Patent ID: 6053188
Filing Date: 2000-04-25
Classification: A45B

Abstract:
An umbrella comprising:a central shaft having an upper end and a lower end with said lower end including a handle;a plurality of pivotable members each having a first end and a second end, said first end being pivotally coupled to said upper end of said shaft, said members being circumferentially spaced about said shaft and oriented generally parallel to said shaft when said umbrella is in a collapsed condition;a plurality of flexible members operatively associated with said pivotable members, said flexible members each having a pair of opposite ends and being expandable into a generally hoop-shaped configuration adjacent said second end of said pivotable members when said pivotable members are pivoted from the collapsed condition to an operative position;means for maintaining a fixed distance between an outermost periphery of said flexible members and said upper end of said shaft; andeach of said pivotable members comprising a relatively rigid slide bar having a slot extending lengthwise thereof, at least one pin extending through said slot and through said opposite ends of corresponding ones of said flexible members, and means operable upon movement of said pivotable members from said collapsed condition for urging said pin in said slot away from said upper end of said shaft to effect expansion of said flexible members into said hoop-shaped configuration.