Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to improvements in umbrella
frames and umbrellas, and more particularly to umbrella frames
and umbrellas o~ the type which can be collapsed to form a
relatively small package when not in use.
One type of collapsible umbrella frame, and umbrella,
employs a handle, and dome ribsl each made in three sections.
In collapsing the umbrella, the two sections of each rib adja-
cent the umbrella stick are adapted to be telescopedO The third
outer section is then adapted to be manually folded toward the
umbrella crown against the telescoped sections. The handle is . .
then telescopedl completing collapsing of the umbrella. To open
the umbrella, the handle is extended and the outer rib sectio~s
are manually unfolded, opening is then completed by operating a
runner on the stick which extends and opens out the other rib
sections~
Difficulty i9 encountered in manually unfo~ding the
outer rib sections. The umbrella covering material hinders this ;-;
unfolding operation, and may prevent complete opening until
further manual unfolding, against force exerted by the cover, is
completed. It is also a bother to manually fold up all the outer
`~ rib sections in closin~ the umbrella.
It is the purpose of the present invention to provide
a collapsible umbrella frame, employing dome ribs which wi:il ;
automatically fold and unfold the outer rib sections as the
umbrella frame is closed or opened.
The improved umbrella frame, as described immediately
above, is of simple, relatively inexpensive construction. In ~ -
addition, providing for the automatic folding and unfolding of
the outer dome rib sections i9 done in a manner which does not ~ ~
'! 30 appreciably reduce the haad room beneath the opened uTnbrella, ;
and which does not increase the cross-section area of the
collapsed umbrella.
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A problem in the operation of the improved umbrella
frame construction may still be encountered if the umbrella
cover, due to shrinkage after installation, or improper instal-
lation, exerts excess tension on the frame. In opening the
umbrella frame, the excess cover tension may outwardly bow the
rib sections, particularly the outer section, before the outer
section is fully unfolded by the automatic folding and unfolding
means. Increased stress is thus exerted on the frame parts as
the automatic folding and unfolding means completes unfolding
against the excess tension.
It is therefore also a purpose of the present inven-
tion to provide means in the automatic folding and unfolding
means which will reduce or eLiminate any tendency for the
umbrella cover to hinder unfolding of the outer rib section
during umbrella opening.
A construction in accordance with the present inven-
tion includes an umbrella frame which comprises a stick, a
crown at the upper end of the stick, and a plurality of dome
ribs distributed around the crown, each extending in a direction
away from the crown. Each of the dome ribs has at least two
sections with the outermost section pivotable about a pivot
point at the outer end of the main section. A main runner
slides on the stick. Each dome rib is supported by a support
structure, and each support structure includes a stretcher mem-
ber pivoted to said runner at one end and to the main dome rib
sectlon at the other end thereof. A strut member is hinged to
a hinge means on the stick at one end thereof and to the stretcher
member at the other end thereof intermediate the hinge points of -`-
the stretcher member. Control link means is pivoted at one end
to a stretcher at a point spaced from the pivot point with the
main dome rib section and at the other end at least to an exten-
sion of the outer rib section inwardly of the pivot point of the
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outer section with the main section~ The structure opens and
closes when the runner is moved on the stick since the control
link means acts in tension and compression respectively to urge
the outer section to pivot about the pivot point on the outer
end of the main rib section to a position extended away from
the main section and a position folded onto the main rib section
respectively.
To minimize the adverse effects of any excess cover -
tension, the control link can be made to have a length, between
its pivot connections, which is less than the length of the .
middle rib section between its pivot connections. .
The invention will now be described in detail having
reference to the accompanying drawings in which: .-.: .
Figure 1 is a partial front elevation view of the ;
umbrella in its open position;
Figure 2 is a detail view of the hinge connection
between the middle and outer dome rib sections;
Figure 3 is a partial front elevation view of the :
umbrella in a partly closed position;
Figure 4 is a partial front elevation view of the
umbrella in its closed and shortened position;
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line :
V-V in Figure 3; :.
Figure 6 is a partial front elevation view of a :
modified version of the umbrella of Figure l; : :
Figure 7 is a detail view of the hinge connection . :
between the middle and outer dome rib sections
of the modified umbrella, ; : :
Figure 8 is a partial front elevation view of the - :
modified umbrella in a partly closed position;
- Figure 9 iB a detail view of the hinge of Fi.gure 7 in `~:
a closed position; and .
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Figure 10 is a partial front elevation view of the
modified umbrella in a partly open position. :~
The umbrella, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, comprises a
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frame having a stick 1. The stick 1 consists of three tele-
scoping sections 2, 3 and 4. Catches 5 and 6, on sections 2
and 3 respectively, are provided to lock the sections in their
extended position as shown in Figure 3. Section 2, at the top,
has the largest cross-sectional area while section 4, at the
bottom, has the smallest cross-sectional area. Preferably,
sections 3 and 4 are of hexagonal cross-section while section 2
is of circular cross-section except for a portion of its lower
end which is drawn down to a hexagonal cross-section in order to
receive section 3.
A crown 7 is provided at the upper end of the ~nbrella
stick. The crown 7 in the present instance is rectàngular in
shape, although it could also be circular or oval. ~ pot-shaped
handle 27 is provided at the bottom of the umbrella stick.
The umbrella frame includes dome rib~ 8 hinged to
opposing wings 7', 7" of the crown. The dome ribs are hinged by
means of a tie-wire 7" ' mounted in an annular groove-7" ' in the -
crown as is well known. Each dome rib 8 is made up of three
sections, an inner section 8a adjacent the crown 7, a middle
section 8b, and a folding outer section 8c. Sections 8a and 8b;
are telescopic with section 8a made from a member having a U- ~
shaped cross-section and wl~h the opening facing stick 1, and ;~;
section 8b made from a member, such as steel wire, having a
circular cross-section. ~Section 8b slides into section 8a when
the sections are telescoped. An umbrella cover sewin~ cllip 10
is slidably mounted on section 8a and one end of section 8b is
pivotably attached to clip 10 by pivot pin 9. The outer section -
8c is connected at its inner end to a bushing 24 on a bracket 11. ~
Middle section 8b is pivotably conn~cted to bracket 11, inter- ~ ~;
medlate its ends, by pin 11' so that outer section 8c can pivot
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relative to the other sections, in the plane of rib 8. This
permits the outer section 8c to fold toward the crown ~ as the
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umbrella is closed as will be described. -
The umbrella frame includes a main runner 12 slidable
on stick 1. The main runner 12 has a push-button 30 which oper-
ates a locking pawl engaging a catch 31 in stick part 2 when the
umbrella is open. A stretcher member 13 is provided for each
dome rib 8, and it extends between runner 12 and sewing clip 10.
Each stretcher member 13 is pivotably connected to runner 12 by
tie wires as is well known, and to sewing clip 10 by pivot pin 9.
An auxiliary runner 18 is slidably mounted on stick section 2
between crown 7 and main runner 12. A strut 19 extends between
each stretcher member 13 and auxiliary runner 18. The strut 19
is pivotably connected to runner 18 by tie wires as is well
known, and to stretcher member 13 by a pivot pin 20, which pin
20 is preferably located approximately midway along the :length
of member 13. The struts 19 preferably have a U-shaped cross-
section, and one of the struts can be provided with means 28 for
aiding in opening the umbrella. These means 28 can comprise a
pawl device 29 biased outwardly by a spring, not shown, mounted -~
in the strut.
Means are provided for automatically folding or unfold-
ing the outer dome rib section 8c during closing or opening
respectively of the umbrella. These means preferably comprise
a control link 14 extending between bracket 11 and stretcher
member 13 and being beneath, but substantially parallel to, dome
rib section 8b.
The link 14 is pivotably connected to stretcher member
13~by a pivot pin 15. The connec-tion of link 14 to stretcher
member 13 is made~in a manner to facilitate closing of the
umbrella. Thus the web 13' of the stretcher member 13, which is
U-shaped in cross-section, is cut back from its end adjacent
clip 10 to provide an opening 25. This opening extends for a
dletance "X" past pivot pin 15 as shown in Figure 5. The legs
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13" form supports for pivot pins 9 and 15. These legs 13" are
bent slightly at a point 26 adjacent where web 13' ends in a
direction toward web 13' as shown in Figure 4.
At its other end 14', the link 14 is pivotably connected
to an extension arm 16 forming part of bracket 11. The arm 16
has a U-shaped cross-section and the web 23 is cut back slightly
Erom legs 22 at the free end of arm 16. The U-shaped arm 16
provides a stable hinge point between dome rib sections 8b and 8c
when the ribs are extended, with the legs 22 providing good
lateral support for the sections. An elongated slot 21 is pro- ~
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vided in each leg 22 near the free end of arm 16, each slot 21, .~
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extending approximately transversely to rib 8. Pivot pin 17, `-
mounted in slots 21, connects link 14 to arm 16 and thus to outer .
dome rib section 8c. The elongated slots 21 and pin 17 provide
a lost-motion, pivot connection between link 14 and bracket 11.
The link 14 has a bend 14" near end 14' so that the link bends : .:
: : .
toward section 8b. The bend 14" permits a more compactly folded
umbrella as will be described. - - :
The link 14 and dome rib section 8b form the long s.ides
of a parallelogram linkage I.. The short sides of parallelogram
linkage I comprise that portion of stretcher member 13 between ;~.
pivot pins 1~ and 9 and that portion of arm 16 of bracket 11
between pivot pins 11' and 17. The parallelogram linkage I
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controls the movement of section 8c. .~;
If the umbrella frame is to be closed from the position -~: .
shown in Figure 1, the main runner 12 is unlatched and moved -~
down stick 1 toward handle 27. As the runner 12 moves down, ;:.
stretcher member 13 is pivotably moved toward the stick as shown .
in Figure 3, and auxiliary runner 18 is moved down via strut 19. ..
At the same timelcontrol link 14 is moved in the direction shown ~ ..
by arrow "d" in Figure 3 thus pivoting bracket 11, and attached ;~ ..... ... -
dome rib section 8c, about pivot 11' so as to automatically.fold
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section 8c against section 8b. When the folding has been sub- -
stantially completed, with members 13, and sections 8a, 8b and
8c lying nearly parallel to stick axis z-z, the umbrella frame
is shortened b~ applying a suitable compr~ssive force between
crown 7 and handle 27. This produces the position shown in .,
Figure 4. In this position, the main runner 12 has entered an ~ ,, -
annular groove (not shown) in handle 27 and a~lxiliary runner 18 '
lies adjacent crown 7.- -
The bend 14" in the control link 14 provides room for
a compact arrangement at the bottom between the ends of link 14, '.,
sections 8b and 8c and bracket 11. The bend 26, in stretcher
member 13, at`the top also provides room for a compact arrange- ' -~,
ment between the ends of link 14, member 13, sections 8a and 8b, ., ; '
and clip 10.. In addition, the cross-sectional area o auxiliary ',''. ,,
runner 18 may be reduced to provide more room F under top plate :~
7. Also in flat umbrellas, employ.ing a rectangular crown 7, the
hinge locations on the top plate and auxiliary runner of each rib
can be displaced a distance "Y" as shown in Figure 4 to provide . , ~' '
further room. These arrangements all result in eliminating or
minimizing any increase in cross-sectional area of the folded
umbrella frame.
To open the umbrella frame, the stick 1 is first : ''
extended to have the umbrella assume a position approximating ' .
that shown in Figure 3. The outer dome rib sectlons 8c, due to
the lost-motion connection provided by slots 21 in bracket 11,
moves away ~rom the other dome rib sections. The main runner 12
is then moved to~ard top plate 7. As this happens, control link ~ ::
14 unfolds section 8c by moving in a direction opposite to arrow
"d" and pivoting section 8c away from crown 7 about pin 11'.
Opening is` aided by having opening,aid means 28 on auxiliary
runner 18 temporarily arrest upward movement of runner 18 thus
facilitating outward movement of the dome ribs. The opening
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movement continues until the rib sections are extended and sub~
stantially aligned. In this position, unfolding of section 8c ~:
is stopped by havlng end 14' of control link 14 bear against the
bottom of section 8b as shown in Figure 21. ~ .
The umbrella frame is provided with a cover 32 which .
is attached to the crown 7, and to the ribs at sewing clips 10, :~
pivot location K (Figure 3) and the free ends of sections 8c. .;~ .
The cover assumes a mushroom shape when the umbrella is collapsed . ~:
due to its attachment to clips 10. The cover 32 also assists ~
somewha-t in moving sections 8c outwardly of the other sections ~ ~.
as the umbrella is opened.- :~
In this embodiment, the control link 14 will curve -~
slightly in a direction oppsite to the curvature of dome rib ~:
section 8c. The link 14 and section 8c act together to provide
resistance against any tendency to turn the umbrella inside out. . ~
The link 14 provides added strength and controls movement of rib ..~ ;.
section 8c without substantially reducing head room in the : . :
umbrella. -. ;
In some cases the umbrella covering material may :~
interfere with the opening of the umbrella, thus unduly stressing
the umbrella frame. Thus, if the umbrella cover is installed .
under too much initial tension, or if the cover shrinks during ~:.
use and becomes unduly t~nsioned, the cover can make it ~uite
difficult to complete unfoIding of the outer dome rib section.
A suitable àrrangement can be provided for minimizing or pre~
venting this interference. Such an arrangement is shown in the .: .
embodiment illustrated in Figures 6 to 10. In this embodiment, : ;
parts identical to those described in the embodiment illustrated .~~.
in Figures 1 to 5 bear the same reference character but increased
by one hundred (lOa). .
In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 6, control link :
: 114 is made to have a length "L", between its pivot connections
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115 and 117, which is shorter than the distance "A" of dome-rib ;
section 108b between pivot pins 111' and 109~ Thus after opening
of the umbrella when main runner 112 has moved up and stretcher
member 113 has acted to tension link 114 and compress dome rib
108b, link 114 forms a "chord" and section 108b is bent or bowed
outwardly into an "arc". This structural arrangement provides
the outward bowing or curvature of the dome ribs 108 rather than
having the bowing provided by the umbrella cover 132 as before.
As shown in Figure 10, on opening the umbrella, the outer dome
rib section 108c is unfolded and aligned with sections 108a and
108b while cover 132 is still loose. Continued opening then
causes section 108b to bow, forming the curvature in the dome
ribs and tightening the cover 132. This arrangement prevents
the cover 132 from interfering with the unfolding of the outer
dome-rib section 108c.
To provide more positive control in folding and unfold-
ing of the outer dome rib section 108c, the slots 121 in bracket
111, providing with pin 117, a lost-motion pivot connection for
control link 114 to section 108c, can be set at an acute angle
to the rib axis, as shown in Figure 7. The slots 121 extend down
toward the stick 101, away from pivot pin 111', when the umbrella
is in an open position. Preferably, the slots 121 have a length
"Al" approximately e~ual to the-di~ference between-lengths "A" and
"L" to provide a freely controllable parallelogram linkage I in
intermediate umbrella opening or closing positions. The angular
set o~ the slots 121 make lt easier for the outer dome-rib sec-
tions 108c to move to an initial opening position from the closed
posi-tion shown in Figure 9. The-outer sections 108c pivot
readily about pivot pin 111', falling away ~rom the other sec-
tions as pivot pin 117 slides down in slots 121 to the end of
arm 116.
To provide a better cover attaching arrangement, a
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sewing eye 122' can be provided in the top of each bracket 111
between pivot pin 111' and bushing 124. Locating a sewing eye :~
122' at this point permits the cover 132 to arrange itself in
the best possible manner during folding.
In both embodiments, the bend 14", 114" in control link
14, 114, provides means by which the length of the link can be ~:~
slightly adjusted to compensate for hinge tolerances~
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