GB2185885A - Umbrella frame having, in the closed state, an elongate cross- sectional shape - Google Patents

Abstract

A "flat" umbrella frame in which the canopy framework, consisting of canopy spokes (6) and struts and able by means of at least one slider to slide upon the stick in the opening and closing directions, is grouped into two bundles lying on opposite sides of the stick and is hinged to the crown (3) and to the slider or sliders. In order to h realise automatically the necessary exact flat orderly arrangement of the canopy framework coinciding at both ends of the umbrella when the umbrella is closed, each of the two bundles of the canopy spokes is associated with a pair of slide cheeks (3a, 3a') carried by the crown (3) and extending approximately radially, against which checks the respective outer canopy spokes (6', 6') of the bundle slide, at least in the final phase of the closing movement, so as to be funnelled in the direction towards the stick. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Umbrella frame having, in the closed state, an elongate cross-sectional shape The invention concerns a frame (hereinafter referred to as of the kind described) for a so called "flat" umbrella having, in the closed state, an elongate cross-sectional shape with substantially straight major sides, the frame comprising a canopy framework, consisting of canopy spokes and struts, for carrying a canopy cover, and able by means of at least one slider to slide upon a stick upon opening and closing, the frame work being grouped into two bundles lying on opposite sides of the stick and hinged to a crown at the upper end of the stick and to the slider or sliders.

In the case of such umbrellas, which are known, for example, from US-A-3,590,865, it is necessary for the canopy framework, with the canopy cover fixed to it, to fold together in the closed state into an orderly flat formation so that the folded-together canopy is formed neatly into the flat contour between the crown and the handle. That implies that the two bundles of canopy spokes at the two sides of the stick lie exactly diametrically opposite one another. Since this orderly arrangement cannot be realised automatically upon closing the umbrella, it needs the ordering hand of the user of the umbrella.

But the latter frequently neglects the corresponding manipulation and a consequence of that is that the closed formation of the umbrella, which has not been shaped flat in an orderly way, then does not fit readily into the flat sheath which has the ideal flat shape. The umbrella is then forced violently into the sheath, which unnecessarily wears out, in particular, the vulnerable canopy cover.

In order to facilitate the previously mentioned orderly flat bundling of the canopy framework in the closed state of the umbrella, in accordance with US--AA-3,612,078, a device is provided in the form of forks which are arranged respectively at the two ends of the elongate crown of the slider. If the user of the umbrella lays the two bundles of the foldedtogether canopy framework by hand into these forks, the folded-together canopy, together with the canopy cover, arranges itself into an exact flat formation between the umbrella crown and the umbrella handle. Unfortunately this device for the orderly bundling flat of the folded-together umbrella canopy is also unreliable because it also only fulfils its purpose if the user of the umbrella makes use of this device.If he does not, here too the disorder of the folded-together umbrella canopy remains as previously described. The whole outlay on this device is then in vain. Another problem common to the construction of US--AA-3,612,078 and also to that of US-A-3,5l 3,863, is that the user of the umbrella has to insert the tips of the canopy spokes, into groups, into recesses or pockets in the handle.

Here too the purpose is only fulfilled if the user of the umbrella makes use of the device correctly, or at all.

The problem underlying the invention is to modify an umbrella frame of the kind described, so that, withouttedious manual manipulation, the necessary orderly flat formation of the foldedtogether umbrella canopy results automatically upon the operation of the umbrella, at simple expense.

This problem is solved in accordance with the invention by there being associated with each of the two bundles of the canopy spokes, a pair of slide cheeks fitted to the crown and extending substantially radially, against which cheeks the outer canopy spokes of the bundle slide, at least in the final phase of the closing movement so as to be funnelled towards the stick.

In this way a fiat umbrella is created in which the canopy spokes, upon closing of the umbrella canopy, are automatically grouped into a flat formation between the umbrella crown and the umbrella handle, which is also usually of elongate cross-sectional shape. Hence it is superfluous for the user to concentrate on manipulating the framework upon closing. The handling of the umbrella is thus simplified and its operation is more reliable. Furthermore these advantages are achieved at small expense.

A particularly advantageous construction results if the slide cheeks are made in one piece with the crown in the form of a substantially X-shaped profile with nose-shaped projections which extend obliquely from the pivotal connections of the spokes to the crown. The slide cheeks may each have an oblique offset of its slide face with respect to the radial alignment of the pivoting of the respectively outer spokes.

The invention will now be explained in greater detail by way of example with reerence to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa side elevation of an umbrella frame in accordance with the invention in the closed state; Figure 2 is a partial section of a corresponding umbrella, when open, and taken on the line X' in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevation taken on the arrow A in Figure 2; Figure 4 is an elevation taken on the arrow B in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a partial section taken on the line X' in Figure 1 with the canopy spokes near to the stick; and, Figure 6 is partial diagrammatic elevation of the umbrella during the closing process.

The umbrella illustrated has in the opened state a round or polygonal canopy contour just like any other normal umbrella but in the closed state yields a flat formation with two bundles b' and b" of the canopy framework D, lying opposite one another on two sides of the umbrella stick 1, corresponding with the ideal shape which may be seen from Figure 1. An umbrella of this construction may have a stick 1 which is rigid, able to fold or able to be pulled out telescopically, with a handle 2 at the bottom end and a crown 3 at the top end. Upon the crown 3 is seated a tip or cap 4 and beween the latter and the crown 3 a canopy cover 5 is centrally fixed. The latter is supported by the canopy framework D consisting of canopy spokes 6 and struts 7 and may, by means of a fixing 5' lying in the folding region of the canopy framework D, be folded in upon folding the latter together.Depending upon the construction of the umbrella, the canopy framework D is subdivided into a more or less large number of canopy spoke and strut forks. In the construction illustrated eight forks are provided, which, by means of one, two or even three, (in the illustrated case there is one main slider 8 and one auxiliary slider 8') may be folded out and folded together in the opening and closing directions, by the slider or sliders 8, 8' being moved upon and down along the stick 1.

The canopy spokes 6 and their struts 7, i.e. the forks formed by them in combination, are arranged pivotally in the form of a star round the crown 3 and the slider or sliders 8, 8', and may, through indirect sliding of the main slider 8, be folded out and together by hand, or, as in the case of illustrated example, may be folded out automatically by means of an opening drive and folded together manually by means of the main slider 8. The opening drive is shown as a compression spring mechanism 9 loaded between the main and auxiliary sliders 8,8'.

Independently of the respective previously described kinematic execution of the umbrella, exhibiting in its closed state a flat cross-sectional shape, the canopy spokes 6 and their struts 7 have, at the crown 3 and at the slider or sliders 8,8' suitable pivot 10 or 10' in a grouping such that on both sides of the stick 1, crown 3 and sliders 8,8', the same number of canopy spoke-to-strut forks in the form of the bundles b' and b" lie opposite one another. The pivots 10,10', corresponding with this grouping, are aligned on both sides of the crown 3 and the sliders 8,8', in the shape of a star in radial alignment rtowards the stick 1, i.e. towards the axis Xofthestick. But they may also have an eccentric alignment, say, in the directional trend r' (Figure 2).

Independentiy of this alignment ror r' the pivots 10,10' in adaptation to the rectangular, oval or round shape of outline of the crown 3 and sliders 8,8' may have an arrangement to correspond with these contours. Such a possibility follows from ihe run of the axes cofthe pivots 10,10' as shown in Figure 2.

As described initially it is necessary that the two bundles b' and b" of the canopy framework D, in the folded-together state of the umbrella, run in exact coincidence with the diametral distribution and with the possibly also flat outlines of the handle 1 and/or the sliders 8,8' and crown 3, so that a well arranged flat formation results, which may be inserted without wear into the sheath formed to the ideal flat form. In order to be able to realise this without the user of the umbrella setting about it manually at all, both bundles b' and b" of the canopy framework D are associated in each case with one pair of slide cheeks 3a,3a'.These are fastened to the crown 3, or more advantageously are moulded into it, in such a way that they flank in each case the two outer-lying canopy spokes 6',6' of the respective bundle b', b" in the region of the pivots 10',10' of the canopy spokes 6',6'. The cheeks have the shape of nose-like projections such that they form, so to speak, a guide funnel Tforthe bundles b' and b" conveying in towards the stick 1. The outer canopy spokes 6',6', as may be seen from Figure 2, accordingly slide at least in the final phase of the closing movement of the umbrella canopy against the slide cheeks 3a,3a'.

Sideways straying of the outer canopy spokes 6',6' in the direction towards the free spaces F, F between the bundles b',b", which normally takes place, and promotes the disorder of the closed canopy, is thereby excluded. During the course of the outer canopy spokes 6',6' sliding against the slide cheeks 3a,3a' as the closing movement proceeds, these canopy spokes get forced into the funnel T and located in it in the position shown in Figure 1, corresponding with the previously described ideal flat profile of the closed umbrella. After this flat arrangement is achieved automatically, the closed umbrella may without furtherto do be pushed into a sheath.This automatic arrangement also brings it about that the ends D' of the umbrella canopy, without any trouble to the user of the umbrella, and without complication, may be introduced in one pull into the pockets 2a,2a which may be present in the handle 2 for their insertion. The slide cheeks 3a,3a' may, as may be seen from Figure 2, consist together with the crown 3 of one piece and have in outline an approximately X-shaped appearance. The slide cheeks 3a,3a', which co-operate with the outer canopy spokes 6',6' of each bundle, may be parallel with the alignement r of the pivots 10' or be offset obliquely with respect to this alignment r, corresponding with the alignement r' of the slide faces 3b, 3b of the slide cheeks 3a,3a'.In the case of this oblique offset there results in the closed position of the canopy near to the stick an enclosure of the canopy spokes 6',6' which narrows the bottom of the funnel T slightly outwards.

As may be seen from Figures 3 and 4, the slide cheeks 3a,3a' are made in the form of noses, the roots of which may lie on the upper edge 3c of the crown 3. Starting from there the noses run in the direction towards the slider 8 with rising slopes up to the tips of the noses N. From this the result is fairly wide spread restriction against the sideways straying or swinging out of the outer canopy spokes 6',6' in the direction of the free spaces F in a coordination with their pivot arrangement which is favourable to operation. As may be seen from Figure 3, the canopy spokes 6,6', in the course of the closing movement of the canopy, get first of all seized at their flattened ends 6" by the sliding cheeks 3a,3a'. In the further course of this movement, i.e. with increasing swinging of the canopy spokes 6',6' towards the stick 1,they finally slide by their thicker profiled portions 6"' against the slide cheeks 3a,3a' with the effect that the canopy spokes 6',6', in this sliding movement with increased frictional pressure in the direction of the arrow y, get hinged into the bundle formation b',b" in the funnel T and finally, as shown in Figure 5, come to lie hard up against the slide cheeks 3a,3a' in parallel with the stick 1.The previously mentioned deflection of the canopy spokes 6',6' in the direction of the arrow is infuenced by the more of less large offset or divergence of the alignments rand r', as well as by the more or less thick cross sectional profiling of the canopy spokes 6',6' so that the formation of the bundles b',b" which are thus achieved may, depending upon the circumstances or depending upon the structure of the canopy kinematics, of the canopy framework D or of its hinging, be varied to be an optimum. The length of the noses projecting from the crown 3, of the slide cheeks 3a,3a' or their radial or eccentric alignment approximately in accordance with r or f, is made such that, upon opening the umbrella canopy, the canopy spokes 6',6' lose the sliding contact with the sliding cheeks 3a,3a' at the right time, or else have so much play with respect to the latter in the direction opposite to the arrow y, that they can stray into the free spaces in order to form in combination with the canopy cover 5 and at equal distances from the remaining canopy spoke 6, the canopy parabola of the open umbrella, round in its contour.

Claims (5)

1. A frame for un umbrella having, in the closed state, an elongate cross-sectional shape with substantially straight major sides, the frame comprising a canopy framework consisting of canopy spokes and struts for carrying a canopy cover and able by means of at least one slider to slide upon a stick upon opening and closing, the framework being grouped into two bundles lying on opposite sides of the stick and hinged to a crown at the upper end of the stick and to the slider or sliders, characterized in that each of the two bundles of canopy spokes is associated with a respective pair of slide cheeks which are fitted to the crown and extend substantially radially, the outer canopy spokes of the bundle sliding, at least in the final phase of the closing movement of the framework, against the cheeks so as to be funnelled in the direction towards the stick.

2. A frame according to claim 1, characterized in that the slide cheeks are made in one piece with the crown in the form of a substantially X-shaped profile with nose-shaped projections which extend obliquely from pivotal connections of the spokes to the crown.

3. A frame according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that each of the slide cheeks has an oblique offset of its slide face with respect to the radial alignment of the pivoting of the respective outer spokes.

4. An umbrella frame, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5. An umbrella having a canopy supported by a frame according to any one of the preceding claims.