Patent Publication Number: US-6668845-B2

Title: Multiple-fold automatic umbrella as ergonomically constructed and manipulated

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A prior art of U.S. patent application of Ser. No. 09/507,892 filed on Feb. 22, 2000 (now granted) by the same inventors of this application disclosed a rib assembly for multiple-fold umbrella including a plastic intermediate rib ( 23 ) obtained by injection molding process to form a cross section of H shape. The intermediate rib ( 23 ) is integrally formed with an inner joint and an outer joint by molding process for pivotally connecting other ribs of the rib assembly. Either inner or outer joint of the intermediate rib ( 23 ) should have an “enough” width in order for properly connecting the relevant ribs and therefore can not be minimized to form a slim umbrella rib, thereby causing heavy weight, and inconvenient handling. 
     Meanwhile, a conventional control means of an automatically opening and closing umbrella including a push button and a rope is not formed as a compact unit and may not be operated quite smoothly. 
     The present inventor has found the drawbacks of the conventional umbrellas, and invented the present multiple-fold umbrella ergonomically constructed and manipulated. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a multiple-fold automatic umbrella including a central shaft, a rib assembly including a top rib, a stretcher rib, at least an intermediate rib and a tail rib pivotally connected one another and pivotally connected to the central shaft, an opening spring, a plurality of closing springs and a control device for controlling the opening and closing of the umbrella; with the intermediate rib formed by extrusion molding process to have a cross section of two-lobe shape having an inner joint and an outer joint respectively connected on opposite ends of the intermediate rib for pivotally connecting inner and outer ribs of the rib assembly for obtaining a light-weight and proper strength of the rib assembly. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a multiple-fold automatic umbrella including a control device having a multiple-fold rope respectively wound on a plurality of rollers respectively rotatably mounted on a lower runner and an upper notch generally disposed on a single side of the central shaft for an ergonomic assembly and maintenance; and a closing latch pivotally mounted in a push button of the control device, which can be smoothly pivoted and can be biased downwardly by plural tubes of the central shaft when closing the umbrella to prevent from unexpected closing of the umbrella after opening the umbrella. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an illustration showing an opening umbrella of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the intermediate rib and the spring rib of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the intermediate rib. 
     FIG. 4 shows the coupling ring adapted for coupling the intermediate rib with the spring rib. 
     FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the intermediate rib with the other ribs of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a partial sectional drawing of the rib assembly of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional drawing of the present invention when closed. 
     FIG. 8 is an illustration showing the guiding rollers and the rope of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional drawing showing the depression of the push button for opening the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 shows the closing operation of the control means from an opening umbrella. 
     FIG. 11 shows a folded umbrella of the present invention having the closing latch slightly modified. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in the drawing figures, the multiple-fold automatic umbrella of the present invention comprises: a central shaft  1 ; a rib assembly  2  pivotally secured to the central shaft  1  having an umbrella cloth  2   a  secured on the rib assembly  2 ; an opening spring  3  retained in the central shaft  1 ; a plurality of closing springs  4  secured on the rib assembly  2 ; and a control means  5  majorly formed on the central shaft  1 . 
     The central shaft  1  includes: a lower tube  11  having a grip  12  secured to the lower tube  11 , a middle tube  13 , an upper tube  14  and an uppermost tube  15  telescopically engaged with one another to form the shaft  1 , and an upper notch  16  formed on a top of the shaft  1  having an inner block or inner holder  161  formed in the top of the shaft  1 . 
     The rib assembly  2  includes: a top rib  21  having its inner end  211  pivotally secured to the upper notch  16 , a stretcher rib  22  having an inner end  221  pivotally connected to a lower runner  20  slidably held on the shaft  1 , an intermediate rib  23  having an inner end of the rib  23  connected with an inner joint  231  which is pivotally connected with an outer end  222  of the stretcher rib  22  and is also pivotally connected to an outer portion of the top rib  21  by a connecting rib  24 , a tail (or outer) rib  25  pivotally connected to the intermediate rib  23  by an auxiliary intermediate rib  23   a,  a spring rib  26  juxtapositionally slidably coupled to the intermediate rib  23  by a coupling ring  230 , and an auxiliary spring rib  26   a  pivotally connected between the intermediate rib  23  and the tail rib  25 . 
     The present invention may be provided for use as a quadruple-fold umbrella, but may also be used as triple-fold, penta-fold or multiple-fold umbrella, not limited in the present invention. 
     As to the raw materials for making the ribs of the rib assembly  2 , the top rib  21  and the stretcher rib  22  may be made of aluminum alloy; spring ribs  26 ,  26   a  made of steel; and the tail rib  25  made of reinforced plastics such as FRP or carbon fiber, or metals. 
     The intermediate rib  23  especially as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is formed by plastic extrusion molding process to have a cross section of two-lobe shape to reinforce the mechanical strength of the rib  23  and also to smoothen the contour of the rib (due to the lobe shape) without forming acute edge portions of the rib for enhancing the esthetic effect, minimizing volume and weight of the rib, thereby forming a slim compact umbrella. 
     The intermediate rib  23 , after being extruded by extrusion molding process, is then connected with the inner joint  231  and the outer joint  232  on the inner and outer ends of the rib  23  for pivotally connecting the other ribs of the rib assembly  2 . Either inner joint  231  or outer joint  232  may be made by plastic injection molding process and then connected with the intermediate rib  23 . Therefore, there is no need to prepare a “big” mold for integrally forming the intermediate rib  23  with both joints  231 ,  232  disposed on opposite ends of the rib  23  as made in the prior art, thereby saving the production cost especially the mold cost. 
     The present invention further comprises a lining bracket  27  formed or embedded in between the inner joint  231  of the intermediate rib  23  and the outer end  222  of the stretcher rib  22  as shown in FIGS. 5,  6 . The bracket  27  may be a plate member made by pressing or other mechanical processing methods. 
     The lining bracket  27  includes: a pivot hole  271  formed in an outer portion of the bracket  27  for pivotally connecting the inner joint  231  with the outer end  222  of the stretcher rib  22  by a pivot  231   a,  a lug  272  protruding downwardly from the bracket  27  through a lug hole  223  formed in an outer portion of the stretcher rib  22  for pivotally connecting an inner end  261  of the spring rib  26 , and a hook portion  273  formed on an inner portion of the bracket  27  for fastening an outer spring end  42  of the closing spring  4  of which an inner spring end  41  is secured to an outer portion  212  of the top rib  21 . 
     The lining bracket  27  plays a plurality of roles and functions as follows: 
     1. Providing means for pivotally connecting plural ribs  26 ,  22 ,  23  within the narrow or tiny area among those ribs; 
     2. Fastening the closing spring  4  without obstructing the pivotal connection of the relevant ribs of the rib assembly  2 ; 
     3. Reinforcing the joining parts including the intermediate rib  23 , the stretcher rib  22  and the spring rib  26  since the bracket  27  is provided at a central position in the inner joint  231  and the outer portion of the stretcher rib  22  for preventing twisting or deformation of the ribs. 
     The outer joint  232  of the intermediate rib  23  is pivotally connected with an inner end  23   i  of the auxiliary intermediate rib  23   a  by a pivot  232   a  and the outer joint  232  is also pivotally connected with an inner end  261   a  of the auxiliary spring rib  26   a  by a collar  232   b;  with the inner end  23   i  of the auxiliary intermediate rib  23   a  also pivotally connected with an outer end  262  of the spring rib  26 ; with the outer joint  232  having a bottom interior provided for stably accommodating the inner end  23 I of the auxiliary intermediate rib  23   a  and the outer end  262  of the spring rib  26  for resisting wind force impacting the umbrella cloth and ribs. 
     The auxiliary intermediate rib  23   a  may also be made by plastic extrusion process having a cross section with upper convex portion and bottom concave portion as shown in FIG. 5, but the shapes of the rib  23   a  being not limited in this invention. 
     The tail rib  25  has an inner joint  251  pivotally connected with an outer end  23   t  of the auxiliary intermediate rib  23   a  by a pivot  251   a,  and also pivotally connected with an outer end  262   a  of the auxiliary spring rib  26   a  by a pivot  251   b.    
     The coupling ring  230  is formed with a two-lobe hole  230   a  to be engaged with the intermediate rib  23  having the cross section of two-lobe shape, and also formed with a round hole  230   b  in the ring  230  juxtapositioned to the two-lobe hole  230   a  for slidably engaging the spring rib  26  with the round hole  230   b  as shown in FIGS. 2,  4 . 
     The opening spring  3  for opening the umbrella has a lower spring end  31  retained at a lower portion of the central shaft  1  with the spring  3  disposed around an inner sleeve  17  secured to the inner block  161  of the shaft  1 , and an upper spring end  32  retained against the inner block  161 . 
     Each closing spring  4  has its inner spring end  41  pivotally connected with the top rib  21  and an outer spring end  42  secured to the lining bracket  27  for pivotally connecting the intermediate rib  23 , the stretcher rib  22  and the spring rib  26  for smoothening the umbrella-closing operation. 
     The control means  5  includes: a push button  51  slidably held in the grip  12  and contacted with a sliding ring  50  slidably held in a base holder  121  fixed in the grip  12 ; an opening latch  52  fixed in an upper portion of the sliding ring  50  for engaging a latch hole H respectively formed in the tubes  13 ,  14 ,  15  of the shaft  1  when closing the umbrella as shown in FIG. 7; a tension spring  52   s  retained between the sliding ring  50  and the base holder  121  for normally urging the sliding ring  50  and the push button  51  outwardly ready for a depression on the push button  51 ; whereby upon depression of the push button  51  to disengage the opening latch  52  from the latch hole H, the opening spring  3  will extend the tubes of the shaft  1  and the rib assembly  2  for opening the umbrella; a closing latch  53  pivotally mounted in the push button  51  by a pivot  531  having an arcuate shoulder portion  532  or  532   a  formed on an actuating end of the closing latch  53 , with the closing latch  53  normally horizontally lifted as restored by a restoring spring  54  retained in the button  51  to be retarded on a latch hole  501  formed in the sliding ring  50  (FIG.  10 ), whereby upon closing of the umbrella to fold and lower the tubes  15 ,  14 ,  13  of the central shaft  1 , the closing latch  53  will be downwardly biased by the ends of the tubes  15 ,  14 ,  13  (FIG. 7) to prevent from unexpected umbrella-closing operation after depressing the push button  51  for opening umbrella (FIG.  9 ); and a locking head  55  secured with a rope  56  directed through an interior in the central shaft  1  and the lower runner  20  towards the upper notch  16  of the shaft  1 , with the locking head  55  engaged with an engaging hole  101  formed in a lower inner sleeve  10  fixed in the lower tube  11  in the grip  12  when closing the umbrella (FIG.  7 ). 
     Upon closing the umbrella, the push button  51  is depressed inwardly to allow the closing latch  53  to thrust the locking head  55  to be disengaged from the engaging hole  101 , the closing springs  4  will restore to close the umbrella from FIG. 1 to FIG.  10 . After re-setting the folded umbrella from FIG. 10 to FIG. 7 by compressing the tubes of the shaft  1  and the opening spring  3 , the locking head  55  as guided by the convex spring plate  58  will be re-engaged with the hole  101  for completely closing and folding the umbrella. 
     The arcuate shoulder portion  532  (as shown in FIGS. 7,  9 ) of the closing latch  53  is formed by rotatably mounting a miniature roller on the actuating end of the closing latch  53 , whereby upon closing of the umbrella by lowering the tubes of the shaft  1  to downwardly bias the latch  53 , the miniature roller  532  on the latch  53  will provide a rolling contact with the tube surface of the tube of the central shaft, thereby preventing from noise pollution caused from the closing (or opening) operation of the umbrella. Meanwhile, the roller  532  as giving a smooth rolling contact between the latch  53  and the shaft, the rising of the tubes of the shaft  1  when opening the umbrella (from FIG. 9 to FIG. 10 or FIG. 1) will not be retarded by the latch  53  even under a resilience of the restoring spring  54  of the latch  53  (Note: The spring force of the restoring spring  54  is greatly smaller than that of the opening spring  3 ). 
     The arcuate shoulder portion of the closing latch  53  may also be modified as a simple arcuate surface  532   a  as shown in FIG. 11 to further simplify the construction of the present invention. 
     The rope  56  as shown in FIGS. 1,  7  and  8  includes: an inner rope end  561  secured to the locking head  55 ; a first upper guiding roller  562  rotatably mounted in the inner holder (or block)  161  for winding the first rope section S 1  from the inner rope end  561 ; a first lower guiding roller  563  rotatably mounted in a first cavity  571  formed in a lower guiding-roller holder  57  provided in the lower runner  20  for winding a second rope section S 2  as directed from the first upper guiding roller  562 ; a second upper guiding roller  564  rotatably mounted in the inner holder  161 (positioned above the first upper guiding roller  562 ) for winding the third rope section S 3  as led from the first lower guiding roller  563 ; a second lower guiding roller  565  rotatably mounted in a second cavity  572  formed in the lower guiding-roller holder  57  for winding the fourth rope section S 4  as directed from the second upper guiding roller  564 ; and a fifth rope section S 5  directed from the second lower guiding roller  565  towards the outer rope end  566  fixed in the inner holder (or block)  161  or in the upper notch  16 , thereby forming a penta-fold rope (S 1 ˜S 5 ) or multiple-fold rope. 
     The number of rollers, the rope sections and folds of the rope are not limited in this invention. The penta-fold rope  56  as illustrated may be used for quadruple-fold, penta-fold or any other multiple-fold umbrella. 
     The rollers are generally disposed on a single (left of right) side of the central shaft  1  for an easier assembly and maintenance of the present invention. The lower guiding-roller holder  57  further includes an extension plate  573  protruding downwardly from the holder  57  to be firmly secured on the lower runner  20  by a fastening wire  201 . 
     The construction of the elements of the present invention as well as the manipulation of the umbrella of this invention are so ergonomic, thereby being superior to the prior arts of conventional multiple-fold automatic umbrellas including the multiple-fold umbrellas. 
     The present invention may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The rib assembly of the present invention may also be used for multiple-fold umbrella, besides the multiple-fold automatic umbrella.