Abstract:
This invention relates to umbrellas in general. In particular it relates to umbrellas which automatically open and close. This automatic opening and closing of the umbrella in the presented embodiments is accomplished by means of the rotation of a threaded rod. A key improvement disclosed herein includes a simplification both in the construction of the umbrella itself and in the means for conveniently converting the umbrella to the ordinary manually opened and closed umbrella should the necessity occur. It has been discovered by experimentation that parts previously included in the assembly of prior art are unexpectedly not necessary with the proper choice of design.

Description:
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/247,246, filed May 23, 1994 now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/207,407, filed Mar. 7, 1994 now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND ART 
     It is known in the art to construction umbrellas which open automatically with the manual release of a catch wherein the compression of a spring causes a hollow member, to which the ribs of the umbrella are attached, to move along a shaft extending through the hollow member. It is also known in the art to provide means for the biasing closed of the umbrella by spring. However, the umbrellas of the art in general require the movement of the hand from one position to another in order to effect closing or even worse require the use of two hands. alternatively, or coincidentally, the user of such umbrellas which use springs to automatically open and close must remember to compress the spring each time before using the umbrella. Without this prior spring compression such existing umbrellas cannot even be opened, let alone closed. 
     Further, umbrellas previously disclosed in the art had the disadvantage of the batteries too quickly discharging to attain a satisfactory number of openings and closings from one battery charge. In addition, the previously disclosed umbrella embodiments had the disadvantage of not being collapsible to a shorter shaft length for ease of storage and carrying. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 contains a sectional view of the umbrella mechanism of fixed shaft length, which is provided with specific means for conserving battery power, wherein the umbrella ribs are shown in the open or extended position. 
     FIG. 2 contains a sectional view of the umbrella mechanism of FIG. 1 wherein the ribs  7  of embodiment 1 are in a closed position. 
     FIG. 3 presents in sectional view Detail A—A of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 contains a Detail B—B of FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 5 contains a sectional view of an umbrella mechanism wherein manually operated means is disclosed for alternately lengthening and shortening the umbrella shaft, wherein the umbrella ribs are in an open position. 
     FIG. 6 contains a Detail D—D of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 contains a Detail C—C of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 8 contains a sectional view of the umbrella embodiment 1A of Figure wherein the ribs,  7 , of embodiment 1A are in a closed position. 
     FIG. 9 contains a sectional view of an umbrella embodiment 1B wherein the motor contained in motor housing  27 , which opens and closes the umbrella ribs  7  is also used to automatically lengthen and shorten the umbrella shaft, wherein the ribs,  7 , of embodiment 1B are in an opened position 
     FIG. 10 contains Detail F—F of FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 11 contains Detail E—E of FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 12 contains a sectional view of the embodiment 1B of FIG. 9 wherein the ribs  7  of embodiment 1B are an opened position. 
     FIG. 13 in sectional view the embodiment 1A of FIGS. 4 through 8 with the lower tube shaft  3  inserted up into upper tube shaft  35  a greater distance than that show in FIGS. 5 and 8 to attain a shortened overall length of the embodiment 1A. 
     FIG. 14 contains Detail H—H of FIG.  13 . 
     FIG. 15 contains Detail G—G of FIG.  16 . 
     FIG. 16 illustrates in sectional view the umbrella mechanism of FIGS. 9 through 12 with the lower tube shaft  34  inserted up into upper tube shaft  35  a greater distance than that shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, to attain a shortened overall length of the embodiment 1A. 
     FIG. 17 shows the umbrella embodiments 1A and 1B of FIGS. 5 and 9 as they appear in side planar view. 
     FIG. 18 depicts the utilization of donut collar  37  and improved collar  20 , which can be used to facilitate the conversion of the umbrella embodiments  1 ,  1 A, and  1 B described herein from the powered to the manually operated opening and closing of the umbrella ribs  7 . 
     FIG. 19 shows the umbrella embodiments 1A and 1B of FIGS. 8 and 12, respectively, as they appear in side planar view after rotation of the entire umbrellas through an angle of 90 degrees about the longitudinal axis of the upper tube shaft relative to the respective positions of embodiments 1A and 1B in FIGS. 8 and 12. 
     FIG. 20 shows the umbrella embodiments 1A and 1B of FIGS. 13 and 16, respectively, as they would appear in side planar view after rotation of the entire umbrella embodiments through an angle of 90 degrees about the longitudinal axis of the upper tube shaft  34 , relative to the respective positions of embodiments 1A and 1B in FIGS. 13 and 16. 
     FIG. 21 an improvement to the embodiment of FIG. 1 in sectional view. 
     FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view along lines J—J of FIG.  21 . 
     FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view along lines J—J of FIG. 21 after rotation through an angle of 90 degrees relative to one piece shaft  5 , of ribs  7 , canopy  8 , and collar  18 . 
     FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of alternative embodiment 1C wherein the ribs,  7 , are in an open position. 
     FIG. 25 is a cross sectional view of alternative embodiment 1C wherein the ribs  7  are in a closed position. 
     FIG. 26 is a enlarged view of detail K—K of FIG. 25 showing the operation of the embodiment. 
     FIG. 27 is a sectional view through a simplified embodiment of the powered umbrella  1 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Elements of the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1,  2  and  3  including threaded nut  26 , thumb shaft  25 , collar  18 , thumb spring  21 , arm  22 , pin  23  and thumbpiece  24 , are replaced with a simplified collar  62 , which houses a simplified thumb shafts  67 A and  67 B, which directly engage improved threaded rod  63  by extension through shaft slot  31 . 
     Be it known that for clarity of presentation, in Figures herein in which the cloth  8  and the ribs  7  are depicted, that the multiplicity of ribs  7 , and struts  2  are represented by only two such ribs  7  and struts  2 , while the cloth  8 , is represented in sectional view only by two parallel lines. 
     In FIG. 1 can be seen umbrella ribs  7 , held in an open position by umbrella struts  2 , wherein umbrella ribs,  7 , are pivotally attached to end piece  3 , wherein end piece  3 , is affixed to one piece shaft  5 , in such a manner that end piece freely rotates within one piece shaft  5 , and yet is not readily separated from one piece shaft  5 , this attachment being accomplished by various means known to those skilled in the art of mechanical devices. 
     Strut  2 , is pivotally attached to rib  7 , at one end and strut  2 , is pivotally attached at its opposite end to collar  18 . Ribs  7  are covered by and attached to water repellent fabric  8 . 
     FIG. 1 depicts umbrella  1 , in which the opening and closing of the umbrella  1 , is accomplished by the upward and downward movement of a threaded nut  26  which has been attached to collar  18  by means of thumb shaft  25  extending through shaft slot  31 , in one piece shaft  5 , such that when threaded rod  30 , is threadably inserted and rotated the threaded nut  26 , and consequently the collar  18 , move upward and downward. 
     The location and extent of shaft slot  31 , is shown in FIG.  1  and in the sectional views of the Figures that follow by the absence of crosshatching in the cross-sectional view of one piece shaft  5 , and upper tube shaft  35 —as are lower tube shaft slot  41  and upper tube shaft slot  45 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the rotating shaft of the bidirectional motor contained in motor housing  27 , is attached to the lower end of drive shaft  29 . Drive shaft  29 , is, in turn, attached to threaded rod  30 . The motor housing  27 , is attached by means of motor support  14 , to the handle,  15 . By means of electric circuitry commonly known in the art of electronics the potential energy stored in batter  28 , can be used to make, with the movement of position switch  17 , to one of its available positions, the shaft of the electric motor  27 , to rotate in a given direction causing the upward or downward motion of threaded nut  26 . Movement of the position switch  17 , to yet another position can be made to effect the rotation in the opposite direction of the shaft of electric motor  27 . This, of course, causes movement of threaded nut  26 , and consequently of collar  18 , in a direction opposite to that previously induced. In this manner the umbrella can be made to open and close automatically, where the open position of the umbrella is shown in FIG.  1  and the closed position is shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 1 further shows the threaded rod  30 , to have an area of upper area of reduced diameter,  19 , which has been formed on the rod  30 , on its upper most end, wherein this area of reduced diameter is devoid of threads so that even though rod  30  is rotated the threaded nut  26 , will not be urged further upward beyond the area  19 . The function of this uppermost area of reduced diameter is to allow “unloading” of the motor in motor housing  27 , when the threaded nut  26 , reaches its uppermost position upon opening of the umbrella. It has been found that this improvement does not prematurely discharge the battery  28 , and allows the use of a lower torque rating on the motor  27 , and at the same time extends the life of the motor  27 . However, this improvement still allows the threaded nut  26 , to progress downward on the threaded rod  30 , to the lowermost end of threaded rod  30  and thereby lose the umbrella when the direction of rotation of the motor in motor housing  27 , is reversed by reversing the direction of rotation of threaded rod  30 , from the direction of rotation of the rod  30  used to open the umbrella. 
     There may be additionally provided at the lowermost end of the rod  30 , a lowermost area of reduced diameter  11  of the rod  30 , wherein this lowermost area of reduced diameter  11 , is likewise not provided with threads but smooth in circumference. This lowermost area of reduced diameter  11 , serves a function similar to those provided by the uppermost area of reduced diameter  19  with similar benefits. 
     The spring  12 , shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as attached at its lowermost end to a stationary positioner  13 , which in turn fixed in its relative axial position on the rod  30  has been shown to aid in the restarting of the threaded nut  26 , on the threaded portion of rod  30 , when the threaded nut  26 , is starting from the lowermost area of reduced diameter  11 . Spring  12  can also be directly attached to the threaded rod  30  or simply allowed to attain the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 by mere gravity. The spring  12  is situated so that it is compressed upon movement of the threaded nut  26  onto the lowermost area of reduced diameter  11 , and is of sufficient force to keep threaded nut  26  urged upward toward the threaded portion of rod  30  and hence allows smooth restarting of the threaded nut  26  on the threaded rod  30  when the motor  27  is actuated in the direction required to open the umbrella. 
     The spring  12 , as well as the areas of reduced diameter  19  and  11  are likewise shown in the improved embodiments 1A and 1B shown in FIGS. 5,  8 ,  9 ,  12 ,  13 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19 , and  20 . Further, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the threaded rod  30 , is shown attached to the one piece shaft  5 , by upper bearing  10  and stationary positioner  13  which respectively are fixed in upper support strut  9  and lower support strut  16 , affixed to one piece shaft  5 , wherein stationary positioner  13  also acts as a lower most bearing. 
     The threaded rod  30  turns freely by virtue of the upper most bearing  10  and lower stationary positioner  13 . Drive shaft  29 , transfers motive power from motor contained in motor housing  27  to threaded rod  30 , while reinforced motor support  14  insures adequate support of motor housing  27  and attaches it to handle  15 . 
     FIG. 3 shows in detail how an apparatus consisting of thumb shaft  25 , thumbpiece  24 , arm  22 , pin  23  and thumb spring  21  can be used to attach collar  18  to threaded nut  26 . Since thumb shaft  25 , threadably inserts into cavity  6  by spring  21 , when the battery  28   k  expires, thumb shaft  25  can be detached from the threaded nut  26 , and the collar  18  actuated manually to open and close the umbrella. Shaft  25  once so detached from threaded nut  26 , can be inserted in properly placed holes (not shown) in one piece shaft  5 , to manually secure the umbrella in either the open or the closed position. Thus, the umbrella can still be used in the manual mode even if the battery power is expended while it is raining. 
     Finally, it has been found more or less advantageous to the smooth operation of the umbrella embodiments 1, 1A, &amp; 1B that the threaded rod,  30 , be fabricated such that there at least two separate parallel threads which run along its length. The threaded nut,  26 , must likewise be fitted with matching parallel threads, of course. These parallel threads are sometimes referred to as multiple leads. The use of multiple leads serves to, by some mechanism, keep the threaded nut,  26 , from binding and becoming “cross-threaded” when trying to restart its travel on the threaded rod,  30 , from the areas of reduced diameter,  19 , and  11 , at the uppermost and lowermost ends, respectively, of the threaded rod,  30 . 
     It is expressly within the scope of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as well as the other embodiments  1 A and  11 B of the invention disclosed that motor housing  276  may contain not only the electric motor itself, but also gearing which increases or decreases the revolutions per minute available from the m motor itself in application to driveshaft  29 , flattened drive shaft  32 , or threaded drive shaft  42 , as appropriate. Said motor housing may also contain any of various torque limiting devices as known in the art. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates in Detail B—B, an improved collar  20 , onto which donut collar  37  has been fitted. Donut collar  37  is held in place on improved collar  20 , by retainer  38 , which is fixed to improved collar  20 , but retainer  38  allows donut collar  37  to freely rotate in a radial direction relative to improved collar  20 , to which are attached the ribs  7 , by virtue of improved collar  20 , to which are attached the ribs  7 . By virtue of improved collar  20 , and donut collar  37  and retainer  38 , greater freedom is potentially attained in placement of the previously indicated holes in the one-piece shaft  5  of FIG. 1, or the upper tube shaft  35  of FIG. 5, into which thumb shaft  25  can be placed to manually secure the ribs  7 , in the open position shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 or the closed position shown in FIGS. 2 and 8 upon disengagement of thumbshaft  25  from threaded nut  26 . For purposes of illustration, these aforementioned holes in the upper tube shaft  35  are shown in planar view in FIG. 17 as being radially situated 90 degrees from shaft slot  31  and labeled therein as upper shaft hole  39  and lower shaft hole  40 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which one piece shaft  5 , of FIGS. 1 and 2 has been replaced in FIG. 5 by lower tube shaft  34  which is, in turn, attached to handle  15  and fits within upper tube shaft  35 , which is attached to alternate end piece  4 , which is, in turn, pivotally attached to ribs  7 . 
     In FIG. 5 the position of the lower tube shaft slots  41  are shown with respective to position and extent by the absence of crosshatching in lower tube shaft  34 . 
     Also in FIG. 5, the threaded rod  30  of FIG. 1 has been replaced by hollow threaded rod  33 . FIG. 5 also discloses that the drive shaft  29  of FIG. 1 has been replaced in FIG. 5 by flattened drive shaft  32 . 
     And finally in FIG. 5, alternate end piece  4 , is shown to have replaced end piece  3  shown in FIG. 1, wherein alternate end piece  4  is affixed to upper tube shaft  35  such that it does not rotate freely within upper tube shaft  35 —thereby accomplishing greater strength and ease of construction in some instances. Be it known that end piece  3  could also be used in conjunction with embodiments 1A and 1B if desired. 
     FIG. 6, as Detail D—D, illustrates this hollow interior cavity  36  within hollow threaded rod  33 . 
     FIG. 7 as Detail C—C shows that flattened drive shaft  32 , extends up into hollow threaded rod  33  at the lower extremity of threaded rod  33  even when the lower tube shaft  34  only slightly extends into upper tube shaft  35  as shown in FIG.  7 . This is true even though the interior of hollow threaded rod  33  is empty at its uppermost end as shown in FIG. 6 when the lower tube shaft  34  and the upper tube shaft  35  are in the extended position as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8. Note that due to the Flattened shape of flattened drive shaft  32  and the corresponding contour of the cavity  36 , in threaded rod  33 , that threaded rod  33  is made to turn by turning flattened drive shaft  32  but that flattened drive shaft  32  still moves freely in the vertical direction within the hollow internal cavity  36  of threaded rod  33 . 
     FIG. 8 merely illustrates that when threaded nut  26 , attains the lowermost area of reduced diameter  11 , the ribs  7 , have attained the collapsed position shown. 
     FIG. 9 contains an illustration of embodiment 1B of the invention disclosed wherein the flattened drive shaft  32 , and the hollow threaded rod  33  of embodiment 1A in FIG. 5 have been replaced respectively, by threaded drive shaft  42  and internally/externally threaded rod  43 . Like threaded rod  29  and hollow threaded rod  33 , the external threads of internally/externally threaded rod  43  are preferentially of multiple lead. Internally/externally threaded rod  43 , is also fitted with the uppermost area of reduced diameter  19  and the lowermost area of reduced diameter  11  as shown in FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 10, however, illustrating Detail F—F of FIG. 9, shows that the interior of internally/externally threaded rod  43  is not only hollow but contains a female-threaded surface  44 . 
     FIG. 11 shows as Detail E—E that threaded drive shaft  42 , threadably extends up into internally/externally threaded rod  43  at the lower extremity of internally/externally threaded rod  43  even when the lower tube shaft  34  only slightly extends into upper tube shaft  34  as shown in FIG.  9 . This is true even though the interior  46 , of internally/externally threaded rod  43  is empty at its uppermost end as shown in FIG. 10 when the lower tube shaft  34  and the upper tube shaft  35  are in the extended position as shown in FIGS. 9 and 12. 
     FIG. 12 merely illustrates that when threaded nut  26 , attains the lowermost area of reduced diameter  11 , the ribs  7  of embodiment 1B have attained the collapsed position shown. 
     FIG. 13 shows embodiment 1A after lower tube shaft  34  has been manually pushed a distance up into the upper tube shaft  34  while simultaneously flattened drive shaft  32 , has pushed up into the hollow interior cavity  36  of hollow threaded rod  33  as illustrated in Detail H—H of FIG.  14 . 
     FIG. 15 which illustrates Detail G—G of embodiment B contained in FIG. 16 shows that, correspondingly, when threaded drive shaft  42  is threadably inserted into the uppermost interior of internally/externally threaded rod  43  by the action of the motor in motor housing  27  turning threaded drive shaft  42 , the lower tube shaft  34  is thereby pulled up into upper tube shaft  34 , thereby shortening the overall length of the embodiment 1B which, in turn, contributes to greater ease in storage. 
     FIG. 17 as previously stated, depicts in planar view the embodiments 1A and 1B , which are depicted in FIGS. 8 and 12, respectively, in sectional view, in the same relative configuration of component parts with upper shaft tube  36  and lower shaft tube  34  in the fully extended shaft configuration, as well as the ribs  7  in the collapsed position, with thumb shaft  24  inserted into threaded nut  26 . Also apparent in FIG. 17 are upper shaft hole  39  and lower shaft hole  40 . 
     FIG. 18 reflects the embodiments of FIG. 17 after donut collar  37  has been rotated through an angle of 90 degrees following disengagement of thumbshaft  25  from threaded nut  26  (not shown in FIG.  18 ), followed insertion of thumb shaft  25  into lower shaft hole  40 , wherein these steps constitute the conversion of the embodiments 1A and 1B from the automatic, powered opening and closing of the ribs  7 , to the manual mode of opening and closing the ribs,  7 . 
     FIG. 19 reflects the embodiments 1A and 1B as depicted in FIG. 17 after rotating the aforesaid embodiments 90 degrees counterclockwise about the longer axis of the lower tube shaft  34 , thereby revealing to better inspection the upper tube shaft slot  45  and the lower tube shaft slot  41 . 
     FIG. 20 depicts the embodiments 1A and 1B as represented in FIG. 19 after lower tube shaft  34  has been inserted up into upper tube shaft  34 , wherein this insertion is accomplished manually in the case of embodiment 1A. In the case of embodiment 1B this aforesaid insertion is accomplished by the action of the motor in motor housing  27 , turning threaded drive shaft  42  up into internally/externally threaded rod  43 . 
     In FIG. 21, embodiment 1 of FIG. 1 has been modified in that one piece shaft  5  no longer attaches to end piece  3 . Instead end piece  3  attaches to stub shaft  46  which concentrically fits within one piece shaft  5 . Further, screw  48  inserts through an aperture  57  extending through both sides of one piece shaft  5  and screw  48  simultaneously fits through screw slots  49 A and  49 B, thus affixing one piece shaft  5  and stub shaft  46  relative to one another while still allowing stub shaft  46  to rotate through an angle of 90 degrees relative to one piece shaft  5 . Thus the object of allowing the conversion to manual operation of the umbrella is accomplished through simpler means than that of the improved collar  20  and donut collar  37  shown in FIG.  4 . 
     FIGS. 22 and 23 show the positions of stub shaft  46 , and one piece shaft  5  before and after the rotation of stub shaft  6  through an angle of 90 degrees by virtue of screw  48  moving in screw slots  49 A and  49 B in stub shaft  46 . 
     FIG. 24 shows an alternative embodiment 1C in which no slots are required to effect the opening and closing of the umbrella ribs  7  and canopy  8 . In embodiment 1C an inner tube shaft  51  fits concentrically within outer tube shaft  50  and inner tube shaft  51  is attached to end piece  3  at one end and to internally threaded nut  52  at the other end. Internally threaded nut  52  rides up and down on threaded shaft  53  which is threadably inserted into internally threaded nut  52  upon the operation of motor  27  as previously described. This movement of inner tube shaft  51  relative to outer tube shaft  50  moves the ribs  7  and canopy  8  from the open position shown in FIG. 24 to the closed position shown in FIG.  25 . 
     FIG. 26 illustrates that in embodiment 1C, a collar channel  54  is affixed to outer tube  50   n  such that they do not move relative to one another. Collar  18  is concentrically situated with respect to collar channel  54  such that collar channel rotates circumferentially with respect to collar channel  54  gut will not move axially with respect to collar channel  54 . Thus depression of arm  22  disengages thumb shaft  25  from the thumb shaft hole  54  in outer shaft  50  and rotation of collar  18  circumferentially (axially) with respect to collar channel  54  also rotates inner shaft  51  which causes internally threaded nut  52  to threadably move on threaded rod  53 , thereby manually opening and closing the umbrella embodiment 1C. 
     FIG. 27 discloses a simplified collar  62  encircled at one end by primary assembly ring  65  and secondary assembly ring  64  and at the alternate end encircled by tertiary assembly ring  66 . Simplified collar  62 , in a manner analogous to that of collar  18  of FIGS. 1,  2  and  3  encircles one piece shaft  5  and slides up and down thereon—thereby moving struts  2  which are attached to simplified collar  62 , which in turn opens and closes the ribs  7  and canopy  8  attached to struts  2  but not shown in FIG.  27 . 
     Also illustrated in FIG. 27, is the fact that simplified collar  62 , houses  60 A and  60 B which hold simplified thumbshafts  67 A and  67 B against improved threaded rod  63 , by extension through shaft slot  31  in one piece shaft  5 . Improved threaded rod  63  is attached to drive shaft  29 , in a manner analogous to that previously explained for threaded rod  30  in connection with the previous explanation for FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 . As similarly described for threaded rod  30  in the explanation for FIGS. 1,  2 , and  3 : the rotating shaft of the bidirectional motor contained in motor housing  27 , is attached to the lower end of drive shaft  29 . Drive shaft  29 , is, in turn, attached to improved threaded rod  63 . The motor housing  27 , is attached by means of motor support  14 , to the handle,  15 . By means of electric circuitry commonly known in the art of electronics the potential energy stored in batter  28 , can be used to make, with the movement of position switch  17 , to one of its available positions, the shaft of the electric motor  27 , to rotate in a given direction causing the upward or downward motion of simplified collar  62 . Move of the switch  17 , to yet another position can be made to effect the rotation in the opposite direction of the shaft of electric motor  27 . This, of course, causes movement of simplified collar  62 , in a direction opposite to that previously induced. In this manner the umbrella can be made to open and close automatically, where the open position of the umbrella is shown in FIG.  1  and the closed position is shown in FIG.  2 . 
     Further, in connection with the embodiments shown in FIG.  27 : thumb levers  61 A and  61 B rotate about lever pins  69 A and  69 B, respectively, wherein said lever pins  69 A and  69 B thereby attach thumb levers  61 A and  61 B to improved collar  62 . As also shown in FIG. 27, thumb levers  61 A and  61 B protrude through openings  68 A and  68 B, respectively, in improved collar  62 , to contact simplified thumbshafts  67 A and  67 B respectively in such a manner that movement of thumb levers  61 A and  61 B in the proper direction depresses springs  60 A and  60 B to move simplified thumbshafts  67 A and  67 B out of contact with improved threaded rod  63  thereby allowing the manual movement of improved collar  62  up and down one piece shaft  5 , to manually secure the umbrella in either the open or the closed position. 
     It has been found by experimentation also that although improved threaded rod  63  may take various configurations, the strength and size of springs  60 A and  60 B are minimized and operation facilitated by improved threaded rod  63  being configured to have at least the double lead configuration shown in FIG. 27, wherein the threads of improved rod are manufactured to have a flank angle of zero degrees to formulate what is known to those in the art of making threaded rods as a square-edged thread flight. 
     While I have thus described the preferred embodiments of the present invention, many variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it must be understood that the foregoing description is intended to be illustrative only and not limitative of the present invention. All such variations, and modifications as are in accord with the principles described are meant to fall within the scope of the appended claims.