Patent Abstract:
The disclosure utilizes a driving cord directly penetrating a base for connecting to an upper accommodation. Since the existing driving cord is readily worn out as well as influences the appearance of an integral umbrella, the present invention provides a retrieving structure adapted for a protective device in a collapsible umbrella. The retrieving structure comprises the driving cord having its one end fixed to a pulley tackle and having its other end fixed to the upper accommodation. Wherein, the driving cord disposed between the pulley tackle and the upper accommodation is hidden in a case of an umbrella support. By means of the hidden driving cord, the using life thereof could be extended, and the entire protective device of the umbrella could have an extensive using life as well as a neat appearance.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a retrieving structure, in particular to a retrieving structure adapted for a protective device in a collapsible umbrella. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Umbrellas are articles for daily use. Wherein, since the umbrella is commonly used, the potential danger existing in the corresponding structure is particularly noticed. There is a kind of auto-folding umbrella that is able to be automatically opened and closed via a button. However, the automatic operation of some auto open and close umbrella is merely acted on umbrella ribs; that is to say, the retrieve of the umbrella support still has to be accomplished by manual compressing. Herein, in time of retracting the support, if the compressing is not completely executed at a time, a speedy and powerful spreading of the umbrella would be led by the elasticity of the spring when users loosen their grips. As a result, a latent danger exists while the umbrella is closed, and it is possible to hurt users. 
         [0005]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2   a,    2   b,    3   a,    3   b,    3   c,  and  3   d  show three substantial embodiments of the existing techniques with their security concerns. Wherein,  FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of the conventional techniques.  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  offer a second embodiment of the conventional techniques with the cross-sectional views respectively showing a retrieving state in  FIG. 2   a  and an opening state in  FIG. 2   b  of an umbrella base.  FIGS. 3   a  to  3   d  offer a third embodiment of the conventional techniques with the cross-sectional views respectively showing an opening state in  3   a  and a retrieving state in  3   c  of an umbrella base, as well as with the side cross-sectional views respectively showing  3   a  and  3   c  in  3   b  and  3   a.  Accordingly, the umbrella base  10  of the conventional techniques provides with a driving member (the driving member in  FIG. 1  adopts a slippery block  64 , in  FIG. 2  adopts a sleeve  8 , and in  FIG. 3  adopts a slippery block  64 ), a pulley tackle  62 , a clockwork spring  66 , a clutch (in  FIGS. 1 and 2  adopts a clutch disc  63 , and in  FIG. 3  adopts a ratchet  9 ), and a clutch spring (in  FIGS. 1 and 2  adopts a clutch spring  631 , and in  FIG. 3  adopts a spring sheet  91 ). A driving cord  65  is fixed to the pulley tackle  62 . One end of the driving cord  65  penetrates a space  67  defined on the base  10  for connecting to an upper accommodation. The pulley tackle  62  assists the clockwork spring  66  in storing energy while the pulley tackle  62  rotates clockwise. Whereas, when the driving cord  65  is slackened, the clockwork spring  66  would drive the pulley tackle  62  rotating counterclockwise, so that the driving cord  65  could be retracted. Moreover, the clutch spring would further propel the clutch, so that the pulley tackle  62  could be tightly pressed. A one-way rotating device is disposed between the clutch and the pulley tackle  62 . Whereby, by the cooperation of the clutch and the pulley tackle  62 , the driving cord  65  would be solely retracted by the pulley tackle  62 ; namely, the driving cord  65  would not be loosened. Alternatively, the driving member and the clutch could optionally contact with each other according to the state of the umbrella. Namely, when the umbrella is opened, the driving member would engage with the clutch, so that the clutch would depart from the pulley tackle  62 , from which the driving cord  65  would be free. Comparatively, when the umbrella is closed, a buckle  54  would set the driving member free, so that the driving member would thence stop compressing the clutch. Accordingly, the clutch would densely engage with the pulley tackle  62  via the clutch spring. Concurrently, by means of the one-way rotating device disposed between the pulley tackle  62  and the clutch, the support could merely move along the retracting direction; thus a stretching movement is unable to be accomplished. Therefore, the potential danger is avoided. Nonetheless, since the driving cord  65  connects to the upper accommodation via the space  67  defined in the base, the driving cord  65 , the exterior base, and the upper accommodation are all outwardly exposed to the outside. As a result, the driving cord  65  is readily damaged during the using, and the preferred protective efficiency of the auto open and close umbrella could not be achieved. Moreover, the exposed driving cord  65  also facilely entangles itself with other objects, so an inconvenient using manner adversely emerges; especially, the appearance of the umbrella is affected. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a protective device in a collapsible umbrella that could be safely utilized with a preferred elongated life-span. Moreover, an appearance of the umbrella would not be affected. Accordingly, the disadvantages generated from a fragile driving cord disposed exteriorly could be amended and avoided. 
         [0007]    The present invention in conformity with the present invention applies the following techniques: 
         [0008]    A retrieving structure adapted for a protective device in a collapsible umbrella comprises a driving cord having its one end fixed to a pulley tackle and having its other end fixed to an upper accommodation. Wherein, the driving cord between the pulley tackle and the upper accommodation is hidden in a case of an umbrella support. 
         [0009]    The driving cord drawn from the pulley tackle would sequentially pass through an interstice between a blocking member and the support and a through hole of a linking pipe for being fixed to the upper accommodation. 
         [0010]    Preferably, a spacer is disposed inside the through hole of the linking pipe and extended along an elongated direction of the through hole. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the spacer is disposed through a first axis of the linking pipe. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the spacer adopts a piece of blocking spacer that is stretchingly disposed along the entire through hole of the linking pipe. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the blocking member includes a buckling orifice; the collapsible umbrella further has a buckle for engaging with the buckling orifice; a first groove defined on an outer periphery of the blocking member is positioned away from the buckling orifice for the driving cord to penetrate. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the groove is defined parallel to a second axis of the blocking member. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the groove is defined along the entire outer periphery of the blocking member. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the groove is defined along the partial outer periphery of the blocking member; the blocking member has an aperture defined on an end portion of the groove for communicating with an axial aperture of the blocking member. 
         [0017]    Accordingly, the driving cord could directly penetrate the through hole of the linking pipe and fix to the upper accommodation, so the driving cord would not be exposed outside the umbrella, and the driving cord would be isolated from the exterior. Thus, the ineffectiveness of the protective device in view of the exposed driving cord could be corrected. Moreover, by disposing the driving cord inside the umbrella body, the integral appearance of the umbrella could be more perfect. Further by means of the spacer disposed inside the linking pipe and defined along the stretching direction of the through hole for separating the pulling cord and the driving cord, the pulling cord and the driving cord could independently perform well. Thus, the function of the protective device is further promoted. Concomitantly, the groove that is disposed away from the blocking member is provided for the driving cord to pass through, and the groove could be preferably defined on the surface of the blocking member and traveled along a direction parallel to the second axis of the blocking member. Thereby, the advancing route of the driving cord inside the base becomes streamlined, which decreases the opportunity of damage the driving cord within the base. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing a first embodiment of a conventional protective device of the auto open and close umbrella; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of a conventional protective device in a base of the auto open and close umbrella in closing; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view showing the second embodiment in closing; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment of a conventional protective device in a base of the auto open and close umbrella in opening; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3B  is a side cross-sectional view showing  FIG. 3A . 
           [0023]      FIG. 3C  is a cross-sectional view showing the third embodiment of a conventional protective device in a base of the auto open and close umbrella in closing; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3D  is a side cross-sectional view showing  FIG. 3C ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view showing the present invention in closing; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view showing a base of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view showing the present invention in opening; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view showing the I-I portion of the base in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view showing a continuous spacer disposed inside a linking pipe of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a groove that is disposed on the surface of a blocking member; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of a partial groove that is disposed on the surface of a blocking member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]    The present invention is carefully depicted via the following embodiment. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , an auto open and close umbrella comprises a telescopic umbrella support  1  and collapsible umbrella ribs  2 . Wherein, the support  1  includes a lower accommodation  4  slipperily disposed thereon, an upper accommodation  3  disposed on a top end thereof, and a base  10  disposed at a lower end thereof. Whereby, the umbrella ribs  2  are connected with the support  1  through the upper accommodation  3 , the lower accommodation  4 . The support  1  includes an outer pipe  11 , a center pipe  12 , and an inner pipe  13  telescopically coupled with each other. Moreover, the support  1  further includes a propelling spring  14  disposed therein for correspondingly driving the outer pipe  11 , the center pipe  12 , and the inner pipe  13 . The upper accommodation  3  is disposed at a top portion of the outer pipe  11 , the base  10  is disposed at a bottom portion of the inner pipe  13 , and the lower accommodation  4  is disposed outside the outer pipe  11 . Whereby, while stretching the support  1 , the outer pipe  11  would be placed at the topmost position, and the inner pipe  13  would be placed at the lowermost position. Wherein, the substantial structure and the processes for opening and closing the umbrella known by the person skilled in the art are herein omitted. The detailed protective device and the retrieving structure related to the present invention would be illustrated as follows. 
         [0034]    The description of the following techniques would tag along the third embodiment of the conventional structure. As it should be, the present invention is not limited to the third embodiment of the conventional structure; the first and second embodiments of the conventional structures or other protective devices could be optionally applied. In order to clearly explain the detailed techniques involved in the present invention, the third embodiment of the conventional structure is adopted. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the driving member inside the base adopts a slippery block  64  with an opening  641 . Wherein, a nail  642  is inserted in the opening  641  for limiting the longitudinal movement of the slippery block  64  in the blocking member  55 . The nail  642  is fixed on the base  10 , and a relocating spring  643  is disposed under the slippery block  64 . 
         [0036]    When the umbrella is to be opened, a button  59  on the base  10  is pressed to let a spring knurl  562  depart from an engaging hole (not shown). Accordingly, by means of the propelling spring, the support  1  would be extended and spread, the pulling cord  53  would be pulled, and the lower accommodation  4  would be propped up, so that the umbrella ribs  2  could be stretched out. At the same time, when the buckle  54  is pressed by the slippery block  64 , the slippery block  64  would further compress a protrusion  632  of clutch disc  63  for bringing a clutch disc  63  to rotate. As a result, the clutch disc  63  would squeeze a spring sheet  91 , and the buckling member  63  would depart from a wheel  621  of the pulley tackle  62 . Further, the driving cord  65  would be upwardly pulled by the upper accommodation  3 , and the pulley  62  would be accordingly rotated, so that a spiral spring  66  could be pressed to store energy. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , when the umbrella is to be closed, the button  59  is pressed again to let the buckle  54  depart from a buckling orifice  550 . Whereby, the pulling cord  53  would stop pulling the lower accommodation  4 . Therefore, by means of the relocating spring, the lower accommodation  4  would slip downwardly, and the umbrella ribs  2  are retracted. At the same time, the buckle  54  deviates from the slippery block  64  and thence moves upward under the influence of the relocating spring  643 . Accordingly, the clutch disc  63  would no longer impinge on the slippery block  64 , so that the clutch disc  63  would cooperate with the wheel  621  of the pulley tackle  62  via the spring sheet  91 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , the pulley tackle  62  could merely execute a unidirectional rotation relative to the clutch disc  63 , for instance of a counterclockwise rotation as shown by  FIG. 7 . As a result, while compressing the support  1 , the pulley tackle  62  could rotatively retract the driving cord  65  via the spiral spring  66 . If users loose their grip in time of compressing the support  1 , the driving cord  65  would be tightened, and the pulley tackle  62  could not rotate oppositely in view of the restriction of the clutch disc  63 . Therefore, by means of the tightened driving cord  65 , the support  1  would not bounce, and a protective effect is achieved. 
         [0038]    The present invention comprises the driving cord  65  having its one end fixed to the pulley tackle  62  and having its other end fixed to the upper accommodation  3  through the space inside the support  1 . Wherein, the driving cord  65  would be hidden in a case of the umbrella support  1 . Thus, the driving cord  65  could be prevented from damage during the using, so that the protective device would still execute its function well. Preferably, the integral appearance of the umbrella could be maintained. As it should be, after drawn from the pulley tackle  62 , the driving cord  65  would sequentially pass through an interstice between the blocking member  55  and the support  1  and a through hole of the linking pipe  52 . 
         [0039]    There are two cords in the linking pipe  52 , the pulling cord  53  and the driving cord  65 , and the functions of the two cords are different. Thus, in order to separate the two cords, a spacer is further disposed in the through hole of the linking pipe  52  and extended along an elongated direction of the through hole. Namely, the through hole of the linking pipe is divided into two holes. The spacer is preferably disposed through a first axis of the linking pipe  52 , so that two half holes would be averagely defined in the linking pipe  52 . Also, referring to  FIG. 8 , for a handy processing, the spacer adopts a piece of blocking spacer  521  that is stretchingly disposed along the entire through hole of the linking pipe  52 . Favorably for saving material, the blocking spacer  521  could adopt a disconnected type. Other substantial arrangements of the blocking spacer  521  are not limited as long as the pulling cord  53  and the driving cord  65  are ensured not to interfere with one another. 
         [0040]    In order to let the driving cord  65  have a smooth penetration in the base  10 , a third axis of the pulley tackle  62  is perpendicular to the first axis of the linking pipe  52 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the driving cord  65  is drawn from the upright top of the pulley tackle  62 , so that the driving cord  65  could be disposed right down the linking pipe  52 . A first groove  551  is disposed away from the buckling orifice  550  of the blocking member  55  for the cord to slickly pass through and for lessoning the damage opportunity of the driving cord  65  in the base  10 . Preferably, the first groove  551  is preferably defined along the surface of the blocking member for ensuring a stronger rolling strength of the blocking member and decreasing the difficulty in processing. Besides positioning the first groove along the entire blocking member, a second groove  552  could be partially defined. Referring to  FIG. 10 , when the second groove  552  is adopted, the second groove  552  is extended from a lower portion of the blocking member  55  to a middle portion of the same. Concurrently, in the middle portion of the blocking member  55 , the second groove  552  communicates with an axial aperture of the blocking member via an aperture  553 . Whereby, after passing through the second groove  552 , the driving cord  65  would thence penetrate the aperture  553  to the axial aperture of the blocking member and finally connect with the upper accommodation through the through hole of the linking pipe. In order to keep an identical movement to the cords, the first and second grooves  551 ,  552  are preferably defined parallel to the second axis of the blocking member  55 . 
         [0041]    The present invention takes advantage of hiding the driving cord  65  in the inner space in the support  1  to achieve a preferable operation. Moreover, the buckle or other parts of the umbrella would not interfere with each other, so that the open and close process of the umbrella is ensured to perform like the conventional; other demanding parts are not required, either. Therefore, the protective device can be assured to perform efficiently, and the developing cost is also effectively saved. 
         [0042]    The present invention is not limited by abovementioned embodiments and drawings. Appropriate changes or modification to the disclosure by the person skilled in the art still belongs to the claimed scope.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0