[0001] The present invention relates to single-pushbutton-operated full automatic umbrella
and, more particularly, to umbrella in which a single pushbutton can be operated single-handedly
in automatically opening and extending the umbrella stick when it is in the closed
position and in automatically closing and collapsing the umbrella when it is in the
opened position..
[0002] Currently, an automatic umbrella belongs to either of the three following types:
1. umbrella which can be extended automatically but can not be collapsed, and which
needs manual operation in closing, 2. umbrella which can be extended automatically,
but needs manual operation in closing and collapsing, and 3. umbrella which can be
extended and closed automatically but can not be collapsed. Prior art on automatic
umbrella can readily be had from, for example, U.S. Patent No. 3,856,030 to Sato.
However, the former two types of umbrella which can be opened automatically but can
not be closed likewise may be designated as semi-automatic ones while the umbrella
of the last type which is automatically openable and closable can be designated as
full automatic one; nevertheless, the umbrella of the last type can not be collapsed,
accordingly the stick of which has to be much longer and is therefore not suitable
for keeping inside a case or luggage to be carried along in travelling. Besides, the
umbrella has two pushbuttons for operations of opening and closing respectively; as
a result, an accidental touch of a wrong button often-ends in contrary action and
may cause malfunction to the umbrella components.
[0003] Thus, the present invention is aimed at providing a full automatic umbrella which
can be opened and closed, but also collapsed and contracted automatically so that
its length is shortened consequently to be suitable for carrying along in travelling,
and in addition, which is convenient to operate.
[0004] It is a further object of the invention to provide a full automatic umbrella whereby
operation of a single pushbutton with one hand enabling it to be opened and extended
from its closed and collapsed condition and vice versa.
[0005] It is yet another object of the invention to provide a full automatic umbrella which
is simple in construction and costs less to manufacture while being precisely operable.
[0006] It is yet an additional object of the invention to provide a full automatic umbrella
in which the same control button can be operated for automatic opening or closing
of the umbrella without any likelihood of malfunction caused to the components because
of accidental touch of the control button.
[0007] Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will readily be appreciated
as the same becomes better understood by the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 shows a full automatic umbrella of the present invention in sectional elevation
in the closed and collapsed position;
Fig. 2 illustrates a full automatic umbrella of the present invention in sectional
elevation in the fully extended position;
Fig. 3 shows a full automatic umbrella of the present invention in sectional elevation
in the closed position;
Fig. 4 is a schematic view of the control device;
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 1 taken along the line A-A; and
Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 1 taken along the line B-B.
[0008] Referring now to Fig. 1, the full automatic umbrella of the present invention comprises:
an inner tubular shaft member 1 having at one end a handle 11, an outer tubular shaft
member 2 slidably and retractably mounted on the upper end of said inner shaft 1 and
provided at the top an intermediate ring'21, an upper tubular shaft member 3 retractably
inserted in the upper end of said outer shaft 2 and provided at the top thereof an
upper ring 31, a sliding tubular member 4 slidably mounted on said outer shaft 2 and
having at the upper end a lower ring 41, a rib assembly 5 having collapsible ribs
couplingly and collapsibly pivoted at the upper ring 31, intermediate ring 21 and
lower ring 41, a control unit 6 housed in said inner shaft 1, adapted for controlling
the opening and closing of-the umbrella by operating a control ring 61 provided at
the upper end of the handle and a first coil spring 7 disposed between the intermediate
ring 21 and the lower ring 41 and the two coil springs, second and third, 8A, 8B located
in the lower inner tubular shaft 1.
[0009] Aforesaid lower inner tubular shaft 1 is a metal tube having an axially extended,
V-shaped guide-groove 10 formed on one side, the lower end thereof being firmly attached
with-the handle 11 provided with a center cavity 13 by means of 2-set pins 12, while
the lower tube wall thereof being provided with an axially elongated opening 14 adapted
for receipt of a spring pawl 15 one end 151 of which.being fixedly attached to the
upper inner wall of lower inner tubular shaft 1 while at the free end and the middle
portion being formed with two locking heads 152, 153 which are retractable into the
opening 14 to be kept in the lower inner shaft 1 by the resilient force of the spring
pawl 15. An aperture 16 adapted for receiving a steel ball 17a is formed in the upper
end of the shaft 1, wherein a U-shaped sheet spring 17 is welded to the inner side
of the steel ball 17a which is being constantly pressed against the outer wall of
the aperture by the spring force of said sheet spring 17. In addition, there is fixed
on the upper end portion of the V-shaped guide-groove 10, as shown in Fig. 6, an engaging
member 18 to prevent the lower inner tubular shaft 1 from slipping out the outer tubular
shaft 2.
[0010] The outer tubular shaft 2 is a metal tube having at the upper end an intermediate
ring 21 and its lower end retractably and slidably mounted on the upper end portion
of the lower inner shaft 1; relative to the elongated opening 14 formed in the lower
inner shaft 1, the lower end of the side wall of the shaft 2 is provided with a notch
22 wherethrough the locking head 152 of aforesaid spring pawl 15, protrudes out to
be engaged with the sliding tubular member 4, when the umbrella is in the closed position
as depicted in Fig. 1. In addition, the lower end of one side of said shaft 2 in relation
to the V-shaped guide-groove 10 is formed by press-molding with an inwardly projecting
portion 23 to provide a means for engagement with afore-said engaging member 18 in
preventing the lower inner shaft 1 from slipping out of the outer tubular-shaft 2.
Slightly-above the notch 22 in the outer tubular shaft.2, there is defined an aperture
24 for receiving the steel ball 17a of the lower inner shaft 2, thereby preventing
the outer tubular shaft 2 from sliding downward. A further opening 25 is defined in
one side near the middle portion of the outer shaft 2 and accommodated therein the
spring pawl 66 has the upper end fixedly attached to the wall of -said shaft and the
free end protruding outwardly from said opening 25 to be engaged with aforesaid sliding
tubular member 4.
[0011] The upper inner tubular shaft 3 has an upper ring 31 mounted on its upper end-while
its lower end is retractably inserted in the upper portion of the outer tubular shaft
2.
[0012] The sliding tubular member 4 is a short piece of tube having at the upper end a lower
ring 41 mounted thereon and in the wall of the lower end portion relative to the notch
22 of the outer tubular shaft 2 formed with an opening 42 to be engaged with the locking
head 153.
[0013] The rib assembly 5 comprises a plurality of first main ribs 51 having each one end
pivotably connected to the upper ring 31 and each of the other end extending downwards,
a plurality of first auxiliary ribs 52 having each one end pivotably connected to
a cramp fitting 51a disposed in slightly to the middle of said first main ribs 51,
a plurality of the second main ribs 53 having each-upper end pivotably connected to
each of the other end of said first auxiliary ribs 52 and the lower end being free
and extending downward, a plurality of supporting ribs 54 having each one end pivotably
connected to the lower ring 41 and the other end pivotably connected to the cramp
fitting 53a disposed in close to the upper portion of said second main ribs 53, and
a plurality of second auxiliary ribs 55 having each one end pivotably connected to
the intermediate ring 21 and'the other end pivotably connected to the cramp fitting
54a disposed in slightly to the middle of the supporting ribs 54 and whereto the lower
end of the first main ribs also pivotably connected.
[0014] The control unit 6 comprises a control ring 61 being axially and slidably mounted
on the lower end of the lower inner shaft 1 above the upper portion of the handle
11, a sleeve 65 being slidably housed in the outer tubular shaft 2 in slightly the
upper portion with one side of the lower portion thereof provided with an axial slot
651, a spring pawl 66 having one end fixed to the upper end of the sleeve 65 and the
free end protruding out in aforesaid axial slot 651, an actuating member 62 having
a space 621 between the two side walls with the spring pawl 66 engaged therein, a
pulling rod 63 being disposed in the lower inner shaft 1 and'the outer tubular shaft
2 with one end thereof being connected to the lower end of the actuating member 62
by a pin 67 and the other end thereof formed with a hook end 631 to be accommodated
in the center cavity 13 of the handle 11, and a return spring 68 being disposed in
between the control ring 61 and the handle 11. The above- mentioned control ring 61
is provided with a tubular portion 611 which is retractably inserted in the center
cavity 13 of the handle 11 and which at the inner end is fixed with a pin 612 adapted
to be hooked over by the hook end 631 of the pulling rod 63. In addition, in the wall
of the tubular portion 611, there is defined an elongated opening 613, through the
lower end of which is passed fittingly the set pin 12 which fixes the handle 11 in
the lower inner shaft 1, and into which the locking head 153 of the spring pawl 15
also protrudes from the lower inner shaft 1, so that the control ring 61 can be operated
axially to control the spring pawl 15 and the pulling rod 63.
[0015] On the upper end of the outer tubular shaft 2 in between the intermediate ring 21
and lower ring 41 there is mounted a firsi coil spring 7 which appears to be released
and freely extended when the umbrella is in the-closed-position as illustrated in
Figs. 1, 3, or on being compressed appears to be completely contracted when the umbrella
is in the open position as depicted in Fig. 2. Provided for opening the umbrella,
the second coil spring 8A of the two coil springs is arranged in between the upper
end of the actuating member 62 and the lower end of the upper inner shaft 3 in the.outer
tubular shaft 2, while the other spring, the third coil spring 8B, is also disposed
in the outer tubular shaft 2 but in between the lower end of the actuating member
62 and the upper end of the lower inner shaft 1. When the umbrella is closed as shown
in Fig. 1, these two coil springs 8A, 8B appear to be in the compressed position;
however, when the umbrella is opened as depicted in Fig. 2, the second coil spring
8A retains some extension force and is thus in the semi-extended position while the
third coil spring 8B is in a completely extended and released position.
[0016] Next, the operation of opening and closing of the full automatic umbrella in accordance
with the present invention will be described in detail as follows.
[0017] Fig. 1 shows the umbrella in a completely closed and collapsed position and the two
coil springs 8A, 8B being completely compressed to be in the pre-use condition. At
this time, the locking head 152 is passed through the elongated opening 14 of the
shaft 1 and the notch 22 of the outer tubular shaft 2 and engaged in the opening 42
of the sliding tubular member 4 so that the latter is kept locked in the lower end
of the outer tubular shaft 2. The spring pawl 66 is protruding outwardly from the
axial slot 651 of the sleeve 65-and the opening 25 of the outer tubular shaft 2. Since
the second and third coil springs 8A, 8B are now in compressed condition, they are
therefore tending to push the upper inner shaft 3 and lower inner shaft 1 outward
so as to spread out the rib assembly 5. However, the umbrella is maintained in the
closed position because of the sliding member 4 being engaged with the spring pawl
15 and the rib assembly thereby remaining unspread.
[0018] In opening the umbrella, the operator is to depress the control ring 61 lightly,
which by virtue of the upper edge of the elongated opening 613 forces the locking
head 153 to move downward. Concurrently, the locking head 152 is moved downward too,
whereby the sliding member 4 is released from engagement therewith. As a result, the
upper and lower inner shafts 3, 1 are being pushed upward and downward respectively
to be extending out from the two ends of the outer tubular shaft 2 under the action
of the elastic forces exerted by the second and third coil springs 8A, 8B. Since the
elastic force exhausted by the second coil spring 8A is greater than that by the first
coil spring 7 and as the upper inner shaft 3 is extending upward, along which the
sliding member 4 is thus being moved upward with respect to the outer tubular shaft
2. The intermediate ring 41 in compressing the first coil spring 7 on one hand, is,
on the other hand, spreading the ribs of rib assembly 5 upward and outward by virtue
of the position change thereof with respect to the upper and lower rings 31, 21 coupled
with linkage motion thereof till the ribs are fully extended in the manner as shown
in Fig. 2 when the first coil spring 7 is completely compressed and the opening 42
in the lower end of the sliding member 4 is being engaged with the spring pawl 66.
Meanwhile, the upper end of the lower inner shaft 1 with the engaging member 18 thereof
is engaged with the projecting portion 23 in the lower end of the outer tubular shaft
2 so that the former will not slip out of the latter. At the same time, due to the
adaptation by which the steel ball 17a is engaged in the aperture 24 of the outer
tubular shaft 2, the backward withdrawal thereof can be prevented when the umbrella
is faced with strong wind. In this condition, the second coil spring 8A is in its
semi-extended condition and.retains substantial elastic energy in keeping the umbrella
in the opened position, while the control ring 61 is returned to the position where
the pin 612 thereof is being hooked by the hook end 631 of the pulling rod -63. ยท
[0019] When the umbrella which has been opened is next to be closed, the operator needs
only to depress the control ring 61 as shown in Fig. 2 once again, thereby releasing
the spring pawl 66 from engaging with the sliding member 4 into the opening 25 by
way of the actuating member 62, pulling rod 63 and the pin 612 following the movement
of said control ring 61. The sliding member 4 thus released slides downward biasing
the return force exhausted by the first coil spring 7 and at the same time, with the
downward movement of the lower ring 41 the rib assembly 5 is closed and collapsed.
When the actuating member 62 is released from the spring pawl 66 and moved downward,
the second coil spring 8A which has been in semi-extended condition, is now extending
downward with its elastic energy and forcing the third coil spring 8B which is comparatively
weaker in elasticity into a partially compressed position from the freely unstressed
one till the umbrella is completely closed and collapsed when the upper and intermediate
rings 3
1, 21 join each other and the two coil springs 7, 8A are in free and extended state.
The umbrella is then held with the tip of the upper inner shaft pressing against the
ground or any wall to force the lower inner shaft 1 into the outer shaft 2 opposing
the resilient forces of the coil springs 8A, 8B, till the locking head 152 of the
spring pawl 15 is engaged in the opening 42 of the sliding member 4 so that the umbrella
is returned to the closed position as illustrated in Fig. 1 and the elastic energy
is accumulated therein to be consumed next for automatically opening and closing the
umbrella through the aforesaid operation of the control ring 61.
[0020] As described above, the components of the umbrella-according to the present invention,
can be operated to automatically open and close the umbrella by way of a single control
ring . Additionally, the construction of such components is simple and the invention
can be easily reduced to practice.
[0021] Although the present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment
thereof, various changes and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art
without departing from the scope of the present invention.
1. An automatic umbrella operable by a single control member (6), comprising a shaft
(1, 2. 3) with a handle (11) at its lower end and a rib assembly (5) at its upper
end, a sliding member (4) on the shaft and connected to the rib assembly, at least
one spring for moving the rib assembly, and a retaining member (15) for holding the
sliding member (4), the control member (6) being arranged to actuate the retaining
member;
characterised in that the shaft is telescopic comprising a lower inner tubular shaft
(1) having the handle (11) at its lower end portion, a spring pawl (15) in its middle
portion, the free end of the pawl protruding from an elongate opening (14) defined
in the wall of - the lower inner tubular shaft, and in the upper end portion a steel
ball (17a) biased by a spring in the shaft wall and protrusible into an aperture defined
in the shaft wall:
an outer tubular shaft (2). slidably mounted on the upper end portion of said lower
inner tubular shaft (1), having at its upper end portion an intermediate ring (21),
in the wall of its lower end portion being defined a notch and slightly thereabove
an opening, and in slightly middle portion therein a spring means (66) protruding
outwardly from an opening formed in the wall thereof; and
an upper inner tubular shaft (3) retractably inserted in the upper end portion of
said outer tubular shaft (2), having an upper ring (31) at the top portion thereof;
in that
a sliding tubular member (4) is slidably fitted over said outer tubular shaft (2),
having at the upper end a lower ring (4) and having an opening (42) in the wall of
its lower end portion: in that
the rib assembly (5) consists of a plurality of first main ribs (51) each pivoted
at one end thereof to said upper ring (31) and at the other end to the middle portion
of a supporting rib (54) (to be described hereinafter), a plurality of first auxiliary
ribs (52) each pivoted at one end thereof to the middle portion of said first main
rib and at the other end to the upper end of a second main rib (53) (to be described
hereinafter), a plurality of said second main ribs (53) each pivoted at one end thereof
to the lower end of a said first auxiliary rib (52) and the other end thereof being
free and extending outwardly and downwardly, a plurality of said supporting ribs (54)
each pivoted at one end thereof to said lower ring (41) and at the other end to the
near middle portion of a said second main rib (53), and a plurality of second auxiliary
ribs (55) each pivoted at one end thereof to said intermediate ring (21) and at the
other end to the middle portion of a said supporting rib (54) along with one end of
a said first main rib (51): in that the
control member (6) is fitted on above said handle (11) for controlling engagement
and disengagement of the aforesaid spring pawl (15) respectively of said lower inner
tubular shaft (1) and said outer tubular shaft (2) so as to open or close the umbrella:
in that
a first coil spring (7) is fitted over the uppr end portion of said outer tubular
shaft (2) between said intermediate and lower rings; and in that
a second and a third coil spring (8A, 8B) are disposed inside said outer tubular shaft
(2), said second coil spring (8A) being positioned between the-lower end of said upper
inner tubular shaft and an actuating member (62) of said control member. said third
coil spring (8B) being positioned between said actuating member (62) and the upper
end of said lower inner tubular shaft (1).
2. A fully automatic collapsible umbrella as set forth in claim 1, characterised in
that when the umbrella is open the spring pawl provided in said outer tubular shaft
(2) protrudes from said opening formed in the middle portion of said outer tubular
shaft and is engaged in the lower end of said sliding tubular member (4), and said
steel ball (17a) disposed in said lower inner tubular shaft is engaged in said aperture
(24) thereof.
3..A fully automatic collapsible umbrella as set forth in claim 1 or 2, characterised
in that said control member (6) comprises: a control ring (61) slidably mounted on
the lower end of said lower inner tubular shaft (1) and on the upper portion of said
handle (11), an actuating member (62) arranged in said outer tubular shaft (2) provided
with an axial slot thereon adapted to be engaged with said spring pawl (66), and a
pulling rod (63) disposed in said lower inner tubular shaft and said outer tubular
shaft having one end thereof fixed to the lower end of said actuating member by a
pin and the other end ending in a hook which extends into one side of said handle
and is located in a centre cavity thereof.
4. A fully automatic collapsible umbrella as set forth in claim 1. 2 or 3 characterised
in that said first coil spring (7) in the umbrella closed position is in the free
and extended state whereas in the umbrella open position it is in a compressed state.
5. A fully automatic collapsible umbrella as set forth in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 characterised
in that said second and third coil springs (8A, 8B), in the umbrella closed position,
are in a compressed state whereas in the umbrella open position said second coil spring
(8A) is in a partially extended state and said third coil spring (8B) is in a free
and extended state.