Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
DEI`AILED DESCRIPTION:
The present invention relates to automatically
openable and closable umbrel 1 a, more particularly, to an
umbrella which can be opened and closed automatically by
operating a single push button.
Several types of automatic umbrella which can be
opened and closed automatically have been disclosed in the
past, to take for example, U.S. Patent No. 3,856,030 to
Sato. In the prior art, the umbrella employs, however, two
push button means for operation of opening and closing
respectively. Such an umbrella is not only complicated in
construction, but also difficult and troublesome in
assembling, and hence ends in its high cost. Besides,
since the operating mechanism occupies more spaces, con-
sequently, the space for operating such a mechanism has
to be enlarged, this will inevitably affect the aesthetic
design of the umbrella. Furthermore, since there is no
safety device in the push button means, if a wrong push
button means is operated, the umbrella which has been
opened may be mistakenly closed or it may result in mal-
function of the means.
It is, therefore, an object of the present inven-
tion to obviate shortcomings of the conventional automatic
umbrella previously discussed, and to provide a fully auto-
matic umbrella that can be opened and closed by operation
of a single push button.
According to the present invention there is pro-
vided a fully automatic single push button type umbrella
comprising:
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an outer tubular shaft provided with a lower ring
fixed to an upper end and pawl engaging open-
ings at a lower end and said upper end thereof;
an intermediate. tubular shaft slidably disposed
within said outer tubular shaf-t and pro~ided
with an intermediate ring fixed to an upper
end pawl engaging openings at a lower end
~ intermediate the ends thereof;
¦ a lower inner shaft slidably inserted in a lower
end portion of said intermediate tubular shaft
and provided with a grip mounted to a lower
end thereof;
~ an upper inner shaft slidably inserted in the
¦ upper end of said intermediate tubular shaft
and provided with an upper ring fixed to an
upper end thereof;
a plurality of ribs including dome ribs, stretcher
ribs and supporting ribs pivotably intercon-
nected to said rings to form an umbrella frame;
first spring means for closing the umbrella pro-
vided on said intermediate tubular shaft between
~ said intermediate and lower rings and a second
! spring means for opening said umbrella provided
', within said intermediate tubular shaft between
said upper and l.ower inner shafts;
I said lower inner shaft provided with an axially
¦ elongated slot at the lower end thereof with
¦ said slot having an enlarged lower portion and
further provided with an upper openlng at an
upper end;
said lower inner shaft being further provided wlth
a first and second spring pawl means for locking
said intermediate tubular shaft and said ou-ter
tubular shaft;
said first spring pawl means having an upper end
fixedly attached to the upper end wall o~ said
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lower inner shaft, a lower end bein~ free from
a-ttachment and provided with a projection pro
trusible through the lower end of said elon-
gated slot, and an intermediate portion pro-
vided with a locking head protrusible through
an upper portion of said elongated slot;
a push button member engageable with said projec-
tion;
wherein, when the umbrella is in the closed
position, said locking head of the firs-t spring
pawl means is engaged in the opening of the
lower end of said intermediate tubular shaft
and the pawl engaging means on the lower end
of said outer tubular shaft;
said second spring pawl means is engaged in the
upper opening of the intermediate tubular
shaft and the upper opening of the outer
¦ tubular shaft;
I and wherein, when the umbrella is in the open
¦ 20 position, said locking head is engaged only in
the lower opening of said intermediate tubular
shaft and the second spring pawl means is en-
gaged in the upper opening of said in-termediate
tubular shaft and the lower opening of said
outer tubular shaft.
The invention can provide a single-push-bu-tton-
controllable, automatic umbrella wherein the push button
means for operation is slender and simple, and which
enables the operational portion of the umbrella to be
aesthetically designed.
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The invention will now be described in more
detail, by way of example only with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 illustrates an umbrella of the invention
in partly sectional elevation in the closed and folded state;
Fig. 2 shows an umbrella of the invention in partly
sectional elevation in the fully extended position;
Fig. 3 depicts an umbrella of the invention in
partly sectional elevation in the closing state from the
position as shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4(A) is a sectional view of the portion of the
umbrella taken along the line A-A in Fig. l;
Fig. 4(B) is a longitudinal sec-tional view of por-
tion of the members as shown in Fig. 4(A);
Fig. 5 illustrates a portion of the lower inner
shaft member wherein axial slot and openings are shown;
Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a de-tail of
operation of the push button mechanism shown in Fig. l; and
Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the components of
Z another embodiment showing the engaging means of the outer
shaft member.
Referring initially to Fig. 1, an automatic umbrella
of the invention comprises an outer tubular shaft 1, an
intermediate tubular shaft 2, a lower inner shaft 3, an upper
inner shaft 4, a plurality of ribs 5, an operational push
button 6, a first coil spring 7 and a second coil spring 8.
The outer shaft 1 has at the upper end a lower ring 11
fixed thereto and the intermediate shaft 2 is slidably in-
serted in the outer shaft 1 and i5 provided at the upper end
with an intermediate ring 21 fixed thereto. Of -the two inner
shafts, the lower shaft 3 is slidably inserted in the lower
end of said outer shaEt 2 and has at the lower end a yrip 31,
whereas the upper shaft 4 is
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slidably inserted in the upper end of the intermediate shaft
2 and is provided at the upper end portion with an upper ring
41 fixed thereto. Said rings 11, 21 and 41 are carrying
pivotably each one end of ribs 5, and surrounding the upper
portion of the intermediate shaft 2 and between the intermediate
ring 21 and lower ring 11 there is mounted the fi.rst coil spring
7. The push button 6 is operably disposed between the lower
inner shaft 3 and the upper portion of the grip 31, and encased
in the intermediate shaft 2 and between the upper inner shaft 4
and lower inner shaft 3 there is mounted the second coil spring 8.
~ hile the upper end of the abovementioned outer tubular
shaft 1 is provided with the lower ring 11, the lower end is
formed into an enlarged tubular portion 13 having an-inwardly
extending annular flange 12. In addition, two openings 15, 14
are ~ormed at the lower end portion and the middle portion on
one side of the outer sha~t 1 respectively for engaging with
the second spring pawl 95 which will be described hereinafter.
~he intermediate shaft 2 being slidably inserted in the.outer
shafc 1 is longer than the latter and having at the upper end
an intermediate ring 21 fixedly mounted thereto; the inner
sides of the upper-and lower end portions thereof are further
formed with at least one, preferably two according to the
present embodiment, symmetrically and inwardly guide convex
portions 22, 22 as shown in Figs. 4~A) and 4(B). When in
operation, said two convex portions 22, 22 preven-t the upper
and lower inner shafts 4, 3 from rotating inside the intermediate
shaft 2, and also act as guide-projection when the two inner
shafts 3r 4 are sliding up and down therein. In addition, two
opening 23, and 24 are defined on one side in the wall of the
intermediate shaft 2 at the lower end portion and the middle
portion thero~ respectively. The former is located between
the two convex portions 22, 22 to allow the enlarged locking
head 92 of the first spring pawl 9 ~which will be described
hereinafter) to be engaged therein, and the latter is located
above the first spring pawl 9 to allow a second spring pawl 95
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to be engaged therein. Both the lower inner shaft 3 and upper
inner shaft 4 are defined with at least one, but preferably
two symmetrically arranged guide-grooves 32, 42 as illustrated
in Figs. 4(A) and 4~B). While the upper portion of the ~ower
inner shaft 3 is slidably inserted in the lower portion of the
intermediate shaft 2, the lowerportion of the upper inner shaft
4 is slidably inserted in the upper portion thereof, and further,
the convex portions 22, 22 formed at the upper and lower end
portions of the intermediate shaft 2 are engaged in the guide-
grooves 42, 32 of the lower and upper inner shafts 3, 4 to
impede rotation thereof in the intermediate shaft 2. The grip
31 is fixedly mounted to the lower end portion of the lower
inner shaft 3 by a locking pin 33 provided therewith, and above
the upper end portion of said grip 33 there is mounted an sleeve
member 35 having at one side an oblong opening 34 and receiving
the push button 6 operably disposed thereinO
Located inside the lower inner shaft 3 and extending almost
the whole length thereof is the first spring pawl 9 whose fixed
end 91 is fixed in a recess 37 defined in the upper portion of
the lower inner shaft 3 and in the middle portion of the spring
pawl 9 there is formed an enlarged locking head 92 protruding
from the front end portion of an elongated slot 38 formed in
the lower inner shaft 3 while the other end thereof is formed
with a F-shaped projection 93 being more extended than the
locking head 92 and having a notch 94 thereof. The projection
93 is protruding behind the elongated slot 38 into the push
button 6 which is slidably mounted therto. The push button 6
is in turn protruding from the opening 34 of the sleeve member
35, and has at the below front portion thereof a hole 61 adapted
to be slidably engaged with the projection 93, while at the
hinder end thereof a hook portion 62 is extending below and
forward and adapted to be engaged with the notch 94 in the hinder
side of the projection 93. Between the inner front wall of the
hole 61 and the projection 93 there is mounted a spring 63 adapted
to urge the push button 6 always in the forward position so that
the hook portion
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62 is enga~ed with the notch 94. Behind the aforementioned
slot 38 there is formed continuously therewith an enlarged
rectangular opening 39 which coincides with the opening 34
of the sleeve member 35. Above the first spring pawl 9 there
is provided with the second spring pawl 95 at the upper end
of the inner shaft 3, the locking head 96 of which is protrudiny
from the opening 30 into the opening 24 of the intermediate
shaft 2. An upper ring 41 is fixedly mounted to the slightly
mid portion of the upper inner shaft 4, the upper tip of which
is screwed with a cap 43.
A plurality of ribs includes usually 8 to 10 dome ribs,
a same number of stretcher ribs 52 and a same number of suppor-
ting ribs 53. One end of each dome rib 51 is pivotably mounted
at the upper ring 41 while the other end remains free and the
middle portion thereof, on the other hand, is mounted with a
pivot member 54 adapted to connect pivotably with one end of
the stretcher rib 52, the other end of which is, again pivotably
rnounted at the intermediate ring 21. The middle portion of
the stretcher rib 52 is also mournted with a pivot member 55
adapted to connect pivotably with one end of the supporting
rib 53 while the other and thereof is pivotably mounted at the
lower ring 11. The coil spxing 7 provided in between the
intermediate ring 21 and lower ring 11, is in freely extended
condition when the umbrella has been closed as shown in Fig. 1;
on the other hand, the coil spring 8 is in the compressed
condition when the umbrella has been closed, and tends to urge
the upper inner shaft 4 and lower inner shaft 3 upward and
downward respectively. However, since the intermediate shaft
2 and outer shaft 1 are all locked by way of the locking heads
92 and 96 of the two spring pawls 9 and 95 at this time, the
coil springs 7, 8 are unable to pull apart the intermediate
shaft 2 and the outer shaft 1, and the upper inner shaft 4
and the lower .inner shaft 3.
In one embodiment, an opening 16 which coincides with the
opening 23 of the intermediate shaft 2 may be defined in the
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lower end portion of the outer shaft 1 in place of the afore-
mentioned annular flange 12 as shown in Fig. 7.
In operation, when the automatic umbrella of the invention
is in fully closed position as shown in Fig. 1, the ribs are
completely turned down: the coil spring 7 is fully extended
and released while the coil spring 8 is being compressed,
thereby elastic energy is accumulated. At the same time, the
outer tubular shaft 1, the intermediate tubular shaft 2 and
the lower inner shaft 3 are all being locked by the two spring
pawls 9 and 96 so as to keep the umbrella in the closed condition.
Furthermore, the push button 6 being positioned in the upper
part of the opening 34 has the hook portion 62 thereof engaging
in the notch 94 of the projection 93.
In the process of opening of the umbrella from its closed
position, the push button 6 is depressed and with the fixed
end 91 as a supporing point in against the resilient force of
the spring pawl 9 the projection 93 is being pulled down thereby
till the locking head 92 is disengaged from the outer shaft 1
and retracts into the opening 23 of the intermediate shaft 2.
Because the push button 6 has been so mounted, that when it is
in ~ forward position, it can be depressed down to a length
only whereby the locking head 92 was just released from enga-
gement in the flange 12 of the first outer shaft 1, i.e., a
slight distance of d, but is still engaged in the opening 23
of the intermediate shaft 2. Hence, the intermediate shaft 2
and the lower inner shaft 3 are still maintained in an engaging
manner. The released outer shaft 1 being biased by the upward
extension force of the coil spring 8 forces the second spring
pawl 95 to disengage from the opening 14, and the upper inner
shaft 4 to move upward with respect to the intermediate shaft
2, and consequently, the upper ring 41 is also rnoved upward
along with the upper inner shaft 4. Althou~h the ribs 51 which
are pivotably mounted to the ring 41 tend to move upward along
with the latter, however, since the mid portion of the rib 51
is pivotably connected with one end of the stretcher rib 52,
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the other end gf whi~h bein~ pivotably mounted to the inter-
m@~la~e~ 1 an~ ~ur~hQr, thQ intermediate ring ~1 being
held fixed with respect to the intermediate shaft 2, the dome
ribs 51 are, therefore, turned up gradually as the upper ring
41 is being extended upward and the stretcher rib 52 with the
pi-vot point of the intermediate ring 21 as center is moving
upward. Along with the upward movement of the.stretcher ribs
52, the supporting ribs 53 pivotably connected thereto in
against the spring force of coil spring 7 pulls up the outer
shaft 1 Wit}l respect to the intermediate shaft 2. The coil
spring 7 in between the intermediate ring 21 and lower ring 11
is therefore compressed by the upward extension of the outer
shaft 1 and an elastic energy is accumulated thereby for use
in closing the umbrella next till the second spring pawl 9S
engages in the lower opening 15 of the outer shaft 1. When
the coil spring 7 is fully compressed and both forces of the
springs 7, 8 are in e~uilibrium state, the upper inner shaft
4 and the outer shaft 1 extend no more and the coil spring 8,
still retaining some extension force, is in a partially extended
condition. The umbrella is opened now in a fully extended
state ready for use as shown in Fig. 2.
When an umbrella which has been opened in next to be
closed, the push button,as illustrated in Fig. 6, is depressed
downward in against the spring force of the coil spring 63
and then toward the enlarged opening 39. The push button 6,
in opposing the elastic force of the sprlng pawl 9 and being
in exactly above said opening 39 now, is moved into the under-
most position whereby the locking head 92 is disengaged from
the opening 23 of the intermediate shaft 2. Although the
partial extension force of the coil spring 8 tends to urge
the lower inner shaft 3 to move downward,in other word,to push said
shaft 3 outward, nevertheless, since the grip is held firmly
by a person and the lower inner shaft 3 is stationary, the
extension force of the second coil spring 8 acts instead on
the upper inner shaft 4 which is made to slide upward and to
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brlng ~he ~b~ 51 t~ ~ose the~eb~. Me~nwhile~ as the in~er-
mediate shaft 2 is in a freely slidable state, the exten-
sion ~orce of the first coil spring 7 acts via the intermediate
ring 21 to urge the intermediate shaft 2 to mGVe upward and the outer
shaft 1 downward. When the intermediate shaft 2 moves upward,
the second spring pawl 95 is forced to retract into the opening
30 and to be disengaged from the hole 24 and 14 by the lower
side wall of the hole 24 cooperating with the slop of the locking
head, thus the outer tube then slides downward relative to the
intermediate shaft 2. The movement of the two shaft 1, 2 cause the
ribs to ~turned down to the closing position through the linked
movement of stretcher ribs and supporting ribs 52, 53 along
with the rings 11, 21 and 41 respectively till both coil springs
7 and 8 are in their extended and substantially unstressed
condition, and the umbrella is closed as shown in Fig. 3. As
a next and final step of the series of operations, the shafb
is contracted by holding the umbrella down against the ground
or any hard surface and applying compression force at the
opposite ends of the shaft, i.e., at the tip of the upper inner
shaft 4 and the grip 31, in opposing the extension force of
the coil spring 8~. As the compression force is applied, the
lower inner shaft 3 is inserted deeply into the intermediate
shaft 2 by compressing the coil spring 8 until the locking
head 92 of the first spring pawl 9 in the lower inner shaft 3
engages into the opening 23 of the intermediate shaft 2 and
protrudes into the enlarged tubular portion 13 of the outer
shaft 1 thereby locking against the engaging means 12 and
making the intermediate shaft 2 and the outer shaft 1 a single
shaft together with the upper inner shaft 3. On the other
hand, the compression force of the first coil spring 7 has now
weakened and is in a free state whereas the second coil spring
8 is in a compressed position and the energy is accumulated
thereby to be consumed for automatically closing umbrella
after it has been opened.
In the embodiment described above and shown in Fig. 1
through 7, not only is the operation of opening and closing
of the umbrella that can be performed with a single push button,
but also the misfunction or malfunction of the mechanism can
be avoided due to the function of the double-lock construction.
In achieving the closing of the umbrella when it is in an opened
state, the push button 6 must be depxessed downward in against
the extension force of the spring 63 and then toward the inner
side of the sleeve member 35 so that the intermediate shaft 2
is disengaged from the upper inner shaft 3; nothing will happen
if the push button is merely pressed OF pulled down. Hence,
the umbrella which has been opened will not close if the push
button is accidentally pressed on. Furthermore, unlike the
conventional automatic umbrella wherein different push buttons
have to be operated separately, the umbrella of the invention
is very convenient to ~se. Still further, the umbrella according
to the invention is simple in construction and the push button
portion can be esthetically designed accordingly.
Although teh invention has been described in detail with
reference to its presently preferred embodiment, it will be
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention.
