UMBRELLA

Abstract

The umbrella is equipped with a lower ring and upper ring pivotally attached to the bases of each rib and each stretcher, and a main shaft part including an interior pole which is fixed to the upper ring in the upper part, and a circular pipe which is connected to the lower ring in the upper part and is slidably inserted outside of the interior pole. At the opening/closing motion of the umbrella, in response to the umbrella closing operation (umbrella opening operation) to an operation part provided in the lower part of the umbrella, the circular pipe which extends toward the operation part is driven in the direction in which the lower ring approaches (separates from) the upper ring. Consequently, the umbrella opening operation and umbrella closing operation using a single hand become possible in a simple structure.

Description

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-267081 filed on November 30, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an umbrella which is equipped with a main shaft part extending from a grip part along a central axis.

2. Description of the Background Art

As for an umbrella, when holding a bag or being injured in one hand, it would be convenient to have an umbrella to be able to perform not only an umbrella opening operation but an umbrella closing operation only through the use of another hand grasping the umbrella.

About such an umbrella, the technology disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. H6(1994)-30813 is proposed. According to this technology, the umbrella is equipped with ribs, stretchers pivotally connected to the halfway part of each rib, and sub-stretchers pivotally connected to the halfway part of each stretcher, and is provided with a upper ring pivotally attached to the ribs, a middle ring pivotally attached to the stretchers, and a lower ring pivotally attached to the sub-stretchers. The upper ring and lower ring can respectively move upward and downward with respect to the middle ring fixed to the tube of the umbrella. By such a construction, the displacement (opening/closing stroke) of the lower ring which is required for the opening/closing motion of the umbrella is shortened, and the umbrella opening operation and umbrella closing operation become possible within the capability of a single hand.

However, according to the above-mentioned technology, since the construction which is equipped with three rings and makes the upper ring and lower ring movable is required, it becomes complicated. This invites the increase in the manufacturing cost, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an umbrella which is equipped with a main shaft part extending from a grip part along a central axis.

According to the present invention, the umbrella comprises: an upper ring pivotally attached to each stretcher pivotally connected to each joint installed in a halfway part of each rib which is stretched when opening the umbrella; a lower ring pivotally attached to the each rib and installed in a position to be closer to the grip part than the upper ring in the main shaft part; a cloth part attached to the each stretcher and each of sections from the halfway part to a tip in the each rib; and an operation part for receiving an umbrella closing operation and an umbrella opening operation concerning a switch between an umbrella opened state and an umbrella closed state, wherein: one and another of the upper ring and the lower ring serve as a fixed ring and a movable ring which can move along the central axis in the main shaft part; in response to the umbrella closing operation, a movable member which extends from the movable ring toward the operation part is driven in a direction in which the movable ring approaches the fixed ring, while in response to the umbrella opening operation, the movable member is driven in a direction in which the movable ring separates from the fixed ring; and a displacement of the movable ring which is required for an opening/closing motion of the umbrella is commensurate with a displacement concerning an operation which can be performed by using a predetermined finger of a single hand grasping the grip part. Consequently, the umbrella opening operation and umbrella closing operation using a single hand become possible in a simple structure. Furthermore, the simplification of the drive mechanism concerning the movable ring can be attained by effectively using the operational displacement of the predetermined finger.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an umbrella in which the umbrella opening operation and umbrella closing operation using a single hand are possible in a simple structure.

These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are outline views showing the principal construction of the umbrella concerning the preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the umbrella opened state concerning the umbrella.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the umbrella closed state concerning the umbrella.

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are views for explaining the opening/closing operation of the umbrella.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the construction of the circular pipe of the umbrella.

FIG. 7 is a view showing the construction of the umbrella as the comparative example.

FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are views for explaining the construction of the operation part concerning the modification of this invention.

FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B are views for explaining the construction of the operation part concerning another modification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Principal Construction of Umbrella

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are outline views showing the principal construction of the umbrella 1 concerning the preferred embodiment of this invention. FIG. 1 expresses the state (hereinafter referred to as “umbrella opened state”) in which the ribs are spread and the umbrella 1 is opened. FIG. 2 expresses the state (hereinafter referred to as “umbrella closed state”) in which the umbrella 1 is closed. Here and in subsequent figures, in order to clarify directional relations, the XYZ orthogonal coordinate system to conform the Y-axis direction to the direction of the central axis concerning the umbrella 1 is attached if needed.

The umbrella 1 is equipped with the main shaft part 10 having rod-shaped form, the ferrule 2 connected to the upper end of the main shaft part 10, and the handle 3 which has a “J” character-like outer shape and is connected to the lower end of the main shaft part 10. This handle 3 serves as a grip part to be grasped by a hand.

The operation part 20 for receiving the umbrella closing operation and umbrella opening operation concerning the switch between the umbrella opened state and the umbrella closed state is provided in the lower part of the umbrella 1. The operation part 20 is equipped with the open button 12 for forcing the tab 11 to be pushed into the inside of the main shaft part 10 by the push operation and shifting from the umbrella closed state to the umbrella opened state, and the close handle 13 for shifting from the umbrella opened state to the umbrella closed state by sliding in the direction (the +Y direction) of the ferrule 2.

The lower ring 5 pivotally attached to the base of each rib 4 which is stretched when opening the umbrella 1, and the upper ring 7 pivotally attached to the base of each stretcher (spreader) 6 which is pivotally connected to the joint 8 in the halfway part of each rib 4 are provided in the upper part of the main shaft part 10. The upper ring 7 is fixed to the upper end of the main shaft 10, while the lower ring 5 installed in the position (of the −Y direction) to be closer to the handle 3 than the upper ring 7 in the main shaft 10 can slide along the Y-axis direction in conjunction with the operation to the close handle 13. That is, one and another of the upper ring 7 and lower ring 5 function as a fixed ring and a movable ring which can move along the central axis AX (refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4) in the main shaft part 10. By the change of the distance from the upper ring 7 to the lower ring 5, the switch between the umbrella opened state (refer to FIG. 1) and the umbrella closed state (refer to FIG. 2) becomes possible in the umbrella 1. Below, the opening/closing motion of the umbrella 1 is explained in detail through the use of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the umbrella opened state concerning the umbrella 1. FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the umbrella closed state concerning the umbrella 1.

The main shaft part 10 extends from the handle 3 (refer to FIG. 1) towards the ferrule 2 provided in the apical end of the umbrella 1 along the central axis AX of the umbrella 1. The main shaft part 10 is equipped with the interior pole 14 which has a cylindrical outer shape and is connected to the upper ring 7 in the upper end, and the circular pipe 15 which has a round tubular outer shape and is slidably inserted outside of the interior pole 14. As for this circular pipe 15, it is desirable that the frictional resistance when sliding is reduced to enable smoothly moving even through the use of the comparatively small driving force by, for example, making the circular pipe 15 contact partially to the interior pole 14 in the upper end part and lower end part.

The interior pole 14 and the circular pipe 15 are formed of, for example, metal such as aluminum. The lower ring 5 is fixed to the upper end of the circular pipe 15, which can move along the Y-axis direction (in the upper and lower directions) in conjunction with the operation to the close handle 13 (refer to FIG. 1).

Thus, since the circular pipe 15 can relatively move upward and downward with respect to the interior pole 14, it becomes possible to make the upper ring 7 and the lower ring 5, between which there is the distance L in the umbrella opened state shown in FIG. 3, approach mutually in the umbrella closed state shown in FIG. 4. That is, if the circular pipe 15 is driven only distance equivalent to the distance L in the Y-axis direction, the switch between the umbrella opened state and umbrella closed state can be performed.

As for the stroke (hereinafter referred to as “opening/closing stroke”) of the circular pipe 15 which is required for the opening/closing motion of the umbrella 1, the shortening of the opening/closing stroke becomes possible by setting the upper ring 7 connected to the stretcher 6 above the lower ring 5 connected to the rib 4 like this embodiment, and relatively moving the lower ring 5 towards the upper ring 7 in the case of the umbrella closing operation. Furthermore, the more effective reduction of the opening/closing stroke can be attained by making the angle θa of the rib 4 and the angle θb of the stretcher 6 with respect to the main shaft part 10 into an acute angle in the umbrella opened state, and making the angle θb smaller than the angle θa. This reduction effect of the opening/closing stroke is explained in detail later.

In the umbrella 1 having the above construction, the cloth (cover) part Ea (the shaded area of FIG. 1) is attached to the section from the joint 8, which is provided in the halfway part of the rib 4, to the tip 41, and the whole length of the stretcher 6 (from the joint 8 to the base of the stretcher 6). In addition, As for FIG. 1, a portion of the cloth part is expressed by the shaded area for convenience sake of drawing. It is desirable to gradually decrease the height (the width in the Y direction) of the rib 4 from the joint 8 toward the tip 41 like the tapering form Kd shown in FIG. 3 so that no difference in level concerning the cloth part arises around the joint 8 in the umbrella opened state.

Opening/Closing Operation of Umbrella 1

Next, the switch operation (opening/closing operation) between the umbrella opened state (refer to FIG. 1) and umbrella closed state (refer to FIG. 2) in the umbrella 1 is explained in detail.

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are views for explaining the opening/closing operation of the umbrella 1. FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B show the sectional views around the operation part 20, and express the umbrella closed state and umbrella opened state. FIG. 6 is a view showing the construction of the circular pipe 15, and shows the outline view seen from the +X direction.

As for the circular pipe 15 which can slide on the interior pole 14 fixed to the handle 3, the upper end is fixed to the lower ring 5 as shown in FIG. 6, and the lower end part is connected to the close handle 13 through the cylindrical body 16. In addition, the longitudinal groove 5a and transverse groove 5b of the lower ring 5 shown in FIG. 6 serve as a lengthwise groove for inserting the base of the rib 4 and a crosswise groove for installing the linear member (for example, wire) which forms the rotational axis at the base of the rib 4.

The slit 15a for locking and holding the tab 11 installed in the interior pole 14 in the umbrella closed state, and the slit 15b for inserting the arm part 12a of the open button 12 projected from the interior pole 14 are formed along the Y-axis direction in the circular pipe 15. In addition, in the internal space of the circular tube-shaped interior pole 14, the tab 11 and the arm part 12a of the open button 12 are connected to each other by the connection member 11a as shown in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, and the elastic member 11b which is made from, for example, metal and is constituted as a plate spring is connected to the tab 11. By such a construction, the tab 11 is energized in the direction (the +X direction) projected from the interior pole 14, while it becomes possible to insert the tab 11 inside the interior pole 14 by the push operation to the open button 12. This enables the tab 11 to be locked and unlocked with respect to the slit 15a of the circular pipe 15.

The umbrella 1 is equipped with the casing 17 which has an outer shape of a stepped cylinder and stores the lower part of the main shaft part 10 including the cylindrical body 16, and the helical compression spring 18 stored in the inside of the casing 17.

As for the casing 17, the lower end is fixed to the upper surface 3u of the handle 3. The circular hole 17h for inserting the main shaft part 10 in the upper part of the casing 17, and the rectangle hole 17g for inserting the arm part 13a of the close handle 13 which extends from the cylindrical body 16 to the outside of the casing 17 and can move along the upper and lower directions (the Y-axis direction) are formed in the casing 17. The rectangle hole 17g is formed in the position indicated by the dashed line shown in FIG. 6 at the umbrella closed state, and guides the arm part 13a of the close handle 13 which moves to the +Y direction in the case of the umbrella closing operation.

As for the helical compression spring 18, the lower end is connected to the upper surface of the cylindrical body 16, and the upper end is connected to the surface 17u of the inside wall of the casing 17. The helical compression spring 18 serves as an elastic member for energizing the circular pipe 15 in the downward direction (the −Y direction) along the central axis AX through the cylindrical body 16.

The opening/closing operation of the umbrella 1 which has the above-mentioned construction is explained below.

First, in the umbrella closed state, the tab 11 is projected from the slit 15a to be locked as shown in FIG. 5A, and the cylindrical body 16 is energized downward (in the −Y direction) by the helical compression spring 18 which is in compression with a certain energizing force.

In such an umbrella closed state, the transition to the umbrella opened state can be performed by operating the open button 12. Concretely, the energizing force currently stored in the helical compression spring 18 is released, and the cylindrical body 16 and the circular pipe 15 are pushed downward and moved along the interior pole 14 through the use of the energizing force, by inserting the tab 11 inside the interior pole 14 and coming out of the locking state by the push operation to the open button 12. Then, the downward move of the cylindrical body 16 is completed by the touch of the lower end of the cylindrical body 16 on the upper surface 3u of the handle 3, which serves as a stopper to limit the move of the cylindrical body 16, and the transition to the umbrella opened state shown in FIG. 5B is performed. That is, by forcing the circular pipe 15 as the movable member which extends from the lower ring (movable ring) 5 toward the operation part 20 to be driven along with the lower ring 5 to the downward direction (the −Y direction) in which the lower ring 5 separates from the upper ring (fixed ring) 7 through the use of the energizing force of the helical compression spring 18 in response to the umbrella opening operation to the open button (first operation member) 12, the switch from the umbrella closed state to the umbrella opened state is performed. This enables the appropriate umbrella opening operation to be performed by the simple one-touch operation to the open button 12.

Although the helical compression spring 18 is in a more stretched state than the umbrella closed state shown in FIG. 5A, the cylindrical body 16 and the circular pipe 15 is subject to the downward energizing force in the umbrella opened state. This energizing force is the power required for stably maintaining the umbrella opened state (refer to FIG. 1), and some power enough to keep from making the lower end of the cylindrical body 16 separate from the upper surface 3u of the handle 3 is required even in the case that the comparatively big external force acts on the cloth (cover) (such as a case that the cloth which is wet with raindrops to become heavy is fanned by the wind).

In such an umbrella opened state, the transition to the umbrella closed state can be performed by operating the close handle 13. Concretely, the operation to push up the close handle 13 in the upward direction (the +Y direction) which is opposite to the direction of the above-mentioned energizing force of the helical compression spring 18 by using the thumb etc. while resisting the energizing force is carried out, and the transition to the umbrella closed state shown in FIG. 5A, i.e., the state in which the tab 11 is projected from the slit 15a to be locked is performed. That is, by forcing the circular pipe 15 which functions as a movable member to be driven along with the lower ring 5 in the upward direction (the +Y direction) in which the lower ring (movable ring) 5 approaches the upper ring (fixed ring) 7 through the direct use of the operational force and operational displacement given by the operation using, for example, a thumb to the close handle (second operation member) 13 in conjunction with the umbrella closing operation to the close handle 13, the switch from the umbrella opened state to the umbrella closed state is performed. This enables the appropriate umbrella closing operation to be performed by the reliable manual operation to the close handle 13.

In the umbrella 1 in which the above opening/closing operation can be performed, the umbrella opening operation and umbrella closing operation using a single hand become possible in a simple structure equipped with two rings (i.e., the lower ring 5 and upper ring 7).

Furthermore, since the stretchers 6 are installed above the ribs 4 in the umbrella 1, the space below the ribs 4 becomes larger than the conventional umbrella in which stretchers are installed below ribs.

In the umbrella 1 of this embodiment, the reduction of the opening/closing stroke concerning the circular pipe 15 is attained by pivotally attaching the rib 4 to the lower ring 5 as shown in FIG. 3 and making the angle θa of the rib 4 and the angle θb of the stretcher 6 with respect to the main shaft part 10 into an acute angle in the umbrella opened state. The comparative example of the case of applying this technological thought to the construction (the construction in which each rib is pivotally attached to the lower ring) of the umbrella concerning the conventional technology is considered below.

FIG. 7 is a view showing the construction of the umbrella 9 as the comparative example. This figure corresponds to FIG. 3 showing the construction of this embodiment.

About the umbrella 9 as the comparative example, the upper ring 92 pivotally attached to the base of the rib 91 is fixed to the main shaft part 90, while the lower ring 94 pivotally attached to the base of the stretcher 93 can slide on the main shaft part 90. In addition, in the umbrella opened state of the umbrella 9, the distance between the upper ring 92 and the lower ring 94 is defined as L, and the angles of the rib 91 and stretcher 93 with respect to the main shaft part 90 extending from the upper ring 92 are defined as θa and θb in order to make the condition equal to the umbrella 1 (refer to FIG. 3) of this embodiment. Even in such the umbrella 9, if the lower ring 94 moves to approach the upper ring 92, the umbrella closing operation can be performed.

However, in the construction of this umbrella 9, the angle θb of the rib 91 becomes smaller than the angle θa of the rib 4 concerning this embodiment just by providing the same distance L as the umbrella 1 of this embodiment shown in FIG. 3 between the upper ring 92 and the lower ring 94. This is because the rotation center of the rib 91 concerning the umbrella 9 exists in the upper ring 92 (in the neighborhood of the main shaft part 90), while the rotation center of the rib 4 concerning this embodiment exists in the joint 8 (refer to FIG. 3) which is distant from the main shaft part 10. Therefore, in order to realize the same angle θa as the rib 4 of this embodiment in the rib 91 of the umbrella 9, the longer displacement of the lower ring 94 than the distance L is required. This means the increase of the opening/closing stroke, and it is apparent that the construction of this embodiment is more excellent than the umbrella 9 as an extension of the conventional technology. Moreover, in the umbrella 1 of this embodiment, since the rotation center (the joint 8) of the rib 4 is distant from the main shaft part 10 as mentioned above, the rotation moment about each rib becomes smaller than the umbrella 9 in which the rotation center of the rib 91 exists in the upper ring 92. This enables the driving force of the lower ring 5 (the circular pipe 15) to decrease such as when spreading the ribs 4.

As mentioned above, in the umbrella 1 of this embodiment, since the opening/closing stroke of the circular pipe 15, i.e., the operational displacement of the close handle 13 can be reduced effectively, the driving displacement (and the driving force) of the close handle 13 which is required for the umbrella closing operation can be secured by the direct manual operation using a finger. In other words, since the opening/closing stroke (displacement) of the lower ring 5 which is required for the opening/closing motion of the umbrella 1 can be made (designed) commensurate with the displacement brought by the operation which can be performed within the capability of using a thumb etc. of a single hand which grips the handle 3, the umbrella closing operation effectively using the operational displacement of the finger can be carried out. As a result, the simplification of the drive mechanism which drives the lower ring 5 when closing the umbrella can be attained, and the umbrella in which the opening/closing operation using a single hand is possible can be realized with a simpler structure.

Modification

In the operation part of the above-mentioned embodiment, it is not indispensable to be equipped with the helical compression spring 18 which energizes the circular pipe 15 downward. The operation part may not be equipped with the helical compression spring. This construction is explained below through the use of FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B.

FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are views for explaining the construction of the operation part 20A concerning the modification of this invention. FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B correspond to FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B showing the operation part 20 of the above-mentioned embodiment.

The operation part 20A of this modification is equipped with the opening/closing handle 25 connected to the lower end part of the circular pipe 15. In the operation part 20A, the triangular prism-like locking members 171 and 172 are installed near the inner opening of the rectangle hole 17g for inserting the opening/closing handle 25 in the casing 17A. The columnar projections 251 which can engage the locking members 171 and 172 extend along the Z-axis direction from the arm part 25a of the opening/closing handle 25. The projections 251 are connected to the rod-like member 252 inserted into the hole 25h which penetrates through the center of the opening/closing handle 25. This rod-like member 252, the tip part of which is connected to the elastic member 253 such as a helical compression spring, is energized in the +X direction.

In such a construction, the projections 251 engage the locking members 171 or the locking members 172 unless the rod-like member 252 projected from the upper surface of the opening/closing handle 25 is pushed down, so it becomes possible to maintain the umbrella closed state shown in FIG. 8A or the umbrella opened state shown in FIG. 8B. When wanting to shift from the umbrella closed state to the umbrella opened state, it is only necessary to operate the opening/closing handle 25 in the downward direction (the −Y direction) while pushing down the rod-like member 252 by using a finger etc. in order to release the engagement between the locking member 171 and the projection 251. Similarly, when wanting to shift from the umbrella opened state to the umbrella closed state, it is only necessary to operate the opening/closing handle 25 in the upward direction (the +Y direction) while pushing down the rod-like member 252 by using a finger etc. in order to release the engagement between the locking member 172 and the projection 251.

Even though the operation part 20A is equipped with such a simple construction, it is possible to perform the umbrella opening operation and umbrella closing operation as appropriately as the above-mentioned embodiment. That is, the opening/closing stroke (displacement) of the circular pipe 15 and the lower ring 5 is commensurate with the displacement brought by the operation which can be performed within the capability of using, for example, a thumb, and the switch between the umbrella opened state and the umbrella closed state is possible by driving the lower ring 5 and the circular pipe 15 upward or downward through a direct use of the operational force and operational displacement given by the operation using the finger to the opening/closing handle 25. As a result, the simplification of the drive mechanism which drives the lower ring 5 when opening or closing the umbrella can be attained, and the umbrella in which the opening/closing operation using a single hand is possible can be realized with a simpler structure.

Moreover, the construction like the above-mentioned operation part 20A may be applied to the umbrella equipped with the construction in which the interior pole 140 can slide along the circular pipe 150 fixed to the handle 3. This construction is explained below through the use of FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B.

FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B are views for explaining the construction of the operation part 20B concerning another modification. FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B correspond to FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B showing the above-mentioned operation part 20A.

Since the umbrella of this modification has the construction in which the interior pole 140 is slidable along the circular pipe 150, the arm part 25a of the opening/closing handle 25 is attached to the interior pole 140 in the operation part 20B. The slit 15t for inserting the arm part 25a is formed along the Y-axis direction in the circular pipe 150.

Even though the operation part 20B is equipped with such a simple construction, it is possible to perform the umbrella opening operation and umbrella closing operation as appropriately as the above-mentioned operation part 20A.

As for the operation part 20 of the above-mentioned embodiment, it is not indispensable to energize the circular pipe 15 downward (in the −Y direction) through the cylindrical body 16 by the helical compression spring 18. The circular pipe 15 may be energized upward. Moreover, it is not indispensable to energize the circular pipe 15 by using the helical compression spring 18, but the circular pipe 15 may be energized by using an elastic member such as a plate spring.

While the invention has been shown and described in detail, the foregoing description is in all aspects illustrative and not restrictive. It is therefore understood that numerous modifications and variations can be devised without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An umbrella which is equipped with a main shaft part extending from a grip part along a central axis, comprising:

an upper ring pivotally attached to each stretcher pivotally connected to each joint installed in a halfway part of each rib which is stretched when opening said umbrella;

a lower ring pivotally attached to said each rib and installed in a position to be closer to said grip part than said upper ring in said main shaft part;

a cloth part attached to said each stretcher and each of sections from said halfway part to a tip in said each rib; and

an operation part for receiving an umbrella closing operation and an umbrella opening operation concerning a switch between an umbrella opened state and an umbrella closed state, wherein:

one and another of said upper ring and said lower ring serve as a fixed ring and a movable ring which can move along said central axis in said main shaft part;

in response to said umbrella closing operation, a movable member which extends from said movable ring toward said operation part is driven in a direction in which said movable ring approaches said fixed ring, while in response to said umbrella opening operation, said movable member is driven in a direction in which said movable ring separates from said fixed ring;

a displacement of said movable ring which is required for an opening/closing motion of said umbrella is commensurate with a displacement concerning an operation which can be performed by using a predetermined finger of a single hand grasping said grip part;

said operation part includes a first operation member and a second operation member for receiving said umbrella opening operation and said umbrella closing operation; and

said switch between said umbrella opened state and said umbrella closed state is possible by driving said movable member and said movable ring in a predetermined direction along said central axis through a use of an energizing force of a predetermined elastic member in response to an operation to said first operation member, and by driving said movable member and said movable ring in an opposite direction of said predetermined direction through a direct use of an operational force and an operational displacement given by an operation using said predetermined finger to said second operation member.

2. An umbrella which is equipped with a main shaft part extending from a grip part along a central axis, comprising:

an upper ring pivotally attached to each stretcher pivotally connected to each joint installed in a halfway part of each rib which is stretched when opening said umbrella;

a lower ring pivotally attached to said each rib and installed in a position to be closer to said grip part than said upper ring in said main shaft part;

a cloth part attached to said each stretcher and each of sections from said halfway part to a tip in said each rib; and

an operation part for receiving an umbrella closing operation and an umbrella opening operation concerning a switch between an umbrella opened state and an umbrella closed state, wherein:

one and another of said upper ring and said lower ring serve as a fixed ring and a movable ring which can move along said central axis in said main shaft part;

in response to said umbrella closing operation, a movable member which extends from said movable ring toward said operation part is driven in a first direction in which said movable ring approaches said fixed ring, while in response to said umbrella opening operation, said movable member is driven in a second direction in which said movable ring separates from said fixed ring;

a displacement of said movable ring which is required for an opening/closing motion of said umbrella is commensurate with a displacement concerning an operation which can be performed by using a predetermined finger of a single hand grasping said grip part; and

said switch between said umbrella opened state and said umbrella closed state is possible by driving said movable member and said movable ring in said first direction or said second direction through a direct use of an operational force and an operational displacement given by an operation using said predetermined finger to said operation part.