GB2308061A

GB2308061A - Shaft for tilting umbrella

Info

Publication number: GB2308061A
Application number: GB9617205A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joachim Seidel
Original assignee: KORTENBACH VERWALTLUNGS und BM
Current assignee: KORTENBACH VERWALTLUNGS und BM
Priority date: 1995-12-16
Filing date: 1996-08-16
Publication date: 1997-06-18
Anticipated expiration: 2016-08-16
Also published as: FR2742314B1; CN1157701A; DE29519966U1; GB9617205D0; ITMI961675A1; FR2742314A1; GB2308061B; TW305138U; IT1283668B1; ITMI961675A0

Description

The invention concerns standing umbrella frame comprising a lower tubular stick part and an upper tubular stick part, which is tiltable relatively to the lower stick part by means of an elbow joint provided by a connecter element, which is fixed in the upper stick part and has a projection extending into the lower stick part where the projection is pivoted to the lower stick part; the connecter element engaging parts of the lower stick part to limit the tilting in one end position, in which the upper stick part is inclined to the lower stick part, and in another end position, in which the stick parts are parallel to one another; and the connecter element being lockable in each end position by means of a locking device in the lower stick part. Such frame is hereinafter referred to as of the kind described.

Such a frame for an umbrella (which term includes a sunshade) is described for example in GB-A-2202141. The tilting mechanism can be accommodated completely in the hollow space of the umbrella stick and is therefore enclosed both when the stick is in its straight position as well as when in its tilted position, and thus in consequence protected especially against the damaging effects of weather, such as dampness, dust and corrosion.

Operating parts of the mechanism located on the outside of the stick are superfluous as are projecting edges and corners. The shaft remains unmarked and smooth on the outside and there is no risk of injury when handling it.

The object underlying the invention is to design such a frame so that it is lighter in weight without reducing its high stability to stress and ease of operation, as well as to construct it so that its handling, manufacture and assembly are simpler and more serviceable, especially in the case of reassembly or repair.

According to the present invention in an umbrella frame of the kind described, the connecter element and locking device are both inserts of tube of quadrangular cross section which fit closely within the stick parts with a sliding clearance between the corner edges of the locking device tube and the lower stick part; the locking device being urged to slide upwards by a spring so that the upper end of the locking device tube engages the connecter element to block the connecter element in both end positions, and being retractable against the spring action, to release the connecter element and enable tilting of the upper stick part, by means of a thumbpiece, which is connected to and slides with the locking device, and which works in an opening in the wall of the lower stick part.

The new frame, which is preferably made of lightweight metal, provides a tilting mechanism which can be accommodated in a completely enclosed manner in the interior of the stick and despite the light construction has high stability to stress. The manufacture of the structural parts as well as their fitting and releasable disassembly in the event of repair is inexpensive and simple and therefore also easy to service.

The same applies to their handling.

A frame according to the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross section through the stick with the connecter element fitted in the untilted straight position of the stick parts; Fig. 2 is the same cross section, but in the inclined, tilted position of the upper part of the stick; Fig. 3 is an enlargement of part of Fig. 1 but seen from the opposite side; Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line A-B in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlargement of part of Fig. 2 but seen from the opposite side; and Fig. 6 is a section similar to Fig. 3 but taken on the line C-D in Fig. 4.

Of the standing umbrella, for example a garden, balcony or beach umbrella, only part of the stick 1 is shown, without the canopy or usual canopy spokes hinged on the crown 2 of the canopy and the slider 3 respectively.

When the canopy is open, the slider 3 assumes the position shown in Figs 1 and 2, in which it is secured against displacement by a check spring 4 on the stick 1.

The stick 1 consists of an upper part la and a lower part lb. The two are separated from one another by a dividing gap T, but connected to one another in pivotable manner by a connecter element 5 and by a hinge pin 6.

The two parts of the stick la, ib can have tubular profile which is polygonal in cross section or, as illustrated in the embodiment, with a circular profile. By means of the element 5, the upper part of the stick la can be pivoted with respect to the lower part of the stick lb from the straight position parallel to the shaft according to Fig. 1 into the tilted inclined position according to Fig. 2. In both positions the element 5 can be locked by means of a bolt 7 associated with it. The element 5 and the bolt 7 are machined metal inserts shaped to a compact square hollow tubular profile V, stable to stress and having rounded longitudinal corner edges V' (Fig 4). The element 5 is pushed into the lower free end of the upper part of the stick la with the rounded edges in frictional engagement with the stick part la and therein fixed rigidly to the stick by means of a cross pin 8. At the end projecting into the lower part of the stick lb, the element 5 comprises a slope S, from which a U-shaped structure results with side walls F', F'' and the crosspiece F. This U-shaped formation forms a blocking part 5a of the element 5 which is connected in pivotable manner through the hinge pin 6 to the lower part of the stick lb. This part 5a, both in the straight position of the stick as well as in the tilted inclined position of the upper part of the stick lb, encounters a counterstop lb' on the inner wall of the lower stick part or diametrically opposite at lb'', corresponding to Figs 3 and 5. In the tilted inclined position of the element 5, in order to ensure its necessary freedom of movement in the region of the dividing gap T between the two parts of the stick la and lb, in the vicinity of the hinge pin 6 and on its downwardly facing side when tilted, the element 5 comprises a recess 5b by which, in the tilted position, it receives the upper edge on the wall of the lower part of the stick lb (Fig 5).

The bolt 7 with its square hollow profile V, which is capable of sliding on the rounded longitudinal edges V', is let into the lower part of the stick lb and forms a slide moving into and out of blocking operation with the crosspiece F of the element 5. For this purpose the bolt 7 is guided in sliding manner by means of elongate holes 7b on a cross pin 9 fixed to the stick, such that an abutment 7a formed by bending together projections on two opposite walls of the bolt tube engages in one case one face of the crosspiece F (Fig 3, straight position parallel to the shaft) and in another case the other face of the crosspiece F of the part 5a of the element 5. In both positions the bolt 7 is held upwardly by the action of a compression spring 10 which is supported at one end on the pin 9 fixed to the stick and at the other end on two lugs 7c, which project from the square hollow profile V of the bolt 7. In order to latch the tilted element 5 more securely on the corresponding crosspiece F in at least one, and, as shown, both end positions, an aperture Sc is cut out of the latter in which the bolt 7 engages immovably by its abutment 7a (Figs 5, 6).

To enable the unlocking of the element 5 required for changing the upper part of the stick la between its two positions, the bolt 7 is moved out of each blocking position against the action of the spring by shifting the thumbpiece 11 in the direction of the arrow 12 (Fig 3).

The thumbpiece 11 can consist of a strip llb provided with serrations lla and clipped releasably on to the square hollow profile V of the bolt 7 by means of a pin-and-hole or slot connection 11', 11''. Owing to the square crosssectional shape of the bolt 7 and the round cross section of the shaft 1, the strip 11 can be arranged in the interior of the stick to be displaceable flush against the inner wall of the shaft. Only the serrations lla project 2. from an opening lb in the wall of the stick, but so minimally that they do not interfere or obstruct at all the slider 3 when it is slid downwards upon closing the umbrella canopy. In the positions of the slider 3 shown in Figs 1 and 2 with the umbrella canopy open, the slider is fixed in position on the stick 1 by means of the check spring 4 so that the slider 3 covers the dividing gap T between the two parts of the stick la, lb. The check spring can be supported by its curved end 4a on the fastening pin 8 and an opening 5' in the square hollow profile V of the element 5, and project out through holes in the upper stick part.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A standing umbrella frame comprising a lower tubular stick part and an upper tubular stick part, which is tiltable relatively to the lower stick part by means of an elbow joint provided by a connecter element, which is fixed in the upper stick part and has a projection extending into the lower stick part where the projection is pivoted to the lower stick part; the connecter element engaging parts of the lower stick part to limit the tilting in one end position, in which the upper stick part is inclined to the lower stick part, and in another end position, in which the stick parts are parallel to one another; and the connecter element being lockable in each end position by means of a locking device in the lower stick part; wherein the connecter element and locking device are both inserts of tube of quadrangular cross section which fit closely within the stick parts with a sliding clearance between the corner edges of the locking device tube and the lower stick part; the locking device being urged to slide upwards by a spring so that the upper end of the locking device tube engages the connecter element to block the connecter element in both end positions, and being retractable against the spring action, to release the connecter element and enable tilting of the upper stick part, by means of a thumbpiece, which is connected to and slides with the locking device, and which works in an opening in the wall of the lower stick part.
2. A frame according to claim 1, in which the stick parts are of circular cross section and the quadrangular tubes are of substantially square cross section with rounded corner edges.
3. A frame according to claim 2, in which one of two opposite walls of the connecter element tube extends downwardly beyond the other of the opposite walls whereby both faces of the one wall are accessible for engagement by a blocking abutment at the upper end of the locking device tube for blocking the connecter element in the two end positions.
4. A claim according to claim 3, in which the blocking abutment is provided by projections, which are bent towards one another, on two opposite walls of the locking device tube.
5. A frame according to claim 3 or claim 4, in which the connecter element is provided with an aperture to receive the blocking abutment in at least one of the end positions to assist in securing the connecter element in the respective end position.
6. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims, in which that side of the connecter element which faces downwardly when the upper stick part is tilted in the one end position, is formed with a recess which receives the upper edge of the lower stick part in that end position.
7. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the connecter element tube is fixed in the upper stick part by means of a cross pin.
8. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the locking device tube is slidable relatively to a fixed cross pin which passes through elongate slots in opposed walls of the tube.
9. A frame according to claim 8, in which the spring is located within the locking device tube between the cross pin for that tube and at least one lug projecting inwardly from a wall of the locking device tube.
10. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the outer surface of the thumbpiece is serrated and only the serrations project outwardly of the wall of the lower stick part.
11. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the thumbpiece is clipped releasably to a wall of the locking device.
12. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a slider on the stick for opening and closing a canopy support connected to a crown at the upper end of the upper stick part is retained in its canopy open position by means of a spring which is supported on the connecter element and projects outwardly through at least one opening in the wall of the upper stick part.
13. A frame according to any one of the preceding claims, in which, in its canopy open position, the slider covers a dividing gap between the upper and lower stick parts.
14. A standing umbrella frame, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.