CONTRACTION STRUCTURE OF CENTER POST OF SELF-OPENING UMBRELLA

A contraction structure of center post of self-opening umbrella includes an outer tube and an intermediate tube telescopically fit to each other. The intermediate tube has an upper end to which an outer tube plug is mounted. The center post receives therein two sections of runner cord. The two sections of runner cord each have an end fixed to the outer tube plug and an opposite end extending around a runner cord pulley mounted to an upper end of the center post and fixed to a runner at a first runner-cord fixed position. The present invention applies two sections of runner cord to simultaneously operate so that in withdrawing the runner, two identical pulling forces are applied to the runner to enable smooth withdrawal of the runner. The present invention reduces the number of pulleys used, simplifies the structure, and improves the liability of the umbrella and extends lifespan.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 1-4, the instant embodiment generally comprises a center post, a handle8, ribs6, an umbrella fabric (not shown), a top cap4, and a runner5. The handle8is fixedly mounted to a lower end of the center post. The top cap4is fixedly mounted to an upper end of the center post. The runner5is movably fit over the center post. The ribs6are coupled to the top cap4and the runner5. The umbrella fabric is attached to the ribs6. In the instant embodiment, the collapsing springs7are mounted to the ribs6. In the instant embodiment, the essential structure of the umbrella is similar to the known umbrellas in that the handle8comprises a collapsing button9mounted thereto for opening and closing the umbrella. The handle8is provided, in the interior thereof, with a push block22at a location corresponding to the collapsing button9. The handle8also comprises a spring plate21mounted therein for selectively retaining the center post. The push block22and the spring plate21are substantially identical to what are adopted in the known umbrellas.

In the instant embodiment, the center post comprises an outer tube1, an intermediate tube2, and an inner tube3, of which the inner tube2can be composed of one or two or multiple segments respectively corresponding to a two-fold or three-fold or multiple-fold configuration of umbrella. In the instant embodiment, the outer tube1, the intermediate tube2, and the inner tube3are sequentially fit to each other. The inner tube3is fixedly mounted to the handle8and the top cap4is fixedly mounted to the outer tube1. In the instant embodiment, the center post comprises a bullet10(which is referred to as “bullet” because it has an outer configuration similar to a “gun bullet”) arranged therein. The center post also comprises an outer tube cord12received therein for contracting the outer tube1. In the instant embodiment, an outer tube plug13is mounted to the upper end of the intermediate tube2. The outer tube plug13comprises an outer tube cord pulley14mounted thereto. In the instant embodiment, the outer tube cord12has an end fixed to the bullet10at a first tube-cord end fixed position17. The outer tube cord12has an opposite end extending around the outer tube cord pulley14to connect to the outer tube1at a second tube-cord end fixed position18. In the instant embodiment, the second tube-cord end fixed position18is set at a lower end of the outer tube1. In the instant embodiment, the outer tube plug13is extended downward to form a protection sleeve23. A runner cord11and the outer tube cord12are arranged inside the protection sleeve23. The center post comprises an internal spring15arranged therein. The internal spring15is fit over and encompasses the protection sleeve23and has an end engaging the outer tube plug13and an opposite end engaging a lower end of the inner tube3. In the instant embodiment, the runner cord11and the outer tube cord12are separate from and independent of each other. In the instant embodiment, the outer tube1and the intermediate tube2form a predetermined gap therebetween to allow the outer tube cord12to move, substantially without resistance, between the outer tube1and the intermediate tube2. In the instant embodiment, the runner cord11is composed of two sections received inside the outer tube1. The two sections of the runner cord11are arranged symmetric with respect to each other. For each section of the runner cord, an end of the runner cord11extends around a runner cord pulley24mounted to the top cap4to connect to the runner5at a first runner-cord fixed point25and an opposite end of the runner cord11is connected to the outer tube plug13. In the instant embodiment, the outer tube plug13is provided with a second runner-cord fixed point19for each section of the runner cord. The end of the runner cord11is attached to the second runner-cord fixed point19, so that the runner cord11can be pulled to change the relative position between the top cap4and the runner5to effect collapsing the umbrella fabric.

To put the instant embodiment into use, when the umbrella is in a closed condition, where the outer tube1is retained by the spring plate21, pressing down the collapsing button9allows the collapsing button9to push the outer tube1in such a way to separate from the spring plate21. Under this condition, the internal spring15drives upward the outer tube plug13to expand the intermediate tube2and the inner tube3. At the same time, the outer tube cord12pulls the outer tube1to have the intermediate tube2expanded with respect thereto. Further, the runner cord11pulls the runner5to shorten the distance thereof with respect to the top cap4, thereby expanding the ribs6to complete the process of opening the umbrella. To close the umbrella, the collapsing button9is pressed down again, the collapsing button9pushes away the bullet10to disengage from the lower end of the inner tube3and retract into the center post. The ribs6are collapsed under the action of the collapsing springs7to achieve collapsing of the umbrella fabric. Further, the outer tube1loses the pulling force from the outer tube cord12thereby contracting the outer tube1and the intermediate tube2with respect to each other. Finally, the user manually contracts the remaining portions of the center post that has not been contracted and the protection sleeve23drives the bullet10to get into and retain in the handle8.

Referring toFIGS. 5-8, the instant embodiment is generally of the same essential structure as the first embodiment and the difference resides in that in the instant embodiment, the two sections of the runner cord11are jointed together as a single cord. A direction-change bar26is arranged above the outer tube plug13and the two sections of the runner cord11are jointed together and extend around the direction-change bar26. In other words, the direction-change bar26imaginarily divides the cord into two sections.

The present invention applies two sections of runner cord to simultaneously operate so that in withdrawing the runner, two identical pulling forces are simultaneously applied to the runner to enable smooth operation of withdrawal of the runner. The present invention reduces the number of pulleys used, simplifies the structure, and at the same time improves the liability of the umbrella and extends lifespan.