US2157670A - Foldable umbrella frame - Google Patents

Description

May 9, 1939. s. ONO

FOLDAB LE UMBRELLA FRAME Filed Sept. 1, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l amen 1100' SONOJI ONO May 9, 1939. N 2,157,670

FOLDABLE UMBRELLA FRAME Filed Sept. 1, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIlIIlIIlI!'IIII/IIII;II

SONDJ'I ONO Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE FOLDABLE UMBRELLA FRAME Sonoji Ono, Ohme-machi,

Nishi Tama-gun,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to folding umbrellas and has special reference to means for securing the section forming the ribs and braces of such umbrella in alined positions.

One important object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby, when a sectional rib in an umbrella of this sort has its sections alined, movement to expand the umbrella will effect securing of the sections of such rib in alinement.

Asecond important object of the invention is to provide means whereby folding braces in an umbrella of this class may have the sections secured in alinement initially before the umbrella has the sections of its ribs secured in alinement.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an example of the embodiment of the foldable umbrella frame partly broken away to invention,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front view of this foldable umbrella frame partly broken away to show the interior construction of certain of the p Figure 2, a partial front view of the same with the ribs and stretchers in an open condition;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged section partly broken away which shows manner of connecting the rib and brace or stretcher;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one link of the chain portion to be inserted into the rib;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view showing the condition in which the parts are positioned when the stretcher is folded;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a sliding sleeve or runner used herewith, the view being partly in section;

Figure '7, a front view of the same sliding sleeve partly cut oil and Figure 8 is an enlarged detailed view partly in section and partly in elevation and showing the head or notch member of the umbrella.

In the drawings, the same reference numbers show the same or corresponding parts.

In the drawings, I indicates in general the stick of an umbrella constructed in accordance with this invention. To a crown or notch member mounted adjacent the tip end of the stick and indicated at 2 is hinged by the ordinary means a plurality of ribs each having a tubular or the like shape and formed from a suitable number of foldable sections or parts, for example, three parts 3, 3 and 3", which are connected by means of hinges 4 and 4'. In this rib there is inserted a rib axis consisting of straight stiffening bar portions 5 and i and a chain portion I made by connecting by means of lateral pins a number of unit pieces each of which has the upper sides 6 and lower center 6' cut away (Figures 4 and 5). The chain thus formed neither increases in length when under tension nor decreases in length when under compression so that it is preferably termed a constant length chain. 8 is a slit in said rib l. A pivot ing 9 fastened to the straight bar portion fl of the rib axis extends through and is slidable 1n the slit 8. To the ing 9 is hinged the one end of a stretcher II by a pin I 0 or the like. Said stretcher II has a tubular or the like shape like the rib 3 and is divided into a suitable number of sections, for instance, II and II', which are connected by means of a hinge I2. In said stretcher is inserted a stretcher axis consisting of straight bar portions I3 and I3 and chain portions I4 and I4 made by connecting by pins Ii a desired number of chained links which have the upper sides 6 and lower center 6' cutaway, like the rib axis inserted in the rib. The above stretcher I I has its rear end hinged to the upper end of a sliding sleeve or runner I6. Said chain portion I4 extends downwardly into a guide groove I8 forming one of a series of guide grooves or members carried by the runner and each opening to the exterior of the runner through a respective slit H which extends in a vertical direction on the sliding sleeve I6, said sliding sleeve I6 being provided on its outer periphery with a ring I9 which can slide freely on that periphery. Said ring I9 is secured to the chain portion I4 by a pin 20 which projects inwardly of that ring. 2| is a hole at the end of the rib which is adapted for attaching a cover. vided on the crown 2; 23, a detachable cover securing piece and 24, a spring for catching the sliding sleeve. 26 and 25 are collapsible stick portions; and 21, a handle.

In the operation of the device to expand the umbrella from its folded to its completely unfolded position reference may be had to Figures 1 and 2. The first step in unfolding the umbrella is to swing the ribs, in their folded condition, outwardly until the parts II and II' of the stretchers or braces are brought into alinement. Then the slide I9 is positioned upwardly on the runner.

22 is a catch spring proplished the ribs are then unfolded until the several rib sections are brought into alinement. The runner is is then pushed upwardly along the staff whereupon the stiffening elements inthe ribs are moved to span the hinge joints and thus to hold these joints from folding. Thisis accomplished by reason of the lug 9 pushing one of the stlfiening rods as 5 outwardly of the rib which, through the connection of the chain I, also pushes the other stiflening rod 5' of said rib across the hinge Joints 4'.

Obviously the collapsing or folding of the umbrella is accomplished in the reverse of this manher of expanding. a

I claim:

1. In a folding umbrella, a staff, a head on the upper end thereof, a series of sectional ribs each consisting of a plurality of hingedly connected tubular sections, said ribs being hingedly connected at their inner ends to said head, a plurality of rib stiffening rods slidable in each rib to move into and out of position across the joints of the rib, a constant length flexible chain connecting said stiifening rods, said ribs each having one of its sections provided with a slot, and a lug carried by one of the rods of each rib and projecting through the slot for movement of said rods in said rib.

2. In a folding umbrella, a staff, a runner slidable on said stafl, a series of rib braces hinged to the upper end of said runner, each of said braces consisting of a plurality of hingedly connected sectionsia" stiflening rod slidable in each brace into and out of position across the brace joint,

a sliding-ring mounted on said runner, and constant length chains each having one end attached to said ring and its other end attached to a respective brace stiffening rod.

3. In a folding umbrella, a stall, a head on the upper end thereof, a series of sectional ribs each consisting of a plurality of hingedly connected tubular sections, said ribs being hingedly con-y nected at their inner ends to said head, a plurality of rib. stiflening rods slidable in each rib to move into and out of position across the joints of the rib, a constant length flexible chain connecting said stiffening rods, said ribs each hav ing one of itssections provided with a slot, a lug carried by one of therods of each rib and projecting through the slot forv movement of said rods in said rib, a runner slidable on said staff, a series of rib braces hinged to the upper end of said runner, each of said braces consisting of a.

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