot nuts.

When the base and the fingers are made from a plastic having a first hardness and the friction enhancing surface elements are made from a second plastic or rubber and have a second hardness which is lower than the first hardness, it can moreover be achieved that the deformability of the friction enhancing surface element is better than of the first plastic of the fingers and hence, during use, a surface of contact with the pole of the parasol is larger than if the finger end(s) with the first hardness were involved. Thus, the engagement with the pole can be improved still further and the parasol rotating and/or coming loose can be counteracted further.

When the nut is fabricated by means of two component injection moulding, it can be achieved that the friction enhancing surface can be provided in and/or on the fingers in a particularly reliable manner, for example by partial melting together and by mechanical lock-up.

When the at least two fingers are each provided with at least one groove in which the surface element is partly received, it can be achieved that in the two component injection moulding process the groove can advantageously form a portion of a mould for the moulding of the friction enhancing surface element.

When the surface element concerned extends partly outside the groove, and is locked against lateral displacement by two mutually opposite walls of the groove, with the walls preferably extending inclined with respect to a bottom of the groove, it can be achieved in a simple manner that the surface element is better resistant to transverse forces that can occur during use, and in particular upon tightening or loosening of the nut. This is to say that during use and/or upon tightening of the nut, the transverse forces that arise through friction between the surface element and the pole of the parasol can be better distributed and/or transmitted to the nut, in particular via the grooves in the fingers in which the surface element is partly received. The walls mentioned preferably extend inclined inwardly with respect to a bottom of the groove, such that a part of the surface element is locked thereunder in that the groove narrows towards the open side. Thus, it can be achieved furthermore that the surface element is better resistant to longitudinal forces that may occur during use, in particular upon sliding the parasol pole into and out of the central opening of the nut. This is to say that during use and/or upon sliding the parasol pole in and out, the longitudinal forces that arise through friction between the surface element and the parasol pole can be distributed and/or transmitted to the nut better, in particular via the grooves in the fingers in which the surface element is partly received.

When the friction enhancing surface element extends over at least a part of an outer surface of the finger(s), it can be achieved that during use the surface of contact with the pole of the parasol is enlarged and thereby the frictional force increases and the engagement with the pole is improved.

When the surface elements of different fingers are mutually connected, in particular by a connecting part extending in a groove in the base, it can be achieved in a simple manner that during use the frictional forces that arise between the surface element and the pole of the parasol can be distributed and/or transmitted to the nut still better, while production is simpler.

When furthermore a (further) friction enhancing surface element, in particular the above described connecting part, extends partly outside the nut, in particular along an outer surface of the nut, it can be achieved that the (further) friction enhancing surface element extends in an area accessible to the user and thus the nut is easier to tighten and loosen.

When the nut is configured for, during use, in cooperation with the tube of the parasol foot, in a tightening direction, biasing the at least two fingers towards each other, and the nut is furthermore configured for, in a loosening direction, having the at least two fingers move away from each other, it can be achieved in a simple manner that the frictional force, and hence the engagement between the fingers and the pole of a parasol, is improved. Thus, the parasol rotating and/or coming loose can be

counteracted.

When the base is made from a relatively hard plastic, such as, for example, polypropylene (PP), and the friction enhancing surface elements are formed of relatively soft plastic or rubber, such as, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), it can be achieved that the surface elements can follow the contour of the pole of a parasol better, and as a result, during use, the surface of contact with the pole is larger than if the relatively hard plastic of the base were involved. Thus, the engagement with the pole can be improved and the parasol rotating and/or coming loose can be further counteracted. Also, the relatively hard plastic of the base provides a load-bearing construction so that the parasol can remain stable.

When the base is made of a relatively hard plastic, such as, for example, polypropylene (PP), it can be achieved that a material having a relatively advantageous combination of properties can be used for the load-bearing construction, in particular a relatively inexpensive, relatively strong, relatively wear resistant and relatively flexible material.

When the friction enhancing surface element is made of rubber or plastic, such as, for example, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), in particular having a lower melting temperature Tm than the relatively hard plastic of the base, it can be achieved in a simple manner that in a two component injection moulding process the base can function as a mould for the surface element.

The invention also relates to a parasol foot provided with a nut according to the technical features described in the paragraphs above.

When the parasol foot comprises a hollow tube for receiving a lower end of a pole of a parasol and provided with external thread adjacent an upper end, while the nut is provided with internal thread complementary thereto, and wherein the fingers extend inclined downwardly, such that at least the fingers ends of the fingers in a coupled condition of nut and tube extend within the tube, such that when the nut is being tightened on the tube the finger ends are pivoted by contact with the tube to a less inclined position whereby the finger ends of the fingers are brought closer to each other, with the surface elements extending at least at mutually facing finger ends of the fingers, it can be achieved that a parasol is stably received in the parasol foot. Furthermore, the parasol rotating relative to the parasol foot, the parasol getting detached from the parasol foot and/or the assembly of the parasol with the parasol foot falling over, for instance due to

displacement of its center of gravity, can be counteracted.

It is noted that the technical features of the nut described in the paragraphs above can also each individually be advantageously applied in a nut of a different configuration, i.e., the individual technical features may, if desired, be isolated from their context and be used alone, and, if desired, be combined with one or more of the features mentioned above.

The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of exemplary embodiments of nuts which are shown in drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective top view of a nut according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective bottom view of the nut of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a cross section of the nut of

Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of a cross section of the nut of Fig.1;

Fig. 5A is a schematic simplified side view of a cross section of a nut on a tube of a parasol foot according to the invention, with a pole of a parasol clamped between the fingers;

Fig. 5B is a schematic simplified detailed view of a cross section of a nut on a tube of a parasol foot according to the invention, with a pole of a parasol abutting against a friction enhancing surface element; and

Fig. 6 is a schematic view of a partly sectioned nut with a contact element which extends also over an outer side.

It is noted that the Figures are only schematic representations of a preferred embodiment of the invention, and that these are given by way of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment. In the exemplary embodiment, the same or corresponding parts are represented with the same reference numerals.

Figs. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a nut 1 for a parasol foot. The nut 1 comprises a base 2 provided with thread 3 which is configured to cooperate with thread 4 of a tube 5 of a parasol foot, as is shown, for instance, in Fig. 5A and will be elucidated further on. The base 2 is substantially annular with a central opening 32, but may, of course, also be of oval, rectangular, square or suchlike shape. The depicted base 2 is provided with five fingers 6 which extend in the central opening, but the base 2 may, of course, also be provided with two, three, four, or more than five fingers 6. The fingers 6 are configured for receiving therebetween a pole S of a parasol, as is also shown in Fig. 5A and will be elucidated further on. The fingers 6 are each provided with a finger end 7. The finger ends 7 face each other. The finger end 7 comprises a friction enhancing surface element 8 which during use abuts against the pole S of the parasol.

The base 2 and fingers 6 shown in Figures 1-5 are made from a plastic having a first hardness. The friction enhancing surface elements 8 are made from a second plastic or rubber and have a second hardness which is lower than the first hardness. An example of a plastic having a first hardness is polypropylene (PP), but, of course, may also be polyethylene (PE) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). An example of a plastic having a second, lower hardness is thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

The nut 1 shown in Figures 1-5 has preferably been fabricated by means of two component injection moulding, preferably such that the elements 8 are attached to the fingers 6 at least by partial melting together, but the base 2 and the friction enhancing surface elements 8 may also be manufactured separately from each other in manners known to a person skilled in the art. The friction enhancing elements 8 may then be connected with the finger ends 7 by means of, for example, glue, ultrasonic welding and/or a snap connection.

Figs. 1-4 show fingers 6 which are provided with two grooves 9, together terminating in the finger end 7. The fingers 6 may, of course, also be provided with one groove or more than two grooves 9, or, for example, channels. The friction enhancing surface element 8 is partly received in the grooves 9. Here, the friction enhancing surface element 8 concerned extends partly outside the respective grooves 9 at least in the area of the finger ends 7. The friction enhancing surface element 8 extends over at least a part of an outer surface of the finger (s) 6.

In Fig. 2 it is represented that the two opposite walls 10 of the respective groove 9 extend inwardly inclined with respect to a bottom 11 of the groove 9, so that the groove narrows towards the open side. As an alternative or in addition, the walls 10 may be provided with a stop behind which the friction enhancing surface element 8 may be received in part. The walls 10 may also, for instance, extend substantially transversely with respect to the bottom 11. The walls 10 of the groove contribute to the friction enhancing surface element 8 being received and locked against lateral displacement. In Fig. 1 it is represented that the friction enhancing surface elements 8 of different fingers 6 may be mutually connected by a connecting part 12 which extends in a groove 13 in the base 2. The connecting part 12 of the friction enhancing surface element 8 or an additional friction enhancing surface element may, of course, also extend partly or wholly outside the nut 1, for instance along an outer surface 30 of the nut 1 that is accessible for a user to engage, as schematically shown in Fig. 6 by ribs 31. Thus, the user can advantageously tighten or loosen the nut on the tube 5 of a parasol foot.

In Fig. 5 A there is shown a cross section of a nut 1 in two positions on a tube 5, in particular a hollow tube, of a parasol foot, with the pole S of a parasol being clamped between the fingers 6. The tube 5 is provided with external thread 15 adjacent an upper end 16, while the nut 1 is provided with an internal thread 17 complementary thereto. The fingers 6 extend inclined downwardly, such that at least the finger ends 7 of the fingers 6 extend within the tube 5. When the nut 1 is being tightened on the tube 5 the finger ends 7 pivot by contact with the tube 5 to a less inclined position whereby the finger ends 7 of the fingers 6 are brought closer to each other. The finger ends 7 comprise at least mutually facing friction enhancing surface elements 8. In the left half of Fig. 5A the nut 1 is shown in a first position I, in which the finger 6 is hardly, if at all, biased and exerts a relatively small force FI on the pole S. In the right half of Fig. 5A, the nut 1 is shown in a second position II, in which the finger 6 is in a less inclined position by contact with the tube 5 and has been moved towards the central opening. In this less inclined position, the finger 6 is biased and exerts a relatively large force F2 on the pole S. Also represented are the loosening direction A and tightening direction B.

In Fig. 5B a detailed view of a cross section of a nut 1 on a tube 5, in particular a hollow tube, of a parasol foot is shown, where a relatively soft plastic of the friction enhancing surface element 8 follows the contour of the pole S of a parasol. Represented here are walls 10 extending transversely to the bottom 11. Also represented are the earlier-discussed lateral forces 14, which occur, for instance, upon tightening Al and loosening A2 of the nut 1.

Alternatively or additionally, the friction enhancing surface elements 8 may be made from a rubber or plastic having a relatively low melting temperature, that is, lower than the melting temperature of the plastic of the base 2. Thus, it can be achieved that, advantageously, the base 2 can at least partly form a part of a mould for the friction enhancing surface elements 8.

With a nut according to the invention, implemented for a pole of a parasol with a diameter of 38 mm and 54 mm respectively, a parasol pole was received via the nut into the tube of a parasol foot and secured. It was found that in a particularly simple manner, with relatively low manual effort, the nut can be tightened such that a minimum retracting force of 200 N can be achieved. In other words, for example, a 20 kg parasol foot can be lifted with that pole via the nut. Furthermore, in the case of the parasol pole having the 54 mm diameter, it was achieved that via the nut 1.5 times the parasol foot's deadweight could be lifted, i.e., at least 300 N.

There has thus been described, as an example, a nut for a parasol foot, comprising a base provided with thread which is configured to cooperate with thread of a tube, in particular a hollow tube, of a parasol foot, wherein the base is substantially annular with a central opening and is provided with at least two fingers which extend in the opening and which are configured for receiving therebetween a pole of a parasol, wherein the at least two fingers are each provided with a finger end, wherein the finger end comprises a friction enhancing surface element which during use abuts against the pole of the parasol. The fingers, in particular the friction enhancing surface elements arranged thereon, are configured to engage during use a pole of a parasol. The nut cooperates via thread with a thread of a tube of a parasol foot. The fingers, upon tightening of the nut on the tube of the parasol foot, move towards each other so that at least finger ends of the fingers are biased towards each other, with at least a part of the fingers making contact with an upper end of the tube. Conversely, upon loosening of the nut, the at least two fingers move away from each other so that the fingers are not biased towards each other (anymore). The base is furthermore provided with a friction enhancing surface which is configured to improve the friction and hence the engagement between the at least two fingers and a pole of a parasol.

It is noted that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described here. For instance, the nut may be provided with bayonet closing means as thread. Other materials may be used and the nut may be manufactured in a different, known manner.

Such variants will be apparent to a person skilled in the art and are understood to be within the scope of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A nut for a parasol foot, comprising a base provided with thread which is configured to cooperate with thread of a tube of a parasol foot, wherein the base is substantially annular with a central opening and is provided with at least two fingers which extend in the opening and are configured for receiving therebetween a pole of a parasol, wherein the at least two fingers are each provided with a finger end, characterized in that the finger end comprises a friction enhancing surface element which during use abuts against the pole of the parasol.

2. The nut according to claim 1, wherein the base and the fingers are made from a plastic having a first hardness and the friction enhancing surface elements are made from a second plastic or rubber and have a second hardness which is lower than the first hardness.

3. The nut according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the nut is fabricated by means of two component injection moulding.

4. The nut according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the at least two fingers are each provided with at least one groove in which the surface element is partly received.

5. The nut according to claim 4, wherein the surface element concerned extends partly outside the groove, and is locked against lateral displacement by two opposite walls of the groove, said walls preferably extending inclined with respect to a bottom of the groove.

6. The nut according to any one of claims 3-5, wherein the friction enhancing surface element extends over at least a part of an outer surface of the finger (s).

7. The nut according to any one of claims 2-6, wherein the surface elements of different fingers are mutually connected, in particular by a connecting part extending in a groove in the base.

8. The nut according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein furthermore a friction enhancing surface element, in particular the connecting part according to claim 7, extends partly outside the nut, in particular along an outer surface of the nut.

9. The nut according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the nut is configured for, during use, in cooperation with the tube of the parasol foot, in a tightening direction, biasing the at least two fingers towards each other, and the nut is furthermore configured for, in a loosening direction, having the at least two fingers move away from each other.

10. The nut according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base is made from a relatively hard plastic, in particular polypropylene, and the friction enhancing surface elements are formed of relatively soft plastic, preferably from a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

11. A parasol foot provided with a nut according to any one of the preceding claims.

12. The parasol foot according to claim 11, wherein the parasol foot comprises a hollow tube for receiving a lower end of a pole of a parasol and provided with external thread adjacent an upper end, while the nut is provided with internal thread complementary thereto, and wherein the fingers extend inclined downwardly, such that at least the finger ends of the fingers, in coupled condition of nut and tube, extend within the tube, such that when the nut is being tightened on the tube the finger ends are pivoted by contact with the tube to a less inclined position whereby the finger ends of the fingers are brought closer to each other, with the surface elements extending at least at mutually facing finger ends of the fingers.