US2779345A - Umbrella runner cap - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 29, 1957 c. KELLER 2,779,345 UMBRELLA RUNNER CAP Filed Nov. 28, 1955 INVENTOR C /zarZeS [filler ATTORNEYS United rates Patent UMBRELLA RUNNER CAP Charles Keller, New York, N. Y. Application November 28, 1955, Serial No. 549,327

2 Claims. (Cl. 135-28) The present invention relates to a runner cap for umbrellas and, more particularly, to a runner cap which will protect the fingers of the user of the umbrella in raising and lowering the umbrella.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a pro tecting member to underlie the rib support portion of the runner of an umbrella having means thereon to hold the capin adjusted position on the umbrella sleeve.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described having a configuration such that move ment of the cap in one direction will tend to cause the cap to bite into the sleeve to resist movement in that direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structure of the class described above formed of resilient, flexible plastic material.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cap for a runner of an umbrella wherein the cap can be installed to the runner without the use of additional securing elements or installing equipment.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawing, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the invention shown installed on an umbrella runner;

Figure 2 is a transverse cross section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross section taken along the line 3--3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and,

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the invention shown detached.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral indicates generally a runner of an umbrella structure having a tubular body portion 11 with a longitudinal slot 12 formed in one wall thereof to admit the spring detent (not shown) used for holding the runner 10 in adjusted vertical position. A rib support member 13 is positioned over the tubular body 11 at one end thereof and is secured thereto by a flange 14 extending radially outwardly from the tube 11 and a bead 15 which extends circumferentially of the tube 11 and engages one side 16 of the rib support member 13, the other side 17 of which is engaged against flange 14. It can be seen from this that the rib support member 13 is generally located on the tubular body 11 at one end thereof. A pair of parallel flanges 18 and 19 extend radially outwardly on the rib support member 13 forming a circumferential slot 20 therebetween. The peripheral edges of the flanges 18 and 19 are radially recessed V as at 21 and 22 at 'circumferentially spaced points to provide openings to receive the base portion 23 of the ribs 24. A ring clamp 25 extends through the groove 20 and passes through an opening 26 in each of the rib bases 23 to pivotally secure the ribs 24 to the runner 10. The structure described above is of a conventional nature and operates in a conventional manner to control the spread of the umbrella from open to closed position.

A cap generally indicated at 30 consists of a flexible resilient plastic body 31 having a circular outer edge 32 and an axial bore 33 concentrically arranged with relation 2,779,345 Patented Jan. 29, 1957 to the circular edge 32. The body 31 is domed down wardly and inwardly from the edge 32 as at 34 with the surface of the domed portion 34 being downwardly and inwardly curved as best illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. A plurality of triangular notches 35 are formed in the domed portion 34 with the apex 36 of the triangular notch 35 extending perpendicularly and radially to the axis of the cap 30.- The triangular notches 35 are formed with their larger portions 37 opening into the bore 33 forming a plurality of teeth 38 with one tooth 38 lying between each notch 35. The teeth 38 have their pointed terminal ends falling in the cylindrical plane of the bore 33.

In the use and operation of the invention the cap 30 is positioned over the cylindrical body 11 of the runner 10 V with the cylindrical bore 33 in engagement with the outer wall of the cylindrical body 11. The cap 30 is positioned on the runner 10 with the teeth 38 projecting downwardly away from the ribs 24 of the umbrella. The cap 30 is moved upwardly 0n the runner 10 until the face 39, extending perpendicularly to the bore 33 of the cap 30 comes into engagement with the bead 15 on the runner 10. In this position the edges of the flange 18 and the ends of the ribs 24 are covered so that they cannot be engaged by the fingers of the user of the umbrella and, in addition, the connection of the rib 24 to the runner 10 is hidden in a decorative manner to provide a finished appearance for the runner lit. In the event that the cap 30 should be urged downwardly on the body 11 away from the flange 18 the teeth 38 will engage tightly the body 11 to bind the cap 30 in its position so that the cap 30 will remain as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 until forcibly removed.

The material of which the cap or puff of which this invention is made is of a kind of plastic which does not have inherent stretch characteristics although it is fiex ible and to a minor extent resilient. The arrangement of notches 35 therefore provides a means whereby the opening through the cap may be elongated to permit the cap to be slipped over the runner 10 which has a larger diameter. The cap then stays in place at the point on the runner where it is eventually positioned, that against the bead 15.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that numerous modifications and structural adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cap for umbrella runners comprising a domed circular body member having an axial bore extending therethrough, said bore being of a size to permit said cap to be engaged over an umbrella runner, and a plurality of triangular teeth formed in said body adjacent said bore, said teeth being delineated by a plurality of triangular notches extending into said body between said teeth.

2. A cap for an umbrella runner comprising a resilient plastic semi-spherical body, said body having a flat upper wall perpendicular to the axis of said body, an axial cylindrical bore extending through said body perpendicular to said wall, a plurality of teeth formed in said body, said body having a plurality of triangular notches delineating said teeth and a point on each of said teeth with said points lying in the cylindrical surface of said bore.

References .Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 13,430 Susemihl et a1. June 18, 1912 388,364 Jungkurth Aug. 21, 1888 1,215,369 Hart Feb. 13, 1917 1,473,300 Kruger -s Nov. 6, 1923 2,725,066 Estes Nov. 29, 1955

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