Abstract:
The invention relates to a telescoping umbrella, particularly a sun or rain umbrella, having a receiving tube and a telescoping tube displaceably and lockably located therein, having an umbrella roof connected to the telescoping tube in an articulating manner, the umbrella roof being adjustable by means of a cable or Bowden wire running inside the tubes, and having an actuating device for the cable or Bowden wire, characterized in that the actuating device comprises a winch for the cable or Bowden wire, the winch being located inside the receiving tube.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a telescoping umbrella, in particular a parasol or rain umbrella, having a receiving tube and a telescoping tube situated therein so it is displaceable and lockable, having a canopy linked to the telescope tube, the canopy being adjustable using a cable pull or Bowden cable running inside the tubes, and having an actuating unit for the cable pull or Bowden cable. 
     2. Description of Related Arts 
     Umbrellas of the type under discussion have been known for many years from the leisure and garden field. Through their telescoping implementation, the canopy linked on the telescope tube may be brought into various positions in these umbrellas and locked there, whereby, on the one hand, upon usage of the umbrella, adaptability to different sun positions, wind directions, or the like is achieved. On the other hand, the umbrella may be collapsed easily to a small size when not in use, so that it may be stowed more easily. 
     Telescoping umbrellas are typically implemented as so-called hanging or suspended umbrellas, in which a canopy linked hanging on the upper end of the telescope tube, i.e., the end of the telescope tube facing away from the receiving tube, is spaced apart in the radial direction from the foot used to anchor the umbrella. The tubes supporting the canopy, i.e., the telescope tube and the receiving tube, typically have a curvature in the form of a circular arc for this purpose. The radial spacing of the canopy from the foot which is thus provided achieves the advantage that the area covered by the canopy may be exploited better. 
     Implementing a telescoping umbrella of the type under discussion in such a way that its canopy may be opened and closed using a cable pull or Bowden cable running inside the tubes is known from DE 10 2005 047 323 A1. The cable pull working together with the canopy runs from the upper end of the telescope tube—i.e., from the linkage point of the canopy on the telescope tube—through the telescope tube down to its lower end for this purpose and exits from the receiving tube there through an L-shaped connector part, on which a deflection unit is implemented. For this purpose, an oblong recess extending over the displacement path is implemented in the receiving tube. A cable winch, which is connected to the L-shaped connector part and is situated outside the receiving tube, and on which a hand crank is fastened, is used as the actuating unit for the cable pull. 
     It is to be viewed as disadvantageous in the known umbrella that to retract or extend the telescope tube, the housing of the cable winch must be grasped, which is in turn situated directly on the oblong recess implemented on the receiving tube. The danger thus exists that the user will pinch his fingers when actuating the hand crank and/or when retracting or extending the telescope tube. The actuating unit, including the hand crank, protruding to the exterior of the receiving tube also represents a hazard point, because people running around it could easily have their clothing hooked thereon. In addition, the construction shown has proven to have the disadvantage that the actuating unit is strongly subjected to environmental influences such as rainwater, dirtying by dust, and the like, which negatively impairs its functional capability and service life. Finally, the outwardly protruding actuating unit worsens the visual overall impression of the umbrella. 
     The present invention is therefore based on the object of designing and refining a telescoping umbrella of the type cited at the beginning in such a way that it can be operated reliably and easily, is made visually attractive, and its actuating unit for the cable pull or Bowden cable has a long service life. 
     SUMMARY OF VARIOUS EMBOPDIMENTS 
     The preceding object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim  1 . Accordingly, the telescoping umbrella under discussion is characterized in that the actuating unit comprises a winch for the cable pull or Bowden cable, the winch being situated inside the receiving tube. 
     It has first been recognized according to the invention that a winch, on which the cable, line, or the like of the cable pull or Bowden cable can be wound, is suitable for actuating the cable pull or Bowden cable. This winch has been refined according to the invention in that it is now situated inside the receiving tube instead of being implemented—as previously—as a component projecting outside the receiving tube. It is to be noted that alternatively to a winch, of course, comparable other means which conveys the cable pull or Bowden cable may be used. Different advantageous effects result through the configuration of the winch inside the receiving tube. Firstly, through the sheathing of the winch by the receiving tube, the mechanical functional elements of the winch are extensively protected from external environmental influences, in particular dirtying, rainwater, or the like, so that a longer service life results because of less wear, less corrosion, and less aging in general. Simultaneously, the advantage results for the user of the umbrella that its handling is safer, because the moving mechanical elements of the actuating unit are extensively housed inside the receiving tube. Hooking on protruding parts is thus prevented. 
     A further technical advantage of the umbrella according to the invention results in that the deflection unit required up to this point, which is situated in the L-shaped connector part, for guiding the cable pull or Bowden cable out of the receiving tube, is no longer required, so that the friction of the cable and thus the force required for adjusting the canopy are decreased, because the cable force is transmitted without deflection. 
     Finally, the visual impression of the umbrella according to the invention is significantly improved in that the winch is no longer externally visible. 
     In a preferred design of the umbrella according to the invention, the winch is associated with the telescope tube. The special advantage results in this way that the spacing between the winch and the canopy always remains equal. An opening/closing movement of the canopy possibly to be triggered by the cable pull or Bowden cable is therefore independent of how far the telescope tube is inserted into the receiving tube and/or withdrawn therefrom. The length of the umbrella can thus be changed arbitrarily, without colliding with the mechanism for adjusting the canopy. Furthermore, the advantage results that the telescope tube may plunge particularly far into the receiving tube, whereby a smaller storage space of the umbrella results in the collapsed state. 
     Alternatively, it is conceivable to associate the winch with the receiving tube, whereby a position of the winch which is independent of the insertion state of the telescope tube results. A configuration of this type may be advantageous for umbrellas having particularly large telescope displacement, in order to ensure that the winch is also accessible to the user when the telescope tube is extended. 
     The cable pull or Bowden cable can be implemented to fulfill various functionalities, in particular to adjust the canopy in different ways. In a preferred embodiment, it is implemented so that the canopy may be opened and closed using it. For this purpose, the cable pull or Bowden cable is connected directly or indirectly to a stretching mechanism of the canopy, so that the canopy is open upon tensioning of the cable pull or Bowden cable, for example. 
     Alternatively or additionally, the cable pull or Bowden cable can work together with the canopy in such a way that the canopy may be inclined by actuating the cable pull or Bowden cable and/or can be locked in an inclined position. An inclination of the canopy may be advantageously implemented by an articulated fastening of the canopy on the telescope tube. Depending on the embodiment of the linkage mechanism of the canopy, by tensioning the cable pull or Bowden cable, an inclination of the canopy relative to the horizontal plane can be initiated and/or the articulated suspension of the canopy may be locked in a specific position. 
     From a manufacturing and/or assembly viewpoint, it is favorable to mount the winch in a housing so it is rotatable. The housing is then in turn connected to the telescope tube or—with corresponding assignment of the winch—to the receiving tube. In particular in the event of the assignment of the winch to the telescope tube, which is described as preferable, the design possibility suggests itself of inserting a housing of this type at least partially into the lower end of the telescope tube for fastening. Fundamentally, it is also conceivable to implement the housing integrally with the corresponding tube. Simple manufacturing and subsequent assembly result in any case if the housing is implemented as a separate component, for example, as a plastic part (injection-molded part). Relatively complex housing shapes may also be produced cost-effectively by the injection molding technique. To allow simple assembly, it may also be advantageous to implement the housing as divided. 
     Good accessibility to the actuating unit is achieved even in the extended state of the telescope tube if the winch is situated on the end of the telescope tube facing away from the canopy (i.e., the lower end). The winch may be fastened inside the telescope tube or outside the telescope tube on its end for this purpose. 
     For actuating the winch, it is advantageous to provide a crank which can be connected directly or indirectly—for example, using a gear—to the winch. In order to reduce the risks of injury and promote the external appearance of the umbrella, the crank may be implemented as an element which is detachable from the umbrella, and which is first connected to the winch for the actuation thereof. In the connected state, the crank projects outside the receiving tube, in order to allow the user to actuate the winch comfortably. 
     For this purpose, one or more openings may be implemented in the receiving tube, through which an attachment section of the crank—which is to be connected to the winch—may be inserted. By implementing multiple openings along the displacement path of the telescope—or alternatively a correspondingly extended oblong hole—a connection of the crank to the winch is optionally made possible in different insertion states of the telescope tube. While the implementation of multiple individual openings ensures a high level of protection from contamination, if the opening is implemented as an oblong hole, the telescope tube may also be displaced in the inserted state of the crank. 
     For secure connection, a profile may be implemented on the attachment section of the crank, for example, in the meaning of a square, hexagon, or gearing. Furthermore, the attachment section can be provided with a securing element, which prevents the crank from slipping out of the winch axially. If it is to be necessary to achieve particularly high forces or particularly high speeds using the crank, it can be expedient to interpose a suitable gear. Alternatively or additionally to a manually operated winch, of course, it is also conceivable to drive the winch using a motor. 
     In a further advantageous design of the umbrella, a handle is connected to the telescope tube for manual displacement of the telescope tube. A handle of this type is preferably an ergonomically shaped handle, using which the force needed for retracting or extending the telescope tube may be applied comfortably. In order that a handle of this type is also easily reachable in the extended state of the telescope tube, it is to be situated at the lower end of the telescope tube. Various alternatives are conceivable for connecting the handle to the telescope tube. A connection having a simple construction results if a slotted opening, which extends along the displacement path of the telescope tube, is implemented in the receiving tube. The handle can be connected directly to the telescope tube in this case—for example, welded, screwed, glued, or the like. 
     In regard to the design of the handle, in an advantageous embodiment, it is implemented essentially as a body enclosing the receiving tube on a peripheral section. The advantage thus results that the handle can be supported around the circumference relative to the receiving tube, whereby a stiffer overall design results. Roller bodies may then advantageously be situated between the handle and the receiving tube, whereby the displaceability of the telescope tube is made easier because of decreased friction. 
     Furthermore, the winch is advantageously situated inside the handle. The canopy may then also be adjusted comfortably from the handle—which is primarily used for actuating the telescope tube—because the winch is always located at the same height as the handle. The functional integration thus provided increases the operational friendliness of the umbrella further, because the telescope and the adjustment of the canopy may be actuated without re-gripping. 
     In a further embodiment of the invention, the telescope tube is lockable relative to the receiving tube using an engagement element. This engagement element may be any suitable locking means, a pin, bolt, wedge, or the like being preferred in the design. 
     A technically favorable construction results if the engagement element is fixed in the axial direction on the telescope tube or on the handle and can be engaged with an opening in the receiving tube or a profile in the receiving tube. For this purpose, for example, holes may be introduced into the receiving tube at specific intervals—along the displacement path—in which the engagement element can engage. By fixing the engagement element in the axial direction of the telescope tube, a connection between telescope tube and receiving tube is produced upon engagement in the receiving tube. Instead of one or more openings implemented in the receiving tube, an axially running profile may also be implemented on the receiving tube, for example, in the meaning of gearing, notching, or the like, which then causes axial securing by working together with the engagement element. 
     A mechanically simple and simultaneously secure locking may advantageously be implemented in that the engagement element is implemented as a displaceable pin, the restoring force of a spring holding the engagement element in the engaged state with the receiving tube. It is thus ensured that the engagement element is held—without external force action—in the locked state and a displacement of the telescope tube is only possible by application of a counterforce by the user. 
     Particularly comfortable operation of the locking of the telescope tube can be achieved if the engagement element may be actuated using an operating element linked on the handle. An operating element of this type can be implemented, for example, as a handle-shaped lever, which is easily accessible to the user. To achieve the functionality, the operating element is connected to the engagement element—which is used to lock the telescope tube. This connection can be implemented in different ways, in the simplest case, an integral embodiment of operating element and engagement element being conceivable. Operating element and engagement element are mounted so they are displaceable or tiltable relative to the handle, for example. Alternatively to an integral embodiment, operating element and engagement element may be individual components, which are preferably connected to one another via a cable pull or Bowden cable. A construction of this type offers the advantage of a relatively free—ergonomically favorable—spatial configuration of the elements, because the cable pull or Bowden cable may be deflected easily in different directions. Deflection elements such as rollers or the like may be integrated in the handle for this purpose. 
     In a refinement of the umbrella according to the invention, a support tube is situated parallel to the telescope tube. This support tube is fundamentally a tube designed similarly to the telescope tube, the support tube in particular having a similar length and an equal curvature as the telescope tube. One purpose of the support tube is to increase the stiffness of the overall umbrella design, an increased twist stiffness also being achieved in addition to increased bending stiffness by the parallel configuration of the tubes. The support tube is preferably connected to the telescope tube at their ends facing toward the canopy for this purpose. Alternatively or additionally, the support tube and the telescope tube may be connected to one another at other points. 
     To ensure a secure hold, the receiving tube is then implemented as a double tube to separately receive the telescope tube and the support tube. The receiving tube comprises two separate tubes, which are situated parallel to one another, in this case. The telescope tube and the support tube are thus guided at a constant spacing from one another, whereby the desired high stiffness of the telescope results. The handle for actuating the telescope only has to be connected to one of the two tubes. 
     In an advantageous embodiment, the handle is only connected to the telescope tube using the support tube. In this case, the part of the receiving tube which receives the telescope tube is terminated around its entire circumference, while the part of the receiving tube which receives the support tube has a slotted opening along the displacement path, through which the handle is connected to the support tube. In this case, the handle is thus not directly connected to the telescope tube, but rather the support tube, which is connected at the upper end of the support tube to the telescope tube, is displaced directly by the handle. A construction of this type allows an externally extensively terminated configuration of the winch inside the receiving tube. The danger of injury is thus decreased further and the overall visual impression of the construction is improved further. 
     To ensure a smooth actuation of the telescope, it may be expedient to mount individual or all of the described moving components relative to the receiving tube using one or more roller bearings. Mounting of this type may be advisable in particular for the telescope tube and/or the crank housing and/or the support tube. 
     As already noted, in particular so-called hanging umbrellas are implemented as telescoping umbrellas, in order to thus achieve a radial spacing of canopy in relation to the foot. The tubes needed for suspending the canopy—i.e., the receiving tube, the telescope tube, and optionally an additional support tube—preferably have a curvature in the form of a circular arc at least in the telescoping section for this purpose. Of course, many of the advantages and effects described here may also be achieved using linear tubes—with corresponding umbrella design. 
     It is to be noted that round cross-sectional profiles are particularly suitable for the receiving tube, the telescope tube, and optionally the support tube because of the high buckling resistance on all sides. The buckling resistance may be deliberately increased in specific directions—preferably main load directions—by oval cross-sectional profiles. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       There are now various possibilities for designing and refining the teaching of the present invention advantageously. For this purpose, reference is made, on the one hand, to the patent claims following claim  1  and, on the other hand, to the following explanation of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention on the basis of the drawing. In connection with the explanation of the preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention on the basis of the drawing, preferred designs and refinements of the teaching are also explained in general. In the figures of the drawing: 
         FIG. 1  shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the telescoping umbrella, 
         FIG. 2  shows a side view of the telescoping umbrella shown in  FIG. 1  in two insertion states of the telescope tube, 
         FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view of detail A from  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 4  shows a section along plane B-B from  FIG. 3 , 
         FIG. 5  shows a section along plane A-A from  FIG. 3 , 
         FIG. 6  shows an exploded illustration of the mounting of the winch, 
         FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional view of detail C from  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 8  shows a partially schematic cross-sectional view of detail B from  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of a telescoping umbrella according to the invention in a side view. The umbrella shown is a so-called hanging umbrella, in which the canopy  112  is radially spaced apart from the foot  113  using an arched support construction. The support construction essentially comprises the receiving tube  01 , which is curved in the form of a circular arc, and in which the telescope tube  02 , which is also curved in the form of a circular arc, is situated so it is displaceable and lockable. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the receiving tube  01  is connected fixed to the rotating mast  71 , which is used as an adapter, and which is mounted so it is rotatable (in the horizontal plane) relative to the standing mast  72 . The standing mast  72  is in turn connected fixed to the foot  113 . The canopy  112  is linked on at the upper end—i.e., the end facing toward the canopy  112 —of the telescope tube  02 . A support tube  03  is situated parallel to the telescope tube  02  and is connected at the upper end of the support tube  03  to the telescope tube  02 . Because the support tube  03  is also mounted so it is displaceable relative to the receiving tube  01 , the canopy  112 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , may be brought into different positions by retracting or extending the telescope. The user grasps the handle, which is circled as detail A in  FIG. 1 , for this purpose in order to bring the canopy from an extended state (shown using solid lines in  FIG. 2 ) into a retracted state (shown using dashed lines in  FIG. 2 ). An adaptation of the canopy to various sun positions or a space-saving reduction in size of the umbrella when it is not in use is thus possible. 
       FIG. 3  shows the handle  12 , which is circled in  FIG. 1  as detail A, in a cross-sectional view. It may be seen therein that the telescope tube  02  and the support tube  03  are situated separately from one another in the receiving tube  01 . The telescope tube  02  and the support tube  03  have—as shown in FIG.  5 —a round cross-section, the telescope tube  02  being provided with a diameter multiple times greater than that of the support tube  03 . The receiving tube  01  is implemented as a double tube, which completely encloses the telescope tube  02  around its circumference, while a slotted opening is provided along the displacement path of the telescope for the support tube  03 . 
     According to  FIG. 3 , the handle  12  is fixedly connected using a connection element to the support tube  03 . Because the handle  12  is mounted relative to the receiving tube  01  using the rollers  16 , the handle  12  may be displaced smoothly in the axial direction of the receiving tube  01 . The support tube  03  is thus directly displaced, which—as shown in FIG.  8 —is connected to the telescope tube  02  at the upper end of the support tube  03 . A displacement of the handle  12  thus results in a displacement of the telescope tube  02 , although its lower end—i.e., the end visible in FIG.  3 —is not connected directly to the handle  12 . 
     For simple grasping of the handle  12 , it is ergonomically shaped, as an injection-molded plastic part here. In the handle trough of the handle  12  situated on the left of the receiving tube Olin  FIG. 3 , an operating element  18  is situated so it is pivotable, this element being held by the spring  17 , which is V-shaped in profile, in a starting state. The operating element  18  is rotatably connected to the handle  12  at the top left area. By pressing the operating element  18 , a steel cable  11 , which is connected to the locking pin  15 , is tensioned. The steel cable  11  is guided through the handle  12  using deflection rollers  19 . The locking pin  15 , which is fixed on the handle  12 , engages in a hole of the receiving tube  01  in the non-depressed state of the actuating handle  18 —because of the restoring force of the coiled spring  14  acting on the locking pin  15 . The handle  12 —and thus the support tube  03  and the telescope tube  02 —are thus limited in their displaceability. The locking pin  15  is only drawn out of the hole of the receiving tube  01  by actuating the actuating handle  18 , so that the telescope may then be actuated. Holes are provided in the receiving tube  01  at various positions along the displacement path, at which locking can be performed. 
       FIG. 4  shows a section along plane B-B from  FIG. 3 . A cable  111 , which is used for opening and closing the canopy and for locking the canopy in an inclined position, is partially wound onto a winch  23 . The winch  23  is mounted on the cable shaft  22  so it is rotatable in a housing  21 , the housing  21  in turn being mounted so it is displaceable relative to the receiving tube  01  using rollers  25 . The winch  23  is coupled to the housing  21  using a coiled spring  24 , so that by increasing rotation of the winch  23  relative to a starting position, the coiled spring  24  is tensioned and thus develops a rising counterforce. Upon corresponding winding of the cable  111  on the winch, the counterforce may advantageously be used for the purpose of compensating for forces engaging at the other end of the cable  111 , for example, reducing the force to be applied by the user to stretch out the canopy. In contrast to the illustration from  FIG. 3 , a crank  27  is inserted into the cable shaft  22  of the winch  23  in  FIG. 4 . An attachment section of the crank  27  is implemented as a square for this purpose (compare view from  FIG. 3 ), so that a secure transmission of the torque is ensured. 
     The construction of the housing  21  is further illustrated in  FIG. 6 , where it may be seen that the housing  21  is divided axially into two halves. For smooth mounting of the housing  21 , six rollers  25  are received in recesses of the two housing halves. The winch  23  is pushed onto the cable shaft  22 , engages rotationally fixed therein using a shaft-hub connection and is coupled to the housing  21  using the coiled spring  24 . It is to be noted that the view provided in  FIG. 6  is rotated by 180° relative to the views from  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . Accordingly, the lower area of the housing  21  in  FIG. 6  is inserted into a lower section of the telescope tube  02  according to  FIG. 4  or  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 7  shows the mounting of the telescope tube  02  and the support tube  03  on the upper end of the receiving tube  01  in a cross-sectional view corresponding to detail C from  FIG. 1 . Accordingly, the upper end of the receiving tube  01  is terminated by a cap  61 , the rollers  62 ,  63 , on which the telescope tube  02  and the support tube  03  are roller-mounted, being situated on the cap  61 . The cap  61  seals the upper end of the receiving tube  01  relative to rainwater and dirt. 
     Finally, the linkage of the canopy  112  on the upper end of the telescope tube  02  is shown according to detail B from  FIG. 1  in a partial schematic cross-sectional view in  FIG. 8 . It may be seen that the upper end of the support tube  03  is fastened using the connector part  58  on the telescope tube  02 . The cable  111 , which runs from the winch  23  (compare  FIG. 4 ) through the telescope tube  02 , is redirected at the upper end of the telescope tube  02 , using the roller  54  situated in the joint head  51 , into the canopy  112 . In the exemplary embodiment, the cable  111  may be used for the purpose of opening and closing the canopy  112  and being able to lock it in an inclined position. The canopy  112  is suspended in an articulated way on the joint head  51  for this purpose and may thus be inclined relative to the horizontal plane. 
     To avoid repetition, reference is made to the general part of the description and to the appended patent claims in regard to further advantageous embodiments of the telescoping umbrella. 
     Finally, it is to be expressly noted that the exemplary embodiment described above of the telescoping umbrella according to the invention is only used for explaining the claimed teaching, but this teaching is not restricted to the exemplary embodiment. In particular, it is to be emphasized that the described idea on which the invention is based may fundamentally be applied to any construction of telescoping umbrellas, and accordingly, it is not restricted to the field of suspended or hanging umbrellas.