Patent ID: 6095170
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: A45B

Abstract:
An automatically spreading and collapsing umbrella, comprising:an elongate handle having an upper end, a lower end and a middle portion therebetween;a ferrule fixed on said upper end of said handle;a canopy mounted on said ferrule;a tubular runner sleeved slidably on said middle portion of said handle;a plurality of rib assemblies disposed at an underside of said canopy to support said canopy in a spread-out position and in a collapsed position, each of said rib assemblies including:a main rib having an elongate top wall, and two opposite side walls extending downwardly from two elongate edges of said top wall and having a proximate end pivotally connected to said ferrule, a distal end opposite to said proximate end and having a first pivot, and a second pivot spaced from said first pivot and adjacent to said distal end;a top rib pivotally connected to said first pivot, and having proximate and distal ends opposite to each other relative to said second pivot, said proximate end of said top rib having a third pivot; andan extending rib pivotally connected to said distal end of said top rib;a plurality of stretcher assemblies, each disposed to interconnect a respective one of said rib assemblies and said runner so as to permit stretching and retracting of said respective one of said rib assemblies in order to dispose said canopy in a selected one of said spread-out position and said collapsed position when said runner is moved along said handle, each of said stretcher assemblies including:a stretcher having proximate and distal ends respectively and pivotally connected to said runner and said second pivot of said main rib, and a fourth pivot between said proximate and distal ends and near said second pivot; anda connecting rod pivotally connected to said third and fourth pivots such that said first, second, third and fourth pivots define four connecting sections connected to one another at two of said pivots, wherein said first and second pivots define a first connecting section;an anchored member having two journalled ends journalled respectively on said side walls of said main rib of one of said rib assemblies at said first connecting section, and a middle portion interposed between said journalled ends, said middle portion having an anchored site which is formed as a bent strip that is vaulted toward said top wall;a collapsing tension spring having two ends respectively retained on said connecting rod and said anchored site of said anchored member so as to define a collapsing line along an extending length of said collapsing tension spring, such that stretching of said rib assemblies will extend said tension spring to store an elastic potential energy in said tension spring for restoring said tension spring to facilitate collapsing of said rib assemblies; anda resilient wire having an end connected to and integrally formed with one of said journalled ends of said anchored member, and an opposite end connected to said extending rib of said one of said rib assemblies so as to actuate said extending rib to retract inwardly toward said top rib when said rib assemblies are collapsed.