Dual locking mechanism for use in umbrella handles

The invention relates to a dual locking mechanism for umbrella handles that is provided inside an umbrella handle to engage the locating hole of an umbrella runner. Normally, the locking mechanism is used as the securing means to hold the runner in a position where the umbrella is close. If the umbrella will be kept in a storage place for a long duration, users can further press the runner into the handle to alter the umbrella to its most compact configuration thereby saving space and providing convenience of storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Generally one of the objects of the structural design of an umbrella is to 
provide a user convenience in opening, closing, and storing the umbrella. 
To facilitate carrying and storing an umbrella, the umbrella would take 
minimized volume as it is in a closed state. There have been many 
improvements made in umbrella frames to achieve the object but few of 
proposals about the rods are provided to further reduce the length of a 
closed umbrella. 
In view of the aforementioned, the primary object of the invention is to 
provide an umbrella handle structure that is adaptable to umbrellas of 
various types and that comprises a locking mechanism to reduce the length 
of folded umbrellas by shortening the distance between the handle and the 
runner to the greatest extent thereby attaining the minimization of the 
length. 
The structure, features, and advantages of the invention will now be 
described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Now referring to the drawings, the improvements of the invention mainly 
consist in an umbrella handle (1) that can be adapted to umbrellas of 
various types. The umbrella handle (1) comprises a base (2) fixed inside 
thereof, a transversely slidable button (3), an umbrella rod (4) of which 
the bottom is secured inside the umbrella handle (1) and passes through 
the centers of the base (2) and the button (3), and a movable runner (5) 
with a locating hole (51) arranged on its cylindrical surface and 
embracing around the outer surface of the umbrella rod (4) 
The umbrella handle (1) comprises a hole (11) on its side surface while the 
base (2) has an opening (21) disposed on the corresponding position and a 
slot (22) formed on the top of the base right above the opening (21), 
thereby allowing the button to be placed into the base. A raised portion 
(31) of the button (3) pierces through the opening (11) of the handle (1), 
with the top (32) of the raised portion (31) engaging with the slot (22). 
The button (3) is further provided with an upper stepped groove (33) and a 
lower stepped groove (34) on the side opposite to that side containing the 
raised portion (31), both grooves having recessed portions (331) and (334) 
respectively formed on the bottoms thereof as shown in FIG. 4. There is a 
circular cavity (35) formed in the middle of the area between the bottoms 
of the stepped grooves (33) and (34) for accommodating a spring (36) 
thereby providing an outward elastic pushing force. On the base (2) there 
are an upper and a lower guide groove (23) and (24) formed in the 
positions respectively corresponding to the upper and the lower stepped 
grooves (33) and (34) of the button (3). An upper and a lower locking 
element (6) and (7) are respectively situated in the guide grooves (23) 
and (24). Each locking element comprises one wedged end (61) and (71) and 
the other end provided with a stub (62) and (72) on which a spring (63) 
and (73) is mounted to furnish the locking element a resilient force 
toward the center of the base. The upper locking element (6) and the lower 
locking element (7) have, respectively on the bottom surface of the former 
and the top surface of the latter, a raised block (64) and (74) that 
engages with the stepped groove (331) and (341) of the button (3). 
Normally the umbrella according to the invention is closed by slightly 
pulling the runner (5) to move it from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the 
position shown in FIG. 6 so that the wedged end (61) of the locking 
element (6) slides into the locating hole (51). To open the umbrella, the 
user presses downwards the raised portion (31) of the button (3) to urge 
the button (3) to retract, which in turn makes the locking element (6) 
move back so that the locating hole (51) of the runner (5) escapes from 
the detention of the locking elements. Then the umbrella is opened. 
If an umbrella will not be in use for a certain duration, then the umbrella 
can be further shortened by pulling the runner (5) farther until it 
reaches the lowest position shown in FIG. 7. In this case the distance 
between the runner (5) and the handle (1) is decreased to a greater 
extent, as a consequence of which the umbrella can achieve the most 
compact configuration. In addition, users can also open the umbrella by 
the same procedure as the aforementioned. When the user exerts a force on 
the raised portion (31), the upper and the lower locking elements (6) and 
(7) move away from the detention positions and release the runner (5) 
thereby the umbrella being opened. Then the button (3) and the locking 
elements (6) and (7) will restore to their original positions under the 
influence of the spring. 
As described above, with the aids of the dual locking mechanism of the 
invention, an umbrella can reduce its length to the greatest extent after 
being closed, achieving the effects of saving space and facilitating 
carrying.