Patent ID: 8505564
Filing Date: 2013-08-13
Classification: A45B

Abstract:
1. An automatic folding/unfolding umbrella, comprising: a main rod, being a single rod or composed of two or more rods telescopically coupled to one another, the main rod having a tip and a bottom; an elastic element mounted on the main rod adjacent to the tip; a plurality of umbrella ribs, each rib having an end pivotally coupled to the tip of the main rod and the plurality of umbrella ribs being distributed around the main rod for supporting a canopy, each of the umbrella ribs being a single rod or composed of two or more rods foldably coupled to one another; a plurality of primary link rods, one primary link rod supporting one umbrella rib and being installed under the tip of the main rod, and a distance between each umbrella rib and a corresponding primary link rod at a pivoting position of the main rod being fixed, and each primary link rod being swung in a direction of the corresponding umbrella rib; a plurality of secondary link rods, each secondary link rod having an end pivotally coupled to an end of the primary link rod, and another end of each secondary link rod being pivotally coupled to an umbrella rib, and each secondary link rod linking to a corresponding umbrella rib when the primary link rod swings; a slide element, axially and slidably installed at the main rod and capable of sliding between upper and lower positions where the main rod is pivotally coupled to the plurality of primary link rods, the elastic element being mounted between the tip of the main rod and the slide element; a handle, installed at the bottom of the main rod and having a link mechanism with a torque spring for restoring the link mechanism, the link mechanism being coupled to the slide element in the main rod by at least one link element, the at least one link element driving the slide element to slide up and down along the main rod, and the slide element producing a reaction in a reverse direction to resume its original position when the slide element is linked by the elastic element to drive the link element; and a plurality of elastically stretchable elements, each elastically stretchable element corresponding to one primary link rod and having an end coupled to an end of one secondary link rod which is pivotally coupled to a primary link rod, and another end of each elastically stretchable element being coupled to the slide element, and each elastically stretchable element moving up and down with the slide element at a position where the main rod is pivotally coupled to the plurality of primary link rods; wherein when the slide element moves upwardly with respect to the main rod, each elastically stretchable element coupled to an end of the slide element moves from a bottom position to a top position where the primary link rod is pivotally coupled, and each primary link rod is pulled and lifted by the elastically stretchable element to drive the secondary link rod to open the umbrella ribs; and when the slide element moves downwardly with respect to the main rod, each elastically stretchable element coupled to an end of the slide element moves from the top position to the bottom position where the primary link rod is pivotally coupled, and each primary link rod being swung downwardly to drive the secondary link rod to fold the umbrella ribs when an upward component force pulled by the elastically stretchable element disappears.