Patent ID: 6164303
Filing Date: 2000-12-26
Classification: A45B

Abstract:
A rib assembly for umbrella comprising:a top rib (21) pivotally secured to an upper notch (3) fixed on a top of a central shaft (1), a stretcher rib (22) pivotally secured to a lower runner (4) slidably held on the central shaft (1),an intermediate rib (23) having an inner end of the intermediate rib (23) secured with a joint (24) and having an outer end of the intermediate rib (23) pivotally connected with a tail rib (26),an intermediate connecting rib (25) having an inner end thereof pivotally connected with the top rib (21) and having an outer end of the intermediate connecting rib (25) pivotally connected with the joint (24) which is also pivotally connected with an outermost end of the stretcher rib (22), andan auxiliary folding spring (5) retained between the stretcher rib (22) and the intermediate rib (23);the improvement which comprises:said top rib (21) formed as a slim elongate rod, having an outermost end of the top rib (21) formed as a flat thinning end portion (212) which is pivotally connected with a pair of narrowing lugs (223) formed on a middle portion of the stretcher rib and centripetally pressed from two side walls of a U shaped groove longitudinally recessed in the stretcher rib (22) by a pivot (224) transversely fixed in the pair of narrowing lugs (223);said top rib (21) having an outer portion, adjacent to the outermost end (212) of the top rib (21), directly pressed to form a flat thinning portion (213) which is formed with a pivoting hole (214) through the flat thinning portion (213) for pivotally connecting an inner hook end portion (251) formed on an inner end of the intermediate connecting rib (25);whereby upon folding of the rib assembly (2) when closing the umbrella, the flat thinning end portion (212) and the flat thinning portion (213) of the top rib (21) as well as the inner hook end portion (251) of the intermediate connecting rib (25) will be snugly received in the U-shaped groove of the stretcher rib (22), thereby greatly minimizing a folding volume of the rib assembly (2) adapted for making a slim pocketable folding umbrella.