GB2113991A

GB2113991A - Umbrellas

Info

Publication number: GB2113991A
Application number: GB08202890A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Zong Wu Tsun
Original assignee: Fu Tai Umbrella Works Ltd
Current assignee: Fu Tai Umbrella Works Ltd
Priority date: 1982-02-02
Filing date: 1982-02-02
Publication date: 1983-08-17
Also published as: GB2113991B

Abstract

A locking device for an automatic opening umbrella wherein a release button 5 has to be pushed along the umbrella handle 1 before it can be pressed in to release the umbrella. The push button will automatically return to its original position in a locking-up condition after the button is released. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A locking device of an automatic opening umbrella The present invention relates generally to an automatic opening umbrella, in particular to such an umbrella having an anti-misrelease and automatic safe-locking device by means of which embarrassing events such as touching another person or damaging articles by the umbrella due to its improper or unexpected opening may be avoided.

The structure of a conventional automatic opening umbrella (hereinafter referred to as an automatic umbrella) is shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings. To open it automatically, the button 2 is depressed in a direction perpendicular to the handle 1 (i.e. the direction as pointed by the arrow A in Fig. 1) thus depressing the lever 3, which is pivoted at one end about the pivotal point 33, and causing the retaining claw 32 on the other end of the lever 3 to disengage from slider 4 which is then driven to the right by a spring (not shown in the drawing) to automatically open the umbrella.

Since this kind of conventional automatic umbrella can be automatically opened by a slight downward push in the direction of arrow A shown in Fig. 1 then if the push button is unexpectedly pushed by the user himself or by others, the umbrella will automatically open and thus may well come into contact with nearby people or articles thereby possibly causing embarrassment or damage.

For preventing such misreleases, many kinds of lock devices have been provided such that, after the automatic umbrella is closed, the additional device is operated to lock the push button 2 or lever 3. Consequently, when it is wished to open the umbrella, an additional separate operation is needed to unlock such a lock device, the push button then being depressed to open the umbrella automatically. Obviously, this detracts from the simple, convenient performance and merit of automatic umbrellas.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an automatic opening umbrella operated by a button in the handle, in which the umbrella release is operable by a combination of two movements of the button, one along and one into the handle, in sequence.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view of a conventional locking device of an automatic umbrella as described hereinbefore.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of one embodiment of a locking device for an automatic umbrella according to the invention.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the locking device after a first stage of operation.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the locking device after a second stage of operation has initiated automatic opening of the umbrella.

Figs. 5A and 5B show two embodiments of a push button usable in a locking device of this invention.

Figs. 6A and 6B show embodiments of suitable guide planes on the button seat.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of another embodiment of a locking device for an automatic umbrella according to the invention.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, a push button 5 is provided with two L-like arms 51 and 52, one on each side, and with a recess 53 near the bottom of the button 5 in which is seated one end of a compression spring 7. The other end of the spring 7 extends to an inner lateral surface 66 of a button seat 6. This button seat 6, in conventional manner, is fitted in umbrella handle 1 and is fixed to umbrella tube 72 by a pin 71; on one side of the button seat 6 is a space 65 to receive the push button 5.

The button seat 6 is housed within the umbrella handle 1 and is provided with two planes 61 and 66, normal to the axis of tube 72, two planes 62 and 67 parallel to the axis of tube 72, two planes 63 and 68 oblique to the axis of tube 72 and two further planes 64 and 69 normal to the axis of the tube 72. Normally, the arm 51 of the button 5 is stopped against the vertical plane 61 of the button seat 6 while bottom surfaces 511 and 521 of the arms 51 and 52 sit on the two plates 62 and 67 of the button seat 6 as shown in Fig. 2.

Normally, when the umbrella is closed, it is locked as shown in Fig. 2 by engagement of claw 32 at one end of the spring-loaded lever 3 in slider 4. To open the umbrella the button is pushed forward in the direction of arrow B in Fig. 2 against the compression of spring 7. Bottom surfaces 511 and 521 of the two arms 51 and 52 of the button 5 slide along the two planes 62 and 67 and then down the two oblique planes 63 and 68 of the button seat 6, until the front lateral surface 55 of the button 5 is stopped against the front inner plane 66. At this point the bottom 54 of the button 5 just touches the extension 31 of lever 3, but the umbrella is still not opened because the retaining claw 32 of the lever 3 is not disengaged from the notch in notch 4 (Fig. 3).

However, the button 5 can now be pushed down along the faces of planes 64, 66 and 69 of the seat 6 so that base 54 can depress extension 31 of the lever 3 and rotate the lever against V-spring 8 about the pivotal point 33. The retaining claw 32 is thus disengaged from the slider 4 so that, by the action of a spring (not shown), the slider moves toward the tail of the umbrella (see Fig. 4) and automatically opens the umbrella.

When the push button 5 is released, the action of the V-spring 8 returns the lever 3 which raises the button 5 to a point where compression spring 7 can return the button up the oblique planes 63 and 68 and along planes 62 and 67 until arm 51 re-makes contact with plane 61, i.e. the position shown in Fig. 2.

When in the position shown in Fig. 2, the push button 5 cannot be perpendicularly pushed down because the bottom surfaces 511 and 521 of arms 51 and 52 sit on planes 62 and 67 of seat 6.

Consequently, the base 54 of the button 5 cannot depress the extension 31 of the retaining plate spring 3, especially if a clearance is left between the bottom 54 of the push button 5 and the extension 31. If it is wished to open the umbrella, force must be applied in a forward and then downward direction.

Furthermore, when the applied force is removed from button 5, then under the actions of both the spring loaded lever 3 and the compression spring 7, the button 5 is restored to its original position, thus automatically restoring its locked-safe status.

Fig. 5A shows in detail the push button described above. Recess-53 (not shown on this drawing) beneath the arm 52 of the button body 5 is provided for receiving one end of the compression spring 7.

Fig. 5B shows another embodiment of a suitable push button in which there are two flat portions 51' abd 52' one on each end of the button 5' and a recess 53' on one side of the bottom part of the button 5' to receive one end of the spring 7. Two pairs of extensions,511 512' (not seen) 521' and 522' are used instead of two arms 51 and 52 in Fig. 5A as safety stopper. To use this kind of push button, some modification should be made on button seat. All guide planes, 61,62,63,64,66,67,68 and 69 should be made parallel to the paper instead of perpendicular to the paper as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

Two embodiments of guide planes of the button seat 6 are shown in Figs. 6A and 6B.

The first embodiment of the button seat 6 is to provide a plain surface 62A and a vertical plane 54A as a guide of the arm 51 of the push button 5 as shown in Fig. 6A. A plain surface 62, an inclined surface 63 and a vertical plane 64 are formed in sequence on the button seat 6 as shown in Fig. 6B as a guide of the arm 51 of the push button 5.

As an alternative to providing an oblique guide plane to bring the base of the button into contact with the spring-loaded lever, the base of the button may be inclined to the axis of the umbrella, or stepped, so that in the normal position of the button the base is clear of the spring-loaded lever but, when the button has been moved along the handle, its base is then just in contact with the spring-loaded lever.

Referring now to Fig. 7 in another arrangement of the locking device no clearance need be provided between the bottom surface 54A of the button 5 and the extension 91 of the plate spring 9. One reason for this is that the fulcrum of the lever 9 is moved from original position 33 (as shown in Figs. 2 to 4) to another position P as shown in Fig. 7. In this arrangement the lever 9 is smaller than that of the extension 91.

Claims

1. An automatic opening umbrella operated by a button in the handle, in which the umbrella release is operable by a combination of two movements of the button, one along and one into the handle, in sequence.

2. An umbrella as claimed in Claim 1 in which movement of the button along the handle is effected against a spring and movement into the handle is effected against a spring-loaded lever carrying a catch for locking the umbrella in the closed position, whereby on release of the button it is returned to its normal position by the springs.

3. An umbrella as claimed in Claim 2 in which the button initially is clear of the spring-loaded lever but at the end of its movement along the handle is just in contact with the spring-loaded lever.

4. An umbrella as claimed in Claim 3 in which in its movement along the handle the button traverses a plane normal to the axis of the umbrella and, after making contact with the spring-loaded lever at the end of that movement, traverses s plane normal to the axis of the umbrella.

5. An umbrella as claimed in Claim 3 in which during its movement along the handle the button traverses a plane oblique to the axis of the umbrella such that at the end of that traverse it is in contact with the spring-loaded lever.

6. An umbrella as claimed in claim 3 in which in its movement along the handle the button first traverses a plane parallel to, and then a plane oblique to, the axis of the umbrella which brings it into contact with the spring-loaded lever.

7. An umbrella as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 in which the button is slidable along pairs of guide planes in a seat in the handle, the guide planes consisting of a pair of planes parallel to the axis of the umbrella terminating in a pair of planes normal to the axis of the umbrella.

8. An umbrella as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3 or 5 in which the button is slidable along pairs of guide planes in a seat in the handle, the guide planes consisting of a pair of planes parallel to, and a pair of planes normal to, the axis of the umbrella, the two pairs being connected by a pair of planes oblique to the axis of the umbrella.

9. An umbrella as claimed in Claim 3 in which the base of the button is provided with a ramp or step which makes contact with the spring-loaded lever at the end of the movement of the button along the handle.

10. An umbrella as claimed in any one of Claims 1 and 2 or 6 and 7 as dependent on Claim 1 or 2 in which the umbrella is held in the closed position by a claw engaging with a slider which is connected to the frame of the umbrella, the lever being pivoted at one end, the button being in contact with the other end of the lever and the claw being between the two ends of the lever.

11. An umbrella as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9 in which the umbrella is held in the closed position by a claw engaging with a slider which is connected to the frame of the umbrella, the claw being at one end of the lever which is pivotted about the other end, the contact point for the button being between the claw and the pivot.