Abstract:
The objective of the invention is to improve properties of an umbrella taking into account convenience and comfort through ergonometric requirements, and to create a new fashion trend. The invention involves an umbrella with a hinged locking mechanism that can be in either an open position or closed position with a locking pin operated by a button to transition between closed and open positions.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    this patent application claims priority to, and incorporates fully by reference, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/181,260 filed on Jun. 18, 2015. 
         [0002]    This patent application claims priority to, and incorporates fully by reference, and is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/859,529 filed on Sep. 21, 2015. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    This invention relates generally to road, or portable, accessories, and in particular, to foldable and collapsible umbrellas. 
         [0005]    Background Art 
         [0006]    Different umbrella designs are known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,454 by Williams discloses an umbrella that is collapsible and has a cap. The cap can act as a handle for the umbrella for removing the cap from the umbrella and then reattaching the handle via screw threads. 
         [0007]    US Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0098199 A1 by Ko discloses an umbrella which is housed in a hinged case. The case can be opened, the umbrella removed and deployed and the case than reattached to the base of the umbrella shaft as an umbrella handle. 
         [0008]    Chinese Patent 2,390,458 Y discloses an umbrella with a removable handle attached by threaded screw that is interchangeable. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 911,636 by Whitlock discloses a folding umbrella. The umbrella has a hollow shaft with a hinged section. Inside the hollow shaft there is a second shaft that moves within the hollow shaft. The second shaft has two hinges. When the hinges of the hollow shaft and second shaft are manipulated to have the hinges overlap then the umbrella can be folded. 
         [0010]    DE 2,460,620 by Garray discloses a folding umbrella with a rotating hinge. The hinge has a clip that keeps the hinge locked in a non-folded position. The clip is overcome and undone by sufficient torque. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The objective of the invention is to improve properties of an umbrella taking into account convenience and comfort through ergonometric requirements, and to create a. new fashion trend. The invention consists of an umbrella, with a hinged handle. 
         [0012]    The folding umbrella uses a hinge in either the shaft or handle. The hinge has a closed and open position. The hinge has a retainer section and a button section. The retainer section and the button section are hingedly connected by a hinge pin. The retainer section has a hinge locking retainer that protrudes from the retainer section into a hinge locking retainer detent in the button section. The hinge locking retainer and the hinge locking retainer detent each have a bore that is coaxial when the hinge is in the closed position. The button section has a button bore located between the hinge pin and the hinge locking retainer detent. The button bore has a button that protrudes to an outside of the button section. The button is backed by a spring. The button is biased by the spring to be out in a non-pressed position. When the button is put in a pressed position it pushes against the spring and against a u-shaped locking pin. Within the button section the button bore and the locking retainer detent bore are connected by a locking pin chamber. When the button is in the non-pressed position the u-shaped locking pin passes through the locking retainer detent bore, if the hinge is in the closed position the u-shaped locking pin also passed through the bore of the hinge locking retainer thereby locking the hinge in the closed position. When the button is in the pressed the button and spring push u-shaped locking pin out of the bore of the hinge locking retainer thereby allowing the hinge to be moved from the closed to the open position or from the open to the closed position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The present invention will now be discussed in further detail below with reference to the accompanying figures in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  shows folding umbrella handle in closed position with button non-pressed position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  shows folding umbrella handle in closed position with button in pressed position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  shows folding umbrella handle in open position with button in pressed position. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  shows folding umbrella handle in open position with button in non-pressed position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  shows handle connected to the umbrella. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  shows the handle disconnected from the umbrella. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  shows a top view of the handle locking mechanism. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  show the handle connected to the umbrella. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  shows the handle disconnected from the umbrella. 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  show the handle connected to the umbrella. 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  shows the handle disconnected from the umbrella. 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  shows alternative view of the handle connected to the umbrella. 
           [0026]      FIG. 13  shows alternative view of the handle disconnected to the umbrella. 
           [0027]      FIG. 14  shows alternative view of the handle connected to the umbrella. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    The following detailed description concerns  FIGS. 1-4 . The figures are drawn so as to be transparent to best show all the parts contained within the folding umbrella hinge. 
         [0029]    The folding umbrella uses a hinge  101  in either the shaft or handle  103 A and  103 B. The hinge  101  has a closed ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and open position ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The hinge  101  has a retainer section  105  and a button section  107 . The retainer section  105  and the button section  107  are hingedly connected by a hinge pin  109 . The retainer section  105  has a hinge locking retainer  111  that protrudes from the retainer section  105  into a hinge locking retainer detent  113  in the button section  107 . The hinge locking retainer  111  and the hinge locking retainer detent  113  each have a bore  115  (A, B, and C) that is coaxial when the hinge is in the closed position ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The button section  107  has a button bore  117  located between the hinge pin  109  and the hinge locking retainer detent  113 . The button bore  117  has a button  119  that protrudes to an outside of the button section  107 . The button is backed by a spring  121 . The button  119  is biased by the spring  121  to be out in a non-pressed position ( FIGS. 1 and 4 ). When the button  119  is put in a pressed position ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) it pushes against the spring  121  and against a u-shaped locking pin  123 . Within the button section  107  the button bore  117  and the locking retainer detent bore  115  (A and C) are connected by a locking pin chamber  125 . When the button  119  is in the non-pressed position ( FIGS. 1 and 4 ) the u-shaped locking pin  123  passes through the locking retainer detent bore  115 A and  115 C, if the hinge  101  is in the closed position ( FIG. 1 ) the u-shaped locking pin  123  also passed through the bore  115 B of the hinge locking retainer  111  thereby locking the hinge in the closed position ( FIG. 1 .). When the button  119  is in the pressed position ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) the button  119  and spring  121  push the u-shaped locking pin  123  out of the bore  115 B of the hinge locking retainer  111  thereby allowing the hinge  101  to be moved from the closed position ( FIG. 2 ) to the open position ( FIG. 3 ) or from the open position ( FIG. 3 ) to the closed position ( FIG. 2 ). 
         [0030]    The following is a description of a method of use of the folding umbrella hinge. Having a hinge  101  that has an open position ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) and a closed position ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The binge  101  being operated by a button  119 . When pushing ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) the button  119  the button  119  pushes against a spring  121  and a u-shaped locking pin  123  removing the u-shaped locking pin  123  from a bore  115  (A-C) in a hinge locking retainer  111  allowing the hinge  101  to move between the open position ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) and the closed position ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). When the button  119  is not being pushed ( FIGS. 1 and 4 ) the u-shaped locking pin  123  is in a locking position ( FIG. 1 ) passing through bores  115 B in a retainer section  105  which when the hinge is in the closed position. ( FIG. 1 ) also passes through a hinge locking retainer  111  and  115 B locking the hinge in the closed position ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  shows the invention which includes an umbrella cupola  1  at the end of umbrella rod  2  connected to a handle locking mechanism made up of a first part of the lock handle  3  with a hinge  4  connecting to the second pan of the lock handle  5 , the first part of the lock handle  3  contains a lock slot  10  and an element retainer  11 . The second part of the lock handle  5  has a slot/recess for the lock  9  an axle lock  8 .  FIG. 5  shows the invention with the parts of the lock handle  3  and  5  and hinge  4  in its locked positions. A rod handle  6  is connected to the second part of the lock handle  5  and a handle  7  is connected to the end of the rod handle  6 . 
         [0032]    This configuration of the hinge is unique, because locking and unlocking is performed with one button (one finger). Other types of locking use one button for locking and another for unlocking. 
         [0033]    The umbrella and umbrella, handle  7  wherein the handle has a diameter of 1 to 3 cm. The umbrella and umbrella handle  7  wherein the handle has a length of 10 to 20 cm. This invention is regarding handheld umbrellas and specifically not in the field of beach or table umbrellas. 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  shows the invention with the parts of the lock handle  3  and  5  and hinge  4  in its open and unlocked positions. 
         [0035]      FIG. 7  shows a top view of the locking mechanism made up of a part of the lock handle  3  with a hinge  4  connecting to the second part of the lock handle  5 , the first part of the lock handle  3  contains a lock slot  10  and an element retainer  10 . 
         [0036]      FIGS. 8 and 10  show the invention with the parts of the lock handle  3  and  5  and hinge  4  in its locked positions with the axle lock  8  as an external part of the locking mechanism with first part. of the lock handle  3  with a hinge  4  connecting to the second part of the lock handle  5 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 9  shows the invention with the parts of the lock handle  3  and  5  and hinge  4  in its open unlocked positions with the axle lock  8  as an external part of the locking mechanism with first part of the lock handle  3  with a hinge  4  connecting to the second part of the lock handle  5 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 9  shows the invention with the parts of the lock handle  3  and  5  and hinge  4  in its open/unlocked positions with the axle lock  8  as an external part of the locking mechanism with first part of the lock handle  3  with a hinge  4  connecting to the second part of the lock handle  5  and with a slot/recess for the lock  9 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 12  shows alternative view of the handle with the locking mechanism in the locked position.  FIG. 13  shows alternative view of the handle with the locking mechanism in an open/unlocked position.  FIG. 14  shows alternative view of the handle with the locking mechanism in an open/unlocked position. 
         [0040]    The invention also includes a method for connecting an umbrella handle to an umbrella rod by attaching the handle to the rod of the umbrella with a joint coupling element mounted on one edge of the rod; the joint allows rotation of the handle by 180 degrees; and fixing the handle in a position co-axial with the rod by a fixing mechanism which firmly connects the handle and the rod with each other. The umbrella wherein the fixing mechanism is a movable clamp. The umbrella wherein the fixing mechanism is located on an opposite edge of the umbrella compared to a position of the joint. 
         [0041]    It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the present invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing, from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore. to be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive.