Patent Publication Number: US-2007095373-A1

Title: Pocketable folding umbrella as maximally flattened

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,535 issued to the same inventors of this application disclosed a pocketable folding umbrella (hereinafter called the “prior art”) as inferentially illustrated in  FIG. 1 , which however has the following drawbacks: 
      1. The central shaft ( 1 ), if made of a plurality of tubes telescopically engageable, will weaken its strength especially the innermost tube ( 1   i ) of which the diameter has been greatly reduced, thereby being easily deformed, bent or damaged.     2. Each flat-side rib means ( 2   a ) is pivoted about a center (C) which is however positioned at a side portion of the upper notch ( 3 ) or lower runner ( 4 ) as separated from the X-axis (X) so that the umbrella ribs at the flat side can not be greatly biased to approximate the “center line” aligned with the axis (X), thereby being still unable to be maximally flattened when closing the umbrella.    

      The present inventor has found the drawbacks of the prior art and invented the present pocketable folding umbrella which may be flattened maximally.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The object of the present invention is to provide a pocketable folding umbrella including a flat central shaft consisting of a plurality of flat tubes each formed as a rectangular shape and telescopically engageable with one another; a rib assembly including a plurality of flat-side rib means each universally pivoted about a pivoting center projectively aligned with a long axis X on an upper notch or a lower runner, and a plurality of extremity rib means each pivotally secured to opposite extremity end portions of the upper notch or lower runner; whereby upon closing of the umbrella, the rib means may be folded to maximally flatten a folded umbrella. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  shows an upper notch and the related elements of a flat umbrella of a prior art.  
       FIG. 2  shows a multiple-fold umbrella when folded in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  shows the plural tubes telescopically engageable for forming the central shaft of penta-fold of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional drawing of the tube as viewed from  4 - 4  direction of  FIG. 3 .  
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional drawing as taken from line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 .  
       FIG. 6  is a cross sectional drawing as taken from line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 3 .  
       FIG. 7  is a cross sectional drawing as taken from line  7 - 7  of FIG.  3 .  
       FIG. 8  is a cross sectional drawing as taken from line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 3 .  
       FIG. 9  is a cross sectional drawing of the tubes of the central shaft of the present invention.  
       FIG. 10  is an illustration showing an opening umbrella of the present invention.  
       FIG. 11  is a top view illustration of the upper notch of the present invention.  
       FIG. 12  is a top view of the lower runner of the present invention.  
       FIG. 13  shows the upper notch and the lower runner having partial ribs pivotally secured thereto.  
       FIG. 14  is a cross sectional drawing of another preferred embodiment of the central shaft of triple folds in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 15  shows another penta-fold shaft of the present invention.  
       FIG. 16  shows a hepta-fold shaft of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      As shown in the drawing figures, the present invention comprises: a flat central shaft  1  consisting of a plurality of flat tubes telescopically engageable with one another and a flat grip  10  formed on a lower portion of the shaft  1 , a rib assembly  2  consisting of a plurality of extremity rib means  2   e  and a plurality of flat-side rib means  2   a  respectively pivotally secured to a flat upper notch  3  formed on a top of the flat central shaft  1  and pivotally secured to a flat lower runner  4  slidably held on the shaft  1 , and an umbrella cloth  5  secured on the rib assembly  2 .  
      The flat central shaft  1  includes a plurality of flat tubes telescopically engageable with one another for forming multiple folds of the shaft  1 . The tubes gradually or gradationally increase the number of concave portions V formed on each tube from the outermost (or lowest) tube  11  to the innermost (or uppermost) tube  15 .  
      As shown in FIGS.  2 ˜ 9 , the flat central shaft  1  includes: a first or lowest or outermost flat tube  11 , a second or lower flat tube  12 , a third or middle flat tube  13 , a fourth or upper flat tube  14 , and a fifth or uppermost or innermost flat tube  15 , all tubes being telescopically engaged with one another to form the flat central shaft.  
      The flat central shaft  1  or the upper notch  3  or the lower runner  4  each defines a long axis or latitudinal axis X at a latitudinal center line linearly connected between the east direction E and the west direction W ( FIGS. 9, 10 ,  11 ,  12 ); a short axis or longitudinal axis Y at a longitudinal center line linearly connected between the north direction N and the south direction S to intersect the long axis X at a shaft center O.  
      The first or lowest or outermost tube  11  ( FIG. 4 ) has zero concave portion V as recessed inwardly from a rectangular tube wall towards an interior I of the shaft  1 ; the second or lower tube  12  ( FIG. 5 ) having one concave portion V as recessed inwardly from a rectangular tube wall (positioned at a southwest direction SW about the shaft center O) towards the interior I of the shaft  1 ; the third tube  13  having two concave portions V as respectively recessed inwardly from the rectangular tube wall and positioned at the southwest direction SW and the northeast direction NE ( FIG. 6 ) about the center O to slidably engage the concave portion positioned at SW direction of the third tube  13  with the concave portion also located at SW direction of the second tube  12  to have their mutual smooth sliding engagement when extending or retracting the tubes for opening or closing the umbrella; the fourth tube  14  having three concave portions V recessed inwardly from the tube wall at three locations of SW, SE and NE directions about the center O to slidably engage the concave portions V at directions SW, NE of both the fourth tube  14  and of the third tube  13 ; and the fifth or uppermost or innermost tube  15  having four concave portions V recessed inwardly from the tube wall at four locations of SW, SE, NE and NW (northwest) directions about the center O to thereby slidably engage the concave portions V at directions SW, SE and NE of both the fifth tube  15  and the fourth tube  14  as shown in  FIG. 9 .  
      Accordingly, the concave portions V are gradually or gradationally increased from the first or outermost tube  11  towards the fifth or innermost tube  15  with an increment of one concave portion V gradually increased from an outer (or lower) tube to a neighboring inner (or upper) tube.  
      Namely, there is an increment of one concave portion V between every two neighboring tubes (or between the inner tube and the outer tube).  
      By the way, every two neighboring tubes will commonly define an air chamber A therebetween. For example, the first tube  11  having zero concave portion and the second tube  12  having one concave portion V at SW direction will define an air chamber A at SW direction as shown in dotted line of  FIG. 4  and as shown in  FIG. 9 . The second tube  12  and the third tube  13  will commonly define another air chamber A at direction NE ( FIGS. 5 and 9 ).  
      Such an air chamber A between every two neighboring tubes will provide an aperture for air flow therethrough to prevent from serious frictional dogging or “braking” between the neighboring tubes when slidably extending or retracting the tubes.  
      The concave portions V as formed in the flat tubes of the central shaft  1  have the following functions and advantages: 
      1. The concave portion as formed in the tube wall of the shaft tube will play a role like a reinforcing rib for reinforcing the strength of the tube especially on the long side wall of the rectangular-shaped tube wall.     2. The concave portions V of two neighboring tubes will make the tubes to be slidably engaged with each other in a smooth way.     3. The tubes with the concave portions V formed in the tube walls will prevent the tubes from being vibrated or twisted.    

      The second tube  12  includes a lower enlarged portion  121  to be engaged with an upper contracted portion  111  of the first tube  11  as shown in  FIG. 3  to thereby limit the two tubes  12 ,  11  and prevent from their separation when extended. The lower enlarged portion  121  of the second tube  12  may be directly enlarged from a lower end portion of the concave portion V which is recessed in the second tube  12 . Correspondingly, the upper contracted portion  111  of the first tube  11  may be directly formed on an upper end portion of the first tube  11  defining an air chamber A between the first tube  11  and the second tube  12 .  
      Similarly, the second tube  12  has its upper contracted portion  122  engaged with a lower enlarged portion  131  of the third tube  13 . The third tube  13  has its upper contracted portion  132  engaged with a lower enlarged portion  141  of the fourth tube  14 . The fourth tube  14  has its upper contracted portion  142  engaged with a lower enlarged portion  151  of the fifth tube  15 .  
      Other modifications may be made to form multiple-fold central shaft  1 . For instance, the triple-fold shaft  1  as shown in  FIG. 14  includes a first tube  11 , a second tube  12  having its concave portion V formed at NW direction and a third tube  13  having its two concave portions V formed at NW and NE directions.  
      As shown in  FIG. 15 , another penta-fold shaft  1  of the present invention is presented by forming a concave portion V in the second tube  12  at south direction S; two concave portions V in the third tube  13  at south and north direction S, N; three concave portions V in the fourth tube  14  at directions of south, north and east (S, N and E); and four concave portions V in the fifth tube  15  at four directions of east (E), west (W), south (S) and north (N), thereby engaging the first tube through fifth tube  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15  to be a penta-fold shaft  1 .  
      In  FIG. 16 , a hepta-fold shaft  1  is formed by modifying the shaft tubes of the embodiment as shown in  FIG. 9  by further adding a sixth tube  16  having five concave portions V formed at locations of E, SE, SW, NE and NW, and adding a seventh tube  17  having six concave portions V formed at locations of E, W, SE, SW, NE and NW.  
      So, the flat central shaft  1  of the present invention may be modified to be multiple folds by selectively forming the concave portions V in the related tubes at suitable locations or directions, not limited in the present invention.  
      Since each tube of the central shaft  1  is formed as a flat shape or rectangular shape having a proper length and width and reinforced by the concave portion(s) V formed in the tube, not a circular tube having a small diameter and weak strength of an upper or uppermost (or innermost) tube of the prior art, the flat shaft  1  of the present invention provides an umbrella with reliable strength and maneuverability.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 10 ˜ 13 , a plurality of (or two) extremity rib means  2   e  are respectively formed on opposite end portions of the upper notch  3  and of the lower runner  4 ; and a plurality of flat-side rib means  2   a  normally linearly arranged respectively on the upper notch  3  and on the lower runner  4  when closing the umbrella, and operatively universally biased outwardly for opening the umbrella. Each extremity rib means  2   e  includes: at least a top rib  21  pivotally secured to an end portion  32  of the upper notch  3 , and at least a stretcher rib  22  pivotally secured to an end portion  42  of the lower runner  4 , with the stretcher rib  22  pivotally connected with the top rib  21 .  
      The upper notch  3  has a central flat sleeve portion  31  disposed about a shaft center O for securing the uppermost tube  15  of the central shaft  1  into the central flat sleeve portion  31 ; and the lower runner  4  having a central flat sleeve  41  formed on a central portion of the lower runner for slidably engaging the central shaft  1 .  
      Each flat-side rib means  2   a  includes: at least a top rib  21  universally secured to the upper notch  3  by a universal pivoting means  33 , and at least a stretcher rib  22  universally secured to the lower runner  4  by a lower universal pivoting means  43 , with the stretcher rib  22  of the rib means  2   a  pivotally connected with the top rib  21 .  
      All the universal pivoting means  33  are linearly arranged on the upper notch  3  ( FIGS. 10, 11 ) to be projectively aligned with the long axis X of the upper notch, and are disposed on opposite sides about the shaft center O in between two opposite end portions  32  of the upper notch  3 .  
      Each universal pivoting means  33  includes: a rib holder  331  having a vertical pivot  332  vertically rotatably engaged in a pivot hole  301  formed in the upper notch  3  for rotating the rib holder  331  about a pivoting center C generally perpendicular to the long axis X, and a horizontal pivot  333  transversely formed in the rib holder  331  for pivotally securing the top rib  21  of the flat-side rib assembly  2   a  to the rib holder  331 , thereby allowing the top rib  21  to be universally pivotally secured to the upper notch  3 .  
      All the lower universal pivoting means  43  are linearly arranged on the lower runner  4  ( FIG. 12 ) to be projectively aligned with the long axis X of the lower runner  4 , and are disposed on opposite sides about the shaft center O in between two opposite end portions  42  of the lower runner  4 .  
      Each lower universal pivoting means  43  includes: a lower rib holder  431  having a lower vertical pivot  432  vertically rotatably engaged in a lower pivot hole  401  formed in the lower runner  4  for rotating the lower rib holder  431  about a lower pivoting center C 1  generally perpendicular to the long axis X of the lower runner, and a lower horizontal pivot  433  transversely formed in the lower rib holder  431  for pivotally securing the stretcher rib  22  of the flat-side rib assembly  2   a  to the lower rib holder  431 , thereby allowing the stretcher rib  22  to be universally pivotally secured to the lower runner  4 .  
      Other pivoting means  33 ,  43  may be further modified and used in accordance with the present invention.  
      The rib assembly  2  of the present invention are multiple folds, including triple folds, penta folds, etc., not limited in this invention, thereby providing a multiple-fold umbrella.  
      Each universal pivoting means  33  has its rib holder  331  rotatably held within a socket  30  recessed in the upper notch  3 , having an outside retarding wall  302  defining an acute angle B from the long axis X to the outside retarding wall  302  for retarding an outwardly extended top rib  21  when opening the umbrella, and having an inside retarding wall  303  recessed inwardly in the socket  30  to be opposite to the outside retarding wall  302  for receiving an inwardly retracted top rib  21  when closing the umbrella. The pivot hole  301  is vertically communicated with the socket  30 .  
      Each lower universal pivoting means  43  has its rib holder  431  rotatably held within a socket  40  recessed in the lower runner  4 , having an outside retarding wall  402  defining an acute angle B from the long axis X to the outside retarding wall  402  for retarding an outwardly extended stretcher rib  22  when opening the umbrella, and having an inside retarding wall  403  recessed inwardly in the socket  40  to be opposite to the outside retarding wall  402  for receiving an inwardly retracted stretcher rib  22  when closing the umbrella. The pivot hole  401  is vertically communicated with the socket  40 .  
      Upon opening of the umbrella as shown in  FIG. 10 , the extending of the rib assembly  2  when raising the lower runner  4  will simultaneously tension the umbrella cloth  5  to universally bias all (or four) flat-side rib means  2   a  (aiming four directions of northeast NE, northwest NW, southeast SE, and southwest SW) and to pivotally extend the plural (or two) extremity rib means  2   e  (aiming two directions of east E and west W) to fully open the umbrella. Each flat-side rib means  2   a  will be outwardly biased from the long axis X of the upper notch  3  or lower runner  4  in an acute angle B (e.g., about 60 degrees).  
      Upon closing of the umbrella, the runner  4  is lowered to retract the rib assembly  2  and to close the umbrella cloth  5 . All flat-side rib means  2   a  and all extremity rib means  2   e  are inwardly retracted towards the shaft center O for closing the umbrella. Since each flat-side rib means  2   a  is universally pivoted about the upper notch  3  or lower runner  4 , it may be then universally inwardly biased towards the long axis X to maximally flatten the folded umbrella.  
      Since all universal pivoting means  33  or  43  are generally linearly arranged on the notch  3  or runner  4  to be projectively aligned with the long or latitudinal axis X at a center line of the notch or runner, the rib assembly  2  and cloth  5 , after being folded and closed, will be greatly flattened to minimize the folding volume of the umbrella, thereby being easily conveniently carried, stored or handled. The linear arrangement of the flat-side rib means  2   a  of the present invention can greatly minimize the volume of the folded umbrella to be superior to the prior art which includes the flat-side rib means  2   a  disposed on each flat side portion (not at a center line) of the upper notch or lower runner and can not be maximally flattened for minimizing its folding volume when closing the umbrella.  
      The present invention provides a flat central shaft  1  consisting of a plurality of flat tubes telescopically engaged with one another, and a flat upper notch  3  and flat lower runner  4  to linearly distribute all rib means  2   a ,  2   e  to be projectively aligned with a center line defined at the long axis X of the notch  3  or runner  4 , thereby forming a slim compact pocketable flat folding umbrella.  
      The present invention may be further modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
      The rectangular notch  3  or runner  4  may be made so slim, for example, by setting the length-to-width ratio of its rectangular shape to be 7:1 or other ratio.