UMBRELLA HAVING A LOCKING MEMBER TO PREVENT RELEASE OF A TIP OF A RIB FROM A CANOPY

Abstract

An umbrella includes a canopy having a rib-connecting end, a rib having a tip to connect with the rib-connecting end, a tip cap connected to the rib-connecting end of the canopy and defining a receiving space that receives therein the tip of the rib, and a locking member connected to the tip cap to prevent release of the tip of the rib from the receiving space.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an umbrella, more particularly to an umbrella having a locking member to prevent release of a tip of a rib from a canopy.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a portion of a conventional umbrella having a tip 530 of a rib 53 inserted tautly into a pocket 52 of a canopy 5. The canopy 5 includes a fabric piece 51 sewn to a bottom face 500 of a rib-connecting end 50 of the canopy 5 to form the pocket 52. The length of the rib 53 is usually made long so as to stretch the canopy 5 when the umbrella is opened. However, when a strong wind is encountered, the tip 530 of the rib 53 is easily released from the pocket 52, and needs to be inserted back into the pocket 52 manually.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an umbrella having a locking member that can stably position a tip of a rib to a rib-connecting end of a canopy during opening and collapsing of the umbrella.

According to this invention, an umbrella comprises a canopy having a rib-connecting end, a rib having a tip to connect with the rib-connecting end, a tip cap connected to the rib-connecting end of the canopy and defining a receiving space that receives therein the tip of the rib, and a locking member connected to the tip cap to prevent release of the tip of the rib from the receiving space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary schematic bottom view of a conventional umbrella;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of an umbrella according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of an umbrella according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of an umbrella according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary assembled sectional view of the third preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary schematic bottom view of an umbrella according to the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that the same reference numerals have been used to denote like elements throughout the specification.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a portion of an umbrella 8 embodying the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The portion of the umbrella 8 as shown includes a canopy 3 having a rib-connecting end 30, a rib 2 having a tip 20, a tip cap 10, and a locking member.

The tip cap 10 is connected to the rib-connecting end 30 of the canopy 3, and is made of a substantially U-shaped metal body having parallel top and bottom plates 103, 104, and a transverse plate 101 having top and bottom ends connected respectively to the top and bottom plates 103, 104. The top and bottom plates 103, 104 and the transverse plate 101 cooperatively define a first receiving space 100 to receive therein the tip 20 of the rib 2. Each of the top and bottom plates 103, 104 has a locking hole 120, 120′ that is proximate to the transverse plate 101.

The locking member includes a headed screw 4.

To position the tip 20 of the rib 2 to the rib-connecting end 30 of the canopy 3, the tip 20 of the rib 2 is first inserted into the first receiving space 100 in the tip cap 10 until the tip 20 abuts against the transverse plate 101, after which the screw 4 is passed transversely through a through hole 31 in the rib-connecting end 30 of the canopy 3, the locking hole 120 in the top plate 103, a through hole 21 in the tip 20 of the rib 2, and the locking hole 120′ in the bottom plate 104, thereby fixing the tip 20 of the rib 2 and the tip cap 10 to the rib-connecting end 30 of the canopy 3. Hence, release of the tip 20 of the rib 2 from the rib-connecting end 30 of the canopy 3 is prevented.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a portion of an umbrella 8′ embodying the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is similar to the first preferred embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the tip cap 10′ has a cap wall 105, two top locking holes 120 provided in a top plate 103′ of the cap wall 105, and two bottom locking holes 120′ provided in a bottom plate 104′ of the cap wall 105 and aligned respectively with the top locking holes 120. The cap wall 105 surrounds the tip 20 of the rib 2, defines the first receiving space 100′, and has only one open end 107. The tip 20 of the rib 2 is inserted into the first receiving space 100′ in the tip cap 10′ via the open end 107 until the tip 20 abuts against a transverse plate 101′ of the cap wall 105, after which two screws 4 are passed transversely and respectively through through holes 31 in the rib-connecting end 30 of the canopy 3, the top locking holes 120, the through holes 21 in the tip 20 of the rib 2, and the bottom locking holes 120′, thereby fixing the tip 20 of the rib 2 to the rib-connecting end 30 of the canopy 3.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown a portion of an umbrella 8″ embodying the third preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is similar to the second preferred embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the tip cap 10″ further has a substantially L-shaped press arm 40 integral with the top plate 103′ of the cap wall 105 and extending longitudinally of the tip 20 of the rib 2 and outwardly of the cap wall 105. In particular, the press arm 40 has a short plate portion 400 connected transversely to the top plate 103′, and a long plate portion 401 connected to the short plate portion 400 and extending along the top plate 103′. The long and short plate portions 400, 401 of the press arm 40 and the top plate 103′ of the cap wall 105 cooperatively define a second receiving space 402. A locking slot 403 is formed in the long plate portion 401 of the press arm 40, and communicates spatially with the second receiving space 402. Further, unlike the first and second embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3, the top and bottom plates 103′, 104′ of the cap wall 105 are not provided with the locking holes 120, 120″, and the rib-connecting end 30 of the canopy 3 has no through hole 31.

The tip 20 of the rib 2 is first inserted into the first receiving space 100″ in the tip cap 10″ until the tip 20 abuts against the transverse plate 101, after which the rib-connecting end 30 of the canopy 3 is inserted into the second receiving space 402 between the press arm 40 and the cap wall 105. Finally, the screw 4 is passed transversely through the locking slot 403 and into the second receiving space 402 so as to press tightly the rib-connecting end 30 of the canopy 3 against the top plate 103′ of the cap wall 105, as best shown in FIG. 5.

If the locking holes 120, 120′ in the top and bottom plates 103′, 104′ of the cap wall 105 are provided in this embodiment, the screw 4 may be arranged to extend through the rib-connecting end 30 of the canopy 3 and the tip 20 of the rib 2 so as to fix the tip 20 of the rib 2 and the tip cap 10″ to the rib-connecting end 30 of the canopy 3. Moreover, if the top plate 103 of the tip cap 10 in FIG. 2 of the first preferred embodiment is provided with the L-shaped press arm 40, the advantages of the third preferred embodiment can be similarly achieved.

FIG. 6 illustrates a fragmentary bottom view of an umbrella (8a) embodying the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the rib-connecting end 30 of the canopy 3 is provided with a reinforcing member 31. The reinforcing member 31 may be made of a strong fabric or leather to enhance durability of the canopy 3. Hence, in each of the aforementioned preferred embodiments, the rib-connecting end 30 of the canopy 3 may be further provided with the reinforcing member 31 so as to prevent the rib-connecting end 30 of the canopy 3 from being easily damaged.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. An umbrella comprising:

a canopy having a rib-connecting end;

a rib having a tip to connect with said rib-connecting end;

a tip cap connected to said rib-connecting end of said canopy and defining a first receiving space that receives therein said tip of said rib; and

a locking member connected to said tip cap to prevent release of said tip of said rib from said first receiving space.

2. The umbrella of claim 1, wherein said locking member extends transversely through said tip cap and said tip of said rib.

3. The umbrella of claim 2, wherein said locking member includes a headed screw.

4. The umbrella of claim 3, wherein said tip cap has top and bottom plates, and a transverse plate having top and bottom ends connected respectively to said top and bottom plates, said top and bottom plates and said transverse plate cooperatively defining said first receiving space, each of said top and bottom plates having a locking hole for passage of said headed screw.

5. The umbrella of claim 3, wherein said tip cap has a cap wall surrounding said tip of said rib and defining said first receiving space, and top and bottom locking holes provided respectively in said cap wall for passage of said headed screw.

6. The umbrella of claim 3, wherein said tip cap has a cap wall surrounding said tip of said rib and defining said first receiving space, a press arm integral with said cap wall and extending longitudinally of said tip of said rib and outwardly of said cap wall, and a locking slot provided in said press arm, said rib-connecting end of said canopy extending between said press arm and said cap wall, said headed screw extending through said locking slot and pressing tightly said rib-connecting end of said canopy against said cap wall.

7. The umbrella of claim 1, wherein said rib-connecting end of said canopy is provided with a reinforcing member.

8. The umbrella of claim 7, wherein said reinforcing member is made of a strong fabric.

9. The umbrella of claim 7, wherein said reinforcing member is made of leather.