Patent ID: 6234185
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: A45B

Abstract:
An umbrella comprising:a shaft having first and second ends;unitary rib structure including a central hub secured to said shaft first end and a plurality of substantially equally angularly spaced and equally long rib members extending radially outwardly from said central hub, said unitary rib structure being molded of a plastic material and being relatively rigid except for the portions where the rib members are joined to the central hub, each such portion being thinner than the remainder of each rib member to constitute a self-hinge where each rib member joins the central hub to allow each rib member to be folded inwardly to be substantially parallel to the shaft with its distal end extending toward the shaft second end, and each such self-hinge having memory so that when a rib member is released from an inwardly folded position it returns to a radially extending position; anda membrane secured to the plurality of rib members;whereby the rib members can be folded about the respective self-hinges toward the shaft and thereafter held to place the umbrella in a collapsed state, and when the rib members are released they spring outwardly to return the umbrella to an extended state.