Patent Publication Number: US-7591274-B2

Title: Economically constructed and environmentally protective umbrella formed with one-piece frame

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,756 (hereinafter called “Prior Art”) disclosed a collapsible disposable umbrella formed with plastic, polyethylene, etc. 
   Reviewing the prior art (FIGS. 14 and 17), the rib assembly (80) consisting of rib (26) and strut (32) is cast as a single unit. Each rib assembly (80) includes an upper hook (84) inserted into an upper hub member (38) and a lower hook (94) inserted into a lower hub member (34). So, a plurality of rib assemblies (80) should be provided for assembling the umbrella. Each rib assembly (80) requires a processing work for inserting the hooks (84, 94) into the hub members (38, 34), thereby increasing the assembly procedures and increasing the production cost when forming the umbrella. 
   The present inventor has found the drawbacks of the prior art, and invented the present environmentally protective umbrella as economically constructed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The object of the present invention is to provide an umbrella comprising: a central shaft having an upper hub formed on a top portion of the central shaft; an one-piece frame having a plurality of rib assemblies integrally formed with an upper ferrule and a lower ferrule, with the upper ferrule secured to the upper hub and with the lower ferrule formed with a lower runner slidably held on the central shaft; and an umbrella cloth or cover secured on the frame; thereby forming an umbrella which can be easily constructed for use; and can also be easily detached, when damaged, for reclaiming the parts or elements in construction of the umbrella for environmental protection purpose. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the elements of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  shows the one-piece frame of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a partially cut-away illustration of the present invention when assembled. 
       FIG. 4  is an illustration showing an opening umbrella of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  shows a folded umbrella from  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention when opened. 
       FIG. 7  shows a folded umbrella from  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8  shows still another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  shows a partially detached rib assembly of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 10  shows an opened umbrella when assembled with umbrella cloth from  FIG. 8 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the umbrella of the present invention comprises: a central shaft  1 ; an one-piece frame  20  consisting of a plurality of rib assemblies  2 ; an upper hub  3  secured or formed on a top portion  11  of the central shaft  1 ; a lower runner  4  slidably held on the central shaft  1 ; a catch means  5  formed on the upper hub  3  or on the shaft  1 ; and an umbrella cloth (or cover or canopy)  6  secured on the frame  20 . 
   All the elements or the parts of the present invention may be made of plastic materials or other suitable materials. 
   The central shaft  1  has its lower portion formed as a grip or handle  12 . The grip  12  may be integrally formed with or detachably assembled to the shaft  1 . 
   The one-piece frame  20  is integrally formed by plastic molding processes to have a plurality of rib assemblies  2  integrally formed with an upper ferrule  30  of the upper hub  3  and also integrally formed with a lower ferrule  40  of the lower runner  4 . 
   Each rib assembly  2  is integrally formed and includes: a top rib  21  integrally secured to the upper ferrule  30  of the upper hub  3 , a stretcher rib  22  integrally secured to the lower ferrule  40  of the lower runner  4 , and an intermediate rib  23  integrally connected between the top rib  21  and the stretcher rib  22 . 
   The top rib  21  has an inner end portion of the top rib  21  formed as an inner notched portion  211  between the top rib  21  and the upper ferrule  30  to serve as an inner pival portion or inner living hinge  211  of the top rib  21  to be pivotally secured to the upper ferrule  30 , and an outer end portion of the top rib  21  formed as an outer notched portion  212  between the top rib  21  and the intermediate rib  23  to be an outer pivotal portion or outer living hinge  212  between the top rib  21  and the intermediate rib  23 ; with the intermediate rib  23  bending inwardly about the outer notched portion  212  and juxtapositioned beneath the top rib  21  to reinforcedly support the top rib  21 . 
   The stretcher rib  22  has an inner end portion of the stretcher rib  22  formed as a lower inner notched portion  221  between the lower ferrule  40  and the stretcher rib  22  to serve as a lower inner pivotal portion or lower inner living hinge  221  of the stretcher rib  22  to be pivotally secured to the lower ferrule  40 , and a lower outer end portion of the stretcher rib  22  formed as a lower outer notched portion  222  between the stretcher rib  22  and the intermediate rib  23  to be a lower outer living hinge  222  between the stretcher rib  22  and the intermediate rib  23  for pivotally connecting the stretcher rib  22  with the intermediate rib  23 . 
   The umbrella cloth (or cover)  6  has its inner cloth portion  60  secured to the upper hub  3 , a middle cloth portion  61  secured to the lower outer living hinge  222  between the stretcher rib  22  and the intermediate rib  23  by threads or other fasteners, and an outer cloth portion  62  secured to the outer living hinge  212  by threads or other fasteners. 
   The upper hub  3  includes: a plug member  31  secured to a top portion  11  of the central shaft  1 ; an upper ferrule  30  integrally formed with the top ribs  21  of the frame  20 , and engaged with the plug member  31 , having a male-threaded portion  32  formed on an upper portion of the plug member  31 ; and a cap  33  having a female-threaded portion  332  formed in the cap  33  to be engaged with the male-threaded portion  32  of the plug member  31  and having a flange  331  circumferentially formed on a perimeter of the cap  33  for covering the upper ferrule  30  when engaged with and secured on the plug member  31 . 
   The upper ferrule  30  includes a central hole  301  for passing the male-threaded portion  32  therethrough and a plurality of recesses  302  formed in an annular bottom portion of the upper ferrule  30  to be engaged with a plurality of projections  311  circumferentially formed on the plug member  31  to secure the upper ferrule  30  on the plug member  31  of the upper hub  3 , whereby upon protruding of the male-threaded portion  32  of the plug member  31  through the central hole  301  of the upper ferrule  30  and upon engagement of the cap  33  on the male-threaded portion  32 , the upper ferrule  30  will be firmly retained on the upper hub  3  and on the top portion of the central shaft  1  ( FIG. 3 ). 
   The lower runner  4  includes a slide member  41  defining a cylindrical hole  411  in the slide member  41 ; a lower ferrule  40  integrally formed with the stretcher ribs  22  of the frame  20  and integrally formed or formed on an upper portion of the slide member  41 , having a lower ferrule hole  401  formed through the lower ferrule  40  and communicated with the cylindrical hole  411  to be slidably movable on the central shaft  1 ; and a shoulder portion  402  formed in between the lower ferrule hole  401  and the cylindrical hole  411  to be engaged with the catch means  5  when opening the umbrella ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). 
   If the slide member  41  is not integrally formed with the lower ferrule  40  as aforementioned, the lower ferrule  40  may be formed or secured to the slide member  41  along an interface  40   i  as shown in dotted line of  FIG. 1  by mechanical or chemical joining. 
   The catch means  5  is formed on a lower portion of the upper hub  3  and includes: an annular protrusion  51  circumferentially formed on a lower portion of a plurality of branched pawls  52 , and operatively engaged with the shoulder portion  402  of the lower runner  4 ; and a plurality of slits  53  each formed between every two neighboring branched pawls  52 , whereby upon raising of the runner  4  for extending the rib assemblies and for the engagement of the annular protrusion  51  with the shoulder portion  402  of the lower runner  4  for opening the umbrella ( FIG. 3 ), the lower runner  4  will be locked on the catch means  5  and on the upper portion of the shaft  1  for stably opening the umbrella; and upon lowering of the lower runner  4  to disengage the shoulder portion  402  of the runner  4  from the annular protrusion  51  of the catch means  5 , the runner  4  will then be pulled downwardly for closing or folding the umbrella ( FIG. 5 ). 
   A sleeve  42  is embedded into the cylindrical hole  411  of the slide member  41  of the lower runner  4  and is slidably engaged with the central shaft  1 . By the way, the operation when opening or closing the umbrella will be more smooth since the large hole  411  is now limited by the insertion of said sleeve  42 . 
   The catch means  5  may be modified as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , in which the catch means  5  is resiliently formed in an upper portion of the central shaft  1 , whereby upon raising of the runner  4  when opening the umbrella, the runner  4  may be locked on the catch means  5  for stably opening the umbrella. 
   For closing the umbrella, a lower catch  5   a  is formed in a lower portion of the shaft  1  for engaging a slot  43  formed in the runner  4  when lowering the runner  4  for stably closing the umbrella ( FIG. 7 ). 
   The rib assembly is outwardly connected with a ball tip  23   a  on an outer living hinge  212  between the top rib  21  and the intermediate rib  23  for securing an outer portion of the umbrella cloth  6 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 8˜10 , each rib assembly  2  of the one-piece frame  20  is outwardly extended with an outer rib  25  as connected by a joint  24 . 
   The joint  24  includes an inner hole  241  for engaging an outer portion of the top rib  21  and the intermediate rib  23  as juxtapositioned beneath the top rib  21 ; and an outer hole  242  for engaging the outer rib  25 , thereby extending the length of the rib assembly  2  or extending the diameter of the frame  20 , adapted for securing a large-diameter umbrella cloth or cover  6   a  ( FIG. 10 ) which is larger than that as aforementioned. 
   The present invention is superior to the prior art with the following advantages:
     1. The frame  20  including the plurality of rib assemblies  2  may be integrally formed by molding process to save the assembly cost and procedures as required in the prior art to assemble each rib assembly to the upper hub and the lower hub (or lower runner).   2. For use, the elements or parts of the present invention may be quickly assembled. Once the umbrella is damaged, it will not be disposed and it can be easily detached for reclaiming the elements of the umbrella, such as by regeneration of the plastic elements, thereby saving materials without wasting them.   

   Accordingly, the present invention is economically constructed, and also environmentally protective. 
   The present invention may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.