Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02471479 2004-06-14
COLLAPSIBLE UMBRELLA
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns umbrellas, more particularly
collapsible umbrellas.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Collapsible temporary shelters, such as umbrellas and canopies,
are well known. Conventionally, an umbrella is used to protect a user against
the
effects of snow, rain, sun and such, and consists of a canopy supported by a
collapsible frame That is mounted on a central shaft. While this simple device
is
quick to deploy and provides shelter for the user, it suffers from a number of
drawbacks. When the conventional umbrella is deployed, the canopy sweeps out
a relatively large area before achieving its fully opened sheltering
configuration.
Disadvantageously, objects located near the umbrella may need to be moved or
they may impede the umbrellas' deployment. Also, a user', who may be lying or
sitting beside the umbrella, for example sunbathing, who becomes desirous of
shade, musfi move away from the umbrella to deploy it.
A few designs for collapsible umbrellas exist, including:
~ US Patent No. 6,273,111 issued Aug. 14, 2001 to D. Weiss and S. Peace
for "Retractable Umbrella".
~ US Patent No. 5,690,131 issued Nov. 25, 199'7 to B. Voigt, for "Umbrella".
~ US Patent No. 5,188,137 issued Feb. 23, 1993 to A. F. Simonelli for
"Umbrella".
These umbrellas, however, suffer from a number of important
disadvantages. Each is of a complicated design having many moving parts,
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CA 02471479 2004-06-14
which may be prone to jamming. Disadvantageously, the canopy is drawn into
the central shaft by a series of flexible, lightweight ribs, which the user
collapses.
The collapsible ribs, when in an open configuration, may ~e prone to undesired
inversion by sudden gusts of wind. In addition, the collapsible ribs do not
appear
to be sufficiently reinforced to be self supporting and may frictionally
contact the
canopy causing damage after prolonged use. Furthermore, the low
reinforcement may also limit the size of the area to be covered by the canopy.
Thus there is a need for an improved collapsible umbrella.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed towards such a solution.
A portable, collapsible umbrella of the present invention provides a
novel tensioning system, which includes a number of rigid or resilient curved
rods
and a number of longitudinally resilient cables, whicll operate in combination
with
the umbrella rib weight to allow a bottom up method of canopy deployment. In
addition, the combination helps to stabilize the open umbrella canopy and to
reduce canopy inversion. The novel tensioning system also increases the size
of
area covered by the canopy by maintaining a :strong holding force on the
deployed canopy. The bottom up method of deployment enables a user to open
the umbrella without temporarily obstructing the area immediately around the
umbrella or knocking over objects in the immediai:e area around the umbrella.
Also, the bottom up method enables the user to open umbrella while in a supine
position. The umbrella is inexpensive to manufacture, simple to operate,
strong,
yet lightweight and portable thereby allowing the user to set up the umbrella
quickly and to move the umbrella to other areas when required. The umbrella is
adaptable to include side panels or drapes which can be attached to the canopy
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to provide shelter from strong wind or blowing materials such as sand on a
beach. The novel tensioning system may also be adapted to provide temporary
shelter to cars, to a temporary aid stations mounted alongside a vehicle, to
boats
or to a small portable protected-observatory for a hunter or a birdwatcher.
In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
collapsible umbrella having a rib connector sfidably mounted on a central
shaft, a
plurality of umbrella ribs, each rib having a first rib end portion and a
second rib
end portion, the first rib end portion being movably connected to the rib
connector, and a flexible canopy covering the ribs, the umbrella comprises:
- a resilient rib tensioning member connected to an end portion of the
central shaft, the rib tensioning member being interconnected with the first
rib end
portion and the second end portion, such that:
i) in response to a first moving force against the rib connector, the rib
connector moves from a default position to a first open position, the default
position being when the umbrella is collapsed, the ribs lying generally
adjacent the central shaft, the rib connector being positioned towards a
mounting surface and away from the tensioning member, the second rib
end portion being positioned towards the rib tensioning member, the first
open position being when the second rib end portion is positioned away
from the rib tensioning member, the rib connector being positioned away
from the mounting surface, the rib tensioning member exerting a first
threshold holding force on the second rib end portion;
ii) in response to a second moving force against the rib connector, the rib
connector moves from the first open position to a second open position,
the second moving force being greater thain the first moving force, the
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second open position being when the rib connector and the second rib end
portion lie along a plane generally horizontal to the mounting surface, the
rib tensioning member exerting a second threshold holding force on the
second rib end portion, the second threshold) holding force being greater
than the first threshoid holding force;
iii) in response to a third moving force against the rib connector, the rib
connector moves from the second open position to a third open position,
the third moving force being greater than the second moving force and the
second threshold holding force, the third open position being when the
second rib end portion is inclined generally away from the generally
horizontal line towards the mounting surface, the rib connector being
moved towards the rib tensioning member, the rib tensioning member
exerting a third threshold holding force on the second rib end portion, the
third threshold holding force being less than the second threshold holding
force, the ribs having a rib weight sufficient to bias the second rib end
portions towards the mounting surface.
In a further aspect, in response to a fourth moving force against the
rib connector, the rib connector moves from the third position to the default
position, the fourth moving force being sufficient to overcome the rib weight
biasing, the rib tensioning member having sufficient resilient force to pull
the ribs
into the default position.
Typically, the resilient rib tensioning member comprises: a plurality
of generally curved rods extending outwardly from the shaft end portion; and a
plurality of cables connected to the rib connector and the second rib end
portion,
the cables being movably connected to the curved rods.
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Typically, each curved rod includes a rod end portion directed away
from a shaft axis.
Typically, the resilient rib tensioning rnember further comprises a
guide system connected thereto. The guide system comprises a plurality of
hoops attached to an underside of each of the rods. In one aspect, the guide
member includes three hoops.
Typically, the hoops are sized to allow the cables to pass
therethrough.
Typically, the curved rods are rigid. In one aspect, the curved rods
are resilient.
Typically, the cables are longitudinally resilient.
Typically, the rib connector is a cylindrical collar having an axial
bore of sufficient size to slide over the shaft.
Typically, a plurality of anchoring members are connected to an
outer collar wall. Each rib is hingeably connected to the anchoring member.
Typically, the cylindrical collar includes a plurality of cable
connector hoops extending upwardly therefrom for connecting each cable
thereto.Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided herein,
with
appropriate reference to the accompanying drawing:..
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
An embodiment of the present invention will now be disclosed, by
way of example, in reference to the following drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a collapsible
umbrella of the presenfi invention in a fully open configuration;
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Figure 2 is a perspective view of Fig. 1 showing the umbrella in a
fully collapsed configuration;
Figure 3 is a side view of the umbrE:lla of the present invention
showing ribs in various positions;
Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of the umbrella of the present
invention showing the ribs in various positions;
Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of a rib connector of the
present invention;
Figure 5a is a partial exploded view of i:he rib connector of Fig. 5;
Figure 6 is a top view of the rib connector of Fig. 5;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
present invention showing an open umbrella mounted against an exterior wall of
a building; and
Figure 8 is a partial cutaway side view showing a rib connected to a
canopy.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to the annexed drawings a preferred embodiments
of the present invention will be herein described for indicative purpose and
by no
means as of limitation.
Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a first embodiment of a
collapsible umbrella is shown generally at 10. Generally, the collapsible
umbrella
10 includes a central pole ar shaft 12, a plurality of i°ibs 14, a rib
connector 16, a
resilient rib tensioning member 17 and a canopy 18. The canopy 18 is
constructed of a flexible, durable material known to those skilled in the art,
for
example polyester, acrylic, canvas and the like. The shaft 12 includes a lower
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support end 20 and an upper end 22. Conventionally, the lower support end 20
may be mounted on a weighted stand or a table T, for stabilizing the umbrella
10
or the lower support end 20 may be temporarily dug into the ground to allow a
user to move the umbrella to a position where sheltering is needed. The shaft
12
is constructed of lightweight material such as aluminum or stainless steel and
depending upon the need may be hollow or solid. 'the shaft surface is normally
smooth to allow the rib connector 16 to slide up and gown thereon.
The ribs 14 extend radially outwardly from the rib connector 16.
Each rib 14 includes a first rib end portion 24 and a second rib end portion
27.
The first rib end portion 24 is located towards a rib tip 25 to which a canopy
peripheral edge 26 is attached as will be described below.
Referring now to Figs. 5, 5a and 6, thE: rib connector 16 includes a
cylindrical collar 28, which has an axial bore 30 sized to slide over the
central
shaft 12. The collar 28 has an outer wall 32 to which is connected a plurality
of
anchoring members 34. Each anchoring member 34 includes two panels 36 that
define a gap 38 therebetween. A bolt 40 provides a means by which each rib 14
is movably attached. In this embodiment, each rib 14 is hingeably attached to
the
anchoring member to allow the ribs 14 to move in an arc about the bolt 40. The
second rib end portion 27 includes a flattened portion 42, which includes a
bolt
hole 43 for receiving therein the bolt 40.
The rib connector 16 also includes an upper edge portion 44 and a
lower edge portion 46. A plurality of cable connector' hoops 48 are connected
via
a hoop stem 50 to the upper edge portion 44 and extend upwardly therefrom.
Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, the resilient rib tensioning member
17 includes a plurality of rigid or resilient, generally curved {bow-shaped)
rods 52,
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extending from the shaft upper end 22, a pluralit~r of cables 54 and a guide
system 56. In this embodiment, the rib tensioning rnember 17 includes a hollow
shaft portion (not shown) located at its base, which fits over the shaft upper
end
22 and is welded thereto. The rib tensioning memt~er 17 may also be attached
by the use of bolts, rivets or by any commonly used attachment means. Each
curved rod 52 curves generally outwardly and away from a shaft axis 58 and has
attached to an underside, the guide system 56. The curved rods 52 may be
constructed of materials such as wood, aluminum o~r graphite and the like. The
guide system 56 includes a number of cable guide loops 60 through which the
cables 54 pass during opening and closing of the canopy 18. Each cable 54 is
attached to the connector hoops 48 and the rib tip 25. The cables 54 may be
constructed of a longitudinally resilient material such as NylonTM or
polyester and
the like.
Referring now to Fig. 8, the cables 54 include a cable loop 64 which
is connected to a bolt 66 via a bolt loop C8. The bolt 66 passes through a
hole 67
in the rib end 24, through an eyelet 70 located in the canopy 18 and is
secured in
place by nuts and washers.
While the cables 54 and guide system 56 are used specifically in
this embodiment, one skilled in the art will recognize that the ribs and the
rib
tensioning member 17 may be a single piece of material such as those described
above that has sufficient resilience to achieve the same desired results.
Also,
other guide systems are available which are within the scope of the invention
such as pulleys. Furthermore, the guide system 56 may also include cables 54,
which may be fed from the rib connector 16 through hollow ribs and attached to
the rib end 24.
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OPERATION
Generally, the collapsible umbrella '10 is supplied in a default,
collapsed configuration, as illustrated in Fig. 1, in which the umbrella 10 is
collapsed, and the ribs 14 are lying generally adjacent to the central shaft
12.
The rib connector 16 is located towards a mounting surface 62 and away from
the tensioning member 17. The second rib end portions 24 are positioned
towards the rib tensioning member 17, thereby giviing the umbrella a V-shaped
appearance. Referring now to Fig. 3, a user, when shelter is required, applies
a
first upward moving force (in the direction of the arrows) against the rib
connector
16 to move it to a first open position. For improved comfort, a sleeve of
material
slidably mounted on the central shaft 22 (not shown;) may be used for the user
to
grip and push against the rib connector 16. Generally, the first open position
is
when the second rib end portion 24 is positioned <~way from the rib tensioning
member 17 and the central shaft 12, and the rib connector 16 is moved up and
away from the mounting surface 62. In this configuration (illustrated by A in
Fig. 3), the cables 54 exert a first threshold holding force on the second rib
end
portions 24, as the user pushes up against the rib connector 16. To move the
connector 16 out of the first open position, the user applies a second moving
force upwards against the rib connector 16. This causes the rib connector 16
to
move to a second open configuration. The second moving force is greater than
the first moving force and causes the ribs 14 to exert an outward force and
downward force on the second rib end portions 24. The outward and downward
forces are generally equal to the cables' S4 resiliencE: force, which is
acting to pull
the second rib end portion 24 back towards the rib tensioning member 17. In
this
configuration an equilibrium is set up and maintained by the equal and
opposite
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forces of the cables 54 and the outward force of the second rib end portions
24.
The second open position is when the rib connector 16 and the second rib end
portion 24 lie along a plane generally horizontal to the mounting surface 62.
The
cables 54 exert a second threshold holding force on the second rib end
portion,
the second threshold holding force is greater than the first threshold holding
force.
To achieve the final, or third open position, the user applies a third
upward moving force against the rib connector 16 to move it from the second
open position to the third open position. The l:hird moving force must be
sufficiently larger than the second moving force, to overcome the resilient
forces
acting against the second rib end portions 24. C7nce the third moving force
overcomes the second threshold holding force; the rib connector 16 attains the
third open position. In this position, the second rib end portion 24 is
inclined
generally down and away from the generally horizontal line towards the
mounting
surface 62. The rib connector 16 being moved upwards towards the rib
tensioning member 17, such that the rib configuration resembles an inverted
V-shape. In this position, the cables 54 exert a third threshold holding force
on
the second rib end portion 24, which is less than the second threshold holding
force. At this stage, the hinged ribs 14 and the ribs' weight are sufficient
to bias
downward the second rib end portions 24. To collapse the umbrella back to the
closed, default position, the user exerts a fourth downward pulling force
against
the rib connector 16. The pulling force on the rib connector 16 must be
sufficient
to overcome the rib weight biasing, and to allow the cables 54 to pull the
ribs 14
back towards the central shaft 12 and into the default position.
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Similarly, as illustrated by B in Fig. 3, the curved rods 52 may
resiliently deform towards and away from the axis 58 to achieve the same
results
as when the curved rods 53 are rigid.
ALTERNATIVES
The first embodiment of the collapsible umbrella 10 is useful as a
portable, temporary shelter against the elements that allows the user to
collapse
the umbrella 10 and move it elsewhere or for storage. There may be times when
a more permanently secured shelter is required, such as for shading of an area
adjacent a wall, which umbrella may be collapsed when not in use. A
collapsible
umbrella according to a second embodiment 100 is shown in Fig. 7. Operation of
the collapsible umbrella 100 is essentially identical to that of 10. The main
difference between the umbrella 10 of the first embodiment and the umbrella
100
is that a plurality of ribs 102 extend partially around a rib tensioning
member 104,
the number and position of which depend on the adjacent structure and the
extent of sheltering required by the user. The umbrella 100 shows a generally
semi-circular design, which extends out from a vertical wall 106.
Although the present invention has been described with a certain
degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the disclosure has been
made
by way of example only and that the present invention is not limited to the
features of the embodiments described and illustrated herein, but includes all
variations and modifications within the scope and spirit of the invention as
hereinafter claimed.
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