Patent ID: 8783275

Claim:
A frame ( 10 ) for a compact, folding umbrella having multiple folds, comprising in combination: a main shaft ( 12 ) having a handle ( 21 b ) at a lower end; a collar ( 16 ) slidably mounted on said main shaft ( 12 ); a cap ( 14 ) mounted on an upper end of the main shaft ( 12 ); a main stretcher ( 18 ) having one end pivotally coupled to said cap ( 14 ); a support stretcher ( 20 ) having one end ( 20 a ) pivotally coupled to said collar ( 16 ) and another end ( 20 b ) pivotally coupled to an intermediate portion of the main stretcher ( 18 ); a rear rib ( 26 ); a hybrid rib ( 22 ) pivotally coupled to another end of said main stretcher 18 and to an inner end of said rear rib ( 26 ); said hybrid rib ( 22 ) being formed of first, second and third sections ( 22 - 1 , 22 - 3 , 22 - 2 ); a flexible member ( 28 ) having one end ( 28 a ) coupled to the main stretcher ( 18 ) and another end coupled to the rear rib ( 26 ) for extending the rear rib ( 26 ) when the frame ( 10 ) is opened; said first and second end sections ( 22 - 1 and 22 - 3 ) having outer ends configured to define the ends pivotally coupled to the main stretcher ( 18 ) and rear rib ( 26 ); said third section ( 22 - 2 ) being positioned between said first and second sections ( 22 - 1 and 22 - 3 ) and having first and second ends that are respectively joined to an inner end of said first section ( 22 - 1 ) and an inner end of said second section ( 22 - 3 ), to render the hybrid rib ( 22 ) straight and linear; the first and second sections ( 22 - 1 and 22 - 3 ) being U-shaped in cross section and formed of aluminum; the first section ( 22 - 1 ) having an aluminum wall thickness (th) in a range of 0.5 mm to less than 0.8 mm and having a selected length, and the third section ( 22 - 2 ) being formed of fiberglass and having a length less than the length of the first section ( 22 - 1 ) wherein the third section absorbs forces occurring during multiple inversions of the folding umbrella, allowing the folding umbrella to be repeatably restored to an original undamaged condition from an inverted condition by sliding the collar ( 16 ) down the main shaft ( 12 ) toward the handle ( 12 b ); whereby, the hybrid rib ( 22 ) protects the combination from permanent damage by absorbing forces experienced due to inversions of the folding umbrella.