Device for securing link to spreader of umbrella

Abstract

A coupling device for securing one of a plurality of links to one of a plurality of spreaders of an umbrella is provided. The umbrella further includes lower and upper rings on its shank. The device comprises a sleeve fixedly put on a portion of the spreader, and a yoke-like member extended downwardly, the yoke-like member including a stop at an inner end, a transverse pin at an outer end, and a cavity between the stop and the pin wherein a flexible outer hook end of the link is inserted into the cavity to couple to the pin. Thus, force exerted by, will not remove the outer hook end of the link from the pin.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to umbrella frame and more particularly to an improved device for securing a link to a spreader of an umbrella.

2. Description of Related Art

Umbrellas or parasols are personal articles for the protection of rain or sun. However, conventional umbrellas are not durable due to, in most cases, weak pivotal means of connecting one component to the other component. A portion of a conventional umbrella frame is shown in FIGS. 7, 7A, and 8. As shown, a lower ring 91, an upper ring 92, and a spring 93 compressed between the lower ring 91 and the upper ring 92 are provided on an upright shank 90. A plurality of spreaders 94 are pivotably connected between the upper ring 92 and a plurality of radial ribs 95. A plurality of links 96 are pivotably connected between the lower ring 91 and the radial spreaders 94. In detail, the link 96 has an outer hook end 98 pivotably connected to a transverse pin 99 of a coupling member 97 sleeved on a portion of the spreader 94.

However, such design suffered from several disadvantages. For example, a user may intentionally pull the spreaders 94 for test purpose when buying an umbrella. This can exert a downward force (as indicated by arrow) on the coupling member 97 and in an extreme case, cause the hook end 98 to disengage from the pin 99. Moreover, the connection of the hook end 98 and the pin 99 may be damaged by heavy winds due to wind pressure from the ribs 95, the spreaders 94, and the umbrella canopy (not shown). Thus, the need for improvement still exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a coupling device for securing a link to a spreader of an umbrella. The coupling device has the advantages of being structurally robust and durable.

To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provides a coupling device for securing one of a plurality of links to one of a plurality of spreaders of an umbrella, the umbrella further including an upright shank having a lower ring pivotably coupled to the links, and an upper ring pivotably coupled to the spreaders which have the other ends pivotably coupled to a plurality of ribs, comprising a sleeve fixedly put on a portion of the spreader other than both ends of the spreader; and a yoke-like member extended downwardly from the sleeve, the yoke-like member including a stop at an inner end, a transverse pin at an outer end, and a cavity between the stop and the pin wherein a flexible outer hook end of the link is inserted into the cavity to pivotably couple to the pin, whereby exerting an external force on the umbrella, for example by high winds, will prevent the outer hook end of the link disengagement from the pin of the yoke-like member.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an umbrella frame incorporating a coupling member for securing the link to the spreader according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the coupling member shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the coupling member;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the umbrella frame of FIG. 1 in a folded state;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the umbrella frame of FIG. 1 in an extended state;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a portion of the umbrella frame shown in FIG. 1, where downward force is exerted on the coupling member;

FIG. 6A is a detailed view of the area in circle A in FIG. 6, where coupling of the link and the spreader is still maintained at the coupling member;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a portion of a conventional umbrella frame, where downward force is exerted on the coupling member;

FIG. 7A is a detailed view of the area in circle A in FIG. 7, where the link is disengaged from the spreader at the coupling member; and

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the umbrella frame in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a coupling member 24 for coupling a link 23 to a spreader 21 of umbrella constructed in accordance with the invention is illustrated. As shown, a lower ring 11 including a plurality of equally spaced apart slits 111, an upper ring 12 including a plurality of equally spaced apart slits 121, and a spring 13 compressed between the lower and upper rings 11 and 12 are provided on an upright shank 10. A plurality of spreaders 21 are pivotably connected between the upper ring 12 and a plurality of radial ribs 22. Each of a plurality of metal links 23 has a flexible inner hook end 231 pivotably connected to the slit 111. A plurality of ribs 22 each includes a coupling element 221 at a portion other than both ends thereof. The coupling element 221 has a yoke 222 extended from its underside. A plurality of spreaders 21 each has an inner end pivotably connected to the slit 121 and an outer end 25 pivotably connected to the yoke 222. A plurality of coupling members 24 each is sleeved on a portion of the spreader 21 other than both ends thereof. The coupling member 24 has an elongated, yoke-like portion 241 extended downwardly to form a stop 244 at an inner end, a transverse pin 243 at an outer end, and a cavity 242 between the stop 244 and the pin 243. A flexible outer hook end 232 of the link 23 is inserted at about a predetermined angle into the cavity 242 to fasten at the pin 243.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 6A, high winds or a person may exert a downward force (as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 6) on the coupling member 24. Advantageously, the outer hook end 232 only partially disengages from the pin 243 (i.e., a minimum lateral movement as indicated by another arrow in FIG. 6A) in response because an outward and downward movement of the outer hook end 232 is blocked by the stop 244. Hence, the outer hook end 232 will return to its fully engaged position in the coupling member 24 due to the nature of elasticity of the spreaders 21 and the links 23 once external force is removed.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A coupling device for securing one of a plurality of links to one of a plurality of spreaders of an umbrella, the umbrella further including an upright shank having a lower ring pivotably coupled to the links, and an upper ring pivotably coupled to the spreaders, each of which has an other end pivotably coupled to each of a plurality of ribs, comprising:

a sleeve fixedly put on a portion of the spreader other than both ends of the spreader; and

a yoke-like member extended downwardly from the sleeve, the yoke-like member including a stop at an inner end, a transverse pin at an outer end, and a cavity between the stop and the pin wherein a flexible outer hook end of the link is inserted into the cavity to pivotably couple to the pin,

whereby exerting an external force on the umbrella, the stop will prevent the outer hook end of the link disengagement from the pin of the yoke-like member.

2. The coupling device of claim 1, wherein each of the lower ring comprises a plurality of equally spaced apart slits each for coupling to an inner hook end of the link, and each of the upper ring comprises a plurality of equally spaced apart slits each for coupling to an inner end of the spreader.

3. The coupling device of claim 1, further comprising resilient means compressed between the lower and upper rings.