BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to an umbrella. More particularly, the present invention
relates to an umbrella with an excellent assembly, cost savings according to assembly,
easy mass production, and increased reliability and merchantability by improving a
fixture unit with which umbrella ribs are coupled and an elevation tube with which
lower ribs are coupled.
Related Art
[0002] In general, in an umbrella, when assembling a fixture unit with which umbrella ribs
are coupled, an elevation tube with which lower ribs are coupled, and a handle with
an umbrella staff, the fixture unit is first inserted into the top portion of an umbrella
staff, the elevation tube is then inserted into the lower portion of the umbrella
staff. Next, grooves are horizontally formed in the outer circumferential face of
the fixture unit and the elevation tube, and the umbrella ribs and the grooves formed
in the fixture unit, and the lower ribs and the grooves formed in the elevation tube
are wound with wires one by one. Accordingly, the umbrella has a complicated construction
and is very cumbersome and inconvenient.
[0003] In other words, in assembling the umbrella staff, the fixture unit, the elevation
tube, the umbrella ribs, the lower ribs, and the handle, the assembly process, time,
and manpower are excessively consumed because the construction is complicated. Accordingly,
there is a problem in that the cost inevitably rises because of the manufacture and
assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems
occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an
umbrella with an excellent assembly, cost savings according to assembly, easy mass
production, and increased reliability and merchantability by improving a fixture unit
with which umbrella ribs are coupled and an elevation tube with which lower ribs are
coupled.
[0005] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an umbrella
1 in which umbrella ribs 21 covered with waterproof cloths 11 are hinged and coupled
to a fixture unit 20 at a top end of an umbrella staff 10 having a handle 40, both
ends of lower ribs 31 are hinged and coupled between an elevation tube 30, coupled
to the umbrella staff 10 and configured to go up and down, and the umbrella ribs 21,
when the elevation tube 30 is pushed up, the lower ribs 31 are raised up and the umbrella
ribs 21 are fully stretched, and simultaneously the lower ribs 31 approach the fixture
unit 20 and fixed thereto. Here, the fixture unit 20 and the elevation tube 30 are
respectively separated into upper and lower fixtures 20a and 20b and upper and lower
elevation tubes 30a and 30b. A plurality of first grooves 22 of a hemispherical form
is formed in a lower circumferential face of the upper fixture 20a. Guide holes 24
respectively corresponding to the first grooves 22 are formed in a circumferential
face of the lower fixture 20b so that the upper fixture 20a and the lower fixture
20b are combined with each other. A plurality of guide grooves 32 is formed in a circumferential
face of the upper elevation tube 30a. Second grooves 34 of a hemispherical form respectively
corresponding to the guide grooves 32 are formed in an upper circumferential face
of the lower elevation tube 30b so that the upper and lower elevation tubes 30a and
30b are combined with each other. A sphere-shaped coupling unit 50a is formed on one
side of each of connectors 50 and movably inserted between the first groove 22 and
the guide hole 24 and between the second groove 34 and the guide groove. Insertion
holes 50b into each of which the umbrella rib 21 or the lower rib 31 is inserted is
formed on the other side of each of the connectors 50. The umbrella ribs 21 are inserted
into the respective insertion holes 50b of the connectors 50 inserted into the upper
and lower fixtures 20a and 20b. The lower ribs 31 are inserted into the respective
insertion holes 50b of the connectors 50 inserted into the upper and lower elevation
tubes 30a and 30b.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a fixture unit illustrating an embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of elevation tubes illustrating an embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 5a and 5b are exploded cross-sectional views of the fixture unit and the elevation
tube illustrating an embodiment of the present invention; and
FIGS. 6a and 6b are exploded cross-sectional views of the fixture unit and the elevation
tube illustrating another embodiment of the present invention.
< Description of reference numerals of principal elements in the drawings>
[0007]
| 1: |
umbrella |
10: |
umbrella staff |
| 11: |
waterproof cloth |
20: |
fixture |
| 20a: |
upper fixture |
20b: |
lower fixture |
| 21: |
umbrella ribs |
22: |
first groove |
| 23: |
first coupling groove |
24: |
guide holes |
| 25: |
first coupling protrusion |
40: |
handle |
| 25a: |
first latch jaw |
30a: |
upper elevation tube |
| 30: |
elevation tube |
30b: |
lower elevation tube |
| 31: |
lower rib |
33: |
second coupling groove |
| 32: |
guide groove |
35: |
second coupling protrusion |
| 34: |
second groove |
35a: |
second latch jaw |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is now described in detail with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
[0009] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6b, an umbrella 1 according to the present invention is constructed
as follows. Umbrella ribs 21 covered with waterproof cloths 11 are hinged and coupled
to a fixture unit 20 at the top end of an umbrella staff 10 having a handle 40. Both
ends of lower ribs 31 are hinged and coupled between an elevation tube 30, coupled
to the umbrella staff 10 and configured to go up and down, and the umbrella ribs 21.
If the elevation tube 30 is pushed up, the lower ribs 31 are raised up, and so the
umbrella ribs 21 are fully stretched. When the lower ribs 31 approach the fixture
unit 20, the lower ribs 31 are fixed to the fixture unit 20.
[0010] The umbrella 1 constructed as above is already known the art.
[0011] However, the most characteristic of the present invention is that the umbrella ribs
21 and the lower ribs 31 are not wound with wires, etc., but the fixture unit 20 and
the elevation tube 30 are improved and respectively inserted between the upper and
lower fixtures 20a and 20b and between upper and lower elevation tubes 30a and 30b.
Accordingly, the umbrella 1 can have an excellent assembly, cost savings according
to assembly, easy mass production, and increased reliability and merchantability.
[0012] That is, the fixture unit 20 and the elevation tube 30 are respectively separated
into the upper and lower fixtures 20a and 20b and the upper and lower elevation tubes
30a and 30b.
[0013] A plurality of first grooves 22 of a hemispherical form into which the respective
sphere-shaped coupling units 50a of connectors 50 are inserted is formed in the lower
circumferential face of the upper fixture 20a.
[0014] Guide holes 24 into which the sphere-shaped coupling units 50a of the connectors
50 are respectively inserted at locations corresponding to the first grooves 22 are
formed in the circumferential face of the lower fixture 20b.
[0015] The upper fixture 20a and the lower fixture 20b are bonded together and combined
with each other using adhesive means, etc.
[0016] A plurality of guide grooves 32 into which the respective connectors 50 are inserted
is formed in the circumferential face of the upper elevation tube 30a.
[0017] Second grooves 34 of a hemispherical form into which the sphere-shaped coupling units
50a of the connectors 50 are respectively inserted at locations corresponding to the
guide grooves 32 are formed in the upper circumferential face of the lower elevation
tube 30b.
[0018] The upper elevation tube 30a and the lower elevation tube 30b are bonded together
and combined with each other using adhesive means, etc.
[0019] The upper and lower fixtures 20a and 20b and the upper and lower elevation tubes
30a and 30b are illustrated to be combined with each other using adhesive means. However,
a first coupling protrusion 25 having a first latch jaw 25a formed therein can be
formed in the upper fixture 20a, and a first coupling groove 23 into which the first
latch jaw 25a is inserted can be formed in the lower fixture 20b, so that the first
latch jaw 25a is inserted into the first coupling groove 23 and the upper and lower
fixtures 20a and 20b are combined with each other. Furthermore, a second coupling
protrusion 35 having a second latch jaw 35a formed therein can be formed in the upper
elevation tube 30a, and a second coupling groove 33 into which the second latch jaw
35a is inserted can be formed in the lower elevation tube 30b, so that the second
latch jaw 35a is inserted into the second coupling groove 33 and the upper and lower
elevation tubes 30a and 30b are combined with each other. In this case, the upper
and lower fixtures 20a and 20b and the upper and lower elevation tubes 30a and 30b
can be fixed together without being separated from each other.
[0020] The sphere-shaped coupling unit 50a is formed on one side of each of the connectors
50. The sphere-shaped coupling units 50a are inserted between the first grooves 22
and the guide holes 24 and between the second grooves 34 and the guide grooves 32
so that they can move in the second grooves 34 and the guide grooves 32. An insertion
hole 50b into which the umbrella rib 21 or the lower rib 31 is inserted is formed
on the other side of each of the connectors 50.
[0021] The umbrella ribs 21 are inserted into the respective insertion holes 50b of the
connectors 50 inserted into the upper and lower fixtures 20a and 20b, and the lower
ribs 31 are inserted into the respective insertion holes 50b of the connectors 50
inserted into the upper and lower elevation tubes 30a and 30b, thereby constructing
the umbrella.
[0022] In the present invention constructed as above, the sphere-shaped coupling units 50a
of the connectors 50 are moveably constructed between the first grooves 22 and the
guide holes 24 of the upper and lower fixtures 20a and 20b and between the second
grooves 34 and the guide grooves 32 of the upper and lower elevation tubes 30a and
30b without being separated from them. The umbrella ribs 21 and the lower ribs 31
are inserted into the insertion holes 50b of the connectors 50, thereby completing
the umbrella 1. In this case, the connectors 50 can be slidably combined between the
upper and lower fixtures 20a and 20b and the upper and lower elevation tubes 30a and
30b so that the umbrella ribs 21 and the lower ribs 31 are rotatably fixed, without
connecting the umbrella ribs 21 and the lower ribs 31 using wires as in the prior
art. Accordingly, the umbrella 1 can have an excellent assembly, cost savings according
to assembly, easy mass production, and increased reliability and merchantability.
[0023] As described above, according to the present invention, in the prior art, the umbrella
ribs 21 and the lower ribs 31 are hinged and fixed to the fixture unit 20 and the
elevation tube 30 using wires. However, in the present invention, the connectors 50
are movably inserted between the upper and lower fixtures 20a and 20b and the upper
and lower elevation tubes 30a and 30b. Working hours taken to fix the umbrella ribs
21 and the lower ribs 31 using wires can be reduced. Accordingly, there are advantages
in that assembly is excellent, cost savings according to assembly can be achieved,
mass production is facilitated, and reliability and merchantability can be improved.
[0024] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered
to be preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited
to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications
and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
1. An umbrella 1 in which umbrella ribs 21 covered with waterproof cloths 11 are hinged
and coupled to a fixture unit 20 at a top end of an umbrella staff 10 having a handle
40, both ends of lower ribs 31 are hinged and coupled between an elevation tube 30,
coupled to the umbrella staff 10 and configured to go up and down, and the umbrella
ribs 21, when the elevation tube 30 is pushed up, the lower ribs 31 are raised up
and the umbrella ribs 21 are fully stretched, and simultaneously the lower ribs 31
approach the fixture unit 20 and fixed thereto,
wherein the fixture unit 20 and the elevation tube 30 are respectively separated into
upper and lower fixtures 20a and 20b and upper and lower elevation tubes 30a and 30b,
a plurality of first grooves 22 of a hemispherical form is formed in a lower circumferential
face of the upper fixture 20a, guide holes 24 respectively corresponding to the first
grooves 22 are formed in a circumferential face of the lower fixture 20b so that the
upper fixture 20a and the lower fixture 20b are combined with each other, a plurality
of guide grooves 32 is formed in a circumferential face of the upper elevation tube
30a, second grooves 34 of a hemispherical form respectively corresponding to the guide
grooves 32 are formed in an upper circumferential face of the lower elevation tube
30b so that the upper and lower elevation tubes 30a and 30b are combined with each
other, a sphere-shaped coupling unit 50a is formed on one side of each of connectors
50 and movably inserted between the first groove 22 and the guide hole 24 and between
the second groove 34 and the guide groove, insertion holes 50b into each of which
the umbrella rib 21 or the lower rib 31 is inserted is formed on the other side of
each of the connectors 50, the umbrella ribs 21 are inserted into the respective insertion
holes 50b of the connectors 50 inserted into the upper and lower fixtures 20a and
20b, and the lower ribs 31 are inserted into the respective insertion holes 50b of
the connectors 50 inserted into the upper and lower elevation tubes 30a and 30b.
2. The umbrella of claim 1, wherein:
the upper and lower fixtures 20a and 20b and the upper and lower elevation tubes 30a
and 30b are combined with each other using adhesive means, or
a first coupling protrusion 25 having a first latch jaw 25a formed therein is formed
in the upper fixture 20a, a first coupling groove 23 into which the first latch jaw
25a is inserted is formed in the lower fixture 20b so that the first latch jaw 25a
is inserted into the first coupling groove 23 and the upper and lower fixtures 20a
and 20b are combined with each other, a second coupling protrusion 35 having a second
latch jaw 35a formed therein is formed in the upper elevation tube 30a, a second coupling
groove 33 into which the second latch jaw 35a is inserted is formed in the lower elevation
tube 30b so that the second latch jaw 35a is inserted into the second coupling groove
33 and the upper and lower elevation tubes 30a and 30b are combined with each other,
and the upper and lower fixtures 20a and 20b and the upper and lower elevation tubes
30a and 30b are fixed together without being separated from each other.