ATBECHDEDKESFRGBGRITLILUNLSEMCPTIESILTLVFIROMKCYALTR............................JDIM350 (Ver 2.1 Jan 2001) 2100000/01243196EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATIONB120040526EP01302576.22001032020021023enenen2004052620042220020925200239200405262004227 7A 45B 25/08 AdeRegenschirm mit einer verbesserten HauptschieberarretierungenUmbrella with an improved runner fastenerfrParapluie avec un dispositif d'arrêt du coulisseau amélioréGB-A- 931 810US-A- 5 253 666US-A- 5 284 171US-A- 5 964 2353Wang, MaxNo. 19, Ta-Yuan 13th St.Tai-Ping City, Taichung HsienTWWang, Max02562471202441/NS/JNNo. 19, Ta-Yuan 13th St.Tai-Ping City, Taichung HsienTWShackleton, Nicolaet al00060622Page White & Farrer 54 Doughty StreetLondon WC1N 2LSGBATBECHCYDEDKESFIFRGBGRIEITLILUMCNLPTSETR

This invention relates to an umbrella, more particularly to an umbrella with an improved runner fastener which is provided on a stem without weakening the structural strength of the same.

An umbrella according to the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in US 5 284 171 A.

Referring to Fig. 1, a conventional umbrella is shown to include an elongate stem 1 with an upper elongate hole 101 in which a spring-loaded stop 2 is provided. A runner 3 is sleeved slidably on the stem 1 to connect pivotally with a stretcher assembly (not shown) to support a rib assembly (not shown) which is mounted on an upper end of the stem 1. The runner 3 is movable along the stem 1 between an upper position for stretching the rib assembly and a lower position for collapsing the same. At the upper position, the runner 3 is retainingly supported by the stop 2.

In view of the fact that the stem 3 of the conventional umbrella should be made hollow to receive the spring-loaded stop 2, it was not contemplated to provide a solid structure for the stem. Due to this inherent limitation of the stem, which is a primary part of the umbrella in terms of strength, it is quite difficult to further improve the rigidity of the stem, and hence the durability of the umbrella.

The object of the present invention is to provide an umbrella which can overcome the aforementioned problems commonly associated with the prior art.

According to this invention, the umbrella includes an elongate stem which extends along an axis, and which has a first upper end portion, a first lower end portion, and a middle portion therebetween. A ferrule is fixed on the first upper end portion of the stem. A tubular member surrounds the first upper end portion of the stem about the axis, and includes a second upper end portion which is fixed to the ferrule, and a second lower end portion which extends downwardly from the second upper end portion, and which is formed with a retaining slot that extends in a radial direction radial to the axis. A canopy is mounted on the first upper end portion of the stem. A rib assembly is disposed at an underside of the canopy to support the canopy in a spread-out position and in a collapsed position. A tubular runner is sleeved slidably on the stem, and has third upper and lower end portions respectively proximate and distal to the ferrule, and an intermediate portion therebetween. The runner is movable between upper and lower positions respectively corresponding to the spread-out and collapsed positions of the canopy. A stretcher assembly is disposed to interconnect the intermediate portion of the runner and the rib assembly so as to stretch or retract the rib assembly to put the canopy in the spread-out or collapsed position when the runner is moved to the upper or lower position, respectively. The third upper end portion of the runner is formed with a through hole which is aligned with the retaining slot in a longitudinal direction parallel to the axis, and which extends therethrough in the radial direction. The third upper end portion of the runner can be brought to surround the tubular member and to have the through hole registering with the retaining slot when the runner is in the upper position. A lever member defines a fulcrum portion which is pivoted to the intermediate portion of the runner about a pivot axis transverse to the longitudinal direction, and has upper and lower segments which are disposed at two opposite ends of the fulcrum portion and which are opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction. The upper segment has an anchoring end portion which extends radially and inwardly of the third upper end portion of the runner through the through hole and which is of such a dimension so as to be received and retained in the retaining slot when the runner is in the upper position. A biasing member is disposed to bias the anchoring end portion radially and inwardly toward the stem.

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

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the preferred embodiment of the umbrella according to the present invention is shown to comprise an elongate stem 10 which extends along an axis, and which has a first upper end portion 11, a first lower end portion, and a middle portion therebetween. A ferrule 20 is fixed on the first upper end portion 11 of the stem 10. A tubular member 21 is disposed to surround the first upper end portion 11 of the stem 10 about the axis, and includes a second upper end portion fixed to the ferrule 20, and a second lower end portion which extends downwardly from the second upper end portion, and which is formed with a retaining slot 22 that extends in a radial direction radial to the axis. A canopy 50 is mounted on the first upper end portion 11 of the stem 10. A rib assembly 60 is disposed at an underside of the canopy 50 to support the canopy 50 in a spread-out position and in a collapsed position. A tubular runner 30 is sleeved slidably on the stem 10, and has third upper and lower end portions 35,37 respectively proximate and distal to the ferrule 20, and an intermediate portion therebetween. The runner 30 is movable between upper and lower positions which respectively correspond to the spread-out and collapsed positions of the canopy 50. A stretcher assembly 70 is disposed to interconnect the intermediate portion of the runner 30 and the rib assembly 60 so as to stretch or retract the rib assembly 60 to put the canopy 50 in the spread-out or collapsed position when the runner 30 is moved to the upper or lower position, respectively. The third upper end portion 35 of the runner 30 is formed with a through hole 36 which is aligned with the retaining slot 22 in a longitudinal direction parallel to the axis, and which extends therethrough in the radial direction. The third upper end portion 35 of the runner 30 has an inner diameter sufficient so as to bring the same to surround the tubular member 21 and to have the through hole 36 registering with the retaining slot 22 when the runner 30 is in the upper position. The intermediate portion of the runner 30 is formed with a plurality of pivot slots 31 which are displaced angularly from each other about the axis for receiving a plurality of pivot ends of the stretcher assembly 70. A ring member 33 is disposed in to surround fixedly an annular groove 32 in the intermediate portion of the runner 30 such that the pivot ends of the stretcher assembly 70 are mounted pivotally thereon in a known manner.

A recess 34 is formed on the intermediate portion of the runner 30 and extends in the longitudinal direction. A lever member 40 defines a fulcrum portion 41 which is pivoted to the intermediate portion of the runner 30 at the recess 34 about a pivot axis transverse to the longitudinal direction, and has upper and lower segments which are disposed at two opposite ends of the fulcrum portion 41 and which are opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction. The upper segment has an anchoring end portion 42 which extends radially and inwardly of the third upper end portion 35 of the runner 30 through the through hole 36. As such, referring to Fig. 4, when the runner 30 is in the upper position, the anchoring end portion 42 can be received and retained in the retaining slot 22 to keep the canopy 50 in the spread-out position. Furthermore, two cavities 38,43 are formed respectively in the third lower end portion 37 of the runner 30 and the lower segment of the lever member 40 and are opposite to each other in the radial direction such that a biasing member 44, such as a compression spring, is disposed between the cavities 38,43 so as to bias the lower segment outwardly and radially in order to turn the anchoring end portion 42 of the upper segment radially and inwardly toward the stem 10. Thus, as shown in Fig. 5, when the user presses the lower segment of the lever member 40 against the biasing force of the biasing member 44, the anchoring end portion 42 of the upper segment is turned outwardly and radially to disengage from the retaining slot 22 and the through hole 36, thereby permitting movement of the runner 30 to the lower position so as to collapse the umbrella.

Therefore, as compared to the conventional umbrella, there is no need to form a hole in the stem 10 according to the umbrella of this invention, thereby maintaining the structural strength of the stem 10.

 An umbrella including: an elongate stem (10) extending along an axis, and having a first upper end portion (11) , a first lower end portion, and a middle portion therebetween; a ferrule (20) fixed on said first upper end portion of said stem (10); a canopy (50) mounted on said first upper end portion (11) of said stem (10); a rib assembly (60) disposed at an underside of said canopy (50) to support said canopy (50) in a spread-out position and in a collapsed position; a tubular runner (30) sleeved slidably on said stem (10), and having third upper and lower end portions (35,37) respectively proximate and distal to said ferrule (20), and an intermediate portion therebetween, said runner (30) being movable between upper and lower positions respectively corresponding to the spread-out and collapsed positions of said canopy (50); a stretcher assembly (70) disposed to interconnect said intermediate portion of said runner (30) and said rib assembly (60) so as to stretch or retract said rib assembly (60) to put said canopy (50) in the spread-out or collapsed position when said runner (30) is moved to the upper or lower position, respectively; a lever member (40) defining a fulcrum portion (41) pivoted to said intermediate portion of said runner (30) about a pivot axis transverse to the longitudinal direction, and having upper and lower segments disposed at two opposite ends of said fulcrum portion (41) and opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction, said upper segment having an anchoring end portion (42) which extends radially and inwardly of said third upper end portion (35) of said runner (30) through said through hole (36); and a biasing member (44) disposed to bias said anchoring end portion (42) radially and inwardly toward said stem (10), characterized by: a tubular member (21) surrounding said first upper end portion (11) of said stem (10) about the axis, and including a second upper end portion which is fixed to said ferrule (20), and a second lower end portion which extends downwardly from said second upper end portion, and which is formed with a retaining slot (22) that extends in a radial direction radial to the axis; said third upper end portion (35) of said runner (30) is formed with a through hole (36) which is aligned with said retaining slot (22) in a longitudinal direction parallel to the axis, and which extends therethrough in the radial direction, said third upper end portion (35) of said runner (30) having an inner diameter sufficient so as to be brought to surround said tubular member (21) and to have said through hole (36) registering with said retaining slot (22) when said runner (30) is in the upper position; and said anchoring end portion (42) is of such a dimension so as to be received and retained in said retaining slot (22) when said runner (30) is in the upper position. The umbrella of Claim 1, characterized in that said biasing member (44) is a compression spring which is disposed between said third lower end portion (37) of said runner (30) and said lower segment and which extends in the radial direction to bias said lower segment outwardly and radially so as to turn said upper segment inwardly and radially. The umbrella of Claim 1, characterized in that said runner (30) further includes a ring member (33) fixedly surrounding said intermediate portion, said stretcher assembly (70) including a plurality of pivot ends which are pivotally mounted on said ring member (33) and which are displaced angularly from each other about the axis, said fulcrum portion (41) of said lever member (40) being pivoted on said ring member (33). Ein Schirm, aufweisend: Einen länglichen Schaft (10), der sich entlang einer Achse erstreckt und einen ersten oberen Endabschnitt (11), einen ersten unteren Endabschnitt und dazwischen einen mittleren Abschnitt hat; einen Endring (20), der an dem ersten oberen Endabschnitt des Schaftes (10) befestigt ist; eine Abschirmung (50), die an dem ersten oberen Endabschnitt (11) des Schaftes (10) montiert ist; eine Strebenanordnung (60), die an einer Unterseite der Abschirmung (50) angeordnet ist, um die Abschirmung (50) in einer aufgespreizten Position und in einer zusammengeklappten Position zu tragen; einen rohrförmigen Hauptschieber (30), der hülsenartig verschiebbar ist auf dem Schaft (10) und dritte obere bzw. untere Endabschnitte (35, 37) hat, die in der Nähe und distal zu dem Endring (20) sind, sowie einen Zwischenabschnitt dazwischen, wobei der Hauptschieber (30) bewegbar ist zwischen einer oberen bzw. unteren Position, entsprechend der aufgespreizten und zusammengeklappten Position der Abschirmung (50); eine Aufweitanordnung (70), die derart angeordnet ist, daß sie den Zwischenabschnitt des Hauptschiebers (30) und die Strebenanordnung (60) verbindet, um die Strebenanordnung (60) aufzuweiten oder zusammenzuziehen, um die Abschirmung (50) in die aufgespreizte oder zusammengeklappte Position zu bringen, wenn der Hauptschieber (30) in die obere oder untere Position jeweils bewegt wird, ein Hebelteil (40), das einen Drehabschnitt (41) definiert und verschwenkt wird zu dem Zwischenabschnitt des Hauptschiebers (30) um eine Schwenkachse, quer zu der Längsrichtung, sowie obere und untere Segmente hat, die an zwei gegenüberliegenden Enden des Drehabschnitts (41) angeordnet sind und in der Längsrichtung einander gegenüberliegen, wobei das obere Segment einen Verankerungsendabschnitt (42) hat, der radial und einwärts des dritten oberen Endabschnitts (35) des Hauptschiebers (30) durch das Durchgangsloch (36) verläuft, und ein Vorspannelement (44), das angeordnet ist, um den Verankerungsendabschnitt (42) radial und einwärts in Richtung des Schaftes (10) vorzuspannen, gekennzeichnet durch: ein rohrförmiges Teil (21), das den ersten oberen Endabschnitt (11) des Schaftes (10) um die Achse umgibt und einen zweiten oberen Endabschnitt aufweist, der an den Endring (20) befestigt ist, sowie einen zweiten unteren Endabschnitt, der von dem zweiten oberen Endabschnitt nach unten verläuft und der mit einem Halteschlitz (22) ausgebildet ist, der sich in einer radialen Richtung, radial zu der Achse erstreckt; die Ausbildung des dritten oberen Endabschnitts (35) des Hauptschiebers (30) mit einem Durchgangsloch (36), das mit dem Halteschlitz (22) in einer Längsrichtung, parallel zu der Achse, fluchtet und das sich dort hindurch in radialer Richtung erstreckt, wobei der dritte obere Endabschnitt (35) des Hauptschiebers (30) einen Innendurchmesser hat, der ausreicht, um so verbracht zu werden, daß er das rohrförmige Teil (21) umgibt, und das Durchgangsloch (36) übereinstimmt mit dem Halteschlitz (22), wenn der Hauptschieber (30) in der oberen Position ist; und eine Abmessung des Verankerungsendabschnittes (42) derart, daß er in dem Halteschlitz (22) aufnehmbar und haltbar ist, wenn der Hauptschieber (30) in der oberen Position ist. Schirm nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Vorspannelement (44) eine Kompressionsfeder ist, die zwischen dem dritten unteren Endabschnitt (37) des Hauptschiebers (30) und dem unteren Segment angeordnet ist und das in radialer Richtung verläuft, um das untere Segment nach außen und radial vorzuspannen, um das obere Segment nach innen und radial zu drehen. Schirm nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Hauptschieber (30) des weiteren aufweist: ein Ringteil (33), das den Zwischenabschnitt fest umgibt, wobei die Aufweitanordnung (70) mehrere Zapfenenden aufweist, die schwenkbar an dem Ringteil (33) montiert sind und die um die Achse winkelmäßig zueinander versetzt sind, wobei der Drehabschnitt (41) des Hebelteils (40) auf dem Ringteil (33) verschwenkbar ist. Parapluie comprenant : un manche allongé (10) s'étendant selon un axe, et ayant une première portion d'extrémité supérieure (11), une première portion d'extrémité inférieure, et une portion médiane entre les deux ; une couronne (20) fixée à la première portion d'extrémité supérieure du manche (10) ; une toile (50) reliée à la première portion d'extrémité supérieure (11) du manche (10) ; une armature à baleines (60) disposée du côté inférieur de la toile (50) pour supporter la toile (50) dans une position déployée et dans une position repliée ; un coulisseau tubulaire (30) emmanché de façon coulissante sur le manche (10), et ayant des troisièmes portions d'extrémité supérieure et inférieure (35, 37) respectivement proche et éloignée de la couronne (20), et une portion intermédiaire entre les deux, le coulisseau (30) étant mobile entre des positions supérieure et inférieure correspondant respectivement aux positions déployée et repliée de la toile (50) ; un système tendeur (70) disposé pour être relié à la portion intermédiaire du coulisseau (30) et à l'armature à baleines (60) de façon à tendre ou à rétracter l'armature à baleines (60) pour mettre la toile (50) dans la position déployée ou repliée lorsque le coulisseau (30) est déplacé, respectivement, vers la position supérieure ou inférieure ; un élément de levier (40) définissant une portion de point de levier (41) relié à pivot à la portion intermédiaire du coulisseau (30) par rapport à un axe de pivot perpendiculaire à la direction longitudinale, et ayant des segments supérieur et inférieur disposés à deux extrémités opposées de la portion de point de levier (41) et opposées l'une à l'autre dans la direction longitudinale, le segment supérieur ayant une portion d'extrémité d'ancrage (42) qui s'étend radialement et vers l'intérieur de la troisième portion d'extrémité supérieure (35) du coulisseau (30) au travers d'un trou traversant (36) ; et un élément de sollicitation (44) adapté à solliciter la portion d'extrémité d'ancrage (42) radialement et vers l'intérieur vers le manche (10), caractérisé par : un élément tubulaire (21) entourant la première portion d'extrémité supérieure (11) du manche (10) par rapport à l'axe, et comprenant une seconde portion d'extrémité supérieure qui est fixée à la couronne (20), et une seconde portion d'extrémité inférieure qui s'étend vers le bas à partir de la seconde portion d'extrémité supérieure, et qui comprend une fente de retenue (22) qui s'étend dans une direction radiale de façon radiale par rapport à l'axe ; la troisième portion d'extrémité supérieure (35) du coulisseau (30) étant formée avec le trou traversant (36) qui est aligné avec la fente de retenue (22) dans une direction longitudinale parallèle à l'axe, et qui s'étend au travers de celle-ci dans la direction radiale, la troisième portion d'extrémité supérieure (35) du coulisseau (30) ayant un diamètre intérieur suffisant pour être amenée à entourer l'élément tubulaire (21) et pour que le trou traversant (36) débouche sur la fente de retenue (22) lorsque le coulisseau (30) est dans la position supérieure ; et la portion d'extrémité d'ancrage (42) ayant une dimension telle pour être reçue et retenue dans la fente de retenue (22) lorsque le coulisseau (30) est dans la position supérieure. Parapluie selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'élément de contrainte (44) est un ressort de compression qui est disposé entre la troisième portion d'extrémité inférieure (37) du coulisseau (30) et le segment inférieur et qui s'étend dans la direction radiale pour contraindre le segment inférieur vers l'extérieur et radialement de façon à faire pivoter le segment supérieur vers l'intérieur et radialement. Parapluie selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le coulisseau (30) comprend en outre un élément annulaire (33) fixé autour de la portion intermédiaire, le système tendeur (70) comprenant plusieurs extrémités de pivot qui sont montés à pivot sur l'élément annulaire (33) et qui sont espacés angulairement l'un par rapport à l'autre par rapport à l'axe, la portion de point de levier (41) de l'élément de levier (40) étant montée à pivot sur l'élément annulaire (33).