US20030015231A1

US20030015231A1 - Crown of large-sized umbrella

Info

Publication number: US20030015231A1
Application number: US09/908,694
Authority: US
Inventors: Mark Ma
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-07-20
Filing date: 2001-07-20
Publication date: 2003-01-23

Abstract

An umbrella crown includes a crown body having a base plate with a threaded cylindrical projection extending from a first surface of the plate for engaging an inner-threaded cap. A circular groove is defined in the first surface of the base plate and a corresponding rib is formed in the cap whereby the rib can be received in the groove for interposing and securing an edge of a canopy therebetween. A conic projection extends from a second surface of the base plate and has a reduced free end with a bore defined therein to be tightly fit over a central post of the umbrella. A plurality of radially-extending slits is defined in the conic projection with a cross bar formed in each slit. Ribs that support the canopy have J-shaped ends respectively received in the slits and engaging the cross bars for forming pivotal joint between the ribs and the crown. The ribs are maintained in position by the central post. A slot is defined in the conic projection by two opposite side walls. A pulley having a shaft is received in the slot with the shaft rotatably supported in notches defined in the side walls. A rope is movably received in the central post with an end extending out of the post under the guidance of the pulley for driving a runner that is connected to the ribs by stretchers to move along the central post to open/close the umbrella.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a large-sized umbrella, such as beach and garden parasols, and in particular to a crown of the large-sized umbrella for enhancing the assembly of the umbrella.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Large-sized umbrellas or parasols, such as garden parasols and beach parasols, are widely used in shading intensive sun light. FIG. 1 of the attached drawings shows a conventional large-sized umbrella. The large-sized umbrella comprises a central

tubular post

10 having an upper end to which a crown 11 is attached and a lower end mounted to a base 19 for supporting the umbrella. A runner 12 is movable along the central post 10. Ribs 13 extend from the crown 11 for supporting a canopy (not shown). Stretchers 14 extend from the runner and pivoted to the ribs 13 whereby by moving the runner 12 along the central post 10, the ribs 13 are caused to move toward/away from the central post 10 and thus opening/closing the canopy. A rope 17 is movably received in the central post 10. An end of the rope 17 extends out of the central post 10 under the guidance of a pulley 18 and is fastened to the runner 12 for moving the runner 12 along the central post 10. Another end of the rope 17 is coupled to a winding mechanism 16 that is driven by a handle 15 for winding/unwinding the rope 17 to move the runner 12.

To manufacture the conventional large-sized umbrella, the

crown

11 is mounted to the central post 10 which retains the pulley 18 in position. The ribs 13 are then attached to the crown 11 one by one. Thereafter, the canopy is attached to the crown 11 by sewing. A cap is then attached to the crown. Such a process is tedious and complicated. Costs of manufacturing umbrella are thus high.

Furthermore, the conventional umbrella crown is made by molding plastic material. The design of the conventional crown requires a large amount of raw material in forming the crown. This also increases the costs.

It is thus desirable to provide an umbrella crown for overcoming the above discussed problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an umbrella crown comprising a structure for facilitating assembly of umbrellas and thus reducing costs of the umbrellas.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an umbrella crown having a structure that requires a minimum amount of material in manufacture.

To achieve the above objects, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an umbrella crown comprising a crown body having a base plate with a cylindrical projection extending from a first surface of the plate. The cylindrical projection is threaded for engaging an inner threading of a cap to secure the cap to the body. A circular groove is defined in the first surface of the base plate and a corresponding rib is formed in the cap whereby the rib can be received in the groove for interposing and securing an edge of a canopy therebetween. A conic projection extends from a second surface of the base plate and has a reduced free end with a bore defined therein to be tightly fit over a central post of the umbrella. A plurality of radially-extending slits is defined in the conic projection and a cross bar is formed in and extending through each slit. A number ribs that support the canopy have J-shaped ends respectively received in the slits and engaging the cross bars for forming pivotal joint between the ribs and the crown. The ribs are maintained in position by the central post. A slot is defined in the conic projection by two opposite side walls. A pulley having a shaft is received in the slot with the shaft rotatably supported in notches defined in the side walls. A rope is movably received in the central post with an end extending out of the post under the guidance of the pulley for driving a runner that is connected to the ribs by stretchers to move along the central post to open/close the umbrella.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TUE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: [0009]
FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a conventional large-sized umbrella; [0010]
FIG. 2 is an exploded view, partially broken, of an umbrella crown constructed in accordance with the present invention; [0011]
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of FIG. 2; [0012]
FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the umbrella crown of the present invention; [0013]
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ of FIG. 4 with a rib being additionally shown; [0014]
FIG. 6 is an assembled view of FIG. 5; [0015]
FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 5 but taken along line B-B′; and [0016]
FIG. 8 is an assembled view of FIG. 7 with a rope being additionally shown.[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 2 and 3, an umbrella crown constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises a [0018] crown body 20 having a base plate 29 having a first surface (not labeled) from which a cylindrical projection 30 extends. The projection 30 has an external threading 31. A circular groove 32 is formed on the base plate 27 concentric with the projection 30.
Also referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a bell-[0019] shaped cap 40 has a raised portion 41 defining a cavity having an inner threading 42 engageable with the threading 31 of the projection 30 for attaching the cap 40 to the crown body 20. The cap 40 forms a circular rib 43 receivable in the groove 32 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. A canopy (not shown) can be attached to the crown by having an edge thereof interposed and securely fixed between the rib 43 and the groove 32.
A conic projection (not labeled) having a reduced lower free end extends from a second surface of the [0020] base plate 29. A central bore 21 is defined in the conic projection and is exposed to the lower free end of the conic projection. A plurality of radially-extending slits 22 is formed in the conic projection and in communication with the central bore 21 whereby the conic projection is divided into a number of segments (not labeled). A cross bar 23 is formed in each slit 22 and connects between adjacent segments of the conic projection. Preferably, the cross bars 23 are so arranged as to form an imaginary ring as observed in the bottom view of the crown body 20 shown in FIG. 4.
The [0021] central bore 21 of the crown body 20 is dimensioned to tightly fit over a top end of a central post 50 of a large-sized umbrella (not shown) for attaching the crown to the central post 50.
Also referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a [0022] rib 24 has a J-shaped end received in each slit 22 of the crown and engaging the corresponding cross bar 23 thereby forming a pivotal joint between the rib 24 and the crown. The rib 24 is prevented from separation from the crown by means of the central post 50 tightly fit into the central bore 21 of the crown body 20. Such an engagement between the central post 50 and the central bore 21 of the crown body 20 allows the ribs 24 to rotate about the cross bars 23 while preventing the ribs 24 from translation in the radial direction thereby effectively retaining the J-shaped ends of the ribs 24 in the slits 22.
Referring to FIGS. 2, 4, [0023] 7 and 8, a slot 25 formed by opposite side walls is defined in one of the segments of the conic projection of the crown body 20 for receiving a pulley 26. The pulley 26 as a central shaft 28 rotatably received in notches 27 defined in the side walls of the slot 25 for rotatably supporting the pulley 26 in the slot 25. A slot 51 is defined in the central post 50 corresponding to and partially receiving the pulley 26 therein. A rope 33 that has a first end received in the central post 50 and coupled to a manual driving device surround around the pulley 26 with a second end thereof extending out of the central post 50 for being attached to a runner (not shown). The pulley 26 functions to guide and escort the rope 33.
The [0024] notches 27 and the slot 51 of the central post 50 are so formed that the notches 27 are blocked by the central post 50 fit into the central bore 21 of the crown body 20 to prevent the pulley 26 from separation from the crown body 20.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims. [0025]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An umbrella crown adapted to be mounted to an upper end of a central post of an umbrella, the crown comprising:

a body comprising a base plate having first and second surfaces, a threaded cylindrical projection extending from the first surface, a circular groove being defined in the first surface concentric with the threaded projection, a conic projection extending from the second surface with a reduced free end, a central bore being defined in the conic projection and exposed to the free end of the conic projection for being fit over the upper end of the central post, a plurality of radially-extending slits being defined in the conic projection adapted to each receive a rib of the umbrella;

a pulley rotatably received in a slot defined in the conic projection adapted to escort a rope of the umbrella; and

a cap having an inner-threaded cavity engaging with the threaded projection to secure the cap to the body, the cap forming a rib corresponding to and received in the circular groove of the body adapted to interpose and thus secure an edge of a canopy of the umbrella therebetween.

2. The umbrella crown as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conic projection is divided into a number of spaced segments by the slits, a cross bar being formed in each slit and connecting to adjacent segments, each cross bar being adapted to engage a J-shaped end of the corresponding rib for pivotally attaching the rib to the crown body.

3. The umbrella crown as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cross bars are arranged to form an imaginary ring when viewed from the free end of the conic projection.

4. The umbrella crown as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slot is defined by opposite side walls, each side wall forming a notch for rotatably receiving a shaft of the pulley.

5. The umbrella crown as claimed in claim 2, wherein the central bore of the conic projection is dimensioned to be tightly fit over the upper end of the central post with a translation of the J-shaped end of the each rib in a radial direction being prevented by the central post thereby securely retaining the ribs to the crown.

6. The umbrella crown as claimed in claim 4, wherein the notches are arranged to have the shaft of the pulley securely retained in the notches by the central post.