Patent Publication Number: US-2010116303-A1

Title: Connection structure for parasol

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a connection structure for a parasol, and more particularly, to a connection structure for a parasol capable of simply adjusting an interval of a pair of posts installed at a parasol and connecting parasols having single posts at predetermined intervals by connecting a plurality of connection members to a first fixing unit, a second fixing unit and a connection part to vary the length thereof. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In general, a parasol is an apparatus for artificially forming a shade, which has an umbrella shape that can be selectively spread and folded. Such a foldable parasol generally includes a fixing member fixed to an upper end of a post, a plurality of spokes pivotally fixed to the fixing member in a radial direction, a foldable member slidably inserted into a middle part of the post, a support frame radially connected to the plurality of spokes and rotatably fixed to the foldable member, and a sunshade fixed to the plurality of spokes. 
     In recent times, a parasol having a pair of posts has been proposed. The posts are installed at the parasol and disposed at a predetermined interval, and a plurality of spokes are installed at only opposite sides of the posts to be deployed. A connection frame is connected between the posts so that the width of the parasol can be increased by the interval of the posts. 
     However, it is difficult for the connection frame to adjust the interval between the posts. In addition, since the connection frame should be fixed between the posts of the parasols, it is impossible to connect the parasols having single posts. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     An aspect of the present invention is to provide a connection structure for a parasol capable of simply adjusting an interval of a pair of posts installed at a parasol and connecting parasols having single posts at predetermined intervals by connecting a plurality of connection members to a first fixing unit, a second fixing unit and a connection part to vary the length thereof. 
     Technical Solution 
     An embodiment of the invention provides a connection structure for a parasol for connecting a parasol including a post and a sunshade to another parasol, the connection structure including: a set of first fixing units having fastening holes through which the posts are inserted to be fixed; a set of second fixing units opposite to the first fixing units and having fastening holes; a pair of connection units disposed between the first fixing units and the second fixing units; and a pair of connection parts having a pair of connection bars hinged to each other, the respective ends of the connection bars being hinged to the first fixing units, the second fixing units and the connection units such that the first fixing units, the second fixing units, and the connection units are connected to each other in a foldable manner. 
     Meanwhile, a pair of projections may be formed at one ends of the connection units, and the pair of projections may be connected to each other via a fixing body in which a plurality of fastening pipes having different diameters are coupled to each other to be deployed/contracted depending on necessity. In addition, projections may be formed at both ends of the connection units, and the projections may be connected to each other via a fixing body in which a plurality of fastening pipes having different diameters are coupled to each other in a multi-stage to be deployed/contracted depending on necessity. 
     In this embodiment, the fixing body may include a pair of support bars having one ends hinged to each other and the other ends hinged to the projections. 
     In addition, the connection unit and the connection part may be installed between the first fixing units and the second fixing units in plural. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     As can be seen from the foregoing, a connection structure for a parasol is capable of simply adjusting an interval of a pair of posts installed at a parasol and connecting parasols having single posts at predetermined intervals by connecting a plurality of connection members to a first fixing unit, a second fixing unit and a connection part to vary the length thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connection structure for a parasol in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the connection structure for a parasol in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a view showing a use state of the connection structure for a parasol in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a connection structure for a parasol in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a connection structure for a parasol in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a connection structure for a parasol in accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a connection structure for a parasol in accordance with a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS OF MAIN PARTS IN DRAWINGS   
       1 : Parasol  2 : Post 
       3 : Fixing member  4 : Spoke 
       5 : Foldable member  6 : Support 
       10 : connection structure for parasol 
       20 ,  20 ′: First fixing unit 
       21 ,  21 ′: Fastening hole 
       30 ,  30 ′: Second fixing unit 
       31 ,  31 ′: Fastening hole 
       40 ,  40 ′: Connecting unit 
       41 ,  41 ′: Projection 
       50 : Connecting part 
       51 : Connecting bar 
     H: Hinge 
     MODE FOR THE INVENTION 
     The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the thickness of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity. 
     In addition, the following embodiments are exemplary embodiments, not limiting the scope of the invention, and various modifications may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connection structure for a parasol in accordance with the present invention,  FIG. 2  is a front view of the connection structure for a parasol in accordance with the present invention, and  FIG. 3  is a view showing a use state of the connection structure for a parasol in accordance with the present invention. 
     As shown, a connection structure  10  for a parasol in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as a connection structure) is to connect a parasol including a post and a sunshade to another parasol, the connection structure includes a set of first fixing units  20  and  20 ′ having fastening holes  21  and  21 ′ through which posts  2  are inserted to be fixed; a set of second fixing units  30  and  30 ′ opposite to the first fixing units  20  and  20 ′ and having fastening holes  31  and  31 ′ a pair of connection units  40  and  40 ′ disposed between the first fixing units  20  and  20 ′ and the second fixing units  30  and  30 ′ and a pair of connection parts  50  having a pair of connection bars  51  hinged to each other, wherein the respective ends of the connection bars  51  are hinged H to the first fixing units  20  and  20 ′ the second fixing units  30  and  30 ′ and the connection units  40  and  40 ′ such that the first fixing units  20  and  20 ′ the second fixing units  30  and  30 ′ and the connection units  40  and  40 ′ are connected to each other in a foldable manner. 
     Here, the first fixing units  20  and  20 ′, the second fixing units  30  and  30 ′, the connection units  40  and  40 ′, and the connection bars  51  may be formed of synthetic resin, aluminum, wood, metal, or the like. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the connection structure  10  for a parasol constituted as above is installed at a parasol  1  having a pair of posts. The parasol  1  includes a pair of posts  2 , fixing members  3  fixed to the posts  2 , a plurality of spokes  4  rotatably fixed to the fixing members  3  in a radial direction, foldable members  5  slidably inserted into middle parts of the posts  2 , a plurality of support frames  6  connected between the foldable members  5  and the spokes  4 , and a sunshade  7  covered on the spokes  4 . The pair of posts  2  of the parasol  1  are inserted into the fastening holes  21 ,  21 ′,  31  and  31 ′ formed at both sides of the connection structure  10  for a parasol such that the connection structure  10  is disposed between the fixing members  3  and the foldable members  5  to be integrally coupled to the parasol  1  having the posts  2 . 
     Installation of the connection structure  10  is as follows. First, a user grips the posts  2  of the parasol  1  and widens both hands to dispose the posts  2  at a predetermined interval. In this state, ends of the posts  2  are buried in the ground or mounted on a fixing device, and then, the sunshade  7  is spread, thereby completing the installation of the connection structure  10 . At this time, the user can arbitrarily adjust the interval between the posts  2  without restriction of space. 
     On the other hand, when parasols having single posts are connected to each other, the posts are inserted into the fastening holes  21 ,  21 ′,  31  and  31 ′ to be fixed to each other to connect the parasols having the single posts, thereby providing a wide shade between them. As a result, it is possible to install a table or cooking utensils to enable cooking and meal thereunder. In addition, it is possible to readily separate the parasols from the connection structure  10  after cooking, thereby conveniently moving and storing them (a numeral that is not described in the figure is a sunshade  7 ). 
     In addition, a plurality of connection units  40  and  40 ′ and the connection parts  50  may be installed between the first fixing units  20  and  20 ′ and the second fixing units  30  and  30 ′ to increase the length thereof. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a connection structure for a parasol in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , in order to prevent the connection units  40  and  40 ′ from being pivoted such that ends of the connection bars  51  are hooked by the connection units  40  and  40 ′ when the connection structure  10  installed at the posts  2  are deployed, the set of connection units  40  and  40 ′ are connected to each other by fixing bodies  60 . That is, a pair of projections  41  and  41 ′ are formed at one ends of the connection units  40  and  40 ′ and the projections  41  and  41 ′ are connected to each other via the fixing bodies  60  formed of a plurality of fastening pipes  61  having different diameters to be deployed/contracted depending on necessity, thereby preventing the connection units  40  and  40 ′ from being pivoted and hooked upon deployment of the connection structure  10 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a connection structure for a parasol in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , it has been described that the projections  41  and  41 ′ are formed at each one side of the connection units  40  and  40 ′ and the fixing body  60  is fixed to the projections  41  and  41 ′ but not limited thereto. For example, the projections  41  and  41 ′ may be formed at both ends of the connection units  40  and  40 ′ and the fixing body  60  may be installed at the projections  41  and  41 ′. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a connection structure for a parasol in accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the fixing body  60  has been shown and described to be interposed between the connection units  40  and  40 ′ to support and fix the connection units  40  and  40 ′ but not limited thereto. For example, similar to the second exemplary embodiment, the projections  41  and  41 ′ are formed at the connection units  40  and  40 ′ and the connection units  40  and  40 ′ are connected to each other by a pair of support bars  60  having one ends hinged H to each other and the other ends hinged to the projections  41  and  41 ′. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a connection structure for a parasol in accordance with a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , it has been described that the projections  41  and  41 ′ are formed at each one side of the connection units  40  and  40 ′ and the support bars  60  are fixed to the projections  41  and  41 ′, but not limited thereto. For example, the projections  41  and  41 ′ may be formed at both ends of the connection units  40  and  40 ′ and the support bars  60  may be installed at the projections  41  and  41 ′. 
     While this invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains that various modifications may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.