US20090007946A1

US20090007946A1 - Double folding auto-expansion and folding umbrella

Info

Publication number: US20090007946A1
Application number: US11/824,013
Authority: US
Inventors: Yi-Chen Hsieh; Hiu Fung Wong
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-07-02
Filing date: 2007-07-02
Publication date: 2009-01-08

Abstract

A double folding auto-expansion and folding umbrella has an umbrella shaft formed by a hollow first tube sheathing with a hollow second tube, a head fixed on the bottom of the hollow second tube, a control switch being installed on the head, a first nest fixed on the top of the hollow first tube; a second nest sheathing on the umbrella shaft and capable of lifting and moving along thereof, a supporting frame composed by a plurality of umbrella bones connecting to the second nest, and an umbrella cloth paved on the supporting frame. The first nest is connected to the hollow first tube, the supporting frame and the umbrella cloth. A retaining seat of the elastic pin is positioned in the about middle of the hollow second tube. An elastic hook is installed under the elastic pin. The elastic hook is connected to the control switch. Besides, the upper portion of the hollow first tube has a first buckling hole. An elastic buckle for buckling the first buckling hole is installed in the second nest. An elastic protrusion is installed in the below of the hollow second tube. A main elastic unit for closing the umbrella shaft is installed in the hollow first tube and the hollow second tube. One end of the main elastic unit is fixed in the first nest and another end thereof is fixed on the retaining seat.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to double folding auto-expansion and folding umbrellas, in particular an umbrella capable of being operated by a user's single hand to change the expanding umbrella into an auto-folding and closing state so that the umbrella is a double folding auto-expansion and folding umbrella with the umbrella shaft capable of drawing back automatically.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

An umbrella of a prior art, no matter opening or closing the umbrella, is needed manual operation thereof. Then a kind of auto-expansion umbrella is developed to market for users' more convenience. However, closing the auto-expansion umbrella is still needed manual operation. After then, a kind of auto-expansion umbrella is developed for improving the prior art. However, closing and folding the auto-expansion umbrella is still needed manual operation by a user's both hands.
The prior art causes many troubles for closing umbrella, when a user comes into a room or a car with an opening umbrella. For instance, the user takes a commodity by the left hand and takes an umbrella by the right hand so that it is different to close the umbrella by the left hand with the commodity or by a single hand. Thereby, the user should put the commodity on the right hand and then close the umbrella by both hands. The situation often bothers the user very much. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the prior art by overcoming the defects thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a double folding auto-expansion and folding umbrella. The umbrella is capable of auto-closing and folding by a user's single hand from a full-open state thereof. Besides, the umbrella shaft is capable of drawing back automatically to be a double folding umbrella.
The second object of the present invention is to provide a double folding and auto-closing umbrella with a simple structure capable of mass production thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an assembled cross-sectional view of opening the umbrella body of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial enlargement of the cross-sectional view of the umbrella body of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a first folding movement of the umbrella body of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a second folding movement of the umbrella body of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial enlargement of the cross-sectional view of the umbrella body of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a full-folding movement of the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In order that those skilled in the art can further understand the present invention, a description will be provided in the following in details. However, these descriptions and the appended drawings are only used to cause those skilled in the art to understand the objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention, but not to be used to confine the scope and spirit of the present invention defined in the appended claims.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, the present invention is a structure of a double folding auto-expansion and folding umbrella. The double folding auto-expansion and folding umbrella has a hollow first tube 10 sheathing with a hollow second tube 20 to form an umbrella shaft. By pulling and telescopic operation between the hollow first tube 10 and the hollow second tube 20, a length of the umbrella shaft is capable of changing so that the umbrella body can be open and close.
A head 30 is fixed on the bottom of the hollow second tube 20 for user holding thereof. A liftable and movable control switch 31 is installed on the head 30. A first nest 40 corresponding to the head 30 of the umbrella shaft is fixed on the top of the hollow first tube 10. A second nest 50 capable of lifting up and descending down thereof is sheathed with the umbrella shaft. The second nest 50 is installed and connected with a plurality of umbrella ribs 61 to form a supporting frame 60. The supporting frame 60 is spread with an umbrella cloth (not shown).
The first nest 40 is connected with the hollow first tube 10, the supporting frame 60 and the umbrella cloth. Thereby, the second nest 50 sheathed with the umbrella shaft is capable of sliding and controlling the supporting frame 60. A plurality of umbrella bones 61 of the supporting frame 60 are relative to move each other so as to open or close the umbrella cloth. The above-mentioned umbrella is a structure and an operation of a prior art.
However, the prior art is worth noticing that a retaining seat 21 is installed in the interior and close to the middle of the hollow second tube 20. An elastic pin 22 is positioned on the retaining seat 21. A elastic hook 23 is installed under the elastic pin 22. The elastic hook 23 is connected controllably with the control switch 31 on the head 30. Specifically, in this embodiment, the control switch 31 on the head 30 is linked by a control switch 31 to connect to the elastic hook 23. The bottom of the control switch 31 is fixed on the control switch 31. The control switch 31 is corresponding to lift up or descend down with the control switch 31.
The upper portion of the hollow first tube 10 has a first buckling hole 101. An elastic buckle 51 is installed in the second nest 50 for buckling into the first buckling hole 101.
An elastic protrusion 24 is installed on the lower position of the interior side of the hollow second tube 20. In addition, a twist spring 25 is installed in the hollow second tube 20 so as to provide elasticity for reposition of the elastic protrusion 24. Normally, the elastic protrusion 24 protrudes out the hollow second tube 20. On the moment of folding umbrella, the hollow first tube 10 is downward so as to press the elastic protrusion 24 into the hollow second tube 20.
A main elastic unit 70 for folding umbrella shaft is installed in the hollow first tube 10 and the hollow second tube 20. One end of the main elastic unit 70 is fixed into the first nest 40. Another end of the main elastic unit 70 is fixed on the retaining seat 21 of the hollow second tube 20. The self-tension of the umbrella without other exterior force is capable of drawing back the hollow first tube 10 and the hollow second tube 20 so that the present invention is in a half-close state. If each hollow tube is pressed adequately by exterior force, then the present invention is in an entire close state. At present, the main elastic unit 70 is in a force-free state.
In addition, specific positions of the hollow first tube 10 has a second buckling hole 102 corresponding to the elastic hook 23 and a recess 103 corresponding to the elastic pin 22. The second buckling hole 102 is on the position under the recess 103.
The retaining seat 21 has a recessed space 211. The recessed space 211 is capable of receiving a spring 26. A free end of the spring 26 is against one side of the elastic pin 22.
The second nest 50 has a groove 501. A spring 52 is installed in the groove 501. A free-end of the spring 52 is against and pushing forward to one side of the elastic buckle 51.
A tension spring 80 for folding the supporting frame 60 installed on the bones 61 of the supporting frame 60 for supporting the umbrella cloth. Each umbrella bone 61 is in a close state by a force of the self-tension of the tension spring 80. In other words, the umbrella is in a full-close state or a half-close state. If the umbrella bones 61 is opened by an adequate exterior force (e.g. the umbrella is in a full-open state), then each umbrella bone 61 is pulled adequately by the tension spring 80. Besides, the pulled tension spring 80 drives the umbrella bones 61 in a full-close state. Wherein, the main elastic unit 70 is a spring.
By the above-mentioned umbrella components, referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, when the present invention is in a full-open state, the supporting frame 60 for support the umbrella cloth is full open so as to drive the umbrella cloth openly. The hollow first tube 10 and the hollow second tube 20 of umbrella shaft are stretched out each other so as to have the umbrella shaft become the longest. On this moment, the umbrella is in an operating state so as to have various functions, such as sheltering from sun or rain for a user.
When a user wants to fold the umbrella, the user should push and pull down the control switch 31 (shown as FIG. 3) of the head 30. The control switch 31 will drive the elastic hook 23 by the connecting sheet 32. Then the elastic hook 23 is drawn back and separate off the second buckling hole 102 so as to release from a buckling state. On the moment, the hollow first tube 10 and the second nest 50 are downwards by a drawing force of the main elastic unit 70. Then the elastic pin 22 moves from the bellow end of the recess 103 to the upper end of the recess 103 (shown as FIG. 3) so that the hollow first tube 10 is buckled with the hollow second tube 20 again.
Because the hollow first tube 10 moves downwards a short distance, the upper end of the hollow second tube 20 push and release the elastic buckle 51 in the second nest 50. The elastic buckle 51 separates off the first buckling hole 101 so as to release the second nest 50 from a buckling state. The supporting frame 60 of the umbrella cloth is close by a tension force of the tension spring 80. On the moment, the second nest 50 slides downwards along the hollow first tube 10. The second nest 50 is capable of pushing the elastic pin 22 into the hollow first tube 10 (referring to FIGS. 4 and 5). Finally, the umbrella returns to be a single folding umbrella (referring to FIG. 6).
During a process of folding umbrella, the present invention in a half-close state drives merely the supporting frame 60 of the umbrella cloth full close. However, the hollow first tube 10 and hollow second tube 20 of the umbrella shaft is drawn back each other only for a short distance, when the umbrella cloth is close. Thereby, the two tubes are still in a half stretching state. The devising purpose is to provide a buffer for closing umbrella so as to avoid that the supporting frame 60 of the umbrella cloth hits a user during a process of closing umbrella. Therefore, the present invention is safer than a prior art.
When the present invention in a full-closing state and the supporting frame 60 for supporting the umbrella cloth is closed fully, the umbrella cloth is closed. The hollow first tube 10 and the hollow second tube 20 of the umbrella shaft is drawn back each other adequately. On this moment, the umbrella shaft is the shortest. Thereby, a user can put the folding umbrella into a handbag so as to be convenient for user's carry.
By the present invention devising, it is not necessary for a user to operate the umbrella by both hands. Only a single finger is needed for a user to push down the control switch 31 of the head 30 for auto-closing the umbrella. Besides, the umbrella shaft is capable of auto-folding from two sections of the umbrella shaft drawing back and returning to be a single section thereof. It is fairly convenient and practical for a user to close the umbrella quickly whiling the user gets into a room or a car.
In sum, the double folding auto-expansion and folding umbrella is efficient to overcome various defects of prior arts.
The present invention is thus described, and it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A double folding auto-expansion and folding umbrella comprising:

an umbrella shaft formed by a hollow first tube sheathing with a hollow second tube;

a head fixed on the bottom of the hollow second tube;

a control switch being installed on the head;

a first nest fixed on the top of the hollow first tube;

a second nest sheathing on the umbrella shaft and capable of lifting and moving along thereof;

a supporting frame composed by a plurality of umbrella bones connecting to the second nest;

an umbrella cloth paved on the supporting frame;

wherein the first nest is connected to the hollow first tube, the supporting frame and the umbrella cloth; the second nest sheathing into the umbrella shaft is capable of moving and controlling the supporting frame; a retaining seat is fixed on the middle portion of the interior side of the hollow second tube; a elastic pin is positioned on the retaining seat; the elastic hook is installed under the elastic pin; the elastic pin is connected to a control switch on the umbrella head; the upper specific portion of the hollow first tube has a first buckling hole; a elastic buckle for buckling the first buckling hole is installed in the second nest; a elastic protrusion is installed in the interior side of the below specific portion of the hollow second tube; a twist spring for repositioning the elastic protrusion is installed in the hollow second tube; a main elastic unit for closing the umbrella shaft is installed in the hollow first tube and the hollow second tube; one end of the main elastic unit is fixed in the first nest; and another end thereof is fixed in the retaining seat of the hollow second tube.

2. The double folding auto-expansion and folding umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second buckling hole corresponding to the elastic hook is installed in a specific portion of the hollow first tube; a recess corresponding to the elastic pin is installed in a specific portion of the hollow first tube; and the second buckling hole is positioned under the recess.

3. The double folding auto-expansion and folding umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining seat has a recessed space; the recessed space is capable of receiving a spring; and a free-end of the spring is against to one side of the elastic pin.

4. The double folding auto-expansion and folding umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second nest has a groove; a spring is installed in the groove; a free-end of the spring pushes against one side of the elastic buckle.

5. The double folding auto-expansion and folding umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein a tension spring for closing the supporting frame is installed on an umbrella bone of the supporting frame of the umbrella cloth.

6. The double folding auto-expansion and folding umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main elastic unit is a spring.

7. The double folding auto-expansion and folding umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control switch on the head is connected to the elastic hook by the a connecting sheet; the bottom of the connecting sheet is fixed on the control switch; and the connecting sheet corresponding to the control switch moves upward or downward.