Patent Description:
Roman umbrellas are widely used in leisure places such as squares, beaches, parks and courtyards, providing people with comfortable leisure and cool spaces. A Roman umbrella generally comprises a base, an umbrella column, umbrella fabric, a pull rod, an umbrella runner and umbrella ribs, the umbrella column is used for erecting the umbrella and serves as a support pillar of the umbrella, the umbrella fabric generally covers the ribs, the contraction or extension of the entire umbrella is completed by folding or unfolding the ribs, and the pull rod is located between the ribs and the umbrella column and achieves connection and installation. Nevertheless, the existing outdoor umbrellas are large in size, resulting in a large external package and the problems of inconvenient transport and a large logistic cost. <CIT> discloses a rib assembly that can be packaged retractably for an outdoor umbrella, comprising long ribs and short ribs, wherein when disassembly and packaging are needed, the long ribs can be superimposed and contracted along the length direction; locking mechanisms are arranged on the long ribs and when full extension is needed, the long ribs are locked through the locking mechanisms <CIT> discloses a retractable rib assembly.

An object of the present invention is to provide a rib assembly that can be packaged retractably for an outdoor umbrella, and an outdoor umbrella to solve the foregoing technical problem. The present invention can achieve the disassembly and contraction of the ribs, thereby significantly reducing the package volume.

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention can be solved by the following technical solutions:.

The short ribs comprise short rib bodies and short retractable ribs, and the short retractable ribs can be fully or partially superimposed and contracted in the cavities of the short rib bodies.

The short ribs adopt single-pole structures and the long ribs can be superimposed and contracted along the length direction.

The locking mechanisms may adopt any one of lockpin locking mechanisms, spring bean locking mechanisms, thread tightening and locking mechanisms or handle friction locking mechanisms.

The locking mechanisms adopt lockpin locking mechanisms, one end of each of the short retractable ribs or/and the long retractable ribs is provided with an inner lockhole, one end of each of the short rib bodies or/and the long rib bodies is provided with an outer lockhole, and the inner lockhole and the outer lockhole complete locking through a lockpin.

The locking mechanisms adopt spring bean locking mechanisms, an inner cavity at one end of each of the short retractable ribs or/and the long retractable ribs is provided with a spring bean piece, the short retractable ribs or/and the long retractable ribs are provided with inner spring bean orifices accordingly, the short rib bodies or/and the long rib bodies are provided with outer spring bean orifices accordingly, and convex portions of the spring bean pieces are used to work with the inner spring bean orifices and the outer spring bean orifices and can achieve locking and unlocking.

One end of each of the long retractable ribs is used for articulated fit with an upper umbrella runner, and the other end is used for abutted fit with a long rib body.

An outdoor umbrella with a rib assembly that can be packaged retractably is provided, which comprises the rib assembly in any of the preceding paragraphs, and is a side umbrella or a patio umbrella.

Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following outstanding advantages and effects: Through optimized design of the present invention, long ribs or/and short ribs can achieve mutual contraction and superimposition, which can cause the rib assembly to be superimposed in volume during packaging, thereby significantly reducing the packaging volume and reducing the transport cost.

The features of the present invention can be made more evident with reference to the accompanying drawings and detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention,.

In the figures, <NUM>-umbrella column; <NUM>-umbrella column body; <NUM>-retractable umbrella column; <NUM>-first pull rod; <NUM>-first pull rod body; <NUM>-first retractable pull rod; <NUM>-second pull rod; <NUM>-second pull rod body; <NUM>-second retractable pull rod; <NUM>-long rib; <NUM>-long rib body; <NUM>-long retractable rib; <NUM>-short rib; <NUM>-short rib body; <NUM>-short retractable rib; <NUM>-locking mechanism.

In order to make the technical means, creative features and achieved objects and effects of the present invention easy to understand, the present invention is further illustrated with reference to specific drawings.

As shown in the figures, the present invention provides a rib assembly that can be packaged retractably for an outdoor umbrella. The rib assembly is suitable for use in a patio umbrella or a side umbrella. In general, the rib assembly is also provided with umbrella fabric and comprises long ribs <NUM> and short ribs <NUM>. When disassembly and packaging are needed, the long ribs <NUM> or/and the short ribs <NUM> can be superimposed and contracted along the length direction. Locking mechanisms <NUM> are arranged on the long ribs <NUM> or/and the short ribs <NUM>, and when full extension is needed, the long ribs <NUM> or/and the short ribs <NUM> are locked through the locking mechanisms <NUM>.

Through optimized design of the present invention, the long ribs <NUM> or/and the short ribs <NUM> can achieve mutual contraction and superimposition, which can cause the rib assembly to be superimposed in volume during packaging, thereby significantly reducing the packaging volume and reducing the transport cost.

Preferably, the short ribs <NUM> comprise short rib bodies <NUM> and short retractable ribs <NUM>, and the short retractable ribs <NUM> can be fully or partially superimposed and contracted in the cavities of the short rib bodies <NUM>.

In a preferred embodiment, the short ribs <NUM> adopt single-pole structures, and the long ribs <NUM> can be superimposed and contracted along the length direction.

Here, the long ribs <NUM> comprise long rib bodies <NUM> and long retractable ribs <NUM>, and the long retractable ribs <NUM> can be fully or partially superimposed and contracted in the cavities of the long rib bodies <NUM>.

In a preferred embodiment, the number of the long retractable ribs <NUM> is two, which are located at two ends of the long rib bodies <NUM> and can achieve contraction of the two ends.

Here, the locking mechanisms <NUM> may adopt any one of lockpin locking mechanisms, spring bean locking mechanisms, thread tightening and locking mechanisms or handle friction locking mechanisms.

In a preferred embodiment, the locking mechanisms <NUM> adopt lockpin locking mechanisms. A lockpin locking mechanism <NUM> generally comprises a lockpin piece 61A, a lockpin button 62A, a reset spring 63A and a mounting base 64A. The mounting base 64A is mounted in an end position of a short rib body <NUM> or/and a long rib body <NUM> in a sheathed manner and is used for mounting the lockpin piece 61A, the lockpin button 62A and the reset spring 63A. The lockpin button 62A is used for driving the lockpin piece 61A to move and can be reset through the reset spring 63A. One end of each of the short retractable ribs <NUM> or/and the long retractable ribs <NUM> is provided with an inner lockhole, one end of each of the short rib bodies <NUM> or/and long rib bodies <NUM> is provided with an outer lockhole, and the inner lockhole and the outer lockhole complete locking through a lockpin.

In a preferred embodiment, the locking mechanisms <NUM> adopt spring bean locking mechanisms. A spring bean piece 61B is arranged in a cavity at one end of each of the short retractable ribs <NUM> or/and the long retractable ribs <NUM>, the short retractable ribs <NUM> or/and the long retractable ribs <NUM> are provided with inner spring bean orifices accordingly, the short rib bodies <NUM> or/and the long rib bodies <NUM> are provided with outer spring bean orifices accordingly, and convex portions of the spring bean pieces are used to work with the inner spring bean orifices and the outer spring bean orifices and can achieve locking and unlocking.

Based on any of the foregoing embodiments, in a preferred embodiment, the locking mechanisms <NUM> adopt thread tightening and locking mechanisms, each of which generally comprises an upper thread bushing 61C and a lower thread bushing 62C, and the upper thread bushing 61C and the lower thread bushing 62C can rotate to achieve locking after abutting.

Based on any of the foregoing embodiments, in a preferred embodiment, the locking mechanisms <NUM> adopt handle friction locking mechanisms, each of which generally comprises a fixed seat 61D and a cam trigger 62D. A cam is arranged on the cam trigger 62D and locking is achieved by means of the extrusion and friction of the cam.

Based on Embodiment <NUM>, this embodiment provides a patio umbrella comprising a rib assembly that can be packaged retractably, and comprises an umbrella column <NUM> and the rib assembly. The umbrella column <NUM> preferably is a round-tube umbrella column <NUM> and generally is used for cooperative installation of an upper umbrella runner and a lower umbrella runner. The rib assembly comprises long ribs <NUM> and short ribs <NUM>. The umbrella column <NUM> can be extended and contracted along the length direction. The long ribs <NUM> or/and the short ribs <NUM> can be extended and contracted along the length direction. When an outdoor umbrella stand needs to be assembled, the umbrella column <NUM>, the long ribs <NUM> and the short ribs <NUM> are all in an extended and fixed state; and when the outdoor umbrella stand needs to be disassembled and packaged, any one or more of the umbrella column <NUM>, the long ribs <NUM> and the short ribs <NUM> are in a contracted state.

In a preferred embodiment, the umbrella column <NUM>, the long ribs <NUM> and the short ribs <NUM> all adopt a design of retractable structures.

In a preferred embodiment, the umbrella column <NUM> and the long ribs <NUM> adopt a design of retractable structures, and the short ribs <NUM> adopt single-rib structures.

In a preferred embodiment, the umbrella column <NUM> adopts a retractable structure including at least two sections, preferably adopts a two-section retractable structure, and alternatively, may adopt a three-section or four-section retractable structure; the umbrella column <NUM> comprises an umbrella column body <NUM> and a retractable umbrella column <NUM>, the retractable umbrella column <NUM> is located in the upper part and/or lower part of the umbrella column body <NUM>, and the retractable umbrella column <NUM> can fit the umbrella column body <NUM> in a retractable manner. The retractable umbrella column <NUM> generally is smaller than the umbrella column body <NUM> in size, and can be contracted and superimposed in a cavity of the umbrella column body <NUM>; the retractable umbrella column <NUM> comprises at least one retractable umbrella column unit and alternatively, may comprise a plurality of retractable umbrella column units, preferably one retractable umbrella column unit; in an embodiment, the retractable umbrella column <NUM> is located in the upper part of the umbrella column body <NUM>; in an embodiment, there are two retractable umbrella columns <NUM>, located in the upper part and the lower part of the umbrella column body <NUM>, respectively.

In a preferred embodiment, the long ribs <NUM> adopt retractable structures including at least two sections, preferably adopt two-section retractable structures, and alternatively, may adopt three-section or four-section retractable structures; the long ribs <NUM> comprise long rib bodies <NUM> and long retractable ribs <NUM>. One end of each of the long retractable ribs <NUM> is used for articulated fit with an upper umbrella runner, and the other end of the long retractable rib <NUM> is used for retractable abutting with a long rib body <NUM>; the long retractable rib <NUM> generally is smaller than the long rib body <NUM> in size and can be contracted and superimposed in a cavity of the long rib body <NUM>; the long retractable rib <NUM> comprises at least one long retractable rib unit and alternatively, may comprise a plurality of long retractable rib units, preferably one long retractable rib.

In a preferred embodiment, the short ribs <NUM> adopt retractable structures including at least two sections, preferably adopt two-section retractable structures, and alternatively, may adopt three-section or four-section retractable structures; the short ribs <NUM> comprise short rib bodies <NUM> and short retractable ribs <NUM>. One end of each of the short retractable ribs <NUM> is used for articulated fit with a lower umbrella runner, the other end of the short retractable rib <NUM> is used for retractable abutting with one end of a short rib body <NUM>, and the other end of the short rib body <NUM> is used for articulated fit with a long rib <NUM>; the short retractable rib <NUM> generally is smaller than the short rib body <NUM> and can be contracted and superimposed in a cavity of the short rib body <NUM>; the short retractable rib <NUM> comprises at least one short retractable rib unit and alternatively, may comprise a plurality of short retractable rib units, preferably one short retractable rib unit.

Here, when any one of the umbrella column <NUM>, the long ribs <NUM> and the short ribs <NUM> can be extended and contracted along the length direction, extension or contraction and locking can be achieved through locking mechanisms.

Through optimized design of the present invention, a retracting and superimposing structure can be used to achieve superimposition of component volume between the umbrella column and the rib assembly, thereby significantly reducing the overall volume and reducing the packaging volume and the transport cost.

In the actual packaging process, for a patio umbrella of the same pattern, if a retractable umbrella stand is adopted, the packaging volume of a single umbrella can be reduced by <NUM>% to <NUM>% compared with a conventional umbrella stand.

Based on Embodiment <NUM>, this embodiment provides a side umbrella comprising a rib assembly that can be packaged retractably, and comprises an umbrella column <NUM>, a pull rod assembly and a rib assembly. The pull rod assembly comprises a first pull rod <NUM> and a second pull rod <NUM>. The rib assembly comprises long ribs <NUM> and short ribs <NUM>. The umbrella column <NUM> can be extended and contracted along the length direction. One or more of the first pull rod <NUM>, the second pull rod <NUM>, the long ribs <NUM> and the short ribs <NUM> can be extended and contracted along the length direction. When an outdoor umbrella stand needs to be assembled, the umbrella column <NUM>, the first pull rod <NUM>, the second pull rod <NUM>, the long ribs <NUM> and the short ribs <NUM> are all in an extended and fixed state; and when the outdoor umbrella stand needs to be disassembled and packaged, any one or more of the umbrella column <NUM>, the first pull rod <NUM>, the second pull rod <NUM>, the long ribs <NUM> and the short ribs <NUM> are in a contracted state.

Based on the above, the outdoor umbrella stand is preferably a Roman umbrella stand and alternatively, may be a banana umbrella stand, a push rod umbrella stand, etc..

In a preferred embodiment, the umbrella column <NUM>, the first pull rod <NUM>, the second pull rod <NUM>, the long ribs <NUM> and the short ribs <NUM> all adopt a design of retractable structures.

In a preferred embodiment, the umbrella column <NUM>, the first pull rod <NUM>, the second pull rod <NUM> and the long ribs <NUM> adopt a design of retractable structures, and the short ribs <NUM> adopt single-rib structures.

In a preferred embodiment, the umbrella column <NUM>, the second pull rod <NUM> and the long ribs <NUM> adopt a design of retractable structures, the short ribs <NUM> adopt single-rib structures, and the first pull rod <NUM> adopts an ordinary pull rod structure.

In a preferred embodiment, the umbrella column <NUM>, the long ribs <NUM> and the short ribs <NUM> adopt a design of retractable structures, and the first pull rod <NUM> and the second pull rod <NUM> adopt ordinary pull rod structures.

In a preferred embodiment, the umbrella column <NUM> and the long ribs <NUM> adopt a design of retractable structures, and the first pull rod <NUM>, the second pull rod <NUM> and the short ribs <NUM> adopt ordinary pull rod structures.

Here, any one or more of the first pull rod <NUM>, the second pull rod <NUM>, the long ribs <NUM> and the short ribs <NUM> adopt retractable structures including at least two sections.

In a preferred embodiment, the first pull rod <NUM> adopts a retractable structure including at least two sections, preferably adopts a two-section retractable structure, and alternatively, may adopt a three-section or four-section retractable structure; the first pull rod <NUM> comprises a first pull rod body <NUM> and a first retractable pull rod <NUM>, one end of the first retractable pull rod <NUM> is used for articulated fit with the retractable umbrella column <NUM>, the other end of the first retractable pull rod <NUM> is abutted with one end of the first pull rod body <NUM> in a retractable manner, and the other end of the first pull rod body <NUM> is used for articulated fit with the second pull rod <NUM>; the first retractable pull rod <NUM> generally is smaller than the first pull rod body <NUM> in size and can be retracted and superimposed in a cavity of the first pull rod body <NUM>; the first retractable pull rod <NUM> comprises at least one first retractable pull rod unit and alternatively, may comprise a plurality of the first retractable pull rod units, preferably one first retractable pull rod unit.

In a preferred embodiment, the second pull rod <NUM> adopts a retractable structure including at least two sections, preferably adopts a two-section retractable structure, and alternatively, may adopt a three-section or four-section retractable structure; the second pull rod <NUM> comprises a second pull rod body <NUM> and a second retractable pull rod <NUM>, one end of the second retractable pull rod <NUM> is used for articulated fit with an upper umbrella runner, the other end of the second retractable pull rod <NUM> is abutted with one end of the second pull rod body <NUM> in a retractable manner, and the other end of the second pull rod body <NUM> is used for articulated fit with a handle casing; the second retractable pull rod <NUM> generally is smaller than the second pull rod body <NUM> in size and can be retracted and superimposed in a cavity of the second pull rod body <NUM>; the second retractable pull rod <NUM> comprises at least one second retractable pull rod unit and alternatively, may comprise a plurality of the second retractable pull rod units, preferably one second retractable pull rod unit.

In a preferred embodiment, the long ribs <NUM> adopt retractable structures including at least two sections, preferably adopt two-section retractable structures, and alternatively, may adopt three-section or four-section retractable structures; the long ribs <NUM> comprise long rib bodies <NUM> and long retractable ribs <NUM>, one end of each of the long retractable ribs <NUM> is used for articulated fit with an upper umbrella runner, and the other end of the long retractable rib <NUM> is used for retractable abutting with a long rib body <NUM>; the long retractable rib <NUM> generally is smaller than the long rib body <NUM> in size and can be retracted and superimposed in a cavity of the long rib body <NUM>; the long retractable rib <NUM> comprises at least one long retractable rib unit and alternatively, may comprise a plurality of long retractable rib units, preferably one long retractable rib.

In a preferred embodiment, the short ribs <NUM> adopt retractable structures including at least two sections, preferably adopt two-section retractable structures, and alternatively, may adopt three-section or four-section retractable structures; the short ribs <NUM> comprise short rib bodies <NUM> and short retractable ribs <NUM>, one end of each of the short retractable ribs <NUM> is used for articulated fit with a lower umbrella runner, the other end of the short retractable rib <NUM> is used for retractable abutting with one end of a short rib body <NUM>, and the other end of the short rib body <NUM> is used for articulated fit with a long rib <NUM>; the short retractable rib <NUM> generally is smaller than the short rib body <NUM> and can be retracted and superimposed in a cavity of the short rib body <NUM>; the short retractable rib <NUM> comprises at least one short retractable rib unit and alternatively, may comprise a plurality of short retractable rib units, preferably one short retractable rib unit.

Here, when any one of the umbrella column <NUM>, the first pull rod <NUM>, the second pull rod <NUM>, the long ribs <NUM> and the short ribs <NUM> can be extended and contracted along the length direction, extension or contraction and locking can be achieved through locking mechanisms.

Through optimized design of the present utility model, a retracting and superimposing structure can be used to achieve superimposition of component volume between the umbrella column, the pull rod assembly and the rib assembly, thereby significantly reducing the overall volume and reducing the packaging volume and transport cost.

In the actual packaging process, for a Roman umbrella of the same pattern, if a retractable umbrella stand is adopted, the packaging volume of a single umbrella can be reduced by <NUM>% to <NUM>% compared with a conventional umbrella stand.

Claim 1:
A rib assembly that can be packaged retractably for an outdoor umbrella, comprising long ribs (<NUM>) and short ribs (<NUM>), wherein when disassembly and packaging are needed, the long ribs (<NUM>) or/and the short ribs (<NUM>) can be superimposed and contracted along the length direction; locking mechanisms (<NUM>) are arranged on the long ribs (<NUM>) or/and the short ribs (<NUM>),and when full extension is needed, the long ribs (<NUM>) or/and the short ribs (<NUM>) are locked through the locking mechanisms (<NUM>),
wherein the long ribs (<NUM>) comprise long rib bodies (<NUM>) and long retractable ribs (<NUM>), and the long retractable ribs (<NUM>) can be fully or partially superimposed and contracted in cavities of the long rib bodies (<NUM>), and
wherein the number of the long retractable ribs (<NUM>) is two, which are located at two ends of the long rib bodies (<NUM>).