GB2162060A

GB2162060A - Sector-openable large sunshade

Info

Publication number: GB2162060A
Application number: GB08516331A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gianfranco Ermini
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-07-27
Filing date: 1985-06-28
Publication date: 1986-01-29
Also published as: GB2162060B; ES288368Y; NL8501905A; FR2568109B3; GB8516331D0; IT8411785V0; ES288368U; DE8521637U1; BE902958A; FR2568109A1

Abstract

A large sunshade such as beach and garden-umbrellas which is formed by independently openable sectors, the opening being carried out by lifting and placing in the open position the ribs (3) after one another. To this end, rib struts (5) are hinged to a fixed intermediate point of the rod (1) and each strut has an intermediate articulated connection (16) forming two strut arms (5a, 5b). Each pair of strut arms can be placed in an extended position by lifting them beyond their alignment position. The articulated connection provides a stop for keeping each pair of strut arms in the extended position. The invention makes it easier to open the sunshade. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sector-openable large sunshade The present invention relates to a large sized sunshade, such as a beach umbrella, a gardenumbrella and similar devices for shading service or recreation areas.

As is known, the opening and closing of the conventional umbrellas is obtained by sliding an annular collar along the rod to the end of which the ribs supporting the cloth are hinged. The ribs are connected to the collar by means of radial struts that are hinged to the collar In order to keep the umbrella in its open position, the collar is brought to urge against a radial ratchet elastically extending from the rod, whereby the collar is prevented from sliding. In the case of sunshades of considerable height and large diameter the opening may be very difficult both in view of the height to which the collar has to be brought to overcome the ratchet, and in view of the weight to be lifted.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a large sunshade which allows performing the opening operation in a simple and easy way.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a large sunshade formed by independently openable sectors, each sector consisting of the portion of covering cloth connected to a rib, the opening being carried out by lifting and placing in the open position the ribs after one another. In this way the opening of the large sunshade is carried out once lifting a fraction of the total weight and with no need of reaching inconvenient height.These results are obtained according to the invention by providing a large sunshade wherein the rib struts are hinged to a fixed intermediate point of the rod and to the relevant ribs and have an intermediate articulated connection dividing each strut in two arms fit to be folded with respect to one another parallel to the rod when the sunshade is in its closed position, and to be placed, by rotating about said fixed point, in an extended attitude blocked with respect to a further rotation, so as to keep the large sunshade in its open position.

The section openable large sunshade according to the invention will be now described in more detaii with the following description of a preferred, not limiting and exemplifying embodiment with reference to the attached drawing, in which: figure 1 is a side elevational view, limited to one rib, of the sunshade according to the invention in its closed position; figure 2 is a side elevational view, limited to one rib, of the sunshade according to the invention in its open position; figure 3 is a partially sectioned top plan view of both intermediate and top collar of the sunshade according to the invention.

With reference to the above drawings, 1 indicates a sunshade rod at the top of which a top coilar, generally indicated at 2, is fixed. Ribs 3 (only one shown in Figures 1 and 2) radially extend from top collar 2 for supporting a cloth covering or other suitable material. At about half-height of rod 1 there is fixed an intermediate collar, generally indicated at 4, from which rib struts 5 (only one shown in Figures 1 and 2) extend. Top collar 2 (the same applies for intermediate collar 4) comprises a sleeve 6 (7) engaging rod 1 and ending, as shown in particular in Figure 3, with radial expansions 6a (7a) to which corresponding radial expansions 8a (9a) are secured. Radial expansions 6a (7a) have seat 12(13) wherein the ends of pivots 10 (11) are housed, each pivot extending between two adjacent expansions 6a (7a).Sleeve 6 and cap 8, forming the top collar 2, as well as sleeve 7 and cap 9 forming the intermediate collar 4, are fixedly connected by means of screws (not shown) engaged within holes 14(15) for keeping pivots 10(11) in position with respect to seats 12. Ribs 3 are pivotally connected to top collar 2 at one end thereof through pivots 10, while struts 5 are pivotally connected to the intermediate collar 4 at one end thereof through pivots 11.

An intermediate articulated connection 16 is provided in the struts 5 which are therefore divided in two arms 5a and 5b. The articulated connection 16 comprises (see Figures 1 and 2) a cross member 17 hinged to the end of arm 5a and fixed to arm 5b at a short distance from the end thereof. The opposite end of arm 5b is hinged to a laterally extending member 18 of rib 3.

The provision of the articulated connection 16 in the struts 5 results in a very easy opening of the large sunshade. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, it is sufficient to rotate arm 5a of one strut with respect to intermediate collar 4 in the direction of arrows to cause the simultaneous rotation of arm 5b with respect to the articulated connection 16 and the consequent lifting of the rib 3 connected to this strut.When the hinge connecting the arm 5b to the cross member 17 in the articulated connection 16 has overcome the position of alignment with hinges connecting arm 5a and 5b to the intermediate collar 4 and rib 3 respectively, the articulated connection 16 reaches a stop position and strut 5 is kept in a stable attitude, any further upward rotation of arm 5a with respect to member 17 being prevented due to the interference between arm 5a and the end of arm 5b close to the cross member 17.Obviously, the opposite rotation for causing the closure of the sunshade sector held by rib 3 is obtained by pulling arm 5a downwardly until the above described alignment position is overcome, the further rotation up to the closure position occurring spontaneously owing to the weight of the sunshade sector held by rib 3. In the closure position arms 5a and 5b are in a folded position, substantially parallel to rod 1. In this way the opening of a large sunshade is obtained in a simple, speedy and easy way by lifting after one another the radial ribs 3 that are firmly held in their lifted position once the articulated connection 16 between arm 5a and arm 5b of strut 5 has been raised above the alignment position mentioned previously.

Intermediate collar 4 is fixed to rod 1 by means of a registering screw 20 so that its position along rod 1 may be changed as needed. Top collar 2 is fixed to rod 1 by means of axial screw 19.

The invention is not to be considered as limited to the above described embodiment but any variation and/or modification is included within the scope hereof.

Claims

1. A large sunshade comprising a rod, radial ribs extending from the top of said rod, a covering material supported by said radial ribs, struts hinged to said ribs, characterized in that said struts are hinged to a fixed intermediate position of said rod and have an intermediate articulated connection forming two strut arms, said arms being fit for being folded on each other, when the sunshade is closed, and for being placed, on rotation about said fixed position, in an extended position, blocked with respect to any further rotation in the same direction, thereby the sunshade is opened by lifting of successive covering sectors held by the relevant ribs thereof.

2. The large sunshade according to claim 1 comprising a top collar mounted at the top end of said rod, said ribs being hinged to said top collar, and an intermediate collar, fixed to an intermediate position of said rod, to which said struts are hinged, said articulated connection having a stop position of the mutual rotation of the pair of arms forming each strut, when the alignment position of said pair of arms has been overcome.

3. The large sunshade according to the previous claims, wherein said articulated connection comprises a cross member connecting the pair of arms forming each strut.

4. The large sunshade according to the previous claims wherein said cross member extends laterally from the strut arm which is connected to the rib and is fixed with respect to said arm, said cross member being hinged to the end of the strut arm extending from said rod.

5. The large sunshade according to the previous claims, wherein pivots are provided for connecting said ribs and said struts to the top collar and intermediate collar respectively, radial expansions being provided on said collars for supporting, two by two, said pivots.