CA2041317A1 - Rib structure for an umbrella - Google Patents
Rib structure for an umbrellaInfo
- Publication number
- CA2041317A1 CA2041317A1 CA 2041317 CA2041317A CA2041317A1 CA 2041317 A1 CA2041317 A1 CA 2041317A1 CA 2041317 CA2041317 CA 2041317 CA 2041317 A CA2041317 A CA 2041317A CA 2041317 A1 CA2041317 A1 CA 2041317A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- rib
- fixing member
- seat
- positioning seat
- umbrella
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007257 malfunction Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45B—WALKING STICKS; UMBRELLAS; LADIES' OR LIKE FANS
- A45B25/00—Details of umbrellas
- A45B25/02—Umbrella frames
Landscapes
- Walking Sticks, Umbrellas, And Fans (AREA)
Abstract
RIB STRUCTURE FOR AN UMBRELLA
Abstract of the Disclosure This invention relates to an umbrella rib structure in which a positioning seat is provided at a proper location on the rib so that a fixing member can easily slide into that positioning seat, but is held against removal therefrom. A flexible linking spoke is loosely enclosed by the fixing member, thereby slidably connecting it to the rib adjacent the posi-tioning seat.
Abstract of the Disclosure This invention relates to an umbrella rib structure in which a positioning seat is provided at a proper location on the rib so that a fixing member can easily slide into that positioning seat, but is held against removal therefrom. A flexible linking spoke is loosely enclosed by the fixing member, thereby slidably connecting it to the rib adjacent the posi-tioning seat.
Description
RIB STRUCTURE FOR AN UMBRELLA
This invention relates to umbrellas. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved rib linkage for an umbrella.
In one type of collapsible umbrella, the middle ribs of the umbrella rib linkage are connected between inner ribs and outer ribs, and flexible middle linking spokes associated with those middle ribs also are connected between the outer ribs and the inner ribs. When the umbrella rib linkage is extended or opened, the flexible middle linking spokes drive the outer ribs outwardly to open the umbrella. The middle portions of the flexible middle linking spokes are connected with the middle ribs to facilitate the transmission of the extension forces during the opening sequence, and to enhance the umbrella's structural strength. The prior art discloses three such connection structures. The first approach has been to provide an annular sleeve around the flexible middle linking spoke, that sleeve being embedded into a U-shaped middle rib. By means of a squeezing deformation at the middle portion of that middle rib, the flexible middle linking spoke and the middle rib are thus assembled together. However, such a struc-ture is troublesome to manufacture, and the annular sleeve may fall out of the U-shaped middle rib after a period of time. The second approach has been to enclose the flexible middle linking spoke and the middle rib together by a metal sleeve, as shown in Fig. 6. However, in such a structure the enclosing metal sleeve will follow the movement of the flexible middle linking spoke as the umbrella is opened, i.e., will slide along the middle rib, and thus it results in mispositioning of the sleeve and prospective malfunction of the umbrella. As shown in Fig. 5, the third approach has been to form a U-shaped section at the middle portion of the flexible middle linking spoke, and then to enclose the U-shaped section and the middle portion of the middle rib with a fixing sleeve. The fixing sleeve might still shift in this structure, and the most troublesome problem is that the flexibility of the flexible middle linking spoke causes a problem in initial manufacture of the accu-rate U-shape. Further, insertion and assembling of the fixing sleeve with the middle rib is tight and difficult.
In view of the foregoing drawbacks, an umbrella rib connection structure for an umbrella has been invented which is easy to manufacture and to assemble, can be positioned accurately, and is of a great utility.
Accordingly, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improved rib structure for an umbrella, in which a positioning seat is located and held at a desired position on a rib for receiving and positioning a fixing member. In pre-ferred form, the rib is U-shaped to accommodate a flexible linking spoke. The flexible linking spoke is capable of sliding relative to the rib while held in combination with that rib by virtue of the fixing member which itself is held in place on the rib.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved rib structure for an umbrella in which the positioning seat is defined by a pair of protrusions protruding out from the rib. In preferred form, the outer sides of the protrusions are inclinedly attached with the middle rib so that the fixing member may easily slide over same into the positioning seat and, once in place, will be held against removal therefrom.
A still other object of this invention is to provide an improved rib structure for an umbrella in which the positioning seat is composed of a pair of lugs. In preferred form, the outer side of each lug is of an inclined shape and the inner side of each lug is of a vertical shape such that the fixing member may easily slide into the seat but cannot depart there-from.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved rib structuxe for an umbrella in which both sides of a generally middle portion of the rib are outwardly folded to form the positioning seat. In preferred form, the outer side of each outwardly folded portion is of an inclined shape so that the fixing member may easily slide into the positioning seat and the inner side of each outwardly folded portion is configured so the fixing member cannot easily slide out of the positioning seat.
The other objects and advantages of this invention can be more clearly understood from the following description about the embodiments and accompanying figures. In should be noted that the structure as disclosed by this application may be used in the rib linkages of twofold umbrellas and threefold umbrellas, and of self-opening umbrellas of the twofold and threefold types.
A description of the figures follows:
Fig. l is a side view showing a folded umbrella with a rib linkage where the middle rib is structured according to one embodiment of this inven-tion;
Fig. 2 shows the first embodiment in detail, which first embodiment is also shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment in detail;
Fig. ~ shows a third embodiment in detail;
Fig. 5 shows a first prior art embodiment;
and Fig. 6 shows a second prior art embodiment.
The reference numerals in this application are as follows: middle rib 10, flexible middle linking spoke 20, fixing member 30, protrusion member 40, lugs 50, outwardly folded portion 60, and umbrella frame 100.
The middle rib 10 and the flexible middle linking spoke 20 of an umbrella frame 100, as shown in Fig. 1, is enclosed together by a fixing member 30 at their central portion. When the umbrella frame 100 is extended or opened, the flexible middle linking spoke 20 is capable of sliding movement relative to the middle rib 10, and is still connected within the middle rib 10 by the fixing member 30.
The present invention is characterized in that a positioning seat is defined and located at a proper position in the U-shaped middle rib so that after the fixing member 30 is located in the posi-tioning seat it will not depart therefrom. As shown in Fig. 2, a first embodiment makes use of two pro-trusions 40 extended out from the floor of the U-shaped middle rib 10 to define the positioning seat.
The protrusions 40 are inclinedly attached to the middle rib 10. The flexible middling linking spoke 20 is positioned in the middle rib 10, and is assembled therewith as the fixing member 30 slides from outside the inclined protrusions 40 into the positioning seat formed inside the protrusions 40. The fixing member 30 can easily slide into the positioning seat, and will be held therein by the function of the pro-trusions 40.
A second embodiment of this invention isshown in Fig. 3. A pair of lugs 50 are fixed to the floor of the middle rib 10 to form a positioning seat.
The outer side of each lug 50 is of an inclined shape, and the inner side of each lug 50 is of a vertical shape, so that the fixing member 30 may easily slide into the positioning seat so formed but cannot depart therefrom.
A third embodiment of this invention is shown in Fig. 4. Two pairs of outwardly folded portions 60 of the U-shaped middle rib's side walls are provided at a desired location on the middle rib 10 to form a positioning seat. The outer side of each outwardly folded portion 60 is of an inclined shape, and the inner side of each outwardly folded portion 60 is of a vertical shape, so that the fixing member 30 may easily slide into the positioning seat so formed but cannot depart therefrom.
Thus, the present invention provides a novel structural combination of the rib 10 and the flexible linking spoke 20 with the fixing member 30. The fixing member 30 is not movable on the rib 10, but it can still allow sliding motion of the flexible linking spoke 20 relative to the rib 10. The present inven-tion hence overcomes the drawbacks residing in the prior art shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and described above, and improves the utilitarian features of the umbrella.
Having described in detail the preferred embodiment of my invention, what I desire to claim and protect by Letters Patent is:
This invention relates to umbrellas. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved rib linkage for an umbrella.
In one type of collapsible umbrella, the middle ribs of the umbrella rib linkage are connected between inner ribs and outer ribs, and flexible middle linking spokes associated with those middle ribs also are connected between the outer ribs and the inner ribs. When the umbrella rib linkage is extended or opened, the flexible middle linking spokes drive the outer ribs outwardly to open the umbrella. The middle portions of the flexible middle linking spokes are connected with the middle ribs to facilitate the transmission of the extension forces during the opening sequence, and to enhance the umbrella's structural strength. The prior art discloses three such connection structures. The first approach has been to provide an annular sleeve around the flexible middle linking spoke, that sleeve being embedded into a U-shaped middle rib. By means of a squeezing deformation at the middle portion of that middle rib, the flexible middle linking spoke and the middle rib are thus assembled together. However, such a struc-ture is troublesome to manufacture, and the annular sleeve may fall out of the U-shaped middle rib after a period of time. The second approach has been to enclose the flexible middle linking spoke and the middle rib together by a metal sleeve, as shown in Fig. 6. However, in such a structure the enclosing metal sleeve will follow the movement of the flexible middle linking spoke as the umbrella is opened, i.e., will slide along the middle rib, and thus it results in mispositioning of the sleeve and prospective malfunction of the umbrella. As shown in Fig. 5, the third approach has been to form a U-shaped section at the middle portion of the flexible middle linking spoke, and then to enclose the U-shaped section and the middle portion of the middle rib with a fixing sleeve. The fixing sleeve might still shift in this structure, and the most troublesome problem is that the flexibility of the flexible middle linking spoke causes a problem in initial manufacture of the accu-rate U-shape. Further, insertion and assembling of the fixing sleeve with the middle rib is tight and difficult.
In view of the foregoing drawbacks, an umbrella rib connection structure for an umbrella has been invented which is easy to manufacture and to assemble, can be positioned accurately, and is of a great utility.
Accordingly, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improved rib structure for an umbrella, in which a positioning seat is located and held at a desired position on a rib for receiving and positioning a fixing member. In pre-ferred form, the rib is U-shaped to accommodate a flexible linking spoke. The flexible linking spoke is capable of sliding relative to the rib while held in combination with that rib by virtue of the fixing member which itself is held in place on the rib.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved rib structure for an umbrella in which the positioning seat is defined by a pair of protrusions protruding out from the rib. In preferred form, the outer sides of the protrusions are inclinedly attached with the middle rib so that the fixing member may easily slide over same into the positioning seat and, once in place, will be held against removal therefrom.
A still other object of this invention is to provide an improved rib structure for an umbrella in which the positioning seat is composed of a pair of lugs. In preferred form, the outer side of each lug is of an inclined shape and the inner side of each lug is of a vertical shape such that the fixing member may easily slide into the seat but cannot depart there-from.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved rib structuxe for an umbrella in which both sides of a generally middle portion of the rib are outwardly folded to form the positioning seat. In preferred form, the outer side of each outwardly folded portion is of an inclined shape so that the fixing member may easily slide into the positioning seat and the inner side of each outwardly folded portion is configured so the fixing member cannot easily slide out of the positioning seat.
The other objects and advantages of this invention can be more clearly understood from the following description about the embodiments and accompanying figures. In should be noted that the structure as disclosed by this application may be used in the rib linkages of twofold umbrellas and threefold umbrellas, and of self-opening umbrellas of the twofold and threefold types.
A description of the figures follows:
Fig. l is a side view showing a folded umbrella with a rib linkage where the middle rib is structured according to one embodiment of this inven-tion;
Fig. 2 shows the first embodiment in detail, which first embodiment is also shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment in detail;
Fig. ~ shows a third embodiment in detail;
Fig. 5 shows a first prior art embodiment;
and Fig. 6 shows a second prior art embodiment.
The reference numerals in this application are as follows: middle rib 10, flexible middle linking spoke 20, fixing member 30, protrusion member 40, lugs 50, outwardly folded portion 60, and umbrella frame 100.
The middle rib 10 and the flexible middle linking spoke 20 of an umbrella frame 100, as shown in Fig. 1, is enclosed together by a fixing member 30 at their central portion. When the umbrella frame 100 is extended or opened, the flexible middle linking spoke 20 is capable of sliding movement relative to the middle rib 10, and is still connected within the middle rib 10 by the fixing member 30.
The present invention is characterized in that a positioning seat is defined and located at a proper position in the U-shaped middle rib so that after the fixing member 30 is located in the posi-tioning seat it will not depart therefrom. As shown in Fig. 2, a first embodiment makes use of two pro-trusions 40 extended out from the floor of the U-shaped middle rib 10 to define the positioning seat.
The protrusions 40 are inclinedly attached to the middle rib 10. The flexible middling linking spoke 20 is positioned in the middle rib 10, and is assembled therewith as the fixing member 30 slides from outside the inclined protrusions 40 into the positioning seat formed inside the protrusions 40. The fixing member 30 can easily slide into the positioning seat, and will be held therein by the function of the pro-trusions 40.
A second embodiment of this invention isshown in Fig. 3. A pair of lugs 50 are fixed to the floor of the middle rib 10 to form a positioning seat.
The outer side of each lug 50 is of an inclined shape, and the inner side of each lug 50 is of a vertical shape, so that the fixing member 30 may easily slide into the positioning seat so formed but cannot depart therefrom.
A third embodiment of this invention is shown in Fig. 4. Two pairs of outwardly folded portions 60 of the U-shaped middle rib's side walls are provided at a desired location on the middle rib 10 to form a positioning seat. The outer side of each outwardly folded portion 60 is of an inclined shape, and the inner side of each outwardly folded portion 60 is of a vertical shape, so that the fixing member 30 may easily slide into the positioning seat so formed but cannot depart therefrom.
Thus, the present invention provides a novel structural combination of the rib 10 and the flexible linking spoke 20 with the fixing member 30. The fixing member 30 is not movable on the rib 10, but it can still allow sliding motion of the flexible linking spoke 20 relative to the rib 10. The present inven-tion hence overcomes the drawbacks residing in the prior art shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and described above, and improves the utilitarian features of the umbrella.
Having described in detail the preferred embodiment of my invention, what I desire to claim and protect by Letters Patent is:
Claims (4)
1. An improved rib structure for an umbrella, said structure comprising an umbrella rib having a positioning seat defined thereon, a flexible linking spoke connected with said rib adjacent said seat, and a fixing member enclosing said rib and said flexible linking spoke to connect same one with the other, said fixing member being received in said positioning seat, said fixing member and said posi-tioning seat cooperating one with the other so that said fixing member cannot be removed from said posi-tioning seat after assembly therewith during normal operational conditions of said umbrella.
2. An improved structure as set forth in Claim 1, said positioning seat comprising a pair of protrusions fixed to said rib to form said positioning seat, the outer sides of said protrusions being inclined to allow said fixing member to slide into said positioning seat, and the inner sides of said protrusions being configured to prevent said fitted fixing member from sliding out of said positioning seat.
3. An improved rib structure as set forth in Claim 1, said positioning seat comprising a pair of lugs fixed to said rib to form said positioning seat, the outer side of each of said lugs being of a generally inclined shape and the inner side of each of said lugs being of a generally verti-cal shape, said fixing member thereby being easy to slide into said seat but being prevented from sliding out of said seat.
4. An improved rib structure as set forth in Claim 1, said rib comprising two pairs of outwardly folded portions that are spaced apart to form said positioning seat, said folded portions being folded out from the side walls of said rib, the outer side of each of said outwardly folded portions being of a generally inclined shape and the inner side of each of said outwardly folded portions being of a generally vertical shape such that said fixing member may easily slide into said seat but cannot depart from said seat.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| TW79204567 | 1990-04-30 | ||
| CN90204848U CN2074113U (en) | 1990-05-19 | 1990-05-19 | Improved structure of main umbrella frames with u-shaped groove |
| CN90204848.1 | 1990-05-21 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2041317A1 true CA2041317A1 (en) | 1991-10-31 |
Family
ID=25742668
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2041317 Abandoned CA2041317A1 (en) | 1990-04-30 | 1991-04-26 | Rib structure for an umbrella |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2041317A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE4113973A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2616439A (en) * | 1949-05-24 | 1952-11-04 | Thompson Richard Herbert | Collapsible umbrella |
| US4739783A (en) * | 1986-07-07 | 1988-04-26 | Yang Chi Kuo | Shortening link means of multiple-fold umbrella |
-
1991
- 1991-04-26 CA CA 2041317 patent/CA2041317A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1991-04-29 DE DE19914113973 patent/DE4113973A1/en not_active Ceased
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE4113973A1 (en) | 1991-11-14 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |