Abstract:
A lightening multiple-fold automatic umbrella comprises: a central shaft consisting of a plurality of tubes telescopically engageable with one another; a rib assembly having at least a top rib and a stretcher rib pivotally secured to an upper notch on the central shaft and a lower runner slidably held on the central shaft for securing an umbrella cloth on the rib assembly; an opening spring retained within the central shaft for opening the umbrella; a drag rope retained between the central shaft and the lower runner for pulling the lower runner as upwardly moved when opening the umbrella and extending the rib assembly; and a control module embedded in a grip of the central shaft normally locking the lower runner when closing the umbrella for folding the rib assembly; and operatively unlocking the lower runner when opening the umbrella for extending the rib assembly. By these mechanisms, a multiple-fold automatic umbrella will be produced for quick assembly and convenient operation or maintenance.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,359 granted to the same inventors of this application disclosed a multiple-fold automatic umbrella having lightening umbrella structure, which however requires an elongate control lever ( 52 ) to be pivotally mounted in the grip ( 12 ) by a pivot ( 521 ), thereby causing a complex and inconvenient assembly of the elements of the control means ( 5 ). Meanwhile, the link ( 41 ) of the drag means ( 4 ) should be secured in a link holder ( 42 ) by a pin ( 422 ) and the link holder ( 42 ) is further secured in a lower portion of the lower tube ( 11 ) of the central shaft ( 1 ), thereby causing inconvenience and complexity for assembling the elements of the umbrella. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,616 to Schultes disclosed an umbrella with a mechanism for locking and releasing a slider including a bolt ( 18 ) slidably carried in the handle ( 1 ) and a release button ( 15 ) secured to the bolt ( 18 ). As shown in FIG. 7 of the Schultes patent (,616), the handle ( 1 ) should be separated into a bottom part and a top part, with the two detachable parts provided to define the slide channel ( 1   a ″) and to mount the bolt ( 18 ) and the spring ( 17 ) therebetween to be easily accessible. However, such two parts when combined for assembling the complete handle ( 1 ) will form a “boundary line” at their connection edges, thereby influencing an esthetic decorative effect for the umbrella. The hook portion of the top part engageable and combinable with the groove of the bottom part of the handle should each be made by plastic material (dotted line shown in FIG. 7 of Schultes patent), not suitably made by wooden material. It may therefore be difficult to make the handle ( 1 ) of the umbrella by wooden material and the handle as made of plastic material may decrease its commercial value and ornamental effect in consideration of the noble feeling as enabled by wooden material. 
     The present inventors have found the drawbacks of the conventional multiple-fold automatic umbrella, and invented the present lightening multiple-fold automatic umbrella. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a lightening multiple-fold automatic umbrella comprising: a central shaft consisting of a plurality of tubes telescopically engageable with one another; a rib assembly having at least a top rib and a stretcher rib pivotally secured to an upper notch on the central shaft and a lower runner slidably held on the central shaft for securing an umbrella cloth on the rib assembly; an opening spring retained within the central shaft for opening the umbrella; a drag rope retained between the central shaft and the lower runner for pulling the lower runner as upwardly moved when opening the umbrella and extending the rib assembly; and a control module embedded in a grip of the central shaft normally locking the lower runner when closing the umbrella for folding the rib assembly; and operatively unlocking the lower runner when opening the umbrella for extending the rib assembly, thereby providing a multiple-fold automatic umbrella for quick assembly and convenient operation or maintenance. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an illustration showing an opening umbrella of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional drawing of the present invention when closed. 
     FIG. 3 is an illustration showing an intermediate step for receiving the ball tips of the umbrella ribs within a top periphery of the grip. 
     FIG. 4 shows a folded umbrella following the step as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective exploded view of the control module and the grip of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional drawing when embedding the control module into the grip of the present invention following FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a cross sectional drawing of the grip when viewed from  7 — 7  direction of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the control module and the grip of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional drawing of the grip by assembling the control module of FIG. 8 therein when closing the umbrella. 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional drawing following FIG. 9 by receiving the ball tips within the grip. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in FIGS.  1 ˜ 7 , the multiple-fold automatic umbrella of the present invention comprises: a central shaft  1 , a rib assembly  2 , an opening spring  3 , a drag means  4 , and a control module  5 . 
     The present invention is provided for triple-fold automatic umbrella as shown in the drawing figures as accompanied herewith. However, the number of folds of the umbrella are not limited in the present invention. 
     The central shaft  1  includes: a lower tube  11  having a grip  12  secured to a lower portion of the lower tube  11 , a middle tube  13  telescopically engageable with the lower tube  11 , an upper tube  14  telescopically engageable with the middle tube  13 , and an inner block  15  fixed in an upper portion of the upper tube  14 . 
     The shapes of the tubes  14 ,  13 ,  11  are not limited in this invention. Every two neighboring tubes may be formed with coupling or limiting mechanism between the two tubes to prevent “escape” or separation of one tube from the other. For lightening purpose, the tube may be made of aluminum alloy or other light materials having a cross section of concave hexagonal sides. 
     The rib assembly  2  includes: a top rib  21  pivotally secured to an upper notch  22  formed on an upper portion of the central shaft  1 , a stretcher rib  23  pivotally secured between the top rib  21  and a lower runner  24  slidably hold on central shaft  1 , an intermediate rib  25  pivotally connected to the top rib  21  and having an intermediate connecting rib  26  pivotally connected between the stretcher rib  23  and the intermediate rib  25 , a tail rib  27  pivotally connected to the intermediate rib  25 , and a spring rib  28  connected between the top rib  21  and the tail rib  27 . Each tail rib  27  has a ball tip  271  formed on an outermost end of the rib  27 . 
     The ribs of the rib assembly  2  may be modified to be other multiple-fold structures, not limited in the present invention. 
     The lower runner  24  includes a lower extension tube  240  protruding downwardly from the lower runner  24 , having a first engaging hole  241  formed in a lowermost end portion of the lower extension tube  240 , and a second engaging hole  242  formed in the lower extension tube  240  and positioned above the first engaging hole  241 , each engaging hole  241 ,  242  engageable with a sliding latch  52  slidably held in the control module  5 . 
     The opening spring  3  has a lower spring end  31  retained on a rope holder  42  of the drag means  4  and retained in a lower portion of the lower tube  11 ; and an upper spring end  32  retained on the inner block  15  secured in an upper portion of the upper tube  14 . 
     The drag means  4  includes: a rope  41  having a lower rope end  411  secured in a rope holder  42  fixed within a lower portion of the lower tube  11 , an upper roller  43  rotatably held in an upper portion of the upper tube  14 , a lower roller  44  rotatably mounted on the lower runner  24 , and an inner sleeve  45  disposed in the upper tube  14  and secured to an upper portion of the upper tube  14  for slidably disposing the opening spring  3  about the inner sleeve  45 . The rope  41  is directed upwardly from the lower rope end  411  through the inner sleeve  45  to be wound on the upper roller  43 , and then deflected downwardly to be wound on the lower runner  44 , and finally deflected upwardly to have an upper rope end  412  fixed in an upper end or in the inner block  15  of the upper tube  14 . 
     The rope holder  42  of the drag means  4  is secured in a bottom portion of the lower tube  11  by a fastening device  120  which may be a screw, a nail or a pin inserted transversely through the grip  12  for simultaneously fixing the lower tube  11  and a latch holder  53  of the control module  5  within the grip  12 ; having a socket  421  formed in the rope holder  42  for passing the lower rope end  411  of the rope  41  through the rope holder  42  to be tied as a knot to be locked within the socket  421  in the rope holder  42 . Such a knot of the lower rope end  411  of the rope  41  may be quickly secured in the rope holder  42  for easily assembling the umbrella of the present invention. 
     The control module  5  includes: a push button  51  slidably held in a button hole  122  formed through the grip  12  adjacent to a first side A of the central shaft  1 , a sliding latch  52  slidably held in a latch holder  53  embedded in an interior  121  recessed in the grip  12 , and a restoring spring  54  resiliently retained between the sliding latch  52  and the latch holder  53  adjacent to a second side B of the shaft  1  for normally urging the sliding latch  52  and the push button  51  resiliently contacted with the sliding latch  52  to protrude the push button  51  outwardly towards the first side A from the button hole  122  of the grip  12  ready for a depression thereon when opening the umbrella. 
     The push button  51  has an extension disk  511  formed on an inner end of the button  51  to be resiliently contacted with the sliding latch  52 , with the extension disk  511  outwardly retarded on an inside wall around the button hole  122  of the grip  12  when resiliently urged towards the first side A of the shaft  1  by the sliding latch  52  as restored by the restoring spring  54 . 
     The sliding latch  52  is reciprocatively slidably engageable with a sliding hole  531  transversely formed in an upper portion of the latch holder  53 , having an oval-shaped hole  521  longitudinally formed through a central portion of the sliding latch  52  with the oval-shaped hole  521  slightly larger than an outside diameter of the lower extension tube  240  of the lower runner  24 , and a latch portion  522  formed on an edge portion of the oval-shaped hole  521  adjacent to the second side B of the shaft  1  and tapered downwardly towards the central portion of the latch  52  to be engageable with either engaging hole  241 ,  242  in the lower runner  24  when closing the umbrella. 
     The latch holder  53  includes: a sliding hole  531  transversely formed in an upper end portion of a sleeve member  50  to be slidably engageable with the sliding latch  52  within the sliding hole  531 , a restoring spring  54  retained in an inside portion of the sliding hole  531  adjacent to the second side B of the shaft  1  to urge the latch  52  and push button  51  outwardly towards the first side A of the shaft  1 , a central hole  532  longitudinally formed in a central portion of the latch holder  53 , allowing a downward movement of the lower extension tube  240  of the lower runner  24  and the tubes  14 ,  13  of the central shaft  1  for engaging each engaging hole  241 ,  242  in the lower runner  24  with the latch portion  522  formed on the sliding latch  52  when closing the umbrella; with the sleeve member  50  embedded in the interior  121  in the grip  12  and disposed about a bottom portion of the lower tube  11  and fixed in the grip by a fastening device  120  which may be a screw, a nail or a pin. 
     When closing the opened umbrella as shown in FIG. 1, the lower runner  24  is pulled downwardly to retract the rib assembly  2  to engage the first engaging hole  241  in the lower runner  24  with the latch portion  522  of the sliding latch  52  as shown in FIG. 2, the ball tips  271  are still remained at outside of the top periphery  123  of the grip  12 . The ball tips  271  may be further retracted towards the shaft  1  and the grip  12  may also be further depressed towards the shaft in order to receive the ball tops  271  within the periphery  123  of the grip and the lower extension tube  240  of the runner  24  is simultaneously retracted into the interior  121  of the grip to engage the second engaging hole  242  on the runner  24  with the latch portion  522  as shown in FIGS. 3,  4  to finally fold the umbrella more stably. The total length of the folded umbrella of this invention can thus be further shortened (FIG. 4) for making a mini compact foldable umbrella. 
     Upon depression of push button  51  to disengage the second engaging hole  242  of the runner  24  from the latch portion  522  of the sliding latch  52 , the opening spring  3  will urge the tubes  14 ,  13  of the central shaft  1  upwardly, and raise the runner  24  to extend the rib assembly  2  for opening the umbrella from FIG. 4 to FIG.  1 . The ball tips  271  seem to be obstructed by the periphery  123  of the grip  12  as shown in FIG.  4 . Undoubtedly, the spring force of the opening spring  3  for extending the tubes  14 ,  13  of the shaft  1  and the ribs of the rib assembly  2  will instantly “pull” the tips  271  outwardly to “escape” from the periphery  123  of the grip  12 , thereby causing no influence for a smooth opening of the umbrella of the present invention. 
     The control module  5  of the present invention is formed as a “module” easily inserted, embedded, assembled in the grip or easily dismantled from the grip, simplifying the production of a lightening multiple-fold automatic umbrella. 
     The rope holder  42  of the drag means  4  is directly inserted in an interior at a bottom portion of the lower tube within the grip  12 , thereby efficiently saving the volume for accommodating such a rope holder  42  in such a “tiny” grip adapted for miniaturizing a compact folding umbrella. 
     The simplified structure for making the control means to be a “module” as taught by this application will facilitate the production of a multiple-fold automatic umbrella and will help a well maintenance of the umbrella, thereby being superior to the prior arts. 
     The latch holder  53  of the control module  5  of the present invention may be further modified as shown in FIGS.  8 ˜ 10  for making a wooden grip  12 , which includes: a sliding hole  531  transversely formed in an upper end portion of a bushing  530  disposed about a bottom portion of the lower tube  11  in the grip  12 , a restoring spring  54  retained in the sliding hole  531  outwardly urging the sliding latch  52  and the push button  51 , a central hole  532  longitudinally formed in the latch holder for a downward moving of the lower extension tube  240  of the lower runner  24  when closing the umbrella, and a sleeve member  50  embedded in the interior in the grip  12  and lined between an inside wall of the grip  12  and the bushing  530  of the latch holder  53 ; with the sleeve member  50  pre-embedded into the interior  121  in the grip  12  for a precise positioning in the grip which is then drilled with a button hole  122  in the grip  12  for slidably holding the push button  51  through the button hole  122 , whereby the bushing  530  of the latch holder  53  is then engaged with the sleeve member  50  to align the sliding latch  52  with the push button  51  in the grip  12 . 
     The sleeve member  50  is formed with a pair of lugs  501  on an upper flange of the sleeve member to be engaged with a pair of lug holes  533  diametrically formed in opposite ends of the upper portion of the bushing  530 , and a notch  502  recessed in a front portion of the upper flange of the sleeve member  50  to be projectively aligned with the push button for allowing a rearward depression of the push button  51 . 
     The grip  12  as embedded therein with the latch holder  53  and sleeve member  50  is especially recommended for making a wooden grip since all the elements of the control module  5  are made as module units by molding process for an easy embedding, assembly, or detachment in the wooden grip, thereby enhancing the commercial value and decorative effect of an umbrella having wooden grip rather than a plastic grip. 
     The present invention may be further modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.