GB2433028A

GB2433028A - Spring actuated collapsible umbrella

Info

Publication number: GB2433028A
Application number: GB0524841A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shih-Shin Kuo; Max Wang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-12-06
Filing date: 2005-12-06
Publication date: 2007-06-13
Also published as: GB0524841D0

Abstract

A collapsible umbrella includes a telescoping shaft made up of an inner tube 13 fixed to a handle 15, an intermediate tube 12 and an outer tube 11 with an upper joint 14 connected to its top. An umbrella frame 4 is pivotally attached to the upper joint and also pivotally attaches to both a middle slide runner 21 and a lower slide runner 22 with a spring 23 located between these two runners. An upper controller 5 is slidable within the shaft and has a pivoting arm 52 which cooperates with a slit 61 in a middle fixing member 6. A lower fixer member 7 is located below the middle fixer and has a rod 71 for attaching of cords 31 which extend around wheels on the fixing joint, down to wheels on a receiver 3, that is slidable over the shaft, and back up to anchor points on the upper joint. A button 151 on the handle is pressed to first open the umbrella and can then be pressed again to close it.

Description

TITLE: Automatic Collapsible Umbrella

BACKGROU OF THE INVENTION

A traditional umbrella is manually operated and is inconvenient for use. A known improved umbrella can be opened automatically by only a single push on a button of a handle. But this umbrella must be manually closed and is still inconvenient. There is a better improvement; US patent number 5,617,889, which provides an umbrella being capable of opening or closing automatic. Before use, this umbrella is pressed first to compress springs in its shaft for storing energy. Then, to push a button on its handle, the umbrella is automatically opened. And to push the button second time, the umbrella will be closed automatically. This umbrella has still some leaks that it is usually out of work.

The present invention is to overcome the drawback of prior art and to provide an invented umbrella, which includes a totally new assembly and is different from any conventional umbrella, wherein a special character of the present invention is that the umbrella is prolonged before use. Now, accompanying with the following drawings, the character of the present invention will be described here and after.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a main portion of an automatic collapsible umbrella according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the inner apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a portion of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional plan view showing the umbrella being closed according to the present invention.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional plan view showing a handle of the automatic collapsible umbrella of Figure 4 at a perpendicular plane.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional plan view showing the umbrella shaft being prolonged relating to Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional plan view showing the umbrella handle of Figure 6 at a perpendicular plane.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional plan view showing the umbrella being opened according to the present invention.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional plan view showing the umbrella handle of Figure 8 at a perpendicular plane.

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional plan view showing the umbrella being closing according to the present invention.

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional plan view showing the umbrella handle of Figure 10 at a perpendicular plane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to Figure 1 to 5, the present invention relates to an improved collapsible umbrella, which can be opened or closed automatically, which includes a shaft (1) being consisted by several tubes.

In this embodiment for explanation, the shaft (1) includes an outer tube (11), a middle tube (12), and an inner tube (13). A handle (15) with a button (151) is connected with lower end of the shaft (1) and an upper joint (14) is connected with top end of the shaft. A runner apparatus (2) provided around the shaft (1) included a middle runner (21) and a lower runner (22), wherein a control-open spring (23) is placed between both.

A double-ear receiver (3) is provided around the shaft (1) above the runner apparatus (2). A control-close spring (30) is also provided around the shaft (1) between the upper joint (14) and the receiver (3).

The umbrella frame (4) has its inner ends pivoted with the upper joint (14), middle runner (21), and the lower runner (22). By use of movement of the runners, the frame (4) is expended to open the umbrella or is concentrated to close the umbrella.

As shown in Figure 2, an upper controller (5) and a middle fixer (6) with an inner spring therebetween are provided in the shaft (1). A bow (52) received in the upper controller (5) has its lower hook end (521) extend outward from a slot (61) of the middle fixer (6). A lower fixer (7) placed below middle fixer (6) has a rod (71) for winding inner ends of two ropes (31), both of which have their out end extend upward to pass around a related wheel (16) under the upper joint (14), then downward to pass around another wheel (32) on the receiver (3), and at last upward to connect with the upper joint (14), meanwhile the ropes (31) are kept in tension always. The lower fixer (7) has a bottom V-shaped elastic slice (72). An inner controller (8) received in a lower inside position of the shaft (1) connects with lower end of an inner wire (81) having its upper end connect with the upper controller (5). The inner controller (8) is provided with an upper head (82) and a lower head (83) facing the button (151) of the handle (15) and a side projection (84) is formed on the controller (8). A loop (9) placed in the handle (15) has a convex (91) opposite to the button (151) and face the heads of the inner controller (8).

Please refer to Figure 3, the upper controller (5) has its lower side an inclined plane (53) and the bow (52) has a top inner hook (522) and a lower hook end (521), wherein a small spring (523) is placed inside the lower hook end (521) to provide a stable elastic force for push the lower end outward.

As in Figure 4 and 5, when the umbrella is in closed state, the upper head (82) is stopped in a slot (131) of the inner tube (13). The outer tube (11) has its bottom end contact with the side projection (84) of the inner controller (8). At this time, the control-close spring (30) and the inner spring (51) are prolonged, the control-open spring (23) is compressed, and the inner wire (81) is released. The frame (4) is closed beside the shaft (1) and the receiver (3) contacts with the middle runner (21) far away from the upper joint (14) that the umbrella is closed stably.

Before use, the umbrella is to be prolonged that the shaft (1) is extended as shown in Figure 6 and 7. Since the upper controller (5) will be held by the inner wire (81) connected with the lower controller (8), it just moves a small distance till the inner wire (81) is in tension and will not move with the middle tube (12). At the moment, by use of the ropes (31), the receiver (3) is moved upward to compress the controlclose spring (30). At the same time, the inner spring (51) is compressed because of the upward movement of the middle fixer (6). The lower hook end (521) of the bow (52) is then elastically pushed outward to engage with relating slots on the middle tube (12) and the outer tube (11) for positioning both. A high strength ball (211) provided on the middle runner (21) is engaged within a relating aperture of the outer tube (11) and the V- shaped elastic slice (72) is still engaged within relating apertures of the middle tube (12) and the inner tube (13). Hence, the tubes of the shaft (1) are stable for use.

When a user pushes the button (151) first time, the loop (9) will be moved inward to have its convex (91) push the upper head (82) for releasing the engagement with the inner tube (13). Under recovery force of the inner spring (51), the upper controller (5) and the inner controller (8) are moved upward a small distance till the lower head (83) be stopped by the inner tube (13). At the time, the upper controller (5) has its top end push the ball (211) that the middle runner (21) will be released from the outer tube (11) due to the strong expensive elastic force of the control-open spring (23). As shown in Figure 8 and 9, accompanying the said movement, the frame (4) will be expanded to open the umbrella automatically.

To close the umbrella, referring to Figure 10 and 11, when the user pushes the button (151) second time, the lower head (83) will be pushed and released from the inner tube (13). Both controller (5) and (8) are capable of moving upward, meanwhile the lower inclined plane (53) will push the top inner hook (522) of the bow (52) to force the lower hook end (521) to move inward and release the engagement between the middle tube (12) and the outer tube (11). So, the middle tube (12) moves upward to be received in the outer tube (11) and then the outer tube (11) moves downward to press the V-shaped slice (72) to release the engagement between the middle tube (12) and the inner tube (13). At this time, the inner fixer (7) moves upward that the ropes (31) are not limited anymore. Therefore, the control-close spring (30) can rapidly extended to force the receiver (3) and the runner apparatus (2) downward that pulls the frame (4) concentrated to the shaft (1) and closes the umbrella automatically as in Figure 4 and 5.

If a user wants to use the umbrella again, he just needs to repeat the above operation, i.e. to prolong the umbrella, a first touch to automatically open, and a second touch to automatically close. Thus, we can find that the operation of the present invention is totally different from the prior art and is useful for people to apply the umbrella as normal.

Moreover, it can be understood that the above-mentioned embodiments including a frame with three folded ribs are only exemplary of the present invention. Any modification, such as a frame with four or more ribs and a shaft with four or more tubes, having the same or similar merit is still claimed in this application.

Claims

I CLAIM: 1. An automatic collapsible umbrella including a shaft being

consisted by at least three tubes, which includes an outer tube, a middle tube, and an inner tube, a handle with a button connected with lower end of the shaft and an upper joint connected with top end of the shaft; a runner apparatus provided around the shaft including a middle runner and a lower runner, wherein a control-open spring is placed between both, a double-ear receiver provided around the shaft above the runner apparatus, a control-close spring also provided around the shaft between the upper joint and the receiver; the umbrella frame having its inner ends pivoted with the upper joint, middle runner, and the lower runner, and by use of movement of the runners, the frame expended to open the umbrella or concentrated to close the umbrella; an upper controller and a middle fixer with an inner spring therebetween provided in the shaft, a bow received in the upper controller having its lower hook end extend outward from a slot of the middle fixer, a lower fixer placed below middle fixer having a rod for winding inner ends of two ropes, both of which have their out end extend upward to pass around a related wheel under the upper joint, then downward to pass around another wheel on the receiver, and at last upward to connect with the upper joint, meanwhile the ropes being kept in tension always; the lower fixer having a bottom V-shaped elastic slice, an inner controller received in a lower inside position of the shaft connecting with lower end of an inner wire having its upper end connect with the upper controller, the inner controller provided with an upper head and a lower head facing the button of the handle and a side projection formed on the controller; a loop placed in the handle having a convex opposite to the button and facing the heads of the inner controller; the upper controller having its lower side an inclined plane and the bow having a top inner hook and a lower hook end, wherein a small spring is placed inside the lower hook end to provide a stable elastic force for push the lower end outward; and when the umbrella is in closed state, the upper head being stopped in a slot of the inner tube, the outer tube having its bottom end contact with the side projection of the inner controller, then the control-close spring and the inner spring being prolonged, the control-open spring being compressed, and the inner wire being released; the frame closed beside the shaft and the receiver contacting with the middle runner and far away from the upper joint that the umbrella is closed stably.

2. The automatic collapsible umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the umbrella is to be prolonged before use that the shaft is extended, and since the upper controller will be held by the inner wire connected with the lower controller, it just moving a small distance till the inner wire is in tension and will not move with the middle tube; by use of the ropes, the receiver is moved upward to compress the control-close spring, and the inner spring is compressed because of the upward movement of the middle fixer; the lower hook end of the bow (52) then elastically pushed outward to engage with relating slots on the middle tube and the outer tube for positioning both, wherein a high strength ball provided on the middle runner is engaged within a relating aperture of the outer tube and the V-shaped elastic slice is still engaged within relating apertures of the middle tube and the inner tube.

3. The automatic collapsible umbrella as claimed in claim 2, wherein by pushing the button first time, the loop will be moved inward to have its convex push the upper head for releasing the engagement with the inner tube, and under recovery force of the inner spring, the upper controller and the inner controller are moved upward a small distance till the lower head be stopped by the inner tube; then the upper controller having its top end push the ball that the middle runner will be released from the outer tube due to the strong expensive elastic force of the control-open spring, and accompanying the said movement, the frame will be expanded to open the umbrella automatically.

4. The automatic collapsible umbrella as claimed in claim 3, wherein by pushing the button second time, the lower head will be pushed and released from the inner tube, both controller are capable of moving upward, meanwhile the lower inclined plane will push the top inner hook of the bow to force the lower hook end to move inward and release the engagement between the middle tube and the outer tube, and the middle tube moves upward to be received in the outer tube, then the outer tube moves downward to press the V-shaped slice to release the engagement between the middle tube and the inner tube, at this time, the inner fixer moves upward that the ropes are not limited anymore, and the control-close spring can rapidly extended to force the receiver and the runner apparatus downward that pulls the frame concentrated to the shaft and closes the umbrella automatically.

5. The automatic collapsible umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame of the umbrella includes four or more ribs and the shaft also includes four or more tubes.

6. An automatic collapsible umbrella substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.