Folding umbrella frame

This invention relates to an improved umbrella frame and in particular to one comprising a telescopic stick, a runner slidably mounted on the telescopic stick, a crown fixed at upper end of the telescopic stick, stretcher members pivotally connected with the crown, struts hinged to the runner, links hinged to the struts, control ribs connected with the links, auxiliary links connected at one end with the stretcher members, sleeves each enclosing respective auxiliary link and control rib, and outer dome ribs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to an improved folding umbrella frame. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Folding umbrella frames are well known in the art and disclosed, for 
example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,007,752, 3,921,655, 3,901,257, 3,853,136, 
3,467,115, 2,215,738, 1,249,007 and 580,159. 
As to U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,752, it discloses a telescopic umbrella 
comprising a telescoping stick with a runner slidable thereon from which 
stretchers are pivoted. The stretchers are connected at the outer ends 
with dome ribs above each of which is disposed an auxiliary link. The 
auxiliary link is hinged to a dome rib at one end and to a strut at the 
other end. A control link is hinged to the strut at a point between two 
ends thereof. The outer end of the control link is used to control the 
folding motion of the outer dome rib in dependence on the movement of the 
umbrella runner. 
However, according to this patent, the outer dome rib part is folded 
upwards so that it is very inconvenient to put the covering cloth attached 
thereon in order. Furthermore, the hinge points in the fitting is easy to 
break off. 
Regarding to U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,921,655, 3,901,257, 3,853,136, 3,467,115, 
2,215,738, 1,249,007 and 580,159, applicant wishes to point out that these 
references neither suggest nor describe the structure of the subject 
invention nor, are they possessed of the advantages thereof. 
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved 
folding umbrella frame which may obviate and mitigate the above-mentioned 
drawbacks. 
SUMMARY 
This invention is directed to an improved folding umbrella frame. 
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved 
folding umbrella frame the outer dome rib part of which is folded 
downwards. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved 
folding umbrella frame which may facilitate the covering cloth attached 
thereon to put in order. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved 
folding umbrella frame in which the enlarged portion of the first joint is 
fitted into the stretcher member when the umbrella is open thereby 
stiffening the structure of the frame. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved 
folding umbrella frame which is equipped with means for facilitating the 
opening and folding of the umbrella.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERED EMBODIMENT 
For purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the 
invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in 
drawings. Specific language will be used to describe the same. It will, 
nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the 
invention is thereby intended, such alternatives and further modifications 
in the illustrated device; and such further applications of the principles 
of the invention as illustrated herein being contemplated as would 
normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
With reference now to FIG. 1, there is shown a side elevational view of an 
improved umbrella frame according to the present invention. The improved 
umbrella frame 100 is shown comprising a telescopic stick 1, outer dome 
ribs 2, control ribs 3, stretcher members 4, auxiliary links 5, links 6 
and struts 7. The telescopic stick 1 is provided at the top head portion 
321 of a first fitting 31. The head portion 321 is located at an enlarged 
portion 32 of the first fitting 31. The auxiliary link 5 is connected at 
one end to a joint 42 on the stretcher member 4. The control rib 3 and the 
auxiliary link 5 are respectively connected to pivotal joint 212 and 
pivotal joint 211 of a second fitting 21. The control link 3 and the 
auxiliary link 5 are enclosed by a movable sleeve 33. A canopy (not shown) 
may be stitched on the outer dome ribs 2 to form a complete umbrella. 
As the runner 12 is moved downwards along the telescopic stick 1, the outer 
dome ribs 2, the control ribs 3, the stretcher members 4, the auxiliary 
links 5, the links 6 and the struts 7 will collapse to the telescopic 
stick 1 (see FIG. 2). When the runner 12 is pushed upwards along the 
telescopic stick 1, the outer dome ribs 2, the control ribs 3, the 
stretcher members 4, the auxiliary links 5, the links 6 and the struts 7 
with a crown 11 to which is connected the stretcher members 4. The 
telescopic stick 1 is further provided with a runner 12 which may slide 
therealong. The strut 7 is connected to the runner 12 at one end and to a 
pivotal joint 41 on the stretcher member 4 at the other end. The link 6 is 
pivoted at one end to a proper point of the strut 7. The other end of the 
stretcher member 4 and the link 6 are respectively connected to pivotal 
joint 311 and will expand outwards. In the meantime, the enlarged portion 
32 of the first fitting 31 on the control rib 3 is embedded into the 
stretcher member 4 thereby strengthening the first fitting 31 and the link 
6 and therefore, preventing them from breaking off even if subjected to 
strong wind. Furthermore, it is easy to move down the runner 12 to 
collapse the umbrella. Moreover, since the auxiliary link 5 is tied to the 
first rib 3 by a sleeve 33, the resilient force thereof will facilitate 
the opening and folding of the umbrella. 
Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of 
particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure is made by way 
of example only and that numerous changes in the detail of construction 
and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without 
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter 
claimed.