Patent ID: 6722382
Filing Date: 2004-04-20
Classification: A45B

Abstract:
An umbrella comprising:an elongate stem having a tubular upper end portion, and a lower end portion extending from said upper end portion along an axis, said upper end portion having a top edge wall with inner and outer peripheries respectively surrounding the axis, an outer surrounding wall surface which extends downwardly from said outer periphery and which surrounds the axis, and an inner surrounding wall surface which extends downwardly from said inner periphery and which is disposed opposite to said outer surrounding wall surface, said upper end portion defining a plurality of slots which are angularly displaced from one another, each of said slots extending radially and inwardly relative to the axis, extending from said top edge wall toward said lower end portion, and terminating at a slot edge wall; an anchored wire extending around the axis, and disposed inwardly and radially of said inner surrounding wall surface, said anchored wire having a plurality of anchored segments that are disposed to be respectively exposed from said slots such that each of said anchored segments is accessible radially, each of said anchored segments being disposed proximate to said top edge wall along the axis; a canopy mounted on said top edge wall; a cap member disposed to fasten said canopy to said top edge wall; a rib assembly including a plurality of ribs, each of said ribs having an anchoring end which is pivoted to a respective one of said anchored segments, a distal end which is disposed opposite to said anchoring end radially of the axis and which is disposed at an underside of said canopy to support said canopy in a spread-out position and in a collapsed position, and a bent portion which extends from said anchoring end toward said distal end and which is formed by bending a respective one of said ribs which is adjacent to said anchoring end towards the axis, thereby bringing said bent portion closer to said slot edge wall; a tubular runner slidably sleeved on said stem, and movable between upper and lower positions which respectively correspond to the spread-out and collapsed positions of said canopy; and a stretcher assembly disposed to interconnect said rib assembly and said runner so as to stretch or retract said rib assembly, thereby placing said canopy in the spread-out position or the collapsed position when said runner is moved to the upper position or the lower position, respectively.