Abstract:
The invention relates to an automatic collapsible umbrella, which utilizes several springs provided around a shaft or therein accompanying with a runner apparatus and a frame to control the umbrella being opened or closed automatically. The main character of this umbrella is the operating method that is to prolong the umbrella first, and by a first touch to automatically open; then by a second touch to automatically close. The automatic collapsible umbrella therefore obtains utilization and improvement.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     A traditional umbrella is manually operated and is inconvenient for use. A known improved umbrella can be opened automatically by only a single push on a button of a handle. But this umbrella must be manually closed and is still inconvenient. There is a better improvement; U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,889, which provides an umbrella being capable of opening or closing automatic. Before use, this umbrella is pressed first to compress springs in its shaft for storing energy. Then, to push a button on its handle, the umbrella is automatically opened. And to push the button second time, the umbrella will be closed automatically. This umbrella has still some leaks that it is usually out of work.  
         [0002]     The present invention is to overcome the drawback of prior art and to provide an invented umbrella, which includes a totally new assembly and is different from any conventional umbrella, wherein a special character of the present invention is that the umbrella is prolonged before use. Now, accompanying with the following drawings, the character of the present invention will be described here and after. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0003]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a main portion of an automatic collapsible umbrella according to the present invention.  
         [0004]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the inner apparatus of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0005]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view showing a portion of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0006]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional plan view showing the umbrella being closed according to the present invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional plan view showing a handle of the automatic collapsible umbrella of  FIG. 4  at a perpendicular plane.  
         [0008]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional plan view showing the umbrella shaft being prolonged relating to  FIG. 4 .  
         [0009]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional plan view showing the umbrella handle of  FIG. 6  at a perpendicular plane.  
         [0010]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional plan view showing the umbrella being opened according to the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional plan view showing the umbrella handle of  FIG. 8  at a perpendicular plane.  
         [0012]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional plan view showing the umbrella being closing according to the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional plan view showing the umbrella handle of  FIG. 10  at a perpendicular plane. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0014]     Referring to  FIG. 1  to  5 , the present invention relates to an improved collapsible umbrella, which can be opened or closed automatically, which includes a shaft ( 1 ) being consisted by several tubes. In this embodiment for explanation, the shaft ( 1 ) includes an outer tube ( 11 ), a middle tube ( 12 ), and an inner tube ( 13 ). A handle ( 15 ) with a button ( 151 ) is connected with lower end of the shaft ( 1 ) and an upper joint ( 14 ) is connected with top end of the shaft. A runner apparatus ( 2 ) provided around the shaft ( 1 ) included a middle runner ( 21 ) and a lower runner ( 22 ), wherein a control-open spring ( 23 ) is placed between both. A double-ear receiver ( 3 ) is provided around the shaft ( 1 ) above the runner apparatus ( 2 ). A control-close spring ( 30 ) is also provided around the shaft ( 1 ) between the upper joint ( 14 ) and the receiver ( 3 ). The umbrella frame ( 4 ) has its inner ends pivoted with the upper joint ( 14 ), middle runner ( 21 ), and the lower runner ( 22 ). By use of movement of the runners, the frame ( 4 ) is expended to open the umbrella or is concentrated to close the umbrella.  
         [0015]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , an upper controller ( 5 ) and a middle fixer ( 6 ) with an inner spring therebetween are provided in the shaft ( 1 ). A bow ( 52 ) received in the upper controller ( 5 ) has its lower hook end ( 521 ) extend outward from a slot ( 61 ) of the middle fixer ( 6 ). A lower fixer ( 7 ) placed below middle fixer ( 6 ) has a rod ( 71 ) for winding inner ends of two ropes ( 31 ), both of which have their out end extend upward to pass around a related wheel ( 16 ) under the upper joint ( 14 ), then downward to pass around another wheel ( 32 ) on the receiver ( 3 ), and at last upward to connect with the upper joint ( 14 ), meanwhile the ropes ( 31 ) are kept in tension always. The lower fixer ( 7 ) has a bottom V-shaped elastic slice ( 72 ). An inner controller ( 8 ) received in a lower inside position of the shaft ( 1 ) connects with lower end of an inner wire ( 81 ) having its upper end connect with the upper controller ( 5 ). The inner controller ( 8 ) is provided with an upper head ( 82 ) and a lower head ( 83 ) facing the button ( 151 ) of the handle ( 15 ) and a side projection ( 84 ) is formed on the controller ( 8 ). A loop ( 9 ) placed in the handle ( 15 ) has a convex ( 91 ) opposite to the button ( 151 ) and face the heads of the inner controller ( 8 ).  
         [0016]     Please refer to  FIG. 3 , the upper controller ( 5 ) has its lower side an inclined plane ( 53 ) and the bow ( 52 ) has a top inner hook ( 522 ) and a lower hook end ( 521 ), wherein a small spring ( 523 ) is placed inside the lower hook end ( 521 ) to provide a stable elastic force for push the lower end outward.  
         [0017]     As in  FIG. 4  and  5 , when the umbrella is in closed state, the upper head ( 82 ) is stopped in a slot ( 131 ) of the inner tube ( 13 ). The outer tube ( 11 ) has its bottom end contact with the side projection ( 84 ) of the inner controller ( 8 ). At this time, the control-close spring ( 30 ) and the inner spring ( 51 ) are prolonged, the control-open spring ( 23 ) is compressed, and the inner wire ( 81 ) is released. The frame ( 4 ) is closed beside the shaft ( 1 ) and the receiver ( 3 ) contacts with the middle runner ( 21 ) far away from the upper joint ( 14 ) that the umbrella is closed stably.  
         [0018]     Before use, the umbrella is to be prolonged that the shaft ( 1 ) is extended as shown in  FIG. 6  and  7 . Since the upper controller ( 5 ) will be held by the inner wire ( 81 ) connected with the lower controller ( 8 ), it just moves a small distance till the inner wire ( 81 ) is in tension and will not move with the middle tube ( 12 ). At the moment, by use of the ropes ( 31 ), the receiver ( 3 ) is moved upward to compress the control-close spring ( 30 ). At the same time, the inner spring ( 51 ) is compressed because of the upward movement of the middle fixer ( 6 ). The lower hook end ( 521 ) of the bow ( 52 ) is then elastically pushed outward to engage with relating slots on the middle tube ( 12 ) and the outer tube ( 11 ) for positioning both. A high strength ball ( 211 ) provided on the middle runner ( 21 ) is engaged within a relating aperture of the outer tube ( 11 ) and the V-shaped elastic slice ( 72 ) is still engaged within relating apertures of the middle tube ( 12 ) and the inner tube ( 13 ). Hence, the tubes of the shaft ( 1 ) are stable for use.  
         [0019]     When a user pushes the button ( 151 ) first time, the loop ( 9 ) will be moved inward to have its convex ( 91 ) push the upper head ( 82 ) for releasing the engagement with the inner tube ( 13 ). Under recovery force of the inner spring ( 51 ), the upper controller ( 5 ) and the inner controller ( 8 ) are moved upward a small distance till the lower head ( 83 ) be stopped by the inner tube ( 13 ). At the time, the upper controller ( 5 ) has its top end push the ball ( 211 ) that the middle runner ( 21 ) will be released from the outer tube ( 11 ) due to the strong expensive elastic force of the control-open spring ( 23 ). As shown in  FIG. 8  and  9 , accompanying the said movement, the frame ( 4 ) will be expanded to open the umbrella automatically.  
         [0020]     To close the umbrella, referring to  FIG. 10  and  11 , when the user pushes the button ( 151 ) second time, the lower head ( 83 ) will be pushed and released from the inner tube ( 13 ). Both controller ( 5 ) and ( 8 ) are capable of moving upward, meanwhile the lower inclined plane ( 53 ) will push the top inner hook ( 522 ) of the bow ( 52 ) to force the lower hook end ( 521 ) to move inward and release the engagement between the middle tube ( 12 ) and the outer tube ( 11 ). So, the middle tube ( 12 ) moves upward to be received in the outer tube ( 11 ) and then the outer tube ( 11 ) moves downward to press the V-shaped slice ( 72 ) to release the engagement between the middle tube ( 12 ) and the inner tube ( 13 ). At this time, the inner fixer ( 7 ) moves upward that the ropes ( 31 ) are not limited anymore. Therefore, the control-close spring ( 30 ) can rapidly extended to force the receiver ( 3 ) and the runner apparatus ( 2 ) downward that pulls the frame ( 4 ) concentrated to the shaft ( 1 ) and closes the umbrella automatically as in  FIG. 4  and  5 .  
         [0021]     If a user wants to use the umbrella again, he just needs to repeat the above operation, i.e. to prolong the umbrella, a first touch to automatically open, and a second touch to automatically close. Thus, we can find that the operation of the present invention is totally different from the prior art and is useful for people to apply the umbrella as normal. Moreover, it can be understood that the above-mentioned embodiments including a frame with three folded ribs are only exemplary of the present invention. Any modification, such as a frame with four or more ribs and a shaft with four or more tubes, having the same or similar merit is still claimed in this application.