Abstract:
A semi-automatic umbrella includes a telescopic central shaft, a handle, and a runner slidable along the shaft. A first pull cord is placed in a tensed state when the shaft is extended, which causes an upward biased movement of an actuating member to thrust a spring-biased runner-retaining member to disengage from the shaft once the first pull cord is released. A tension spring body coupled to a second pull cord is stretchable to acquire an urging force. The stretched tension spring body enables an upward movement of the runner for spreading the umbrella. Once the urging force is released, a downward movement of the runner causes collapse of the umbrella and disengagement of a spring-biased shaft-retaining member from the shaft, thereby permitting folding of the shaft and closing the umbrella.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 201010226651.4, filed on Jul. 15, 2010, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to a semi-automatic umbrella, more particularly to a semi-automatic umbrella with an automatically retractable central shaft. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an auto-collapsible umbrella as disclosed in Taiwanese Utility Model No. M571657 includes a handle  1 , a central shaft  2  mounted on the handle  1 , an upper hub  3  secured on an upper end of the central shaft  2 , a runner  4  disposed between the upper hub  3  and the handle  1 , a rib-and-stretcher assembly  5  connecting the upper hub  3  and the runner  4 , and a closing control unit  6 . The handle  1  has a push button  101 . The central shaft  2  includes a plurality of tubes  201  telescopically fitted to each other and a plurality of spring-loaded rings  202  disposed to retain two adjacent tubes  201  when the central shaft  2  is extended. The runner  4  has a latch  301  disposed to position the runner  4  on the central shaft  2 . The closing control unit  6  includes a main spring  601  disposed between the upper hub  3  and the handle  1 , a retained block  602  disposed in the handle  1  and connected to the main spring  601 , a first spring  603  interconnecting the retained block  602  and a bottom wall of the handle  1 , a cord  604  having one end connected to the retained block  602 , an actuating member  605  connected to the other end of the cord  604 , and a second spring  608  disposed to bias the actuating member  605  downwardly. The actuating member  605  has a large-diameter portion  606  and a small-diameter portion  607 . 
         [0006]    In use, the runner  4  is moved toward the upper hub  3  by a manual force to extend the central shaft  2  and to permit the central shaft  2  to be held in an extended position by means of the spring-loaded rings  202 . The retained block  602  is retained by a retaining portion of the push button  101 . The small-diameter portion  607  of the actuating member  605  is engaged with the latch  301  to lock the runner  4  to the central shaft  2 . 
         [0007]    When it is desired to close the umbrella, the push button  101  is pushed to permit disengagement of the retained block  602  from the retaining portion. By means of the second spring  608 , the actuating member  605  is moved downwardly to permit the large-diameter portion  606  to move the latch  301  out of the central shaft  2 . Hence, the rib-and-stretcher assembly  5  can be collapsed. By means of the main spring  601 , the runner  4  is moved toward the handle  1  to sequentially retract the spring-loaded rings  202  so as to fold the central shaft  2 . 
         [0008]    However, when opening the umbrella, due to the presence of the main spring  601 , a relatively large manual force is required to move the runner  4  until the runner  4  reaches a position where the rib-and-stretcher assembly  5  is totally spread out. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]    An object of the present invention is to provide a semi-automatic umbrella which can be opened effortlessly, and which can be closed and folded automatically. 
         [0010]    According to this invention, the semi-automatic umbrella includes a central shaft having at least an upper tube and a middle tube telescopically fitted to each other, a direction reversing member disposed in an upper end of the central shaft, a spring-biased shaft-retaining member disposed on the middle tube and engageable with the upper tube so as to hold the upper tube in an extended position, a runner disposed around the central shaft and slidable therealong between upper and lower positions to spread and collapse the umbrella, respectively, a spring-biased runner-retaining member disposed in the runner and biased to be engaged with the upper tube, a closing biasing member disposed to bias the upper tube to a retracted position, and a handle secured to the lower end of the central shaft, and having first and second anchored portions. 
         [0011]    The semi-automatic umbrella further includes a tension retaining member and first and second pull units. 
         [0012]    The tension-retaining member has a first anchoring portion disposed to anchor the first anchored portion, and is operable manually to disengage the first anchoring portion from the first anchored portion to permit axial movement thereof. 
         [0013]    The first pull unit includes an actuating member mounted in the upper tube, a first pull cord connected to the actuating member and the tension retaining member such that, when the upper tube is displaced from the retracted position to the extended position, the actuating member is displaced to a proximate position, where the first pull cord is in a tensed state, and a first auxiliary biasing member disposed between the actuating member and the middle tube with such a first bias force that, once the tension retaining member is released, an upward biased movement of the actuating member to a distal position thrusts the spring-biased runner-retaining member to be disengaged from the upper tube so as to permit movement of the runner toward the upper position. 
         [0014]    The second pull unit includes a retained member mounted to releasably anchor the second anchored portion, a tension spring body coupled to the retained member and stretched when the upper tube is moved to the extended position to have an urging force, a second pull cord connected to the runner and the tension spring body through the direction reversing member such that the urging force urges the runner to move from the lower position to the upper position when the tension retaining member is released, a trigger member coupled to the second pull cord, moved with the runner so as to counteract the urging force, and movable to a ready position where the trigger member is disposed axially and upwardly from the spring-biased shaft-retaining member, and a second auxiliary biasing member disposed to have a second bias force such that, when the retained member is released from the second anchored portion, the trigger member is biased by the second bias force to dash downward and away from the ready position so as to thrust the spring-biased shaft-retaining member to disengage from the upper tube, thereby permitting a displacement of the upper tube from the extended position to the retracted position by the closing biasing member. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0015]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a sectional view of a conventional auto-collapsible umbrella; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a semi-automatic umbrella according to this invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a first pull unit of the preferred embodiment; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second pull unit and a runner of the preferred embodiment; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged sectional view of the preferred embodiment; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment in an extended state; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged sectional view of the preferred embodiment in a state of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a sectional view taken along line X-X of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment in an opened state; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a sectional view taken along line XII-XII of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment in a collapsed state; 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is an enlarged sectional view of the preferred embodiment in a state of  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment when a central shaft displaced from an extended position to a retracted position; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 16  is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment in a fully folded state. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0032]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  5  and  6 , the preferred embodiment of a semi-automatic umbrella according to the present invention is shown to comprise a central shaft  20  having upper and lower ends  24 , 25  opposite to each other along an axis (L), an upper hub  30  secured to the upper end  24  of the central shaft  20 , a runner  40  which is disposed around the central shaft  20  and which is slidable therealong between upper and lower positions to spread and collapse the umbrella, respectively, a handle  10  secured to the lower end  25  of the central shaft  20 , a closing biasing member  76 , a tension retaining member  61 , a first pull unit  60 , and a second pull unit  70 . 
         [0033]    The central shaft  20  includes an upper tube  23 , a middle tube  22 , and a lower tube  21  telescopically fitted to one another along the axis (L). Each of the upper and middle tubes  23 , 22  has a bottom segment which has a hooked slit  231 , 221 . Each of the middle and lower tubes  22 , 21  has a top segment and a seat mount  262 , 261  disposed in the top segment. Each of two spring-biased shaft-retaining member  242 , 241  is mounted on the respective seat mount  262 , 261 , and has a shaft-retaining end  243 , 244  which is biased radially and outwardly of a respective one of the middle and lower tubes  22 , 21  by a spring  26  to be snapped into the respective hooked slit  231 , 221  when the upper and middle tubes  23 , 22  are displaced to an extended position where the upper and middle tubes  23 , 22  are remote from the lower end  25 . The bottom segment of the upper tube  23  further has a through hole  232  extending radially. 
         [0034]    A direction-reversing member  31  is in the form of a pulley, and is disposed on the upper hub  30 . 
         [0035]    The runner  40  has a through slot  43  extending radially. A spring-biased runner-retaining member  62  is disposed in the through slot  43  and is biased by a spring  63  to permit a retaining end  621  thereof to extend into the upper tube  23  through the through hole  232  (as shown in  FIG. 10 ). The runner  40  has a guide track member  44  which defines a guide route  41  extending axially. 
         [0036]    The handle  10  includes an inner tubular body  11  defining a receiving space  111  and formed with a first anchored portion  112  in the receiving space  111  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ), an outer tubular body  12  surrounding the inner tubular body  11  and having a button opening  121 , a push button  14  disposed in the button opening  121  and having two button portions  141 , 142  to be manually operable, and a shell  13  sleeved on and movable relative to the outer tubular body  12  to conceal the push button  14 . A spring-biased retaining lever  15  is pivotally mounted in the inner tubular body  11 , and has a second anchored portion  151  biased by a spring  16  to extend radially and inwardly, and an actuated portion  152  actuated by the button portion  142 . 
         [0037]    The closing biasing member  76  is disposed between the handle  10  and the upper hub  30  to bias the upper and middle tubes  23 , 22  to a retracted position where the upper and middle tubes  23 , 22  are closer to the lower end  25 . 
         [0038]    The tension retaining member  61  includes an outer surrounding wall  611  which is disposed in the receiving space  111  to be movable along the axis (L), and which is provided with a first anchoring portion  614  extending radially to anchor on the first anchored portion  112 , an inner portion  612  which is disposed in the outer surrounding wall  611 , and an upwardly biasing member  613  which is disposed between the outer surrounding wall  611  and the inner tubular body  11  to bias the outer surrounding wall  611  to move upwardly when the first anchoring portion  614  is released from the first anchored portion  112 . 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  5 , the first pull unit  60  includes a first pull cord  66 , an actuating member  64 , and a first auxiliary biasing member  65 . The first pull cord  66  has a first tail end  661  coupled to the inner portion  612 , and a first lead end  662  led through the central shaft  20  to be located in the upper tube  23 . The actuating member  64  is mounted in the upper tube  23 , and is coupled to the first lead end  662  such that, when the upper tube  23  is displaced from the retracted position to the extended position, the actuating member  64  is displaced to a proximate position where the first pull cord  66  is in a tensed state. Referring to  FIG. 10 , the actuating member  64  has a cam surface  642  confronting the retaining end  621 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the first auxiliary biasing member  65  is disposed between the actuating member  64  and an upwardly-facing abutment surface  263  of the seat mount  262 . 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  4 ,  8  and  9 , the second pull unit  70  includes a retained member  74 , a tension spring body  75 , a second pull cord  71 , a trigger member  72 , and a second auxiliary biasing member  73 . The retained member  74  is mounted in the handle  10  to releasably anchor the second anchored portion  151  of the retaining lever  15 . The tension spring body  75  has a second tail end  751  coupled to the retained member  74 , and is elongated axially in the central shaft  20  to terminate at a linking end  752 . The second pull cord  71  has a second lead end  711  located in the guide track member  44 , and extends upwardly to be wound on the direction reversing member  31  to terminate at a linked end  712  that is coupled with the linking end  752 . The trigger member  72  is coupled to the second lead end  711  and is movable along the guide route  41 . The second auxiliary biasing member  73  is disposed between an upper wall of the guide track member  44  and the trigger member  72 . 
         [0041]      FIGS. 5 to 7  illustrate the umbrella in a closed and folded state. In this state, the central shaft  20  is in the retracted position, the runner  40  is in the lower position, and the shell  13  is disposed to conceal the push button  14 . In addition, the tension spring body  75  and the closing biasing member  76  are in a retracted position. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIGS. 8 to 10 , when it is desired to open the umbrella, the user may grip the handle  10  and the upper hub  30  to pull apart such that the upper and middle tubes  23 ,  22  are displaced to the extended position, and the shell  13  is moved to expose the push button  14 . The tension spring body  75  and the closing biasing member  76  are in a stretched position. By virtue of engagement between the shaft-retaining ends  243 , 244  and the hooked slits  231 , 221 , the central shaft  20  can be kept in the extended position. The first pull cord  66  is in the tensed state such that the first auxiliary biasing member  65  is compressed by the actuating member  64  to have a first bias force. The retaining end  621  extends into the upper tube  23  through the through hole  232  to retain the runner  40  to the central shaft  20 . While the second pull cord  71  is tensed by a counteraction between the trigger member  72  and an urging force generated as a result of stretching of the tension spring body  75 , the trigger member  72  is moved upwardly to a ready position where the trigger member  72  is disposed axially and upwardly from the spring-biased shaft-retaining member  242 . Meanwhile, the second auxiliary biasing member  73  is compressed by the trigger member  72  to have a second bias force. 
         [0043]    Subsequently, referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the button portion  141  is pushed to release the first anchoring portion  614  from the first anchored portion  112 . The tension retaining member  61  is moved upwardly by the upwardly biasing member  613 . With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 10 , by virtue of connection of the first pull cord  66  and the first bias force of the first auxiliary biasing member  65 , the actuating member  64  is moved upwardly to a distal position. By provision of the cam surface  642 , the upward movement of the actuating member  64  can thrust the retaining end  621  to retreat radially and outwardly of the through hole  232  so as to release the runner  40  from the central shaft  20 . Thus, by the urging force of the linking end  752  of the stretched tension spring body  75 , the runner  40  is urged to move from the lower position to the upper position so as to spread the umbrella. 
         [0044]    When it is desired to close the umbrella, the bottom portion  142  is pushed to release the retained member  74  from the second anchored portion  151  so as to release the urging force. The retained member  74  is moved upwardly, and the second pull cord  71  is in a loosened state so as to collapse the umbrella. Meanwhile, the runner  40  is moved downwardly, and the trigger member  72  is then biased by the second bias force of the second auxiliary biasing member  73  to dash downward and away from the ready position so as to thrust the shaft-retaining end  243  of the shaft-retaining member  242  to disengage from the upper tube  23 . Thus, the upper tube  23  is moved by the closing biasing member  76  toward the handle  10  to the retracted position by sliding over the middle tube  22  and continuing on pressing the shaft-retaining member  241  inwardly of the lower tube  21 . As a result, the middle tube  22  and the upper tube  23  are sequentially moved by sliding over the lower tube  21 . 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the downward movement of the upper and middle tubes  23 , 22  can press the tension retaining member  61  into the inner tubular body  11  to permit the first anchoring portion  614  to be retained at the first anchored portion  112 . Finally, the shell  13  is manually moved to conceal the push button  14 . 
         [0046]    As illustrated, by virtue of the tension spring body  75  and the first auxiliary biasing member  65 , the runner  40  can be automatically moved to the upper position to spread the umbrella by operation of the push button  14 . By virtue of the tension spring body  75  and the trigger member  72  aided by the second auxiliary biasing member  73 , the shaft-retaining member  242  can be easily and successfully disengaged from the upper tube  23  to permit the upper and middle tubes  23 , 22  to slide over the lower tube  21  when the push button  14  is operated during closing of the umbrella. Accordingly, operations of opening and closing of the umbrella are convenient and effortless. 
         [0047]    While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements.