EP1247470A1

EP1247470A1 - Umbrella frame with runner fasteners in a wood stem

Info

Publication number: EP1247470A1
Application number: EP20010303189
Authority: EP
Inventors: Max Wang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-04-04
Filing date: 2001-04-04
Publication date: 2002-10-09

Abstract

An umbrella frame device includes a runner (20) sleeved slidably on a wood stem (10) for spreading out and collapsing a canopy. The stem (20) has two concavities (11,12) in middle and lower portions thereof for receiving two spring-loaded engaging members (50). Each engaging member (50) is slidably and retainingly movable in a radial direction of the stem (10) to protrude outwardly of the concavity (11,12) to extend into and to be retained in the runner (20), and to retract into the concavity (11,12) against the biasing action so as to be released from the runner (20).

Description

This invention relates to an umbrella frame device, more particularly to an umbrella frame device with a runner sleeved slidably on a wood stem.
Referring to Fig. 1, a conventional umbrella frame device is shown to include a wood stem 1 with an elongate slot 101 which extends along an axis of the stem 1 for mounting a metal spring plate 2. The spring plate 2 has an end which is connected to the stem 1 at one end of the slot 101 in a manner that a biasing action is applied on an opposite end 201 thereof to actuate the same outwardly of the slot 101 so as to retainingly support a runner (not shown) relative to the stem 1. A limiting hole 202 is formed in the spring plate 2 such that a pivot pin 203 is disposed on the stem 1 and passes through the limiting hole 202 so as to prevent excessive movement of the end 201 of the spring metal 2. The end 201 of the spring metal 2 can be pressed inwardly toward the slot 101 to release the runner. However, the operation of the end 201, which has an acute and rigid surface, feels uncomfortable.
The object of the present invention is to provide an umbrella frame device which can be operated conveniently and comfortably to collapse a canopy.
According to this invention, the umbrella frame device includes an elongate stem which is made of a wood material, which extends along an axis, and which has an upper end portion, a lower end portion, and a middle portion therebetween. A tubular runner is sleeved slidably on the stem, and is movable between upper and lower positions respectively for spreading out and collapsing a canopy. Each of the middle portion and the lower end portion of the stem has an inner peripheral wall which extends inwardly and in a radial direction radial to the axis, and which terminates at an inner end wall that extends transverse to the inner peripheral wall so as to confine a concavity. The concavities in the middle portion and the lower end portion are aligned with each other in a longitudinal direction parallel to the axis, and respectively correspond to the upper and lower positions of the runner. The runner is formed with a retaining hole which extends therethrough in the radial direction and which is registered with the concavities in the middle portion and in the lower end portion in the radial direction when the runner is in the upper and lower positions, respectively. A pair of engaging members are received in the concavities in the middle and lower end portions, respectively. Each of the engaging members includes proximate and distal end portions proximate and distal to the inner end wall, and is slidably and retainingly movable in the radial direction between an engaged position, where the distal end portion protrudes outwardly of the concavity, thereby extending radially into and being retained in the retaining hole when the runner is in one of the upper and lower positions, and a disengaged position, where the distal end portion is retracted into the concavity and is released from the retaining hole. A pair of biasing members are disposed in the concavities, respectively. Each of the biasing members has two ends which abut against a respective one of the engaging members and the inner end wall of the respective one of the middle and upper end portions to bias the respective one of the engaging members outwardly and in the radial direction.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a portion of a conventional umbrella frame device;
Fig. 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an umbrella frame device according to this invention;
Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing a runner of the umbrella frame device in an engaged state;
Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing the runner in a disengaged state; and
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the umbrella frame device according to this invention.
Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the preferred embodiment of the umbrella frame device according to the present invention is shown to comprise an elongate stem 10 which is made of a wood material, which extends along an axis, and which has an upper end portion, a lower end portion, and a middle portion therebetween. A tubular runner 20 is sleeved slidably on the stem 10, and is movable between upper and lower positions respectively for spreading out and collapsing a canopy (not shown).
Each of the middle portion and the lower end portion of the stem 10 has an inner peripheral wall which extends inwardly and in a radial direction radial to the axis, and which terminates at an inner end wall that extends transverse to the inner peripheral wall so as to confine a concavity 11,12. The concavities 11, 12 in the middle portion and the lower end portion are aligned with each other in a longitudinal direction parallel to the axis, and respectively correspond to the upper and lower positions of the runner 20.
The runner 20 is formed with a retaining hole 21 which extends therethrough in the radial direction and which is registered with the concavities 11,12 in the middle portion and in the lower end portion in the radial direction when the runner 20 is in the upper and lower positions, respectively.
A pair of elongate holding sleeve 30 are received in the concavities 11,12 in the middle and lower end portions, respectively. Each holding sleeve 30 includes an annular surrounding wall 34 with two opening ends 31,32 opposite to each other in the radial direction, and an annular inner retaining wall 33 which is disposed on and which extends inwardly and radially from the opening end 32. A pair of engaging members 50 are received in the holding sleeves 30, respectively. Each engaging member 50 includes proximate and distal end portions 54,53 which are disposed proximate and distal to the inner end wall of the respective concavity 11, 12, and a recess 51 which extends from the proximate end portion 54 to the distal end portion 53. An annular outer retaining wall 52 is disposed on and extends outwardly and radially from the proximate end portion 54 of each engaging member 50 to be retained in the holding sleeve 30 by the inner retaining wall 33 so as to serve as a limiting member to prevent the proximate end portion 54 from slipping out of the respective inner peripheral wall. Thus, each engaging member 50 is slidably and retainingly movable in the radial direction between an engaged position, where the distal end portion 53 protrudes outwardly of the concavity 11,12, thereby extending radially into and being retained in the retaining hole 21 when the runner 20 is in one of the upper and lower positions, as shown in Fig. 3, and a disengaged position, where the distal end portion 53 is retracted into the concavity 11,12 and is released from the retaining hole 21, as shown in Fig. 4.
A pair of biasing members 40, such as compression springs, are disposed in the concavities 11,12, respectively. Each biasing member 40 has an end 42 which abuts against the inner end wall of the concavity 11,12, and an opposite end 41 which is inserted into the recess 51 and which abuts against an inner side of the distal end portion 53 of the engaging member 50 to bias the engaging members 50 outwardly and in the radial direction.
When it is desired to collapse the canopy (not shown) which is mounted on the umbrella frame device of this invention, the user can press the distal end portion 53 of the engaging member 50 that is in the engaging position, into the concavity 11,12 to release the engagement with the retaining hole 21 so as to permit the sliding movement of the runner 20 along the stem 10. Therefore, it is convenient and comfortable for the user to operate the device of this invention due to the flat surfaces of the distal end portions 53 of the engaging members 50.
Referring to Fig. 5, another preferred embodiment of the umbrella frame device according to this invention is shown to further include a pressing member 22. The pressing member 22 is formed as a spring plate, and includes a connecting end 221 which is connected to an upper portion of the runner 20, and a pressing end 222 which extends downwardly from the connecting end 221 and which has a pressing protrusion 23 that extends through the retaining hole 21 so as to facilitate pressing the distal end portions 53 of the engaging members 50 in the radial direction to move the distal end portions 53 toward the disengaged position when the runner 20 is in the upper and lower positions, respectively, thereby facilitating sliding movement of the runner 20.

Claims

An umbrella frame device for spreading out and collapsing a canopy, including:

an elongate stem (10) made of a wood material, extending along an axis, and having an upper end portion, a lower end portion, and a middle portion therebetween, and

a tubular runner (20) sleeved slidably on said stem (10), and movable between upper and lower positions respectively for spreading out and collapsing the canopy, characterized in that:

each of said middle portion and said lower end portion of said stem (10) has an inner peripheral wall which extends inwardly and in a radial direction radial to the axis, and which terminates at an inner end wall that extends transverse to said inner peripheral wall so as to confine a concavity (11,12), said concavities (11, 12) in said middle portion and said lower end portion being aligned with each other in a longitudinal direction parallel to the axis, and respectively corresponding to the upper and lower positions of said runner (20);

said runner (20) being formed with a retaining hole (21) which extends therethrough in the radial direction and which is registered with said concavities (11,12) in said middle portion and in said lower end portion in the radial direction when said runner (20) is in the upper and lower positions, respectively;

a pair of engaging members (50) received in said concavities (11,12) in said middle and lower end portions respectively, each of said engaging members (50) including proximate and distal end portions (54,53) proximate and distal to said inner end wall, and being slidably and retainingly movable in the radial direction between an engaged position, where said distal end portion (53) protrudes outwardly of said concavity (11,12), thereby extending radially into and being retained in said retaining hole (21) when said runner (20) is in one of the upper and lower positions, and a disengaged position, where said distal end portion (53) is retracted into said concavity (11,12) and is released from said retaining hole (21);

a pair of biasing members (40), each disposed in said concavity (11,12) in a respective one of said middle and lower end portions, and having two ends which abut against a respective one of said engaging members (50) and said inner end wall of the respective one of said middle and upper end portions to bias the respective one of said engaging members (50) outwardly and in the radial direction.
The umbrella frame device of Claim 1, further characterized by a pair of limiting members (52,33), each disposed between said proximate end portion (54) of a respective one of said engaging members (50) and said inner peripheral wall distal to said inner end wall so as to prevent said proximate end portion (54) from slipping out of said inner peripheral wall.
The umbrella frame device of Claim 2, further characterized in that each of said limiting members (52,33) includes an annular inner retaining wall (33) disposed on and extending inwardly and radially from said inner peripheral wall, and an annular outer retaining wall (52) disposed on and extending outwardly and radially from said proximate end portion (54) to be retained in said concavity (11,12) by said inner retaining wall (33).
The umbrella frame device of Claim 1, further characterized in that each of said biasing members (40) is a compression spring.
The umbrella frame device of Claim 1, further characterized by a pressing member (22) including a connecting end which is connected to said runner (20), and a pressing end (23) which is disposed to extend through said retaining hole (21) so as to press said distal end portions (53) of said engaging members (50) in the radial direction to move said distal end portions (54) toward the disengaged position when said runner (20) is in the upper and lower positions, respectively, for facilitating sliding movement of said runner (20).