AUTOMATICALLY-COLLAPSIBLE MULTI-FOLDED UMBRELLA

Abstract

An umbrella includes a central post consisting of multiple tubular segments telescopically connected to each other. A crown set at an upper end and carrying an upper pulley and a runner slidably fit over the central post and carrying a lower pulley. A pulley cable has an upper section extending around the pulleys and fixed to the crown and a lower rigid section carrying a fixer that is movably receive in a handle and forms locking slots engageable by a switch control device. A spring is arranged between the crown and the fixer to apply a spring force to maintain the umbrella in an open condition. Each tubular segment of the central post has a lower end to which a protection sheath is mounted for finger protection.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella that is not easy to damage and is durable and of long lifespan.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Known techniques, such as Chinese Utility Model Application No. 200420059757.x filed on May 21, 2004, entitled “Automatic Collapsing Structure for Umbrella”, realize simultaneously collapsing of a canopy and a central post through manual depression. However, a primary spring and a connection rope are exposed outside and both set an upper end of the central post, leading to easy damage when the umbrella frame is forced to flare outward by strong winds or gales, thereby making the umbrella unusable. Further, no protection structure is provided between tubular segments of the central post, leading to easily jamming and damaging a user's finger.

Thus, the present invention aims to provide a structure to overcome the problems of being easily damaged and jamming user's finger of the conventional umbrella.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide an automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella that uses a simple mechanism that is arranged in a uniformly distributed manner inside an umbrella central post, forming a concealed structure that prevents damage occurring in the operation thereof due to exposure and concentrated arrangement of parts thereof at an upper end portion, to thereby make the umbrella durable and long lifespan.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella that enhances operation safety to prevent tubular segments of an umbrella central post from jamming and thus damaging a user's fingers.

The foregoing objective and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the present invention in an umbrella opened condition.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the present invention in an umbrella closed condition.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a rib unit of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a switch control device arranged inside a handle in the umbrella opened condition of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a central post positioning structure of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another central post positioning structure of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating said another central post positioning structure associated with FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another embodiment of a fixer of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 3, the present invention comprises a central post 10, an umbrella collapsing device 20, a plurality of umbrella-collapsing springs 36 and rib units 30 that support a canopy, a handle 40, an umbrella-collapsing button 43, and a switch control device 50.

The central post 10 is comprised of a plurality of tubular segments sequentially and telescopically fit to each other. An outer tubular segment 11′ that is fit into and fixed to a crown 12 has an upper end inside which a pulley seat 22 is mounted. An upper pulley 221 is pivotally mounted inside the pulley seat 22. A runner 13 that is slidably fit over the tubular segment has a lower end to which a layer 132 of soft plastic/rubber material is mounted and an opposite upper end to which a lower pulley 131 is mounted. An inner tuber segment 11 of every two adjacent telescopically connected tubular segments has an upper end to which a positioning plug 14 is mounted, as shown in FIG. 5. The positioning plug 14 is recessed to form a chamber 141 that receives and fixes therein a resilient assembly 15. The resilient assembly 15 comprises a positioner block 152 that is resiliently biased by a spring 151 for projecting outward or being depressed inward the central post 10 through a positioning hole 111 defined in the corresponding tubular segment 11′. The positioning plug 14 forms in an opposite portion a passage 142 for the extension of a pull cable 24 and a tension spring 21. An innermost tubular segment 11 has an end fit to an inner plug 23 inserted into and fixed to the handle 40. The inner plug 23 forms a side opening 231 corresponding to the inner tubular segment 11. The outer tubular segment 11′ of two adjacent tubular segments has a lower end to which a protection sheath 16 is mounted for hand jamming protection, having a lower flange 161 fit over and abutting against a lower end face of the outer tubular segment 11′.

The umbrella collapsing device 20 comprises the pull cable 24 that is coupled inside the central post 10 and the tension spring 21 for telescoping the central post 10. The tension spring 21 has an upper end fixed to a bottom of the pulley seat 22 and a lower end fixed to a top of the inner plug 23. The pull cable 24 extends through the tension spring 21 and has an upper end extending around the upper pulley 221 and further extending through the lower pulley 131 of the runner 13 and further extending back into and fixed to the crown 12. The pull cable 24 has a lower section forming a rigid wire section 241 connected to a fixer 25 that is fit into and movable inside the inner plug 23. The fixer 25 has a lower section that is recessed to form a plurality of locking slots 251 engageable with and selectively retaining the switch control device 50. Or alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8, the fixer 25′ forms in an end thereof a locking slot 251′. The rigid wire section 241 has a length that corresponds to the distance between the bottom of the pulley seat 22 and the fixer 25 in a collapsed condition of the umbrella.

As shown in FIG. 3, each rib unit 30 comprises, in sequence from inside, an inner rib 31 pivotally connected to the crown 12, at least one intermediate rib 32, an outer rib 33, a stretcher 34 connected to a middle section of the inner rib 31 and having an inner end pivoted to the runner 13, a link bar 35 connected between the intermediate rib 32 and the stretcher 34, a flexible bar 37 coupled to the intermediate rib 32 and having opposite ends respectively and pivotally connected to an inner end of the outer rib 33 and an outer end of the inner rib 31, and a respective one of the umbrella-collapsing springs 36 that is connected between the inner rib 31 and the link bar 35.

The handle 40 comprises a hollow tubular body having an opening in which a fixing base 42 is mounted for the lower end of the central post 10 to which the inner plug 23 is fit to insert therein and fixed thereto. The handle 40 has a side wall to which the umbrella-collapsing button 43 is mounted.

As shown in FIG. 4, the switch control device 50 comprises a longitudinally-arranged block-like control element 51 that has a middle section pivotally fixed inside the handle 40, a lower end extending to form a locking segment 511 that extends through the side opening 231 of the inner plug 23 into engagement with and thus selectively retaining the locking slots 251 of the fixer 25, and an upper end extending to form a depression segment 512 corresponding to and engageable with the umbrella-collapsing button 43, and a return spring 52 arranged between the locking segment 511 and an inside wall of the handle 40 for resiliently biasing the locking segment 511. In a normal condition, the fixer 25 is retained and secured in a locked position by the locking segment 511 of the switch control device 50. When the umbrella-collapsing button 43 is depressed to push the depression segment 512 to have the locking segment 511 disengaging from the locking slots 251 of the fixer 25, the fixer 25 is released and allowed to move up and down with the pull cable.

In an umbrella opening operation, when the runner 13 is driven upward to open the umbrella, the fixer 25 at the lower end of the pull cable 24 is retained and thus kept immobile by the locking segment 511 engaging the lowest one of the locking slots 251 whereby when the runner 13 moves upward, the rib units 30 are expanded to open the canopy. The umbrella-collapsing springs 36 coupled to the rib units 30 are stretched and elongated; the pull cable 24 that is originally located outside the central post 10 is gradually drawn into the central post 10; and the tubular segments of the central post 10 are sequentially expanded upward, tensioning the tension spring 21 inside the central post 10 to set the pull cable 24 between the crown 12 and the fixer 25 in a tensioned condition and make the runner 13 tightly held and immobile, thereby preventing the runner from sliding down and thus maintaining an expanded condition of the umbrella as shown in FIG. 1.

In an umbrella closing operation, when the umbrella-collapsing button 43 is depressed to push the depression segment 512 of the control element 51 for releasing the locking segment 511 from engagement with the highest one of the locking slots 251 of the fixer 25, the fixer 25 is released and the pull cable 24 is freed from being tensioned to allow the runner 13 to slide down. The umbrella-collapsing springs 36 drive the runner 13 downward to collapse the rib units 30 (see FIG. 3), making the tubular segments of the central post 10 sequentially telescoped downward and the bottom of the pulley seat 22 inside the crown 12 eventually positioned against the rigid wire section 241 to downward drive the fixer 25 to have the lowest one of the locking slots 251 once against engaging with and thus secured by the locking segment 511 thereby completing automatic collapsing of the umbrella. With the locking configuration provided by the plurality of recessed locking slots 251 of the fixer 25, loosening of the fixer 25 inside the interior space of the inner plug 23 can be minimized, as shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, alternatively, a W-shaped leaf spring 17 is set inside the inner tubular segment 11 of two adjacent telescopically connected tubular segments and the W-shaped leaf spring 17 comprises two V-shaped branches 171 abutting against an inside wall of the positioning plug 14′ and a connection section 172 between the two V-shaped branches 171 biasing a positioner block 152 to project outward or to be depressed inward the central post 10 through the positioning hole 111 defined in the tubular segment 11′.

The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella in accordance with the present invention uses a simple mechanism that is arranged in a uniformly distributed manner inside the central post, forming a concealed structure that prevents damage occurring in the operation thereof to thereby make the umbrella durable and long lifespan.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella comprising a multi-segment central post, a plurality of umbrella-collapsing springs, a plurality of rib units coupled to the umbrella-collapsing springs and supporting a canopy, a handle to which the central post is inserted and fixed, an umbrella-collapsing button, wherein the central post comprises a tension spring functioning to telescope the central post and a pull cable received therein, the tension spring being fixed to upper and lower ends of the central post, the pull cable extending through the tension spring and having an upper end extending around an upper pulley pivotally mounted to a pulley seat of the central post and projecting outward to extend around a lower pulley fixed to a runner and further extending back into and fixed to a crown, the pull cable having a lower section forming a rigid wire section connected to a fixer, a switch control device arranged inside the handle to cooperate with actuation of the umbrella-collapsing button to selectively locking/releasing the fixer, whereby when the runner is driven upward to force the rib units to open the canopy, the segments of the central post are sequentially expanded upward and tension the tension spring, the fixer that is provided at a lower end of the pull cable engages and is thus locked by the switch control device, an upper end of the pull cable extending around the upper pulley and tightly hold and thus fix the runner, preventing the runner from sliding down and thus maintaining an expanded condition of the umbrella; and when the umbrella-collapsing button is actuated to operate the switch control device to release the fixer, the pull cable is freed from being tensioned to allow the runner to slide down and the rib units are collapsed as being acted upon by the umbrella-collapsing springs, making the segments of the central post sequentially telescoped to complete automatic collapsing of the umbrella.

2. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to claim 1, wherein the switch control device comprises a longitudinally-arranged block-like control element that has a middle section pivotally fixed inside the handle, a lower end extending inward to form a locking segment, and an upper end extending to form a depression segment engageable with the umbrella-collapsing button, a return spring being arranged and thus providing a biasing force between the locking segment and an inside wall of the handle, the fixer forming a locking slot corresponding to and engageable with the locking segment.

3. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to claim 2, wherein the fixer forms a plurality of locking slots corresponding to and selectively engageable with the locking segment.

4. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to claim 1, wherein an inner plug that forms a side opening is fit to the lower end of the central post located inside the handle in such a way to allow the fixer to which the rigid wire section of the pull cable connected to the fixer to be received and movable up and down therein.

5. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to claim 2, wherein an inner plug that forms a side opening is fit to the lower end of the central post located inside the handle in such a way to allow the fixer to which the rigid wire section of the pull cable connected to the fixer to be received and movable up and down therein.

6. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to claim 3, wherein an inner plug that forms a side opening is fit to the lower end of the central post located inside the handle in such a way to allow the fixer to which the rigid wire section of the pull cable connected to the fixer to be received and movable up and down therein.

7. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to claim 1, wherein the runner has a lower section having an outer circumference around which a layer of soft material is formed for hand jamming protection.

8. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to claim 2, wherein the runner has a lower section having an outer circumference around which a layer of soft material is formed for hand jamming protection.

9. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to claim 3, wherein the runner has a lower section having an outer circumference around which a layer of soft material is formed for hand jamming protection.

10. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to claim 1, wherein each rib unit comprises, in sequence from inside, an inner rib pivotally connected to the crown, at least one intermediate rib, an outer rib, a stretcher connected to a middle section of the inner rib and having an inner end pivoted to the runner, a link bar connected between the intermediate rib and the stretcher, a flexible bar coupled to the intermediate rib and having opposite ends respectively and pivotally connected to an inner end of the outer rib and an outer end of the inner rib, and a respective one of the umbrella-collapsing springs connected between the inner rib and the link bar.

11. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to claim 2, wherein each rib unit comprises, in sequence from inside, an inner rib pivotally connected to the crown, at least one intermediate rib, an outer rib, a stretcher connected to a middle section of the inner rib and having an inner end pivoted to the runner, a link bar connected between the intermediate rib and the stretcher, a flexible bar coupled to the intermediate rib and having opposite ends respectively and pivotally connected to an inner end of the outer rib and an outer end of the inner rib, and a respective one of the umbrella-collapsing springs connected between the inner rib and the link bar.

12. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to claim 3, wherein each rib unit comprises, in sequence from inside, an inner rib pivotally connected to the crown, at least one intermediate rib, an outer rib, a stretcher connected to a middle section of the inner rib and having an inner end pivoted to the runner, a link bar connected between the intermediate rib and the stretcher, a flexible bar coupled to the intermediate rib and having opposite ends respectively and pivotally connected to an inner end of the outer rib and an outer end of the inner rib, and a respective one of the umbrella-collapsing springs connected between the inner rib and the link bar.

13. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to claim 1, wherein an outer segment of two adjacent telescopically connected segments of the central post has a lower end to which a protection sheath is mounted for hand jamming protection.

14. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to claim 2, wherein an outer segment of two adjacent telescopically connected segments of the central post has a lower end to which a protection sheath is mounted for hand jamming protection.

15. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to claim 3, wherein an outer segment of two adjacent telescopically connected segments of the central post has a lower end to which a protection sheath is mounted for hand jamming protection.

16. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to claim 1, wherein an inner segment of two adjacent telescopically connected segments of the central post has an upper end to which a positioning plug is mounted, the positioning plug forming a recessed chamber receiving and fixing therein a resilient assembly that comprises a positioner block biased by a spring to engage a positioning hole defined in an outer segment of the two telescopically connected segments to secure the segments in an expanded condition of the central post, the positioning plug being recessed at a portion opposite to the chamber to form a passage for the pull cable and the tension spring.

17. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to claim 16, wherein the resilient assembly comprises a W-shaped leaf spring comprising two V-shaped branches abutting against an inside wall of the positioning plug and a connection section between the V-shaped branches biasing the positioner block.

18. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to claim 2, wherein an inner segment of two adjacent telescopically connected segments of the central post has an upper end to which a positioning plug is mounted, the positioning plug forming a recessed chamber receiving and fixing therein a resilient assembly that comprises a positioner block biased by a spring to engage a positioning hole defined in an outer segment of the two telescopically connected segments to secure the segments in an expanded condition of the central post, the positioning plug being recessed at a portion opposite to the chamber to form a passage for the pull cable and the tension spring.

19. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to claim 18, wherein the resilient assembly comprises a W-shaped leaf spring comprising two V-shaped branches abutting against an inside wall of the positioning plug and a connection section between the V-shaped branches biasing the positioner block.

20. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to claim 3, wherein an inner segment of two adjacent telescopically connected segments of the central post has an upper end to which a positioning plug is mounted, the positioning plug forming a recessed chamber receiving and fixing therein a resilient assembly that comprises a positioner block biased by a spring to engage a positioning hole defined in an outer segment of the two telescopically connected segments to secure the segments in an expanded condition of the central post, the positioning plug being recessed at a portion opposite to the chamber to form a passage for the pull cable and the tension spring.

21. The automatically-collapsible multi-folded umbrella according to claim 20, wherein the resilient assembly comprises a W-shaped leaf spring comprising two V-shaped branches abutting against an inside wall of the positioning plug and a connection section between the V-shaped branches biasing the positioner block.