Patent ID: 6371140
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: A45B

Abstract:
An umbrella assembly comprising:a lower tube with a hollow cylindrical configuration having a first diameter and a pair of diametrically opposed slits formed therein and extending along a length thereof with one side edge of each of the slits having a resilient lip extending therefrom for covering the associated slit and maintaining the lower tube air tight, the lower tube having a bottom end with a hollow cylindrical handle mounted thereon with a plurality of concentric undulations formed in an outer surface thereof the lower tube having a top end with an inwardly extending annular lip formed in an inner surface thereof; an air pressure generator positioned within the handle for excreting air from the handle and into the lower tube upon the actuation thereof; an upper tube with a hollow cylindrical configuration having an inner surface with a second diameter less than the first diameter and an outer surface with a third diameter greater than the first diameter, the upper tube having a pair of diametrically opposed slits formed therein with one of the side edges of each of the slits having a resilient lip extending therefrom for covering the associated slit of the upper tube and maintaining the upper tube air tight, the upper tube further having a concentric recess formed in between the inner surface and the outer surface of the upper tube, wherein the concentric recess extends between a central extent of the upper tube and a lower end of the upper tube, the lower end of the upper tube having an inwardly extending annular flange coupled to the inner surface of the upper tube, an outwardly extending annular flange mounted within the concentric recess, and an outwardly extending annular stop coupled to the outer surface of the upper tube, wherein the top end of the lower tube is slidably received within the concentric recess between a retracted orientation and an extended orientation with the outwardly extending annular flange of the upper tube in engagement with the inwardly extending annular lip of the lower tube, wherein the slits of the upper tube and the lower tube remain in alignment; a slider assembly including a hollow cylinder slidably mounted along the outer surface of the upper tube, the cylinder of the slider assembly including a pair of radially spaced tangs extending outwardly therefrom at an upper edge thereof, a piston slidably positioned within the upper tube with a pair of diametrically opposed arms coupled thereto and extending therefrom through the slits of the tubes and coupled to an inner surface of the hollow cylinder for moving coincidentally therewith; a cap mounted on an upper end of the upper tube; a canopy assembly including a plurality of radially spaced upper inboard arms hingably coupled at inboard ends thereof to the cap and extending outwardly therefrom, a plurality of lower inboard arms with lengths greater than that of the upper inboard arms and pivotally coupled at inboard ends thereof to the tangs of the cylinder of the cylinder of the slider assembly and at a central extent thereof to outboard ends of the upper inboard arms, a plurality of intermediate arms having inboard ends pivotally coupled to the upper inboard arms, and a plurality of outboard arms each pivotally coupled to outboard ends of the intermediate arms and the lower inboard arms, the outboard arms each constructed from a resilient material and having an outer surface with an arcuate lateral cross-section, an inner surface with an arcuate lateral cross-section and a pair of side edges which are corrugated with a plurality of rectangular cut outs, the canopy assembly further including flexible elastic sheet mounted on the arms for defining a hemispherical configuration when the cylinder of the slider assembly is in a raised orientation and wherein the side edges of the outboard arms interlock to define a cylindrical shell which encompasses the tubes in concentric relationship upon the cylinder of the slider assembly being in a lowered orientation; a pair of diametrically opposed spring biased plungers mounted within the upper tube between the inner surface and the outer surface thereof and extending outwardly therefrom; wherein upon actuation of the air generator, pressure forces the piston and the cylinder of the slider assembly to the raised orientation whereat the same are locked in place by the spring biased plungers and the tubes are transferred to the extended orientation; wherein upon the sliding of the cylinder of the slider assembly to the raised orientation, a pressure builds between the cap and the piston, said pressure and the elastic material adapted to force the cylinder of the slider assembly to the lowered orientation upon release of the cylinder of the slider assembly by the spring biased plungers.