Umbrella having a detachable structure

An umbrella includes a shank, a fixed ring mounted on the shank, a movable ring movably mounted on the shank, a plurality of ribs each pivotally and detachably connected with the fixed ring, and a plurality of spreaders each pivotally and detachably connected with the movable ring. Thus, each of the spreaders and the ribs can be removed from the movable ring and the fixed ring respectively for replacement or maintenance, thereby enhancing the lifetime of the umbrella.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an umbrella and, more particularly, to a umbrella to provide a shading effect.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional umbrella comprises a shank, a fixed ring mounted on the upper end of the shank, a movable ring movably mounted on the shank, a base mounted on the lower end of the shank, a plurality of ribs each pivotally mounted on the fixed ring, a plurality of spreaders each pivotally mounted on the movable ring and each pivotally connected with a respective one of the ribs, and a canopy mounted on the ribs. However, the ribs are secured on the fixed ring, and the spreaders are secured on the movable ring, so that the spreaders and the ribs cannot be detached from the fixed ring and the movable ring for replacement. Thus, when one of the spreaders or the ribs is broken or worn out, the umbrella is inoperative and has to be thrown away, thereby decreasing the lifetime of the umbrella.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a umbrella, comprising a shank, a fixed ring mounted on the shank, a movable ring movably mounted on the shank, a plurality of ribs each pivotally and detachably connected with the fixed ring, and a plurality of spreaders each pivotally and detachably connected with the movable ring.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an umbrella having a detachable structure.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an umbrella, wherein each of the spreaders and the ribs can be detached from the respective connecting pipe, so that each of the spreaders and the ribs can be removed from the movable ring and the fixed ring respectively for replacement or maintenance, thereby enhancing the lifetime of the umbrella.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide an umbrella, wherein each of the spreaders and the ribs can be mounted on and detached from the respective connecting pipe by operation of the locking stub of each of the locking mechanisms, so that each of the spreaders and the ribs of the umbrella is assembled and disassembled easily and quickly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially toFIGS. 1-6, an umbrella in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a shank10, a fixed ring11mounted on the upper end of the shank10, a movable ring12movably mounted on the shank10, a base19mounted on the lower end of the shank10, a plurality of ribs16each pivotally and detachably connected with the fixed ring11, and a plurality of spreaders17each pivotally and detachably connected with the movable ring12.

The umbrella further comprises a plurality of mounting brackets13secured on the fixed ring11and the movable ring12respectively, a plurality of connecting pipes14each pivotally and detachably connected with a respective one of the mounting brackets13, a plurality of fastening mechanisms15each mounted between a respective one of the mounting brackets13and a respective one of the connecting pipes14to detachably mount the respective connecting pipe14onto the respective mounting bracket13, and a plurality of locking mechanisms2each mounted in a respective one of the ribs16and the spreaders17and each detachably locked onto a respective one of the connecting pipes14to detachably lock each of the ribs16and the spreaders17onto the respective connecting pipe14.

The fixed ring11has a periphery provided with a plurality of receiving grooves110to receive the mounting brackets13respectively. The movable ring12has a periphery provided with a plurality of receiving grooves120to receive the mounting brackets13respectively.

Each of the mounting brackets13is secured in the respective receiving groove110of the fixed ring11and the respective receiving groove120of the movable ring12by a plurality of locking screws18. Each of the mounting brackets13is provided with a fixing hole130to receive the respective fastening mechanism15.

Each of the connecting pipes14is pivotally and detachably mounted on the respective mounting bracket13by the respective fastening mechanism15. Each of the connecting pipes14is provided with at least one locking hole140to releasably lock the respective locking mechanism2. Each of the connecting pipes14has an inner portion provided with a receiving chamber143connected to the locking hole140to receive a respective one of the ribs16and the spreaders17. Each of the connecting pipes14has an end portion provided with a forked pivot ear142pivotally and detachably mounted on the respective mounting bracket13. The pivot ear142of each of the connecting pipes14is provided with a pivot hole141aligning with the fixing hole130of the respective mounting bracket13.

Each of the fastening mechanisms15includes two juxtaposed threaded sleeves150extending through the pivot hole141of the respective connecting pipe14and the fixing hole130of the respective mounting bracket13, and a threaded rod151screwed into the two threaded sleeves150to connect the two threaded sleeves150. Each of the two threaded sleeves150of each of the fastening mechanisms15has an end portion provided with an enlarged limit flange153protruding outwardly from the pivot hole141of the respective connecting pipe14and abutting the pivot ear142of the respective connecting pipe14. The limit flange153of each of the two threaded sleeves150has a surface provided with a hexagonal drive slot152to allow insertion of a tool tip (not shown) to facilitate rotation of each of the two threaded sleeves150relative to the threaded rod151. The threaded rod151of each of the fastening mechanisms15is received in the two threaded sleeves150.

Each of the ribs16is detachably mounted on the respective connecting pipe14by the respective locking mechanism2. Each of the ribs16is pivotally connected with a respective one of the spreaders17. Each of the spreaders17is detachably mounted on the respective connecting pipe14by the respective locking mechanism2. Each of the spreaders17and the ribs16is provided with a receiving hole170to receive a respective one of the locking mechanisms2.

Each of the locking mechanisms2includes at least one locking stub21movably mounted in the receiving hole170of the respective spreader17and the respective rib16and detachably locked in the locking hole140of the respective connecting pipe14to detachably lock the respective spreader17and the respective rib16onto the respective connecting pipe14, and at least one elastic member22mounted in the receiving hole170of the respective spreader17and the respective rib16and pressing the locking stub21to push the locking stub21outwardly from the locking hole140of the respective connecting pipe14.

Each of the locking mechanisms2further includes at least one housing20secured in the receiving hole170of the respective spreader17and the respective rib16to receive the locking stub21and the elastic member22, and at least one fixing plate23secured in the housing20and abutting the elastic member22. The locking stub21of each of the locking mechanisms2has a first end provided with an enlarged limit plate212movably mounted in the housing20and movable to abut a peripheral wall of the housing20to limit the locking stub21on the housing20. The locking stub21of each of the locking mechanisms2has a second end provided with an arcuate guide portion210protruding outwardly from the locking hole140of the respective connecting pipe14to guide movement of the locking stub21in the locking hole140of the respective connecting pipe14. The elastic member22of each of the locking mechanisms2is biased between the fixing plate23and the limit plate212of the locking stub21.

In operation, referring toFIGS. 6-9with reference toFIGS. 1-5, when the locking stub21of each of the locking mechanisms2is pressed to retract into the locking hole140of the respective connecting pipe14, the arcuate guide portion210of the locking stub21is moved to abut the inner wall of the respective connecting pipe14, so that the locking stub21of each of the locking mechanisms2is unlocked from the locking hole140of the respective connecting pipe14, and each of the spreaders17and the ribs16is unlocked from the respective connecting pipe14. Thus, when each of the spreaders17and the ribs16is pulled outwardly relative to the respective mounting connecting pipe14, the locking stub21of each of the locking mechanisms2is detached from the locking hole140of the respective connecting pipe14by guidance of the arcuate guide portion210of the locking stub21and is retracted into and moved in the receiving chamber143of the respective connecting pipe14, so that each of the spreaders17and the ribs16can be moved outwardly and removed from the respective connecting pipe14.

Accordingly, each of the spreaders17and the ribs16can be detached from the respective connecting pipe14, so that each of the spreaders17and the ribs16can be removed from the movable ring12and the fixed ring11respectively for replacement or maintenance, thereby enhancing the lifetime of the umbrella. In addition, each of the spreaders17and the ribs16can be mounted on and detached from the respective connecting pipe14by operation of the locking stub21of each of the locking mechanisms2, so that each of the spreaders17and the ribs16of the umbrella is assembled and disassembled easily and quickly.

Referring toFIG. 10, the umbrella further comprises a plurality of mounting brackets13secured on the fixed ring11and the movable ring12respectively, and a plurality of fastening mechanisms15each mounted between a respective one of the mounting brackets13and a respective one of the ribs16and the spreaders17to detachably mount the respective rib16and the respective spreader17onto the respective mounting bracket13.

Each of the ribs16and the spreaders17is pivotally and detachably mounted on the respective mounting bracket13by the respective fastening mechanism15. Each of the mounting brackets13is provided with a fixing hole130(seeFIG. 3) to receive the respective fastening mechanism15. Each of the spreaders17and the ribs16is provided with a receiving hole170(seeFIG. 3) aligning with the fixing hole130of the respective mounting bracket13. Each of the fastening mechanisms15includes two juxtaposed threaded sleeves150extending through the receiving hole170of the respective spreader17and the respective rib16, and a threaded rod151(seeFIG. 3) screwed into the two threaded sleeves150to connect the two threaded sleeves150.

Referring toFIGS. 11 and 12with reference toFIGS. 1-9, the umbrella further comprises a plurality of mounting brackets13secured on the fixed ring11and the movable ring12respectively, and a plurality of locking mechanisms2each mounted in a respective one of the mounting brackets13and each detachably locked onto a respective one of the ribs16and the spreaders17to detachably lock each of the ribs16and the spreaders17onto the respective mounting bracket13.

Each of the ribs16and the spreaders17is pivotally and detachably mounted on the respective mounting bracket13by the respective locking mechanism2. Each of the mounting brackets13is provided with a fixing hole130to receive the respective locking mechanism2. Each of the spreaders17and the ribs16is provided with a receiving hole170aligning with the fixing hole130of the respective mounting bracket13.

Each of the locking mechanisms2includes at least one locking stub21movably mounted in the fixing hole130of the respective mounting bracket13and detachably locked in the receiving hole170of the respective spreader17and the respective rib16to detachably lock the respective spreader17and the respective rib16onto the respective mounting bracket13, and at least one elastic member22mounted in the fixing hole130of the respective mounting bracket13and pressing the locking stub21to push the locking stub21outwardly from the receiving hole170of the respective spreader17and the respective rib16.

Each of the locking mechanisms2further includes at least one housing20secured in the fixing hole130of the respective mounting bracket13to receive the locking stub21and the elastic member22, and at least one fixing plate23secured in the housing20and abutting the elastic member22. The locking stub21of each of the locking mechanisms2has a first end provided with an enlarged limit plate212movably mounted in the housing20and movable to abut a peripheral wall of the housing20to limit the locking stub21on the housing20. The locking stub21of each of the locking mechanisms2has a second end provided with an arcuate guide portion210protruding outwardly from the receiving hole170of the respective spreader17and the respective rib16to guide movement of the locking stub21in the receiving hole170of the respective spreader17and the respective rib16. The elastic member22of each of the locking mechanisms2is biased between the fixing plate23and the limit plate212of the locking stub21.