Patent ID: 6035873
Filing Date: 2000-03-14
Classification: A45B,Y10T

Abstract:
A multiple-fold umbrella comprising:a central shaft including: an upper tube having a spring catch resiliently held in the upper tube, a first intermediate tube telescopically disposed on an outside of the upper tube and positioned under the upper tube when opening the umbrella, a second intermediate tube telescopically disposed on an outside of the first intermediate tube and positioned under the first intermediate tube when opening the umbrella, and a lower tube telescopically disposed on an outside of the second intermediate tube and positioned under the second intermediate tube when opening the umbrella; anda rib assembly including: a top rib pivotally secured to an upper notch fixed on a top portion of the upper tube, a stretcher rib pivotally connected to a runner slidably held on the central shaft and pivotally connected to the top rib, an intermediate rib pivotally connected with the top rib, an inner connecting rib pivotally connected with the stretcher rib and pivotally connected with the intermediate rib, an outer connecting rib pivotally connected with the intermediate rib and pivotally connected with a tail rib through a plastic joint, and a spring rod pivotally connected to the top rib and pivotally connected with the outer connecting rib,the improvement which comprises:said upper tube having a cross section consisting of three concave quadrants concave radially inwardly towards a longitudinal axis of the central shaft and a convex quadrant convex radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis, with two neighboring concave quadrants forming a ridge portion between the two neighboring concave quadrants having a socket defined in the ridge portion and confined between the two neighboring concave quadrants for storing the spring catch in the socket and within an interior of the upper tube when closing the umbrella, with the spring catch resiliently protruding outwardly through a slot cut in the upper tube for locking the runner of the rib assembly when opening the umbrella;said first intermediate tube having a cross section consisting of two concave quadrants concave diametrically inwardly towards the longitudinal axis of the central shaft, and two convex quadrants convex diametrically outwardly from the longitudinal axis telescopically engaging the upper tube within said first intermediate tube;said second intermediate tube having a cross section consisting of one concave quadrant concave radially inwardly towards the longitudinal axis of the central shaft, and three convex quadrants convex radially outwardly to circumferentially form a partial circular shape for telescopically engaging the first intermediate tube within said second intermediate tube; andsaid lower tube having a cross section of circular shape and telescopically engaging with the second intermediate tube.