Driving rope of large-sized umbrella

Abstract

An umbrella includes a center post having an upper end to which a crown is mounted. A number of ribs are pivoted to the crown and radially extend from the crown. A runner is movably mounted to the center post. A stretcher is mounted between the runner and each rib by having ends pivoted to the runner and the rib. A canopy is attached to and supported by the ribs. An opening/closing device includes a reel rotatably mounted in to the center post and a crank arm coupled to the reel for manually rotating the reel. A length of rope has first and second sections respectively fixed to the reel and the runner whereby by rotating the reel, the rope is wound around the reel, causing the runner to move toward the crown and driving the stretchers to expand the ribs and the canopy and thus opening the umbrella. The first and second sections of the rope have first and second diameters respectively, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter. The large first diameter helps to quickly increase the outside diameter of the reel when it is wound around the reel, thereby decreasing the force required to operate the crank for winding the rope and thus opening the umbrella.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention generally relates to a large-sized umbrella, and in particular to a driving rope of rope-controlled large-sized umbrellas.

[0003] 2. The Related Art

[0004] Large-sized umbrellas are widely used in a variety of applications, such as beach umbrellas and garden umbrellas. FIGS. 1 and 2 of the attached drawings show a conventional large-sized umbrella, comprising, in general, an upright center post 10 having a lower end mounted to or securely supported on the ground and an upper end to which a crown 12 is fixed, a plurality of ribs 13 pivoted to the crown 12 and radially extending from the crown 12, a runner 11 slidably mounted to the post 10 and a plurality of stretchers 14 arranged between and pivoted to the ribs 13 and the runner 11. When the runner 11 is moved toward the crown 12, the ribs 13 are forced to open and expanding a flexible canopy 15 attached thereto. When the runner 11 is moved away from the crown 12, the umbrella is closed.

[0005] A rope based opening/closing device 16 is incorporated in the large-sized umbrella for controlling and driving the runner 11 to open/close the umbrella. The rope based opening/closing device 16 comprises a reel (not shown) for winding/unwinding a rope 18 to drive the runner 11 along the center post 10. A crank arm 17 is coupled to the reel for manual rotation of the reel to wind and/or unwind the rope 18.

[0006] The rope that is employed in the conventional opening/closing device is of uniform cross section. Namely it has the same diameter throughout the whole length thereof. To open the umbrella, an operator must apply a substantial amount of force to the crank arm 17 in order to overcome the gravity of the canopy 15. This, of course, causes certain problems to people that is not strong to operate the crank arm 17, and may sometimes lead to damage to the operator. In addition, such a great amount of force may cause breaking of the rope.

[0007] Thus, it desired to have a large-sized umbrella having an opening/closing device having no such deficiencies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a large-sized umbrella comprising an opening/closing device having a driving rope comprised of multiple sections of different diameters.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a large-sized umbrella that is easy to operate.

[0010] A further object of the present invention is to provide a large-sized umbrella that is safe to the operator.

[0011] To achieve the above objects, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an umbrella comprising a center post having an upper end to which a crown is mounted. A number of ribs are pivoted to the crown and radially extend from the crown. A runner is movably mounted to the center post. A stretcher is mounted between the runner and each rib by having ends pivoted to the runner and the rib. A canopy is attached to and supported by the ribs. An opening/closing device comprises a reel rotatably mounted in an interior space defined in the runner and a crank located outside the runner and coupled to the reel for manually rotating the reel. A length of rope has first and second ends respectively fixed to the reel and the crown whereby by rotating the reel, the rope is wound around the reel, causing the runner to move toward the crown and driving the stretchers to expand the ribs and the canopy and thus opening the umbrella. The first and second sections of the rope have first and second diameters respectively, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter. The large first diameter helps to quickly increase the outside diameter of the reel when it is wound around the reel, thereby decreasing the force required to operate the crank for winding the rope and thus opening the umbrella.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a conventional large-sized umbrella in an open condition;

[0014] FIG. 2 is another side elevational view of the conventional large-sized umbrella in a closed condition;

[0015] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a large-sized umbrella constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, showing in detail an opening/closing device of the umbrella; and

[0016] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a large-sized umbrella constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, showing in detail an opening/closing device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 3, an umbrella constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises an umbrella frame (not labeled) comprising a center post 10 along which a runner 11 is movable. A number of stretchers 14 are pivoted to the runner 11 and further coupled to ribs (not shown) to drive a canopy (not shown) supported on the ribs.

[0018] The umbrella comprises an opening/closing device 16 comprising a reel 19 rotatably mounted to and transversely extending through the center post 10. A crank arm 17 is coupled to the reel 19 for rotation of the reel 19. A length of rope 20 has a first section 21 of a first diameter and a second section 22 of a second diameter, the second diameter being smaller than the first diameter. An end of the first section 21 is attached to the reel 19 and an end of the second section 22 is attached to the runner 11. When the reel 19 rotates in a first direction, the first section 21 of the rope 20 is wound around the reel 19 and the second section 22 drives the runner 11 toward the crown to open the umbrella. When the reel 22 rotates in a reversed second direction, the first section 21 of the rope 20 is unwound from the reel 19 and allowing the second section 22 to release the runner 11 away from the crown for closing the umbrella.

[0019] In opening the umbrella, the first section 21 of the rope 20, which has a large diameter, is wound around the reel 19. The large diameter helps to quickly increase an outside diameter of the reel 19 thereby decreasing the force required to manually rotate the reel 19. This allows the operator to open the umbrella easily with less force.

[0020] The rope 20 that has two sections 21, 22 of different diameters can be made by fitting a tubular member over a portion of a rope of uniform diameter. For example and as shown in FIG. 3, the rope 20 may has an original diameter corresponding to the small, second diameter of the second section 22. A tubular member having an inside diameter substantially corresponding to the second diameter and an outer diameter identical to the first diameter is fit over the rope 20 thereby forming the first section 21 that has the first diameter.

[0021] Another example of the rope is shown in FIG. 4 and is designated with reference numeral 30. The rope 30 is made by forming layers of different thickness over an original rope that has initially the same diameter whereby a large diameter section 31 and a small diameter section 32 are respectively formed on opposite ends of the rope 30. Similarly, the large diameter section 31 is attached to the reel 19 and the small diameter section 32 is attached to the runner 22.

[0022] In the embodiments illustrated, the center post 10 is a tubular member. The rope 20, 30 that is made in accordance with the present invention is generally arranged inside and partially extends through the center post 10 thereby not causing any negative influence on the outside appearance of the umbrella. In addition, the manufacturing of the rope 20, 30 only adds a small portion of extra cost thereby allowing for excellent market competition.

[0023] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments 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.

Claims

1. An umbrella comprising:

a center post;

a runner movable along the center post for opening/closing a canopy; and

an opening/closing device comprising:

a reel rotatably mounted to the center post, and

a length of a rope comprised of first and second sections having first and second diameters respectively, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter, the first section being attached to the reel to be would thereon and the second section being attached to the runner whereby by winding the first section around the reel, the rope driving the runner to move along the center post.

2. The umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the center post comprises a tubular member through which the rope partially extends.

3. The umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first section of the rope comprises a tubular member having an outside diameter substantially corresponding to the first diameter, the tubular member being fit over the rope to form the first section.

4. The umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rope is comprised of coating layers, the coating layer of the first section having a thickness greater than a thickness of the coating layer of the second section.