JPH0767406B2 - Fully automatic umbrella - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fully automatic opening and closing umbrella, and more particularly to an umbrella which can be opened and closed automatically with a light operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the past, so-called automatic umbrellas were not automatically closed but only opened automatically. Applicant has filed U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,534,374, 4,548,222 and 4,823.
821 (Japanese Patent No. 1439641, 144550)
No. 9 and Japanese Patent Application No. 62-323378) disclose a series of automatic umbrellas, which can automatically open and close both.

[0003]

Due to its design structure, the operation force required to open the umbrella by the compression spring device is too large, it cannot be operated by the user with one hand, and therefore they are long to manufacture and sell. I was hesitant.

The object of the present invention is to avoid the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional automatic umbrella, and to provide a fully automatic opening / closing umbrella which can be opened and closed by operating one push button with a light force of one hand. .

The present invention achieves the above object by a new technique utilizing a novel compression spring device, which is different from the conventional one, by considering a dynamic mechanism based on the principle of moment balance.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and a hollow shank 1 has an upper portion having an upper opening 14 and a lower opening 15, an upper hole 12, and a lower opening 15 by an intermediate neck 11. The upper part has a vertical guide groove 16 and an intermediate ring 18 which is separated from the top end by a certain distance. The guide groove 16 has a through hole communicating with the shank 1. The cylinder 2 having the shank 1 fitted at the end above the intermediate ring 18 receives the umbrella opening spring 21 therein and the upper ring 2 at its lower end.
3, the sliding sleeve 3 fitted to the upper part of the shank 1 has upper and lower claws 31 and 32, a lower ring 33 is provided at its outer upper end, and an inner sleeve 34 having an elongated hole 35. The inner shaft 4 inserted into the lower portion of the shank 1 has upper and lower holes 41 and 42 and slides with the umbrella closing spring 43 and the wire 44 supported in the space between the top and the neck 11. A block 45, and the upper end of the wire 44 includes a guide groove 1 of the shank 1.
6 extends from the through hole and engages with the inner sleeve 34 by a hook, and the handle 5 having the grip 6 fits on the lower outer side of the shank 1 and is arranged on the lateral side of the handle 5. Is a fully automatic opening and closing umbrella having upper and lower locking devices 73 and 77 for controlling the opening and closing operations of the umbrella, respectively.

The fully automatic opening / closing umbrella according to the present invention has a shank 1
The umbrella opening spring 21 arranged at the top end of the and the umbrella closing spring 43 arranged in the middle of the shank 1 can be operated by applying a relatively small force to the umbrella closing spring 43.

Further, the umbrella opening spring 21 is compressed and maintained in the energy storage position while the umbrella is held in the closed state before opening, while the umbrella closing spring 43 is provided.
Also stores energy when it is held open before closing the umbrella. Therefore, the umbrella opening or closing springs 21, 43 respond immediately to complete a quick and accurate operation.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is a shank 1, a cylinder 2, a sliding sleeve 3, an inner shaft 4, and a grip 6.
It has a handle 5 and an operating body 7.

The shank 1 is a hollow sleeve, and a neck 11 having a reduced diameter is formed substantially in the middle thereof. This neck 11 divides the shank 1 into two parts: a lower part having an upper hole 12 and a lower hole 13, and an upper part having an upper opening 14 and a lower opening 15. Shank 1 on the other side of shank 1
There is a vertical guide groove 16 having a through hole communicating with the inside of the.
A pin 17 passes through the shank 1 and fixes the intermediate ring 18 at a distance from the top end.

The cylinder 2 is an intermediate ring 18 of the shank 1.
It fits on the upper end 19 and has a length greater than that end 19. An umbrella opening spring 21 is arranged in the cylinder 2 around the guide pin 22 and is attached to the end 19 of the shank 1.
The inside is extended to reach pin 17. The end portion 19 reciprocates in the cylinder 2 in response to the compression and expansion of the umbrella opening spring 21. An upper ring 23 is provided on the outer lower portion of the cylinder 2. The top end 24 of the cylinder 2 is the top end face of the entire umbrella.

The sliding sleeve 3 is fitted on the outer periphery of the upper portion of the shank 1 and can reciprocate between the neck 11 and the intermediate ring 18. The upper claw 31 and the lower claw 32 are repelled inward by the illustrated springs. Lower ring 3
3 is formed on the upper outer side of the sleeve 3.

The inner sleeve 34 includes the sleeve 3 and the shank 1.
It is sandwiched between and has an elongated hole 35 on one side thereof and an upper end thereof and a notch 36. The inner sleeve 34 is slidable with the sliding sleeve 3. In the closed state shown in FIG. 1, the elongated hole 35 is aligned with the lower opening 15 and the lower claw 32 is engaged therewith to fix the sliding sleeve 3 in the lower position to close the umbrella.

The inner shaft 4 is inserted into the lower part of the shank 1 and has an upper hole 41 and a lower hole 42. The umbrella closing spring 43 is inserted between the top end of the inner shaft 4 and the neck 11 of the shank 1. Inside the inner shaft 4 are a wire 44 and a slide block 45. The hook at the top end of the wire 44 projects outward through a hole that communicates with the guide groove 16 and the shank 1 and engages with the notch 36 of the inner sleeve 34 to slide along the guide groove 16 of the shank 1. . The lower portion of the wire 44 then fits partially within the groove 46 of the block 45 as shown in FIG. The wire 44 is deviated to form a step 441 and a hook 442 is formed at the lower end.

A groove 47 is formed at a lower end of the block 45, and a gutter 48 is formed at an upper portion thereof. Both ends of the bent leaf spring 49 are fitted in the lateral gutter 48, and the central bent portion of the spring 49 projects toward the inner wall of the inner shaft 4 to act as a positioning device for preventing undesired displacement of the slide block 45. To do.

As shown in FIG. 3, the handle 5 is in the shape of a cylinder tube having a frustoconical top and is fitted to the lower outer side of the shank 1. The handle 5 has an elongated hole 51, and a lateral shoulder 52 is formed on a side portion thereof. The lower end of the handle 5 engages with the grip 6. The grip 6 is integrally or additionally provided with a connecting portion 61, and a long hole 62 is formed on one side of the connecting portion 61.

The operating body 7 arranged on one side of the handle 5 includes a push button 71 and an operating portion 72 engaged thereunder. The operating portion 72 has an inwardly repulsed upper locking device 73 and a slope 74, and is completely supported in the elongated hole 51 of the handle 5.

A lateral shoulder 75 is formed on the operating portion 72,
The shoulder 75 is combined with the shoulder 52 of the slot 51 to form a space enough to contain the return spring 76. The spring 76 returns the push button 71 to the intermediate position along the operating portion 72, and pushes it upward to open the umbrella, and pushes it downward to close the umbrella. The lower locking device 77 is arranged so that the elongated hole 62 of the grip 6 is located just below the taper portion 74 of the operating portion 72.

The frame of the umbrella according to the present invention also has a plurality of ribs 81, a divergence 82 and a supporting portion 83, similar to the conventional one. Part of each rib 81 is pivotally connected to the upper ring 23, and the other end is free. One end of each expansion 82 is pivotally connected to the intermediate ring 18, and the other end is pivotally connected to the middle of the corresponding rib 81. One end of each support 83 is pivotally connected to the lower ring 33, and the other end is pivotally attached to the middle of the corresponding expansion 82.

Next, the operation of this device will be described. 1 and 2 show a ready state before being closed and opened. The umbrella opening spring 21 is compressed and energy is stored when the umbrella is closed. In this state, the long holes 35 of the inner sleeve 34 are aligned with the opening 15 under the shank 1, and the lower claw 3
2 is in the locked position, as shown in FIG. 1, the sliding sleeve 3 cannot accumulate on the shank 1, ie the end 19 of the shank 1 cannot extend to the cylinder 2 and therefore the spring 21 is in compression. Holds continuously.

The so-called "prepared state before opening in the closed state" of the umbrella means that the user compresses the umbrella closing spring 43 when preparing to open the umbrella, and under this state, the user need only hold the grip 6. Then, the top end 24 of the cylinder 2 is placed against the ground or wall surface and then a slight force is applied to displace the inner shaft 4 with respect to the shank 1. Umbrella release spring 2
Since No. 1 is already in compression, compression of the umbrella closing spring 43 can be easily achieved with a light operation. At this time, the upper and lower holes 41 and 42 of the inner shaft 4 are respectively the upper and lower holes 1
Lines 2 and 13 respectively. Therefore, the upper and lower locking devices 7
3 and 77 are both in the locked position, the upper locking device 7
3 is also locked in the groove 47 of the slide block 45. By the locking action of the lower locking device 77, the inner shaft 4
Is no longer displaceable with respect to the shank 1, and the umbrella closing spring 43 is in a compressed state and has stored energy, as shown in FIG.

Since the upper lock device 73 is locked in the hole 41 on the inner shaft 4 juxtaposed with the hole 12 on the shank 1 in the preparatory state before opening the umbrella, the push button 71
Safety is achieved by blocking the downward movement of the. Therefore, the umbrella closing spring 43 is continuously held in a compressed state before the opening operation of the umbrella is achieved, and therefore the risk of expanding the spring 43 by driving the push button 71 downward by an erroneous operation can be avoided.

In the preparatory operation of the invention shown in FIG. 1 before opening in the closed position, both springs 21 and 43 are in their compressed state. When the push button 71 is lightly driven upward, the operating portion 72 drives the upper lock device 73 upward. This upper locking device 73 pushes the slide block 45 upwards because it engages in the groove 47, which causes the slide block 45 to step 44 on the other side of the wire 44.
Hitting 1 drives wire 44 upwards. This wire 44 simultaneously pulls the inner sleeve 34 upwards,
The lower edge pushes the lower pawl 32 out of the lower opening 15 and disengages.

This causes the umbrella opening spring 21 to begin to expand, moving the intermediate ring 18 downwards and the lower ring 33 upwards along the sliding sleeve 3. During this time, the wire 44 is continuously pulled until the hook 442 contacts the lower end of the block 45, and the groove 47 is above the locking device 73.
Move upwards together until the lock is released further.

The sliding sleeve 3 is displaced upward until the long hole 35 of the inner sleeve 34 is aligned with the upper opening 14, and the upper claw 3
1 is engaged in the upper opening 14 and is in a fixed state. With the movement of the intermediate ring 18 and the lower ring 33, the frame of the umbrella, such as the rib 81, the spread 82 and the support portion 83, is completely opened as shown in FIG.

When the push button 71 is driven downward to close the opened umbrella, the operating portion 72 moves to the outside of the hole 42 below the inner shaft 4 of the lower locking device 77 and the hole 13 below the shank 1 as shown in FIG. Push.

The compressed spring 43 expands. Since the grip 6 is held by a hand (not shown), the shank 1 is pushed upward by the expansion force of the umbrella closing spring 43, compressing the opening spring 21 and pulling the sliding sleeve 3 relatively downward. The upper claw 31 is pushed away from the upper opening 14 by the upper edge of the long hole 35 of the inner sleeve 34, and becomes in the disengaged state.

The middle ring 18 moves upwards in the area in which it abuts the upper ring 23, while the lower ring 33 moves downwards along the sliding sleeve 3. With the movement of the intermediate ring 18 and the lower ring 33, the frame of the umbrella, including the ribs 81, the flares 82 and the supports 83, is now completely closed.

[0029]

As described above, the configuration and arrangement of the automatic umbrella according to the present invention can be lightly operated. Further corresponding spring 21,
The operation of 43 is quick and reliable because it is already compressed and energy is stored before opening or closing of the umbrella.

While the above detailed description is the preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications,
Can be changed or modified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an upper sectional view showing a preparatory operation before closing and opening of an embodiment of an automatic opening / closing umbrella of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom sectional view of the same.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a lower part of the shank including the handle and the grip.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the upper portion in the open state.

FIG. 5 is a bottom sectional view of the same.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the operating body in a closed state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Shank 2 Cylinder 3 Sliding Sleeve 4 Inner Shaft 5 Handle 6 Grip 7 Actuator 11 Neck 12 Upper Hole 13 Lower Hole 14 Upper Opening 15 Lower Opening 16 Guide Groove 18 Intermediate Ring 21 Umbrella Release Spring 23 Upper Ring 31 Upper Claw 32 Lower claw 33 Lower ring 34 Inner sleeve 35 Long hole 41 Upper hole 42 Lower hole 43 Umbrella closing spring 44 Wire 45 Slide lock 73 Locking device 77 Lower locking device

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A hollow shank (1) has an upper part with an upper opening (14) and a lower opening (15) by means of an intermediate neck (11) and a lower part with an upper hole (12) and a lower hole (13). A vertical guide groove (16) and an intermediate ring (18) separated from the top end by a certain distance,
The guide groove (16) has a through hole communicating with the shank (1), and the intermediate ring (18) of the shank (1).
The cylinder (2) fitted to the upper end receives the umbrella opening spring (21) therein and the upper ring (23) is provided at the lower end thereof, and is fitted to the upper part of the shank (1). The sliding sleeve (3) has upper and lower claws (31, 32)
An inner shaft (4) having a lower ring (33) at its outer upper end and having an elongated hole (35) and including an inner sleeve (34) inserted into the lower part of the shank (1).
An umbrella closing spring (43) and a wire (44) and a slide block (45) having upper and lower holes (41) and (42) and supported in the space between the top and the neck (11). The upper end of the wire (44) extends from the through hole of the guide groove (16) of the shank (1) and engages with the inner sleeve (34) by a hook, and a handle (6) having a grip (6) is provided. 5) is fitted on the outside of the lower part of the shank (1), and the actuating body (7) arranged on the lateral side of the handle (5) controls the upper and lower locking devices (73) for controlling the opening and closing operations of the umbrella, respectively. , 77) fully automatic opening and closing umbrella. 2. The umbrella opening spring (21) is continuously kept in a compressed state when the umbrella is closed, while the umbrella closing spring (43) is continuously kept in a compressed state when the umbrella is opened. The fully automatic opening and closing umbrella according to claim 1. 3. The actuating body (7) has a push button (71) and an actuating portion (72), the actuating portion having a taper portion (74) at a lower end, and the upper lock device (73). The fully automatic opening and closing umbrella according to claim 1, wherein the umbrella is arranged below the actuating portion (72) and is actuated thereby. 4. The actuating part (72) has a return spring (76) which returns the actuating part (72) to an intermediate position and is then pushed upwards to lock the upper locking device (76). 73. A fully automatic opening and closing umbrella according to claim 3, characterized in that it activates 73) or is pushed downwards to activate the lower locking device (77). 5. The inner sleeve (34) of the sliding sleeve (3) has openings (14, 15) above and below the shank (1) with respect to the elongated holes (35) of the inner sleeve (34).
Can be displaced between positions aligned with each other, and when the elongated hole (35) is aligned with the upper opening (14), the upper claw (31) engages with it to hold the umbrella open, while Long hole (35)
A fully automatic opening and closing umbrella as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the lower pawl (32) engages with it to hold the umbrella closed when is aligned with the lower opening (15). 6. The upper locking device (73) locks the lower locking device when the umbrella closing spring (43) is in a compressed state before the actuating portion (72) is operated to open the umbrella. The fully automatic opening and closing umbrella according to claim 1, wherein the (77) is in a safe state in which the actuating portion (72) is prevented from any action acting in the direction of closing the umbrella.