US20030005952A1

US20030005952A1 - Five-piece umbrella cover

Info

Publication number: US20030005952A1
Application number: US09/900,993
Authority: US
Inventors: Shih-Chau Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-07-09
Filing date: 2001-07-09
Publication date: 2003-01-09

Abstract

A five-piece umbrella cover includes a primary cover and four secondary covers each securely attached to a corresponding one of the sides of the primary cover. The primary cover is square and may be composed of multiple auxiliary covers. The four corners of the primary cover are not attached to any of the secondary covers. Angles defined by ribs are not all the same.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an umbrella cover, and more particularly to an umbrella cover with a primary cover and four secondary covers each securely attached to a side of the primary cover.

2. Description of Related Art

An umbrella cover is normally composed of multiple triangular pieces sewn to one another to form a complete cover. After the umbrella cover is finished, multiple ribs radially extend out from the center of the cover, multiple stretchers are each pivotally connected to a corresponding rib and a runner that is movably mounted on the shaft of the umbrella. Indeed, an umbrella of this kind is a strong and durable. However, when a commercial logo, brand, etc. is to be printed on the cover, the umbrella cover of this type increases the difficulty of printing a mark on the cover and the cost of printing.

With reference to FIG. 5, because the umbrella cover is composed of triangular panels ( 51) sewn together, manufacturers need to have several different mats for printing. After the logo, brand name, etc. is printed on each of the triangular pieces, the printed pattern will overlap at the joints of adjacent triangle panels (51) when the triangle panels (51) are sewn together and not align properly. In order to obviate the foregoing drawback, a new structure of the umbrella cover is developed.

With reference to FIGS. 3A to 3F of U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,559 ('599), issued to Mr. Chenmin Lai on Jun. 4, 1991, the '599 patent discloses a five-piece umbrella cover which consists of a centrally located primary cover and four secondary covers each securely attached to a side of the primary cover. After the engagement between the primary cover and the secondary covers is finished, there are eight protruding corners each provided with a rib extending out from the center of the primary cover. Naturally, the manufacturer is able to determine the size of the primary cover and the secondary cover so as to produce umbrellas of different sizes. With reference to FIGS. 4B to 4C of the '559 patent, the secondary cover of the umbrella cover is triangular so the umbrella has eight ribs. An umbrella made with the foregoing structure operates perfectly, and because the logo, brand name, etc. is able to be printed directly on the primary cover, the manufacturer is able to save cost. However, when an umbrella has more than eight ribs, the operation of the umbrella is not as good as expected.

With reference to FIGS. 6A to 6E, the secondary cover (62, 63, 64, 65, 66) each securely sewn to a side of the primary cover (61) also forms a circular umbrella cover. Each distal end of the secondary cover (62, 63, 64, 65, 66) engages with the primary cover (61) at a right angle, which results in insufficient support to the ribs (not numbered) except for ribs at the four corners of the primary cover (61) and this will cause the ribs to move and deform when the umbrella is open. Furthermore, at the joint between the secondary cover and the primary cover along the line of each rib is stretched and thus causes rest of the umbrella cover to be loose.

To overcome the above mentioned shortcomings, with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B, another umbrella cover was developed. This kind of umbrella cover still suffers problems. The diagonals AB, CD, where the cover is stretched the most, are not suitable for deploying ribs. If ribs are placed on the diagonals AB, CD, the ribs on the diagonals AB, CD will have the most deformation, which results in the umbrella not being symmetric in shape. Further, the four points a,b,c,d around the center of the primary cover define an area that is not flat when the umbrella cover is open.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide an improved umbrella cover to mitigate and obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to obviate the stretch between the engagement of the secondary covers and the primary cover. To accomplish this objective, the four corners of the primary cover are exposed to the air without engagement with the secondary covers and the angles between ribs are not the same.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are bottom plan views of the umbrella cover in accordance with the present invention; [0012]
FIGS. 2A to [0013] 2E are bottom plan views of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 3A to [0014] 3E are bottom plan views of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 4A to [0015] 4D are perspective views of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 5A and 5B are top plan views of the panels of a conventional umbrella cover; [0016]
FIGS. 6A to [0017] 6E are bottom plan views of conventional five-piece umbrella covers; and
FIGS. 7A to [0018] 7B are bottom plan views of conventional one-piece umbrella covers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1A to [0019] 1B, due to the stretch problem in the conventional five-piece umbrella cover, the positioning to the ribs is not sufficient, which causes serious deformation to the ribs, the cover is loose even after the umbrella cover is fully stretched. However, to keep the printing cost from increasing, the umbrella cover should include a central primary cover (11) and four secondary covers (12) each securely attached to a side of the primary cover (11). Further, because an umbrella with the five-piece cover stretched by eight ribs operates perfectly, the focus of the invention mainly discusses on umbrellas with at least twelve ribs.
With reference to FIGS. 2A to [0020] 2E the first preferred embodiment of the umbrella cover in accordance with the present invention has a central primary cover (11) and four secondary covers (12, 13, 14,15) each securely attached to a side of the primary cover (11) with the same shape. Ribs (10) radially extend from the center of the primary cover (11) and each of the ribs (10) respectively is attached to a corresponding protruding corners of the primary or secondary covers (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) so that the angles in the umbrella cover of the invention are not evenly distributed. A big angle α corresponds to each side of the primary cover (11). In conclusion, in an umbrella with twelve ribs (10), there are four big angles α and eight small angles β. In an umbrella with sixteen ribs (10), there are four big angles α and twelve small angles β. In an umbrella with twenty ribs (10), there are four big angles α and sixteen small angles β. In an umbrella with twenty-four ribs (10), there are four big angles α and twenty small angles β. With reference to FIG. 2E, it is noted that the secondary cover (12) is composed of a trapezoid (121) and two triangles (122) on each short side of the trapezoid (121). Also, the secondary cover (12) may be composed of a trapezoid (121), a triangle (122) on each side of the short side of the trapezoid (121) and a sectorial area (123) between the trapezoid (121) and the triangle (122). It is to be noted that the foregoing structure may be expressed as:
An umbrella cover for use with N×4 ribs (where N>3 and N is natural number), the umbrella cover comprising a central square primary cover and four secondary covers each securely sewn to a corresponding one of sides of the primary cover, wherein protruding corners of the primary and secondary covers are adapted to attach to a corresponding one of the ribs. Further, two adjacent secondary covers correspond to two small angles defined between two adjacent ribs and angles between two separated small angles being big angles, wherein the number of small angle is 8 and the number of big angles is M×4 (M≧1) and N(x)=M; x is a variable. [0021]
With reference to FIGS. 3A to [0022] 3D, another preferred embodiment of the umbrella cover in accordance with the present invention has a central primary cover (11) and four secondary covers (12′, 13′, 14′, 15′). Each of the four secondary covers (12′, 13′, 14′, 15′) is the same shape, and each secondary covers (12′, 13′, 14′, 15′) is securely attached to a side of the primary cover (11). Ribs (10) radially extend from the center of the primary cover (11), and each of the ribs (10) respectively attaches to a corresponding one of protruding corners of either the primary or secondary cover (11, 12′, 13′, 14′, 15′) so that the angles between the ribs (not numbered) in the umbrella cover are not all the same. That is, there are two small angles β between two adjacent secondary covers (12′, 13′, 14′, 15′). In conclusion, in an umbrella cover (FIG. 3A) with twelve ribs (10), there are four big angles α and eight small angles β. In an umbrella cover (FIG. 3B) with sixteen ribs (10), there are eight big angles α and eight small angles β . In an umbrella cover (FIG. 3C) with twenty ribs (10), there are twelve big angles α and eight small angles β .In an umbrella cover (FIG. 3D) with twenty-four ribs (10), there are sixteen big angles α and eight small angles β.
With reference to FIGS. 4A to [0023] 4D, it is noted the umbrella cover is able to provide sufficient support to the ribs (10) when the cover is fully expanded. Because two opposite sides of the secondary covers (12, 13, 14, 15) are not vertical relative to the sides of the primary cover (11), loose on the cover caused by stretch is thus obviated and each rib (10) is supported by the expanded secondary (12,13,14,15) and the primary cover (11).
The umbrella cover of the present invention has the following characteristics: [0024]
1. The primary cover is square and may be composed of multiple auxiliary covers which form the square primary cover. [0025]
2. The umbrella cover has four secondary covers and each secondary cover is securely attached to a corresponding one of the sides of the primary cover. [0026]
3. The four corners of the primary cover are not attached to any of the secondary covers. [0027]
4. Angles defined by the ribs are not all the same. [0028]
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. [0029]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An umbrella cover for use with N×4 ribs, the umbrella cover comprising a central square primary cover and four secondary covers, each securely sewn to a corresponding one side of the primary cover, wherein protruding corners of the primary and secondary covers are adapted to connect with a corresponding one of the ribs, wherein the improvements comprise:

each side of the primary cover corresponding to a big angle defined between two adjacent ribs and angles between two adjacent big angles being small angles, wherein the number of big angles is four and the number of small angles is (N−1)×4.

2. An umbrella cover for use with N×4 ribs (where N>3 and N is natural number), the umbrella cover comprising a central square primary cover and four secondary covers each securely sewn to a corresponding one of sides of the primary cover, wherein protruding corners of the primary and secondary covers are adapted to attach to a corresponding one of the ribs, wherein the improvements comprise:

two adjacent secondary covers corresponding to two small angles defined between two adjacent ribs and angles between two separated small angles being big angles, wherein the number of small angle is 8 and the number of big angles is M×4 (M≧1) and N(x)=M; x is a variable.

3. An umbrella cover for use with twelve ribs, the umbrella cover comprising a central square primary cover and four secondary covers each securely sewn to a corresponding one of sides of the primary cover, wherein protruding corners of the primary and secondary covers are adapted to attached to a corresponding one of the ribs, wherein the improvements comprise:

the secondary cover being composed of a trapezoid and two triangles formed on opposite sides of the trapezoid.

4. An umbrella cover for use with twelve ribs, the umbrella cover comprising a central square primary cover and four secondary covers each securely sewn to a corresponding one of sides of the primary cover, wherein protruding corners of the primary and secondary covers are adapted to attach to a corresponding one of the ribs, wherein the improvements comprise:

the secondary cover being composed of a trapezoid, a triangle formed on two opposite sides of the trapezoid and a sectorial area between the trapezoid and the triangle.