Umbrella Having A Detachable Structure

An umbrella includes a shank, a fixed ring mounted on the shank, a movable ring movably mounted on the shank, a plurality of mounting brackets secured on the fixed ring and the movable ring, a plurality of ribs each detachably connected with the respective mounting bracket on the fixed ring, a plurality of spreaders each detachably connected with the respective mounting bracket on the movable ring, and a plurality of locking mechanisms each mounted in the respective rib and the respective spreader and each detachably locked onto the respective mounting bracket to detachably lock each of the ribs and the spreaders onto the respective mounting bracket. Thus, each of the spreaders and the ribs can be detached from the respective mounting bracket, so that each of the spreaders and the ribs can be removed for replacement.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an umbrella and, more particularly, to a umbrella to provide a shading effect.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional umbrella comprises a shank, a fixed ring mounted on the upper end of the shank, a movable ring movably mounted on the shank, a base mounted on the lower end of the shank, a plurality of ribs each pivotally mounted on the fixed ring, a plurality of spreaders each pivotally mounted on the movable ring and each pivotally connected with a respective one of the ribs, and a canopy mounted on the ribs. However, the ribs are secured on the fixed ring, and the spreaders are secured on the movable ring, so that the spreaders and the ribs cannot be detached from the fixed ring and the movable ring for replacement. Thus, when one of the spreaders or the ribs is broken or worn out, the umbrella is inoperative and has to be thrown away, thereby decreasing the lifetime of the umbrella.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a umbrella, comprising a shank, a fixed ring mounted on the shank, a movable ring movably mounted on the shank, a plurality of mounting brackets secured on the fixed ring and the movable ring respectively, a plurality of ribs each detachably connected with a respective one of the mounting brackets on the fixed ring, a plurality of spreaders each detachably connected with a respective one of the mounting brackets on the movable ring, and a plurality of locking mechanisms each mounted in a respective one of the ribs and the spreaders and each detachably locked onto a respective one of the mounting brackets to detachably lock each of the ribs and the spreaders onto the respective mounting bracket.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an umbrella having a detachable structure.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an umbrella, wherein each of the spreaders and the ribs can be detached from the respective mounting bracket, so that each of the spreaders and the ribs can be removed for replacement, thereby enhancing the lifetime of the umbrella.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide an umbrella, wherein each of the spreaders and the ribs can be mounted on and detached from the respective mounting bracket by operation of the locking stub of each of the locking mechanisms, so that each of the spreaders and the ribs of the umbrella is assembled and disassembled easily and quickly.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an umbrella in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective expanded view of the umbrella as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the umbrella as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a locally enlarged view of a locking mechanism of the umbrella as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a top cross-sectional assembly view of the umbrella as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a schematic operational view of the as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a schematic operational view of the as shown in FIG. 6.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-4, an umbrella in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a shank 10, a fixed ring 11 mounted on the upper end of the shank 10, a movable ring 12 movably mounted on the shank 10, a base 15 mounted on the lower end of the shank 10, a plurality of mounting brackets 24 secured on the fixed ring 11 and the movable ring 12 respectively, a plurality of ribs 13 each detachably connected with a respective one of the mounting brackets 24 on the fixed ring 11, a plurality of spreaders 14 each detachably connected with a respective one of the mounting brackets 24 on the movable ring 12, and a plurality of locking mechanisms 2 each mounted in a respective one of the ribs 13 and the spreaders 14 and each detachably locked onto a respective one of the mounting brackets 24 to detachably lock each of the ribs 13 and the spreaders 14 onto the respective mounting bracket 24.

The fixed ring 11 has a periphery provided with a plurality of receiving grooves 110 to receive the mounting brackets 24 respectively.

The movable ring 12 has a periphery provided with a plurality of receiving grooves 120 to receive the mounting brackets 24 respectively.

Each of the mounting brackets 24 is secured in the respective receiving groove 110 of the fixed ring 11 and the respective receiving groove 120 of the movable ring 12 by a plurality of locking screws 25. Each of the mounting brackets 24 has a substantially U-shaped profile and has an opening directed toward the respective rib 13 and the respective spreader 14. Each of the mounting brackets 24 is provided with provided with at least one locking hole 240. Each of the mounting brackets 24 has an inner portion provided with a receiving chamber 241 connected to the locking hole 240 to receive a respective one of the ribs 13 and the spreaders 14.

Each of the ribs 13 is attached to the fixed ring 11 by the respective mounting bracket 24. Each of the ribs 13 is pivotally connected with the respective mounting bracket 24 on the fixed ring 11. Each of the ribs 13 is pivotally connected with a respective one of the spreaders 14.

Each of the spreaders 14 is attached to the movable ring 12 by the respective mounting bracket 24. Each of the spreaders 14 is pivotally connected with the respective mounting bracket 24 on the movable ring 12. Each of the spreaders 14 and the ribs 13 is provided with a receiving chamber 140 to receive a respective one of the locking mechanisms 2.

Each of the locking mechanisms 2 includes at least one locking stub 21 movably mounted in the receiving chamber 140 of the respective spreader 14 and the respective rib 13 and detachably locked in the locking hole 240 of the respective mounting bracket 24 to detachably lock the respective spreader 14 and the respective rib 13 onto the respective mounting bracket 24, and at least one elastic member 22 mounted in the receiving chamber 140 of the respective spreader 14 and the respective rib 13 and pressing the locking stub 21 to push the locking stub 21 outwardly from the locking hole 240 of the respective mounting bracket 24. Each of the locking mechanisms 2 further includes at least one housing 20 secured in the receiving chamber 140 of the respective spreader 14 and the respective rib 13 to receive the locking stub 21 and the elastic member 22, and at least one fixing plate 23 secured in the housing 20 and abutting the elastic member 22. The locking stub 21 of each of the locking mechanisms 2 functions as a pivot fulcrum of each of the spreaders 14 and the ribs 13 relative to the respective mounting bracket 24. The locking stub 21 of each of the locking mechanisms 2 has a first end provided with an enlarged limit plate 212 movably mounted in the housing 20 and movable to abut a peripheral wall of the housing 20 to limit the locking stub 21 of each of the locking mechanisms 2 on the housing 20. The locking stub 21 of each of the locking mechanisms 2 has a second end provided with an arcuate guide portion 210 to guide movement of the locking stub 21 in the locking hole 240 of the respective mounting bracket 24. The elastic member 22 of each of the locking mechanisms 2 is biased between the fixing plate 23 and the limit plate 212 of the locking stub 21.

In operation, referring to FIGS. 5-7 with reference to FIGS. 1-4, when the locking stub 21 of each of the locking mechanisms 2 is pressed to retract into the locking hole 240 of the respective mounting bracket 24, the arcuate guide portion 210 of the locking stub 21 is moved to abut the inner wall of the respective mounting bracket 24, so that the locking stub 21 of each of the locking mechanisms 2 is unlocked from the locking hole 240 of the respective mounting bracket 24, and each of the spreaders 14 and the ribs 13 is unlocked from the respective mounting bracket 24. Thus, when each of the spreaders 14 and the ribs 13 is pulled outwardly relative to the respective mounting bracket 24, the locking stub 21 of each of the locking mechanisms 2 is detached from the locking hole 240 of the respective mounting bracket 24 by guidance of the arcuate guide portion 210 of the locking stub 21 and is retracted into and moved in the receiving chamber 241 of the respective mounting bracket 24, so that each of the spreaders 14 and the ribs 13 can be moved outwardly and removed from the respective mounting bracket 24.

Accordingly, each of the spreaders 14 and the ribs 13 can be detached from the respective mounting bracket 24, so that each of the spreaders 14 and the ribs 13 can be removed for replacement, thereby enhancing the lifetime of the umbrella. In addition, each of the spreaders 14 and the ribs 13 can be mounted on and detached from the respective mounting bracket 24 by operation of the locking stub 21 of each of the locking mechanisms 2, so that each of the spreaders 14 and the ribs 13 of the umbrella is assembled and disassembled easily and quickly.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An umbrella, comprising:

a shank;
a fixed ring mounted on the shank;
a movable ring movably mounted on the shank;
a plurality of mounting brackets secured on the fixed ring and the movable ring respectively;
a plurality of ribs each detachably connected with a respective one of the mounting brackets on the fixed ring;
a plurality of spreaders each detachably connected with a respective one of the mounting brackets on the movable ring;
a plurality of locking mechanisms each mounted in a respective one of the ribs and the spreaders and each detachably locked onto a respective one of the mounting brackets to detachably lock each of the ribs and the spreaders onto the respective mounting bracket; wherein
the fixed ring has a periphery provided with a plurality of receiving grooves to receive the mounting brackets respectively;
the movable ring has a periphery provided with a plurality of receiving grooves to receive the mounting brackets respectively;
each of the mounting brackets is secured in the respective receiving groove of the fixed ring and the respective receiving groove of the movable ring by a plurality of locking screws;
each of the spreaders and the ribs is provided with a receiving chamber to receive a respective one of the locking mechanisms;
each of the mounting brackets is provided with at least one locking hole;
each of the locking mechanisms includes:
at least one locking stub movably mounted in the receiving chamber of the respective spreader and the respective rib and detachably locked in the locking hole of the respective mounting bracket to detachably lock the respective spreader and the respective rib onto the respective mounting bracket;
at least one elastic member mounted in the receiving chamber of the respective spreader and the respective rib and pressing the locking stub to push the locking stub outwardly from the locking hole of the respective mounting bracket;
the locking stub of each of the locking mechanisms functions as a pivot fulcrum of each of the spreaders and the ribs relative to the respective mounting bracket;
each of the locking mechanisms further includes:
at least one housing secured in the receiving chamber of the respective spreader and the respective rib to receive the locking stub and the elastic member;
the locking stub of each of the locking mechanisms has a first end provided with an enlarged limit plate movably mounted in the housing and movable to abut a peripheral wall of the housing to limit the locking stub of each of the locking mechanisms on the housing;
the locking stub of each of the locking mechanisms has a second end provided with an arcuate guide portion to guide movement of the locking stub in the locking hole of the respective mounting bracket;
each of the locking mechanisms further includes:
at least one fixing plate secured in the housing and abutting the elastic member;
the elastic member of each of the locking mechanisms is biased between the fixing plate and the limit plate of the locking stub;
each of the mounting brackets has an inner portion provided with a receiving chamber connected to the locking hole to receive a respective one of the ribs and the spreaders.

2-12. (canceled)

13. The umbrella of claim 1, wherein

each of the ribs is pivotally connected with the respective mounting bracket on the fixed ring;
each of the ribs is pivotally connected with a respective one of the spreaders;
each of the spreaders is pivotally connected with the respective mounting bracket on the movable ring.

14. The umbrella of claim 1, wherein

each of the ribs is detachably attached to the fixed ring by the respective mounting bracket and the respective locking mechanism;
each of the spreaders is detachably attached to the movable ring by the respective mounting bracket and the respective locking mechanism.

15. The umbrella of claim 1, wherein each of the mounting brackets has a substantially U-shaped profile with two triangular sidewalls.

16. The umbrella of claim 1, wherein each of the mounting brackets has an elongate opening directed toward the respective rib and the respective spreader.

17. The umbrella of claim 1, wherein when the locking stub of each of the locking mechanisms is pressed to retract into the locking hole of the respective mounting bracket, the arcuate guide portion of the locking stub is moved to abut an inner wall of the respective mounting bracket, the locking stub of each of the locking mechanisms is unlocked from the locking hole of the respective mounting bracket, and each of the spreaders and the ribs is unlocked from the respective mounting bracket.

18. The umbrella of claim 17, wherein when each of the spreaders and the ribs is pulled outwardly relative to the respective mounting bracket, the locking stub of each of the locking mechanisms is detached from the locking hole of the respective mounting bracket by guidance of the arcuate guide portion of the locking stub and is retracted into and moved in the receiving chamber of the respective mounting bracket, so that each of the spreaders and the ribs can be moved outwardly and removed from the respective mounting bracket.

19. The umbrella of claim 1, wherein

each of the locking mechanisms is movable in a respective one of the ribs and the spreaders;
each of the locking mechanisms is fully hidden in a respective one of the ribs and the spreaders.

20. The umbrella of claim 1, wherein

each of the receiving grooves of the fixed ring extends through a whole length of the fixed ring;
each of the receiving grooves of the movable ring extends through a whole length of the movable ring.
Patent History
Publication number: 20100139725
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 9, 2008
Publication Date: Jun 10, 2010
Inventor: Jin-Sheng Lai (Taipei)
Application Number: 12/331,075
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Rib And Stretcher Joints (135/29)
International Classification: A45B 25/00 (20060101);