Patent Publication Number: US-2005115599-A1

Title: Device for securing link to spreader of umbrella

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to umbrella frame and more particularly to an improved device for securing a link to a spreader of an umbrella.  
      2. Description of Related Art  
      Umbrellas or parasols are personal articles for the protection of rain or sun. However, conventional umbrellas are not durable due to, in most cases, weak pivotal means of connecting one component to the other component. A portion of a conventional umbrella frame is shown in  FIGS. 7, 7A , and  8 . As shown, a lower ring  91 , an upper ring  92 , and a spring  93  compressed between the lower ring  91  and the upper ring  92  are provided on an upright shank  90 . A plurality of spreaders  94  are pivotably connected between the upper ring  92  and a plurality of radial ribs  95 . A plurality of links  96  are pivotably connected between the lower ring  91  and the radial spreaders  94 . In detail, the link  96  has an outer hook end  98  pivotably connected to a transverse pin  99  of a coupling member  97  sleeved on a portion of the spreader  94 .  
      However, such design suffered from several disadvantages. For example, a user may intentionally pull the spreaders  94  for test purpose when buying an umbrella. This can exert a downward force (as indicated by arrow) on the coupling member  97  and in an extreme case, cause the hook end  98  to disengage from the pin  99 . Moreover, the connection of the hook end  98  and the pin  99  may be damaged by heavy winds due to wind pressure from the ribs  95 , the spreaders  94 , and the umbrella canopy (not shown). Thus, the need for improvement still exists.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide a coupling device for securing a link to a spreader of an umbrella. The coupling device has the advantages of being structurally robust and durable.  
      To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provides a coupling device for securing one of a plurality of links to one of a plurality of spreaders of an umbrella, the umbrella further including an upright shank having a lower ring pivotably coupled to the links, and an upper ring pivotably coupled to the spreaders which have the other ends pivotably coupled to a plurality of ribs, comprising a sleeve fixedly put on a portion of the spreader other than both ends of the spreader; and a yoke-like member extended downwardly from the sleeve, the yoke-like member including a stop at an inner end, a transverse pin at an outer end, and a cavity between the stop and the pin wherein a flexible outer hook end of the link is inserted into the cavity to pivotably couple to the pin, whereby exerting an external force on the umbrella, for example by high winds, will prevent the outer hook end of the link disengagement from the pin of the yoke-like member.  
      The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of an umbrella frame incorporating a coupling member for securing the link to the spreader according to the invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the coupling member shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the coupling member;  
       FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the umbrella frame of  FIG. 1  in a folded state;  
       FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the umbrella frame of  FIG. 1  in an extended state;  
       FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of a portion of the umbrella frame shown in  FIG. 1 , where downward force is exerted on the coupling member;  
       FIG. 6A  is a detailed view of the area in circle A in  FIG. 6 , where coupling of the link and the spreader is still maintained at the coupling member;  
       FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of a portion of a conventional umbrella frame, where downward force is exerted on the coupling member;  
       FIG. 7A  is a detailed view of the area in circle A in  FIG. 7 , where the link is disengaged from the spreader at the coupling member; and  
       FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the umbrella frame in  FIG. 7 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to FIGS.  1  to  5 , a coupling member  24  for coupling a link  23  to a spreader  21  of umbrella constructed in accordance with the invention is illustrated. As shown, a lower ring  11  including a plurality of equally spaced apart slits  111 , an upper ring  12  including a plurality of equally spaced apart slits  121 , and a spring  13  compressed between the lower and upper rings  11  and  12  are provided on an upright shank  10 . A plurality of spreaders  21  are pivotably connected between the upper ring  12  and a plurality of radial ribs  22 . Each of a plurality of metal links  23  has a flexible inner hook end  231  pivotably connected to the slit  111 . A plurality of ribs  22  each includes a coupling element  221  at a portion other than both ends thereof. The coupling element  221  has a yoke  222  extended from its underside. A plurality of spreaders  21  each has an inner end pivotably connected to the slit  121  and an outer end  25  pivotably connected to the yoke  222 . A plurality of coupling members  24  each is sleeved on a portion of the spreader  21  other than both ends thereof. The coupling member  24  has an elongated, yoke-like portion  241  extended downwardly to form a stop  244  at an inner end, a transverse pin  243  at an outer end, and a cavity  242  between the stop  244  and the pin  243 . A flexible outer hook end  232  of the link  23  is inserted at about a predetermined angle into the cavity  242  to fasten at the pin  243 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 6 A, high winds or a person may exert a downward force (as indicated by an arrow in  FIG. 6 ) on the coupling member  24 . Advantageously, the outer hook end  232  only partially disengages from the pin  243  (i.e., a minimum lateral movement as indicated by another arrow in  FIG. 6A ) in response because an outward and downward movement of the outer hook end  232  is blocked by the stop  244 . Hence, the outer hook end  232  will return to its fully engaged position in the coupling member  24  due to the nature of elasticity of the spreaders  21  and the links  23  once external force is removed.  
      While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.