Patent ID: 8336567

Claim:
An operation system for umbrellas, comprising: a shaft including multiple sections, a top cap connected to a top of the shaft, the top cap having a first extension extending downward therefrom and the first extension having a flexible part formed thereto, a gap defined between the flexible part and a wall of the first extension, a protrusion extending from a distal end of the flexible part, the first extension having a guide member protruding axially from an outer periphery thereof and the guide member located above the protrusion of the flexible part; a runner movably mounted to the shaft and the first extension, the runner having a second extension extending downward therefrom, a positioning hole defined through a wall of the second extension and the protrusion being engaged with the positioning hole to stop the runner from moving downward, the second extension having a guide slot defined therein which receives the guide member to guide the runner to move linearly, and a hollow sleeve movably mounted to the second extension and driving the runner to move along the shaft, the sleeve having a first open end and a second open end which is wider than the first open end, the sleeve has a tapered passage defined therethrough which communicates with the first and second open ends, the sleeve having a compressing member located at an inner periphery thereof and located close to the first open end so as to compress the protrusion inward to disengage the protrusion from the positioning hole.