Patent ID: 6543464
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: A45B

Abstract:
An umbrella having a frame of interconnected ribs covered by cloth and a means for the automatic opening and closing of the ribs and cloth comprising:a stub shaft attached to the frame and cloth; a hollow one piece shaft attached to the stub shaft so as to allow coaxial rotation with respect to said stub shaft, wherein said hollow one piece shaft is provided with at least one slot extending therethru along a portion of its length; a collar which slides along the exterior surface of the hollow one piece shaft, wherein said collar is connected to the interconnected ribs; at least one pin extending through the at least one slot provided in the hollow one piece shaft, wherein said pin is detachable from a threaded nut without detachment from said collar; at least one opening provided in said one piece hollow shaft so as to allow insertion therein of said pin upon coaxial rotation of said hollow one piece shaft with respect to said stub shaft; a threaded rod extending through said hollow one piece shaft; an electric motor fixed relative to the aid one piece shaft, wherein said electric motor contains a driveshaft to which the threaded rod is attached; a battery which provides electromotive energy for the electric motor; wherein, further, there is a switch provided which in a first position regulates flow of electricity from the battery such that the drive shaft of the electric motor turns in a first direction which, in turn, rotates the threaded rod, thereby moving the threaded nut in a direction which forces the cloth and ribs from the closed position to an open position wherein, placement of the switch in a second position regulates the flow of electricity from the battery such that the drive shaft of the electric motor turns in a second direction opposite to the first direction, which, in turn, rotates the threaded rod thereby moving the threaded nut in a direction which returns the cloth and ribs to the closed position wherein, upon detachment of the pin from said threaded nut, said collar may be manually slid up and down the length of said hollow shaft to manually open and close said cloth and ribs and coaxial rotation of the stub shaft and attached cloth and ribs with respect to the hollow one piece shaft allows insertion of said pin into said opening to fix the umbrella in the open position.