Retainers Patents (Class 135/37)
  • Patent number: 11432627
    Abstract: A sunshade switchable between a manual mode and an electric mode includes an operating device having a shaft. A driven gear is rotatably coupled to the shaft. A driving gear for electric mode is rotatable in unison with the shaft. A runner interlocks with the shaft. The shaft is movable to couple with the driven gear for electric mode or the driving gear for manual mode. When the driven gear for electric mode is coupled with the shaft, a motor can be used to move the runner for folding, unfolding, tilting, or straightening the sunshade. When the driving gear for manual mode is coupled with the shaft, a handle can be operated to move the runner for folding, unfolding, tilting, or straightening the sunshade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Inventor: Benson Tung
  • Patent number: 9936679
    Abstract: A pet leash accessory assembly may be utilized with a variety of off-the-shelf accessories including, but not limited to, flashlights, pet waste bags and personal attack deterrents. The pet leash accessory assembly allows an off-the-shelf accessory to be attached at different locations on the lease, for example attached to the leash handle or strap, and to be attached to many different types of leashes, for example, flat, thin leashes and round, rope-like leashes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventor: Drew A. Roberdeaux
  • Patent number: 8720457
    Abstract: The invention relates to an umbrella including a security system having a triggering device located on the contact area of the mast with the ground. The triggering device includes a slider, a slider return spring, a flexible transmission assembly connected to the head of the slider; a mechanism to inactivate the trigger, including a cam pivotally mounted on the trigger and capable of resting against the mast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Inventors: Bernard Amalric, Frédéric Cannac, Jean-Paul Taillefer
  • Publication number: 20130092199
    Abstract: An improved self-anchoring umbrella, the umbrella comprising a canopy and pole, a retractable auger disposed within the pole of the umbrella. The retractable auger is operated using an electric motor and portable power source, and a switch allowing a user to provide power to the electric motor which rotates a drive head with spiral teeth engaged within spiral grooves in the pole. The umbrella may further include a table portion, and extendable stabilizing legs disposed in the lower portion of the pole. When the auger portion is screwed into sand or other surface and the stabilizing legs are engaged with the surface, the invention provides a stable umbrella for outdoor recreation and other purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventor: Stacey L. Berland
  • Patent number: 8356613
    Abstract: An umbrella hub is provided that is operative to engage an umbrella cord for maintaining an umbrella in an open position. The hub can comprise a cord retention means. The cord retention means can be located within a portion of and/or behind, abutting, and/or at the base of at least a portion of one connection cavity of the hub. The cord retention means can comprise a passage that is configured to receive a cord therethrough and extend along at least a portion of the hub. The cord retention means can be configured to allow the cord to pass freely in a first direction while preventing movement of the cord therethrough in a second direction that is opposite the first direction or to pass freely in both the first and second directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Inventor: Oliver Joen-an Ma
  • Patent number: 8251078
    Abstract: Umbrella handle assemblies are provided for maintaining a position of a canopy relative to a support pole of an umbrella. The handle assemblies can be slidable along the pole, but can also be actuated to cause the assemblies to be generally fixed at a given longitudinal position along the pole in order to maintain an open or closed position of the canopy. The handle assemblies can include a handle that can be actuated to cause a brake component of the assemblies to engage with the pole to secure the handle assembly relative to the pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventor: Oliver Joen-an Ma
  • Patent number: 7963293
    Abstract: An umbrella is provided that includes a support pole assembly, a canopy support frame, and an actuating handle. The support pole assembly includes a lower pole and an upper pole. The lower pole has a lower end and an upper end. The upper pole is vertically translatable relative to the lower pole. The canopy support frame includes an upper hub, a lower hub, and a middle hub. The upper hub is coupled with the upper pole and with a plurality of ribs. The lower hub is coupled with the ribs. The middle hub is coupled with the lower pole and with the ribs. The actuating handle is coupled with the upper pole and is translatable relative to the lower pole so that, when the actuating handle is raised, the upper pole and the upper hub are raised causing the canopy support frame to close.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Inventor: Oliver Joen-an Ma
  • Publication number: 20110132418
    Abstract: An umbrella hub is provided that is operative to engage an umbrella cord for maintaining an umbrella in an open position. The hub can comprise a cord retention means. The cord retention means can be located within a portion of and/or behind, abutting, and/or at the base of at least a portion of one connection cavity of the hub. The cord retention means can comprise a passage that is configured to receive a cord therethrough and extend along at least a portion of the hub. The cord retention means can be configured to allow the cord to pass freely in a first direction while preventing movement of the cord therethrough in a second direction that is opposite the first direction or to pass freely in both the first and second directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventor: Oliver Joen-an Ma
  • Patent number: 7392610
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable information sign device. In one embodiment of the invention, a top plate comprises a foundation and three plate coupling ports. A center arm comprises an arm rod axially coupled to the top plate foundation. A sliding plate is slideably coupled to the arm rod and comprises a sliding plate foundation and three sliding plate coupling ports. A spring encircling the arm rod is connected on a first end to the sliding plate foundation and on a second end to a stop coupled to the distal end of the arm rod. Three guide arms are connected to the coupling ports of the sliding plate foundation. Three legs are connected on one end to the coupling ports in the top plate and on the leg end to coupling ports on the guide arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Total Terry, LLC
    Inventors: Maya Paulina Jedlicka, Wing Yue Leung, Johnny Wayne Boudreaux
  • Patent number: 7322371
    Abstract: A lock mechanism mounted in a large umbrella includes a sliding sleeve including an aperture on surface of a lower extension, a telescopic shank including a lower tube fixed in a handle and a sliding upper tube, a lock device disposed in the upper tube such that disposing a resilient projection of the lock device through holes of the tubes may fasten the shank, an actuation assembly for receiving the extension and including a transverse opening and a spring biased actuation member having a portion disposed in the aperture for locking the extension in a closed position of the umbrella, the actuation member including a trigger, and a spring biased rib fixing assembly disposed between the handle and the actuation assembly. Pushing the trigger will disengage the portion with the aperture to open the umbrella. Operating the lock device will effect a subsequent multi-sectional length adjustment of the shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Inventor: Ching-Chuan You
  • Patent number: 7287539
    Abstract: A bumper for an umbrella is made of resilient material and is an undulating tube composed of a securing end (32), a serpentine middle portion (34), an abutting end (36) and a straight through hole (not numbered) defined through securing end (32), the serpentine middle portion (34) and the abutting end (36). The bumper is compressed at the serpentine middle portion (34) to damp the shock caused by bumping of a sliding ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Inventor: Chia-Chen Lee
  • Publication number: 20040200517
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bow spring of a folded umbrella, which includes an improved bow spring having a short length and a side coil spring being received in upper tube of the umbrella. The coil spring can provide elastic force to push the engaging end of the bow spring outward to position the umbrella opening. The length of the tube and the umbrella can be effectively decreased that obtains improvement for easy carry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventor: Chin Sung Ko
  • Publication number: 20030205263
    Abstract: A fastening structure of an umbrella for specifically stabilizing an umbrella post when opening a multiple-fold umbrella is mainly featured that an extending rod is disposed at a connected end of a strutting rib and a lower nest of the multiple-fold umbrella; the said extending rod penetrates directly into an inner hole of the lower nest through a radial channel disposed correspondingly on the lower nest and is supported on the umbrella post; thereby the umbrella post is stabilized relatively to the lower nest to assure that the fastener for opening the umbrella specifically supports the lower nest for a smooth umbrella opening operation; furthermore, the structure of the present invention is simple, convenient, efficient and meets all the requirements of the economic effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventor: Fu-Tien Liu
  • Publication number: 20030051748
    Abstract: An umbrella supporting mount can be easily and quickly secured to a flat surface of a table or roof of a vehicle in a stable and firm manner without shaking at all. The supporting mount has an integrally punched metal lid of proper height and is equipped with a plurality of vent holes and a pair of symmetric mounting holes on the vertical periphery thereof so as to permit a cranked driving control shaft having a handle at one end to be located in a hollow interior of the lid. A driven unit integrally made of hard plastics consists of a circular base board and a vertically extended block having a driving hole disposed at the center thereof. The circular base board of the driven unit is partially wrapped around by a sucking attachment which is made of flexible rubber and has a peripheral skirt defined at the bottom edge thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventor: Ming-Kun Wu
  • Publication number: 20020139405
    Abstract: A sunshade frame has an upper support member secured to a top end of a shank; the ribs of the frame are each pivoted to a corresponding one of longitudinal trenches of the upper support member from an inner end. The frame has a lower support member movably connected to the shank, and spreader rods pivoted to the lower support member from inner ends; the spreader rods are each pivoted to a corresponding one of the ribs by means of a pivotal pin from an outer end with an elastic member disposed in between to prevent the connection from getting loose in case the pivotal pin is too long for the width of same. The upper, and the lower support members have an upper, and a lower confining rim respectively to prevent the ribs and the spreader rods from pivoting beyond same to a wrong position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: Chorng-Cheng Lee
  • Publication number: 20020124876
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an umbrella structure for releasing wind and includes a supporting rib pivotally connected with a main rib of the umbrella at a middle position. The supporting rib is provided inside with a coil spring and an end ball for connecting with the outer circumscription of the upper umbrella cover while the lower cover being on the main rib from the connecting position of the main rib and a branch rib extending outward. The assembled umbrella includes two layers of cover wherein the upper cover is elastically connected by the supporting rib for a better connection and a perfect effect for releasing the heavy wind.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventor: Chao Hui Chen
  • Patent number: 6382222
    Abstract: An improved safety locking mechanism according to the invention is particularly suitable for use in a five or more folding collapsible umbrella. The mechanism comprises a specially designed runner in conjunction with an actuator element. A plunger and a spring are disposed under the actuator element in a through hole formed on the runner. The plunger is urged by the spring and so will project out to abut against the upper rim of the bowed resilient element when the umbrella is opened. With such arrangements, an umbrella can be effectively kept at an open state. To close the umbrella users depress the bowed resilient element to make the plunger disengaged from the runner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventor: Chin-Sung Ko
  • Publication number: 20020046761
    Abstract: An umbrella skeleton comprises a runner controlling device which is formed of a first plastic plate and a second plastic plate. The runner controlling device is located in a receiving slot of the top end of a shaft of the umbrella skeleton. The first plastic plate is provided with a rachet pillar, an arcuate locating plate, a movable ratchet wheel movably located between the ratchet pillar and the locating plate, and a pulley on which an activation cord is wound such that one end of the activation cord is fastened with the runner, and that other end of the activation cord is fastened with an activator located in proximity of the bottom end of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventor: Ruey-Yuan Liang
  • Patent number: 6298867
    Abstract: A hub and rib assembly for umbrella comprises a hub and a plurality of ribs, all made of ductile material. Each rib has an end integrally formed and connected with the hub, whereby assembling thereof is easy and not involved other tools. In other word, the cost is reduced and the safety is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Inventor: John Chang
  • Publication number: 20010010231
    Abstract: A foldable umbrella includes a post; a stationary hub secured to an upper end of the post; a canopy centrally secured to the stationary hub; a sleeve slidably mounted on the post; a plurality of radially oriented ribs secured to the canopy in equiangularly spaced relation, each rib having a radially inner end and a radially outward end; a plurality of foldable strut assemblies, each strut assembly connected between the sleeve and a respective one of the ribs, each strut assembly including a first strut having one end pivotally connected at a first pivot point to the sleeve and a second end pivotally connected to a respective one of the ribs at a second pivot point spaced radially outwardly from the radially inner end of the rib, a second strut having one end pivotally connected at a third pivot point to the stationary hub and a second end pivotally connected at a fourth pivot point to an intermediate point of the first strut, and a third strut having one end pivotally connected at a fifth pivot point to an in
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Gary D. Johnson, Ruth Hochfeld, Alfonso Murcia, Frank Holloway
  • Patent number: 6192906
    Abstract: An automatic opening umbrella mechanism which provides a new design, by which users can open an umbrella in a quick and accurate manner with enhanced efficiency. The structure primarily contains a spring disposed between the midpoint of a first main umbrella stretcher and the upper end of the umbrella runner. The resilient restoring force of the spring helps opening an umbrella.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Inventor: Cheng Miao Ling Kuo
  • Patent number: 6016822
    Abstract: An automatic umbrella includes: a central shaft consisting of four tubes telescopically engageable with one another; a rib assembly consisting of at least a top rib pivotally secured to a top portion of the central shaft, a stretcher rib pivotally connected with the top rib and a lower runner slidably held on the central shaft, and several ribs pivotally connected to the top rib and the stretcher rib; an opening spring resiliently retained in the central shaft for opening the umbrella; a plurality of closing springs secured on the rib assembly for closing the umbrella; and a control device consisting of an upper roller rotatably mounted on an upper portion of the central shaft, a lower roller rotatably secured on the lower runner and an uppermost roller rotatably secured on a top portion of the shaft for continuously deflectively winding a rope of the control device on the rollers for making an automatic umbrella of quadruple folds or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Fu Tai Umbrella Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Kung Lin, Jung-Jen Chang
  • Patent number: 5626161
    Abstract: A multiple-fold automatic umbrella includes: a control device having a push button slidably held in the grip for controlling the opening and closing of the umbrella, a slotted arm member secured to the push button having a pair of sockets formed in the slotted arm member, a shortened upper latch having a pair of lugs engageable with the pair of sockets for unlocking a folded telescopic shaft of the umbrella when depressing the push button for opening the umbrella, and a convex spring plate secured to a plug fixed into an inner tube of the shaft having a pair of flaps disposed on two opposite side portions of the convex spring plate for slidably holding a locking head of an umbrella-closing controller to be locked in the inner tube for a reliable folding operation of the umbrella.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Fu Tai Umbrella Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Kuang Lin, Jung-Jen Chang
  • Patent number: 5615697
    Abstract: A pocketable folding umbrella Includes: a slim upper notch secured on an upper portion of a central shaft; a slim lower runner slidably held on the central shaft; two extremity rib sets respectively pivotally secured to two extremity portions of the upper notch and the lower runner; four flat-side rib sets respectively pivotally secured to two flat-side portions of the upper notch and the lower runner; an umbrella cloth secured on the rib sets; a plurality of folding springs each secured on the rib set for resiliently retracting the rib sets for minimizing a folding volume of the rib sets: and a narrowing member formed or secured to the upper notch and having a pair of U-shaped recesses disposed on two opposite end portions of the narrowing member for guiding the rib sets as being folded from an opening umbrella and storing the folded rib sets within the two U-shaped recesses for greatly minimizing the folding volume for forming a miniature slim pocketable foldable umbrella,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Fu Tai Umbrella Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Kuang Lin, Jung-Jen Chang
  • Patent number: 5505222
    Abstract: A multiple-fold automatic umbrella includes: a control device having a push button slidably held in the grip for controlling the opening and closing of the umbrella, an opening controller of the control device formed as a sliding plate transversely slidably mounted in a middle portion of of push button for opening the umbrella from a closed state of the umbrella; and a closing controller of the control device having a lower latch contiguous to a middle portion of the push button to be depressed by the push button for closing an opened umbrella, whereby upon a direct depression of the push button without considering an upper button portion or a lower button portion of the push button, an umbrella can be opened or closed conveniently and ergonomically, thereby simplifying the structure and operation of the control device of the automatic umbrella.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Fu Tai Umbrella Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Kuang Lin, Jung-Jen Chang
  • Patent number: 5494065
    Abstract: An improved umbrella framework having a powerful strutting action is provided. The umbrella framework includes a strut frame member situated at the underside of a first umbrella frame member. The outer end of the strut frame member is connected to the outer end of a second umbrella frame member. The center of the strut frame member is connected to a support strut and the inner end is connected to a center guide. The center guide is installed onto the umbrella pole between a positioning ring and an upper guide. A sliding guide is disposed on the umbrella pole below the positioning ring. The sliding guide is operated to open the umbrella, whereupon the support strut effectively actuates the movement of the commonly connected strut frame member, the second umbrella frame member and the tail umbrella frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Inventors: Cheng M. L. Kuo, Shen H. Wang
  • Patent number: 5472006
    Abstract: An improved four-section umbrella framework is provided. The framework includes an attachable flexible frame member having a small slot in the main frame member of the umbrella framework. A connector is positioned inside the main frame member such that the latch ring of the connector protrudes through the small slot on the main frame member and provides for the simple attachment of a hook formed at the end of a flexible frame member to form a secure and practical hook joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Inventors: Cheng M. L. Kuo, Shen H. Wang
  • Patent number: 5467792
    Abstract: A shortenable umbrella, essentially comprises a strut 2, a stay 3, a link 4, a rod 5, a tension wire 6, a tension link 7, a spoke 8, a rib 9, a first joint member J1 and a second joint member j2 connected each other as shown in FIG. 4 to form one rib assembly of the totally six or eight rib assemblies of a four sectioned shortenable umbrella, characterized by forming two spaced stops (A) and (B) integrally with the rod 5 at the lower edges thereof, disposing a guide ring (R) around the section of the rod 5 defined by the stops and passing the tension wire 6 beneath the groove of the rod 5 through the guide ring (R) to thereby permit the guide ring (R) moving freely along the rod under the action of the tension wire during the closing and opening operations of the umbrella.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Inventor: Toshio Okuda
  • Patent number: 5277212
    Abstract: An umbrella includes a substantially inextensible cord which is mounted by couplers to the free ends of the ribs of the umbrella such that the cord forms a closed loop disposed radially inwardly of the ribs of the umbrella. The cord braces the umbrella against inversion, and the couplers can be designed to allow the cord to be retrofitted to an existing umbrella.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Inventor: Victor Aronov
  • Patent number: 5131422
    Abstract: An umbrella includes a substantially inextensible cord which is mounted by couplers to the free ends of the ribs of the umbrella such that the cord forms a closed loop disposed radially inwardly of the ribs of the umbrella. The cord braces the umbrella against inversion, and the couplers can be designed to allow the cord to be retrofitted to an existing umbrella.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Inventor: Victor Aronov
  • Patent number: 5117851
    Abstract: A table cover includes a central post movably held in a collar, a plurality of top ribs for mounting a canopy screen thereon pivotally secured to an upper notch mounted to the collar, a plurality of stretcher ribs each pivotally secured to a lower runner fixed on a lower end of the central post and secured to a middle portion of each top rib, and a packing ring frictionally disposed around the central post within the collar so that the central post can be reciprocated along the collar for extending or retracting the ribs to obtain any desired opening diameter of the canopy screen for optionally positioning the screen, thereby suitably matching with a diameter of the table to be shielded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Inventor: Ching-Ming Chang
  • Patent number: 5050627
    Abstract: This invention relates to a springless umbrella capable of being opened and closed under the elasticity of the ribs, which simplifies the manufactured and assembled process of the shaft and reduces the cost and provides a convenient umbrella for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Inventor: Chuang-Lee Hengtzu
  • Patent number: 5046518
    Abstract: A folding frame for use in umbrella or the like includes a plurality of arcuate stretcher ribs each pivotally secured between a lower runner reciprocatively held on a central shaft of the umbrella and a top rib pivotally secured to an upper notch of the shaft so that when extending the ribs and an umbrella cloth secured to the top ribs for opening the umbrella, the arcuate stretcher ribs may resiliently retain the top ribs and the umbrella cloth without the aid of a spring catch for saving production cost and for simplifying a folding or extending operation of the umbrella.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Inventor: Ching-Ming Chang
  • Patent number: 4610364
    Abstract: A lower cross assembly of an elevating clothes dryer which has a lower cross slidable over a stem, the lower cross having a plurality of pairs of outwardly radiating lugs, the lugs of each pair retaining between them a respective pin about which a clothes dryer arm is pivotal, and a closure cap releasably retained to the lower cross and retaining said pins in their lugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Assignee: Hills Industries Limited
    Inventor: Ronald G. Meade
  • Patent number: 4336817
    Abstract: An umbrella having a pocket or purse compartment as a part thereof. The pocket consists of first and second lengths of fabric of substantially the same width and length, secured in overlapping relationship and attached at one end thereof to the fabric cover of the umbrella. A length of zipper tape is secured to one of the lengths of fabric so that the lengths of fabric and zipper tape form a pocket or purse compartment for money and the like within the lengths of fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1982
    Inventor: Rosella Shapiro