GB2135574A - Automatic umbrella - Google Patents

Abstract

A frame for an umbrella of the automatic (spring-loaded) type, comprises ribs 11 mounted on a central shaft 10 for supporting a cover, the frame having a retracted condition Fig. 2 from which a catch 40 restrains opening of the frame and a folded condition, Fig. 3, in which the ribs 11 are clustered around the shaft 10. Means 31, 45 is provided responsive to the change between the folded and retracted conditions such as to prevent release of the catch 40 in the folded condition but to permit release of the catch in the retracted condition. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Automatic umbrella This invention relates to umbrellas of the automatic type and frames therefor. "Automatic type" is used in this specification to denote the type of umbrella having a frame which is spring loaded so as to open automatically, a manually releasable catch being provided to restrain opening of the frame.

A disadvantage of known umbrellas of this type is that when they are closed the catch can be inadvertently released, for example when packed in a brief case or by a child playing with the umbrella. This causes unintentional opening of the umbrella and in the latter case can result in injury to the child.

The invention accordingly provides a frame for an umbrella of the automatic type, comprising a plurality of ribs mounted on a central shaft for supporting a cover, the frame having a retracted condition from which the catch restrains opening of the frame and a folded condition in which the ribs are clustered around the shaft and generally parallel thereto, means being provided responsive to the change between the folded and retracted conditions such as to prevent release of the catch in the folded condition but to permit release of the catch in the retracted condition.

The change responsive means preferably comprises an abutment formed on the catch and which is engageable with a slider on the central shaft, or a member moveable with the slider, in the folded condition but not in the retracted condition.

The portion of the slider or the said member engageable by the abutment may advantageously be that portion retainable by the catch in the retracted condition whereby the frame is restrained from opening.

Typically, the abutment may project away from a handle on the shaft and generally along the shaft.

In the case of a member moveable with the slider being engageable with the abutment, the member may be spring biased relative to the slider in a direction towards the handle.

The invention also provides an automatic type umbrella having a frame as above.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partially sectional elevation of part of an umbrella having a frame according to the invention, the umbrella being shown in its open condition ready for use; Figure 2 is an elevation of the umbrella of Figure 1 shown in its retracted condition; and Figure 3 is an elevation of the umbrella of Figure 1 shown in its folded condition.

The umbrella, generally designated 1, is of the usual automatic type and comprises a central shaft 10 with a plurality (eight in the embodiment) of ribs 11 radiating equi-angularly, in this embodiment, from the shaft 10 to provide support for the umbrella fabric cover 12. The shaft 10 carries a crown 13 to which is secured the cover 12 by means of a cap 14. Each rib 11 is mounted on the shaft 10 by a respective arm assembly 20, only one spoke and arm assembly being shown in the figures for purposes of clarity.

Each arm assembly comprises a spoke 21 pivoted to its respective rib 11 and to a collar 22, a link 23 pivoted to the spoke 21 and to the crown 13, a link member 24 pivoted to the respective rib 11 and to the link 23, and a strut 25 pivoted to the spoke 21 and to a slider 26.

Both the collar 22 and the slider 26 are slideable along the central shaft 10 of the umbrella. The compression spring which provides the automatic opening of the umbrella is coil spring 28 which is also slideable along the shaft 10 and which is mounted between the collar 22 and the slider 26 so as to urge them apart. It will be appreciated from consideration of the figures that opening of the umbrella allows expansion of the spring 28 whereby the automatic opening action is provided. Upward movement of the collar 22 is limited by an extension 27 of the crown 13. The spring 28 engages an inner shoulder 30 of the slider 26.

A sleeve 31 also slideable on the shaft 10 is moveable in consonance with the slider 26. This sleeve 31 is retained within the slider 26 by an outer lip 32 of the sleeve 31 engageable with an inwardly turned lip 33 of the slider 26. Another compression coil spring 34 of lesser strength than the spring 28 is mounted about the shaft 10 between the lip 32 and the shoulder 30 and biases the sleeve 31 in a direction towards the handle 18 of the umbrella. The sleeve 31 is formed with a slot 35 which is engageable by the latch 41 of the catch 40 of the umbrella whereby the umbrella is restrained from opening.

The central shaft 10 is telescopically extendable in a manner known in the art, having an inner portion 1 5 slideable within an outer portion 16. A compression spring (not shown) inside the shaft urges the portions 1 5, 1 6 apart. The portion 1 5 is secured within the umbrella handle 18.The portions 1 5, 1 6 are shown extended in Figure 1 and are retained in this condition by a sprung catch 1 7 mounted within the portion 1 5. The catch 17 has a portion 19 with an inclined edge slideably engageable by the sleeve 31 to disengage the catch 17 from the shaft portion 16 so that the shaft 10 is automatically telescopically collapsed when the sleeve 31 is drawn along the shaft 10 towards the handle 1 8. The catch 1 7 can alternatively be manually disengaged from the shaft portion 16.

The catch 40 is spring biased to the left as seen in the figures, in a manner similar to the catch 1 7, by means of a leaf spring portion 42 secured by a rivet 43 to the shaft portion 1 5. As can be seen from the Figures, an extension 44 of the catch 40 projects from the handle 18 to enable manual release of the catch 40, for example by the thumb. The umbrella is shown in Figure 2 in its retracted condition. In this condition, the umbrella is not completely collapsed but is substantially so, and the sleeve 31 is engaged over the catch 40 so that the umbrella is restrained from opening. In this condition, the catch 40 can be freely released by depression of the extension 44 (in a direction to the right as seen in the figures).In Figure 3, the umbrella is shown fully collapsed in a "folded" condition with the ribs 11 generally parallel and clustered around the shaft 10. In this condition, the cover 12 can be wrapped and folded neatly about the umbrella frame and fixed there by a strap (not shown). It will be understood that the change from the retracted condition to the folded condition results in a small movement of the collar 22, slider 26 and sleeve 31 further along the shaft 10 towards the handle 18 and this change is used to prevent release of the catch 40 in the folded condition. This is achieved by an abutment 45 forming part of the catch 40, the abutment projecting away from the handle 1 8 and generally along the shaft 10 so as to be engageable by the end portion of the sleeve 31 in the folded condition but not in the retracted condition.As will be seen from Figure 3, the end portion of the sleeve 31 prevents movement of the abutment 45 to the right (as seen in the figure) thereby preventing release of the catch 40.

What actually happens when the umbrella is closed towards the retracted condition is that the end portion of the sleeve 31 slides over the latch 41 thereby slightly depressing it and comes to rest against the upper end of the abutment 45.

Meanwhile the lower portion of the upper shaft section 1 6 has already begun to slide over the latch 41 thereby depressing it further. As the slider 26 and shaft portion 16 move further towards the handle, the sleeve 31 remains stationary, the relative movement of the slider and sleeve being compensated for by compression of the spring 34. Finally, the latch 41 pops up through the slot in the shaft section 1 6 used by portion 19 of the catch 17, disengaging the upper end of abutment 45 from the sleeve 31 thereby releasing the spring 34, and the umbrella takes up the configuration shown in Figure 2.

The above embodiment of the invention has the great advantage that operation of the catch is disenabled when the umbrella is in the folded condition so that it cannot be opened accidently.

The invention is of course not limited to the "push button" type of catch but is applicable to catches which slide, rotate or release in any other way to open the umbrella.

Claims (7)

1. A frame for an umbrella of the automatic type, comprising a plurality of ribs mounted on a central shaft for supporting a cover, the frame having a retracted condition from which the catch restrains opening of the frame and a folded condition in which the ribs are clustered around the shaft and generally parallel thereto, means being provided responsive to the change between the folded and retracted conditions such as to prevent release of the catch in the folded condition but to permit release of the catch in the retracted condition.

2. A frame as claimed in claim 1 wherein the change responsive means comprises an abutment formed on the catch and which is engageable with a slider on the central shaft, or a member moveable with the slider, in the folded condition but not in the retracted condition.

3. A frame as claimed in claim 2 wherein the portion of the slider or the said member engageable by the abutment is that portion retainable by the catch in the retracted condition whereby the frame is restrained from opening.

4. A frame as claimed in either claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the abutment projects away from a handle on the shaft and generally along the shaft.

5. A frame as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 in the case of a member moveable with the slider being engageable with the abutment, the member being spring biased relative to the slider in a direction towards a handle on the shaft.

6. A frame for an umbrella of the automatic type, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

7. An automatic type umbrella comprising a frame as claimed in any preceding claim.