Standing Parasol

Abstract

The invention relates to a standing parasol (2) having a standing mast (4) comprising a longitudinal axis (A) and at least three canopy struts (6) for a foldable canopy, wherein each canopy strut (6) is provided with an associated supporting strut (8) hinged on the underside thereof, wherein the canopy struts (6) are articulatedly connected on the mast side thereof to an upper articulation ring (10), and wherein the supporting struts (8) are articulatedly connected on the mast side thereof to a lower articulation ring (12) that can be moved up and down on the standing mast (4), and wherein at least one supporting strut (8) is provided with a hanging strut (14) hinged on the upper side thereof, which is connected to a central articulation ring (16) attached to the standing mast (4). In an open position of the standing parasol, the central articulation ring (16) and the upper articulation ring (10) are substantially in a mutually adjacent state.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from German patent application No. DE202024103429.5, filed Jun. 25, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a standing parasol.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various parasols are already known which have an upper parasol part that can be raised and lowered relative to a fixed standing mast. In some embodiments, the said parasol part is arranged at the upper end of a telescopic member in the standing mast, in particular on a telescopic tube or a telescopic bar.

Such a standing parasol is described in EP 2397044 B1. This parasol comprises a standing mast and a foldable canopy with canopy struts and supporting struts, wherein the canopy struts and the supporting struts are each connected to a lower articulation ring and an upper articulation ring, respectively. The upper articulation ring is connected to a telescopic tube guided in the standing mast and capable of being raised and lowered, while the lower articulation ring is connected in fixed manner to the standing mast. The raising and lowering movement in the direction of the mast axis is achieved by means of a drive unit housed in the standing mast, which can be operated, for example, with a hand crank.

In principle, an appropriate construction without a telescopic tube can also be used, provided that at least three canopy struts and supporting struts are present to maintain the mobility of the upper articulation ring substantially in the direction of the mast axis.

Further developments of the aforementioned parasol are also known, in which the lower articulation ring can be moved up and down on the standing mast, wherein at least one of the supporting struts is provided with a hanging strut hinged on the upper side thereof, which is connected to a central articulation ring attached to the standing mast. With this type of parasols, the opening and closing of the parasol can be operated manually, thus eliminating the need for a drive unit housed in the mast.

A disadvantage of the last-mentioned generic parasol is that, in an open, i.e. unfolded position of the parasol, the central articulation ring and the upper articulation ring are displaced apart from each other. As a result, the uppermost section of the telescopic tube remains exposed even in the opened position of the parasol and can thus become coated, in particular, with airborne dirt, but also with wind-borne rainwater. In the embodiments without a telescopic tube, an undesirable lateral shaking of the parasol is possible, particularly in windy conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is therefore to propose an improved standing parasol that is capable of overcoming the weaknesses of the prior art.

The standing parasol according to the present invention comprises a standing mast with a longitudinal axis A and a plurality of at least three canopy struts for a foldable canopy, wherein each canopy strut is provided with an associated supporting strut hinged on the underside thereof. The canopy struts are articulatedly connected on the mast side thereof to an upper articulation ring and the supporting struts are articulatedly connected on the mast side thereof to a lower articulation ring that can be moved up and down on the standing mast. At least one supporting strut is additionally provided with a hanging strut hinged on the upper side thereof, which is connected to a central articulation ring attached to the standing mast. The upper articulation ring is provided with upper articulation points for the canopy struts, which upper articulation points are arranged on an upper articulation circle with a first diameter D1, the central articulation ring is provided with central articulation points for the at least one hanging strut, which central articulation points are arranged on a central articulation circle with a second diameter D2, and the lower articulation ring is provided with lower articulation points for the supporting struts, which lower articulation points are arranged on a lower articulation circle with a third diameter D3.

Due to the fact that, in an open position of the standing parasol, the central articulation ring and the upper articulation ring are substantially in a mutually adjacent state, at least the disadvantages mentioned above can be avoided.

The term “standing parasol” is to be understood in the broadest sense, but includes, in particular, various types of mast-supported parasols for outdoor use, in particular center-pole parasols with parasol struts, in which the opening and closing of the canopy is effected by a movement along the parasol axis.

The term “substantially in a mutually adjacent state” is to be understood in such manner that in the said state, the relevant components, i.e., the central articulation circle and the upper articulation circle together have a substantially gap-free outer contour. In this context, “substantially gap-free” means that the two articulation rings ideally have at least a circumferential contact line or a circumferential contact surface. Due to usual manufacturing tolerances such as those to be accepted with injection molded parts, for example, the said circumferential contact line or circumferential contact surface may in practice comprise an air gap of approximately 1 mm.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the upper articulation circle is connected to a telescopic member guided in the standing mast and capable of being raised and lowered. In this way, the upper articulation circle is maintained on the longitudinal axis A, i.e. upon opening and closing of the parasol the upper articulation circle and the canopy struts hinged thereto move together with the telescopic member in an axially symmetrical manner relative to the stand mast.

In contrast, in another embodiment, the upper articulation circle is configured to float relatively to the standing mast, i.e. it does not rest on a telescopic member or similar element acting as a longitudinal guide. In order to maintain the upper articulation ring on the longitudinal axis A, there are at least three sets of struts distributed around the longitudinal axis A, wherein each set of struts is formed from a supporting strut, an associated canopy strut and an associated hanging strut. It will be understood that each set of struts lies in a strut plane running through the mast axis. Advantageously, but not necessarily, the strut planes are distributed at uniform angular distances around the longitudinal axis A.

In some applications, it is particularly advantageous if both the first diameter D1 of the upper articulation circle and the third diameter D3 of the lower articulation circle are each larger than the second diameter D2 of the central articulation circle. This allows a particularly compact configuration in the radial direction to be achieved in the closed position of the parasol. This is advantageous not only for the closed standing parasol in its working position mounted on the standing mast, but also for transport. If the first diameter D1 is assigned a value of 100%, then in some embodiments the second diameter D2 is approximately 50 to 60% and the third diameter D3 is approximately 65 to 75%.

In a further embodiment, the standing parasol is provided with a tensioning device (32) for fixing the open position of the parasol. This, in particular, achieves the desired clamping of the canopy.

Advantageously, the tensioning device is configured as a pulling element with an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end is attached, particularly articulated, to the upper articulation ring, and wherein the lower end is provided with a handle portion, which can be hooked onto the lower articulation ring and brought into a tension-loaded fixing position. It is particularly advantageous if the hooking is carried out by guided snapping beyond a dead center. In certain embodiments, the handle portion is not hooked at the lower articulation ring, but rather is hooked into a hooking point at the standing mast.

In a further embodiment, the upper end of the pulling element is attached to the standing mast above the lower articulation ring and the handle portion is hooked into the lower articulation ring.

In certain embodiments, the tensioning device comprises two or even more pulling elements, which are advantageously arranged symmetrically around the parasol axis.

The aforementioned elements as well as those claimed and described in the following exemplary embodiments, to be used according to the invention, are not subject to any particular conditions by way of exclusion in terms of their size, shape, use of material and technical design, with the result that the selection criteria known in the respective field of application can be used without restrictions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further details, advantages and features of the object of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the corresponding drawings, in which the connecting system according to the present invention is illustrated by way of example. In the drawings, there are shown in:

FIG. 1 a standing parasol according to the prior art, in the closed state, in a vertical sectional view;

FIG. 2 an enlarged section of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 the standing parasol of FIG. 1, in the open state;

FIG. 4 a first embodiment of a parasol, in the closed state, in a side elevational view;

FIG. 5 a section of the parasol of FIG. 4, in the open state, in a side elevational view;

FIG. 6 a further section of the parasol of FIG. 4, in the open state, in a vertical sectional view;

FIG. 7 the section of the parasol of FIG. 4, in the partial open state, in a vertical sectional view;

FIG. 8 a second embodiment of a parasol, in the open state, in an elevational view;

FIG. 9 the standing parasol of FIG. 8, in a perspective view from the top left;

FIG. 10 an enlarged section of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 the standing parasol der FIG. 8, in a perspective view from the top right;

FIG. 12 a section of the parasol pf FIG. 8 in the open position, with the tensioning device partially tightened, in a vertical sectional view;

FIG. 13 the section of FIG. 12, with the tensioning device fully tightened; and

FIG. 14 a third embodiment of a parasol, in a perspective view from the top right.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The standing parasol 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which is known from the prior art, comprises a standing mast 4 and canopy struts 6 for a foldable canopy not shown, wherein each canopy strut 6 is provided with a supporting strut 8 hinged on the underside thereof. The canopy struts 6 are articulatedly connected on the mast side thereof to an upper articulation ring 10, and the supporting struts 8 are articulatedly connected to a lower articulation ring 12 that can be moved up and down on the standing mast 4. The supporting struts 8 are additionally provided with a hanging strut 14 hinged on the upper side thereof, which is connected to a central articulation ring 16 attached to the standing mast 4. The upper articulation ring 10 is provided with upper articulation points 20 for the canopy struts 6, which upper articulation points are disposed on an upper articulation circle 18 having a first diameter D1, the central articulation ring 16 is provided with central articulation points 24 for the hanging struts 14, which central articulation points are arranged on a central articulation circle 22 having a second diameter D2, the lower articulation ring 12 is provided with lower articulation points 28 for the supporting struts 8, which lower articulation points are arranged on a lower articulation circle 26 having a third diameter D3. The upper articulation ring 10 is connected to a telescopic member 30 formed as a telescopic tube that is guided in the standing mast 4 and capable of being raised and lowered.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, in the open, i.e. unfolded, position of the parasol, the central articulation circle 16 and the upper articulation circle 10 are significantly displaced apart from each other, see distance Δh in FIG. 3.

As illustrated in particular in FIG. 2, the diameter D1 of the upper articulation circle 18, the diameter D2 of the central articulation circle 22 and the lower diameter D3 of the lower articulation circle 26 are substantially identical. As a result, when the parasol (FIG. 1) is closed, the canopy struts 6 cannot be brought into a desired vertical rest position.

The first embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 comprises largely the same components as the previously known standing umbrella shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. A main difference, however, is that, in the open position of the parasol, the central articulation circle 16 and the upper articulation circle 10 are substantially in a mutually adjacent state, see FIG. 5.

Moreover, the first diameter D1 of the upper articulation circle 18 and the third diameter D3 of the lower articulation ring 12 are significantly larger than the second diameter D2 of the central articulation circle 22 (see FIG. 4, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7), so that when the parasol is closed, the canopy struts 6 are in an approximately vertical rest position (see FIG. 4).

Further details regarding the configuration in the region of the upper and central articulation rings can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7.

A second embodiment is shown in FIGS. 8 to 13. This is featuring a tensioning device 32 for fixing the open position of the parasol 2. The tensioning device 32 is configured as a pulling element 34 with an upper end 36 and a lower end 38, wherein the upper end 36 is articulated to the upper articulation ring 10. The lower end 38 is provided with a handle portion 40, which can be hooked onto the lower articulation ring 12. As can be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 12 and 13, the handle portion 40 can be pivoted into a tension-loaded fixing position.

FIG. 14 shows a third embodiment, in which the upper articulation circle 10 is configured to float relatively to the standing mast. For this purpose, at least three sets of struts distributed around the longitudinal axis A, each formed from a supporting strut 8a, 8b, 8c, an associated canopy strut 6a, 6b, 6c and an associated hanging strut 14a, 14b, 14c, are provided to hold the upper articulation ring 10 on the longitudinal axis A. Only two of these strut sets are shown in FIG. 14.

In another embodiment, which is not shown in the figures, the handle portion 40 is not hooked onto the lower articulation ring 12, but it is hooked into a hooking point on the standing mast 4.

In yet another embodiment, which is not shown in the figures, the upper end 38 of the pulling element 36 is attached to the standing mast 4, above the lower articulation ring 12 and the handle portion 40 hooked into the lower articulation ring 12 in the same way as in FIGS. 12 and 13.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

• • 2 standing parasol
  • 4 standing mast
  • 6 canopy strut
  • 8 supporting strut
  • 10 upper articulation ring
  • 12 lower articulation ring
  • 14 hanging strut
  • 16 central articulation ring
  • 18 upper articulation circle
  • 20 upper articulation points
  • 22 central articulation circle
  • 24 central articulation points
  • 26 lower articulation circle
  • 28 lower articulation points
  • 30 telescopic member
  • 32 tensioning device
  • 34 pulling element
  • 36 upper end of 34
  • 38 lower end of 34
  • 40 handle portion of 32
  • D1 first diameter of 18
  • D2 second diameter of 22
  • D3 third diameter of 12
  • Δh distance between 10 and 16

Claims

1. Standing parasol having a standing mast and a plurality of at least three canopy struts for a foldable canopy, wherein the standing mast comprises a longitudinal axis, wherein each canopy strut is provided with an associated supporting strut hinged on the underside thereof, wherein the canopy struts are articulatedly connected on the mast side thereof to an upper articulation ring and wherein the supporting struts are articulatedly connected on the mast side thereof to a lower articulation ring that can be moved up and down on the standing mast, wherein at least one supporting strut is additionally provided with a hanging strut hinged on the upper side thereof, which is connected to a central articulation ring attached to the standing mast, wherein the upper articulation ring is provided with upper articulation points for the canopy struts, which upper articulation points are arranged on an upper articulation circle with a first diameter, and wherein the central articulation ring is provided with central articulation points for the at least one hanging strut, which central articulation points are arranged on a central articulation circle with a second diameter, and wherein the lower articulation ring is provided with lower articulation points for the supporting struts, which lower articulation points are arranged on a lower articulation circle with a third diameter,

characterized in that

in an open position of the standing parasol, the central articulation ring and the upper articulation ring are substantially in a mutually adjacent state.

2. Standing parasol according to claim 1, wherein the upper articulation ring is connected to a telescopic member guided in the standing mast and capable of being raised and lowered, in order to hold the upper articulation ring on the longitudinal axis

3. Standing parasol according to claim 1, wherein the upper articulation ring is configured to float relatively to the standing mast, wherein at least three sets of struts distributed around the longitudinal axis, each formed from a supporting strut, an associated canopy strut and an associated hanging strut, are provided to hold the upper articulation ring on the longitudinal axis.

4. Standing parasol according to claim 1, wherein the first diameter and the third diameter are each greater than the second diameter.

5. Standing parasol according to claim 1, with a clamping device for fixing the open position of the parasol.

6. Standing parasol according to claim 5, wherein the clamping device is configured as a pulling element with an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end is attached, particularly articulated, to the upper articulation ring, and wherein the lower end is provided with a handle portion, which can be hooked onto the lower articulation ring and brought into a tension-loaded fixing position.

7. Standing parasol according to claim 5, wherein the tensioning device is configured as a pulling element with an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end is attached, particularly articulated, to the upper articulation ring, and wherein the lower end is provided with a handle portion, which can be hooked into a hooking point on the standing mast and brought into a tension-loaded fixing position.

8. Standing parasol according to claim 5, wherein the central articulation circle is configured as a pulling element with an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end is attached, particularly articulated, to the standing mast above the lower articulation ring, in particular articulated, and wherein the lower end is provided with a handle portion, which can be hooked into the lower articulation ring and brought into a tension-loaded fixing position.

9. Standing parasol according to claim 2, wherein the first diameter and the third diameter are each greater than the second diameter.

10. Standing parasol according to claim 3, wherein the first diameter and the third diameter are each greater than the second diameter.

11. Standing parasol according to claim 2, with a clamping device for fixing the open position of the parasol.

12. Standing parasol according to claim 3, with a clamping device for fixing the open position of the parasol.

13. Standing parasol according to claim 4, with a clamping device for fixing the open position of the parasol.

14. Standing parasol according to claim 11, wherein the clamping device is configured as a pulling element with an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end is attached, particularly articulated, to the upper articulation ring, and wherein the lower end is provided with a handle portion, which can be hooked onto the lower articulation ring and brought into a tension-loaded fixing position.

15. Standing parasol according to claim 11, wherein the tensioning device is configured as a pulling element with an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end is attached, particularly articulated, to the upper articulation ring, and wherein the lower end is provided with a handle portion, which can be hooked into a hooking point on the standing mast and brought into a tension-loaded fixing position.

16. Standing parasol according to claim 11, wherein the central articulation circle is configured as a pulling element with an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end is attached, particularly articulated, to the standing mast above the lower articulation ring, in particular articulated, and wherein the lower end is provided with a handle portion, which can be hooked into the lower articulation ring and brought into a tension-loaded fixing position.

17. Standing parasol according to claim 12, wherein the clamping device is configured as a pulling element with an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end is attached, particularly articulated, to the upper articulation ring, and wherein the lower end is provided with a handle portion, which can be hooked onto the lower articulation ring and brought into a tension-loaded fixing position.

18. Standing parasol according to claim 12, wherein the tensioning device is configured as a pulling element with an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end is attached, particularly articulated, to the upper articulation ring, and wherein the lower end is provided with a handle portion, which can be hooked into a hooking point on the standing mast and brought into a tension-loaded fixing position.

19. Standing parasol according to claim 12, wherein the central articulation circle is configured as a pulling element with an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end is attached, particularly articulated, to the standing mast above the lower articulation ring, in particular articulated, and wherein the lower end is provided with a handle portion, which can be hooked into the lower articulation ring and brought into a tension-loaded fixing position.

20. Standing parasol according to claim 13, wherein the clamping device is configured as a pulling element with an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end is attached, particularly articulated, to the upper articulation ring, and wherein the lower end is provided with a handle portion, which can be hooked onto the lower articulation ring and brought into a tension-loaded fixing position.

21. Standing parasol according to claim 13, wherein the tensioning device is configured as a pulling element with an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end is attached, particularly articulated, to the upper articulation ring, and wherein the lower end is provided with a handle portion, which can be hooked into a hooking point on the standing mast and brought into a tension-loaded fixing position.

22. Standing parasol according to claim 13, wherein the central articulation circle is configured as a pulling element with an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end is attached, particularly articulated, to the standing mast above the lower articulation ring, in particular articulated, and wherein the lower end is provided with a handle portion, which can be hooked into the lower articulation ring and brought into a tension-loaded fixing position.