Patent ID: 6058952
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: A45B

Abstract:
A flat top umbrella comprising:a central shaft (1) having an upper notch (11) formed on a top of the shaft and a lower runner (12) slidably held on said shaft;a top rib (2) pivotally secured to the upper notch (11);an outer rib (3) fixed to the top rib (2) and radially protruding outwardly from the top rib (2) adapted for retaining an umbrella cloth on said top rib (2) and said outer rib (3) and for retaining a skirt portion of the umbrella cloth on an outer portion (32) of said outer rib (3);a stretcher rib (4) pivotally connected between said top rib (2) and said lower runner (12);and a pulling rib (5) juxtapositioned to said outer rib (3); said outer rib (3) including: an inner portion (31) secured to an outer portion (22) of the top rib (2), said outer portion (32) for securing the outer skirt portion of the umbrella cloth thereon and for connecting the pulling rib (5), and a flattened portion (33) formed adjacent to the outer portion (32) as a flat plate portion as diverged from the outer rib (3) having a cross section of U shape for exerting a resilience on the flattened portion (33) of the outer rib (3) when pulled inwardly by the pulling rib (5) and stretcher rib (4) when opening the umbrella; said pulling rib (5) including: an inner end (51) pivotally connected with an outer portion (43) of the stretcher rib (4), and an outer end (52) pivotally secured to a lug portion (321) formed on the outer portion (32) of the outer rib (3); and said pulling rib (5) operatively pulling said outer portion (32) of said outer rib (3) inwardly downwardly to be generally perpendicular to the outer rib (3) and the top rib (2) which are horizontally lifted when opening the umbrella, whereby the skirt portion of said umbrella cloth is bent inwardly downwardly.