Patent Publication Number: US-7210491-B2

Title: Umbrella structure

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   (a) Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to an umbrella structure, and more particularly, to an umbrella structure, which overcomes drawbacks in the existing state of the art which is incapable of securely locking the fastening orifice after reducing the volume of the umbrella. 
   (b) Description of the Prior Art 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 1A , a prior umbrella comprises a cover  11 , a shaft  12 , a notch  13 , a runner  14 , main ribs  15  and stretchers  16 . Around the notch  13  is a plurality of pivotally disposed main ribs  15  for supporting the cover  11 , whereas around the runner  14  is a plurality of pivotally disposed stretchers  16  for supporting the main ribs  15 . The shaft  12  is in a two-sectional or three-sectional form, and has a top end thereof fixed to the notch  13 . The notch  13  is fastened with an inner tube  122 , which has a rectangular fastening orifice  121  at an appropriate position for setting free a fastening button  17  disposed at the inner tube  122 . The inner tube  122  is also penetrated through the runner  14 , so as to allow the runner  14  with up-and-down sliding movements. When the umbrella  1  is stretched, the runner  14  is pushed upward to the fastening button  17  that further butts against a bottom portion of the runner  14 , such that the main ribs  15  prop up the entire cover  11 . The umbrella  1  is collapsed by pressing the fastening button  17 . 
   As described above, although the prior umbrella  1  fulfills stretching and collapsing functions, a collapsed volume thereof is rather large because the shaft  12  is a two-sectional or three-sectional structure. The collapsed umbrella  1  is only suitably stored in larger handbags or backpacks but not in commonly used handbags. To reduce the volume of the umbrella  1 , it is necessary to devise the shaft  12  as a multi-sectional design, with a difference between diameters of an outer tube and the inner tube of the shaft  12  being inevitably enlarged. When stretching the umbrella, a substantial space is left between the inner tube having the smallest diameter and the runner  14  having a diameter larger than that of the outer tube, so that undesired wavering of the shaft  12  relative to the runner  14  is resulted. Also, the fastening button  17  becomes unsecurely butted against the runner  14 , and hence it is likely that the runner  14  fails to be firmly stretched for being frequently slipped off in a downward direction. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 2A  showing another prior umbrella  2 , a shaft  22  is devised as a four-sectional or five-sectional design for reducing the volume of the umbrella  2 . As appropriate, one or two ends where stretchers  25  come into contact with a runner  23  are inserted and extended with extension posts  27 . When stretching the umbrella  2 , the shaft  22  is upheld by the extension posts  27  through the runner  23  to keep the shaft  22  from undesired wavering. A fastening button  26  at the shaft  22  and a bottom portion of the runner  24  are allowed with a larger mutual supporting plane, thereby enabling the stretchers  25  connected with the runner  23  to prop up main ribs  24  that further stretch an entire cover  21 . The umbrella  2  is collapsed by pressing the fastening button  26 . 
   As described above, the prior umbrella  2  advances over the prior umbrella  1  by having a smaller volume. However, due to the extension posts  27  in the prior umbrella  2 , pushing movements of the runner  23  are made unsmooth and unhandy since the shaft  22  is butted by the extension posts  27  when stretching the umbrella  2 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 3A  showing yet another prior umbrella  3 , a shaft  31  is devised a multi-sectional design. At an appropriate position where an outer tube  312  of the shaft  31  is fixed to a notch  32 , the shaft  31  is provided with a rectangular fastening orifice  311 . An elastic fastening button  34  is also disposed for coordinating with one side of a runner  33 , so as to complete stretching and collapsing of the umbrella  3 . The elastic fastening button  34  has one end thereof formed as a hook portion  341 , and the other end thereof formed as a pressing plane  342 . Underneath the pressing plane  342  is a spring  343 . When stretching the umbrella  3 , the runner  33  is pushed upward, and the rectangular fastening orifice  311  provided at the outer tube  312  is locked by a hook portion  341  of the elastic fastening button  34  at the runner  33 . When collapsing the umbrella  3 , by pressing the pressing plane  342  at one end of the elastic fastening button  34 , the hook portion  341  is disengaged from the rectangular fastening orifice  311  due to actions of the spring  343 , thereby collapsing the umbrella  3 . 
   As described above, although the elastic fastening button  34  of the prior umbrella  3  also fulfills stretching and collapsing functions of the umbrella  3 , the issue of a fastening button being incapable of securely locking the runner due to a reduced volume of the umbrella remains unsolved. Therefore, in the view of the aforesaid drawbacks, it is a vital task of the invention to provide an umbrella structure, which not only overcomes the aforesaid drawbacks but also offers usage conveniences as well as industrial values. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The primary object of the invention is to provide an umbrella structure having a fixing portion, so as to overcome a drawback of the prior invention with a fastening device being incapable of securely locking a fastening orifice due to a reduced volume of an umbrella. 
   The secondary object of the invention is to provide an umbrella structure having a fixing portion, which reinforces strength of the umbrella against external forces, and prevents damages and deformations of an inner tube of a shaft by offering the shaft with appropriate protection. 
   An umbrella structure according to the invention comprises a cover, a shaft, a notch, a runner, main ribs and stretchers. The notch is extended downward to form a fixing portion. The fixing portion has one end thereof disposed with a protruding loop section, and an appropriate position thereof disposed with a fastening orifice for corresponding with the protruding button. The runner is accommodated at the fixing portion, and is capable of up-and-down sliding movements at the fixing portion. When stretching the umbrella, the protruding button at the fastening device is securely locked at the fastening orifice at the fixing portion to smoothly stretch the umbrella. When collapsing the umbrella, the shaft is stored in the fixing portion to prevent the shaft from damages and deformations by offering the shaft with appropriate protection. Using the aforesaid structure, a drawback as being incapable of securely stretching the umbrella due to reduced volume of the umbrella is solved. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a conventional schematic view of a prior umbrella being stretched. 
       FIG. 1A  shows a conventional enlarged partial view of the prior umbrella in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a conventional schematic view of another prior umbrella being stretched. 
       FIG. 2A  shows a conventional enlarged partial view of the prior umbrella in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a conventional schematic view of yet another prior umbrella being stretched. 
       FIG. 3A  shows a conventional enlarged partial view of the prior umbrella in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a first schematic view illustrating stretching movements according to the invention. 
       FIG. 4A  shows a first enlarged partial view illustrating stretching movements of the umbrella according to the invention. 
       FIG. 5  shows a second schematic view illustrating stretching movements of the umbrella according to the invention. 
       FIG. 5A  shows a second enlarged partial view illustrating stretching movements of the umbrella according to the invention. 
       FIG. 6  shows a first schematic view illustrating collapsing movements of the umbrella according to the invention. 
       FIG. 6A  shows a first enlarged partial view illustrating collapsing movements of the umbrella according to the invention. 
       FIG. 7  shows a second schematic view illustrating collapsing movements of the umbrella according to the invention. 
       FIG. 7A  shows a second enlarged partial view illustrating collapsing movements of the umbrella according to the invention. 
       FIG. 8  shows an elevational view illustrating the stretched umbrella according to the invention. 
       FIG. 8A  shows an enlarged sectional side view illustrating the fastening device according to the invention. 
       FIG. 9  shows an elevational view of the fixing portion at the notch according to the invention. 
       FIG. 9A  shows an elevational view illustrating the fixing portion and the notch in another embodiment according to the invention. 
       FIG. 9B  shows an elevational view illustrating the fixing portion and the notch in yet another embodiment according to the invention. 
       FIG. 10  shows a schematic view illustrating the stretched umbrella using another design of the fixing portion and the runner according to the invention. 
       FIG. 10A  shows an enlarged view illustrating the fixing portion fastened with the runner according to the invention. 
       FIG. 10B  shows an elevational view of the fixing portion in another embodiment according to the invention. 
       FIG. 11  shows a schematic view illustrating the stretched umbrella using another design of the fastening device according to the invention. 
       FIG. 11A  shows a structural schematic view illustrating yet another design of the fastening device according to the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   To better understand the effects, structure and characteristics of the invention, detailed descriptions of preferred embodiments shall be given with the accompanying drawings below. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 8A , an umbrella  4  according to the invention comprises a cover  41 , a shaft  42 , a notch  43 , a runner  44 , main ribs  45  and stretchers  46 . Around the notch  43  is a plurality of pivotally disposed main ribs  45  for supporting the cover  41 . Around the runner  44  is a plurality of pivotally disposed stretchers  45  for supporting the ribs  45 . One side of the runner  44  is provided with a fastening device  5  having a protruding button  51 . The shaft  42  is devised as a multi-sectional structure and is fastened at a center of the notch  43 . The notch  43  is extended downward to form a fixing portion  431 . The fixing portion  431  has one end thereof disposed with a protruding loop section  435 , and an appropriate position thereof disposed with a fastening orifice  432  for corresponding with the protruding button  51 . The runner  44  is accommodated at the fixing portion  431 , and is capable of up-and-down sliding movements at the fixing portion  431 . When stretching the umbrella, the protruding button  51  at the fastening device  5  is steadily locked at the fastening orifice  432  at the fixing portion  431  to smoothly stretch the umbrella. When collapsing the umbrella, the shaft  42  is stored in the fixing portion  431  to prevent the shaft  42  from damages and deformations by offering the shaft  42  with appropriate protection. Using the aforesaid structure, the drawback as being incapable of securely stretching the umbrella due to a reduced volume of the umbrella is solved. 
   As described above and with reference to  FIGS. 4 ,  4 A,  5  and  5 A, to stretch the umbrella according to the invention, the runner  44  is pushed upward. At this point, the protruding button  51  at the fastening device  5  is fastened with the fastening orifice  432  at the fixing portion  431 , so that the stretchers  46  connected with the runner  44  are enable to support the main ribs  45  that further support the entire cover  41 , thereby completing stretching of the umbrella. To collapse the umbrella, as shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  6 A,  7  and  7 A, when a force is applied to the fastening device  5  by a user, the protruding button  51  at the fastening device  5  is lifted to disengage from the fastening orifice  432  at the fixing portion  431 . Thus, the runner  44  is slid downward to reach the protruding loop section  435 . The user ceases applying a force to the fastening device  5  at this point, with the shaft  42  restored into the fixing portion  431  for completing collapsing of the umbrella. 
   Referring to  FIG. 9A  showing the fixing portion of the notch in another embodiment according to the invention, the notch  43  is extended downward to form a fixing portion  431 A that may be a plate-like body. At an appropriate position, the fixing portion  431 A is similarly provided with a fastening orifice  432  for corresponding with the protruding button  51  at the fastening device  5 . Referring to  FIG. 9B  showing the fixing portion of the notch in yet another embodiment according to the invention, one end of the notch  43  is joined with a fixing portion  431 B via a pin  437 . One end of the fixing portion  431  is provided with an opening  436  for inserting the pin  437 . At an appropriate position, the fixing portion  431   b B is similarly provided with a fastening orifice  432  for corresponding with the protruding button  51  at the fastening device  5 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 10 ,  10 A and  10 B showing the fixing portion of the notch in yet another embodiment according to the invention, at an appropriate position, the fixing portion  431  is disposed with a track  434 , and an inner side of the runner  44  is disposed with a sliding channel  443  for embedding with the track  434 . Thus, the runner  44  is smoothly guided into the fixing portion  431  using the sliding channel  443 , so as to fasten the protruding button  51  at the fastening device  5  with the fastening orifice  432  at the fixing portion  431 . 
     FIGS. 11 and 11A  show structural schematic views illustrating the fastening device in another embodiment according to the invention. An appropriate position of the side of the runner  44  is provided with a fastening device  5 A in shape of a hook  52 . At an appropriate position, the fixing portion  431  is similarly provided with a fastening orifice  432 A for corresponding with the hook  52 . 
   Conclusive from the above, the invention has the following excellences:
     1. Using the fixing portion according to the invention, a drawback as the fastening device being incapable of securely locking the fastening orifice due to a reduced volume of the umbrella is solved.   2. Using the fixing portion serving as a butting point of the protruding button, strength of the umbrella against external forces is increased, while also preventing the shaft from damages and deformations by offering the shaft with appropriate protection.   3. Using the sliding channel in the runner and the track at the fixing portion, the protruding button at the runner is precisely guided into the fastening orifice at the fixing portion of the notch when stretching the umbrella, thereby avoiding damages of the runner and the fixing portion of the notch due caused by improper guiding movements.   

   It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.